RTHK: US health agency loosens Covid mask guidelines

The United States top health agency on Friday drastically revised its guidelines for masking to stop Covid-19 transmission, a decision that means most Americans won't be advised to wear them in indoor public spaces, including school children.

"We're in a stronger place today as a nation with more tools to protect ourselves and our communities from Covid-19," said Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a call with reporters.

The changes involve the metrics used to determine whether people should mask up.

Under previous guidance, this was pegged to case rates - with 95 percent of the country considered areas of high or substantial transmission, and thus covered by mask advisories.

The new metrics use caseloads but also include Covid hospitalisations and local hospital capacity, to create a new measure known as "Covid-19 community level."

Residents can look up on the CDC website whether their area is green, yellow or orange on a national map.

Now, more than 70 percent of the population live in areas that aren't advised to mask up according to the new framework, including schools in the green or yellow areas.

Calls to lift school mask mandates had multiplied in recent weeks, as concerns grew about their impact on children's social, emotional and educational development.

Walenksy said the new guidance was statistically rigorous, but could be reviewed "if or when new variants emerge, or the virus surges."

The revised guidelines don't however apply to transport systems. A federal rule on that will be reviewed in mid-March when it is set to expire.

The United States is coming out of its latest Covid wave, driven by the Omicron variant, which while highly transmissible, generally leads to less severe outcomes among people who were vaccinated or had a prior infection.

Some 65 percent of the US population are now fully vaccinated, and high calibre masks, such as N95s, which provide strong one-way protection to wearers, are now more widely available for people who require them, such as the immune compromised.

The administration of President Joe Biden has increased its rhetoric around normalisation as the pandemic transitions to a new endemic phase.

The guidance is largely symbolic, since both Republican and Democrat-led states and cities have already taken the lead, either dropping their mandates or setting imminent timelines for doing so. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Vietnamese in Ukraine advised to stay vigilant, well protect themselves

The Vietnamese community in Ukraine are advised to keep a close watch on the development of the situation and try to ensure safety of their lives and assets amidst current political tensions.













People in Ukraine leave their place of residence (Photo: AP)



Sharing difficulties facing the community, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked Vietnamese people to keep calm and strictly follow notifications and guidance of local authorities.



Security, order, and traffic in some cities may be unstable, so people should consider staying in place, preparing essentials, and finding a safe shelter; and carefully check luggage, vehicles, petroleum and personal papers if they really have to move, the ministry noted.



It also recommended Vietnamese expats to keep in touch with Vietnamese associations and friends and help one another.



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine will make efforts to protect citizens and support the community to overcome difficulties.



To receive assistance in case of need, Vietnamese people in Ukraine can contact the following phone numbers and emails:



Embassy of Vietnam in Ukraine: 380 63 863 8999; Email: vnemb.ua@mofa.gov.vn



Citizen Protection Call Centre of the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 84 981 84 84 84; email: baohocongdan@gmail.com



Call Centre of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 84 24 38240 401, ext 0 or 100 (outside office hours) or 141, 269 (during office hours); email: vu1.ubnv@gmail.com.
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French minister for the economy Bruno Le Maire (R) attends a press conference in Paris, France, on Feb. 25, 2022. On Friday, Le Maire announced that under EU sanctions, Russian political and economic personalities owning property on French territory would be identified and blocked. (Xinhua)

France will send aid of 300 million euros (337.56 million U.S. dollars) to Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday.

The announcement of the funding came in a letter from Macron to the French National Assembly, in which he stressed France's support for Ukraine.

"We are also in contact with the Ukrainian authorities to provide them with the defensive equipment they need," Macron said in his letter, which was read to the parliament by the President of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand.

"The EU (European Union) must become a more sovereign power in energy, technology and military matters," Macron wrote, adding that measures will be taken "in order to protect our nationals and our companies."

Also on Friday, French minister for the economy Bruno Le Maire announced that under EU sanctions, Russian political and economic personalities owning property on French territory would be identified and blocked.

"France will block the access of these personalities to all of their property," Le Maire said.

"These sanctions will allow us to cut access for Russia to international funding," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was aware that the West was trying to "blackmail" Russia again with sanctions, but said he believed that sanctions would continue just because Russia exists, regardless of the situation in Ukraine.
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed moves to disconnect Russia from "global financial civilisation" in a video message on Saturday.

A French presidential official said earlier on Saturday that European Union members were close to agreeing to exclude Russia from the SWIFT international payment system.

"Our diplomats fought around the clock to inspire all European countries to agree on a strong and fair decision to disconnect Russia from the international interbanking network. We also have this victory," Zelenskiy said.

"This is billions and billions of losses for Russia - a tangible price for this vile invasion of our country... Ukraine won the attention of the entire civilised world. And the practical result? Here it is - SWIFT... Disconnecting from global financial civilisation."

He also welcomed proposals by Turkey and Azerbaijan to hold peace talks with Russia, and singled out his conversation with Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi as key agreeing more international support to Ukraine.

"We will fight as long as it takes to liberate the country," Zelenskiy said in the short video, adding his country was currently lacking oil and oil products.

(Reporting by Natalia Zinets, Anna Pruchnicka; Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Alison Williams)
Roman Trofymenko, Tanya, and a friend hold signs at San Francisco City Hall, February 24, 2022. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

Ukrainian Americans are reeling after Russia began its invasion on Wednesday night.

Many repeatedly check in with family or friends in Ukraine, but feel powerless to help them.

Ukrainian Americans in California told Insider how they're coping with the first days of war.

SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES  Roman Trofymenko's phone erupted in notifications on Wednesday night.

His friends in Ukraine were posting on social media about loud booms they heard in the distance  missiles and bombs Russia was launching at airports and military bases across the country. In Kyiv, Ukraine, it was a few minutes after 5 a.m. Thursday. Russia was beginning its invasion.

Within 24 hours, Trofymenko and his wife, Tanya, who declined to share her last name, were with about 1,000 others at an anti-war protest in front of San Francisco City Hall. Demonstrators waved blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flags and sang the country's national anthem. Tanya's homemade sign read "Drink shit, Putin," in Russian.

"Yeah it's very aggressive," she said of her sign, but Trofymenko added, "It's not as aggressive as shelling civilian buildings."

Anti-war protestors gather outside San Francisco City Hall, February 24, 2022. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

The protesters had demands  enact sanctions, cut Russia off from SWIFT, and send military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. But for many Ukrainian Americans who attended, it was a chance to gather with others who shared their fear and despair, who were worried for loved ones stuck in Ukraine's seiged cities, and who could do little else to help.

"It's taken lots of anti-anxiety medication to stay sane," Olena Polovynkina, who has family in Kyiv, told Insider. She drove two hours with her mother, husband, and twin babies to attend the San Francisco protest. "Really sad. Really angry. Really helpless. A spectrum of emotions. It's just terrible to watch and see people die."

Tetiana Polovynkina waves the Ukrainian flag at San Francisco City Hall, February 25, 2022. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

In Los Angeles, another group of Ukrainian Americans gathered for a vigil at the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church. They sang hymns and prayed. During the Thursday evening service, Ukraine faced a second consecutive night of Russian bombardment.

Story continues

Worshippers gather at the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Los Angeles, February 24, 2022. Azmi Haroun/Insider

"For a couple of hours, I was in such a shock that I could not believe that it happened," Rev. Ihor Koshyk told his congregation, adding, "It felt to me as if I was sleeping and it was not real."

"Gathering together helps us to deal with our anxiety, it brings us a little bit of comfort," he said.

Using anti-anxiety medication and vodka to cope

Left to right: Bogdan, Mikhail, Anastasia K., Sergey, Anastasia Sh., and Victor hold signs at San Francisco City Hall, February 25, 2022. Sergey's sign reads "Putin is a dickhead," a protest slogan that originated in Ukraine in 2014. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

Polovynkina and her mother, Tetiana, began shaking uncontrollably when they heard the first reports of bombing in Ukraine Wednesday night.

"I was hoping it was a joke until then," Polovynkina said. "It was a really strong stress and anxiety reaction. I never experienced it in my life. We were both really cold and shaken up."

They stayed up late watching the news, trying to track Russia's movements across their home country.

"We can't put our computers down. It's just horrible. Your heart is breaking, basically," she said.

Anti-war protestors gather outside San Francisco City Hall, February 24, 2022. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

Polovynkina needed anti-anxiety medication to get to sleep that night.

A demonstrator named Sergey, who only gave his first name, told Insider that his family and friends in Ukraine are being advised to cover their windows in duct tape, so that shattered glass won't fall into the house.

"The idea that they are suffering  like right now they are waiting [for] bombs and I'm not  I feel ashamed and feel this guilt that I'm not there," Anastasia K., who said she's been coping by "drinking a lot of vodka," told Insider. She declined to give her full name.

"The biggest fear is my people die. People die and my country will die and will be burning," she added. "Even if somehow we win, what will be left? Ruins. Just ruins and dead people. And for what? I just can't understand for what."

Many feel powerless to help their family and friends in Ukraine

Anastasiia paints a sign at the San Francisco City Hall, February 24, 2022. The sign next to hers is painted with the popular protest slogan "Putin is a dickhead." Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

Anastasiia, who declined to share her last name to protect her privacy, returned from a visit to Ukraine just two weeks ago. On Thursday, her parents were hunkering in a bomb shelter in Kyiv. When she first heard reports of bombing, she called them, but they couldn't talk. They were rushing to pack their suitcases.

"I'm not available for them. I feel helpless," she told Insider, adding, "Maybe I missed the signs. I don't know."

Anastasiia (middle) helps paint signs at San Francisco City Hall, February 24, 2022. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

Polovynkina has been talking to her family regularly, but the conversations are difficult. They've ended up talking about the babies to avoid discussing the conflict.

"No one knows what to say. No one knows how to support each other," she said.

For now, her family is stuck at their home in Kyiv. They have no plans to leave.

"They say they don't want to be refugees. They'll stay to the end, whatever that is," she added.

Back in Los Angeles, Rev. Koshyk said his parents and dozens of relatives who live around Lviv were considering fleeing to Poland.

Natalia, a churchgoer with grandparents, siblings, and cousins in Starokostyantyniv, western Ukraine, said that her mother simply asked her to pray. On Wednesday night, Natalia's sister called her, saying she could hear explosions.

"They went to the basement of their building with mattresses for the night," she told Insider. "My grandma told my nephew to help her put together an emergency medical kit and he told her 'Grandma, I'm scared,' and couldn't eat that night."

Natalia declined to share her last name out of fear for her family's safety.

In a phone call on Friday, Trofymenko said he felt more hopeful than he was at the Thursday protest.

"I see a lot of reports specifically from Ukrainian military, and they're quite optimistic, so I'm trying to stay optimistic as well. Overall, we are more enraged than depressed," he said.

Struggling to explain war to young children

Josh and Nadia hold their sign at San Francisco City Hall, February 25, 2022. Morgan McFall-Johnsen/Insider

Nadia and Josh don't know how to explain the situation to their three young children, who are under the age of 7. They declined to share their last name, to protect family members in Russia and Ukraine.

When they said they were going to the San Francisco protest, their daughter asked, "Is this a holiday? Are you celebrating [Putin's] birthday?" Josh told Insider. "And we explained, 'No, we're not. We're doing this so people tell him to stop.'"

Nadia grew up in Russia, but her sister lives in Odesa, Ukraine, with her own family. Her sister's husband and two 20-something sons can't leave the country, since the government banned all male citizens 18-60 years old from leaving. On Thursday, her sister used the phrase: "If we survive."

"I've been mostly crying," Nadia said, tears filling her eyes. "We didn't want this war. None of us. But no one gave us a choice."

Read the original article on Business Insider
LVIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) denied a report earlier on Saturday that Russian helicopters had landed in the Lviv region, a development that would have signalled a widening of the theatre of Moscow's invasion.

The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said Russia had landed three helicopters near the city of Brody in the western Lviv region and that Ukrainian forces had repelled the attack.

The SBU said the information was false and that no such landing had taken place. It said a Ukrainian helicopter had done a reconnaissance flight in the area.

"We ask residents to remain calm!" the SBU said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Sadovyi's office declined to comment and the SBU declined further comment.

The Lviv regional administration said that footage circulating on social media of a helicopter firing rockets in the Lviv region was Ukrainian, not Russian.

"In Brody - everything is quiet!" the statement said. "There is no reason to worry."

Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv with artillery and cruise missiles for a third day running on Saturday.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets; Writing by Anna Pruchnicka and Matthias Williams; Editing by David Clarke)


The US oil and gas industry is using Russias invasion of Ukraine to pressure the Biden administration to throw open more land and ocean for domestic drilling and to loosen regulations for large companies attempting to ramp up their fossil fuel extraction.

Just hours before Russian troops began their unprovoked assault on Ukraine, the American Petroleum Institute (API) posted a string of tweets calling for the White House to ensure energy security at home and abroad by allowing more oil and gas drilling on public lands, extend drilling in US waters and slash regulations faced by fossil fuel firms.

API, which represents oil giants including Exxon, Chevron and Shell, has called on Biden to allow an expansion of drilling and to drop regulations that impede new gas pipelines in order to help reduce fuel costs for Americans and support European countries that have seen gas costs spiral due to concerns over supply from Russia, which provides Europe with around a third of its gas.

At a time of geopolitical strife, America should deploy its ample energy abundance  not restrict it, said Mike Sommers, the chief executive of API. Sommers added that Biden was needlessly choking our own plentiful supply of fossil fuels.

Some leading Republicans have joined the calls. No administration should defend a Russian pipeline instead of refilling ours, Senator Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, told her states legislature this week. Every day, I remind the Biden administration of the immense benefits of Alaska production, energy and minerals alike, and every day I remind them that refusing to permit those activities can have harmful consequences.

Environmental groups were quick to criticize the renewed push for more drilling, accusing proponents of cynically using the deadly Ukrainian crisis to benefit large corporations and worsen the climate crisis.

Expanding oil and gas production now would do nothing to impact short term prices and would only accelerate the climate crisis, which already poses a major threat to our national security, said Lena Moffitt, chief of staff at Evergreen Action, a climate group. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and stand opposed to actions by leaders of the fossil fuel industry that attempt to profit off of these harrowing atrocities.

Story continues

Russia has faced a barrage of sanctions from the US and the European Union, although the western allies have so far largely steered clear of targeting the countrys vast oil and gas industry. Biden has said the sanctions will end up costing Russia dearly, economically and strategically but has not applied punitive measures to Rosneft, Russias state-owned oil company.

The US president faces the opposing pressures of dealing with the climate crisis while avoiding the political headache of rising gasoline prices for American drivers. On Thursday, the price of a barrel of crude oil rose to more than $100 on the global market for the first time since 2014, amid fears over Russias supply.

A group of 10 congressional Democrats wrote to Biden on Thursday to urge the president to release more oil from the USs strategic petroleum reserve in order to lower fuel costs for consumers in the short term. We know that in the long-term, eliminating US dependence on oil will provide the stability we need to keep energy costs low for American households, the lawmakers acknowledged.

The European bloc is thrashing out a plan for a long-term shift away from dependence on the fluctuating fossil fuel markets, with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, outlining the need for strategic independence on energy. Europe is doubling down on renewables, she added.

The Ukraine crisis could prove to be a turning point in global energy consumption, said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency. There will be a transition to clean energy... it will be a difficult one, but I believe the governments will have to manage a transition if we want a planet that is safe and clean in the future, he said.

The development of solar and wind power has grown strongly in the US in recent years, although fossil fuels still account for about 80% of domestic energy consumption. Scientists have warned that emissions from the burning of coal, oil and gas must be rapidly and drastically slashed if the world is to avoid catastrophic climate impacts such as heatwaves, floods, food insecurity and societal unrest.

Clean energy is affordable and reliable; we cant afford to wait any longer to free ourselves from the volatility of the fossil fuel market and the dictators and violence it enables, said Moffitt.




'Dancing With the Stars' pro Val Chmerkovskiy supports Ukraine during a protest in Hollywood as his brother Maks updates his followers on the Ukraine-Russia conflict from the ground. (Photo: Desiree Navarro/WireImage)

Val Chmerkovskiy is taking to the streets of Hollywood in order to stand with Ukraine.

The Dancing With the Stars pro shared footage from a Feb. 24 protest in Hollywood to his Instagram Story, in which he and dozens of others marched with signs calling for an end of the Russian invasion of the country.

The group, many of which held blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, also displayed signs which criticized the president of Russian, Vladimir Putin. One sign featured Putin with a bloody handprint over his face.

Chmerkovskiy wrote on one of the photos, which featured a woman holding a sign which featured both the Ukrainian and Russian flags, Im asking all my Russian friends to do whats right! Now, while you still have a chance to do so.

Val Chmerkovskiy protests in Hollywood over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: Val Chmerkovskiy/Instagram)

While Chmerkovskiy is making his voice heard in Los Angeles, his brother Maksim is currently in Ukraine, where he is updating his Instagram followers of the current situation. On Feb. 26, Maksim shared a video of two young men, which he captioned, Russian soldiers/kids caught in Kharkov. Message to their parents about how they ended up here and asking to be taken back to Russia.

Earlier on Friday, Chmerkovskiy penned a note on Instagram about his brother getting caught in the conflict, writing, My parents fled this country for this exact reason. Not because it wasnt good to them, but because they would see war eventually. Its a cruel irony that 28 years later my brother is in a bomb shelter in Kyiv.

Val Chmerkovskiy protests in Hollywood over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: Val Chmerkovskiy/Instagram)

The Russian people dont want this, he continued. We stood by each others sides. I speak Russian but make no mistake about it, I am a proud Ukrainian and now the world will finally know the difference. Slava Ukraini all day every day! And to all my Russian friends, this may be the best and only time to stand up to your dictator.
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
Feb. 25JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Vision Together 2025's discussions of possibly bringing Afghanistan War refugees to Johnstown and Cambria County to fill jobs was originally larger in scope than what has previously been publicly revealed.

The group was considering a way to place "up to 100 ... Afghani families," according to a Nov. 1, 2021, memorandum sent to the Vision executive committee. The memo described "a proposed plan to prepare for and accept incoming refugees and immigrants."

Mike Tedesco, president and CEO of Vision Together 2025, said any possible plans have since been downsized.

The Vision memorandum, which was obtained by past Republican Johnstown mayoral candidate John DeBartola through a right-to-know request, outlined four categories: "engage with the feds," "pursue state funding," "grow our capacity to absorb refugees" and "gain support."

The proposal included exploring bringing on a project manager (noting that the typical workload ratio is one project manager per 75 "refugees"), executing an agreement with the federal government, working to obtain Office of Refugee Resettlement funding, identifying housing units to place the individuals, finding local employers in need of workers and encouraging volunteers.

Asked if bringing in people who have left Afghanistan was currently being discussed, Tedesco said, "This is still very much part of the conversation. The problem still exists. And that problem is local business owners cannot grow without employees, and there are more jobs than employees out there within Johnstown.

"We want businesses to grow because that cures a lot of what ails our local economy. We're still actively exploring conversations around growing the population of Johnstown. International immigration is one part of that conversation, but it's also national, state-to-state immigration."

'Initial expectations'

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Shortly after the email was sent to the Vision executive committee, a note appeared in the Cambria County Planning Commission's November meeting minutes about executive director and Vision board member Ethan Imhoff, now Johnstown's city manager, providing an update concerning "hosting immigrants, particularly recently evacuated Afghan refugees currently living on American military bases."

Mayor Frank Janakovic, a Vision board member, said the organization "has been exploring a plan that would potentially bring five to 10 legally vetted immigrant  immigrant  families with skills appropriate to fill some of the many jobs available in our area," with an emphasis on "immigrant," during Johnstown City Council's January meeting.

Janakovic responded to an interview request with an email comment: "The Johnstown that I grew up in was known as the 'Friendly City' and was founded by hard-working immigrants (our grandparents and ancestors)! The city of Johnstown does not have a plan to house immigrants; however, our country's fought for freedoms (that) guarantees all individuals, families, citizens and those seeking citizenship or legal relocation the right to locate and reside anywhere within the borders of our country! God bless and help the Ukrainian people who are now fighting to maintain those same privileges and rights or be forced to migrate from their homeland!"

Tedesco was asked if any changes occurred between when up to 100 families were being discussed privately to when five to 10 were being mentioned publicly a few weeks later.

"It was just more diligence, really," Tedesco said. "Like I said, it was the practical reality of we've got to match them up to jobs, we've got to match them up to employers. We're very sensitive to how it might impact local school districts. It's all of those responsibilities that come with attracting international individuals to the city, that tempered our initial expectations."

He said scaling back the proposed plan was not a result of it becoming publicly known.

Tedesco did not say if there is a new target for the number of Afghanis potentially being brought to the area.

"This still is adapting," he said. "A business owner who can bring international individuals in, independent of policy or legislation, they can just do it. A church congregation can just do it. A group of concerned citizens can just do it."

Politicians weigh in

Tedesco, in a Tribune-Democrat op-ed that ran in January, wrote "While the topic of exploring Afghan refugees amongst immigrants from many other countries was reported at a Cambria County Planning Commission meeting, Vision Together 2025 and Cambria County have no plans to attract refugees to the region."

When asked about the difference between the November memo that mentioned refugees multiple times and the op-ed, Tedesco said, "Plans adapt. At that moment, as diligence took place, we realized, OK, we need to pull back and make sure we do this responsibly. That's the best way to say it. That's exactly what we did. What we've learned since then is how dramatic the appetite is from the community to bring diversity into Johnstown."

"I think it's pretty disingenuous for him to be able to write an op-ed, if you want to play semantics, then maybe depending on what it is, but the people of this county deserve transparency," said State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Richland Township, who was not consulted about any plan before it became public. "And I don't think they got it. I know they didn't get it."

State Rep. Frank Burns, D-East Taylor Township, criticized Vision 2025 for information revealed in the memo.

"What's emerged is a far cry from Mike Tedesco's comment in a Jan. 6 news story in The Tribune-Democrat, where he said Vision 2025 was 'simply investigating successful programs in other parts of the country' that brought in a small number of vetted, legal immigrants," Burns said.

Burns said Vision is "deathly afraid of a public hearing  and now we're starting to see why."

"If Vision 2025 truly considered the public as a full partner, they would have come clean from the start," Burns said. "Instead, they have a secret plan that includes pursuing state funding to develop 'English as a second language' programs  and they never even told me anything as a state representative?"

Vision officials have said a goal of the plan would be to help reverse the city's and Cambria County's decades-long population slide.

"What we were talking about was there are a lot of jobs that we need to fill," Tedesco said. "That was the predicate for this entire conversation. Everybody needs help. Local employers cannot scale up, they cannot grow if we don't find a way to fill their open positions."

Vision, which received $20,000 from the City of Johnstown, as approved by council last year, was apparently working on the plan separate from the local government. One step in the "gain support" category was to "brief city leadership on our plan."

"It's not really a policy initiative that legislators approve or disapprove," Tedesco said. "It can happen independent of policy. Anybody could go out and attract individuals to town. The question is how to do it responsibly. And that's what Vision Together was exploring."

Langerholc disagreed, questioning "why they would feel they're even in a position to do that."

The senator added: "Those are policy decisions that elected officials need to be in the forefront on or consulted on, not some nonprofit organization that thinks that they're speaking on behalf of the citizens of this county."

In Tedesco's email to the committee, he pointed out that discussions had taken place with the office of Pittsburgh's mayor, and with state and national nonprofits operating within the sector. A note was also mentioned about participating in what was then an upcoming White House call.

"Apparently, Vision 2025 thinks it's best to chart Cambria County's future via calls to the White House and consultation with the mayor of Pittsburgh," Burns said. "My definition of 'community-driven' is very different than theirs. The people who live here should come first, not last. I think their handling of this sucks."
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt.

So, the natural question for Ilika (LON:IKA) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

See our latest analysis for Ilika

Does Ilika Have A Long Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. As at October 2021, Ilika had cash of UK28m and no debt. Importantly, its cash burn was UK8.5m over the trailing twelve months. So it had a cash runway of about 3.3 years from October 2021. A runway of this length affords the company the time and space it needs to develop the business. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

How Is Ilika's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Although Ilika had revenue of UK1.2m in the last twelve months, its operating revenue was only UK163k in that time period. We don't think that's enough operating revenue for us to understand too much from revenue growth rates, since the company is growing off a low base. So we'll focus on the cash burn, today. The skyrocketing cash burn up 139% year on year certainly tests our nerves. That sort of spending growth rate can't continue for very long before it causes balance sheet weakness, generally speaking. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company.

How Easily Can Ilika Raise Cash?

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Given its cash burn trajectory, Ilika shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Ilika's cash burn of UK8.5m is about 4.6% of its UK186m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

How Risky Is Ilika's Cash Burn Situation?

It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Ilika is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. While we must concede that its increasing cash burn is a bit worrying, the other factors mentioned in this article provide great comfort when it comes to the cash burn. Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. Its important for readers to be cognizant of the risks that can affect the company's operations, and we've picked out 4 warning signs for Ilika that investors should know when investing in the stock.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Friday held a phone conversation.



During the phone conversation, Xi thanked Putin again for coming to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, and congratulated the Russian athletes on finishing second in the Winter Olympics medal table.

Putin extended warm congratulations to all the Chinese people for the complete success of the Beijing Winter Olympics and for the outstanding performance of the Chinese delegation.

The two sides mainly exchanged views on the current Ukrainian situation.



Putin introduced the historical context of the Ukraine issue as well as Russia's special military operation in eastern Ukraine and its position.

He said that the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have long ignored Russia's legitimate security concerns, repeatedly broken their commitments and continuously pushed their military deployment eastwards, which challenged Russia's strategic bottom line.

Russia is ready to hold high-level negotiation with Ukraine, said Putin.

Xi pointed out that recent dramatic changes in the situation in eastern Ukraine have drawn great attention from the international community, adding that China decides on its position based on the merits of the Ukrainian issue itself.

He called on dropping the Cold War mentality, attaching importance and respecting the legitimate security concerns of various countries and forming a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiation.



The Chinese side supports the Russian side in solving the issue through negotiation with the Ukrainian side, Xi said, adding that China has been consistent in its basic position on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China is ready to work with members of the international community to embrace the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, Xi said.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Friday, kicking off what's likely to be a high-profile Senate confirmation process.

Jackson must be approved by the Senate, a power given to the chamber in the Constitution.

Over the coming weeks, every aspect of Jackson's personal and professional life will be scrutinized by both the Senate and general public. Senate staffers will read through all of her judicial decisions, speeches, interviews and any other information they can find to prepare lines of questioning for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Though the Biden administration vetted Jackson before nominating her, new information could emerge during the confirmation process.

More: What to know about Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden's Supreme Court pick

Jackson has won Senate confirmation three times, most recently last summer when Biden named her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Three Republicans  Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine  voted for her.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is President Joe Biden's nominee for associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Retiring Justice Stephen Breyer was nominated by President Bill Clinton, so Jackson's confirmation wouldn't change the partisan makeup of the bench. Because the court will remain 6-3  six conservative and three liberal justices  the confirmation battle may be less heated than the most recent confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett that shifted the court from a 5-4 divide.

Jackson's confirmation would be historic. She would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Recap: Biden promises Black woman nominee to SCOTUS as Justice Breyer announces retirement

Race may play a unique roll in the confirmation process.

"I think the wild card that might keep it from being as political as it otherwise would be is the fact that the nominee [is] a Black woman," said A.E. Dick Howard, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, a former Supreme Court clerk and an expert on the institution. "It makes it more delicate for the Republicans to have a frontal attack on whoever the nominee is, and they might have to hold off."

Story continues

More: Supreme Court fight shows why Americans have such a hard time talking about equity for Black women

More: Black congresswomen praise Biden for keeping Supreme Court pledge amid conservative backlash

Process could take weeks or months

Don't expect the process to be swift.

First, Jackson will meet with senators in preparation for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. At the hearing, she will be questioned by all 22 committee members, who will vote to determine their recommendation on her nomination. Then she will face a vote by the entire Senate to determine whether she joins the court.

The process could take weeks. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who serves as the chair of the committee, said he hopes to wrap up the hearing process before a scheduled Senate recess in mid-April.

More: For Black women judges such as Jackson, blazing a trail has meant scrutiny, assumptions

According to the Congressional Research Service, the average number of days between nomination and the final Senate vote is 68.2.

Barrett had the shortest waiting period and was confirmed 27 days after being nominated by President Donald Trump to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

On the Supreme Court, from left: Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Elena Kagan, Chief Justice John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, Stephen Breyer, Amy Coney Barrett and Sonia Sotomayor.

According to Howard, Republicans "will delay things as much as they can by raising a lot of questions and extending the hearings in the hopes that something will crack."

"There's a political game that will be played alongside the judicial judgment," he said. "The longer the process is played out before the actual hearings, the more time you give opposition groups, interest groups and the country at large to march, to do homework, to try to talk to everybody who is the neighbor or ever knew the nominee."

The Senate Judiciary Committee is composed of 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans. Durbin serves as the chair of the committee, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is ranking member  the top Republican.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee that will consider President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nomination.

The committee conducts initial research and interviews with the nominee before holding a public hearing. During this time, the nominee normally meets with senators and answers a questionnaire prepared by the committee. The FBI will conduct reports on the nominee, and the American Bar Association will rate her qualifications.

The Judiciary Committee hearing

Jackson will sit before senators who will question her in a live hearing.

Durbin will begin the hearing with a statement in support of the nominee, then Grassley will lay out the biggest flaws Republicans see with the nomination, according to Casey Burgat, legislative affairs program director at George Washington University.

The Democrats and Republicans will go back and forth in terms of seniority, each senator getting five minutes to question her.

"We can expect to see fireworks," Burgat said. "When the committee lights turn on, that's where the most public stage of questioning can happen, where they have time to  with a lot of research behind it  look at the background, and then pose questions to get the nominee's responses under oath, in front of a camera, which can always change how people react."

"The hearings themselves have really become interrogations," said Howard, who predicted that the administration will have Jackson watch recent Judiciary Committee hearings to prepare.

"Somebody on the Hill is going to read every opinion that the nominee has ever written, take them apart and see if they can find holes in it that they can attack," Howard said.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is nominated for associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Senators likely to focus on controversial topics

The senators will focus their questions on "high salience, high controversy, sexy topics" likely to appear on the docket, such as Roe v. Wade, climate change, immigration and pandemic mask mandates, Burgat said.

Howard likewise predicted that Roe v. Wade will be a major focus, alongside the separation between church and state, religious issues, affirmative action and gun control.

"These hearings are about as high profile as a committee hearing can get," Burgat said.

"This is why a seat on judiciary is what is sought after, because you get five minutes of uninterrupted time to promote yourself, to get your brand out there as either a hard-line ideologue or opposer of the other party," he said. "It's your chance to kind of make a name for yourself as a tough questioner of a lifetime appointment."

In the confirmation hearing for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, for example, then-Sen. Kamala Harris, as well as Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., drew national attention over their tough questioning of the nominee.

After the hearings, which typically last about four days, the committee votes to determine its recommendation for the rest of the chamber. The nominee is reported "favorably" or "unfavorably." Once the vote is reported to the Senate, the full chamber can begin floor debate.

Sens. Corey Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., confer during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Sept. 4, 2018, in Washington.

Full chamber vote

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will set the schedule for a full Senate vote.

Republicans may try to use a legislative maneuver called a filibuster to delay the vote. Before 2017, 60 votes were needed to break a filibuster and bring a vote to the floor. Five years ago  as Democrats filibustered the nomination of Neil Gorsuch  Republicans lowered the threshold for the number of votes required to confirm a Supreme Court justice to 51.

What is the filibuster? A look at the Senates consequential quirk and debate on its future

More: Republicans could delay but not block Biden's Supreme Court pick if all Democrats back nominee

As a result, Republicans have less ability to delay the confirmation vote of Jackson.

A simple majority of 51 of the 100 senators must vote yes for Jackson to be confirmed. The Senate is evenly split between 50 Democratic caucus members and 50 Republican members, and Vice President Harris would break tie votes, giving Democrats the majority.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring.

After the vote

Breyer will retire at the end of the Supreme Court term this summer. Typically, sessions end in late June or early July.

What is the Supreme Court? Everything you need to know about the SCOTUS and its justices

"Once the new nominee is confirmed and becomes a justice, then you have the whole summer, and the next term doesn't start till the first Monday in October," Howard said. "There's ample time for the nominee to take her seat and get into the swing of things of the court."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ketanji Brown Jackson is Biden's Supreme Court pick. Now what?
The White House asked Congress on Friday for $6.4 billion to aid Ukraine as it fends off a Russian invasion, including $3.5 billion in Pentagon funding and $2.9 billion for foreign security and humanitarian assistance.

Biden administration officials briefed congressional appropriations and leadership staff on the funding proposal, which is expected to evolve as the administration works with international partners to assess on-the-ground needs, according to a White House budget office official.

Lawmakers are considering including the new request as part of a broader spending package that leaders are working to finalize by the March 11 funding deadline, according to a leadership aide.

The $2.9 billion would go to the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide security assistance to Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, the Baltics and Eastern flank allies. That money would also be used to fend off Russian cyberattacks, counter disinformation and assist with economic stabilization, as well as provide humanitarian aid, including emergency food and energy assistance.

The administration identified $3.5 billion in funding requirements stemming from the deployment of thousands of troops to Central and Eastern Europe and related measures to reassure NATO allies.

The Pentagon has deployed thousands of troops to Europe this month, including 5,000 troops rushed to Poland. President Joe Biden signed off on a deployment of 7,000 additional troops to Germany on Thursday.

The Biden administrations request comes as lawmakers from both parties call for a substantial increase in emergency aid to Ukraine, which came under siege this week from Russian forces. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who chairs the spending panel that funds the State Department and foreign operations, predicted earlier Friday that at least $10 billion would be needed amid an impending refugee crisis in eastern Europe.

Lawmakers are also eager to provide additional aid to Ukraines military, but new funding is unlikely to significantly impact Ukraines fight against the Russian incursion.

Story continues

The $2.9 billion in humanitarian aid was an emergency request, meaning the funding would be parceled out on top of the regular budget for diplomatic and foreign assistance. But the person familiar with the proposal noted that the larger list of Pentagon needs did not carry that designation.

A final defense funding bill will likely significantly boost Bidens $715 billion Pentagon budget request, and appropriators could potentially incorporate the $3.5 billion in military needs into the full-year spending bill.

After Russia began bombing Ukraine, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the U.S. and NATO must redouble our material support for Ukraine and that the upcoming funding package would provide an opportunity to lead by example.

Some lawmakers have pushed for quick action on a supplemental spending package that provides money to cope with what many predict will become a humanitarian crisis in Europe, funnels more military aid to Ukraine as it attempts to beat back the Russian invasion and bolsters U.S. military posture in NATO countries on the alliances eastern front.

But top Democrats are angling to tack on a sizable supplemental spending package as a part of a the sweeping funding bill that would bundle together all dozen annual government spending measures. In addition to Ukraine aid, the White House is seeking tens of billions of dollars for pandemic work at home and abroad in the effort to beat back Covid-19.

Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said in a statement Friday that the U.S. must provide enough resources to aid allies and "assist the innocent people caught in the middle of this needless calamity," vowing to work closely with the Biden administration and lawmakers in both parties to enact that funding.
A case involving 11 Wichita officers who reportedly posted inappropriate photos in an app has led the Wichita Citizens Review Board to call its first special meeting since it started in 2018.

The March 10 meeting seeking more information will be mostly in an executive session, which is closed to the public.

The board has concern regarding the conduct reported and the adequacy of the discipline imposed, said board chairperson Jay Fowler during Thursdays meeting after a roughly 40-minute executive session where board members heard about the case.

Fowler, in a phone interview, said he thought the investigation into three of the officers was finished. He didnt know the outcome in two of the cases and in the third case, he said, the officer resigned or retired.

The board expects to hear more details about the cases during the special meeting.

City ordinance prevents Fowler from providing any details about the case, and public details about the case are sparse.

Information included with Thursdays agenda says the incident started with a Wichita police investigation into an alleged domestic violence case involving a Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office deputy on April 8, 2021.

As part of the investigation, the deputys cell phone was seized and downloaded as part of a search warrant, the agenda says. It was learned that officers of the WPD had posted pictures on a text app conversation, which were unbecoming of an officer.

Capt. Wendell Nicholson told the board he thought the incident involved 11 Wichita officers.

The board cant take any definitive action; it can make recommendations.

The board was created to improve police relations with the community.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for decisive action by Virginia in support of Ukraine on Saturday  including an appeal to Norfolk to end its sister city partnership with a Russian city.

In a statement, Youngkin also called on President Joe Biden to take a tougher stance.

Today, we are acting to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they defend their country, Youngkin said. And while these are important steps, it is incumbent upon President Biden to take a stronger, more decisive leadership position to end this war.

Youngkin ordered the states Department of General Services to review state procurement of goods and services involving Russian companies. He urged the Virginia Retirement System board of trustees, as well as university endowment funds, to divest in a prudent and orderly fashion of all holdings of the Russian Ruble and securities of Russian companies.

Youngkin is also calling on Norfolk and Roanoke to end their sister city partnerships with Russian cities Kaliningrad  which is located in a Russian semi-exclave of the same name  and Pskov, respectively.

The announcement comes as Russias invasion into Ukraine enters its third day and as governors across the country announce actions in support of Ukraine.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ordered state-run liquor and wine outlets to remove Russian liquor from their shelves. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked Texas retailers to remove all Russian products.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
Three local fire service workers were recipients of the 2021 Governors Fire Service Awards, announced recently by the office of Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Town of Bedford Fire Department Chief Brad Creasy is one of two Virginia Fire Chief of the Year recipients. Russell Stevens of the Town of Bedford Fire Department was distinguished as one of two Virginia Firefighter of the Year recipients. Captain Earl Copes of the Lynchburg Fire Department received the Excellence in Fire Service Training award.

Begun in 2002, the annual Governors Fire Service Awards are a way to honor excellence in Virginias fire services, according to the news release last week. Award recipients are peer-nominated.

For Creasy, the award came as a surprise.

I had no clue that the men and women here were going to submit my name for this very, very nice award, he said. [Im] very honored, and very humbled by it. I dont think Im deserving of it.

Creasy joined the Town of Bedford fire department in 1996, and for the past 14 years he has served as the departments fire chief.

Creasy holds that continuing professional development and education are important for fire service workers, and during his time in the Town of Bedford Fire Department, a volunteer-run entity, he has helped provide training opportunities, and increased the department budget, in part to fund continuing education and training.

He did not credit himself alone for a successful career.

Ive just been very successful because of the people that we have here, the fire officers and the firefighters, Creasy said.

The governors office news release stated, Leadership for Chief Creasy comes naturally, and his drive and determination are contagious to those around him.

Stevens career in fire service started in 1974 and he has not slowed down since. According to the release and Creasy, he also has a passion for continuing education that betters fire service workers.

Stevens has used his long experience by serving as a Bedford County fire training officer, and was one of the original Deputy Hazardous Material Coordinators, a role he still fills, according to the news release. Like Creasy, he has been a mentor to many.

His actions and dedication to the fire service are examples of a man that truly reflects the mantra of service above self, the news release stated.

Stevens could not be reached for comment, but Creasy, who has nominated Stevens for this award for the past few years, praised his colleague.

Russells been a staple of this department for over 45 years, and has been quite the example to every person coming in in the last 30 or 40 years. Hes very, very deserving of that award, Creasy said. He has represented this department well. Hes represented the community well throughout the state as he goes and teaches... Theres very few people in the fire service that have put the amount of time and sacrifice that he has, especially over a 40-year career.

Over his 21-year career with the Lynchburg Fire Department, where he serves as a fire training officer, Copes developed a Recruit Academy Academic Report Card program, an evaluation system to help recruits succeed in their academy training with continuous, consistent feedback, and identification of strengths and weaknesses.

Copes also launched two Train the Trainer programs geared toward those who already have experience in the fire service field.

The Wide Area Search Rope Train the Trainer program is a training and professional growth program geared toward regional responders through which they can increase abilities in searching large, open areas, and hone general knowledge and skills related to the field. The second program focuses on firefighter rescue and removal techniques, called Firefighter Assistance Search Team Train the Trainer.

Copes colleagues also noted his professional and personal impact.

Earl [Copes] is a positive role model and an influential leader in fire service both in Lynchburg and throughout the Commonwealth, said Lynchburg Fire Department Chief Greg Wormser in a fire department news release. His experience, creativity, and dedication to the craft of public service are just some of the many reasons he is respected by his colleagues.

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In mid-June, 1982, Lee Rotatori made the roughly 617-mile trek from Nunica, Michigan, to Council Bluffs.

The 32-year-old arrived in Council Bluffs for a job as food service director at Jennie Edmundson Hospital and checked into the Best Western Motel at 27th Avenue, where she would stay until her husband arrived with the couples mobile home.

Rotatori started orientation for the position on Monday, June 21. That Thursday afternoon, she went boating on Lake Manawa with her newfound hospital friends. She later went to a local McDonalds to pick up some dinner on her way back to the motel.

The next day, Friday, June 25, a motel employee found Rotatori dead in her room, the victim of a single stab wound. Its a case that remained cold for decades, before advancements in DNA technology and the relentless work of Council Bluffs Police Department officials and a civilian from Pennsylvania helped crack the case.



According to coverage from The Daily Nonpareil and Omaha World-Herald, along with material from the Iowa Cold Cases database, there was no sign of forced entry. The restaurant employees were the last to see Rotatori alive before her death, and the amount of food from the restaurant indicated it was for only one person. The Pottawattamie County medical examiner determined she mightve been dead for 12 hours before her body was found. A medical examiners report also determined Rotatori had been sexually assaulted.

Because of the hotels proximity to Interstates 80 and 29, then-Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Larry Williams told the World-Herald the killer could be a local or already thousands of miles away.

Council Bluffs authorities worked on the case with the Michigan State Police, which checked into Rotatoris background in the state. Together, the agencies chased down leads, examined murders with similar circumstances and talked to countless witnesses and sources. Her husband Jerry Nemke had a solid alibi and was ruled out as a suspect.

Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Service-Master Inc.  the Chicago-based food services company Rotatori worked for that had placed her at the hospital  and Kinseth Hospitality, which owned the motel, teamed up to create a $3,000 reward fund for information leading to an arrest.

But despite exhaustive efforts, law enforcement was unable to figure out who killed Rotatori.



Rotatoris living siblings, Ann Chinn and Greg Gunsalus, described their sister as mostly happy and outgoing, an artistic woman with lots of friends. Growing up she loved drawing horses and in adulthood fulfilled the dream of owning one while in Michigan. In her teens she teamed with Greg on the Rochester junior rifle club.

She participated in quite a few matches. And she usually did quite well, Gunsalus said, while also noting she was a fairly good student who went on to earn her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Monomoy.

The Gunsaluses lived in upstate New York before moving to Rochester, Minnesota in March of 1958. Rotatori graduated from Mayo High School in 1967. Her remains were buried in Rochester.

Rotatori married her first husband while an undergraduate, Gunsalus said, And I can basically say, from that point on, I would maybe see her once a year.



As technology improved, evidence collected in 1982 was submitted to the state crime lab for examination in 2001, which determined a male DNA profile, according to police. But there were no matches in state and federal databases.

In 2011, Council Bluffs Police Det. Steve Andrews took on the cold case. He said new developments in DNA technology led the department to believe a solution to the case might be in reach. Andrews and Crime Lab Manager Katie Pattee pursued answers.

Fast forward to 2018. Police Capt. Todd Weddum was watching a news program on the Golden State Killer case. Through the use of genetic genealogy, law enforcement were able to tie Joseph J. DeAngelo Jr. to a string of murders and other crimes that spanned from roughly 1973 to 1986 in California.

I said, How do we go about doing this? with the Rotatori murder, Weddum told the Nonpareil. There wasnt much else we could do on the case.

Pattee said she wasnt extensively familiar with the process and in April of 2019 sent the DNA sample to Reston, Virginia-based Parabon Nanolabs, which specializes in working with law enforcement on DNA forensics cases and on technologies for the medical industry. A few months later, Parabon sent back a profile of the suspect, albeit a fuzzy one  a white man of northern European descent.

So were looking at a pretty big pool, Andrews said.

Parabon took the profile and compared it against DNA submitted to family tree companies  think 23 and Me, Ancestry.com and their ilk  in which the client allowed for use by law enforcement. A follow-up report by the company helped police start making contacts with family members.

The initial match was a sixth to eighth cousin of the suspect.

They said with that, the probability of finding your person is slim to none, Andrews said.

After hours of research by Parabon, police werent much closer.

They told us basically, Hey, kits are coming in every day. Its going to take one to break this thing open, Weddum said. At that point, its a waiting game. Were waiting for someone thats a close enough relative to our murder suspect that that would be the key.

So they waited.

In March 2020, Weddum pulled up his email to find a note from Eric Schubert, a college kid from Pennsylvania with an interest in genealogy.

He said, Do you have any cold cases youd like help on?, Weddum said, noting Schubert included his resume  the 20-year-old has assisted law enforcement agencies in multiple states work cold cases since he was 18.

Schubert is a junior history major at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. He said after helping solve his first case, he reached out to departments, asking if theyd tried investigative genetic genealogy or if theyd like to try, offering his volunteer services.

After vetting Schubert through other agencies hed assisted and having the citys legal department draw up a non-disclosure agreement, Andrews, Weddum and crew filled him in on the cold case.

I knew pretty much nothing about the Rotatori case until CBPD told me about it, Schubert told the Nonpareil.

He was very rapidly able to get to the great-grandparent of our subject, Andrews said. From that, the family tree branched in a multitude of branches, hundreds of names of people. Id locate those people, reach out to family members, request their assistance on the case. More often than not they were happy to submit a kit for us.

Theyd submit a kit, then Eric would go to work. The kid is just the mad genius of genealogy.

Schubert said he was happy to assist.

Genealogy is such a great tool that often can be very meaningful, he said. It was a privilege to be helpful. I was so pleased to see Lees killer identified through the work of the Council Bluffs PD and their previous genetic genealogy findings that I assisted with interpreting for them. And I am so glad there is justice for Lee.

As they worked their way through potential family members, the investigative team eventually determined their suspects biological father did not raise him.

Identifying him was not as easy as it looked when I first started research. In the end, we had a good picture of where he was and what family he was in, however his exact identity within the family was unclear, Schubert said.

A man police hadnt yet contacted to submit a DNA kit submitted one on his own that Parabon flagged, which helped unlock the mystery, narrowing the case down to a pair of brothers. Based on the mens ages and the date of the crime  one wouldve been too young at the time  it could only be one man.



Thomas O. Freeman was a trucker from West Frankfort, Illinois, who was 35 at the time of the crime. Weddum and Andrews said Parabon and Schubert called about an hour apart reporting his name. To confirm, law enforcement tracked down Freemans daughter, whose DNA was a match with the suspect DNA found at the crime scene when run through the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation crime lab. Police believe Freeman killed Rotatori while passing through the area as a trucker.

Four months after Rotatoris death, Freemans body was found near Cobden, a small town in southern Illinois, the victim of four gunshot wounds in the chest. The case remains unsolved.

Shot four times and dumped in a wooded area not far from where he lived, Weddum said, who noted Freeman was found at the end of October and a death investigation determined hed been killed sometime around late August or early September.

Two months later, he dies a violent death. Im not a real big believer in coincidences, Weddum said, so we reached out to the Illinois State Police and got a hold of the sergeant in charge of Freemans cold case investigation.

The agencies shared reports and have been working together ever since.

We know who killed Lee, Weddum said, now were working to figure out if Freemans death is somehow connected with him murdering Lee.

Theres no known direct connection between Rotatori and Freeman. But, police believe its possible Freeman and her husband crossed paths.

Nemke and Rotatori first married in 1978, divorcing a year later before remarrying in December 1981. Years earlier, Nemke, then 17, was arrested in the spring of 1960 in Chicago and later convicted of beating a local waitress to death.

Nemke served his time at the Menard Correctional Facility in southern Illinois before his release in 1978. Andrews said after his release, Nemke went to college in Carbondale, Illinois, about 26 miles outside West Frankfurt and 15 miles from Cobden.

Hes familiar with the area, has a history with the area, Weddum said.

When Andrews picked up the cold case in 2011, the first DNA sample he tracked down was Nemkes.

He voluntarily gave a sample, Andrews said, noting Rotatoris husband lived in Florida at the time.

Nemke died in March 2019. Andrews said its safe to call him a person of interest in the Freeman case.

With his known history of being in the area of where our suspect lived and where our suspect died, it raises suspicions of his involvement. That he possibly couldve been involved, Weddum said.



Chinn and Gunsalus said theres a sense of closure now that the case has been solved, though they regret the fact their parents, Clifford and Gwen, went to their graves not knowing what happened.

Gunsalus, 71, splits his time between St. Louis and Las Vegas, while Chinn, 64, lives in Rochester, Minnesota. Rotatori was the oldest, followed by Gunsalus, their brother Tom, who has since died, and Ann.

About a year ago, Andrews reached out to Gunsalus, telling him they had a suspect. Gunsalus said hes been in touch with Rotatoris son from her first marriage, who was 11 when his mother died and didnt see her often after his parents divorced four years before her death. The son declined to participate in a Nonpareil interview with the family.

Reflecting on June of 1982, Gunsalus noted his parents were living in Texas at the time.

I was informed by my parents. They were contacted, and they made plans to go to Council Bluffs, Gunsalus said. They stopped by St. Louis and stayed overnight with me on the way there.

I was at work and received a phone call, Chinn said. It was a shock.

We slowly got additional details, that she was murdered in the hotel room, was stabbed, Gunsalus said. Its nice to know that they were able to resolve the case. I only wish that my parents were here to hear that.

Mmm, hmm, Chinn agreed.

I just wish it couldve been years ago, Gunsalus said.

***

Its important to note, from reading the case file from Lees initial investigation, the investigators who worked that case were very thorough, Weddum said. They did everything they could do. It took this new technology to solve this case.

Andrews said the case contained boxes and boxes of files. He noted Freemans name was not on the Best Western registry for the night of June 24, 1982, so he wouldnt have been on anyones radar.

The work they did was extensive, Andrews said. They were looking at similar M.O.s, followed tips.

We want to shout out those guys for what they did. The technology was just not there at the time.

Andrews said hes been in contact with the lead investigator, Lyle Brown, who was a detective at the time before retiring as a lieutenant in the 1990s. Brown remembers the case well.

He told me, This is one of those cases that stayed with me ever since I left, Andrew said. He said I think about this case all the time. Hes expressed how happy and proud he is that we brought this to a close.

Brown declined to join Weddum, Andrews and Pattee for an interview with the Nonpareil.

During that interview at the Council Bluffs Police Department headquarters, Andrews, Weddum and Pattee reflected on the case. When Weddum tried to defer his piece of the credit, Andrews credited the captain for helping secure funds to enlist Parabons help. If not for that, and Weddum turning on the TV that night in 2018, perhaps the case would remain cold. Weddum lauded Andrews and Pattee for their hours spent on the case, hours that came in spurts when they found time to work on the almost-40-year-old case.

Its extremely satisfying, Andrews said of closing the case. There were high points and low points throughout the whole process, all the while youre hoping to get to this point, but never knowing if youll make it or not. But when you get the confirmation that everything you worked for has come to fruition  its exciting, to say the least.

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Prompted by questions from the states corn growers, the Iowa Attorney Generals Office is working with economists to study why fertilizer prices have spiked over the past year.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller Thursday told reporters the process is not a formal investigation, but he hopes the review helps lead to a decline in fertilizer prices.

The price of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer has increased 315% since January 2021, and other types of fertilizer have increased between 171% and 290%, according to the federal agriculture department.

Miller said the review will be similar to one his office conducted roughly a decade ago, when it looked into significant increases in natural gas prices. Miller said after that review, prices began to decline.

We think this is really important for our ag community, Miller said during a virtual news conference. We think public discussion could be helpful to get some resolution.

Miller said economists will study how the price increases happened, and if they are consistent with supply and demand.

SECOND AMENDMENT RALLY: The Iowa Firearms Coalition hosted Second Amendment Day at the Iowa Capitol with a program featuring multiple speakers.

Of primary interest was a proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution, which will go to Iowa voters in the fall general election. The proposed amendment would guarantee Iowans right to bear arms, and decree that any firearms law or regulation must be subject to strict scrutiny, the highest level of judicial scrutiny.

Iowa voters will be asked on this years ballots whether to add that amendment to the Iowa Constitution.

TREE PLANTING GRANTS: The Iowa Legislature appropriated state infrastructure funds to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for a community-based derecho recovery tree-planting program. Additionally, through the USDA Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters 2021 State Urban Forest Resilience Grant Program, the DNR received funds for emerald ash borer reforestation.

The Community Forestry Grant Program provides reimbursable dollar-for-dollar matching grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to be used for the purchase and planting of trees suitable to Iowa on publicly owned lands including street right-of-ways, parks, school grounds, courthouse lawns, public buildings, fairgrounds, cemeteries, libraries and trails.

More than $21,000 in matching funds will be made available to local governments, schools and service organizations in the 27 Iowa counties included in the Governors Derecho Disaster Proclamation, as well as $50,000 in matching funds available to local governments, schools, and service organizations in the 84 counties with confirmed Emerald Ash Borer.

Apply at www.iowadnr.gov/urbanforestry by March 30.

GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE: Senate File 183 was approved, 53-44. The bill would authorize governmental entities to enter into guaranteed maximum price contracts for the construction of public improvements. It also would prohibit them from entering into design-build contracts for projects and from entering into guaranteed maximum price contracts for highway, bridges or culvert construction.

SF 183 would prohibit the Iowa Board of Regents from entering into a design-build contract to construct, repair, or improve buildings or grounds. It also would prohibit governmental entities from utilizing the fee-based selection of an architect, landscape architect or engineer for a public improvement.

With the exception of the regents, all public improvement projects are completed using a process that requires governmental entities to bid projects using a design-bid-build contract. The regents currently uses both design-bid-build and design-build contracts. They have completed or initiated a total of 14 contracts using design-build and completed seven projects using design-build.

Several Democratic amendments were rejected including one by Rep. Bruce Hunter, D-Des Moines, proposing to allow governmental bodies to choose the process best for the project and the taxpayer. They could choose to take the lowest responsible bid, which is the case for most projects undertaken by Iowa governmental entities, construction manager at-risk

He said 88% of regents projects over past seven years have been lowest responsible bidder and in cases they used design-build it saved taxpayers money.

For the most part, the bill was supported by construction and development companies, and the League of Cities. It was opposed by labor unions.

HEMP PRODUCTION: House members voted 95-0 to approve HF 2380 to increase the maximum number of acres of hemp a producer may grow from 40 acres to 320 acres per year, with the condition that not more than 40 acres can be used to produce hemp grown for the purpose of extracting cannabidiol.

Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt, said when the Legislature first approved hemp production there were limited or no markets for hemp. Since then, growers have sought to increase the acreage cap.

PROTECTIVE ORDERS: Representatives unanimously approved HF 825 which would allow, but not require, a judge to enter a protective order that does not include a finding of domestic or sexual abuse if both the petitioner and respondent consent

The change would make the process of obtaining a protective order less traumatic for some victims, the bills sponsor, Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, said.

It was supported by the bar, trial attorneys, and groups advocating for domestic and sexual violence victims, and civil liberties.
DES MOINES  The Iowa Legislature sent a bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds Thursday that creates a 3.9% flat tax in four years, eliminates taxes on retirement income and lowers taxes for corporations at an estimated cost of about $2 billion to a state with an annual $8 billion budget.

Republicans in the House and Senate negotiated a compromise agreement and passed it through the Senate and House in a few hours sending it to Gov. Kim Reynolds who had proposed a 4% flat tax. Iowa will join about 10 other states with a flat tax when she signs it.

Democrats argued the steep revenue cuts will help rich people people far more than average income earners and bring future economic problems for the state, risking inadequate funding for schools, prisons and mental health programs.

Everyday Iowans know that this plan is not fair. It is not fair to give multi-millionaires and billionaires a tax cut that is bigger than most Iowans earn in a year, said Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver said when fully implemented it will move Iowas individual income tax rate to the fourth lowest in the country from eighth highest. He has said the goal is to eventually eliminate the state income tax.

Two Senate Democrats supported the bill. The final vote was 32-16.

The House passed its version of the tax cuts bill earlier this month but agreed to the Senate changes by a vote of 61-34 with two Democrats voting for it.
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The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria and the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Senegal, and the Republic of South Africa launched the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment campaign at a global health summit held virtually on Wednesday.

Donald Kaberuka, chair of the Global Fund Board, said, "We are extremely grateful to their Excellencies Presidents Kagame, Kenyatta, Ramaphosa, Sall, and Tshisekedi for co-hosting the high-level Preparatory Meeting to launch the Global Fund's Seventh Replenishment."

"This demonstrates their commitment and leadership in the fight against the three epidemics within their respective countries and illustrates Africa's strong engagement and partnership with the Global Fund," Kaberuka said.

"Today, they are calling on the world to join them in their determination to reach this ambitious goal to end HIV, TB, and malaria by 2030 and build strong national health systems to respond to emerging pandemics," he said.

The Global Fund's Investment Case, also released Wednesday, explained the need for $18 billion to get back on track to end AIDS, TB and malaria. The money will accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 of "health and well-being for all" and universal health coverage, and strengthen pandemic preparedness.

According to a press release from the Global Fund, a successful Replenishment would allow its partners to save 20 million lives between 2024 and 2026, reducing the mortality rate by 64%, and avert more than 450 million infections or cases, reducing the incidence rate by 58% across the three diseases by 2026, relative to 2020 levels.

In the 20 years since the Global Fund was created, the partnership has saved 44 million lives and cut the death toll from the three diseases by 40%. But the Global Fund's Results Report revealed significant progress had been lost because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and global resource needs have increased.

Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, said, "In the face of the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria, the choice is stark: We either increase funding, or we abandon hope of finally defeating these epidemics by 2030."

"We must increase support to countries to build more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive systems for health. This is crucial for ending HIV, TB, and malaria, defeating COVID-19, and protecting people from future infectious disease threats around the world," Sands said.
Two more North Platte City Council members gained election opponents Friday as the statewide filing period for the states May 10 primary neared its Tuesday close.

Former state Sen. Mike Groene officially withdrew from the District 7 University of Nebraska Board of Regents race, a day after Unicameral successor Sen. Mike Jacobson formally entered the District 42 field.

Nebraskans who want to run and dont already hold an elected office must file for the primary by 5 p.m. Tuesday in their respective time zone.

Federal, state and multicounty board candidates must file at Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnens Lincoln office. All others must file with their county clerk.

Past North Platte mayoral and council candidate Tracy Martinez, 1003 W. Ninth St., filed Friday for the councils open Ward 4 seat against incumbent Ed Rieker.

Martinez finished third in the 2020 primary for the wards other seat, which Councilman Mark Woods won that November by ousting then-incumbent Lawrence Ostendorf.

Councilman Ty Lucas, also seeking a second four-year term, will be opposed in Ward 2 by Kelle Dikeman, 2502 Cedarberry Lane.

Brian Flanders filed previously in Ward 3 against three-term council incumbent Jim Carman. Council President Jim Nisley, who represents Ward 1, remained unopposed as of Friday.

Council races wont appear on the primary ballot except for wards that have at least three candidates.

City voters May 10 will eliminate at least one candidate for the lone open six-year term on the North Platte Airport Authority board.

Randy Billingsley, 520 E. Ninth St., and Corban Heinis, 716 E. 10th St., have joined Daren Wilkinson in the race. Incumbent Greg Hanna chose not to run for re-election.

The airport board seat that Jacobson vacated Wednesday wont be on this years ballot. State law calls on the mayor to nominate a successor, subject to council ratification, to finish the nearly three years left in Jacobsons term.

Jacobson, appointed Wednesday by Gov. Pete Ricketts to the last 10 months of Groenes last District 42 term, officially filed for a full four-year term Thursday.

He joins Brenda Fourtner, retired Great Plains Health CEO Mel McNea and Lincoln County Commissioner Chris Bruns in the race. District 42 voters May 10 will advance two of them to the November election.

Edward Dunn of Grant remained the only candidate in southwest Nebraskas District 44 to succeed term-limited Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango.

Groene, who had entered western Nebraskas NU regents race Feb. 15, no longer appeared as a District 7 candidate when Evnens office updated its statewide list just after 5 p.m. CT Friday.

Groene announced his resignation from the Legislature Feb. 18, adding that he also intended to pull out of the regents race. His Unicameral resignation took effect Monday.

Term-limited Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg remains a candidate for the seat of regents Chairman Bob Phares of North Platte. Phares is not seeking re-election.

In other local and regional races set to appear on Lincoln County ballots:

 Third District U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, a Republican from Gering, now has three challengers in other recognized parties to his bid for a ninth term.

Daniel Wik of Norfolk joined David Else of rural Overton in seeking the Democratic nomination. District voters will choose one May 10 to oppose Smith.

Mark Elworth Jr. of Omaha, who ran for the 3rd District seat as a Democrat, has filed for the Legal Marijuana NOW party nomination.

 Challenger Kathy Welte has joined incumbents Ryan Stearns and DeAnn Vaughn in the Brady school board race.

 Blake Ristine of Gothenburg filed for a Gothenburg Hospital Board seat, joining Ryan OHare of Cozad in the race. Open seats on that board will be filled in the May 10 primary.

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Chief Shane Healey of the Opelika Police Department is singing the praises of people in the city after what hes calling a tough couple of weeks.

Healey said that tips from witnesses helped his department investigate cases including two murders, a bank robbery, an officer being struck and dragged by a vehicle, and an assault on an elderly woman.

He was so impressed that he wrote an open letter to the city, and he also sat down with the Opelika-Auburn News to talk about how citizens are helping him fight crime.

He said its usually difficult to get people to give information to the police, but with these incidents, he was moved by how many people spoke up.

I cannot remember a time in my policing career when we have had so many people speak up about what they saw and knew, he wrote in the letter.

Citizens stepping up

Healey said that while many citizens used the hotlines provided by the OPD, what surprised him the most was how many initiated face-to-face interaction.

Healey said its always a challenge for witnesses to come forward in murder investigations, but with the two that occurred recently, numerous people stepped forward to talk to OPD officers.

Because of this information the OPD was able to solve these cases quickly and make arrests.

When officers responded to the murder that occurred on Morgan Avenue, Healey said, there was a person who was not shy and was willing to tell the officers what they saw, which he believes emboldened several others to come forward as well.

Healey said these witnesses basically conveyed enough is enough, were tired of this and wanted to tell what they saw.

Healey said its important that people who witness an incident give the police information even if they didnt witness the entire event. These small pieces can help the police put together a complete picture of what really happened.

Our job as police, really above everything else, is to get to the truth of what really happened, he said. The more information we have and the more people we have talking to us, the closer to the real truth we can get. Thats what we need to be successful at solving a case.

When the OPD officer was struck by a vehicle in the Tiger Town Kroger parking lot, Healey said about 10 people stayed on the scene to check on the officer, give statements and share video.

The suspect fled the scene but was caught a few days later in Georgia. The injured officer was sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and is recovering.

When an elderly lady was assaulted and stabbed, Healey said neighbors across the street helped the OPD get in touch with family members and helped provide valuable information. She is also recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

And when Truist Bank on Second Avenue was robbed, citizens provided descriptions of the vehicle and the suspects appearance.

Not that we would not have closed those cases, but we would not have closed them as quickly without the amount of help that we had, Healey said.

Together Opelika

Healey believes much of this citizen involvement is a result of the Together Opelika program the department started back in 2020, which focused on bringing the OPD and the community closer.

Healey said the Together Opelika program began with a couple of ladies in a room coming up with ideas of how to humanize the officers, make the department open to the community and form relationships.

He said the OPD knew it needed to be proactive after George Floyds death in 2020 and the resulting summer riots.

We quickly identified that if something bad like that happened here, weve got to have a better relationship with our citizens, so that it doesnt tear the city apart, he said.

Healey thinks this shift is based around a belief that we can do it better in Opelika and that the people dont want violent crimes in their neighborhood anymore.

Healey said it takes a village mentality and that citizens have started to buy into it. He said hes seen great effort from city government, nonprofit organizations, churches, schools, businesses and community members.

Its like this huge snowball effect that we really hope continues to move forward long past my days here, long past the end of the mayors next term, Healey said. The conversations (Mayor Fuller) and I have had are about trying to effect change and a culture shift that lasts way past us and builds a better community.

Healey said he hopes to continue to see the community grow in its willingness to provide information.

I think the more that they can trust and believe in us, the better service we can provide to the community, he said. The more they trust us, the more willing theyre going to be to make a phone call.

Healey said the ultimate goal is to prevent as many crimes from happening as possible, whether citizens dissuade someone against commiting a crime or inform the OPD beforehand that somethings not right.

Were gonna change the world from Opelika, Alabama, Healey said. This is our piece of the world and were changing it.
Angelina Jolie says it's vital that "everything possible is done" to support those fleeing their homes in Ukraine.

The Hollywood star and humanitarian - who was appointed the Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2012 - is "praying" for Ukrainians after Russias President Vladimir Putin launched an unprecedented attack on the country on Thursday (24.02.22).

On Instagram, Angelina, 46, wrote: Like many of you, Im praying for the people in Ukraine.

My focus along with my @refugees colleagues is that everything possible is done to ensure the protection and basic human rights of those displaced, and refugees in the region.

We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety. It is too soon to know what will happen, but the significance of this moment  for the people of Ukraine, and for the international rule of law  cannot be overstated.

The 'Salt' star also shared a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, who are working with the United Nations, Ukraine and other countries in Europe to provide humanitarian support.

The statement read: We are gravely concerned about the fast-deteriorating situation and ongoing military action in Ukraine.

The humanitarian consequences on civilian populations will be devastating. There are no winners in war, but countless lives will be torn apart.

We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety. Civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must be protected and safeguarded at all times, in line with International Humanitarian Law.

Accordingly, we have stepped up our operations and capacity in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

We remain firmly committed to support all affected populations in Ukraine and countries in the region.

Originally published on celebretainment.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.


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The amount of Americans who seem to be totally down with what Putin has done/is doing is fucking frightening.



Edited at 2022-02-26 12:02 am (UTC)

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How? HOW?? I just dont fucking understand people.

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I had a coworker be all WELL UKRAINE WAS PART OF RUSSIA ONCE like fuck you really want to go down that rabbit hole, Jon???

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Im glad my grandpa is dead bc he was so in love with Putin before he passed.

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Well Im sure Putin has plenty of Pee Pee type tapes on every US government official, so thats why the GQP is blaming Biden for this. Most Americans honestly dont care because its way over there * waves hands*.

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So many, especially republicans, see this act of aggression as strength and they love leaders that look strong.

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Who though? I've only seen the Most crazt right wing pundits pushing it. The real life super right people I've kept on Facebook are all for Ukraine

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they see him as the best version of themselves, a militant champion of christian nationalism who gets to foment racism and xenophobia with badass war weapons. considering the state of national politics in this country, i'm not surprised but my disgust really knows no bounds. it never stop being frightening to know that i'm living right alongside these people.

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These same people are the ones with semi automatic weapons strapped on to go to the fucking grocery store, but they can't fathom why Ukraine won't just lay down and take it.



The disconnect...they live in fear everyday of their freedoms being taken from them when it comes to masks and vaccines, but actual people illegally occupying a country is perfectly cool.



Putin's out here eating dumbass American brain for breakfast. He's played them perfectly.

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I dont know about that. I only know my little world, but no one in my circle agreesand some of them are conservative (family members I cant disown).



Edited at 2022-02-26 01:39 am (UTC)

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I think it's actually a relatively small number of Americans who are down with what Putin is doing. But the GOP base is somewhat divided over it which could potentially wind up fucking the Republicans over in the midterms.

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The right has completely lost the plot. Truth be told its because they dont care about democracy - they would love it if America were more like Russia and run by a cabal of oligarchs; provided of course they are the Putin of the story.

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american putin supporters pale in comparison to ukraine supporters by a huge margin. they're just loud.

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Who though? I've yet to see a single American say Putin is in the right. Every one online, tv, other media, etc are all condemning him. Even the super right leaning, extra religious people I am stuck being related to are all in support of Ukraine

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i read earlier that hayden panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko joined the reserve army and good grief, just good luck to all of them.



it's really freaking me out how the ukrainian president keeps saying tonight's the night shit's about to get real bad. sigh

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Wladimirs brother is the mayor of Kyiv. Haydens daughter was living in Ukraine with her dad, but Hayden said online today that her daughter isnt in the country currently.

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Omg thank god, I was so worried about their daughter when I read hedyjouned the reserves.

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Maks Chmerkovskiy is in Odessa

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Thank you for posting an update. I tried to see what happened while I was at work, but it was all pundits babbling at each other.

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Ill be adding some reading sources in the post write up in a little bit, for anyone who wants a deeper dive

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Thank you  I feel like there is so much happening, and I dont want to fall into disinformation.

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I appreciate you posting this, OP

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I have an ukranian friend (living in the USA) whose cousins were escaping to Poland only to be turned down bc no man above 18 can leave the country and has to fight :/

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i'm very sorry. i hope your friend's family are able to remain safe

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ty <3 I hope so too. fuck Putin

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my heart breaks. there's nothing good that can come of any of this.

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Yeah, the police/military is stoping cars/buses and taking men between 18-60 to fight.

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This made my heart sink.

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Ah, I was wondering why I was seeing videos of men saying goodbye to their families. Dang

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Not gonna lie. I would probably jump of a building and I never thought of suicide in the slightest but just the thought of this mentally makes me wanna cry

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The Daily had a new episode up today. I always like listening to them because they have journalists on the ground in Ukraine and Russia and do interviews but fuck its sad. Those poor, poor people.

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The father who is a NICU doctor was a heavy emotional segment.

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That made me cry

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I stopped listening to The Daily last year when it was just non-stop "let's talk to dumbfuck Trump supporters and anti-vaxxers and etc etc and just let them spew their garbage without saying literally anything to push back on them" so I may try to give it another listen....

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I like The Daily podcast and their episodes on all of this have been great imo. Todays episode made me so emotional though and I had to hold back tears listening to the reporter speak to Ukrainians

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I was so sad listening to it yesterday. When one of the reporters is talking to a man at a train station and she mentions he only has one bag as he is on his way out. He says he is going to stay with family elsewhere and she asked if he thought he would be back, he said no, not if it becomes Russian land. Then she asked how old he was and he was only 18. Heartbreaking.

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I have so much respect for the people of Ukraine who are fighting so hard, someone on MSNBC said putin probably didn't expect as much resistance as he's getting. I really hope they can hold out.

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Ikr

The pentagon was saying that Russia still hadnt established air supremacy which had been predicted to happen quickly after invasion, and that ground troops hadnt advanced as quickly as expected. On the downside they said only 30% of total Russian troops had massed at the border.



Overall tho I think Putin really underestimated the will of the people of Ukraine. Heroes all of them.

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i don't think anything is going as expected. it seems as though russian troops thought they'd march in and ukranians would be grateful that they were there. and honestly, i feel like somewhere in putin's mind, he thought the same thing. i can't get a good read on him, but part of me thinks he believes his own bs.



the ukranians are tough, though. like mad tough and all my respect goes out to them. i saw that the story of that ukranian woman yelling at a russian solider and telling him to put sunflower seeds in his pocket so that when he dies, at least something pretty can grow has been all over tiktok today. brave doesn't even begin to describe these people. i admire them.



i hope they can keep fighting for as long as it takes. i feel like they will keep fighting to the last person and even if they fall now, they won't stop fighting.

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IA. I hope that the US is able to provide aid without actually putting our name on it via weapons and other military supplies so that Ukraine can hold out long enough for Putin to lose support. Because yeah this invasion is not going how Putin thought it would, imo.

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China abstaining on that vote is a little surprising, thought they would be a solid no.

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It would look horrible to the international community and abstaining still sort of serves their purposes and lets them evade harsh criticism from either side.



To me (a random internet user with no expertise in this), their language comes across as subtly saying that countries should not get involved in other countries' issues and matters of sovereignty and territories whatsoever. It honestly sounds like they're trying to establish that whatever China does to any of the countries or territories it claims (like Taiwan) is not and should not be the concern of the international community.



Edited at 2022-02-26 01:05 am (UTC)

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This is also how it reads, they want to establish how the rest of the world should respond if (when...) they invade Taiwan :/

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china doesn't seem to be supporting russia they way people thought they would... like, they're not not supporting russia, but they seem to be just waiting and watching.





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I don't think China wants anything to do with this hot mess.

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china 100% isn't coming through for russia like the kremlin thought it would

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Zelensky is hot to me right now. Idk if hes just hot, or is it the defiance, or both but he could get it.



So with these seized assets. Whenever this ends, however it ends....do Putin and his cronies get their shit back ever or nah?

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What is this comment

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are you in heat what is going on here?

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a lady in the pathology lab at my work said she thought Zelensky is hot so it's not only you.

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lol I was surprised about how deep his voice is.



I thought he was cute too.

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you're gettin' some down votes but look we gotta find the light where we can and you are right sis he could get it (after ukraine is safe ofc)

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I came in here and made a similar comment to try and make people smile if only for a moment but I hope its not taken poorly.

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I'm with you b.

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Lmfao my friend said the same thing so youre not alone.



Its the defiance for me, thats fucking sexy. Hes not hiding like all politicans do when it comes to wars.

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lmao this comment is truly ontd at its ontdest

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not completely related but I was scrolling through tik tok and saw a vid that was titled "stocks to buy during ukraine war" I feel so disgusted

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Vasily. Vasya. Vaska. numbnuts. we have the internet these days.

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Dude. You could get away with this in 1917. But we have ACTUAL LIVE VIDEO that says you're a fucking liar.

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I saw footage that is apparently being passed as real but it is actually from a video game?

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Theres a lot of tik tok hoaxes recycling all kinds of footage.

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There's a USA Today reporter on Twitter who has a master thread of photo/video hoaxes/misinformation and it's been really helpful.

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The full transcript is incredible. https://t.co/9zInraoJnI pic.twitter.com/ra9ZkjRExl  Chris Taylor (@FutureBoy) February 25, 2022



I appreciate having this post and making the FFA separate. I wanted to share this because I thought it was so profound. Sad but moving. I appreciate having this post and making the FFA separate. I wanted to share this because I thought it was so profound. Sad but moving.

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I can hardly get my head around how fucking brave you'd have to be to walk up to an armed soldier and go off like this.



And then when she lays down that curse - even in print he sounds nervous.

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*invades country* Lets not escalate the situation

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Incredible.



While I don't wish for more death, I hope Russia retreats and soon, I hope that many sunflowers will bloom in Ukraine for years and years to come.

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Thank you for posting!!! I just saw on my TL people speaking about this but not including a video or source so I wasn't sure if it was like the game Telephone and being exaggerated. Chilling!

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Russia has a veto at the UN - and they are allowed to use it and they do this shit?



Fuck outta here.

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The UN definitely needs to be reformed after all of this.

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I agree.

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if you understand the UN Security Council as a formal way for everyone with nukes to politely remind all the other countries they have nukes, it helps.

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Yeah maybe you should gave to abstain if you are one of the fucking countries doing the killing

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what does that mean? They having a veto?

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the russian people who have been attending/organizing anti-war protests in the streets are so fucking brave and it makes me so nervous/scared for them :(

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I saw a video of a young woman with a baby getting arrested :(

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I doubt a bail fund would help

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I don't have the brainpower to read all this right now, just sharing my continuous appreciation of the work you put in.

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The cover for Four Treasures of the Sky is lovely, but it sounds a little too depressing for me.



This week I finished Hunt the Stars (sci-fi romance) which was great, and The Marriage Game which was total garbage.

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Oh, Ill have to look up Hunt the Stars, Ive found so few sci-fi romances (tbf, I havent really looked either, but it sounds intriguing).

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Love these posts! I pre ordered Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr based on the mention in one of your posts and Im excited to get it on Monday! Ill let you know my thoughts once of read it!

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Definitely let us know how it is! I dont have insider knowledge for these posts so I dont actually know if anything will be good! 

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Oh I know, I just wouldnt have heard of it without the post. Ill give my review when Im finished!

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I will be in every post thanking you for all your work compiling these op!

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Can I suggest a book? The Half Life of Valery K. by Natasha Pulley comes out in May and it's very, very good!!

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i am DYING to read it. i love her stuff. i am so jelly of the people who already have ARC.

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wait, you've read it?!?

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yes it's SO GOOD

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Yes, absolutely do recommend books!



That one was already on my list/an upcoming posts list as its one Im personally anticipating. It doesnt release here until July, so Im not sure how much more I can stand to hear about it as I have quite a wait yet ahead of me, ugh.

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I finished Bolla this week which was promised me to be "brokeback mountain in Kosovo" and delivered. Sad, well written.



Right now I'm reading The Jasmine Throne and nonfiction about a character in the second world War.

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Oh, Bolla sounds interesting, for the right mood. I dont think Id heard of it before so Ill have to check that out.



I adored The Jasmine Throne and hope you do too!

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It's only 184 pages and I could barely put it down. It's cruel but full of love simultaneously.

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Thank you for creating these lists - so much variety! I also appreciate the "why I picked this" section in addition to the teasers.



Edited at 2022-02-26 06:39 pm (UTC)

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Haha, Im glad you appreciate that! I definitely feel like I start to sound a bit repetitive there sometimes.

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These all sound so good. Ooooh at The Blue Butterfly though. 

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I love these posts OP! Only downside is I have to wait until these get released before I can read them lol.



Four Treasures of the Sky is going on by tbr list. Honestly, I only learned about the Chinese Exclusion Act when I was in my 20s, and I was so shocked and also mad to learn that it wasn't a regular part of our history that we were taught.

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Yeah, I add so many to my TBR only to realise by linking them to my libraries and going "D'oh!".



Edited at 2022-02-26 07:40 pm (UTC)

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Geesh, jumping through time plots is also still going strong.

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as always, so appreciative for your hard work on these posts op!!

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bookmarking this post!!

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Love this list and your posts, OP!



I just started The Children's Blizzard: A Novel by Melanie Benjamin and I'm really liking it so far. I like Benjamin's style, descriptive and poignant without being too excessive or flowery. It's a bit hard to read if only because I know the story behind the real events (the 'Schoolhouse Blizzard' of 1888) so I doubt it's going to end well for most of these characters.

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Part two did not bode well for my indigo cart so I look forward to adding all these to it as well

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Thank you for this post and your work compiling all these books for us! I added a bunch to my TBR.



Side note - is that a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver? I'm going next month!

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Kim Kardashian unfollows Kanye West on Instagram after Pete attacks https://t.co/UyETK3wAe5 pic.twitter.com/MkS02W1vQg  Page Six (@PageSix) February 22, 2022

Kanye's lawyer says he wants 3 conditions, all of which his lawyer claims Kim has rejected. https://t.co/5mzikqDyRD  TMZ (@TMZ) February 19, 2022

Peppa Pig trends after Kanye West shared a list of people he has beef with, which included the childrens television character. pic.twitter.com/YsnbyMmZza  Pop Base (@PopBase) February 20, 2022

See all the photos from Kanye West's #Donda2 event, which featured a ton of stars https://t.co/aOHhgQuGac  JustJared.com (@JustJared) February 24, 2022

Kanye West's guest of honor certainly looked familiar ... https://t.co/CZwvBhPNvb  TMZ (@TMZ) February 24, 2022

Kanye West Throws Microphone Out of Frustration After 'Donda 2' Audio Problems https://t.co/Ml8PD3q1rF  TMZ (@TMZ) February 23, 2022

Kim Kardashian wants a judge to make her single ASAP ... because Kanye West's Instagram posts are hurting her emotionally, and now all she wants now is to move on and co-parent in a healthy manner. https://t.co/bslbDTH4wH  TMZ (@TMZ) February 24, 2022

Kim Kardashian wears Prada head-to-toe in Milan, no more Kanye and Balenciaga. https://t.co/M1unKSo5jL  TMZ (@TMZ) February 25, 2022

mannequin

Kanye West takes Kim Kardashian look-alike, Chaney Jones, shopping https://t.co/srPmGX1MLy pic.twitter.com/gohnbSKsNc  Page Six (@PageSix) February 25, 2022

Kanye West Objects to Divorce, Saying Kim Can't Prove He Wrote Social Media Attacks https://t.co/IKKyUkVGpX  TMZ (@TMZ) February 26, 2022

This week has been a mess for Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and Pete Davidson.Previously, Kim petitioned the court to declare her single before she and Kanye formally resolved their asset and custody dispute. Kanye West and his attorneys filed an objection to this request. He claims that he worries that Kim will move their joint assets into separate accounts. Kim, however, claims that this is ridiculous because they already have a prenup that keeps their separate assets separate.Kanye also issued three requests to the judge, all of which Kim's lawyer has allegedly rejected:1. If either of them dies, the decedent's estate will reimburse any money owed to the other party.2. Kim cannot transfer assets out of any trust they have created. (OP note: This seems ridiculous, as it would be very difficult for one spouse to dissipate assets from a jointly held trust during a high-profile and contentious divorce. Also, they have a prenup.)3. Kim must waive their marital privilege upon receiving a final custody decision and must waive spousal privilege with her new husband if she remarries.Spousal privilege means that marital communications between a husband and wife remain private and are not necessarily part of court record. So, if Kanye's request were granted, communications between Kim and Kanye during their marriage would become court record. If Kim remarried, marital communications with her new spouse would be court record in the context of her divorce with Kanye.Kanye also tweeted a list of people he has beef with, including the children's cartoon character Peppa Pig.On the 22nd, he held a live listening event for his new album,. On the album, he samples his ex-wife Kim Kardashian's opening monologue from SNL: "I married the best rapper of all time. Not only that, hes the richest black man in America. A talented, legit genius who gave me four incredible kids. He left out the part where she says, "When I divorced him, you have to know it came down to just one thing: his personality.On the album, Kanye also implied that he puts Pete Davidson's security at risk. Pete deleted his Instagram, though his team denies that it is due to Kanye. Kanye, however, posted a now-deleted Instagram in which he wrote:"Ran Skete off the gram Tell your mother I changed your name for life," in reference to the deletion.He attended theevent with a woman named Chaney Jones who looks eerily like Kim. He also threw his microphone in frustration due to sound issues.Kim claimed to the family law court that Kanye's tweets about her, their children, and Pete Davidson have caused her emotional distress. She allegedly wants to move on and co-parent in a healthy manner but cannot because Kanye is refusing to.Later in the week, Kim attended Milan fashion week wearing Prada, which some people believe is an F-you to Kanye because he liked to have her in head-to-toe Balenciaga.The day after Kim was photographed in Milan, Kanye took his newlove interest shopping.Kanye is objecting to Kim's request to be declared single and claims that Kim can't prove that he wrote the emotionally distressing tweets.
Uzbekistan estimates it boasts as much as 1.8 trillion cubic meters in gas reserves.

The exploration mission will take place under an existing $2.3 million cooperation agreement.

Experts from a U.S. government science agency are heading to Uzbekistan to hunt for shale oil and gas reserves.

Scientists from the United States will team up with experts from Uzbekistan to prospect for shale oil and gas deposits this year as Tashkent moves to ramp up production to tackle energy shortages and provide raw material for the gas-processing industry.

Experts from the United States Geological Survey, or USGS, a government science agency, will join scientists from Uzbekistans State Geology Committee to hunt for shale reserves in May, Dunyo, the Foreign Ministrys news agency, reported.

The prospecting mission, taking place under an existing $2.3 million cooperation agreement, will seek reserves in three regions: Samarkand, Jizzakh in central Uzbekistan, and Surkhandarya in the south.

Another team will prospect for mineral resources, including metals, at deposits already identified in the AmantazauKuljuktau area of the Kyzylkum desert in central Uzbekistan.

Related: Oil Prices Retreat As Biden Leaves Energy Out Of Sanctions Package

The size of Uzbekistans proven gas reserves is a matter of debate. The government says it boasts 1.8 trillion cubic meters, while the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, the industrys bible for such matters, puts them at 800 billion cubic meters.

The government hopes the Uzbek-US missions will further its target of boosting prospective reserves (which are not proven but have a good chance of commercial extraction) by 35 billion cubic meters of gas and 1 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons this year, via prospecting and exploration at 20 new fields.

The extraction of oil and gas from inside shale rock by injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals is controversial because of the potential for the contamination of water supplies and air pollution, and the chances of causing earth tremors.

It also uses large quantities of water, a resource which is in short supply in Uzbekistan.

The government, however, sees fracking as one solution to realizing its ambitious vision for the gas industry.

It is targeting a 20 percent rise in gas output, which has been stagnant at somewhere below 60 billion cubic meters a year for a decade, by 2030.

According to official data, Uzbekistan produced 53.8 billion cubic meters of gas last year. That was up on the 47.1 billion cubic meters produced in 2020, when the pandemic strangled demand and the government slashed production, but down on the 57.4 billion cubic meters extracted in 2019. This year Tashkent is targeting a 4 percent rise in gas output, to 56.3 billion cubic meters.

But to achieve that leap in output by the end of the decade, it urgently needs to find new reserves.

Even while targeting that exponential rise, officials plan to end gas exports altogether by 2025.

In January, Tashkent suspended exports, almost all of which go to China, to redirect gas to generate power to tackle the energy shortages that grip Uzbekistan every winter. It has not stated when, or if, it plans to resume them.

The authorities will use the extra gas from halting exports and increasing output for power generation and for the petrochemical industry.

The government says it can generate far greater revenues from processing gas into fuel and in-demand products such as plastics than exporting it raw.

In December, Uzbekistan opened one of its flagship projects for the sector: a $3.6 billion gas-to-liquids plant that will process gas into diesel, liquefied gas and jet fuel.

Its annual output of 1.5 million metric tons will save Uzbekistan $1 billion per year in fuel imports, officials say.

By Eurasianet.org

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Just one day later, however, Russia advanced into Ukraine, sparking fears of potential energy supply shortages.

On Tuesday, the Biden Administration halted new leases on federal oil and gas drilling, amid a legal fight on climate cost.

As oil prices continue to rocket, now further helped along by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration is still fighting tooth and nail to freeze new oil and gas drilling leases - even after a court ruled against the administration for using a metric to estimate "the societal cost of carbon emissions" to justify their move.

Despite the court's ruling, Biden's administration has stopped new leases and permits for federal oil and gas drilling, MSN reported this week.

The administration was previously prevented from using the "social cost of carbon" metric in decisions regarding oil and gas thanks to an injunction issued by US District Judge James Cain of the Western District of Louisiana.

But government lawyers quickly appealed the injunction, arguing that it "necessitated a pause on all projects where the government was using a social-cost-of-carbon analysis in its decision-making". This, in turn, allowed the Biden administration to freeze oil and gas projects.

The metric in question uses economic models to put a value on each ton of carbon dioxide emitted, MSN reported, with the intention of quantifying the economic harm of climate change.

Related: Russia Has $630 Billion To Spare As It Considers Cutting European Gas Flows

Biden's lawyers argued: "The consequences of the injunction are dramatic. Pending rulemakings in separate agencies throughout the government -- none of which were actually challenged here -- will now be delayed. Other agency actions may now be abandoned due to an inability to redo related environmental analyses in time to meet mandatory deadlines."

Interior Department spokesperson Melissa Schwartz added: "The Interior Department has assessed program components that incorporate the interim guidance on social cost of carbon analysis from the Interagency Working Group, and delays are expected in permitting and leasing for the oil and gas programs."

Schwartz says the Interior Department "continues to move forward with reforms to address the significant shortcomings in the nation's onshore and offshore oil and gas programs," the report noted.

The timing couldn't be worse for the administration, as this week's invasion of Ukraine by Russia has pushed brent well above $100/barrel. We noted earlier this week that JP Morgan has suggested oil could average at about $110/barrel for the remainder of the year - but this prediction was also before the current geopolitical conflict in Europe escalated.

By Zerohedge.com

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The ongoing military Russian onslaught on Ukraine is reverberating across commodity markets. At present, Western media is mainly focusing on the direct effects of the military invasion and resultant sanctions on European and U.S. commodity markets. Crude oil prices are spiking while natural gas markets are in crisis mode. The importance of Russia in European energy markets has been highlighted in recent weeks, revealing the extent of European dependence on Russian oil and gas imports. Even U.S. energy markets have been hit by these developments. At the same time, Western politicians are calling on OPEC to prepare additional production to counter a possible blockade of Russian energy exports. This apparent belief that OPEC has the capability to save energy markets is one that may well be shaken in the near future. The Russia-Ukraine crisis will be a major destabilizing factor for the MENA region, threatening unrest in the streets of Cairo, Riyadh, and other places. The impact of the crisis on agricultural commodities and even tourism could also be significant.

Some analysts have already started assessing how the loss of Ukraines agricultural exports, especially corn, wheat, sunflower oil, and rapeseed oil will impact markets. This line of thinking now needs to be extended beyond Ukraine. A combination of higher energy prices, disrupted food supplies, and fewer tourists could be a poisonous mix for the stability of the main power centers of OPEC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Libya, and even Iraq) and for pivotal regional powers such as Egypt, Israel, and even Turkey. The stability of all MENA countries is now being threatened, both directly and indirectly.

While several countries in the region are attempting to stay neutral over Russias invasion of Ukraine, the economic realities of the invasion cannot be avoided. For leading OPEC producer Saudi Arabia, the prospect of a decline in Russian energy exports could be seen as a positive. Higher oil prices will not only support government revenues but would also strengthen the position of OPEC within oil markets. The same goes for Qatar, as Europe is desperate to replace Russian natural gas with Qatari LNG volumes. The same case could be made for both Algeria and Egypt. However, LNG exports to Europe are now facing logistical constraints, as most EU LNG regasification and storage plants are full to the brim. Increased demand from Europe for Saudi oil, on the other hand, could stretch Saudi Arabias oil capacity. Officially, Riyadh has shown no willingness to increase its production, and its production capacity remains a mystery.

Meanwhile, financial sanctions on Russia could have negative effects on MENA countries as MENA financial sectors have strong links with Russian actors. For some MENA countries, especially Israel and Turkey, the situation is particularly complicated. Russias total war against Ukraine has put Israel under pressure. While Tel Aviv is slowly moving towards the U.S.-EU standpoint, it is wary of the potential repercussions in Syria and Iran if it gets the wrong side of Russia. If Israel chooses to side with the US, military and economic repercussions from Moscow should be expected. As for Turkey, a NATO member, its main energy supplies are linked directly to Russia and its links to Central Asian/the Caucasus could be threatened. Ankaras predicament will become particularly difficult if NATO members call upon it to block the Bosphorus for Russian navy transfers. NATO is looking at the East Med at present, where a strong Russian navy force has been gathering lately.

While both energy markets and security concerns are valid, they pale in comparison to food and agricultural products for the MENA region. Russia and Ukraine are the worlds main wheat exporters, of which a vast volume goes to the MENA region, especially Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and others. Food supplies are needed to maintain stability for most Arab countries. The potential loss of wheat, corn, and even sunflower oil supplies to Egypt and others will directly impact local and regional stability. Without Russian-Ukrainian supplies, no other countries will be able to fill the gap. Egypt will be the main casualty in the coming weeks, as the country, holding 100+ million citizens, imported around 12.5 million tons of wheat in 2020-21, of which came 85% from Russia and Ukraine. Food shortages will push the Egyptian government into a corner, as was seen when Russia sanctioned the country before the Arab Spring. Other North African countries, such as Libya and Algeria, will follow suit. Ukraine is also the world's 13th-largest producer of steel and the fifth-largest exporter of iron ore by volume. With production of 21.4 million metric tons of crude steel in 2021, 80% was exported.

Egypt, and potentially GCC countries such as UAE, could also be hit by the loss of tourism from Russia and Ukraine. Turkey is also worried about the loss of millions of Russians who would normally flock to its beaches. The overall impact of this invasion could be devastating for the region, especially after two years of COVID for the tourism industry. The loss of multibillions of US$ will be a hard hit to Egypt, Turkey, and Dubai.

The picture painted above will soon be a reality for these countries. The poisonous mix of loss of income and food will threaten to destabilize major parts of the region. While developments in Ukraine pushed crude oil prices above $105 per barrel on Thursday, the potential of new unrest in the region and even a second Arab Spring would be even more worrying for markets. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan could well be underestimating with their $125 per barrel assessments. The potential loss of Russian oil and gas combined with unrest across the MENA region would be disastrous for oil markets.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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As the Ukrainian state news agency reports that consultations are underway as to when and where negotiations with Putin might take place, a disastrous moment in Ukrainian history looms large again, with the Russian occupation of Chernobyl.



Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova told a press conference in Washington, DC, confirmed that Russian forces are now holding 92 operational personnel of the Chernobyl power plant hostage, preventing them from working their shifts and risking potential disaster.

Markarova said the Russian army has been fully in control of the nuclear power plant since late Thursday.

After a completely senseless Russian attack in this direction, it is impossible to say that Chernobyl is safe, CNN quoted Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak as saying. This is one of the most serious threats to Europe today.

While reports from earlier today warned of increased radiation levels at Chernobyl, Ukrainian scientists now say the plant has not been damaged, according to the New York Times; however, analysts are now concerned about the threat of a purposeful meltdown at the infamous nuclear power plant.

Increased radiation levels were reportedly the result of the movement of heavy military equipment in the area, which lifted radioactive dust into the air, Reuters reported.

But the threat still looms large.

Any shelling of this area could result in the spread of radioactive material outside the Chernobyl zone.

Writing on Facebook on Thursday, former Ukrainian Interior Ministry deputy Anton Gerashchenko warned that, "If as a result of the occupiers' artillery strikes the nuclear waste storage facility is destroyed, the radioactive dust may cover the territories of Ukraine, Belarus and the EU [European Union] countries!"

In the meantime, while fighting continues on the ground, with Ukrainian officials discussing potential negotiations with Putin, the Russian president had earlier said there would be no talks until Ukraine stops fighting back.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier today that Russia was ready to send a delegation to Belarusa proposal Kyiv is now considering.

"As you know, today the President of Ukraine [Volodymyr] Zelensky announced his readiness to discuss the neutral status of Ukraine," Peskov said, according to RIA. "Initially, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the purpose of the operation was to help the LPR and the DPR [Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, separatist statelets in eastern Ukraine recently recognized by Russia as independent], including through the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. And this, in fact, is an integral component of neutral status."

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The rise in metals prices has been turbocharged above previous gains earned on the back of power shortages, energy costs, and Chinese environmental restrictions.

So, after weeks of will he, wont he, Russian President Vladimir Putin finally ordered troops into two regions of eastern Ukraine. After recognizing Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states earlier this week, Putin made an emotional and rambling televised address to the Russian people. Where this will lead no one knows. But it seems unlikely he will limit his actions now. As expected, the West has done relatively little apart from huff and puff. Germany said it will not certify the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia. This action caught nobody by surprise.

Metal prices increase

Prices of key metals have surged in recent weeks, turbocharged above previous gains earned on the back of power shortages, energy costs, and Chinese environmental restrictions. Aluminum and nickel prices, in particular, have reached multi-year highs on fears sanctions will result in a breakdown in supply from Russia. Although Russia maintains a critical role in the supply of those two metals, particularly to the European market, other metals could also fall in short supply.

According to the US Geological Survey, (USGS) Russias Rusal produces about 6% of global primary aluminium, or 3.8m tons last year. Europes aluminum market remains tight. It has suffered a shortage of extrusion billets for much of the last year. Since late last year, the Rotterdam physical delivery premium (an expression of metal availability) has become significant proportion of the semi-finished price. For the first time in LME history, it has broken the premium out as a separate definable cost.

Russian produces aluminum billets, nickel, gold, palladium, cobalt and platinum

At over 7% of global nickel production, Russia serves as a major producer with some 193k tons last year. Indonesia and the Philippines remain Chinas primary suppliers but Russia provides key materials to Europes stainless industry. To make matters worse, European companies generally have longer-term contracts, not easily replaced at short notice.

Related: U.S. Rig Count Gains For 18th Straight Week

Russias largest producer, Norilsk Nickel, also serves as a major producer of palladium and cobalt. In fact, Russia remains the largest producer in the world of palladium at some 40% of global mine production. Furthermore, Russia serves as the 10% global producer of platinum. Although Russias cobalt production provides only 4% of global supply, it [has] served as a viable alternative to the DRC. Russia plays an equally key role in the gold market. The country controls about 10% of global mine production only behind Australia and China.

Dont forget about Russian steel

Russia also produces nearly as much as the US per annum. But unlike the US, at least half of Russian production goes toward export markets, again mainly Europe. Steel supply does not face the same constraints as base metals. However, while European mills may welcome the reduction in competitive supply, consumers would find some grades or product areas have limited alternatives as Russia has built up outsized roles in some product areas like pipes.

As previously mentioned, Russia of course has a dominant position in oil, natural gas and other commodities like diamonds and foodstuffs such as grains and agricultural products like fertilizers. For anyone interested in further data Statista.com/, OEC.com, and Trading Economics all provide good reference points.

The takeaway

Metal buying organizations should brace for considerable volatility.

As the market saying goes buy on bullets, sell on fear.

For now, metals markets face supply disruption. Prices reflect that. If and/or when some sanity prevails, markets will sell as constraints appear less imminent. In the meantime, expect prices to oscillate with every media release and rumor. Belt up for the ride!

By AG Metal Miner

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
FRIDAY, Feb, 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Mass cullings have been implemented as a highly contagious form of avian flu has swept across the eastern half of the United States in recent weeks, killing both farmed poultry and wild birds.

Its very concerning, given how quickly this thing is accelerating, Henry Niman, a biochemist in Pittsburgh who studies the genetic evolution of viruses, told The New York Times.

I think we could see historic levels of infections," added Niman, who has been tracking the outbreak's spread across the United States.

It's likely the virus is being spread by wild birds returning from winter feeding grounds, according to experts, and many fear the worst will come when spring migration peaks in a few weeks, the Times reported.

Poultry growers are being urged by federal officials to report sick or dying birds and to take preventive measures such as preventing contact between their farmed flocks and wild birds.

Its important to note that avian influenza is not considered to be a risk to public health and its not a food-safety risk, Mike Stepien, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told the Times.

The virus -- called Eurasian H5N1 -- has not jumped to humans but is being closely watched by scientists because it's closely related to an Asian strain that has infected hundreds of people since 2003.

That strain doesn't spread efficiently among humans, but when it does it has a death rate of 60%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And it can decimate a country's poultry industry.

Right now, turkey farmers in Indiana and Kentucky are the most worried. Several farms in those states have been shuttered in the past two weeks after officials discovered the virus among birds that spend their entire lives crammed into massive containment sheds. Farmers say they have been stunned by how efficiently the virus kills, with animals dying hours after the initial infection, the Times reported.

Everyone is on super-high alert and trying to be as prepared as possible because we all remember the devastation of 2014 and 2015, Dr. Denise Heard, a veterinarian with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, told the Times.

The 2014-15 outbreak sent poultry and egg prices soaring and cost the industry more than $3 billion  though the federal government compensated farmers for lost flocks. In the end, nearly 50 million birds were killed by the virus or destroyed to prevent its spread, a vast majority of them in Iowa and Minnesota.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the avian flu.

SOURCE: The New York Times

Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.
Ray Loftus was five years into his 10-year plan to transform an old farmhouse into his familys dream home south of Mead.

Then in 2015, the ethanol plant half a mile away from the home Loftus bought with his wife, Emily, resumed operations, Loftus told the Legislatures Executive Board on Thursday.

Thats when the smell became horrific, he said during a hearing to create a special legislative committee to investigate the states response to AltEn, the plant that processed pesticide-treated seed to produce ethanol.

The same year AltEn began producing ethanol, leaving behind solid and liquid byproducts with high concentrations of ag chemicals, Emily gave birth to the couples first child.

He was born healthy and everything, the 51-year-old military veteran told lawmakers. When we got home, he started having respiratory issues.

The couple later welcomed a daughter in 2019, as complaints made by residents of Mead against the biofuel plant began to pile up at the offices of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.

Loftus said he was unaware of the danger posed by living in the shadow of AltEn until early in 2021, however, putting his trust in state and federal environmental regulators to protect residents like himself.

Late last summer, after speaking with doctors and public health experts, the Loftus family came to a decision.

They couldnt say it was safe for our kids to live there without a lot more data, Loftus said. Less than 10 days after that, we put an offer in on a house in Papillion, and we moved 19 days later.

Thursdays hearing centered on a proposal (Legislative Resolution 159) from State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue to create a special legislative committee charged with examining AltEns operations, as well as the Department of Environment and Energys attempts to regulate the plant.

Blood introduced the resolution late in the 2021 legislative session that ended six days early, which Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango said didnt leave enough time for it to be heard by the Executive Board.

Nine months later, cleanup of AltEns facility has begun, led by six companies that formerly supplied the ethanol plant with discarded seed.

But Blood, who is running for governor as a Democrat, said there were still questions that needed to be answered.

This disaster unfolded while Nebraska agencies failed to act, Blood told the Executive Board.

She said the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture were too permissive in allowing AltEn to continue operating, even after problems at the plant began to emerge.

State officials issued dozens of letters to AltEn ordering it to comply with regulations, Blood said, but didnt follow up with action, leaving the Kansas-owned company to continue operating unabated.

AltEns upper management has done nothing but thumb its nose at NDEE, Blood said. Why has this long-term behavior been tolerated?

Jim Macy, director of the Department of Environment and Energy, opposed Bloods resolution and defended the departments actions, arguing it had been transparent in its response to the crisis at AltEn and had used the regulatory options available to it.

Macy said an interim study (LR 152) introduced by Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, whose legislative district includes Mead, looked at what further authority was needed by the department to respond to environmental emergencies.

That study led to Legislative Bill 1102 from Bostelman that advanced from the Natural Resources Committee  which he leads as chairman  and onto the floor for debate by the full Legislature.

Macy declined to answer questions about ongoing action against AltEn, citing pending litigation, but said the department would continue monitoring the cleanup activities being done by the AltEn Facility Response Group, a coalition of the six former seed suppliers.

Senators on the Executive Board asked Macy why the department has not asked for AltEn to be declared a Superfund site, which would provide federal money and technical expertise to help remediate the facility.

Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas said he believed the state should explore that option so any federal assistance would be ready if the facility response group ends its involvement.

We should be over-exhausting our options, Vargas said.

Macy called the Superfund designation another tool available to the state, if these other things do not work.

While Loftus and Stan Keiser, whose pond 6 miles downstream of AltEn caught contaminated stormwater from the plant for years, spoke in support of creating a special committee, other residents of Mead said it was unnecessary.

Bill Thorson, the village board chairman, said adding another committee would cost time and money, and called the idea a political issue not in the best interest of the people.

Jody Weible, who helped bring attention to the potential pesticide contamination spreading from AltEn, said she felt it was best to move forward with the cleanup and not create a committee to look backward.

I would like to get past the finger pointing and get to a resolution of the problem, Weible said.

Janece Mollhoff, who lives downstream from AltEn in Ashland, said the proposed committee could answer some big questions that remain.

Lawmakers should have a better understanding of the environmental regulatory process, Mollhoff testified, including how long it takes between when the Department of Environment and Energy issues a warning letter and when action is taken.

She also said the public deserves to know what gaps remain in state law that could allow future companies to pollute the environment.

Its not surprising that bad actors would locate in Nebraska when they can see a pattern of lax enforcement of regulations, Mollhoff said.

The Saunders County Board urged the Executive Board to create a special committee, saying the states lawsuit does not go far enough to ameliorate the damage done, Chairman David Lutton wrote in a Feb. 22 letter.

The Executive Board did not take any action on LR 159 on Thursday.

Loftus said moving from Mead to Papillion, away from what doctors and public health experts believe is the source of his sons respiratory issues, has been an adjustment.

He and Emily looked forward to raising their family in small-town Nebraska but were now trying to figure out what do with the property.

I would like to know if anybody here would like to buy my dream house in the country, Loftus asked. It sits on 2 acres and is full of kids play equipment.

Just dont breathe, though.
U.S. and NATO ground forces may be steering clear of Ukraine following Russias invasion, but the alliances military reconnaissance aircraft  including several from Offutt Air Force Base  have been venturing close enough to keep eyes and ears on the battle below.

At least five of the 55th Wings C-135 variants have been spotted in European skies by air traffic control websites this week. Two have been operating from the Souda Bay naval base in Greece, and three are deployed to RAF Mildenhall, England  though one of those jets has apparently been sidelined after suffering an in-flight mechanical emergency Tuesday.

Collectively the Offutt jets flew 10 of the 86 surveillance missions known to have been flown over Europe by U.S., NATO, Swedish and Ukrainian aircraft between Sunday and Thursday, according to Amelia Smith, an online aircraft tracker who has been posting daily summaries on Twitter using her handle @ameliairheart.

Thursday, the first full day after Russia launched its widespread attack, saw 25 reconnaissance flights over the continent, the busiest day in the past three months. But the U.S. and NATO didnt fly manned aircraft over Ukraine and the nearby Black Sea, instead pulling back to listen from the skies of Poland and Romania, which border Ukraine on the west.

Instead, they left flights over the conflict zone to unmanned aircraft. Smith noted that two remotely piloted RQ-4 Global Hawks flew long-duration missions over Ukraine and the Black Sea. Flying twice as high as other planes, the Global Hawks can see and hear far into Russian territory.

Three of the 55th Wing planes spotted this week are RC-135V/W Rivet Joints. They can listen to radar and radio signals on the ground up to 300 miles away, allowing them to monitor the location and movements of Russian forces.

Rivet Joint crews include analysts and linguists who can make sense of intercepted voice communications. The three planes flew a total of five missions earlier this week over Ukraine and near Crimea, a territory occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014. One Rivet Joint flying Thursday stayed in Poland.

The 55th Wing has also deployed an RC-135U Combat Sent to Greece, and a WC-135W Constant Phoenix to England.

The Combat Sents specialty is honing in on radar installations and pinpointing adversaries air defense systems. Though it flew missions off of Crimea earlier this month, its two flights earlier this week were both in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea near Lebanon and Syria, with no apparent connection to the Ukraine crisis.

The Constant Phoenix crew uses sensitive on-board equipment to gather atmospheric samples and check them for radioactive particles. It has previously been deployed off the coast of North Korea after that countrys nuclear tests. The same plane, tail number 61-2667, was used in 2011 to measure atmospheric radiation after the nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan.

The Constant Phoenix arrived in England Jan. 30, according to air-traffic monitoring websites, and has flown four times since. Air Force officials have said its deployment is also unrelated to Ukraine, and none of its flights have been near Ukrainian territory.

The Air Forces only remaining nuke-sniffer, No. 61-2667 is known at Offutt as the oldest, crankiest and most trouble-prone plane in the fleet.

And it lived up to its reputation Tuesday, when its pilot declared an emergency shortly before landing at Mildenhall.

The aircraft, flying with the callsign JAKE21, had been airborne for 11 hours on a mission over the Baltic Sea when the pilot declared the emergency. He told controllers that the plane had experienced a failure of its hydraulic system, which controls braking and flaps, according to a recording posted on social media by a Dutch airplane spotter using the Twitter handle @EHEH_Spotter.

Thats a common problem among aged aircraft like the WC-135W, which was delivered to the Air Force from a Boeing assembly line in April 1962.

Robert Hopkins III, a former RC-135 pilot and a current historian of Air Force reconnaissance flights, said the plane has two hydraulic systems plus a manual backup.

Still, he said, in some cases the lack of anti-skid protection can lead to blown tires, among other problems.

Fire, rescue and police vehicles met the plane when it landed at Mildenhall at 4:39 p.m. local time carrying a crew of eight.

The crew followed all prescribed emergency and safety procedures, according to a statement from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at Mildenhall. Everyone on board returned safely with no injuries.

The same plane was grounded for nearly two months last year in Australia, also after suffering a hydraulic failure. The WC-135W had the second-worst mission-capable rate of any aircraft type in the Air Force in 2021 at just over 48%, meaning it was mechanically capable of flying its assigned missions less than half the time.

No. 61-2667 is the only one of the 55th Wings C-135 variants that hasnt received upgraded engines and flight systems since it was built. Only very experienced pilots are allowed to fly it.

The plane wont be around much longer. The Air Force ordered three WC-135R aerial tankers refitted for the radiation-monitoring mission, at a cost of $218 million. The first is scheduled for delivery this summer. No. 61-2667 is slated to be retired to the Air Forces Arizona boneyard soon after.

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LINCOLN  Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Friday to a bill allowing employees to claim medical and religious exemptions from workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Legislative Bill 906, introduced by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, passed on a 37-5 vote. It now heads to Gov. Pete Ricketts for his signature. If signed into law by the governor, the measure would take effect immediately.

LB 906 spells out how and when employees can be exempted from workplace requirements to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The proposal represents a carefully crafted compromise that removed opposition from business and health care groups.

Under the compromise, employees can claim an exemption by filling out a form to be produced by the State Department of Health and Human Services.

They can use the form to declare that the vaccine conflicts with their sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance or to claim a medical exemption. The medical exemption would have to be accompanied by a written statement from a doctor or other health care provider.

The bill makes clear that employers can require unvaccinated workers to be tested regularly and to wear masks or other protective equipment.

It also states that federal requirements would take precedence for federal contractors and for hospitals and other entities covered by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services standards.

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LINCOLN  Nebraska would close out a troubled chapter in child welfare under a bill given first-round approval by state lawmakers on Friday.

Legislative Bill 1173 would repeal a law allowing private contractors to manage child abuse and neglect cases in Douglas and Sarpy Counties and end 12 years of privatization attempts.

It also would start work toward a shared strategic direction for child welfare in Nebraska. The work would be done through two groups that bring together representatives of all three branches of state government, with a number of others involved in child welfare.

State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, the Health and Human Services Committee chairman, said both steps were recommended by a special legislative committee that investigated the states problematic contract with the Kansas-based St. Francis Ministries.

St. Francis had won the five-year, $197 million contract to oversee child welfare cases in the Omaha metro area in July 2019, based on bidding 40% less than the previous contractor. The nonprofits tenure was troubled from the start, and in December, state officials announced an early termination of the contract.

The announcement came almost one year after Nebraska had been forced to sign a new, emergency contract with St. Francis to keep the agency operating. The 25-month, $147.3 million contract erased the original 40% cost difference.

Meanwhile, the agency never met caseload standards set by state law and continually fell short on other contract requirements. Child welfare advocates said the situation put children at risk.

The legislative committee, which was created last year, and a consultant hired to study Nebraskas history with case management privatization concluded in December that Nebraska should go back to having state workers oversee the care of abused and neglected children.

The consultant said privatization had yielded no particular benefits when it came to quality, innovation or cost and added to instability and disruptions in care.

Lawmakers also advanced LB 1037, which was based on another recommendation of the investigative committee. The measure calls for the Department of Administrative Services to hire a consultant to do a thorough evaluation of the states procurement process and practices.

DAS handled the bidding process for the St. Francis contract.

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The clues are tantalizing.

Could Nebraska be home to one of the rare archaeological sites providing evidence that humans walked the Great Plains as long ago as 18,000 years?

A bone and bone flakes from a mammoths shoulder on display at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln raise the still-contested question of how long humans have lived in the Great Plains.

Radiocarbon dating of the bones found in Frontier County indicates the animal lived 18,000 years ago. And some researchers say the flakes could only have been made by a human chipping away at the bone with a stone tool.

Archaeological digs such as this one in southwest Nebraska have opened a doorway to the past, tracing the sometimes slow, sometimes rapid changes in the lives and cultures of the various peoples who have called Nebraska home.

Nebraskas most important archaeological pieces, including the mammoths shoulder, are on display at the Nebraska History Museum until Dec. 31. The exhibit is titled Piecing Together the Past: An Exhibit Exploring 13,000 Years of History with Nebraskas Archeologists.

Nebraska has 11,450 recorded archaeological sites, a number that continues to grow as new sites are found.

The sites range from the earliest known presence of humans to more recent, abandoned, bulldozed farmsteads. They are found in 91 of 93 counties, with Arthur and Logan Counties being the exceptions.

Discovered along the shore of Medicine Creek Reservoir in 1987, the mammoth bones at the La Sena site have the potential to place people in Nebraska 5,000 years earlier than evidence otherwise proves  the 13,000 years on display at the museum. The bones are also an indication of how past evidence can be difficult to decipher.

Those who believe the skeleton is an indication of human activity also point to the unusual way some accompanying bones were smashed open. A human was trying to get to the nourishing marrow or use the sharp bone fragments as cutting tools, these scientists believe.

Other archaeologists are unpersuaded. They believe the bone fractures have nothing to do with humans.

Rob Bozell, the recently retired state archaeologist for Nebraska, said it is certain that people have been living in what is now Nebraska for at least 13,000 years and that archaeological evidence shows, at various points, rapid societal changes.

Spear points and other stone tools found in blowouts throughout the state and along waterways are the earliest definitive evidence of human activity in Nebraska, he said.

The tools date to the Clovis culture, which gets its name from the site where such spearpoints were first discovered, near Clovis, New Mexico. Left by hunters, similar spear points have since been confirmed across North America, including Nebraska.

Its clear people have been here a very long time, Bozell said. If you think of 13,000 years as the length of your arm, from your shoulder to your fingertip, the period when European-Americans have been here is your fingernail.

Any group that has lived here has migrated in, scholars say.

Until about 2,000 years ago  about the time of Christ  the people who lived in Nebraska were largely hunters, living in small groups and mostly on the move, evidence shows.

And then, relatively suddenly, the lives of people across North America, including in Nebraska, began to change, Bozell said. Their lives became more settled, less migratory, he said. The were living in one place longer and in larger groups. They farmed more.

Pottery began making an appearance, a significant innovation because it provided another manner of cooking and storing food.

For reasons that arent certain, another acceleration in communal living occurred about 1,000 years ago, and from there, things really took off, Bozell said.

Suddenly, people were living in much larger communities and sturdier housing.

They lived in houses, framed, timbered houses, Bozell said. Not temporary huts or tipis, but houses.

People began farming in earnest, and corn became an even more integral part of life.

When you excavate sites from 1,000 years ago, you find handfuls of corn, Bozell said. Its just amazing how much corn people grew.

Of the Native American tribes with names familiar to people today, the Pawnee have the longest Nebraska roots, going back at least 1,000 years, historians and archaeologists say.

Among the finds in Nebraska: 900-year-old pots uncovered during highway construction in Sarpy County, the layout of a 800-year-old lodge floor in Cass County during construction of Interstate 80, and a 700-year-old lodge floor in Thurston County. The lodges had large underground storage pits for grain and other goods. In the center was a stain where the fire had been kept.

On a hillside along Nebraska Highway 31, just south of Interstate 80, is the Patterson Site, one of the premiere archaeological digs in the Omaha area. Now a treed, grassy knoll, its past is visible only in the depressions where several homes once stood.

The site likely dates back 800 years or so and may have been a small hamlet or various homes built by a succession of families over a hundred years or so.

Construction of the highway went right through the site, so archaeologists excavated and studied one of the homesites before the highway obliterated it.

On a recent February afternoon, Bozell walked the site and explained its history. People who lived here would have farmed corn and other produce along the creek below the bluff and hunted game around the area.

Similar farmsteads and hamlets can be found on bluffs throughout the region, he said. While the Patterson Site along Nebraska 31 is not open to the public, other sites are, including at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue and at the Glenwood (Iowa) Archaeological State Preserve. The Glenwood Preserve is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 34 and Levi Road just southeast of Glenwood. A burial mound and homesites can be found at Mahoney State Park in Ashland.

Typically, the homesites today appear as wide depressions in the ground.

From early on, people traded widely, said Nolan Johnson, highway archaeologist with the Nebraska State Archeology Office.

Nebraska archaeological sites yield finds of obsidian tools, copper ornaments and marine shell jewelry. None of those materials originated in Nebraska, but instead came from as far away as New Mexico or Idaho, the Great Lakes or Gulf Coast, Johnson said.

Archaeological sites also hint at the assets people native to this area may have used in trading. Caches of bison shoulder blades have been found in home storage pits. The blades would have been used as hoes, and a large collection could mean the blades were to be used as currency in trading.

Archaeological sites also illuminate how tribes migrated across the continent. Sherds of pottery with flecks of shells tell archaeologists that the Oneota people, who hailed from the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions, also called Nebraska home.

Most archaeological sites in Nebraska are located close to water, typically rivers, Johnson said.

Why? For most of the time that humans have lived in Nebraska, theyve been on foot. Their only pack animal was the dog.

Most places where Native Americans were living for long periods of time were close to permanent sources of water, Johnson said. You just cant carry all the water you need very far. Youre not going to walk a mile to get a drink of water in the morning. That was one of the limiting factors in Nebraska.

Just as eastern Nebraska is the states most populous region today, it was in the past, too, due to its more plentiful rainfall.

Another relatively rapid change in lifestyle occurred more than 300 years ago with the arrival of Europeans and then Americans, initially on military expeditions and to trade.

It starts slowly in the 1700s, and by the early 1800s, (native) cultures have been transformed, Bozell said.

Not only were Whites and their trade goods arriving in the 1700s and 1800s, but so were new tribes, pushed into the area by the relentless expansion, farther east, of European-Americans.

Whites brought horses, metal cookware, guns and other items that they traded with Native Americans for animal pelts.

Contact with traders shows up in changes at archaeological sites, Johnson and Bozell said.

Excavations from sites dating to this era find fewer clay pots and more metal ones. Fewer bison shoulder hoes and more iron hoes. Fewer stone-tipped arrows and more metal arrows and firearms.

Many of the sites were uncovered during the Works Progress Administration, the 1930s Depression-era jobs program. For the most part, sites have been discovered during construction  of a highway, a reservoir or other development.

The science of archaeology has changed over the last century. Archaeologists no longer excavate a site without good reason  usually if its about to be destroyed due to construction, Johnson said. If possible, construction will be re-routed and the site will be left undisturbed. Left in the ground, the site has the potential to tell a fuller story for future archaeologists.

For all that archaeology brings to the table, it has its limits. Oral history, stories passed down by indigenous peoples, also provide insights.

There are a whole slew of questions that can be at least partially answered (by archaeology), Bozell said. But there are a lot of limitations to archaeology. We cant dig up conversations, we cant dig up thoughts, we cant dig up feelings and emotions. We dig up things, and from those things and places, we can begin to craft a general story of past experience.

Oral history  knowledge handed down through the generations  also provides information on early cultures.

Archaeology is like CSI, its all about material evidence and how you interpret that evidence, said Lance Foster, historic preservation officer of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. It doesnt get into how people think. When youre dealing with oral traditions, youre dealing with a deep sense of meaning, why we are here and where we are going.

In terms of paleo-history, there are areas where there is solid agreement between archaeology and the oral traditions, Foster said. Both, for example, point to a distant past when ice dominated the land and large animals roamed.

The closer you get to our times, you start to see a whole bunch of lines of evidence work together, he said.

A lot of people think archaeology is collecting arrowheads, Foster said. Thats not archaeology. Thats collecting, thats artifact hunting. If you take an arrowhead and put it in a frame over your bed, its like tearing a word out of a book and pasting it on the wall. It needs context, the rest of what was on the page, in the book.

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Although the Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens to upend the worlds economic order, its difficult to project how the conflict and the subsequent sanctions will affect Nebraska's agricultural exports.

Many other factors have already diminished trade  including ag commodities and products  between the U.S. and Russia as well as between the U.S. and Ukraine.

After peaking in 2012 at $178 million, for example, Nebraskas exports to Russia have steadily drifted downward, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by Lia Nogueira, an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Food products accounted for about $126 million of that, primarily meat and live animals. Industrial materials  including those for machinery, nuclear reactors and other items  added another $46.6 million.

The subsequent drop came shortly after Vladimir Putin formally returned to power as Russias president in 2012.

The states value of total exports to Russia has ranged from slightly over $22 million in 2016 to almost $61.5 million in 2014.

That includes a dramatic reduction of Nebraska food exports, although those have rebounded somewhat in recent years.

Some of the factors that led to that decrease include Russias ban on most American food imports in 2014 and a ban on genetically modified food in 2016. According to Reuters, the former ban was in response to sanctions placed upon Russia by the United States and other Western nations in 2014.

With the United States and other nations placing more sanctions on Russia this week targeting Russian banks, oligarchs, state-controlled companies and high-tech sectors, Russia likely will impose its own restrictions to keep domestic prices as low as possible, said Cory Walters, an associate professor at UNL, in an email. He added that Russia might still trade with countries not following the sanctions.

Jay Rempe, senior economist at the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said the Russian actions might affect its fertilizer exports and thus impact fertilizer prices for Nebraskans.

The sanctions that the U.S. and other countries put on Russia could make it impossible for them to export fertilizer to the extent that they do now, he said.

That may drive up the price of fertilizer, which is already more expensive. For example, the price of anhydrous ammonia, which is used to provide nitrogen to optimize corn plant growth, is up more than 300% from last year. Other sources of nitrogen are also higher, including urea up 214% and liquid nitrogen up 250%. Potash, used to supply potassium to soybean plants, has increased 213%.

The price increases have prompted Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller to lead an inquiry to look into what has happened. Miller said he has the support of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack as well as eight other states.

In Ukraine, the total value of Nebraskas exports has fallen from a high of about $63.5 million in 2008 to about $6 million in 2021.

Citing the Census Bureau data, Nogueira noted the state's agricultural exports to Ukraine have ranged in value from about $8.5 million in 2008 to about $10,000 in 2019.

The 2008 peak was mostly due to meat and meat products. Industrial materials that year made up a significant portion of the states exports to the country at nearly $46 million.

Rempe theorized that Ukraines agriculture reforms over the past 20 years may have led to greater productivity during that time and thus probably lessened the countrys needs to import ag products from the United States.

Brad Lubben, an associate professor in UNLs agricultural economics department, added Ukraine could see prolonged challenges in agriculture investment in machinery and infrastructure as the country faces instability and uncertainty.

Christin Kamm, a spokesperson for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, said in an email that uncertainty caused by Russia's invasion will be the largest impact on agriculture.

Uncertainty in commodity and livestock markets increases risk and price volatility including crude oil which will impact agriculture through fuel and fertilizer prices, Kamm wrote.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson said Friday the department doesnt foresee domestic food prices rising because of the current conflict.

This report includes material from the Associated Press.

Correction: This story has been corrected to state the industrial materials category of exports includes a variety of items, not just nuclear power materials.

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With winter temperatures hovering around 20 degrees, the team set out at 8 a.m. Saturday onto the frosty grass fields north of Fairview Park to find their clues, or clear plastic forks, spoons and knives.
BLOOMINGTON  When she watched a class of new nurses receive their white coats this winter, Juanita Smith said she was struck by how few were people of color.

I could have missed but I didnt see one nurse of color. Not one, said Smith, a member of the Black Nurses Association of Central Illinois Inc. Why arent they going into nursing? The field is wide open and theres such a shortage of nurses, I just wondered, could we do something?

In the midst of a membership campaign, leadership for the local chapter is working to increase diversity in the field of nursing.

Diversity in the United States is increasing rapidly and the diversity in health care is not increasing to meet those demands, said Elaine Hardy, president of the BNA of Central Illinois, which is based in Bloomington and is the only chapter in the state south of the Chicago area.

She noted sometimes having a more diverse population of medical professionals can help patients feel more comfortable in seeking medical help and being honest about what ails them.

If you feel comfortable talking to me or coming to me, then I can at least do more for you  help you, direct you, whatever, she said, adding that among colleagues, part of progress is talking to each other to break down barriers.

As part of the groups efforts to encourage more students of color to study nursing, Smith said they plan to reach out to local school districts and see if they can speak to and mentor students who show interest in the field.

She said seeing people of all races in the medical field can help children see more possibilities in their futures.

I just think we need to be able to see someone who looks like us, who has done the work to get to where they are and to let (others) know that they can do it, too, Smith said.

According to the 2020 Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Registered Nurse Survey, a slight increase in racial, ethnic and gender diversity was found among Illinois RNs under the age of 45.

The data shows 10% of responding RNs in Illinois were Asian; 9% were Black; 6% were Hispanic or Latinx; and 2% were multiracial. Those identifying as other, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and American Indian or Alaska Native made up less than 2% combined.

Hardy said when she was growing up no one ever told her to consider being a nurse, and maybe other students havent heard it either.

I think it takes students having somebody in their life who believes in them, and I think thats where our mentoring (comes in)," she said.

Hardy said in her observations, Black nursing students study hard but alone. In addition to mentorship, BNA aims to be a source of community for nurses as they step into the field and throughout their careers.

I would love to have a bigger community, Hardy said, noting building partnerships with local medical institutions can be a hurdle. If its not a welcoming environment, Im not going to stay. So if you look around and see how many Black nurses there are not working in these institutions, the question should be where are they and why not.

Across the region, BNA also works with churches and in back-to-school events, supporting health initiatives aimed at educating the communities.

We go where they are, Smith said. We do our best to go to them and to do the best we can to help them and our community, do the things that need to be done to reach more and more people.

In recent years, more college students in Bloomington-Normal and students across the state have joined the local BNA and Hardy said she was excited to see them so engaged.

Im trying to get people motivated; Im trying to get people excited and Im trying to get people engaged, she said.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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BLOOMINGTON  Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine isnt expected to hinder Bloomington-Normals sister city relationship with the eastern European power, an association member said Friday.

We are independent entities and weve had a long relationship with Vladimir and Canterbury, said Orlyn Edge, former president and current board of director member of the Vladimir-Canterbury Sister City Association.

Bloomington-Normal has been linked to Vladimir, Russia  a city about 116 miles east of Moscow and 662 miles northeast of Kyiv, Ukraine  since 1989 as part of efforts to develop peaceful international relations between the two Cold War powers.

And its been quite successful now for years and years, Edge said.

He said he and other members of the Bloomington-Normal side of the sisterhood have not had contact with their Russian counterparts yet since the attacks in Ukraine began Thursday. They might not make contact until a couple of weeks pass, Edge said.

He noted this is not the first time since they were bonded through Sister Cities International that the U.S. and Russia have been on opposite sides of a conflict, recalling a banquet between the cities held during the Kosovo War in 1998.

Some official got up and acknowledged that America and Russia were on opposite sides in that Kosovo War, but you know, we have American and Russian astronauts in space working together, so tonight were going to focus on that, Edge said. Thats what happened there. Now, theres no guarantee that thats going to happen every time.

The association sees the sisterhood with Vladimir as a long-range program that acts independent of their governments with the goal of furthering mutual understanding of the cultures and people of the cities, according to its website.

Weve had a very positive relationship with the thinking that this is a contribution toward peace because we learn more about each other and how we function and what our daily lives are like and so on, Edge said, adding that he believes that because their relationship is focused on peace, it is valuable to maintain through conflicts.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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BLOOMINGTON  Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday became the first Black woman selected for nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, a choice leadership the Bloomington-Normal branch of the NAACP called a landmark that they applaud.

This specific nomination transmits a message of hope, possibility and empowerment, said Linda Foster, local branch president. District Judge Jackson will fill a void on the Supreme Court. A void that has been ignored and minimized since 1789, as this is the same court that once deemed Black people unworthy of citizenship.

President Joe Biden announced Friday that he will nominate Jackson, having previously promised to select a Black woman to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, who will retire in June after serving on the Supreme Court for more than 27 years.

Jackson, 51, is a Harvard Law alumna who has served in several roles, including public defender, district judge and private attorney. Former President Barack Obama nominated her to vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2010 and to a U.S. district judgeship in 2012 and 2013.

With this nomination, little Black girls and little Black boys will hopefully recognize even greater potential in their possibility, Foster said.

Carla Campbell-Jackson, first vice president of the local NAACP, said the NAACP will advocate for swift confirmation of Jackson.

The nomination of District Judge Jackson is demonstrative of the diversity required at every level of our judicial system, she said. Jacksons credentials are unquestionable and her resolve towards excellence is indicative by previous bipartisan support. This monumental nomination will ensure the United States Supreme Court is representative, inclusive and diverse."

Judge Lisa Holder White, who serves on the 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield, called it an "important milestone in our national history." She became the district's first Black judge.

Speaking from experience, I can certainly say it's an honor and privilege to serve as a judge, adjudicating matters involving fellow members of the community, White said. It's a great responsibility. I'm sure she's excited and humbled by the prospect of serving on the nation's highest court, the first Black woman to serve since the court was founded in 1789.

As he introduced Brown Jackson on Friday, Biden called her a proven consensus builder who has "a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people.

She strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice, the president said.

Jackson would be the current courts second Black justice  Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other  and just the third in history.

Jackson would join the court as it weighs cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

She would be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, but she would join three others already there, including the first Latina, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Jackson's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority by a razor-thin 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker. Party leaders have promised swift but deliberate consideration of the presidents nominee.

The news comes two years to the day after Biden, then struggling to capture the Democratic presidential nomination, pledged in a South Carolina debate to nominate a Black woman if presented with a vacancy.

Everyone should be represented, Biden said then.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said in a statement that the panel will begin immediately to move forward on consideration of an extraordinary nominee. Senators have set a tentative goal of confirmation by April 8, when they leave for a two-week spring recess. Hearings could start as soon as mid-March.

That timeline could be complicated by a number of things, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the extended absence of Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, who suffered a stroke last month and is out for several weeks. Democrats would need Lujans vote to confirm Bidens pick if no Republicans support her.

Once the nomination is sent to the Senate, it is up to the Senate Judiciary Committee to vet the nominee and hold confirmation hearings. After the committee approves a nomination, it goes to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Biden and Senate Democrats are hoping for a bipartisan vote on the nomination, but its unclear if they will be able to win over any GOP senators after bitterly partisan confirmation battles under President Donald Trump. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of three Republicans who voted to confirm Jackson to the appeals court last year, had pushed Biden to nominate a different candidate from his home state, Judge J. Michelle Childs, who also was favored by home-state Rep. James Clyburn, a Biden ally.

Graham said earlier this month that his vote would be very problematic if it were anyone else, and he expressed disappointment in a tweet Friday that Biden had not nominated his preferred choice. Previewing a likely Republican attack line, he and several others on the right said Biden was going with the choice of the radical left.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he looked forward to meeting with Jackson and "studying her record, legal views and judicial philosophy. But he noted he had voted against her a year ago.

Biden has said he was interested in selecting a nominee in the mold of Breyer who could be a persuasive force with fellow justices. Although Breyers votes tended to put him to the left of center on an increasingly conservative court, he frequently saw the gray in situations that colleagues were more likely to find black or white.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, With her exceptional qualifications and record of evenhandedness, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be a justice who will uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of all Americans, including the voiceless and vulnerable,. The historic nomination of Judge Jackson is an important step toward ensuring the Supreme Court reflects the nation as a whole.

The Associated Press and the Herald & Review contributed to this report.

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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BLOOMINGTON  An Illinois State Police trooper needed medical treatment after their squad was hit early Saturday morning in Bloomington.

A press release from ISP said it happened at 1:25 a.m. Saturday on South Prospect Road at Hall Court in Bloomington.

ISP said a District 6 trooper was stopped in a fully marked squad car with emergency lights activated while assisting the Bloomington Police Department with a drunken-driving investigation.

Troopers said a Volkswagen utility vehicle was going south on Prospect Road when it crashed into the squad car from behind. The release said the trooper was treated at an area hospital for minor injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen was identified as 24-year-old Michael A. Tibbits, of Bloomington. ISP said he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and cited for violating Scott's Law and other traffic laws.

In 2022, ISP said nine of their squad cars have been hit in other violations of Scott's Law, resulting in four injured troopers.

Also known as the Move Over Law, the statute requires drivers to slow down and move over for any emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with emergency or hazard lights activated. Violations are punished with a fine of $250 to $10,000 for a first offense.

In the release, Commander Cpt. Gregg Cavanaugh called on drivers to make responsible choices when behind the wheel and to avoid putting lives at risk.

"Always drive sober, pay attention and move over when you approach a stationary vehicle on the side of the road, Cavanaugh said.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker said new federal COVID-19 guidance unveiled Friday will allow the state of Illinois to remove its school mask mandate on Monday, coinciding with the halting of the hotly debated virus mitigation strategy for the general public.

Pritzker also applauded the Illinois Supreme Court, which earlier in the day sent a case challenging the mandate back to a downstate court. The high court had refused to take up the appeal after finding that an order by a Springfield judge that caused chaos and confusion in Illinois schools over masking was no longer in effect.

Im gratified that the Supreme Court vacated the lower courts restraining order, meaning that if a school mask mandate needs to go into effect in the future, we continue to have that authority, Pritzker said.

Im also extremely pleased to say that because the CDC has recommended that masks are needed only in areas of high transmission, the state of Illinois will move forward to remove our school mask mandate, effective Monday, Pritzker said. We will recommend that all school districts follow CDC guidance and will update our existing guidance in the coming days.

The Illinois Supreme Court order issued late Friday found that a Springfield judges Feb. 4 order preventing statewide enforcement of the mask mandate should be vacated because a lower appellate court recently found the case to be moot.

It was unclear what impact the high courts ruling would have on the children of hundreds of parents who sued the governor and Illinois Department of Public Health over the rules, saying that they violated the students due process rights.

But with Pritzkers announcement the states mask mandate for schools would end Monday, the legal wrangling could soon become a non-issue.

As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is no longer urging masking indoors for the general public in most settings, including schools, in areas where COVID-19 poses a low or medium risk to the general public and the local health care system.

That currently covers more than three-quarters of Illinois counties, with the entire Chicago area falling into the low category. At the medium level, its recommended that people who are at high risk talk with their doctors about whether they should continue masking or take other precautions, CDC officials said.

The end of the states school mask mandate is arriving a week after an appellate court sidelined the governors attempt to enforce his COVID-19 mitigation orders for Illinois schools statewide.

Pritzker had appealed a temporary restraining order issued by Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow on Feb. 4 against CPS and scores of other Illinois school districts, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal. The court found that because rules from the Illinois Department of Health requiring masking and other COVID-19 protocols had been allowed to expire, the appeal was moot. The governor then appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Earlier Friday, Grischow declined to weigh in on whether Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez was in contempt of court for demanding students either wear a mask or be sent home from school, saying the policy of (CPS) is not before the court.

She said she did not have jurisdiction to hear the contempt of court motion against CPS while the higher court appeal was pending. The judge also delayed a ruling on whether roughly 900 parents can join the lawsuit alleging Pritzkers mask mandate violated students due process rights, saying she would issue a decision in the coming weeks.

Chicago resident Brendan Hehir, who said he was very disappointed Martinez was not in Springfield for the court proceedings, and instead, was represented by an attorney for CPS.

You cant just universally mask and quarantine students without first offering them due process, said Hehir, a father of three, who was in court Friday with his two sons, ages 6 and 8.

Hehirs three children attended classes at their school on the Northwest Side mask-free after Grischow granted a temporary restraining order.

But earlier this month, two CPS parents who are part of the school mask lawsuit filed a petition against the Chicago Board of Education, saying their children were told to wear a mask or leave Mount Greenwood Elementary School on the Southwest Side.

A similar petition was brought against Community High School District 128, which includes Vernon Hills and Libertyville high schools, but was recently dismissed after the school district shifted to a mask optional policy.

While the contempt of court hearing was canceled, Grischow heard arguments Friday on a request from hundreds of parents to join the lawsuit, led by attorney Tom DeVore, who argued the motion alongside attorney Patrick Walsh.

While some schools have already gone mask optional, Walsh noted that others have set policies to conduct weekly reviews and look at whether the positivity rate increases. But in Walshs view, schools shouldnt be using the word mask in a policy at all.

Even if they have a mask-optional policy, its not really appropriate because thats solely the function of the Illinois Department of Public Health to create masking policy, said Walsh, who represents about 100 families from northern Illinois seeking to join the case.

Prior to the governors announcement that the state would drop the mask mandate, Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Thomas Verticchio argued that DeVore wouldnt be following the law in his arguments to push for more plaintiffs.

DeVore, who has also recently announced he is running in the June 28 Republican primary for attorney general, suggested a laborious alternative would be to file hundreds of lawsuits on behalf of hundreds of clients.

Whats the benefit to the governor? DeVore said at the morning hearing. Delay.

Prior to the governors announcement late Friday, Martinez sent a letter to CPS parents saying: Our COVID-19 policies are NOT currently before a judge and we will continue requiring universal masking in our schools.

We all look forward to the day when masks are no longer necessary in schools, and we plan to work with our labor and public health partners on the best way to preserve a safe learning environment for all, he said.

On Wednesday, the board that oversees CPS approved a resolution reiterating its COVID-19 protocols, including universal masking for staff and students, testing for unvaccinated employees and quarantine policies. Board members cited progress with declining case numbers, but said the district is not ready to make masks optional.

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CHICAGO  A man convicted in a 1968 gang-related Chicago killing who once told members of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to shove it" has been granted parole.

Namor Smith, 74, was granted parole Thursday by the board on a 12-3 vote.

At Smith's last previous hearing in 2019, the board voted 3-10 against releasing him, and a decade ago he told the board you can take this parole thing and shove it up" while using an expletive, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Smith, a former member of the Blackstone Rangers gang, was convicted in the fatal 1968 shooting of Sterling Burnett, 21, on Chicago's South Side.

Authorities said Smith and other gang members confronted Burnett because he wasnt in their gang. One gang member punched Burnett, who was dragged into an alley and fatally shot.

One of Smith's co-defendants in Burnetts killing was paroled in 2001, while the other served a 20-to 30-year prison term.

Smith was serving 50 to 100 years in prison for murder, plus eight more years for wounding an inmate with a homemade knife in 1987.

Officials said he admitted killing Burnett, saying he was in a rival gang. But in a 2019 interview with a parole board member, Smith said he was an accomplice but not the shooter.

Smith was previously paroled in 2004 but was sent back to prison to complete his sentence in 2007 for violating terms of his parole.

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa  Investigators in Iowa used genealogical data to link the 1982 fatal stabbing of a woman to an Illinois trucker who was found shot to death in a shallow grave months later, authorities announced Friday.

Police in Council Bluffs, which sits on Iowa's western border across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, believe Thomas O. Freeman killed 32-year-old Lee Rotatori at a local hotel in June of 1982. Rotatori, who had just moved from Nunica, Michigan, to Council Bluffs for a job, had stayed at the hotel for several nights while she looked for a home, authorities said. She was stabbed once and was also sexually assaulted.

Police weren't able to identify a suspect. In 2001, investigators submitted evidence they had collected to a state crime lab, which revealed the presence of a male DNA profile. There wasn't a match in state or federal DNA databases, and the lab periodically ran new checks over the years without success.

In 2019, investigators submitted the DNA to another lab that began a genetic genealogy case and concluded last year that the DNA was from Freeman, who had lived in the southern Illinois community of West Frankfort. Police told the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil that Freeman was a trucker and that they think he killed Rotatori while he was passing through the area.

Freeman's body was found in October 1982 in a shallow grave near Cobden, Illinois, a village about 30 miles southwest of West Frankfort. He had been shot multiple times and was 35 when he died. Investigators believe he was killed about three months before his body was found. Police said they don't have a suspect in his death.

Authorities said they are trying to determine if the two deaths are somehow linked.

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Illinois is known across the land for political corruption. I always get a hearty, knowing chuckle when I tell Rotary Club luncheons that I have worked for three unindicted Illinois governors. (True: Ogilvie, Thompson, Edgar. The other four across that era were all measured for striped suits: Kerner, Walker, Ryan, Blagojevich.)

Recently, the attorney for a Chicago alderman found guilty of political corruption (one of 37 since 1972, and counting) cynically argued against jail time for his client. He scoffed that any possible deterrent effect would be no more effective than draining Lake Michigan with a spoon. Ouch.

This unfortunate  for Illinois  phrase will enter the lexicon of Illinois politics alongside the famous harrumph by a Chicago ward boss to a young innocent jobseeker, who came into his office alone and unsponsored: We dont want nobody nobody sent.

Political corruption in Illinois has a hallowed tradition, you might say, and it is bipartisan. In 1913, after a long trial in the United States Senate, the solons expelled their Illinois Republican colleague William Lorimer. The Blonde Boss of Chicago and his co-conspirators had bribed 40 Democratic state legislators with $2,500 each (when the new Model T cost $750) to join with Republicans to elect him to the Senate in 1909. The scandal spurred the direct election of senators.

In the 1920s, GOP Gov. Len Small of Kankakee was tried twice for embezzling millions from the state. He was acquitted at his first, criminal trial; two months later, eight of the jurors had received really good state jobs! In a later civil trial, Small was forced to pay the state $650,000 to repay funds embezzled when he was state treasurer. Small leaned on state patronage workers to cover the payment.

But since then, most of the corruption has emanated from Cook County and Chicago, dominated by the Democratic Party.

Four confidants of defrocked Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) are set to go on trial in Chicago in September, which will tee up corruption as a major issue in the November election.

One of the candidates for governor has already declared that if elected he would eliminate corruption in our state. Fat chance. Corruption is baked into our culture.

That doesnt mean we are all corrupt, but that too many of us would indeed take advantage of government if presented with the opportunity.

It's a slippery slope, as they say, from a DUI to successfully bribing a judge to set free a mob assassin so he could kill again, and again. This actually happened in the 1970s, when much of the Cook County Court system was controlled, or at least heavily influenced, by The Outfit.

No governor can transform a political culture of corruption in his or her term. But the chief executive can use his bully pulpit to declare a very public war on corruption; set a high bar for conduct by his administration. The governor can also seek elimination of ludicrous, self-serving statutes such as the one that requires the independent legislative inspector general to first get approval of lawmakers before he can investigate a complaint against one of their fellow legislators.

Finally, we can all stop taking advantage of government, simply because thats the way its done in Illinois, and exhort our children to follow our lead. Thats how cultures change.

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Ukraines honorary consul in Guinea has been suspended for gross negligence for urging the junta to make clear its position on Russias invasion of Ukraine.



Charles Amara Sossoadouno, a Guinean citizen, had made the call on social media in the hours after the invasion began on Thursday.



Guineas Foreign Minister Morissanda Kouyate said the decision to suspend him was taken at a later crisis meeting about the conflict, where the situation for around 800 Guineans living in Ukraine was also discussed.



He said Col Mamady Doumbouya, Guineas interim president, wanted all necessary measures to be taken to support them.



No more was said about the conflict.



Like Mali and Burkina Faso, Guinea had been suspended from the West African body Ecowas following a military takeover, which took place last September.



Col Doumbouya has since set up a transitional government, promising to hand over to civilian rule.

Source: BBC









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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Two Russian soldiers captured in Ukraine were filmed being interrogated by Ukrainian soldiers. Olexander Scherba, a Ukranian diplomat who served as Ukraine's Ambassador to Austria from 2014 to 2021, shared the video to Twitter.



In it, Ukrainian soldiers are heard interrogating the Russian soldiers. One of the Russian soldiers said he didnt want to go to war in Ukraine but was made to.



"Mama, papa, I didn't want to go. They made me," the soldier said when asked what message he has for his parents.

- What do you want to tell your parents?

- Mama, Papa, I didnt want to go. They made me. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/iOvnR76zHG  olexander scherba (@olex_scherba) February 26, 2022









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Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has asked the Government of Ghana to mind her business in the current attack by Russia on Ukraine.



Dailymail.com reported that Russia has "launched an all-out war on Ukraine with simultaneous attacks coming from south, east and north, by land and by air".



According to them, "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 are said to have been killed in the clashes.



The Russia and Ukraine conflict has to do with geopolitics with Russia, under the leadership of her President Vladimir Putin, disliking the idea of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).



Reacting to what many fear will cause a ''third world war'', Charles Owusu opined that Ghana can make no significant impact in the ongoing war.



To him, the government should effectively manage the country in order to relieve Ghanaians.



Although dreading the consequences of Russia's action on the world economy, particularly on Ghana, he however believed should the government put the right measures in place, the country will survive.



He advised President Akufo-Addo and his government to focus on resolving the economic challenges confronting Ghanaians as well as addressing the concerns of Ghanaian students in Ukraine than meddling in the Russia/Ukraine impasse.



"There's nothing Ghana can do about what is going on in Ukraine. There's nothing that Ghana can do. We can discuss and debate on it but, in terms of impact, we can't make any impact," he stressed on Peace FM's flagship programme ''Kokrokoo''.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak is demanding answers from the Majority Leadership on what has caused a rescheduling of the Presidents State of the Nation address.



It was previously announced that the Presidents sessional address would be delivered on the 3rd of March, but that has been postponed, and no date has been given.



The Presidents address will provide governments key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead, highlight achievements and challenges, and outline developmental measures for the coming financial year.



But the Builsa South legislator said explanations must be offered for why the address has been put on hold.



Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, we have to know why the address has been put on hold. I believe that as a nation; with the conditions facing us, we are all anxious to hear what the state of the nation is. So if it has been put on hold, we must know why.



Article 67 of the Constitution mandates the President to present the address to Parliament at the beginning of each session of the lawmaking body and before the dissolution of the house.



Following the recent happenings in the country; the controversial E-Levy, the spike in fuel prices, labour agitations, uncertainties in the educational sector, among others, may feature strongly in his presentation.

Source: citinewsroom









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Four people have been killed in floods in eastern Australia as the state of Queensland sees some of the heaviest rains in decades.

Torrential downpours lashed eastern Australia on Saturday, raising deadly floodwaters to decades-long highs, swamping homes and sweeping away cars.

Police in the eastern state of Queensland said they had found the body of a 37-year-old man, raising the flooding death toll to five people since early this week. At least one person is still missing.

Images of southeast Queensland broadcast on Australian media showed homes and roads flooded, areas of land transformed into lakes and a large chunk of a concrete pier floating down the fast-running Brisbane River.

The water snatched the car of a team of four emergency services workers who were heading to rescue a family from their flooded home overnight, said state police disaster coordinator Steve Gollschewski.

"The vehicle in which they were travelling was swept off the road into floodwaters. Three of our members were rescued. One of those members is deceased," Gollschewski told a news conference.

Elsewhere, another man's body was found overnight.

"In some parts of southeast Queensland, this is the biggest event that they will see in a number of decades," said state police and emergency services minister Mark Ryan.

Emergency services have responded to more than 1,800 calls for help in 24 hours in southeast Queensland.

"And the rain has not stoppedin fact, there are some parts where it is intensifying."

The Queensland town of Gympie was facing a "hell of a lot of water" as the Mary River rose, Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig was quoted as saying by national broadcaster ABC.

In the town's Royal Hotel, "without a submarine or a snorkel, you will not be having a beer," Hartwig said.

"It's floor-to-ceiling and over the roof in some areas."

'Dangerous'

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Mary River could rise above 21 metres (69 feet) at Gympie. It may exceed levels last seen there in February 1999, the bureau of meteorology said.

As a precaution, Queensland would be issuing evacuation alerts, notably targeting about 700 residents in the Gympie area, the premier said.

"If we don't do this now people will become isolated and trapped," she warned.

More rain is forecast as the weather system is moving more slowly than expected.

The premier said her "heart goes out" to the volunteer emergency services worker, 62-year-old Merryl Dray, who died "trying to save her community".

Emergency services had responded to more than 1,800 calls for help in 24 hours in southeast Queensland, officials said.

Rainfall in some areas of the state had exceeded records going back decades, said senior Queensland meteorologist David Grant.

He predicted further rain on Sunday as the weather system moved away more slowly than had been anticipated.

"There is now going to be an increased risk of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, and even the potential for localised landslides," he told a news conference.

Heavy rain also hit the state capital Brisbane.

"Essentially we've seen a month's worth of rainfall fall in one day for just Brisbane alone," Grant said.

Jai Connors fishes in rising floodwater from the swollen Bremer river in West Ipswich, Queensland.

Rescuers undertook 132 rescues in swift water conditions in 24 hours, said Greg Leach, Queensland's commissioner for fire and emergency services.

"Our catchments are completely saturated. Our rivers are rising. We have flash flooding. Now is not the time to be out in southeast Queensland if you don't have to be," Leach said.

Explore further One dead, 10 feared missing in Australia floods

 2022 AFP
BALLSTON SPA  The Greenfield man who pleaded guilty to the felony charge of first-degree vehicular assault has been sentenced to two to six years in state prison.

Jeremy Molnar, 27, admitted at the time of his plea that he caused serious injury to April ODonahoe while driving his 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe, which collided head-on with her 2021 Honda Civic, when his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit of 0.08 on May 16, 2021.

He acknowledged during his plea that he did so while knowing or having reason to know that his driving privileges in New York were suspended, according to a news release. Police said at the time of the crash that Molnars license was suspended due to a conviction of an offense that was not alcohol-related.

The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office had responded to a report of a serious personal injury motor vehicle crash on Corinth Mountain Road in the town of Wilton at 5:37 a.m.

Molnar had fled the scene on foot before patrol officers found him, according to police at the time.

As a result of the accident, ODonahoe was transported from the scene by helicopter to Albany Medical Center for treatment. She was facing life-threatening injuries.

He had been charged with felony counts of first-degree vehicular assault, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a personal injury crash.

Molnar was also charged with a misdemeanor charge of DWI and a traffic violation.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen announced the sentencing of Molnar on Friday. She thanked members of the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office for their thorough investigation on the day of the crash and in the days after, ensuring that Molnar was held accountable for his actions.

The case was prosecuted by Saratoga County Assistant District Attorney Samuel Maxwell.
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Dana Haff, Hartford town supervisor, has been in communication with his friend and former Hartford High School classmate Barbara Klaiber more frequently over the past couple of weeks.

She runs an organization called The Ark in Ukraines capital city of Kyiv.

Haff said that their parents were very close when they went to school together. They would have dinner at each others house often.

Im just very concerned for her because shes in the capital, the largest population. They (Russia) are going to have to occupy the capital, Haff said. Out in the countryside and those other towns, theyre not going to occupy them because they have no strategic value.

The Ark provides a healthy, happy and safe environment for some of the countys most at-risk children, according to the organizations website fathers-care.org. She started the organization in 1998 with her colleague Jane Hyatt.

The last time I actually saw her face-to-face was when I had lunch with her and a couple of other classmates in 2010 when she came back for the summer, Haff said.

Haff was thinking of his friend more and more as the situation between the Ukraine and Russia started to intensify. He was worried and was hopeful that she had a safe place to go to if things got worse.

She said they do. They do have some plans in case that happens, he said she told him prior to the Russian invasion. But you have to remember back then not that many people in the Ukraine thought this was going to happen.

Klaibers brother, Peter Klaiber, a Hartford resident, said she had told him about a month ago that things seemed pretty normal.

Peter said there has been fighting and conflict along the eastern border of Ukraine that has been going on continuously but to a much lesser extent. She told Peter that she wouldnt have expected anything out of the ordinary occurring if she hadnt turned on the news.

For them it was business as usual, he said. Again, that was a month ago.

And things changed quickly.

Peter said he was reading some of their email correspondence in church. He said that Barbara wrote to him about a week ago just prior to the invasion and that she felt like she was living in two different worlds.

War and peace.

Haff has been sharing Facebook posts from Barbara to update people on her situation. The last post he shared was from Friday, when Barbara posted about her and more than 20 children in her organization being in a bomb shelter.

Peter said that his sister had brought the children in her organization over to check out the bomb shelter about a week ago, just before the invasion began.

He asked her what they could do to help. Peter said that people have been asking him the same question.

I shared that with Barbara and she said, From afar, all you can do is pray, and if youre so inclined donate to The Ark, he said.

Peter stated that his sister has a strong faith and belief in God.

You can learn more about The Ark and donate to Fathers Care, which is a nonprofit that operates the rehabilitation center in Kyiv, by going to fathers-care.org.

Peter said that the organization, along with most of Eastern Europe, is reliant on Russia for their energy.

He said that his sisters heating bill increased 300%.

Peter has been able to stay in contact with his sister primarily through emails back and forth and Facebook messenger.

He said that her sister and the more than 20 children in the bomb shelter are located closer to the outskirts of the capital. But she told Peter that there is heavy fighting in the interior of Kyiv.

They hear bombs going off. I just fear for her safety, all of their safety. Her, the kids, the staff, all of the Ukrainians, he said.

Peter said in an email on Saturday afternoon that his older sister who lives in Vermont had made contact with Barbara and spoke to her for roughly an hour.

His older sister told him that Barbara and the children are still in the shelter, but given the circumstances she is doing fine.

Barbara told their older sister that she was able to get some sleep the previous night, thanks to a patrol group keeping watch and letting them know if it is safe to leave the bomb shelter. The older sister said in that sense it is better than being at The Ark, where she was awake all night listening.

I feel kind of helpless. Not hopeless, helpless, Peter said. I dont feel hopeless, but theres not a whole lot we can do from over here.

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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PLATTSBURGH  Bridie Farrell, a former U.S. speedskater and crime victim advocate, announced Friday that she is dropping out of the race to represent New Yorks 21st Congressional District.

In an email to supporters, the North River Democrat said she made the decision after closely reviewing the new district maps, signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month.

New Yorks 21st District now has a 23-point Republican advantage instead of the 8-point margin it had when I launched my campaign, she said. I no longer see a path to victory for a Democrat in this race.

GOP super district

The new NY-21 has been described by media outlets, including CNHI, as a GOP super district.

Under the new maps, it will encompass all or parts of 18 counties, six more than its current configuration.

The district will lose parts of Jefferson and Warren counties while gaining the remainder of Herkimer County, all of Schoharie County and parts of Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego and Rensselaer counties.

According to the campaign of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, the newly-expanded NY-21 voted for former President Donald Trump by 19% in 2020, and for the GOP gubernatorial candidate by 30% in 2018.

Stefanik camp: No surprise

Farrell and other Democrats chose to remain in the race even after Matt Castelli, a former CIA and White House counterterrorism official who lives in Saratoga, racked up support from 11 county Democratic committee leaders in the district and Stefaniks predecessor, Plattsburgh Democrat Bill Owens. Castelli has also been endorsed by 13 county Democratic committees.

Farrells total fundraising numbers also trailed Castellis by nearly $200,000. Whitehall attorney Matt Putorti has brought in more than twice as much as Farrell did throughout their campaigns.

In a statement, Alex deGrasse, Stefaniks senior adviser, said Farrells decision was no surprise.

He contended upstate New York and North Country Democrats were stuck with the remaining candidates: Castelli, Putorti and Ezra Watson, a technician in the semiconductor industry who lives in Wilton.

We look forward to once again crushing whichever radical extremist gets through the Democrat primary, and we expect more Democrats to drop out to avoid embarrassing themselves, deGrasse said.

Be vocal, go local

In her email, Farrell said her desire to give back to the North Country was not ending and that she remained committed to helping the region and rural New York in down-ballot races this election cycle.

As I said when I started my nonprofit years ago: Be Vocal, Go Local. We need to come out for folks who are willing to throw their hats in the ring to serve with financial support, door knocking, phone banking and by having conversations with our neighbors.

Farrell expressed gratitude to her supporters and said leaving the race was the beginning of the next chapter.

I still truly believe there is more that unites us than divides us, she continued. I hope that you do as well, and that you will remain engaged in the beautiful and fragile process of American democracy.

More endorsements

Farrells announcement came out shortly after Stefanik touted the backing of three more GOP county committees, making for 15 so far.

The Montgomery, Washington and Lewis counties Republican committees have unanimously endorsed Stefanik, joining their counterparts in Saratoga, Franklin, Herkimer, Fulton, Jefferson, Clinton, Hamilton, Warren, Oneida, St. Lawrence, Oswego and Essex counties.

Our community is ecstatic that Ms. Stefanik will soon officially represent us, although her strong, conservative leadership has long benefited families across our state, stated Mike McMahon, GOP chair for Montgomery County, one of the new additions to NY-21.

From taking on corrupt Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to standing with President Donald Trump, Congresswoman Stefanik has always fought for New Yorkers. Montgomery County families look forward to turning out in big numbers to support her reelection.

The Clinton County GOPs endorsement of Stefaniks reelection run came last week.

Since she was first elected in 2014, Elise has never stopped delivering results for Clinton County families, county Republican Committee Chair Clark Currier said in a statement.

She is an unapologetic champion for our conservative values, and were grateful to continue to support her tremendous work for Clinton County, New York, and our country.

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ATLANTIC CITY  Police arrested a city man last week after officers found drugs in his vehicle.

At 8:34 p.m. Feb. 19, Officers William Luengas-Gonzalez and Jennifer Sanchez conducted a motor vehicle stop at milepost 62 of the westbound lanes of North Albany Avenue. Officer Jesse Oliver-Logan and his K-9 partner, Gee, arrived shortly after as backup.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, 25-year-old Kevin Anguiano, initially refused to provide officers with his credentials and presented them with a false name. After some sniffing around by Gee, officers searched the vehicle and found drugs, police said in a news release.

Police said Anguiano had in his vehicle 24 grams of suspected crack cocaine; 2.19 pounds of marijuana, which exceeds the legal amount permissible to possess in New Jersey; hollow point bullets; a digital scale and packaging materials used for distributing drugs. He also had an active warrant for his arrest.

Anguiano was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of CDS with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of hollow point bullets, hindering, obstruction and several traffic citations.

He was issued a summons to appear in court but was also sent to the Atlantic County jail on the outstanding warrant.
Business owner Thomas Spadafora had a year left on his lease of the building but had asked to be let out of the lease for this year. He said Friday he plans to concentrate on his seafood market at 932 Haven Ave., moving the clam bar operations there instead.

The restaurant was the original location, but in recent years served more as a satellite, he said, supported by the nearby seafood market.

The city owns the Atlantic Avenue property, which it acquired from the Schilling family in 1999. According to Spadafora, he originally rented the restaurant from Helen Schilling, who had extensive real estate holdings in the city. He said he had no complaints with the city as a landlord.

The citys been good to me. Im happy, he said. But it has been increasingly difficult to find summer employees, he said. Last year, he closed the business in August, citing a lack of help.

We decided were just going to do the fish market, he said. Were going to relocate the whole operation.

Spadafora plans to offer more outside seating this year at the Haven Avenue location near Ocean Citys historic train station, where he owns the building. He also plans to expand the hours and offer lunch and seafood delivery, which he has not done before.

City Business Administrator George Savastano reported on the change to City Council on Thursday night, describing it as a win, win.

The city plans to demolish the structure and expand the parking lot at Ninth Street near the Boardwalk, the preservation of which was the main motivation for buying the property in 1999. The parking revenue will exceed the amount the city got from the lease, he said.

According to city spokesman Doug Bergen, the city got $30,849 a year for the property under the current five-year lease. The city expects to fit at least 10 spaces where there is now a building and a parking lot for customers. Each space in the adjacent lot brings in about $3,800 per season, Bergen said.

The city does not like losing a restaurant, Savastano and Bergen said, but in this case they dont much mind.

I think everybody would agree its seen better days, Savastano said.

On Friday, Spadafora was clearing out equipment from the building and selling some items to other businesses, including trays, plates and other gear. He said it makes sense to combine the businesses, especially with the increasing difficulty in getting workers.

Theres been a paradigm shift in this city. There are no college kids. There are no flop houses. The colleges all start early. And right now, there are no foreign students, he said. Its almost impossible to find people.

In other years, thousands of college students would work in shore towns each summer, crowding into cheap housing and making some money for school expenses while getting their days off at the beach. It is far more difficult to find affordable options in Ocean City and other resorts in the summer, and over the past two years, COVID-19 drastically reduced the number of student workers from overseas who were in the area on J-1 visas, which allow them to work seasonally.

Spadafora said he bid on the lease once the city took over the property.

He estimates the small square building was built around 1910. It has been a hot dog stand, a real estate office and multiple kinds of food operations. It was the Hen House for 25 years, and at one point the late Ambassador Bill Hughes operated a business there. Hughes represented the 2nd District in Congress for 20 years.

Council unanimously approved a motion to end the lease.

Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill

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VINELAND  Emotions ran high Saturday morning as people gathered at Saint Padre Pio Parish to pray for peace in Ukraine.

If you dont have prayer, what else do you have? said Joanne DeMaria, a member of the church who was in attendance.

The service began at 8:30 a.m. with a prayer for the protection of the people of the eastern European nation, currently under siege by Russia. The service continued with Father Rob Sinatra leading the prayer of the rosary.

Its our great opportunity to pray for peace, Sinatra said Friday night on Facebook.

Many people were overcome with emotion during the service and teared up while praying for an end to the violence.

After the service, people gathered and talked with each other about the situation. They expressed their feelings of sadness or hope differently, but the message was the same from everyone in attendance: Prayer is powerful.

This is so real, said DeMaria, and we have to pray. Thats all we can do, just pray.

Shannon St. Clair, of Vineland, stood with DeMaria and her family.

We came today to pray for peace, she said. Ukraine is a peaceful country, and we just feel for all the people there; the mothers, the children.

DeMaria got choked up reflecting on the pain families are going through in Ukraine. I think what really hit me yesterday was seeing the videos of the fathers saying goodbye to their children.

Ukraines State Border Guard Service announced Thursday that all men ages 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, while thousands of women and children have fled for safety.

We have young children, DeMaria said, gesturing at St. Clair. What messages are our children getting from all of this?

Chris Burrows, a member of the church, wiped away tears as he spoke about the current state of affairs, both in Ukraine and here in the United States.

People dont realize how bad this is, he said. They (Russia) are already out of control, because theyre missing God in their lives.

Burrows said the current presidential administration is part of the reason Russia was able to invade Ukraine, and that it wouldnt have happened under former President Donald Trump.

It doesnt matter what we do over there. Putin is not going to stop until he has what he wants, Burrows said.

Others had a more positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of prayer and compassion. Steve Bertonazzi, a member of the church, said its important to show up and pray for peace.

People are people. It doesnt matter where they come from, said Bertonazzi. We all have the same emotions, the same things we love, especially our families. Im here to support people who love one another.

Our prayers are powerful. You cant give up, you have to just send your prayers out.

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Heather Eicher-Miller

Heather Eicher-Miller seeks to help people access the food they need to be healthy by working to improve food security across the United States. An associate professor in the Department of Nutrition Science, Eicher-Millers research has made important strides in the field, from evaluating and showing the influence of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) to drawing attention to the prevalence of food insecurity among those who use food pantries.

Eicher-Miller received her masters degree and Ph.D. in Nutrition Science from Purdue University in 2006 and 2009 respectively. She has since received numerous awards, including the American Society for Nutritions Mead Johnson Award in 2019.

What is the focus of your research, and why is it important?

My goal is to improve U.S. food security, or access of all people to enough food to support health. Achieving U.S. food security is important because the amount and quality of food we eat every day impacts our immediate and long-term health. For children, it impacts development to ones highest health potential and ability to resist disease. Achieving U.S. food security is possible. The U.S. food system produces more than enough food for the population. The problem is determining the best ways to support the estimated 11% of U.S. households living with food insecurity, to get the food they need.

What inspired your interest in this research area?

My interest in this research area was sparked by experience living in both rural areas where food production is the focus and urban areas of poverty where many struggle to get enough food. I lived and worked in the Philippines for approximately two years before going to graduate school, and this experience also added to my curiosity. The Filipino economy is based on agriculture, yet food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies are common. I wanted to learn more about why this could be happening.

Youre also the director of Indianas Emergency Food Resource Network. How did you get started with that initiative?

The Indianas Emergency Food Resource Network was a project that started as a way to connect emergency food providers to nutrition education in the early 1990s. The project was a collaboration between faculty at Purdue and the Indiana state contact for The Emergency Food Resource Program, or the program that provides federal funds for emergency food to be distributed through food banks to food pantries. I got involved leading the project when I joined the faculty. Every other month, I mentor the undergraduate editor and authors voluntarily involved to create a digital newsletter that is distributed to all the emergency food providers across Indiana. My lab has also created and maintains an Indianas Emergency Food Resource Network website that houses nutrition education information and a directory of emergency food providers in Indiana.

What do you find to be most rewarding about your work?

I feel that it is very important to make decisions on strong scientific evidence. It makes me feel good when our research is cited as part of a U.S. policy document or noted as part of the evidence for a certain program or policy. This is how I know our research is practical and useful. When our evidence is used in this way, it is very rewarding.

What is a professional accomplishment of which youre particularly proud?

I am very proud of our work to evaluate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education effect on food security. We found that there was a 25% improvement in food security among those who received this program compared with those who did not over one year. The study was unique in being a randomized, controlled trial that followed a large low-resource sample over one year when previous studies were missing control groups or were short-term. The study provided strong evidence for the impact this program is having. I hope to build on this study by including a more diverse sample and expanding it to include other states.

Writer: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu
Xinran Lehto

COVID-19 crippled much of the hospitality and tourism industry in 2020, but researchers in the field like Xinran Lehto, professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), see the start of a bounce back as early as this fall  along with significant changes. The one-plus year of quarantines, shutdowns and travel bans have given hospitality and tourism companies and organizations a window of reflection, and perhaps, people will experience more fulfilling vacations in years to come. Lehto mines her previous international work in hospitality and tourism to inform her research and teaching, which examines best practices for designing vacation experiences and marketing destinations and hospitality services.

What professional experience did you have before academia, and how has it helped you as a researcher?

Professional work is essential. It helped me lay the foundation of what I do in terms of research. What Im doing right now: Im trying to understand vacation experiences and how to design vacations for optimal results for travelers. I worked in vacation planning in Singapore  designing and putting together various elements in terms of activities, programs theyre going to participate in, hotels and food. Those few years allowed me to understand what the hospitality and tourism industry is all about. It allowed me to stay in-tune with the changing industry practices over the years, and it allowed me to see the importance of travel and vacationing in the lives of people the impact they produce. Travel is a quality-of-life indicator.

What are some destination marketing elements?

Traditionally, its about projecting an image along with market communication and branding. Todays marketing takes on a larger role in terms of experience management. Its much more than promoting a destination. Destination marketing organizations are looking at the things travelers can do  the activities, the programs  and figuring out how we ultimately offer the optimal experiences to the visitors. Its not simply promoting a destination; it is also about designing and delivering unique vacation experiences. You want to make sure you deliver on what you promise.

What will hospitality and tourism look like after the COVID-19 pandemic?

As you can envision, places that are outdoors, in the outskirts, in nature will recover first for sure. Domestic and regional tourism will recover ahead of international tourism. We really need people to be vaccinated and be healthy for some sectors of the industry to go forth.

Prior to the pandemic, things were getting so crowded and unsustainable. This last year has allowed destinations to rethink what they can offer the best and not go for quantity and gross domestic product per se. It is about ensuring that a destination can offer well-being benefits to the travelers as well as the local community. It is about conviviality between travelers and the locals. It is about safeguarding and regenerating the precious natural and cultural resources that tourism businesses so heavily rely upon. The theme of health and wellness is going to dominate, from marketing messages to design.

How are your students reacting to the pandemics effect on the hospitality and tourism industry?

I tell my students to be optimistic, as hospitality and tourism will never disappear. It will only recover from the pandemic and evolve into an industry that is better and more relevant to the society. Also, as a field, we are fast evolving as a result of rapid emergences of new digital and other technologies. I told my students a lot of HTM jobs are not born yet because our field is evolving so fast. Who would think that Mars could be a tourism destination for travelers? Who knew that artificial intelligence would be replacing real experience with virtual experience and augmented experience. The field is very dynamic. Its changing. I tell my students, Dont feel sad about the pandemic. The pandemic will be finished soon, and the demand is going to come back. I encourage our students to be more in-tune with industry needs and become more creative.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I can relate industry reality with the conceptual work that I do. I can also relate what we teach with what I research. This semester, I made my students read some of my own scholarly work, and it was interesting to see how they really related to it and applied it in practice. Im also proud that my research has a prescient quality. Its thought-provoking, forward-looking types of research.

Writer: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu
Karen J. Foli

From fostering new knowledge about parental postadoption depression to increasing understanding of psychological trauma in nurses, Karen J. Foli, associate professor of nursing in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, has impacted the nursing profession by developing theories that are critical in supporting the well-being of nurses and improving patient care. In recognition of her research, Purdue University bestowed Foli with the Trailblazer Award for Outstanding Midcareer Research and Scholarship in 2020.

Foli has not only been recognized extensively for her research contributions but also for her teaching, receiving the Charles B. Murphy Award in 2015, which is Purdues highest undergraduate teaching honor, and being listed in the Universitys Book of Great Teachers in 2018. In fall 2021, Foli was inducted as a fellow in the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education. She is also a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

What is the focus of your research?

I began my work at Purdue by studying the mental health of adoptive and kinship parents when typical studies concentrated primarily on child outcomes. With Susan South, professor in Purdues Department of Psychological Sciences, I was able to produce a novel and cohesive body of work surrounding the phenomenon of parental postadoption depression, creating new discourses in the nursing and international adoption communities. I then created a theory of postadoption depression in adoptive parents that predicts depressive symptoms based on unmet expectations. This contribution has improved the accuracy of the assessment and support adoption agencies and mental health workers can provide to adoptive and kinship parents.

More recently, I extended my research program in psychological trauma to encompass professional nurses through my book, The Influence of Psychological Trauma in Nursing, which received two American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year awards in 2019. My theory of nurses psychological trauma describes seven unique nurse-specific traumas that resonate with practicing nurses around the world. For example, I have revealed insufficient resource trauma as a main source of distress in nurses. This trauma encompasses the lack of adequate staff; supplies; access to other staff; and knowledge, or being put in places without orientation or training.

What inspired your interest in this research area?

Having lived through years of clinical practice and remembering traumas that I had experienced, combined with what I learned in the adoption community about trauma and my emphasis on linguistics and discourse, I wanted to offer my profession a way of talking about what they lived. That being said, psychological trauma in nursing also organically arose from my interactions with undergraduate and graduate nursing students and their experiences, both humankind- and nurse-specific. Most of this work was conducted before the pandemic.

How have you seen your research make an impact?

Key contributions include the discovery of a predictive link between psychological trauma and substance use risk in registered nurses, my description of regulatory implications for nurses who are impaired, and my analysis of the individual- and system-level impact of colleagues who are dependent on substances. I will be launching a new study in April when I will approach nurses who are in recovery for their narratives or stories. This is an important piece that has been missing in the science, and I am hopeful that it will create a more humane approach to nurses who have substance dependency. Moreover, the pandemic created new relevance for my theory of nurses psychological trauma and related substance use risk. We know, for example, that the general population has increased their use of substances and alcohol during the pandemic. The same is true for nurses.

What is something you think is important for people to know about your work?

Sometimes the things we cant measure are the most important to understand.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in higher education?

I kind of fell into it. I was single, had some time, and decided to go for a PhD at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It was there that I studied at the Institute of Communications Research with some of the great thought leaders in cultural studies at the time. It was the apex of the postmodern movement, and as a nurse who was used to very concrete thinking, exposure to critical theory, qualitative/interpretive work, and feminist theory changed my worldview and remains influential in my work today.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

I would have to say that my current theory in nurses psychological trauma has been an important accomplishment. I was at a conference last fall, and several people  nurses  approached me about my work in nurse-specific trauma and trauma-informed care. They described their projects that were inspired by my work, including the development of a curriculum and trauma-informed pastoral nursing. Recently, I was invited to be part of a PhD student committee at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland because the student had learned of my theory of nurses psychological trauma. He will use my theory as an organizing framework for his dissertation. To have this influence in nursing theory, practice, and education is both humbling and extremely gratifying.

Writer: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu
A new report says dealership consolidation and repair restrictions by companies like Deere & Company are making it increasingly difficult for farmers to fix their own equipment.

Right to Repair Campaign Director Kevin O'Reilly and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, a consumer-advocacy group, released a report Thursday analyzing the number and location of agriculture equipment dealership chains from John Deere, Case IH, AGCO and Kubota to see how dealership consolidation affects farmers' access to different dealers.

The report found dealership consolidation  in which Deere is the leader of the pack  takes away farmers' choice in who they want to work with on repairs. This, paired with restrictions on who can access information and tools to fix equipment, makes it increasingly difficult for farmers to get machinery working again in a timely, cost-effective manner, according to the report.

Enacting right-to-repair rules  like those included in a bill introduced to the Illinois House of Representatives  would ensure farmers and other companies have access to the information and tools necessary to maintain their machinery, allowing farmers to find the dealership that works best for them or fix the problem themselves, according to the advocacy groups.

Asked how Deere & Company is addressing the right-to-repair effort during its annual shareholder meeting Wednesday, CEO John May said Deere "supports a customer's right to safely maintain," diagnose and repair Deeres fleet of increasingly technologically-advanced and connected equipment.

"However, we do not support the right to modify embedded software," May said. "So we're going to do everything we can to provide the tools, information and manuals needed for our customers to work on their machines."

Multiple class-action complaints have been filed against Deere, alleging the company has monopolized the repair service market with onboard computers called engine control units, of which the software and tools necessary to fix are inaccessible to farmers and non-Deere repair shops.

Deere & Company Director of Strategic Public Relations Jennifer Hartmann said the company offered parts, tools and information guides in different forms, along with remote access for technicians and systems that could alert customers of issues.

"John Deere does not support the right to modify embedded software due to the risks associated with the safe operation of equipment, emissions compliance and engine performance," Hartmann said. "We remain committed to providing innovative solutions that support our customers needs."

According to Thursday's report, 82% of Deere's 1,357 dealerships are part of a large chain, which include seven or more locations.

In Illinois, there is roughly one dealership chain for every 6,000 farms, with farmers often traveling far to find a different dealer if they want a second opinion or a better price.

The report included interviews with farmers across the U.S., who spoke about having to drive across county and state lines to find a dealership other than the closest chain and passing independent mechanics along the way.

Right-to-repair policies would give independent dealers and Deeres competition access to parts, software and information that would let them repair Deere equipment. The report stated that if all dealerships and mechanics took advantage of the policies, the number of repair options in Illinois would at least double.

"These reforms would enable dealerships to access materials to repair all agricultural equipment, regardless of the color of the paint on the hood," David Lee with Illinois U.S. Public Interest Research Group said at a news conference.

Illinois Representative Michelle Mussman, D-Schaumburg, introduced the Digital Fair Repair Act, or HB3061, last year. Going beyond just agriculture equipment, the bill would require equipment manufacturers to make diagnostic and repair documentation provided to authorized dealers available to any independent repair provider or equipment owner. Parts would also be made available to any owner, authorized agent or repair provider.

The bill is currently in the Rules Committee.

Mussman said during the press conference that state-led right-to-repair initiatives would put pressure at the federal level to create policies that could be implemented nationally.

In July 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order calling on the Federal Trade Commission to create rules that ban technology manufacturers from suing independent repair stores and impede customers in their efforts to repair their own items. A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this month would "make available certain documentation, parts, software and tools with respect to electronics-enabled implements of agriculture and for other purposes."

"It is a bipartisan issue, Mussman said. "Agriculture is a huge economic engine for our state, and we want to make sure that it is running at full capacity, which clearly the lack of ability to repair in a timely way can really inhibit and that's a concern for the state as a whole. It's a concern for the economic viability of our individual farmers."

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BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Wang said that not long ago, President Xi Jinping and President Macron held their first telephone conversation this year and reached new consensus on cooperation.

In the Beijing Winter Olympics, which has come to a successful conclusion, both Chinese and French athletes have delivered fine performances, he said, noting that China welcomes France to actively participate in the upcoming Winter Paralympics.

France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a major country with a tradition of staying independent, Wang noted. China is willing to maintain close communication with the French side and jointly break new ground in bilateral relations so as to make new contributions to the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

For his part, Bonne said France has always attached great importance to the development of France-China relations and stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and deepen cooperation with China so as to jointly promote the vigorous development of bilateral relations.

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine issue, deeming it imperative to prompt the parties concerned to start diplomatic negotiations as soon as possible to ease tensions.

They also called for abandoning the mentality of bloc confrontation and seeking a solution that accommodates the concerns of all parties. 
Businesses and governments should brace for increasing cyber attacks as the conflict between the United States and Russia over Ukraine is likely to spill over into cyberspace, national and local experts warn.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, issued a warning Friday on the elevated risk of cyber attacks amid Russia's invasion of and continuing war with Ukraine and the implementation of economic sanctions by the United States in response.

While stating "there are no specific or credible cyber threats to the U.S. homeland at this time," the agency said the potential for Russia to take advantage of "destabilizing actions" against the U.S. is a possibility.

Quad-Cities municipalities and businesses should be on alert, said Paul Rouse, president and owner of Rouse Consulting Group.

"I think there's always a risk, whether it's state-sponsored, proxy or a direct attack from those countries of concern," Rouse said. "It's heightened now because of the geopolitical events that occurred in the last few days. The threat has always been there, but it's an increased risk.

"I'm not aware of anything locally in the Quad Cities yet, but all of the federal agencies are telling us to be at a heightened response."

Rouse said there was no way to prevent a cyber attack 100% of the time.

"There is no one silver bullet that says to buys this piece of software," Rouse said. "What we tell our client is to have a multi-layered approach to help to prevent the threats that exist today and even threats you're not aware of yet. Making yourself a hard target to reach is the goal. It's a multi-layered approach that works.

"A bank is going to take a different approach than a landscaping business; there are different sensitivities. It's important to know what is appropriate for your environment."

Rouse said companies and municipalities should implement a vulnerability assessment and remediation plan, one that identified vulnerabilities within a given environment and a plan for how to fix it. He said vulnerabilities were going to occur, but those who were security conscious needed to scan for how to prevent them.

Rock Island County Interim Administrator Jim Grafton said the county hadn't done anything differently in terms of preparing for a potential cyber attack from Russia.

He said county officials remained on alert since being the target of an email scam in July after $115,000 was transferred by the auditor's office to a fraudulent bank account owned by someone posing as a legitimate vendor.

Grafton said he and Information Systems Director Kurt Davis spoke about heightened cyber risks earlier this week.

"When we got hit, it put everybody on guard," Grafton said. "Nothing specifically has changed. I did inquire about getting insurance in the unlikely event it happens again. That's something I'm looking into.

"We are still on edge about the whole situation. We all have to be aware in terms of monitoring our accounts," he said. "Don't be naive; be on the lookout. I think everything is fair game right now with being connected on the Internet."

"At this time, we have not seen any increase in spam or phishing activity," said Tory Brecht, communications coordinator for Moline. "We continue to monitor our spam filter closely and quarantining any suspicious emails or senders."

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Additional heavy snow in the past couple of weeks near the headwaters of the Mississippi River has led to an increase in the chance of spring flooding in the Quad-City area, according to the second flood outlook issued Thursday by the National Weather Service, Davenport.

The first flood outlook was issued Feb. 10.

What weve noticed from the first outlook to the second has been the additional heavy snow in the past couple of weeks in the upper Mississippi River Basin, meteorologist Mike McClure of the National Weather Service, Davenport, said Friday.

That snowfall is in the area of the Mississippi Rivers headwaters, he added.

Thats the primary reason for the increased chances, McClure said. But even with those numbers our chances of a spring flood are not overly high.

According to the latest spring flood outlook, there is a 69% chance of minor flooding at Lock and Dam 15, Rock Island. Historically for this time of year, the chances are 59%. Flood stage at Lock and Dam 15 is 15 feet.

There is a 53% chance of moderate flooding, as opposed to a historical probability of 51%, and there is a 24% chance of major flooding, as opposed to a historical probability of 25%.

For the Rock River at Moline, there is a 30% chance of minor flooding as opposed to a 52% historical probability. Flood stage for the Rock River at Moline is 12 feet.

The chance for moderate flooding on the Rock is 15% as opposed to a historical chance of 28%, and there is a 6% chance of major flooding compared with a historical probability of 19%

As with the first flood outlook, McClure said future snowfall and rain to the north of the Quad-Cities would determine the occurrence of flooding and the severity.

Beginning Monday, though, daytime temperatures during the upcoming week will climb well into the 40s locally with dry conditions most of the week.

Normal high temperatures for the first 10 days of March begin at about 42 degrees and climb to 47 degrees. The high temperatures next week will range between normal to slightly higher than normal.

McClure said daytime high temperatures in the upper Mississippi River Basin next week would be in the low to middle 30s, so some snow melt is expected during the next seven to 10 days.

What we dont want is for that snow to melt all at once, McClure said. Ideally wed like to get some melting during the day then a refreeze at night, so wed have a melt-freeze-melt-freeze.

A factor that could mitigate flooding is the current drought conditions in eastern Iowa, northern Illinois and in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

All of eastern Iowa, and western and northern Illinois is suffering a moderate drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.

Virtually all of Wisconsin is in moderate drought, with pockets of abnormally dry regions and a couple of pockets of severe drought.

There is moderate-to-severe drought conditions in far northern and northeastern Minnesota along with a big swath of abnormally dry conditions.

It is hoped that the ground is thawed enough in many areas for that snow melt to seep into the ground instead of making its way into the Mississippi River or its tributaries.

McClure said that with planting season fast approaching it would be beneficial for that snow melt to recharge the soil moisture.

However, while the forecast for this week appears to be dry, beginning Friday there is a 30% chance of rain, McClure said, adding that the Climate Prediction Center has forecast a more active weather pattern for the next week that will include higher chances of rain.

According the Climate Prediction Center, roughly from March 5 through March 11 will be wetter with temperatures that could be cooler than normal.

There are a lot of factors that can affect flooding on the Mississippi River, but the biggest are snow melt and rain, he said.

The last spring flood outlook will be issued March 10.

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SPRINGFIELD  Carbondale city manager Gary Williams was under no illusions that the 2020 U.S. census count would be good for his community, one of a handful of Illinois college towns devastated by steep enrollment drops this past decade.

Williams had expected the city, home to Southern Illinois University Carbondale, to drop from its 2010 population of 25,902 to somewhere below 25,000. But its 2020 count of 21,857  a decline of more than 4,000  was "definitely lower than we expected," he acknowledged.

"We were not expected to fall this low," Williams said. "And we don't think that that's an accurate reflection of our population."

A mix of enrollment decline at higher education institutions in their communities and the untimely clearing out of students during the COVID-19 pandemic have left these communities bracing for lasting impacts, ranging from greater strain on budgets to the potential loss of "Home Rule" status.

Many believe their communities were shortchanged by the census, especially with how students were counted. Some plan to challenge the results while others say it would likely not result in substantial change.

This is the first story in an occasional Lee Enterprises series examining the 2020 U.S. Census count and its impact on downstate Illinois.

'Eerily close'

All but 14 of Illinois 102 counties experienced population decline this past decade, but the distribution was uneven, with eight counties in populous northeastern Illinois (Cook County, the five suburban collar counties and exurban Grundy and Kendall counties) combining for nearly 149,000 in population growth.

But the rest of the state combined to lose nearly 167,000 people, creating a net loss of more than 18,000 residents and making Illinois just one of three states to lose population this decade.

Looking a layer even deeper, there was perhaps no collection of downstate communities harder hit than college towns, particularly those where "directional" universities are located.

In Charleston, home of Eastern Illinois University, the population dropped from 21,838 to 17,286, a more than one-fifth decrease. Macomb, home of Western Illinois University, saw a similar drop, going from 19,288 in 2010 to 15,051 in 2020.

DeKalb, home of Northern Illinois University, went from 43,862 to 40,290, about an 8% decline.

Those are declines of 4,552, 4,237 and 3,572, respectively. Combine that with Carbondale's 4,045 drop and the total drop is 16,406.

From this perspective, these four communities account for more than 90% of the state's population decline over the previous decade.

And the raw population drop in each community is eerily close, said Macomb Mayor Mike Inman.

"I think that we can draw a direct connection between all of our declines in population to the pandemic and the way the census bureau conducted it," Inman said. "We knew we were going to be down anyway. Unfortunately, that's been the trend for all of the directional institutions."

Other college towns have fared better.

Both Bloomington and Normal, home of Illinois State University, registered modest population growth last decade.

Champaign and Urbana, which share the state's flagship university, saw a net increase in population  with the former's robust growth offsetting the latter's loss.

In the case of Bloomington-Normal, a more diversified economy that includes longstanding major employers like State Farm and Country Financial as well as encouraging upstarts like Rivian has helped insulate the Twin Cities from issues that plague other college towns.

"With the continued increase in development, real estate growth and projects that are bringing jobs to town, its not a surprise that people continue to move to Bloomington," city spokeswoman Katherine Murphy told The Pantagraph in August 2021.

In Champaign-Urbana, the continued growth of the University of Illinois, which recorded its largest enrollment ever last year at 56,299, has fueled the overall growth of the region.

"It's a little bit of a different environment for us versus the big institution 40 miles up the road," said Charleston city manager Scott Smith.

Indeed, in communities heavily dependent on universities experiencing an enrollment decline as well a pandemic-induced reduction in the time students spend on campus, are struggling.

Smith estimated that Charleston's population decline would cost the city about $900,000 annually from the local government distributive fund, which is the share of state income tax revenue shared with cities and counties. The amount given to each local government depends on size.

Though federal COVID-19 stimulus funds and better-than-expected revenues have temporarily flushed the city's coffers with cash, Smith said the city's census number will have a more lasting, negative impact.

"We're gonna have to find new revenue streams, we're gonna have to be creative," he said. "We're gonna have to cut some corners, we're gonna have to cut expenses. We have to cut personnel. Who knows?"

In Macomb, Inman said they have been "making budgetary adjustments for years in anticipation" of population drop, such as reducing the city's workforce through attrition. He estimates about an annual $500,000 to $700,000 hit to the city's budget.

But even the best-laid plans will have to be adjusted as the city predicted a population of around 16,000, which ended up being about 1,000 off the census count.

Bill Nicklas, city manager of DeKalb, estimated an annual loss from state income tax, motor fuel tax and other shared revenues could be $1.9 million annually.

"In economic terms, population is an important factor for municipal revenue forecasting," he said.

Williams, the Carbondale city manager, said the city would lose about $800,000 in shared tax revenue with the population loss. But that's not even the "biggest consequence," he said.

The Southern Illinois city is in danger of losing its "Home Rule" status, which is granted automatically to municipalities with a population greater than 25,000. Those under that threshold must receive it through a referendum.

"Home Rule" essentially grants municipalities much broader authority to impose taxes and regulations.

If Carbondale voters fail to approve "Home Rule" at the ballot this November, the city could be cut off from key revenue sources such as local taxes on food and beverage, liquor and cigarettes.

But even more importantly, it would take away key regulatory powers, such as the ability to require rental property owners to register with the city and making their units available for inspection once every three years.

"In a college town, we're 70% rental," he said. "So you could probably imagine how important it is to us. If we lose 'Home Rule,' we would not be able to have that same style of special program."

Special Census?

In a sense, the 2020 U.S. Census came at the worst possible time for college towns. Census Day is officially April 1, with respondents expected to tell the government where they are living as of that day.

With COVID-induced shutdowns commencing in mid-March, most college students were not on campus.

To help offset this, the U.S. Census Bureau in March 2020 first allowed universities to partake in its Group Quarters Operation, which allowed all students living in university-owned housing to be automatically counted.

With classes switching to online and students returning to live with their parents, the bureau in June 2020 asked all colleges and universities to provide a full roster of students living off-campus.

Still, officials in college towns across American believe many student fell through the cracks. An Associated Press review of several college towns last October found that census totals were well below previous estimates.

This has leaders in these towns, including those in Illinois, questioning whether to challenge the results by requesting a special census.

A special census, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is "a basic enumeration" conducted by the agency "at the request of a governmental unit."

Basically, it allows governments the chance at a do-over if they felt the previous census did not capture an accurate count. It can be done by census tract, meaning that areas with a disproportionate amount of students can be recounted.

The U.S. Census Bureau is not expected to start conducting special censuses until 2023. Whether or not cities take advantage of the option is still an open question.

Inman said Macomb has already done the "initial analysis" and plans to have a special census conducted.

"We may not be the first community through the door, but I don't want to be the 700th," Inman said. "So we want to have our ducks in a row ready to hand them a packet saying 'here's what we need, tell us what it's going to cost.'"

The city has experience with such endeavors  a special census in 2014 found the city's population more than 2,000 higher than the 2010 count.

Inman said this made the $95,000 investment to have the count done worth it. He said they plan to identify census tracts known to have high numbers of college students for recounting.

Though it won't make up the total population loss, Inman estimated that the city could recover $150,000 to $300,000 per year in revenue if the population is closer to what they had projected.

Williams, in Carbondale, said they're "still considering it."

"I think it's a real uphill battle to get any changes made to the census," he said. "So at this time, we're just going to have to weigh all the pros and cons."

In Charleston, Smith was less sure.

"It's a gamble," he said, suggesting that a special census could be costly and may not yield the gains the city seeks. "The reality of it is the number is the number and that's what we're going to have to live with and work from."

"We didn't think that it was going to be that big of a decline or dip, but 17,286 is the new number and that's what's going to be on the sign out front, so to speak," Smith said.

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The warnings of an imminent crisis between Russia and Ukraine started last year, ebbing and flowing with clashing information from all sides. Here's how we got here.
Thank you, family and friends for the kind and beautiful birthday cards and wishes that I received, and to those who came to help me celebrate
A suspected grave robbery begins an adventurous journey from 1930s England to Rapid City in a new novel, Ghosts of the West.

Ghosts of the West is the third novel in English author Alec Marshs Drabble and Harris series. History professor Drabble and gossip columnist Harris are longtime friends who find themselves in extraordinary escapades. In Ghosts of the West, a theft of Native American artifacts, an encounter with a world-weary Sioux chief who survived the Battle of Little Bighorn, and a murder ultimately leads them to the Black Hills.

Much like Oscar and Felix in The Odd Couple, longtime friends Drabble and Harris are opposites. Marsh said Drabble is an academic, an amateur mountaineer and a left-wing progressive. Harris is a conservative who likes his booze and cigarettes and has a habit of saying whatever pops into his mind.

Theres a bit of me in Harris, said Marsh who, like Harris, has worked as a gossip columnist.

Usually Drabble gets himself in trouble because hes trying to do the right thing. Harris gets himself in trouble because hes doing the wrong thing, Marsh chuckled.

Ghosts of the West is inspired in part by Marshs childhood fascination with westerns. Marsh, 47, grew up in Essex, England, and lives there now with his wife and two young sons.

As a boy, I grew up watching John Wayne westerns like a lot of kids my age. This is part of the culture people my age have grown up with, he said.

One of the main characters in Ghosts of the West is Sioux Chief Black Cloud. His character is based on a real Oglala Lakota warrior, Chief Flying Hawk. Flying Hawk survived the Battle of Little Bighorn and was a close friend and cousin of Crazy Horse. Flying Hawk was present at the death of Sitting Bull, and he was at the massacre of Wounded Knee. He later traveled the world as a star of Buffalo Bills Wild West troupe.

Flying Hawk was in London in the 1930s. He fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn. I thought (the character Black Cloud) could tell Drabble and Harris what he saw and the mysteries of what happened at the battle, and that would be a way of bringing history to life and exploring that story, Marsh said.

Marsh said he hopes to show British readers another perspective from what they saw in westerns.

Its a different take from the story I grew up with (that cowboys are the heroes), he said. That narrative is wrong. Its complicated.  The book is a way of exploring the past.  Its like therapy for the past and you hope youre better in the future.

For Marsh, a journalist who has a degree in history, writing historical fiction is a dream come true.

I love history fiction because you can bring the past to life and ask questions about it. I wanted to make us face our complacent cozy view of history, he said. You have to show how good people can do bad things. You can use history fiction to analyze how bad things have happened.

I think its quite a powerful thing. You have to be responsible. You have to treat the facts with great integrity and you have to be truthful to the spirit of the past, he said.

Ghosts of the West is meant to be a great story. If at the same time you can educate people a bit  then hopefully thats a good thing, too. I hope its a really good adventure and through that I hope people are in touch with emotional traumas of the past," Marsh said.

Marsh began writing Ghosts of the West in 2020 and said writing it was a great escape from the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the pandemic, Marsh wasnt able to visit the Black Hills in person, so he wrote the book based entirely on research. Hes now working on his fourth Drabble and Harris novel and still hopes to visit the Black Hills.

Ghosts of the West will be released in the United States on March 1 and can be ordered through Target, Books-A-Million and Amazon. Go to alecmarsh.co.uk for information about Marsh and his other Drabble and Harris novels, Rule Britannia and Enemy of the Raj.

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U.S. Sen. John Thune said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "thug" and Russia's invasion of Ukraine is reminiscent of the beginning of World War II in 1939.

"There are a lot of those countries in Europe who have memories about what it was like when you get a thug like Putin, who basically, for the first time in almost 100 years now is invading a sovereign country," he said.

Thune was in Rapid City on Friday to visit the campus of South Dakota Mines. On Thursday, Thune said he had a conference with the Secretaries of State, Defense and Treasury about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. He said he will travel back to Washington, D.C., this weekend where he will have several classified briefings about the Russian invasion.

The Republican Senate Minority Whip said the people of Ukraine and surrounding countries deserve the utmost support from the United States and NATO allies.

"I think there's a real sense of unity at NATO that this needs to be stopped now so that it doesn't spread," Thune said. "If you're Estonia, or Latvia or Lithuania, or even Poland or Romania  for that matter  you're right on the border there and are thinking they could be next."

Thune said he supports the Biden administration's and NATO's actions in setting severe economic sanctions on Russia and personal sanctions on Putin's assets and the assets of Russian oligarchs.

"We need to make it as painful and as costly and as consequential as possible for Putin and his regime, not only for what happens in Ukraine, but for what might happen afterwards if he's not stopped," Thune said. "There are sanctions that we can impose that can make this incredibly painful and you want to really focus on him and the cronies around him, the oligarchy that he's turned into billionaires because that gets really painful."

Thune said he is committed to providing Ukrainian allies with "whatever we can give them  weaponry, training and intelligence capabilities." He also said that the world will know "pretty quickly" if the United States and NATO allies need to be more heavy-handed.

"You have to remember that Putin tries to portray himself as a victim. He's not. He's the aggressor here," Thune said. "This is a blatant power grab on his part, and he operates his business models all built on deception and disinformation, He's trying to convince the Russian people that Russia is somehow being attacked here. None of that's true. So, you can't trust these people. You have to assume the worst."

Thune said U.S. intelligence on Russia's plans for Ukraine has been correct, and he trusts that as the situation unfolds, more severe consequences from NATO won't be necessary. But if they are, the United States will be ready.

"I'm hopeful that the steps that are being taken not only will be effective in convincing (Putin) that this was a miscalculation, a bad idea in the first place  and to convince him to never try again."

Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com.

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The Bitterroot Valley Community College trustees set a 9.5 mill levy for voters to decide on May 3.

The trustees set the amount at an interim work session in January, but BVCC Trustee Chair Marci Smith said it has been the plan for two years since the voters said they wanted an independent college. She said a levy has been the elephant in the room since May 2020 when voters said they wanted their own college and who they wanted as trustees but did not pass the levy funding to make it possible.

That vote took place two months into the [pandemic] lockdown, Smith said. We asked county residents if they wanted their own college and they said yes. We asked them if they wanted to pay for it and they said no. I think there was a lot of confusion.

She sees the confusion as what exists right now on Main Street and a truly independent college that could specifically meet the communitys needs.

The Bitterroot College is nothing more than an arm of the University of Montana, Smith said. We dont have the capabilities of truly tailoring education and having the nimbleness that an independent community college will allow us.

In their first year, the trustees worked to get the Bitterroot Valley Community College passed by the Montana Legislature.

That was the first hurdle, Smith said. We are the first community college district in 53 years in Montana. There are only three other community colleges in the state. We are now the fourth. It gives us more leeway to create programs that are tailored to the Bitterroot Valley.

She gave the example of a dental hygiene program that was proposed for the Bitterroot College a few years ago to meet community needs, and employer requests, but the UM decided against it.

It is important for us to have freedom from under UM to work for what the Bitterroot Valley needs, Smith said. That will take some time too because we do have to go through the national accreditation process. It wont be instantaneously; it will be a transition. It will be working with our businesses, our community, our schools.

The levy ask is for 9.75 mills or $13.16 a year per $100,000 residential property value. The levy includes a 1 mill budget for adult education, an addition required by recent legislation.

Smith stressed that the real estate value is different from the taxable value.

The taxable value is significantly less, she said. The median taxable value of a home in Ravalli County is approximately $235,000 so basically $30 is the average. This is especially important right now with house prices going through the roof. But what you list it for is not what you are taxed on. Its a big difference.

The trustees have worked hard to research what it would cost to run an independent college and get new programs started.

You need cash for that, Smith said. It was a difficult decision. We worked hard to keep the numbers down as much as possible with our eyes towards the taxpayers.

Right now, a new building is not on the table.

At this point in time we are planning to continue to lease the property from the Hamilton School District, Smith said. But if Hamilton Schools decide they want it, well have to do something else but were planning to stay.

Smith said starting the Bitterroot Valley Community College has been a challenge.

To be working on this very important project for the valley over these last 24 months, during a pandemic, has been challenging, she said. Just when you think youre standing on terra firma something else happens. Right now, were working with a company to research where the job needs are.

The trustees just read the results of the 100-page statistical analysis of the population of Ravalli County to determine job needs, what programming the college would need to keep and expand.

Without the levy, the transition cannot happen, Smith said. Without passing the BVCC levy, the independent community college folds.

The trustees will share more information about Bitterroot Valley Community College and the 9.75 mill levy before the election on May 3.

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The 2022 Ravalli County Spelling Bee took place on Monday with 15 determined contestants in the Hamilton Middle School Auditorium and continued for 19 rounds before a winner could be confirmed.

The deciding word was sedentary and it determined the 2022 champion as Ty Ellis in eighth grade at Corvallis Middle School and the runner-up as Zane Svaren in seventh grade at Stevensville Middle School.

Contestants included Ty Ellis and Owen Savage in eighth grade at Corvallis Middle School; Owen Neff in fourth grade from Darby; Wilson Mc Laughlin and Jackson Tait in eighth grade at Florence Carlton; Oliver Pound in fifth grade, Eva Wymer in eighth grade at Hamilton Middle School; Gracie Berical in seventh grade and Eleanor Bundy in sixth grade at Lone Rock School; Marcie Jessop in fifth grade and Aspyn Weidow in sixth grade at Pines Academy; Zane Svaren and Everett Lehnen in seventh grade at Stevensville Middle School and Jordan Wilkes in seventh grade and William Herrera in fourth grade at Victor. Payton Sturm in eighth grade in Darby qualified but was unable to attend at the last minute.

The bee was hosted by Regina Plettenberg the Ravalli County Superintendent of Schools, honorary judges were Dan Whitesitt, Carianna Newton and Jana Exner (also the pronouncer).

The Ravalli County Spelling Bee is part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee program. This year an estimated eleven million students, grades 4-8, will participate in the spelling bee process.

First place and runner-up winners are eligible to advance to the 57th annual Treasure State Spelling Bee in Bozeman on Saturday, March 12, sponsored this year by the Montana Television Network. It will also be available for viewing on a live feed. Contact superintendent@rc.mt.gov to receive the information when it is available.

The winner of the Montana Treasure State Spelling Bee will compete at the 2022 National Spelling Bee competition. Also known as Bee Week 2022, the National Spelling Bee semi-finals will take place June 1 and the finals on June 2, in National Harbor, Maryland.

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News  Vietnam

Thick fog prevents dozens of flights from landing in northern airports
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Pakistan's northwest tribal district of North Waziristan, a military statement said on Saturday.

The troops conducted an intelligence-based operation on the reported presence of terrorists in the area, the statement released by the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist, the statement added.

The killed terrorist was involved in terrorist activities against security forces, it said. 
A Florence man faces a sixth DUI charge after being arrested early Friday morning for allegedly driving drunk.

Patrick James Howard, 45, appeared Friday before Ravalli County Justice Jim Bailey on the felony charge and a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended or revoked license.

The Ravalli County sheriffs office received a report about 1 a.m. about an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to the charging affidavit.

The responding officer spoke to a man who said his roommate, Howard, had taken his vehicle without permission. The man said he believed Howard was driving to his workplace, The Rustic Hut, in Florence.

The officer discovered that Howard had a revoked Montana drivers license and a $30,000 arrest warrant issued by Missoula County.

The officer located the vehicle on Highway 93 and followed it into the Town Pump parking lot in Florence.

Howard was arrested on the warrant.

The officer noted that Howard was slurring his words, had a generally dazed expression" and was displaying poor balance, the affidavit said. When asked if he had been drinking, Howard said he had just been drinking beers.

Howard was unable to successfully complete the field sobriety test and refused to provide a preliminary breath sample. His blood was drawn at the Bitterroot Health hospital in Hamilton.

Howard has prior DUI convictions in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2014 and 2018.

Bailey set bond at $10,000.

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Eight people who worked at a U.S. Minerals slag-processing plant in Anaconda have sued the company, saying it failed to protect them from toxic dust and exposed them to high levels of arsenic.

The lawsuit follows fines, probation and other conditions imposed on U.S. Minerals last year after it was convicted of negligent endangerment in federal court for arsenic exposure at the plant. It closed last June.

The criminal case did not preclude employees from suing on their own, even if they took part in a medical monitoring plan the company was ordered to implement after its federal conviction.

Eight of them filed suit in state District Court in Butte on Feb. 17 that seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Five live in Butte-Silver Bow County, two in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County and one in Ravalli County.

The Montana Standard sent an email and left a voice mail seeking comment from U.S. Minerals at its corporate office in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The lawsuit says U.S. Minerals and two managers at the Anaconda plant failed to prevent and contain toxic dust, exposing workers to impermissible levels of arsenic, lead and other metals even after federal agencies advised them to do so.

Exposure to arsenic is known to cause lung and skin disease, including skin cancer, and can cause other cancers. According to court documents, arsenic at the plant was nearly five times the permissible levels from July 2015 to early 2019.

They rejected requests from workers for proper respirators and required workers to wear N-95 masks that provided inadequate protection against arsenic dust, the lawsuit says.

Further, they refused to provide the most basic of hazardous materials safety training at one of the largest Superfund sites in the USA  and when they were asked why employees were not provided adequate training, defendants responded that we dont handle slag  we sell it.

Due to exposures, the suit says, plaintiffs suffered medical problems during their employment and will continue to suffer problems, including possible serious injury or death, the rest of their lives.

There were times the employees were removed from work, with pay, because of high levels of arsenic and other metals found in their urine samples, the lawsuit says. When the levels dropped, they were returned to work in unsafe conditions.

The suit also includes fraud claims, alleging the company made false representations about the safety of the Anaconda plant and misled employees by saying it would enact changes and programs to protect workers.

Had employees known the statements were false or misleading, they would have quit, the suit says.

From 2013 to 2021, the plant converted black slag from the towering pile along Montana Highway 1 near Anaconda into roofing materials called Black Diamond Abrasive Products. The slag is smelter waste from around 100 years of historic copper processing, and contains a variety of toxic substances including inorganic arsenic.

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against U.S. Minerals under the Clean Air Act and in a plea deal last year, the company pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of negligent endangerment.

A federal judge sentenced the company in December to five years of probation and ordered it to pay a $393,200 fine. The criminal fine is in addition to civil penalties totaling $106,800 imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a related civil proceeding.

U.S. Minerals was ordered to implement a medical monitoring program for employees at the Anaconda plant and an environmental health and safety plan at all five of its plants in the U.S.

After the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said the case had ended U.S. Minerals criminal conduct in Montana and would hold it accountable in other states.

Despite repeated warnings and enforcement actions from regulators, U.S. Minerals continued to poison its workers and put profits before the well-being of its employees, Johnson said then. U.S. Minerals history of misconduct showed a lack of care for employee safety and an utter disregard for regulations intended to protect human health and the environment.

As of noon Friday, U.S. Minerals had not filed a response to the lawsuit filed in Butte. The former employees are being represented by Butte attorney Wayne Harper and A. Clifford Edwards and Triel Culver in Billings.

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Those statewide rules adopted to purportedly prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Virginias workplaces is headed for a repeal.

The Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board voted recently to end the COVID-19 permanent standards for employers that have been in place for much of the pandemic following an executive order issued by Gov. Glenn Youngkin on his first day in office that required the board to reconsider the rules within 30 days.

Citizens now have 30 days to comment on the boards decision before it takes final action on March 19.

In the executive order, Younkin recognized that the current standard, as written, is not having a measurable impact on preventing the spread of COVID-19 while presenting a significant burden on businesses. Overly burdensome and time-consuming training requirements for employees inhibit the hiring of new workers. Conflicting state and federal regulations cause confusion. Unnecessary restrictions impede daily activities.

If approved, the board will ask Youngkin to remove the rule, and the governor is expected to accept the recommendation and remove the standard.

The Safety and Health Codes Board had adopted the temporary COVID-19 prevention standards in July 2020, becoming the first state in the nation to do so. The rules, which later became permanent, required businesses to put in place multiple safety policies such as mask-wearing and sanitation.

Youngkins executive order also directed state agencies to focus resources on enforcement activities that have the most impact with the least burden on citizens. In practical terms, the governor does not want Virginias Department of Labor and Industry writing citations because the server at a local establishment isnt wearing a mask.

Revoking the standard will provide a significant benefit for Virginia employers and employees, said Courtney Malveaux, a principal in the Richmond office of the Jackson Lewis law firm who served on the Safety and Health Codes Board until he rotated off in August.

Through most of the pandemic, they have had to devote significant attention and resources to following a 32-page standard requiring Power Points, written plans and often outdated requirements, said Malveaux, who also was Virginias Labor Commissioner.

Hopefully, Virginia will soon join other states in focusing our efforts on following CDC guidance, he said. The U.S. Supreme Court confirmed what employers have been saying all along. For most workplaces, COVID-19 isnt really so much a workplace hazard as it is a public health issue. Treating it that way is the best approach. After 19 months, its good to see that the Safety and Health Codes Board is beginning to see it that way.

The board has received over 600 comments, with virtually all suggesting the removal of the standard.

Citizens can comment here: townhall.virginia.gov/ L/comments.cfm? GeneralNoticeid=2373.

Until March 19, employers are technically required to comply with the standard, although it appears that enforcement will be unlikely during this time.

Assuming the standard is removed, employers should continue to do what is best for their own workplace by providing a health standards to make sure that employees can safely return to the workplace.

Department of Labor and Industry still will engage in enforcement of workplace safety pursuant to other standards and its general duty clause.
Drugstore retail giant Walgreens is planning to open a distribution center in Hanover County that will employ 249 people.

Walgreens, based in Illinois, and Virginia state officials announced on Friday that the company plans to to invest $34.2 million to establish a micro-fulfillment center for high-value pharmaceuticals at the Atlee Station business park off Interstate 295 and U.S. 301.

The new building, which is now under construction, will fill prescriptions for Walgreens stores in Virginia that will then be delivered to stores for customers.

This is one of several we are opening over the next year across the country, said Fraser Engerman, a spokesperson for Walgreens.

The facility, called the Atlee Station Logistics Center, is expected to open by the end of the year. Hiring should start about 90 days prior to the opening, Engerman said,

The new jobs will include pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, management supervisors and inventory packing jobs. There are a number of roles we will be hiring for, Engerman said.

These [centers] will basically pack or provide prescription filling that will assist our national pharmacy locations, which will allow pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to spend more time with patients, Engerman said. It will improve the process for those orders, particularly when people are placing orders online, when they have recurring 30- or 90-day prescriptions.

Virginia competed with several other states for the project, Gov. Glenn Youngkins office said.

The Walgreens micro-fulfillment center in Hanover County will be located in strategic proximity to all East Coast markets and greater Richmonds workforce, which will benefit from 249 new jobs, Youngkin said in a statement. Walgreens is a household brand that provides critical pharmaceutical and healthcare services, and I am proud that Virginias outstanding logistics advantages will play a role in enhancing customer delivery.

Walgreens will lease about half of the 180,000-square-foot building being developed by Brookwood Capiltal Partners of Raleigh, N.C., said E. Linwood Thomas IV, Hanovers director of economic development.

Atlee Station Logistics Center building is within the Atlee Station office park, home to the Richmond Times-Dispatchs production plant as well as the corporate headquarters for Owens & Minor Inc., a medical supply distributor.
More than 100 clergy, activists and supporters  nearly all of them bearing signs naming one of the more than 150 people killed in Richmond over the past two years  arrived at City Hall Friday morning hoping to meet Mayor Levar Stoney to discuss gun violence and prevention.

Stoney recently announced a number of programs targeting gun violence, but not a program proposed by Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities  RISC  a justice ministry organization made up of 22 congregations.

Its members said they made 11 previous attempts to meet with Stoney since he was re-elected in 2020, and that each was denied. On Feb. 11, the group sent a letter saying they would come to Stoney, at City Hall, on Friday to meet with him at 11 a.m. Again, they were denied a meeting.

Stoneys office told the group ahead of Fridays demonstration that the mayor would not meet with them  they came anyway. Jim Nolan, Stoneys spokesman, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the mayor or an administration official has met with RISC, which also advocates for fair housing issues, at least a dozen times since 2019, though its unclear if any of those meetings came after Stoneys re-election in 2020.

We are not going anywhere, Rabbi Michael Knopf of Temple Beth-El told the crowd Friday. We are going to continue to press forward. We are going to continue to work, to hit the streets, to make our voices heard, so that the mayor and all the leaders in our city will do what they need to do to save lives. Thats what we want. Thats what we demand.

In a statement posted to Twitter around 3 p.m., Stoney accused the group of bullying and intimidating public officials and using gun violence victims as pawns.

The path we are taking in Richmond has been informed by a vast array of community members, including yourselves, and experts. It is evidence-based, Stoney said in an open letter to RISC Leadership. Please afford me, the Chief of Police, my Administration, and the many members of the community who are working with us, the respect and grace to do what we think is best for the people of Richmond.

RISC is pushing a gun violence prevention program called Group Violence Intervention, or GVI. The strategy was pioneered in Boston under Operation Ceasefire in the 1990s. It calls for community members to partner with police and social service providers to work with people identified as likely to commit violence.

GVI has since been implemented in Oakland, Calif., where it reduced homicides by half; in New Haven, Conn., where it resulted in a 78% reduction in gun homicides; and in Stockton, Calif., with a 42% reduction, according to National Network for Safe Communities  NNSC  which helps communities implement the plan.

Its effective because it tries to stop the next murder  not solve the last one, said Pastor Don Coleman, of East End Fellowship in Richmond and co-president of RISC.

The group is calling for a $25,000 problem analysis to pinpoint those most likely to commit violence or be the victims of violence, and a two-year contract with the NNSC to implement GVI, which would cost $250,000.

That solution has been ignored for two years and recently the mayor proposed a hodgepodge of strategies to tackle the problem with a price tag of millions, the group said prior to Fridays event.

Earlier this month, Stoney announced a $500,000 gun buyback program, promised to distribute $1 million in community grants to combat gun violence, and hired a new community safety coordinator  a position that was originally recommended by a task force the city administration formed in 2020 to reimagine public safety.

Officials said the funding will come from federal aid the city received last year from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The nonprofit NextUp RVA, which operates after-school programming for Richmond Public Schools students, will distribute the grant money to community-led programs focused on parenting support, mental health services, tutoring, mentorships and after-school programs. Stoney is listed among the nonprofits board members.

Nolan, Stoneys spokesman, said the city doesnt support the implementation of GVI because we do not support a law enforcement-heavy approach to gun violence prevention, which GVI is. But earlier this month, Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith said his department is also playing a role in the mayors gun violence prevention strategy with the hiring announcement of three civilian violence interrupters.

Several people at Fridays demonstration decried both the gun buyback and interrupter programs.

Nobody is selling back their guns from the streets, said Shabazz Muhammad, the domestic violence coordinator for REAL Life. The program gives individuals recently released from jail a chance to turn their life around. REAL Life works. Im a proven example.

For a problem, you need to have a solution, said Muhammad, who has lost several relatives to gun violence  a nephew and brother were murdered, and two nephews are serving double-digit sentences for gun offenses. GVI is a proven solution.

Ram Bhagat, who serves as manager of School Culture and Climate Strategy for Richmond Public Schools and heads a nonprofit called Drums No Guns, said he thinks gun violence needs to targeted at the root cause, like poverty, which a gun buyback does little to address.

Pastor Ralph Hodge from Second Baptist Church said he was initially encouraged to hear Richmond would be utilizing violence interrupters, but to hear they would be working for the police department is a non-starter, he said.

You just told the community who not to listen to, Hodge said, adding that working for the police would likely put them in danger.

Hodge said RISC couldnt apply for any of the $1 million the city is giving to nonprofits for grants because it does not provide direct service.

Last year, Richmond police recorded 90 homicides, the highest annual count since 2004. So far this year, Richmond police are investigating six slayings.
Mila Demchyk Savages 11-year-old son Eli broke the news to their family Thursday.

He said he woke up to his alarm at 5 a.m. and heard the news after watching YouTube videos showing missiles firing into parts of Eastern Europe.

I couldnt believe it, Eli said. I thought it was like a nightmare or something.

Eli then woke up his father, Troy, his mother and his 65-year-old grandmother, Polina, whod come to visit the family in January from Ukraine with plans to leave in March or April. But, it looks like shes stuck here for a while, Mila said.

Mila, 41, is the mother of three children and lives in Powhatan. She immigrated to the United States after meeting her husband, who was visiting Odessa, Ukraine studying the region. She said the two met and married in 2008.

They lived in Ukraine for three years before coming to the U.S. The family often takes trips during the summer to Kyiv and her familys summer home in the village outside Vinnytsia.

Their last trip was in 2018, Eli said. Little did they know, that trip to Ukraine could have been their last. Mila said in the weeks prior to Russias invasion, her husband was monitoring online forums hinting toward an attack planned by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After the initial shock from the news, she said she still doesnt believe it makes sense.

Mila said, translating her mothers native Ukrainian, that when her mom left the country no one was expecting this. They were all just living their lives.

My husband kept saying, Hes gonna attack, hes going to attack! Mila said. And Im like stop drilling my brain, I mean, it doesnt make sense to attack, even now, you know, like, it doesnt make sense.

The conflict is affecting people such as Mila, who has been on back-and-forth phone calls with her father, siblings and extended family, who are all struggling to find ways to avoid potential conflict. She said theyve been hiding above and below ground as the sound of air sirens echo above them.

Milas mother checks the news on Facebook and social media nearly every minute, scrolling through images of decimated buildings  one of the hundreds of churches scattered all over the country  and videos of Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She said its been overwhelming.

Her mother, who is tough as nails, has been emotional in calls with family over the phone and almost wishes she was in Ukraine now to help everyone.

My mom is very stressed, like we havent slept two nights in a row, Mila said. And not to mention I have a baby who wakes up all the time.

Mila, her siblings and her mother endured several years of conflict in Ukraine. Her mother overcame a Soviet-era regime and she herself participated in a series of protests in the country in 2004, decrying a democratic election riddled with corruption known as the Orange Revolution.

Mila said shes also balancing organizing fundraisers through the Americans in Ukraine Foundation, which she founded in 2014 during the Russian annexation of Crimea. She said shes been helping local battalions receive funds for purchasing equipment.

When I talked to the battalion today, he told me where they are and I know thats where I paraglide, Mila said, remembering some of the activities she did when she was younger. I mean, it just doesnt make sense. And then when my brother calls and he talks about whether they should go to Vinnytsia or should they go to the western Ukraine? What should they do, because they also have friends its just surreal.

After the initial shock Thursday, Mila said her national pride and belief that they will overcome this conflict havent wavered.

I think people need to understand, being a Russian neighbor means you need to be in a constant state of war, Mila said, recalling a story reported in the Washington Post Friday, about a group of Ukrainian border guards defending  also known as Snake Island  in the Black Sea.

The Washington Post reports that as Russian warships arrived in the Black Sea they ordered the Ukrainian guards to lay down their arms. The guards can be heard in an audio clip responding, Go f-  yourself. The Russians opened fire, eventually killing the 13 border guards.

Still, its the acts of resistance that keep Mila going. Shes working hard to keep in touch with over 50 relatives and friends still in Ukraine and believes her country will prevail, with help from the West like her neighbors in the Richmond area.

You can think that your neighbors problem is not your problem, but eventually, I mean, the conflict in Ukraine is going to reach everyone, Mila said.

Mila said shes trying to connect with other Ukrainian immigrants in the area for a mass prayer via Zoom on Sunday. She said when her family lived in the Hampton Roads area, there was a large network of support for people from the country and shes hoping to build the same network of support in Richmond.

Ultimately, she and her family believe Ukraine will not fall and she will one day relive the memories she had as child of paragliding in the hills of Kyiv, raising cows in the village of Mervyn, looking out over the Black sea and visit the country again with her son Eli, whose Ukrainian pride has grown even more.

Ive kind of been worrying less, Eli said. The first day was looking kind of bad for Ukraine, but [the] second day, its looking pretty good. I keep telling myself that Ukraine is gonna win the war with that and not be stressed as much.

Elis grandmother, or babusya in Ukrainian, believes that if the West wont help, Ukrainians will find a way to and help themselves.
The message to school leaders was simple: Restrictive masking policies  like mandates requiring all students to wear face coverings  have little to no effect on COVID-19 transmissions at Virginia schools.

The new guidance from the Virginia Department of Health was a departure from what state leaders advised before Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, took office in January, prompting questions and criticism from parents and school leaders.

The claim surprised the states two highest-ranking epidemiologists  public health experts who have both served since the onset of the pandemic in the winter of 2020 through today  according to emails the Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained through a public records request.

State Epidemiologist Lilian Peake and Deputy Epidemiologist Laurie Forlano puzzled over the source of a key claim in the guidance  that masks have no impact on transmission  noting the states new health commissioner, Colin Greene, had selected data to create a hypothesis to defend the new policy.

Whether or not schools should require universal mask-wearing among students is now a moot point in Virginia. Youngkin and state lawmakers stripped power from school districts to require face coverings. The new law, backed by three Democratic senators, goes into effect on Tuesday.

The emails shed light on friction within Youngkins new VDH, as the state shifts masking guidance. Its unclear how that will impact an agency navigating public health policy during the COVID pandemic, and grappling with the possibility of another surge sparked by a new infectious variant.

The exchange also shows that the text  and science behind the new guidance  was not fully vetted by the states infectious disease experts. A separate exchange obtained by The Times-Dispatch through a records request revealed that as questions about the guidance started coming in, the governors office directed the states health agency to send all media inquiries to the governors communications staff.

When reached for comment by The Times-Dispatch, Peake and Forlano said the email interaction doesnt reflect large-scale disagreement at the agency. Peake said the role of her office is to provide public health expertise, recommendations, and guidance to the state health commissioner, [the health secretary] and the governors office.

Disagreement about universal masking policies is not unique to Virginia.

A month after Youngkin moved to make masks optional in schools, a key campaign promise, several governors in Democratic-controlled states moved to do the same. The mechanics differed  Virginia bans school districts from setting their own policies  but the underlying motivation was familiar. Amid frustration by some parents and lack of data showing overwhelming benefits, many state leaders have opted to move toward less restrictive policies.

On Friday afternoon, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its own masking recommendations.

The CDC now only recommends masks and social distancing in places where hospital resources are starting to show signs of strain. It also loosened guidance for masking in schools  universal masking is recommended only in counties where the virus poses a high risk as measured by strain on hospitals.

The CDC changed the guidance to reflect a decline in cases from the highly infectious omicron variant.

Shifts in public health policy come as Americans report feeling increasingly fatigued by changes to public life brought on by trying to prevent transmission. A nationwide poll published by Monmouth University in January found public support for masking and social distancing restrictions had dropped from 63% in September to 52% at the start of the year, even as the omicron variant was surging and straining health resources.

Youngkins campaign was fueled largely by his support for less restrictive COVID measures. His coalition included parents and school leaders who felt masks were harmful to students ability to learn at school.

On the other side were the parents and districts that felt masks provided another layer of protection that could keep more kids and teachers in the classroom.

When the VDH issued its guidance allowing parents to opt out, it included the line: During the omicron outbreak, regions with restrictive masking policies and practices have shown similar rates of transmission as regions with less restrictive mask policies.

When Forlano asked for the source, Greene said it was observational data from the states COVID-19 dashboard, where he compared urban, suburban and rural areas, using those as proxies for masking policies. He said urban areas with more restrictive mask policies generally showed higher transmission rates.

You have selected data to create a hypothesis. I think it is premature to include that in a policy document, Peake said. I recommend referencing studies that are designed to control for confounding factors.

She also mentioned that different levels of immunity  and the timing of when omicron began to spread in different areas  could impact Greenes analysis.

If this were a presentation at a symposium, I might agree with you, but its not, Greene pushed back.

Im also a bit puzzled by the concern about things hypothetical, considering the emphasis we seem to place on [the University of Virginias] modeling data, which is 100% hypothetical, he said, referring to projections out of the school about the potential for hospitals to be overwhelmed.

Greenes explanation for how the state came up with its new guidance was first reported by the Virginia Mercury in January. Parts of the email exchange between Peake, Forlano and Greene were first reported by the Washington Post last week.

Peake is the states highest-ranking epidemiologist  a role she has held since March 2019.

Prior to that, she was the director of public health for the state of South Carolina and, before that, the deputy commissioner for population health at the VDH.

Forlano, the states deputy epidemiologist, served in the same role when she arrived at the agency in 2011. She worked as the states top epidemiologist for four years until late 2018, when she became the deputy commissioner of population health. A year after the pandemic began, Forlano returned to the epidemiology office to work as deputy director.

Most of Greenes experience comes from the U.S. military. Before becoming director of the Lord Fairfax Health District, he was director of the Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat, a partnership that studied how to decrease death and injury in combat. He also worked as a public health adviser for the U.S. Armys transition command, and had a five-month stint as the director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

In the email exchange, Greene said he was interested in setting up a new team within the VDH to encourage and support research. He said he wanted to meet with Peakes team to learn the capabilities of your section, including data analysis capabilities.

Peake, in an email to The Times-Dispatch, said the exchange should be seen as typical given the sizable impact of the states masking policy. We wanted to ensure all points of view were examined. Our singular debate does not indicate large-scale disagreement or deeper issues within the agency.
Russia is our friend and the South will rise again were chanted in tandem several years ago in Charlottesville by torch-carrying defenders of the statue of a fellow white nationalist, Robert E. Lee.

Lee waged a frontal assault against the U.S. government, not unlike the mob who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to overturn the results of a presidential election, egged on by a wannabe autocrat. If our nation still cannot distinguish between traitors and patriots, we should not be surprised at our slide toward fascism.

When Vladimir Putin called his invasion of Ukraine a special military operation, he sounded like Republican apologists who maintain that the violent Capitol insurrection was legitimate political discourse.

Save the fledgling democracy in Ukraine?

Its an open question whether we can preserve democracy here.

A majority of those surveyed say American democracy is in crisis and at risk of failing, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll released in January, as reckless Republicans erode faith in our democratic process by clinging to the lie of a stolen election.

How did we get here?

Claudio Lopez-Guerra, a political scientist at the University of Richmond who specializes in the study of democratic institutions, cites the numerous cultural changes that have taken place in democratic societies over the past three decades as the world has become more integrated.

Some segments of the population feel that their way of life and their identities are under threat. This makes them more open to support leaders who promise to restore their lost dominance  to make the country great again, he said.

Therein lies the appeal of the Donald Trump slogan, with disastrous implications for U.S. democracy. For too many folks, whiteness has come to trump loyalty to nation.

In a move Ronald Reagan never saw coming, Russia has become a beacon of the American Right. Richard Spencer, the University of Virginia graduate and white nationalist, was quoted in the Washington Post calling Russia the sole white power in the world.

Trump all but grabbed a megaphone and pompoms as he cheerleads Putins bloodthirsty aggression, calling the dictator a genius. This is in typically fawning character.

As president, Trump revealed highly classified information to Russian officials, constantly undermined NATO, took Putins word over U.S. intelligence that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, and was impeached for his attempted arms-for-political-dirt-on-Biden blackmail of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

As the Russian invasion unfolded, former Trump advisor Steve Bannon embraced anti-woke Putin for his hostility toward LGBTQ people. Putin, a former KGB agent, no doubt would smile at Gov. Glenn Youngkins use of civilian informants to police the classroom and snitch on teachers whose lessons are deemed too divisive (read h-o-n-e-s-t) about racism. The current book-banning fetish would also get Putins seal of approval as folks feed their resentments instead of nourishing democracy.

In doing his invasion calculus, Putin undoubtedly noticed the disunited state of an America politically incapable of responding cohesively to challenges. The existential threat of climate change and the lingering toll of the pandemic havent come close to galvanizing us.

Tragically, our nations unjustified 2003 invasion of Iraq robbed the U.S. of much of the moral authority it could use at this heartbreaking moment. The former Soviet Union, despite its appalling human rights record, was always eager to call out Americas abysmal treatment of its Black citizens. More recently, Russian disinformation campaigns have inflamed our racial climate more than any schoolhouse lesson on systemic racism.

In the meantime, automation, deregulation, globalization and the dismantling of the welfare state have dramatically increased inequality, Lopez-Guerra said. This has led to a reasonable perception that traditional democratic institutions  traditional parties, establishment politicians, and so on  are not delivering, so people become more open to try something else. The result is polarization and social cleavages that are ready to be exploited by politicians.

Add the outsize role money has played in politics since the Reagan era, and the result has been an erosion in the democratic process, Lopez-Guerra said. Political leaders would not be able to get away with all these violations of democratic norms if they werent sanctioned by their wealthy donors.

Those cynical politicians and their donors have us fighting over masks, vaccines and Critical Race Theory while the planet burns and they warm their hands over the fire.

No one is more aware of Americas moral failings than its Black and Indigenous people, and yet both have felt that the ideal of America was worth fighting and dying for. People across the globe have been drawn by this nations promise. Were at our best when we expand equality and opportunity.

If we dont defend democracy within our borders, we will fail it beyond them.
Public pressure is beginning to build for elections this year in all 100 House of Delegates districts under a new redistricting map that the Virginia Supreme Court approved in late December to ensure equal representation based on population.

The Virginia League of Women Voters issued a statement on Wednesday urging the federal courts to require House elections this year under the new political boundaries rather than wait until 2023 when the entire General Assembly will be up for election.

Now that we have fair maps, its time to hold elections, the voting advocacy organization said in a statement published on social media. Fair maps are the key to representative democracy.

The statement repeated calls made this month by the Virginia NAACP and chapters in Fairfax County, Alexandria and other parts of the state, as well as other public advocacy groups, for the federal court to find the holding of legislative elections under the old maps last fall unconstitutional and order new ones.

It shows that the public is more and more aware, said Paul Goldman, former chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party. You cant sweep it under the rug.

Goldman filed suit in federal court last June to require the state to hold House elections under new political districts based on population counts from the 2020 U.S. census, as required by the U.S. Constitution.

Before the state NAACP spoke out more than a week ago, he had received little public support in a legal battle pending in the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on a procedural dispute and then, if he succeeds, before a three-judge panel that will consider the merits of his case.

Even if he loses the procedural dispute over his standing to sue, Goldman said he is now confident that others will be willing to sue for elections this year, including organizations that represent minority communities protected under the Voting Rights Act.

Robert Barnette, president of the Virginia NAACP, issued a statement on Feb. 16 urging the court to order House elections this year under the new political districts, but said two days later, At this time the Virginia State Conference NAACP does not plan to seek legal action.

Still, the state NAACPs public position emboldened other chapters and organizations to issue similar calls for elections under the new districts, based on the principle of one man, one vote under the Constitution.

The voters of Virginia deserve a legislature based on the current population of Virginia and based on the current population distribution in Virginia, said Ferguson Reid Jr., representing 90 for 90, a grassroots voter registration organization. Because otherwise, you dont have one man, one vote.

A group of voting advocates in Chesterfield County created the organization in 2015 to honor his father, Ferguson Reid Sr., on his 90th birthday. His father was elected to the House of Delegates in 1967 as the first Black person to hold a seat in the General Assembly since the end of Reconstruction, representing parts of Richmond and Henrico County, and helped found the Richmond Crusade for Voters.

They were all about voting rights and registering people to vote, said his son, who said the elder Reid is now 96 years old and living in California, but still active in Virginia politics and the organization created in his honor.

One of the organizations that has called for elections, Loudoun 4 All, has a big stake in the outcome because population in fast-growing Loudoun County has grown far beyond the thresholds in districts drawn in 2011, based on the 2010 census.

The organization said in a statement this week that Loudoun contains parts of the two most overpopulated Senate Districts and four of the top 10 House districts in Virginia because of the outdated maps.

The most overpopulated House of Delegates district in Virginia  HD 87 [represented by Del. Suhas Subramanyam]  is predominantly composed of voters of color, it said Monday.

Above all, we believe the voters of Loudoun County deserve to have equal representation, and to have our vote equal weight with all over Virginians.

The Virginia League of Women Voters said voters should be able to take advantage of a redistricting process that for the first time in Virginia history directly involved citizens instead of being completely controlled by the elected members of the General Assembly.

We believe the resulting maps are fair and create new opportunities for minority candidates and first-time candidates, the league said.

We will elect the U.S. House of Representatives this year, it concluded. We urge the court to find that we should also elect Virginia House of Delegates this year.
Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid donated by India arrive in Torkham dry port of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Hamidullah/Xinhua)

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of humanitarian aid donated by India had arrived in Torkham dry port in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province via Pakistan, a local official said on Saturday.

"About 2,500 tons of wheat, which is part of 50,000 tons of wheat donated by India and laden in 42 trucks, arrived in Torkham port Saturday morning. The shipment will be transported to different provinces and distributed among the economically vulnerable families," the official told reporters.

The Pakistani government recently agreed to allow the overland transportation of humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan. 

Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid donated by India arrive in Torkham dry port of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 26, 2022. The first batch of humanitarian aid donated by India arrived in Torkham dry port in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province via Pakistan, a local official said on Saturday. (Photo by Hamidullah/Xinhua)
In her snappy announcement video nearly a year ago - produced by the same clever fellow who transformed gazillionaire Gov. Glenn Youngkin into a fleece vest-wearing suburban everyman - state Sen. Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach called on "normal people" to support her Republican candidacy for Congress in what is one of the most competitive districts in the nation: an amalgam, in eastern and southeastern Virginia, of suburbs, beachfront resorts, military bases, farms and fishing villages.

But those "normal people" Kiggans mentioned in that 2-minute spot by Will Ritter designed to separate her somewhat from Donald Trump may not have anticipated that ambition demands she embrace some of the abnormal positions that are the new normal in the GOP. For Kiggans, that includes the baseless notion that 2020 presidential balloting in Virginia - a state Joe Biden carried easily - was rigged.

Assuming Kiggans is nominated - the Republicans' two-candidate field could expand to three - her vote Thursday sharpens the contrast with the two-term Democrat she hopes to oppose: Elaine Luria.

Luria's current assignment in Congress - she is a member of the bipartisan House committee investigating the invasion of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 by Trump supporters seemingly incited by the former president - is as much about the truth surrounding the election as the Kiggans-backed budget amendment is about perpetuating Trump's lie that it was stolen.

Those issues may have to wait for now.

Kiggans and Luria - both of whom are Navy veterans, a potent credential in the defense-rich 2nd District - are dueling via social media over Biden's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, whose rejection of Trump's demand that it investigate supposed corruption by Biden triggered the first of two Trump impeachment inquiries.

Kiggans attacked Biden as a failed leader for whom national security is not a priority. Luria countered that Kiggans is using the crisis to score points with voters.

In 1948, a Republican senator from Michigan famously urged bipartisanship in foreign policy, declaring that "politics stops at the water's edge." In 2022, in Virginia's 2nd district - hemmed by the home port of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and the base from which Navy SEAL teams roam - politics starts at the water's edge.

Kiggans, a helicopter pilot-turned-geriatric nurse practitioner elected to the Virginia Senate in 2019, was one of only six senators - all of them Republicans - to support an amendment by Amanda Chase, the Trump mimic from Chesterfield, that would set aside $70 million in the state budget for a full audit of the 2020 results.

Because expediency loves company, another congressional wannabe, Bryce Reeves of Spotsylvania, voted for the measure, too.

Reeves, a former Army Ranger and ex-cop, is angling for a shot in the Northern Virginia-reoriented 7th District at Abigail Spanberger. She is another potentially vulnerable two-term Democrat who takes seriously her supposed weaknesses - even in a district that could be friendlier than the one defined by its current, central Virginia boundaries.

The New York Times reported this past week that Spanberger, a former CIA operative, and four other imperiled House Democrats are drafting a legislative punch list that is largely focused on kitchen table issues such as health care, drug and fuel prices and safe streets, and is intended to shield them from the perceived excesses of the party's dominant liberal wing.

For now, Reeves, much as Kiggans does, focuses on Biden, arguing in a fundraising appeal that the president is anything but feared by the United States' enemies.

That Biden is politically weak - more Virginians disapprove than approve of his performance, according to fresh polling by Christopher Newport University's Wason Center for Civic Leadership - could augur congressional defeats here consistent with the national midterm trend of losses for a president's party.

The Chase proposal failed, 27-6. Its defeat was certain because of the Senate's slender Democratic majority.

Shockingly, though, is that seven Republican senators didn't vote.

Though most were from Trump territory, they included one from blue-trending Henrico: Siobhan Dunnavant. That she and the others refused to go on the record would seem an attempt to cloud the issue. The non-vote was either cowardice or deniability - an outright fear of offending swing voters or a contorted way of conveying to the Trump base that more important than reprising 2020 is doing in 2022, 2023 and 2024 what Virginia Republicans did in 2021: win.

Dunnavant's duck did not go unnoticed.

And it is likely to emerge as an avenue of attack for her Democratic challenger next year, possibly Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg of Henrico. Because of the maelstrom that was supposed to be depoliticized redistricting, VanValkenburg, is doubled up with Del. Lamont Bagby, chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. A Senate candidacy would spare Democrats a House primary between two popular incumbents.

Kiggans' vote raised eyebrows, though it was of a piece. The senator, no doubt mindful of the Make-America-Great-Again crowd, is also sponsoring legislation that requires local registrars to purge the dead from the voter rolls every week rather than monthly. That bill actually is OK with Democrats. It cleared the Senate and was sent to the House of Delegates on a big bipartisan vote.

But give Youngkin and Republican legislators credit for having it both ways on what they euphemistically call "election integrity."

Using their restored majority in the House, Republicans approved a slew of bills that would reinstate barriers to voting that Democrats had cleared in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans sought to undo Democratic changes that allow 45 days of unrestricted early voting rather then 14; let Virginians register and vote on the same day; expanded use of drop boxes for early ballots, and dropped the requirement that voters present a photo ID.

All those GOP bills perished in committee in the Democratic Senate, preserving practices that allowed Youngkin and the GOP to generate a record turnout for the party's candidates last year - and that they presumably will use to their advantage this year.

Talk about a conspiracy theory.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Saturday urged decisive economic action against Russia in support of Ukraine, including a review of state procurement and divestment of Russian holdings by universities and the Virginia Retirement System.

The invasion of Ukraine by Soviet dictator Vladimir Putin cannot stand, and the people of the Commonwealth are ready to rally in opposition to this senseless attack on a sovereign nation and western ideals, Youngkin said in a statement.

Youngkins condemnation of Putins invasion is a contrast to the stance of some conservatives, including former President Donald Trump, who has said Putins strategy in Ukraine was genius.

As of Saturday evening Eastern time, Russian troops were closing in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, and skirmishes were flaring on the outskirts of the city.

Youngkin said he is ordering the Department of General Services to review government contracts and procurement to determine what, if any Virginia tax dollars are spent on goods and services from primarily Russian companies.

He also called on Norfolk and Roanoke to end sister city partnerships with Russian cities.

Youngkin urged the Virginia Retirement System board of trustees and university endowment funds to divest in a prudent and orderly fashion any and all holdings of the Russian Ruble and any and all securities of Russian companies.

VRS Chief Investment Officer Ron Schmitz said the retirement system has a little tiny bit of its $107 billion trust fund invested in Russian stocks, but he couldnt quantify the exact amount when reached Saturday afternoon.

It would be a terrible time to sell right now, said Schmitz, who estimated that the Russian stock market had lost 30% to 40% of its value.

The governor does not exert direct control over VRS investments, but he appoints members to its board of trustees, and the pending state budget includes up to $1 billion in additional money to reduce unpaid long-term liabilities for the teacher and state employee pension funds.

House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, said Saturday, The governor could ask VRS or us to look at divestment and its certainly something we would consider.

But Knight also noted the bad timing of selling off stock when the market is down.

I dont think theres a rush, but it sends a good signal to everyone, he said.

The U.S. and other NATO nations have ratcheted up economic sanctions against Russia in recent days. Youngkin urged President Joe Biden to take a stronger, more decisive leadership position to end this war.

As for Virginia, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, called on Youngkin to order the immediate removal of all Russian vodka and any other Russian products from Virginias state-run ABC stores.

Lucas noted that New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed an executive order to take similar action on Saturday.

Youngkins call for divestment is not unprecedented in Virginia. In 1990, Doug Wilder, the nations first elected Black governor, called for state agencies and universities to sell holdings tied to South Africa in a protest against apartheid.

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Recently, the Republic of Angola Ambassador to the United States, Joaquim do Espirito and a delegation, visited Hampton to connect ancestors who existed more than four centuries ago in Angola with their descendants living in America.

With fanfare and expectation, the entourage visited Fort Monroe, the site where the first enslaved Africans landed in 1619 at Point Comfort in English North America. The former military post now is managed by the Fort Monroe Authority who is building an ambitious African Landing Memorial in tribute to that first generation.

The group also visited the Tucker Family Cemetery, also in Hampton, for a special ceremony. The site, managed by the William Tucker 1624 Society is a sacred burial ground for the Tucker family. Members claim an African American bloodline dating back to the 17th century and the first enslaved Africans brought by force from Angola to the Virginia colony.

The story of those first-generation Africans is known by some but perhaps not by enough people. There are more stories about Black history in Virginia that are not known.

Amid the great push and task to curate a fuller story of American history in Virginia through the lens of places steeped in Black history, finding the funding to preserve these sites comes at a premium. There are organizations stepping up to help, but money coming from various philanthropic trusts, foundations, grants and such are competitive.

For years the William Tucker 1624 Society organized its own cleanups of the 2-acre family plot. The group scraped by to get funding. It promoted its family lineage that began with the first recorded birth of an African child in Virginia, William Tucker, believed to be their ancestor. Dedicated in 2016, the nonprofit since has received a $100,000 grant from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. But it took time, family members say.

Fall 2021, Fort Monroe received $6 million designated in the state budget for its African memorial project. Its funding that should cover the cost of construction and site work. But it barely scratches the surface of what will be needed for long-term maintenance and continuing interpretation, officials say.

One such organization dedicated to raising funds for sites focusing on Black history and legacy is the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

Launched in 2017 by the National Trust of Historic Preservation, its goal is to preserve and protect places that have been overlooked in American history and represent centuries of African American activism, achievement and resilience, according to its website. To date, the fund has raised $70 million to support more than 200 preservation projects nationally.

Among the Virginia-based recipients in 2021 are the Fort Monroe Foundation, the authoritys fundraising arm, which received $50,000; Hampton University, which received $75,000; and the Montpelier Descendants Committee. Based in Orange, the committee will used its funding for its Arc of Enslaved Communities project, led by descendants to promote the contributions of the enslaved in Virginia during the Founding era.

A Richmond museum also is stepping up efforts to help historical sites.

In November 2021, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture announced the creation of the Commonwealth History Fund. Partnering with the Department of Historic Resources and backed by Dominion Energy, the fund will provide $400,000 annually in grants to history organizations and projects across the state, and up to $2 million over the next five years.

Considerations for grants from applicants should include the significance of the project or resource and its impact on its community and the commonwealth; the projects focus on historically underrepresented topics and communities; the need for funding and the urgency of the project, according to a museum release. Grant applications are being accepted until Monday.

Establishing the endowment is a leap toward helping organizations tell a more inclusive story, but some critics worry the funds wont be spread to historic sites with the greatest need. An inaugural list of recipients is expected to be announced this May.

The DHR also released in its newsletter a list of historic African American cemeteries and graves  including those in Richmond, Hampton, Charlottesville, Henrico County and others  which received grants in recent years and other funding for maintenance and care as set by state code.

The Tucker family visited Angola in December and brought back sand from the shores of the Cuanza (Kwanza) River in Angola, where the family believes its ancestors likely would have been held after being enslaved and later forced on a ship.

During the Angolan delegation visit at the cemetery, family members sprinkled the sand over the graves. For the Tucker family, mixing the sand from its ancestral homeland with cemetery soil is a symbolical way of letting the ancestors know they made it back home.

But there are other smaller projects that may need funding to continue building on history sites already launched, such as the Robert Russa Moton Museum, in Farmville. In 1951, the building was a high school where Americas student-led civil rights revolution ignited.

It was then that 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns led a student strike in Prince Edward County to protest substandard conditions at the high school. Her efforts earned the support of local NAACP lawyers who ultimately filed in Richmond the federal suit, Davis v. Prince Edward.

The case was among five the U.S. Supreme Court considered in 1954 during the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Farmville is off the beaten path, but the history there is still important.

Spread the wealth with supporting Virginias history sites, including Black History sites that richly tell a fuller story of our states history.

 Lisa Vernon Sparks
Healthcare reform for vets

Ive been so encouraged to see our Virginia lawmakers pushing for health care reform. After the last few years of the pandemic and unforeseen health care challenges, I think we all know more access to care is vitally important.

The General Assembly is considering several bills that would help remove the barriers limiting Virginians access to care when we need it. Specifically, lawmakers are looking to allow out-of-state providers to practice in Virginia and to encourage innovators to bring new health care products and services to patients. Lawmakers also want to provide flexibility to highly trained nurses to practice without unnecessary supervision.

As a veteran, these reforms are especially important to me. Federal law gives many veterans using the Department of Veterans Affairs' benefits the ability to choose their own doctors, even out of network. We have a lot of veterans living in rural areas, so the freedom to choose the doctors is better than driving hours to the closest VA facility or having to see a provider we wouldnt otherwise choose.

With more veterans able to access non-VA care, its important the commonwealth has the resources to meet the demands. Cutting through the health care red tape is exactly what Virginias veterans and civilians need.

Roseanne Rodriguez.
CHRISTIANSBURG  Montgomery County Supervisor Mary Biggs recalls the early 2000s when the government administration moved to a former manufacturing facility on Roanoke Street.

The countys population hovered around 85,000 and her colleagues new home had been renovated with the hope of remaining sufficient for the next 25 years or so, Biggs said.

Exactly two decades later the countys population is about 100,000. The 2020 census says it falls just a few hundred people below that number, while estimates released by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Center just before the start of the pandemic put the localitys population just over that mark.

Biggs, who has been on the board for 24 years, said the continuing growth of the county  one of Western Virginias fastest-growing municipalities and the New River Valleys economic hub  will inevitably lead to an increased need for county services, much of which are centralized at the building on Roanoke Street.

And a growth in county services due to the localitys continuing population increase could necessitate some reconfiguring of the County Government Center, Biggs said.

Were going to have to look at it, she said.

A potential renovation of the government center was one of many topics the board of supervisors discussed in a work session some weeks ago.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sherri Blevins said some of the potential needs that could be addressed by at least some improvements are already evident.

Blevins said the county has continually looked at improving security. Also, she said the increased prevalence of early voting could lead to additional needs in the registrar area and she recalled the recent use of the government center for balloting.

I dont see early voting going away anytime soon. People take good advantage of that, and we want to make it accessible, Blevins said.

Other county officials, however, stressed that no wheels are in motion and that the recent discussion over the government center was just a preliminary conversation.

Details such as a potential timeline, budgets and plans are nonexistent at this time, said county spokeswoman Jennifer Harris.

Regardless of what may happen in the future, this year is still a milestone for the building as 2022 marks its 20th anniversary of serving as the home of county government.

Before 2002, the countys administrative offices  with the exception of a few departments that operated in other facilities  and the board of supervisors were based in the old courthouse.

Prior to 1998, supervisors convened in a small conference room on the third floor of the old courthouse. Then from 1998 to 2002, their meetings occurred in the third floor courtroom of the building.

The government center building at 755 Roanoke St. in Christiansburg dates back to 1936. It was originally home to the Blue Ridge Manufacturing Company and then housed the Imperial Reading Corporation.

A 2017 announcement noted that the building was at the time home to more than 200 county employees.

The announcement also covered the countys practice of renovating and repurposing vacant buildings, which was described as a way for the locality to be both fiscally responsible and environmentally conscious.

In turn, this effort helps preserve some of the countys history, the 2017 statement reads, adding later that the decision to renovate the existing structure resulted in approximately $5 million savings for the county.

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The brazen and brutal attack on Ukraine is the product of years of methodical work by Putin to dismantle Russias free press and build a sense of nationalism that has bolstered his power, said a panel of experts organized by Radford University.

The invasion of a sovereign nation is a violation of international law, panelists said, but also highlights the limitations of those checks in a world where economic considerations, escalation fears and political realities  such as Russias veto power on the U.N. Security Council  are all part of the complex equation.

This is kind of the difficult balance that were seeing all these countries have to weigh, said Allyson Yankle, a professor of law and politics with the university.

They are putting into context the limits of international law.

Radford Universitys town hall, quickly organized for Friday afternoon, offered a chance to discuss the crisis with professors specializing in political science, international affairs and military history.

The launch of Russias invasion this week has been brewing, not just in these past weeks, but over years during which Putin signaled clearly his ambitions, said Don Martin, a criminal justice instructor whos served as legal counsel for the CIA and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

He simply cannot abide a democratic, free Ukraine right there on his doorstep that his citizens could see right there and model and wonder why cant they have those freedoms. He has said again and again that he wants to restore the Soviet Union, said Martin, adding he faults the free world for not doing more to ensure Ukraine was equipped to deter an attack.

To me, sadly, this is all predictable, he said of the current landscape.

The panelists were hesitant to attempt to forecast the future but could offer little hope of international intervention thwarting Russias designs on Ukraine at this point.

Diplomacy has failed. Deploying international troops to Ukraine isnt palatable or strategically sound. Economic sanctions  the latest tactic being tried by the U.S.  have been attempted in the past with limited success.

Tay Keong Tan, director of international studies and leadership studies, said he hoped the invasion would spur world leaders to form a stronger alliance against Russia moving forward to head off any future incursions.

I think the west will have to find a way to better organize itself to contain Russia and hold the line at Ukraine, he said, before things really get out of hand.

Other panelists suggested that forming a trip wire of troops in bordering NATO nations might be an effective deterrent against expanding hostilities  although they added it would be a sad reversion to a Cold War-era posture.

Putin has laid the foundation for this invasion over years, speakers said. That includes rewriting historical narratives among the Russian people to support his vision of a new empire.

Its also seen in his systematic overhaul of the nations media to bring virtually all news under government control.

We really enjoy and take for granted the freedom of the press, said Jennifer Walton, director of the school of communication. We dont realize just how unique that freedom is.

From what I can tell the Russians are completely in the dark, she said of the nations access to independent news.

Martin said he felt Putin, in the current conflict, was also banking on the international community being adverse to taking action that would worsen human suffering  a reticence he said that Putin doesnt share.

He is not as reluctant, whether its his own people or others, Martin said.  At the end of the day, we may care more about Russians than he does.

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Virginia reported 13,825 new COVID-19 infections over the past week, bringing the cumulative total during the pandemic to 1,636,510, the Virginia Department of Health reported Friday.

The big picture is that across the districts the situation is relatively stable over the past week, Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts Director Cynthia Morrow said. Overall, our case counts are about the same as last week while hospitalizations are trending down.

Morrow said data quality teams are reviewing positive case numbers and are reassigning some cases to the correct districts. For example, some Vinton ZIP codes have been transferred from Roanoke County to Bedford County once specific addresses were reviewed. This has resulted in some case counts going down while others increase.

The state reported 47,258 total hospitalizations since the pandemic began, although the VDH website notes that hospitalizations are underrepresented.

Virginias near southwest region, which includes hospitals from Lynchburg to the Roanoke Valley, had 189 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Friday, including 44 in intensive care. One week ago, there had been 282 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the region, including 62 in ICUs.

Virginia reported 520 new virus-related deaths over the past seven days, for a total of 18,536 since the start of the pandemic. Last week the state had 534 virus-related deaths.

New River Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said cases and hospitalizations are dropping quickly in the New River Valley.

Everythings heading in the right direction, Bissell said. Thats not to say were not acknowledging COVID is still here, COVIDs not going to go away, COVIDs still very serious. For those who are vaccinated and those who are boosted, they can still get COVID, but the risk of hospitalization and death is very low.

As of Friday, 81.9% of Virginias adult population had been fully vaccinated.

Everyone aged 5 or older has been approved to receive a vaccine, which will be available at the community vaccination center until it closes March 5. The vaccination clinic is located in the former Sears store at Valley View Mall, located at 4812 Valley View Blvd. People can make appointments at vaccinate.virgina.gov or by calling 877-829-4682. Walk-ins are also open for adults and children.

The center will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during its last week. Since it opened, nearly 30,000 vaccine doses were administered to residents.

Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts communications officer Christie Wills said the department has been thrilled with the success of the vaccination clinic.

It is bittersweet to see this incredible success weve had at this clinic at Valley View Mall come to an end, Wills said. Going forward, people will still be able to find a free dose of the vaccine at a pharmacy or a local health department.

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RICHMOND  A settlement has been reached in a civil lawsuit filed about two weeks after Richmond police officers tear-gassed a crowd of demonstrators  many of them kneeling with their hands in the air  at the foot of the former monument to Gen. Robert E. Lee on June 1, 2020.

Attorney Andrew Bodoh, with the civil rights and personal injury law firm of Thomas H. Roberts & Associates PC, filed lawsuits on behalf of six people who were among protesters when, unprovoked and without warning, police unleashed chemical irritants on them.

The initial complaint alleged violations of the protesters First Amendment, Fourth Amendment and 14th Amendment rights and assault, battery and gross negligence by the officers, who remained unidentified as part of a protective order that expires in July.

Though he couldnt disclose the terms, Bodoh said Thursday that the plaintiffs  Richmond residents Jarrod and Megan Blackwood, Ryan Tagg, Christopher Gayler, Keenan Angel and Jonathan Arthur, an attorney with the same firm  reached an agreement with the city earlier this month, and that it opens the same possibility for others who were also at the protest.

With this settlement, we are now positioned to take on the claims of other protesters who were in Lee Circle at the time the police officers engaged the crowd, Bodoh said. We expect the city to offer fair and prompt settlements to these individuals in order to avoid the expenses of additional lawsuits against the city.

Bodoh said the firm had already met with a number of other individuals, but there were thousands of people, including families with children, in the crowd on June 1, 2020. Chemical irritants had cleared the circle and surrounding area about 20 minutes ahead of the 8 p.m. curfew.

The police department tweeted an apology nearly two hours later that termed the gassing unwarranted action. Mayor Levar Stoney and Police Chief William Smith, who resigned days later, apologized the next day and promised to discipline the officers.

Neither the police department nor Stoney has provided a full accounting of what happened that night. But in an op-ed Stoney penned for The New York Times on the anniversary of George Floyds death, he said the tear gas had been used unintentionally. His spokesman Jim Nolan said an internal investigation revealed the firing of tear gas was a mistake caused by miscommunication during a chaotic moment in the city that evening.

Nolan said city officials would not elaborate on what happened, citing the ongoing legal cases against the city and its police department.

Court documents filed in this suit provide insight into that miscommunication.

A motion filed by Bodoh in April 2021 included excerpts of police radio traffic starting about 15 minutes before police officers descended on the former site of the Lee monument. But the radio traffic indicated issues at a separate monument a block away at Stuart Circle, where protesters were trying to cut and pull down the statue.

At 7:30 p.m., an officer called over the radio twice asking: Are we free to use gas? Are we clear to use chemical agents? court documents state.

Ten-four, responded an unidentified voice a minute later, according to the court documents.

Several officers celebrated the order, and expressed that they understood they were authorized to use chemical agents on the assembly, the motion continued. Meanwhile, radio traffic from near the Lee monument reported that all was orderly.

In the intervening four minutes, more than 50 police officers descended on the Lee monument, when the communications all point to a threat at Stuart Monument, Bodoh said in the motion.

No material or debris was thrown or launched at the officers responding to Lee Monument, the motion read. No individuals approached the officers responding to Lee Monument in a hostile manner. No ropes or attempt to destroy Lee Monument was observed. No order was given to disperse. No warning was given that chemical agents would be deployed.

When tear gas was deployed at 7:35, only 25 officers had their body-worn cameras activated at the time. Six others were activated after 7:40 p.m. after gas had already dispersed most of the crowd, according to court documents.

It appears that none of the officers that actually launched or threw tear gas had cameras operating, as though there was a pre-arranged plan to that effect, the motion said.

A protective order issued by the court has prevented additional disclosure of facts of the case, but it expires July 1.

Anyone present at the Lee monument protest can visit the firms website at protestrva.robertslaw.org/ or call (804) 783-2000 for more information about the case.

The city did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
RICHMOND  After a series of bomb threats made against historically Black colleges, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday night he will request the General Assembly provide emergency funding to HBCUs to increase their security and campus safety.

I am angry and deeply concerned by the recent pattern of bomb threats plaguing our historically Black colleges and universities, Youngkin said in a statement. I am committed to harnessing state resources to support these institutions and will work together with them on a continued coordinated response that ensures the safety of our HBCU students and faculty.

A threat was made against Hampton University on Wednesday, and on Friday threats were made against Norfolk State University and Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina.

Virginia Union University and Virginia State University in greater Richmond did not receive threats.

VSU recently hired additional police officers, updated its operations plan and offered additional training to its faculty and staff, university spokesperson Gwen Williams Dandridge said.

VSUs campus is equipped with security cameras and a security system that allows the university to distribute messages to cell phones through the company Rave Mobile Safety.

At least 57 HBCUs have received threats in 2022, either by phone, email, direct message or online post, the FBI said this week. No explosive devices have been found on any campuses, but the threats led schools to lock themselves down.

The FBI is continuing to aggressively investigate the ongoing nationwide bomb threats targeting historically Black colleges and universities, houses of worship, and other faith-based and academic institutions, the agency said in a statement.
JAKARTA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers have found nine bodies under the rubbles and are trying to find other five people believed to be buried under the debris of houses after a 6.1-magnitude quake destroyed thousands of buildings in Indonesia's West Sumatra province on Friday, an official said Saturday.

Octavianto, head of the Operation Unit of the Search and Rescue Office of West Sumatra province, said that all the nine bodies were found in Pasaman and Pasaman Barat districts, which are the hardest hit by the earthquake.

"The focus of our efforts on Saturday is to find the other five people reported missing in Malampah village, Pasaman district," he told Xinhua by phone.

The quake triggered landslides in an area of 17 square km in Tigo Nagari sub-district, destroyed soil and buried houses, Octavianto said.

As many as 50 rescuers with heavy machinery are searching for the missing persons in the scene now, he added.

Telecommunications and electricity facilities have returned to normal after being cut off and blackout occurred on Friday, according to him.

Jumaidi, head of the Operation Unit of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency of West Sumatra province, told Xinhua by phone that thousands of affected-people took shelters at dozens of evacuation centers, and set up tents outside their damaged houses in Pasaman and Pasaman Barat districts.

"Their houses have been damaged, so they cannot stay there. Besides, it is as a precaution to avoid the impacts of further aftershocks," he said.

Local authorities, including the disaster agency officials, the Red Cross, soldiers, policemen and others have been involved in the emergency relief efforts, according to him. Health clinic centers have been set up in several places to help the wounded persons and evacuees.

"Most of the quake victims suffer wounds or broken bones as they were hit by concrete or other materials during the quake," he said, adding that emergency relief aids are heading to the scene. 
RICHMOND  The message to school leaders was simple: Restrictive masking policies, like mandates requiring all students to wear face coverings, have had little to no effect on COVID-19 transmissions at Virginia schools.

The guidance from the Virginia Department of Health was a swift departure from what state leaders had advised before the states new Republican governor took office, and prompted questions and criticism from some parents and school leaders.

The claim also stumped even the states highest-ranking epidemiologists two public health experts who have served from onset of the pandemic in the winter of 2020 through today, according to emails the Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained through a public records request.

State Epidemiologist Lilian Peake and Deputy Epidemiologist Laurie Forlano seemed puzzled at the source of a key claim in the guidance  that masks made no impact on transmission  arguing that the states new health Commissioner Colin Greene had selected data to create a hypothesis to defend the new policy.

Whether or not schools should require universal mask-wearing among students is now largely a moot point in Virginia, where Youngkin and state lawmakers stripped power from school districts to require face coverings. The new law, backed by three Democratic senators, goes into effect Tuesday.

But the exchange sheds light into friction within Youngkins new health department as the state shifted its masking stance. Its unclear how that will impact the agency as it navigates public health policy during the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and grapples with the possibility of another surge sparked by an infectious variant.

The exchange also shows that the text and scientific underpinning of the new guidance were not fully vetted by the states infectious disease experts. A separate exchange that The Times-Dispatch also obtained through a public records request shows that as questions about the guidance started coming in, the governors office directed the states health agency to direct all media inquiries to the governors communications staff.

Peake and Forlano, reached for comment by The Times-Dispatch, said the exchange doesnt reflect large-scale disagreement at the agency. Peake said the role of her office is to provide public health expertise, recommendations, and guidance to the state health commissioner, [the health secretary] and the governors office.

Disagreement about universal masking policies is not unique to Virginia.

A month after Youngkin moved to make masks optional in schools, a key campaign promise, several other governors in Democrat-controlled states moved to do the same. The mechanics differedVirginia bans school districts from setting their own policiesbut the underlying motivation was similar: Amid frustration by some parents and lack of data showing overwhelming benefits, many state leaders had opted to move toward less restrictive policies.

On Friday afternoon, the federal Centers for Disease Control eased its own masking recommendations.

The agency now only recommends masks and social distancing in places where hospital resources are starting to show signs of strain. It also loosened its guidance for masking in schools; universal masking is recommended only in counties where the virus poses a high risk as measured by strain on hospitals.

The agency chalked up the change in guidance to an assuaging surge of cases from the highly infectious omicron variant.

Changes to public health policy come as many Americans report feeling fatigued by the changes to public life brought on by trying to prevent COVID-19 transmission. A nationwide poll Monmouth University published in late January found that public support for masking and social distancing restrictions had fallen from 63% in September to 52% at the start of the yeareven as the omicron variant was surging and straining health resources.

Youngkins campaign was fueled in part by his support for less restrictive COVID-19 measures. His coalition included parents and school leaders who felt that masks were harmful to students ability to learn at school.

On the other side were parents and districts that felt masks provided another layer of protection that could keep more kids and teachers in the classroom.

When VDH issued its guidance allowing parents to opt out, it included the line: During the omicron outbreak, regions with restrictive masking policies and practices have shown similar rates of transmission as regions with less restrictive mask policies.

When Forlano asked where the assertion came from, Greene said it was observational data from the states COVID-19 dashboard, where he compared urban, suburban and rural areas, using those as proxies for masking policies. He said urban areas with more restrictive mask policies generally showed higher transmission rates.

Peake said: You have selected data to create a hypothesis. I think it is premature to include that in a policy document. I recommend referencing studies that are designed to control for confounding factors.

She later added that different levels of immunity, and the timing of when omicron began to spread in different areas could impact Greenes analysis.

Greene pushed back, saying, if this were a presentation at a symposium, I might agree with you, but its not.

Im also a bit puzzled by the concern about things hypothetical, considering the emphasis we seem to place on [the University of Virginias] modeling data, which is 100% hypothetical, he said, referring to projections out of the institution about the potential for hospitals to be overwhelmed.

Greenes explanation for how the state came up with its new guidance was first reported by the Virginia Mercury last month. Parts of the exchange between Greene, Peake and Forlano were first reported by the Washington Post this week.

Peake is the states highest ranking epidemiologist, a role shes held since March 2019. Before that, she was the director of public health for the state of South Carolina, and prior to that, the deputy commissioner for population health at VDH.

Forlano, the states deputy epidemiologist, served in the same role when she arrived at the agency in 2011. She worked as the states top epidemiologist for four years until late 2018, before becoming the deputy commissioner of population health. A year after the start of the pandemic, Forlano returned to the epidemiology office to work as its deputy director.

Most of Greenes experience comes from the U.S. military. Before becoming the director of the Lord Fairfax Health District, Greene was director of the Joint Trauma Analysis and Prevention of Injury in Combat, a partnership that studied how to decrease death and injury in combat. Greene also worked as a public health adviser for the U.S. Armys transition command, and had a five-month stint as the director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

Greene, as part of the exchange, said he was interested in setting up a new team within VDH to encourage and support research. Greene said he wanted to meet with Peakes team to learn the capabilities of your section, including data analysis capabilities.

Peake, in an email to The Times-Dispatch, said the exchange should be seen as typical given the sizable impact of the states masking policy.

We wanted to ensure all points of view were examined. Our singular debate does not indicate large-scale disagreement or deeper issues within the agency, Peake said.
While the United States and NATO partners sought to find ways to persuade Vladimir Putin to cease his expansionist instincts, on Feb. 22, Kenyas ambassador to the United Nations, Martin Kimani, made a brief but pointed statement about the actions of Putin in his seeking to annex portions or all of the Ukraine. He put it into a stark context.

To fully appreciate Ambassador Kimanis comments it is useful to understand a bit about Kenyas borders, which were determined by Queen Victoria and her grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany.

Victoria had a straight line from Lake Victoria to the Indian Ocean, demarking the Kenya colony from Germanys Tanganyika colony, now Tanzania. The Kaiser objected because that straight line, as drawn, put Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya. The story goes that he said every country deserved a big mountain and the Queen and Kenya already had Mount Kenya, and Tanganyika had none. So, Victoria gave Kilimanjaro to Wilhelm as a birthday present. Look at a map of Africa.

In his statement on Putin and the Ukraine, Ambassador Kimani says:

Kenya and almost every African country was birthed by the ending of empire. Our borders were not of our own drawing. They were drawn in the distant colonial metropoles of London, Paris and Lisbon with no regard for the ancient nations that they cleaved apart. Today, across the border of every single African country, live our countrymen with whom we share deep historical, cultural and linguistic bonds.

At independence, had we chosen to pursue states on the basis of ethnic, racial or religious homogeneity, we would still be waging bloody wars these many decades later ... Rather than form nations that looked ever backward into history with a dangerous nostalgia, we chose to look forward to a greatness none of our many nations and peoples had ever known.

We believe that all states formed from empires that have collapsed or retreated have many peoples in them yearning for integration with peoples in neighboring states. This is normal and understandable. After all, who does not want to be joined to their brethren and to make common purpose with them?

However, 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 ...

Kenya registers its strong concern and opposition to the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states ... Let me conclude ... by reaffirming Kenyas respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

The people of the Ukraine voted to become an independent nation on Dec. 1, 1991. Kenya became an independent nation on Dec. 12, 1963. Putins ranting about a historically valid argument for his colonializing Ukraine is indeed a dangerous nostalgia. It threatens the progress the world has achieved since colonialism by one nation of another ceased to be acceptable in the world order. As a former colony, the United States of America must act with all its might to resist this resurgance of colonial instincts in the world.

George McDowell is an emeritus professor of rural development economics at Virginia Tech who spent almost seven years overseeing Peace Corps agricultural programs, including a little over two years in Kenya.
Red Sunset on the Dnieper by Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi (19058) The Dnieper river connects Russia and Ukraine. It originates west of Moscow, runs through Kyiv, and pours into the Black Sea.





Russia has been at continuous war with Ukraine since 2014. The years between Russias initial invasion in Crimea and yesterdays expansion were filled with relentless cyberwarfare. These attacks have inflicted suffering far beyond the boundaries of the network. Much like the Stuxnet virus deployed by Israel and the United States in Iran, these attacks cause physical harm and in the case of Russias incursion, have resulted in the deaths of innocent Ukrainians.

Russias actions are inline with the Makarov/Gerasimov approach to conflict. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff of the Russian Federation armed forces, described warfare as a spectrum of theaters in 2013. The theaters extend beyond land, sea, and air. They include terror, propaganda, economic coercion, and cyberwarfare.

Other hegemonic nations undoubtedly deploy similar tactics. But Russias strategy is not only explicit, it is time-tested. Here is Yuri Alexandrovich Bezmenov, a former KGB agent and defector, describing similar Soviet tactics in 1984.

KGB defector Yuri Bezmenovs interview with G. Edward Griffin in 1984

Taking the attack on Ukraine as an eight year conflict illustrates the current state of warfare. No pre-internet technology ever allowed such unabated aggression across national borders. It is unclear how nations can and should respond to this aggression.

The essence of information warfare makes the conditions of fighting wars even worse. Information warfare intentionally amplifies the background noise of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. This is not only a tremendous barrier for peace, it is the foundation of disaster. The MoscowWashington hotline embodies the need for clear communication between nuclear-armed states. Established in 1963, the hotline remains text-only as a way to reduce misunderstandings in communication. Moscow-Washington teletype hotline, Jim Kuhn





A quick survey of the last eight years will help illustrate my point.

February 2014: Ukrainian Revolution

Viktor Yanukovych was swept out of power on February 22, 2014 after a months-long protest turned violent earlier that month. Paul Manafort was a political consultant for Yanukovychs pro-Russian Party of Regions starting in 2006. He worked in Ukraine until Yanukovychs ouster. He would later reappear as Donald Trumps campaign chair in 2016. Manafort is an international war profiteer, American lobbyist, and professional opportunist. His involvement in any enterprise should always raise a red flag.



The parliaments vote to impeach on the 22nd is considered a coup by the Russians. This claim is bolstered by demonstrable American meddling in Ukraines politics leading up to the election.





Western interests were sharply divided at the time. As I detailed in my post Disinformation Strategies and Tactics (2020), Russia made several attempts to exploit this division:

On February 4, 2014, an anonymous source posted a private conversation between the US Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, and the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt. Amidst all the political banter, one line stood out, Fuck the EU.

The leaked audio was a crude effort to sow dissension between the US and its EU allies during a tense moment in Ukraine - a move that would clearly help Russian interests. Russias invasion of Ukraine, meddling in the US elections, and the dissemination of NotPetya [computer virus] made the nation an exemplar in hybrid information warfare.

March 2014: Russia Annexes Crimea

Russia annexes Crimea weeks after the impeachment. Little green men who took the peninsula wore no Russian markings but carried Russian weapons. Little green men. Credit: Elizabeth Arrott/VOA - Voice of America



The Kremlin farcically denied involvement.

As Russia used official channels for denials, fictional online personas were created online to stoke ethnic fears within Ukraine. Russia hoped that national infighting would sow the seeds of paranoia and distrust before the May 2014 elections.

May 2014: Free Ukrainian Elections

Without a viable candidate to back in the presidential race, the Russians sought to amplify the chaos they had created in Crimea.

Ethnic divisions, dubious reports, and salacious rumors were planted online. On the day of the election, hackers wiped data in voting systems. Hackers also co-opted the systems that reported the vote tallies. News reports declared that Dmytro Yarosh, leader of the ultra-nationalist Right Sector Party, was ahead in the count.

Petro Poroshenko ultimately emerged victorious after the Ukrainians were able to restore order. He garnered 54% of the vote. Yarosh would fail to even net 1%.

Gen. Philip Breedlove (NATO) called the actions of early 2014 The most amazing information warfare blitzkrieg we have ever seen in the history of information warfare. Sanger, David E. The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age. First paperback edition, Broadway Books, 2019.



But Russia was not finished.

2015/2016: The Ukrainian Power Grid

In the winter of 2015, an orchestrated attack on Ukraines electrical grid cut the power for hundreds of thousands of people. The attackers made it difficult to solve the issue by disabling internal monitoring systems and overwhelming each providers call centers so legitimate callers could not get through. This took place after pro-Ukrainian activists physically attacked a substation that powered Crimea.

Its conceivable that the physical attack on the substation prompted the cyberattack as a response. Which begs the question, when will a cyberattack become a pretense for a physical response? And at what scale?

2017: NotPetya

The Russians successfully attacked the electrical grid again in 2016. But it was the next salvo that demanded the worlds attention.

The NotPetya malware first appeared on the eve of Ukrainian Constitution Day. As I chronicled in Disinformation Strategies and Tactics, NotPetyas blast radius extended far beyond Ukraines borders. It affected thousands of systems in over 65 countries. Russia was one of those 65 countries.



Maersk, a single Danish shipping company, lost $300 million in revenues and was forced to replace 4,000 servers.

The attack cost billions of dollars to mitigate. The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia official attributed the source of NotPetya to Russia in February 2018. The lag between attack and attribution conveys the difficulty of collecting sensitive forensic evidence and presenting a compelling case.



But Ukraine suffered most of the damage. The malwares intended target netted 80% of all infections.

2020/2021: The Ongoing Front

Cyberattacks continued to bombard Ukraine at the turn of the decade. Ukrainian officials reported 397,000 cyberattacks in 2020 and over 288,000 cyberattacks in 2021. It cannot be said that every one of these attacks are Russian in origin, some may be perpetrated by the same little green men that invaded Crimea.

January/February 2022: Expanding the Invasion

Unhappy with simply occupying Ukrainian Crimea, the Russian military encircled Ukraine in early 2022. A series of cyberattacks swept through Ukraine as the Russians took position.

In January, hackers took down took down the defense, foreign, and culture ministry websites. The two largest state banks in Ukraine were also taken offline. The websites were replaced by an ominous message, Ukrainians!All information about you has become public, be afraid and expect worse.

MFA Ukraine website via Christopher Miller

A data wiping malware called HermeticWiper was deployed a month later - on the same day Russia officially recognized the separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.

The direct consequences of these cyberattacks are not yet known. Russia attacked Kiev the next day and the world has been preoccupied ever since.

Going Nuclear

The Cold War is littered with nearly-nuclear confrontations. As you consider this selection from Close Calls with Nuclear Weapons by the Union of Concerned Scientists, know that each incident prompted the scrambling of bombers and placing intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) crews on the highest alert.

October 5, 1960: The U.S. early warning radar at Thule, Greenland [] detected dozens of Soviet missiles launched against the United States.

October 28, 1962: Just before 9:00 am, radar operators at Moorestown, NJ, reported [] that a nuclear attack was under way, with impact expected at 9:02 near Tampa, FL.

November 9, 1979: Computers at NORAD headquarters indicated a large-scale Soviet attack on the United States. [] Investigations later discovered that the incident was caused by a technician who had mistakenly inserted a training tape containing a scenario for a large-scale nuclear attack into an operational computer.

March 15, 1980: The Soviet Union launched four submarine-based missiles [], one of the launches appeared to have a trajectory aimed at the United States.

September 26, 1983: A Soviet early warning satellite showed that the United States had launched five land-based missiles at the Soviet Union.

There are many more. And the culprit for each of these nuclear near-misses was simple misinformation.

In the years since the Cold War, the internet has flooded the world with information. Information warfare seeks to take this theater of conflict and amplify the amount of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation. Those of us who work in the information space must recognize our place in this reality. Cryptocurrencies power a $5.2B/year ransomware industry and help enable rogue states. Any serious Web3 efforts to serve individual sovereignty need to address these issues head on.





The Nuclear Age Meets the Information Age

Technologists must abandon the notion that technology is neutral. It is the first step towards building a better internet.

Many advanced technologies have inextricable political dimensions. Both nuclear power and nuclear weapons enforce central and hierarchical political structures. This was evident when Ukraine inherited the third-largest nuclear arsenal after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Ukraine gave up their nuclear weapons in 1994 in exchange for assurances by the United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom that their security and sovereignty would be maintained. This agreement was known as the Budapest Memorandum.

Its easy to argue in 2022 that Ukraine made a tremendous mistake when it agreed to the Budapest Memorandum. Nuclear weapons are real and assurances are not. But thats the key - nuclear weapons are real and they enforce a real and non-negotiable political order. As long as your nation has nuclear weapons, you will have a political class of people that must maintain them. This class might look different in Russia, France, Pakistan, and the United States, but it is only a matter of degrees.

This class of folks are essentially autocrats. They must be heard. They must be organized around. Other weapons can exist in more distributed or chaotic systems. But not nuclear weapons. Their destructive power is too great. This is the inherently centralizing force of nuclear technology.

If your nation aspires to a political system without a trace of autocracy, removing nuclear technology is the only choice. Thats the radical vision the Ukrainians embraced in 1994; they remain one of the few nuclear nations to ever give up their armaments.

As Ukraine attempted to shed its 20th century legacy, the country was sucked into a 21st century conflict; most of the fighting over the last eight years of the Russo-Ukraine War has happened in cyberspace. This parallels the Estonian push into cyberspace. Partially due to the geopolitical tensions of being an ex-Soviet state, Estonia created an advanced e-state and become a leader in cybersecurity.





The attacks have only intensified since the start of the 2022 invasion. The release of malwares in Ukraine such as Foxblade and HermeticWiper seemed to intentionally coincide with the initial onslaught. Since then, at least 100 additional malware deployments have been detected across a variety of Ukrainian industries. This includes at least two additional cyberattacks on Ukraines power grid. The malware used in 2022 was a variation of the malware used in the 2016 power grid attack. The original was called Industroyer and the 2022 version was deemed Industroyer2.



The news outlet KyivPost reports constant cyberattacks as government websites have struggled to stay online.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukrainian deputy minister and minister for digital transformation, has launched an online hacker recruitment effort in response. The official Telegram group has swelled to more than 280,000 volunteers and the initiative has organized an array of defensive and offensive missions.

Independent hacking groups have also initiated a handful of attacks within Russia and Belarus. Notable among the subsequent bank leaks and train shutdowns, Anonymous took control of several Russian television channels like Russia 24, Channel One, and Moscow 24 to broadcast footage of the war in Ukraine.

War is chaotic and cyberwar intensifies the chaos. The combatants can come from anywhere while a cyberweapons origin and blast radius is indeterminate. Like a nuclear bomb, the fallout from conflict can easily spread across national borders and stoke global hostilities.

Technologists must help politicians and society-at-large understand what is at stake. The first step is acknowledging the politics embedded within our technologies. For example, a myopic Web3 that only seeks to recreate capitalist constructions in cyberspace will only recreate todays issues in a different form.



If we hope to clearly express our intentions, we must understand the medium through which they travel. And if our intention is a lasting peace, we must eliminate the tools of autocratic power.

The final five paragraphs of this entry was updated on 23/April/2022 to better reflect the ongoing war in Ukraine.
" " New Jersey prohibition director Colonel Ira Reeves (right) admonishes a Newark garage owner for advertising alcohol with the wrong kind of sign, circa 1927. He is handing the owner an acceptable sign, which specifies that the alcohol is denatured and for use in car radiators. FPG/Hulton Archive/Getty Images/HowStuffWorks

There aren't many nontoxic products in the world that somebody's taken extra effort to make toxic before they sell it to people, but denatured alcohol is one of those products.

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is a really handy solvent  it can fuel small stoves, disinfect surfaces or preserve a fetal pig for who knows how long. But ethanol is also alcohol, which people like to drink. While the average alcoholic beverage contains between 5 to 40 percent alcohol, ethanol used as an antiseptic often contains between 60 and 90 percent alcohol. So, how do you keep people from drinking it? You denature it  make it smell and taste terrible, and also make it poisonous!

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Denatured alcohol, or methylated spirits, is just alcohol with some stuff added to it to make it bitter and dangerous to consume  primarily methanol, but also often isopropyl alcohol (which is dangerous to consume in any quantity), acetone, ketones and other toxic chemicals. Whatever substance is added to the alcohol to make it unpalatable, it probably also increases your risk of cancer, affects your nervous system and organs, and could possibly even kill you. Methanol can even be absorbed through the skin, which can cause some serious health effects like neurological damage, so don't try using it in your homemade perfumes! In some countries, denatured alcohol is dyed pale blue or purple as a warning not to drink it, but in the United States, denatured alcohol looks exactly like vodka.

" " This denatured alcohol poison label explicitly lays out the danger of a snort or two. HA! Designs-Artbyheather /Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Ethanol used for industrial purposes began to be denatured with methanol in the early 20th century so the companies making it could make it undrinkable, and therefore tax it at a lower rate than alcohol meant for consumption. During Prohibition even more toxic chemicals were added to make extra sure nobody would drink the stuff.

These days, denatured alcohol comes in different grades  some can be safely used in hand sanitizers and cosmetics, while other types used for heavy duty jobs like paint removal and pest control shouldn't even be touched. Rubbing alcohol, which is denatured isopropyl or ethyl alcohol that's more commonly used for medical purposes, is also toxic if ingested, even if it is safe to put it on your cuts and scrapes.

Now That's Interesting In 2007, New Zealand removed methanol from their denatured alcohol.
" " Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the world's first man in space, is seen in his spacesuit in a scene from the documentary, "First Voyage to the Stars," which was screened at the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival in 1961. Bettman Archives/Getty Images

There have been a lot of groundbreaking firsts in human history, but only one person can claim to be the first in outer space. That's Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut who breached Earth's atmosphere and zipped into orbit in 1961.

He stood just 5 feet, 2 inches (1.57 meters). But in the lore of space exploration, Gagarin casts an enormously long shadow. In both life and death, he left a legacy brimming with both outstanding achievements ... and unanswered questions.

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A Winning Smile

Born in 1934 in Klushino, near Moscow, Gagarin was the son of a carpenter and a milkmaid. When he was still a child, Nazi forces invaded the U.S.S.R. and occupied the town. Everyone suffered  two of his siblings wound up in labor camps but survived the war.

Later, Gagarin attended various technical schools, but it was a flying club in Saratov that really grabbed his attention. Once he had his first taste of flight, he embraced his new passion and used his weekends learning to fly.

He joined the Soviet Air Force and became a full-fledged fighter pilot, gaining proficiency on planes like the MiG-15. In the meantime, he married Valentina Goryacheva, with whom he had two daughters.

In 1960, Soviet authorities chose 20 men to take part in the country's fledgling space program. The commission specified that the men be between 25 and 30 years old and less than 5 feet, 7 inches (1.57 meters) tall. Gagarin checked both boxes, and he was one of the lucky candidates selected for further training.

Then began rigorous physical training, which included dozens of parachute jumps over water, oxygen starvation tests, and isolation chamber procedures meant to weed out anyone who might melt down psychologically in space. Though the process was competitive, Gagarin stood out both for his physical skills and his exceptional personality.

He was charismatic, competent and simply likable, in part because of the ever-present smile on his face. His positive aura was a large part of why he was ultimately chosen for the Vostok 1 mission, just one week before launch. The Soviets knew that their soon-to-be-famous cosmonaut would need to look good in front of a camera for propaganda purposes. Gagarin's beaming smile fit the bill.

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First Man in Space

On April 12, 1961, the rocket lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Just minutes later, the former farm boy was the first human in space.

"Gagarin was very charismatic and well liked within the cosmonaut corps," says Howard McCurdy, a space policy expert and public affairs professor at American University. "He was apparently fearless. While [Sergei] Korolev, the chief spaceflight engineer, was popping tranquilizers, Gagarin was sitting calmly in the capsule."

" " Yuri Gagarin, the first man to travel into space, hit the headlines on April 12, 1961, after orbiting Earth aboard the Vostok I spaceship. AFP via Getty Images

In 1961, very little was known about spaceflight and what would happen to a human who was in weightlessness for longer than a few seconds. So there was a lot riding on this. Gagarin orbited our planet just a single time (108 minutes). He reached a maximum height of 203 miles (327 kilometers). During the flight, he ate, drank and monitored the onboard systems.

"Gagarin had no control over his spacecraft," says McCurdy. "According to sources at NASA, flight controllers gave Gagarin a key to the controls for use in an emergency, which he did not use. Otherwise, he was just a passenger on the spacecraft."

Gagarin's return to Earth wasn't the tidy sort of splashdown that we're used to witnessing these days. Instead, it was like something dreamed up by scriptwriters for a "Mission: Impossible" movie.

"Gagarin did not land with his Vostok space capsule," says McCurdy. "He jumped out of it and parachuted to the ground. Sort of a hair-raising way to land."

Even before he landed, the Soviets were trumpeting the trailblazing spaceflight. His safe return guaranteed worldwide celebrity.

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Hero of the Soviet Union

Streets were named for him, and he was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union by Nikita Khrushchev. Some called him the modern-day Christopher Columbus. He traveled the world, living proof of the success of the Soviet space program.

" " After his successful mission, Yuri Gagarin toured London in July 1961. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

The celebrity cosmonaut visited dozens of countries in celebration of his incredible spaceflight  but he was barred from entering the United States. President John F. Kennedy wanted no part of celebrating the Soviet Union's accomplishment, which cast the U.S. as left behind in the Space Race.

Once his publicity tour ended, he slowly returned to flying. The air force promoted him multiple times, in large part to keep him out of airplanes and safely on the ground; no one wanted their international superstar to die young.

Yet, his bout with fame was unsettling. Gagarin took to drinking heavily, which concerned his superiors.

Still, he trained for space, and was named a backup for the Soyuz 1 mission. Gagarin's good fortune held  the 1967 mission failed catastrophically when the landing module's parachute failed to open, ending with the first in-flight spacecraft fatality, Vladimir Komarov.

Gagarin gave up drinking the next year. He recommitted himself to flying, and even participated in aerospace engineering in hopes of helping to create a reusable spacecraft. In 1968, the famed pilot and cosmonaut took off on a routine training flight in a MiG-15UTI. Shortly thereafter, the plane crashed near the town of Kirzhach. Both Gagarin and flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin perished. Gagarin was just 32.

Immediately, the Soviets rushed to gloss over the incident, covering up details of the incident for decades. Lacking convincing explanations, conspiracy theories abounded  but none of them stuck.

In 2013, new evidence emerged thanks to the investigative work of Alexei Leonov, a former cosmonaut who was troubled by the death of his friend and fellow space traveler.

His (unconfirmed) explanation for the crash? An error in air traffic control. During the fateful flight, a Soviet Su-15, a model much larger than the hero's MiG-15, violated Gagarin's airspace. The turbulence caused Gagarin to lose control and ultimately plunge to his death.

Perhaps the embarrassment of losing a national icon to such a simple error was too much to admit publicly. Or maybe, as Leonov speculated, the authorities didn't want to make public that there was "a lapse" so close to Moscow. We may never know for sure. What we do know is that Gagarin's first and only space mission left an indelible mark on our world.

"People had been dreaming of flying in the air for millennia before the Wright Brothers achieved that in 1903," says Amy Foster, assistant history professor at the University of Central Florida, via email.

"The idea of humans flying in space was even more lofty. While both the United States and the Soviet Union had successfully launched living creatures by the time of Gagarin's flight, there were still questions about how the mission would affect a human. So, Gagarin's flight made flying in space not only achievable, but also a realistic endeavor."

Now That's Cool Gagarin's final words before takeoff on that first flight into space were "Poyekhali!" or "Let's go!" The phrase became a common one in Russian speech, thanks to the cosmonaut.

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Originally Published: Nov 9, 2020
FLORENCE, S.C.  A debris burn on Pine Lake Drive Friday afternoon grew into a 30-acre brush fire that kept firefighters from multiple departments busy well into the night there  and elsewhere in eastern Florence County.

Windy Hill firefighters went to 1736 Pine Lake Drive at 2:34 p.m. and found the fire had already run into the woods, said Windy Hill Fire Chief John DeLung.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission sent its first of what would become four plow crews to the Pine Lake Drive fire.

While crews battled the fire on Pine Lake Drive, DeLung said, he drove over to Head Drive and found that the fire had broken through the treeline and was burning across Jeffries Creek Swamp toward residences on Head Drive.

Windy Hill, Howe Springs and Forestry Commission firefighters were able to hold the fire at Head Road.

DeLung said the fire departments UTV and a Forestry Commission brush truck were able to keep the fire from spreading to a house that was threatened.

The fire burned through swampy terrain, which made it difficult to fight and, at times, bogged down plow crews, DeLung said.

A Forestry Commission plane few over the fire to help plow crews for about 45 minutes.

While firefighters were tied up at the brush fire a fire on East Old Marion Highway destroyed a residence and a shed.

DeLung said the fire started in a shed and winds quickly pushed the fire into the mobile home.

Windy Hill, Howe Springs and Florence firefighters fought that blaze, DeLung said.

By 6:30 p.m. Forestry Commission plow crews had the fire 85-90% contained, DeLung said.

As of 8:22 a.m. the Forestry Commissions website indicated firefighting efforts were complete at the site.

The Pine Lakes Drive fire was not the only brush fire to tie up firefighters Friday. Darlington and Florence county firefighters with Forestry Commission crews battled a 34-acre brush fire on Philadelphia Street in Darlington County while Howe Springs fought a five-acre brush fire on Vernard Lane.

All of the other fires were caused by debris burns, according to the Forestry Commissions website.
FLORENCE, S.C.  When he got of out prison and arrived at the House of Hope, Casey Lenahan wouldnt have believed anyone who told him that he would be getting ready to start his own ministry.

Now the director of men at the House of Hope, he told Congressman Tom Rice Thursday afternoon that if someone had told him that, he would have punched that person in the face.

Going into ministry was the furthest thing from my mind, Lenahan said. For God to take the monster that I was and turn me into a God-fearing Christian who has a passion for helping men that were like me and are like me, to helping first responders with their life, that means something to me.

The Monster

Lenahan grew up in southeast Asia as the son of a diplomat. In southeast Asia, he was born in Taichung, Taiwan, and spent time in Bangkok, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Beijing.

I was an unruly child, he said Friday afternoon in his office. I stretched diplomatic immunity.

He said his family eventually returned to the Washington, D.C., area and he attended boarding schools in Vermont and Massachusetts.

I got kicked out of every school I ever went to, Lenahan said. [I was] very aggressive, very violent.

Later, Lenahan said he had a need to always be in control and he needed to learn how to submit to God.

Thats where we ourselves is we depend too much on ourselves and not God, Lenahan said. If we leave God out of the picture, were looking for disaster.

He described himself as very aggressive and a very high alpha male ready to fight at the smallest challenge.

Even after being kicked out of school, Lenahan continued his unruly behavior and he was ultimately arrested for and pleaded guilty to a charge of murder.

I shot and killed a man up in Rock Hill, Lenahan said.

According to South Carolina court records, Lenahan was arrested on Aug. 11, 1988, on charges of murder and armed robbery. He pleaded guilty to a charge of murder on Oct. 25, 1988, and was sentenced to life in prison.

Lenahan said he spent time in several South Carolina state prisons including the Lee Correctional Institute, Evans Correctional Institution, Broad River Correctional Insitution and the Allendale Correctional Institution.

I was in all the really rough prisons, Lenahan said. He said later he did not join a gang while in prison. He said he was so brutal that people stayed away from him. I had a cartel person tell me I was the scariest person hes ever met.

While sitting in his cell, Lenahan did a lot of self-reflection because there were only so many books to read and weights to lift.

You start looking in on yourself and seeing who and what you are, he continued. I discovered that all that hatred for everybody wasnt for everybody. All that was self-hatred. I was so full of the self-hatred that it boiled out onto everybody else.

Now, many years later, Lenahan said this was the first time he experienced Gods grace and ability to forgive. But at the time, he didnt see it that way. As an atheist, he said, he thought he was just shining a light on his dark spots.

In all reality, I didnt have any light, he said.

Lenahan said he became involved with the prison educational system after being in jail for seven years. One of the topics he taught was beekeeping.

He said he got into beekeeping to make money. It was going to be all about the money, Lenahan said. Get the honey, make the money. Send the bees to California to the almond groves, the whole nine yards of it.

Gods grace

He said he found out he was going released on July 31, 2019, and was sent to a halfway house in Lake City on Sept. 17, 2019. The halfway house was run by a person he served time with.

It was not a good place, Lenahan said. It was actually worse than being in prison.

He said the house was filthy and a person could walk through the house and it would shake and wobble. He said the house was out in the middle of nowhere, which did not offer the opportunity to find a job.

A day later, Lenahan was scheduled to meet with his parole officer but instead met with two other parole officers including a Mr. Yeoman, who also did not like the halfway house he had been sent to.

Lenahan said the officers offered him the chance to go back to Rock Hill (That would not be the place I needed to go.) or Washington, D.C. (That would have been even worse because thats were I made 90% of my criminal connections.).

Lenahan chose Florence because he had no friends or family in the area and being in a new place without anyone familiar would make him a new person.

If I was going to start a new life, I had to be where I had nothing, he said.

He said Yeoman offered him the chance to go to the House of Hope of the Pee Dee, which he agreed to do because he had the convict mentality of fake it till I make it.

But God had other plans for Lenahan.

He said he entered the House of Hopes recovery program on Sept. 19, 2019, as an atheist. He told Congressman Tom Rice Thursday afternoon that if someone had told he would be going into ministry when he entered the program, he would have punched the person in the face.

I didnt believe in God, didnt believe in the devil, I believed in what Casey could do, Lenahan said. All I could do at that point was maim and destroy. The House of Hope welcomed me with open arms.

The House of Hope program includes morning devotionals and church services and the people in the program receive daily instruction from the Bible.

It began to sink into me that God does exist, there is a God, and I needed him, Lenahan said.

During one church service when he had an atheist mentality, he said, he was looking around the church and not really paying attention to the service when the pastor did an altar call.

An altar call is offered by pastors for people to come forward and commit their lives to following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The next thing I know Im standing in front of one of the assistant pastors, giving my life over to Jesus Christ, Lenahan said. The thing that Ive learned, the more we let go and hold onto God, the more we get.

Lenahan eventually became the director of men for the House of Hope, the owner of two vehicles and man with enough credit to be pre-approved to buy a house.

He said he wasnt really sure how he go to where he is. The only thing I can really say is God did it all for me, Lenahan said.

He said he plans to start his own ministry to help first responders handle their post-traumatic stress disorder with beekeeping.

With the crime I committed so many years ago, I cant go back and tell all the first responders who had to deal with the mess that I made and the crime that I did, Lenahan said. I cant make amends and apologize to them.

He said he is creating the ministry to give first responders with PTSD the chance to relax but also to maintain focus so they dont have a problem.

Lenahan said beekeeping still offers a chance to make money but added it has a really good potential to be a ministry.

If I can pay it forward to first responders ... then yeah, thats important to me, Lenahan said.

He said he still gets mad but has learned to walk away, something he could not have done before experiencing Gods grace.

Im 57 years old and for the first time in my life, I know what joy really is, he said. I have joy in my life. When I turned my life over to God, all that anger and the urge for being violent just evaporated. It was just gone.

Morning News Reporter Taylor Ford also contributed to this story.

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BUDAPEST, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has offered Budapest as a venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine on late Friday night on his Facebook account.

"Due to a dispute on the possible location -- in Minsk, Warsaw -- of peace talks, I recommended Budapest to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and to Andriy Yermak, chief of cabinet of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky," Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page.

He added that neither party rejected the proposition during the telephone conversations.

Budapest can serve as a safe place for both the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating delegations, the top Hungarian diplomat said.

"The sooner talks begin, the sooner there will be peace and the fewer people will have to die in the war," he said.

Szijjarto was speaking from the airport in Brussels, where he participated in an extraordinary meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers.

From Belgium he was traveling to New York to discuss the conflict with United Nations (UN) leaders.

The Ukrainian president on Friday reiterated his call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold talks to stop the conflict.

"Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let's sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying.

Putin said Moscow is ready to negotiate with Ukraine, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency tweeted on Friday.

On Thursday, Putin authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass.

At least 137 Ukrainians were killed and more than 300 injured in the military operation, Zelensky said earlier. 
LAKE CITY, S.C.  State Rep. Roger Kirby will be seeking another seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Kirby held a campaign kickoff event Saturday morning at the Ronald McNair Memorial to announce his campaign for the Democratic nomination in House District 101.

I believe in this campaign, the one message I will continue to bring is unity, Kirby said. Unity is important. Unity is the reason things can get done. Unity is the reason that government can actually work for the people.

Kirby pledged to go into District 101 with the same determination to create teams of unity to carry forward progress.

Kirby has served in the South Carolina House of Representatives since 2015 representing District 61.

However, District 61  unless a lawsuit challenging South Carolinas House district maps is successful in overturning the maps  will move to Horry County in the redistricting cycle. The move puts Kirby in District 101 where he will likely face incumbent Cezar McKnight in the Democratic primary.

Kirby currently serves as treasurer of the House Democratic Caucus. He has also won several awards including legislator of the year from the South Carolina Soil Water Conservation Districts and Quality Deer Management and a business advocate of the year award from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and 2020.

He is a real estate appraiser and broker based in Lake City and a 1982 graduate of Furman University. Kirby also serves as the director of music at Lake City First Baptist Church.

Kirby is married. According to his legislature web page, he and his wife, Pam, have three children.

At the kickoff event, speakers included Florence County Councilman Jason Springs, Lake City Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr., Florence Three Chairwoman Barbara Bryant and former Florence County Council candidate Amiri Hooker.

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Today

Cloudy early then partly cloudy and windy this afternoon. High 91F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
 Data bleg on gender, crime, victims and punishment | Main | Texas CCA finds procedural bar to considering amor-afflicted death sentence 

September 16, 2009

Details on the botched Ohio execution attempt, issue spotting, and seeking predictions

Cleveland Plain-Dealer

For more than two hours, the team attempted to insert two shunts into a vein of the compliant Broom, who tried several times to assist his executioners by shifting positions, rubbing his arm and pointing out possible usable veins. The delay will likely add to the debate about the death penalty in Ohio and what constitutes cruel and usual punishment. "The sentence is death, not torture plus death," said Kathleen Soltis, chairwoman of the Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "What does reprieve mean in this case? This is getting crazier than usual." At one point, Broom, 53, lay back on his bed, covered his face with his hands, and cried. Another time, while sitting up, he was seen grimacing as the execution team appeared to seek a vein around his ankles. A reprieve at this stage of an execution has never happened since the death penalty was reinstated in 1999, said Terry Collins, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. He said he called the governor and asked for the reprieve after it became clear the execution team was having trouble. "I could tell my team was becoming somewhat frustrated," Collins said. The reprieve extends only until Sept. 22. The drama played out before the family of Tryna Middleton, the 14-year-old girl Broom was convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing 25 years ago. Tryna's mother and father, Bessye and David Middleton, were there to witness the execution, as was an aunt. They sat in front of a glass window through which they were expecting to see Broom die. Instead, he never made it out of his nearby cell, where two shunts were to be installed in veins. The shunts allow three drugs to enter the veins and sedate, paralyze and kill the inmate. The family and others watched the preparation on closed-circuit monitors mounted in the witness area. A camera filmed Broom and captured much of the difficulty the execution team had, as well as Broom's frustration. Broom requested no witnesses initially, but about an hour into the process asked for his attorney, Adele Shank, to be present. A visibly upset Shank appeared in the witness room not knowing of Broom's request but out of concern for the length of time for the execution. "The chief justice and the governor have been notified of what's going on," Shank said after the execution team spent 90 minutes trying to insert the shunts. Collins said the execution team was able to access several veins but they collapsed once saline solution was administered. He defended the execution team and said: "They continued to do a job that most wouldn't do or couldn't do."... Shank, Broom's lawyer, said she is considering additional appeals. "We don't want to see a repeat of this ever," she said.

This story from thehas more details on Ohio's botched effort to execute Romell Broom yesterday and some reactions to it:

I suspect that Broom's lawyer (whom I happen to know and respect greatly) will have little trouble developing a federal Eighth Amendment claim based on what's happened to her client so far. But I am wondering about other possible legal issues that might be raised in this setting.

Most obviously, Broom could make a state claim based in the Ohio Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. State provisions similar to the Eighth Amendment are often, but not always, interpreted in harmony with federal jurisprudence. Notably, the Ohio Constitution's Bill of Rights also has provisions securing Inalienable Rights and Redress in Court, which perhaps are other avenues Broom's lawyers might exploring in state court.

Moving beyond Broom, I am wondering if other defendants on death row in Ohio (or in other states that rely on lethal injection) might now have a due process right to access to any preserved video that apparently "captured much of the difficulty the execution team had, as well as Broom's frustration." I think that video would be relevant and important evidence for making constitutional claims surrounding lethal injection protocols in Ohio and perhaps in other states.

In the same spirit, might lawyers involve in other lethal injection litigation now seek to take Romell Broom's deposition? It seems that what Broom was experiencing physically (and perhaps also psychologically) would be relevant to claims surrounding lethal injection protocols. Could a federal court involved in some other lethal injection litigation order a stay of Broom's new September 22 execution date in order to preserve him as a possible witness in another proceeding?

And let's throw in a little First Amendment fun: does the media (and/or an interested and responsible blogger) have a right to access any preserved video that apparently "captured much of the difficulty the execution team had, as well as Broom's frustration"? Does the media have a right to access Broom himself to interview him about his experiences yesterday?

I could go on and on, but you all get the point of how much this real case now seems like a law school exam hypothetical. And, of course, what ultimately happens to Broom and broader debates over lethal injection in Ohio or elsewhere is much more important than being able to spot all the issues. Thus, I am interested in hearing predictions from any and everyone about what they expect to have happen next.

Related posts on botched Broom execution:

Some related posts on litigation in Ohio and elsewhere over lethal injection:

UPDATE: This article from CBS News highlights that the aboitionist community is already calling for a moratorium on all executions in Ohio:

The problems prompted the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio to ask state officials to immediately halt executions. "Ohio's execution system is fundamentally flawed. If the state is going to take a person's life, they must ensure that it is done as humanely as possible," ACLU Ohio counsel Carrie Davis said. "With three botched executions in as many years, it's clear that the state must stop and review the system entirely before another person is put to death."

September 16, 2009 at 12:40 PM | Permalink

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As far as I know, the cameras that depict the preparation of the inmate for execution are Closed Circuit. At least they were in 2004, and no video or other recording is made of the process.

Posted by: Erika Cunliffe | Sep 16, 2009 1:43:30 PM

-----------

In the same spirit, might lawyers involve in other lethal injection litigation now seek to take Romell Broom's deposition? It seems that what Broom was experiencing physically (and perhaps also psychologically) would be relevant to claims surrounding lethal injection protocols. Could a federal court involved in some other lethal injection litigation order a stay of Broom's new September 22 execution date in order to preserve him as a possible witness in another proceeding?

-----------

The asshats who wanted Schiavo kept alive at all costs had similar ideas.

Posted by: anonymous | Sep 16, 2009 2:08:43 PM

There was an attempted execution many, many years ago (1800s?) and the rope broke or something when they tried to hang him. If memory serves, he was set free under the double jeopardy clause or something. Maybe I'll search for it for a cite. Trying to find a vein is a substantial act in furtherance, so there was an attempt to execute just as there was an attempt to hang.

Posted by: George | Sep 16, 2009 2:49:25 PM

@George

SCOTUS held 5-4 that it's not double jeopardy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_v._Resweber

Posted by: . | Sep 16, 2009 3:01:36 PM

"botched"? Doug, you're not serious, are you? I thought "bothced" was what they called actual executions that had possibilities that the inmate suffered. Here they couldn't find a vein, so the execution was called off. In other words, they did things right.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 3:19:55 PM

2:49

Francis v. Resweber is of dubious jurisprudential value. The opinion was a plurality opinion. Four votes voted no constitutional violation even if Eighth Amendment applied. Four votes voted constitutional violation. One vote voted no violation as the Amendment was not applicable against the states. Clearly the 8th Amendment has since been held applicable. A decent argument could therefore be made Francis is no longer binding.

Posted by: .. | Sep 16, 2009 3:21:59 PM

This point is pretty cynical, I know, but if Mr. Broom's sentence is commuted, would it create an incentive for long-term intravenous drug use by persons on death row?

Posted by: Ed Unneland | Sep 16, 2009 3:27:34 PM

Ed: Shouldn't persons on death row for a long time (as most are) be unable to be involved in long-term intravenous drug use?

Fed: Are you suggesting I call what happened in Ohio yesterday a "successful" attempted execution? Maybe I should call it an aborted execution so that folks concerned about abortions as well as executions come by to share their thoughts.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 16, 2009 4:09:16 PM

What about a Lackey/Pratt-and-Morgan type claim? Those claims are based on the idea that the mental terror of years or decades of waiting for execution---particularly if that wait includes "near misses," revoked execution dates, or repeated failures of the state to follow constitutional requirements---eventually rises to a level that constitutes cruel and unusual punishment barring execution. I don't see how many claimants could have ever had a nearer miss, or better basis to substantiate such mental terror.

Posted by: anon | Sep 16, 2009 4:17:56 PM

Sorry Doug--pro-life ends at birth.

Posted by: Res ipsa | Sep 16, 2009 4:54:21 PM

Doug, haven't you learned not to try to trade punches with me? Unfunny sarcasm is lame.

In any event, "botched" is a loaded term here. I would expect that a law professor would avoid that. But hey, that's just par for the course for you anyway.

They couldn't do it right, so they didn't do it at all. Hmmm. Sounds like caution to me. In any event, "unsuccessful execution attempt" is probably the most accurate way to describe it. You'll note, Doug, that I tend not to engage in euphemy. So trying to accuse me of wanting to engage in over-the-top euphemy (and calling the abortive big jab yesterday a "successful attempted execution" is just that) falls pretty flat.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 4:55:22 PM

You are truly, federalist, a legend in your own mind. Sparring aside, masked commentor, I think the best term is likely botched execution attempt, and I have now altered my post headline accordingly.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 16, 2009 7:57:25 PM

"failed" seems less loaded than "botched"

"aborted" would just be ironic

Posted by: anonymous | Sep 16, 2009 8:25:19 PM

Botched, of course, connotes a mistake or incompetence. Crappy veins don't mean that a mistake was made or that the people were incompetent. Leave it to a second-rate talent to insult public employees doing their jobs.

As for legend in my own mind, perhaps so. But I've whipped you plenty of times.

Posted by: federalist | Sep 16, 2009 8:38:07 PM

What would Scalia do? Look it up!

botch

1 : to foul up hopelessly often used with up

2 : to put together in a makeshift way

The execution was definitely fouled up hopelessly enough to delay it, at least for a week, maybe forever.

This is ignoring the possibility that the protocol is makeshift.

Posted by: George | Sep 16, 2009 10:32:27 PM

All phony issues spotted and unspotted are pretextual. Any judge allowing any should be voted out or driven out.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 16, 2009 11:27:50 PM

I am looking forward, federalist, to cites to support your claim that you've "whipped [me] plenty of times."

Let's start with this latest example, in which I think botched is the right word because all the circumstantial evidence suggests something was messed up.

For some reason, the techs in Ohio could not get IVs set up here though in 1000 other modern LI executions, never before has this been SUCH a problem. It seem you think that Broom has some kind of special veins, but he has been locked up for 25 years, so if his veins are a problem I think the Ohio prison system must be involved in some way botching up his circulatory system.

Call it whatever you want, there are lots of interesting legal issues raised by this case.

Posted by: Doug B. | Sep 17, 2009 8:06:49 AM

Doug, in a perfectly-constituted correctional facility, you would be right (especially on death row). The reality is that the inmates have 24/7 to observe the human weaknesses of those who guard them, and to find and exploit the interstices of inattention and procedural gaps. As for me, I think the death penalty should exist. If murder is an essentially different crime, then an essentially different punishment should exist. It need not be sought all the time. In fact, I would have a central panel of judges in each state that would have to give permission to bring what New York would call 1st degree murder before a grand jury. (This would establish a common law of death-eligiblity, and stop any possible shenanigans with getting pro-prosecution juries by eliminating the ones who won't sentence to death under any circumstances.)

Speaking of New York, I also think the Capital Defender's Office is a great idea and ought to be replicated elsewhere.

Posted by: Ed Unneland | Sep 17, 2009 8:14:51 AM

In federalist's mind, an ad hominem pot shot is "whipping." It's more likely that Supremacy Claus will join the ABA than that federalist will cite actual, credible examples of "whipping" you.

Posted by: Res ipsa | Sep 17, 2009 8:48:56 AM

"the abolitionist community is already calling for a moratorium on all executions in Ohio"

In other shocking news, Families Against Mandatory Minimums is trying to end mandatory minimum sentencing.

Also, for the record, I, too, have "whipped" everyone who's ever disagreed with me. Any disagreement with this proposition is based on inertia and/or denial.

Posted by: anonymous | Sep 17, 2009 11:44:04 AM

hilarious! "whipped"...I laughed so hard when I read that. Are you that delusional, really? Thanks for the comedy break, federalist.

Similarly, this cannot be described as "public employees doing their jobs." As referred to in a later posting, these people were "corrections employees who may work part time on local fire departments" as EMTs. The word "botched" is perfectly apt.

Posted by: DEJ | Sep 17, 2009 12:46:25 PM

"Let's start with this latest example, in which I think botched is the right word because all the circumstantial evidence suggests something was messed up."

Now, there we go. A law prof jumping to conclusions on speculation, er, "circumstantial evidence".

"It seem[s] you think that Broom has some kind of special veins, but he has been locked up for 25 years, so if his veins are a problem I think the Ohio prison system must be involved in some way botching up his circulatory system."

Doug, this is simply a bizarre response. First of all, venous access can be tricky. Second of all, attributing fault to the Ohio prison system for the state of Broom's veins is just wacky. If it's sarcasm--it's weak.

As for whipping you, we can go back to the threads about the Founding Fathers being "obsessed" with procedure and the commentary on juvie LWOP for crimes where death does not result.





Posted by: federalist | Sep 17, 2009 1:22:16 PM

What are the chances that Strickland will grant clemency? His directive hinted at that possibility.

Posted by: DaveP | Sep 17, 2009 5:41:44 PM

When the lawyer says issues, or many issues, or issue spotting, those are code for procedure, disputes, and endless billable hours.

The adversarial system was the method of finding the truth in Scholasticism. It is taken from the Catholic Church and prohibited by the Establishment Clause. It has no scientific or external validation. It does not even have reliability (repeatability) statistics. The adversarial system is Medieval, anti-scientific, church derived garbage. But it generates jobs for three lawyers, one on each side and the dolt in the middle. That is its sole real aim.

Whatever issues there are, does any involve the possibility of his innocence or some other major mistake? If not, any method of execution is far kinder than the way 90% of us will die. There is no justification the death of a murderer has to be perfect and peaceful, and far superior to that of most of us. We do know the murderer believes in the death penalty, by a method that does not meet Eighth Amendment standards, and for a selfish purpose. He should not mind if someone sneaks up behind him and shoots him in the head at close range.

Because all judges allowing these appeals are doing so to generate lawyer jobs, they are defrauding the taxpayer. They should be removed for theft of public funds. If they are not removed, there is moral justification for the public to retrieve its money in self-help.

The theft of public funds by lawyer rent seeking is an issue that will never come up on any law school exam.



Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 18, 2009 1:32:14 AM

Res: Correct. Zero chance I will ever be a member of the ABA, even if I become a licensed lawyer (no chance of that either).

However, the ABA will be putting up statues to the Supremacy in 100 years. The Supremacy is the best friend the lawyer has ever had, and will save the profession no matter how hard it resists. He loves the lawyer and the rule of law that much.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Sep 18, 2009 1:37:23 AM

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 Huzzah: Prez Biden reportedly to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | Main | "Criminal Justice Expertise" 

February 26, 2022

New poll indicates considerable support for death penalty repeal among Ohio GOP legislators

I have now lived and worked as a law professor in Ohio for almost 25 years, and throughout all these years the state's implementation of its capital punishment systems has been always dynamic and often dysfunctional. Though there has not been an execution in Ohio since Mike DeWine became the state's governor in 2019, this DPIC page highlights that Ohio has had more executions in the modern death penalty era than more than a half-dozen southern capital states (not even counting Ohio's botched 2009 effort to execute Romell Broom). Also, as this DPIC page details, Ohio also has the sixth largest death row in the nation, as well as a remarkable number of pending death warrants that are repeatedly getting stayed by Gov DeWine due to concerns about Ohio's lethal injection methods.

I highlight all this background because it helps details why I think it would be quite a big deal as a matter of policy for Ohio to move away from capital punishment. And, thanks to a helpful email, I saw a notable recent new poll of Ohio legislators indicating that repeal of the death penalty in Ohio might also really be possible as a matter of politics. Notably, there has been a considerable legislative push in recent years for repeal, and next week has scheduled a hearing on Ohio House Bill 183, a bill expressly written to "abolish the death penalty."

Notably, as of this writing, this death penalty repeal bill has 25 sponsors. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of the sponsors are Democrats, but more than a few in hat group are Republicans. And, perhaps surprisingly, this new Gongwer News Service poll of Ohio state legislators suggests there may be quite considerable support among Ohio GOP legislators for ending capital punishment. Specifically, the poll asked "Should Ohio eliminate the death penalty?" and among Republicans legislators who responded 46% said "Yes" only 39% said "No" and 14% said "Undecided."

Critically, this new poll only had 44 respondents, which is just a third of all the members of the Ohio General Assembly, and I do not believe there is any way to tell how representative the Republicans respondents to the poll are. Still, assuming a majority of Democratic legislators in Ohio are prepared to support death penalty repeal, there would really only need to be a sizable minority of GOP members of Ohio General Assembly to favor abolition to have a real chance to get a death penalty repeal bill to the desk of Governor DeWine. I am still quite disinclined to think repeal will happen soon in Ohio, but this poll certainly leads me to now think the possibility is not so far-fetched.

February 26, 2022 at 11:59 AM | Permalink

Comments

Average Americans are mostly unaware that among First World countries, only the United States and Japan (because the U.S. gave them a death penalty when we occupied their country after World War II) still have a Death penalty. Many First World countries did away with their Death Penalties decades ago and consider the American practices barbaric. Once 26 states have no death penalty, someone will take a case up to the U. S. Supreme Court, which will find the death penalty unConstutional (based upon evolving standards of decency and community values) and outlaw it across America.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Feb 27, 2022 2:31:38 PM

Jim Gormley --

I'm all for evolving standards of decency SO LONG AS THEY ARE DEFINED BY THE PEOPLE rather than the Robed Masters. There's a reason the Founders did not include "evolving standards" language in the Constitution, and instead it was invented 160 years later by judges to give themselves more power.

Capital punishment is expressly contemplated by the language of the Constitution and therefore can hardly be unconstitutional. In addition, the Court held point-blank in Glossip that "the death penalty is constitutional." So if precedent is to be honored -- something I'm hearing quite loudly from liberals just now -- the issue is settled law going forward, just as Justice Kagan said at her confirmation hearing.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 27, 2022 3:05:39 PM

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Ukrainian soldiers are seen at the site of fighting with a Russian raiding group in Kyiv. (Getty)

Britain has said it will continue to supply arms to Ukraines embattled military as the fighting with Russian forces reached the outskirts of the capital Kyiv.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said Russian troops had not made the progress they might have hoped, with the main armoured columns still some way from the city.

The UK has already sent 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers and Heappy said they were looking to get more weaponry to the country.

On Friday, defence secretary Ben Wallace convened a meeting with 25 other donor nations who agreed to supply arms or humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Heappey told BBC Breakfast: We know what the Ukrainians want. We are doing our best to get it to them.

Watch: Russian invasion could go on for months, says armed forces minister

Heappey warned there would be days, weeks, months more of heavy fighting as Russian president Vladimir Putin strives to topple the Ukrainian government and impose his will on the country.

He said: This is going to be a long slog. It is going to be brutal.

We are going to see some horrendous things on our TV screens.

While the situation was very grave, he added it was clear that the Russian advance was not going to plan in the face of stiff Ukrainian resistance.

Heappy said the Kremlin had expected to take a slew of Ukrainian cities on day one of the invasion, while encircling Kyiv ahead of a full-scale assault.

However, so far the fighting in the capital had been confined to very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers with the main armoured columns still some way off, he added.

Read more: Putin started lying about Ukraine invasion two months ago, Russian President's ex-spokesman admits

Firefighters work by a damaged apartment building in Kyiv which was hit by shelling. (Getty)

Ukrainian servicemen look at a damaged residential building. (Reuters)

A damaged vehicle at the site of fighting with Russian troops. (Reuters)

A defiant Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky refused an American offer to evacuate despite enemy forces closing in on the capital, insisting: The fight is here.

But Heappey said the Ministry of Defence was working on plans to support a resistance movement and a government in exile if Ukraine was finally overrun.

Story continues

That is a decision for the National Security Council to take but it is something that the prime minister has asked us in the Ministry of Defence to look at and plan for, he told Sky News.

Read more: Russian troops seize Chernobyl nuclear plant amid warnings over spread of radioactive waste

Boris Johnson addressed a message directly to the people of Russia, saying in Russian: I do not believe this war is in your name.

In a video posted on social media, the prime minister also spoke Ukrainian after urging an end to the conflict because the world needs a free and sovereign Ukraine.

Watch: UK and US impose sanctions on Putin as Russia closes in on Kyiv

The UK, the US and the European Union all announced plans to impose personal sanctions on Putin and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

Heappey said Britain was still working to try to secure international agreement on the ultimate economic sanction of excluding Russia from the Swift system for international banking transfers.

Meanwhile, Scotlands external affairs secretary Angus Robertson has said Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine has no conceivable justification and will leave a permanent stain on the reputation of Putins regime.

He has written to the Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, to make clear that the Scottish government condemns the unprovoked invasion of a peaceful, democratic neighbour in the strongest possible terms.

In his letter, Robertson suggested there should be an immediate cessation of Russias aggression as he called for troops to be withdrawn from Ukraine immediately.
Be one of the first to move into Siouxlands latest subdivision Elk Creek. This new construction "1372 Duplex" with an open concept floor plan. Estimated completion in mid August by Brown Wegher Residential LLC. 2 bedroom 2 bath featuring: master suite with walk-in tile shower, main floor laundry plus mud room, quartz kitchen counters. Concrete patio off living room plus ready to finish basement. High efficiency furnace with programmable thermostat. The information provided is to be used as a guideline only. During the construction process the builder may make changes. Home Owners Association fee of $250 per month covers: lawn care (mowing, fertilizer, irrigation) snow removal plus Club House.
Dear Helaine and Joe:

We found this lamp buried in an attic closet and are guessing it once belonged to my wife's grandmother. Can you tell us who made it, when it was made and the value? It stands about 2 feet high, is extremely heavy and on the bottom it is marked "Made in France."

Thank you,

M. M.

Dear M. M.:

Lamps are meant to give light. There are table, floor and even pole lamps to illuminate a room. There are boudoir lamps to throw a little light on dressing tables. And there are even task lamps used to focus a beam on a written page or on a work project. But the lamp in today's question is none of these.

It is a newel post lamp that was used in Victorian and Edwardian homes to light the staircase to avoid falls and other misadventures. The newel post lamp was affixed to the top of the newel post, which is the column found at the foot of a staircase and used to support the railing or banister.

If the stair curved as it rose to the second floor, there might have been a newel post at the turn, and one of these lamps might have been placed there as well. On occasion, in really large houses, lamps of this kind might have been placed on posts along the railing on the upper landing. But for the most part, the lamps were used at the foot of the stairs on a post that could be very ornamental.

Sometimes newel posts were lathe turned wood, but sometimes they were hollow and could be architectural in style. For the most part, lamps started being placed on newel posts in the mid-19th century, but most of the ones collectors find today are from the late 19th century and early 20th centuries.

Early newel lamps could be fueled with various fluids, including whale oil. Later, gas, kerosene and finally electricity fueled them. The example in today's question appears to one of the later models and probably graced a newel post sometime in the early 20th century. We feel the piece is from the first quarter.

Newel post lamps often have a central figural component. They often feature neoclassical style women, cupids, Mercury or Hercules, blackamoors, gladiators, perhaps a boy with a pole over his shoulder or representations of agriculture, which describes the figure in today's question with its mustachioed man walking in a field with a rake and a basket.

Newel post lamps can be found carved from wood or cast from metal  such as brass and bronze  but a large portion of them were made from spelter or pot metal, the main component being zinc. The glass components that cover the light bulbs on this newel post lamp were probably made in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic), and the base appears to be gilded and painted spelter. And as the marking says, it was "made in France." Fair market value on the piece isprobably in the $200 to $300 range with a retail value in the neighborhood of $500 to $600.

(Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson have written a number of books on antiques. Do you have an item youd like to know more about? Contact them at Joe Rosson, 2504 Seymour Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917, or email them at treasures@knology.net. If youd like your question to be considered for their column, please include a high-resolution photo of the subject, which must be in focus, with your inquiry.)

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Whether an item is inherited, vintage or purchased decades ago, how do you refresh an outdated look? Whether a property is showing signs of age or home decor feels tired and outdated, refreshing furniture and furnishings is similar to shining an old penny. In essence, it's bringing out the best qualities of a space. When looking to refresh an older home or decor, here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Highlight hardwood

Wall-to-wall carpeting is instantly an outdated look. These days people simply prefer hardwood flooring to carpeting. If needed, pull up/remove wall-to-wall carpeting to reveal what is often unused, beautiful hardwood.

2. Paint

From dirt to fading, nothing will help refresh a space like a fresh coat of paint.

3. Lightly renovate

A light renovation can include everything from replacing faucets and door handles to new doors and lighting.

4. Refresh primary furnishings

Primary pieces such as sofas, chairs and beds can help set the tone for the rest of the decor in a space.

5. Go neutral

Looking for a modern look? Colors such a black and taupe will help give a space an edge.

6. Declutter

Rooms often feel outdated when they are overstuffed with too much furniture. Go minimal when possible for a more modern look.

7. Add mirrors

Mirrors help reflect light and go a long way to help make a space feel bright.

8. Swap out older lighting

A modern light fixture can help refresh and elevate a space.

9. Infuse brass accents

Brass remains modern and refresh. From accent pieces to accessories, it remains on trend.

10. Cut out the crystal

Crystal decor elements automatically say stuffy. Instead, opt for smoky or clear glass, ceramics and metals.

(Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.)

2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Mardi Gras revelers, accustomed to catching beads, small toys or other trinkets tossed by parade float riders during Carnival season, were able to snag a new parade favor Thursday: rapid COVID-19 tests.

As Carnival season nears its raucous pre-Lenten climax on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) next week, the handing out of tests during the Krewe of Muses parade is emblematic of the city's effort to avoid a surge of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths while reviving cherished, and economically vital, Carnival events. Those events were largely silenced in 2021 after officials realized the 2020 celebration had been a "superspreader" event that made Louisiana an early Southern hot spot for the disease.

The city health department said Wednesday that staff and volunteers would be parading at the head of Thursday night's Muses procession, some in the back of a pickup truck and some walking alongside, to hand out test kits.

Parade watchers who receive a kit will be encouraged to test themselves and use a special QR code on the package to anonymously report the results to help the health department study the effects of Carnival season on the city's health. The health department said rapid tests also would be available for several hours for people arriving at the airport on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"If we want to participate in the activities we love at Carnival, we can't let our guard down," Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the city's health director, said in a news release. "COVID is not over yet, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to prevent a repeat of the tragedies of Mardi Gras 2020."

Carnival revelry is already being tempered by several restrictions: Entry into bars, restaurants and numerous other indoor venues requires both a mask and proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. Float riders in city parades are required to be vaccinated.

Visitors are returning for this year's celebration, if not in numbers from years past. Tourism officials say about 89% of the 26,000 hotel rooms in downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter will be filled Saturday, down from nearly 98% for the same Saturday in 2020.

How strictly will the mandates be enforced? While businesses that run afoul of the requirements run the risk of sanctions, "There are no mask police," city spokesman Beau Tidwell said at a news conference this week, emphasizing the need for cooperation by residents and visitors.

Tidwell found himself having to defend Mayor LaToya Cantrell amid social media criticism over pictures of her and other city leaders, sometimes without masks, at a Carnival ball. Tidwell said Cantrell removed her mask for pictures and to eat and drink, but acknowledged "we need to do a better job of modeling the expected behavior."

The city says 77% of the total population and 96% of its adult population is partially vaccinated, while 67% of the total population, and 85% of the adult population, is fully vaccinated.

Muses is among a group of "super krewes" with the largest and most elaborate high-tech floats. The all-female group's signature parade handouts are glittery, hand-decorated high-heeled shoes. The parade is one of nearly two dozen that are set to roll in the city Thursday through Tuesday.
Recently, four brave-hearted students displayed their confidence and aptitude to go off-script as they pursued the highest royal distinctions on campus. CCC Tigers Kanitria Taylor, of Shelby, Miss., and Stephan Washington, of Clarksdale, Miss., walked away as Mr. and Miss Coahoma Community College 2022-2023.

Although only two winners could be chosen, each participant splendidly stunned the audience. The much-anticipated pageant, which wasnt held in 2020 and 2021, made a remarkable comeback and consisted of multiple categories: talent, lifestyle and fitness, evening wear, and on-stage question. Before the high-energy competition, each candidate had a private interview with the competitions five-judge panel.

In the talent round, Kanitria Taylor, a biology major, dedicated to a deceased loved one a poem written by Maya Angelou, When Great Trees Fall. Taylor, who was also selected as a Student Ambassador for Coahoma, competed against Clarksdale native Dejah Fondren, a general education major and Dancing Jewel of the Marching Maroon Typhoon majorette line. For the Q&A round, the newly named Miss CCC 2022-2023, who captivated the room in a red sparkling gown, explained her platform.

The platform I chose, Aspiring Women, deals with the typical stereotype of what a womans job is supposed to be, said Taylor. Myself, in the multiple jobs Ive had, its always a man doing this and doing that, but I feel like its okay to do a mans job.

Taylor hailed the current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as a superhero she would like to become to bring change in the oratorical component.

Stephan Washington, an insurance and real estate major, contested against Jaivian Hughes of Greenville, Miss. Hughes is a culinary arts/hospitality management major and also serves as the chief of staff in the Student Government Association. Washington soulfully sang a heartfelt rendition of I Love You Lord Today for the talent round.

During the concluding Q&A round, the winning male candidate spoke on reasons he chose to enter the running for Mr. CCC.

Coahoma has given me guidance, he shared. Before I came here, I wasnt full of ambition. The soon-to-be campus king went on to say that he now has three jobs as opposed to having just one before attending CCC. He also elaborated on superhero Professor Charles Xavier in the preliminary oratorical competition; Washington explained that he would utilize the superheros ability of mind control to wipe out judgment of others.
SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man who pistol whipped a woman on two separate occasions has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a number of crimes.

Alexio Cariaga, 22, pleaded guilty Feb. 14 in Woodbury County District Court to two counts each of felon in possession of a firearm and domestic abuse assault -- third offense and a single count of possession of a firearm by a domestic abuser.

District Judge Roger Sailer on Feb. 18 sentenced him to 15 years in prison for those charges and another five after revoking his probation from a January 2021 conviction of second-degree theft and eluding. Cariaga must serve three years before he's eligible for parole.

Robbery, burglary and assault charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

According to court documents, Cariaga went to his girlfriend's aunt's house on Aug. 17 and demanded she give him money before he put a gun to the back of her head and hit her in the head twice with it. He left after she gave him the money.

On Aug. 19, Cariaga went to a home in the 1600 block of 27th Street to see the woman and kicked in the back door. The woman was there with a male friend, and Cariaga pistol whipped them both in the head with a handgun, causing a gash on the woman's head.

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These are the 7 senators likely to decide whether Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson wins confirmation to the Supreme Court.
OMAHA -- An Illinois man sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed a 32-year-old woman in Council Bluffs in 1982, Council Bluffs police announced Friday as they closed a cold case.

Thanks to advancements in DNA and genetic genealogy technology, the case now has been deemed solved, although questions remain.

The body of Lee Rotatori was found on June 25, 1982, in her room at the Best Western Frontier Hotel in Council Bluffs. She died from a stab wound. She also had been sexually assaulted.

Rotatori, who lived in Nunica, Michigan, had arrived in the city to look for a place to live before her job at Jennie Edmundson Hospital began. She did not show up for her first day of work on June 25, 1982, which prompted her boss to ask the hotel staff to look for her.

Authorities in 1982 were not able to identify any suspects in her slaying.

By 2001, the evidence that had been collected at the crime scene was resubmitted to the State of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation lab, police said. While the examination showed that a male profile was present, state and federal databases revealed no matches.

Police said the lab periodically checked the DNA in the next decades, but never found a match.

Council Bluffs investigators then shared the DNA profile in April 2019 with Parabon Nanolabs for a genetic genealogy case. By February 2021, researchers with Parabon and ES Genealogy determined that the DNA of Thomas O. Freeman, a resident of West Frankfort, Illinois, matched the sample found at the scene.

The Iowa DCI lab analyzed a sample of Freeman's daughter's DNA and "confirmed that there was a parent/child relationship between the DNA found at the scene of Rotatori's murder and Freeman's daughter," police said.

Thomas Freeman's decomposed body was found on Oct. 30, 1982, buried in a shallow grave near Cobden, Illinois. Investigators think he was fatally shot three months before his body was found.

Freeman, who was 35 years old when he died, had been shot multiple times.

His killer never has been identified, but Council Bluffs investigators are working with Illinois State Police to see whether his slaying was linked to Rotatori's killing.

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Darrel Parker died Sunday, 66 years after his wrongful conviction for killing his wife on a snowy December day in Lincoln.

And 52 years after his parole from the State Penitentiary.

And 31 years after receiving a pardon.

And a decade after getting what hed fought for most of his adult life  an apology from the state, and a formal admission of his innocence.

"You never give up hope, you never give up hope," Parker, then 80, said during an emotional news conference at the Capitol. I tell people, Now I can die in peace.

He was joined that day by then-Attorney General Jon Bruning, who announced the state was paying Parker $500,000  the maximum allowed by law  and ending his wrongful conviction and imprisonment lawsuit.

"It became crystal-clear that Mr. Parker is innocent," Bruning said. "This was the most important thing I could do as attorney general, to right this wrong."

The moment marked a symbolic end to a saga that had started Dec. 14, 1955, inside the Parkers' small, city-owned house in Antelope Park.

Parker, the citys first forester, returned home for lunch to find his wifes beaten, bound and strangled body. Nancy Parker had developed recipes for Goochs flour and noodles and hosted a cooking show on Channels 10/11. She had been addressing Christmas cards when he left for work that morning.

Police picked up and released a well-known con. Then, days after Nancy Parker was buried, they interrogated Parker in a windowless room until he confessed.

He recanted the next day, maintaining for the rest of his life hed been psychologically tortured, even drugged, to admit to a crime he didnt commit.

The state would ultimately acknowledge that, but not before Parker spent 15 years in prison, argued his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, received parole in 1970 and a pardon in 1991.

By then, hed remarried  Ele  and rebuilt his life in Moline, Illinois, working his way up to supervisor with the parks department, retiring from there, and taking a job with a law firm.

He continued to try to clear his name. He hoped DNA testing would help, but he learned much of the evidence  including hair and semen samples recovered from the crime scene  had disappeared.

His case got a boost in 2010, when Lincoln native and Colorado author David Strauss published Barbarous Souls, an investigation of the crime, Parkers conviction and his fight for exoneration.

A year later, Lincoln attorneys Herb and Dan Friedman took up his case with a $500,000 lawsuit against the state under its then-recent wrongful conviction and imprisonment law.

And a year after that, Nebraskas attorney general offered his apology.

Parker accepted it. "It can't possibly make up for all those years," he said, adding: "I'm not bitter. I'm not built that way."

Playing a role in clearing Parkers name was Dan Friedmans proudest moment in his legal career  the most consequential accomplishment as a lawyer, he said Tuesday.

To represent somebody who had been waiting 50 years for public justice and to know we brought the state of Nebraska to its knees and caused a wake-up moment, that was pretty humbling, he said.

Friedman stayed in touch with his client, years after the case was over.

So did Strauss, the Colorado author. The two became friends, and Strauss would take Parker on trips across the country  to Parkers childhood home in northwestern Iowa, to watch the leaves turn in New England, to the Colorado mountains.

Parker didnt dwell on the past, but Strauss could sense  despite the exoneration and payment  his friend remained haunted by the coerced confession that put him in prison for 15 years and cast a shadow over his name.

It still bothered him, Im sure, up to the end, Strauss said Tuesday.

On one of their trips, the two ended up in Lincoln. Parker asked Strauss to drive him to the penitentiary, where it all began in 1956. When they got there, he didnt recognize it.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or psalter@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSPeterSalter

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Why is Russian President Vladimir Putin so obsessed with Ukraine?

That's the question on many minds as Russia's invasion of the former Soviet republic continues.

The answer involves a mix of history, geography, and Putin's desire to return his country to the glory days of Soviet Union superpower.

The pandemic, mass shootings, natural disasters, terror attacks. There's been plenty of tragedy and anxiety for parents to sort through with their kids. Add Russia's escalating invasion of Ukraine to the list.

With events rapidly unfolding on TV and across social media, child development experts urge parents to check in with children of all ages but not to worry if those conversations are brief.

Associated Press journalists around Ukraine and beyond are documenting military activity during Russia's invasion. With disinformation rife and social media amplifying military claims and counterclaims, determining exactly what is happening is difficult. Heres a look at what could be confirmed Friday.

Here's a roundup of other reports today

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In 1938, a British engineer and amateur meteorologist made a discovery that set off a fierce debate about climate change.

Scientists had known for decades that carbon dioxide could trap heat and warm the planet. But Guy Callendar was the first to connect human activities to global warming.

He showed that land temperatures had increased over the previous half-century, and he theorized that people were unwittingly raising Earths temperature by burning fossil fuels in furnaces, factories and even his beloved motorcycles.

When Callendar published his findings, it set off a firestorm. The scientific establishment saw him as an outsider and a bit of a meddling gentleman scientist. But, he was right.

His theory became widely known as the Callendar Effect. Today, its known as global warming. Callendar defended his theory until his death in 1964, increasingly bewildered that the science met such resistance from those who did not understand it.

Building on over a century of climate science

A theoretical basis for climate change had been developed over the 114 years leading up to Callendars research.

Scientists including Joseph Fourier, Eunice Foote, John Tyndall and Svante Arrhenius had developed an understanding of how water vapor in the Earths atmosphere trapped heat, noted that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also absorbed large quantities of heat and speculated about how increasing fossil fuel use could raise Earths temperature and change the climate.

However, these scientists spoke only of future possibilities. Callendar showed global warming was already happening.

An engineer runs his own climate experiments

Callendar received a certificate in mechanics and mathematics from City and Guilds College, London, in 1922 and went to work for his father, a well-known British physicist. The two shared interests in physics, motorcycles, racing and meteorology.

Callendar would later join the U.K. Ministry of Supply in armament research during World War II and continued to conduct war-related research at Langhurst, a secret research facility, after the war.

But his climate change work was done on his own time. Callendar kept journals with detailed weather data, including carbon dioxide levels and temperature. In an innovative paper published in 1938, he claimed there was an increase in mean temperature, due to the artificial production of carbon dioxide.

He averaged diverse sets of temperature data from all over the world, primarily using the Smithsonian publication World Weather Records, and derived global average temperatures that track very well with current estimates of the average temperatures of the time.

He also calculated how much carbon dioxide humans were putting into the atmosphere  the annual net human addition. In 1938, it was about 4.3 billion tons, which compares well with current estimates for that year of about 4.2 billion tons. Note that global carbon dioxide emissions in 2018 were about 36 billion tons.

Gathering published data on carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, Callendar created a graph correlating temperature increases over time with increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

What Callendar discovered

Perhaps most importantly, Callendar recognized that new data on the heat absorption of carbon dioxide at wavelengths different from that of water vapor meant that adding carbon dioxide would trap more heat than water vapor alone.

In the period before Callendars paper, key scientists thought the huge volume of water vapor in the atmosphere, one of the greenhouse gases that keep Earth warm, would dwarf any contribution by carbon dioxide to Earths heat balance. However, heat is radiated out to space as waves, with a range of wavelengths, and water vapor absorbs only some of those wavelengths. Callendar knew that recent, more precise absorption data showed that carbon dioxide absorbed heat at wavelengths that water missed.

Callendar also considered different layers in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide concentrates at a higher altitude in the atmosphere than water vapor. Atmospheric water vapor evaporates and then precipitates out of the atmosphere as rain or snow, but adding carbon dioxide severely upsets Earths energy balance because it stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. Carbon dioxide forms a heat-trapping layer high in the atmosphere, absorbing heat that radiates upward from Earths surface and then emitting it back towards Earths surface. Callendars paper provided insight into this mechanism.

After Callendar published his paper, global warming caused by human activities generating carbon dioxide was widely referred to as the Callendar Effect.

[Over 140,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletters to understand the world. Sign up today.]

However, his 1938 view was limited. Callendar did not foresee the magnitude of temperature rise that the world now faces, or the danger. He actually speculated that by burning carbon we might forestall the return of the deadly glaciers.

His paper projected a 0.39 degree Celsius temperature rise by the 21st century. The world today is already 1.2 C (2.2 F) warmer than before the industrial era  three times the magnitude of the effect Callendar predicted.

Backlash to the human connection

The Callendar Effect faced immediate resistance. Comments of initial reviewers questioned his data and methods.

The debate Callendar ignited continued through the rest of the 20th century. Temperature and carbon dioxide data, meanwhile, accumulated.

By the late 20th century, reviews of climate science held stark warnings about the path the world was on as humans continued to burn fossil fuels. The debate Callendar triggered is long since over.

Scientists from around the world, brought together by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization, have been reviewing the research and evidence since 1990. Their reports confirm: The science is clear about humans role in climate change. The danger is real and the effects of climate change are already evident all around us.

Neil Anderson, a retired chemical engineer and chemistry teacher, contributed to this article.

Sylvia G. Dee receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!)

Dear Prudence,

In the early 2000s, when I was in high school, there was another girl who was my arch-nemesis. We said catty, mean things to each other, and even had a physical altercation or twoand then we graduated and never spoke again.

Were not friends on social mediasome snooping indicates that Im blockedbut over the past couple of years, Ive been getting messages from other people we went to school with about the rants she posts about me, and how I bullied her, including some things that never happened.

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I havent thought much about this person in two decades, but I get a thought-you-should-know message with a screenshot of a rambling post about every two months. Ive gathered from others that things havent been easy for her: There are a lot of posts about abusive relationships, mental illness, and poverty, but I think its really creepy for a woman her age to be so hung up on some drama from high school, particularly when in retrospect, it seems like typical high school girl nonsense.

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I have no interest in speaking with this woman, but should I do something about this? Is there anything I can do? Or should I just say huh, thats weird when someone sends me a screenshot and leave it at that?

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 This Is Creepy, Right?

Dear Creepy,

This is indeed creepy, and youve done everything right by steering clear of her and not giving her too much thought. The only other thing I would suggest would be to politely but firmly ask every friend who sends you a screenshot to refrain from doing that ever again.

Dear Prudence,

My best friend, I just learned, has a crush on mewhich is fine, I guess, only I dont like him. Even worse, there was a secret admirer note yesterday, and he got so jealous, annoyed, touchy, and generally overprotective that I got annoyed. I asked him why, and he said You know why, which was annoying, making it sound like we were automatically a couple, or something. I feel like hes kind of restricting, almost, because I actually have a crush on another guy, and were not dating or anything. Sometimes I hate him. The worst part is that hes nice, most of the time, because nice people are harder to tell off than mean ones. My friends say I should ask him to back off, but I know that he cant handle it as hes annoyingly sensitive.

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 Hate Handling Him

Dear Hate Handling,

Your friends are right. Listen to them! Hes being possessive and annoying, and you owe it to yourself to tell him how it affects you and ask him to stop. You say he cant handle being asked to back off, but the truth is, hes not handling the current situation well either. So, lets choose the option that doesnt involve you being antagonized by a guy who cant manage his own feelings.

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Get Dear Prudence in Your Inbox We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Dear Prudence,

Im a 63-year-old single woman. My last boyfriend died years ago, and I havent been in a relationship since. But Im happy with my life. Yesterday I Googled an old boyfriend, something I do occasionally. I think of him as the one who got away, and have a fantasy of reconnecting with him. I never reach out in any other way. And I found his obituary. He died last month.

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I am really sad about this. Not so much because now that reconnection will never happen, I know that was a fantasy. But I think he was a really special person. One of the good guys. And I am sorry that he is gone. According to the obituary, his only survivors were an aunt and some cousins. This adds to my feelings, because I know he wanted to find happiness with someone, and would have been a great partner. I always hoped he was doing that.

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How do I deal with my sadness and sense of loss?

 Too Sad

Dear Too Sad,

Im so sorry for your loss and for what feels like the loss of an opportunity to reconnect. You definitely have a lot to mourn here. I would do three things: First, take the opportunity to talk about him with others who knew him when you did, or even your friends who never had a chance to meet him. Second, do something to honor his memory. Maybe thats doing an activity he loved, or donating to a cause that was special to him or something that reminds you of the way he lived. Finally, take some time to think about and write down the qualities you admired so much in him. It sounds like at least part of you may be ready to start thinking about a new relationship, and things you loved about him can serve as a roadmap to choosing someone who is another one of the good guys and who you think is equally special.

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Catch up on this weeks Prudie.

More Advice From How to Do It

Im 14 years old, and my parents just found out Im gay. My mom was listening at my door when I was Zooming with my boyfriend. She heard me tell him that I love him. So now Im trapped with my parents who are telling me that being gay is disgusting and an insult to a god I dont even believe in. I knew coming out to them would be hard, but I didnt expect to be trapped with them after it happened. I feel like you guys give good, levelheaded advice, and honestly I wish you were my parents instead. Do you have any advice on getting through the next couple of months without me going crazy?
Trayvon Martin would be 27 this year had he not been gunned down on Feb. 26, 2012, just a few weeks after his 17th birthday. Martin, who was unarmed, was shot and killed by a self-appointed neighborhood watchman who notoriously disregarded a 911 dispatchers instructions not to pursue the suspicious teen.

Its been 10 years since Martins death. In the intervening years, numerous unarmed Black people have been killed by armed citizens as well as the police. Sometimes the killers are charged and prosecuted for their actions, resulting in a handful of convictions. Most recently, when Gregory and Travis McMichael and William Bryan were found guilty for murdering Ahmaud Arbery, the media celebrated their convictions as signs of racial progress. Guilty Verdict for Ahmaud Arberys Killers Is a Welcome Sign of Progress, read one headline in the Undefeated. When, a few months later, a jury found the McMichaels guilty of a federal hate crime, confirming that racial animus motivated the killing, the media cheered again. Civil Rights Leaders Called the Verdict a Victory for Racial Justice, according to the New York Times

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While it may be tempting to believebecause of a few favorable outcomes in courtthat the country has made significant progress in preventing and prosecuting these kinds of senseless killings, the truth is much more bleak. The legal and ethical foundations of racial injustice and violence are as intractable as ever. In fact, the legal proceedings surrounding Arberys murder revealed a startling, ever-shifting legal landscape that encourages armed assailants to invoke self-defense as a means to absolve their lethal aggression. Often, their white supremacist motives are camouflaged by appeals to public safety, threats of rising crime, and personal vulnerability.

It is no coincidence then, following the rise of the Movement for Black Lives after Martins killing a decade ago, that more states have adopted or expanded stand your ground laws, which extend the boundaries of justifiable self-defense from the home to any public place. Proponents say these laws help to keep us all safer. But in reality, they have had the opposite effect.

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George Zimmermans acquittal on the charge of Martins murder in 2013 revealed one such pathway through which acts of vigilante violence could be justified as innocent, or even virtuous. Originally passed in 2005, Floridas stand your ground law served as a model for 23 other states, including Georgia, by the time Martin was killed. Although it was not directly cited in court, the law facilitated Zimmermans exoneration by making it nearly impossible to prosecute someone who claimed to have been in fear for his life during a lethal encounter, even if he provoked it.

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In courtrooms where the defendant is the only living witness, the invocation of reasonable fearfear that appears reasonable to the juryeffectively reverses the roles of victim and perpetrator, often ensuring white or white-passing defendants a seamless journey out of legal trouble (Zimmerman is Latino; his light skinned appearance proved exonerating). Research illuminates the laws racial disparities. According to a 2013 study by the Urban Institute, homicides with a white perpetrator and a black victim are ten times more likely to be ruled justified than cases with a black perpetrator and a white victim. In states where stand your ground laws exist, the racial gap is much starker: Cases with white perpetrator and a black victim are 281 percent more likely to be ruled justified than cases with a white perpetrator and white victim.

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The very movement aimed at addressing these disparities has been met by an increase in white supremacist violence. Following Zimmermans exoneration, activists and organizers rallied around the phrase Black Lives Matter. The Movement for Black Lives condemns the pernicious ideas that led to Martin and Arberys executions: that Black people do not have a right to move freely in public and that their deaths are unworthy of legal justice. Key to the movement is the artful and insistent occupation of public space, the persistent shaming of a nation that continues to treat Black and brown people as threatening and disposable. As the movement gained momentum, the laws governing self-defense continued to expand, inviting more citizens into the fold of armed vigilantism.

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As momentum and public support for racial justice grew, states moved to amend the legal terms of self-defense in ways that authorized white aggression while further obfuscating the laws racial biases.

Take, for example, a 2017 law in Florida that flipped the burden of proof in self-defense cases from the defense to prosecution. Other states, like Alabama and Kentucky, have used similar tactics to determine which party is at fault. The change required the prosecution to prove that a defendant who used deadly force behaved unreasonably, a tall order if the only other witness is dead. This shiftcombined with a defendants Fifth Amendment right to remain silentcan make homicide cases impossible to prove, especially when a white defendant has killed a nonwhite person.

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We saw these dynamics play out in the case of Gardner Fraser, a white man who killed his former lover, Dominic Broadus, in 2018. Fraser disappeared Broadus cellphone, making it difficult to prove that he was not in fear for his life when he shot the unarmed Black man at close range. Under Florida law, a single judge can grant a defendant unilateral immunity, thus preventing a jury from ever hearing the case or assessing the evidence, adding yet another high hurdle to justice. Fraser was never charged for the killing. He was charged and convicted of tampering with evidence, for which he was sentenced to one year in jail.

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It gets worse. At each turn, demonstrations against the killing of unarmed Black people have been met with laws that incentivize, and legally justify, more violence. In 2020, the country erupted into protests following the devastating police execution of George Floyd. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned demonstrators as rioters and called for their incarceration. To achieve his goal of criminalizing protesters, DeSantis subsequently introduced a bill titled Combatting Public Disorder, which he hailed as the strongest anti-rioting, prolaw enforcement piece of legislation in the country. Passed in April, the law exonerates motorists who target protesters impeding traffic, justifying vehicular violence with appeals to reasonable fear that mimic the tortured logic of stand your ground laws.

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Several states have copied Floridas sweeping anti-protest statute, enabling drivers to avoid prosecution when they drive into crowds of demonstrators, whom the laws characterize as threats to public safety. An Iowa law, for example, provides specific immunity for drivers who strike disorderly protesters who block public roadways. Some of the legislation also allows demonstrators to be charged with felonies during the commission of a riot, a term so broadly defined that it includes simply being present at a protest. For example, a bill pending in New Jersey would criminalize protesters as rioters if they endanger the safe movement of a vehicle traveling on a public street, highway, or road.

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The fate of these laws is yet unsettled, however. Floridas anti-riot law was blocked in the states northern federal district court in September, citing a violation of the First Amendment rights to assemble and to free speech, and a14th Amendment right to due process. Since the state contains three federal district courts, two of which have yet to contest it, the anti-protest law still reigns throughout most of Florida. DeSantis remains confident the ruling will be overturned on appeal.

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While these and other state laws appeal to widely held notions of public order and safety, they have served to shield perpetrators of violence from prosecution. According to a national study by the Boston Globe, of the 139 instances of vehicular violence between May 25, 2020the date of George Floyds killingand Sept. 30, 2021, at least 100 protesters were injured and three were killed when struck by cars. The drivers faced charges in only 65 of those incidents, with less than half facing felony charges. Just as stand your ground laws invite armed citizens to shoot first, ask questions later, this anti-rioting legislation invites lethal aggression from drivers enraged by public demonstrations for racial justice. Under our new legal landscape, the aggrieved drivers can (and often do) avoid criminal or civil penalties by claiming that they felt threatened by rioters blocking traffic.

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By design, the racial implications of these legal innovations arent readily obvious. When the Florida Legislature initially enacted stand your ground laws in 2005, the justification they used, which is still contained in the preamble, provides no person or victim of crime should be required to surrender his or her personal safety to a criminal, nor should a person or victim be required to needlessly retreat in the face of intrusion or attack. Despite the existing research revealing the deep race and gender inequity of stand your ground laws, states continue to adopt them based on the faulty logic that they empower law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.

But these appeals to public safety ring hollow. Stand your ground Laws have consistently been shown to increase the rate of homicides. In one recent study, researchers examined homicide rates in 41 states with stand your ground laws enacted between 2000 and 2016. They found, on average, an 8-to-11 percent increase in monthly rates of homicide and firearm homicide in states with such laws. The outcomes were worse in Southern states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana, where the increased rate of killings reached 10 percent or higher. A 2019 review of stand your ground laws by the RAND Corporation also found a correlation between these laws and increased homicide rates, noting that subsequent studies show that the laws do not actually prevent violent crime, despite politicians claims otherwise.

We can draw a straight line from Martins killing a decade ago and the rise of the movement for Black lives to widespread feelings of grievance among select citizens incentivized to take matters of justice into their own hands. In their eyes, the demand for Black lives to matter is racist against white people, and an assault against American values. A full decade after Martins untimely death, after countless protests in defense of Black lives, after continued high-profile killings of unarmed Black people with only infrequent guilty verdicts for the perpetrators, and after the proliferation of laws allegedly aimed at increasing public safety, we are no more safe as a nation. In fact, as Slates Dahlia Lithwick pointed out on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, 2021 was a banner year for violent vigilantism. The occasional guilty verdict is hardly a sign of racial progress, and our already tenuous grip on justice is slipping.

In the words of Sybrina Fulton, Martins mother, Trayvon Martin is a symbol for other Trayvon Martins that you dont know, that you have not said their name.  He was just a vessel that represents so many others.
In a late Friday afternoon filing as war raged in Ukraine and as President Joe Biden announced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court, North Carolina Republicans dropped their own bombshell: a legal filing in the Supreme Court that if successful would not only restore the state legislatures ability to engage in partisan gerrymandering and perhaps tip control of Congress, but would radically alter the power of state courts to rein in state legislatures that violate voting rights in federal elections. There are strong arguments Republicans should lose this case, but dont count them out before a polarized and politicized Supreme Court.

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A few years ago, in a case called Rucho v. Common Cause, the U.S. Supreme Court shut the federal courthouse door to partisan gerrymandering claimsclaims that political parties drawing maps for electing members of Congress or state legislative bodies manipulated those maps purely for partisan gain. The Rucho court majority opinion by Chief Justice Roberts explained that there were other paths for reining in this conduct, including Congress passing legislation (as the Freedom to Vote Act would have done), the creation of independent commissions, and state courts. Indeed, the court noted: Provisions in state statutes and state constitutions can provide standards and guidance for state courts to apply in policing nefarious redistricting practices.

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And thats exactly what happened in North Carolina. The state Supreme Court recently held that the North Carolina Republican-controlled legislatures gerrymandering of congressional and other districts was a partisan gerrymander grossly favoring Republicans, thus violating the state constitutions provisions guaranteeing free elections. This ruling was going to lead to a much fairer map in a state that is mostly evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

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Now the Republican-dominated General Assembly has struck back, raising whats come to be known as the independent state legislature theory. This move was something I feared would happen weeks ago as Republicans were running out of options. Theyve argued in a new filing before the Supreme Court that the North Carolina Supreme Court does not have the power even in reliance on the state constitution and despite Rucho to rein in partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts when done by a state legislature.

As I explained about the independent state legislature theory last year in Slate:

Article II of the Constitution of the United States provides that state legislatures get to set the manner for choosing presidential electors. Similarly, Article I, section 4 gives the state legislature the power to set the time, place, and manner for conducting congressional elections, subject to congressional override. In practice, these clauses have been understood as allowing the legislature to set the ground rules for conducting the election, which are then subject to normal state processes: election administrators fix the details for administering the vote, state courts interpret the meaning of state election rules, and sometimes judges and officials decide when state rules violate state constitutional rights to vote. For example, in the run-up to the 2020 election, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided that a state law requiring that mail-in ballots must arrive by Election Day to count violated the state constitutions provisions protecting voting rights in light of the election being conducted during the pandemic. It extended the receipt of ballots by three days. Republicans challenged that extension, arguing that the U.S. Constitution makes the legislature supreme, even if the state legislature would otherwise be violating the state constitution as determined by the state supreme court. This is the independent state legislature doctrine because it proposes that the legislature is supreme against all other actors that might run elections. This is a wacky theory of legislative power, but it is one that four Supreme Court justices (Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas) expressed support for in various opinions during the 2020 elections, and it echoes an alternative argument that former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, joined by Justice Thomas and former Justice Antonin Scalia, made in the Bush v. Gore case ending the 2000 election and handing victory to Republican George W. Bush. Justice Alito thought enough of the argument in the 2020 Pennsylvania case to order ballots arriving in Pennsylvania in the three days after Election Day to be set aside for possible exclusion from the count. Fortunately, there were only about 10,000 such ballots, and they did not determine the outcome of the presidential race (Biden won there by about 80,000 votes.)

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Although those arguments were in the context of a state court applying a state constitution to deal with presidential election rules in supposed violation of Article II, in the North Carolina case we see the parallel argument in relation to Article I, section 4.

The Supreme Court accepting North Carolinas argument would lead to some horrible consequences. First, it would neuter state courts abilities to rein in partisan gerrymandering, further undermining democratic representation. Second, the Supreme Court would be acting in a way that could tip control of Congress to Republicans.

But most importantly, siding with North Carolina could profoundly alter the balance of power between state courts and state legislatures. It could essentially neuter the ability of state courts to protect voters under provisions of state constitutions against infringement of their rights. This would apply not only to redistricting but to laws restricting registration and voting practices. It would allow hostile legislature to run roughshod over legislative rights. It could lead to major voter suppression policed by neither state courts nor federal courts, given the Supreme Courts shrinking of the federal Voting Rights Acts protections.

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Now there are some good reasons to believe that the Supreme Court wont bite in this case. First, this ruling would not only be in tension with Ruchos recognition of state courts applying state constitutions as a means of policing partisan gerrymandering, which five conservative jurists signed onto just three years ago. It is also in tension with a 2015 case in which the Supreme Court upheld the right of the people acting through voter initiatives to take the power to draw congressional districts out of the hands of legislatures and put it in the hands of an independent commission. (Chief Justice Roberts wrote a bitter dissent for four justices in that case, and he could be itching to overturn it now that some of the justices in the majority in that case are no longer on the court).

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An even stronger reason for believing that the North Carolina argument is weak in this case is that it was the state legislature itself that proposed the provision in the 1970 constitution guaranteeing these voting rights for North Carolina voters, which have now been interpreted by the state supreme court to ban partisan gerrymandering. As North Carolina elections guru Gerry Cohen explained, Unlike the North Carolina Constitutions of 1776 and 1868 which were promulgated by independent conventions, the 1970 state constitution was enacted by the General Assembly. How can the state supreme court have usurped the legislatures power when the legislature itself brought this provision into the state constitution, knowing full well that the state constitution is interpreted by the state Supreme Court?

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The independent state legislature theory is also wrong on the merits. As leading constitutional scholars Vikram Amar and Akhil Amar explain in a forthcoming paper, claims of unfettered power of state legislatures in federal elections are:

as an originalist matter, not just lawlessthat is, not grounded in the lawbut actually law-defying. They stand lawful federalism on its head. The theory invokes constitutional provisions designed to protect states against federal interference (including interference from federal courts) and instead uses these provisions to disrespect both the wishes of the state peoples who create, empower, and limit their legislatures, and also the wishes of the elected legislatures themselves. The theory gives near carte blanche to federal judges, when the key point of Article IIs election language (and the companion language of Article I) was to empower states.

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And theres yet another reason North Carolina should lose. In recent years the Supreme Court has relentlessly applied something Ive dubbed the Purcell Principle: the idea that federal courts should not interfere with election processes when they are already underway because doing so could cause voter and election administrator confusion. Well, stopping things now in North Carolina would cause exactly the same thing. As Cohen tells me: Candidate filing under the NC court ordered plan started yesterday. Two of the seven days of candidate filing has been completed. The state board of elections has updated all 8 million voter records with the new districts. Absentee ballots are to go out March 28 under the court plan for the May 17 primary. As recently as this month, Brett Kavanaugh cited the Purcell Principle to block a state courts ruling in another gerrymandering case based on a similar timeline and under much more dubious circumstances.

If the conservative supermajority of the Supreme Court applies the law fairly, North Carolinas argument should be dead in the water. But these days, thats a big if.
This piece was originally published on the Russia File, a blog of the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center.

For the first time in my 25-year career as a journalist, I broke down in tears at the news.

Its not that I hadnt been expecting Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Over the past weeks and months, I suspended disbelief as Russia assembled a giant attack force surrounding Ukraine. Putin first took an entire nation hostage, then issued the impossible demand that the United States disavow Ukraines NATO membership once and for all.

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Having covered Putin since his first term in office, I knew better than to underestimate his brazenness.

When Putin finally declared war in a bilious, paranoid speech early Thursday morning, I was shocked but not awed. The tears came later, when I was scrolling through my phone and came across a picture of a Ukrainian military plane that had crashed outside Kyiv, killing five people. That single incident  in a conflict that has cost more than 14,000 lives since 2014  hit me like a sledgehammer to the face. Suddenly, the tension I had been living with for weeks exploded.

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I moved to Washington with my family in August after spending almost five years as National Public Radios correspondent in Moscow. During that time, Russia turned into a dark place, where political dissent is silenced with billy clubs and prison sentences.

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Relations with the West were in a disastrous state after the Kremlin practically ruptured ties with the European Union and hobbled the work of the U.S. embassy in Moscow so much that it had to stop issuing visas.

My wife, who is from Moscow, met me with tears before breakfast. Her mother is Russian, her stepfather, Ukrainian. Following Putins fateful decision to escalate his war against Ukraine overnight, her parents woke up in a pariah state.

My connection to Russia and Ukraine is not only through family. I grew up in rural Illinois both terrified and fascinated by the Soviet Union. I studied Russian in college and visited Moscow as a student in 1991, the last year of the Soviet Unions existence. The Russians I met were euphoric about their new freedoms and the prospect of peace with the West after the Cold War.

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In November 2003, as Putin began a slow but methodical crackdown on his domestic opponents, I moved to Moscow as a journalist. A little more than a year later, I made my first visit to Ukraine in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution, Ukrainians peaceful protest that succeeded in overturning a rigged election that had handed the countrys presidency to Putins favored candidate, Viktor Yanukovych. I will never forget the palpable feeling of liberation on the winter streets of Kyiv  an irrepressible expression of joy, hope and empowerment that people wore on their faces. Taking night trains, I crisscrossed Ukraine from north to south, west to east, excited to discover a new country. Living in Moscow, I often returned to Kyiv, a one-hour flight away, to enjoy its easygoing European joie de vivre, which distinguished it from the hard-driving Russian capital.

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Putin, convinced that the Orange Revolution was a foreign plot to tear Ukraine from the Kremlins orbit, could not forgive Ukrainians for their desire to align their country closer with the West. Putins aggression began with periodic stoppages of natural-gas deliveries to Ukraine. As a reporter, I spent several New Years Eves with my laptop next to the Champagne as midnight approached.

In 2010, Putin found vindication when Yanukovych won a close presidential election against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, one of the heroes of the Orange Revolution. Almost immediately, Yanukovych extended Russias lease on its Black Sea Fleet base in Crimea until 2042 in return for a huge discount on natural gas.

But when Putin pressured Yanukovych to back out of a cooperation agreement with the European Union in 2013, Ukrainians again took to Kyivs main square, the Maidan, to protest. After a massacre of demonstrators in February 2014, the last of Yanukovychs support evaporated, and he fled to Russia. Days later, Russian special forces occupied Crimea. Within months, Russian agents fomented a violent uprising in eastern Ukraine designed to cripple Ukrainians EU aspirations.

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By that time I had relocated to Berlin, but I rushed back to Ukraine. I was in Crimea when the first Russian troops started fanning out across the peninsula, and I covered the creation of two fake separatist republics in eastern Ukraine fueled by a very real nostalgia for the Soviet Unions economic security  and an endless barrage of propaganda from Kremlin media.

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It was important for me personally to bear witness to Putins unprovoked attack on Ukraine in 2014. I saw with my own eyes how the Kremlin lied about the presence of Russian troops on Ukrainian soil and branded Ukrainian patriots neo-Nazis intent on stamping out the Russian language. In fact, all the pro-Ukrainian locals I met in eastern Ukraine  and most people in Kyiv  spoke Russian as their language of choice.

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The struggle for Ukraine is not about Russian language or culture. For Ukrainians, it is the civilizational choice between bowing to a foreign dictatorship or building a European democracy.

For Putin, it means much more than the seizure of territory but the defense of his regime. He wants Ukraine to serve as much as a military as a political buffer zone to shield Russians from the deleterious effects of Western democracy on his rule. Putins advantage is the certainty that NATO will not intervene militarily on Ukraines behalf.

After 2014, I believed Putin would use the simmering, low-level war in eastern Ukraine as a way to apply pressure on Kyiv as needed. I assumed that he would only choose all-out war in Ukraine if he felt he was threatened by outside forces in the Gotterdammerung of his regime.

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I was wrong. Having jailed his loudest opponent, Alexei Navalny, and driven the rest of his critics into their kitchens or exile, Putin feels stronger than ever. After two years of isolation in his germ-free Kremlin bubble, he is ready to take on Ukraine and threaten NATO.

Putins strength is illusory. His power to decide war and peace eclipses Russias weaknesses: the absence of functioning institutions, an opposition and civil society. Putin is not only depriving Ukrainians of their sovereignty, but Russians as well.

I am struggling with my own helplessness to support my friends in Ukraine. Instant messaging simultaneously shrinks physical distance and magnifies the disconnect between my little world in Washington and their hell in Kyiv.

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My best Ukrainian friend, Mikhail, who fled from eastern Ukraine in 2014, lives near the Ukrainian General Staff building in Kyiv. He wrote to me that because he doesnt trust Russian precision weapons, he went to stay with friends, far from strategic targets and with an anti-stress dog and cat. Another good friend, Tatyana, who has a little boy the same age as my son, simply wrote: in bomb shelter.

People will now hate me just for being Russian, my wife Svetlana said to me through tears.

No, I replied. You need to see yourself as an ambassador of another Russia.

Our two-year-old son was born in Russia, and I want him to grow up speaking Russian, embrace Russian culture and maybe, one day, make a positive contribution to Russian society. I hope he and Tatyanas son will meet and become friends.
As Russia continues its illegal, aggressive, large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian internet censor said Friday that it will slow down (throttle) access to Facebook in Russia because the platform isnt bending the knee to censorship demands. The Russian government wanted Facebook to remove restrictions on its disinformation-spreading, state-controlled media outlets Zvezda TV, RIA Novosti, Lenta.ru, and Gazeta.ru, and the company refused.

Nick Clegg, Facebooks vice president of global affairs, wrote shortly thereafter, Ordinary Russians are using our apps to express themselves and organize for action. We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share whats happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger.

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Sen. Mark Warner sent letters on Friday to the Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Reddit, Twitter, TikTok, and Telegram CEOs telling them to limit Russian information operations.

On Saturday, Facebook announced it is blocking all Russian state media ads on its platform. Though Facebook often parrots the line that it is a neutral actor in hosting content, these decisionsand Russian disinformation before and during the states attackhighlight that platforms are not neutral, ever, in who they provide services to and how they design their platforms.

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Its unclear whether Moscow will follow through on this threat against Facebook. Yet all this underscores the importance of internet and information control to the Kremlin, especially during armed conflict. As Putin continues his assault on Ukraine, Russias attempts to shape the information environment could include spreading disinformation through TV and radio, spreading disinformation through social media, launching cyberattacks on independent news outlets in Ukraine, and even targeting internet and cellular infrastructure to black out communications. And as with Russias threat against Facebook, that control also includes coercing social media companiesand if they dont acquiesce, trying to limit access to them altogether.

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The Russian government has waged information warfarea term its organizations, such as the Internet Research Agency, literally useon Ukraine for years. (You may remember the Internet Research Agency from its attempts to sow chaos during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections.) After the Maidan Revolution in 2014, where Ukrainians took to the streets to overthrow dictator and president Viktor Yanukovych, the Putin regime fabricated claims of human rights abuses in Ukraine as a false pretext for invading Crimea. In recent weeks, the Kremlin has launched a similar disinformation campaign across its information channels (many labeled by Facebook as state-controlled media), inventing patently false stories to make it sound as if Russia has a legitimate reason to attack Ukraine again.

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Beyond inventing bogus pretexts for what is clearly an illegal, aggressive attack on an independent state, the Russian governments propaganda and censorship efforts are also designed to shape the information environment. Moscow knows that in conflict, influencing, undermining, and controlling information flows can lend strategic advantage. When Russian troops attacked Ukraine, the Kyiv Post was immediately hit with an onslaught of cyberattacks; Russian military hackers have also launched distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against Ukrainian organizations, including government websites that provide vital sources of information. In many past conflicts, like the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, the Russian government and its proxies have launched widespread DDoS attacks to knock out websites and impede a countrys ability to spread news. The point is to sow chaos, impede a governments ability to communicate with its people, impede citizens ability to communicate with one another, and undermine the press ability to share details of the conflict with Ukrainian citizens and the rest of the world.

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Certainly, Russia does not stand alone in recognizing the importance of information in conflict: The Ukrainian government has called on Ukraines local hackers to protect infrastructure and spy on Russian troops. Yet the Russian government has a deep appreciation for the importance of information in conflict, and thats precisely why Facebook and its media labeling have now entered the picture.

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The Kremlin is threatening to limit access to Facebook from within Russia, as Cleggs post clearly stated, because Facebook keeps taking action against Russian state-owned media, like labeling them as state-controlled. Not to mention, broadly, Facebook takes down accounts that are part of Russian coordinated information operations. The platform is also a source of information about the Russian governments attack on Ukraine, including such events as the Russian military reportedly attacking a kindergarten and an orphanagenews that, even in a country deeply plagued by state propaganda and censorship, does not reflect well on Putin.

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Facebook is by no means the most popular internet platform in Russia; in fact, its user base is vastly outnumbered by that of YouTube and VK (known as the Russian Facebook, in part because its design looks wildly similar). Nonetheless, Facebook is an important platform to a number of Russians (38.9 percent population penetration, by some estimates), and it is an important communication platform for individuals such as journalists who have central roles in the information that makes its way to Russian citizens. Information posted on Facebook can of course be reshared to other popular social media networks as well. And on the strategic level, the Russian government is concerned about Facebook and other U.S.-incorporated social media companies because it sees American internet platforms as tools of the American state. Combined with antiwar protests in Russia, during which thousands of Russians have rallied against the regimes attack on Ukraine, the Kremlin has plenty of reasons it wants to censor the news and opposing narratives.

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The open question is whether Moscow will pull the trigger on trying to limit access to Facebookand if it does, whether it can do anything meaningful. In 2021, when Twitter wouldnt comply with Kremlin demands to censor posts on the Navalny protests, the Russian government throttled access to Twitter from within Russia. It partially worked, because access to the website was slowed. But because Moscow could not filter traffic as precisely as it would have liked, it also ended up slowing access to other websites by accident, such as those with similar URLs.

Still, it demonstrated that the Russian government has more widely deployed deep packet inspection technology on Russian internet networks and may therefore have more robust capabilities to implement these kinds of throttles and blocks going forward. This matters, too, because the Russian governments domestic internet censorship regime has long been less technical than Chinas and relies more on traditional forms of coercion (law enforcement arrests, confusing laws, intelligence service harassment) than technical website blocks.

No matter what happens, the Kremlins aim is clear: spread disinformation, block real news, and manipulate the information environment in any way possible to further its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
This article originally appeared in the Record.

The conflict online is mirroring the conflict offline: Amid Russias invasion of Ukraine, attacks and defense are being deployed in cyberspace. The Russian government appears to have deployed a digital drawbridge to protect websites, the Ukrainian government has issued a call to arms among local hackers, and alleged hacktivists have claimed credit for knocking the website of Russian state-run news service RT News offline.

On Thursday, Russian government websites went dark to some parts of the world after being targeted with a flood of web traffic via a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack attempting to knock them offline.

Its unclear who directed the attack or if it was successful in disrupting the sites.

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However, cybersecurity researchers say the Russian government appears to be deploying a defensive technical measure known as geofencing to block access to certain sites it controls, including its military website, from areas outside Russias sphere of influencecomplete with a joking nod to internet infrastructure.

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Ukrainian government sites were pushed offline last week during the run-up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Record reported. The U.S. and the U.K. attributed those attacks to the Russian government. Cybersecurity researchers also said Wednesday that Ukrainian computer networks had been hit with malware designed to destroy data on their systems for the second time this year. The invasion began Thursday morning.

No one appears to have claimed credit for the DDoS attacks, which suggest they were unsuccessful, James Lewis, the director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the Record.

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DDoS is the most basic form of cyberattack, its not that hardeither Ukrainians or people who support Ukraine could have launched them again, he said.

Global network watchers noted the DDoS attacks, including Netblocks and Kentik director of network analysis Doug Madory.

Now seeing DDoS attacks against Russian govt websites in possible retaliation to DDoS attacks against Ukrainian websites. #UkraineRussiaConflict



Among the RU targets, https://t.co/bvhrm8D6hb which is hosted by AS8291 (Russia State Internet Network). pic.twitter.com/4vhbO8NCte  Doug Madory (@DougMadory) February 24, 2022

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However, the targeted Russian government sitesincluding the primarily military domain, mil.ruappear offline to some international visitors due to the apparent geofencing that limits traffic from sources outside Russias sphere of influence.

Based on the data we got, traffic to mil.ru appears to be administratively blocked from outside of Russia, Madory told the Record, after he attempted to access the website from servers located around the world in response to our research inquiry.

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That means the people operating the website configured the servers to not actually show the content of the website to people trying to access it from overseas.

Instead, those attempting to access the website from blocked areas get an HTTP Error 418 response.

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Confusion around the outage of some of the Russian governments sites was also exaggerated by how Russian web servers handled the apparent DDoS attacks, showing a 418 Im a teapot error.

Starting out as a Google prank in the late 90s, 418 server errors are not part of any official standard, but some web servers choose to serve them anyway. They are commonly used as a network administrator inside joke to block incoming traffic.

The errors are typically used as responses to DDoS attacks and website or API scraping attemptsas a way to let attackers know their actions have been discovered and are being actively blocked.

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The joke and the apparent selective inaccessibility of the military site suggests Russia moved defensively to avoid potential embarrassment, according to Lewis. The Russian Embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

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The Russian government websites were also not the only ones that also faced DDoS attacks Thursday. Madory said he also observed traffic reflecting apparent attacks targeting major Russian banks Sberbank and Alfabank.

The dual targeting was later confirmed by Netlab, the network security division of Chinese tech giant Qihoo 360.

The perpetrators of these attacks remain unknown, but the sudden and senseless breakout of the Russo-Ukrainian armed conflict this week has also drawn a lot of sympathy on the side of the Ukrainian side, including from the Anonymous hacktivist group, which called on its members to attack Russian government targets.

In the face of dwindling odds, Ukraine will need all the help it can get. Lacking any military cyber units, Reuters reported Thursday that the countrys defense officials have called on the local IT and security researchers for help in a document shared on Telegram, asking them to protect critical infrastructure and mount cyber espionage missions against Russian targets.

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Days before Russias invasion put boots and tanks on the ground, the EU said it would deploy a team of cybersecurity professionals to help Ukraine, but as of Friday, that help has not arrivedand may not at all because of the already-ongoing conflict.

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In the meantime, many countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Germany, and New Zealand, have warned their private sector about the risk of potential spillover from any cyberattack conducted by Russian hackers. Some countries have also taken into consideration the possibility that Russia may respond to any economic sanctions via destructive cyberattacks out of sheer pettiness.

In a press conference Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden said the White House was working with the private sector to be prepared for potential Russian cyberattacks and warned there would be retaliation.

If Russia pursues cyberattacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we are prepared to respond, Biden said, echoing a similar threat made by the U.K. secretary of state for defense earlier in the week.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Parliament adopted a package of laws in relation to the war in Ukraine.

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The Slovak government will be able to declare a state of emergency if there is a large influx of foreigners into the country. This stems from the law on measures regarding the situation in Ukraine approved by the parliament on Friday evening.

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At the same time, the MPs gave a green light to the amendments to the law on civil protection, the law on asylum and the law on cyber security.

All of these were discussed in a fast-tracked procedure after being approved by the cabinet earlier on February 25. The changes were supported by 82 MPs out of 121 present; 27 abstained from the vote and one did not vote, the TASR newswire reported.

Slovakia sent a very strong and united signal of support to Ukraine today, said PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) after the vote, as quoted by TASR.

The changes were already signed by President Zuzana Caputova.

Mass inflow of people from Ukraine expected

The declaration of a state of emergency would allow Slovakia to apply measures of economic mobilisation, which involves the preparation of resources for usage in a national emergency by carrying out changes in the organisation of the national economy. This includes securing accommodation for foreigners, organising their transport or medical treatment and defining the related work duties.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/L2JcnuYA2kg

The amended law on asylum will allow the government to provide temporary protection to incomers, even without the decision of the Council of the European Union. The amendment also specifies provisions for providing a temporary protection; it stipulates how this procedure should be launched and the related time periods for making a decision, TASR reported.

A foreigner who has accommodation secured after requesting temporary protection does not have to come to the refugee camps. In order to speed up the procedure, the potential danger the foreigner may pose to Slovakia will be checked afterward.

Hot-spots, school dorms and law changes. Slovakia prepares for refugees Read more

If the authorities find out that the foreigner in question poses a potential risk, they will follow the currently valid legislation and cancel the granted temporary protection status, as reported by TASR.

At the same time, the MPs approved the possibility of giving a financial contribution for providing accommodation to people who have fled Ukraine due to the conflict and have found temporary protection in Slovakia. It should be transferred from the state budget to the municipalities on whose territory the accommodation is located.

The new legislation also includes the establishment of a fund to help people negatively affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Want to help Ukrainians? Here's how you can do it Read more

Preventing disinformation

The newly approved legislation will also allow the National Security Authority (NBU) to fight hybrid threats more effectively.

The amendment to the law on cyber security introduces the new institute of blocking that should remain in place until the end of June 2022, with the aim to prevent the spread of harmful content on the internet. As a result, NBU will be able to block websites with disinformation.
Train transport between these two countries has been temporarily suspended.

People fleeing war in Ukraine at the border crossing in Vysne Nemecke, eastern Slovakia. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd)

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It is not possible to leave Ukraine by plane; civilian flights have been suspended for at least 13 days. Trains travelling between Slovakia and Ukraine have also been suspended while traffic jams persist at the borders.

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Besides Ukrainians, Slovaks are also trying to leave the country. It is not known how many Slovaks are in Ukraine currently because there is no obligation to register when crossing the border.

The easiest way for Slovaks to return to their home country is by car. Three border crossings are open  Vysne Nemecke, Ubla and Velke Slemence.

Ubla and Vysne Nemecke is meant for cars and lorries. Those crossing the border on foot or on bikes can use the Velke Slemence crossing. Waiting times vary throughout the day.

Train only to the border
People feel strong solidarity because these are their friends, relatives and colleagues, says volunteer from Snina.

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As refugees from Ukraine continue to cross Slovakias eastern border, people living in Slovakia are standing in solidarity with their neighbours and offering help.

They are organising themselves on social media, sharing contact details, establishing financial or material collections, providing accommodation and picking up people at the border.

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Stefan Izak, a native of Snina, also published a call on Facebook, stating that he was going to one of the three open border crossings, in Ubla, and if anyone wanted to contribute anything, they should let him know.

I ended up with an entirely packed car, he told The Slovak Spectator, explaining that many people reached out, providing food, blankets, pillows and other supplies for families on the run.

Want to help Ukrainians? Here's how you can do it Read more

One of his friends went knocking on neighbours doors in the street asking for donations, so when Izak arrived, he had plenty of things to pack in his car.

Ubla equipping a shelter
Slovakia is deciding on the potential expulsion of Russian diplomats. The Foreign Ministry warns against travelling to Moldova and some regions of Belarus and Russia.

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Good evening. With the situation developing fast in Slovakia, we are publishing a special issue of our daily news digest.

How Slovakia is responding to the war in Ukraine

Government ministers visited the border crossing in Vysne Nemecke, eastern Slovakia. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd)

A state of emergency applies in Slovakia as of noon on February 26. It was declared in connection to the mass influx of foreigners fleeing from the war in Ukraine.

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NATO troops from Germany and the Netherlands will strengthen the defence of Slovakia's eastern border, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad confirmed. He added that the air protection missile system Patriot will arrive in Slovakia with NATO troops. He has also requested another defence system.

Allied troops to come sooner. It means bigger players will not sacrifice small countries like Slovakia Read more

There are Slovaks stuck in Ukraine. How will they get home? It is not possible to leave Ukraine by plane; civilian flights have been suspended for at least 13 days. Trains travelling between Slovakia and Ukraine have also been suspended while traffic jams persist at the borders.

MPs gave a green light to the amendments to the law on civil protection, the law on asylum and the law on cyber security. The changes have already been signed by President Zuzana Caputova.

As refugees from Ukraine continue to cross Slovakias eastern border, people living in Slovakia are standing in solidarity with their neighbours and offering help. They are organising themselves on social media, sharing contact details, establishing financial or material collections, providing accommodation and picking up people at the border.

Photo for today

A temporary camp for refugees fleeing Ukraine was established in Humenne near the Slovak-Ukrainian border.

More security-related news

Slovakia is deciding on the potential expulsion of Russian diplomats, PM Eduard Heger confirmed. He added that this step is being coordinated at the European level to ensure proper timing. We will not be hesitant, he said. It is only about coordination so we send a clear and strong signal to stop this aggression.

He added that this step is being coordinated at the European level to ensure proper timing. We will not be hesitant, he said. It is only about coordination so we send a clear and strong signal to stop this aggression. Slovakia is negotiating on the cancellation of the operation of Russian Mig-29 fighter jets , said Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad after Saturday governments session, adding that Slovakias airspace should be protected by a geographically close ally. There are specific negotiations ongoing to very quickly end the operation of Mig-29 in Sliac and thank technicians who are there and send them back to Russia, he said.

, said Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad after Saturday governments session, adding that Slovakias airspace should be protected by a geographically close ally. There are specific negotiations ongoing to very quickly end the operation of Mig-29 in Sliac and thank technicians who are there and send them back to Russia, he said. The Slovak Embassy in Kyiv is still operating with minimum staff under the management of Ambassador Marek Safin. Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok said that besides Slovaks, other nationals are seeking help from the Slovak Embassy. We will help anyone within the capacities of our embassy, Korcok said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok said that besides Slovaks, other nationals are seeking help from the Slovak Embassy. We will help anyone within the capacities of our embassy, Korcok said. Presov Region will provide free transport for Ukrainian citizens who arrive in Slovakia due to the exceptional situation at the Slovak-Ukrainian border. Free transport applies as of Saturday until further notice. Bus company Arriva Michalovce has started providing free transport to Ukrainian refugees from the border crossing Vysne Nemecke .

due to the exceptional situation at the Slovak-Ukrainian border. Free transport applies as of Saturday until further notice. . The Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry recommends Slovak citizens avoid travelling to the Gomel and Brest Regions in Belarus, Bryansk Oblast, Kursk Oblast, Belgorod Oblast, Voronezh Oblast, Rostov Oblast and Krasnodar Oblast in Russia, and Moldova. The ministry also recommends Slovaks reconsider travelling to other Russian regions.

to the Gomel and Brest Regions in Belarus, Bryansk Oblast, Kursk Oblast, Belgorod Oblast, Voronezh Oblast, Rostov Oblast and Krasnodar Oblast in Russia, and Moldova. The ministry also recommends Slovaks reconsider travelling to other Russian regions. Defence Minister Nad warns against fake text messages some people in Slovakia have received calling on civilian inhabitants to mobilise reserves. He said that it is a coordinated system designed to scare people and that security units are investigating the case.

He said that it is a coordinated system designed to scare people and that security units are investigating the case. Police warn that the Russian intelligence service can conduct online attacks against Slovakia aimed, for example, at individuals and state institutions, media or other organisations . The police explain that the disinformation war is still ongoing in Slovakia and Russia is trying to impact Slovaks perception of reality.

. The police explain that the disinformation war is still ongoing in Slovakia and Russia is trying to impact Slovaks perception of reality. A concert organised by Slovak Pohoda Festival in support of Ukraine will take place on February 27, 15:00 at the Main Square in Bratislava. We want to express solidarity with people in Ukraine, said Michal Kascak, director of the festival. Free art is best developed in free countries and we know that our friends in Ukraine are trying to attempt the same.
https://sputniknews.com/20220225/canadas-decision-to-sanction-putin-lavrov-absolutely-unacceptable---russian-envoy-1093380220.html

Sanctions on Putin, Lavrov Signal Canada, Allies Seek to Rupture Ties With Russia, Envoy Says

Sanctions on Putin, Lavrov Signal Canada, Allies Seek to Rupture Ties With Russia, Envoy Says

Canada's Decision to Sanction Putin, Lavrov Absolutely Unacceptable - Russian Envoy

2022-02-25T23:49+0000

2022-02-25T23:49+0000

2022-02-25T23:54+0000

russia

canada

sanctions

special operation

ukrainian conflict

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday that Canada would impose sanctions on Putin and other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.Stepanov stressed that the decision of Trudeau's Cabinet is totally unacceptable as It contradicts all principles of interstate relations and diplomatic ethics.He noted that all this suggests that the collective West essentially follows the policy of Hitler's Germany, for which the Russians and the people of Ukraine, who did not recognize the Nazi oppression during the World War II, were sub-humans.The current period will later be written in the black book of Canadian history, the Ambassador added. This is a complete disrespect for the history of their country and the generation of Canadians who contributed to the victory over Nazism. But now their grandchildren are turning themselves into agents of the evil against which their grandfathers fought.If you look at it from a practical point of view, this unprecedented step indicates that Canada and its Western allies are deliberately bringing themselves to the threshold of breaking off all relations with Russia crossing which is difficult to imagine a civilized return to normality, he said.Stepanov also said that there will be retaliatory measures, but they will be taken in Moscow.In the complex of what happened today, in the complex of all things, the Ambassador added. The Foreign Ministry has already said that we've reached the point of no return. It looks like it. This is unprecedented.On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

https://sputniknews.com/20220225/west-defends-ukrainian-regime-turning-blind-eye-to-its-war-crimes-lavrov-says-1093361118.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220225/cuomo-plans-political-comeback-after-devastating-sex-scandal-tv-ads-ready---report-1093378961.html

Cuomo Plans Political Comeback After Devastating Sex Scandal, TV Ads Ready - Report

Cuomo Plans Political Comeback After Devastating Sex Scandal, TV Ads Ready - Report

Cuomo Prepares His Political Comeback After Devastating Sex Scandal, TV Ads Ready - Report

2022-02-25T22:45+0000

2022-02-25T22:45+0000

2022-02-25T22:45+0000

us

andrew cuomo

sex scandal

political ads

governor

new york

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Andrew Cuomo is set to try to clear his reputation and return to politics as he prepares to broadcast several ads that say all the charges against him were dropped, the New York Post reported on Friday.One of the ads, a 30-second video, reportedly contains TV fragments reporting about the outcome of the legal action, brought against Cuomo. Political attacks won and New York lost a proven leader, the video reportedly says.The ads are expected to start airing on New York television stations on Monday, according to the newspaper.The initiative has outraged his accusers and activists, who denounced the campaign as a putrid lesson in shamelessness. Former Cuomo staff member and alleged victim, Charlotte Bennett, tweeted that Innocent men dont need ads. Guilty, vindictive & narcissistic ones do, though.In January, Albany County Attorney David Soares dropped criminal charges against Cuomo, brought by one of his accusers and former Cuomo staffer Brittany Commisso. She alleged that the former governor harassed her in 2019-2020 and even put his hand under her blouse inside the Executive Mansion.A complaint was also filed by another woman, known from the official report as Trooper #1, but in December, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah decided not to push forward with charges against the governor either.Three other prosecutors also dropped charges, but noted that investigators still find the plaintiffs accusations credible, which means Cuomo has not been exonerated.New York Attorney General Letitia James launched an investigation into numerous sexual misconduct accusations in March and revealed the results of her inquiry in August, stating that the then-governor violated the law by sexually harassing multiple women  including former and current state employees  by engaging in unwanted groping, kissing, and hugging, and making inappropriate comments.Cuomo, following calls for his resignation and impeachment from many members of the state legislature and other lawmakers, resigned in August, but denied the accusations, saying that the campaign against him was politically motivated.Meanwhile, the former governors sex scandal has overshadowed criticism that he faced over his anti-pandemic response in NY. Nevertheless, there has been no official investigation report regarding Cuomos controversial handling of the COVID-19 spike in NY nursing homes.Earlier disclosures showed that the real number of coronavirus-related deaths throughout spring and summer of 2020 had been concealed by Cuomos administration. Last month, the Manhattan District Attorneys office announced it would not file criminal charges as there was no evidence to suggest that any laws were broken.

https://sputniknews.com/20220220/ex-cnn-exec-allison-gollust-secretly-drafted-interview-topics-with-then-gov-andrew-cuomo-probe-says-1093187748.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220225/russian-mfa-business-as-usual-in-relations-with-us-will-no-longer-work-1093378446.html

Russian MFA: 'Business as Usual' in Relations With US Will No Longer Work

Russian MFA: 'Business as Usual' in Relations With US Will No Longer Work

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 'Business as usual' in relations with the United States will no longer work, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. 25.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-25T21:48+0000

2022-02-25T21:48+0000

2022-02-25T22:06+0000

russian foreign ministry

russia

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No, we stopped doing business as usual with them a long time ago, this is already a non-existent concept, Zakharova said on the air of Channel One.In relations with the United States and the West, Russia has approached the line, after which there is a point of no return, Zakharova said.Yes, this is not our choice. We always proceeded from a dialogue, but when these options were closed one by one by the Anglo-Saxons, we began to act differently. Not because of threats, but the question is that we come to that line after which the point of no return begins," she added.Biden Does Not Want to Talk to Putin Now, But Diplomacy Not Ruled Out - White HouseAccording to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki, "a moment where a leader is beginning and in the middle of invading a sovereign country is not the moment where diplomacy feels appropriate. It does not mean we have ruled out diplomacy forever. Obviously, the President remains open to engaging on a leader to leader level but this is not the moment."In the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special operation after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk requested assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation is targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine and the servicemen will live the country after the special operation.

https://sputniknews.com/20220225/west-defends-ukrainian-regime-turning-blind-eye-to-its-war-crimes-lavrov-says-1093361118.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220226/after-biden-failed-domestically-war-is-his-only-hope-1093373504.html

After Biden Failed Domestically, War is His Only Hope

After Biden Failed Domestically, War is His Only Hope

On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Austin Pelli talk about Biden continuing to downplay Russias security concerns, the president pivoting... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T11:16+0000

2022-02-26T11:16+0000

2022-02-26T11:16+0000

us

fault lines

ukraine

russia

joe biden

china

israel

radio

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After Biden Failed Domestically, War is His Only Hope On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Jamarl Thomas and Austin Pelli talk about Biden continuing to downplay Russias security concerns, the president pivoting to war after failing domestically, why truckers are revolting, and a paper calculating war in China emphasizing the U.S. must weaken Russia.

Guests:Mark Sleboda - International Security Analyst | Biden Doubles Down on Downplaying Russian Security ConcernsFaran Fronczak - Anchor for RT America | After Biden Failed Domestically, War is His Only HopeTed Rall - Political Cartoonist | After Biden Failed Domestically, War is His Only HopeBob Bolus - Convoy to DC Organizer | Why Truckers Are Revolting and Driving to DCKit Klarenberg - Investigative Journalist | 2016 Paper Strategizing War with China Emphasizes Plan to Weaken RussiaIn the first hour, Mark Sleboda joined the show to talk about Biden continuing to downplay Russias security concerns, if latest developments will spell the end of a unipolar geopolitical system, and predictions for how Russias allies will react to their operations in Ukraine.In the second hour, Faran Fronczak and Ted Rall joined Fault Lines for a panel discussion on Russias moves in Ukraine, Bidens address to the nation that promises harsher sanctions than simply removing Russia from the SWIFT system, and what Americans should expect from the conflict. We were also joined by Bob Bolus to talk about his convoy to D.C. as a protest against Covid restrictions, what the convoy expects to accomplish, and what truckers would accept as a win.In the third hour. Kit Klarenberg joined the conversation to talk about a 2016 RAND paper strategizing war in China that advocates baiting Russia into overextending itself by arming Ukraine, among other tactics. We also talked about how US and European sanctions on Russia will put money in the pockets of elites but make ordinary citizens poorer.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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us, fault lines, ukraine, russia, joe biden, china, israel, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/all-russian-banks-under-sanctions-will-be-excluded-from-swift-german-govt-says-1093405657.html

All Russian Banks Under Sanctions Will Be Excluded From SWIFT, German Gov't Says

All Russian Banks Under Sanctions Will Be Excluded From SWIFT, German Gov't Says

The West has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Russian economy after its President Putin announced on Thursday a special military operation in Ukraine to... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T22:11+0000

2022-02-26T22:11+0000

2022-02-27T00:04+0000

swift

russia

europe

ukraine

economy

business

west

sanctions

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All Russian banks already subjected to Western sanctions will be excluded from SWIFT, with the possibility open for other Russian banks to be excluded as well, the German government announced on Saturday.The spokesperson added that the Western nations "stressed their willingness to take further measures should Russia not end its attack on Ukraine and thus on the European peace order."In addition, the European Commission released a joint statement signed by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US in which they condemned the current military operation and committed to implementing restrictive measures against Russia.Furthermore, procedures for getting citizenship abroad for wealthy Russians will be limited, and the prospect of obtaining a so-called golden passport and consequently European citizenship will be eliminated.The leaders also agreed to set up a special working group of EU and US representatives to ensure that anti-Russian sanctions are implemented quickly.Prior to the decision made at a joint discussion of the Western leaders, the media reported that Germany had assessed its support for disconnecting Russia from the international payment system as possible under "certain conditions."US Predicts World Banks Will Stop Transactions With Deswifted Russian BanksFollowing the announcement, a senior US administration official said that the US believes the decision to remove key Russian banks from SWIFT will stop their ability to engage in global transactions.Western Sanctions Pressure on RussiaSeveral major Russian banks, including Sberbank and VTB, fell under the new sanctions after the country launched its military operation in Ukraine. Under the measures, a number of Russian state-owned companies have been prohibited from attracting foreign capital.Sanctions have also been imposed on the industry and supply of high-tech products to Russia. Germany has stopped certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, while the UK closed its airspace to Aeroflot, the biggest airline in Russia.The Russian authorities said they had prepared a plan of action in advance in case of a new wave of sanctions and would provide all necessary support to businesses that fell under the restrictions, ensuring the smooth operation of the economy.Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on February 21, which was followed on February 24 by Russia's launch of a special military operation in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine and the servicemen will leave the country after the operation.At the same time, Moscow was ready for peace talks, and President Putin ordered to suspend military advance, but had to resume it after Kiev rejected the offer to negotiate.A spiral of Western sanctions has been unfolding since 2014, following the reunification of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol with Russia by referendum, in which more than 95% of the residents voted in favor of rejoining Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/20220225/will-the-world-cut-russia-out-of-swift-and-what-would-happen-if-it-did-1093370422.html

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Kirill Kurevlev

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swift, russia, europe, ukraine, economy, business, west, sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/australia-suspends-rt-broadcast-1093393230.html

Australia Suspends RT Broadcasting

Australia Suspends RT Broadcasting

The move comes on the heels of other restrictive measures that have been introduced against Russia and its mass media amid the country's military operation in... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T11:58+0000

2022-02-26T11:58+0000

2022-02-26T12:33+0000

australia

rt

broadcast

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Australia has suspended Russia Today's broadcasting, the channel announced on Telegram. No further details have been provided so far. Earlier this week, Finland's operator Elisa removed RT from its package "in support of Ukraine". Also, the consumers' rights watchdog in Estonia has ordered to stop re-broadcasting of some Russian TV channels. RT has been facing immense pressure on its work in recent months. In early February, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Moscow was closing the Deutsche Welle bureau in response to the ban of RT DE in Germany. Although RT DE had received a broadcasting license in Serbia, which gives it the right to broadcast in most EU countries, including Germany, the German media regulator MABB said that RT DE was officially banned in Germany because it lacked the necessary permission for broadcasting.

https://sputniknews.com/20220219/rt-arabic-team-come-under-fire-in-donetsk-peoples-republic-1093176537.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220226/black-sea-fleet-82-ukrainian-border-guards-who-surrendered-on-zmeiny-island-arrive-in-sevastopol-1093387487.html

Black Sea Fleet: 82 Ukrainian Border Guards Who Surrendered on Zmeiny Island Arrive in Sevastopol

Black Sea Fleet: 82 Ukrainian Border Guards Who Surrendered on Zmeiny Island Arrive in Sevastopol

The Ukrainian authorities claimed that the border guards were killed while defending Zmeiny Island in the Black Sea during Russia's special operation, and... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T08:20+0000

2022-02-26T08:20+0000

2022-02-26T10:51+0000

russia

russian black sea fleet

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A group of 82 Ukrainian servicemen, who surrendered on Zmeiny Island, has been delivered to Sevastopol, Russia's Black Sea Fleet has announced."They laid down their arms and decided to return to their families," Major General Mikhail Yasnikov, deputy commander of the Black Sea Fleet for logistics, said.Yasnikov stressed that the Black Sea Fleet respected the decision of the Ukrainian border guards. A safe corridor was made out for them to leave the area of the operation.According to him, the Ukrainian military did not seek medical help. "But if any arise, all the necessary assistance will be provided to them. Ukrainian servicemen are provided with field rations and bottled water for the entire period of movement to the final destination on the territory of Ukraine," Yasnikov said.Over the past day, Ukrainian authorities and media have been claiming that 13 border guards chose to "heroically" die instead of surrendering to Russians. Kiev even declared that it would posthumously honour them with the Hero of Ukraine award. The Russian side has debunked these claims, emphasising that the island was surrendered to them voluntarily.Russia launched a military operation to demilitarise Ukraine early in the morning on Thursday 24 February. In a televised address to the Russians, President Vladimir Putin said that circumstances "require decisive and immediate action from us, the people's republics of Donbass have asked for help".The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger.

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Maxim Minaev

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https://sputniknews.com/20220226/donetsk-rights-envoy-to-inform-intl-organisations-of-ukraine-violating-geneva-convention-1093401093.html

Donetsk Rights Envoy to Inform Int'l Organisations of Ukraine Violating Geneva Convention

Donetsk Rights Envoy to Inform Int'l Organisations of Ukraine Violating Geneva Convention

DONETSK (Sputnik) - Human Rights Envoy of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) Daria Morozova said that letters describing the Ukrainian armed... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T17:19+0000

2022-02-26T17:19+0000

2022-02-26T17:20+0000

situation in ukraine

donetsk

geneva convention

ukraine

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Earlier in the day, DPR militia reported that Ukrainian armed forces fired three times at the oil depot in the Kirovskyi district of Donetsk with Tochka-U guided missiles."Today, at 10:25 [12:25 GMT], Ukrainian armed forces attacked the oil depot with the battlefield missile system Tochka-U. Besides, this fact violates the Geneva Conventions provision 1.3 on civilian population protection during war. Id like to remind the criminals from the Ukrainian armed forces that we record all such facts, and you trial is approaching in light of recent events. Also, the letters on this incident will be sent by us to international organizations promptly," Morozova said.On 21 February, after an extraordinary large meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, the head of state addressed the citizens of Russia, saying that he considered it necessary to make a decision to immediately recognise the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR. Immediately after the appeal, the president signed decrees in the Kremlin recognising the republics.In the early hours of 24 February, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk requested assistance to defend themselves from attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the operation was targeting the military infrastructure of Ukraine and the civilian population was not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

https://sputniknews.com/20220226/putin-ordered-troops-to-stop-ukraine-op-but-it-resumed-after-kiev-refused-to-negotiate-peskov-says-1093394724.html

donetsk

ukraine

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2022

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donetsk, geneva convention, ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/iran-launches-operation-in-red-sea-gulf-of-aden-to-secure-commercial-shipping-assets-1093402462.html

Iran Launches Operation in Red Sea, Gulf of Aden to Secure Commercial Shipping Assets

Iran Launches Operation in Red Sea, Gulf of Aden to Secure Commercial Shipping Assets

The Islamic Republic has long proposed the creation of security arrangement under which regional powers, rather than outsiders such as the United States... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T18:06+0000

2022-02-26T18:06+0000

2022-02-26T18:51+0000

iran

red sea

gulf of aden

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A three-ship Iranian Navy flotilla has begun a security operation to escort Iranian merchant ships and oil tankers traveling through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, task force commander Shahram Irani has announced.The 80th Flotilla includes the Dena destroyer, the Bandar Abbas replenishment ship and the Tunb combat support ship.Irani noted that in addition to serving as a training opportunity for new officers, the operation could allow Iran to further its maritime diplomacy, with the 80th Flotilla expected to make port calls to friendly neighbouring countries during its mission, conditions permitting.The commander did not elaborate on which countries may be visited for port calls. Nations bordering on the Red Sea include Israel  Irans sworn adversary in the region, as well as Saudi Arabia, another nation that the Islamic Republic has had difficult relations with in recent years, but with which it has sought to mend ties. Other Red Sea border states include Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Yemen, a nation engulfed in a long-running, foreign-backed conflict. The Gulf of Aden is adjacent to Yemen, Djibouti and Somalia.Iran has deployed warships to the region for years, including to join other countries in battling Somali pirates.Iranian oil tankers travelling through the area have suffered repeated attacks, particularly those attempting to bring emergency fuel aid to Syria. Last year, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv had caused Iran billions of dollars in losses with attacks on the tankers. Iran implicitly confirmed that such attacks were taking place last August. Israel has refrained from commenting publicly.Irans Navy and the separate Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy are largely tasked with guarding the Middle Eastern nations 2,815 km coastline, much of which runs adjacent to the highly sensitive waters of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Last year, the Navy showed off its long-range power projection capabilities by sailing the Makran mobile sea base and Sahand destroyer on a 44,000 km journey to St. Petersburg, Russia and back.

https://sputniknews.com/20220221/us-navys-fifth-fleet-planning-to-launch-middle-east-based-drone-task-force-alongside-allies-1093248968.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220123/us-navy-says-detained-ship-from-iran-carrying-weapons-for-houthi-movement-1092461209.html

iran

red sea

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2022

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

iran, red sea, gulf of aden
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/moscow-considers-natos-claims-about-russian-aggression-in-ukraine-groundless-1093401012.html

Moscow Considers NATO's Claims About Russian 'Aggression' in Ukraine Groundless

Moscow Considers NATO's Claims About Russian 'Aggression' in Ukraine Groundless

The US and its allies in Europe and Asia condemned the Russian military operation in Ukraine as an unprovoked "act of aggression" and "invasion," slapping... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T17:14+0000

2022-02-26T17:14+0000

2022-02-26T19:03+0000

ukraine

maria zakharova

russia

situation in ukraine

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NATO has no grounds to call the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine "aggression," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said."Before calling Russia to account for its operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, the nations of the North Atlantic bloc should answer for their military adventurism, as well as their inaction on the matter of encouraging the regime in Kiev to peacefully resolve the Donbass problem," the spokeswoman said.According to Zakharova, NATO leaders at the summit expressed all possible support for Ukraine, "a country which, with the the connivance of the West, has become a hotbed of Nazi ideology."The spokeswoman went on to accuse the Western bloc of "hypocrisy" related to the alleged destruction of the foundation for peace in Europe caused by Russia's actions in Ukraine."By whose hands was this done? Wasn't it the NATO countries that looked on silently as the US destroyed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty? They stood by when Washington unilaterally withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. They allowed the Americans to quit the Open Skies Treaty, which made that agreement worthless as an effective mechanism for controlling military activities," Zakharova said."Was it not the NATO countries that took part in the bombing of Yugoslavia, the attack on Libya, the invasion of Iraq? For 20 years, they led the situation in Afghanistan to total degradation, and when they ran away, they left behind weapons worth billions of dollars," the spokeswoman said."For eight years, Western nations have watched passively the killing and abuse of thousands of civilians in southeastern Ukraine. Effectively, they became accomplices to the long-term genocide of the inhabitants of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics," Zakharova alleged.The Western bloc continues to build up its military forces and infrastructure near Russia, and engaging in the military buildup of alliance members near Russia, "using their resources to develop plans to 'contain' Russia. We cannot ignore such a confrontational course toward our country. Especially when our key security concerns remain unanswered," Zakharova said.NATO Vows to 'Hold Russia Accountable'At Friday's extraordinary summit, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to "stop this senseless war, immediately cease its assault, withdraw all its forces from Ukraine, and turn back to the path of dialogue and turn away from aggression."In a joint communique published following the meeting, the alliance accused Moscow of carrying out a "long-planned," "brutal and wholly unprovoked and unjustified" attack against the "independent, peaceful and democratic" nation of Ukraine, and alleged that Russia had "fundamentally shattered" peace on the European continent.The bloc went on to accuse Russia of rejecting "the path of diplomacy and dialogue," and warning that Moscow would be made to pay "a severe price" for its actions, "both economically and politically," for years to come.Russia and its Donbass allies began a large scale military operation in Ukraine on Thursday to "demilitarize" and "denazify" the country after continued Ukrainian shelling attacks on the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics even after Moscow's recognition of the former Ukrainian breakaways as sovereign nations and the signing of a security treaty with them last Monday.The current emergency is the culmination of a security crisis that enveloped Ukraine following a violent, US and EU-backed coup in Kiev in February 2014, and has festered in the form of a long-running civil war in the country's eastern regions.

https://sputniknews.com/20211218/closed-skies-russia-formally-quits-post-cold-war-era-confidence-building-treaty-after-us-withdrawal-1091625167.html

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2022

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

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Ilya Tsukanov

ukraine, maria zakharova, russia
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/moscow-strasbourg-ignored-killing-of-civilians-by-ukrainian-death-squads-in-donbass-for-8-years-1093397755.html

Moscow: Strasbourg Ignored Killing of Civilians by Ukrainian Death Squads in Donbass for 8 Years

Moscow: Strasbourg Ignored Killing of Civilians by Ukrainian Death Squads in Donbass for 8 Years

Russia has repeatedly urged the West to pay attention and investigate cases of human rights violations and war crimes committed by neo-Nazis against... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T14:24+0000

2022-02-26T14:24+0000

2022-02-26T15:36+0000

ukraine

situation in ukraine

donbass

strasbourg

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The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has been ignoring the killing of thousands of civilians by Ukrainian death squads in Donbass for eight years, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. The statement comes days after Russian President Putin announced the beginning of a special operation to protect the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR, LPR) and "demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine. By "denazifying" he means to free Ukraine from neo-Nazi squads who have been imposing their ideology in the country since the Western-backed coup of 2014.In his address to the nation, Putin said that Russia was left with no other choice after receiving a request for military assistance from the DPR and LPR amid intensified shelling by Kiev's forces. The Russian Defence Ministry said the operation has only been targeting military infrastructure in Ukraine while the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

donbass

strasbourg

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2022

Sofia Chegodaeva

Sofia Chegodaeva

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Sofia Chegodaeva

ukraine, donbass, strasbourg
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/nord-stream-2-likely-done-for-in-the-long-run-german-eastern-business-association-says-1093394889.html

Nord Stream 2 Likely Done For in the Long Run, German Eastern Business Association Says

Nord Stream 2 Likely Done For in the Long Run, German Eastern Business Association Says

Earlier, Germany suspended the certification of the recently-completed Nord Steam 2 natural gas pipeline. 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T13:23+0000

2022-02-26T13:23+0000

2022-02-26T18:24+0000

europe

germany

nord stream 2

prospects

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As a number of world powers moved to impose sanctions on Russia amid the ongoing military operation in Ukraine conducted by Russian armed forces, Michael Harms, executive director of the German Eastern Business Association, made a grim prediction about the fate of Nord Sream 2. The recently completed pipeline had been slated to be used to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany.During an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Harms suggested that the issue with the pipeline is essentially closed.He also mentioned that their association had always defended Nord Stream 2, which Harms described as a good project.Earlier this week, Russia formally recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR respectively) which declared their independence from Ukraine years ago in the wake of the Euromaidan coup of 2014.This move was made amid the sudden escalation in the region, when Ukrainian forces intensified shelling of the republics' territory, prompting the mass evacuation of women and children to Russia.Mere days later, Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine after DPR and LPR authorities asked for assistance to defend themselves from attacks by Ukrainian troops.The goal of this operation, as Moscow stressed, is not to occupy Ukraine but rather to neutralise its military capacity, with precision strikes being carried out against the Ukrainian military infrastructure.In response, the United States, Japan and several European countries imposed sanctions against Russia, with Germany suspending the certification of the recently completed Nord Steam 2 natural gas pipeline.

https://sputniknews.com/20220225/what-did-putin-mean-by-denazification-of-ukraine-and-why-is-it-so-important-1093375330.html

germany

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2022

Andrei Dergalin

Andrei Dergalin

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Andrei Dergalin

europe, germany, nord stream 2, prospects
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/pakistans-interior-minister-sheikh-rashid-blasts-opposition-over-no-confidence-motion-move-1093387560.html

Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Blasts Opposition Over No-Confidence Motion Move

Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Blasts Opposition Over No-Confidence Motion Move

For months, the Imran Khan-led Pakistani government has been slammed for its handling of the economy, especially in recent days after oil prices hit historic... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T10:30+0000

2022-02-26T10:30+0000

2022-02-26T10:30+0000

pakistan

pakistan

imran khan

prime minister

prime minister

government

government

government

opposition

nawaz sharif

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Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has blasted the efforts of three main opposition parties, namely the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) or PMLN, Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI), to bring a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.Rashid warned that the trio of parties would not be able to rally support in Pakistan and that those involved would soon be elbowed out of politics by PM Khan himself. The National Assembly Member (MNA) from the garrison city of Rawalpindi even accused the opposition of engaging in horse-trading.He alleged that PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was the mastermind behind the opposition's ploy to bribe some lawmakers of the ruling alliance so that they could be forced to vote against the government."Nawaz Sharif has assigned horse-trading to Asif Zardari," Rashid said during a press conference in Lahore on Friday.However, Rashid claimed that any move to remove Pakistan's democratically elected government will be dealt with severely by Imran Khan and his trusted allies, and the opposition would have to eat its own words after their impending defeat in the National Assembly. "PM Imran Khan would get even stronger after the failure of the no-trust motion. You will see that Imran Khan will face this game with valour," he added.The interior minister restated that the Khan-led federal government would complete its term as no one would back the "political adventurism" of the opposition.

pakistan

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pakistan, pakistan, imran khan, prime minister, prime minister, government, government, government, opposition, nawaz sharif, asif ali zardari, pakistan people's party, allies, no confidence motion, no-confidence vote, no confidence, sputnik, politics, politics, political
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/pfas-have-contaminated-us-drinking-water-wells-according-to-a-usgs-study-1093380548.html

PFAS Have Contaminated US Drinking Water Wells, According to USGS Study

PFAS Have Contaminated US Drinking Water Wells, According to USGS Study

A new study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has revealed that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) forever chemicals are now... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T00:08+0000

2022-02-26T00:08+0000

2022-02-26T00:47+0000

toxins

water

epa

epa

us geological survey (usgs)

study

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PFAS are a group of chemicals used to produce fluoropolymer coatings which, when covered over a product, are able to resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. They are found in clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, non-stick surfaces, and other products that are designed to be resistant to water.If you have a plastic raincoat, that most likely has PFAS in it, as well as your nonstick cooking pans. The problem? The chemicals that make up these products dont break down in the environment, and can poison our water, wildlife, and wreak havoc on our bodies health.On Wednesday, farmers in the state of Maine urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would put a stop to the agricultural use of PFAS-laden sludge on their land. Nell Finnigan, a farmer from Ironwood Organic Farm in Albion, Maine, stated at a news conference that she and her family are teetering on the edge of losing everything due to PFAS contamination in their hundred-acre farms well water.Let me share with you what my family stands to lose as a result of this decades old practice of literally s******* where you eat, said Finnigan. She blames the state, who she believes chose the cheaper option of land supplying sludge derived compost instead of trucking it to landfills.Finnigan and other farmers went to Augutsa, the state capital of Maine, to urge lawmakers to pass LD 1911, which would ban the distribution of sludge and sludge-derived compost unless it were to be tested for PFAS prior to use, as well as annually.Some studies have indicated that PFAS are responsible for causing a variety of health issues, such as cancer, reproduction issues, thyroid disease, and liver disease.This should set off alarm bells for anyone relying on private well water, said Scott Faber, vice-president of government affairs with the Environmental Working Group, responsible for tracking PFAS. One out of five people getting their water from wells could be drinking PFAS- thats a big number.Public utility records show that PFAS are contaminating wells from which over 100 million Americans supply their water from. These estimates do not take into account private wells which are unequipped to filter out PFAS.The toxic chemicals are most often found in areas that have a greater concentration of human activity and use products made up of PFAS, like airports, military bases, chemical plants, and landfills. Wells which have a greater depth, therefore pulling groundwater which is older, have tested for less PFAS, while wells that pull water from more shallow and newer aquifers, like those in New England, showed higher rates of PFAS, according to the study by the USGS.Using 254 samples from drinking water wells, stretching from the state of Maine all the way to Illinois, the USGS tested for 24 kinds of PFAS and found 14. A public well in West Virginia showed PFAS levels had reached an amount of 1,500 parts per trillion (ppt), which health officials say is well beyond threatening in regards to human health and safety. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests levels of PFAS should only reach 70ppt at most. Some states have that limit set to only 1ppt.Former President Trumps EPA lost more than 800 employees and made room for polluters after he essentially destroyed the government agency, believing environmental rules which protect air, climate, water, and food to be job-killing. The responsibility of rebuilding this branch of the government now falls on the shoulders of President Joe Biden, which could prove to be difficult since former EPA staff say they are traumatized and exhausted after being Trumps punching bag for four years.For more than 20 years, the EPA has failed to regulate PFAS. In 2021, the EPA released a PFAS Roadmap'' which details a timeline for the next four years in which the EPA hopes to set drinking water standards, wastewater treatment guidelines, health assessments, and hazardous substance designations for several types of PFAS.But according to the USGS, thousands of types of PFAS exist, while regulators only check for about 30. After neglecting to take much action for about two decades, the EPA announcing that they will check for several types of PFAS when thousands exist is hardly reassuring.

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toxins, water, epa, epa, us geological survey (usgs), study
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/russia-signals-that-they-are-ready-to-negotiate-with-ukraine-zelensky-says-ukraine-abandoned-1093382460.html

Russia Signals That They Are Ready to Negotiate with Ukraine; Zelensky Says Ukraine Abandoned

Russia Signals That They Are Ready to Negotiate with Ukraine; Zelensky Says Ukraine Abandoned

Russian diplomats have signaled that they are ready to negotiate with Ukraine regarding the denazification and neutral status of the Eastern European nation. 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T11:22+0000

2022-02-26T11:22+0000

2022-02-26T11:22+0000

the critical hour

ukraine

china

sanctions

venezuela

nato

nordstream 2

joe biden

radio

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Russia Signals That They are Ready to Negotiate with Ukraine; Zelensky Says Ukraine Abandoned Russian diplomats have signaled that they are ready to negotiate with Ukraine regarding the denazification and neutral status of the Eastern European nation.

Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to review the important stories for the week. Russian forces close in on the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian military operation moves into its second day. Also, we discuss the overall security situation in Europe and whether the Ukraine operation starts or averts World War III.Jack Rasmus, professor in economics and politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. Dr. Jack discusses his latest article in which he carefully outlines the economic consequences of the Ukraine military operation and the subsequent sanctions.John Burris, civil rights attorney, comes on to discuss a few important legal cases. Former Minnesota police officers who were involved in the death of George Floyd were found guilty of violating Floyd's civil rights. Also, Dante Wright's family reacts to the light sentence given to his killer.Ray McGovern, former CIA analyst and co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, and Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, join us to discuss international politics. President Biden has made no comments on China's support of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Also, Russia has destroyed most of the Ukrainian military assets and has signaled that they are open for negotiations.Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "The Velvet Coup: The Constitution, the Supreme Court and the Decline of American Democracy," and Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch and the author of "The American Farce Unravels: Shreds of January 6th," join us to discuss this week's important stories. Ukrainian President Zelensky is arguing that he has been abandoned by Western powers in a time of need. Also, Russia has signaled that it is ready to start talks with Ukrainian officials to accomplish a neutral status, and China is supporting Russia in a subtle manner.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

ukraine

china

venezuela

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the critical hour, ukraine, china, sanctions, venezuela, nato, nordstream 2, joe biden, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/russian-forces-have-destroyed-821-ukrainian-military-targets-mod-says-1093385375.html

Russian Forces Have Destroyed 821 Ukrainian Military Targets, MoD Says

Russian Forces Have Destroyed 821 Ukrainian Military Targets, MoD Says

On February 24, Russia announced a special military operation in order to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) from the Ukrainian... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T06:19+0000

2022-02-26T06:19+0000

2022-02-26T07:31+0000

world

ukraine

russia

military infrastructure

donbass

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The Russian army has destroyed 821 objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine, the spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said. "Among them are 14 military airfields, 19 command posts and communication centres, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations. 7 combat aircraft, 7 helicopters, and 9 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. 87 tanks and other combat aircraft were destroyed, as well as armoured vehicles, 28 multiple launch rocket systems, and 118 units of special military vehicles," Konashenkov said. Konashenkov said that the Russian Armed Forces had launched a strike at night with sea- and land-based cruise missiles at military facilities in Ukraine.Konashenkov said that the Russian armed forces have established full control over the Ukrainian city of Melitopol in the south of the country.On Thursday, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defene Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly stated it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.The operation was authorised days after Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed decrees recognising the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) people's republics. Under new treaties, Moscow pledged to ensure the security of the two Russian-speaking republics.Russias decision to recognise the DPR and LPR comes after a significant deterioration of the situation along the line of contact, as Ukrainian forces intensified the shelling of Donbass.

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Maxim Minaev

Maxim Minaev

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world, ukraine, russia, military infrastructure, donbass
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/russian-space-agency-suspends-cooperation-with-europe-on-launches-in-kourou-spaceport-1093386428.html

Russian Space Agency Suspends Cooperation With Europe on Launches in Kourou Spaceport

Russian Space Agency Suspends Cooperation With Europe on Launches in Kourou Spaceport

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian space agency Roscosmos is suspending cooperation with Europe on launches from the Kourou cosmodrome and is recalling its... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T06:53+0000

2022-02-26T06:53+0000

2022-02-26T06:53+0000

space

roscosmos

donbass

dpr

lpr

russia

sanctions

kourou space center in french guiana

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"In response to EU sanctions against our enterprises, Roscosmos is suspending cooperation with European partners in organizing space launches from the Kourou cosmodrome and is recalling its technical personnel, including the combined launch crew, from French Guiana," Rogozin wrote on his Telegram channel.On Friday, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers approved the second package of EU sanctions against Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.On Thursday, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of the Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defence Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

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space, roscosmos, donbass, dpr, lpr, russia, sanctions, kourou space center in french guiana
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/russophobia-in-us-nears-cold-war-levels-with-80-seeing-moscow-as-enemy---poll-1093381891.html

Russophobia in US Nears Cold War Levels, With 80% Seeing Moscow as Enemy - Poll

Russophobia in US Nears Cold War Levels, With 80% Seeing Moscow as Enemy - Poll

In 2017, the White House and Pentagon outlined a new US global strategy, shifting away from the War on Terror and toward what they called great power... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T00:58+0000

2022-02-26T00:58+0000

2022-02-26T00:58+0000

russia-nato row on european security

russia

russophobia

us

poll

russiagate

great power ambitions

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According to a new poll published on ABC News and the Washington Post on Friday, Americans are showing some of their highest levels of hostility toward the Russian Federation in 40 years.According to ABC, thats the highest percentage seen since 1983, when Russia was part of the Soviet Union - although colloquially still called Russia in American culture - and when nuclear tensions between the socialist and capitalist alliances were also at their peak.Just 12% of Americans see Russia as a friend of the US, according to the poll; that number was at its highest in 1993, two years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, when two-thirds of Americans saw Russia as friendly toward the US.That said, a smaller majority of Republicans (62%) said they supported sanctions against Moscow, with 79% of Democrats and 63% of independents supporting economic coercive measures. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden unveiled far-ranging sanctions against Russias largest banks and state enterprises, as well as other markets, which he said were crafted for maximum destructive effect.The negative attitudes have become especially visible in recent days, after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a neutralization operation in Ukraine to eliminate the threat posed by NATO potentially using Ukraine as a base from which to attack Russia. The operation came after months of failed negotiations over Russian security concerns, over which Putin had warned NATO was approaching a red line.Speaking to CNN on Thursday, US Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) suggested extensive punishment for Russians in the United States.After Fox News reported on Swalwells interview, the California congressman interpreted it as an attempted own, tweeting in response that the comments section agrees with me.Looks like they miscalculated America. We dont root for Russia. You bet wrong, Swalwell added.Outside Russias embassy in Washington, DC, on Thursday, protesters wrote murder in red paint on the pavement. According to The Hill, US Secret Service arrested the demonstrator and charged them with defacement of public property.Thursday afternoon, a popular Russian restaurant in Washington, DCs affluent Dupont Circle neighborhood, Russia House, was vandalized. Photos posted on social media showed several of the restaurants street-level sashed windows knocked out.Russia House already held a certain fascination for some US liberals thanks to a dinner there shortly after then-US President Donald Trumps inauguration that figured into larger Russiagate theories about how Putin allegedly interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump win.Things were little better to the north in Canada, where on Friday, liquor stores began removing vodka and other beverages of Russian origin from their shelves at the direction of provincial governments.In late 2017 and early 2018, the White House and Pentagon issued a series of major strategy documents explaining a shift away from the US War on Terror and toward what they called great power competition and inter-state strategic competition with Russia and China.These documents accused Moscow and Beijing of being malign actors seeking to overturn what they called the rules-based international order - another name for the post-Cold War international order in which the US reigned triumphant and unchallenged across the globe. They cast Russia and China as renegade states who pose a danger to the world by trying to assert their equality in that system and refusing to let the US dictate to them the terms of their participation in the world political and economic system.

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russia, russophobia, us, poll, russiagate, great power ambitions
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/ukrainian-nationalists-used-grad-systems-to-hit-residential-areas-in-starobelsk---russian-mod-1093388482.html

Ukrainian Nationalists Used Grad Systems to Hit Residential Areas in Starobelsk - Russian MoD

Ukrainian Nationalists Used Grad Systems to Hit Residential Areas in Starobelsk - Russian MoD

Earlier, local media reported that the Ukrainian military had left the frontline Lugansk region city on Friday, taking their heavy military equipment with... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T08:56+0000

2022-02-26T08:56+0000

2022-02-26T09:43+0000

world

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Ukrainian nationalist forces have shelled residential areas in the city of Starobelsk using heavy Grad artillery, killing civilians, the Russian Defence Ministry has reported.The MoD said further that it has reliable information that Ukrainian nationalist formations plan similar provocations in the towns of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk.Ultra-nationalist and neo-Nazi formations, operating alongside the Ukrainian regular army, are particularly active in eastern Ukraine, and have played a key role in the shelling of civilian and military targets in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, in violation of the 2015 Minsk Agreements aimed at ending the Ukrainian civil war, over the past 7+ years.On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces to seize power. "Do not allow neo-Nazis and Bandera supporters to use your children, your wives, and elderly people as human shields. Take power into your own hands. It seems that it will be easier for us to come to an agreement with this gang of junkies and neo-Nazis, who settled in Kiev and took the entire Ukrainian people hostage," Putin said.On Thursday morning, Russian, Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic forces launched what Putin referred to as a "special military operation" aimed at "demilitarising and denazifying" Ukraine. The move came after a continued escalation of the conflict in the Donbass, notwithstanding Russia's move to recognise the sovereignty of the DPR and LPR last Monday. Ukraine's government and its sponsors in the US and its NATO allies condemned the Russian-led operation as an "act of aggression" and "invasion," and the latter slapped Moscow with new sanctions. The US and NATO have also vowed to continue ramping up the provision of military assistance to Kiev, with US President Joe Biden signing an order to give the country an additional $600 million in military assistance on Friday.The Russian-led military operation is the culmination of a crisis which began in February 2014, when Ukraine's government was overthrown in a US and EU-backed coup by forces seeking to integrate the Eastern European country into the EU and NATO.

https://sputniknews.com/20220226/black-sea-fleet-82-ukrainian-border-guards-who-surrendered-on-zmeiny-island-arrive-in-sevastopol-1093387487.html

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Ilya Tsukanov

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https://sputniknews.com/20220226/us-missile-destroyer-makes-routine-transit-through-sensitive-taiwan-strait--1093388118.html

US Missile Destroyer Makes Routine Transit Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait

US Missile Destroyer Makes Routine Transit Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait

Earlier, ex-President Donald Trump predicted that after Russias recognition of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People's Republics as independent nations... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T10:09+0000

2022-02-26T10:09+0000

2022-02-26T10:09+0000

china

us

taiwan strait

xi jinping

taiwan

russia

ukraine

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A US warship - the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson - sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Saturday as part of what the US Navy's 7th Fleet called a "routine" transit through international waters.Taiwan's Defence Ministry acknowledged that the vessel was sailing in a northerly direction through the Strait, according to Reuters.The islands forces had monitored the warships passage and observed nothing out of the ordinary, it was added.There has not yet been any comment from China's Defence Ministry.Taiwan - Not UkraineThis comes as there has been increased speculation of late over the fate of Taiwan, governed independently from mainland China since the end of the civil war in 1949 that resulted in the Communist Party taking control.In an appearance on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show on 22 February, former US President Donald Trump alleged that following Russias recognition of the Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) People's Republics as independent nations  a move characterized by the US as a "land grab", Chinese President Xi Jinping will attempt to resolve the Taiwan issue.By the way, China is gonna be next. You know, China is gonna -You think theyre gonna go after Taiwan? host Clay Travis asked him.Oh, absolutely. Not with me, they wouldnt have, he replied.This came as Moscow launched a special operation in Ukraine on 24 February after the LPR requested Russia's assistance amid intensifying shelling by the Ukrainian Army, which resulted in civilian casualties in the Donbass republics.Russia's Defence Ministry stressed that Russian forces did not launch any strikes on Ukrainian cities, only targeting the country's military infrastructure with high-precision strikes. Russian president, Vladimir Putin, stressed that the goal of the special operation was the "demilitarisation and denazification" of Ukraine, after which, as stated earlier on numerous occasions, Moscow would withdraw its forces, as it had no intention of occupying Ukraine.Taiwan was also flagged earlier by the UK Prime Minister. Boris Johnson told the Munich Security Conference that, "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."However, Chinas foreign ministry said on 23 February that Taiwan is not Ukraine.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated at a press briefing that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory".At an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of former US President Richard Nixon's visit to China, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said on 24 February the One-China principle is the unshakable political foundation for China-US relations. The Chinese diplomat urged Washington to honor its commitments regarding the Taiwan issue and work with Beijing to contain the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China, has been governed independently from the mainland since 1949, maintaining that it is an autonomous country, and has political and economic relations with several nations that recognise its sovereignty.However, Beijing views the island as its province, its official policy envisioning a peaceful unification of Taiwan with Mainland China  something that it has argued in a plethora of talks with island authorities over the decades. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also called on Taiwan to acknowledge its future lies in "reunification" earlier this year. However, Taipei has persistently rejected Beijings proposal for "one country, two systems".Of late, Taiwan has been complaining of repeated missions carried out by China's air force into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ).While the United States has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Washington has continued to channel weapons and other support to Taipei in an informal manner. China has repeatedly condemned US support for Taiwan, slamming it as a violation of the three joint communiques underpinning the US-China diplomatic relationship.

https://sputniknews.com/20220223/china-is-gonna-be-next-trump-claims-xi-ready-to-seize-taiwan-after-moscows-donbass-recognition-1093311716.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220225/what-did-putin-mean-by-denazification-of-ukraine-and-why-is-it-so-important-1093375330.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220221/china-to-take-measures-against-us-over-sale-of-weapons-to-taiwan---foreign-ministry-1093223604.html

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

china, us, taiwan strait, xi jinping, taiwan, russia, ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20220226/zelensky-has-fled-kiev-for-lvov-russian-state-duma-speaker-says-1093390487.html

Zelensky Has Fled Kiev for Lvov, Russian State Duma Speaker Says

Zelensky Has Fled Kiev for Lvov, Russian State Duma Speaker Says

On 24 February, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves... 26.02.2022, Sputnik International

2022-02-26T10:27+0000

2022-02-26T10:27+0000

2022-02-26T15:48+0000

ukraine

volodymyr zelensky

situation in ukraine

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Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had left Kiev for Lvov; he added that Zelensky had already departed the Ukrainian capital as of yesterday.Volodin also noted that all the videos that Zelensky publishes on social networks were recorded in advance. According to him, information about Zelensky's departure to Lvov came from deputies of the Rada, Ukraine's legislature.On 24 February, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defene Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly stated it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. Prior to that, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed decrees recognising the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) people's republics. In the past weeks, the situation along the line of contact has significantly deteriorated as Ukrainian forces have intensified the shelling of Donbass.

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Longtime harness racing industry participant Rob McKay of Dundas, Ont. passed away peacefully on February 20, 2022 after a brave battle with cancer.

Rob was a long-time colleague and valued member of the AGCOs Regulatory Compliance Branch, contributing to the teams success as a Senior Race Official. He joined the AGCO in 2016 with the ORC merger. While at the ORC working as a Judge, Rob played a pivotal role as a member of the Implementation and Monitoring Group, which created a coordinated approach to Ontario racing. Having served as a Race Secretary for many years, Rob brought his experience and credibility to the task of bringing tracks and horse people together for meaningful dialogue.

Rob was a strong advocate for horse racing and had a passion for ensuring the integrity of the sport. His contributions to the industry will be deeply missed. We share our deepest sympathies with Robs family and all those whose life he touched.

He is survived by his partner of 28 years, Michelle Boers. He was the treasured son of Joan McKay, dearly loved brother of Keith (Jenni) and Scott McKay, and loving nephew of Tommy and Maryann Wilson. Rob was the much-loved son-in-law of John and Harmina Boers and brother-in-law to Ron Boers. He will be greatly missed by his niece and nephews for his abundance of love, giving nature and humour.

At Robs request there will be a celebration of life in the spring. Donations of sympathy can be made to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Rob McKay.

(with files from AGCO)
A series of tornadoes devastated the southern U.S. in December 2021, killing more than 80 people and causing almost $4 billion in damage. One of the worst-hit cities was Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Entire residential blocks were blown away. Fourteen people were killed.

It was a tragedy which literally struck close to home for one Scottsbluff couple.

When the tornado happened in December, we couldnt believe it happened in Dawson Springs, where we used to live, Darlene Howton said. She and her husband Walter lived just four miles north of the city from 2009 until 2016 to be close to both of their children.

They contacted Pastor Donnie Howton, a distant relation of Walters who runs the Dawson Springs Baptist Temple. They sent a $500 donation and asked what they could do to help.

Pastor Howton gave them a list, and the couple got to fulfilling it. Walter first approached the Scottsbluff Home Depot about donating, and they provided protective masks, boxes of gloves, pallets of cleaning fluid, trash bags, brooms and paint. He also approached the Scottsbluff Pella Windows and Doors who provided what he estimated was $30,000 worth of windows.

We were moving into our new showroom, so we had all these windows to pretty much give to him to help all the victims down there, Robin Hennings, who works inside sales for the local Pella store, said. We just kind of wanted to help everybody out down there as much as we could, and Walts an angel for doing it as far as Im concerned.

Nearly every business they asked provided something. Carr-Trumbull Lumber donated a rooms worth of flooring and Safeway donated canned goods. Other businesses gave donations of cash or gift cards to purchase supplies. Some places such as the Western Travel Terminal donated canisters of fuel, so the Howtons could make the trip quicker. It took two weeks to fill their trailer with donations, and they left in early February.

Walter said the trip was made without incident, and none of the donations were damaged. They stopped at a Walmart in Paducah, Kentucky and used a donated gift card to purchase perishable food that wouldnt have lasted the whole trip.

When the Howtons arrived in Dawson Springs, they found a community still picking up the pieces. The Red Cross had already left, but FEMA remained to help clear debris. Several residents had relocated to neighboring towns while their houses were slowly being rebuilt.

They said that 75% of the town was destroyed, Walter said. ... Imagine a town the size of Kimball getting 75% wiped out.

Volunteers at Pastor Howtons church helped them unload the supplies and told them of other donation efforts. One person from Georgia had delivered an entire semi-truck filled with presents for the towns children.

The Howtons couldnt stay long to put their donations to use, but their efforts will make it easier for Dawson Springs to rebuild.

I just did what I thought I needed to do, Walter said.

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Local authorities arrested a Gering man Friday, Feb. 18, after an altercation where he allegedly threatened to kill police officers.

According to court documents, an officer arriving for his shift made contact with Trey Arellano, 21, early in the morning on Feb. 18. The documents said Arellano had been waiting in the parking lot of the Scottsbluff Police Department near the patrol cars.

In a press release, Scottsbluff Police Capt. Lance Kite alleged Arellano told the officer he was going to kill a cop, and then asked if the officer was a cop. The officer remained in his vehicle and alerted other officers inside the station to Arellanos presence.

The officers unsuccessfully tried to get Arellano to show his hands and were afraid he was concealing a weapon, Kite said. Court documents allege Arellano told officers to shoot him and that he needed to die. Officers accuse him of refusing to comply with orders they gave and they deployed a Taser on him. According to the affidavit, Arellano allegedly punched an officer in the face and started to run away, however, officers tackled the man and subdued him.

The arrest affidavit reported he was hiding a three-inch-long scissor blade up his left shirt sleeve.

Police arrested Arellano and he was booked into the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center. He has been charged with terroristic threats and assaulting an officer, both Class 3A felonies. He has also been charged with obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest, Class I misdemeanors.

Bond is currently set at $50,000. Arellano is next scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 4 at the Scotts Bluff County Courthouse.

In addition to Scottsbluff police, officers and responders with the the Gering Police Department, Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs Office and Valley Ambulance responded to the scene.

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SCOTTSBLUFF - The Scottsbluff High School vocal department will be hosting 275 vocalists from around the area in the Panhandle Festival Choral Clinic on Monday, Feb. 28. Students from Scottsbluff, Gering, Alliance, Bridgeport, Hemingford, Kimball and Mitchell will be spending the day working with clinician Fred Ritter.

Ritter retired from teaching vocal music in the Nebraska public schools in 2015. Ritter began teaching in 1978 in the North Platte School District, first at the junior high and then at the high school. After 12 years, he moved to Columbus High School, where he remained for the rest of his career. Ritter served as President of Nebraska Choral Directors Association, the North Central Jazz Chair for American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and most recently as President of the Nebraska Music Education Association (NMEA).

During his final year of teaching, Ritter was the recipient of the Cornell Runestad Award for Lifetime Dedication to Choral Music in Nebraska, the 2015 Columbus Public Schools Foundations Educator of the Year Award and Doane Universitys Platt Alumni Music Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music. In addition to working as a music educator, Ritter directed several community choirs; sang with the Pathfinder Chorus, Nebraskas premier a cappella chorus; and sang professionally with the Norman Luboff Choir.

The Scottsbluff High School Acappella Choir will be performing in addition to the festival choir. Admission to the concert is $5 at the door. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the concert beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28.

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In another escalation of the conflict, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the military would call up reservists and assess how many others would be eligible to join them. Get the latest.
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.
By Norayr Nazaryan

The film tells another story about Detective Poirot, who needs to investigate a mysterious murder, distracting from his rest. The crime catches up with Poirot on board a luxury cruise ship following along the Nile.

The continuation of Agatha Christie's film adaptations from Kenneth Branagh turned out to be less ambitious and mysterious. The sequel turned out to be piled up with different characters, the ultimate goal of which is to evaluate everyone in the style of Poirot. The deduction itself and the final verdict turned out to be interesting, except for the fact that you reveal the killer in the first minutes.

If in "Murder on the Orient Express" the intrigue persisted until the very finale, unexpectedly leading to the culprit of the crime, then the viewer approaches "Death on the Nile" with knowledge of the matter.

Unlike the dark blue contrast of the Orient Express, this picture is saturated with fiery orange and yellow colors, in which Egypt fits perfectly.

In the two-hour timekeeping, the detective itself begins exactly from the second half of the film. What happens before that? Nothing special. The first hour of the film is just a long exposition, where the viewer is introduced to the characters while running through them very superficially.

The second half of the film tries to bring dynamics into the picture by introducing a detective component. But as in the first film of 2017, the detective part turned out to be very conditional. Hercule Poirot puffs his mustache, interrogating everyone in a row- is the end of the detective work in general.

Kenneth Branagh as Poirot looks good. There is sophistication and also a considerable amount of charisma. However, Bran's actor is hindered by himself as a director. The production suffers from the protraction and dullness of the presentation of the material.

The only obvious plus in the picture is its visual component. Egypt is indeed shown indescribably beautiful.

Gal Gadot was also a disappointment. Of course, it's good that she has an unusual role for the usual role of an actress, but here the tick was for a "tick". Looking at her, you perceive her more like a beautiful mannequin in a shop window than a living character with nature.

Finally.

"Death on the Nile" is a disappointment. As a detective, the film is rather weak, the narrative has problems with dynamics and structure, and the script is not at all pleasing with something impressive. If you want to watch, of course, you can, but for those who crave a high-quality detective, it's better to pass by.

Enjoy the movie!

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Chinese fishmonger pursues dream as painting hobbyist while supporting his family

People's Daily Online) 17:31, February 25, 2022

Shen Jianjiang, a 53-year-old fish vendor from the Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou, east Chinas Zhejiang Province, has been developing his hobby of creating Chinese paintings in his spare time over the course of 10 years.

Shen Jianjiang busies himself painting one of his creations inside his studio. (Photo/Wei Yanran)

Learning the art of Chinese painting has always been a childhood dream of Shens. However, due to a variety of reasons, he failed to stick to the hobby for much of his life. After being encouraged by his wife to pick up a hobby, Shen reembarked on the journey of learning Chinese painting techniques.

In order to master the techniques in a systematic manner, Shen signed up to join a painting class opened by the farmers painting association in Xiaoshan district. Later, he became a member of the association.

Most of Shens artistic creations are ink and wash landscape paintings. I wanted to balance work and my personal hobby, and my art teacher suggested that I should devote effort to learning one specific type of Chinese painting in order to quickly improve my drawing skills, Shen explained.

Shen Jianjiang takes a spare moment from his workday to paint while attending to his fish stall. (Photo/Wei Yanran)

Shen has always sought inspiration in nature while taking up his hobby. The scenery on rainy days was really beautiful, but the conditions for painting were not favorable. In this case, I often used a camera to record the scenery and then drew paintings based on the pictures I had taken when I went back home, Shen explained, adding that he also used foam boards to draw pictures on when he was outside. So far, the man has created more than 600 paintings.

Shen has a busy schedule every day, usually getting up at 4 a.m. to restock fish products, and then spending the rest of the day running his business at the market. It is only after a full days work that Shen starts to draw pictures in his 20-square-meter painting studio.

Both Shens wife and son support him in chasing his painting dreams, and his wife always happens to be the first person to appreciate Shens paintings. I truly hope that he can stick to the hobby, said Shens wife.

Photo shows Shen Jianjiang and his wife in front of their fish stall. (Photo/Wei Yanran)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Indian Air Force exits from Exercise Cobra Warrior in UK

by IANS |

New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS) Amidst ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, the Indian Air Force has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in the United Kingdom.



Indian made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was expected to participate in the military exercise, its debut in overseas war games.



In a statement, Indian Air Force said: "In light of the recent events, IAF has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in UK."



The multi nation air exercise 'Ex Cobra Warrior 22' at Waddington, UK was planned from March 6 to March 22.



The exercise was aimed at providing operational exposure and to share best practices amongst the participating Air Forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship.



The exercise is one of the largest annual Royal Air Force exercises and aims to train both pilots and other air specialists in planning and executing complex airborne missions.



These exercises are, as per the RAF, "the most challenging training for aircrew and the final step for those seeking to qualify as Qualified Weapons Instructors (QWI), Qualified Multi-engine Tactics Instructors, QWI Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and [for the] Qualified Space Instructors Course".



On on February 23, IAF had said that five Tejas fighters would fly out to the United Kingdom. It was also a platform for LCA Tejas to demonstrate its manoeuvrability and operational capability.



Earlier this month, a 44 member contingent of Indian Air Force participated in the 'Singapore Air Show-2022' where the force showcased LCA Tejas capabilities.



The Air Show was held from February 15 to February 18. Singapore Air Show is a biennial event which provides a platform for the Global Aviation Industry to showcase their products.
A Chilhowie woman was killed Monday morning after the vehicle she was traveling in was struck by pick-up truck.

According to a release from the Virginia State Police, troopers responded to the scene at 9:46 a.m. after a 2002 Ford Taurus that was traveling along Route 605 was struck by a 2021 Dodge Ram 2500 pick up as the Tauras traveled through the intersection of Route 600.

The impact of the crash caused both vehicles to run off the road, according to the release.

Natalie L. O'Neal, 59, a passenger in the Taurus died at the scene.

The driver of the Taurus, 50-year-old William A. Mason, was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Mason has been charged with failure to yield the right of way, the release said.

The driver of the Dodge was uninjured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.
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.

Stolen vehicle  Woodland officers Thursday arrested Marijane Isobella Dawn Fitzwater, 22, of Beaverton, Oregon on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Stolen vehicle, contraband in jail  Woodland officers Thursday arrested Aubra Carl Rasmussen, 29, of Hillsboro, Oregon, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, making a false statement and introducing a contraband substance to jail.

Sex offender registration  Cowlitz deputies Thursday arrested Michael Paul Harlan, 46, of Kelso, on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender with two priors, contempt of court and driving without a license in the third degree.

Theft, forgery  Longview officers Thursday arrested James Dewayne Shepherd, 34, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree theft, forgery, resisting arrest and obstructing a public servant.

Burglary

500 block of Kelso Drive, Kelso. Thursday. Report of someone entering a city building at night.

Theft

2500 block of Sunrise Street, Kelso. Thursday. Report of mail box broken into the day before.

Vehicle prowl

700 block of Sunnyside Street, Kelso. Thursday. Report of Ruger LCP handgun taken from vehicle.

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Apple iPhone 13, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini price drop has been announced on Flipkart. You can avail discount, exchange, bank offers, and freebies on these iPhones.

Are you planning to buy an Apple iPhone but not sure which one you should go for? Different models and variants of iPhones cost different. But what if we tell you that there are discounts, exchange and bank offers on several iPhone models on Flipkart. Sounds exciting right? You can check the offers and then decide which one you want to buy based on your budget and other requirements. You should know that iPhone 13, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini price drop has been announced on Flipkart, You can avail the iPhone 13 originally priced at Rs. 79,900 for Rs. 57,100 with a discount and exchange offer on Flipkart. While iPhone 12 can be purchased for Rs. 39,199 followed by iPhone 12 mini for Rs. 26,499.

You are advised to grab the offer before it ends. Want to know how? Here is all you need to know about the latest iPhone 13, iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini price drop.

iPhone 13 price on Flipkart

The Apple iPhone 13 with 128GB storage can be purchased for Rs. 74,900 at a discount of 6 percent against its market price of Rs. 79,900 on Flipkart. That is you can buy the phone at a discount of Rs. 5,000. But wait, you can reduce the cost of the iPhone further.

The iPhone 13 price can further be reduced through an exchange offer on Flipkart. If you buy iPhone 13 via the exchange, then you can get up to Rs. 17,800 off. After which the price of the iPhone will reduce to Rs. 57,100 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.

While coming to the bank offers, the ecommerce website is offering several offers including 10 percent up to 1000 off on UPI transactions and 5 percent unlimited cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card.

You can also avail freebies like 25 percent off on Discovery+ subscription, add Bitcoin worth Rs. 201 to your portfolio and free 6 months Gaana Plus subscription.

iPhone 12 price on Flipkart

The Apple iPhone 12 with 64GB storage can be purchased for Rs. 53,999 at a discount of 18 percent against its market price of Rs. 65,900 on Flipkart. That is you can buy the phone at a discount of Rs. 11,901.

If you buy iPhone 12 via the exchange, then you can get up to Rs. 14,800 off further. After which the price of the iPhone will reduce to Rs. 39,199 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.

You can get bank offers like 10 percent up to 1000 off on UPI transactions, 10 percent off on slice Visa credit cards, up to Rs. 1000 on orders of Rs. 5000 and above, 10 percent off on Yes Bank Credit Cards, up to Rs. 1000 on orders of Rs. 5000 and above, 10 percent off on IDFC Credit Cards up to Rs. 1000 on orders of Rs. 5000 and above and 5 percent unlimited cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card.

While the freebies include 25 percent Off on Discovery+ subscription, add Bitcoin worth Rs. 201 to your portfolio, and free 6 months Gaana Plus subscription.

iPhone 12 mini price on Flipkart

The Apple iPhone 12 mini with 64GB storage can be purchased for Rs. 41,299 at a discount of 31 percent against its market price of Rs. 59,900 on Flipkart. That is you can buy the phone at a discount of Rs. 18,601. You can also avail the phone via exchange. If you do so you will be able to reduce the cost of the iPhone 12 mini by up to Rs. 14,800, after which the iPhone will cost Rs. 26,499 on Flipkart.

The ecommerce website is also offering bank offers and freebies on iPhone 12 mini similar to that of iPhone 12. The only difference is that instead of Gaana Plus subscription, you will get Hotstar subscription for free.
Samsung has released the March security update for the Galaxy S22 series in certain markets. Here is everything you need to know.

Samsung is now an unstoppable force when it comes to timely software updates! After raising the bar for Android brands with it software update policy, Samsung has once again shown how serious it is with updating its existing phones with the latest updates. We had seen Samsung previously deliver a monthly security update way before Google rolled it out for its Pixel 6 devices. Samsung has done it again; this time for its fresh-off-the-oven Galaxy S22 series.

Several users of the Galaxy S22 series across the world have reported to get the latest March Security patch for Android. This is surprising given that February is yet to end. The Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra are all getting the February Security patch as part of their first software update in the European region. Note that Europe has got the Exynos 2200 version of the Galaxy S22 series, while the rest of the world gets the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 variant.

Samsung updates OS faster than Google

This is a welcome change from the brand that used to lag behind in times of Android software updates a few years ago. Samsung is now the only brand in the Android universe that promises four years of OS updates for some of its phones, and up to five years of security updates. This towers Googles promise of three years of OS updates, and the rest of the industrys two-years OS update promise.

Note that the four years of OS updates is currently limited to the Galaxy S22 series, Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, and the Galaxy Tab S8 series. The older-gen Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy S20 series, Galaxy S10 series, and Galaxy Note 20 series will continue to get three OS updates and four years of security patches.

Despite the stretched software update policy, Samsung still lags behind Apples mega six years of software support cycle. However, iOS and Android are tow completely different platforms, and for a open-source platform, Samsung is currently leading the charge with regards to its software update policy.

This could also have been the reason behind the Galaxy S22 series finding 70,000 pre-orders in India. Note that the Galaxy S22 series is yet to go on sale in India. The Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus take on the iPhone 13 range, while the Galaxy S22 Ultra takes on the iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The Motorola Edge 30 Pro sets a benchmark for sub-  50,000 Android flagship killers to beat. Read on to find more about it.

Who thought that Motorola would be the brand beating the dominant Chinese smartphone brands at their own game! After last years surprising Edge 20 Pro, Motorola is back for 2022 with the Edge 30 Pro  a high-end Android phone that comes with the right specifications at the right time, and with the right price too! At Rs. 49,999, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is unbelievably good value on paper. The value is so good that Xiaomi could now shy from using the tag honest pricing on their phones!

And, it is not that Edge 30 Pro is good only on paper! After spending a few days with it, this comes across easily as the best Android flagship killer you can buy in 2022, provided the price stays as it is right now (we all know how Motorola bumps prices secretly). The user experience is second to none in its class and its rivals will need to sit up and take notice, if not copy Motorolas homework.

Is the Motorola Edge 30 Pro so good that you should go straightway and buy it? Hang on and read our review before you do that.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro Design

Motorola has been playing it safe with its smartphone designs this year, keeping a low understated profile across the Moto G and now the Moto Edge series. The Edge 30 Pro doesnt look as enticing as a Oppo Reno 7 Pro but with its clever combination of curves, an oval shaped camera hump that neatly fuses into the body, and a fancy colour gradient, it has an appealing charm. The Gorilla Glass 5 rear with its matte finish has resisted scratches and smudges but loves to stick dust on itself. The glass on front is the older Gorilla Glass 3 and that has stayed scratch-less too despite facing the rough Indian outdoors.

There is an issue though and it does not relate to the plastic frame. Rather, it is about the volume and power keys. Whether you have got tall hands or short, both the keys are too far away from the fingers reach. Motorola says this helps in ergonomics but this odd placement of the keys has been irksome on a daily basis., since the fingerprint sensor resides on the lock key.

Other than that, the Edge 30 Pro is one of the more comfortable phones I have used lately.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro Display

Motorola carries over its headline-grabbing 144Hz OLED display from the Edge 20 Pro as it is. Hence, the viewing experience on this phone is as good as it was on the older model. The 6.7-inch display with its 20:9 aspect ratio is large enough for regular social media sessions, YouTube binging, and occasional web show sessions on OTT apps. I did not notice any tinting issues and under the sunlight, the screen is easily visible to the eyes. I wish Motorola could have gone for a LTPO display, since the Auto refresh rate mode loves to stay on 60Hz more and opting to go full 144Hz all the time has its effects on the battery life.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro Performance

This is where the Edge 30 Pro wins us over! This years hero chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, is present here and it leaves no stone unturned when it comes to offering raw performance. Demanding games? You ask and the Edge 30 Pro runs them like a Pro! Games such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Shadow Fight 4: Arena can keep going at their full graphics settings without heating up like a pan on the cooking stove. Note that this could be due to the cold Winter conditions in Delhi and it remains to be seen how this chip handles the same gaming tasks during the blazing summer. I say this since the phone heated up substantially during video calls spanning 30 minutes.

When you arent doing such demanding tasks, the Edge 30 Pro is an absolute breeze to use  thanks to its superb Android experience. Motorolas Android 12 skin, dubbed MyUX 3.0 seems like an exact replica of the Material You theme on the Google Pixel devices. You get to see the same cartoonishly large notification toggles, fancy aesthetics, beautiful icons, and some fancy widgets. You can tweak the UI with custom colour accents, new fonts, icon shapes and few more. The only bit missing here is the ability for the phone to match icon colours to that of the wallpapers  it does so for the system icon accents.

And it is not just the looks. The user experience is sublime, with the phone being an absolute joy to use on a daily basis. The animations are beautiful and there are no jarring lags, stuttering animations. Unlike its rivals, the UI is free of bloatware and adware. Even the pre-loaded apps are limited to Facebook, Google apps, and some Motorola apps. Samsungs One UI looks cluttered in comparison!

Motorola promises two years of Android OS upgrades, which while not being class-leading, is still decent. Plus, you get to see all the classic Motorola gestures and its smarter version of the Always On Display. Ready For is the big feature Motorola advertises but it is still limited to Miracast supported devices only. I tried the Read For PC feature but I was unable to download the required file for Windows.

The Edge 30 Pro also impresses with its audio performance. There is a set of stereo speakers, which while not being as lively as the Xiaomi 11T Pros speakers, are loud enough to do the job just fine. The Dolby Atmos tuning for output makes music listening experiences great. Audio via Bluetooth speakers and earbuds sounds way better than they do on the iQOO 9 Pro; a more expensive phone.

Taking calls on the Edge 30 Pro is a pleasant experience too, with Motorolas signature sidetone feature to make it comfortable to speak and hear simultaneously. I did not face any connectivity issues on my Jio 4G connection and Wi-Fi network at home either. Network performance has been rock solid.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro Cameras

This is where the Edge 30 Pro falls slightly. Motorola has gone for a Oppo-like approach for its camera tuning  oversaturated colours and higher contrasts. Whether it is day or night, the camera love to bump up the saturation to a point where it feels slight unnatural. For example, the photo of the Chicken noodles bowl looks more orange than its natural brown hues in the restaurant. The same goes for daylight photos where the colours are always boosted. However, exposures are done nicely and if you are into brightened-up photos, you will like the Edge 30 Pros still photos.

Both the 50MP main and 50 MP ultra-wide camera have slightly varying colour profiles but end results are pleasing enough for your social media needs. Pixel-peeping peeps (get the pun?) could be unhappy with the un-flagship-like detail smudging; both on all the rear cameras, and the front camera as well. The 60MP selfie camera is fine with facial details but has cooler colour tones and a narrow focal plane  not ideal for group selfies. The macro mode is decent and in the Ultra-Res 50MP mode, you can gain some details at the cost of more shadows in daylight.

Check out some sample images here

Video recording is good but not great by Androids standards. The same contrasty and saturated look is present on the 4K and 1080p videos. Theres 8K video recording too and it looks decent in daylight only.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro Battery

A 144Hz display and a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip dont raise concerns for the 4800mAh battery. However, I was impressed to see the Edge 30 Pro spending an entire weekdays torture and still leaving 30 percent battery on most days. Note that this torture included 2 hours worth of talktime, 2 hours worth of social media browsing, and several other regular phone stuff  excluding gaming. With an hour of gaming thrown into the mix, you might need to charge up the phone by evening.

Luckily, Motorola has upgraded its charging system to a modern-day acceptable 68W solution and it takes around 40 minutes to do a full charge from less than 10 percent battery. You get this 68W charger in the box. You also get to see 15W wireless charging support and 5W revere wireless charging support as well. Very few phones offer such kind of versatility for charging at this price.

Verdict

If you have Rs. 50,000 to spend on a smartphone right now, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is easily the best 2022 flagship killer you can get right now. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is faster than any other phone selling at its price, and the user experience is second to none if you value a no-nonsense clean Android experience. Battery life has been good too and that 144Hz display is another draw for Netflix lovers. The 68W fast charging along with the wireless charging is another boon.

The Edge 30 Pro, however, has its fair share of drawbacks too; hence we call it a flagship killer, not a proper flagship. The camera performance is on par with more affordable midrange phones, and this seems to be a hardware-related restriction. Motorola has been too conservative with the design too, considering what Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and iQOO are doing with their phones.

Hence, if cameras are your priority at this price range, the cheaper Oppo Reno 7 Pro and Vivo X70 Pro could be good options for you. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is another well-rounded package at this price with great cameras, a beautiful display, and a solid user experience. The Xiaomi 11T Pro and iQOO 9 are two options to consider if you value faster charging speeds.

However, it is the Motorola Edge 30 Pro that grabs our attention for its overall performance and user experience; thereby nabbing the title of our top recommendation at/under Rs. 50,000.
A 'potentially hazardous' asteroid is making its way towards Earth, NASA says, but is this the time to worry?

We are a just week away from yet another large asteroid that will make a close approach to Earth and it has been categorised as potentially hazardous by NASA. The Near-Earth asteroid has been named Asteroid 138971 (2001 CB21) and it is estimated to be up to 3,940 feet in diameter, which makes it even bigger than the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. The giant asteroid is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on March 4, 2022, at 2:59 am Eastern Time. NASAs Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) reported that it is speculated to be traveling at speed more than 26800 miles per hour. But does this huge asteroid, which is categorised as potentially hazardous, pose any risk to Earth?

Well, the news about the hazardous asteroid making its way close to Earth can make anyone worried, considering the horrific destructive power that it carries due to its size and speed at which it is travelling. But the good news is despite having a gigantic structure and lightning speed, it doesnt pose any risk to Earth. Actually, the asteroid is not even expected to get any closer than 3 million miles to Earth, which is almost more than 12 times the distance between our planet and the moon. So, you dont need to worry much about it. Then why is it categorised as potentially hazardous?

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Actually, NASA's Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies keeps track of asteroids that have the potential to collide with Earth. NASA tracks almost 1,000 asteroids that have passed close to Earth since 1968. And when an asteroid with a diameter of more than 150 meters approaches Earth, NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid and monitors it closely. Hence, NASA classified Asteroid 138971 (2001 CB21) as potentially hazardous, which has gained a lot of interest. The reason to worry stems from the fact that, though the asteroid is on course to pass harmlessly by, but if for any reason, its course is changed by some unforeseen object, then there is no saying what will happen- it may even head directly for Earth..

Back in January, an Astronomer at the Virtual Telescope Project in Italy, Gianluca Masi took a picture of this giant asteroid when it was at a distance of more than tens of millions of miles. Now, as the asteroid made its way nearer the Earth, Masi managed to click another photo of the asteroid, and this time it was about 6.2 million miles away from our planet. Have a look here:

You can see a sharp white dot in the image indicated by the white arrow at the center which is the upcoming giant asteroid. "The telescope tracked the apparent motion of the asteroid, so it looks like a sharp dot, with surrounding stars appearing slightly elongated," the astronomer Gianluca Masi mentioned on his website. He further mentioned that the image has been captured from a single 120-second exposure shot taken remotely using a PlaneWave 17-inch robotic telescope unit.
Recently, NASA posted a viral image on its Instagram page and asked the followers to guess what the picture was. Almost everyone failed to guess it correctly. Can you?

A couple of days ago, NASA posted an intriguing image on its Instagram page and asked its followers, What do you see in the image? The post was soon crowded by space aficionados who tried to guess the answer, but most failed. This recent NASA viral image is a series of posts NASA does on its social media handles in order to promote awareness and education around space and technology. These interactive and engaging posts are a great way to teach people about things that exist in our universe but are barely talked about. Not leaving the followers curious, NASA Instagram page later edited the post to reveal the real answer. Read on to find out.

The image featured four black and white structures with different 3D geometric shapes. In order to make it more fun, NASA even offered some hints to all the participants of this game. NASA said that it could be a mini James Webb Space Telescope or even two starfighters from a galaxy far, far away, referencing the popular space movie Star Wars. These interactive posts by NASA create a lot of buzz on social media. This post had NASA trending all over Instagram with more than 4.3 lakh likes and more than 2,300 comments.

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What is the NASA viral image really about?

Even though many commentators took cues from NASA to guess Tie Fighter, a small spaceship in the Star Wars movie, it was not really the right answer. Other responses included Captain Americas shield, cryptocurrency and mini satellites. But sadly none of them were correct. After a while, NASA came to the rescue and answered what the image really was. It turns out the NASA viral image were snowflakes. But the story behind it is way more interesting than you can imagine.

These are a few of the many snowflake images collected by NASAs IMPACTS mission, which studies the snowstorms common to the Northeastern U.S., the post said. NASA also explained exactly how these snowflakes particles were collected - by flying directly into the snowstorms.

The instruments and probes attached to the P-3 aircraft are able to collect samples to measure snow particles and atmospheric properties within the storm clouds. Each of the aircraft's instruments has a special use: taking high-definition photos of ice particles, measuring the total amount of water (both in liquid and ice form), measuring the size of full and partial snow particles, and sampling shattered particles. These data-collecting tools can sample over 30 million particles in a single eight-hour flight alone, NASA added.

But the American space agency didnt just leave it at that. Aiming to make it an educational experience, NASA explained the true objective behind the campaign and what it wanted to achieve.

The goal of the mission is to develop greater comprehension of winter storm formation and development by using several instruments that examine the microphysical characteristics of snow particles at various temperatures and altitudes. The data collected during the multi-year IMPACTS campaign will help advance snowfall remote sensing interpretation and modeling to significantly improve the future of snowstorm forecasting and prediction capabilities.


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Texas is celebrating 186 years of independence next week, and two Brazos Valley events offer residents an opportunity to celebrate.

The 186th Texas Independence Day Celebration will take place at Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 23400 Park Road 12 in Washington.

Rachel Flinn, the assistant manager for the historic site, said organizers are hoping to see up to 8,000 people at the free event.

We are going to have everything from Texan vendors with homemade goods, to demonstrators from the mid-19th century, including living history demonstrations at the convention of 1836 with a signed Declaration of Independence in Texas, she said. We will also have cannon firings and musket firings, live music performances, living demonstrations at Barrington Plantation, a historic magician and a Punch and Judy [puppet] show.

The event will go on rain or shine, Flinn said.

The weather should be pretty nice on Sunday, and this is a great time to celebrate Texas and this is the perfect way to do that, Flinn said. I really enjoy the entire event, but my favorite is the living history demonstrations with our blacksmiths, potters and the magician. This is really neat and something you dont get to see anywhere else.

The celebration on the 293-acre park grounds also will include programs from the Star of the Republic Museum, a site replica of Independence Hall and a Barrington Plantation presentation. Alcohol is not permitted at the park; however, there will be multiple vendors available.

The 10th Texas Birthday Bash will be March 4 and 5 in downtown Navasota, with 10 performers scheduled to play live music. Tickets are available for purchase for $10 for one day and $15 for both days. The event also will have a petting zoo, craft show, Old West gunfighters and Texas food vendors.

On March 4, Grupo Vital will perform at 5 p.m.; Los Chicos del 512 at 6:15 p.m.; Jack Ingram at 7:30 p.m.; and Diamond Rio at 9. The following day, Hayden McBride will perform at 2:30 p.m.; Bri Bagwell at 3:45 p.m.; Cory Morrow at 5 p.m.; Randall King at 6:15 p.m.; Pat Green at 7:30 p.m.; and the Randy Rogers Band will close the show at 9.

Navasota Mayor Bert Miller said he is excited to celebrate the 10th year with a great lineup.

We are looking forward to it; I think this is the best lineup yet. We will have a shuttle available that will run continuously back and forth to pick people up and take them back to their vehicles, he said. We have a lot of people who we hope will take in the whole experience; we sold over 15,000 tickets last year, and this year we are expecting in excess of 20,000 people.

Miller noted that residents may purchase alcohol on site and are encouraged to bring a lawn chair to enjoy the live music. He urged residents to buy the two-day ticket to get a better deal and to make use of the shuttles.

The weather is supposed to be real nice and sunny, everyone should come out and enjoy the sunshine and some great music and great food, he said.

To purchase tickets for the Texas Birthday Bash, visit texasbirthdaybash.com.

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In the 1950s and 1960s, revolutions started by nascent independence movements in Hungary and Czechoslovakia prompted the Soviet Union to unleash its military might to squash them.

Western countries led by the United States decried the action but did little else about it.

The reason: Under the post-World War II agreements among the nations that had defeated Nazi Germany, Eastern Europe was regarded as a Soviet sphere of influence.

But 21st century Europe differs from 20th century Europe. As a result, when President Vladimir Putin launched his effort to undermine the independence of Ukraine, President Joe Biden was able to orchestrate a broad Western response to Russian aggression.

Indeed, about the only similarity between the current situation and the inaction of 20th century presidents is the caution Biden and NATO are showing in seeking to avoid a direct military confrontation with Russia, lest it spark a Europe-wide nuclear conflict between the globes most powerful nations.

Underlying the current situation is the fact that, when Eastern European countries broke free from Soviet domination and the Soviet Union itself collapsed in the early 1990s, its successor  Russia  lost the ability to dominate countries outside its immediate borders.

At the same time, the democracies of Western Europe spread their influence eastward into the resulting void. In the aftermath of the Soviet Unions collapse, they admitted onetime Soviet satellite countries like Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic and the three former Soviet Baltic republics  Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania  as members of their key alliances, the military NATO alliance and the economic-oriented European Union.

That very loss of power is, of course, one of the major factors motivating Putin, who has called the collapse of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.

As was the case with his invasions of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraines province of Crimea in 2014, he seeks to restore at least a semblance of the Soviet empire by reestablishing Russian authority over Ukraine, however he has defined his unjustified decision to unleash the Russian army.

But the one-time Soviet republic, which declared its independence in 1991, has increasingly resisted Russian efforts to restore its primacy, especially over the past decade, and is doing its best to remain independent.

One of Putins fraudulent excuses for acting is the Wests refusal to guarantee that Ukraine wont join Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary, who were once members of the Soviet Unions Warsaw Pact and are now members of NATO.

But though Ukraines leaders have shown some interest in joining the Western alliance, and former President George W. Bush once sought to make it happen, NATO members have made it clear that membership for Ukraine is not on their agenda for the near future.

For one thing, Ukraines admission to NATO would require the United States and its allies to come to its support militarily. That is something they are certainly trying to avoid.

But the underlying irony is that, in his zeal to keep the West from bringing Ukraine into NATO, something that was never going to happen, Putin has strengthened the Western alliances position in other countries on Russias periphery.

In recent weeks, the United States has moved thousands of troops, eight fighter jets and other warplanes into Poland, Slovakia, Romania and the Baltic countries, placing them far closer to Russia than they would have been before Putin launched the current crisis.

How dangerous to overall European peace the current conflict becomes beyond Ukraines borders will depend to a substantial degree on how far Putin goes in seeking to subdue that country.

It also will hinge on how far Biden and the United States European allies go to make good on his vow to make Putin pay swift and severe costs for attacking Ukraine  and how far Putins reaction goes.

Already, however, it is clear the Russian president is confronting a far different and more resistant Europe in the 21st century than the one his Soviet predecessors faced in the 20th century.

Carl P. Leubsdorf is the former Washington bureau chief of the Dallas Morning News. Readers may write to him via email at carl.p.leubsdorf@gmail.com.
The multi-talented performing arts students of Coronado Middle School will finally get their time in the spotlight: the musical Schoolhouse Rock is coming to the Coronado Performing Arts Main Stage on March 4, 5, and 6. This performance marks the first middle school theater production since the onset of the global pandemic.
Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) has warned of Belarusian state-sponsored hackers targeting its military personnel and related individuals as part of a phishing campaign mounted amidst Russia's military invasion of the country.

"Mass phishing emails have recently been observed targeting private 'i.ua' and 'meta.ua' accounts of Ukrainian military personnel and related individuals," the CERT-UA said. "After the account is compromised, the attackers, by the IMAP protocol, get access to all the messages."

Subsequently, the attacks leverage the contact information stored in the victim's address book to propagate the phishing messages to other targets.

The Ukrainian government attributed the activities to a threat actor tracked as UNC1151, a Minsk-based group whose "members are officers of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus." In a follow-up update, the agency said the nation-state group also targets its own citizens, while simultaneously setting its sights on Russian entities 

Association of Belarusians of the World (International Social Union)

Belarusian Music Festival

Samara Oblasna Public Organization "Russian-Belarusian Fraternity 2000"

Dzeaslov, a Belarusian literary magazine

Soviet Belarus (Sovetskaya Belorussiya), a daily newspaper in Belarus

Employees of the National Academy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and

Voice of the Motherland, a local newspaper in Belarus

UNC1151 is the Mandiant-assigned moniker to an uncategorized threat cluster, which operates with objectives that are aligned with Belarusian government interests. The hacking group is believed to have been active since at least 2016.

"UNC1151 has targeted a wide variety of governmental and private sector entities, with a focus in Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Germany," Mandiant researchers said in a November 2021 report. "The targeting also includes Belarusian dissidents, media entities, and journalists."

The state-backed cyber espionage group has also been linked to the Ghostwriter disinformation campaign that promulgated anti-NATO and corruption-themed narratives aimed at Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland with the likely goal of undermining the governments and creating tensions in the region.

What's more, the January defacement attacks of several Ukrainian government websites with threatening messages are believed to be the handiwork of UNC1151 as well.

Hacking Groups Take Sides

The development follows a barrage of data wiper and distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against Ukrainian government agencies, even as various hacking groups and ransomware syndicates are capitalizing on the chaos to take sides and further their activities.

"The Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government," the decentralized hacktivist group tweeted, adding it "leaked the database of the Russian Ministry of Defense website."

Another group that has declared its fealty to Ukraine is the vigilante group known as GhostSec (short for Ghost Security), which announced it had flooded Russian military websites with DDoS attacks "in support of the people in Ukraine."

The Conti ransomware cartel, which recently absorbed the now-shuttered TrickBot trojan, rallied its "full support" behind the Russian government, threatening to "strike back at the critical infrastructures of an enemy" should "anybody will decide to organize a cyber attack or any war activities against Russia."

The group, however, later rephrased its statement to state that "we do not ally with any government and we condemn the ongoing war." But the Conti team also maintained that it "will use our full capacity to deliver retaliatory measures in case the Western warmongers attempt to target critical infrastructure in Russia or any Russian-speaking region of the world."

Other hacking entities to declare allegiance to Russia are the RedBanditsRU cybercrime group and the lesser-known CoomingProject ransomware program, which pledged to "help the Russian government if cyber attacks and conduct against Russia."

The ripple effects from the war have also prompted the Ukrainian government to form a volunteer "IT Army" to conduct operational tasks against Russia on the cyber frontline. "We are creating an IT army," Ukraine's Minister for Digital Transformation Mykhaylo Fedorov said Friday. "We need digital talents."

The tasks encouraged more than 195,000 members of a newly set up Telegram group to "use any vectors of cyber and DDoS attacks" on the websites of Russian and Belarusian business corporations, banks, and government entities, as well as media websites and YouTube channels that "openly lie about the war in Ukraine."
This week brought seldom-seen volatility in commodity prices, with wheat supplies and demand in focus. The midweek Russian invasion of Ukraine, the accompanying relentless shelling, and the broadening of the scope of the onslaught all contributed. The first territory Russia invaded includes some of the most productive, mineral-rich wheat soil on earth  even better than Russias. Scenes of thousands of refugees fleeing to Poland or Hungary stirred fears the worlds supply will be severely reduced. Ukraine and Russia combined provide over 60% of the worlds wheat exports.

Wheat is the oldest and cheapest source of human food, with some evidence dating its production back to 20,000 or 30,000 years ago. Political upheaval and wars have been triggered throughout history by wheat shortages, for example, flour wars in France in the 1770s, the French Revolution, U.S. flour riots in the 1800s, bread riots in Egypt, and the Arab Spring. Agricultural supply threats to grains and cotton affected even our own American Civil War.

Most of the sharp rise in grains fizzled out or entirely reversed by Friday afternoon. The weeks massive volatility in beans, for example, saw the price explode over $ 17.65 per bushel but tumbled almost two dollars at weeks end. As of Friday afternoon, May wheat was $8.60, May beans $15.85, May corn $6.58.

Crude blows over

$100, then falls

out of bedWars, such as Desert Storm, have also been fought over oil supplies, and the U.S. has frequently been involved. Russias invasion of Ukraine could affect our energy prices here. The sanctions on Russia, including Germanys halting of the Nord Stream pipeline approval, are a huge factor in the energy supply for most of Europe.

Crude oil spiked to $100.54 per barrel on Thursday but collapsed to $90.00 area just before Fridays close. Natural gas, gasoline, diesel, gold, silver, all experienced upward spikes on Thursday and sharp declines on Friday. April Crude oil traded for $91.15 per barrel near the close on Friday while natural gas for May delivery brought $4.48 per million BTUs, and April gasoline $2.87 per gallon. April gold brought about $1,890 per ounce, while May silver traded at $24.10.

Opinions are solely the writers. Walt Breitinger is a commodity futures broker in Valparaiso, Indiana. He can be reached at 800-411-3888 or www.indianafutures.com. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell any market.

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"Two things keep me going during the tough times. First, medicine for me is a calling. I became a doctor to care for people. And now more than ever, the people of our community need care. Second, thinking about my family keeps me going. My family is my world. On tough days, I remember that the person on the hospital bed in front of me is part of a family too and deserves all the care and attention I can give them.

Its no surprise those words come from Dr. Craig Davis of Carbondale. Known for his steady servant leadership, Dr. Davis is the system director for hospital medicine at SIH.

Hospitalists are physicians who provide primary medical care for people in the hospital. Hospital-based physicians now exist for many different specialties. I lead SIHs adult medical hospitalist physician group, explained Dr. Davis, who helped establish SIHs program many years ago. Prior, Dr. Davis specialty was internal medicine. He worked in private practice in Herrin after returning home to his native Southern Illinois.

Dr. Davis was born at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and spent his entire childhood in Anna. He grew up around medicine and always knew he wanted to be a doctor.

Two of my uncles, Tom and Mike Davis, are both local orthopedic surgeons. After high school, I went to Duke University for college, University of Illinois for medical school and Indiana University for an Internal Medicine residency. Despite my time away from Southern Illinois, my plan was always to return here to practice medicine.

Among his peers, Dr. Davis is known for his compassion and selflessness. Theyre strengths which have inspired many, especially during the ongoing Covid pandemic.

I first met Dr. Davis when he served as my attending physician when I was completing rotations as a medical student. From that point on, hes served as an important mentor in my medical career as I continue to learn from him as a colleague and as our director, said Dr. Ross Gray, a fellow hospitalist. I respect and admire the way Dr. Davis always shows up for his patients and his colleagues. Recently, he came to the hospital in the middle of the night to relieve a sick physician and cover the rest of his shift. Dr. Davis is committed to ensuring patients receive the best care possible and supporting is colleagues in every way he can. His herculean work throughout the pandemic should not go unrecognized; I am personally grateful for the time and dedication hes devoted to navigating our team through it.

Dr. Davis is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Jill, have four wonderful children: Sydney, Maggie, Sam and Greta.

The joys and challenges of family life have taught me patience, respect, tolerance and empathy. My hobbies are my children. Between work and home life, there isnt time for anything else. But I wouldnt have it any other way. If there were an extra 10 hours in a day, Id spend them all with my family. They are all unique and amazing individuals, and our time together flies by. I wish I had more of it, said Dr. Davis.

Dr. Davis is a senior fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine, a member of the American College of Physicians and an adjunct assistant professor with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

My primary driver, even 20 years ago, has always been caring for the people of Southern Illinois and helping them be healthier. I appreciate financial success and professional respect, but I have never been driven by them.

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Southern Illinois has seen a great decrease in the numbers of new cases of COVID-19 in the past few weeks. This weeks numbers show further reduction of cases locally.

On Feb. 24, three counties reported few enough cases that the state health department redacted actual figures for privacy reasons. Those counties are Alexander, Hardin, Pope and Pulaski counties.

Ten counties tallied less than 100 cases. Counties with their case numbers including: Franklin, 58 new cases; Hamilton, 17; Jefferson, 75; Johnson, 43; Massac, 40; Perry, 64; Saline, 74; Union, 31; Washington 17; and White, 32.

Three counties reported more than 100 cases for the week. They are: Jackson County with 120 new cases; Randolph County with 115; and Williamson County with 121.

Positivity rates also have fallen for Southern Illinois counties.

Those rates are: Alexander, 1.43%; Franklin, 5.24%; Hamilton, 7.18%; Hardin, 4.35%; Jackson, 5,81%; Jefferson, 3.33%; Johnson, 2.85%; Massac, 10.93%; Perry, 1.92%; Pope, 7.46%; Pulaski, 4.32%; Randolph, 2.25%; Saline, 6.98%; Union, 3.32%; Washington, 6.12%; White, 5.78%; and Williamson, 5.55%.

Last week, seven counties were at or just under 10% positivity. This week, only Massac County has a positivity rate above 10 percent.

White the number of new cases and positivity rates have fallen, the coronavirus is still active in Southern Illinois. That means people are still getting sick.

On Monday, Illinois enters a new chapter in masking. Masks will not be required in most indoor settings, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations.

To account for the risk of community spread among vulnerable populations and in accordance with CDC guidance, Illinois will continue to require masks in these settings: healthcare, long-term care facilities and congregate settings (prisons, shelters, etc.).

Transportation, such as buses and airplanes, will follow federal guidelines.

Daycare will follow Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) guidelines.

Municipalities and businesses in most industries may choose to implement more strict mitigations, including requiring masks.

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CARBONDALE  City Council members discussed the implementation of new police surveillance tools at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

The proposed technology includes neighborhood video surveillance systems, mobile video surveillance units and automated license plate readers.

The neighborhood video surveillance systems can provide police with real-time video.

If purchased, the Police Department would propose installing cameras at strategic locations to hopefully deter crime and provide additional investigative tools for when a crime occurs. Our design would have 360 degrees views and would also have a blue light on the bottom so it could be visible to residents. Cost is approximately $4,000 per unit, according to the proposal.

Mobile video surveillance units are portable towers with video cameras that can be mobilized quickly to hot spot areas as well as to special events, festivals, etc. The estimated cost of a unit is $30,000, according to the proposal.

Automated license plate readers are growing in popularity throughout the U.S. Once installed, they can automatically capture an image of a vehicles license plate and run it through a database to see if it is a match for a suspect vehicle. If it is, police are immediately notified, according to the proposal.

The city has the option to lease the license plate readers, which could give leaders here access to additional technology like gunshot detection software. The estimated cost of a lease is $2,500 per license plate reader on an annual basis.

Local data provided by police says mental health related calls to police have increased 85% and stabbing/gun incidents have increased 32% from 2020 to 2021, according to the citys proposal advocating for the technology.

City Manager Gary Williams said the neighborhood video surveillance systems can help act as a deterrent to crime and as an investigative tool for police.

Councilperson Tom Grant said he likes the idea of the license plate readers and the lease for gunshot detection technology, but said he is worried that the neighborhood video surveillance systems will become a target for vandalism.

I think this is something we need to do and I think it will go along with helping to stop some of the violence, especially the gun violence that we have in town, Grant said.

Williams said he and the chief of police, Stan Reno, have discussed providing a link so individuals in the neighborhood where cameras are located can have access to the feed as a way of eliminating any distrust that may arise with implementing the technology.

Councilperson Ginger Rye Sanders said she is in agreement with implementing the cameras and said she has been advocating for this for a long time.

Theres so much that cameras can do to enhance our community and Im all for it, Rye Sanders said.

The council will vote on the adoption of this technology at a later date.

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A Fairview Heights man on Friday was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for organizing what prosecutors called a "large-scale" bank fraud scheme.

Lagardo Wright, 21, led a team of co-conspirators that printed counterfeit checks, deposited them into other people's bank accounts and withdrew the money before the banks could discover the checks were fake.

Their scheme targeted at least 10 different financial institutions causing losses of over $95,000, according to documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Illinois.

According to charges, Wright found bank accounts to exploit by developing a network of "recruiters," who convinced the account holders to to turn over their online banking information, including usernames, passwords, and pin numbers, in exchange for the promise of money.

Wright and his recruiters found new account holders through social media and cell phone apps. They flaunted their "success" to attract followers, posting pictures and videos of cash, expensive clothing, guns, drugs, and screenshots showing large account balances.

He and his recruiters urged their online followers to contact them if they had a valid bank account and wanted to make thousands of dollars.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge David Dugan noted that Wright committed serious crimes by leading a long-term enterprise that was sophisticated for his age.

In addition to the prison sentence, Wright was ordered spend four years on supervised release and to pay more than $30,000 in restitution.

Aijeigh McShan and Cedric Sheard, two of Wright's co-conspirators, pleaded guilty and will be sentenced next month.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke J. Weissler.

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Landowners and residents of Dogtooth Bend, an area in Alexander County, have been living in uncertainty for six years, since the Mississippi River breached the Len Small Levee in January of 2016. Finally, a plan seems to be emerging.

The powerful waters of the Mississippi gouged a three-quarter mile long hole in the levee that has never been repaired. The results have been devastating. When the levee was intact, Dogtooth Bend was protected until the river stage reached 50 feet. Now the region floods when the river reaches 33 feet, something that happens frequently.

The flood waters have rendered the land almost useless for agriculture as the Mississippi has dumped thousands of tons of sand in the area. Roads have been washed away and homes abandoned while government officials tried to determine whether it was feasible to rebuild the levee.

Although no definitive statement has been made, there seems to be little likelihood the levee will be rebuilt. In recent months, the Natural Resource Conservation Service has been offering landowners the option of allowing the government to purchase easements for their property.

Two types of easements are being offered  Emergency Watershed Protection Floodplain and Wetland Reserve Easement Protection.

The only difference is where the funding comes from, said Danette Cross, who works out of the NRCS office in Tamms. They are permanent easements. They are forever and ever. They have a warranty easement deed so they will go from owner to owner.

"Under this easement they are allowed to hunt, they still pay taxes. They cannot crop it or they cannot build anything on it. They can have food plots. They can lease it for hunting.

The easements involve a one-time payment to landowners.

Basically, they get paid for it, but they still own it, Cross said. A lot of them are thinking theyll turn around and re-sell it. Or, they are going to set it up for a hunting. Its basically land they cant do anything with. Its been so destroyed by the floods and without the levee being there it floods a couple times a year. Even if they could get a crop on it, they may not be able to get the crop out.

The purpose of the program is to take marginal farmland out of production and restore it back to its natural habitat. Usually, its a lot of wetlands that have been destroyed. Were just trying to establish them back to wetlands.

The NRCS has received applications for easements for 7,400 acres in Dogtooth Bend, and 4,000 of those acres have been damaged by sand deposits or deep scours created by the current.

Cross said this isnt an eminent domain situation. Only willing sellers are enrolled in the program. While some landowners have agreed to the easement, there have been no final sales to date.

Most landowners in the area are eager to participate. Thirty landowners made inquiries as soon as the program was announced.

An offer is made to them, Cross said. Once they accept the offer, we do the title searches. Then, we do the final closing. Because of COVID and various other things, its been a very slow process.

We have a portion of them surveyed. The next step will be actual closing. Then, we have probably another big group that weve made offers to that we still have to survey and we have another group that we still havent made offers to.

The amount offered to landowners is determined by the selling price of farmland in the region.

Once the easement is in place, the government will step in to help restore the land.

We do go through restoration, whether its tree planting, for the Dogtooth Bend area is will be primarily tree planting, Cross said. Yearly, we make sure who the owner still is and we do monitoring, making sure that nothing has been built or nothing has been changed.

In addition to re-planting the area with trees, Cross said plans are to keep some areas open for least tern nesting. The least tern is an endangered species that has taken to nesting in Dogtooth Bend after the flooding.

Cross estimates it will take another two or three years to conclude the land sales, then another 20-30 years for the area to revert to bottomland timber and wetlands.

The Nature Conservancy has been a partner in the process. The TNC helped secure funding for the project, is helping with restoration planning and has provided funding to hire a person to work on the easements.

Landowners will continue to be taxed for their property if they accept easements. The tax rats will be determined by the county, but it is typically about one-sixth of the rate. On the other hand, there is no compensation to Alexander County for the loss in tax revenue.

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COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster, the S.C. Department of Commerce and the SC Ports Authority announced that the state's 2021 export sales totaled $29.7 billion, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

International trade plays an incredibly important role in sustained economic prosperity, and South Carolina consistently demonstrates our ability to move products around the world, said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. As industries transform, we are poised to prioritize our support  promoting resources to best equip companies in maximizing their reach overseas.
Holly Hill

Police Dept.

Someone shot a gas station and a customers tire on Feb. 19, Police Chief Josh Detter said.

An off-duty Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office deputy heard 10 to 15 gunshots at 7:30 p.m. as he entered the Exxon at 826 Peake Street.

The deputy saw two dark-colored cars traveling westbound on Peake Street.

Detter believes the occupants in the two cars may have been shooting at each other.

Detter collected 13 shell casings and a laser sight from the road.

One of the bullets struck the wall cooler at the gas station.

Another bullet struck the tire of a customers vehicle.

The shooting was captured on the stores video surveillance system.

If anyone has information about who may be responsible for the shooting, they are asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Orangeburg County

Sheriffs Office

A tow truck driver reported hearing gunshots around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a sheriffs office incident report.

He reported seeing two men in a white Nissan as he left a driveway on Noel Drive in Vance.

He asked the men if they knew a particular person. They told him that the person wasnt home.

The tow truck driver stopped to complete some paperwork and heard three to four gunshots.

He said the Nissan then fled the scene.

Bullets didnt strike the driver or the truck. Hes not certain if the gunshots were intended for him or if they came from anyone in the Nissan.

Orangeburg

Department

of Public Safety

Someone burglarized an Ellis Avenue womans home while she was at the grocery store just after 6 p.m. Thursday.

The following items were stolen: cash, two 43-inch TCL smart televisions, a small womens Uggs hoodie and an MCM cross body bag. Several pairs of size 6 womens shoes were stolen, including Louis Vuitton sneakers, Gucci sneakers, Gucci slides and Nike Air Jordan Limited Edition sneakers. Uggs boots and two Uggs slides in size 5 were also stolen.

The value of the stolen items is $7,200.

Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD

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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.
A James Global Services Inc. has made an initial investment of $50,000 toward a $100,000 pledge for the establishment of an endowment to support the educational needs of first generational students at South Carolina State University.

Understanding the opportunities these need-based scholarships will provide, President/CEO Dino James is committed to changing the trajectory of success for future generations.

"There are so many things that we take advantage of in terms of access, that includes education, James said. I just want to make a difference by contributing to a foundation that allows these students to thrive not only here at SC State University but also in life.

James contribution bolstered SC States Ready All to Do and Dare fundraising campaign, which celebrates the universitys 125 years of education and service.

James also made a $10,000 contribution in April 2021 to the College of Business at SC State to support its entrepreneurial program. He has committed to make additional annual contributions to this effort, as well.

James received a bachelors degree in marketing from South Carolina State University in 1990. Based in Columbia, A James Global Services Inc. manages construction, and renovation projects at commercial and government facilities.

It was great reconnecting with Mr. James during a tailgate at Homecoming and at the Celebration Bowl, SC State Interim President Alexander Conyers said. Ive known Mr. James since being students together here at SC State, and his very generous donation serves as a vote of confidence for the university.

While it is great that he has shared his financial resources with us, I look forward to him sharing his story with our students in hopes of cultivating other successful Bulldogs with a willingness to give back, Conyers said. In 15 years, Mr. James has gone from being laid off from his job in cooperate America to owning his own company and donating $60,000 to SC State University this year.

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Duke Buckner recently announced his candidacy for United States Congress. He is running in South Carolina's 6th District as a Republican.

Buckner, a longtime resident of the South Carolina Lowcountry, says there's a need to bring progress and prosperity to counties in the district. Some counties are doing well, but many are struggling.

Now is the time for action, not more recycled promises, he said.

During his announcement, Buckner told the story of a local business owner who was forced to close after decades of serving the Fairfax area.

Its building originally housed a major tractor equipment company, he said. As small farmers gave up and threw in the towel, the tractor dealers customer base got smaller and smaller.

In the 1990s, keeping the dealership open was no longer a viable option. Employees were let go, the business was closed, and now the building sits empty and decaying, Buckner said.

Sadly, this company was just one of many, Buckner said.

The closed businesses are not a problem, but a symptom of an economy that seems to have left much of the 6th District behind, he said.

Buckner explained that businesses should be locating in the 6th District since Interstate 95, the busiest interstate highway in America, is not far away, land is very reasonably priced and willing workers are there.

Asking why businesses haven't located in the 6th District, Buckner said maybe it needs someone in Washington who will aggressively fight for them.

Im not a professional politician. Im just an ordinary guy like you, but I see my friends and family struggling. I see closed factories and businesses. I see folks who need repairs done to their home but just dont have the money to be able to fix them. They want to repair their home but are not able. Something has to change. I feel compelled to help," he said.

The attorney, a Walterboro native, ran an unsuccessful primary challenge to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2020.

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Longtime Calhoun County Councilman David Summers, who led council for four decades, died early Saturday. He was 81.

Summers was a giant in the community, Rep. Russell Ott said.

This will be a huge loss for the community, he said.

Summers was elected in November 1978 and took office as council chairman in January 1979 at age 39. Roger Hill was elected chairman in 1990, but Summers was elected the next year.

In January of this year, Summers decided to not seek the position of chairman again. He had been dealing with health issues and lost his wife and two daughters to COVID within seven months of each other last year.

Summers told his fellow council members that, I have to give things up. I have had 41 great years as chairman, mostly due to you guys for supporting me and all, but now with this fibrosis Ive got, I can't do it anymore. Council unanimously elected James Haigler the new chairman.

According to the South Carolina Association of Counties, Summers was the states longest-serving council chairman since 1969, when records began to be kept.

Ott said, Not much happened in Calhoun County that he wasnt a part of.

He was someone who cared about his community, cared about where he was from and worked to make it better, Ott said.

Summers was heavily involved in economic development and worked to expand the countys tax base, Ott said. But he wanted to make sure it made sense for the county.

Ott appreciates the time Summers took to work with him when Ott was first elected to the South Carolina House.

He allowed me to talk about the issues with him. We had a good working relationship, Ott said.

Haigler called Summers an ambassador for Calhoun County across South Carolina.

Because of Summers leadership, Calhoun County is known across the state like the larger counties, Haigler said. It also avoided the financial difficulties other small counties have faced.

Summers was conservative where he needed to be and liberal where he needed to be, Haigler said. He left us fine and stable.

Well truly, truly miss him  not just Calhoun County, but the whole state of South Carolina will miss him, Haigler said.

County Administrator John McLaughlin said he appreciated that Summers always made his positions clear, and McLaughlin never wondered where he stood on an issue.

He always tried to do what was right for Calhoun County, McLaughlin said.

He was definitely Mr. Calhoun County. He was all for Calhoun County and making sure we could get what we could whether it be from the state or federal legislation. Hes always been an advocate for small, rural counties and especially Calhoun County, he said.

Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers called his second cousin, a dedicated person when it came to being on County Council.

He loved Calhoun County and devoted countless hours to Calhoun County businesses and people. He was absolutely a great asset to Calhoun County.

The sheriff added that Summers, was all about keeping Calhoun County a beautiful place to live, a beautiful place for people to come to with their children and also he wanted the county to grow.

Calhoun County is going to be hard-pressed to find another person as dedicated to Calhoun County as David Summers was, the sheriff said.

David Summers was recognized for his dedication over his years in office.

In 2005, he was named the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerces Business Person of the Year.

At the time, the chamber recognized his work as co-owner of Golden Kernel Pecan Company in Cameron. It also recognized his work with the Lower Savannah Council of Governments, including serving on its board.

Former Gov. Carroll Campbell designated Summers as a Palmetto Gentleman, and in 1991 he awarded Summers the Order of the Palmetto, the states highest honor.

Summers also helped form the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority. Three Rivers recognized his contributions to the development of the regional landfill in Aiken County by naming its administration building after him.

Summers chaired Three Rivers from its inception in December 1992 and the landfills opening in July 1998 until his resignation from the agencys board due to health reasons in February 2021.

Also, in 2019 he was presented the South Carolina Association of Counties' President's Cup. Summers also received the President's Cup in 1991 and in 2004.

First elected to the SCAC's Board of Directors in 1981, he served as the association's president in 1988. That year, he established a "Committee on the Future," which laid the foundation for SCAC to provide support and services to South Carolina's 46 counties.

Summers received the Distinguished Service Award -- the SCAC's highest honor -- in 1998.

When Summers decided not to seek the Calhoun County Council chairmans seat again in January, he thanked his constituents.

I appreciate the support so much from the people ... and thank them for that, he said.

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Orangeburg County School District will host s vendor drop-in March 1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Orangeburg County Library, 1625 Russell St.

The district is welcoming local business interest in serving the district. Learn how to provide you products and services to the district.

A virtual option is also available. Join the Zoom meeting:

 Meeting ID  593 330 0769

 Passcode  OCSD2922

For more information, contact Greg Twitty, procurement coordinator at gregtwittyocsdsc.org.

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If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047.
(TBTCO) - Thi truong ket thuc thang 4 voi muc giam 8,4%, tro thanh thang giam sau nhat trong vong 2 nam. Hang loat co phieu chiet khau gia cuc sau tuy gay thiet hai rat lon cho nhieu nha au tu, nhung cung se tao co hoi cho cac nha au tu khac.
Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High 87F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
A settlement has been reached in the case of a Laramie County man and his mother who were tasered at their home during a January 2020 welfare check.

Devin Bryants federal lawsuit against sheriffs deputies Jason Gillott and Ryan Lee was dismissed last month following the settlement, court records show, and cannot be brought again.

According to the Wyoming Association of Risk Management, $10,000 was paid out in the settlement in January.

"Devin Bryant expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the case as well as his hope that incidents like these can be avoided in the future," Bryant's lawyers said in a statement.

Body camera footage from Jan. 27, 2020 shows the deputies arriving at Bryants Cheyenne home at night  around 3 a.m., according to court filings. According to the deputies answers in the case, they believed they were checking on a suicidal man.

The deputies are heard telling Bryant that they received a tip that he could be hurting himself, and were checking on him. Bryant says he was sleeping when they arrived, and tells the officers to come back with a warrant if they want to search him.

Less than a minute and a half after Bryant answered the door, the video shows, Gillott and Lee used stun guns on Bryant and his mother, who came to the door after him.

Footage shows the officers first pulling Bryant out of the home by his arm, while his mother appears to try holding him back.

When Bryant asks them to get off of him, video shows, one of the deputies is heard saying, I dont have to do s***, step out.

A deputy then says youre going to get tased, before striking Bryants mother and then Bryant with stun gun probes. While they scream in pain, the video shows Bryant being handcuffed.

Both him and his mother were arrested for interfering with an officer, and taken to the Laramie County jail for assessment. The charges were dropped in April 2020.

In his complaint, first filed in U.S. District Court, Bryant alleged that the incident violated his Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unlawful search and seizure. He also alleged he had suffered injuries, humiliation, emotional distress and mental anguish as a result, and also had to pay an undisclosed amount of medical expenses.

In August, two of Bryants four initial claims were dismissed by a federal judge. The judge ruled they were tort claims, which have a one-year statute of limitations for legal action in Wyoming.

A lawyer for Lee declined to comment on Friday. Requests for comment from Gillott and Bryants attorneys were not returned.

Both Gillott and Lee are still employed with the Laramie County Sheriffs Office, according to its website. A request to confirm their employment status with the offices human resources department was not returned Friday.

Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst.

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A bill to end the practice of crossover voting is headed to the House after lengthy debate about what it means to be a Republican in Wyoming today.

Senate File 97, sponsored by Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, would end same-day party affiliation change in Wyoming. If the measure becomes law, changes in party affiliation would not be allowed in roughly the three months prior to a primary. Backers want to prevent Democrats and independents from changing their registration on election day in order to vote in Republican primaries, a practice known as crossover voting.

This change would mean voters might not necessarily know who the candidates in their respective primaries are at the time they register. Instead, they would be beholden to their party when it comes to participating in a primary election.

A crossover voting ban is not a new effort in Wyoming politics, as Biteman has brought this bill multiple times before. But this years debate has taken on new significance. Former President Donald Trump is backing the measure as a way to increase the likelihood of unseating Rep. Liz Cheney, whose criticism of the president is likely to attract support from moderates and Democrats.

The Wyoming Republican Party has backed it, as did the late influential GOP mega donor Foster Friess. Supporters of the bill say the practice of crossover voting has resulted in moderate Republicans succeeding over their more conservative counterparts in crowded primaries, even though the state is deeply red.

Opponents of the bill, including multiple lawmakers and a lobbyist for the League of Women Voters, have 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 they would prefer to participate in.

Thats the point, Biteman said. Thats the exact practice Im trying to stop. I dont think its fair.

For Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, that reality worked against his view of what it means to be a Republican.

[The Republican Party] used to stand for things like freedom, like limited government, like personal responsibility, he said. Now the way this bill is put together ... folks will have to decide where they are gonna be in the pen, in the limited size tent on or before the first day the of the filing period for candidates.

But in Wyoming, Republican leaders have begun to question the idea of the big tent party, which has long been associated with the GOP.

In Wyoming, we dont necessarily embrace the idea of a big tent, Wyoming GOP chairman Frank Eathorne said in a Fox News interview.

Proponents repeatedly clarified the bill would not stop anyone from casting a ballot: voters would just be locked in to a certain party on primary day.

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.

Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis

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CHEYENNE  A large group of law enforcement officials and lawmakers gathered at the Capitol Thursday morning to show support for a bill that would prohibit the enforcement of federal regulation of firearms by state officials.

Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs and the primary sponsor of Senate File 102, Second Amendment Protection Act, said he was humbled to stand with fellow members of the Legislature, gun owners, and Wyomings sheriffs and chiefs of police during a news conference about the proposed legislation.

We all know Wyoming has the highest percentage of gun ownership in the nation, Hicks said, continuing that if the federal government pursues actions that are inconsistent with the values and infringe on our citizens Second Amendment rights, we intend to honor our 10th Amendment right to preserve states rights, or residents right to gun ownership.

We absolutely support the Second Amendment of the Constitution, Rock Springs Police Chief Dwane Pacheco said. And we will oppose  enforcing anything that infringes on the Second Amendment.

He continued that his brothers in blue, brown and green support the bill.

Sheridan County Sheriff and Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police President Allen Thompson called the bill a collaborative effort that took months of work.

It is great to see the approach to supporting and defending the Second Amendment, Thompson said. Your sheriffs and chiefs across the state work every day to uphold the Constitution, and to make sure we are protecting the rights of individuals all across the state. This is another way for us to show that we are here to support especially the Second Amendment.

Advocates say the legislation would protect Wyomingites from an overreach of the federal government when it comes to the Second Amendment, while also allowing law enforcement to do their job enforcing laws.

We want the law enforcement to be able to catch criminals, and we want law-abiding citizens in Wyoming to have their firearms, said Mark Jones with Gun Owners of America.

But concerns surfaced this week over the impact the proposed legislation could have on domestic violence survivors. Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Public Policy Director Tara Muir asked the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday to think about the ramifications the bill could have on law enforcements ability to remove firearms when someone is convicted of domestic violence.

We would be remiss if we did not remind the committee that the only people hurt when firearms are not confiscated pursuant to two specific federal laws are victims of domestic violence, and, of course, those contemplating suicide, Muir said.

Two federal laws, she said, state that a defendant in a qualifying protection order, or someone convicted of a crime of domestic violence, shall not possess a firearm.

Clearly, these are federal laws, and they have clearly been ruled constitutional, for now, Muir said Tuesday.

Access to a gun in a domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that a woman will be killed, Muir told the committee. Muir asked the committee to consider making clear in the legislation those two exceptions: That for those reasons, law enforcement in Wyoming could confiscate a firearm.

When asked about the issue during the press conference Thursday, Hicks said those concerns had been addressed by an amendment to the bill. Since Monday, lawmakers have added two provisions saying that nothing in the act will prohibit either our state or our federal law enforcement from working together for enforcement regarding domestic violence or abuse, Hicks said.

We brought that in as a standing committee amendment to address that very issue, Hicks said. We provided those protections in the bill. We will continue to have the ability to enforce both federal and state law associated with domestic violence or abuse.

Muir said the amendments were a start.

At this moment, with the amendment, and the words that the bringer of the bill and law enforcement have said to date, we feel OK that they will enforce the federal laws as they relate to domestic violence victims, she said Thursday. But it will be up to citizens to make sure that local law enforcement do confiscate those weapons when they are supposed to.

Perhaps, she continued, the bill and its amendments will make the responsibility law enforcement has to ensure that convicted abusers should not possess firearms even more clear.

Now, weve got more clarity that they should (confiscate those firearms), Muir said. That is the hope.

On Monday, the bill passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, in a 4-0 vote. It has since been approved on third reading in a 22-8 vote by the Senate, and will head to the House next. Several supporters of the bill spoke at the meeting, but Jackson resident Liz Prax said she was not allowed to speak against the legislation.

I know a lot of people who oppose this bill, including other gun owners, Prax said. Hunting is a big part of our heritage. We hunt and eat elk, deer and antelope. We own many guns, including an AR-15 that my husband shoots in competition. I am totally fine with people using guns for those reasons.

But the gun violence epidemic is also real, she continued, and it is proven without a doubt that where there are stronger gun laws, there is less gun violence, she said.

There was almost no discussion in the committee about the states gun violence rate. Wyoming has the sixth-highest per-capita rate of gun deaths in the U.S., according to EveryStat.

Our state Legislature should make passing strong protections to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands their top priority, Prax said. We need to prove to the general public that were taking our states terrible gun death rate seriously. Until then, bills like SF 102 give gun owners like us a bad name.

Prax said in an interview with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that she tried to testify during the committee meeting via Zoom on Monday, but was not given a chance to speak. She has spoken in front of legislative committees before, and said the process is usually such that the chairperson gives individual people a time limit for testimony.

Once this started, that didnt seem to be happening, so I raised my hand on Zoom.  and still nobody called on me. I was really disappointed. It seemed that all but one of the people allowed to speak were in support of the bill, Prax said.

She said the chairperson has been very fair in the past, and that she did not want to make assumptions about the meeting process. However, as Nethercott is also a sponsor of SF 102, Prax said she was concerned.

In an email to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Nethercott said there is no restriction on who may testify, but that, generally, the only restriction is time, and that was the case on the gun bill.

During a budget session, there is very limited time, and it is simply not possible to hear from every single person that may want to testify, she said. I do try and get to all individuals, as I value all public comment. I generally have no knowledge what people will testify to before public comment, nor do I prescreen public comment. I certainly did not do that on Monday, and am disappointed and deny this allegation.

Hicks said Thursday, in response to concerns that people opposed to the bill have not been heard, that SF 102 has gone through all the steps necessary during the public process.

We have had public meetings and taken public input through this process, Hicks said. It is a long, arduous process to introduce a bill, particularly in a budget session, and to get it across the finish line. There has been more than ample opportunity (for public comment).

Beth Howard of Cheyenne, legislative lead for Wyoming Moms Demand Action, said she registered for the Zoom link in advance to testify at the meeting and raised her hand on Zoom when the committee moved on to address SF 102. She did not get the chance to testify.

Honestly, this was the most disturbing part. I have been doing advocacy work and testifying for five years now, and the way in which this meeting was conducted was a complete departure from the past, Howard said.

There may be a reason for the change in process, but Howard said she was not aware of it. People on both sides of the debate appeared upset, she said. She proceeded by sending her testimony as written remarks to the committee members.

We had volunteers from across the state who registered online and were prepared to testify on their own behalf. We had a volunteer in the hearing room who had driven over from Laramie to testify on her own behalf. She raised her hand several times and moved to the front row. There were five of us preparing to testify, I believe, and none of us were able to speak, Howard said.

She has also since learned, she said, that there is a backstory.

This appears to have become a huge battle within the Republican Party, primarily because of the failure to introduce SF 87 on the Senate floor and the failure to introduce its mirror bill in the House, she said. Subsequent upset has taken place when the Wyoming Gun Owners, other legislators and the public are verbally attacking Nethercott and Hicks, she said.

This is also a devolution of democracy. There are winners and losers in politics, and making it ugly and personal is not useful and harms the process, Howard said.

SF 87 has been backed by Aaron Dorr, who is not a Wyoming resident, but identifies himself as a strident and unyielding advocacy for unfettered access to guns. In a post on Dorrs website, he also said he was not allowed to testify Monday.

Howard said she does not have a dog in the fight within the Republican Party, but simply wanted to advocate for safer gun laws in Wyoming.

There are no federal laws, current or pending, that infringe on a Wyomingites freedom to own or use a firearm, though Ive heard a good deal of speculation about such proposals in previous testimony, Howard said.

For Wyomings 582,233 residents, there are 132,806 registered firearms.

This bill will cause confusion and undermine the rule of law. It will encourage extremists to not enforce federal laws that they personally disagree with, and, further, it may cause violent criminals and other people legally prohibited from having guns to violate the law, Howard said.

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Wyoming State Treasurer Curt Meiers office has repeatedly failed to produce legally mandated financial reports on time, raising transparency concerns, threatening the states creditworthiness and inhibiting the work of budgeters and state agencies. Now, frustrated lawmakers are trying to legislate a solution.

Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, illustrated his concerns to fellow senators by asking how much was in their bank accounts.

How much money do you have? Gierau asked on the chamber floor in support of Senate File 111  Wyoming financial transparency act. I bet yall know, approximately.

The inference of the Teton County senators question was that Wyoming, which possesses one of the 30 largest government-owned sovereign wealth funds in the world, cant, at the moment, answer the question for itself.

Wyomings finances might be straight, Gierau said, adding theres no reason to believe the treasurers books are cooked or inaccurate.

But the question remains. We dont know that, Gierau said. The treasurer doesnt know that. No one knows that. Thats why I bring this bill, to shine a light on that.

The legislation at issue, SF111, reflects frustrations among Wyomings bean counters, lawmakers and others. The state audit has been late for three straight years, causing some officials to worry about potential effects on the states bond rating and even its eligibility for federal funding.

The treasurers office has experienced a breakdown in financial accounting processes and systems, starting in mid 2019  shortly after Meier assumed office  according to an independent consultants review of the agencys performance.

Many of the causes of the breakdown persist today and present potential for additional problems in the future, the same consultants wrote in their February 2021 report. Minneapolis-based accountancy firm Clifton Larson Allen LLP produced the audit for the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board, with a goal of providing recommendations to improve the state treasurers investment and financial accounting divisions.

Meier, who served 24 years as a Republican member of the Wyoming Senate before being elected treasurer, agreed that timeliness in producing financial reports needs improvement. In an interview with WyoFile, Meier graded his offices accounting performance as subpar.

Disappointing. A C-minus. Some people might think were lower, Meier said. Im transparent. Its not as good as we would like.

Self-critique

Meier pinned that barely passing grade on himself. He contended there are situational and resource-related reasons for his tardiness: convoluted transactions, outdated tracking software and an accounting staff thats too small and was poorly equipped for the task.

We started with folks that didnt necessarily have degrees in accounting, said Meier, whose own degree from the University of Wyoming is in animal science. Essentially all of our new hires have degrees in finance or accounting. Weve increased the capacity of the office substantially, so I cant throw my employees under the bus.

Much of the language found in SF111, which is sponsored by Gierau, is repeated in the footnotes of the Wyoming Legislatures general budget bill. If requirements in the standalone legislation survive, however, they will have more staying power than those in the budget, which will expire in two years.

The legislation would reinforce existing monthly reporting requirements, calling for monthly dissemination of the status of all state-fund distributions and transfers, plus all investment earnings, interest, dividends and realized/unrealized gains and losses for each investment pool under Meiers oversight. The same batch of reports would be required separately for each investment manager under contract with the state treasury.

The bill would also require the treasurers office to report to lawmakers annually about steps taken in response to the 2021 consultants report recommendations. Additionally, the bill mandates the treasurers office to provide an accounting of all cash and investment earnings from all transactions to two legislative committees within 90 days of each quarter.

The quarterly reporting demand would be impossible to achieve, Deputy Treasurer Dawn Williams told WyoFile.

The requirement implies that we are somehow withholding the report, and that is not the case, Williams said. Its because of the nature of investments and when we receive the reporting.

Williams cited accounting-staff shortages as a source of the agencys struggles with meeting deadlines, an assertion that the February 2021 agency audit supports.

The state treasurers office financial accounting division has 13 full-time employees, according to the current organizational chart. An industry standard is to employ 2.5 back-of-the-house accountants for every investor, according to the consultants, but there are now 10 investors calling the shots with the $20-plus billion under Meiers oversight. That means the Wyoming offices current ratio of accountants to investors is 1.3-to-1.

There are economies of scale and we are not recommending a doubling of Financial Accounting Division personnel, but clearly, an increase above current levels is required, the consultants wrote.

Staffing woes

Funds to hire five more accountants and an additional oversight position are tentatively being allocated, Joint Appropriations Committee Chairman Drew Perkins, R-Casper, told the Senate while introducing the budget bill.

Gierau, also a member of the JAC, said the state treasurers office has the resources coming it needs to right its ship.

Everything that helps the back of the house, including a chief operating officer, we gave them, he said.

Katie Smith, who oversees the treasurers financial accounting division, said having a deeper staff would be fantastic, but wont fix the offices issues overnight.

Itll take a couple years, to start seeing results, she said.

The proposed new chief operating officer position would bring external oversight to Meiers office. The executive would be hired by, and answer to, another agency according to the budget bill. That new post, which costs $651,000 in the two-year budget, will be based at the state treasurers office, but be under the purview of the State Loan and Investments Board.

Deputy Treasurer Williams wasnt welcoming of the outside assistance: Thats problematic for us, she said.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

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Thomas Jefferson once observed that fearless, independent newspapers were indispensable to the American experiment, and to the peoples right to know. Without an informed citizenry to scrutinize, question and challenge governmental acts, the great goal of holding government accountable to the citizenry and the rule of law would surely fail.

The U.S. Supreme Court embraced Jeffersons premises in its landmark ruling in The New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) by protecting the press from libel suits that would chill investigative journalism and bankrupt newspapers.

The constitutionally protected right of the press to report on the affairs of government, however indispensable it is to American democracy, is not without limits. Every constitutional right, like every governmental power, is subject to limitations and regulations. As we have noted, the concept of absolute powers and rights is foreign to our constitutional arrangements.

After the Sullivan ruling, questions arose about the imposition of legal limits on the crucial work of the press. Afterall, the central purpose of the First Amendments Free Press Clause was to prohibit prior restraint, that is, the exercise of governmental authority to prohibit the press from publishing without prior authorization.

Would the prohibition on prior restraint apply to every conceivable publication, or could there be rare exceptions as, for example, in the area of reporting about national security and foreign relations? If so, what circumstances might justify prior restraint and thus lower the bar of protection afforded the press?

The Supreme Court, in Near v. Minnesota (1934), told us that there are but few exceptions to the prohibition on prior restraint, including, wartime obstruction of recruitment, obscenity, incitements to riot or forcible overthrow of government, and words that may have all the effect of force. In his opinion for the Court, Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes added another curious exemption: the press may not publish the sailing time of a troop vessel. Most readers understood this to mean that newspapers could not publish the time or location of a military attack which, obviously, would undermine the wartime interests of the United States. Later, President Richard

M. Nixon, asserted that Hughes implied a broader meaning, that the press could not publish military secrets. Near thus became the starting point for most defenses of prior restraint.

In 1971, Chief Justice Hughess phrase, the sailing time of a troop vessel, lay at the center of the most famous prior restraint case in American history: The New York Times v. United States, more popularly known as The Pentagon Papers Case. One of the most troubling issues confronting press coverage was the question of what should and should not be published about national security matters, including those periods when the United States was at war, or facing the threat of war. The Court, for the first time, confronted the question in the context of the Vietnam War, the most contentious war in our history.

The dramatic facts of the case focused the nations attention on the work of the judiciary in a way that seldom occurs. On June 12, 1971, the New York Times began publication of a 47-volume classified defense department study entitled, History of the United States Decision Making Process on Vietnam Policy. The study, ordered by President Lyndon Johnson, was completed in 1968. This study became known as The Pentagon Papers, was released to the Times and the Washington Post by Daniel Ellsberg, a former Defense Department official. President Nixon authorized Ellsberg to review sections of the papers as part of a national security project, but he did not authorize Ellsberg to release the study.

The Times was eager to share the study with the American people, whom it believed had a right to know about the decisions behind the conduct of the Vietnam War. The Times first installment enraged the Nixon Administration, which claimed publication of the papers would undermine conduct of the Vietnam War. Citing Chief Justice Hughes, the administration argued in federal court in New York that the Times publications represented a national security exception to the prohibition on prior restraint. Publication of the Pentagon Papers was equivalent to the publication of the sailing time of a troop vessel.

The federal court granted Nixons request for a temporary restraining order against the Times, which meant that the Times was prohibited from publishing its reports about the Pentagon Papers. Prior restraint had been imposed, despite constitutional protection furnished by the First Amendment. Americans wondered: Could the Free Press Clause be set aside by a presidential invocation of national security, a phrase vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by presidents eager to protect their own political and personal agendas?

The Nixon Administration also sought an injunction against the Washington Post, but a federal court in Washington D.C. rejected Nixons plea for an injunction, which produced a paradox in the world of journalism. The Post was permitted to publish the Pentagon Papers, but the Times was not. Appeals were quickly filed and, in record time, the cases were consolidated and heard by the Supreme Court on June 26. The Court delivered its ruling on June 30, only 17 days after the first publication of the papers in the New York Times.

We turn next week to the Courts monumental decision in the Pentagon Papers Case.

David Adler, PHD, is a noted author who lectures nationally and internationally on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and Presidential power. His scholarly writings have been cited by the US Supreme Court and lower courts by both Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress. Adlers column is supported in part through a grant from Wyoming Humanities funded by the Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Adler can be reached at david.adler@alturasinstitute.com

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A recent nationally released editorial authored by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland superficially addresses the issue of wolf management. As authored, some misconceptions need to be corrected, including the idea that states are jeopardizing the recovery of gray wolves. In fact, Wyomings gray wolf population is not in peril  not even close. For 20 consecutive years the number of wolves here has been above what leading biologists say is needed to keep wolf packs viable. Moreover, Wyoming has demonstrated extraordinary expertise in species recovery, from the black-footed ferret on and maintaining healthy populations of all our wildlife species. Wyoming should be lauded for its extraordinary expertise in species recovery and maintaining healthy populations. No one in Washington, or any agency there either, can do what we are doing on the ground in Wyoming

Wyoming received management authority in April 2017. The federal government and scientists who peer reviewed our plan set the recovery standard for our state at 100 wolves and 10 breeding pairs. Under state wildlife management, these recovery goals have been continuously exceeded without exception. There are additional wolves inside Yellowstone National Park and on the Wind River Indian Reservation. But, those animals are overseen by the federal government and the Tribes, respectively, so they dont count towards our recovery standard. In all this time, Wyoming people, wildlife, domestic animals and visitors have adapted. In parts of the state where wolves are not socially and biologically suitable, we do not try to insert wolves on the landscape. Achieving this balance isnt easy. Wyoming did not choose to bring wolves back to our state  that was done by the federal government and without local permission. But, by making decisions at the local level and paying people who have had livestock killed by wolves, we are making this relationship work  and it is working.

State management means we use the best scientific data and our decisions are subject to broad public review. This isnt an effort by biologists and state agencies alone. We recognize the value wolves bring to areas where they are appropriate. Wyoming people have changed the way they work, recreate, and use our public and private lands in the interest of wolf management. Quite frankly, I am very proud of Wyoming and its people. Any insinuation that the Equality State hasnt worked hard to protect endangered species is patently false and unjustified.

Despite the assertions of those who blindly oppose state management, success is defined in the Endangered Species Act as achieving recovery and returning authority to the state wildlife management agencies-the true experts. Thats what is happening with wolves in Wyoming now. We have a strong track record of successfully managing other large carnivore species like mountain lions and black bears. Both of their populations have increased over the last several decades. We continue to invest significant effort and money into conserving other endangered species like the grizzly bear, black-footed ferret and Wyoming toad.

This commitment has taught us that balance and predictability is key when managing wolves. It allows their populations to thrive, and also lessens the sleepless nights for ranchers who stay out to watch over their calves and lambs. Mankind must recognize that it is part of our ecosystem, not above it, and as Aldo Leopold put it game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have heretofore destroyed it. One of those tools for managing wolves is hunting. Using the best science available, we limit the number of wolves taken by hunters each year within their suitable range.

Wyoming has made a strong commitment to be responsive and responsible in our oversight of wolves in the state. Were conservative with population objectives to ensure there is a sustainable population. Thats a promise that wont change in the future as long as I am in charge of Wyoming.

Relisting wolves under the Endangered Species Act certainly wont do good for Wyomings wolves. Under federal protection, federal biologists kill wolves that get into trouble with people, pets and livestock. The best available science supports what we are doing and any irrational move to place the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf population back under federal control would create a true disincentive for the people of Wyoming to work cooperatively and spend our money on wolf conservation in the future. As Governor, I will not tolerate another federal power-grab and attack on Wyomings documented success. Its preposterous that Wyomings abounding achievements for wolves are being recolored as an ESA failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dysfunction in federal policy and unwarranted decisions lacking basis in science pose real threats to our wolf population.

Mark Gordon is the governor of Wyoming.

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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.
A POINT Fortin man and his teenage son were among four people detained yesterday by residents of Beach Road, Fullerton Village, Cedros, who fought back against cable theft on their street.

The suspects, of Techier Village, Mahaica, were blocked by villagers from leaving the street and nabbed in the bushes as they attempted an escape.
West Hartford police are seeking this man as a person of interest in a recent "distraction-style" theft. (West Hartford Police)

West Hartford police are asking for the publics help to track down persons of interest in recent distraction-style thefts in supermarket parking lots.

On Feb. 1 in the Whole Foods parking lot on North Main Street, an elderly woman told police a male approached her with something in his hand and gestured to the rear of her vehicle to address an issue with a tire, police said.

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The victim spoke with the male, who then walked away. The victim found later that her wallet had been stolen and fraudulent charges were made on several credit cards, police said.

On Thursday in the Trader Joes parking lot, 1489 New Britain Ave., an elderly woman was in her car when a male tapped on the window with a tire tool. The victim assumed she had a flat tire and got out of the car. The male walked her around to the passenger rear tire, but there was nothing wrong with the tire. The male walked away and the victim then noticed her wallet was stolen and learned later that fraudulent charges were attempted on several credit cards.

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Police want to speak with these two about recent distraction-style thefts. (West Hartford Police)

The suspects did not have similar descriptions, but the style of theft in the two incidents was almost identical. Police on Friday released surveillance photos of persons of interest from stores where stolen credit cards from the two cases were shown.

Westport police reported a similar incident recently. A wallet was stolen from elderly victim at a Whole Foods supermarket and fraudulent charges were made at various locations. The suspect in this incident matched the description of the suspect from Feb. 1 at Whole Foods. WHPD is working with Westport police along with several retailers to gain more information.

West Hartford police want to speak with these two people about recent distraction-style thefts. (West Hartford Police)

Anyone with information on the cases is asked to call police directly at 860-523-5203, or call the Tip Line at 860-570-8969, or email is whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.

West Hartford police offered information on this type of theft and how to avoid being a victim:

Generally, distraction thieves are well-dressed and well-spoken men and women who target elderly victims and retail businesses.

Sometimes, a thief will wait until the target gets into a car. Then the distracter will tell victims they have a flat tire or a problem with the vehicle. When the victim gets out to look at the problem, an accomplice enters the car and steals items.

Be aware of your surroundings and be wary of strangers.

If you exit your vehicle to speak with someone, lock and close the vehicle doors behind you.

Park in a visible, well-lit area.

Report any suspicious behavior to the police.

Jesse Leavenworth can be reached at jleavenworth@courant.com.
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 I was out and about running errands the other day, I popped into Nur Market on Speedway west of Alvernon Way. Because a foodie friend sent me some berbere, the Ethiopian curry/chili powder, I was casting about for some ways to use it.

I love shopping at small international grocers. The meat selections are intriguing, and the butchers often offer locally-raised and butchered meat. They dont bat an eye when I say that I need a pound of leg of lamb or shoulder, whereas the meat counters at my chain markets rarely offer such small quantities.

As I wandered the aisles, I remembered tibs, the stewy Ethiopian dish Id first encountered when I lived in Detroit. My first visit to the legendary Blue Nile restaurant had been eye-opening  Id never tasted injera, the spongy flatbread made from fermented teff flour, and Id certainly never been exposed to such fragrant, flavorful food.

Tibs, I thought, would make a nice change from my more usual Southwestern-inspired suppers.

Its easy enough to make. Like many Ethiopian dishes, it begins with a slow braise of vegetables  in this case, onions  with seasonings, including the fiery berbere. Then the meat  beef, lamb, or chicken, most commonly, although Ive also seen a tibs-like dish made with firm white fish  is browned and added to the sauce.

Back at the house, I wished Id also picked up a jar of niter kibbeh, which is clarified butter in which a variety of spices are simmered until the butter is fragrant and flavorful. But my tibs would have to start with plain old regular butter because Id forgotten the niter kibbeh.

Tibs is incredibly easy to make, although its not super-speedy. It takes a while for those onions to caramelize and cook down into an aromatic paste. But the cooking isnt difficult; just a little time-consuming.

Once the base is done, the rest of the dish comes together quickly. Sear the meat and return it to the intensely flavorful base to simmer briefly, and youre done.

I didnt have injera to eat with my lamb tibs, so I made a basic polenta to serve it over. You could also serve this over rice. I confess that I have sometimes eaten tibs as a bowl of stew, with no accompaniments whatsoever.

After dinner, as I was cleaning up the kitchen, I kept getting a whiff of a lovely scent. Finally, I realized that the berbere had perfumed my kitchen in a marvelous way  and the aroma lingered for a day or two. So I would say that tibs is good in many ways: First, in the eating, and second in the pleasure of remembering.

Tibs

Makes 2 to 3 servings

Berbere is the Ethiopian version of curry or chili powder. Its usually fiercely hot, but some versions are milder. Fragrant with fenugreek, black cardamom, and clove, berberes fabulous scent will linger in your kitchen. I like lamb in tibs, but beef and chicken are also traditional. Serve this over rice or polenta if you dont happen to have injera, the teff-based spongy flat bread, on hand to serve with it.

Ingredients

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 medium onions, chopped medium (about 2 cups)

3-inch knob ginger, peeled and minced, about 2 tablespoons

6 medium cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons berbere

Coarse salt, to taste

1 pound leg or shoulder of lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Juice of  lemon, to taste

Coarsely chopped parsley, for garnish

Slivered bell pepper, for garnish

Preparation

In a medium-sized heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and then add onions, ginger, garlic, and berbere. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are reddish-gold, about 30 minutes. Onions should sizzle a little during cooking.

Transfer to food processor and blend until it is a lumpy puree. Return it to the saucepan, season to taste with salt, and keep warm.

Season lamb on all sides generously with kosher salt. Heat oil in a 12-inch cast iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat high until lightly smoking. Add lamb in a single layer, leaving plenty of open space in the pan (brown in batches if you dont have a large enough skillet). Cook without moving until well-seared on one side, about 3 minutes.

Flip lamb cubes with tongs and cook on second side until well seared. Continue to cook, stirring and flipping occasionally, until desired level of doneness is reached. For rare meat, transfer to saucepan immediately. For medium, cook an additional one to two minutes before transferring to saucepan.

Toss lamb with warm sauce, stir in lemon juice, and divide among plates. Garnish each serving with chopped parsley and pepper slivers. Serve immediately.

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The free COVID-19 test site in a parking lot in Oro Valley promised quick results.

Five weeks later, Dave and Marge Randall are still waiting  and wondering if the whole thing was nothing more than an attempt to get their personal information.

Unknown to them at the time, the testing site operator had a blank Facebook page, a phone number no one answered, and a CEO linked to at least a dozen other websites selling T-shirts, business signs, photo booths, promotional banners and other items.

The couple also didnt know the FBI has warned the public against free COVID-19 tests from unfamiliar sources. Such offers are potential indicators of fraudulent activity often linked to identity theft, the agency said.

For the past several weeks, an entity named Allyhealth.us has been offering free tests in two Tucson-area parking lots  one at Grant and North Stone roads, the other at North Oracle and East Magee roads in Oro Valley where the Randalls were tested Jan. 20.

A representative of Allyhealth.us, who initially identified himself to the Arizona Daily Star as Jim Miller  but later acknowledged in an email that it wasnt his real name  did not dispute that some Tucsonans did not receive their COVID-19 test results, nor did he dispute that calls to the company phone number were not answered.

In a brief phone interview, he blamed the missing test results on cellphone firms that blocked the companys text messages and said the unanswered phone calls were due to three lazy employees who probably watched Netflix all day instead of taking calls.

The problems have been rectified, and the company plans to continue operating in the Tucson area, he said.

Miller did not respond by deadline to several follow-up questions including a request for his real name.

The CEO, identified in website registration records as Abid A. Shariff, did not respond to three email requests for comment. Shariffs email address has been used to register at least 12 different business websites in the past six years, the registration records show.

We gave them everything

Marge Randall, a retired East Coast banker who lives part time in the Tucson area with her husband, a retired engineer, said shes normally the suspicious type  the sort who would ask probing questions if an elderly person came into her bank to make a withdrawal with an unfamiliar companion.

But her throat was feeling scratchy the day the couple noticed balloons flying at a free testing site under a blue pop-up canopy in a parking lot North Oracle Road. And fears were high about omicron, the coronavirus variant said to be extremely contagious.

Every cough and sneeze can make you wonder if you have it, she said.

Marge Randall said she and her husband were promised test results in three or four days. When they didnt arrive she repeatedly called the phone number listed on a flyer from the test site, but no one picked up.

Weeks went by and neither one ended up getting sick, so by that time the test results were moot, she said. But the thought that their personal information may now be at risk is chilling.

Its scary, she said. We gave them everything, emails, phone numbers, They photocopied my drivers license.

It all seemed so legitimate.

Fakes can be hard to spot

Allyhealth isnt the only local test site to raise concerns.

Another entity called the Center for COVID Control, which ran a pop-up site on East Speedway near North Kolb Road late last year, is part of an Illinois-based chain under FBI investigation, USA Today recently reported.

The company recently announced all its testing locations are closed indefinitely.

The attorneys general of two states, Minnesota and Washington have filed lawsuits alleging the firm is a sham operation that contributed to the spread of COVID-19 by providing false test results or no results at all. The Arizona Attorney Generals Office has not announced any similar actions and does not disclose when a company is under investigation.

The FBI says trusted medical providers are the best source for COVID-19 tests. The Pima County Health Department sponsors about a dozen free testing sites, some of which do not require appointments and some major pharmacy chains offer drive-up COVID testing.

Fake test sites can be hard to spot, the Federal Trade Commission said in a bulletin last month.

They look real, with legitimate-looking signs, tents, hazmat suits, and realistic-looking tests. And the damage (they) can cause is very real.

Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or calaimo@tucson.com . On Twitter: @AZStarConsumer

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The Republican legislators didnt conceal their skepticism about the bill floated by their colleague, Sen. Wendy Rogers.

The proposal, Senate Bill 1342, would prohibit the Chinese Communist Party or its members from owning real estate in Arizona. Nobody seemed convinced it addressed a real problem.

I dont honestly see the need for it in the state of Arizona, said Sen. Tyler Pace, a Mesa Republican, during the Feb. 16 meeting of the Senate Commerce Committee. I dont know how to enforce it in the state of Arizona. Other than Sedona, I dont know what theyd want to buy.

Laughing, he added: Im curious to know where this is going to go, so Ill vote aye (yes).

Committee Chair Sen. J.D. Mesnard, a Chandler Republican, added that he doesnt usually vote to pass an unripe idea out of committee, but he sealed the bills passage when he said, Out of respect for Sen. Rogers, I wanted to advance the bill.

Even in a time of a near-even partisan split in Arizonas Legislature, it remains a hotbed of one-party rule. If youre not a member of the slim Republican majority in the House or Senate, your proposals stand little chance of being considered at all, let alone passed, even if they deal with crucial state issues like the housing crisis.

But if youre a Republican, low-priority ideas that touch on hot-button topics, like the Chinese Communist Party, often get a friendly committee hearing and passage to the next stage. For example, this session:

Rep. John Kaisers HB 2166 would remove the sales tax on guns in Arizona, something that Kaiser said would encourage gun ownership and send more business to stores instead of private sales.

A bill and resolution by Rep. Walt Blackman  HB 2624 and HCR 2028  would put in the state constitution a requirement that cities spend more on law enforcement every year.

Rep. Quang Nguyens HB 2008 would require Arizona high schools to teach students about the evils of communism and totalitarianism and how they are opposed to American principles of liberty and democracy.

None of these bills, even though theyre of borderline importance, languished. Republican members passed them out of committee, or, in the case of Nguyens bill, out of the House itself. They may well become law.

Of course, in terms of political strategy, its not smart to get on the wrong side of a culture-war issue, or to cross a fellow Republican whose vote you might need on your own bill. Mesnards Out of respect for Sen. Rogers could be read as So Sen. Rogers doesnt vote against my bills.

While acting fast on these and other bills dealing with emotional hot topics  abortion, critical race theory, transgender athletes in high schools  Arizonas Legislature has barely touched one of the most pressing issues in the state: housing.

Among U.S. cities with the fastest rent increases between January 2021 and January 2022, six Arizona cities were in the top 16, according to a Jan. 26, 2022 report by Apartment List. They are Scottsdale, Mesa, Phoenix, Glendale, Chandler and Gilbert.

Tucson didnt rank among the worst markets for rising rent, and yet it had a staggering rent increase of 23% over that 12-month period, the report said.

The prices of homes for sale in the Tucson area are also surging beyond affordability. The median home price went up by 17% from January 2021 to January 2022, ending at $342,751.

Thats unimaginable for anyone who has lived here long, and unreachable for a typical family in an area where the median household income is about $56,000 per year.

For this city and state, this has become a housing crisis. But the Legislature prefers to focus on taking culture-war stands.

Many Democrats and some Republicans have made an effort to address this crisis. Democrats have introduced 35 bills dealing with housing in the two chambers this year, but only three have been heard at all in committees.

Its extremely frustrating to Tucson Reps. Andres Cano and Pamela Powers Hannley both Democrats. Theyve both introduced housing bills that went nowhere.

Powers Hannley said shes introduced eight bills dealing with two aspects of housing: removing state preemptions from cities making their own decisions on housing policy, and keeping people in their homes.

One bill, HB 2446, would eliminate a state prohibition on cities establishing inclusionary zoning, by which cities require that in a given area, a certain portion of the homes in new developments must be affordable. Another, HB 2793, would prohibit landlords from raising rent by more than 10% in a given year unless their properties are substantially remodeled.

A Cano bill, HB 2457, would simply establish a study committee to study statewide issues of housing affordability and eviction prevention.

Of course these bills got nowhere.

The point isnt that these are the best ideas for addressing Arizonas housing crisis, or that Democrats have all the answers. Most likely, some of their ideas are good, and others arent.

The point is that their ideas for addressing one of the states most pressing problems cant even get a hearing, unless they can find a Republican to make it their own.

Meanwhile, a despicable legislator like Wendy Rogers, who has repeatedly embraced white nationalism, receives respect and deference for her fever dreams about Chinese communists.

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Contact columnist Tim Steller at tsteller@tucson.com or 520-807-7789. On Twitter: @senyorreporter

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On Feb. 2, a corrections officer at the Pima County jail went to deliver Sylvestre Miguel Inzunzas breakfast, but found the inmate unresponsive in his bed.

The officer noticed he was cold to the touch, according to an incident report from the Pima County Sheriffs Department, which runs the jail.

Corrections officers and medical staffers attempted lifesaving measures until the Tucson Fire Department arrived. Inzunza, 18, was beyond savable, the report said, and was declared dead at 5:26 a.m.

Inzunza was the second inmate to die at the jail in 2022, after last years 10 reported deaths that marked a decade-high number of annual deaths at the facility.

Including the two deaths this year, five of the deaths were attributed to drug overdoses, with the most recent four caused by fentanyl, according to the Pima County Medical Examiner. Fentanyl is a highly addictive drug thats nearly 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the DEA.

Three of the deaths resulted from medical complications, three from COVID-19, and one from suicide, according to the medical examiners findings. Of the 12 inmates, eight were people of color.

In 2021, the average daily inmate population at the jail was 1,621. Last week, it was 1,678, according to the Sheriffs Department.

The deaths have drawn scrutiny on the jail and its policies from local advocates and family members of the deceased demanding answers.

Frances Guzman, whose son Cruz Patino Jr. III died at the jail in August, has attended three protests in front of the facility since November with other family members of those whove died at the jail. They are trying to bring wider attention to the deaths.

Im doing these steps to have a little bit of peace because Im never going to get closure, Guzman said. Im climbing the steps, and when I see another death, Im right back to step one. I see these families crying, these friends crying for the same thing that my familys crying for. Its an ongoing thing.

The Pima County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss fentanyl-related overdoses at the jail with Sheriff Chris Nanos at its March 1 meeting, particularly, The status of any internal or external investigations into how fentanyl is making it into the inmate population, the agenda says.

One death is bad, right? We know that. One death is horrible. But my goodness, to sit there and say the sheriff is doing nothing about it is wrong, Nanos said. Everything we have done is done for a purpose to try to keep that horrific drug out of our facility.

Overdoses

From January 2021 to Feb. 2, 2022, the jail had 26 emergency-room send-outs for possible overdoses, according to a memo from Paula Perrera, the countys behavioral health director. Narcan was administered in 22 of those cases, and 19 cases required multiple doses of the drug designed to reverse opioid overdoses.

Nanos said every corrections officer overseeing a pod has been given access to Narcan in the last month.

Inzunzas death, which was ruled a fatal overdose, was the latest to happen at the jail, less than three weeks after another fentanyl-induced death.

Its unclear from records why Inzunza was in jail. He appeared in court  out of custody  one week before at a case management conference for 2021 charges of resisting arrest and a minor carrying a firearm, according to court records. He was also facing charges of armed and aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a 2020 incident.

On Jan. 10, Pedro Xavier Martinez Palacios Jr. was transferred to St. Marys Hospital, according to records from the Sheriffs Department. Four days later, he was declared brain-dead.

The incident report details a conversation with Palacios cellmate, who told jail personnel that Palacios had taken eight Mexican blue pills  which are counterfeit oxycodone pills containing varying amounts of fentanyl  over the course of three days.

The cellmate said a third inmate who left the jail before Palacios death brought in fentanyl pills by hiding them in his body and supplied the drugs to him and Palacios.

After running out of the fentanyl supply the third inmate had left behind, the cellmate told investigators Palacios suffered from severe withdrawal symptoms, including throwing up to the point of dry heaving and that he couldnt unclench his hands.

Im like, just  drink some water, and youll be, like, youll be all right, Palacios cellmate told investigators, according to the report. And then uh, the COs told him the same thing, just drink some water, and youll be fine.

The cellmate told investigators Palacios took a shower the morning of Jan. 10, and the cellmate proceeded to do the same. Before he undressed, the cellmate said, he saw Palacios being placed on a gurney.

Palacios, who was previously convicted of felony aggravated assault, had been booked into the jail at the time of his death in connection with felony charges of auto theft, burglary and fleeing from law enforcement, according to court records.

Visitations not allowed

From July 2020 to July 2021, fentanyl-related deaths have increased by 59% in Pima County, according to a report from the county Health Department, which also says fentanyl is the leading cause of death for youth in Pima County.

The countys behavioral health unit is charged with overseeing the contracts for privatized correctional health care companies that provide medical services to inmates in the jail.

Perrera, who has headed the behavioral health department since 2018, says the deaths at the jail are reflective of those in the community.

Fentanyl is a serious problem nationwide, but particularly here in Tucson, were just so close to the border, she said. People in the community are, you know, addicted to fentanyl and they use fentanyl and theyre bringing it with them inside the jail.

Nanos said every inmate undergoes a body scan when booked into the jail, which detects anomalies and potential contraband hidden on or within a body. The jail uses a canine specialized in sniffing out fentanyl, he said, and doesnt allow in-person visitations or physical mail, with inmates attending most court hearings virtually.

Some inmates swallow bags of pills to excrete them once theyre inside the jail in attempts to evade security procedures.

But it is a tiny pill and sometimes people are going to get that by us, Nanos said. We are doing everything we can to keep that nasty drug out of there. But it is tough. It is not an easy thing to stop from coming into your jails.

Despite the departments efforts, fentanyl is finding its way into the jail.

In Palacios case, sheriffs personnel reviewed the body scan of the cellmate who allegedly provided him with fentanyl and found a circular anomaly  in (the inmates) abdomen, but it was unclear what it was.

Nanos said the body scanning machine detects anomalies inside a persons body and provides a percentage as a threshold for when the further inspection is needed. He said the scan detected the abnormality, but it didnt reach the threshold needed to issue a warrant for further inspection.

We will go through that machine and see the ones weve missed and say, could we lower that standard to say, OK, we need to wake up when they hit 70%? Not 80%? I dont know. Its a guessing game, Nanos said.

The sheriff said the corrections workers who conduct the body scans are adjusting to that technology.

So we have COs who are trained to be corrections officers, looking at a machines X-ray vision, doing the best they can to say, I think theres something here, Nanos said.

The jail is also short-staffed, leaving corrections workers to take on longer shifts and experience burnout faster. As of last week, the jail was short-staffed by 104 corrections officers, five corrections sergeants and two corrections lieutenants.

Nanos said increasing staffing could have an impact on decreasing the number of deaths in the jail.

Ive got staff, for example, doing rounds every 20 minutes. What if I have enough that can do rounds every 10 minutes? Maybe theyd catch some of this, he said. I think your morale kind of picks up a little bit, because youre not feeling like youre stuck there for so many hours in the day. And once morales up youre giving a better effort.

Nanos said his department is in discussions to build a 30-bed unit for inmates detoxing from drugs and is considering buying a hand scanner that could detect drug residue on inmates hands when theyre booked into the jail. For now, however, those are just ideas.

In reality, Nanos said the jail he oversees isnt a place for those struggling with addiction.

I know there are some really, really bad people who exist, and they belong in that jail, Nanos said. But there are a lot of people who are in that jail because they do drugs. I dont like you doing drugs. But I dont know that is the place for you.

Pima County Public Defender Joel Feinman, who represents many of the inmates in the jail, is joining family members of the deceased in attempts to bring attention to the facilitys deaths.

His office, however, lacks the power to keep people out of the jail, he said. Thats an authority granted to the judges who put them there.

All we can do is represent our clients to the best of our ability and bring attention to issues and demand that society pay attention to how our clients are marginalized and mistreated, Feinman said.

Many inmates  including Palacios, according to sheriffs reports  enter the facility detoxing from drugs they took on the outside and lack access to proper care for the often dangerous withdrawal process.

The idea that if you are unlucky enough to have a substance abuse problem, and you get arrested for a low-level offense, then you have to roll the dice with your life and potentially die in the Pima County jail as a result of substandard medical care. I mean, I find that just deeply offensive, Feinman said.

Methadone shipments

In Perreras memo addressed to acting County Administrator Jan Lesher, the behavioral health department director wrote: We speculate that the lack of methadone as a treatment option may be a contributing factor for some of the overdoses within the jail population.

According to Perrera, inmates with opioid use disorder  where withdrawal can be life-threatening and cause symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and insomnia  used to be able to access methadone if they had taken it outside the facility. Methadone is commonly used to treat opioid use disorder by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

But on Dec. 1, the county stopped working with its former methadone provider, Community Medical Services. Perrera said the change came after officials found the company was starting people on methadone even if they werent provided it on the outside, going against the jails policy and causing some adverse events.

The jail also ended its contract with its former medical provider Centurion in August, switching to another privatized correctional health care company, NaphCare. Perrera said the Centurion contract ended because the company was violating its contract by refusing to engage and provide court-ordered evaluation and treatment services, on an involuntary basis.

Now, after nearly three months without methadone treatment in the jail, Pima County has obtained a preliminary license from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, to continue providing methadone to inmates.

Perrera expects the first shipments of methadone to arrive next week. The preliminary license wont become permanent, however, until SAMHSA conducts a survey at the jail to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.

But even with the return of the opioid withdrawal medication, only those who were already receiving methadone outside the facility can participate in the program.

In the current contract with NaphCare, I dont have the staffing in there that it would take to have a full-blown MAT (medically assisted treatment) services program, Perrera said.

In her memo to Lesher, Perrera said the countys long-standing policy is that individuals in our detention facilities should have the same or better access to quality care as they would outside.

I think we are certainly much closer today than we were when I took over this position, Perrera said when asked if the jail is living up to that policy.

Do we have everything that we could ever want? No, but we are way closer and we are continuing to move forward to having the right staff and the right staffing mix, she said. So its hard to say that today things are exactly the way that I want them to be. They arent.

Contact reporter Nicole Ludden at nludden@tucson.com

Deaths at the Pima County Jail The total count of deaths reported at the Pima County jail for the last 10 years: 2011: 4 2012: 4 2013: 3 2014: 1 2015: 6 2016: 4 2017: 5 2018: 9 2019: 5 2020: 9 2021: 10

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Crystal's Diner is one of the businesses destroyed in a fire on Main Street in Bristol on Thursday. (Courtesy Bristol Fire Department)

Bristol  Business owners whose locations were destroyed in an early-morning fire on Main Street in Bristol on Thursday say they will rebuild, they just dont know where yet.

At 1:20 a.m. a fire gutted Mafales Plaza, which was home to Crystal Diner, Vivaldi Pizza, Martys Package Store, Main Street Laundromat and the Dance Experience.

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All the businesses were closed at the time and no one was hurt in the blaze. It is being investigated by the Bristol Fire Department. Chief Richard Hart said Fridays snowstorm slowed down the investigation.

Krishna Naha, who with his wife Purnima has owned Crystal Diner since June 2019, said his landlord, Richard Lemieux, called him at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday to tell him the news.

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I got out of bed and ran. Its a 7-minute drive from home, Naha said Friday. When I saw it, my heart stopped. I couldnt stand up. My wife held me and told me to calm down.

He and Purnima have spent the last two days in disbelief. She is now the same way I was. All the time the last two days, shes asking, what do we do now? We have no idea, he said.

The fire comes at the end of two tough years for Naha. Since the pandemic started, daily its been hard to keep open the business. Its been a struggle with financials. I cut everybodys hours. My family helped me out also to keep it open, he said.

Naha said if the plaza is rebuilt, he would like to open the diner again in the same location, 43 Main St. But that decision is out of his hands.

Vivaldi's Pizza and Marty's Package Store are two of the businesses destroyed in a fire on Main Street in Bristol on Thursday. (Courtesy Bristol Fire Department)

Hart said the dance studio, at 53 Main St., and laundromat, at 49 Main St., suffered less damage than the other businesses, primarily smoke and water damage. Nonetheless, the building has been declared condemned, according to the citys Chief Building Official Richard Brown. Brown recommends demolition or restoration  the foundation is intact  but said that decision is between the building owner and insurance company and probably will take months.

Andi Lalaj, who is district manager for Vivaldis, said she also would like to reopen in the same place  45 Main St.  or nearby, to serve that area of Bristol. Vivaldis has four other locations: in Avon, Southington, Newington and a second location in Bristol.

Lalaj said she heard, soon after the fire started, that there was a possible fire on Main Street. She checked the feed from the restaurants cameras and noticed that they were not working.

I ran there. I live just down the street. I was the first one to see the fire, she said. I saw the building burn to the ground and collapse. I stayed there until 5:30 and then left because there was nothing I could do.

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I cried, she said. I have a lot of memories in that location.

Like Naha, Lalaj is waiting to find out if the plaza will be rebuilt before deciding where to open the new Vivaldis. We are definitely opening another one in that area, but not for a while, she said.

Marci Aldi, director of The Dance Experience, said on Friday that she is devastated and will start looking soon for a new permanent location, after the busy dance competition season ends.

Members of the local dance community already have stepped up to help, she said.

Probably two dozen studios have offered assistance.  All the Bristol studios have offered and others from all over the state, she said. Were just trying to sort through offers and see what works best with our dance family.

A Gofundme, with a goal of $10,000, was started to help the dance school recover from the tragedy.

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Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.
Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines released Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined the new set of measures for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on whats happening at hospitals.

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The new system greatly changes the look of the CDCs risk map and puts more than 70% of the U.S. population in counties where the coronavirus is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals. Those are the people who can stop wearing masks, the agency said.

The agency is still advising people, including schoolchildren, to wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high. Thats the situation in about 37% of U.S. counties, where about 28% of Americans live.

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The new recommendations do not change the requirement to wear masks on public transportation and indoors in airports, train stations and bus stations. The CDC guidelines for other indoor spaces arent binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules. And the agency says people with COVID-19 symptoms or who test positive shouldnt stop wearing masks.

But with protection from immunity rising  both from vaccination and infection  the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower, the CDC said.

Anybody is certainly welcome to wear a mask at any time if they feel safer wearing a mask, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a news briefing. We want to make sure our hospitals are OK and people are not coming in with severe disease. ... Anyone can go to the CDC website, find out the volume of disease in their community and make that decision.

Some states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, are at low to medium risk while others such as West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Arizona still have wide areas at high levels of concern.

CDCs previous transmission-prevention guidance to communities focused on two measures  the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive test results over the previous week.

Based on those measures, agency officials advised people to wear masks indoors in counties where spread of the virus was deemed substantial or high. As of this week, more than 3,000 of the nations more than 3,200 counties  greater than 95%  were listed as having substantial or high transmission under those measures.

That guidance has increasingly been ignored, however, with states, cities, counties and school districts across the U.S. announcing plans to drop mask mandates amid declining COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

With many Americans already taking off their masks, the CDCs shift wont make much practical difference for now, said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. But it will help when the next wave of infection  a likelihood in the fall or winter  starts threatening hospital capacity again, he said.

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There will be more waves of COVID. And so I think it makes sense to give people a break from masking, Noymer said. If we have continual masking orders, they might become a total joke by the time we really need them again.

The CDC is offering a color-coded map  with counties designated as orange, yellow or green  to help guide local officials and residents. In green counties, local officials can drop any indoor masking rules. Yellow means people at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. Orange designates places where the CDC suggests masking should be universal.

How a county comes to be designated green, yellow or orange will depend on its rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions, the share of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and the rate of new cases in the community.

Taking hospital data into account has turned some counties  such as Boulder County, Colorado  from high risk to low.

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Mask requirements already have ended in most of the U.S. in recent weeks. Los Angeles on Friday began allowing people to remove their masks while indoors if they are vaccinated, and indoor mask mandates in Washington state and Oregon will be lifted in late March.

In a sign of the political divisions over masks, Floridas governor on Thursday announced new recommendations called Buck the CDC that actually discourage mask wearing.

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In Pennsylvania, acting health secretary Keara Klinepeter urged patience and grace for people who choose to continue masking in public, including those with weakened immune systems. She said shell keep wearing a mask because shes pregnant.

State health officials are generally pleased with the new guidance and excited with how this is being rolled out, said Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

This is the way we need to go. I think this is taking us forward with a new direction going on in the pandemic, Plescia said. But were still focusing on safety. Were still focusing on preventing death and illness.

The CDC said the new system will be useful in predicting future surges and urged communities with wastewater surveillance systems to use that data too.

If or when new variants emerge or the virus surges, we have more ways to protect ourselves and our communities than ever before, Walensky said.
FLAGSTAFF  Clyde Tombaugh sat in the Orpheum Theater that fateful night in February 1930, waiting for clouds to pass before the 24-year-old astronomer could return to Lowell Observatory to confirm his discovery of a ninth planet in our solar system.

In that same theater 92 years later, during the I Heart Pluto Festival celebrating the discovery, Alden Tombaugh reflected on his fathers legacy of inspiration.

When he speaks about his father, it isnt the discovery of Pluto that he remembers most, its his dads love of sharing astronomy with others, particularly children.

It makes me enthusiastic about the future to think that people are still interested in that process and becoming involved in planetary science or any type of astronomy and the scientific method in and of itself, said Tombaugh, a former banker and contractor.

That same finding that brought astronomical fame to Flagstaff and the Tombaugh family has provided Lowell Observatory with a tradition they hope to continue for generations to come by celebrating one of the citys defining scientific moments.

Kevin Schindler, who has been the historian at Lowell Observatory since 2015, hopes young children who see what happened there will be inspired by the work of Clyde Tombaugh, who died in 1997.

Inspiring a new generation

Children like Cameron Dick, 11, whos interested in black holes and theoretical physics. He lives in a city where science is in the backyard and events like the I Heart Pluto Festival provide an outlet for new generations of Arizonans interested in science.

Aaron Dick, Camerons father, said he hopes his children take away an appreciation of science and learning about research and how to do research.

At Lowell, just a mile up the road from the theater, visitors follow a path of descriptive signs and busts, named the Pluto Walk, leading to the room where Clyde Tombaugh spent hours peering into the heavens.

Schindler said the discovery of Pluto  even though Pluto now is designated a dwarf planet  has shaped Flagstaff and northern Arizona.

Flagstaff and even Arizona, you could say, is the home of Pluto, and I think theres a lot of pride that goes with that, he said. If youre from Flagstaff, youre from the home of Pluto, and you know, its important both scientifically but also culturally, because the community does embrace that heritage.

When Schindler speaks of Tombaughs discovery, its with admiration and awe that it still moves young people nearly a century later.

He was 24 years old when he discovered this planet, Schindler said, and so when he was younger, he spent a lot of nights by himself on the farm, building his own telescopes. He just found it interesting, so I think its inspiring to think that anybody could achieve this.

He gave her the moon

James Christy, who was an astronomer at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, was among the I Heart Pluto celebrants at the Orpheum on Feb. 18.

In 1978, nearly a half century after Tombaughs discovery, Christy noticed a discrepancy on some of the slides picturing Pluto  a discrepancy that later would prove to be Plutos largest moon.

The astronomer emphasized the most important piece of his tale: how he chose the moons name.

Christy wanted to combine Char, the diminutive for Charlene, his wifes name, with on, an ending used for newly discovered particles. But because planets and their moons traditionally are named after figures in Greek and Roman mythology, Christy told his wife Charon wouldnt work. But a quick look in a dictionary saved the day: Charon was the ferryman of souls across the River Styx in Greek mythology.

Where Pluto stands today

In 2006, astronomers at the meeting of the International Astronomical Union voted to demote Pluto to dwarf status, arguing it didnt meet the unions criteria for being a full-size planet because it has not become gravitationally dominant  known in astronomy circles as clearing the neighborhood around its orbit.

That decision has been widely debated, particularly at Lowell Observatory.

The decision, Schindler said, was made on the final day of the unions meeting, when fewer members were present.

Thats just not how science is done, he said. Science is done by acclamation, not by voting, but based on the evidence.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

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PHOENIX  State officials are moving to create an agency to search for and finance the water Arizona will need if it hopes to support its current population and grow.

But Arizonans, particularly those who plan to move here in the future, should be prepared to pay more  possibly a lot more  to get that water.

The new Arizona Water Authority announced Friday by Gov. Doug Ducey would have the unique right to obtain and even own water. The state is considering piping excess water from the Midwest and desalinating water from the Gulf of California.

The agency would start with $1 billion in funding the governor hopes to set aside over the next three years.

That would not go far, however, especially with expensive new technology required to make water from elsewhere suitable for household use.

So the plan envisions having the state partner with private investors who would be willing to finance the projects  investors who would want a rate of return on their cash.

That is likely to mean the rates Arizonans pay for water, which often cover only the cost of treating and delivering it, will have to go up, said House Speaker Russell Bowers, R-Mesa, who was instrumental in crafting the plan, which still needs legislative approval.

Were going to have to get over the idea that water is cheap, he said.

The key may be finding ways to protect residents already here, while charging higher rates or connection fees to those who come to the state in the future, Bowers told Capitol Media Services.

My mother-in-law, 100 years old, down on her little lot in Mesa, shouldnt have to pay the cost of a desalination plant in Mexico, he said.

But the bottom line, Bowers said, is that without that new water, expensive though it may be, there just wont be enough to go around.

If we dont do it quick, then people actually will be leaving this valley, he said.

The Arizona Water Authority is the next step to the Drought Contingency Plan adopted in 2019 in the wake of a decline in Colorado River water.

It was recognized to be only a stopgap measure, patching together things like obtaining water rights from tribes and some cutbacks in agricultural use.

But now the U.S. West is facing its driest conditions in 1,200 years, a group of scientists reported earlier this month.

If that continues for another 10 years, Lake Mead will be empty, Bowers said. In fact, he said that at the current rate of use versus replenishment, it will be a dead pool in four or five years.

Thats leading to some radical proposals. Desalination is one of them, Ducey said.

How far the states money would go  even if it used the entire $1 billion  is unclear.

Even after the costs of constructing the desalination plant, current estimates are that treated water would cost $2,500 an acre-foot. Thats the amount of water that, depending on usage, is needed to serve from two to four single-family homes for a year.

So, think possible $1,200 annual water bills per house for treated seawater.

Bruce Babbitt, a former Arizona governor and U.S. interior secretary, told reporters this week that the state should not look to desalination to answer its water woes, at least not in the next generation.

We need people to understand, it isnt going to help us out of our present crisis, he said.

Bowers, for his part, acknowledged that the state, in considering desalination, may be looking for a magic bullet to solve its water woes. But that does not make it a bad idea, he said.

I would proffer that there arent any other bullets, Bowers said.

Technology aside, Bowers said theres something else that makes this a practical solution, even if it is expensive.

In Arizona, a host of laws govern the ownership of groundwater and surface water, meaning much of it already belongs to someone. Even treated effluent, Bowers noted, is subject to certain regulations.

The water authority will not have the right to use eminent domain to seize water that belongs to someone else.

But new water from somewhere else? Thats not covered by state law. And that means it could be owned outright by the new water authority, which then would have the power to sell it where needed, without worrying that someone elses legal rights were being trampled.

The high-dollar solutions like desalination and effluent treated to drinking-water quality  more colorfully referred to a toilet-to-tap  wont be the only ways the authority could spend its money.

There are other options, Bowers said, such as paying farmers to convert to new crops or use different irrigation techniques.

Incentives to urban landowners to cut back on lush lawns  some Phoenix-area lawns are watered through flood irrigation  might result in water credits that developers could buy up for new subdivisions.

But Ducey is balking at any talk of forcing the issue, at least when it comes to farms, even though agriculture uses about 70% of the states water.

Farming and agriculture is a huge part of our economy, he said. I think weve been able to do it successfully.

Any change will have to come from within, Ducey said. Weve also had and seen the farmers and the companies that are involved in agriculture diversify their crops depending on what the needs and the costs are, he said. So I dont know that its for the governor to decide who grows what.

And were the leafy green capital of the country, Ducey continued. I think weve been pretty good at it.

The flip side of agriculture using 70% is that urban use is a minority. And while the governor said he thinks encouraging conservation should be part of the discussion and a responsible practice, he isnt sure it would make much of a difference.

It doesnt do much to affect the water supply statewide, he said. Still, Ducey said he does his part: I turn off the water when I brush my teeth.

The new authority would have a nine-member board, with six appointed by the governor and three state officials, including the head of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Of those the governor would name, no more than three could be from the same political party. No more than one appointed member can be from the same county, with a limit of two of the six coming from Maricopa, Pinal or Pima counties.

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Many making wrong choice

Re: the Feb. 14 letter Value of freedom eludes leaders.

The letter left me wondering what reality the author is living in. The American people have been given all the necessary education about the virus and vaccines. This information has been dispersed by scientists, medical experts, public-health officials and responsible government officials. Certain mandates came into play when it became obvious that many informed proud Americans are not choosing to do the right thing, refusing to heed science and common sense. According to the letter, if people are just given their freedom, they will make the correct choice, as the country did during the polio epidemic. This is a totally different time, where people actually think social media is a legitimate source of information and many have bought into the politicization of this pandemic. Right-wing politicians continue to sow doubt and distrust in science and facts surrounding COVID-19 and vaccines. Some Americans are doing the right thing, but many are not. Having no mandates, and therefore freedom, would not change this.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

Water use in Arizona

Re: the Jan. 31 article Desalination? Toilet-to-tap? Arizona will consider all.

Senate President Karen Fann of Prescott, said there is no need to regulate private-exempt wells because they can only pump 35 gallons/minute of water suggesting 35 gallons/minute is a small volume of water. However, 35 gallons/minute is equal to 50,400 gallons/day and this is a very large number considering the average use of water per person on a daily basis in Arizona is only 146 gallons/day per the state water department. The amount of water that a private-exempt well can pump on an average daily basis should be regulated so that the amount of water pumped annually is tied in some way to the needs of the average person. Clearly 35 gallons/minute over one year is not acceptable for a single family well while it could be acceptable for a community well serving many families.

Gary Kordosky

West side

No one is above the law?

In his third annual address to Congress in 1903, Theodore Roosevelt said: No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any mans permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor.

As a lawyer, that seems to me a novel concept these days. I doubt Teddy had envisioned the kind of unending corruption that has been unearthed regarding the 45th president, and (to date) lack of accountability. I suspect he would have been appalled.

I understand that Attorney General Merrick Garland has been hamstrung by the current vitriolic political atmosphere, and that just opening an investigation into potential Trump wrongdoing would produce hordes of his loyal cult followers howling accusations of witch-hunting politics.

Like it or not, there will always be an element of politics in all three branches of government, unfortunately, even the judiciary. But it would be criminal if Teddys words are to ring hollow.

A. Lawrence Glynn

East side

Brink of oblivion

Sept. 1, 1939, is remembered by the world as the day Germany invaded Poland and began WWII. At the time however, some perceived it differently. Quoted the next day in the New York Times, Chancellor Adolph Hitler said Germany was only protecting its people because all other methods had failed. He went on  Germans in Poland are persecuted with a bloody terror, and are driven from their homes. Border violations which are unbearable to a great power prove the Poles are no longer willing to respect the German frontier. This must stop and there are no other means left to me now than to meet force with force.

That statement echoes today in Ukraine, as the aggressor blames his victim. The world holds its breath, a mushroom cloud and the specter of World War III appears before us.

Personalities and times differ, but again we must ask ourselves whether old white men have brought us to the brink of oblivion.

Harry Peck, retired trial lawyer

Tubac

GOP attacks on Ukraine response

Trump scorns Biden for doing anything above nothing to curb Putins evil ambitions, praising Putin like a giddy schoolgirl, while his loyal minions in Congress flail away at Biden for doing anything less than all. Republican politics in America is now cracked through and empty, absent of heart, thought and reason.

Rich Ragland

Marana

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The pursuit of the death penalty against a man accused of killing a Tulsa police officer may continue, a judge ruled Friday, despite defense attorneys argument that the states statutes make the process unconstitutional.

Kevin Adams, lead counsel for David Ware, said he intends to appeal District Judge William Mussemans decision.

The judge also denied four other motions the defense had filed.

Adams and co-counsel Robert Gifford had asked the court to quash the states pursuit of the death penalty against Ware, saying Oklahomas compensation cap for lawyers appointed to represent indigent defendants in death-penalty cases is so low it creates a conflict of interest between defendants and their counsel.

Oklahomas Indigent Defense Act caps compensation for appointed lead counsel in capital cases at $20,000 and co-counsel at $5,000, and Adams pointed to the American Bar Associations guidelines, which hold that caps in death penalty cases are improper.

Death-qualified defense attorneys Stephen Lee and John Echols testified that they agreed with Adams assertions.

Lee said he turned down appointment to Wares case after the Tulsa County Public Defenders Office cited a conflict of interest because he is familiar with the exorbitant cost such a case would exact on his firm.

Its a heavy burden to carry, Lee said, recalling having represented Darren Price in a death-penalty case in 2014.

Lee said he financially survived closing his practice for months during the trial and preparation only because he has a two-income household.

Echols testified that death-qualified counsel have tremendous responsibility and that any lawyer must be independently funded to take on such a case. Otherwise, it just cant be done, he said.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray confirmed with the witnesses during cross-examination that they were aware of the statutory cap before accepting their respective cases and didnt feel it impeded their ability to provide competent counsel.

I took the hit, Lee said. Its what I felt I had to do at the time.

Price avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to life without parole.

To defend a person from execution in Oklahoma is to flirt with financial ruin, Adams said, and instead of compensating appointed defenders appropriately, the system relies upon their good faith.

Adams also alleged that a conflict of interest exists among the judiciary because judges across the state have an incentive to avoid paying more to appointed attorneys because such a payment would come from the same fund that feeds into judges pensions and retirements.

Adams called former Tulsa County District Judge James Caputo to the stand to testify about a series of phone calls he says the two exchanged  some of which were recorded  in which Caputo first told him that judges hold onto as much of the court fund as possible because it supplements judicial retirements, before he grew more hesitant to speak about the statutory system, according to a letter Adams sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to apprise him of the situation.

Adams has filed a federal lawsuit on the matter, citing the lack of an adequate state forum.

Caputo, who said he was vested in his retirement after serving on the bench from 2001-2019, denied recalling specifics of the calls several times on the stand before eventually saying he and other judges at a state judicial conference were told not to suspend court fines and fees to keep all of the funds for the judiciary intact, including for retirement. He denied recalling who gave that direction or what high-level judiciary officials were nearby, if any.

Adams additionally questioned Caputo about a phone call he received from Caputo after naming him as a witness in the federal suit, in which the district judges and court clerk are now named in their official capacities in addition to District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler.

Caputo told Adams he recalled the entirety of the conversation but then denied recalling having expressed concern for what such a revelation could do to his career. His examination was peppered with sustained objections from the state.

Acknowledging that the issue was sensitive, Adams admitted the recordings as evidence, and Caputo can be heard saying, I just hope you havent ruined my career, as Adams loudly encourages him to disregard himself and stand up for truth.

Im not saying the state cant kill who it wants to. Im just saying theyve got to be fair about it, Adams said in closing. This is a problem that the state Legislature needs to fix, but they wont until a court recognizes it as a problem.

Gray argued that the ABA Guidelines are just that, guidelines, and that the exceptional counsel Ware is receiving from Adams proves that the compensation cap doesnt interfere with a clients ability to retain competent counsel. Adams has not had to spare expenses in his representation of Ware, having expert witnesses and medical tests approved and performed.

Gray also said said the change to the system Adams is seeking could possibly be brought about through a different avenue.

Musseman denied Adams motion, saying he did not believe that Adams had demonstrated unconstitutional structural error.

I dont know when Oklahoma is going to fix its flawed death-penalty system, Adams told the Tulsa World after the hearing, citing a nearly 50% reversal rate in death-penalty convictions. I hope one day our system will change.

Wares first-degree murder trial is scheduled to begin in April. Hes accused of shooting Tulsa Police Officers Aurash Zarkeshan and Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson during a traffic stop in June 2020. Johnson, 45, died of his injuries.

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The Peoples Convoy, one of several planned U.S. trucker convoys modeled after Canadas Freedom Convoy protesting vaccine and mask mandates, is planning two stops in Oklahoma over the weekend and will drive through Tulsa on its way to the Washington, D.C., area, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The Peoples Convoy plans to enter Oklahoma from Texas on Interstate 40 and stop in Elk City Saturday evening for the night. Then it will travel east through western Oklahoma on Interstate 40 on Sunday before turning northeast on Interstate 44.

It will then travel on the Turner Turnpike to Tulsa and through the Tulsa area on the Creek Turnpike before taking the Will Rogers Turnpike to Vinita, where it will stop for the night Sunday and make its way out of Oklahoma on Monday, the OHP reported. The convoys official website lists the rest stops and dates of travel.

The OHP said troopers will be monitoring traffic flow on Sunday to ensure minimal disruption to normal traffic flow and to ensure public safety.

Several hundred people rallied in a parking lot in Adelanto, in the Mojave Desert, before about two dozen trucks and a number of other vehicles hit the road. It wasnt clear how many intended to go all the way, the AP reported.

A number of other convoys modeled after the Canadian protests have also been organized, each with different starting points, departure dates and routes.

The Peoples Convoy official website states that its organizers want an end to the National Emergency Declaration that then-President Donald Trump declared in March 2020 and President Joe Biden extended on Feb. 18. The national emergency has no stated end date.

A statement issued by organizers of the Peoples Convoy says it is multicultural and nonpartisan, although Trump flags were flying at the rally in Adelanto, the AP reported.

The statement says that 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. Arrival in the Washington area is scheduled for March 5.
I have seen grown men cry.

More than a few, as a matter of fact. And in almost every instance, the tears are triggered by a memory.

One old Marine Corps veteran, for example, was so shaken by something he recalled from 70 years earlier he couldnt contain himself.

I remember him leaning forward in his chair, squinting to hold back the tears.

With others, the show of emotion has been more subtle.

Like in the case of Jim Carl.

The Catoosa resident, who died recently at age 100, was a retired lieutenant colonel and fighter pilot we interviewed in 2017 as part of our WWII Veterans Remember series.

At some point during our hour at Carls home, as he talked, a solitary tear formed in the corner of one eye and began slowly to crawl down his cheek.

By the end of the interview, it had left behind a faintly shining trail.

Carl never acknowledged it. I cant be sure he even knew the tear was there. But Ive never forgotten it.

So, just what is it that can bring a tear to the eye of a man from that generation, one famed for its toughness and grit?

For the Marine I mentioned, it was memories of an attack one night on Iwo Jima, when an enemy shell hit his foxhole.

He was uninjured. But a companion beside him was blown almost in half.

Pulling the body back into their hole, he would spend the rest of the night huddled next to his lifeless comrade.

In the moment, as he recounted this, I could tell that mentally he was right back there in that foxhole, feeling like he did then  powerless to help his friend.

And so the tears flowed.

Carls one tear didnt seem to be tied to any one experience. Rather, it was from the totality of many.

It was a response, for one, to memories of pilots he flew with, and especially those who died in the war. He called out several of their names to me, the faces clearly still fresh in his mind.

At the same time, the tear could have been, in part, for the young German pilots he flew against. They were good, and as a pilot he had great respect for them.

There was one in particular he wished he couldve met, he said. A skilled German flier whom Carl himself shot from the skies.

I could hear the regret over it in his voice  regret that such a world as ours exists, where such an action, gunning down a fellow aviator, is sometimes necessary.

The only way you could do it, he told me, was to think of it this way: You didnt kill a guy, you killed an airplane.

Its because of moments like these that Ive come to marvel at the power of memory, and how it can make the long ago seem suddenly close.

So close you can almost reach out and touch it.

So real you cant help but get emotional.

Whether or not they come with tears, Ive learned never to take these moments in interviews for granted.

They are gifts, really. Brief glimpses of raw emotion.

A memorial service for Carl, known affectionately to his friends as the Colonel, is set for Saturday in Catoosa. Burial with military honors will follow in Miami, Oklahoma.

A hero to many in the veterans community, he no doubt will be mourned by many area veterans.

Among them, there might even be a tear or two shed.

Because, as Ive learned, grown men do cry.

Especially when remembering friends who are gone.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people in seven of Connecticuts eight counties are no longer recommended to wear masks in public, indoor settings. In the final county, Middlesex, people at high risk for COVID-19 are advised to consult a doctor on whether they should wear a mask. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant)

Under new guidance unveiled Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people in seven of Connecticuts eight counties are no longer recommended to wear masks in public, indoors settings.

In the final county, Middlesex, people at high risk for COVID-19 are advised to consult a doctor on whether they should wear a mask.

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The new CDC guidance arrived Friday as most of the country recovers from a devastating omicron variant surge. In Connecticut, the daily average of new cases has dropped from 10,000 at one point in January to 436 currently.

We want to give people a break from things like masking when our levels are low, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things get worse in the future, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDCs director, told reporters. We need to be prepared, and we need to be ready for whatever comes next.

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Under the CDCs previous criteria, five of Connecticuts counties qualified for the high COVID-19 transmission category, while the other three were classified as having substantial transmission. That meant people in all eight counties were recommended to continue wearing masks in indoor, public places.

Whereas people in 94% of counties nationwide were recommended to wear masks under the CDCs old guidance, those in only 37% of counties are now recommended to do so under the new guidance.

[ Weekly coronavirus updates: COVID-19 metrics leveling off in Connecticut, expert says; state reports 119 additional deaths ]

The new guidance has drawn criticism from some public health experts, who view it as overly permissive. Dr. Gerald E. Harmon, president of the American Medical Association, said in a statement that he will continue to wear a mask in public and recommends that others do so as well.

[ Why the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging for many immunocompromised Connecticut residents ]

Even as some jurisdictions lift masking requirements, we must grapple with the fact that millions of people in the U.S. are immunocompromised, more susceptible to severe COVID outcomes, or still too young to be eligible for the vaccine, Harmon said. In light of those facts, I personally will continue to wear a mask in most indoor public settings, and I urge all Americans to consider doing the same.

Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said last week he doesnt think its time yet to lift mask requirements but that the time might come soon, possibly in a week or two.

Connecticut has not had a statewide mask mandate in nearly a year, and most towns and cities that implemented mask requirements this winter have since lifted them. New Haven, which has been one of the states strictest cities when it comes to pandemic control measures, announced Friday that masks will no longer be required as of March 7.

Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com.
Okmulgee Mayor Richard Larabee is at the center of an OSBI investigation after a local business accused him of embezzling more than $150,000, Okmulgee police said in a news release.

The company, McCullough Building Owners LLC, alleged to police on Friday that Larabee, a former property manager and minority owner, had embezzled the money while working as the McCullough Buildings property owner.

The McCullough Building is a historic building in downtown Okmulgee that was constructed in 1926. It is primarily an office building, with event space and some commercial businesses. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places along with Historic Downtown Okmulgee.

The Okmulgee Police Department said in the news release that since Larabee is in a city position, Police Chief Joe Prentice requested that the investigation be handled by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Larabee has been mayor of Okmulgee since August 2020, when then-Mayor Steven Baldridge resigned. Larabee was a city councilor, elected in 2018, and vice mayor before becoming mayor.

Larabee was reelected as mayor earlier this month, beating his opponent, Letisha Stovall LeBlanc, by 63 votes.

Although the City Council approves contracts, purchases and claims, its members have no access to municipal funds, police said.

According to Larabees Facebook Profile, he is the owner and founder of TCE Insurance Solutions, an insurance agency located in the McCullough Building.
Congressman Markwayne Mullin has thrown his hat into the ring for U.S. Senate, announcing via a video on Twitter at noon Saturday that he is in the race.

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe announced Friday that he is resigning from the seat effective at the end of this congressional session. The sudden opening created much speculation about who would run for his Senate seat.

Mullin tweeted Saturday: Im in! We need an America First conservative fighting for Oklahoma in the Senate.

His tweet included a video of himself driving to Oklahoma City for his sons high school wrestling tournament.

He says in the video that hes been getting a lot of calls asking whether hes going to run for the open Senate seat.

Im in. Im not one to back away from a fight, he says. In fact, I believe 100% that if youre going to get in a fight, you win it. So were in it to win it.

His tweet includes a link to a newly created Mullin Senate campaign website.

Mullin will have to give up his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in order to run for the Senate seat.

Also Saturday, Republican Jackson Lahmeyer announced that he will stay in the race against fellow Republican Sen. James Lankford, who is running for reelection this year.

Lahmeyer said in an email to media that he had been encouraged to switch races and run for the Senate seat that will be left open by Inhofes resignation, but he said he thinks he is the only person who can defeat Lankford in the GOP primary.

At the same time he announced his retirement, Inhofe endorsed his former chief of staff, 35-year-old Luke Holland, to replace him in the Senate. Holland, who has not run for office before, resigned from his staff position Thursday night so he could enter the Senate race.

Holland, who has a residence in Tulsa, held a press conference Friday in Oklahoma City to announce his candidacy.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, who had been thought to be a possible candidate for the open Senate seat, said he has no plans to run.

Due to the questions from press, let me be clear about this upcoming election cycle. I am fully committed to serving the State of Oklahoma as Governor and seeking the support of Oklahomans for another four years in this role, Stitt said Friday.

My focus continues to be on delivering a Top Ten state by working with my friends in the Legislature to advance transformational, conservative reforms that protect freedoms and benefit all 4 million Oklahomans.

Inhofes retirement, effective early next year, means a special election will be held for his seat on the same schedule as other elections this year.

Randy Krehbiel contributed to this story.

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More than 466,000 Oklahomans are living with diabetes, and an additional 1,040,000 residents, 34.9% of the adult population, have prediabetes. Yet, stories of patients rationing their insulin or not being able to afford it at all are still too common.

Thankfully, this year our state Legislature has the opportunity to help this vulnerable population and countless others living with chronic illness by increasing their access to treatments.

Senate Bill 1324 would require state-regulated health plans to pass negotiated rebates on prescription drugs to plan participants at the point of sale, saving many Oklahomans $1,000 or more annually with minimal effect on the overall cost of premiums.

As a mother whose daughter was diagnosed at the age of 3 and has lived with Type 1 diabetes for the past 34 years, I am encouraged by the consideration of this vital legislation by the Oklahoma Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee and am hopeful the rest of the Legislature will share this sense of urgency in ensuring that their neighbors, friends, colleagues and family members can afford their prescriptions.

The cost of medications to patients is often much higher than the cost to their insurance company  for the same medicine on the same prescription. Thats because health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers negotiate significant rebates on the cost of medicine and do not share these savings with patients.

The average rebate on a branded drug is nearly 50%, meaning insured Sooners may be paying nearly twice what the insurer pays for their medications.

The excess amount paid by patients is going to the pharmacy benefit managers and insurance companies who, by the way, own each other.

The top three pharmacy benefit managers control 75% to 80% of the U.S. drug market and are driving up the list prices of drugs by demanding rebates on the back end.

Insurance companies falsely say they use these rebates to keep premiums down. The statistical impact of passing through these rebates to the patient would result in a less than 1% increase in premiums.

The current rebate practice is reverse insurance.

The sick are subsidizing the healthy  not how insurance is supposed to work. Why should the insurance company profit off my drug purchase, especially during the deductible period?

Its becoming abundantly clear that this issue is being recognized nationwide.

Rebate pass-through legislation was passed last year in West Virginia and was proposed in 12 other states. It was also added to the Council of State Governments suggested state legislation list at its annual meeting in December.

We expect more concerned legislatures across the country to consider adding this protection for their fully insured citizens.

By helping patients live healthier lives now, we also help them stay healthy in the future. By decreasing barriers to treatment access, we are simultaneously helping curb the often-devastating effects of chronic disease and also lowering the cost of these comorbidities, which effectively saves patients  and the state  money.

On behalf of Oklahomans living with diabetes and in alliance with fellow leading patient advocacy groups, we call on Oklahoma legislators to vote to yes on SB 1324 and share the savings with patients to ensure a healthier Oklahoma for generations to come.

Kim Koleber is a Tulsa resident and long-time advocate and champion of those living with diabetes. Personally affected, Kolebers daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3.

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Attorney General John OConnor was right to reverse course on plans to review books for possible violations of obscenity laws. It would have been a waste of time in an unproductive culture war on words.

Libraries have processes for patrons to challenge titles on the shelves. School districts offer parents avenues for material reviews and restrictions, as shown recently in a challenge in Bixby.

OConnors investigation of 50 book titles was first reported by the online news site The Frontier. A spokesperson told Tulsa World reporter Barbara Hoberock several people made complaints about possible obscenity violations and no timeline had been established for the investigation.

Books making the list included classics like Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies, coming-of-age novels Perks of Being a Wallflower and Judy Blumes Forever and titles about LGBTQ+ experiences, activism and racial justice. Contemporary works such as The Lovely Bones and Dear Evan Hansen made the list.

By complaining to the attorney general, the intent was to ban the works for all Oklahomans, not just children.

Oklahomas obscenity laws are largely focused on crimes such as child pornography and indecent exposure. These novels hardly meet that standard.

A day after the story was reported, OConnor backed off the examination, citing a pending proposal at the Legislature and options to object to school boards and to advocate lawmakers to review the definition of obscenity.

Having a due process system is a cornerstone of democracy, and it works. But, the legislative proposal OConnor referenced would eliminate that step, harming education and hitting hard at the First Amendment.

Senate Bill 1142 from Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, would ban any book that deals with sex, sexual identity and/or gender identity at school libraries. It would remove any bookwithout a review processif a parent complains. If its not done within 30 days, the librarian would be automatically fired, and the district could be sued for a minimum of $10,000 per day.

The book-banning trend comes from an increase of politicizing public schools, with fringe groups gaining traction online by targeting books mostly about LGBTQ+ and race. Texas has similar book-banning proposals and several school districts nationally have censored literature.

Those arent actions for a thriving America. No society that banned books fared well in the long run.

Lawmakers would be wise to leave the book challenge reviews to the library professionals and local boards.

OConnor and his staff have better things to do, and we appreciate he dropped this pointless endeavor to focus on more pressing criminal matters.

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In an event sponsored by the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation and Ukraine Global Scholars, Ukrainians from across central Connecticut gathered Friday at the Ukrainian National Home on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. (Courtesy photo)

HARTFORD  For Wesleyan student Yulia Kulchytska, the invasion of her Ukrainian homeland by Russia is nothing short of an attempt to end democracy across the globe.

Kulchytska, a sophomore studying at Wesleyan University, spoke at the Ukrainian National Home late Friday, saying she urged Westerners not to underestimate the conflict started by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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This is about democracy, Kulchytska said. Right now this is just the logical sequence in the next steps of Putins conquest that the world has been ignoring for eight years. The world should understand that Ukraine is not the main goal. If Ukraine falls, its the ending of the democratic world.

[ Kyiv under threat as Russia presses invasion to Ukrainian capital ]

In an event sponsored by the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation and Ukraine Global Scholars, Ukrainians from across central Connecticut gathered Friday at the Ukrainian National Home on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. (Courtesy photo)

Kulchytska and Hartford Ukrainians gathered at the Ukrainian National Home on Wethersfield Avenue for an event originally intended to promote academic development for young people but that evolved into a show of solidarity for Ukrainians facing a war at home.

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Oleh Atamaniuk, one of the speakers from Westminster School, said his hometown of Kolomyya, in Western Ukraine, was bombed four times in the past 48 hours.

Its just horrible. Its the biggest conflict since World War II, Atamaniuk said. I try to keep in touch with my family to make sure theyre OK. Russia is attacking, and theyre trying to make sure they surrender Kyiv in the next 24 hours, but the Ukrainian army is fantastic. Theyre so brave, and theyre one of the best armies in the world.

The event, which was cosponsored by the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation and Ukraine Global Scholars, drew a crowd of Ukrainians from across central Connecticut, some arriving teary-eyed, clad in traditional Ukrainian garb. The crowd heard from three student speakers who shared their stories about how they completed rigorous preparatory programs with Ukraine Global Scholars and earned scholarships to some of New Englands most prestigious colleges and high schools.

Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. >

Oleksii Antoniuk, a Yale University student and president of Yale Ukrainian students group, took the stage first, followed by Kulchytska, who is studying economics and philosophy at Wesleyan, and Atamaniuk of Westminster School.

Antoniuk expressed gratitude for the opportunity that Ukraine Global Scholars provided him. I would have never been able to afford a $60,000 a year tuition Antoniuk said. A lot of Ukrainians dont think its possible to get a Western education, but with these programs it is.

On the topic of war, Antoniuk shared sentiments similar to those of the other students.

Putin, he has sort of senile insanity, and I think it was an irrational step that Russians didnt even agree with. Ukrainians will resist, he said. We just need a bit more supplies and a bit more weapons to ensure that we can fight the Russians, and more support from the West.

Protestors hold a placard at a small demonstration held by Ukrainians, Russians, and Kenyans against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in front of the Russian embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday. As Kyiv residents flee explosions and Russian troops close in on Ukraine's capital, Ukranians around the world hold rallies in support of their homeland. (AP Photo) (AP)

Alex Kuzma, a Wethersfield resident who serves as the chief development officer of the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation, said events such as the one Friday help to expose young people to opportunities and help strengthen cohesion among Connecticuts growing Ukrainian community.

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Its a poignant moment for these students because theyre anxious and terrified for their families back home. We wanted to be the adoptive family for these kids in Hartford and serve as an emotional shelter for the Ukrainian community, Kuzma said. Its kind of sad they didnt know theres a really vibrant Ukrainian community in Connecticut. The idea was to make the connection between these talented young students and give them a flavor of hospitality.

[ Putins threats hinting at use of nuclear weapons slammed as unthinkable, by University of New Haven professor ]

The three student speakers have agreed with Ukraine Global Scholars to work in their country for several years after graduation. Kulchytska plans to enter the nonprofit space, while Antoniuk and Atamaniuk have their eyes on politics.
After reading the Tulsa World's article about Sen. Jim Inhofe a few days ago (Inhofe expects Russia invasion, Feb. 19) it made me think.

The senator is 87 years old, I am 81 years old, yet being six years younger than the senator I remember 1953, that is when Joseph Stalin, Soviet dictator, died. He had led the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1952.

I remember him being the worst of the worst Russian leaders, even more deadly than the former Russian leader Ivan the Terrible. I am sure that my memory is not that much better than the senators, but according to the article in the paper it must be.

The senator's comments of Putin being the worst leader of Russia evidently doesn't take into account the millions of citizens murdered during the reign of Stalin. Millions died in prisons called gulags. Stalin once made the statement, "The death of one is a tragedy, the deaths of a million is a statistic."

I am in no way saying that Putin is a good guy; he is a murderer and caused much harm to his country.

Also, when Donald Trump was president and playing footsy with Putin, who Trump called "a pretty good guy," I never heard Inhofe say anything derogatory about Putin. It is amazing to me that a senator who is not going to run for reelection is still letting Trump influence him.

Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter.

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Vietnam's TH Group, which owns the TH True Milk brand, and Singapores HAO Mart Pte Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation in the consumption and promotion of fresh milk products, agricultural products, and organic foods of the former in Singapore market on Friday.

The MoU was signed at the Vietnam - Singapore Business Dialogue under the witness of Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc within the framework of his state visit to Singapore from Thursday to Saturday.

As TH Group considers Singapore to be a large and potential market in ASEAN, the firm has carried out many trade promotion activities in the island country over the years.

In 2021, TH Group officially launched more than 30 product lines in Singapore at a series of supermarket chains -- such as HAO Mart and NTUC Fairprice -- and e-commerce platforms -- including Shopee, Lazada, Redmart, Amazon, Grabfood, and NTUC marketplace.

The Vietnamese dairy producer is planning to continue expanding its product coverage in Singapore under the cooperation with Singapore-based Learth Group that was established last year, according to TH Groups international sales manager Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy.

It also aims to widen its influence to other Asian markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.

Established in 2009, TH Group is the largest fresh milk company in Vietnam, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, and also runs a number of food and beverage projects, including manufacturing and processing fresh milk, nut milk, clean fruits and vegetables, herbal and purified water.

HAO Mart is a subsidiary of HAO Corp, which operates in electronic manufacturing and retailing services.

Established in 2016, HAO Mart has expanded its retail chain to nearly 50 stores across Singapore, distributing more than 70,000 fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products imported from 43 countries, with its average annual revenue topping US$90 million.

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The three largest U.S. drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson have agreed to finalize a proposed $26 billion settlement resolving claims by states and local governments that they helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Distributors McKesson Corp, Amerisource Bergen Corp and Cardinal Health Inc along with J&J had until Friday to decide whether enough cities and counties nationally had opted to join the landmark settlement to justify moving forward with it.

The deal aims to resolve around 3,000 lawsuits by state and local governments seeking to hold the companies responsible for an opioid abuse crisis that has led to hundreds of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States over the last two decades.

The distributors and J&J in separate statements on Friday confirmed they had determined there was "sufficient" participation to move forward with the settlement, which was first announced in July. They are not admitting wrongdoing.

The announcement paves the way for the companies to begin making payments to the governments in April, money that officials say will be used to fund treatment and other programs aimed at addressing the health crisis.

"Because of the money, there will be people alive next year who otherwise would have died," North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a lead settlement negotiator, said in an interview.

The lawsuits accuse the distributors of lax controls that allowed massive amounts of addictive painkillers to be diverted into illegal channels, and that drugmakers, including J&J, downplayed the risk of addiction when marketing the pain medicines.

Photo: Reuters

The proposed settlement calls for the distributors to pay up to $21 billion over 18 years and for J&J to pay up to $5 billion over nine years. About $2.3 billion is set aside to cover fees and expenses of plaintiffs' lawyers and state attorneys general.

"Billions of dollars are now going to flow to treatment, recovery, education and abating this public health crisis," said Paul Geller, a lawyer for local governments at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd.

Most states are settling. All four companies continue to face claims in Alabama, Oklahoma, Washington and West Virginia, while New Hampshire did not settle with J&J. The companies recently also agreed to settle with Native American tribes.

Peter Mougey, a plaintiffs' lawyer at the law firm Levin Papantonio involved in the negotiations, said over 7,000 local governments opted into the settlement.

"Almost 40 states are 99% or higher," he said of participation within the states.

It is likely the biggest, though not the last, settlement to result from opioid litigation.

This month, the Sackler family owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma in its bankruptcy proposed a revised settlement worth up to $6 billion that would resolve claims the company fueled the epidemic. Drugmaker Mallinckrodt this month won bankruptcy court approval for a $1.7 billion settlement.

Other drugmakers like Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd as well as major pharmacy chains remain in litigation. Talks with those companies are ongoing, Stein said.
Vietnamese air carriers should avoid routes being affected by the ongoing military tension between Russia and Ukraine and choose alternative itineraries if necessary, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) advised on Friday.

The CAAV sent the recommendation to Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines after receiving a notice from the European and North Atlantic Office of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Thursday about the airspace closures in Moldova, Ukraine and Russia.

Specifically, Moldova has closed its airspace while Ukraines aviation authorities have announced its closure of the airspaces in the flight information regions (FIRs) of Dnipro, Simferopol, Lviv, Odesa and Kyiv.

The aviation authorities of the Russian Federation also announced the closure of part of the airspace in the Rostov FIR and some other airspaces.

The ICAO said it will continue coordinating with authorities concerned to update the latest related developments, especially those affecting flight safety.

Aviation authorities of Russian and Ukraine have issued their Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) notifying the closure of some airports, airspaces and flight legs, the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) reported.

To ensure absolute safety for flight operations to, from and over the territories of Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova, the CAAV requests Vietnamese domestic carriers not to choose airports near affected areas as their standby ones.

All local airlines must keep them updated with relevant developments from NOTAMs to avoid air routes, airspaces, and airports affected by the ongoing military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, the CAAV said.

Since the beginning of the dispute between Russia and Ukraine, Vietnams aviation firms have excluded Ukraine and Belarus from their plans for flights to Russian and western European countries, so they have not been affected by the recent airspace closure by Ukraine, according to deputy director of CAAV Dinh Viet Son.

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What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Vietnam's State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his entourage arrived in Singapore for a three-day official visit on Thursday. President Phuc was greeted by Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan at Changi International Airport.

Society

-- The Ministry of Public Security is pooling feedback on its proposal that allows the minister to suspend flights to and from airports for no more than 24 hours in case of emergency to ensure national security.

-- The Ministry of Public Security organized a ceremony in northern Quang Ninh Province on Wednesday to announce the decision to establish a national center for counter-terrorism training.

-- Up to 81 percent of the people asked in a poll are willing to have their children aged 5-11 years old vaccinated against COVID-19, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the Social Opinion Institute under the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education on Thursday.

-- Rescuers on Thursday saved nine seafarers and discovered two bodies from an accident that involved the VANDON ACE vessel, which was en route from Papua New Guinea to Can Tho City in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

-- Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Serbia, and Vietnam will receive mRNA technology from a technology transfer hub co-founded by the World Health Organization, the UN body said in a press release on Wednesday.

Business

-- Gold prices soared to an all-time high of VND67 million (US$2,935) per tael (37.5 grams) in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, hot in the heels of Russia's special military operations in Ukraine.

World News

-- "The European Union's health regulator on Thursday backed giving a booster shot of Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to adolescents aged 12 and over, as well as the expanded use of Moderna's shot in children ages six to 11," Reuters reported.

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Check out news you should not miss today:

Society

-- Police in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City, are investigating a case where two suspected thieves stole two motorcycles from a boarding house after using ropes to lock all the doors of the rooms to prevent people inside from detecting and chasing them.

-- Authorities in northern Son La Province on Friday launched an investigation into a case where an 11th-grade student gave birth at school, resulting in the death of the infant.

-- A 33-year-old man in Hanoi has been taken into custody by police for running an online prostitution ring involving both foreigners and Vietnamese.

-- Police in Vietnam's Central Highlands province of Dak Nong have announced the detention of nearly 100 people from other localities involved in a gang fight that broke out on Wednesday.

-- A man has been arrested for organizing for four Chinese nationals to enter Vietnam illegally, police in northern province of Lang Son reported.

-- A truck carrying scrap suddenly burst into flames while traveling on the Ho Chi Minh City  Trung Luong Expressway at around 1:00 pm on Friday.

-- Local authorities are investigating an incident in which a construction site in downtown Ho Chi Minh City suddenly burst into flames on Friday.

World News

-- The Eiffel Tower lit up on Friday in the national blue-and-yellow colours of Ukraine, at the request of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo which Hidalgo said was to express solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia's attack, according to Reuters.

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The Medical Center of Hai Duong City in the namesake northern Vietnamese province has given a warning to the head of a grassroots health station for calling a woman with COVID-19 a crazy bitch.

Nguyen Duy Hop, head of the health station of Gia Xuyen Commune in Hai Duong City, is disciplined for having offensive words against P.T.T. -- a COVID-19 patient.

Hop clearly stated in his report that he made non-standard statements out of work-related stress and has been deeply aware of his shortcomings, as well as promised not to repeat the fault, a leader of the Medical Center of Hai Duong City said on Friday night.

The leader added that such behaviors as Hops are unacceptable despite the mounted pressure and difficulties the health sector has faced in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, a video recording a conversation between Hop and T. when the woman came to the health station of Gia Xuyen Commune to ask for a certificate of quarantine over COVID-19 infection was circulated on social media.

In the video, Hop talked with T. in an impolite manner, constantly shouted at the woman, used inappropriate words against her, and even called her a crazy bitch and a pig.

Besides recounting the incident and admitting to his wrongdoings in his report to the local authorities, Hop apologized to T. for his behaviors.

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Doctors at the Can Tho Central General Hospital in Vietnams Mekong Delta have recently removed a couple of large objects, including a broken toothbrush and a ballpoint pen core, from the stomach of a local man.

The patient, N.K.P., 23, was brought to the hospital on Friday because of his epigastric pains.

The patient was earlier reported to have accidently swallowed a ballpoint pen while working and experienced stomachaches shortly after.

His family later sent him to the hospital for a check.

At the time, his family refused to let him stay at the hospital since the X-ray results did not show any abnormal body inside his stomach.

The patient was then admitted to Can Tho Central General Hospital again for an upper endoscopy as he was believed to have consumed a broken toothbrush.

The following gastroscopy results showed a 12-centimeter-long core of a ballpoint pen and a 15-centimeter-long toothbrush in his stomach.

The sharp tip of the broken brush plugged into his duodenal wall, causing several ulcers.

Doctors decided to conduct an endoscope operation to remove the objects out of his stomach.

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies remain among the most common medical emergencies, with non-sharp objects can get out naturally while sharp objects can cause intestinal perforation and ulceration, according to Nguyen Thi Quynh Mai, head of Endoscopy Department at the infirmary.

Upon spotting any abnormal health symptoms due to gastrointestinal foreign bodies, patients should be quickly brought to medical facilities with modern equipment and receive timely treatment, the doctor emphasized.

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A man has been arrested for organizing for four Chinese nationals to enter Vietnam illegally, the Border Guard Command in the northern Vietnamese province of Lang Son reported on Friday.

Functional forces in Lang Son stopped a car coming to Vietnam from the countrys border area with China in Loc Binh District at around 5:30 am on Thursday.

As the Vietnamese officials inspected the car, they found Nguyen Ha Nam Giang, a 40-year-old resident of Hanoi, was carrying four Chinese nationals -- namely Yuan Teng, 31, from the Chinese province of Hubei, Chen Rong Dong, 26, Liang Li Yi, 26, and Huang Wei Wen, 24, all of whom hailed from Chinas Guangxi Province.

As the four Chinese failed to show personal papers and related documents to prove the legality of their entry into Vietnam, Giang admitted to making a deal with an unknown person via the Vietnamese chat app Zalo to travel to the border area in Lang Son, pick up the four Chinese and take them to Hanoi.

The Chinese border jumpers then confessed that they wanted to find jobs in Vietnam.

The functional forces are working on paper work to handle the case in accordance with regulations.

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Three titles by the Nine network, and one by Foxtel have been named in a list published by Variety of the London Screenings: 20 Shows You Dont Want to Miss.

International buyers will attend screenings in London from March 1-4.

Four Australian titles make the cut.

#16 Parental Guidance:

An explosive social experiment that follows 10 sets of parents with differing parenting styles.

#13 Vanishing Act (in Australia Underbelly: Vanishing Act):

The story of a high-roller who allegedly embezzled over $20 million before disappearing into thin air.

#8 After the Trial (in Australia After the Verdict):

A crime drama about four very different people who meet on jury duty as part of a murder trial. As they return to their normal lives, they wonder if the young woman theyve declared not guilty is actually a killer.

#3 The Twelve:

The English-language adaptation of a Belgian series is a courtroom drama starring Sam Neill that tells the story of 12 ordinary people who are selected for jury duty in a murder trial as traumatizing as it is controversial.

You can read more here.
Young inheritor passes down traditional filigree inlay craft after pursuing his dream job

People's Daily Online) 18:04, February 25, 2022

With most craftsmen engaging in the filigree inlay craft being elderly people, Gu Guoqiang, a man born in the 1990s in southwest Chinas Chongqing Municipality, stands out among his peers after devoting himself to carrying forward the craft.

Gu Guoqiang prepares material for making filigree inlay artworks. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

With gold or silver as raw material, filigree inlay craftsmen apply complex techniques such as knitting and welding to shape metal wires into various forms. Then they create fluted patterns on the main body of the artwork with techniques such as hollowing and cutting before inserting gems. Once a royal craft in China, the traditional filigree inlay techniques were listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item in 2008.

Gu majored in porcelain in college, and after graduating from college he went to Beijing to learn about the restoration techniques used for cultural relics at the Palace Museum for half a year. When he first encountered the filigree inlay craft, Gu was deeply impressed by the exquisite techniques applied in the creation of the artworks.

Gu Guoqiang shows a filigree inlay artwork. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Gu also found that most craftsmen engaged in the craft were elderly people. I think people of my generation should pass down the craft so that it wont become something our children can appreciate only at museums, Gu expressed. He then returned to Chongqing and became an apprentice of Li Changyi, a filigree inlay craft inheritor in the city who was already 70 years old at the time.

Though the filigree inlay craft includes complex techniques and the skills are not easy for one to master, Gu has never felt bored or impatient during the learning process, instead he became quite obsessed with the craft. He also believes that the artworks can carry rich cultural meanings.

Ive also devoted great efforts to improving the design of the artworks, trying to ensure that each piece of artwork conveys a theme and all the elements used to create the artwork are conducive to expressing the specific theme, remarked Gu.

Five years ago, Gu opened a filigree inlay workshop. Now, the 15-member team from the workshop is able to produce about 1,000 pieces of filigree inlay works in a year. Their flagship artwork is one that was created by using more than 1-million-yuan worth of raw materials, and it is now used for display purposes only. One of the teams videos that shows Gu repairing an old bridal crown was watched more than 7.4 million times on the short-video sharing platform Kuaishou, revealing peoples growing interest in the traditional craft.

Filigree inlay artworks Gu Guoqiang made. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

When he first got engaged in the business, Gus family members and relatives didnt understand why he chose it as a career due to their lack of understanding towards the craft. The young man also encountered various difficulties when attempting to sell the artworks at the beginning. Thanks to the help he has received from experienced industry insiders, Gus artworks gradually gained popularity among various consumers. After finding out that Gu had built a prosperous business, his friends and relatives eventually threw their support behind his craft.

When some young consumers expressed that the filigree inlay artworks created by Gu are a little expensive despite their exquisite craftsmanship, Gu explained that the artworks are all handmade, with each piece of artwork taking a craftsman between 10 to more than 20 days to complete.

Filigree inlay artworks Gu Guoqiang made. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

Gu said he will continue to strengthen publicity for the craft so that young people can know more about the techniques and further enhance their confidence in traditional Chinese culture. He also expressed the hope that young people can join his efforts in inheriting the craft so as to inject new vitality into it.

Gu Guoqiang introduces filigree inlay artworks in a livestreaming session. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Oregon data indicates that people far more often request lethal prescriptions due to perceived lessening of autonomy, or feelings of being a burden. A recent study has shown that a fear of going into a nursing home is much more likely to fuel a desire to hasten death than pain is. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) (Michael Probst/AP)

Senate Bill 88 represents another attempt to legalize medically assisted suicide in Connecticut, although all previous attempts have failed. Proponents of the bill tout it as giving choice and control to dying patients by enabling them to obtain a lethal prescription from a doctor that they can then use to die as they want when they want.

Unfortunately, its not that simple.

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First, there is no magic pill for a gentle death. No assisted suicide law gives doctor guidance on what a drug prescription to end life should contain. In Oregon, it has sometimes taken people up to 72 hours to die. With doctors free to devise a cocktail involving multiple drugs and desiring to keep cost down, side effects like burned mouths or seizures can occur. Terry Law, a frequently active assisted suicide doctor, said, Theres lots of data on stuff that helps people live longer, but theres very little data on how to kill people. The focus of the FDA is, of course, to minimize drug toxicity, not maximize it.

Those who support assisted suicide also seem to discount how medical and societal attitudes, combined with inadequate practical support for people who are progressively ill or disabled, can influence a wish to die.

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Implicit bias involves making often unconscious assumptions about a person based on factors such as the persons race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, age or disability. Doctors and nurses seem to exhibit the same level of implicit biases as the general population, with growing evidence that a clinicians bias can impact the quality of a patients health care.

Opinion Weekly Perspective on the week's biggest stories from the Courant's Opinion page >

In a recent study of doctors perceptions of disabled people, 82.4% of the doctors surveyed felt that people with disability have a worse quality of life than others, and fewer than 57% said they strongly welcomed disabled patients. Lisa Iezzoni, the lead author and a health care policy researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, said, The magnitude of physicians stigmatizing views was very disturbing.

Assisted suicide bills follow the Oregon model, leaving it up to doctors  any two doctors  to decide if a patient is terminally ill with a six-month life expectancy or less and thus eligible for a lethal prescription. However, such medical judgments are often wrong: 12%-15% of hospice patients outlive their six-month prognosis.

Assisted suicide laws direct that a doctor be satisfied that a persons decision to die is not being unduly influenced by another. It is not clear how office visits can yield this information. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Implicit bias can influence the way a clinician sees likely patient outcomes. A doctor might assume a persons functional limitations indicate frailty, undermining their chance to withstand standard treatment. Doctors dont always get the distinction between disability  especially when it is progressive as it often is when combined with aging  and terminal illness.

Assisted suicide laws also direct that a doctor be satisfied that a persons decision to die is not being unduly influenced by another. It is not clear how office visits can yield this information. If doctors start with the presumption that a persons illness or accompanying disability inevitably diminishes his life, clues can be overlooked. The pandemic has caused depression rates to soar, and this is especially so among doctors. It is not fair to anyone to ask a health care worker who might be struggling or overwhelmed to evaluate the merits of an assisted suicide request.

Proponents of legalized assisted suicide tend to portray uncontrollable pain as the prime reason a person would want to die. Oregon data, though, indicates that people far more often request lethal prescriptions due to perceived lessening of autonomy, or feelings of being a burden. Indeed, a recent study has shown that a fear of going into a nursing home is much more likely to fuel a desire to hasten death than pain is. Such a fear is certainly rational, especially in this time of COVID-19. People with significant disabilities often live with it daily. However, this is a societal issue that must be solved by a commitment to broad access to quality in-home support.

The message behind assisted suicide laws is that it is reasonable for a certain subclass of people to want death hastened based on their health and disability. But a just community cannot make death the default option. Assisted suicide would not give patients more choice or control. Instead, it would be a reflection of the lack of choice or control that many people feel in our inequitable and beleaguered health system. This is unacceptable.

Lisa Blumberg is a Connecticut writer, lawyer and disability rights activist.
Smith County Pct. 1 Constable Curtis Traylor-Harris and two constable deputies have been indicted for accusations of stealing cash, ammunition and other items while serving an eviction notice.

Traylor-Harris, former Pct. 1 Chief Deputy LaQuenda Banks and Pct. 1 Sgt. Derrick Holman were arrested in November on charges of abuse of official capacity, official oppression and property theft. All three bonded out of jail soon after their arrests.

Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman confirmed on Friday afternoon Traylor-Harris, Banks and Holman were indicted on charges of theft by public servant and official oppression Thursday.

Read more from our news partners at CBS19.

Previous coverage:

+4 Licenses of Smith County constable, deputies suspended amid ongoing criminal investigation The peace officer licenses of a Smith County constable and two of his deputies have been sus

+5 Smith County constable, 2 employees charged with official oppression, theft A Smith County constable is facing abuse of official capacity and other charges after he and
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
On Saturday, February 26, Russian troops fired at the Dachny residential area in Akhtyrka, Sumy region, Mayor of Akhtyrka Pavlo Kuzmenko has said.

"Today, about half an hour ago, there was a heavy artillery bombardment of the Dachny residential area. I think, with point weapons. Serious damage was caused, primarily to the population of our community. There are many losses, many wounded, many dead," Kuzmenko said in a video message posted on Facebook.

He also said that the civilian infrastructure of the city was seriously damaged.

"Heat pipelines are damaged, hot water is leaking from our Akhtyrka CHPP. Water pipes, gas pipelines, and electrical networks are damaged. I appeal to every resident: if you see a hot water leak, report it. If you see a gas leak, report it. Emergency services are already working, but we need to stop the leak of hot water. If we don't stop it, we will have to stop the thermal power plant," the mayor said.
Georgia will allocate one million lari ($320,000) to help the affected population of Ukraine, the press service of the Georgian government said on Saturday.

"The funds allocated from the country's Reserve Fund will be used to purchase pharmaceutical products and medical supplies for the affected population in Ukraine," the press service said in a statement.
By Teri Rizvi

The University of Dayton will unveil a glimpse of humorist Erma Bombecks papers and memorabilia during The Erma Bombeck Collection: A Sneak Preview March 11-Oct. 23 in the Stuart and Mimi Rose Gallery in the lobby of Roesch Library.

Free and open to the public, the exhibit will be on display daily during library hours.*

Bombeck, who wrote about the foibles of family life, was one of the great American humorists of the 20th century and arguably the University of Daytons most famous graduate.

What visitors will see in the preview display:

A timeline chronicling Bombecks rise from part-time copy girl for the Dayton Herald to syndicated columnist, author, sitcom writer, Good Morning America commentator and a household name who appeared on the cover of magazines and on Johnny Carson and other talk shows.

Highlights of her career, including the first At Wits End column; galley proofs for her first book, At Wits End, published in 1967; notes for Good Morning America scripts; column ideas, some written on scraps of papers; draft of the pilot episode of her Maggie sitcom; Grammy Award nominations; and the Mark Twain Award given in 1973 to Mark Twains successor described as Americas most delightful entertainer, (a) gentle depicter of the virtues and weaknesses of American family life with humors paintbrush.

Scenes of her personal life, including never-seen-before family photos; letters to her son Andy; an hilarious postcard from friend Phyllis Diller; and buttons created by Dayton attorney and Bombeck aficionado Tom Cecil, who encouraged Bombeck to run for president.

Her groundbreaking work for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, including editorial cartoons and a photo at a meeting for President Jimmy Carters National Advisory Committee for Women. When my grandchildren ask me where I was during the battle of the sexes, I dont want to say I gave at the office, she told reporters.

A reconstruction of her home office desk, including her IBM Selectric typewriter; scrawled notes for columns on scraps of paper; a stack of books; and her column, Living Creatively with Clutter.

The display contains just a small fraction of the Erma Bombeck Collection, now available for public viewing by appointment only in the librarys archives. UD, where Bombeck graduated in 1949, is the official repository of the celebrated writers life and legacy, thanks to a gift from her family. A major exhibit is planned for the spring of 2024.

The collection is completely irreplaceable, said Ed Hoffman, a rare book collector in Columbus, Ohio, who specializes in Americana, especially Ohioana and the works of humorist James Thurber. Erma Bombecks archive and papers are a unique and comprehensive collection representing the storied career of this enormously popular humorist, columnist and author. (The collection) includes the original manuscripts of most of her books; a huge file of her columns over 30-plus years; and an extensive record of correspondence and documents shedding light on her connections to publishers, editors and other writers.

The fact that Erma and her husband and then her family were able to retain and safeguard so much of the output from her working life, and see that it will live on at the University of Dayton, is a wonderful labor of love," said Hoffman after he and his rare book collector wife, Tina, perused the collection last spring before it was catalogued.

Beyond the collection, the life and works of Erma Bombeck are enjoying a resurgence of interest, thanks to a one-woman play, Erma Bombeck: At Wits End, being staged around the country; the inclusion of the familys Centerville, Ohio, house on the National Register; and a biennial writers workshop that draws hundreds of writers nationally to the University of Dayton.

The closing of the preview exhibit coincides with the Oct. 20-22 Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, which will feature an opening night keynote talk by Cathy cartoonist Cathy Guisewite and a slate of well-known writers and humorists. For information, including how to register, visit here.

For more information about the Erma Bombeck Collection, send an email to archives@udayton.edu.

* Visitors need a University of Dayton ID to enter the Roesch Library Sunday through Thursday after 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday after 6 p.m. The general public can visit the Rose Gallery for the preview exhibit at all other times the library is open.



 Teri Rizvi

Teri Rizvi is the founder and director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop at the University of Dayton, where she also serves as executive director of strategic communications.
(Reuters) - Belgium will deploy 300 troops in Romania as part of NATO efforts to strengthen its eastern flank, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Saturday, as Russia pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles for a third day.

"Belgium assumes its responsibility within NATO Rapid Response, of which elements were activated yesterday. In the current phase, 300 Belgian soldiers will be deployed in Romania," he said on Twitter.

Belgium will also support the Ukrainian forces with 2,000 machine guns and 3,800 tons of fuel, according to De Croo, who added that the government in Brussels was looking into further requests for help from the government in Kyiv.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Brighton's Yves Bissouma in action against Burnley. Picture Simon Dack

Graham Potter believes there is a lot more to come from Yves Bissouma.

But the Albion boss is happy with his midfielders form as he heads into a showdown with a club who want to sign him.

Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard went public on his clubs interest in Bissouma recently.

Villa, who are at the Amex today (3pm), had a bid turned down last month.

Bissoumas form has dipped since then and he was at fault when his side conceded a goal to Manchester United.

But he still had his impressive moments at Old Trafford.

He has had a clear week in which to prepare for todays game following a hectic period which included Afcon action for Mali followed by a rapid return to play in an FA Cup tie at Tottenham, where he excelled.

Potter said: You have to remember that this season especially, with lots of things going on in terms of Covid and internationals, etc, there have been challenges there.

LEANDRO TROSSARD AIMS TO RETURN TO HIS BEST

But generally, I think his performance has been good.

He has helped the team but is yet to reach his maximum.

I think theres more to come from him, I will say that, and thats a process as well. But now were happy with him.

Potter handed Bissouma the midfield reins last season and believes he has improved in his time with the club.

He added: It hasnt been like, necessarily, an obvious Eureka moment of improvement but, over time, weve made progress. I think thats the same for Yves.
After a lengthy battle last year, Connecticuts Democratic governor, Ned Lamont, is still supporting a ban on flavored e-cigarette vapor products.

While the initial ban came during a so-called public health outbreak, all of the proposals have featured support from anti-harm reduction groups who purport that banning e-cigarettes and flavored e-liquids will protect youth. If Connecticut lawmakers truly want to protect youth, they would understand that bans are ineffective and ultimately make the issue worse.

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On Jan. 13, a 13-year-old student died from a fentanyl overdose at a magnet school in Hartford  just 1.5 miles from the State Capitol. During the investigation, police found 40 packages of powdered fentanyl in two classrooms and the schools gym and another 100 bags in the students bedroom.

This is not an isolated incident. The day after the school reopened classes after sanitizing the school of any possible fentanyl, a 13-year-old in California died from what police described as an overdose. In August 2021, a 13-year-old Missouri boy died of a drug overdose during a sleepover at a 12-year-old friends house. In the same month, in California, a 14-year-old girl died after overdosing on a pill laced with fentanyl.

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Unfortunately for the parents and family members of these kids, there isnt much lawmakers can do, as prohibition of prescription drugs has allowed for an inflow of illicit drugs.

Opinion Weekly Perspective on the week's biggest stories from the Courant's Opinion page >

Its well known that prescription opioid abuse was the first wave of the opioid epidemic. After one company changed its prescription policies to reduce abuse, heroin use nearly doubled according to a 2012 study.

Between 2012 and 2014, the number of prescription opioids that were dispensed in the United States decreased by 5.6%, from 255.2 million to 241 million. Yet during the same time period, deaths from heroin overdose increased by 78.5%, and deaths due to fentanyl overdoses increased by 111%. In 2019, when lawmakers were reacting to the spate of what was being called vaping-related lung injuries, despite actually being illicit vapes, 14,019 Americans died from a heroin overdose and another 36,359 died from fentanyl poisoning.

Many lawmakers used the so-called vaping injury epidemic in 2019 to justify bans on e-cigarette and vapor products. In fact, one sponsor of last years flavor ban legislation called these products deadly.

Ultimately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 68 vaping-related deaths, with the majority of those related to the use of black-market vapor products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)  the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2019, when 68 Americans died from using black market vaping products, another 3,391 Americans aged 15- to 24-years-old succumbed to an overdose attributed to heroin and/or other illicit opioids.

In Connecticut, in 2018, there were 948 opioid-involved deaths. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, there were 1,372 fatal drug overdose deaths in the Constitution State  a 14.3% increase from 2019. Moreover, CDPH has identified 474 individuals aged 15- to 24-years-old who have died from an unintentional drug overdose between 2015 and 2021.

Given that overdose deaths are now becoming common among younger people , Connecticut lawmakers ought to rethink bans and focus on the real problem  and the real substances that are killing Americans in droves. Bans helped fuel Americas overdose epidemic. E-cigarette and vapor flavor bans will only help the already-booming black market, ultimately harming the already-overburdened public health efforts.

Lindsey Stroud is a visiting fellow at the Independent Womens Forum and director of The Taxpayers Protection Alliances Consumer Center. She is also a contributing author for the American Vaping Association, runs Harm Reduction 101, a blog focused on electronic cigarettes as an alternative to smoking, and is a board director for the American Vapor Manufacturers Association.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP)  Dr. Manisha Juthanis nomination for commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, a job she has held since September, cleared a key committee vote Thursday.

House members on the General Assemblys Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee voted 7-1 in favor of her appointment, sending it to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

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Democratic members of the committee lauded Juthani, an infectious disease expert, for taking on the job of DPH commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Juthani took a public service leave of absence from her job as associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine and of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health after her nomination by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont.

I salute you. I dont know anybody who was stronger than you during this pandemic to say yes, I will do this, said Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport. I appreciate you stepping up.

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State Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, cast the sole vote against Juthani. He raised concerns during Thursdays public hearing about a misstatement the acting commissioner made in December when a promised order of 3 million COVID-19 at-home tests fell through. At a news conference, Juthani told reporters we were given pictures and confirmation that the product was being loaded and on the way. Those were misrepresented to us.

Juthani acknowledged Thursday she had not personally seen any pictures, which ultimately did not exist, but had been told photos are provided whenever the state makes such a large purchase to confirm the accuracy of the order.

So I certainly did not intend to mislead anybody, she said. I communicated what had been relayed to me, which is that when such a big purchase is done, we ask for photos. Which is what I suggested.
Anyone not hiding under a pile of Beaver Nuggets the past couple of weeks has probably heard the rumor Buc-ee's may place one of its hugely popular stores in Hillsboro.

Buc-ee's, in fact, has confirmed it hopes to locate another such attraction in Central Texas, having already tasted success just outside Temple.

Buc-ee's fans know what a treat they can be for the senses. Its shelves are loaded with offbeat merchandise, staples, apparel, soft and harder drinks, T-shirts, housewares and edibles, many items made exclusively for the Buc-ee's brand. Its stores typically burst at the seams with customers, so people-watching can entertain. Buc-ee's claims to have the cleanest restrooms known to man and woman, and its attendant counts provide evidence.

An email suggests Buc-ee's has designs on Interstate 35 near Texas State Highway 77, but the company is not confirming anything. A TA, or TravelCenters of America, location operates nearby, but that does not mean TA and Buc-ee's would cross paths. TA caters to big rigs and truckers, while Buc-ee's strictly forbids 18-wheelers from rolling onto its properties.

How this all shakes out should prove interesting.

Texas Food Truck Showdown

Fans of Waco's annual Texas Food Truck Showdown should circle March 19. That date is when it returns to Heritage Square downtown.

The showdown was introduced in 2015, and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce's special events team expected about 5,000 people and 20 food trucks would attend. But turnout blew the doors off those predictions, according to a Waco Chamber press release. It says 35 food vehicles from around the state attracted upward of 15,000 people.

The showdown now attracts participants from beyond Texas, and attendance annually has settled in at about 25,000 people. The chamber now is accepting applications from competitors, pop-up vendors and would-be volunteers. Visit the chamber website or email Alivia Zepeda at azepeda@wacochamber.com or Sarah McDonald at smcdonald@wacochamber.com.

Central Freight property

With Central Freight Lines now kaput, every building in its complex at 5601 W. Waco Drive is available for lease, with Coldwell Banker Commercial Jim Stewart Realtors agents Brad Davis, Brandon Davis and Gregg Glime listing the property.

Space available in the longtime Central Freight headquarters totals 192,301 square feet, including an 84,724-square-foot truck bay and shop area; a 72-door, 46,525-square-foot cross dock; a 34,916-square-foot office building; more than 26,000 square feet of warehouse space spread over two buildings; and 7,620 square feet of covered storage, according to a promotional brochure.

Selling the complex "is always a possibility," Brad Davis said in an interview. But the top priority remains finding someone to lease the entire site.

"Everybody in the trucking industry in the United States knows Central Freight and knows to duplicate something like this would be very costly," Brad Davis said. "I just don't think there are many turn-key terminals like this in the country or in this region. There are not many options."

He said soft marketing has begun, but the team will pick up the pace in 30 to 45 days, after the facilities have been entirely vacated.

The brochure lists an annual lease rate of $5.20 per square foot, triple net.

Central Freight, founded in 1925 in Waco by Woody Callan Sr., announced just before Christmas last year it would cease operations. Ownership blamed mounting debt and futile efforts to acquire funding to continue.

Central Freight employed more than 1,300 drivers and maintained upward of 60 terminals when it announced it was applying the brakes for good.

Neighborly's 5,000th franchise

Neighborly, the franchising company New Yorker Don Dwyer started in Waco 40 years ago, continues to flex its muscle and expand its global footprint. It has reached the milestone of 5,000 franchises, representing 29 brands in nine countries, according to a press release last week. It enjoyed systemwide sales of $3.3 billion last year, when it was acquired by investment firm KKR.

Originally called The Dwyer Group, the company became Neighborly as it evolved into "the world's largest franchisor of home service brands," its 29 brands including Drain Doctor, Five Star Painting, The Grounds Guys, Drain Doctor, Mr. Appliance and Mosquito Joe. It ventured abroad to make its latest purchase, London-based Pimlico Plumbers.

Last year, Neighborly opened its second headquarters, in Las Colinas, while maintaining its Waco campus tucked away near Cameron Park.

Also last year, Neighborly held its first annual conference in person since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was called "Coming Together."

Gas prices

First, the good news: Gas prices in Texas on Thursday were the second-lowest in the country, tied with Oklahoma and Mississippi. Arkansas travelers were paying the least for a gallon of regular unleaded, $3.20, while Californians were paying the most at $4.75 a gallon. That is according to AAA Texas, which advised in its newsletter that crude oil prices were bumping $100 a barrel.

The bad news came Saturday, when GasBuddy reported the average price for regular unleaded in Waco had risen 10 cents per gallon, to $3.17, during the past week. That is about a quarter-per-gallon more than $2.92 a month ago.

Sam's in Bellmead was charging $3.04 per gallon, the lowest in Greater Waco listed by GasBuddy.

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Public entities for and against Waco placing a new landfill near Axtell have funded studies that will set a baseline for water quality near the planned operation.

Since last week, the city of Waco has moved to commission an environmental baseline study of a nearby body of water, and McLennan County has thrown its financial weight behind a similar effort, which was started last year by the district responsible for waterways in the area of the landfill site.

The city of Wacos request for a new landfill permit remains pending with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and TCEQ spokeswoman Laura Lopez said a final decision could come in six months to a year. The city of Waco still hopes to occupy a new landfill by Jan. 1, 2025, said Kody Petillo, assistant director of solid waste services.

The Tehuacana Creek Water Control and Improvement District still has concerns about the landfills location, manager Larry Lehr said. The district has contracted with Fort Worth-based engineering firm Freese and Nichols to prepare a baseline study of water quality and environmental conditions near the proposed landfill on TK Parkway near State Highway 31. The $60,000 study began last summer, with the Tehuacana Creek Water Control and Improvement District alone shouldering the financial burden.

But reinforcements have arrived courtesy of McLennan County. Commissioners have allocated $30,000 from the countys $49 million American Recovery Plan allocation to assist with the study.

The Tehuacana Creek organization has taxing authority in that area, but the money primarily is used to maintain dams in the watershed, County Judge Scott Felton said. We figured we ought to help. We want people to have confidence that if there is a problem, there will be enough data to make it right. The study is being done in compliance with TCEQ guidelines.

Felton said it is his opinion the city of Waco has no problem with such a study being undertaken, one that would identify water and environmental conditions now for comparison with those years after the landfill is built.

The Waco City Council on Feb. 15 approved a $130,000 contract with Plummer Associates Inc. to analyze water samples and perform sediment monitoring with the goal of monitoring water quality around the landfill site, according to a description included in the Waco City Council agenda packet.

Petillo said Waco is commissioning a baseline study comparable to the one by Freese and Nichols. He said the study is not something TCEQ mandated as it considers granting or denying the landfill request. He said the city determined such a study would have merit, creating a water quality and environmental measuring stick for future reference.

Not that we see any negative impact coming from landfill operations. It will be state of the art, Petillo said. If there were to be any impact, like any company or operation, we would be required to mitigate that impact.

Should Freese and Nichols and Plummer Associates reach different conclusions, that would be something to sit down and talk about, Petillo said. There shouldnt be conflicting results.  It should be an apples to apples comparison.

He said the city is determined to be a good steward of the environment and a good neighbor. He said it successfully operates its existing landfill, and he would expect nothing less in operating the new landfill near where Hill, McLennan and Limestone counties meet. He said he anticipates no contamination of any kind and no issues with runoff.

Lehr, who manages the Tehuacana Creek Water Control and Improvement District, said he begs to differ. He said the proposed landfill will operate near a federal flood control reservoir built more than 60 years ago. It carries the name Natural Resources Conservation Site Reservoir 19 and is the focus of the study the county is supporting and the study the city is commissioning. More than a thousand landowners living near the lake pay a special tax to the district to keep the dam that serves it in good working order.

What Waco is doing raises a lot of concerns, not only for this project but others. It makes you wonder about an entitys ability to move in on existing infrastructure and to change conditions on that infrastructure, Lehr said. One thing we asked the city to do is indemnify the district in the case of a pollution event, or if construction increases runoff, and the dam is too low.

We didnt get any response to that. It seems reasonable that a baseline study be done, though the city certainly hasnt done one. Thats been part of the conflict. Weve heard nothing from the TCEQ.  Were pleased to see the county commissioners concerned about it. Judge Felton has been open-minded. He sees the need to protect water resources in the county.

The water district covering 307 square miles was established in 1959 and is responsible for the areas waterways, about two dozen earthen dams known as flood retarding structures, including the one forming the reservoir near the landfill, and several more grade stabilization structures built by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Tehuacana Creek watershed drains into the Brazos River.

Axtell residents have vigorously opposed the landfill since Waco bought the property in 2018 near TK Parkway and Highway 31. The city has spent $6.5 million buying 1,426 acres for the project, 502 for the actual landfill, the balance as a buffer, the Tribune-Herald has reported.

McLennan County commissioners in 2018 held a public hearing at which more than 30 landfill opponents packed the commissioners court raising issues of safety and environmental hazards. Several said they rely on county leaders to be their voice since they cannot vote in city of Waco elections.

Commissioners said they had no legal grounds to halt Wacos efforts, and Felton said commissioners did not take sides in a similar dispute nine months earlier involving a possible city landfill on Old Lorena Road.

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Waco restaurant owner Gene Vinnykov, unfortunately, knows the hell Ukrainians are going through as Russia invades their homeland. He speaks with relatives by phone six or seven times a night, when it is daylight there. He detects the fear in their voices, and they the helplessness in his.

My dad says, Im an old man. Ive lived my life. But Im terrified for your sister, said Vinnykov, 33, who grew up in Dnipro, Ukraines fourth-largest city and an industrial powerhouse. Grandparents in the United States adopted Vinnykov, who moved to Chicago in 1999, later making his way to Central Texas and linking up with Reid Guess to launch Guess Family Barbecue.

It began as a food truck, then evolved into a permanent brick-and-mortar location on Franklin Avenue, winning plaudits from diners and Texas Monthly magazines wandering barbecue critic along the way.

Despite turmoil in his home country, Vinnykov was on the job Friday. He dare not be anywhere else. His mind must remain distracted from harsh realities unfolding halfway around the world, where his family is sitting on top of suitcases, with nowhere to go, he said in a phone interview.

They are terrified to go to sleep, not knowing whats going to happen when they wake up, Vinnykov said. Fortunately, my relatives have homes. Some people are hiding in the basements of schools and hospitals.

Enduring this nightmare are his parents, Irene and Igor Vinnykov, a grandmother, Tamara, and his 23-year-old sister, Olga. Though Gene Vinnykov has returned to Ukraine many times since his move to the United States, his folks there have not visited Waco or his restaurant.

I was supposed to go to Ukraine two weeks ago. My friends told me to be careful, warned me about what I might run into. God forbid, I may have been stuck there, Vinnykov said. I remember a lot about where I grew up, and Ive been in touch with friends and teachers. Its definitely been tough on them. They do not see a good result coming from this.

Its going to get worse before it gets better.

He mentioned Germany and Poland as possible destinations for Ukrainian refugees, but cautioned that Polands acceptance could prove sporadic.

Poland can only let in so many people, and getting there is difficult. If you get there and they wont let you in, what do you do? Vinnykov said. Ukraine has grown as a country, but things have not been the same since the Crimean invasion in 2014. Fear is embedded in the people.

Russia invaded and later annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine, an annexation not recognized as valid internationally.

Sergiy Kudelia, associate professor of political science at Baylor University, also has maintained contact with relatives in Ukraine.

He told the Baylor Lariat, the schools student newspaper, his half-brother woke up to the bombings of the military airport next to the city he lives in. Other loved ones live near a television tower the Russians destroyed in overnight bombing, hoping to suppress local news reporting.

Kudelia expressed doubt sanctions would halt Putins act of aggression.

Despite the clear violation of international law, Kudelia told the Lariat, we still see that many European states are reluctant to agree to much costlier sanctions against Russia. Europeans understand that these sanctions are going to have a negative effect on their economies as well.

Kudelia likened Russias invasion to Americas Pearl Harbor moment, when Japanese planes launched a sudden attack on Dec. 7, 1941, hastening the United States entry into World War II. The distinction, he told the Lariat, is the cultural relationship between Russia and Ukraine, the historical and familial ties that make this assault particularly shocking and painful to experience.

Vinnykov said he avoids television news reports on the Russian invasion, saying they leave him struggling to distinguish fact from fiction. He would prefer to get his information from family members living the experience.

I came to the United States, to Chicago, because it offered better opportunities and a better life. Im beyond thankful. Ukraine was not the best place then, and clearly it is not now. But Im missing home, he said.

Fortunately, he has a business to run and three beautiful children, ages 15, 7 and 2. They know war is raging where daddy is from.

No matter what world we live in, I can pick them up from school or day care, and they cheer me up. I know what Im working for, Vinnykov said.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will be nominated for the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden on Friday, worked for seven years as a judge on the federal trial court in Washington, D.C., before Biden appointed her to the appeals court that meets in the same courthouse.

Here are excerpts from some notable opinions:

PRESIDENTIAL POWER

In 2019, Jackson ruled on a dispute between Democrats who control the House of Representatives and the Trump administration over lawmakers' efforts to subpoena former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify to Congress. The Democrats wanted to question McGahn about former President Donald Trump's alleged efforts to obstruct special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Trump claimed that his close advisers, including McGahn, were completely shielded from having to appear before Congress. The argument was grounded in the contested notion that a president must be able to get frank advice from trusted advisers without fear that what was said would become public.

Jackson rejected the argument in a 120-page opinion in November 2019 in which she declared that "Presidents are not kings" and that for a president's top aides "absolute immunity from compelled congressional process simply does not exist."

In siding with House Democrats, Jackson wrote, "This means that they do not have subjects, bound by loyalty or blood, whose destiny they are entitled to control. Rather, in this land of liberty, it is indisputable that current and former employees of the White House work for the People of the United States, and that they take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

The claim that Trump could completely forbid his senior advisers from testifying "is a proposition that cannot be squared with core constitutional values, and for this reason alone, it cannot be sustained."

The administration appealed, and the case bounced around the D.C. Circuit through the end of Trump's presidency. Since then, the House and lawyers for McGahn reached an agreement under which McGahn answered questions in a closed-door session.

---

IMMIGRATION

In 2019, Jackson temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to expand fast-track deportations of people in the country illegally, no matter where they are arrested. The fast-tracked deportations had previously been largely limited to people arrested almost immediately after crossing the Mexican border.

Jackson's ruling turned on whether the administration complied with the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law aimed at forcing the executive branch to make reasoned, well-explained decisions when it adopts new policies.

Jackson wrote that she was bothered by the seeming failure of the Homeland Security Department to take account of how the lives of people who have lived in the U.S. for up to two years, and their families, would be affected by the expanded deportation policy.

"There is no question in this Court's mind that an agency cannot possibly conduct reasoned, non-arbitrary decision making concerning policies that might impact real people and not take such real life circumstances into account," she wrote.

But the D.C. Circuit overruled Jackson, holding that Congress gave the Homeland Security secretary ample discretion to expand the speeded-up deportations without having to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act.

In a 2019 opinion in a case over Trump's extensive efforts to expand the wall on the nation's border with Mexico, Jackson rejected environmental groups' arguments that the administration had improperly ignored environmental and other laws before authorizing the construction of new barriers.

"This Court finds that Congress has spoken in no uncertain terms about the limits of judicial review when it comes to legal claims that challenge on non-constitutional grounds the DHS Secretary's authority to waive otherwise-applicable legal requirements with respect to the construction of border barriers," she wrote, citing a major immigration overhaul in 1996. Jackson wrote she also was bound to turn away constitutional challenges to the waiver because of an earlier district court opinion about the same provision of immigration law.

---

UNIONS

In her first opinion on the appeals court, Jackson sided with public sector labor unions who challenged a Trump-era rule that made it easier for government agencies to impose workplace changes.

In 2020, the Federal Labor Relations Authority changed a rule that had been in place since the 1980s that required collective bargaining over changes to working conditions that had more than a minimal effect on employees. The FLRA voted to require negotiations with unions only for changes that had a "substantial impact."

Siding with the unions, Jackson wrote for a unanimous three-judge panel. "The cursory policy statement that the FLRA issued to justify its choice to abandon thirty-five years of precedent promoting and applying the de minimis standard and to adopt the previously rejected substantial-impact test is arbitrary and capricious," she wrote at the end of an 18-page opinion.

The appeals court that Jackson joined last year often deals with lawsuits like the one organized labor filed in this case.

In a 2018 case also involving unions representing government workers, Jackson ruled against executive orders issued by Trump that the unions complained would weaken their negotiating position in violation of federal law.

Jackson wrote that "it is undisputed that no such orders can operate to eviscerate the right to bargain collectively as envisioned in" federal labor law.

"Viewed collectively," she wrote, "the challenged executive orders reflect a decidedly different policy choice; namely, the President's stated view that federal employees' right to engage in collective bargaining over the conditions of their employment" makes government less efficient and "should be rendered subordinate to the agencies' interest 'in developing efficient, effective, and cost-reducing collective bargaining agreements.'"

The D.C. Circuit overruled Jackson, writing that she lacked jurisdiction over the unions' claims. The appeals court held that the unions should have pursued their claims in an administrative proceeding, not a federal lawsuit.

***
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down an offer from the United States of evacuation from the capital city Kyiv, the Ukraine embassy in Britain said Saturday on Twitter.

"The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride," Zelensky told the US, according to the embassy.

"Ukrainians are proud of their President," the tweet adds.

In a video posted on Saturday morning entitled "do not believe the fakes," Zelensky revealed that he is still in Kyiv.

"I am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this," he said.

"That is it. That's all I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine," he added.

Zelensky remains a "prime target for Russian aggression," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday evening amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

It echoed Zelensky's own words that his intelligence said he has become a key target.

"According to our information, the enemy marked me as target 1, my family - as target 2," Zelensky said Thursday.

"They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state. We have information that enemy sabotage groups have entered Kyiv."

PHOTO GALLERY

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With primary elections looming Tuesday, one question surmounts all else: To what extent will Central Texas voters vet candidates on their public stances regarding the Big Lie told by former Donald Trump, who may well skirt the consequences faced by those he incited to storm the U.S. Capitol more than a year ago?

Surveys suggest most Republicans still believe that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and that Joe Biden is not our duly elected president. No credible evidence has been presented to confirm a shred of this  at least, assuming we still place credence in our judiciary. Yet many Republicans running in elections balk at refuting the Big Lie for fear of alienating constituents marching in lockstep to whatever theyre told by right-wing media outlets and the former president. Indeed, the Republican National Committee has demanded that its candidates adhere to the falsehood of a stolen election  and that candidates downplay the significance of the attempted coup of Jan. 6, 2021.

Earlier this month, even as Trumps rhetoric continued to threaten our democracy, the RNC condemned Republican lawmakers Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for serving on a House committee investigating the insurrection. The RNC labeled the invasion of the Capitol legitimate political discourse (though the RNC chairwoman has sought to walk this back). Whats more, insurrectionists around the country seek to become poll watchers and election officials, part of a concerted effort to gain control over which ballots are counted and which are discarded. Texas, already ranked by election experts as the hardest state in which to vote, in 2021 made it even harder through new election laws spawned by fantasies spun by Trump and the RNC.

While the Waco Tribune-Herald editorial board continues the all-too-rare newspaper practice of intently interviewing candidates, the specter of an imperiled democracy has grown so serious it has begun asking citizenship questions of candidates. For instance, Hill County Republican activist Angelia Orr, running for Texas House District 13, was recently asked about the insurrection.

Question: The other day the Republican National Committee issued a resolution condemning two members of its party for sitting on a committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol that, to quote at least some of the defendants, sought to overturn 2020 presidential election results. The RNC censured these Republicans because Representatives Cheney and Kinzinger are participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse. Here and now, do you support or condemn this Republican National Committee resolution?

Angelia Orr: I do not believe politicians need to be censured by anybody other than the voters who voted them in.

Question: So you dont agree that what we saw on Jan. 6 was legitimate political discourse.

Orr: I dont agree with that.

Question: I notice you posted on Facebook about President Trumps recent Texas rally in which he raised the idea of pardons for Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Now, as Congressman Pete Sessions notes, those matters are being handled presently by the federal courts. What do you think of the presidents idea of dangling pardons for these people?

Orr: Well, first, I posted that because [Republican Congressman] Roger Williams endorsed me for this office, and in support of him I posted a picture of him at the Trump rally [where the former president suggested pardons for Jan. 6 defendants]. So I was not there, I was campaigning that day. And as far as Jan. 6, I agree thats going to have to be handled through the court system and youre going to have to ask the other question again.

Question: Do you believe its appropriate to pardon these people?

Orr: I dont.

Several things rate reflection here. Most notably, Orr only answered the question directly when pressed. And she did not condemn the insurrection and those responsible for it. This makes one wonder about someone who posted a photo on social media of a Trump rally where insurrectionists were not only vigorously defended but championed.

Orr is running against retired Limestone County Sheriff Dennis Wilson, who faced a citizenship question about possible membership in the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association  a virulently anti-government group that believes sheriffs (as opposed to the judiciary) have the power to decide the constitutionality of laws and decline to enforce certain state or federal laws. Wilson says he is not a member, though his answer leaves enough wiggle room to wonder about any sympathies regarding the groups aims.

Although not included because of space, Wilson also faced a question on the insurrection. I think you have to respect the rule of law and what the law is, he told the Trib. Protesting is one thing. When you get into violence, when you get into destruction of private or public property, I think you cross the line with that. If you want to stand out in front of the Capitol or the courthouse and you want to rip and snort and say what youd do and how you disagree  I dont have a problem with that at all. I do have a problem when you start picking up rocks and breaking out windows and you start assaulting innocent people.

Is the Trib picking on local Republican candidates? Given shifting fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law by many Republicans, surely not. Such questions are important because they get to the heart of our American experiment in democracy. Support for democratic principles would seemingly require all candidates to vehemently condemn attempts to usurp the power of citizenry by government officials. What Trump attempted, and still attempts, is being given cover by too many Republican officials. Questions good Republicans must consider at this moment in history: Who among them boldly condemns the Jan. 6 insurrection? Who among them boldly condemns the lie about stolen elections?

If youre a Republican, independent or Democrat voting for Republicans in the primary, you owe it to your country to do all you can to prevent insurrectionists or enablers of insurrectionists from gaining power at local, state and national levels. Do so by not casting a vote for those unwilling to stand up for democracy. Without your participation, democracy may perish.

Blake Burleson is an ordained Baptist minister and a faculty member in the Department of Religion at Baylor University.
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. What, he said, like 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.

Texas comes up as a topic of discussion in the Kremlin more often than one might expect (like last years frozen wind turbines). Texans are grappling with urgent problems close to home, so why should we care about Russias invasion of Ukraine? For one, Putins actions, unprecedented since World War II, have broader implications that should concern all of us. And though geographically distant, this war will have concrete impacts on Texans. The most basic example is that many Texans are Ukrainian, or have Ukrainian ties, and have asked for support.

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.

One of Putins main justifications for military action should give us particular pause. In an hourlong 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 tsars 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.

Rebecca Adeline Johnston is a doctoral candidate in the Department of History at The University of Texas at Austin.
Richmond  Governor Glenn Youngkin condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday on Twitter for his ongoing attack on Ukraine.

Putins invasion of Ukraine is an assault on a sovereign nation and will have devastating consequences for Ukrainian citizens, he tweeted. This senseless, unprovoked attack undermines democracy worldwide and we must hold Russia accountable.

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Putins invasion of Ukraine is an assault on a sovereign nation and will have devastating consequences for Ukrainian citizens. This senseless, unprovoked attack undermines democracy worldwide and we must hold Russia accountable. And we pray for the Ukrainian people and for peace.  Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) February 24, 2022

The governor added in his tweet that he is praying for the Ukrainian people and for peace.

His post received more than 12,000 likes and was retweeted by the the Republican Party of Virginia.

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Youngkins comments are a marked contrast to one of the Republican Partys most prominent voices: former President Donald Trump. In recent days, Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, calling him smart and very savvy.

Though Youngkin often wasnt overt in his support of Trump on the campaign trail, he appeared to be in sync with the former presidents policies.

Andrew Kirkpatrick, an associate professor with the political science department of Christopher Newport University, said the governors tweet didnt come as a surprise.

I would say in a normal foreign policy crisis that is the kind of statement any elected official would make, he said. No matter what differences that are going on, the country tends to come together when there is a crisis.

But Kirkpatrick noted that the Republican Party appears to be somewhat divided on how to react to the Russian invasion. The professor said this was likely due to Trumps remarks.

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The professor added it was fairly unusual for a former president to weigh in heavily on foreign affairs  or to side with an American adversary.

As Russia was massing troops around the Ukrainian border, Trump appeared on a radio talk show Tuesday and said he was impressed with Putins strategy.

I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, This is genius. Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraineof Ukraine  Putin declares it as independent. Oh, thats wonderful, Trump said. I said, How smart is that? And hes going to go in and be a peacekeeper.

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During a Wednesday Mar-a-Lago fundraiser, Trump again praised Putin.

I mean, hes taking over a country (in exchange for some) sanctions, I would say thats pretty smart, he said in a video circulating online.

At least 137 Ukrainians have been killed in the attack, according to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com
OMAHA  Three days before the Russian bombs begin to fall, the lights of the Ukrainian Catholic Church chapel flip on.

The Rev. Petro Kozar opens his arms to the congregation to begin the Sunday morning service. He takes a censer of incense. He swings it and it clangs.

The smoke symbolizes the congregations prayers rising to heaven.

The 24 people in the pews sing a hymn in Ukrainian. Older congregants, some who have been here nearly every Sunday since the church was founded by people fleeing Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, know every word.

The service continues with prayers for peace in English and Ukrainian, but no mention of the topic on everyones mind: the looming possibility that Vladimir Putin would invade these Nebraskans homeland.

At services end, the Right Rev. Archimandrite Ivan Krotec finally addresses it to the congregation: Let us continue to pray for Ukraine, he says. We dont know what is going to happen, but we believe God is stronger.

The congregation of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Church, located just south of downtown Omaha, continues to watch developments in Ukraine, including Wednesdays invasion by Russia, with a mix of anger, sadness and growing dread.

The elders in this community immigrated as children to the United States after the horrors of World War II. Some were taken by the Nazis to do forced labor in Germany. Then they watched Stalin  and now Putin  ravage their homeland.

Putin has always wanted Ukraine. He wants the former Soviet Union, said Daria Blazauskas, 83, whose memories of a Nazi labor camp are still vivid eight decades later. If he gets Ukraine, hes going after the Baltic (States) next.

The church also consists of their children, who work to keep older traditions alive. In the chatter after the service, its easy to pick out the accents of more recent immigrants, also wrestling with dread.

It just looks like a game of wise people right now, said Iuliia Grytsyk, 34, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, who moved to the United States as a student 15 years ago and is now a U.S. citizen. Something is trying to prove something to someone else and innocent citizens have to suffer.

Olesia Repichowskyj, 88, recites the lines from an old Ukrainian poet: Ukraine will rise again and blow away the gloom of servitude.

She talks about how Ukraine was controlled by Czarist Russia for centuries. About her childhood in Soviet-controlled Ukraine, where a man-made famine killed a third of her village.

She explains how her village church was shuttered and turned into a granary under Stalin. The priest disappeared. We didnt know if he was shipped to Siberia or if he was killed, she said.

And she can tell you about how members of her family was hauled to Nazi Germany in a boxcar with straw lining the floor. She was separated from them and forced to work on farms.

Rather than return to the Soviet Union, the reunited family immigrated to the U.S. She married and moved to Omaha in 1964 when her husband took a job with Leo Daly, the architectural and engineering firm.

To her, Ukraines current troubles are part of a long history of Russia trying to dominate the country, which has good soil and warm-water Black Sea ports long coveted by Russian leaders.

They need that good soil, she said. They need a place where they can grow food so they can feed themselves. Putin wants to rebuild the Soviet Union. And it isnt just Ukraine that he wants.

Tyler White, director of the University of Nebraska-Lincolns National Security Program, said that Ukraine has long been subject to Russian whims and has never gotten anything good out of the deal.

Ukraine, briefly independent after World War I, was soon conquered by the new Soviet Union.

In the 1930s, the country was ravaged by the so-called Holodomor, a famine that started after Stalin attempted to collectivize agriculture. It led to 4 million deaths.

At the dawn of the Cold War, the allies allowed Ukrainians to immigrate to several countries, including the United States.

Blazauskas was 12 when her family boarded a bus and crossed the Missouri River on a July 1950 night. She saw the lights of Omaha for the first time.

For me, as a child, I looked and thought, Oh! Its Christmas! she said.

The Ukrainian Catholics purchased their current house of worship, which features a small golden dome topped by a cross, at 16th and Martha streets in 1951. They remodeled, paid off the mortgage, and dug the basement where people gather after services today.

It is one of two Ukrainian Catholic Churches in Nebraska. The other: St. George in Lincoln's Belmont neighborhood.

The early generation of Ukrainian immigrants in Omaha raised children who scattered across the city but often return to the old neighborhood on Sunday mornings.

Orest Lechnowsky, 54, grew up in the church co-founded by his father. He remembers a childhood of traditional foods, embroidered Ukrainian clothes, Ukrainian poetry and spectacularly dyed Easter eggs. Weve pretty much been immersed in it for our whole lives, he said.

David Woloszyn, 39, is studying to be a church deacon. He has a tattoo on his right forearm that says: Ukrainian Pride.

The sad thing is we will fight for our independence again, Woloszyn said. The sad thing is there is going to be a lot of innocent blood shed.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, many congregants visited their relatives in Ukraine for the first time. Lechnowsky first went back with his father in the 1990s.

It was very emotional. My dad was from a small village in the Carpathian Mountains, he said. They were still farming with 19th-century equipment. Everything was horse-drawn or human-powered. No one had cars.

Lechnowsky has been back several times. Family and friends in Ukraine have now evacuated their children from the country or moved them as far west in Ukraine as possible, where its presumed to be safer.

More and more people are joining territorial defense units, taking training on the weekends, he said. There have been dramatic increases in the purchase of firearms and ammunition  I think there is a determination to defend their homes.

In the Omaha church, nearly everyone knows this fact: After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine had the third-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world.

It gave them up.

The accord signed by the U.S., Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom assured Ukraine that its borders would be respected. In 1996, the last of its nuclear weapons left the country.

Its hard to imagine Putin invading Ukraine if the country still had those weapons, UNL's White said.

In 2014, Russian troops took control of the Crimean Region, and annexed it. Since then, violence between the Ukrainian Military and pro-Russian separatist forces has killed more than 14,000 people. That bloodshed appears to have served as a precursor for an all-out Russian invasion, which began Wednesday evening.

By Thursday afternoon in Omaha, the invasion had killed dozens of Ukrainian soldiers and wounded many more. The Russians appeared to be in control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, and had pushed into the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Putin is planning this game to try to invigorate Russia as an international power player. He doesnt have a very strong hand at home. This military adventurism is a very good way of distracting the people at home, White said. This is less about what the Russian people want and its a lot more about what Putin wants.

Everyone at the church criticizes Putin. On Sunday, no one at the church was cheering for war. No one suggested that U.S. troops be sent to Ukraine.

We are all made in the image and likeness of God. All the Slavic people, whether it be from Belarus, Ukraine, or Russia, we all descended from the same heavenly father, Woloszyn said. Were brothers.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Learn more at flatwaterfreepress.org.
The bill known as Nebraska's anti-critical race theory bill got a cool reception at a legislative hearing Thursday.

Students, teachers and representatives of higher education were among 40 people who testified against the bill.

Many, like Sandra Gable, a high school teacher for 34 years, expressed concern the bill would prevent teaching an accurate history of America that included all its blemishes.

Gable said the bill is an attempt to "whitewash or even rewrite American history."

"This bill opposes everything that I have spent my life doing and learning and teaching," she said.

Three people testified in favor of LB1077 during the 3 1/2-hour hearing before the Legislature's Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

The bill doesn't specifically mention the controversial theory.

Rather than banning it outright, the bill takes an anti-discrimination approach, targeting the concerns that critics raise about the theory.

It would allow teaching about the country's checkered past on racism, and allow institutions and schools to advocate for inclusivity, but with limits.

The bill would prohibit Nebraska public schools, public colleges and government entities from providing training to teachers, students or employees if that training promoted race or sex "scapegoating," stereotyping or discrimination. If schools or colleges were found to violate the law, the state could withhold funding.

The bill would, for example, prohibit teaching that people of certain races are inherently racist or sexist, inclined to oppress people of other races or sexes, or are responsible for the past acts of people of their same race.

"I want history to be taught without putting undue burden on our students by making them carry blame that doesn't belong to them," said Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, the bill's sponsor.

History is objective, Hansen said, and should be taught "without subjective editorializing that assigns fault to a whole race or sex."

The bill would prohibit teaching or training that asserted that the United States or Nebraska are fundamentally or systemically racist or sexist.

But some of the bill's opponents said history is inherently subjective and depends on who is telling it. As a result, they fear that the proposed law would open the door to undeserved attacks on teachers.

CRT has been a hot topic nationally as lawmakers in multiple states have tried to pass legislation to keep the theory out of public schools. The issue also has come up in Nebraska's governor's race and before the NU Board of Regents. Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he opposes CRT.

A couple of years ago, no one had heard of it outside of academics. When asked if CRT is being taught in schools, local school officials have said no. But critics contend that, while it's not explicitly taught, it's showing up in teacher and employee training.

Although people have differing interpretations of critical race theory, a central tenet, and a key source of argument, is the assertion that the laws and legal institutions in the U.S. are inherently racist and advantage White people over other races, particularly African Americans.

Adherents say the theory is a framework or lens for understanding race in history and society to help illuminate a pathway to improving the country.

Committee member Sen. Carol Blood expressed concern about the bill.

"If I were a person of color, if I were a person with a disability, if I were a person who has struggled because of how I identify, where I come from, how I look, I might be insulted by this," Blood said. She said the bill suggests that their perspective is not important.

But Kate Anderson, a senior studying political science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, testified that a political psychology class she took became primarily about race, and the professor was critical of white people.

"I never intended to pay for my professor to shame my race in the name of higher education," said Anderson, who supported the bill.

Richard Moberly, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law, testified in opposition on behalf of the University of Nebraska system.

Moberly said the bill would undermine constitutional and educational values by prohibiting speech that deserves more debate rather than less.

He said the bill's language is vague and overly broad and would weaken educational institutions.

The bill would subject the state's university and colleges to "the speech police," and put them at risk of losing funding, he said.

If the bill passed it would likely get challenged and overturned in the courts, he said.

Will Aviles, a professor of political science and president of the faculty union at the University of Nebraska Kearney, said the bill is a "direct assault" on academic freedom and the First Amendment.

Aviles said it would limit how instructors discuss the privileges enjoyed by some and the discrimination experienced by others.

"There's no doubt in my mind that passing this bill will have a chilling effect in our institutions, with staff and faculty self-censoring themselves for fear of the legal and budgetary consequences our institutions would suffer if they violated this law," he said.

Jake Bogus, a history teacher for Lincoln Public Schools, called the bill "absurd."

"To completely eliminate and ban the teaching of tough topics in public school is to rob young people of a reality that they deserve," Bogus said.

John Roan, a teacher at Blair Community High School, testified that teachers have been vilified over the past two years as the media and politicians push a false narrative that educators and schools are indoctrinating students.

The bill, Roan said, would be used to withhold "already precious resources from schools and our students because of complaints made by parties that do not have the best interest of students and teachers in mind."

"We are professionals and should be treated as such," Roan said.

Vanessa Chavez Jurado, a fourth-year student in elementary education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said the bill is "extremely concerning" and disrespectful to educators.

The bill comes at a time when Nebraska is challenged with recruiting and retaining teachers, she said.

"I can tell you this is not the way to do that," she said.

But Allie French, representing Nebraskans Against Government Overreach, spoke in favor.

"When it comes to teaching prepubescent children, we need to ensure that we're eliminating societal and political arguments," she said.

Hansen said the bill "probably is not going to go anywhere this year."

He said it did not get designated a priority bill and the session is short.
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Weather Alert

...MORE WINDY DAYS ON THE WAY, WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND... --Thursday and Friday-- * A pair of systems brushing through the region will bring gusty winds both days, with Friday looking to have the strongest peak winds. Anticipate wind gusts of 35-45 mph Thursday, and 35-55 mph Friday, locally stronger in wind prone locations. Winds will bring travel difficulties both in the air and on the ground. Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with CalTrans/NDOT for the current road information. * Area of blowing dust are possible both afternoons downwind of the Carson Sink, possibly affecting portions of I-80, US 50, and Highway 95. In addition, backcountry and ski recreation could be impacted along with choppy conditions on area lakes. * A few light showers with minimal liquid totals are possible in far northern Nevada and northeast California. --Mother's Day Weekend into Early Next Week-- * It will remain breezy throughout the weekend, with a secondary max in wind speeds on Sunday due to a strong cold front. This front will usher in a much colder air mass and high temperatures on Mother's Day will be 15-20 degrees below normal. * There will be rain and snow showers with the front, but again, liquid amounts will be minimal. There are solid chances for snow levels to fall to all valley floors by Sunday evening, which may catch many off guard, though it is hard to get snow to stick to roadways in lower elevation valleys this late in the spring. * Well below normal temperatures and chances for light showers will continue into Monday and Tuesday next week. While still some uncertainty due to winds and cloud cover, it's possible we could have frost and freeze concerns Sunday and Monday nights.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, gestures during an interview in his office at the Capitol on Feb. 15 in Richmond. Youngkin plans to ask for emergency funding for campus safety and security at HBCUs. (Steve Helber / AP)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he will ask the General Assembly to provide emergency funding for the states historically Black universities following repeated bomb threats against the institutions.

Youngkin wants the funding to go to campus security and safety, he said in statement Friday following threats this week against Norfolk State and Hampton universities.

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I am committed to harnessing state resources to support these institutions and will work together with them on a continued coordinated response that ensures the safety of our HBCU students and faculty, the governor said.

Youngkin said he spoke with Virginias HBCU presidents about the threats.

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Norfolk State and Hampton University are among dozens of HBCUs targeted this year. Altogether, 57 institutions have received bomb threats  including HBCUs, houses of worship and other-faith based and academic institutions  between Jan. 4 and Feb. 16, the FBI said in a Wednesday statement.

Norfolk State president Javaune Adams-Gaston praised the campus powerful resilience and resolve in the face of threats. The university was one of several HBCUs targeted on Friday and Jan. 4.

While we do not know the source of these threats, we certainly feel the impact of them, Adams-Gaston said Friday in a message to the university community. Disruption to our operations, our regularly scheduled activities, and our routines can cause much stress on us. Furthermore, the actual threats may induce fear, anxiety, and panic.

The university community will get past these threats and eventually, the people that are behind them will get caught and face the repercussions of their actions, Adams-Gaston said.

No explosive devices related to the threats have been found, the FBI said. The agency has not announced arrests related to the threats, though the bureau said it is continuing to aggressively investigate the disruptions.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
Recently on Amazon he bought an HP printer. The purchase prompted him to seek tech support from HP to set up wireless printing.

When he searched the web for an HP phone number, he went to a look-alike website that seemed legitimate, only wasnt. The site gave a business address that he later learned was a strip mall in California. He dialed the number and the con artist who answered gave his name as John William.

Things went from bad to worse when the victim granted the crooks request for remote access to his computer. The victim only gave permission because he thought he was dealing with HP  not an impostor.

Lesson 2: Never let a stranger have remote access to your computer  unless you are 100 percent sure the person is trustworthy.

The victim became alarmed while he watched his computer screen and saw the fraudster go to amazon.com. He protested, telling John William that he didnt want to buy anything. Hoping to prevent misuse of his Amazon account  and to end the matter  the victim then shut his computer off.

But the mischief didnt stop. Soon the victim received a package containing three Best Buy gift cards worth a total of $700 along with a USB drive. He hadnt bought them, nor had he authorized their purchase.

A day later, a man whose voice sounded very much like that of John William phoned the victim and purported to be from Amazon fraud. The man on the other end, who never stated his name, asked for the redemption numbers for the gift cards, but the victim refused, then hung up.

The victim says he next alerted Amazon, the credit-card company, the local sheriffs office and the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center.

He also called the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline, 877-908-3360, to say hed been defrauded. Reliant on Social Security, the victim, who spoke in an interview, said he had no need for the Best Buy gift cards, which still were unused and in their original condition. He said would happily return the cards to Amazon for a refund. And he pointed out that despite the fraud, no business had lost money to date. Only he stood to lose.

Amazons initial response? It emailed the victim saying: After reviewing your Amazon.com account, we did not find any unauthorized activity. As a result, we did not make any changes to your account.

Lesson 3: Even in todays world, companies can do right by their customers.

AARP contacted Amazon about the victims case. After interviewing him and launching an investigation, Amazon gave him a full credit for $717.31 to reimburse him for the fraudulent transaction.

A bonus? The victim said Amazon, which typically doesnt allow gift cards to be returned after purchase, told him that he could keep the Best Buy cards and use them as he wished.

Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put our customers and our brand at risk, a company spokesman told AARP. We will continue to invest in protecting customers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage customers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.

Amazon also offered this guidance on how to identify a scam and report scams.

According to the victim, the mega-retailer is continuing to investigate his case.

For his part, he says he is grateful for AARPs support: Its really nice to have contact with people who not only say theyre sorry, and they wish it were otherwise, but they actually stepped up to do something. It was a really trying circumstance.

As for the gift cards, he hasnt used them yet but says his son needs a new dishwasher. I will do almost anything for my son, he says. So if he needs a dishwasher, well figure it out.
SANTA FE  Contested Democratic primaries have emerged for Santa Fe- and South Valley-based seats in the state House as legislative races start to take shape ahead of next months filing deadline.

Santa Fe County Commissioner Henry Roybal launched a campaign for the northern New Mexico seat now held by state Rep. Andrea Romero, who defeated an incumbent herself four years ago to join the House.

Roybal, who lives in El Rancho north of Santa Fe, has served for almost eight years on the County Commission and cannot run for reelection because of term limits.

Romero, who lives in Santa Fe and is running for reelection, has represented District 46 since 2019. She is the chambers parliamentarian and chairwoman of the House Rules & Order of Business Committee.

The district includes Pojoaque and parts of northern Santa Fe, Espanola and Chimayo. Its a heavily Democratic district.

In the Albuquerque area, meanwhile, newly appointed Rep. Art De La Cruz and Melissa Armijo, executive administrator at the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, are competing for the Democratic nomination in District 12.

De La Cruz, a former Bernalillo County commissioner, was appointed by the commission to the House seat after Democratic Rep. Brittney Barreras resigned in late January.

House District 12 covers a chunk of the South Valley in Albuquerque, roughly between Bridge and Rio Bravo.

The campaign announcements come ahead of the March 8 filing day, when legislative candidates must file declarations of candidacy and financial disclosures.

All 70 House seats are on the ballot this year.

WEST SIDE: Republican Adelious Stith announced a campaign for the House seat now held by Democratic Rep. Joy Garratt, setting up the possibility of a rematch in the general election.

The district covers neighborhoods by Petroglyph National Monument on the West Side of Albuquerque.

Garratt defeated Stith two years ago by about 8 percentage points, but the district has been redrawn to reflect new census data.

Democrats have had roughly a 6 point edge over Republicans in the area that makes up the new district, according to an analysis of elections over the last decade, conducted by Research & Polling Inc.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Friday nominated federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, the first Black woman selected to serve on a court that once declared her race unworthy of citizenship and endorsed American segregation.

Introducing Jackson at the White House, Biden declared, I believe its time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation.

With his nominee standing alongside, the president praised her as having a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people. He said, She strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice.

In Jackson, Biden delivered on a campaign promise to make the historic appointment and further diversify a court that was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries.

He also chose an attorney who would be the high courts first former public defender, though she possesses the elite legal background of other justices as well.

Jackson, 51, thanked Biden, saying she was humbled by the extraordinary honor of this nomination.

Jackson would be the current courts second Black member  Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other  and just the third in history. She would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring at the end of the term this summer, so she wont change the courts 6-3 conservative majority.

Jackson would join the court as it weighs cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

She would be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, but she would join three others already there, including the first Latina, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Jackson highlighted her familys first-hand experience with the entirety of the legal system, as judges and lawyers, an uncle who was Miamis police chief and another who was imprisoned on drug charges.

She also spoke of the historic nature of her nomination, noting she shared a birthday with Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to be confirmed to the federal bench.

If Im fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans, she said.

Jackson once worked as one of Breyers law clerks early in her legal career. She attended Harvard as an undergraduate and for law school, and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the agency that develops federal sentencing policy, before becoming a federal judge in 2013.

Her nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority by a razor-thin 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker. Party leaders have promised swift but deliberate consideration.

Her introduction came two years to the day after Biden, then struggling to capture the Democratic presidential nomination, pledged in a South Carolina debate to nominate a Black woman if presented with a vacancy.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin said in a statement that the panel will begin immediately to move forward on consideration of an extraordinary nominee. Senators have set a tentative goal of confirmation by April 8, when they leave for a two-week spring recess. Hearings could start as soon as mid-March.

That timeline could be complicated by a number of things, including Russias invasion of Ukraine and the extended absence of Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, who suffered a stroke last month and is out for several weeks. Democrats would need Lujans vote to confirm Bidens pick if no Republicans support her.

Once the nomination is sent to the Senate, it is up to the Senate Judiciary Committee to vet the nominee and hold confirmation hearings. After the committee approves a nomination, it goes to the Senate floor for a final vote.

Biden and Senate Democrats are hoping for a bipartisan vote on the nomination, but its unclear if they will be able to win over any GOP senators after bitterly partisan confirmation battles under President Donald Trump. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of three Republicans who voted to confirm Jackson to the appeals court last year, had pushed Biden to nominate a different candidate from his home state, Judge J. Michelle Childs, who also was favored by home-state Rep. James Clyburn, a Biden ally.

Graham said earlier this month his vote would be very problematic if it were anyone else, and he expressed disappointment in a tweet Friday. Previewing a likely Republican attack line, he and several others on the right said Biden was going with the choice of the radical left.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he looked forward to meeting with Jackson and studying her record, legal views and judicial philosophy. But he noted he had voted against her a year ago.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, With her exceptional qualifications and record of evenhandedness, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be a justice who will uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of all Americans, including the voiceless and vulnerable.

As part of his search process, Biden, a longtime chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also interviewed Childs and California Supreme Court Judge Leondra Kruger, according to the White House.

During the process, Biden also consulted with a range of legal experts and lawmakers in both parties and delved deeply into the finalists legal writings.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

With summer heat waves and other extreme weather events becoming more common, Attorney General Hector Balderas is convening a new statewide task force to hammer out rapid-response plans to protect the public in case of blackouts or other energy-system failures.

Although first responders and most public agencies already have individual emergency plans in place, an all-of-government approach is critical for broad, state-level coordination and preparedness, Balderas said in a letter sent this week to numerous public and private entities.

Balderas is inviting local, state and tribal government officials  along with first responders and other entities  to participate in a new Energy Security Investigation and Emergency Preparedness Task Force.

Balderas said New Mexico and the West experienced a record heat wave last summer, and such events will likely increase in frequency and severity as the pace of climate change continues, straining utility systems and increasing the risk of power outages.

As such, we are spearheading the work that must be done to ensure the state is prepared for a worst-case scenario, Balderas said in his letter. We know many different agencies are closely monitoring this situation as well, and working diligently towards a similar goal. With this in mind, the Office of the Attorney General would like to take steps to unite these interests and collectively address the problems we are facing, and ensure we are moving forward with a plan should these heat events occur.

Concern is growing throughout the West about regional energy shortages as extreme summer heat, intense winter chills, massive wildfires and severe drought continually stress electric grids everywhere. Those problems make it more challenging to ensure a steady flow of electricity in all situations as states transition from coal- and natural gas-fired power plants  which provide round-the-clock electricity  to intermittent solar and wind generation.

Those issues are now especially resonating locally after Public Service Company of New Mexico warned this month it could face significant energy shortages when it abandons the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station this summer, and after power-supply leases with the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona expire next year.

New solar replacement power wont be ready in time to cover the loss of San Juan this summer, nor Palo Verde generation in summer 2023, because of pandemic-induced supply-chain issues  plus delays in getting regulatory approval for the new solar plants  according to PNM.

PNM now plans to extend some San Juan operations through this summer to alleviate projected power shortages. But potential blackouts still loom for summer 2023 and, even with the San Juan extension, any extended heat wave could still cause energy shortages and possible power outages this summer, Balderas warned.

While PNM put forth a plan to address the shortage for this summer, it does not eliminate the risk of a widespread outage or address the shortage next summer, Balderas said in his letter. Accordingly, vulnerable populations including children, elderly, economically disadvantaged groups, and those with chronic health conditions are at a heightened risk in the event of an outage.

Balderas wants the task force to establish a vulnerable populations risk assessment for emergency preparedness, plus detailed plans to provide critical resources where needed with efficient cross-coordination and public outreach.

Conversations with task force participants are already underway, Balderas told the Journal. I plan to convene the first full meeting in mid-March.

Balderas also wants a broad energy security risk assessment done to ensure that electricity and such other fuels as propane are consistently available for consumers in all seasons for heating, cooling and other essential needs.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General is separately examining state Public Regulation Commission decisions and policies in response to concerns that PRC reluctance to approve more backup generation for PNM, plus alleged delays in approving new solar power projects, may have contributed to todays energy challenges.

Commission Chair Joseph Maestas said he welcomes the attorney generals review of PRC policies and decisions. But the real cause of todays grid problems are pandemic-induced supply-chain issues, which are undermining the ability of nearly all local utilities to adequately maintain their electric systems.

Next Wednesday, commissioners will discuss a letter theyve drafted for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management that outlines the statewide utility problems and calls for coordinated government action, Maestas said.

I applaud the attorney general for taking the lead to begin a coordinated process across multiple agencies, Maestas told the Journal. Thats what it will take to mitigate these supply-chain issues.

PNM also welcomed the attorney generals initiative. PNM has detailed emergency-response plans in place for all situations, but public and private entities need to work together, said Vice President of Operations Todd Fridley.

The benefit of informing the public about todays challenges is now a more coordinated response by government and the private sector to deal with some of these contingencies if we ever have to put them into practice, Fridley said in an email to the Journal.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

State Police says one of its officers and two Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies shot and killed a person of interest in multiple homicides following a chase and standoff late Friday night south of Belen.

The man  whose identity and age have not been released  was wanted on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a household member and had a violent criminal history, State Police said in a news release.

The multiagency pursuit began late Friday night, when the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office alerted State Police that the male was heading south on Interstate 25 in a maroon Ford F-350 pickup. State Police used tire deflation devices at milepost 195 near Belen to try to stop him.

The driver of the Ford drove over the devices and continued to travel south on Interstate 25, State Police said.

At one point, the male drove through Belen, drove the wrong way down an off-ramp and began driving south in the northbound lanes of I-25. A State Police officer used a pursuit intervention technique, forcing the truck to roll in the dirt shoulder of the highway, where BCSO SWAT officers, Belen Police Department officers and State Police converged, according to the release.

Officers gave the male driver numerous commands to exit the vehicle and surrender peacefully, State Police said. At some point during the encounter, two BCSO deputies along with the New Mexico State Police officer discharged their department-issued firearms toward the male subject. The male subject was struck by gunfire at least once.

State Police said officers rendered aid to the male, but he died on scene. State Police and the Office of the Medical Investigator are working to positively identify the male, the release said. The northbound lanes of I-25 near Belen were closed for several hours following the incident but began to reopen at about 9:45 a.m.

Journal photographer Adolphe Pierre-Louis contributed to this story.
KYIV, Ukraine  Associated Press journalists around Ukraine and beyond are documenting military activity during Russias invasion. With disinformation rife and social media amplifying military claims and counterclaims, determining exactly what is happening is difficult. Heres a look at what could be confirmed Saturday.

DIRECTLY WITNESSED:

 Many checkpoints were seen on the drive into Kyiv from the east, manned by uniformed servicemen and police and sometimes backed up with men in civilian clothes, who appear to be in their late teens and are carrying automatic rifles.

 Low-flying planes that appeared to be Su-25 fighter jets have been spotted patrolling the skies over Kyiv, but it couldnt be discerned if they were Russian or Ukrainian.

 Eerie quiet on the streets of Mariupol, an Azov Sea port city and industrial center that is seen as a key target for Russia to seize. Police are frequently patrolling the streets. Air or artillery strikes can be heard in the distance. Soldiers are guarding bridges and blocking people from the seashore area.

 Explosions heard from central Kyiv, about 800 meters (half a mile) from the presidents headquarters.

 A tall apartment building in Kyiv hit by shelling, with major damage, on the eastern side of the Dneiper River that cuts through the capital, 13 kilometers (8 miles) southeast of the government quarter.

 Shooting near a main thoroughfare leading into central Kyiv from the south.

 Ukrainian soldiers evacuating an unmarked military vehicle damaged by gunfire in Kyiv, in the Obolon district about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the government quarter.

 Ukrainian military establishing defensive positions at bridges around Kyiv. Armored personnel carriers driving through Kyiv streets. Ukrainian authorities have placed snowplows at some spots along Kyiv roads to force traffic to slow down.

 Russian missile launcher seen on the edge of the northeastern city of Kharkiv, shelling heard in the distance.

 A bridge destroyed at Ivankiv, some 60 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of Kyiv.

ANNOUNCED BY RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES:

 In Moscow, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a break in action by troops when he accepted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys proposal a day earlier to hold talks about the possibility of a nonaligned status for Ukraine, and that the Russian troops resumed their advance after the talks didnt happen. But AP journalists in various areas of Ukraine witnessed that Russia never stopped its offensive.

 Russias military said it has taken over Melitopol, a city in the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine 50 kilometers (about 30 miles) off of the Azov Sea coast. The claim could not be independently verified.

 The Russian military said it took control of an airport outside the Ukrainian capital. The airport in Hostomel, a town 7 kilometers (4 miles) from Kyiv, has a runway long enough to receive all types of aircraft, including the biggest cargo planes. Control would allow Russia to airlift troops directly to Kyivs outskirts.

 The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces sealed the cities of Sumy and Konotop in northeastern Ukraine. It said they have knocked out 211 military infrastructure facilities. The claims couldnt be independently confirmed.

ANNOUNCED BY UKRAINIAN AUTHORITIES:

 The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted that Russians had lost 11 helicopters, seven aircraft including three Su-30 CM, a column of equipment and a fuel train.

 Ukraines military said it shot down a Russian military transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Kyiv, an account confirmed by a senior American intelligence official. It was unclear how many were on board. Transport planes can carry up to 125 paratroopers. Russia has not commented on the incident.

 Zelenskyy said Saturday that Russian attempts to push into Kyiv have been repelled and that Russian forces have hit civilian areas and infrastructure.

 Ukraines health minister said Saturday that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and more than 1,000 others wounded but didnt specify whether those figures included civilians and military forces. Russia hasnt released any casualty figures. A day earlier, the Ukrainian military said it has killed over 1,000 Russian troops while fending off Moscows invasion. Neither claim about human losses could be independently verified.

 Ukraines nuclear energy regulator said higher than usual gamma radiation levels have been detected in the area around the Chernobyl nuclear plant, site of the worlds worst nuclear accident, after it was seized by the Russian military. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the reported levels dont pose any danger to the public. The Russian Defense Ministry said radiation levels in the area have remained normal.

 Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said gunfire and explosions in several parts of the city came as Ukrainian troops were fighting groups of Russian saboteurs. He also said five explosions hit an area near a major power plant on the citys eastern outskirts. No electricity outages were immediately reported.

 Authorities in Donetsk, the largest city in the separatist-held territories, said hot water supplies to the city of about 900,000 were suspended Saturday because of damage to the system by Ukrainian shelling. The claim could not immediately be independently verified.

ANNOUNCED BY OFFICIALS ELSEWHERE:

 A senior U.S. Defense official says advancing Russian forces were roughly 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) outside Kyiv as of Saturday, and that an unspecified number of Russian military reconnaissance elements had entered the capital.

 The U.K. Ministry of Defense said that the speed of the Russian advance temporarily slowed, probably because of logistics and strong Ukrainian resistance. Overnight clashes in Kyiv likely involved limited numbers of prepositioned Russian sabotage groups, the ministry said.

 Two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine said Russian Airborne Forces attacked Ukrainian units on the outskirts of Kyiv early Saturday on three sides. Ukrainian forces repelled some of the assaults.

 Moldovas national naval agency said a Moldovan-flagged ship was hit by a missile in neutral waters in the Black Sea, leaving two crew members seriously injured.

 A U.S. defense official said a Russian amphibious assault was underway, and thousands of Russian naval infantry were moving ashore from the Sea of Azov, west of Mariupol. The official said Ukrainian air defenses have been degraded but are still operating, and that about a third of the combat power that Russia massed around Ukraine is now in the country.

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Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The ins and outs of small businesses arent anything new to Joe Trimble.

As a child, Trimble often spent his summers working alongside family members at their small business in Arizona where he learned the ropes from an inside perspective.

And as an adult, he has spent most of his entire career working with small businesses through various roles at Wells Fargo.

Now, Trimble is bringing those years of experience to the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce as the organizations new board chair.

Hes all about trying to help grow and scale small Hispanic and other businesses through Albuquerque and throughout New Mexico, chamber president and CEO Erniea CdeBaca said. And so, I think what hes going to bring is a lot of energy.

CdeBaca said that while Trimble may be the organizations youngest board chair, and the only one who isnt truly Hispanic, his devotion to the Hispanic community and the larger small business community runs deep and is largely influenced by his growing up in Albuquerques North Valley.

Joe Trimble, thats a name that doesnt have any association with being Hispanic, and I joke around that he actually might be more Hispanic than me because he grew up in the North Valley of Albuquerque, he said. So, in a way  while his last name doesnt reflect being Hispanic, he is all about the Hispanics.

An early interest in small business

Despite overseeing one of the more influential business organizations in the state, Trimble has never owned a small business.

But that doesnt mean he isnt familiar with struggles small businesses face.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Trimble said he grew up in Albuquerques North Valley and eventually graduated from Valley High School.

During his years as a student, he saw not only the importance and value of education but also the struggles that some of his fellow classmates faced growing up in lower income neighborhoods.

Where my childhood really played a part was one, seeing those around me working hard for opportunities, and then also seeing my family who were small business owners, actually, and I had an opportunity to spend a lot of time with a few of them, Trimble said during an interview from his office at the Wells Fargo building in Downtown Albuquerque.

Watching his family work showed him the passion small business owners have for their careers but also the struggles that often accompany it.

Somewhere along the way it instilled in me that even though I love and care about small businesses, how Im built is not to operate one, he said.

A short resume

Trimble has only ever worked at two companies.

As a teenager, Trimble, like many other Albuquerque teens, got his first job at a Dions working in the kitchen.

Shortly after, and with the help of one of his high school teachers, he snagged a position at Wells Fargo as a teller and has remained at the company ever since.

Two years into his tenure with the bank he moved from his role as a teller to a become a small business specialist where he worked directly with small business owners helping them manage their business and finances at the Nob Hill branch location.

What my job was, was to build really lifelong relationships with those customers by asking them questions and getting to know their business, he said. I invested myself and my time to really understand that.

He said that even though he has moved away from that role he still keeps in touch with many of the business owners he met.

Some still contact him for advice  something Trimble said he is happy to oblige.

In his current position as Wells Fargos mountain region small business leader, Trimble is still working with small businesses, just not as directly as he once did.

In his role, Trimble says he works to educate bankers on ways to interact with and support small businesses with less $5 million in revenue.

Its two sided, he said. The first side is the internal which gives me the opportunity to create processes, function and to improve systematic approaches to managing small businesses. And whereas on the other side, its the external component which is understanding the small business not necessarily from the banking perspective, but understanding the holistic approach to that small business.

Bringing experience

Trimble said he was drawn to the aHispano Chamber because his job relies on him having a deep understanding of the small business community and because he grew up in the Hispanic community.

Since joining the chamber, Trimble has conducted several Lunch and Learn series, and ahelped create the Avanzar program.

He said Avanzar, which is a yearlong business accelerator program, was born out of a conversation on a flight to a United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce convention.

What I saw was a lot of the startup businesses were getting the most attention and I wanted to make a difference for those business owners who are trying to scale their business and thats what this program does today, Trimble said.

The local program was awarded three grants of $25,000 and has since expanded to several other citiesa in the country.

As this years board president, Trimble said he is focused on supporting business owners with innovative ideas and bolstering procurement opportunities in the state.

This role may include overseeing millions of dollars in grant money since the chamber is a finalist for the United States Economic Development Administrations Build Back Better Region Challenge.

CdeBaca said Trimble is also hell bent on increasing the chambers membership.

But since his tenure will take place during the third year of the pandemic, Trimble said he realizes that this year will also be unlike years in the past, though he said it seems that people seem more optimistic.

I think people (and), especially small businesses, for lack of a better word, theyre rolling with the punches and theyre doing it in a way that even savvy business owners and those that are in businesses who are booming theyre still taking every opportunity they can to be the best business owner they can be, he said.
Identity theft and computer hacks are happening far too often, so protecting yourself and your finances is essential.

In 2013, we were shocked when Target Corp. announced that the credit card information for 41 million customers was compromised after a hacker gained access through credentials stolen from a third-party vendor.

In 2017, Equifax, a credit reporting agency, reported a hack that exposed the personal information of up to 143 million Americans, 15 million British citizens and 19,000 Canadians.

In 2020, a massive cyberattack occurred when SolarWinds, a technology firm based in Austin, Texas, provided a software update that included malware attached by hackers.

Ironically, SolarWinds sells their Orion software to thousands of companies, and it is intended to monitor their computer networks. SolarWinds estimated that 18,000 customers, including roughly 40 government agencies, received the update and were exposed to the hack.

The government agencies included the Pentagon, the Treasury Department, the Department of Energy, the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security. Once the data is stolen, we do not know who has access to it or how they may use it.

Recently, hackers have shifted their strategies and have been using a form of malware that encrypts files on a computer system. Once the hackers have infiltrated a computer system, they demand a ransom in exchange for unencrypting the files. This strategy has been used in recent years to attack the computer systems of cities and municipalities, including Atlanta; Baltimore; Denver; Knoxville, Tennessee; New Orleans; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In some cases, the ransom was paid, although there is a concerted effort among the U.S. Conference of Mayors to stop paying ransoms.

Most recently, in January 2022, the computer systems of Bernalillo County and Albuquerque Public Schools were hacked.

Being hacked is not always an indication that the company or city was lax in their computer security policies.

Hackers have numerous ways to gain access. I assume that most personal information  including Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses, tax records, credit card numbers, emails, passwords and investment details  has been stolen, and is accessible to cybercriminals and their malicious activities. This puts us at risk of having our identity stolen, having money illegally withdrawn from our bank accounts and investment accounts, having our credit cards used fraudulently, and having tax refunds stolen.

What can you do?

According to the definition from the Department of Justices website, Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another persons personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.

Ngo Minh Hieu was a hacker who ran an online store that sold the stolen personal information of roughly 200 million Americans. He spent seven years in prison, and now helps people avoid cybercriminals. An article by Cezary Podkul for ProPublica (Jan. 27, 2022) reported that it is impossible to create a failproof shield, but there are several steps that Ngo Minh Hieu and Podkul recommended to reduce the risk. These are listed below, along with some of my own recommendations:

 Do not reuse passwords. In other words, do not use your pets name for all the websites you visit. You should use long, complex passwords that are different for each site. Write them down on a master password list. Or use an encrypted password manager, such as LastPass or 1Password.

 Review your credit reports, and cancel all unnecessary credit cards. If there are errors on your credit report, take the time to get them corrected. One way to access credit reports from all three credit reporting agencies is the website www.annualcreditreport.com.

 Freeze your credit files. The freeze will restrict access to your credit report, so criminals cannot open a new account or credit card in your name. If you decide to buy a car or apply for a new credit card, you can lift the freeze for a few days. Freezing and unfreezing your credit files is free, and the websites are provided in the box.

 Consolidate and then close any redundant bank accounts or investment accounts.

 Review your bank statements, investment accounts and credit card statements every month.

 Avoid clicking on links that you did not request. Criminals are always trying to access your computer, so you should be very cautious about opening anything that looks suspicious. The cute videos that friends email you can contain malware.

 Be cautious with social media. Personal information you have shared on Facebook or LinkedIn can be accessed by criminals. You can check the privacy settings on the sites, or buy a service like DeleteMe to help you remove personal information.

 Keep your computer software up to date.

 Back up your computer data and files routinely or automatically.

 Set up two-factor authentication when possible. This provides a second level of security if you are accessing websites for your bank or investment accounts.

Implementing some of the above tips requires time. However, if they help you avoid identity theft or becoming a target of cybercriminals, it is a wise investment of your time.

Credit bureau contact

Equifax: http://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ or by phone at 800-685-1111

Experian: http://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html or by phone at 888-397-3742

Transunion: http://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze or by phone at 888-909-8872

Donna Skeels Cygan, CFP, MBA, is the author of The Joy of Financial Security. She was a fee-only financial planner in Albuquerque for more than 20 years before retiring in 2021. She welcomes emails from readers at dscygan@gmail.com.
A color-coded map of community COVID-19 levels from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New COVID-19 guidance from U.S. health officials no longer recommends masking indoors for residents in areas defined as low-risk  a designation that includes all of Hampton Roads.

The guidance is included in the new set of measures outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The guidance identifies the regions seven cities as having a low community COVID-19 level  a new designation based on hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new coronavirus cases in the area.

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The designation means Hampton Roads residents should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and get tested if they feel sick.

The new recommendations do not change the requirement to wear masks on public transportation and indoors in airports, train stations and bus stations. The CDC guidelines for other indoor spaces arent binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules. And the agency says people with virus symptoms or who test positive shouldnt stop wearing masks.

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The agency is still advising people, including schoolchildren, to wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high.

The CDC is offering a color-coded map  with counties designated as orange, yellow or green  to help guide local officials and residents. In green counties  which includes the seven cities of Hampton Roads  local officials can drop any indoor masking rules. No Hampton Roads cities currently have city-wide indoor mask mandates, though some establishments, universities and city offices require them.

Yellow means people at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. Orange designates places where the CDC suggests masking should be universal.

Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and Suffolk are low-risk green, according to the map. Further up the Peninsula, Poquoson, York County and Williamsburg are green while James City County is at medium-risk yellow.

How a county comes to be designated green, yellow or orange will depend on its rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions, the share of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and the rate of new cases in the community.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
Spence Law Firm, LLC., has hired two attorneys:

Erin Marshall will serve as a personal injury attorney.

She has 20 years of public policy and hospital compliance experience. Marshall has also worked as a business and nonprofit executive. She received her bachelors from the University of Colorado in cultural anthropology, archeology and her juris doctorate from the University of New Mexico. Marshall serves on the Board of the New Mexico Womens Bar Association, the New Mexico Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Human Milk Repository of New Mexico and the New Mexico State Bar Health Law Section. She is one of two New Mexico attorneys on the Birth Rights Bar Association and is a member of the New Mexico Bar Association, New Mexico Trial Practice Section and New Mexico State Bar Committee on Women in the Legal Profession.

Francheska Bardacke will serve as senior associate. Licensed to practice in Federal Court, she has tried over 50 criminal cases and brings to the role her varied experience in trial work, general civil litigation and personal injury work. She started her law career at the University of New Mexico School of Law where she won a place on the National Mock Trial Team and a national scholarship to attend Gerry Spences Trial Lawyers College in Wyoming. She received her juris doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law and attended college at the Colorado College and Oxford University in the U.K.
NEW YORK  The mother of Trayvon Martin used the 10th anniversary of her sons death Saturday to urge those who sought justice for her family to continue to fight.

I never do anything on the 26th, I never even plan anything on the 26th of February, Sybrina Fulton said at the weekly meeting of the National Action Network, the civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton in Harlem.

She told an audience that included Sharpton and Mayor Eric Adams that she wanted to be there to support her supporters. Adams, a New York state senator at the time, was among several Black lawmakers who wore hooded sweatshirts to a 2012 legislative session to call attention to the 17-year-olds death in Sanford, Florida.

Trayvon Martin had been wearing a similar sweatshirt when he was fatally shot on his way back from a store while visiting his father in a gated community in the Orlando suburb. George Zimmerman, a member of the communitys neighborhood watch, confronted the teenager and shot him after reporting him to authorities as a suspicious person.

Zimmerman, who told authorities that Martin had attacked him, was acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013.

The shooting refocused attention on race and justice in the United States. Sharpton, who early on met with Martins family and their attorney Ben Crump as they worked to draw attention to his death, on Saturday compared Martins legacy to that of Emmett Till, the Chicago teen whose lynching in Mississippi in 1955 stoked the civil rights movement.

Today is a bittersweet day, said Fulton, who with her family created the Trayvon Martin Foundation to raise awareness of gun violence. I thank God for all the Trayvon Martins that you dont know, all the young ladies who have been shot and killed and our Black and brown boys who have been shot and killed and you dont know their names. Thank you for standing up for them. Thank you for praying for them. Thank you for supporting them. They need you. They need your voice. And if you dont do anything else, dont give up.

Adams praised Fulton for turning pain into purpose.
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According to her lawyer, the 'What a Girl Wants' actress 'wishes to terminate her conservatorship' as she insists that 'protection of the court is no longer necessary.'

Feb 26, 2022

AceShowbiz - Amanda Bynes is seeking to end her conservatorship after nearly a decade. The "What a Girl Wants" actress, who has long suffered from various mental health issues, has asked the court to terminate the conservatorship as she believed that her condition is "improved."

The "Easy A" actress' lawyer David A. Esquibias confirmed to PEOPLE on Friday, February 25, "Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship." The attorney further shared that the former Nickelodeon star "believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary."

Additionally, David told Page Six that Amanda "also filed a capacity declaration Tuesday, as California requires all conservatorship cases to have updated records about a conservatee's mental state from their physician, psychologist or religious healing practitioner." A hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 22.

Amanda's mother Lynn Bynes was granted temporary conservatorship over her daughter following a mental breakdown in August 2013. At the time, the "She's the Man" star allegedly set fire to a driveway. Then in October 2014, Lynn regained conservatorship of her daughter.

Last September, a status report regarding Amanda's health was filed and approved by a California court with the next update scheduled for January 2023. Contrary to reports at the time, Amanda's attorney David explained that her conservatorship was "not extended" through 2023.

"It is open day today. A status report regarding her health and welfare was recently filed and approved by the court. By law, the next status report is due in two years," David explained. "Her conservatorship will terminate when it is no longer convenient for Amanda."

David went on to say that last April Amanda was also "doing great" ahead of her 35th birthday. "She lives by the beach, attends school and is enjoying meditation and Soul Cycle classes," said the lawyer.

Amanda's new bid for freedom came a few months after Britney Spears fought to end her own 13-year conservatorship which was terminated in November. In June, the "Toxic" hitmaker made an impassioned plea to end her conservatorship in court where she called her father Jamie Spears "abusive" and said those responsible for controlling her estate should be imprisoned.

Britney also alleged that she was forbidden to marry her now-fiance Sam Asghari and had an IUD inserted against her will to prevent her from having any more children. "I feel ganged up on and bullied and alone. I am tired of being alone," she told Judge Brenda Penny during an emotional hearing. She likened her conservatorship situation to a sex-trafficked person who was caged without her own money or passport.
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When opening up about his experience of living with heart failure, the 51-year-old actor admits that he was initially 'grappled with the diagnosis and also denied it.'

Feb 26, 2022

AceShowbiz - Jason Gray-Stanford has opened up about his past health issue. Revealing that he had heart transplant surgery back in 2020, the former "Monk" star said he's "grateful" to be alive after a battle with heart failure.

The 51-year-old shared his story in a personal essay published by TODAY on Friday, February 25. The actor divulged that his health issue began in 2018 when his heart was "beating oddly" while filming in Vancouver, Canada.

Jason was later returned to Los Angeles, where he was diagnosed with a stage 1 heart failure. "I grappled with the diagnosis and also denied it. It felt impossible that I was so sick. But I started medications to help me live with heart failure. My heart became healthier and my ejection fraction even improved," he recalled.

While he managed to enjoy "a mostly normal life" for the next two years, things took a turn at the end of December 2019. He said he blacked out in the middle of a spin class. "One moment I was pedaling with everyone else; the next I woke up on the floor with the entire class peering down at me. I had blacked out on the spin bike. I was terrified," he recounted. "How could I lose so much time? Why did I end up on the floor? Suddenly, I was being rushed to the hospital."

"The situation felt grave. Doctors wanted to give me a pacemaker to help my heart pump and a defibrillator to shock my heart back into rhythm if it became erratic again. It felt surreal," he continued elaborating. "I thought if I stuck with healthy habits and took my medicine, I'd be better. I didnt want a pacemaker or a defibrillator. Those were for old people. I wasn't even 50 yet. But the doctors explained that these devices would help me be healthy and active."

Fast forward to November 2020, he "landed back in the hospital again." He said of his doctors, "Finally they gave me the honest assessment: I was on all the best medications they had and they weren't working. My only option was a heart transplant."

It didn't take long for Jason to undergo the surgery since he got a heart with a 95 percent match "right when [he] needed it." He later shared, "When I woke the next day and took a breath without struggling, I felt relief... I felt grateful for the new heart beating in my chest, working better than my old one. I can't express how appreciative I am to the anonymous donor family who gave their loved one's heart so I could live."
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The former 'Nashville' star affirms her daughter is out of harm's way after a concerned fan asked her whether or not the little girl is in the country with her father Wladimir Klitschko in Kyiv.

Feb 26, 2022

AceShowbiz - Hayden Panettiere has confirmed her 7-year-old daughter Kaya Evdokia Klitschko's safety amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The "Nashville" alum said that the little girl is "safe and not in Ukraine" after a concerned fan asked about the kid, who typically lives with her dad, the actress' ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, in Ukraine.

In a comment section of her post on Friday, February 25, a fan asked her, "Please tell me that your daughter is currently stateside and not with her dad during this." In response, the artist replied, "She's safe and not in Ukraine," adding a thumbs-up emoji.

In her post, Hayden shared a message of support for the Ukrainian people alongside a photo of herself smiling while preparing to hug an unidentified person. "I have personally witnessed the strength of the Ukrainian people who fought so hard for their independence and have continued to passionately defend their country over the years," she captioned her post.

"What Putin is doing is an absolute disgrace!" Hayden insisted. She continued sharing her thoughts, "This horrific moment in history sends a terrifying message: the message that in this day and age, in year 2022, it's okay to violate the rights of free people and allow autocrats like Putin to take whatever they please."

"I'm praying for my family and friends there and everyone who's fighting. I wish you had more support and I wish I was there fighting with you!" Hayden went on saying, "For now, I ask for those of us who can't be there to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and show your support for #democracy." She then concluded her post as saying, "Continue to look for updates from @klitschko and @vitaliyklitschko."

Hayden shares her 7-year-old girl with her ex-fiance Wladimir. Wladimir remains in Kyiv alongside his brother Vitali Klitschko, who has been the mayor since 2014. The pair have vowed to fight in the army against the Russian forces.

During a recent appearance on "Good Morning Britain", Vitali said, "It's already a bloody war." The mayor went on to add, "I don't have another choice. I have to do that. I would fight."

Meanwhile, Wladimir, who enlisted in the Ukrainian military earlier this month, has been penning impassioned pleas for unity and democracy on Instagram. "It is not 'the war of Ukraine', it is Putin's war. Meticulous preparations were hidden behind the fog of the last few weeks in order to set in motion a plan that had been drawn up for months," he wrote on February 24. He stressed, "Destruction and death come upon us. That's it, blood will mix with tears."
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The indie pop trio are the first musical act to cancel their Russian show after President Vladimir Putin announced that he was deploying a 'special military operation' into Ukraine.

Feb 26, 2022

AceShowbiz - AJR were forced to cancel their show in Russia following the Ukraine invasion. The indie pop trio shared the "sad" announcement via Instagram Story on Friday, February 25.

"We are sad to announce that we will be cancelling our upcoming show in Russia," they stated. "Thank you to our Russian fans who oppose their country's unprovoked and criminal behavior. Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine. At this point, the best thing you can do is share ACCURATE info."

AJR canceled their show in Russia following the Ukraine invasion.

Adam Met, Jack Met and Ryan Met were supposed to perform in Moscow on October 22 for their "OK Orchestra Tour". Aside from the brothers, the likes of Khalid, OneRepublic, Yungblud and OneRepublic also have dates in Russia set for later this year. However, they have yet to give updates about the shows.

This arrived just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he was deploying a "special military operation" into Ukraine. On Thursday morning at the local time, Russian troops were reportedly crossing the border from multiple directions.

Many celebrities have since expressed their condemnation towards the unprovoked attack and showed support to Ukraine. One in particular was Angelina Jolie, who wrote on Instagram, "Like many of you, I'm praying for the people in Ukraine. My focus along with my @refugees colleagues is that everything possible is done to ensure the protection and basic human rights of those displaced, and refugees in the region."

"We have already seen reports of casualties and people starting to flee their homes to seek safety," she added. "It is too soon to know what will happen, but the significance of this moment - for the people of Ukraine, and for the international rule of law - cannot be overstated."

Meghan McCain, meanwhile, shared a now-viral political cartoon of Putin and Adolf Hitler. "Putin just bombed kindergartners and orphanages. Putin, like Assad, isn't above targeting CHILDREN," she raged. "So when you say you're 'rooting for Russia,' or call Putin a 'genius,' or parrot Russian talking points, THIS is what you're defending. Shame on you."
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It doesn't take long before the tone-deaf post on Twitter, in which the actor appears to promote his HBO show, goes viral with people calling him insensitive.

Feb 26, 2022

AceShowbiz - John Cena faced backlash for his insensitive tweet regarding the Ukraine crisis. In a tweet on Thursday, February 24, the actor made use of the news of Russia invading Ukraine to promote his HBO show "Peacemaker".

"If I could somehow summon the powers of a real life #Peacemaker, I think this would be a great time to do so," Cena tweeted. He was referencing the superhero series, in which he takes the titular role.

It didn't take long before the tone-deaf tweet went viral with people calling him insensitive. "Great time to hashtag your show for trending purposes. Very insensitive don't you think?" one person said.

Another user added, "I'm just saying there is never an appropriate moment to say this, especially now." Echoing the sentiment, someone else posted, "I understand the sentiment but using this moment to plug the show is a bit bleh."

"I hope you didn't mean to come off as disrespectful by using this to promote your show. You don't have the powers of peacemaker but you do have the power of money and status. Please donate to help Ukraine or spread the link to donate," another user said.

The tweet arrived after it was reported on Thursday morning at the local time that Russian troops were crossing the border from multiple directions. Some videos that went viral on social media featured explosions in several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv.

On Friday morning, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky revealed 137 civilians have been killed so far by Russian military personnel invading the country. Meanwhile, hundreds more have been wounded. In his speech, he called those who died "heroes," adding, "They're killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets. It's foul and will never be forgiven."
Instilling positive awareness on road safety and safe driving habits in the city, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) and Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation celebrated 3 glorious years of Childrens Road Safety & Traffic Park at Napier Bridge Kamarajar Salai, Chennai in the august presence of Mr. Srinivasan Ramamurthy (Executive Engineer, Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation, Chennai).

In 2019, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) in collaboration with Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation inaugurated the second traffic training park of Tamil Nadu at Chennai. The traffic park developed on the mini-city concept, simulates real road conditions - from traffic signals to zebra crossings and speed breakers etc.

Driving road safety awareness in the city, Honda 2Wheelers India announced that through its daily trainings for all age groups, it has educated nearly 42,000 people of Chennai (nearly 35,000 kids and over 7,000 new and existing riders) since its inception.

Elaborating on spreading road safety awareness Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Senior Vice President - Brand & Communication, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd said, For HMSI, spreading Road Safety awareness among all age groups has always been a priority. 3 years ago, we initiated the Childrens Road Safety & Traffic Park in Chennai. Today, we are delighted to share that we have educated nearly 42,000 people of the city  from 5-year-old children who will be the riders of tomorrow to existing riders, while empowering new female riders to become independent riders. We thank Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation for their continued support to cultivate healthy road safety manners in the city. In future too, we will continue our Road safety initiatives to make Chennai citizens safer on roads.
26th February 2022: Zest Outdoor is India's leading OOH company carrying a mission of using creativity and innovation to brighten the future of our nation.

Zest Outdoor announces itself as a Green DOOH company that focuses on the lifeline of Mumbai, the Indian Railways, by a significant chunk of India. This solar project includes the installation of 12,000 sq. ft solar panels to be set across a 11675 sq. ft advertising space. These solar panels are open to all the brands to advertise and promote themselves on such a big scale. The large amount of renewable energy produced by these solar panels will be used by Indian Railways to limit carbon emissions to an extreme level.

Zest Outdoor is the first Advertising Agency to develop this concept of uniting OOH, DOOH, and Solar. "The plan is divided into two phases wherein Phase 1 announces the installation of 17 hoardings of $1 million at the prime locations in Western Mumbai, including Cuff parade, Mahalaxmi, Bandra, Andheri rob, JVLR rob, and Oshiwara. Phase 2 of the plan targets central Mumbai, with the other 17 hoardings set until April 2022," affirms Mr. Mustafa Akolawala, Founder, Zest Outdoor Media and the concept creator of Solar OOH.

"Sustainable Development is the term that is often spoken about but very little. Climate consciousness is not just a statement for us but our genuine vision for the country. The Financial Budget presented in 2022 gave a lot of impetus to Green Energy. However, Mumbai and its lifeline, the Railways, remain our core audience. We intend to spread across other Metro cities too. We are also talking with various central and state ministries," expresses Mr. Rajneesh Bahl, Business Head, Zest Outdoor.

Being the first to introduce Advertising as a new DOOH Solar industry, Zest Outdoor has won various recognitions and awards. The aim of this solar installation project has directed the attention of the entire advertising industry to view it in this novel way.
Anna Makhorkina, who moved to the United States from Ukraine to study at Old Dominion in the early 1990s, speaks out during Friday's demonstration in support of Ukraine at Norfolk's Town Point Park. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)

Norfolk  Dozens of Ukrainian Americans converged at a demonstration Friday at Town Point Park, calling for support to their homeland as Russian troops mount a full-scale invasion.

They joined members of the Ukrainian diaspora across the country in protesting Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to wage war against their native country and in sharing their fears over the escalating conflict.

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Were not supposed to be here, said Tania Hammond, who immigrated from Ukraine nearly six years ago. Were supposed to be at work, doing our things, living our lives and not be terrified and scared for our families who are staying (in Ukraine).

Demonstrators embraced as they met at the park, many holding back tears as they chanted in favor of heavier sanctions against Russia and for protection of Ukrainian airspace.

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We need support from other countries, said Tania Skorokhod, who came to the United States from Ukraine four years ago.

Waving Ukrainian flags and bearing yellow and blue balloons, the demonstrators cycled through chants and songs in English and Ukrainian. Shouts of Slava Ukraini (Glory to Ukraine) rang out in the park while passing drivers honked in support.

The rally came as Russias invasion entered its second day and Russian troops descended early Friday upon the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials confirmed at least 137 deaths from heir side in the first day of fighting and claimed hundreds of Russian casualties, the Associated Press reported. Russian authorities released no casualty figures, and it was not possible to verify the tolls, the AP indicated.

Keeping up with news of the invasion as well as in contact with family members who remain in Ukraine left Tetiana Cordono sleepless. The principal of Tidewater Ukrainian School in Virginia Beach, Cordono said she anticipated the warfare, but it still came as a shock when warnings of invasion materialized into missile strikes and civilian casualties.

Dozens gather at Norfolk's Town Point Park on Friday to demonstrate their support for Ukraine. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot)

Until the last moment, we did believe maybe some diplomatic action and some common sense would stop Mr. Putin, Cordono said. You cannot be ready with your heart, you will hope for the best. But with your brain you understand that everything is possible.

Cordono, who immigrated to Hampton Roads in 2019, has been in constant contact with relatives and friends still in Ukraine  calling over Skype and messaging on Facebook.

Cordonos sister and nephew are hunkered down in the basement of their Kyiv apartment complex, and her parents live in Yahotyn  a small town about 80 miles outside the capital.

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Theyre determined to stay put, Cordono said.

Theyre not trying to get out, Cordono said Thursday. Most of Ukraine, they dont want to get out. They dont want to run.

Hammond mentioned the defiant last stand of 13 border guards on Snake Island  a remote outpost off the southern coast of Ukraine  as emblematic of Ukrainians resistance. To a Russian warship threatening attack unless the guards surrendered, the Ukrainians forcefully responded with an expletive.

Thats how the entire Ukraine feels, Hammond said.

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The Russians opened fire, killing the 13 guards Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday the guards would be posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

The West has taken a military option in Ukraine off the table, but world leaders  with the exception of Moscow ally China  are preparing measures aimed at hurting the Russian economy and its leaders, including Putins inner circle, the AP reports.

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The Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Associations board of directors publicly condemned the Russian invasion in a Facebook post Thursday, calling on the United States and its allies to levy weightier sanctions and boost military and economic aid to Ukraine, among other demands.

Ukraine has the army. Were asking for more material support  financial, material, the associations president, Anna Makhorkina, told The Virginian-Pilot.

Makhorkina is a professor of international studies at Old Dominion University, though she emphasized she was not speaking on behalf of the school. Ukraine is a geostrategic security pivot in Europe  the last bulwark of democratic values before Russia, Makhorkina said.

If Ukraine is not safe, no one is safe, Makhorkina said.

Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com
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On pages 324-325: A wave of gruesome brain injuries and deaths followed the introduction of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccines in the United States, and Europe in the 1970s  In 1991, the United States, E.U. countries, and Japan switched to a far safer (but less effective) dead cell (attenuated) vaccineDTaPand discontinued use of the DTP jab.

A small fraction of the information in the last 100 plus pages is covered here. Readers are encouraged to read before and after the selected quotes to put things in context. References are available at the end of each chapter for additional information. My comments will appear in parentheses.

On page 325: While western nations pulled the DTP, WHO gave pharma free rein and cash to dump its toxic inventories in Africa, Asia, and Central America, despite strong evidence of its deadly impacts.

How Deadly Is the DTP Vaccine in African Girls?

On page 325-326: Prior to 2017, neither HHS nor WHO had performed the kind of study necessary to ascertain whether the DTP vaccine was actually yielding the beneficial health outcomes about which Gates[Bill] frequently boasts. A large study was done that year of all-cause mortality after DTP inoculations. That massive study put the lie to Gatess mantric [sic] incantation that his investment in the DTP vaccine has saved millions of lives. In June 2017, the team published a peer-reviewed study in EBioMedicine, a high-gravitas journal in Elseviers publishing house armada. The article parsed data from a so-called natural experiment in Guinea-Bissau where half the children in certain age groups were vaccinated and the other half were not. The division was random  following their DTP immunization at three months, vaccinated girls had tenfold higher mortality than unvaccinated children  At least seven other studies have confirmed DTPs association with high mortality in vaccinated girls compared to unvaccinated. The idealistic Americans who donated to Gatess African vaccine projectbelieving they were saving African babieswere actually funding a continent-wide female genocide. (Vaccines imposed on children in poor countries frequently turn out to be catastrophic as we see here and in other quotes from this book.)

Studies Show That Mercury in Vaccines Causes Much Higher Rates of Autism and Other Neurological Diseases

On page 327: Alarmed at the exploding epidemics of neurodevelopmental, allergic, and autoimmune diseases in children that began in 1986, CDC commenced in 1999 an in-house study of the vast repository of health and vaccination data from the ten largest HMOs stored in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). A specially assembled CDC research team led by Belgian epidemiologist Thomas Verstraeten compared health outcomes in hundreds of thousands of vaccinated versus unvaccinated children. The raw data from CDCs Verstraeten study showed that children who took thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines in their first thirty days suffered an astounding 1,135 percent higher rate of autism than children who did not. Verstraeten also documented a grim inventory of other neurological injuries including ADD/ADHD, speech and language delays, tics, and sleep disorders in children exposed to thimerosal. (More than 11 times the rate of autism plus many other injuries caused by exposure to thimerosal which is close to 50% mercury. Over 450 studies have since confirmed thimerosals devasting toxicity. Does anyone remember hearing about this on mainstream media? Me neither. Advertising revenue from pharma companies results in mainstream media not reporting news that would be unfavorable to pharma companies. It is also interesting to note that researchers who question the safety of vaccines are refused access to the Vaccine Safety Datalink data.)

Lets Give These Toxic Mercury-containing Vaccines to Children in Poor Countries Just Like We Did With DTP

On page 328: Despite the discontinuance in Western nations, Bill Gates and WHO continue to use their power to force African children to submit to a battery of potentially dangerous mercury-laced vaccines. Strong evidence suggests that African boys with high levels of testosterone and chronic vitamin D deficiencies are far more vulnerable to vaccine and thimerosal injury than whites. When it comes to pharma profits, dead and brain-damaged African babies are merely collateral damage. (If we really wanted to help poor countries in the most cost-effective way, we would assist them with sanitation, clean water, and nutritious food. Those are the factors which actually work to reduce infectious disease mortality to near zero as they did in the U.S. before most of the vaccines were introduced.)

Sterility Vaccines Given to African Women Without Their Knowledge or Consent

On page 336: On November 6, 2014, four years after Gates pledged at a TED Talk to use vaccines to lower birth rates, medical researchers and doctors associated with the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Kenya Catholic Health Commission accused WHO, UNICEF, and GAVI of secretly conducting a mass sterilization program against Kenyan women, under the veil of eradicating tetanus disease  Four years later in October 2019, The Kenyan Doctors Association accused UNICEF, GAVI, and the WHO of rendering millions of women and girls barren. The doctors had by then produced chemical analyses of vaccines verifying their allegations. Three independent Nairobi Accredited biochemistry laboratories tested samples of the WHO vaccine, finding human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) where none should be present. (This shows the shocking arrogance of the people who think they have the right to make millions of African women sterile.)

Trying to Eradicate Polio Backfires

On pages 341-342: Experts argued that Gatess attempts to exterminate polio would be counterproductive  As Henderson predicted, vaccine-derived poliovirus  a mutation of the virus contained in the oral vaccine  came back to bite Gates, and the unfortunate populations of the nations that submitted to his prescriptions. Indian doctors blame the Gates campaign for a devastating vaccine-strain epidemic of acute flaccid myelitisa disease formerly classified as poliothat paralyzed 491,000 children in these provinces between 2000 and 2017, in direct proportion to the number of polio vaccines that Gates minions administered in each area The WHO reluctantly admitted that the global polio explosion is predominately vaccine strain, meaning it is happening because of Gatess vaccine program. The most frightening epidemics in Congo, the Philippines, and Afghanistan are all linked to the vaccines he promoted. Polio had disappeared altogether from each of these nations until Gates reintroduced the dreaded disease with his vaccines. (The oral polio vaccines can actually cause polio and other paralytic diseases. Counterproductive is not a strong enough word for what happened in this case. Disaster is a more accurate word.)

Historical Problems with Polio Vaccines

On pages 341-342: Even the high-end polio vaccines used in Western nations are linked to injuries and illnesses that dwarf historical harms from polio. A short list of these include the highly contagious SV-40 monkey virus that scientists believe is responsible for the explosion of deadly soft tissue cancers in baby boomers and the Chimpanzee coryza agent that entered polio vaccines at the Walter Reed Hospital laboratories in 1955 and caused the devastating pandemic of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that the WHO estimates today causes 3 million hospitalizations annually and 60,000 deaths in children under five and 14,000 deaths among adults sixty-five and older. (These deadly hitchhikers got into the polio vaccines because they were grown in animal tissues including monkeys and chimpanzees.)

HPV Vaccines Cause Severe Side Effects and Actually Increase the Incidence of Cervical Cancer in Some Women

On page 345: Prior to COVID-19, Gardasil was the most dangerous vaccine ever licensed, accounting for some 22 percent of cumulative injuries from all adverse events reported to the US Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). During clinical trials, Merck was unable to show that Gardasil was effective against cervical cancers. Instead, the studies showed the vaccine actually increases cervical cancer by 46.3 percent in women exposed to HPV prior to vaccinationperhaps one-third of all women. According to Mercks clinical trial reports, the vaccine was associated with autoimmune diseases in one out of every thirty-nine women. Since introduction of that vaccine in2006, thousands of girls have reported debilitating autoimmune diseases, and cancer rates have skyrocketed in young women. (HPV vaccines are very toxic and also dont work.)

Hyping Phony Epidemics

Chapter 11 starting on page 357 covers the many examples of CRYING WOLF and generating fear in order to sell more drugs and vaccines. We have had the 1976 Swine Flu which was a fraud from the beginning. Then the 2005 Bird Flu, the 2009 Hong Kong Swine Flu, and the 2016 Zika and 2016 Dengue. Lots of hype and fear mongering in each case but all were duds or resulted in vaccines that made things worse.

Several War Games (Germ Games) Were Held Starting in 2000 to Prepare Everyone in Advance for the Draconian Actions Taken in Response to COVID-19

The CIA and military have been heavily involved in the preparation for a major pandemic. It is a complex story covered in chapter 12 starting on page 378. It reads like a major spy novel. It is always important to follow the money and to ask Cui Bono (who benefits).

Why Are We Engineering Superbugs with Gain-of-function Research?

The Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority (BARDA) was created in 2004. On page 392: BARDA would become a federal ATM machine for Big Pharma, biodefense contractors, and gain-of-function researchers. Along with Dr. Faucis NIAID and the Pentagons DARPA would be the other big-league funder for experiments designed to create pandemic superbugs in Wuhan and elsewhere. (The evidence is strong that COVID-19 was engineered by gain-of-function research then escaped from the Wuhan lab and killed millions of people worldwide. Who is responsible? and what is the agenda of the elites in charge?)

In this four-part series of articles, we have reported on a small fraction of the critical information covered in Kennedys book. There is so much more that we could not cover. The whole book is highly recommended reading for those who have the time and interest to dig deeper.

About the author: Dr. William H. Gaunt is a retired Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida in Tampa. He was a U. S. Navy helicopter pilot and later an instructor pilot for the Iranian Navy and the Saudi Arabian Air Force before attending medical school at Bastyr University near Seattle, Washington. Dr. Gaunt graduated with honors in 1983. He has also taught chemistry, biology, and anatomy at high school and college levels and published several articles related to vaccines. Dr. Gaunt and his wife have a blended family of eight boys plus a girl adopted from China.
Midwestern organic farmers have their preferred systems of keeping weeds out of crops. Most of their recipes combine crop rotation, cultivation and plant and soil knowledge with a splash of technology.

Its a different world from when we started. There are a number of methods and technologies we use now, said Harold Wilken of Janies Farm Organics, who switched to organic techniques nearly 20 years ago on his farm near Danforth, Illinois.

He and his family grow 3,300 acres of grain and cover crops, all of it either organic or in transition.

Traditionally, weeds have been controlled by a number of tillage passes. He said tillage equipment, including the rotary hoe and cultivators, has improved over time.

Lynn Rinderknecht also takes a holistic approach on his organic farm in Van Horne, Iowa. Tillage is part of it, and he usually makes about five passes over the field in a season to control weeds.

One of the things that differs from his conventional neighbors is planting date. While conventional farmers are planting earlier because seed treatments make it possible, organic farmers in east central Iowa still need to plant corn about May 15 when the conditions are right so the seed emerges quickly and to allow for good tillage timing, he said.

You gotta get them when they are small, he said of competitive weeds.

Rotation, rotation, rotation

His strip-cropping method also helps control weeds, Rinderknecht said, so hes still out planting early to enhance his six-crop rotation. He plants spring oats in March, flax in mid-April and barley at the end of April, weather permitting. His soybeans go in the ground about May 20.

Rinderknecht says his rotations, which include about 17 species of plants, are key to his success. Corn is frequent in his rotation because of his need for livestock feed. He said he has never had soybean cyst nematode problems, for example, because soybeans only appear in the rotation once every six years.

Rotation remains one of the best defenses for organic farmers in their tool box, Wilken said.

He uses 25-feet buffer crops between his fields and his neighbors, which also reduces weed seeds moving between farms.

Rinderknecht noticed that one of his bigger problems with weeds was in the end rows, where the tractors turned, created compaction and killed the crop, giving weeds room to grow. So now he plants hay grass on the end rows which can be mowed.

Part of having clean fields is controlling the weed seed bank. You may have a few weeds, but not enough to be economically challenging, Wilken said.

Bringing in tech

Crop rotation and crop diversity are also components of weed control for Hans Bishop, an organic vegetable and row crop farmer in Logan County in central Illinois.

Last summer he grew sorghum sudangrass in the fields he will plant to soybeans this year.

It smothers weeds, he said. Im kind of excited to see how this pans out.

Bishop will grow a wheat crop after soybeans as a cover crop and seed it with clover which can be mowed and will provide nitrogen for the following corn. It helps saves costs on fertilizer too, he said.

Bishop and his wife Katie were organic vegetable growers at PrariErth Farms near Atlanta, Illinois, until 2019. When they added 275 acres of row crops to the mix, the Bishops learned some new weed management skills that differed from growing smaller vegetable plots.

Thoughtful tillage is a mainstay in weed control which starts with knowing what weeds are a problem in certain fields and addressing them where they are, Bishop said.

In row cropping, he likes using a camera-guided cultivator with sharp upright angled sweeps for the rows and finger weeders to eradicate in-row weeds. Bishop said cameras are more precise than GPS. They recognize the inconsistency in the row  as small as a plant blown over by the wind.

On the other hand, Rinderknechts farm is 100% GPS guided. The Iowa farmer prefers that system to cameras because it can be used during planting, harvest and tillage. Cameras are mostly used for precision tillage, he said.

Foxtail, waterhemp and giant ragweed are the big three weed enemies for organic growers in Wilkens area.

For him, the biggest improvement in weed management has been the introduction of electric weed zappers to control these tough weeds.

Wilkens weed zapper features a copper pipe that runs above the canopy of the soybeans and works with a generator and transformer to release 1,400 volts of electricity when it touches the weed. This is the fourth year he has used the weed zapper and he is pleased with the results.

My son, Ross, has been custom weed zapping for a number of conventional farmers, he said.

Other hot ideas

For corn, Wilken uses a propane burning system when grass between the rows is between 3 and 5 inches tall. The equipment burns down the weeds and doesnt affect the crop. Steam is generated from the moisture within the plant.

The heat from the torch makes the weeds explode, he said.

It isnt something he wouldnt use in a drought year in case of fire, but the rest of the time it works well, he said.

Wilken is also interested in other technology, including

solar-powered field robots being tested at the University of Illinois.

He also has his eyes on research with no-till soybeans. It involves growing cereal rye and crimping it to a mulch to keep weeds at bay.

You need a good stand of rye at the right height to break so it doesnt regrow and become competitive with the crop, said Wilken, who was a conventional farmer for the first 23 years of his farming career. There is a lot of promise in no-till beans (for organic growers), but there are still a lot of kinks to be worked out before it is adopted on a larger scale.

There are all kinds of things on the docket that dont necessarily require chemicals, he said

A lot comes back to soil health and knowing which weeds thrive in certain parts of the fields, Bishop said.

After analyzing soil samples in a new field he took over in 2020, he learned it was very low pH. He generously applied lime and soon there were noticeably fewer foxtails in the field.

For Rinderknecht, weed control is a combination of things. Its just knowing how things all work together, he said.

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HYDERABAD: Students in colleges affiliated to and functioning under Osmania University are a worried lot as there have been instances of improper correction of semester examination papers as they are given failing grades first, but after revaluation and recounting, they are declared passed.

"There is a huge margin between scoring above 75 per cent and failing. More than 30 per cent of students from several colleges sent their semester papers for revaluation and recounting since 2021 as they faced similar issues," said a parent of a student who studies in a degree college affiliated to Osmania University.

He added that such cases had been reported from other colleges as well which was causing fear and depression among students. "My own child and other students are in fear of reporting this issue in their college as they feel that they would be targeted. Thus, no one is willing to approach their teachers," he added. The parent said students had also been going through a lot of pressure due to online education and were trying their best to score well but such grades were creating fear and causing depression among students.

This newspaper tried reaching the controller of exams, Osmania University, who was unavailable. This correspondent spoke to the Vice Chancellor Prof Ravinder, who said they had been receiving such complaints and wanted to put them to an end and decided certain steps for the same which would be implemented soon.

"All the concerned people responsible for paper correction will be held accountable and blocked if the same complaint is filed against them more than two times. We are also considering transferring the answer sheets to students once it is evaluated by the concerned teacher, so that they are in the loop," he said adding, "Sometime a few students are also given higher grades and a few are given lower grades, but we are seriously considering steps to put an end to such confusion and also planning to constitute a committee to take inputs for improvement in paper evaluation."
This humble, but immensely powerful seed, kills MRSA, heals the chemical weapon poisoned body, stimulates regeneration of the dying beta cells within the diabetic's pancreas, and yet too few even know it exists

Benefits of Black Seed

The seeds of the annual flowering plant, Nigella Sativa, have been prized for their healing properties since time immemorial. While frequently referred to among English-speaking cultures as Roman coriander, black sesame, black cumin, black caraway and onion seed, it is known today primarily as black seed, which is at the very least an accurate description of its physical appearance. The earliest record of its cultivation and use come from ancient Egypt.

Black seed oil, in fact, was found in Egyptian pharoah Tutankhamun's tomb, dating back to approximately 3,300 years ago.[i] In Arabic cultures, black cumin is known as Habbatul barakah, meaning the "seed of blessing." It is also believed that the Islamic prophet Mohammed said of it that it is "a remedy for all diseases except death."

Benefits of Black Seed



Many of black cumin's traditionally ascribed health benefits have been thoroughly confirmed in the biomedical literature. In fact, since 1964, there have been 656 published, peer-reviewed studies referencing it.

We have indexed salient research, available to view on GreenMedInfo.com on our Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) page, on well over 40 health conditions that may be benefited from the use of the herb, including over 20 distinct pharmacological actions it expresses, such as:



Analgesic (Pain-Killing)

Anti-Bacterial

Anti-Inflammatory

Anti-Ulcer

Anti-Cholinergic

Anti-Fungal

Ant-Hypertensive

Antioxidant

Antispasmodic

Antiviral

Bronchodilator

Gluconeogenesis Inhibitor (Anti-Diabetic)

Hepatoprotective (Liver Protecting)

Hypotensive

Insulin Sensitizing

Interferon Inducer

Leukotriene Antagonist

Renoprotective (Kidney Protecting)

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitor

These 30 pharmacological actions are only a subset of a far wider number of beneficial properties intrinsic to the black seed. While it is remarkable that this seed has the ability to positively modulate so many different biological pathways, this is actually a rather common occurrence among traditional plant medicines.







Our project has identified over 1600 natural compounds with a wide range of health benefits, and we are only in our first 5 years of casual indexing. There are tens of thousands of other substances that have already been researched, with hundreds of thousands of studies supporting their medicinal value (MEDLINE, whence our study abstracts come, has over 600,000 studies classified as related to Complementary and Alternative Medicine).

Take turmeric, for example. We have identified research indicating its value in over 600 health conditions, while also expressing over 160 different potentially beneficial pharmacological actions. You can view the quick summary of over 1500 studies we have summarized on our Turmeric Research page, which includes an explorative video on turmeric. Professional database members are further empowered to manipulate the results according to their search criteria, i.e. pull up and print to PDF the 61 studies on turmeric and breast cancer. This, of course, should help folks realize how voluminous the supportive literature indicating the medicinal value of natural substances, such as turmeric and black seed, really is.

Black seed has been researched for very specific health conditions. Some of the most compelling applications include:



Type 2 Diabetes: Two grams of black seed a day resulted in reduced fasting glucose, decreased insulin resistance, increased beta-cell function, and reduced glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in human subjects.[ii]

Helicobacter Pylori Infection: Black seeds possess clinically useful anti-H. pylori activity, comparable to triple eradication therapy.[iii]

Epilepsy: Black seeds were traditionally known to have anticonvulsive properties. A 2007 study with epileptic children, whose condition was refractory to conventional drug treatment, found that a water extract significantly reduced seizure activity.[iv]

High Blood pressure: The daily use of 100 and 200 mg of black seed extract, twice daily, for 2 months, was found to have a blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with mild hypertension.[v]

Asthma: Thymoquinone, one of the main active constituents within Nigella sativa (black cumin), is superior to the drug fluticasone in an animal model of asthma.[vi] Another study, this time in human subjects, found that boiled water extracts of black seed have relatively potent anti-asthmatic effect on asthmatic airways.[vii]

Acute tonsillopharyngitis: characterized by tonsil or pharyngeal inflammation (i.e. sore throat), mostly viral in origin, black seed capsules (in combination with Phyllanthus niruri) have been found to significantly alleviate throat pain, and reduce the need for pain-killers, in human subjects.[viii]

Chemical Weapons Injury: A randomized, placebo-controlled human study of chemical weapons injured patients found that boiled water extracts of black seed reduced respiratory symptoms, chest wheezing, and pulmonary function test values, as well as reduced the need for drug treatment.[ix]

Colon Cancer: Cell studies have found that black seed extract compares favorably to the chemoagent 5-fluoruracil in the suppression of colon cancer growth, but with a far higher safety profile.[x] Animal research has found that black seed oil has significant inhibitory effects against colon cancer in rats, without observable side effects.[xi]

MRSA: Black seed has anti-bacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.[xii]

Opiate Addiction/Withdrawal: A study on 35 opiate addicts found black seed as an effective therapy in long-term treatment of opioid dependence.[xiii]
It's been almost two years since the summer of violent Black Lives Matter insurrections and cop-hating crusades. The actions of that summer inflicted $2 billion in property damage in 220 American cities, killed scores of people, and spiked record homicide rates in a dozen municipalities run by Democrat politicians and supporters. This unprecedented eruption of hatred and violence was fueled by a racial hoax claiming that there was an "open season" on black lives, despite the fact that there is no evidence to support this claim, whether statistical or circumstantial.

Apart from affirmative action, which was given a pass by the Supreme Court, and despite the false claims of the president, there is no systemic racism in America today. If police departments, for example, were systemically racist, there would be massive lawsuits invoking the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which specifically outlaws institutional and systemic racism. There are no such massive lawsuits because there is no systemic racism in police departments. Although the accusation of systemic racism is the main currency of the Black Lives Matter hate campaign  and, shamefully, of the rhetoric emanating from the White House itself  there is no factual basis for this slander. None.

The time that has elapsed since the launch of the left's racial witch hunt has provided ample opportunity to expose the malicious, self-serving criminal agendas of the Black Lives Matter movement. These have nothing to do with the welfare of black communities, which have not received a penny of the tens of millions of dollars raised in their name. Contributions to Black Lives Matter have gone to line the pockets and enhance the real estate portfolios of its leaders. Meanwhile, the chief victims of the homicides unleashed by their actions have been poor black inner-city communities  with no show of concern by Black Lives Matter and its allies.

A week ago, a Black Lives Matter activist named Quintez Brown attempted to assassinate a Jewish mayoral candidate in Louisville. Without any hesitation, Black Lives Matter provided a $100,000 bond to get him released within two days of his arrest. It was not the first instance where Black Lives Matter showed its solidarity with political and racial assassins, or its support for domestic terrorism. When a black assassin murdered five cops in Dallas, and the assassin was blown up by a police robot, Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors portrayed the murderer as a black-skinned martyr because he was "the first individual ever to be blown up by local law enforcement." She ignored the fact that the assassin was a homicidal maniac, and the order to blow him up was made by the Dallas police chief, who was black.

As an emblem of the Biden Democrats' support for the anti-white, anti-law racists of the left, Biden recently appointed political consultant Minyan Moore to advise him on his selection of a black woman to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. Minyan Moore is a director of the Black Lives Matter Global Foundation. Worse, she is a close friend and promoter of Kimberle Crenshaw, the creator of Critical Race Theory, which indicts America's constitutional order as "white supremacist" from its inception and concludes that no American laws or institutions should be respected because of those origins.

To have Moore as the presidential adviser on a Supreme Court nomination epitomizes the anti-American, anti-democratic agendas of Black Lives Matter's "trained Marxists." In addition, Moore has been a political consultant to the Clintons, Kamala Harris, and the race-hustler Jesse Jackson  an indication of how the Democrat Party has reverted to its roots as the party of slavery, racism and segregation.



David Horowitz is the founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center and author of I Can't Breathe: How a Racial Hoax is Killing America.

Image: Andy Witchger via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
In July 2021, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) sent a letter to its component boards:

Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action including the suspension or revocation of their medical license Physicians must share information that is factual, scientifically grounded and consensus-driven for the betterment of public health. Spreading inaccurate COVID-19 vaccine information puts all patients at risk.

This was followed by letters from many state boards to individual physicians carrying the same message. Actions against individual perpetrators, especially those prescribing ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, followed, sending a chill through the medical community. Dr. Meryl Nass in Maine, for example was suspended after The medical board received at least two complaints that Nass was spreading misinformation about the virus on her blog and on Twitter. Misinformation on Twitter? What sacred lamb will be slain next?

Now, a California Assembly Bill, AB 2098, crafts a statute effectuating the ill-considered FSMB warning. It would dramatically curtail free speech for physicians conveying misinformation or disinformation on COVID-19 and it lays a foundation, under the guise of health and safety, for far broader intrusion of government suppression of First Amendment liberties.

The bill declares promotion of misinformation to be unprofessional conduct:

It shall constitute unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to disseminate or promote misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Fauci, Walensky, and gang have misled us about the nature of the virus, a likely gain-of function product of the Wuhan lab; the risks of the virus to children, which are negligible; the prevention of disease by masks; the marginal treatment benefits of remdesivir and potential utility of multiple alternative compounds; the development of the vaccines, which did not include testing of long-term efficacy and adverse effects; and the declining efficacy and uncertain safety of the vaccines, regarding which the CDC has suppressed important data. It may come as a great surprise, therefore, to learn that Fauci and friends are not the targets of this legislation.

The California bill specifies four factors to be considered by the board in disciplining a licensee. Each warrants comment.

Whether the licensee deviated from the applicable standard of care.

The idea of a standard of care has roots in medical malpractice law and refers to the treatment of individual patients within a physician-patient relationship. From the inception of American malpractice litigation, there often were two or more schools of practice, each generating its own standard of care. There were geographic differences in the standard of care (not so much today) and different standards for specialists and general practitioners. Today there are multiple guidelines for common conditions that are developed at a pace far too slow for use in a rapidly evolving crisis like COVID. The applicable standard for a new disease such as COVID is a moving target; there may be several or, more likely, none at all. The notion of a single standard is fiction. Furthermore, the suppression of alternative views prevents the natural maturation of treatment practices.

Whether the licensee intended to mislead or acted with malicious intent.

Boards will interpret intended to mislead as intentional dissemination of false information that is contrary to the consensus. But if the physician believed that the consensus was incorrect, she arguably did not intend to mislead.

Malice is a related issue. The term has different meanings in criminal and civil law, but perhaps no technical meaning at all in the present context. Under the California Civil code section 3294(c)1, describing conditions that would give rise to punitive damages (a very different context), malice is defined as:

conduct which is intended by the defendant to cause injury to the plaintiff or despicable conduct which is carried on by the defendant with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others.

Such a definition would not apply to the average prescriber of alternative treatments. Malice might, however, be imputed to communications from Fauci et al., since they, and only they, are accused of propagating information they knew to be false.

Whether the misinformation or disinformation was demonstrated to have resulted in an individual declining opportunities for COVID-19 prevention or treatment that was not justified by the individuals medical history or condition.

Is an individual any person who might hear or read the forbidden criticism of the COVID-19 vaccination on a Twitter feed? Those banned by Twitter can be grateful to that organization for protecting their licenses.

Because the so-called consensus view recognizes very few exceptions to the jab, presentation of data unfavorable to vaccination to a patient making her decision about treatment could trigger disciplinary action. Unfortunately, omitting discussion of the downside of treatment nullifies informed consent, confounding a fundamental principle in contemporary medical ethics.

Whether the misinformation or disinformation was contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus to an extent where its dissemination constitutes gross negligence by the licensee.

Is contemporary scientific consensus the opinion of Anthony Fauci along with a handful of experts who receive huge grants at his discretion? Was it not a scientific consensus that concluded that the COVID-19 virus had not come from the Wuhan virology laboratory? Or that masks were not -- no, they were -- no, maybe they were not -- effective barriers to infection?

The term scientific consensus gained currency with Al Gores propagation of the idea that nearly everyone with a brain agreed with him about the dangers of global warming. Realistically, in the context of quickly advancing science, like the standard of care, there is no consensus.

The California bill, if adopted, will be among the most brazen attacks on free speech in our time. It says that governmentally awarded privileges may be revoked for criticism of government policy. In modern Newspeak, dissent is labeled disinformation. Could a physicist who thinks that global warming is not a threat be denied access to federal grants in particle physics? Could the government shut down a motorcycle manufacturer who is a motorcycle manufacturer? Any idea or practice alleged to pose a risk to public safety is vulnerable to such reasoning.

Several challenges to the bill may be viable. First, the statute is almost certainly unconstitutional, inviting litigation under 42 USC 1983. Second, its implicit restriction of the circulation of information may be in conflict with the FDAs post-marketing regulation and surveillance responsibilities, creating a conflict of state and federal law.

The third solution is for physicians to publish their views, perhaps under pseudonyms, through professionals in other states, or through non-physicians not subject to the law in California.

The best solution, however, would be to add a line or to the prefatory legislative intent language that would clarify that the bill is meant for application to that group of physicians -- the proven misinformationists -- who have mendaciously managed the COVID debacle.

Jim Dillon, MD, is a forensic psychiatrist in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
As the midterm 2022 elections approach, the expectation is that, with thirty Democrat House retirements and the continued unraveling of the Biden Administration, the Dems are about to experience historic losses in both the House and Senate.

However, the evil geniuses within the Democrat party have identified the Fourteenth Amendment as a vehicle to thwart Republican dreams of achieving a massive political realignment. Therefore, it may be shortsighted to count the one-time party of Jefferson as down-and-out until the last glimmering frenzy has been extinguished.

In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment was amended to add Section 3 , also known as the Disqualification Clause. It holds that no member of Congress or a state legislature shall have engaged in an insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. In other words, any such official who swore to uphold the US Constitution may be banned from holding public office if engaged in what might be defined as an insurrection or rebellion.

Soon after the 2016 election, one hundred senior government staffers with links to Never Trumpers, former Obama White House, and the Open Society Foundation were organized by Marc Elias, Democrat party Super Duper Fixer and top brain trust strategist. Elias is credited with the ultimately ineffective Russiagate scandal and establishing the Transition Integrity Project before the 2020 election, which now reads like a blueprint on how to remove Trump from the White House. Elias efforts concede that, if the Dems cannot win with public support on the issues, they must then resort to whatever nefarious deception they can concoct.

With the Fourteenth Amendment in his back pocket, Elias has now taken the lead, promising that

Before the midterm election, we will have a serious discussion about whether individual Republican House Members are disqualified by Section 3 of the 14th Amendment from serving in Congress.

While a joint session of Congress was to scrutinize and certify each states 2020 election results during the January 6 (J6) certification process, the Stop the Steal Capitol demonstration became the ideal vehicle for alleging that a violent assault was organized to stop Congress from declaring Joe Biden to be the 2020 winner.

With the 2022 election looming, the Democrats have begun a robust campaign to accuse certain House Members of Fourteenth Amendment violations. A recent mailing from the 315electionfund.org states that Nearly 70 Republicans who participated in the January 6 attack on our Capitol are currently HOLDING elected office throughout the country.

More ominously, Rolling Stone magazine, which once had a good reputation as an investigative journal, relied on anonymous sources who provided no facts, no evidence, and no corroborating information to accuse seven Republican House members as insurrectionists who planned and participated in J6: Paul Gosar (AZ), Andy Biggs (AZ), Madison Cawthorn (NC), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Lauren Boebert (CO), Mo Brooks (AL), and Louie Gohmert (TX). Former Trump Chief of Staff was also included in this insurrection charge. Of course, there is no evidence of an armed insurrection and not one person was charged with bringing a firearm to the Capitol.

Image: Madison Cawthorn (cropped) by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Undeterred by facts, a purported independent nonprofit group, Free Speech for People, which claimed to act for North Carolina constituents, filed a complaint with the North Carolina Board of Election (NCBE) alleging that Rep. Cawthorn must be disqualified per the Fourteenth Amendment.

Cawthorn responded with a suit against the five-member NCBE, in which he challenged the North Carolina law under which Free Speech for People asserted its challenge. Cawthorn pointed out that the law improperly forces onto the candidate the burden of proving that he is qualified to run, forcing him to prove his innocence. This, alleges Cawthorn, is unconstitutional at multiple levels. He also alleged that Section 3 is unconstitutional because the U.S. House of Representatives has the exclusive power to determine its members qualifications.

Rep. Jim Banks (IN) was also hit with a legal challenge seeking to remove him from the ballot under the Fourteenth Amendment. Banks is Chair of the Republican Study Group and on J6 voted against Bidens Electoral College win. After Nancy Pelosi subsequently denied Banks a place on the Democrat House J6 Investigation, the Republicans boycotted the panel. All of this led a challenger to petition that he be kicked off the ballot under the Disqualification Clause.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO), who attended the J6 rally, has been identified as an insurrectionist. A well-funded former RINO state senator is planning to challenge her in a primary contest. He could well claim that he should win the primary because Boebert is vulnerable to a Disqualification Clause attack.

Although its not a formal legal attack, the insurrection charge has been levied against Colorado State Rep. Ron Hanks who is running currently as one of the Republican primary candidates to challenge Michael Bennett, the Democrat incumbent in the U.S. Senate. Thus, Bennett sent out the following email:

Proud January 6th insurrectionist and Michaels leading Republican opponent, State Rep. Ron Hanks won a straw poll following a Republican primary debate, beating out other Republican Senate candidates. This momentum is putting a spotlight on Hanks that is drawing supporters into his campaign, so we have to act fast. Ron Hanks rallied with rioters who attempted to overthrow our democracy. His views are extreme, and he doesnt represent Colorados values. He is out to undermine Democracy.

As a reminder, according to both current and former federal law enforcement officials who were familiar with the investigation, the FBI found scant evidence of an organized plot to overthrow certifying the 2020 election. The sources also said that far-right Trump supporters had not centrally coordinated events at the Capitol and there was no grand scheme to storm the Capitol and take hostages.

Tellingly, the improperly constituted Congressional J6 Oversight committee has yet to hold a public hearing with bona fide testimony or facts. RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel rightly says the committee represents a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse.

While the Amnesty Act of 1872 reversed most of the office-holding disqualifications in Section 3, the Elias forces will continue to try to overthrow incumbent politicians as we head to the 2022 election.

Renee Parsons served on the ACLUs Florida State Board of Directors and as president of the ACLU Treasure Coast Chapter. She has been an elected public official in Colorado, staff in the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, an environmental lobbyist for Friends of the Earth and a staff member of the US House of Representatives in Washington DC. She can be found at reneedove3@yahoo.com
Your home is your castle, right? You get to keep the fruits of your labors, right? That's what government of, by, and for the people means, right? Not according to the far-lefties who call themselves progressives. They say that property rights should be "socially beneficial."

In the winter of 1998, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. announced plans for a global research facility in New London, Connecticut. Shortly thereafter, the New London government gave approval to the New London Development Corporation (NLDC), a private non-profit, to plan and execute the redevelopment of some 90 acres of the Fort Trumbull neighborhood. The area to be developed, mostly private property with more than 100 private homes, would be taken by eminent domain.

The residents were not pleased.

The city planned to take private property from the residents and give it to another private entity, NLDC, in order to, as Justice Sandra Day OConner writes in her dissent, "complement the facility that Pfizer was planning to build, create jobs, increase tax and other revenues, encourage public access to and use of the city's waterfront, and eventually 'build momentum' for the revitalization of the rest of the city."

A number of the residents sued, and the suit made it to the Supreme Court where it was known as Kelo v. New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005). Suzette Kelo was one of the petitioners whose house was slated for demolition. She lived in a little pink house on East Street in the Fort Trumbull section of New London.

The Court split 5-4. Justices Breyer, Ginsberg, Kennedy, Souter, and Stevens comprised the majority; Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices O'Connor, Scalia, and Thomas dissented. The argument centered on the interpretation of the "Taking Clause" of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution: "...nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." and more specifically on the phrase "for public use." The opinion of the Court was written by Justice John Paul Stevens; the dissenting opinion was written by Justice OConner. Justice Kennedy concurred in the opinion of the Court and wrote a separate concurrence; Justice Thomas concurred in the dissent and wrote a separate dissent.

Justice Stevens opinion can perhaps best be summarized by this quote: The disposition of this case therefore turns on the question whether the Citys development plan serves a public purpose.

Justice OConners dissenting opinion can perhaps best be summarized by this quote: This case returns us for the first time in over 20 years to the hard question of when a purportedly public purpose taking meets the public use requirement. It presents an issue of first impression: Are economic development takings constitutional? I would hold that they are not.

Justice Thomas, in his dissent, states that the concurrence is based on a deferential shift in phraseology and goes on to argue that the word purpose is broader than the word use, and had the Founders intended the more elastic word, they would have used it.

Do we have limited or unlimited government? Are the people in charge or is the government in charge?

Our Constitution, with basis in the Declaration of Independence, defines a democratic republic where the powers of government are limited and explicitly enumerated. It is a system that respects the rights of the people, both majority rights and minority rights. It is a system that features an intricate set of checks and balances that encourages, some say forces, in-depth debate on the issues of the day thus tempering the inflamed passions of the mob. It is a system of checks and balances that inhibits any single person from accumulating tyrannical powers.

Progressives believe that the rights of society supersede the rights of the individual. Over the past 100 years, the progressives have implemented bureaucratic regulation of most governmental functions by non-constitutional agencies of experts (i.e., IRS, FBI, NIH, NOAA, NASA, OSHA, EPA, and on and on; there are over 400 such agencies). This is known as the Administrative State and it is not hampered by the checks and balances of the Constitution.

Our lazy Congress passes a law defining an agency with an aspirational charter, and then delegates the right to make the explicit rules and regulations to the appropriate cabinet secretary. Courts are required, by precedence from the Chevron Deference of 1984, to give deference to the agency in their reasonable interpretation of these rules. Chevron was a triumph for the progressives and, coincidentally, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the opinion of the Court.

Note that both the Kelo case and the Chevron case were found for the government over the petitioners. It would seem that on close cases the rule of law, in a limited government, would give deference to the petitioner over the government. This is an example of the conflict between conservatives and progressives.

Following the Courts decision, the city lost little time in taking the 90 acres by eminent domain and then completely razing the area. Suzette Kelo successfully negotiated to have her little pink house dismantled and reconstructed elsewhere in the city. The NLDC went forward with fundraising, but it did not go well, and then they ran into the Great Recession of 2008. The project foundered, Pfizer pulled out, and the effort died. In 2011 Hurricane Irene did considerable damage in and around Fall River. The city used their empty razed acres to dump the detritus from the storm. Little has changed since.

In July 2021, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Eychaner v. Chicago. In his dissent, Justice Thomas wrote, "This petition provides us the opportunity to correct the mistake the Court made in Kelo. That decision was wrong the day it was decided. And it remains wrong today."

This is supposedly a six-three conservative Court. Has a hundred years of progressive propaganda so permeated our national psyche that even the Supreme Court seems affected?

Mike Johnson is a small government conservative, a live-free-or-die resident of NH, and the author of the e-book John Kerry & PCF-44. E-mail mnosnhoj@comcast.net

Image: Pixabay
America is in a civil war. Not a cocktail party war like Vietnam or Afghanistan, where Americans stand around and talk about it but relatively few are personally affected. No, this is a WWII-level existential threat war where the difference between victory and defeat is literally freedom or tyranny. One need look no farther than what Adolph Trudeau is doing in Canada right now to understand what the future holds.

This war has been simmering for decades and most Americans didnt even notice. Now its obvious. Virtually every element of traditional American culture is being destroyed. The left has decided that the United States is a plague on humanity and must be eliminated.

In this case, the left consists of government, media, big tech, big business, and academia, among others.

Heres a short list of their targets:

And of course, most problematic of all is their successful coup detat.

With that and more, do we still live in a free country? Obviously not.

Which brings us back to war. Ask yourself, if someone declared war on America, what more might they do in victory? Other than killing you or turning you into slaves, what more is there?

Some argue were not in a war, citing polls that show a majority of Americans dont like those leftist positions. Thats accurate, but it doesnt matter. The majority doesnt count. The people who count, the opinion-makers, those in academia, media, high tech, etc., are the hardcore leftists behind all of this and, as we all know, the squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Americans have traditionally been ambivalent about government. For most, politics was something to be endured every four years and, after the election, life went back to normal.

Image: United States Capitol (edited) by Martin Falbisoner. CC BY-SA 3.0.

But no longer. If you were a Teddy Roosevelt partisan or a fan of Truman or Ike, whether your guy won or lost didnt matter tremendously to the average American. Maybe your taxes would go up or down a bit or maybe the price of gasoline or chicken might change a bit, but that was it for most people because government, particularly the federal government, had little impact on their everyday lives.

Today, not so much. In 2022s America, the federal government daily affects almost every aspect of American lives; e.g., the price of gas, grades of meat, rate of pay at work, MPG for your car, Epi-Pens, not to mention vaccine mandates, gun regulations, and shipping illegal immigrants to your neighborhood. But its not just the federal government. Its state and local government as well. From inane licensing requirements for hairdressers, bartenders, and Uber drivers to union-centric dysfunctional schools and gun laws that outlaw the Second Amendment in all but name, the fists of the federal fit perfectly into the state and local regulatory gloves, together strangling American freedom.

But governments not the only front in this war. Theres culture too. From social mediathe 21st centurys public squareto mass media to academia and big business, the left dominates. Not just dominates as in winning but dominate as in ruling over everyone else. Live and let live is not an axiom the left recognizes or exercises. No, the left demands fealty or will crush you. Leftists will destroy your business, get you fired or banned from social media, take your kids away, kick you out of college, and anything else they can think of.

Today, were seeing the government leviathan becoming even more powerful as it assimilates with the leftist borg. We saw it for four years as the FBI worked side by side with the media to tarnish Donald Trumps name and destroy his presidency. Now, Joe Biden has encouraged silencing misinformationthat is, anything contradicting the leftist narrative.

At the same time, the federal government has essentially established a gulag to house political prisoners who participated in the insurrection, despite the police inviting many into the building, some never entering the building at all, and most having been involved in no violence whatsoever. Some of these terrorists have been sitting, without charges or bail, in jails for over a year. That treatment stands in stark contrast to how Democrat-run states and the feds treated those who participated in the violent and deadly BLM / Antifa riots of the summer of 2020, most of whom were bailed out in the unlikely event they ended up in custody in the first place.

All of this points to a fractured America. Observations about majorities give one hope, but the reality is that unless the majority who reject leftism react, it wont matter because, as were seeing in real-time in Canada, the wall between freedom and fascism is fragile and, once its breached, its likely game over.

If the Republic is to survive, it will be up to that majority to do something to arrest the slide into tyranny. The GOP needs to take a page from Newt Gingrich and give them something to focus on, to talk about, and most importantly, to vote on. The Contract with America was pivotal in nationalizing the election, and thats exactly what we need nowa message that patriots can rally around.

The fronts upon which the left is attacking are too numerous to defend against simultaneously. The battle lines need to be streamlined just as the Contract did. As such, here are Five for Freedomfive commonsense items that all GOP candidates or officials must agree with if they want to win. If candidates refuse on any one of them, they should be primaried or defeated in favor of someone who does support them.

1. The 2020 election was fraudulent and such fraud cannot be allowed to occur again.

2. Covid mandates are unconstitutional and must stop.

3. The #1 job of the federal government will be to seal the southern border.

4. The United States must be energy independent.

5. CRT has no place in American schools.

If any candidate running on the GOP ticket cant support these five positions, he or she has no place in the GOP. The threats to liberty are too numerous and the threats to the Constitution too grave to elect someone who will waffle on these basic principles.

If there is indeed a majority of Americans that is interested in saving the Republic, they have to have something to rally around. Thus far, the GOP has done an atrocious job of focusing Americas attention. The GOP needs to do that now and Five for Freedom is the tool to do just that.

Its likely it will have to happen over the objections of establishment Republicans like McConnell, McCarthy, and Ronna McDaniel, but so be it. At the end of the day, youre either on the side of freedom or youre not. As the last two years have demonstrated, liberty is fragile and without citizens willing to stand up for it, it vanishes.

This is the time, this is the place, and Five for Freedom is the weapon with which patriots can vanquish the Borg of woke leftism that has been seeking to assimilate America for decades. The only question is, does the GOP have the courage to wield it?
A few days back, Texas GOP rep. Ronny Jackson, who was the White House physician during the Obama and Trump administrations, dared to state the obvious, which is an act of bravery in current times.

Jackson called for Biden to take a cognitive test because Biden is "not fit to be our president right now" amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The following are key excerpts from his remarks during an interview:

The whole country is seeing his mental cognitive issues on display for over a year now, and there's really no question in most people's minds that there's something going on with him, that he's not cognitively the same as he used to be and, in my mind, not fit to be our president right now. 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.

Jackson provided an easy way for even regular people to verify Biden's decline.

He's got 40 years of tape, go back and look at this man, it's not like we don't have anything to compare it to. He's always made gaffes but never like this. This is something different. These aren't gaffes. This is something much more serious.

Jackson said Biden's mental fitness for office, or a lack thereof, "was on full display during the debacle in Afghanistan" and that it could "get more Americans killed" and "ultimately get us in a war because of his lack of leadership."

This isn't a mean-spirited personal attack. Jackson is merely stating facts.

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's website states that cognitive disorder impairment or dementia usually affects older adults. This condition affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It progresses to the point where it affects basic activities and functions.

An individual who suffers from this condition deserves compassion, care, and protection.

This individual must not be assigned stressful or complex tasks. We won't travel in a vehicle driven by such an individual or allow him to lead an elementary project. We most emphatically don't want him to lead one of the largest democracies in the world.

The decline in Biden's cognitive abilities was apparent since he launched his presidential bid. But the Democrat news media conveniently ignored it. Biden's handlers used COVID-19 as an excuse to restrict public interaction. They rigged the elections, and soon Biden was in the White House.

It has been one disaster after another since then.

His schedule proves he does very little in the White House.

Biden rarely is subjected to the press for impromptu question-and-answer sessions. We have seen many situations where Biden is prevented from answering questions by his staffers. Live broadcasts with Biden are frequently delayed by an hour, perhaps because Biden is unprepared. He always reads from a teleprompter in a fashion that makes it obvious that he doesn't comprehend the words he is producing.

He frequently escapes to Delaware, even now at the height of the crisis in Ukraine.

For his handlers, Biden is probably the dream candidate. He can barely remember the names of his colleagues, and his legacy is the least of his concerns. They can use him as their puppet to implement their radical agenda. They made the consistently incompetent Kamala Harris the vice president, rendering Biden unimpeachable.

Installing a puppet and running a government by proxy are tactics used by the deep states of third-world totalitarian regimes. It is a disgrace that this is happening in the U.S.

The lust for power and the associated pecuniary gains cause people to behave in the most inhuman fashion. It is inhuman of Biden's wife and his immediate relatives to allow this exploitation that frequently makes Biden the target of ridicule.

Biden's handlers may be able to manage an incapacitated president behind closed doors in the White House and before an obsequious media. The problem arises when he is exposed to tough customers such as Vlad Putin. Putin knows all about incapacitated leaders and how to get around them and turn it all to his advantage, having lived in his formative years through incapacitated Soviet dictators such as doddering Leonid Brezhnev; the seriously ill Yuri Andropov; the very old and incapacitated Konstantin Chernenko, who was literally propped up by his aides; and, post-USSR, the drunken Boris Yeltsin. Putin understood how to gain power during those shambling times. He probably saw the pattern repeating during his one-to-one meeting with Biden. That likely emboldened him.

The question is, what should the GOP do if they have majorities in the Senate and the House following the midterms?

Firstly, they must ensure that a thorough cognitive test of Joe Biden is conducted and that the results be made public. Perhaps Dr. Jackson can administer the test in the presence of Biden's team of doctors.

If Biden were to fail those tests, there are two choices to relieve Biden from his duties.

The first is the invocation of the 25th Amendment. Under the 25th Amendment, which has never been used previously, the vice president and the majority of the president's Cabinet determine that the president is no longer fit for office. Congress then approves that process by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Sen. Rick Scott has made such a suggestion following Biden's Afghanistan catastrophe.

But Kamala and the Cabinet are unlikely to initiate such proceedings.

The next choice is impeachment.

An impeachment and a conviction is probably the only way to force Biden out of his office. This will create President Kamala Harris.

Next, the GOP impeaches and convicts Harris, too. The presidency is then in the hands of the speaker of the House. What if Donald J. Trump is elected speaker of the House?

A great hypothesis, but far-fetched.

It's impossible that the GOP would convict Biden in the Senate with the likes of Mitt Romney and Mitch McConnell around.

The only realistic choice seems to be an impeachment in Congress for symbolic reasons.

But unlike Trump's two impeachments, the GOP have other reasons, besides his cognitive impairments.

Among them is Biden willfully violating federal immigration laws by throwing open the border. Also, there's Biden's conflict of interest while dealing with China and Ukraine owing to his son's shady deals with the two countries. The catastrophe in Afghanistan can also be used as a reason.

To have a president who suffers from cognitive impairments such that he is managed by handlers is a vile affront and a mockery of democracy.

Reliving him from his duties is a way to save the U.S. representative democracy. It will be an act of compassion to relieve Biden from this torture so he can lead a peaceful life in retirement.

Alas, that is unlikely to occur, and hence, the U.S. and the world have to suffer the consequences.

Image: Twitter screen shot.
Justice Clarence Thomas has done well for himself. He is in no need of defense by anybody. His life and work are inspiring by any measure. But the despicable, racially motivated, coordinated media attacks against him and his family are so unfair that even a slight appreciation of justice would compel a reasonable person to speak.

His professionalism and honor play a part, too, so that reasonable observers can appreciate that in shining a light on the praiseworthy work of the good justice and the nefarious motives of his critics, one speaks for him who "cannot speak for himself," given the seriousness with which he takes the oath he took.

What pushed me over the edge to add my voice to those decrying the media smear machine against Justice Thomas and his family was a loathsome sentence written by a Washington Post "reporter" that described Justice Thomas as "the Black justice whose rulings often resemble the thinking of White conservatives." It's been a week, and I cannot shake it.

Can you imagine the deep prejudice that's required among not one, but a group of writers and editors to publish a sentence like that in a "respectable" newspaper? They can try to correct it all they want, but the animus that produced such a vile sentiment is alive and well at the Post.

Justice Thomas has endured this prejudice all his life. During Black History Month, his critics seem to love to target him because of the color of his skin. Last year, Amazon (owned by Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Post) decided to cancel a beautiful documentary, Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, also during Black History Month. Again, they might be forced to correct course later on, but the smear machine is real and ruthless.

It seems also that they are growing desperate as they see Justice Thomas's increasing influence at the Court. "The man who succeeded Thurgood Marshall, becoming the second Black justice, may end up with a legacy just as consequential," reads the panic at the New York Times.

From MSNBC's Joy Reid calling Justice Thomas "Uncle Clarence," mimicking the racial slur "Uncle Tom," to panelists on the view claiming he "doesn't really represent the Black community," the unfair, racially motivated attacks are despicable and should be condemned by all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

The latest strategy by the media smear machine also seems related to race. They are now targeting Justice Thomas's wife, Ginni Thomas. She, like her husband, does not follow the liberal elite approved patterns. She has committed the grave sin of being a conservative white woman. They worry that her conservative ideas are rubbing off on Justice Thomas and his decisions at the Court.

From the left's point of view, this is understandable, though no less contemptible. Since they continually push for activist judges to promote social "progress" under the guise of constitutional law, they have always believed that the other side must be doing the same. But Justice Thomas's judicial philosophy and track record bear the unmistakable marks of a meticulous jurist who stays painstakingly true to the text of the Constitution and the laws at issue on any particular case so that personal policy preferences have no bearing on his judicial decisions.

They, for example, hate that he disapproves of Roe v. Wade. "See, his wife is a pro-life conservative; he is listening to her!" But they have a problem with the text of the Constitution, not with Justice Thomas. The Constitution says nothing about abortion. The Court invented the right, and Justice Thomas rightly contends that the Constitution provides a way for it to be amended, and it is not at the hands of unelected judges.

This reasonable, honorable, constitutional approach to judging has won him the unabashed hatred of the left. It's a deeply personal, prejudicial hatred that continues to be exposed in the pages of America's most prominent newspapers. For shame.

It is unfair, unjust, cruel, discriminatory, immoral, and inexcusable. I, for one, cannot be silent about it. It is what is tearing this country apart. It is unnecessary. I hope you, dear reader, will join me in condemning it in the strongest possible terms.

Image via Flickr, public domain.
A person shows a video on his mobile phone, sent by his relative studying in Kharkiv University in northeast Ukraine, showing how they have taken shelter in a subway metro station, during a demonstration near Russian embassy in New Delhi, India. (AP)

Hyderabad: A thirty-year-old MBBS student, Telugu student Mukesh living in East Kyiv, capital city of Ukraine, had a bitter experience, finding himself in the midst of air sirons and sounds of bombing on the capital city since Thursday.

The Russian military was on a mission to lay siege to Kyiv city. It was 4am Friday. Mukesh woke up suddenly from a nap and peeped from his window to see the terrible sight of bombing, up and close, smokes billowing from high-rise buildings in columns. The Russians have almost captured the east Kyiv city that was no more than a sitting duck.

"I never expected such a war would take place here in Ukraine. Since yesterday, the situation was surcharged and it took a bloody turn today after Russian tanks rolled into the city, he said.

The capital is in the eastern part of Ukraine, close to Russia, and it was an immediate target to the war-mongers.

I spent a sleepless night, sharing information now and then with my parents and friends. Then I took a nap early today. Suddenly, the air sirens and the bombing activity took place almost simultaneously. Now, we are completely in the grip of fear," Mukesh told Deccan Chronicle from Kyiv city.

Ukraine has a 12,000 strong Indian population. A tenth of them have reached up the border, to the east, for possible airlift to India from neighbouring nations. The airports in Ukraine have mostly been shut except for emergencies.

Mukesh is pursuing MBBS in the Bogomolets National Medical University. It, he said, is located at Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd. Mukesh and some other Telugu students out there are living in a rented apartment.

Mukesh said war cries were in the air for some time but he did not expect it to erupt. "Based on information given by the university, we all thought the bilateral issues would be discussed and solved. But, the situation has reached this pass and we are staying indoors. Today, we received text messages from college friends that the communication system will be halted for today and tomorrow. These are decisive hours. We are worried how we shall be keeping in touch with our parents to continue with the communication flow," Mukesh said.

No one really expected the Russians would go this far. University managements, educational institutions and consultancy managements have given their students time to be prepared with their baggage and other belongings including passports should the scenario worsen.

The students received a message from the universities that they would try to reach the students up to the border of Ukraine close to Moldova via Odesa. However, Odesa was already captured by the Russian forces and hence through transportation would be difficult," the Telugu students said.

The universities also informed the students that the flight service from Kyiv to other countries including India would not be possible in the immediate future as the Russian forces were on the prowl. "If our university takes steps to shift us to the border to facilitate onward air travel back to India, we are ready to go. But, this too is not easy anymore," another student, Sai, said

With the situation worsening in Ukraine, educational institutions are trying to shift the students to the borders of Ukraine so that they can fly back to their native places.

As part of the measures, as many as 40 Indians including Telugu students were shifted to the Romanian border.

The university managements have promised the students to shift them to borders from where the students can book tickets for further journey.

The Indian Embassy officials have closely monitored the situation in shifting the Indian students safely to their native places.
With Putin's invasion of Ukraine, it is now clear that Xi believes that Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa, is ripe for the plucking. They have factored in President* Biden's obvious weakness and mental decline. It is a sure thing, as it has now been frequently observed by pundits and Trump himself, that if he were in office, Russian would not have invaded Ukraine. But he is not in office.

We can learn a lesson from another appropriately strong man, however.

Eisenhower, being just elected fresh after his victorious leadership of the Allies in the European theater of WWII, was strong. He understood the mentality of dictators when he stated "in response to a question at a press conference on Aug. 17 that 'any invasion of Formosa would have to run over the Seventh Fleet.'"

In other words, Eisenhower parked the Seventh Fleet in the waters between mainland China and Taiwan. If China were to invade, then it would have to run over this fleet. That statement came shortly after the Korean War ended on July 27, 1953. We had pushed back the communists to the 38th Parallel. Today, South Korea glows with prosperity, while North Korea sits in darkness. America meant business. Dictators and would-be dictators understood Eisenhower's strength and no doubt trembled or at least had second thoughts.

Men like Putin and Xi understand strong men, not postmodern, pink, feeble men like Biden. If anyone in his administration has any sense (and I doubt such a human exists there), he would advocate parking the Seventh Fleet, which is stationed off Japan and is now the largest forward-deployed fleet in the U.S. Navy. That would be a symbolic move with teeth in it.

But will the Biden administration act to protect Taiwan? Probably not, because we too can read left-wing human nature, and the American left gets easily befuddled and chaotic about foreign policy, just like our president* in his mental decline.

At James Arlandson's website, he has been translating and commenting on the New Testament (e.g., John 2) and writing basic theology and biblical ethics and policy. Please see for example: Bible Basics about Final Judgment, The Lord's Supper in Synoptic Gospels + Church Traditions, and Don't Legalize Medical or Recreational Marijuana. Also see Right and Wrong Ways to Protest and Does the Book of Acts Teach Modern Communism and Socialism? and So What's Wrong with Socialism, Anyway?

Image: U.S. Navy  Jennifer A. Villalovos.
If you've been watching TV or scrolling through the internet since the Russian assault against Ukraine began, you've probably seen an appalling video showing a huge Russian tank swerve abruptly to drive over a small civilian car. It's an act of viciousness that highlights the depravity of Russian troops. Except that's not what happened. In fact, the Russian tank was swerving to avoid enemy fire or friendly fire, or because he was lost. Most amazingly, the driver survived the experience, at least long enough to be taken to a hospital.

You can watch the narrative unfold in a series of tweets (hat tip: RedState). The first video is the one we've all watched over and over as it's played in the background on the various cable news channels:

Za sve one koji ne zele da vide sta Putin radi u Ukrajini.



Ruski narod ne stoji iza ovoga. Ovo je Putinov licni rat.



Na obraz medjunarodnoj zajednici koja ovo nemo posmatra.#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/aqfhpMuX9A  Balsa Bozovic (@Balshone) February 25, 2022

According to Google translate, the Serbian text is intended to show an atrocity in wartime:

For those who don't want to see what Putin is doing in Ukraine. The Russian people are not behind this. This is Putin's personal war. On the cheek of an international community that is silently watching this.

Further footage revealed, though, that the Russian tank was not attacking the small car. Instead, it appears that the tank driver had gotten separated from his convoy and was driving through a civilian neighborhood. He was either fired upon or got distracted, causing him to run over the car:

#BREAKING: Unbelievable! Footage shows #Ukraine & #Russia Army soldiers fighting each other in #Obolon district of #Kiev/#Kyiv. This is why driver of that 9K35 Strela-10 mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system got distracted & collided with a civilian car! https://t.co/k991BPHNWM pic.twitter.com/FsIROztv8P  Babak Taghvaee -   -   (@BabakTaghvaee) February 25, 2022

The amazing thing is that the car's driver survived. People who saw the crash were able to rescue him and get him to the hospital:

People saved driver of the car who was ran over by the Sterla-10 mobile air defense system. He was transfeeerred to hospital of the #Obolon. pic.twitter.com/foi0MBBzkK  Babak Taghvaee -   -   (@BabakTaghvaee) February 25, 2022

And just to show even more how the fog of war confuses everything and how, truly, the first casualty of war is truth, the soldiers driving the tank were apparently Russian special forces disguised as Ukrainian soldiers:

#BREAKING: The soldiers who were killed by #Ukrainian Army in #Obolon & also driver of that Sterla-10 SAM system were from #Spetsnaz (#Russian Army Special Forces) dressed as Ukrainian Army soldiers. It wasn't a friendly fire. I have seen uncensored version of this footage. pic.twitter.com/JC0P6DFpK5  Babak Taghvaee -   -   (@BabakTaghvaee) February 25, 2022

Churchill said, "History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it." In other words, he controlled the narrative. We now live in an age in which events hit the airwaves within minutes and from myriad sources. This means that there is a huge battle to control the narrative.

Currently, the dominant narrative (and, I think, the correct one) is that Putin is the undoubted aggressor against an innocent civilian population. What he's doing is genuinely evil, as well as something that can easily destroy the status quo around the world. (Let's just say China and Iran are watching closely.)

Having said that, it pays to be incredibly rigorous about accepting as true any news emerging from the combat zone that Ukraine has become. Apparently, Babak Taghvaee, who posted the above videos, is reliable, but it still behooves us to wait at least a few hours before accepting any reports as true.
The U.S. continues to sit passively on the sidelines while the Russian army pounds Ukraine. It is all too pathetic.

Nevertheless, President Biden has listed as a key priority the prevention of U.S. military deaths in armed conflicts. In his August 16, 2021 speech at Arlington Cemetery, President Biden declared:

How many more generations of America's daughters and sons would you have me send to fight Afghans  Afghanistan's civil war when Afghan troops will not? How many more lives  American lives  is it worth? How many endless rows of headstones at Arlington National Cemetery?

With this speech, he laid out what may come to be known as the Biden Doctrine, that there would be no conflict so small that the U.S. would not run away, no act of cowardice too craven, no desertion of allies too treacherous, and no commitment to democracy or global security worth securing with military force beyond those agreed on paper.

On that day, his net approval rating (approval minus disapproval) stood at +6.2%, entirely acceptable for a U.S. president. Three months later, on Election Day in November, it would fall to -8%, and the Democrats would take a historical shellacking at the polls. Virtually all the damage resulted from the means by which the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, leaving chaos, the Taliban, and now famine in its wake. Americans were appalled.

And here we are again, with the stakes predictably amplified. Why has Russian president Putin chosen now to invade Ukraine? The answer is simple: the Biden Doctrine of unilateral surrender. What does U.S. military power matter if we lack the will to use it or cower before those who threaten us? By pre-emptively foreswearing military intervention in Ukraine, President Biden all but sent an embossed invitation to President Putin to take Ukraine at his leisure.

The White House pinned its strategy on sanctions but clearly did not believe they would work. Biden had taken to the podium multiple times in the last month declaring that Putin would invade. Yet President Biden, on February 25, stated, "No one expected the sanctions to prevent anything from happening[.] ... Putin's not going to say 'Oh, my God, the sanctions are coming.'" The Biden White House has chained its credibility to a policy that, by the president's own statements, it did not believe to be credible. Biden merely gift-wrapped Ukraine for Putin with meaningless sanctions that would deter nothing.

Were Ukraine in a part of the world far from the superpowers, certainly far from Europe or East Asia, the U.S. could afford to take a pass. India and Pakistan regularly clash over Kashmir, but the U.S. would not ordinarily weigh in on the matter. But Ukraine is different, for several reasons.



Image: Joe Biden. YouTube screen grab.

Regardless of the outcome in Kashmir, neither India nor Pakistan will be wiped from the map and neither country's democracy, such as it is, is threatened by the other. In the case of Ukraine, however, both democracy and survival are at stake. We are seeing the brutal, unprovoked invasion of one country by another, one which seeks to both destroy not only the other's democracy but the very nation itself. The stakes are enormous.

Nor is the location of indifference. The US is intimately involved in European security through NATO and has been for nearly three-quarters of a century. Ukraine abuts four NATO members: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. What happens in Ukraine affects the security of these NATO members, not to mention possibly sending millions of refugees across their borders in the coming days.

Critically, the war is about more than Ukraine, certainly from the Russian side. The intent is to roll back NATO and reassert Russia's Soviet-era sphere of influence over all Soviet Union states, as well as central Europe, notably the Baltics, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, at a minimum. This would rewrite the entirety of the European security order and resurrect the perilous conditions of the Cold War. For Europe and, by extension, for the United States, this is an existential threat, just as it was during the Cold War.

Incredibly, for all the risks, Ukraine is not even the biggest threat. Russia has one sixth the population of NATO and 1/25 of its GDP. Russia is to NATO as Peru is to the United States  that is, not a peer. Putin is the Punk in the Kremlin and can advance only as long as the U.S. sits on the sidelines. As one seemingly knowledgeable, but admittedly unvetted, analyst assesses Russian fighting capability in the conflict:

The Russians cannot fight a modern war and their bullying capability is limited and would be ineffective against NATO's air power alone[.] ... A US-Russian war would look like Iraq '91, both by overwhelming asymmetry and by multilateral coalition backing.

The U.S. can beat Russia, perhaps handily. Not so China. China is a heavyweight, both economically and militarily, and it too is watching the Biden Doctrine unfold. If Biden fails to protect Ukraine, how can he lift a finger to defend Taiwan? Just as Afghanistan precipitated Ukraine, so Ukraine will precipitate Taiwan.

These are all strategic reasons to intervene in Ukraine, directly and with military force, right now. Failure to act here may well trigger a world war a year from now.

For Democrats, however, the proximate danger is political. Putin not only wants Ukraine, but also wants to humiliate the United States. He wants to show the U.S. as a fading power, cowardly and unprincipled. And it is working, because that is the essence of the Biden Doctrine: the avoidance of military casualties in the field at the price of national impotence and dishonor.

The American public, although rapidly having its fill of the Punk in the Kremlin, naturally has reservations about going to war with Russia. Nevertheless, if Kyiv falls due to the impotence of sanctions  President Biden's stated expected outcome and the essence of his strategy  the Biden White House will own the failure. It will own the humiliation of a loss, not to a great power, but to a punk who stole Ukraine on a bluff. And everyone at home and abroad will know that America did not lose on the field, but because we were cowards and ran away.

Americans can forgive many things, but they will not forgive humiliation at the hands of the Russians. The fall of Ukraine will be that humiliation, and it will bury the Democrats in its ashes.

Steven Kopits is the president of Princeton Policy Advisors.
If there's one principle that all factions of America's leftist spectrum support, it's that guns are bad. The only way to keep society safe, they all say, is for the government to seize everyone's guns. However, Occupy Democrats, which is siding with Ukraine as Russia attacks it, has a newfound enthusiasm for the Second Amendment. It put out a series of tweets celebrating these weapons of war in civilian hands.

If there's one thing history has proven repeatedly, it's that tyrants immediately disarm their people before getting down to the serious business of imposing their will on the country. The most recent example is Canada, which has been slowly disarming its citizens for decades (and the citizens have self-righteously gone along with this to show their moral purity). It struck the biggest blow in May 2020, when it outlawed semi-automatic weapons. Then, two weeks ago, Trudeau declared martial law. I don't know about you, but I see "cause and effect" there.

A site called Firearms Owners Against Crime has a useful little list of the gun-grabbing cause and effect in other nations throughout the 20th century:

1911: Turkey; citizens disarmed  1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered

1929: Russia; citizens disarmed  20 million Russians murdered

1935: China; citizens disarmed  20 million Chinese killed

1938: Germany; citizens disarmed  6 million Jews murdered

1956: Cambodia; citizens disarmed  1 million "intellectuals" killed

1964: Guatemala; citizens disarmed  100,000 Mayan Indians massacred

1970: Uganda; citizens disarmed  300,000 Christians put to death

In America, Hurricane Katrina gave us a small insight into the importance of law-abiding citizens with arms. When the hurricane devastated New Orleans, law enforcement broke down completely. It wasn't a matter of "when seconds count, the police are minutes (or hours) away." Instead, the police were days or weeks away. Looters immediately went into action, and the only people who were safe from them were those who could defend themselves. That's when I switched from my lifelong Democrat habit of opposing guns to being a staunch Second Amendmentsupporter.



Image: Ukrainian citizens get guns. YouTube screen grab.

But again, I dont need to tell you about the American left's non-stop war on privately owned weapons in the hands of law-abiding American citizens. That's why this series of tweets from Occupy Democrats, one of the hardest left organizations in America, is so delightful (hat tip: Twitchy):

BREAKING: Ukraine's Interior Minister announces that 10,000 automatic rifles have been handed out to the civilians of Kyiv as they prepare to fight tooth and nail to defend their homes against Putin's invasion. RT IF YOU STAND WITH THE BRAVE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE!  Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) February 24, 2022

If youre an American who supports the Kyiv pizza shop owner who is giving free food to any Ukrainian who shows they have a gun to fight the Russian invaders  please RT and follow our account for the latest breaking Ukraine news.  Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) February 25, 2022

By the way, Occupy Democrats seems awfully bloodthirsty for a group that was aggressively anti-war during the Bush administration. And while that war proved to have been a fool's errand, it was at least undertaken with the belief that it would make America safer and stronger. Leftists, however, usually like wars that don't benefit America.

I think we can discern a policy here: if things actually benefit Americans (the Second Amendment) or theoretically benefit Americans (the Iraq War), Democrats oppose them. However, if those same things benefit others with no comparable benefit to Americans, they get the leftists' enthusiastic support.
Ukraine is fighting back.

And that must startle invading Vladimir Putin, who seems to have expected another Afghanistan-style takeover, the way the Taliban did it -- the Taliban marching in, the the local president loading up his money and flying off without a fight, and the boldest locals cramming onto U.S. waiting jets. Few fought back in that one and the disaster speaks for itself.

We don't see that in Ukraine. The U.S. offered Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a flight out and he refused it. "I need ammunition, not a ride," he told the U.S.

He was last seen dressed in a military t-shirt with his cabinet in comparable gear and probably had a rifle in his hand. After that, he was seen in combat fatigues and a hard helmet, marching through brush. "When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs," he told the Russians. He told Ukrainians this might the the last time they saw him alive. The mayor of Kyiv had his fatigues and rifle, too, and was last seen positioned on a rooftop. Thirteen Ukrainian border guards on a place called 'Snake Island' off Crimea screamed to the invading Russians 'Go f--- yourselves' upon their call to surrender, knowing they would be shot dead and they were. The government radio station advised locals how to build their own Molotov cocktails with which to greet the entering Russians. That's normally a poor man's weapon associated with groups like antifa, but Molotov cocktails were invented by the Finns, who successfully repelled a Soviet invasion in 1939. The Soviets ended it quickly because they didn't want to mess around with the Finns. The Ukrainians are showing them yet again. Girls, very old people, all sorts of Ukrainians are signing up for military service. An old lady handed out sunflower seeds to invading Russian troops, advising them that they'd need some seeds for flowers to grow on their coming gravesites. A soldier blew himself up to destroy a bridge to prevent the Russians from entering. Other heroic Ukrainians are taking government-issued rifles and will fight sniper-style from high rises. A mysterious flying ace called 'the Ghost of Kyiv' reportedly shot down 6 invading fighter jets, thrilling the world as the world's first flying ace since World War II, although the story was reportedly not true. It was something people wanted to believe, though, because the masculine virtue of mortal combat, described in Tom Wolfe's 'The Right Stuff' always thrills people in a life-and-death struggle. There was one unconfirmed report that the Ukrainians are taking the war to Russia itself, reportedly strafing Rostov airport much to Putin's surprise.

The great historian Simon Schama, who knows the region's history well better than Putin does, and who was recently filming in Ukraine, noted this:

Putin imagining that the capture of Kyiv will finish the job is exactly like Napoleon assuming taking Moscow would ensure a Russian capitulation. And now Kremlin panicking they may have to attack civilian population in big cities. Not in their plans  Simon Schama (@simon_schama) February 25, 2022

That tweet deserves weight, given the depth of Schama's knowledge. Schama knows history in minute details and knows how to interpret history. He's seeing Napoleon and that's bad news for Putin.

And the Ukrainian heroism will be the same as the Russian heroism of the era of Kutuzov. The heroism is contagious. We are seeing other forms of heroism from the outside. How about those Romanian private citizens who lined up in their cars by the thousands to greet incoming Ukrainian refugees and take them and shelter them in their own homes? How about Poland, whose locals also greeted the Ukrainians warmly, and sent truckloads of ammunition back to Ukraine? Slovakia and Hungary reportedly helped, too, and the Baltics reportedly sent jets. The British citizens and some parliamentarians are demanding that Ukrainians be allowed into Britain for safe haven without red tape.

I wrote about some of the stupid things being said from the outside from the non-heroes who don't seem to grasp what is going on yesterday.

Schama had withering contempt for a new idiocy put out by NPR:

"make your grandpa's lasagna" - this is pathetic and insulting. You NEED to be stressed and Distressed by atrocity, calamity and tragedy not breathe deeply and bury yourself in pasta. https://t.co/K1SfShAPhj  Simon Schama (@simon_schama) February 25, 2022

That is damning, and rightly so. Ukraine right now is a nation of heroes. Putin is learning that the hard way. And the soft, soggy, self-obsessed snowflakes out there still never learn.

Image: Twitter screen shot
Remember Alexander Vindman? He is the man whose "whistleblowing" about an innocuous phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky turned America inside-out for months.

Playing into the now-proven Democrat and media hoax that Trump was some kind of dangerous foreign puppet, Vindman declared that his patriotism just wouldn't allow him to stand by while the president discussed perfectly ordinary things with a foreign head of state who shared a border with Russia and Vladimir Putin.

Now that foreign head of state is losing his country. Vindman helped shade Trump straight into impeachment  a political act that destabilized the United States and helped pave the way for sleepy, barely aware, and not-leadership-material Joe Biden to become president. Biden spent his first year in office making America weaker  economically and militarily. America barely has a southern border thanks to Biden, but we're being asked to worry about someone else's border half a world away by the same man, thanks in no small part to Col. Vindman.

Ukraine is under invasion from Vlad Putin's Russian military, coming at what Vindman has called his "homeland" from the north, south, and east. Zelensky is pleading for the world to help save his country from a madman, which raises the most obvious question no one has asked yet.

Where is the great patriot Alexander Vindman? Can Zelensky count on his compatriot?

You see, Vindman is Ukrainian. He was born in Kyiv  the city Putin is bombing into submission right now.

Vindman is quick to point out his military bona fides; he does so in just about every comment he utters on any subject, while taking pains to remind you what a stout patriot he is, and what a good American and Ukrainian he is.

But now that Ukraine is under massive assault, where is Col. Vindman, hero of Nancy Pelosi's Impeachment Media War? Can anyone find him?

Is he leading a squad of Ukrainian commandos somewhere on the outskirts of Kyiv? Is he consulting President Zelenskyy and offering his wisdom to the embattled president in his hour of need? Maybe he's listening in on Biden's phone calls as our European allies water down the sanctions to be imposed on Russia, and not reporting any of that conversation to his own allies at the DNC.

Where. Is. Vindman?

Vindman was asked three times to be defense minister of Ukraine. So where is he?

Why haven't we heard from this great and noble man who tried to save the world from American strength, leadership, and energy independence? Surely his mere presence in Ukraine's capital would steel his people into repelling Putin at every turn. The world could watch him on a livestream as he takes up a rifle and shouts to Putin in Ukrainian: "Come and take it!"

Col. Vindman, great patriot, cared so much about Ukrainian democracy when it made him an American media darling and gave the Democrats a weapon to knife the president in the back and rip the country in two. He cared so much about the Ukrainian people that he was willing to go to any length, even lying about the contents of a phone call, to save them from Trump.

Trump never invaded Ukraine. Putin is invading Ukraine, right now. Where is Alexander Vindman?

Surely, Col. Vindman could, with his mere steely stare, push Putin right into the Kremlin basement to cower in fear with his nesting dolls. Why hasn't he?

The hour is grave, Col. Vindman, Great Hero of the Media War against the Monster Trump, and the world needs your bold, decisive courage. Surely you have more than phone calls to weaponize. You're practically a superhero, according to the Democrats and Larry David. Step forward, Great Hero Vindman, and save your people and the free world.

No? I guess he found another Democrat, or an abandoned desk in the bowels of the Pentagon thousands of miles from the war, or some consultant cubicle, to hide behind?

Time to stop hiding at the Atlantic Magazine or cable news and get your pear-shaped body moving.

A.J. Rice is author of the book, The Woking Dead: How Society's Vogue Virus Destroys Our Culture. He serves as CEO of Publius PR, a premier communications firm in Washington, D.C.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter based on a PBS video screen shot posted on YouTube, detail, enhanced.
Prabhas to kickstart Radhe Shyam Promotions:- Prabhas and Pooja Hegde starter Radhe Shyam is announced for March 11th release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages. Radha Krishna Kumar is the director and T Series acquired the Hindi rights of the film for a bomb. The movie was planned on a budget of Rs 250 crores and the makers made handsome profits even before the film's release. Several Bollywood actors will be seen in other important roles. The makers of the film released some of the songs and the teaser. All these generated positive buzz on the film.

The makers are in plans to kick-start the promotions starting from next week all over. A grand event is planned in Hindi and Prabhas, Pooja Hegde will promote the film together in Hindi. Several events will be planned in Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. The trailer of Radhe Shyam will be released during the first week of March. UV Creations and Gopikrishna Movies in association with T Series produced Radhe Shyam. Justin Prabhakaran is the music director of Radhe Shyam. The film is set in 1970s in Europe and massive sets are erected in Hyderabad while a major portion of the film is shot in Europe.
(Image source from: Instagram.com/samantharuthprabhuoffl)

It is a 12-year journey for Samantha in Film Industry:- Samantha started her career as an actress in Naga Chaitanya's Em Maya Chesave and the actress went a long way in her career. She tasted several blockbusters, worked with all the stars of South Indian cinema and emerged as the highest-paid South Indian actress. She completed 12 years in the film industry and the actress herself informed the news through her official social media page. "Today marks my 12th year in the Film Industry. Its been 12 years of memories that revolve around Lights, Camera, action and incomparable moments. I am filled with gratitude for having had this blessed journey and the best, most loyal fans in the world" posted the actress on her Twitter page.

Today marks my 12th year in the Film Industry. Its been 12 years of memories that revolve around Lights, Camera, action and incomparable moments. I am filled with gratitude for having had this blessed journey and the best, most loyal fans in the world ! pic.twitter.com/2kVjAenIQu  Samantha (@Samanthaprabhu2) February 26, 2022

Samantha was spotted smiling in the click posted by the actress. Several celebrities showered the actress with compliments on her remarkable journey. After the super success of The Family Man: Season 2, the actress has been receiving offers from all the languages. She is keen to take up pan-Indian projects in the coming years. She is done with the shoot of Shaakuntalam and the film releases this year. Samantha is shooting for Yasodha and has a couple of Tamil projects lined up. She is also holding talks for a couple of Telugu movies which will be announced soon.
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New Delhi: After 11 days of hearing, the full bench of Karnataka High Court reserved judgment on the petitions challenging the hijab ban in colleges and gave both parties to file their written submissions. The Court dismissed a PIL seeking to restrain media from chasing hijab-clad students and teachers while proceeding to their schools and colleges and from video-graphing and photographing of children and teachers near to their schools while they were removing their hijabs and burqas.

On Friday, the bench heard the rejoinder arguments by the lawyers for the petitioners.

We have been wearing a headscarf, it is a piece of cloth covering the head, not the face, we should be permitted to use it. It is not right for college to prevent us from doing that. If it is a bonafide practice of conscience, it should be allowed under Article 25. The question of essential religious practice cannot be imported from freedom of conscience. Even hadith also says the face need not be covered but the hijab needs to be worn. This is the admitted position. Government admits this position in its reply The Advocate General said that what is stated in the Koran though obligatory, may not be essential. That is contrary to Shayara Bano, said Senior Advocate Yusuf Muchhala as he quoted scholar Muhammad Pickthall to argue that true Islamic tradition requires veiling of the head.

Mucchala referred to the observations in Ayodhya case that the Court should be cautious not to enter into theological discussions and should only see if the faith and the belief of the worshipper is genuinely held.

Advocate Mohammad Tahir said uniformity in the name of secularism will mean only minorities will be at loss. Assume that lordships says school is a secular place where headscarf is not allowed. Tomorrow government will come and say this mall is a secular place and so our traditions will remain in four corners of the house, Tahir said.

Senior Advocate Professor Ravivarma Kumar opposed the constitution of CDCs as it confers executive powers to the MLAs. He said the president of College Development Committee (CDC) will be the local MLA of the constituency. Out of the 12 members, 11 will be nominated by MLA. This is absolute power given to the MLA; college is given over on a platter to him. The issue of entrusting a legislative member with executive power is not accepted. There is absolutely no accountability for the MLA. There is no control over him. Suppose there is misuse of funds and the Committee is responsible, who will hold the CDC accountable? he argued

Petitioner-in-person Dr Vinod Kulkarni submitted banning of hijab in schools and colleges has affected the mental health of Muslim girls, more so girls who wear the hijab while adding hijab is sported as a cultural practice and custom for 1400 years.
Boris Johnson has welcomed fresh impetus to exclude Russia from the Swift global banking system after Germany dropped its opposition to the plan.

In a dramatic move, Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced Berlin would start sending arms to the beleaguered Ukrainian military.

It marked a reversal of Germanys long-standing policy of not sending lethal weaponry to conflict zones.

In a telephone call between Mr Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the two leaders welcomed the increased willingness internationally to take action against Russia on Swift.

The leaders agreed on the need for the international community to isolate Russia completely diplomatically and financially, a No 10 spokeswoman said.

Mr Zelensky welcomed Britains commitment to send more arms, including ammunition and anti-tank weapons, to support the Ukrainian forces in their fight against the Russian invader.

He said on Twitter that they had agreed on further joint steps to counter the aggressor.
Police have said a man launched paint at the Russian embassy in London as Ukrainian protests took place outside the building.

Hundreds gathered outside the embassy in Kensington and at Downing Street on Saturday afternoon to call for Vladimir Putin to withdraw from Ukraine.

Waving flags, banners and placards, the protesters sang the Ukrainian anthem and chanted Putin stop war, Putin go home and free Ukraine.

The embassys walls were covered in chalk-written messages, Ukrainian flags, eggs and fake blood.

Even the building itself appeared to have egg stains and cracked shells on it.

A man also rode past on a bike and threw paint at the wall at just after 3:30pm.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made.

The incident was not connected to a protest that was taking place outside the building at the same time.

Dozens were there wearing flags tied around their necks and holding flowers.

Protesters encouraged motorists to beep their horns in support, while a woman could be seen pressing the buildings intercom.

People take part in a demonstration outside the Russian Embassy (Ian West/PA)

A protester, named Viktor Shevik, 52, told the PA news agency: Im disgusted with the actions of this dictator, this bully, this embassy needs to hear our message.

Mr Shevik, who has lived in west London for 16 years after moving from Kyiv, added: I worry for my people, we are brave people but Russia is a big country and it is raining bombs on children.

I hope the soldiers and people of Russia understand they do not need to fight for this maniac.

Helena Kovalenko, 33, originally from northern Ukraine, said: Im so angry with Putin for invading my Ukraine.

I have family there, my mum and dad, and Im so scared for them.

Ms Kovalenko, who has lived in the UK for nine years, added: Im here today to call for this country to help  Putin has to go.

Another protester originally from the country, named Andriy, 27, said he was there to call for other countries to do more.

He said: The world cant watch as my people suffer- Putin is a Barbarian, hes an animal.

If sanctions dont stop him, the UK, the US and Europe must be prepared to do everything.

People use chalk to draw the Ukrainian flag on the wall of the Russian Embassy (Ted Hennessey/PA)

The crowd, which blocked a path outside the embassy, shouted down with Putin and held posters comparing the Russian leader to Hitler.

Some had tears in their eyes, while others were visibly angry as dozens of police officers watched on.

One man who had been chanting and moving among the crowd was stopped briefly by officers.

Another protester said he was there to stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

A banner, held above the crowd, had stop bombing my family written on it.
Three major drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson agreed to finalize a $26 billion opioid crisis settlement with more than 40 states and thousands of local governments Friday.

The mega settlement with J&J, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health has been in the works for more than half a year. The companies were hoping to get as many municipalities as possible on board. On Friday, they certified that enough had joined.

The Johnson & Johnson logo is seen above an entrance to a building at their campus in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2019.





The Johnson & Johnson logo is seen above an entrance to a building at their campus in Irvine, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2019. (MARK RALSTON/)

Aside from attorneys fees, almost all the money will go to opioid treatment and prevention initiatives across the U.S.

Were never going to have enough money to immediately cure this problem, said Joe Rice, a lead plaintiffs lawyer. What were trying to do is give a lot of small communities a chance to try to change some of their problems.

New York State will receive about $1.25 billion of the $26 billion, according to Attorney General Letitia James.

Various state and local governments had sued the major drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson, saying the companies failed to monitor suspicious orders of prescription opioids across the country. None of the parties admitted wrongdoing in the billion-dollar settlement.

While a large majority of states and communities joined the giant agreement, Alabama, Oklahoma, Washington and West Virginia did not, and a few communities took the distributors to trial. In a May 2021 trial in West Virginia, prosecutors revealed an email from AmerisourceBergen executives that mocked West Virginia residents as pillbillies.

In the past two decades, more than 500,000 people across America have died in the opioid crisis. Nearly every major opioid crisis legal case has resulted in million- and billion-dollar settlements

With News Wire Services
NW China's Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture brings judicial services to peoples doorsteps

08:53, February 26, 2022 By Fu Wen ( People's Daily

The people's court of Xiahe county, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, northwest China's Gansu province, hears a criminal case via a group video call, Oct. 29, 2021. (Photo/gannan.chinagscourt.gov.cn)

To ensure easier access for rural people to judicial services and popularize legal knowledge among villagers, courts at various levels in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, northwest Chinas Gansu province, have heard cases locally and set up offices in villages and communities to offer people legal services including consultancy, lawsuit mediation, and legal aid.

Thanks to the endeavor which brings judicial and legal services to peoples doorsteps, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture has seen its number of cases handled by judicial authorities as well as the clearance rate, mediation rate and withdrawal rate of cases rise while the appeal rate and number of public complaint cases have dropped over the past nearly three years.

Tsering, a herdsman in Shimen township, Lintan county, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, benefited greatly from the convenient local hearing mechanism.

On a rainy night of October 2020, Tsering lost two yaks while moving to another pasture. In July last year, he accidentally found the two missing yaks in the herd of Tashi, another local herdsman. After Tashi refused to return the yaks, Tsering called the police, which, however, had difficulty finding out the truth as it had been too long since the yaks were lost.

Tsering then filed a lawsuit against Tashi, which was dismissed at first instance for lack of witness and concrete evidence. After that, Tsering lodged an appeal to the intermediate peoples court of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

"One of the two yaks was an adult and the other was young when they wandered away from the herd," said Mou Siqiong, a judge with the intermediate people's court of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, who handled the civil case.

As they had been raised elsewhere for nearly a year, it was not easy to recognize them, especially the young one, according to Mou.

After meticulous field investigations, Mou found a key witnessa veterinarian who had examined the teeth of the young yak. Considering its complexity, Mou decided to hear the case on the pasture.

Last winter, Mou, together with a clerk and two bailiffs from the intermediate peoples court of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, trekked in the freezing cold for more than three hours to the village where Tsering lives to hear his case. The bailiffs asked Tsering and the veterinarian to identify the lost young yak from Tashis herd separately, and their choices were exactly the same. Eventually, Tashi admitted his guilt and returned the lost yaks to Tsering.

In the past, both parties in such cases had to go back and forth between the court located in the urban area of the prefecture and their homes until their cases were settled.

"It's not easy for herdspeople living in grasslands to travel between the court and their homes," Mou said, adding that now that judges hear cases locally, these people no longer need to take long-distance trips for judicial services.

Recently, Mou received a message from Tsering saying that the female yak recovered with the help of the intermediate peoples court of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture gave birth to a calf.

Given the fact that most parts of Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture are scarcely populated mountainous areas with complex geographical conditions and poor traffic conditions, local courts at various levels have made great efforts to release people from troubles with travel in seeking judicial services.

Instead of asking people to go to courts, judicial functionaries have "brought courts to people" by hearing cases on pastures and in peoples doorsteps, enabling local residents to enjoy fast, convenient, and highly efficient litigation services and helping save their time, energy and cost.

Yang Xiaogang, a resident of Liushun township, Lintan county, Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, who overturned his car when driving under the influence, has also experienced first-hand the convenience of local hearings.

Since Yang underwent two operations during the period of obtaining the guarantor and pending trial and had difficulty in moving, the people's court of Lintan county heard his case of drunk driving in his home on June 8, 2021.

Yang pleaded no contest to the facts, charges and sentencing suggestions during the litigation. Chang Xiufang, the judge at the court, sentenced Yang to three months detention and a fine of 1,000 yuan ($158.4) in accordance with the countrys fast-track sentencing procedure for criminal cases.

"Hearing cases in people's homes can both manifest the authority of the law and the tenderness of judges," said an official with the people's court of Lintan county, who disclosed that dozens of Yang's neighbors watched the court hearing of Yangs case.

By handling judicial proceedings locally for people living in remote villages with poor traffic conditions, judicial functionaries can achieve the goal of popularizing knowledge of the law among local residents while hearing cases, the official noted.

Courts in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture have also integrated smart technologies into the local judicial system and established new mediation platforms combining online and offline means, in a bid to better serve the people.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, courts of the prefecture have handled many cases online for the convenience of local residents. The efforts to move litigation online have not only brought convenience to local people, but improved the efficiency and effectiveness of judicial proceedings.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
New Delhi: Even as India is dispatching two Air India evacuation flights wholly at the governments expense to the Romanian capital Bucharest on Friday night  one each from Delhi and Mumbai-  for evacuating Indian nationals stuck in Ukraine, all eyes are on whether India will once again abstain during voting on a crucial resolution at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) being moved by the United States condemning the Russian military offensive against Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning.

There were, meanwhile, reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may chair another meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Saturday after the earlier meeting on Thursday evening to take stock of the developments on the Ukraine issue, including the ongoing evacuation efforts.

Sources said the first batch of Indian students have already left for the Ukraine/Romania border and that more than 470 students would soon exit Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret border. India has already set up camps in western Ukraine to facilitate the evacuation. There are about 16,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine awaiting evacuation.

The Indian embassy in Ukrainian capital Kyiv tweeted, Today afternoon more than 470 students will exit the Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret border. We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland.

India, meanwhile, has so far not condemned the Russian military action but has only stated that the issue can be resolved only through diplomacy and dialogue. New Delhi had abstained during voting last month on a resolution on the Ukraine issue at the UNSC of which it is currently a non-permanent member. India is in a tricky position as it has close strategic ties with the United States which is moving the resolution now and also has time-tested close strategic ties spanning decades with Russia that is facing considerable global criticism over its actions.

External affairs minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, meanwhile, told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the way out even as he also discussed the predicament of Indian nationals, including students, who are stuck there amid the fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops.

The EAM tweeted, "Received call from Ukrainian Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba. He shared his assessment of the current situation. I emphasised that India supports diplomacy & dialogue as the way out. Discussed predicament of Indian nationals, including students. Appreciate his support for their safe return.

In a fresh advisory issued on Friday by the Indian embassy in Kyiv, Indian nationals were advised to take print-outs of the Indian national flag and paste it prominently on the buses and other vehicles they are travelling in as they head to the western borders of Ukraine with both Romania and Hungary.

The Government of India is organising evacuation flights for Indians in Ukraine. The cost will be completely borne by the Government of India for this evacuation. MEA camp offices are now operational in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine. Additional Russian speaking officials are being sent to these Camp offices. Officials there are assisting Indian citizens who reach these cities and will facilitate their departure from Ukraine through adjoining border crossings. First batch of Indian students have now left Chernivtsi for the Ukraine/Romania border, sources said on Friday.

According to the fresh advisory issued by the Indian embassy in Kyiv, MEA teams are getting in place at checkpoints Chop-Zahony at the Ukraine-Hungary border near Uzhborod and Porubne-Sibet at the Ukraine-Romania border near Chernivtsi.
Amanda Bynes has filed to end her conservatorship after nearly nine years.

Her attorney David A. Esquibias confirmed the news to Yahoo Entertainment on Friday.

Page Six was first to report that the retired actress, best known for roles in Hairspray and All That star, filed to terminate the conservatorship of her person and her estate in a petition submitted at the Ventura County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Amanda Bynes, former Nickelodeon star, has filed to terminate the conservatorship she's been under since 2014. (Screenshot: Amanda Bynes via Instagram)

The 35-year-old, who left Hollywood and is working on a degree at California's Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, also filed a capacity declaration Tuesday. The legal forms are completed by a medical professional who has experience and current knowledge of the conservatee's mental state to help the court determine if a conservatorship is necessary.

A hearing is set for March 22.

Esquibias told People magazine in a statement, "Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship. She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary."

Bynes's mother, Lynn, has been overseeing the conservatorship since 2013. Leading up to it, the former Nickelodeon star had a series of troubles that were very public, including multiple DUI arrests, a drug-related arrest, shoplifting allegations and being evicted from her apartment.

Amanda Bynes  arriving to court in NYC in July 2013  had a series of troubles, which reached a boiling point in the summer of 2013. She later shared that she has bipolar disorder. (Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)

In the summer of 2013, Bynes set a fire in a stranger's driveway, which reportedly injured her dog, and was hospitalized on an involuntary psychiatric hold. That is when a temporary conservatorship was put in place. The next year, she was involuntarily hospitalized again  and the conservatorship was made permanent. That year, Bynes accused her father of sexual and emotional abuse in a series of tweets, then recanted her accusations.

Soon after, the former child star later revealed that she has bipolar disorder.

While under the conservatorship, Bynes  whose estate was initially estimated to be $3 million  was in treatment for mental health and substance abuse. That has included transitional living and undergoing therapy. She's also lived in sober homes.

Bynes has also pursued her education in design. In 2019, she received her associate's degree from Californias Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. At one point, she shared on social media that social anxiety caused her to drop out of school months ago, but she later re-enrolled.

In 2020, Bynes celebrated 18 months of sobriety. She told Paper magazine in 2018 that substance abuse was at the core of her problems: "It definitely isn't fun when people diagnose you with what they think you are. That was always really bothersome to me. If you deny anything and tell them what it actually is, they don't believe you. Truly, for me, [my behavior] was drug-induced, and whenever I got off of [drugs], I was always back to normal."

Bynes's conservatorship attorney Esquibias told Yahoo last year that while the conservatorship was extended to 2023, the legal arrangement  which Britney Spears recently freed herself from  could "be terminated at any time for good cause."

Amanda Bynes at the 2003 premiere of What a Girl Wants got her start as a child star on Nickelodeon's All That. (Photo: Robert Mora/Getty Images)

At the same time, Esquibias shared that Bynes was "doing great" as she turned 35. "She lives by the beach, attends school and is enjoying meditation and SoulCycle classes." He said she was thinking about starting a clothing line or a perfume, but she was focused on her education.

Bynes is engaged to Paul Michael, whom she met at a sober living home in late 2019. At one point, she made a pregnancy announcement, but a few months later, Esquibias clarified that Bynes was not pregnant.

Conservatorships have been in the news amid the #FreeBritney movement, which saw pop star Spears finally end hers after 13 years claiming conservatorship abuse. Spears's ended in November, but her attorney is continuing to probe the abuse allegations of the arrangement, which was helmed by her father, Jamie Spears.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  The International Criminal Court's prosecutor has put combatants and their commanders on notice that he is monitoring Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

But Prosecutor Karim Khan acknowledged that he cannot investigate the issue that is being most talked-about at this stage of the invasion  the crime of aggression.

Western leaders have widely condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to invade Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said the invasion was always about naked aggression, about Putins desire for empire by any means necessary," while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called it Vladimir Putin's war of aggression.

While the global treaty that established the Hague-based court in 2002 has been updated to include the crime of aggression since 2018, Khan said he does not have jurisdiction over that because neither Ukraine nor Russia is among the court's 123 member states.

The only way the court could get jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in the conflict in Ukraine is if the United Nations Security Council were to call on the ICC to investigate.

That ain't going to happen, said Brendan Plant, a Fellow of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law and Downing College at the University of Cambridge, because Russia is one of the council's veto-wielding permanent members.

Putin has sought to justify his invasion by warning that pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine faced what he called genocide from Ukrainian forces.

Plant called it a concocted legal justification.

Even if this twisted invocation of the right of self-defense were accepted, its extremely difficult to see how such a wide-scale invasion, with incursions across multiple sites across the country, well beyond even the most expansive territorial claims of the separatist regions, could be justified as a necessary and proportionate act of self-defense, he said.

While the crime of aggression is out of the global court's reach, crimes committed during the conflict are not.

Khan said his office may exercise its jurisdiction over and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within the territory of Ukraine. That's because Ukraine, while not a member state, has accepted the court's jurisdiction.

In a warning that could apply to Russia's civilian and military leadership, Khan said that any person who commits such crimes, including by ordering, inciting or contributing in another manner to the commission of these crimes may be liable to prosecution before the Court.

He added: It is imperative that all parties to the conflict respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.

War crimes and crimes against humanity cover numerous offenses committed during armed conflicts including murder, torture, rape and forced expulsions of civilians. Laws governing the conduct of war aim to rein in disproportionate use of force and protect civilians and troops no longer participating in fighting such as prisoners and the wounded. They also prohibit attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure such as hospitals and on cultural and religious sites like churches.

Rights group Amnesty International said Friday that Russia's invasion was marked by indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and strikes on protected objects such as hospitals.

The group made the claim after analyzing photos, video and satellite imagery of three attacks carried out in the early hours of Feb. 24.

"The Russian government, which falsely claims to use only precision-guided weapons, should take responsibility for these acts, said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General.

The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute individual perpetrators and their commanders responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, in cases where nations are unable or unwilling to hold their own trials. The crime of aggression was added later to the list of offenses in the Rome Statute treaty that founded the court.

While the ICC cannot prosecute anybody for aggression in the Ukraine invasion, there is another avenue, said Carsten Stahn, a professor of international criminal law and global justice at Leiden University.

We have around 40 states in the world which have actually legislation on the crime of aggression, and some of them could use this legislation also in order to in order to exercise jurisdiction over aggression, Stahn said.

Universal jurisdiction is invoked by some nations in cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allowing them to prosecute crimes committed outside their own borders.

One of the highest profile examples of its use was against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who was arrested in London in 1998 on a Spanish warrant. He ultimately was not put on trial due to ill health, but his case served as a warning for leaders accused of crimes that they may no longer be able to travel the world with impunity.

Although Ukraine is not a member of the ICC, it has accepted the courts jurisdiction over alleged crimes on its territory dating back to 2013. That acceptance forms the legal underpinning for Khan's warning to combatants that he could prosecute crimes committed during the Russian invasion.

The court already has conducted a preliminary probe into crimes linked to the violent suppression of pro-European protests in Kyiv in 2013-2014 and allegations of crimes in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and eastern Ukraine.

In December 2020, the then-ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the probe uncovered indications that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the Court have been committed in Ukraine. However, the courts prosecutors have not yet sought permission from judges to open a full-scale investigation.

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Follow APs coverage of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukrainian Americans protest the Russian invasion of their homeland at the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Demonstrators marched and staged vigils across California on Saturday to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many expressing fear for friends and family in the war-torn country 6,000 miles away.

Waving signs that said "Stop Putin," about 100 Ukrainian Americans and Russian Americans opposed to the invasion kicked things off about 10 a.m. with a march through Hollywood. Residents of apartment buildings along Hollywood Boulevard waved and shouted messages of support from their balconies to the group, which included several families with young children.

Putin doesnt speak for us, said Erina Volodartseva, 32, who is Russian and brought along her children, ages 6 and 4. We are against the war. Ukraine is our brother.

A man drinks his coffee outside a cafe as demonstrators opposed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine march down Hollywood Boulevard. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Samvel Torosyan, 25, said that he texts regularly with his friends in the Russian military, including one who is a fighter pilot. They are afraid, said Torosyan, who is also Russian, as he passed shops and restaurants on the boulevard.

Like some others at Saturdays march, Torosyan said he doesnt want to see the U.S. send its own military to Ukraine because he fears that could lead to a nuclear war.

I just want it to stop, Torosyan said of the Russian aggression.

Members of the Ukrainian community walk several miles down Hollywood Boulevard demonstrating their opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Its a crazy situation, said Diana Leli, 45, a blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag draped around her shoulders.

Leli, who lives in Valley Village, said she moved to the U.S. from Ukraine two years ago. She showed a Times reporter messages from the group texting app that she uses to talk to her mother and other relatives in that country. Her mother is 78 and lives in Zaporizhia, a city in southeastern Ukraine, Leli said. Three border guards were recently killed in the area, according to news reports.

We hope Putin will stop, Leli said, adding that she doesn't trust the news coming out of Russia. Were scared.

Demonstrators walk past a homeless encampment in Hollywood. Residents of apartment buildings waved and shouted messages of support from their balconies to the group, which included several families with young children. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

In Westwood, Ukrainian flags flapped in the breeze as drivers along Santa Monica and Sepulveda boulevards honked in support of dozens of demonstrators who had gathered there, waving signs and chanting "Save Ukraine" and "Glory to Ukraine."

Most of the demonstrators were Ukrainian Americans, but there were also people from Latvia, Lithuania, Taiwan, Iran, Greece and Bosnia. Chuck Olynyk, 65, a Ukrainian American and retired history teacher, said all week hes been following the news about the Russian invasion.

Im heartbroken, Olynyk said. Ive had to step away from the TV and work in the garage.

Olynyk said he still has family in Ukraine but lost touch with them years ago. He hopes theyre safe. He said his parents and sister were born there but have since died.

They would have been devastated to see this, he said.

Ukrainian flags flapped in the breeze as drivers along Santa Monica and Sepulveda boulevards in Westwood honked in support of dozens of demonstrators who had gathered there, waving signs and chanting "Save Ukraine" and "Glory to Ukraine." (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Olynyk said he felt proud seeing Ukrainian citizens take up arms. He was especially touched by a video he saw of an elderly Ukrainian woman who was handing out sunflower seeds to Russian soldiers.

"She told them to put them in their pockets so that at least sunflowers will grow when they die, Olynyk said, nearly in tears. The sunflower is Ukraines national flower.

Igor Alksnin, of Tarzana, stood alongside a friend holding a Ukrainian flag. Alksnin, who was born in Ukraine and later became a U.S. citizen, said he needed to come out to support his homeland.

Im here to cry out for help on their behalf, its the least I can do, he said.

He said hes worried about his stepfather, who is still living in Kyiv, Ukraines capital. He said he had spoken on the phone with him earlier and that he was doing OK and staying in his apartment. Alksnin said hes also worried for his grandson, who is in the military.

Im going to pray for him like crazy, he said.

Hundreds of Ukrainian Americans and supporters of that country rally on Santa Monica Boulevard in Westwood to denounce Russia's invasion. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Along Sepulveda Boulevard, Gana Hovey, 37, held a small sign that read Putin must Stop. Hovey, a U.S. citizen, said her parents live in Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine and one of several cities that were bombed.

My parents have been staying in a bomb shelter for the past three days, she said. When they tell me things are quiet, I feel so relieved. All I want to hear is that things are quiet.

Sitting on a bus bench nearby, Hoveys son, 7-year-old Leonardo, waved a small American flag.

He wants to see his grandmother again, she said. She comes to the U.S. every summer, and now I dont know.

Hovey said she hasn't slept for the last three days. She said shes grateful she can still communicate with her parents. When they hang up, she said, I just hope its not the last time.

Most of the demonstrators Saturday were Ukrainian Americans, but there were also people from Latvia, Lithuania, Taiwan, Iran, Greece and Bosnia. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

In Sacramento, home to one of the largest Ukrainian populations in the country, hundreds gathered Saturday morning for a vigil outside a Ukrainian church in the suburb of Orangevale.

Valentyna Halazetdinova, 69, stood clutching her phone and periodically glancing at it with frightened eyes.

On the phone were texted photos from her children in the Ukrainian town of Vinnytsya, near Kyiv, showing her grandchildren, Yanna, 5, and Zlata, 4, dressed in brightly colored outfits and playing in a bomb shelter.

It is so hard to see, said Halazetdinovas daughter, Svetlana Ivantsov, 36, who moved to the U.S. from Ukraine a year ago and described, in a torrent of words, how images of her siblings hunkered in bomb shelters poured into her phone night after night.

From Sacramento, mother and daughter sent texts back, expressing love and prayers. But they felt so helpless. So they had come here, to the Spring of Life, a Ukrainian Baptist Church, to be with hundreds of other Ukrainian immigrants who gathered to sing and pray and comfort one another as their country is consumed by war.

Greater Sacramento has about 100,000 Ukrainian residents, according to Vlad Skots, head of Ukrainian American House, a nonprofit that supports cultural and economic relations between the two countries.

Saturdays event drew Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and several members of the state Assembly and Senate.

Sen. Alex Padilla, center, prays at a vigil Saturday at a Ukrainian church near Sacramento Thursday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Jessica Garrison / Los Angeles Times)

A giant Ukrainian flag had been erected in a courtyard, and beneath it, attendees drank coffee and ate sweets and pickles and samsas, meat dumplings from Ukraine. The churchs large parking lot was full long before the event began, and people parked blocks away and walked to the churchyard, greeting one another with subdued hugs and wide, worried eyes.

Inside the sanctuary, pastors from all over the region led prayers, politicians gave speeches and people sang.

I stand with you, Padilla told the standing-room-only crowd. He condemned the brutal and unprovoked attacks on the country, which he said were an attack on democracy.

He also pledged support for what termed the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II.

Indeed, many of the people praying with Padilla in the church said they had family members who planned to seek refuge in Poland or elsewhere, or had already begun to do so.

Paul Holovatyi, 41, who came to the U.S. from Ukraine four years ago and works fixing dental equipment, said his brother lives very close to the airport in the city of Lutsk, and the sound of fighting fills their apartment. The kids are very scared, he said.

The demonstrations, which followed other large protests and vigils around the state earlier this week, come while Ukrainian forces on Saturday struggled to hold on to Kyiv as Russian troops advanced into the outskirts of the capital city.

President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to rally his compatriots, appearing in a video shot on a Kyiv street to demonstrate that he had not abandoned the city and to urge Ukrainians to resist.

We arent going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country, Zelensky said. Its our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.

Three days since the Russians began their large-scale assault by air, land and sea, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have already fled west, some crossing into Poland and Romania. But thousands of Ukrainians have also responded to Zelenskys call to take up arms to push back against the Russian blitz in what is Europes biggest ground war since World War II.

Times staff writers Dakota Smith and Ruben Vives reported from Los Angeles; staff writer Jessica Garrison reported from Sacramento.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ukrainian soldiers take position in Kyiv on Friday. Here's what will matter next  Ukrainians care more about Ukraine than Russia does. (Emilio Morenatti / Associated Press)

How far will Vladimir Putin go with his special military operation in Ukraine? Whats his plan past taking Kyiv and toppling Ukraines democratically elected government?

You have to wonder if he knows what U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki would advise.

On Feb. 25, 2003, before the Iraq war started, Shinseki was asked by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) in a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing about the force necessary to seize and then stabilize that country after an invasion. Shinseki replied, Something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers.

Were talking about post-hostilities control over a piece of geography thats fairly significant, with the kinds of ethnic tensions that could lead to other problems, Shinseki added. And so it takes a significant ground force presence to maintain a safe and secure environment, to ensure that people are fed, that water is distributed, all the normal responsibilities that go along with administering a situation like this.

It matters more how wars end than how they start. Remember Iraq? Within weeks, American forces were pulling down Saddam Husseins statue in Baghdad. Very quickly, all of Iraq was under our control. And then.

Then the looting. Then no food. Then no water. Then no electricity. Then Abu Ghraib. Then foreign-backed terrorists. Then the insurgency. Then too many of our troops  my troops  went home to be buried.

I served as a lieutenant in a cavalry unit in Iraq in early 2003 and saw firsthand what happens after a ground war, when an armys mission changes from a dynamic phase to a static one. Our cavalry unit of a little more than a hundred troops was sent to secure cities of several hundred thousand (first Fallujah, then Ramadi). It didnt go well.

Fast-forward a full military career. Im now a lieutenant colonel, and last summer I was part of a research team sent to Ukraine to study its defenses against Russian attacks. I was in Kyiv on Ukrainian Independence Day, Aug. 24. The slow-burn war with Russia was proceeding on still-warm embers. That day, a Ukrainian soldier was killed on the trench line a half-days train ride east of the capital.

Our team was guided for part of the day by Lt. Ilya Kononov, a reservist in the Ukrainian army and recent college grad. A history major, he had answers to all our questions. We kept hearing a call-and-response from the enormous crowd gathered in Maidan square to celebrate independence. The lieutenant told us it was a kind of national salute  translated, it started Glory to Ukraine, with the response Glory to Heroes. The next day, we met a Ukrainian general who told us directly, without blinking, Well fight the Russians to the death, until the last Ukrainian.

It wasnt lip service. A poll from a few months ago found that 24% of the country would resist an invasion with a weapon in hand. With Ukraine's population of more than 40 million  and setting aside big-talkers, braggarts and blusterers  that could mean millions of people fighting back against the 190,000 troops Putin sent to overthrow the Zelensky government.

That government has prepared for this moment too. Ukraines leaders knew they couldnt rely on formal military forces alone. At the end of last year, they implemented a national strategy for defense, titled On the Fundamentals of National Resistance. It calls for the involvement of the entire population of Ukraine in the protection of their homeland, with three protective pillars  the Territorial Defense Forces, military training for civilians and irregular warfare units for resilience. And now that resistance operation is a "go." On Friday, the Ukrainian defense ministry called on this citizen army to prepare Molotov cocktails in their defense.

Pundits like to point out that Putin cares more about Ukraine than the West does, but they rarely mention what will matter most in the coming days of the conflict  Ukrainians care more about Ukraine than Russia does. No weapon, no equipment, no technology can ever replace a soldier or a citizen willing to die to protect family and home.

As time goes on, the Russians will learn what we Americans did in 2003. Shock and awe fades. What looks like an overwhelming show of force now may not be enough later.

Because size matters. Ukraine is one-third larger than Iraq. It is more populous than Iraq. At the peak deployment of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, the troops numbered about the same as the force Russia has sent into Ukraine. But Russia has fewer active ground forces and reserves to fall back on than the coalition did, if  when  things sour.

There is every reason to believe that while its invasion may go swiftly, Russia is walking into an industrial-strength resistance and even insurgency in Ukraine. If Putin takes much or all of Ukraine, he wont have the force to hold it. The occupation will bleed the Russian petro-state of resources even more than the worlds sanctions will. This has the makings of our painful time in Iraq, or a second Russian Afghanistan.

Dont say Gen. Shinseki didnt warn them.

Lt. Col. ML Cavanaugh directs the Homeland Defense Institute at the U.S. Air Force Academy. These are the authors views, and not those any other U.S. government agency. @MLCavanaugh

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Russia's military launched a long-feared invasion of Ukraine early Thursday, attacking its ex-Soviet neighbor from multiple directions despite warnings of dire consequences from the United States and the international community.

Thursday's attacks followed weeks of escalating tensions in the region. In a fiery, hourlong speech on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was recognizing the independence of two Russia-backed separatist areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region: the self-proclaimed Peoples Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for stoking the crisis and reiterated its demands to NATO that Ukraine pledges to never join the transatlantic defense alliance.





Latest Developments

Feb 25, 5:55 PM

Ukraine says it is in 'initial stage' of talks with Russia

Ukraine is in the "initial stage of contacts" for possible negotiations with Russia to end the fighting, a spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told ABC News.



The two governments are discussing details such as the time and place of the talks, the spokesman, Sergiy Nykyforov, said. The meeting would take place between advisers and aides and not Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added.



The Kremlin said earlier Friday it was ready to send a delegation for talks to Belarus' capital, Minsk, and claimed Zelenskyy was ready to discuss "neutral status" for Ukraine. Russias foreign ministry later claimed Zelenskyy's administration had said to postpone any more discussion of talks until Saturday.



The discussions come as Zelenskyy warned Ukrainians in a televised address that Russia will attempt to storm Kyiv tonight.



-ABC News' Patrick Reevell and Fidel Pavlenko





Feb 25, 5:23 PM

Zelenskyy warns Russia will try to 'storm' Kyiv tonight

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned in a televised address moments ago that he believes Russian forces will "storm" the capital of Kyiv overnight.



The night will be more difficult than the day, he said, as the sound of shelling and loud booms from airstrikes could be heard over Kyiv.



"We cannot lose Kyiv," he said.



-ABC News' Patrick Reevell





Feb 25, 5:13 PM

Proposed talks of diplomacy come 'at the barrel of a gun': State Dept.



The State Department expressed doubts Friday that Moscow-led efforts to set up talks between Kyiv and the Kremlin in Minsk, Belarus, could yield any meaningful results against the backdrop of an ongoing invasion.



"You've heard us say before that over the course of several weeks leading up to the events that we've seen recently in Ukraine  the assault on Ukraine, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and really, its people  that Moscow engaged in a pretense of diplomacy," State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a briefing. "Now, we see Moscow suggesting that diplomacy take place at the barrel of a gun, or as Moscow's rockets, mortars, artillery, target the Ukrainian people. This is not real diplomacy. Those are not the conditions for real diplomacy."



Price added that if Putin were serious about diplomacy, "He should immediately stop the bombing campaign against civilians, order the withdrawal of his forces from Ukraine, and indicate very clearly  unambiguously to the world  that Moscow is prepared to de-escalate. We have not seen that yet."



When pressed on if the U.S. would still support Ukraine entering into such talks, or if the State Department had specifically advised Ukraine against engaging with Russia, Price largely demurred, but said that the countries were "operating in pure lockstep."



-ABC News' Shannon Crawford and Zoha Qamar





PHOTO: Ukrainian soldiers sit atop an apc in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

Feb 25, 4:43 PM

Russians not making as much progress as they hoped: Pentagon



Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Friday that Russian troops aren't making as much progress in Ukraine as they hoped, and in some cases, Ukrainian forces are successfully fighting back.However, "we have seen continued movement by Russian forces into Ukraine both from the north and from the south, Kirby said, and the amphibious assault on Mariupol in eastern Ukraine is being conducted today.



Kirby stressed that the U.S. and other countries will continue providing defensive support to Ukraine.



-ABC News' Luis Martinez





PHOTO: A woman reacts as she waits for a train trying to leave Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Feb 25, 4:13 PM

Ukraine Railway Company adds evacuation trains from Kyiv to western cities



The Ukraine Railway Company said it's adding a number of evacuation trains running from Kyiv to cities in western Ukraine.



The company said the trains can hold about 10,000 people per day.



-ABC News' Christine Theodorou





BREAKING: U.S. will sanction Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, and members of the Russian national security team, White House press sec. Jen Psaki says.



LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/1c4zPiKUga pic.twitter.com/GRFroAR1Xj  ABC News (@ABC) February 25, 2022





PHOTO: A Ukrainian soldier sits injured on the ground inside the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

PHOTO: A woman with a child walk in front of a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, on Feb. 25, 2022. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Feb 25, 3:42 PM

Biden 'commended the brave actions of the Ukrainian people' during call with Zelensky

President Joe Biden said during his Friday phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he commended the brave actions of the Ukrainian people who are defending their country against the Russian military.On the call Biden said he "also conveyed ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security support being provided by the United States as well as our continued efforts to rally other countries to provide similar assistance."Biden, who met with NATO leaders earlier in the day, said in a statement, "Putin has failed in his goal of dividing the West. NATO is as united and resolute as its ever been, and NATO will maintain its Open Door to those European states who share our values and who one day may seek to join our Alliance."



"I have ordered the deployment of additional forces to augment our capabilities in Europe to support our NATO Allies," Biden said. "And I strongly welcome the decision to activate NATOs defensive plans and elements of the NATO Response Force to strengthen our collective posture, as well as the commitments by our Allies to deploy additional land and air forces to the eastern flank and maritime forces from the High North to the Mediterranean."





PHOTO: A woman holds a cross as she prays on Independence square in Kyiv, Ukraine on the morning of Feb. 24, 2022. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Feb 25, 3:08 PM

Classified all-member House briefing set for Monday

Administration officials will provide a classified in-person briefing on the Ukraine crisis to all House members on Monday evening following their return from recess, a senior Capitol Hill official confirmed to ABC News. Members have had unclassified virtual briefings throughout the week.



-ABC News' Mariam Khan





Feb 25, 3:01 PM

Ukrainian cyber agency reports mass phishing attempts



The Computer Emergency Response Team for Ukraine said it has seen mass phishing emails targeting government websites.



Mass phishing emails have recently been observed targeting private  and  accounts of Ukrainian military personnel and related individuals, the agency said in a Facebook post Friday. After the account is compromised, the attackers, by the IMAP protocol, get access to all the messages. Later, the attackers use contact details from the victims address book to send the phishing emails.



They attribute the emails to officers of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus.



-ABC News' Luke Barr





PHOTO: People sit on a bus as they arrive at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Medyka, Poland, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

PHOTO: Ukrainian wait in the passport control area after exiting a train arriving from Odessa at Przemysl main train station on Feb. 25, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland. (Omar Marques/Getty Images)

PHOTO: People fleeing the conflict in Ukraine arrive at Przemysl train station in Przemysl, Poland, on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Petr David Josek/AP)

More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours  a majority to Poland and Moldova  and many more are moving towards its borders.



Heartfelt thanks to the governments and people of countries keeping their borders open and welcoming refugees.  Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) February 25, 2022

Click here to read the rest of the blog.
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, center, speaks during a press conference after the U.N. Security Council meeting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Friday Feb. 25, 2022 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Friday demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops, a defeat the United States and its supporters knew was inevitable but said would highlight Russias global isolation.

The vote was 11 in favor, with Russia voting no and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, which showed significant but not total opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of his country's smaller and militarily weaker neighbor.

The resolution's failure paves the way for supporters to call for a quick vote on a similar resolution in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, where there are no vetoes. There was no immediate word on a timetable for an assembly vote.

The vote was delayed for two hours the United States and Albania, which co-sponsored the resolution, and their supporters scrambled behind the scenes to get wavering nations to support the resolution. Chinas decision to abstain, rather than use its veto alongside usual ally Russia, was seen as a diplomatic achievement.

Not surprisingly, Russia exercised its veto power today in an effort to protect Russias premeditated, unprovoked, unjustified and unconscionable war in Ukraine," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

But let me make one thing clear: Russia, you can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices," she told her Russian counterpart. You cannot veto the truth. You cannot veto our principles. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people."

Brazils Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, whose countrys vote was initially in question but turned into a yes, said his government is gravely concerned about Russias military action. A line has been crossed, and this council cannot remain silent, he said.

In response, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reiterated his country's claims that it is standing up for people in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the government for eight years. He accused the West of ignoring Ukrainian abuses there.

You have made Ukraine a pawn in your geopolitical game, with no concern whatsoever about the interests of the Ukrainian people, he said, calling the failed resolution nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard.

Chinas U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said China abstained because all efforts must be made for a diplomatic solution and a response from the Security Council should be taken with great caution rather than adding fuel to fire. He warned that Western sanctions may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution and echoed Russian claims that it is being threatened by NATO's expansion over the years.

Russia's legitimate security aspirations should be given attention and addressed properly, Zhang said, and Ukraine should become a bridge between east and west, not an outpost for confrontation among major powers.

Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward called Russias claim that it was acting in self-defense absurd.

Russias only act of self-defense is the vote they have cast against this resolution today, she said.

Ukraines U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of committing war crimes"

"There will be no hospitality for your troops in our territory," he told Russia's Nebenia.

You can stop a vote in this chamber," Kyslytsya said. But what may stop the war is unfortunately the bodies, and thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers that will be delivered to their mothers in Russia  whether you like it or not  because we have to defend our territory. We have to defend ourselves."

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled that the United Nations was born out of war to end war.

Today, that objective was not achieved, he said. But we must never give up. We must give peace another chance."

The resolutions supporters had agreed to weaken the text to get additional support. They eliminated putting the resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced militarily, and language stating that the situation in Ukraine constitutes a breach of international peace and security, and that the Russian Federation has committed acts of aggression against Ukraine. They also changed condemns to deplores in sections about Russia's actions.

In the draft that was put to a vote, the council would have deplored Russias aggression against Ukraine in the strongest terms and demanded an immediate halt to its use of force and the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraines internationally recognized borders.

It would have deplored Russias Feb. 21 decision declaring areas of Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions independent and would have ordered Russia to immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision. And it would have reaffirmed the councils commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

In a show of support before the meeting, representatives of the 27 nations belonging to the European Union stood outside the Security Council chamber behind Ukraines blue and yellow flag with Ukraines Kyslytsya.

The Security Council resolution would have been legally binding. General Assembly resolutions arent legally binding but serve as a reflection of world opinion.

Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador, said supporters of the resolution will be taking the issue of Russia's invasion to the assembly where the nations of the world can, will and should hold Russia accountable and stand in solidarity with Ukraine."

Russia cannot, and will not, veto accountability, she said, surrounded by dozens of ambassadors from supporting countries.
Explosions and bombings reverberated around Kyiv early Saturday as Russian invaders advanced toward Ukraines capital  but Ukrainian defenders were believed to have slowed the massive attack, at least temporarily.

Shelling pounded bridges, schools and a Kyiv apartment building as Western powers aimed new economic sanctions directly at President Vladimir Putin.

This night we have to stand firm. The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Friday night speech.

With Kyiv transformed from a bustling metropolis into a war zone, the Ukrainian authorities asked residents to prepare Molotov cocktails and said they had distributed 18,000 firearms to reservists in and around the capital.

Air raid sirens roared over the city after nightfall, and Zelenskyy warned that Russia intended to storm the city in the coming hours.

Bodies of Russian servicemen wearing Ukrainian service uniforms lie inside and beside a vehicle were shot during a skirmish in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 25, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene.





Bodies of Russian servicemen wearing Ukrainian service uniforms lie inside and beside a vehicle were shot during a skirmish in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 25, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/)

The Ukrainian military said it had shot down a troop-carrying Russian Il-76 military transport plane, The Associated Press reported. Such planes can carry up to 125 paratroopers. The shootdown was confirmed by a U.S. intelligence official, the AP said.

Ukrainian authorities claimed Russia had incurred significant military costs.

The enemy is clearly surprised by the resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces and volunteers, Oksana Markarova, Ukraines ambassador to Washington, said in a news briefing on the second day of the war. They didnt advance the way they planned.

The Pentagon press secretary, John Kirby, reinforced the impression, describing Russian setbacks but cautioning that the situation remained fluid ahead of a potentially dark night in Kyiv.

Terrifying wait for news from Ukraine for NYC relatives amid Russian attack: Anxiety is on 100

We see clear indications that the Ukrainian armed forces are fighting back and bravely defending their country, Kirby said from the Pentagon podium on Friday afternoon. Without getting into a blow-by-blow, it is not apparent to us that the Russians  over the last 24 hours  have been able to execute their plans.

Firemen extinguish a fire inside a residential building that was hit by a missile on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.





Firemen extinguish a fire inside a residential building that was hit by a missile on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Pierre Crom/)

In the afternoon, gun-toting civilians roamed the streets of Kyiv. But the city faced an apparently intensifying onslaught, and missiles rained from the sky.

The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the citys fall remained a distinct possibility. Weve continued to see Russias progression, Psaki said in a briefing.

On Friday night, the rumble of explosions appeared to grow closer to the citys center, according to posts on social media. The extent of the Russian advance was not clear.

A Ukrainian Army soldier inspects fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. It was unclear what aircraft crashed and what brought it down amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine.





A Ukrainian Army soldier inspects fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. It was unclear what aircraft crashed and what brought it down amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (Vadim Zamirovsky/)

Zelenskyy spent much of the day phoning Western leaders, including President Biden. To dispel rumors he had fled Kyiv, he released a blurry video that showed him and other government leaders.

Former boxing heavyweight champs Klitschko brothers vow to stay and fight for Ukraine independence

We are all here, our soldiers are here, and the citizens of the country are here, he said. We are all here protecting our independence and will continue to do so. Glory to our defenders.

   :

"   -   ,  !    .     !  !" pic.twitter.com/hojX94ONDI  Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022

Around the world, resistance to Putins ruthless war on Ukraine hardened, and Western leaders slapped new, unprecedented sanctions on the Kremlin. The U.S., European Union, and Britain said they were directly sanctioning Putin and his foreign secretary, Sergey Lavrov.

On Thursday, Biden promised that the invasion would end up costing Russia dearly economically and strategically and render Putin a pariah on the international stage.

A UN Security Council resolution meant to condemn the invasion on Friday was derailed by Russias veto, but the gathering was marked by sharp censures of Russia by members. Russia is alone, said Nicolas de Riviere, Frances ambassador.

President Joe Biden speaks at the White House, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C.





President Joe Biden speaks at the White House, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Kaster/)

In a remarkable departure from papal protocol, Pope Francis paid a half-hour visit to the Russian Embassy near Vatican City to express his distress over the conflict, according to Vatican News. The sight of the pope leaving the walled city to appeal for an end to war had not been seen in modern memory.

Meanwhile, Putin, buffeted by large protests on his home turf in Moscow, ramped up his information warfare. The Kremlin said it was partially restricting Facebook access in Russia, accusing the social media giant of illegally censoring Russian news outlets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 25.





Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 25. (Alexei Nikolsky/)

The Russian president has weaved together a falsehood-filled rationale for his attack on Ukraine, portraying the nation as an American vassal state that has aggressed against Russia.

Facebooks parent company, Meta, said Russian authorities had ordered it to stop fact-checking content from four news outlets, all state-run Russian mouthpieces.

We refused, Nick Clegg, the president of global affairs at Meta, said in a statement. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services.

Ukrainian women and children are seen at the Slovak-Ukrainian border crossing at Vysne Nemecke on February 25, 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.





Ukrainian women and children are seen at the Slovak-Ukrainian border crossing at Vysne Nemecke on February 25, 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (PETER LAZAR/)

In the statement, Clegg urged Russians to continue to use Metas social media platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp, to make their voices heard, share whats happening, and organize.

In Opinion: How the free world gave Putin the green light, Garry Kasparov writes

Across the world, people rallied to the cause of the Ukrainians, decrying the scenes of war cascading out of Eastern Europe. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have already poured out of their homeland, fleeing the largest invasion in Europe since World War II.

In New York, home of the largest Ukrainian population of any state in America, the Empire State Building glowed with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag on Friday night, matching with the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the London Eye.

This community is hurting right now, Rep. Carolyn Maloney said at an event at the Ukrainian National Home in the East Village, which is part of her district. I wish I could provide words of comfort, but there is no comfort in war.

Other New York landmarks, including the Freedom Tower and the archway outside Grand Central Terminal, were bathed in the same hues.

We stand in solidarity with those in New York who are scared for their family and loved ones, and our prayers are with the innocent victims as they fight to maintain their freedom as a sovereign people and nation, Gov. Hochul said in a statement.

In a news conference in Midtown Manhattan, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York echoed the sentiment and condemned Putin as an immoral man who will suffer the consequences for his actions.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holding the Daily News with an article showing support for Ukraine in Manhattan, New York on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.





Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holding the Daily News with an article showing support for Ukraine in Manhattan, New York on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (courtesy Angelo Roefaro/)

Ukrainians are familiar with Russian attempts to dominate Ukraine, Schumer said. Ukraine will, like in the past, fight back. We will support them.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin's military forces invade the sovereign nation of Ukraine, many nations will look for ways to respond forcefully to immediately treat Russia as a pariah state on par with Bashar Assad's Syria and Kim Jong Un's North Korea.

While the United States said it will not engage Russia directly on the battlefield in Ukraine with U.S. troops, one strategy it could take is to mobilize allies to collectively isolate Russia in all ways possible -- economically, diplomatically and through "gray-zone" activities like cyber or information warfare -- to make Putin understand that this invasion will not stand and that his decision was a grave mistake.

The goal here would be to make Putin and his backers feel enough pain to force them to abandon their intent to annex Ukraine. Pressure can also be applied through all these means to turn Russian citizens completely against this effort to the point that Putin worries about simply retaining his power domestically.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 24, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AP)

The U.S. is already working to implement severe sanctions. That's an important first step. The U.S. and its allies will look to isolate Russia economically, including by cutting Russia out of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) banking network and ensuring the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline remains off.

While Russia has bolstered its currency reserves in anticipation of this sort of moment, the economic results of this strategy could spark discontent among the Russian people about Putin's invasion of Ukraine, which has already sparked protests despite the strong risk of arrest.

Certainly, Putin will use Russian propaganda to point the blame back at the West for a weakening of the Russian economy. But, the United States can make it clear to the Russian people that Putin has the power to end sanctions affecting their everyday lives by reversing course.

MORE: Biden to order personal sanctions on Putin as Russian forces close in on Kyiv

Perhaps more importantly, the sanctions will seek to hit Russian oligarchs hard. These powerful tycoons are keeping Putin in power. Cutting off their international trade and seizing their assets will make them question whether they want to continue supporting his rule.

Along with economic isolation, another strategy would be to cut off Russia from the world. The U.S. could pressure allies around the world to expel Russian diplomats and shutter their embassies. The Czech Republic has already set a precedent by closing Russian consulates on Czech territory and sending their diplomats home.

Further, the U.S. and its allies can stop issuing visas to Russian nationals. Russian citizens would not be permitted to travel into or through their countries. This travel ban will continue to demonstrate that the West will cut Russia off from the world until Putin abandons his conquest of Ukraine.

PHOTO: People take part in a protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine, in Times Square, in New York, Feb. 24, 2022. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters)

That said, diplomatic discussions could remain a possibility, since this conflict will not end through Western military intervention. This includes retaining back-channel diplomatic talks through a government like Austria in order to work with our allies on finding a way forward.

The U.S. could also work with our NATO allies to ensure NATO members in Eastern Europe are protected from further Russian incursion. NATO, led by the U.S., could send additional forces to Eastern Europe and begin plans to permanently station them there. Putin worries about being surrounded by NATO. This action seeks to show him that his unlawful aggression has, in fact, strengthened NATO and he has essentially caused everything he claimed to be concerned about.

Nonetheless, Putin controls one of the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons. The goal would be to not escalate to the point where U.S. and Russian forces are facing off. That said, the U.S. can provide military assistance to the democratically-elected Ukrainian government fighting off an invasion of their sovereign lands. The United States and its NATO allies can accordingly send additional arms immediately for Ukraine to fight off the invading Russian forces.

MORE: Concerns mount over conflict in Chernobyl exclusion zone

It's unclear at the moment just how far Putin will push forward his troops. If they are successful in capturing all or part of Ukraine militarily, resistance groups will start to fight the Russian occupiers. American special operations and intelligence officers have an extensive knowledge base from 20 years of fighting insurgencies in places like Afghanistan. They can work with Ukrainians to support a fierce and effective resistance movement.

As part of this effort, the U.S. and its NATO allies would provide weapons, ammunition, medical, intelligence and financing support to these insurgent movements. The Ukrainian resistance will also need a safe haven for a base of their operations. The U.S. and the rest of NATO would work with Poland and Moldova to support this effort.

PHOTO: U.S. military stand on the tarmac of Riga International Airport as they arrive in Latvia, Feb. 24, 2022. (Latvian Defence Ministry/Gatis Indrevics via Reuters)

The U.S. can also lead the fight in another critical domain: information warfare. For too long, we have endured relentless propaganda targeting American (and Ukrainian) citizens in every aspect of civil society. We can break out of our traditional bureaucratic process to more effectively respond, counter and present our own messages as the leaders of the free world. Again, the goal is to further create dissent internally within Russia that makes Putin focus on his own country and abandon his external ambitions.

In line with this, the United States can endeavor to find ways to creatively bolster its support for Russian civil society and fund Russian opposition movements. Carefully targeted cyber attacks within Russia can also be considered if Russia attacks us via these means.

These types of gray-zone activities are not without risk. Cyberwarfare, for example, may have unforeseen consequences as much of our critical infrastructure is on systems that were designed before this form of warfare was considered.

The tactics to isolate Russia also may not have the immediate desired effect, such as the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. Nonetheless, the U.S. faces a moral obligation to do what we can to support the Ukrainian people.

Michael "Mick" Patrick Mulroy is a retired U.S. Marine, a retired paramilitary operations officer in the CIA's Special Activities Center and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. He is a national security and defense analyst for ABC News, a senior fellow for national security and defense policy with the Middle East Institute and a co-founder of the Lobo Institute.

How the US could work with its allies to collectively isolate Russia: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Students staying in Bomb Shelter of their apartment named Domino-2 at Kharkiv in Ukraine. It is 40kms away from Russia border. (Photo by arrangement)

Visakhapatnam: Most Indians who are near the Russian border in Ukraine spent a second day in bunkers and bomb shelters. Some others who are on the western borders are making their way to the borders of neighbouring countries from where they will be brought home.

Deccan Chronicle spoke to four Indians who were hiding in the bomb shelter of their apartment  Domino 2 at Kharkiv, 40 km away from the Russian border. Of them, Prasad Nampally and Ajith K. were from Telangana state, Aditya Srinivas from AP and Navya from Karnataka, whose father is an ex-serviceman.

Kharkiv is Ukraines second-biggest city and has seen the worst fighting. Ukraine resistance fighters are believed to be engaging Russian forces there.

Narrating Day 2 of kufe in a bunker during war, Prasad told Deccan Chronicle that all residents had shifted to the bomb shelter, which is available with almost every apartment. They were able to get food and water from outside on Friday.

We give a message through this newspaper to the Indian government and our parents and friends that we are in the safe zone, so no worries. But, we request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speed up the process of evacuating our nationals from this conflict zone to any safe place, including neighbouring countries for time being, Prasad said.

His friend Srinivas added that their location is close to the Russian border. The neighbouring countries of Romania and Poland are far away, nearly 800 km. The Indian government is asking the students to reach these countries by road, from where they will be flown back to India.

The local government has urged all people including foreigners to join the war and weapons will be provided to them. Many Ukrainian nationals have voluntarily joined the war, said an Indian student.

Without thinking too much about the future, we are silently hiding in safe places like bunkers and bomb shelters, the Indian said.

When contacted, an AP government official said that the Centre was sending aeroplanes to Poland, Romania and Slovakia from where Indian nationals in Ukraine will be brought back. The AP government also instructed all district collectors to open control rooms to collect data of the students from the families at home.

A helpline number, 1902, was opened for residents in AP to call and register the details of those stranded in Ukraine.

For Emergency

1902

8500027678

0891-2750090

0891-2590102

0891-2590100
Northern Ireland has lost a proud and visionary son, the funeral of DUP MLA Christopher Stalford has heard.

The popular politician, whose funeral was attended by figures from across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland, was a south Belfast boy through and through, mourners were told, who deeply loved his family and community.

Friends, colleagues and fellow politicians gathered in south Belfast on Saturday afternoon to pay their respects to Mr Stalford.

The 39-year-old father of four died suddenly last weekend.

The Hearse carrying the coffin of DUP MLA Christopher Stalford (Peter Morrison/PA)

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, alongside party MPs and MLAs, was among the congregation at Ravenhill Presbyterian Church in south Belfast.

Leaders from across unionism in Northern Ireland were there too, including Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie and Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister.

Former DUP leader Peter Robinson was also in attendance, alongside the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Rev Mervyn Gibson.

Senior Sinn Fein figures, including communities ministers Deirdre Hargey and Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey, were among the mourners.

Deputy leader Nichola Mallon, as well as South Belfast representatives Claire Hanna and Matthew OToole, attended the funeral on behalf of the SDLP.

Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance Party, as well as Claire Bailey, the Green Party leader, were also in attendance.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Kate Nicholl, also arrived to pay her respects.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives for the funeral (Peter Morrison/PA)

Inside the church, wife Laura Stalford and his four children heard of how the husband and father lived for politics  but always put his family first.

Fellow MLA William Humphrey delivered a moving tribute to his friend and colleague, who he said probably developed his passion for politics in the pram.

Recalling how he joined the DUP as a teenager, Mr Humphrey said that Mr Stalford was totally committed to the party.

He said: He often told me, Im like a stick of rock. If you cut me in half, itll say DUP.

We are all devastated by his passing.

He was unique. A true character. He had a huge intellect, with a sharp mind and a great sense of humour.

Our world is the poorer for Christophers passing.

We have lost a most able and valued colleague. Stormont has lost a brilliant parliamentarian. Unionism has lost a great advocate. South Belfast, an exceptional representative. And Northern Ireland, a proud and visionary son.

However, our loss is nothing to the immense loss his family will feel today.

Laura Stalford arrives for the funeral of her husband (Peter Morrison/PA)

The service on Saturday heard that the local politician grew up as bright boy who as a teenager liked to use large, bold words.

Educated in south Belfast and an alumnus of Wellington College and Queens University, the funeral heard that Mr Stalford made sure voters knew his roots in the local community.

So you know what whenever Christopher went to canvas the area, he made sure everyone knew where he went to school so they knew that he was a south Belfast boy through and through, Rev Marty Gray told the congregation.

But he said that the MLA was proud of his working-class upbringing.

He was proud of being from down the road, and not up the road.

One night for art homework at Wellington College he was asked though to draw a picture what he saw outside his bedroom window.

All he could see where the roofs of terrace houses. So he got drawing.

Rev Gray that when step-dad Eric was amazed at what the young man drew.

He added: Not at how good Christophers drawing was  but of the fields and sheep that Christopher had drawn.

Mr Stalford was not averse to causing trouble, Rev Gray recounted, even when at school.

Rev Gray recalled how when his school made a decision not to sell poppies for the Royal British Legion anymore, the young Christopher was outraged.

So he bought a box of poppies with his own money and handed them out as gifts at school.

He was able to get around it by being clever, by being political.

Rev Gray reminded the congregation that Mr Stalford had a childhood marked by tragedy, after his father died when Christopher was just seven years old.

But he also spoke of Mr Stalfords deep love for his wife Laura, who the future politician had a wee thing for even as a child.

He told mourners that the pair were married by Reverend Ian Paisley, who broke off a meeting with Tony Blair to marry the couple when they were 21.

He said: When he was 16 years old, he, having tortured Laura for quite a while, Laura eventually agreed to go out with him. Their first date was to a local fish and chip shop where Christopher, in his calamitous way, managed to get red sauce all over Laura.

But that didnt put her off.

He said that the couple were inseparable from the age of 16.

The Belfast church heard a vivid picture of the couples married life and long walks home because frugal Christopher avoided paying for a taxi.

Christopher loved a bargain. He loved charity shops.

The funeral service was also told how much Mr Stalford loved his children, even taking them to City Hall in Belfast with him.

Trinity, Oliver, Cameron and Abigail, they were the apple of his eye. He just loved being with them.

Christopher died very suddenly last Saturday night. He took unwell and despite the best efforts of two teams of paramedics he passed away, the service heard.

The next morning, that was a testament of how much of an impact his faith and Lauras faith had had on their family, Rev Gray.

Because after Laura broke the news to the children, Cameron said: Will we pray now?. And all four children prayed.

Mr Stalford, he said, was a Christian man who had so many ambitions for the future.

Today we grieve for the years ahead that he will not see. Today, we grieve for the ambitions he will not get to fulfil.

Outside the church, constituents and locals gathered to say goodbye.

They watched as seasoned politicians wiped away tears and hugged each other at the church entrance.

Dozens lined the road as the cortege moved away, with the citys iconic Samson and Goliath cranes visible in the distance.

Pauline and Doreen, two friends, were among the crowd.

They knew the family, the pair said, and Mr Stalford was a great representative for the community.

He was an amazing fella, Doreen said.
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Ombudsmen of Armenia and Artsakh Kristine Grigoryan and Gegham Stepanyan issue statement on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Sumgait massacres. As reports Armenpress statement runs as follows:

"The February 20, 1998 decision of the Council of People's Deputies of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast to combat through peaceful means for the right to life of the Armenians of Artsakh, and their right to live free in dignity and security in their own homeland, few days later found its response in the city of Sumgait, located in the distance of 27 kms from Baku. On February 27-29, at the direct provocation of the Azerbaijani authorities and organized by them, the Armenian population of the city was subjected to torture, mutilation, arson of people (both alive or after death), gang rape, while their property was destroyed and looted.

As a result of the massacres committed on the grounds of nationality the rights of the 20.000 Armenian residents of Sumgait, to life, to be free from torture and discrimination, to freedom and security, to private property, to fair trial, other rights were directly and irrevocably threatened.

Although the Sumgait massacres were documented by the relevant Soviet authorities, the perpetrators and the organizers of the crime have not been brought to justice.

The anti-Armenian massacres of Sumgait instigated a series of crimes against humanity committed by Azerbaijan- a practice which continues to this day. Within the context of this consistent policy during the period of 1988-1991, thousands of Armenians were killed, while another 500,000 thousand were forcibly displaced from the cities of Gandzak (Kirovabad), Baku, and other cities in Azerbaijan, as well as in the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast.

Aiming to forcibly suppress the right to self-determination of the population of Artsakh, and to annihilate them, Azerbaijan launched a war against the Armenian population lasted 1991-1994, during which the vivid evidence of the genocidal actions of the Azerbaijani authorities is the massacre of the Armenian population in the village of Maragha in the region of Martakert in April 1992, as a result of which more than 50 peaceful civilians were killed and Armenians were completely annihilated from the village.

The Republic of Azerbaijan fully inherited, further improved the policy of Armenophobia of Soviet Azerbaijan, aimed at the forceful displacement of Armenians from Artsakh, and the annihilation of the Armenian people in its cradle. The practice of glorifying murders purely on ethnic grounds, which was instigated with the Sumgait massacres, became the signature of the Azerbaijani authorities. As a result, the region was enriched with heroes such as Ramil Safarov, Mubariz Ibrahimov, and others who were taking revenge against the civilian population during the April war of 2016 and were beheading and dismembering Armenian servicemen in the style of terrorist organizations, and as a result were encouraged at the highest levels of the Azerbaijani state.

The Armenophobia disseminated in the Azerbaijani society by their authorities over the years got its worst manifestation during the September 2020 war unleashed by Azerbaijani against Artsakh, during which the peaceful civilians, kindergartens, schools and hospitals became the primary targets of Azerbaijani army.

The war crimes committed by Azerbaijan during the 44-day aggression, the gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights are documented in the reports of the Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh, in the reports of several human rights organizations, and have been raised by the representatives of various international organizations.

Impunity breads and perpetrates new crimes based on ethnic hatred.

The Armenophobia of the Azerbaijani authorities does not bypass Armenian cultural and religious heritage: An attempt is made to apply the methodology of complete displacement of Armenians and the destruction of the medieval Armenian heritage of Nakhichevan in the regions of Artsakh that have fallen under Azerbaijani control. A working group has even been officially set up with the clear aim of destroying Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments and falsifying their identities.

Armenophobia, the evidence of which is growing daily, is being implemented by the authorities of Baku as a method to form the collective identity of the Azerbaijani population. However, history has repeatedly demonstrated that an identity based on hatred on ethnic and national ground firstly destroys its bearers, it threatens the normal, peaceful and secure life of the people of the region and disrupts the development and progress of societies.

As a first step to quit this policy, we call on the Azerbaijani authorities to show political will, to assess with credibility the anti-Armenian massacres in Sumgait, Gandzak (Kirovabad), Baku, and other places, and to refrain from a policy of denial; to bring to justice those who committed violations during and after the 44-day war against the civilian population, and those who committed and organized the torture and mutilations of captured and killed Armenian servicemen, to release immediately the Armenian POWs and other captives still held in Azerbaijan, and to stop the acts of vandalism committed against the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh.

We call on the international community to give a proper legal assessment of the violence committed in Sumgait in February 1988, based on fundamental principles of international law and international norms, as well as take effective measures to assess and stop the continued policy of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan.

We pay tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of the massacres of Sumgait and other settlements, and stress that impunity for commitment of human rights violations and crimes leads to new and more heinous crimes."
According to information released by the British Ministry of Defense on February 26, 2022, United Kingdom sea, land, and air forces have arrived in eastern Europe to reinforce NATO in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

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British Army Warrior MCV-80 tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle loading to RoRo at Mrachwood port transporting East Europe on February 23, 2022. (Photographer: Corporal Anil Gurung / MoD Crown Picture source UK DoD)

British Royal Navy ships, British Army troops, and Royal Air force fighters are arriving on new deployments in eastern Europe to bolster NATOs eastern front.

British Navy HMS Trent is in the eastern Mediterranean, conducting NATO exercises with Merlin Helicopters and RAF P8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft. They will be shortly joined by HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer, which set sail from Portsmouth yesterday.

Challenger 2 main battle tanks and Warrior MCV-80 tracked armored IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) of the Royal Welsh battlegroup have arrived in Estonia from Germany, with further equipment and around 1,000 British troops arriving over the coming days. This will lead to a doubling of the UK presence in Estonia, where the UK leads a NATO battlegroup as part of the Alliances enhanced Forward Presence.

British Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets have already completed their first air policing missions across the region, with an additional four aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Typhoons flying from bases in Cyprus and the UK are now patrolling NATO airspace over Romania and Poland alongside NATO allies with Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft in support.

Yesterday, the British Defence Secretary held a virtual donor conference with more than 25 countries, including the US and Canada and some countries outside NATO, coordinating their support to Ukraine. They will continue to give humanitarian and military support, which includes ammunition and anti-tank weapons, and the UK has offered to conduct logistics operations to support the delivery of donations.

NATO Allies are united in response to Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and are collectively taking a range of measures to protect their security and deter further aggression.



According to pictures released by the British Ministry of Defense, the deployment of military equipment to East Europe includes Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, Warrior MCV-80 tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles, M270 MLRS Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems, AS90 155mm tracked self-propelled howitzers, Scimitar CVRT light tracked reconnaissance armored vehicles as well as dozens of logistics trucks and 4x4 light vehicles.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to them

Indian nationals hold the tricolor before boarding the 2nd special Air India flight, evacuating Indians from war-torn Ukraine, in Bucharest, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (PTI)

New Delhi: Air India's second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday, government officials said.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to them.

India on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, with the first evacuation flight, AI1944, bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the evening.

The second evacuation flight, AI1942, carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 2.45 am on Sunday, the officials said.

Air India's third evacuation flight, AI1940, which will depart from Hungarian capital Budapest, is also scheduled to return with evacuees to Delhi on Sunday, they said.

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began. Therefore, the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest, respectively, by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights, the officials said.

The government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights, they said.

Air India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airport.

"Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning, operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine," the airline said.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24 that around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, were stranded in Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbers.

"The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens," it mentioned.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimation.

It said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation.

"All those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient," it said.
by Dario Salvi

The Latin primate of Jerusalem expresses bitterness and disappointment as well as concern given Russias important role in the Middle East. Card Sako mentions Shia leader al-Sadr who is surprised by conflict between Christian countries. For the Armenian patriarch, ordinary people will feel the consequences.

Florence (AsiaNews)  The winds of war coming from Ukraine, besieged by Russian forces after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war, are source of great bitterness and deep disappointment for Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Speaking to AsiaNews, he notes that the escalation that led to the conflict "is a defeat for all those who believe in the possibility of overcoming differences in a different way,

The prelate cannot hide his concerns since Moscow plays a very important role in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and this show of force could have repercussions on our region.

Currently in Italy for the Mediterranean frontier of peace meeting in Florence from 23 to 27 February, the patriarch is concerned about the divisions between the Churches of Russia and Ukraine and their possible repercussions.

Such confrontations will have consequences since conflicts between Churches accompany political divisions and have been exploited for [certain] political visions.

Unfortunately, we must acknowledge this. But hopefully, the split within the Orthodox world will not widen for this would be a problem of all Christian communities.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem mentioned that a day of prayer and fasting is set for 2 March, which coincides with the start of Lent.

This is a very important day for us. It will be a very intense event and will include a special intention for reconciliation between the Churches and for the end of conflicts, starting with the one in Ukraine.

In Baghdad Chaldean Patriarch Card Louis Raphael Sako expressed "solidarity" with the people involved. We too have suffered in recent years from war, he told AsiaNews.

The prelate added that, I am struck by the message released by Moqtada al-Sadr[*], who wonders why two Christian countries are waging war with each other.

For the patriarch, people should not pursue self-interest. Wars are just not the solution; on the contrary, a solution and a way to engage in dialogue and reduce tensions must be sought.

The patriarch cannot hide his fear for the wars repercussions on the whole Middle East, concerned that the escalation between Moscow and Kyiv could lead to a third world war.

We all hope not, he said, but, Christians too must personally act; for this reason, he expects broad participation in Iraq on 2 March to the day of prayer, which falls on the first day of Lent.

For his part, Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian looks with concern and attention" to the peoples of Russia and Ukraine, worried that it is ordinary people, civilians, who are paying the highest price for this situation.

For the patriarch, external forces are using Ukraine to sow confusion; in his view, the heart of the dispute is not Kyiv "but everything that revolves around it".

The same can be said about Lebanon in the Middle East, which was the battleground for the conflict of other countries, but whose population paid the price for the violence.

[*] Shia cleric whose party one recent parliamentary election in Iraq.
by Guido Alberto Casanova

Three plaintiffs sterilised in the 1960s and 1970s will receive about US$ 240,000. A law remained in force between 1948 and 1996 to prevent people with physical or cognitive disabilities from having children. A 2019 law limited the amount of compensation for victims.

Tokyo (AsiaNews)  For the first time, a Japanese court has recognised the right to adequate compensation for victims of Japans Eugenic Protection Law.

The Osaka High Court ordered the government to pay 27.5 million yen (about US0,000) to three people who had sued for compensation over their forced sterilisations in the 1960s and 1970s.

Between 1948 and 1996, Japan had a law designed to prevent people with physical or cognitive disabilities or mentally ill from having children.

Although few documents remain relating to the decision-making process behind these sterilisations, it is estimated that 25,000 people with disabilities were sterilised, including around 16,500 who were operated without their consent.

In some cases, the victims were young adults or teenagers, not fully cognizant of what was going to happen to them.

In April 2019, the government led by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a law that provided for the payment of 3.2 million yen (about US$ 28,000) in compensation for each victim of forced sterilisation.

Recognising the serious suffering caused, Prime Minister Abe issued a statement on that occasion saying, As the government that carried out this law, after deep reflection, I would like to apologize from the bottom of my heart.

However, the law has been the subject of strong criticism, starting with the amount of compensation, considered by many to be too low compared to the trauma caused.

In recent years, a few dozen victims have filed their case in court, asking for sums well above those required by law.

Until last week, court rulings have been disappointing however. None of the six rulings handed down since 2019 by district courts recognised the right of victims to compensation.

The reason given by the judges is that the statute of limitations had expired, even though most rulings acknowledged that forced sterilisation violated the victims human rights guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution.

The Osaka High Court turned the larger picture upside down. Recognising that in such cases, strict compliance with the law would lead to a significant violation of the concepts of justice and fairness, the presiding judge ordered the government to pay the three victims.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the government will consider whether to appeal to the Supreme Court after examining the decision.

However, one of the plaintiffs asked the government not to appeal, as neither he nor his wife could see the final ruling given their advance age.

The Tokyo High Court is expected to rule on a similar case next month, but the Osaka ruling has already sparked hopes for many surviving victims and their families.

As reported by Kyodo News, less than a dozen cases are still pending but more than a thousand people have already been compensated by the government since the law came into effect in 2019.

As the wall of prejudice and judicial resistance is slowly falling, more people could come forward.
Hyderabad: Municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao on Friday urged the Centre to introduce a ranking system among states towards reaching net-zero emissions on the lines of the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings. This would trigger competition among the states and encourage a diligent and effective approach for meeting climate commitments, he said.

The minister highlighted the Haritha Haram program and other afforestation initiatives of the state while addressing a national workshop on forestry activities, organised by the forest department, here.

He appealed to the Union forest ministry to have a pragmatic approach towards achieving net-zero emissions, which was a 2070 target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rao said that the forest department should take into account the overall carbon emissions resulting from deforestation, and not just the loss of green cover.

When we build a flyover, we only think about the trees that will either be translocated or uprooted. We should study the average number of cars that will use the road, their wait at the traffic signal and for how long the vehicles engine is kept running, he explained.

He said that there was a need to incentivise performing states with respect to improving green cover with additional funds from the compensatory afforestation fund management and planning authority (CAMPA) while at the same time delisting underperforming states.

Stating that the forest department on its own cannot expect any major breakthrough, he urged them to coordinate with all departments and go about the vision as a joint exercise.

He reminded them that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was not for industrialisation at the cost of the environment. Keeping the well-being of future generations in mind, among his first priorities as Chief Minister was a call to take up a workable comprehensive afforestation plan.

Rao expressed happiness that almost 40.44 per cent of forest beat officers, section officers and range officers in the state were women.
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SUV

AMG

Stellantis sporty subsidiary with a massive heritage and just two models up for sale (Giulia and Stelvio) hopes for a true metamorphosis by way of NFTs, hybrids, and PHEVs. It remains to be seen if just the Tonale will be enough to rekindle the car enthusiast love.In the meantime, it sure gave automotive virtual artists a lot of CGI food for thought. Some decided to do something Dodge about it. And envisioned the Tonale-based 2023 Dodge Hornetthat has been rumored to be in the making since last year. Complete with some wishful thinking SRT Hellcat attire Others have become a little obsessed with the Tonale itself. And started churning out an entire virtual series that encompassed not only cool GTA versions, but also some impossible siblings in Ute pickup truck, Spider, or even four-door Coupe form.As far as Germany-based virtual artist Andras Veres, better known as andras.s.veres on social media, is concerned, perhaps he would do well to refocus on something else  according to some folks. Instead, he is also gracing other Alfa Romeo products with Tonale-based CGI inspiration. With either positive or negative results.Well, his latest attempt at reviving the Alfa Romeo Giulietta for the fourth time might not be as good-looking as his previous 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm preview . But it might be the fault of the base model used for the rendering. No matter what inspirational case he took, the author tries to give us an unofficial true Italian hot hatch.So, it is only natural that his hypothetical 2023 Alfa Romeo Giulietta fourth generation is already dressed up in GTA drab. So, a step up the Quadrifoglio ladder. And a powerful compact luxury hot hatch ready to do twin-turbo V6 brawl with stuff like the Audi RS 3 Sportback, Mercedes-A 45, and the likes. Well, it remains to be seen if these ideas are merely wishful thinking or not...
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The German automaker told the supplying company to develop a fix in double time. Even though Kromberg and Schubert Mexico developed a cable retainer to secure the wiring harness, MBAG still had to rework all potentially affected vehicles. The German automaker assumed that everything was fine at the beginning of 2019, but obviously enough, that was not the case because Mercedes-Benz suffers from third-rate quality control since eons ago.Even Scotty Kilmer called them for it with a shockingly bad GLE Coupe MBAG assumed that all potentially affected vehicles had been reworked and no unreworked vehicles had been released from the plant. But come February 2020, it was detected that some potentially affected vehicles may have left the plant without being reworked. Sad trombone noises ensued.Due to the manufacturers well-known disregard for quality control, possible consequences during the lifetime of the vehicle were finally determined in December 2021. Even in the twelfth hour, Merc shuffled its feet like it always does. A potential safety risk was determined on February 11th, resulting in the recall of six GLE 350 SUVs delivered in the United States.Subject vehicles were produced from July 7th, 2018, through December 4th, 2018, according to documents filed with the. Merc says the wiring harness may not have been secured as per the production specifications, which is why certain fused systems and components may deactivate. More specifically, the automaker is referring to the wipers, LED headlamps, and the electric power steering.Instead of adding a cable retainer as the supplier did in December 2018, the Three-Pointed Star will replace the pre-fuse box altogether. Known customers will be notified by first-class mail of this recall on April 19th.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

GKN Automotive informed General Motors of a potential failure in the inspection process, which is a stupid oversight for such a well-known company. To whom it may concern, the London-based outfit supplied the twin-clutch rear drive unit of the Focus RS. Its worth noting the twin-clutch rear drive unit of the Bronco Sport Badlands is produced by GKN as well.According to documents filed with the, the aforementioned engineer submitted a report to the automakers SUFS program on October 7th. The supplier originally identified 19 VINs containing half-shafts that may have been improperly inspected. Four months later, six more Corvettes were added to the tally.Of the 25 vehicles mentioned earlier, 22 are located in the United States, according to General Motors. The 2021 and 2022 models were produced between January 27th, 2021, and September 28th, 2021.Identified under part number 85113611, the rear half-shaft assemblies will be inspected by authorized Chevrolet Corvette dealers. The remedy components were manufactured outside of the suspect window, which ended on September 21st, according to GKN Automotive. Cars assembled after September 28th are said to feature properly inspected rear half shafts.Owners are recommended to ring the Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 for any questions regarding this problem. Notification letters will be delivered on April 4th according to the biggest of the Detroit Big Three.In related news, General Motors will end the model year 2022 production at the beginning of May. The 2023 Corvette will start rolling off the line on May 9th as per the latest information sourced from the GM Workbench system.
Sunflower oil processors in Andhra Pradesh may look to Argentina to import the oil if the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates further. (Representational Photo:DC)

Visakhapatnam: Sunflower oil processors in Andhra Pradesh may look to Argentina to import the oil if the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates further.

In every oil year, that begins in November and ends in October, companies import sunflower oil from Ukraine via the Adani Krishnapatnam and Kakinada Sea Ports Limited ports

Nearly five oil companies with a capacity of 2,550 metric tonnes (MTD) receive sunflower from Ukraine, which is the world's largest sunflower oil exporter to all countries in which India's share will be nearly 35-40 per cent.

So, nearly 10 lakh metric tonnes of sunflower oil is imported every year by the oil companies through the two AP ports every oil year.

With supply likely to be affected due to the Ukraine crisis, the oil companies in the state would choose Argentina as the alternative option if the situation does not stabilise in Europe.

Confirming this to Deccan Chronicle, Sandeep Shivhare, Senior Manager (Marketing and Customer Service), Adani Krishnapatnam Port, said that there could be chances of importing the sunflower oil from Argentina by the oil companies.

"Ukraine, Russia and Argentina are the top three countries to export sunflower oil. Now, Ukraine and Russia in the war, so the next option will be Argentina," Sandeep said.

An oil company functionary said that importing sunflower oil from Argentina is costlier than in Ukraine and consumes time as well.

"The sunflower oil from Ukraine costs $1,380 per metric tone whereas the oil in Argentina is priced at $1,395. It will take an additional two weeks to import the oil from Argentina compared to the supply period from Ukraine," the oil company functionary said.
And conditions seemed to have been perfect at the start of this month at the Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico for an epic shot of one of these incredible beasts. Snapped by an Airman 1st Class with a Nikon camera, it was released last week by the American Air Force This particular airplane belongs to the 8th Fighter Squadron headquartered at the said air force base and was coming in to land after completing routine training in the area. In doing so, either at dawn or dusk, it got hit by the rays of the massive sun hovering above New Mexico, making it look as if a piece of the Sun descended and snug itself inside the airplanes cockpit.This is not the only impressive still of an F-16 weve seen over the past year here on autoevolution, and it will probably not be the last one. The U.S. has over 1,000 of them in its arsenal, in the F-16C/D variant, spread across a number of air force units.Each one can carry a multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds, two 2,000-pound bombs, up to six AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles, and two 2400-pound external fuel tanks that help it travel on a single outing for as much as 2,000 miles (3,200 km).Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the plane is powered by either a Pratt & Whitney or General Electric engine capable of giving the F-16 a top speed of 1,500 mph (2,400 kph) and a ceiling of about 50,000 feet (15 km).
Weve covered expensive and ultra-luxurious mansions before, especially those that are heavy on car-centered architecture or otherwise focus on other means of transport, like docks for yachts, or private helipads with a bird in storage. This one is different, because its neither a mansion nor is it as flashy as the others, and both are on purpose.This property is called the Casa da Quinta da Marinha and is located inside the Sintra Natural Park, on the west side of Lisboa, in Portugal. This also happens to be one of the most luxurious and exclusive neighborhoods in the country, and has repeatedly been voted as the best place to live . Its a coastside property that is rather on the small side, but dont let that fool you: it could totally work as a James Bond getaway.Designed by Enter Arquitectura, it features an invisible car lift by Italian company IdealPark . IdealPark has been around for decades and is an official supplier for brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Pagani, and the Museo Automobili Torino, the Galleria Virtuale Ferrari, the Museo Dallara, or the Museo Alfa Romeo di Arese. It has clients all over Italy and Europe, and this latest collaboration, on Portuguese soil, highlights how wonderfully its car lifts integrate into a modern existing structure.Enter Arquitectura waxes poetic about how the house was built with locally-sourced materials, and was designed so as to have minimal impact on the surrounding environment. This being a private client, not many details about the house itself are revealed but, to the untrained eye, it doesnt look like its doing much integrating into the environment , what with all the sharp angles and harsh lines. But itelegant.The biggest fuss about the place is the invisible slash hidden car lift, an IP1-CM MOB by IdealPark. The owner, we learn, wanted something that would also have minimal impact visually, but maximum functionality. The car lift is covered with the same material as the driveway and, if needed, can serve as an outdoor parking spot. Theres another covered carport right next to it, as you can see in the video below.The lift links the driveway to the underground garage, which serves as part man cave and part home for a vintage Mustang . Access to and from the garage is possible only via the lift, which comes with sensors and cameras that prevent accidents  like, say, going up with it when theres another car or person on the roof of it. It also has a comm system, including audio and video, in case of a malfunction, so the owner wont be stuck in his Mustang for ever, waiting for someone to hear his screams. Theres backup for power outages, and IdealPark offers the possibility of over-the-air maintenance checks every 24 hours.A car lift like this one makes any collectors garage truly private and secure, the company argues, because of the surveillance system and the (obvious) fact that its completely hidden from view. Access is done via an encoded key or badge, and you can only take one car out at a time, which further heightens the sense of security.Plus, youd look  and feel  just like James Bond as youre emerging from your secret lair.The company offers two versions for the car lift, one that can carry up to 2,700 kg (5,952 pounds) and a larger one that can lift up to 3,500 kg (7,716 pounds).Pricing is not mentioned, either for this particular project or any of the previous ones, because IdealPark works with every customer to customize the product. For instance, as the second video below shows, you can turn your invisible car lift into an immersive room , with digital animations and 360-degree projections. You know, just in case youre bored for the few minutes it takes to reach the garage . James Bond-yentertained, imagine that!
NHTSA

From March through June 2021, which is a heck of a long time after the aforementioned incident, Kia investigated the subject vehicle in great detail. Engineers were surprised to find the front impact sensors kaput, a worrying condition that likely led to communication loss to the airbag control unit. Kia subsequently conducted two crash tests, but curiously enough, both front airbags deployed before the front impact sensors were severed by the impact. Additional vehicle testing led to similar results, but earlier this year, Kia finally cracked the secret. According to documents filed with the, a non-deployment event is possible if communication to the ACU from both the left and right front impact sensors is simultaneously lost very early in the crash, right before the deployment is commanded by the airbag control unit.Kia has also confirmed that its not aware of any other similar incident.As a precautionary measure, the South Korean company is calling back a grand total of 128,280 vehicles in the United States to update the ACU software. Only the 2014 model year Soul is affected, namely vehicles produced from July 21st, 2013 through June 20th, 2014, according to Kia.The improved software logic enables the deployment of the front airbags if communication from both sensors is lost very early in the crash sequence.Kia says the ACU deployment logic was changed beginning with the 2015 model year Soul, which is a little shady given how long the South Korean automaker took to find the root cause for the aforementioned incident. In any case, known owners of the 2014 model year Soul will be notified of the recall on April 15th, while the U.S. dealerships will be notified a week earlier.
Within its aluminum twin-spar framework, the 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory houses a fuel-injected 1,077cc four-cylinder goliath, which is mated to a six-speed cassette-type gearbox and a wet slipper clutch. Featuring dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder head, the liquid-cooled V4 engine is fully capable of producing 175 feral horses at 11,000 rpm.When the bikes digital tachometer shows 9,000 revs, a brutal torque output of 89 pound-feet (121 Nm) will be accomplished at the crankshaft. Upon reaching the rear chain-driven cast aluminum hoop, this force can result in speeds of up to 155 mph (249 kph). Additionally, Aprilias two-wheeled phenom prides itself with a blistering quarter-mile time of no more than 10.5 seconds.At the front, plentiful stopping power is generated by dual 330 mm (13 inches) stainless-steel discs and radially-mounted Brembo M50 calipers with four pistons. On the other end, youll find a twin-piston floating caliper biting a single brake rotor that measures 220 mm (8.7 inches) in diameter. The Tuono sits on TiN-coated 43 mm (1.7 inches) inverted forks up north and an Ohlins piggyback monoshock down south.Finally, this menacing gladiator has a wheelbase of 1,450 mm (57.1 inches), while its dry weight is rated at a modest 408 pounds (185 kg). The specimen featured in this articles photo gallery has approximately 10,700 miles (17,200 km) on the odometer, and it carries an array of aftermarket items installed under current ownership.These components include a Puig windshield, an Evotech Performance tail tidy and billet aluminum rear-mounted foot pegs from Woodcraft, as well as a top-shelf titanium exhaust system developed by Spark. The Italian marvel is waiting to change hands on Iconic Motorbike Auctions, but the top bid of $3,900 at the time if writing is not meeting the reserve. If youre feeling more generous, be sure to get in on the action by March 1, as thats when the auction will end.
But now it looks like the culprit is the most recent version of Android Auto , though, from some posts on Googles forums, it looks like its more of a combination between a system update and the latest app build released by Google.But regardless of whats causing the whole thing, it looks like notifications are completely broken on Android Auto, no matter if were talking about first-party or third-party apps. The notifications for text messages are gone, too, it seems.As expected, no workaround seems to be doing the trick, as the notifications wont come back regardless of the fix users attempted to implement. Uninstalling and reinstalling Android Auto, updating even the head unit, and a full reset of both the media receiver and the phone are all workarounds that dont produce any improvements.Someone says that resetting the app and starting from scratch fixes the problem for just one session, which means that all notifications are then broken down once the device is disconnected from the head unit.Theres no response from Google at this point, but its still not clear if these reports are in any way related to the notification problems reported after the update to Android 12. If they are, then Google is likely to fix the whole thing with a system update rather than with a new version of Android Auto.For now, however, the struggle is just as confusing as it gets, so itll be interesting to see if more users end up with broken notifications either after the latest update of Android Auto or on the latest Android version. In the meantime, theres not much the impacted users can do, so we have reached out to Google directly to ask for more information.
ICE

EV

The Lucid Air is the first model from Lucid, which describes itself as the future of sustainable mobility, designing luxury electric cars that further reimagines the driving experience. The goal of the Air is to deliver a top-class driving experience without the guilt of an(internal combustion engine) car and, just as importantly, without the dreaded range anxiety. Deliveries for the Air sedan, which is offered in several flavors and ranges between $77,000 and $169,000 for the 520-unit limited Dream Edition , started in the second half of 2021 and are expected to pick up considerably this year, before reaching full scale in 2023. Orlando Bloom wont have to wait that long, though: being a celebrity means he is high profile enough to advance on the wait list and, unlike regular folks who might want to make the switch to electric, that he has enough money for a luxuryThe Daily Mail has photos of the actor arriving at a showroom in Beverly Hills, casually chatting with representatives, signing a few papers, and driving off in his brand new car (see the tweet at the bottom of the page for the link). The tabloid cant and doesnt offer more details, but the massive grin on Blooms face as he drove away speaks volumes to how he was feeling about the transaction  and at the same time, its something every new car owner can relate to.Perhaps the most surprising part about this story is that Bloom has decided to give an electric vehicle a try. The actor is a famous collector of cars and motorcycles, with a soft spot for Porsches and Audis, and Ducattis. The Lucid Air will be in fine (electric) company in the garage, though: in 2015, Orlandos fiancee Katy Perry got herself a Tesla Model S
The 1972 model, in particular, isnt exactly the Corvette that everybody is drooling over, but on the other hand, its not something you wouldnt want to own anyway.Especially if its a convertible, that is, as Chevrolet produced only a little over 6,500 such units for this model year. The coupe accounted for nearly 20,500 units out of the total 27,000 Vettes built in 1972.The Corvette we have here looks to be a very solid restoration candidate, especially as it doesnt seem to exhibit the typical problems that project cars come with.For example, the rust doesnt seem to be a concern this time, and whats more, the car continues to be powered by the original engine and transmission. The V8 under the hood starts and runs properly, so in theory, its ready for restoration, with the focus to be directed to metalwork.And speaking of metalwork, the paint you see on the Vette right now is not the original one. eBay seller productionoffroad hasnt provided any additional information in this regard, but any potential buyer should be able to figure out more on this front with a visual inspection of the car.Parked in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Corvette has already attracted plenty of bids, and of course, this isnt by any means surprising given its current solid shape. The top bid at the time of writing is getting close to $6,000, but on the other hand, the reserve is yet to be unlocked.Nobody knows for sure how high the bidding must go to trigger the reserve, but with 6 days remaining until the auction is set to end, theres a chance the price will increase significantly anyway.
For example, it turns out that the mansion-matching gray paint alone on Kim Ks latest rides is well over $100k. Meanwhile, the Lambo blown up by an artist was not an act of revenge, but an NFT project that would auction hundreds of pieces for charity. Oh well, what has become of the world is anyones guess.As such, perhaps a custom Lambo Aventador dressed up in fancy black and with a touch of color is turning out to be one of the sanest ideas of late . It was all done by Sacramento, California-based vehicle specialist Diamond Autosport. And the good folks are showcasing on social media the seemingly perfect satin black on red automotive contrast.Via the ubiquitous wedge-shaped Italian V12 flagship, of course. The Lamborghini Aventador has become a rather fitting tradition in terms of aftermarket customizations. And yet, they still manage to come up with simple and impactful ideas even after more than a decade since the models introduction in production.That goes to show that Lambos Aventador might just be one of Italys best automotive blank canvases to make it your own. Just like the C8 Chevy Corvette, if you ask us. Anyway, this Aventador might not be everyones cup of tea. For starters, it is another representative of the wrapped aftermarket industry, thanks to its new Satin Black vinyl attire.Additionally, the Signature Red Diamond aftermarket wheels could lead to some heated polemics. Especially since the design belongs to the cool Los Angeles, California-based forged wheel experts over at Forgiato Designs. Alas, it still clearly matches the interior combination and provides a clean contrast to the dark body...
When it comes to cars, Rolls-Royce remains the pinnacle of luxury. They make ultra-expensive chariots that ride like the starship Enterprise and are animated by hand built V12 masterpieces which delight multiple senses upon inspection. In a lot of ways, buying a Rolls-Royce is a lot like buying a flagship Patek Philippe wristwatch, an Audemars Piguet, or a Rolex.Well actually get back to the watches in a second, because they are relevant to this story. First, lets go back in time.Rolls-Royce was originally established in 1904 in Manchester, a direct result of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce joining forces to produce the best car in the world, - which they did, starting with the original Silver Ghost, built on a 40/50 chassis.About a decade later, the carmaker started building airplane engines, at the governments request, resulting in the first-ever Rolls-Royce Eagle engine, which went into production in 1915. Fun fact, the first non-stop trans-Atlantic crossing by plane was done using two Eagle engines mounted on a converted Vickers Vimy bomber.Slowly but surely, Rolls-Royce went on to adopt this bespoke luxury image, with products featuring the very best craftsmanship, something thats always been true for their hand-built engines. Can you see where this is going?Alright, let me spell it out for you. You can look all you want, but you wont find an internal combustion engine, hand-built or otherwise, inside the fully electric Spectre. In fact, you wont find one in any new Rolls-Royce before the clock finally strikes midnight on this decade.This might be a problem for a brand that prides itself on craftsmanship. Think of the previous-generation Phantom and its gorgeous hand-assembled 6.75-liter V12. Its a massive unit and its put together in a truly artistic manner.Now, when you purchase a Rolls-Royce, you know that youre not just spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on brand recognition. In fact, you know that youre getting the very best in bespoke manufacturing, top of the line hand painting, the most beautiful woodwork for the interior, unique embroidery techniques, the softest suspension imaginable and of course, the engine, which is worth tens of thousands of dollars all by itself.By the way, that 6.75-liter V12 unit used to look so good before Rolls-Royce decided to use engine covers on later models, like the latest Ghost or Cullinan . It was like staring at the complex mechanism of a wristwatch.Now imagine your favorite Rolex being stripped of its internals, all the mechanical bits and the dials, where instead youd end up with a digital display. Sure, the craftsmanship on the bracelet and case would still be top-notch, but the very soul of the piece would be gone, wouldnt it?So then, shouldnt the same be true for a Rolls-Royce with a big hole (frunk) under its hood instead of a V12 masterpiece? I can guarantee you that the electric drivetrain in the Spectre isn't hand-built  not that it would matter since youll never be able to see it anyway.I know there was no other way. Rolls-Royce, like all other carmakers, have to ditch their internal combustion engines. The thing is, Rolls-Royce is more than just an automobile company. They sell an image that is all about wealth It will be sad to see future Phantoms and Ghosts zooming around without a handcrafted beating heart underneath their gigantic hoods, but at the same time, I have no doubt that the Spectre , and all other battery electric successors, will still prove tremendously successful. If anything, theyll be even more refined than anything else that came before.However, dont be fooled into thinking that at least some Rolls-Royce buyers and collectors wont feel as though there is something extremely valuable (and with a lot of history) missing from their cars.
As a freshly United States Patent and Trademark Office ( USPTO ) filing is disclosed, we find out Toyota is venturing deeper into the world of robots. Seemingly, the auto brand wants to follow in the footsteps of Honda and Mitsubishi by expanding into new fields of production. The new technology Toyota plans on using surely gives it the chance to succeed.Its not the first time we hear about robots that will have a muscle-mimetic moving behavior. Weve already seen the progress made by MITs Mini Cheetah three years ago, the international tour of Hansons Sophia and Boston Dynamics Atlas that started doing parkour. Most recently, however, weve been presented with robots that are able to mimic human expressions. These are already named humanoids. Technology is certainly stepping up.As a for-profit company, Toyota doesnt want to be left behind. Its starting its own kind of robots, besides the car, textile machinery and handling equipment businesses it already has up and running. These new machines will have artificial muscles that will allow the movement to be somewhat similar to humans. The USPTO patent application shows how it will be done and where: Texans, get ready.You should also know Toyota has been eyeing this sector since 2014, when it first started proper investments in this area. It presented its first working prototype in 2017 with the T-HR3. Since then, the robot has been upgraded and the attention was concentrated on joint control and balance. Thats why were seeing a new patent now.Known almost worldwide thanks to the reliable cars it makes, Toyota says that the robotic technologies available now rely too much on rigid components as servomotors. The company says this presents some downsides as the robots today are too heavy. It plans to change this by introducing new robots with artificial muscles. Basically, this technology will work like actuators that weve already seen in practice. These devices convert different types of energy into mechanical movement. You guessed it: they are present in electric motors, but also in sliding doors, adjustable car seats, escalators, or brakes.What Toyota is trying to patent here is a new way of putting actuators to work. Instead of using liquids, the company plans on using the advantages of vacuum coupled with electrodes and polymers. These three elements will provide the necessary environment for the robots to have mechanisms of movement that mimic humans.The artificial muscles will in reality be an electrode assembly that includes a layer stack that serves as a positioning facilitator which also has an electrode thats put between a vacuum insulator and a support item made from a tough, yet flexible plastic. It sounds complicated and it is, but the solution is a practical one. What we dont know is how the company will be able the source all the materials and parts needed, given the current circumstances.Exact details of how this new technology will function can be found in the PDF filing attached below.What you need to remember is that Toyota wants these artificial muscles to work in robots sent into harsh environments. The company plans to build them for dangerous human activities or repetitive ones that usually have a negative impact on human health. These new robots could also allow for remote control done by humans via the 5G network which would lessen the potential negative impact this technology could have on jobs. It would also help specialists do important work without travelling. Moreover, bionic suits are already used to help humans regain their lost movement. This is just another beginning.Finally, being a car company at heart, its no wonder Toyota wants to develop new and improved ways of mobility. Plus, lets not forget the company promised at CES in 2018 that physical, virtual, and emotional movement have the company engaged in robot development.
HYDERABAD: It has been nightmarish for Hyderabad students who are stranded in Ukraine following the Russian Armys invasion for a few days. As many as eight students from Warangal and Hyderabad have taken shelter under the bunkers that were provided by locals just five kilometres away from Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.

Sai Naik, a native of Warangal, pursuing third-year MBBS in the Bogomolets National Medical University located at Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd, said they were facing a terrible situation taking shelter in the bunker near Kyiv city. Bombing intensity had gone up after the Russian Army captured the entire locality and took control of the area.

The MBBS student said students from Hyderabad Jatin Reddy, Shafi, Shekar Reddy, Sameer, Rohit and others had been stranded and they needed immediate help. "We have arranged food and water for five days. Suddenly, some more Telugu students and other students of the same university joined them. The entire locality is blocked and no transportation is provided," Naik said.

Meanwhile, the students had a tough time walking at least 15 kilometres crossing the Ukraine border to Poland to get flights. After shifting at least 490 students to India, the Indian Embassy officials in Kyiv made arrangements for shifting stranded students to India. The students said that officials had taken measures in shifting students stuck in western Ukraine localities as the location was not affected badly.
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The Biden administration on Friday released its official Indo-Pacific strategy, which warns that there is only a narrow window of time remaining to prevent China from transforming the region into its own sphere of influence.

Why it matters: Biden is the third consecutive president to classify Asia as a top geostrategic priority, hoping to complete the "pivot to Asia" initiated under former President Obama.

Zoom in: The document, which is the first regional strategy that the Biden administration has released, cites the "mounting challenges" posed by the rise of China as a key driver of the "intensifying American focus" on the Indo-Pacific.

"The PRC [People's Republic of China] is combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological might as it pursues a sphere of influence in the Indo-Pacific and seeks to become the worlds most influential power."

"Our collective efforts over the next decade will determine whether the PRC succeeds in transforming the rules and norms that have benefitted the Indo-Pacific and the world," the document reads.

Details: The strategy outlines fives primary objectives that the U.S. intends to pursue in concert with allies and regional institutions:

Advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Build connections within and beyond the region.

Drive regional prosperity.

Bolster Indo-Pacific security.

Build regional resilience to transnational threats.

The big picture: "Our objective is not to change China but to shape the strategic environment in which it operates," the document states.

This represents a continuation of the Trump-era rejection of engagement as a means to make China itself become more open and democratic, recognizing that the best the U.S. can hope for right now is a defense of the regional status quo.

The strategy also lists climate change, pandemic recovery and North Korea as other major challenges facing the region.

"We will not have the luxury of choosing between power politics and combatting transnational threats; we will rise to our leadership charge on diplomacy, security, economics, climate, pandemic response, and technology," the strategy states.

Like the Trump-era Indo-Pacific framework, Biden's strategy strongly emphasizes working together with U.S. allies and partners in the region, especially the Quad  which is made up of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia.

Citing China's economic coercion of Australia, border disputes with India, and threats against Taiwan and other neighbors in the East and South China Sea, the strategy notes that U.S. allies "bear much of the cost of the PRCs harmful behavior."

"We are deepening our five regional treaty allianceswith Australia, Japan, the [Republic of Korea], the Philippines, and Thailandand strengthening relationships with leading regional partners, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands," the strategy reads.

Between the lines: A senior administration official told reporters that Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trips to Australia, Fiji and Hawaii this week shows that the U.S. recognizes the importance of "sustained engagement" with the region  even as it faces the more acute crisis of Russia's possible invasion of Ukraine.

"The United States doesn't have the luxury to only focus on one region or one problem at a time," the official stressed.

Russia's threats to invade Ukraine  and Europe's ongoing reliance on the U.S. as a security guarantor  have disrupted the Biden administration's efforts to focus more of its attention and resources on the Indo-Pacific.

The bottom line: The U.S. is entering a new era of foreign policy that will "demand more of the United States in the Indo-Pacific than has been asked of us since the Second World War," the strategy contends.
China's Foreign Ministry on Friday stressed that Beijing believes the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries" should be respected  a principle that "applies equally to Ukraine."

Why it matters: Reiterating that Russia's "legitimate security demands" on NATO expansion "should be taken seriously and properly addressed," the statement marks China's most extensive one yet on Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

The big picture: Weeks before the attack began, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an unprecedented joint statement seeming to align their visions for an anti-Western international order.

The two authoritarian powers have fostered deeper ties, including in military cooperation, as tensions with the U.S. have soared over the past several years  raising major alarms in Washington.

Russia and China said they "oppose further enlargement of NATO" and called on the West "to abandon its ideologized cold war approaches."

Driving the news: Following a call with his British, EU and French counterparts, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi outlined Beijing's position on Ukraine in five points:

China "firmly advocates" abiding by the UN Charter and respecting the territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine. The security of one country cannot be strengthened at the expense of another, and Russia is justified to have concerns about five rounds of NATO expansion. China believes "all parties" should exercise restraint and protect civilian life and property to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis. China supports "direct dialogue and negotiation between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible" and believes Ukraine "should be a bridge between East and West, not a frontier of great power confrontation." The UN Security Council should be used to "facilitate a diplomatic solution" and "cool tensions rather than fuel them." China has always opposed UN resolutions that invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which authorizes military and non-military steps to "restore international peace and security."

Between the lines: The New York Times reported Friday that U.S. officials tried half a dozen times over three months to get China to help head off a Russian invasion of Ukraine, but that Beijing did not believe the warnings and even shared the information with Moscow.

What to watch: With major Western sanctions set to isolate Russia from much of the global economy, many experts believe the Kremlin's dependence on China will dramatically increase.
The European Union, U.S. and other Western nations on Saturday announced they would cut off a "certain number of Russian banks" from the SWIFT international payments system and impose restrictions on Russias Central Bank.

Why it matters: The measures will effectively cut Russia out of the world's most important financial messaging system and undermine the Kremlin's ability to use its central bank reserves to blunt the impact of other sanctions.

Ukrainian officials had demanded that Western allies cut Russia from SWIFT in response to the invasion and make the country a complete international and financial pariah.

Some European allies like Germany and Italy had previously expressed concern that disconnecting Russian banks' access to SWIFT would cause collateral economic damage, but agreed to take the step after public pressure and days of intensive meetings.

On Sunday, Japan announced they would also block certain Russian banks from the SWIFT system, per Reuters.

Details: The commitments agreed to by the U.S., EU, France, Germany, Italy, U.K. and Canada on Saturday fall into five main categories, according to a joint statement.

Disconnect select Russian banks from SWIFT, a move that a senior Biden administration official referred to as the "Iran model." Undermine the Russian Central Bank's ability to defend the ruble. Limit the sale of so-called "golden passports" that allow wealthy Russians to become citizens of Western countries and exploit their financial systems. Launch a trans-Atlantic task force to hunt down the assets of sanctioned Russians in order to ensure the penalties are enforced. Step up coordination of against Russian disinformation and other forms of hybrid warfare.

What they're saying: "We will show that Russia's supposed 'sanctions-proofing' of its economy is a myth. The $600 billion+ war chest of Russia's foreign reserves is only powerful if Putin can use it," a senior administration official told reporters.

"Without being able to buy the ruble from Western financial institutions, for example, Putin's Central Bank will lose the ability to offset the impact of our sanctions. The ruble will fall even further. Inflation will spike and the Central Bank will be left defenseless," the official added.

"We're disarming 'Fortress Russia' by taking this action."

The official said the list of Russian banks that will be cut off from SWIFT will be finalized by the EU, since the company is based in Belgium.

The big picture: The latest steps come on top of major sanctions already announced by the U.S. in coordination with the G7 last week, including sweeping export controls and a freeze on billions of dollars' worth of Russian assets.

The EU, U.S. and U.K. separately announced on Friday that they would impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

With the new sanctions enforcement task force, the West will "collectively hunt down the physical assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs  their yachts, jets, fancy cars and luxury homes," the official said.

Go deeper:

Editor's note: This story has been updated with more countries exluding Russian banks from SWIFT.
Belgium, Iceland and Denmark on Sunday joined a growing list of European countries who say they are banning Russian airlines from their airspace.

Driving the news: Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Latvia all said on Saturday Russian airlines could not fly in their airspace. "Our European skies are open skies. They're open for those who connect people, not for those who seek to brutally aggress," Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted Sunday.

"Iceland has decided to close its airspace to Russian air traffic, in solidarity with #Ukraine," Icelandic Foreign Minister Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir tweeted on Sunday.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod tweeted Sunday that Denmark would also close its airspace to Russian aircraft and would throw its support behind bans by E.U. countries.

" We invite all EU countries to do the same. There is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies. #StandWithUkraine," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted Saturday.

We invite all EU countries to do the same. There is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies. #StandWithUkraine," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted Saturday. "Lithuania in coordination with Latvia and Estonia closes its airspace to Russian air carriers starting from midnight, February 27," Lithuanian Transport and Communications Minister Marius Skuodis said.

"Romania banned its airspace for [Russian] airlines. Unprovoked & unjustified [Russia] attack on Ukraine brings serious consequences," the Romanian delegation to NATO tweeted.

Latvia coordinated with Lithuania and Estonia to decide to close their airspace to Russian aircrafts, according to the Cabinet of Ministers.

What to watch: Finland's Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka tweeted late Saturday that Finland is also preparing to close its airspace to Russia aircrafts. Sweden is preparing a similar measure, per Reuters.

The big picture: Poland on Friday banned Russian airlines from its airspace, according to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

The United Kingdom, Moldova and the Czech Republic closed their airspace to Russian airlines earlier this week.

Delta Air Lines on Friday also cut its ties with Russian carrier Aeroflot effective immediately, CNBC reports.

Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

Editor's note: This post has been updated with additional countries who say they will ban Russian airlines from their airspace.
The Hungarian government  known for its links to the Trump administration and conservative supporters  quietly began working late last year with a powerhouse public affairs shop stacked with Democratic talent, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: A spokesperson for the lobbying and PR shop, Actum, told Axios on Friday that the agreement has been terminated. Though short-lived, the relationship shows Hungary is trying to build inroads with a U.S. political party wary of right-wing leader, Viktor Orban.

The Actum spokesperson declined to discuss the reasons but said the agreement had been terminated at the end of 2021 and will not be renewed.

That termination was not reflected in Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings as of Friday.

Details: Actum boasts executives from both parties but its roster leans heavily Democratic.

Its ranks had included former Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), former California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, as well as Mick Mulvaney, the former Republican congressman from South Carolina who served as a chief of staff to former President Donald Trump.

But on Friday, Heitkamp abruptly announced her resignation citing "potential conflicats of interest with Actum and my continued advocacy and nonprofit work."

Behind the scenes: In November, the Hungarian embassy inked the deal with an obscure Delaware company called IGG, LLC. It came as Orban's government mounted a far more visible influence campaign aimed at U.S. conservatives.

Buried in FARA paperwork is a line noting IGG, LLC, is wholly owned by Actum, which was formed late last year by executives who defected from a K Street mainstay, Mercury Public Affairs.

Two Actum partners were working on the Hungary account: former British diplomat George Tucker and Duncan McFetridge, a former aide to California assemblyman Jack Scott and state treasurer Phil Angelides  both Democrats.

Hungary agreed to pay IGG $9,500 per month for marketing and communications services, and $235,000 per month for "legal strategy consulting."

IGG is the brainchild of Actum partner Morris Reid, a former Clinton fundraiser and senior administration official, according to a spokesperson for the firm.

"Morris has a very long history of interest, passion and work in international affairs," the Actum spokesperson said.

It was not clear whether IGG has any additional clients. The spokesperson said the firm will register them where required.

The big picture: Hungary has successfully ingratiated itself with the American right.

Trump officially endorsed Orban's re-election bid this month.

Fox News primetime host Tucker Carlson has aired his show from Budapest and is planning a return trip.

The American Conservative Union is hosting a satellite Conservative Political Action Conference in Hungary this year.

Orban's government has had a harder time winning over Democrats in Washington.

When the White House organized a "Summit for Democracy" last year, it invited every European Union member but Hungary.

During the 2020 presidential race, the Biden campaign distanced itself from Max Teleki, the head of an informal coalition of pro-Biden Hungarian Americans.

According to the New York Times, the Biden camp cited reports of Teleki's ties to Orban and his political party.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the agreement has been terminated, according to an Actum spokesperson who earlier described the agreement as active.
Thousands of Georgians poured into the streets Thursday and Friday to protest their government's inaction following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Why it matters: Georgia was the one under attack in 2008 when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces to attack and occupy the former Soviet republic.

They eventually reached a ceasefire, which led to the withdrawal of Russian troops, but Russia's attack on Ukraine is directly connected to the period of intense conflict for many protesters.

Though the Georgian government has condemned Russia's invasion, it has not joined other countries in imposing sanctions. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili cited "national interests" in justifying the decision, per Eurasianet.

As the attacks unfold in Ukraine, thousands are making their discontent known and calling on Garibashvili to step down.

People gather for a rally in support of Ukraine in front of the Georgian government administration building on Feb. 25 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Daro Sulakauri via Getty Images

People stage a protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 25 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Davit Kachkachishvili/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

People protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine at Republic Square during nighttime in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Feb. 24. Photo: Davit Kachkachishvili/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Demonstrators wave a large Ukrainian flag as Georgians rally in support of Ukraine on Feb. 24 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: Daro Sulakauri via Getty Images

Demonstrators hold placards and wave flags during a rally in support of Ukraine in Tbilisi on Feb. 25. Photo: Vano Shlamov/AFP via Getty Images
Some liquor stores and bars in the U.S. and Canada are taking Russian vodka off their shelves in protest of President Vladimir Putin's military invasion of Ukraine.

The latest: On Sunday, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which is one of the largest buyers of wines and spirits in the U.S., ordered the removal of Russian spirits from state-run liquor stores.

The big picture: Pennsylvania is not alone.

Meanwhile, Ontario, Canada's most populous province, directed its liquor control board to withdraw all Russian products, Reuters reports, and liquor stores in the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland also said they were removing Russian spirits.

Zoom in: Jamie Stratton, partner and wine director of Jacob Liquor Exchange in Wichita, told KSNW Friday that he had removed more than 100 bottles of Russian vodka and expanded its section of Ukrainian vodka.

" I think the whole world knows by now that Russias at war with Ukraine for no apparent reason," Stratton said. "I guess this is our sanction."

I think the whole world knows by now that Russias at war with Ukraine for no apparent reason," Stratton said. "I guess this is our sanction." Magic Mountain, a ski resort in Vermont, tweeted a video clip of a bartender pouring Stoli down the drain and saying: "Sorry, we don't sell Russian products here."

A bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan, also removed bottles of Stolichnaya and Smirnoff from shelves, M Live reports. "Its a protest against the aggression," said the bar's owner, Bob Quay. "I just made the decision on the spot. Its something little we can do."

Between the lines: Some establishments appear to be making a statement of support for Ukraine as well as raising funds for humanitarian efforts.

Evel Pie, a bar in Las Vegas, announced it's boycotting Russian-made vodka. It's now selling shots of Ukrainian liquor, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

"Our focus first and foremost is helping the Ukrainian people," managing partner Branden Powers told the Las Vegas Sun.

Go deeper: The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

Editor's note: This article has been updated with the orders by the governors of Utah and Ohio and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's announcement.
More than 5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion, according to United Nations refugee agency data on Wednesday.

State of play: The U.N. refugee agency has labeled the exodus the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

The speed of the displacement, coupled with the huge numbers of people affected, is unprecedented in Europe in recent memory, said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi during his first visit to Ukraine since the invasion began.

I have spoken with women, with children, who have been gravely affected by this war, he added.

Forced to flee extraordinary levels of violence, they have left behind their homes and often their families, leaving them shocked and traumatized. The protection and humanitarian needs are enormous, and continue to grow. And while critically urgent, humanitarian aid alone cannot give them what they really need  and that is peace.

Driving the news: Most Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Poland, and others have gone to Romania, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and other European countries. Many have also fled to Russia.

"People are under stress ... and when people are scared they become egoist and forget about everything," Natalia Pivniuk, a Ukrainian woman from Lviv, told AP earlier this month.

She said people were pushing to get on a train to flee. It was "very scary, and dangerous physically and dangerous mentally."

Data: UNHCR; Map: Jared Whalen and Will Chase/Axios

Zoom in: Nearly two-thirds of all Ukrainian children have been displaced from their homes due to the war, UNICEF said this week.

"They have been forced to leave everything behind: Their homes, their schools, and often, their family members," UNICEF emergency programs director Manual Fontaine said.

"Every day the war continues, children will continue to suffer," he said.

More than 90% of the more than 4.7 million Ukrainians who fled the country are women and children, Fontaine said.

The big picture: UN aid agencies have warned that fuel, cash and medical supplies were dwindling in Ukraine.

Ukraine's water system is also "at risk of complete collapse," the United Nations warned last week.

UNICEF said 1.4 million people in Ukraine no longer have access to piped water and 4.6 million people are at risk of losing their water supply.

"The picture is grim and could get worse still," UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths told the Security Council earlier this month.

"The elderly and people with disabilities find themselves trapped and unable to flee," he added.

"Children will miss school and face a great risk of physical harm displacement and unimaginably severe emotional stress. Women, so often disproportionately affected by conflict ... will be at even greater risk of gender-based violence."

Go deeper:

Editor's note: This post has been updated with new estimates on the number of refugees.
Union Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt along with Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar releases a Special Day Cover on MILAN exercises during the opening ceremony of the harbour phase of the biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise, MILAN 22 at the Naval Auditorium inside Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. (DC photo)

Visakhapatnam: The biennial multilateral naval exercise Milan 22 was inaugurated by the Union minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt at the naval auditorium here on Saturday.

The event was attended by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, ambassadors, high commissioners and chiefs of navies, delegation heads of participating countries and commanding officers and crew of all participating ships.

A special day cover and a movie on Milan, Indias largest Naval exercise, were released on the occasion.

The eleventh edition of Milan is being hosted by the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam for the first time. All the earlier editions were held at Port Blair, under the aegis of the Tri-Service Andaman and Nicobar Command.

Participation from friendly foreign countries included 13 ships, 39 delegations and one maritime patrol aircraft.

This large congregation adds significance to the word Milan, which in Hindi translates to meeting or confluence. The exercise endeavours to promote camaraderie, cohesion, collaboration among like-minded navies.

The harbour phase of the exercise, which began on Saturday, will culminate on February 28, followed by the sea phase from March 1 to March 4.

This edition of Milan is larger and more complex than all the earlier ones, reflecting Indias growing stature as a responsible and reliable partner in maritime domain, underscoring Indian Navys commitment to maritime security across the global commons.

As a part of the harbour phase, a Milan village has been set up at the Tarang Naval Institute. It provides a glimpse of Indian culture to visitors, as it showcases Indian handicrafts, cuisine and arts, especially from Andhra Pradesh. The village will also provide a venue for social interaction and cultural exchange between the participating navies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine  including attacking the capital, Kyiv  in an overnight barrage that was swift, broad and ruthless. The attack was exactly in line with President Biden's dire forecasts.

Why it matters: The world woke to a new era of global upheaval. Two sovereign nations are in a conventional war in Europe for the first time since World War II, with huge ramifications for the power dynamics of Russia and the superpowers, the U.S. and China.

What's happening: Russian forces were confirmed on Thursday to have crossed the Ukrainian border by land, air and sea from Russia, Belarus and Crimea.

Bombardments rained down on cities across Ukraine and a ground offensive was launched in the east.

The Russian military said it was targeting military installations and air bases, but dozens of civilian casualties have been reported and images on social media show thousands of Ukrainians attempting to flee.

Ukraine's emergency services reported that attacks were launched against 10 regions, including Kyiv, according to the New York Times. U.S. officials believe Russia is targeting airports in an attempt to secure the skies for a large-scale ground invasion.

A CNN reporter live on air captured Russian airborne forces taking control of Antonov airport, located near Kyiv.

Ukraine's government has imposed martial law and ordered citizens to take shelter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces are attempting to seize control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko imposed an overnight curfew in Ukraine's capital. Residents must stay home from 10pm to 7am local time.

As of earlier this morning, 40 Ukrainian servicemen and dozens of civilians have died in the attacks, according to Ukraine Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova.

Zelensky said late Thursday at least 137 Ukrainians, civilian and military, have been killed in the invasion. He said another 316 people have been injured.

President Biden on Thursday condemned Russia for attacking Ukraine and announced export controls and new sanctions to "limit Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen to be part of the global economy."

Black smoke rises from a military airport in Chuguyev near Kharkiv, Ukraine. Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images

The big picture: Ukraine came under a massive aerial assault in the early hours of Thursday, after Putin declared a "special military operation" initially aimed at the eastern Donbas region, where he recently recognized separatist-backed "republics" fighting the Ukrainian government

It quickly became clear that the "operation" was a full-scale attack on the entire country, as explosions were reported across Ukrainian cities moments after Putin finished speaking.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced Thursday the alliance would deploy more defensive forces to its eastern flank, declaring: "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."

Data: The New York Times; Mapbox/OSCE; Map: Will Chase and Jared Whalen/Axios

Between the lines: It turns out Putin's buildup was no feint. And the warnings from the White House were spot on.

Biden said after the invasion began that Putin's "premeditated war ... will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering."

U.S. intelligence had warned a large-scale invasion "could leave up to 50,000 civilians killed or wounded, decapitate the government in Kyiv within two days, and launch a humanitarian crisis with up to 5 million refugees fleeing the resulting chaos," the Washington Post reported Feb. 5.

What they're saying: Ukraine has severed diplomatic relations with Russia and is calling on all citizens to take up arms to defend the country against a full-scale invasion.

" Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in World War II years," Zelensky tweeted.

Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in World War II years," Zelensky 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 and won't give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks."

Go deeper: Ukraine-Russia crisis latest developments
We'd do well to remember the only woman whose name is etched on Kern's Wall of Valor
Police commissioner of Warangal, Tarun Joshi said that no major crime has been happening these days but such modules will help the police with issues like cultivating in forest and naxalism. Representational image/AP

Hyderabad: The union ministry of home affairs (MHA) is planning to have separate training modules for police personnel to tackle crime in tribal areas and to strengthen village policing.

It has asked the bureau of police research and development (BPR&D) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel national police academy (SVPNPA) Hyderabad and north east police academy (NEPA), Shillong, to prepare training modules specific for the state police.

The parliamentary panel has recommended that the SVPNPA and NEPA collaborate with state training institutes in order to study the cultural gap among various tribes, and include their aspirations and traditions as part of the training curriculum of police personnel. The move follows the recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs in its 237 report submitted in Parliament on February 10.

The report suggests that the training manual for states must be suitably amended so that police officers are made aware of local traditions and customs, particularly of the tribals and other vulnerable groups.

Personnel posted in the tribal belt should have regular interaction with tribal leaders, NGOs, non-state representatives like lawyers, professors and scholars having specialization in tribal issues for better handling of crimes in those areas, the report mentioned.

Police commissioner of Warangal, Tarun Joshi said that having such modules will lay focus on issues in the tribal areas and help officials in investigation, line of enquiry and jurisdiction.

The two institutes are centres of excellence and are known to work on such modules. They have earlier worked on modules for crimes against women, crime against children and also against economic offenses, he said.

About crime among tribals, he said that nothing major has been happening these days but such modules will help the police with issues like cultivating in forest and naxalism.

The panel has also asked MHA to coordinate with states and Union Territories to make arrangements for providing training to members of village policing system about their role and responsibilities to help the police in maintenance of law and order in the interiors. It also recommended securing state-wise data on the village policing system and taking remedial measures.
Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org.
Nalgonda police said that they received information from farmers working at the agricultural lands at Tungaturthy village of Pedavura mandal stating that they noticed a chopper crashed and thick smoke emanated. (Image by Arrangement)

HYDERABAD: A 29-year-old woman trainee pilot was killed after an aircraft belonging to a private aviation institute which she was flying crashed into agriculture fields near Tungaturthy village of Pedavura mandal in Nalgonda district. Technical glitches caused the mishap of the aircraft, according to preliminary investigations.

The pilot was identified as Maheema Gajraj, 29, resident of Thirumalai Street, Ayanavaram, Chennai. She and her husband Vyapuri Paranthaman, who is into online trading, live at Alwal in Secunderabad.

Maheema was the only occupant of the aircraft, a Cessna 152, which she had previously flown. The site of the crash is 130 km from the city.

The aircraft belongs to Flytech Aviation and had taken off at an airfield located near Nagarjunasagar.

Around 10.30 am, farmers working at the agriculture fields noticed an aircraft falling from the sky. Thick smoke emanated from the place where it hit the ground. The farmers went to the place of mishap and found wreckage of the aircraft in which the pilot was found dead. They immediately informed the police.

"We received information from the locals and visited the place immediately. A woman trainee pilot Maheema Gajraj was found dead and her body was stuck under wreckage," said Nalgonda superintendent of police (SP) Rema Rajeswari.

The SP stated that Maheema took off from the airfield near Nagarjunasagar, on the border of Nalgonda district, as part of her regular training. Minutes later, it crashed in Nalgonda district.

"We have taken measures by conducting a post mortem on the body of Maheema at the place of mishap and handed over the body to her husband. The police registered a case under section 304 (A) of IPC, for negligent driving causing death and investigation is on. We will do a proper probe along with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCI) in connection with the mishap," Rema Rajeswari said.

Maheema, who joined Flytech Aviation four months ago, married Paranthaman in December 2017. The couple has no children. She was undergoing regular training at Flytech Aviation Academy situated in Vijayapuri South, Macharla mandal, Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh.

An eyewitness Ramaiah, who was working at the agriculture fields, said he was chatting with other villagers at the place. Suddenly, the aircraft spanned down and hit the surface. Minutes after the mishap, the aircraft exploded and thick smoke emanated. Some of the locals went to the place of the mishap and found a woman inside the aircraft which was smashed in the mishap.
Crazed and the Calm on S. Oregon Coast, Between Coos Bay and Bandon

Published 02/23/22 at 6:32 AM PST

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Bandon, Oregon)  Some thirty minutes of drive time and about 24 miles along this part of southern Oregon coast highway, there's a lot crammed between two big-name towns. Bandon and Coos Bay are perhaps the two most recognizable go-to spots on the south coast, and between them is a few days worth of exploration. (Above: Coos Bay's Cape Arago. Courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more)

But you could say the best of it is between the devil and the deep blue sea  Seven Devils Road, that is. As the road south of Charleston (and just south of Coos Bay) splits off to either Seven Devils Road or the Cape Arago Highway, it leaves you with a devil of a choice. Take the long, scenic winding route to Bandon or trip the fantastic down the Arago roadway and bump into wonder after wonder.

Then once in Bandon, maybe find the other Seven Devils Road (yup, there's two), connecting from the south end, letting you reach the endless beach distractions and attractions of Seven Devils State Recreation Site.

Bandon, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

It's all something Amanda Castro did back in 2009 or so, settling in for three years in Coos Bay, and then falling in love with both that town and Bandon.

I loved it, Castro said of Coos Bay. It was a small town, older, really pretty.

But running around the Bandon area caused that one to be still her favorite of the Oregon coast to this day, though she now resides in Portland. There, the Seven Devils Beach area presented some unique finds.

I loved hiking Seven Devils, she said of the beach and the little roadways above. There were seven crazy hills, and all these little pathways down to the beach.

Getting here is a bit tenuous and white-knuckled at points, but it's worth it, dumping you out on pristine sands known as Merchant Beach. Miles and miles of grains in either direction are interspersed with the bubbly cliffs that often inhabit this stretch north of Bandon, leading you through hidden Sacchi Beach and Agate Beach (not the one in Newport), until it all ends up at Cape Arago. Or if you're hiking south, you'll bump into legendary Whiskey Run Beach and eventually Bullards Beach.



Whiskey Run Beach, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more

Within the closer confines of either south Oregon coast town, there's bundles of beaches all their own. Bandon contains the vast landscapes dotted with soaring rock structures and blobs, including the famed Face Rock and Wizards Hat Rock, as well as Elephant Rock and its sometimes mystical portal-like arch. Coos Bay hosts quick access to Sunset Bay and its ancient, craggy wonders (like Viking-age ghost forests), Cape Arago and its remote, unattainable lighthouse, the wildlife of Simpson Reef or the shriek-inducing monster waves of Shore Acres State Park.



Photo courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast / Steven Michael Photography

It turns out Castro never indulged in that powerful wonder herself. She sheepishly admitted she was terrified of water and didn't like the idea of getting wet by one of those oceanic geysers the spot is known for. They can tower nearly 100 feet above those cliffs.

That isn't to say these stretches between Coos Bay and Bandon didn't bring enormous peace to her, however. She recalls with especially wide eyes the first time she saw whales from one of the state park cliffs around Bandon.



Shore Acres in a calm mood, courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast

During springtime there was whale watching, Castro said.

She described her first sight of whales as I was shocked, but pleasantly so.

It was interesting. I was just sitting there on a bench by myself, overlooking everything and it was all really peaceful.

You can, of course, choose to run around these vibrant south Oregon coast spots at high speed, darting from place to place to take it all in quickly. And who would blame you? But eventually, as this former local found out, the calm of the area simply takes over.

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Joe Evans of Beaumont has been reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas Council for Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders for a term set to expire on Aug. 31, 2027. The council facilitates the coordination of state services for persons with Alzheimers disease and related disorders.

Evans is the general manager of Beaumont Occupational Services  a drug, alcohol and occupational testing facility. He is president of the Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson County Board of Directors and serves on the Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and previously served on its board. Evans is also a former board member of the Garth House Mickey Mehaffy Childrens Advocacy Program. Evans received a Bachelor of Science in History Education from Florida A&M University and a Master of Science in Public Health from Lamar University.

He is also the incoming chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party, succeeding Judy Nichols.

Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie has been appointed to the National League of Cities 2022 Community and Economic Development Committee Federal Advocacy Committee. Bartie was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLCs advocacy agenda and policy priorities. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mayor Vince Williams of Union City, Ga.

Im excited to serve on this committee, and I look forward to working with my fellow colleagues, Bartie said. I plan is to bring what I learn home to the great city of Port Arthur and make it a better place to live, work and play.

As a member of the NLCs Advocacy Committee, Bartie will play a key role among a diverse group of leaders in shaping NLCs policy positions and advocating on behalf of Americas municipalities before Congress, with the administration and at home.

NLCs federal advocacy committees are a key tool for gathering insights directly from the communities that our members serve, said NLC President Mayor Vince Williams of Union City, Ga. I am excited to have Bartie serve on the committee and look forward to working with him to fulfill the promise of Americas cities, towns and villages.

Tim Baker has been elected the 2022 chair of the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Texas. He is the owner and operator of Baker Auto Repair and American Lift Aids.

This will be my second term as board chair and over 17 years as a director serving with a host of dedicated purpose filled men and women, Baker said. The BBB has always been a driving force behind serving my customers with trust and integrity. The BBB staff has served Southeast Texas well and we are proud of them all.

Additional 2022 Officers are Chair-Elect Leslie Harrison, Executive Vice President of Higginbotham Insurance; Secretary April Tolbert, Owner of April Tolbert Insurance Agency; Treasurer Anthony Toups, General Manager of Classic Acura; and Past Chair Kathryn James, Consumer Relations Senior Manager, Conns HomePlus.

The 2022 Executive Committee Directors are Michele Cobb, DC, Owner of Cobb Family Chiropractic; Lee Potter, Owner of American Air Systems; Ann Scoggin, Owner of Coldwell Banker Southern Homes; Paul Skinner, President Function4/Star Graphics; Belinda Trest, Office Manager K.A.T Excavation and Construction.

In addition to the officers named, four new BBB Southeast Texas Board of Directors were elected. They are Emily Brackin, Kim Moncla, Donna Peterson, and Greg Spanky Stanley, Owner of Spankys Wrecker Service.

For the latest news and consumer or business tips, readers can follow BBB Southeast on Facebook @BBBSoutheastTexas, on Twitter @BBBSETX, LinkedIn and BBB.org

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!
Bedford, PA (15522)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 69F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military facility after an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

KYIV: Russian troops have entered Ukraine's second city Kharkiv and fighting was underway on Sunday, the head of the regional administration said on the fourth day of Moscow's invasion of the pro-Western country.

"The Russian enemy's light vehicles broke into the city of Kharkiv," Oleg Sinegubov said in a Facebook post. "The Ukrainian armed forces are eliminating the enemy."

Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities in what appeared to be the next phase of an invasion that has been slowed by fierce resistance. The U.S. and EU responded with weapons and ammunition for the outnumbered Ukrainians and powerful sanctions intended to further isolate Moscow.

Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces.

Flames billowed into the sky before dawn from an oil depot near an air base in Vasylkiv, where there has been intense fighting, according to the towns mayor. President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office said another explosion was at the civilian Zhuliany airport.

Zelenskyys office also said Russian forces blew up a gas pipeline in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, prompting the government to warn people to protect themselves from the smoke by covering their windows with damp cloth or gauze.

We will fight for as long as needed to liberate our country, Zelenskyy vowed.

Terrified men, women and children sought safety inside and underground, and the government maintained a 39-hour curfew to keep people off the streets. More than 150,000 Ukrainians fled for Poland, Moldova and other neighboring countries, and the United Nations warned the number could grow to 4 million if fighting escalates.

President Vladimir Putin hasnt disclosed his ultimate plans, but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraines government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscows Cold War-era influence.

To aid Ukraines ability to hold out, the U.S. pledged an additional $350 million in military assistance to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, body armor and small arms. Germany said it would send missiles and anti-tank weapons to the besieged country and that it would close its airspace to Russian planes.

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 Russias central bank.

It was unclear how much territory Russian forces had seized or to what extent their advance had been stalled. Britains Ministry of Defense said the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.

A senior U.S. defense official said more than half the Russian combat power that was massed along Ukraines borders had entered the country and Moscow has had to commit more fuel supply and other support units inside Ukraine than originally anticipated. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments.

The curfew forcing everyone in Kyiv inside was set to last through Monday morning. The relative quiet of the capital was sporadically broken by gunfire.

Fighting on the citys outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Small groups of Russian troops were reported inside Kyiv, but Britain and the U.S. said the bulk of the forces were 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the citys center as of Saturday afternoon.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine from the north, east and south is aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighborhoods have been hit.

Ukraines health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, had been killed and more than 1,000 others wounded during Europes largest land war since World War II. It was unclear whether those figures included both military and civilian casualties.

A missile struck a high-rise apartment building in Kyivs southwestern outskirts near one of the citys two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

Ukraines ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, said troops in Kyiv were fighting Russian sabotage groups. Ukraine says some 200 Russian soldiers have been captured and thousands killed.

Markarova said Ukraine was gathering evidence of shelling of residential areas, kindergartens and hospitals to submit to The Hague as possible crimes against humanity.

Zelenskyy reiterated his openness to talks with Russia in a video message, saying he welcomed an offer from Turkey and Azerbaijan to organize diplomatic efforts, which so far have faltered.

The Kremlin confirmed a phone call between Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev but gave no hint of restarting talks. A day earlier, Zelenskyy offered to negotiate a key Russian demand: abandoning ambitions of joining NATO.

Putin sent troops into Ukraine after denying for weeks that he intended to do so, all the while building up a force of almost 200,000 troops along the countries borders. He claims the West has failed to take seriously Russias security concerns about NATO, the Western military alliance that Ukraine aspires to join. But he has also expressed scorn about Ukraines right to exist as an independent state.

The effort was already coming at great cost to Ukraine, and apparently to Russian forces as well.

Ukrainian artillery fire destroyed a Russian train delivering diesel to troops heading toward Kyiv from the east, said Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the interior minister.

The countrys Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down early Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling reservoir that serves Kyiv. The government also said a Russian convoy was destroyed. Video images showed soldiers inspecting burned-out vehicles after Ukraines 101st brigade reported destroying a column of two light vehicles, two trucks and a tank. The claim could not be verified.

Highways into Kyiv from the east were dotted with checkpoints manned by Ukrainian troops and young men in civilian clothes carrying automatic rifles. Low-flying planes patrolled the skies, though it was unclear if they were Russian or Ukrainian.

In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraines economically vital coastal areas, from near the Black Sea port of Odesa in the west to beyond the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east.

Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol guarded bridges and blocked people from the shoreline amid concerns the Russian navy could launch an assault from the sea.

I dont care anymore who wins and who doesnt, said Ruzanna Zubenko, whose large family was forced from their home outside Mariupol after it was badly damaged by shelling. The only important thing is for our children to be able to grow up smiling and not crying.

Fighting also raged in two eastern territories controlled by pro-Russia separatists. Authorities in Donetsk said hot water supplies to the city of about 900,000 were suspended because of damage to the system by Ukrainian shelling.

The U.S. government urged Zelenskyy early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv but he turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation. Zelenskyy issued a defiant video recorded on a downtown street, saying he remained in the city.

We arent going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country, he said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that its our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.

Hungary and Poland both opened their borders to Ukrainians.

Refugees arriving in the Hungarian border town of Zahony said men between the ages of 18 and 60 were not being allowed to leave Ukraine.

My son was not allowed to come. My heart is so sore, Im shaking, said Vilma Sugar, 68.

At Polands Medyka crossing, some said they had walked for 15 miles (35 kilometers) to reach the border.

They didnt have food, no tea, they were standing in the middle of a field, on the road, kids were freezing, Iryna Wiklenko said as she waited on the Polish side for her grandchildren and daughter-in-law to make it across.

Officials in Kyiv urged residents to stay away from windows to avoid debris or bullets.

Shelves were sparsely stocked at grocery stores and pharmacies, and people worried how long food and medicine supplies might last.

The U.S. and its allies have beefed up forces on NATOs eastern flank but so far have ruled out deploying troops to fight Russia. Instead, the U.S., the European Union and other countries have slapped wide-ranging sanctions on Russia, freezing the assets of businesses and individuals including Putin and his foreign minister.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, warned that Moscow could react by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and cutting diplomatic ties.

There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations, Medvedev said. We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.
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Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
This image shows a model view of California Northstate Universitys future medical center campus in the North Natomas area of Sacramento. The largest structure, shown to the left, is the universitys future teaching hospital.
Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, delivers the Throne Speech in the Senate in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. On Friday, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming The governor general of Canada said she needs 958,000 emails to remove Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from office. The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General said no such registry or process exists.
As the Berkshires and Southern Vermont prepare to celebrate Mardi Gras, a royal treat awaits those who indulge during "Fat Tuesday," the eve of the Lenten season.

This slow-cooker jambalaya makes your Mardi Gras dinner plans a breeze As New England wrestles the last throes of winter, things in New Orleans are heating up with the final days of Mardi Gras, which traditionally begins on Twelfth Night (Jan. 6) and ends on Fat Tuesday 

King cake, popular in New Orleans and other regions of the southeast U.S., may be found locally at some bakeries and church gatherings. The Mardi Gras king cake is a variation of the French king cake traditionally served on, or leading up to, the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorated on Jan. 6 to mark the Magi (three Wise Kings) visiting Baby Jesus.

"Every celebration has a food tradition and Mardi Gras happens to have this yeasty, buttery cake," said Katie Wilson, spokeswoman for King Arthur Flour, a supplier of baking goods and cookbooks based in Norwich, Vt.

"It's another way to add to a celebration during a dull time of year," added pastry chef Andrea Wadsworth of A.W. Confections in Lee.

The king cake now in season is yeast-based and is decorated with icing of the three primary colors of Mardi Gras: purple, representing justice; green, for faith; and gold, for power. It's usually fruit-filled and, like the Epiphany king cake, may have a replica of the Baby Jesus hidden in its middle.

Patisserie Lenox co-owners Jean Yves and Yulia Bougouin, who have bakery cafes in Lenox, Great Barrington, Northampton and Hudson, N.Y., are more geared to the Christmas season king cake, but can do a pre-Lenten one upon request.

"If we know what it is, we bake it," said Bougouin.

For amateur bakers, using yeast can be intimidating, but worth the effort, according to Bougouin's husband.

"For someone at home, [king cake] is much easier than making croissants," Jean Yves noted.

"If you're trying to use yeast for the first time, a king cake is a good place to start," Wilson added. "The process of drying yeast has improved exponentially and is now rarely a problem."

While Mardi Gras king cake is Danish-like, the Epiphany king cake (galette des rois) is traditionally a French puff pastry with almond creme, which, when served the rest of the year in France, is a pithivier, according to Rachel Portnoy, pastry chef and former owner of Lee-based Chez Nous/Cafe Triskele, in Lee.

"It's not sweet, just like a tea pastry, very simple," she said.

Mardi Gras King Cake

Recipe courtesy of King Arthur Baking.

INGREDIENTS

Cake:

1/2 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup lukewarm milk

2 large eggs and 1 large egg yolk, white reserved

3 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup Baker's Special Dry Milk or nonfat dried milk

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia or lemon oil, or 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

Filling:

8-ounce package cream cheese

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1/8 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia or lemon oil

Icing:

2 cups confectioners' sugar

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons milk, enough to make a thick, but pourable glaze

Garnish:

Yellow, purple, and green fine sparkling sugars

Candied red cherries (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment.

To prepare the dough: Using a stand mixer, electric hand mixer or bread machine, mix and knead all of the dough ingredients together to form a smooth, very silky dough. You may try kneading this dough with your hands, if desired; but be advised it's very sticky and soft.

Allow the dough to rise, covered, for 1 hour. It'll become puffy, though it probably won't double in size.

Transfer the soft dough to a lightly greased work surface. Pat and stretch it into a 24-by-6-inch rectangle. This won't be hard at all; it's very stretchy. Let the dough rest while you prepare the filling.

To prepare the filling: Beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and flour until smooth, scraping the bowl once. Add the egg and flavor, again beating until smooth.

Dollop the filling down the center of the long strip of dough. Then fold each edge up and over the filling until they meet at the top; roll and pinch the edges together, to seal the filling inside as much as possible. Don't worry about making the seal look perfect; it'll eventually be hidden by the icing and sugar.

Place the log of dough onto the baking sheet. The dough will be very extensible, i.e., it'll stretch as you handle it. So pick it up and position it on the pan quickly and gently. Pinch the ends together.

Cover and let rise for about an hour, until it's puffy. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees while the dough rises.

Whisk the reserved egg white with 1 tablespoon water, and brush it over the risen cake.

Bake the cake for 20 minutes, then tent it lightly with aluminum foil. Bake it for an additional 30 minutes, until it's a rich golden brown.

Remove the cake from the oven. After about 15 minutes, transfer it from the baking sheet to a rack to cool.

To make the icing: Beat together all of the icing ingredients, dribbling in the final 2 teaspoons milk until the icing is thick, yet pourable.

Pour the icing over the completely cooled cake. While it's still sticky, sprinkle with alternating bands of yellow, purple, and green sugars. Space candied cherries in a ring around the top.

Yield: 1 loaf, about 16 servings.
CDC: Most Americans can go without masks, including in the Berkshires
Cops and Courts Reporter

Amanda Burke is Cops and Courts Reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise.
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.
James Brooke, of Lenox, is a visiting fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America.
Ralph Gardner Jr. is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The New Yorker. He can be reached at ralph@ralphgardner.com.
Strong support from motherland gives Hong Kong confidence in prevailing over COVID-19

09:03, February 26, 2022 By Wan Yu ( People's Daily

Medical workers dispatched by the Chinese mainland to assist Hong Kong with epidemic response arrive at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Eastern District, Hong Kong, Feb. 23. (Photo/news.gov.hk)

The fifth wave of COVID-19 infections in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is still rampaging through the region, posing serious health risks to citizens.

Although the epidemic situation is severe, Hong Kong must adhere to anti-pandemic principles and remain calm and confident, said Carrie Lam, chief executive of the HKSAR, adding that Hong Kong's confidence in prevailing over COVID-19 derives from the countrys robust support and the HKSAR government's strategy to combat the epidemic with strict prevention and control.

On Feb. 22, the construction of four temporary community isolation and treatment facilities, or mobile cabin hospitals, kicked off in Hong Kong with the assistance of construction teams from the Chinese mainland.

After going into operation, these makeshift hospitals at Tsing Yi, San Tin, Yuen Long and Hung Shui Kiu will add 14,000 or 17,000 isolation units for Hong Kong.

Earlier on Feb. 19, China State Construction International Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprise, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, started the construction of two permanent community isolation and treatment facilities. The facilities, both designed and built by China State Construction International Holdings Limited, will provide about 9,500 quarantine units upon completion.

On Feb. 16, the second set of equipment for a nucleic acid test laboratory named Huoyan, or Fire Eye, and the seventh batch of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines with approximately 1.25 million doses provided by Huasheng Diagnostic Center under Chinese biotech company BGI Group, arrived in Hong Kong; the next day, the first panel of epidemiology experts from the Chinese mainland, along with two mobile nucleic acid testing vehicles, reached Hong Kong to support the region with virus origin tracing, epidemic situation analysis and risk assessment.

Supplies of fresh vegetables, meat and other daily necessities have been fully guaranteed. The first batch of freezers filled with chilled poultry products shipped by Sinotrans Guangdong Huangpu Warehouse & Terminal Co., Ltd. arrived in Hong Kong on Feb. 17. These products were quickly distributed to markets across Hong Kong and provided for a great number of families.

Non-profit organization Fosun Foundation (Shanghai) recently announced that it would donate 10 million HKD ($1.28 million) worth of anti-epidemic materials to Hong Kong, including rapid COVID-19 antigen test kits and medical masks, to support the regions response to the latest outbreak.

Zhong Nanshan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a renowned respiratory disease expert, filmed an 11-minute video in Cantonese, the primary language in Hong Kong, on Feb. 21 to cheer on Hong Kong residents who are battling with the pandemic.

"In human beings' fight against the virus, what matters most are people's lives. People's health is the most important human right," Zhong stressed.

"Unlike some Western countries, the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong uphold the principle of 'putting people's health and lives first' in containing the epidemic. Therefore, we will never sit by and watch a large number of our senior citizens be killed by the virus as a result of natural infection, and we will continue adhering to the dynamic zero-COVID approach," he said.

In the video, the expert described in detail the characteristics of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and made three suggestions: preventing the spread of the virus, promoting vaccination, and preparing sufficient medicine for treatment.

After the video of Zhong's sincere and heart-warming speech was released online, it received active responses from Hong Kong residents. Many people left messages online to express gratitude to Zhong, as well as the Chinese mainland and medical teams dispatched from the mainland to assist Hong Kong, according to an article published in Hong Kong Commercial Daily on Feb. 22.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
Protesters gathered outside the Elk Grove Unified School District's Trigg Education Center to protest the state's school mask mandate on Feb. 15.
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Originally published Jan. 24 on KTVB.COM.

Idaho's governor and U.S. Senate delegation are condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and expressing support for the Ukrainian people.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Gov. Brad Little said that he is praying for peace.

"Putin's unprovoked attack is an assault on democracy and the values of a free society," Little wrote. "We must hold Russia accountable for their senseless aggression toward the Ukrainian people."

Idaho Republican Senator Jim Risch is currently the ranking Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In a written statement, he called the invasion a "flagrant and premeditated act of war."

"Despite committed efforts to find a diplomatic solution, Putin has violated the border of a sovereign country. No one should be surprised. U.S. agencies have made public the facts to show the world what was coming," Risch said, adding that Putin "has always used force to take what he wants, from the occupation of Abkahzia and South Ossetia in Georgia, to the 2014 invasion of Ukraine, and the military occupation of Belarus. 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."

Risch also said Putin should recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine and "reverse course, immediately."

Risch is also urging the full U.S. Senate to "immediately" take up and pass legislation called the Never Yielding Europe's Territory Act  or the "NYET Act." That bill would impose sanctions on major Russian banks, secondary sanctions on banks that continue business with sanctioned Russian banks, and sanctions against "Putin's cronies, enablers and major banks," according to a news release emailed from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The NYET Act also would provide $500 million in Foreign Military Financing for Ukraine, including $250 million in emergency funding. One-hundred million dollars of that emergency funding would be for "emergency lethal assistance for critical capabilities like air defense, anti-armor, and anti-ship capabilities." In addition, the legislation would create a new Ukraine Resistance Fund to help Ukraine resist attempts to occupy or subjugate any new territory Russia seizes, authorize a new Lend-Lease authority for Ukraine, and expedite congressional review of arms sales and security assistance to Ukraine.

According to Risch's office, the NYET Act aims to counter Russian malign influence and aggression throughout Europe by doubling funding for U.S. military exercises in Europe, creating a new State Department Foreign Military Financing program for Eastern Europe "to help European allies strengthen their own defensive capabilities and incentivize greater burden-sharing," boost funding for State Department efforts to counter Russian disinformation, including the Global Engagement Center, and expand broadcasting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The complete text of the NYET Act is available here.

In an exclusive interview with KTVB's Joe Parris, Risch said Russia is "a nuclear-armed country and a superpower. For them to be taking on a tiny country that really cant defend itself  this is madness by a madman."

When asked about the possibility of sending Idahoans overseas, Risch said they're avoiding boots on the ground "at all costs."

"Two nuclear powers cannot get into a fight. So we have over recent years, months, and more robustly recent weeks, sent defensive arms to the Ukrainians, who have committed to defend their country. As long as theyre going to defend their country, were going to support them in that regard." Risch said. "Obviously theyre no match for a nuclear power or superpower like Russia, but they have said that they are going to resist. If the Russians try to occupy that country, theyre going to have a lot of trouble doing that. As time goes on I think it will get worse, well see how it plays out."

A statement from Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) calls for "crushing economic sanctions" against Russia. He also said the U.S. should not put troops on the ground, and added that the U.S. "must continue to provide the lethal militaristic tools and technology necessary for Ukraine to defend itself against this barbaric regime."

More from KTVB.COM:

Why is Russia invading Ukraine?

Biden hits Russia with new sanctions, says Putin 'chose' war
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com Right now the ISIS terrorists are attacking a town in Syria very close to the Turkish border. Civilians are fleeing in panic because these ISIS savages are known to slaughter innocent people. Meanwhile Turkish tanks and troops do nothing, sitting on their side of the border, watching the carnage unfold. Turkey is a Muslim country. Throughout the world, there are about 1.6 billion Muslims, and 35 countries practice some kind of Sharia law. That means they are governed by people who abide by principles of Islam that are controversial to say the least. In some places, you even can be stoned to death for committing a sin. A study published by the Pew Research Center last year asked Muslims if they favor Sharia law. In Afghanistan, 99% do. Pakistan, 84%. Iraq, 91%. Egypt, 74%. Jordan, 71%. And even in Great Britain, a national opinion poll found that 78% of British Muslims believe people who criticize Mohammed should be prosecuted by civil authorities. So you can see that millions of Muslims think their religion should dictate what happens in society. Enter uber-liberals Bill Maher and Ben Affleck. Mr. Maher is an anti-religionist. He despises all organized religions, and makes no secret of that. Mr. Affleck is a traditional liberal -- a fervent supporter of President Obama and of many left-wing causes. Over the weekend, Mr. Maher, an author named Sam Harris, and Mr. Affleck debated Islam. BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN: All Im saying is that liberal principals like freedom of speech, freedom to practice any religion you want without fear of violence, freedom to leave a religion, equality for women, equality for minorities, including homosexuals, these are liberal principles that liberals applaud for but then when you say in the Muslim world this is what's lacking, then they get upset.

SAM HARRIS, AUTHOR: Yeah, liberals have really failed on the topic of theocracy; theyll criticize white theocracy, theyll criticize Christians, theyll still get agitated over the abortion clinic bombing that happen in 1984, but when you want to talk about the treatment of women and homosexuals and free thinkers and public intellectuals in the Muslim world, I would argue that liberals have failed us. ((EDIT)) BEN AFFLECK, ACTOR: So hold on. Are you their person that understands the official codified doctrine of Islam? Youre the interpreter of  HARRIS: Im actually well-educated on this topic. AFFLECK: Im asking you. So youre saying that Islamophobia is not a real thing? That if youre critical of something  MAHER: Well its not a real thing when we do it. AFFLECK: Right. HARRIS: Im not denying that certain people are bigoted against Muslims as people. AFFLECK: Thats big of you. MAHER (TO AFFLECK): Why are you so hostile about this concept? AFFLECK: Because its gross! Its racist! MAHER: Its so not. AFFLECK: Its like saying you shifty Jew. MAHER: Youre not listening to what we are saying.

((EDIT)) HARRIS: We have to be able to criticize bad ideas. AFFLECK: Of course we do! HARRIS: Islam at this moment is the mother lode of bad ideas. AFFLECK: Jesus Christ. MAHER: Thats just a fact. AFFLECK: Its not a fact. Its an ugly thing to say. Interesting how Mr. Affleck invokes the name of Jesus Christ. Now, who is correct? As far as condemning all Muslims, Mr. Affleck is on the side of the angels, pardon the pun. As Talking Points stated last week, most Muslims are peaceful people even if they do believe in Sharia law. That's a flaw in their thinking; it doesn't mean they are violent maniacs. Also, like the Bible, there are violent passages in the Koran. That doesn't mean much. Interpretation of scripture is what separates a fair person from a hateful fanatic. However, Mr. Maher is correct on the overall effect Islam is having on the world. The truth is, many Muslim nations have not confronted Islamic terrorism, have not attacked violence in the name of Allah, and have not even condemned the jihad. There are exceptions, but they are few. Therefore militant Islam continues to drive worldwide terrorism and have plenty of sanctuaries from which to commit their evil. Ben Affleck should well understand that he would be beheaded in a heartbeat by these ISIS animals, and that even though they are the most extreme element of the jihad, they are not that far away from their fanatical cousins. You may remember that hours after America was attacked by al Qaeda on 9/11, thousands of Muslims celebrated in the streets. They were happy that more than 3,000 innocent people were murdered. Again, these people are a minority but they were not called out in an official way by Muslim nations. The truth is that the Islamic jihad could not exist if not for Muslim nations turning away. Turkey could crush ISIS, but it does nothing. The Afghan people could turn against the Taliban. They do not. The Pakistani government harbored Osama bin Laden. Those facts are something that Ben Affleck and others who agree with him should think about in any discussion about the overall effect Islam is having on the world. Talking Points well understands that for centuries Muslims co-existed peacefully with other religions. But now terrorism and the jihadists are again on the move, and most Muslim nations are not joining with the West to confront that. Therefore criticism of Islam's role on the world stage is certainly valid. The Muslim world needs to take a hard look at itself. And that's the memo.
The informed consent documents are available both digitally and in print in English, Hindi, and Marathi

Thieme EIDO INFORM, a ground-breaking product that is set to revolutionise the patient education and informed consent landscape in the country, is being introduced in the Indian market by Thieme Group, an eminent Germany-based medical and science publisher with over a decade-long notable presence in India, in collaboration with EIDO Healthcare, the UK-based market leader in digital consent solutions. The development will completely transform the doctor-patient and hospital-patient relationship, ushering in a more informed patient consent environment in the country.

Thieme EIDO INFORM is a comprehensive suite of informed consent solutions, including written consent sheets, animations illustrating the operation, and terms laying out potential risks as well as benefits involved in a surgery. Patients can write down their questions for the clinician directly in the cloud-based app for their in-person appointment. The clinician can also see how intensively patients have engaged with the content since the system tracks usage time.

The Thieme EIDO INFORM Home Consent function allows patients to insert their digital signature in the document from the comfort of their homes, confirming that they have been thoroughly informed in advance of the impending surgery. Importantly, the informed consent documents are available both digitally and in print in English, Hindi, and Marathi, with availability in more local languages to follow.
De Beers is bringing its sales activities back to Botswana's capital Gaborone, it said on Thursday, 24 February, almost two years after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to be held in cities including Antwerp and Dubai.

Rough diamonds during their sorting process are seen at the Botswana Diamond Valuing Company in Gaborone, Botswana. Reuters/Juda Ngwenya

Valuable foreign exchange for Botswana

The Anglo American subsidiary had moved its pre-sale viewings - a marketing exercise to showcase its new batch of diamonds - from Botswana in May 2020 when travel restrictions to curb the pandemic prevented its international customers from flying to the Southern African country.Customers from across the world fly ten times a year to participate in week-long diamond sales, known as sights, in Botswana, which accounts for 90% of the company's total annual sales."From March, we are bringing back the sights to Gaborone and we look forward to meeting again as an industry after a long time," De Beers executive vice-president diamond trading Paul Rowley told a press briefing."We will of course maintain some flexibility for some customers who will still not be able to come to Botswana."The return is expected to bring in valuable foreign exchange to Botswana, which had lost out additional earnings from travel, hospitality and ancillary services, even though sales income still came to the country.The majority of diamond mining in the country is done by Debswana, a company jointly held by De Beers and the Botswana government, which sells 75% of the diamonds mined to De Beers. The remaining 25% of the diamonds is sold to state-owned Okavango Diamond Company.Apart from the large business delegations who visit the country ten times a year, the pre-sale viewings are known to attract more than 100 high-net-worth diamond magnates who spend heavily in the country.
Kwezi Futshane from the University of Cape Town (UCT) has received the Most Innovative Final-Year Landscape Architecture Award in the 2022 Corobrik Student Architecture Awards. Futshane's thesis uncovers land restitution prospects by exploring landscape design opportunities.

UCT's Kwezi Futshane clinches Most Innovative Final-Year Landscape Architecture Award in 2022 Corobrik Student Architecture Awards



Winner: Kwezi Futshane, R8, 000



Runner-up: Kelvin Green, R6,000

Kwezi Futshane's thesis is entitled How to design a landscape that celebrates Khoesan indigeneity and heritage

Entitled How to design a landscape that celebrates Khoesan indigeneity and heritage, Futshanes project sheds light on the historic sensitivities within the Two Rivers Urban Park (TRUP) in Cape Town, focusing its design strategy mainly on the contested River Club site.Landscape architecture is more than just beautiful designs, highlights Futshane. It is important that landscape architects are recognised. We can impact the constantly changing socio-spatial fabric, and our layered design thinking skills opens doors for impactful environmental solutions.35th Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Awards - UCT, Most Innovative Final-Year Landscape Architecture Award:This year's national awards will again be a hybrid event held in May, following a similar format as in 2021. The 2019 awards ceremony was postponed due to Covid-19, with Corobrik instead announcing the 2019 and 2020 winners at a combined event last year.
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.
As Russian missiles rained down on Ukraine, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across Russia to protest their governments offensive on Thursday, and many were detained by police.

According to the Russian rights monitoring group OVD-Info, at least 1,758 people were detained at antiwar protests in 55 Russian cities. Of that number, 967 were arrested in Moscow, and 431 were detained in Saint Petersburg.

Look at the size of anti-war protestors in St Petersburg, Russia. Wow pic.twitter.com/dHg9Uwt9RQ  Ragp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) February 24, 2022

In Moscow, protesters gathered at Pushkinskaya Square, in the center of the city. Demonstrators carried signs with antiwar slogans that read: Stop the war, Ukraine is not our enemy, No one needs this war.

.         . pic.twitter.com/4bZc6Eu1Fb    (@headwind512) February 24, 2022

According to RT, the Moscow police said they temporarily detained 600 people. OVD-Info published a list on its website of the names of the people that have been arrested in each city.

Some prominent Russians have spoken out against President Vladimir Putins decision to attack Ukraine, including journalists and other public figures. Yelena Kovalskaya, the director of a state-funded theater in Moscow, quit her job and wrote on Facebook that its impossible to work for a killer and get paid by him.
Chris Hedges introduces his latest article for Scheer Post, titled Chronicle of a War Foretold, with the following:

After the fall of the Soviet Union, there was a near universal understanding among political leaders that NATO expansion would be a foolish provocation against Russia. How naive we were to think the military-industrial complex would allow such sanity to prevail.

Imperial narrative managers have been falling all over themselves working to dismiss and discredit the abundantly evidenced idea that Russias invasion of Ukraine was due largely to Moscows fear of NATO expansion and the refusal of Washington and Kyiv to solidify a policy that Ukraine would not be added to the alliance.

Take Michael McFaul, the mass medias go-to pundit on all things Russia:

Or New Jersey Congressman Tom Malinowski:

Or Just Security editor Ryan Goodman:

It makes sense that they would have to do this. After all, if westerners were to get it into their heads that this whole terrible war could have been avoided by simply solidifying a policy of neutrality for Ukraine and issuing a guarantee that it would never be added to NATO, they would begin asking why this did not happen. NATO powers had no interest in adding Ukraine to the alliance anyway, so it doesnt really make sense to refuse to make such low-cost concessions if the only alternative is mass military slaughter. I mean, unless your goal was to provoke mass military slaughter to advance your own geostrategic objectives.

So they work hard to present the narrative that the invasion has nothing to do with NATO at all, and occurred solely because Putin is an evil madman who hates freedom and wants to destroy democracy. Most western analysis goes no deeper than this:

But these herculean propaganda efforts have one pretty significant plot hole: if the attack on Ukraine has nothing to do with NATO expansion, then how come so many western experts have spent years warning that NATO expansion will lead to an attack on Ukraine?

Check out this 2015 video clip by John Mearsheimer, for example:

Or this one by the late great Stephen F Cohen back in 2010:

Or this excerpt from a summary by The Nation of points made by Cohen in a 2017 dialogue with John Batchelor titled Have 20 Years of NATO Expansion Made Anyone Safer?:

NATO promises that Georgia might one day become a member state was an underlying cause of the Georgian-Russian war of 2008, in effect a US-Russian proxy war. The result was the near ruination of Georgia. NATO remains active in Georgia today. Similar NATO overtures to Ukraine also underlay the crisis in that country in 2014, which resulted in Russias annexation of Crimea, the still ongoing Ukrainian civil war in Donbass, and in effect another US-Russian proxy war. Meanwhile, US-backed Kiev remains in profound economic and political crisis, and Ukraine fraught with the possibility of a direct American-Russian military conflict.

Or this from Stephen M Walt in 2015:

Today, those who want to arm Ukraine are demanding that Russia cease all of its activities in Ukraine, withdraw from Crimea, and let Ukraine join the EU and/or NATO if it wants and if it meets the membership requirements. In other words, they expect Moscow to abandon its own interests in Ukraine, full stop. It would be wonderful if Western diplomacy could pull off this miracle, but how likely is it? Given Russias history, its proximity to Ukraine, and its long-term security concerns, it is hard to imagine Putin capitulating to our demands without a long and costly struggle that will do enormous additional damage to Ukraine.  The solution to this crisis is for the United States and its allies to abandon the dangerous and unnecessary goal of endless NATO expansion and do whatever it takes to convince Russia that we want Ukraine to be a neutral buffer state in perpetuity. We should then work with Russia, the EU, and the IMF to develop an economic program that puts that unfortunate country back on its feet.

Or this from George Kennan right after the US Senate approved NATO expansion all the way back in 1998:

I think it is the beginning of a new cold war. I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever. No one was threatening anybody else. This expansion would make the founding fathers of this country turn over in their graves Of course there is going to be a bad reaction from Russia, and then [the NATO expanders] will say that we always told you that is how the Russians are  but this is just wrong.

Or how about now-CIA Director William Burnss 2008 memo to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice:

Ukrainian entry into NATO is the brightest of all redlines for the Russian elite (not just Putin). In more than two and a half years of conversations with key Russian players, from knuckle-draggers in the dark recesses of the Kremlin to Putins sharpest liberal critics, I have yet to find anyone who views Ukraine in NATO as anything other than a direct challenge to Russian interests.

Or what the last US ambassador to the USSR Jack Matlock recently wrote about the Ukraine conflict, calling it an avoidable crisis that was predictable, actually predicted, willfully precipitated, but easily resolved by the application of common sense:

In 1997, when the question of adding more members to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), I was asked to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In my introductory remarks, I made the following statement: I consider the Administrations recommendation to take new members into NATO at this time misguided. If it should be approved by the United States Senate, it may well go down in history as the most profound strategic blunder made since the end of the Cold War. Far from improving the security of the United States, its Allies, and the nations that wish to enter the Alliance, it could well encourage a chain of events that could produce the most serious security threat to this nation since the Soviet Union collapsed.

So many people whove worked hard to gain an understanding of the Russian government have been warning for years that NATO expansionism would lead to a disastrous conflict, strongly emphasising Ukraine as a powderkeg where that conflict could ignite. Yet were being asked to believe that what were seeing in Ukraine has nothing whatsoever to do with NATO expansion and is due rather to Vladimir Putin simply being a mean jerk who wants to ruin everything.

The aforementioned Michael McFaul even goes so far as to pretend this thing we were warned about for decades was never anything anyone ever mentioned until the end of last year:

Imperial spinmeisters have even gone so far as to deceitfully claim Putin makes no mention of NATO in a speech about intervening in Ukraine and citing that as evidence that hes just a land-grabbing Hitler-like monster, hoping no one would fact check them:

When he most certainly did:

And continues to:

So I dunno, if experts have been warning for many years that NATO expansion would provoke an attack, and the guy launching the attack is explicitly citing NATO expansion as a driving motive for his actions, it seems like maybe its sorta kinda got something to do with NATO expansion.

Which would be great news, because it would mean that the US and its allies actually have a lot more power to end this war than theyve been letting on, and no good reason not to do so immediately.

_________________________

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After George W. Bush slammed Vladimir Putin for illegally invading a country, Twitter users who werent born yesterday had some choice reactions.

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, said Bush in a statement.

We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses, he added.

NEW: Former Pres. George W. Bush condemns Russias attack on Ukraine, calling it the gravest security crisis on the European continent since World War II. We cannot tolerate the authoritarian bullying and danger that Putin poses. https://t.co/itq8dmOlyA pic.twitter.com/LLbMDDlLbg  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 24, 2022

For anyone who has no memory or is unable to perform a basic Google search, Bush was president when America illegally invaded Iraq on the pretext of finding weapons of mass destruction that never existed.

As well as claiming the lives of thousands of U.S. troops, the attack killed at least hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and led to the generational destabilization of the entire region.

That attack was also justified by erroneous claims that Saddam Hussein had links to Al-Qaeda and the 9/11 atrocity, something else that was completely invented by U.S. intelligence services.

Twitter users reacted with more than an ounce of skepticism towards Bush denouncing an illegal invasion when his administration set the benchmark for illegal invasions.

He's an expert on illegal invasions  Antonio Instagramsci (@FredYeetzche) February 24, 2022

Bush can shut the fuck up. Him talking is only going to be a way for the Russians to say Were just doing what you did and imposing regime change.  Sun, Fun, Cthulhu (@AmericanRando) February 24, 2022

well if anyone knows about lying your way into an unjust war it's this guy  Simon Girthy (@daggerandpen) February 24, 2022

Hes certainly an expert in unsanctioned invasions of sovereign countries.  Twin Cities Educator Union Supporter named Pancho (@ViewlessJargon) February 24, 2022

"We asked a war criminal what he thinks about current events."  Jacob Ritter (@Mornscreek) February 25, 2022

Says the man who reduced Iraq to ashes   Yhakubu (@iamfelixg) February 25, 2022

Yet, in many ways, Bush's war in Iraq set the template.  Damola O (@dlitetweet) February 24, 2022

guy that invaded country and kills 600k people tells Russia not to invade country  Fierce Vinegar (@FierceVinegar) February 25, 2022



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WASHINGTON, D.C.  The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to stop police from using hidden cameras to secretly and warrantlessly record and monitor a persons activities outside their home over an extended period of time. In refusing to hear an appeal in Travis Tuggle v. U.S., the Supreme Court left in place a lower court ruling which concluded that no search in violation of the Fourth Amendment had occurred because the private activity recorded by the hidden surveillance cameras took place in public view. The Rutherford Institute and the Cato Institute had filed an amicus brief in Tuggle warning that without adequate safeguards in place, there would be no turning back from the kinds of intrusions posed by such expansive, ever-watching surveillance technology capable of revealing intimate details of a persons life.

Jim Harper with TechLaw at the University of Arizona College of Law assisted The Rutherford Institute and the Cato Institute in advancing the Fourth Amendment privacy arguments in Tuggle.

Unfortunately, we are steadily approaching a future where nothing is safe from the prying eyes of government, said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of Battlefield America: The War on the American People. As the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals recognized, Foreseeable expansion in technological capabilities and the pervasive use of ever-watching surveillance will reduce Americans anonymity, transforming what once seemed like science fiction into fact.

As part of Operation Frozen Tundra, a drug-trafficking investigation conducted by multiple federal agencies in central Illinois, police mounted three hidden surveillance cameras on utility poles near Travis Tuggles home starting in August 2014. Tuggle lived in a residential neighborhood with lightly traveled roads, which made physical surveillance difficult for officers. The agents used live feeds from the three video cameras to monitor Tuggles activities and visitors in his yard and driveway, and stored the data on a server at the FBIs office. The cameras were equipped with technology to enable better pictures at night, and agents could remotely operate the cameras to zoom, pan, and tilt the views. From the time of installing the first camera, agents surveilled Tuggles residence around the clock for over a year and a half without ever obtaining a search warrant to do so. The evidence from the videos led to Tuggle being charged and convicted of intending to distribute methamphetamine. Although Tuggle challenged the warrantless video-surveillance as a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights, the government argued that Tuggle did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy from the pole cameras, regardless of the length of time. The district court sided with the government, ruling that the use of the cameras did not constitute a search. Although the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals warned against the dangers of a constellation of ubiquitous public and private cameras accessible to the government that catalog the movements and activities of all Americans, it affirmed the lower courts ruling. The U.S. Supreme Courts subsequent refusal to hear the appeal leaves the lower courts ruling in place.

The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, provides legal assistance at no charge to individuals whose constitutional rights have been threatened or violated and educates the public on a wide spectrum of issues affecting their freedoms.

Case History

November 18, 2021: Rutherford Institute Urges Supreme Court to Rule That Prolonged, Warrantless Spying by Police Using Hidden Cameras Is an Illegal Search
U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, walks, at center, at the District56 center with Elk Grove Vice Mayor Darren Suen, far left, the citys Economic Development Director Darrell Doan and Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen.
In a three-pronged blitz from the north, east and south, Russian ground forces, backed by close air support and volleys of cruise missiles launched from ships, have overrun Ukraine and laid siege to the capital, Kyiv, whose impending fall is days away, reminiscent of precipitous fall of Kabul last August with Chinook helicopters hovering over US embassy evacuating diplomatic staff to the airport.

Chairman Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley squeamishly described the Kabul takeover in his historic Congressional testimony that couple of hundred Pashtun cowboys riding motorbikes and brandishing Kalashnikovs overran Kabul without a shot being fired, and the worlds most lethal military force fled with tail neatly folded between legs, hastily evacuating diplomatic staff from sprawling 36-acre US embassy in Chinook helicopters to airport secured by the insurgents.

Apart from indiscriminate B-52 bombing raids mounted by Americans, Afghan security forces didnt put up serious resistance anywhere in Afghanistan and simply surrendered territory to the Taliban. The fate of Afghanistan was sealed as soon as the US forces evacuated Bagram airbase in the dead of the night on July 1, six weeks before the inevitable fall of Kabul on August 15.

The sprawling Bagram airbase was the nerve center from where all the operations across Afghanistan were directed, specifically the vital air support to the US-backed Afghan security forces without which they were simply irregular militias waiting to be devoured by the wolves.

In southern Afghanistan, the traditional stronghold of the Pashtun ethnic group from which the Taliban draws most of its support, the Taliban military offensive was spearheaded by Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Talibans late founder Mullah Omar and the newly appointed defense minister of the Taliban government, as district after district in southwest Afghanistan, including the birthplace of the Taliban movement Kandahar and Helmand, fell in quick succession.

What has stunned military strategists and longtime observers of the Afghan war, though, was the Talibans northern blitz, occupying almost the whole of northern Afghanistan in a matter of weeks, as northern Afghanistan was the bastion of the Northern Alliance comprising the Tajik and Uzbek ethnic groups. In recent years, however, the Taliban has made inroads into the heartland of the Northern Alliance, too.

The ignominious fall of Kabul clearly demonstrates the days of American hegemony over the world are numbered. If ragtag Taliban militants could liberate their homeland from imperialist clutches without a fight, imagine what would happen if it confronted equal military powers such as Russia and China. The much-touted myth of American military supremacy is clearly more psychological than real.

Although cutting a dashing figure sporting military fatigues and urging compatriots to rise up in arms against Russian invaders in a sentimental address while at the same time pandering to NATO patrons to provide military assistance and impose harshest sanctions on the Kremlin, the fate of Ukraines comedian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, would be no different from deposed president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, who fled to neighboring Tajikistan on the eve of the Taliban invasion with suitcases stashed with $69 million stolen cash and is now comfortably sojourning in the UAE.

In contrast, in a televised address to the nation following the Ukraine intervention, Russian strongman Vladimir Putin uttered a chilling warning to adversaries: 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.

Warships are transiting the Mediterranean Sea and nearby waters in numbers rarely seen [1] in recent decades, adding another dimension to the ongoing tensions between NATO and Russia. The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group arrived in mid-December as part of a long-planned deployment. Another four destroyers began operating in the European theater in mid-January and early February.

Although the US rarely announces submarine deployments, it also is common for carrier groups to have undersea support. The scale of US ships deployed to 6th Fleet is impressive  including about 12 destroyers and at least one cruiser.

The Truman sailed with the French Charles de Gaulle and the Italian Cavour carrier strike groups. The three carrier strike groups sailing together in the Mediterranean not only was unusual but also a significant show of NATO power.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier this month it soon would send warships  some with Kalibr and hypersonic Oniks cruise missile capabilities  from its Caspian Sea flotilla to the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Thats in addition to at least six Russian amphibious assault ships from the Baltic and Northern fleets that recently sailed through the Mediterranean before entering the Black Sea for military exercises. A Russian Kilo-class submarine armed with Kalibr cruise missiles and a patrol ship also entered the Black Sea.

NATO said earlier this month that their Russian counterparts had conducted themselves professionally at sea. But CNN reported that a Navy P-8 maritime patrol plane had a very close encounter with multiple Russian jets, which US officials described as unsafe.

With the sheer scale of naval deployments by the both sides, its obvious that any inadvertent skirmish could trigger an apocalypse that would not only be perilous for the belligerents but also for the wider world.

At the height of the Cold War in the sixties, Russia exploded the worlds largest 50-megaton thermonuclear Tsar Bomba in October, 1961. A Tupolev Tu-95V aircraft took off with the bomb weighing 27 tons. The bomb was attached to a large parachute, which gave the release and observer planes time to fly about 45 km away from ground zero, giving them a 50 percent chance of survival.

The bomb was released from a height of 10,500 meters on a test target at Sukhoy Nos cape in the Barents Sea. The bomb detonated at the height of 4,200 meters above ground. Still, the shock wave caught up with the Tu-95V at a distance of 115 km and the Tu-16 at 205 km. The Tu-95V dropped 1 kilometer in the air because of the shock wave but was able to recover and land safely.

The 8-km-wide fireball reached nearly as high as the altitude of the release plane and was visible at almost 1,000 km away. The mushroom cloud was about 67 km high. A seismic wave in the earths crust, generated by the shock wave of the explosion, circled the globe three times. Glass shattered in windows 780 km from the explosion in a village on Dikson Island.

All buildings in the village of Severny, both wooden and brick, located 55 km from ground zero within the Sukhoy Nos test range, were destroyed. In districts hundreds of kilometers from ground zero, wooden houses were destroyed, stone ones lost their roofs, windows, and doors. Atmospheric focusing caused blast damage at even greater distances, breaking windows in Norway and Finland.

According to an Oct. 2017 Turkish parliament report [2], there were around 15,000 nuclear warheads at 107 sites in 14 countries, and 93 percent of the worlds nuclear weapons belonged to Russia and the US. Russia had 7,000 nuclear weapons, the US 6,800, France 300, China 260, Britain 215, Pakistan 130, India 120, Israel 80 and North Korea had 10 nuclear weapons.

It added that some 4,150 of the weapons in arsenals were ready to be used at any minute, while 1,800 were in high alarm status, which meant they could be prepared for use in a short period of time.

The report also noted that nuclear weapons belonging to the US were deployed in five NATO member states that did not themselves have developed nuclear programs. There are nearly 150 US nuclear weapons in six air bases in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey, it added.

During the Cold War, the US placed nuclear weapons in NATO countries, including Turkey, as part of the organizations nuclear sharing program. Some of the nuclear weapons placed in the 1960s are still deployed in Turkey.

The safety of fifty American B-61 hydrogen bombs deployed at Incirlik airbase in Turkey became a matter of real concern during the foiled July 2016 coup plot against the Erdogan government after the commander of the Incirlik airbase, General Bekir Ercan Van, along with nine other officers were arrested for supporting the coup; movement in and out of the base was denied, power supply was cut off and the security threat level was raised to the highest state of alert, according to a report [3] by Eric Schlosser for the New Yorker.

Following the Second World War, the covert Operation Paperclip was launched in which more than 1,600 German scientists, engineers, and technicians, including Wernher von Braun and his V-2 rocket team, were kidnapped from Germany and shuttled to the United States. The V-2 rocket program was later adapted to send Apollo missions to the moon. Thus, the US nuclear and ballistic missile programs were actually stolen from the Nazi Germany.

Notwithstanding, the mainstream reporting nowadays seems prosaic screeds extolling the virtues of patriotism and loyalty to the Western democracy and striving desperately hard to expose imaginary plots hatched by vile dictators, notably Russian President Vladimir Putin, to take undue advantage of gullible patsies in the alternative news media unwittingly playing the role of Putins useful idiots.

After sufficiently proving their loyalty to the American democracy and the US-led benevolent imperialism that has ended the age of darkness in the post-colonial world and ushered it into the age of enlightenment under Washingtons neocolonial tutelage, the spin-doctors go on to draw the attention of the readers to the misleading notion that since the catastrophic Second World War, the Ukraine intervention is the first ever war in Europe in the living memory.

Its worth recalling that the devastating Yugoslav Wars in the nineties in the aftermath of the break-up of the former Soviet Union and then the former Yugoslavia claimed thousands of fatalities, created a humanitarian crisis and unleashed a flood of refugees for which nobody is to blame but Washingtons militarist policy of subjugating and forcibly integrating East European states into the Western capitalist bloc.

Incidentally, one of the leading reasons Putin defensively intervened in Ukraine is to save himself from the fate that befell his predecessors, Gorbachev and Yeltsin, who presided over the disintegration of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia and are judged harshly by Russian masses as well as the Leftists around the world.

Biden approved on Thursday, Feb. 24, an additional 7,000 US troops [4] to be deployed to Germany, bringing the total number of American forces sent to Europe to 12,000 this month, including troops previously deployed to Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. Besides Ukraine, all these states on Russias western flank were its staunch allies and the whole Eastern Europe used to be in the Russian sphere of influence, not too long ago, before the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

But today, the perfidious East European states are hosting thousands of NATO troops, strategic armaments, nuclear-capable missiles and air force squadrons aimed at Russia, and the NATO forces alongside the regional clients are provocatively exercising so-called freedom of navigation right in the Black Sea and conducting joint military exercises and naval drills meant to intimidate Russia into submission.

Whos the aggressor here? Before attempting to answer the rhetorical question, bear in mind that Ukraine is Russias backyard whereas the distance between New York and Kyiv is over 7,500 kilometers. Wouldnt it be a cause of immense consternation for the US military strategists and policy-makers if Russia or China deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable strategic bombers and provocatively exercised freedom of navigation right by deploying nuclear submarines in the Gulf of Mexico straddling the US borders?

Citations:

[1] Naval presence in Mediterranean and Black seas at highs rarely seen since Cold War:

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2022-02-16/us-nato-russian-naval-presence-in-mediterranean-on-rise-5039759.html

[2] US has 150 nuclear weapons in five NATO countries:

https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-has-150-nuclear-weapons-in-five-nato-countries-turkish-parliament-report-121667

[3] The H Bombs in Turkey by Eric Schlosser:

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-h-bombs-in-turkey

[4] An additional 7,000 US troops to be sent to Germany:

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/24/russian-forces-ukraine-kyiv-00011700

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.
The superintendent admitted, in a court deposition, to monitoring social media and reporting parents.

The deposition was part of a lawsuit that was filed by a parent who was fired after the district reported her posts to her employer.

During the deposition, Superintendent Robert Shaner admitted that he called one parents employer and the Detroit Police because he was scared of a social media post the parent made calling for people to protest outside the homes of the school districts officials.

The parents wanted schools to reopen.

We obtained a copy of the original complaint for you here.

Scouring social media and contacting employers of citizens over their speech is becoming an increasingly popular tactic to shut down speech.

The parent, Elena Dinverno, accuses the school district of costing her her job at Blakes Hard Cider. According to the lawsuit, Deputy Superintendent Debra Fragomeni made the call to Blakes, resulting in Dinvernos termination in December 2020.

Shaner defended the monitoring of parents social media activity during the deposition.

Yeah, we value the input of all parents, and we certainly want to keep our thumb on the pulse of the community, so we monitor social media very closely on all fronts and make sure were responsive to the community, he said.

Yeah, so again, I just want to be clear about the social media, he added. We do watch it and try to make sure we know whats going on in our community, but thats not the only place that we get information on social media. Believe it or not, there are parents that support what we are doing, and they often share whats going on in social media with us as well.

According to the lawsuit, the school districts spokesperson Lori Grein and the public affairs specialist Amy DiCresce were assigned the role of capturing screenshots of parents social media comments and posts regularly. They then compiled dossiers of the screenshots, for distribution to school board members and administrators.

Dinvernos attorneys are arguing that she was exercising her freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution. The lawsuit is seeking future and past non-economic and economic damages and an order to stop the district from further retaliation and wrongdoing against Dinverno.

The post Michigan school superintendent admits to snooping on parents social media posts, contacting employers appeared first on Reclaim The Net.
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NEW YORK (AP)  For journalists, the confusion surrounding Russia's attack on Ukraine deepened the challenge of covering it  and made one CNN reporter's stumbling upon an airport under attack Thursday all the more remarkable.

This image taken from video shows CNN International Correspondent Matthew Chance reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine early Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (CNN via AP)

NEW YORK (AP)  For journalists, the confusion surrounding Russia's attack on Ukraine deepened the challenge of covering it  and made one CNN reporter's stumbling upon an airport under attack Thursday all the more remarkable.

While Russia's invasion had been an ominous possibility for months, it unfolded with little reliable information from the attackers. Many reporters depended upon sporadic audio and video of bombs exploding in the distance, and details from Ukrainians and American intelligence, to try to tell the story of citizens in a Western-styled democracy suddenly plunged into war.

CNN's Matthew Chance followed a tip from a Ukrainian source when he and a crew rushed to an airport about 20 miles outside the capital city of Kyiv.

Russians had attacked, but by the time Chance had arrived, he was informed that Ukrainians had regained control of the airport. He approached some soldiers guarding the gates for confirmation and was told he was mistaken.

He thought he was talking to Ukrainians.

I said, Where are they then? Chance told The Associated Press later. He said, Were the Russians.' We were like, what? We had no idea. The whole complexion changed. Suddenly, I realized we'd stumbled upon the advance position of Russian special airborne forces who had been deployed a couple of hours ago to take the airport.

Chance was composed enough to ask for permission to do a live report. He was told he'd better hurry.

I don't think I'd ever driven so confidently up to a Russian checkpoint as I did today, he said. We didn't realize they were Russians, of course. It could have gone, in retrospect, not very well.

Russian information was difficult to come by and not considered trustworthy. CBS News' Charlie D'Agata said the network was sometimes able to cross-check details with Russian sources.

This image taken from video shows NBC News correspondent Richard Engel reporting from the Ukraine on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (NBC News via AP)

We do have to take that with a pinch of salt because the propaganda machine on the Russian side has been just off the hook over the last few weeks, D'Agata said, and it's sometimes difficult for our journalists to decipher what's right and what's wrong.

ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz said Ukrainians sources and, in particular, American intelligence, have been a solid source of information on Russian moves while they were happening.

Information from the Russian Defense Ministry was sporadic and occasionally defensive; one announcement Thursday stated that military, and not civilian, locations were being targeted.

In retrospect, a new Russian regulation adopted several months ago was both chilling for journalists and a hint of what was to come. The regulation made it illegal for someone not registered as a foreign agent in Russia revealed information such as troop movements or positions to any foreign entity.

You don't get the kind of access with the Russians that you do with other countries, other militaries, Chance said. The majority of information I get about this conflict comes from the Ukrainian side. They've got much more of a culture of openness, where the culture in Russia is much more closed and opaque, particularly when you're an American journalist or working with an American country.

Information from Moscow immediately leading up to the conflict was considered suspect because it was evident that much of it had been recorded in advance, Trey Yingst, a Fox News reporter in Kyiv, said.

Yingst spent much of Thursday doing live reports from a hotel roof. A text message from an adviser to the mayor of Kyiv told NBC News reporter Erin McLaughlin to take cover because the Russians were firing a missile toward the capital from Belarus.

All conflicts are unpredictable, and this one is particularly so, said Douglas Jehl, foreign editor at The Washington Post. He said the newspaper was making safety of its correspondents a priority, particularly those where Russians were known to be stationed nearby.

As media outlets tried to get a handle on what was happening on the ground in Ukraine, social media was inundated with decontextualized and fake footage, adding to the confusion.

Facebook and Twitter posts purporting to show Russias attacks on Ukraine actually showed a range of different events, from a 2015 warehouse explosion in China to 2021 Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. Users also shared video game footage as real, amassing millions of views across platforms.

In some cases, the responsibility for the spread of misrepresented videos and images fell on news outlets themselves. The Kyiv Post, a Ukrainian newspaper, tweeted a nearly 30-year-old image of an aircraft consumed by flames during an airshow in the U.K., with a false claim that it depicted a Russian plane shot down by Ukraine. The post was later deleted for violating Twitter's rules.

Television news and broadcast networks all interrupted their Thursday afternoon programming to carry a statement and brief news conference by U.S. President Joe Biden.

News organizations like The Associated Press, The New York Times and Washington Post maintained ticker-like feeds that mixed news developments with observations on how the conflict was affecting the citizens of Ukraine.

Marc Santora, of the Times, wrote at one point: A woman's voice, blaring over loudspeakers across the city, pierced the calm in downtown Lviv. She was giving detailed instructions about what to do if the air raid sirens wail. Seek cover and don't move until they stop. People didn't react much.

CNN's Clarissa Ward interviewed a tearful woman who took shelter in a subway station in Kharkiv. ABC's Raddatz said it was important to show the invasion's impact on citizens  gas lines filled with people seeking to escape, a 7-year-old girl hearing an air raid siren for the first time.

Raddatz said she got a text message from a Pentagon official on Wednesday night, telling her she was likely experiencing the last few hours of peace in Europe for a long time to come.

That made me sit down, she said. That was incredibly sobering.

___

Associated Press writers Ali Swenson in New York and Angelo Fichera in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Emporia, KS (66801)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, overcast during the afternoon with occasional rain likely. High 56F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing overnight. Low 53F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
An ex-police officer who broke into a house and stabbed a man multiple times while in the grips of addiction was sent to jail for four years Friday afternoon.

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An ex-police officer who broke into a house and stabbed a man multiple times while in the grips of addiction was sent to jail for four years Friday afternoon.

Conrad Baker, 49, previously pleaded guilty to impersonating a peace officer and break-and-enter with assault in two separate incidents.

On Nov. 19, 2019, an Addictions Foundation of Manitoba employee reported a man was in the lobby of the groups Brandon building claiming to be an undercover police officer, Crown attorney Yaso Mathu told the court. The employee said he was refusing to leave and was wandering the hallway.

When officers arrived, Mathu said Baker was in a meeting with a large group, but was not wanted there as he was making participants nervous.

The employee pointed out Baker, who said he had just arrested someone for hundreds of missing person cases, she said.

When Baker stepped out into the hallway, he told police he was an officer with the Brandon Police Service and had been reinstated by "the Government of Manitoba," Mathu said.

"Obviously the story was all over the place," she said, adding he assured police he was not under the influence of drugs.

At one point, Baker was a police officer, from August 2006 until May 2007, with the Dakota Ojibway Police Service (now the Manitoba First Nations Police Service), Mathu said, but not in 2019.

The most serious incident was on Dec. 15, 2019, at approximately 10 a.m., when the Crown said police received a call of a man sitting in the snow on 10th Street wearing only pyjama bottoms. At the time he was crying and had bloody hands.

When officers arrived the man told them an intruder came into his residence through the backdoor and then "terrorized him" before stabbing him, she told the court.

In a statement to police, the victim said he was watching TV when he heard a knock at his backdoor, Mathu said. The victim got up to see who it was and saw a man standing in the kitchen with a knife in his hand.

He kept asking where "the bag" was, which Mathu said the victim had no clue about. At one point the intruder asked the man to put his hands on the table as he grabbed a wine bottle and slammed it on his left hand.

The victim was then ordered downstairs as he followed with a knife and threatened him with violence, the Crown said. The man searched all the rooms in the basement and was upset when he couldnt find anything.

Eventually, the man ordered him into the laundry room and asked the victim to kneel down before stabbing him twice on the left side of his body, Mathu said.

He was then ordered upstairs as a cardboard box was placed on the victims head, she said.

The man searched the rest of the residence with the victim at knifepoint, according to the Crown, before the victim had a chance to run out the front door for help.

When police arrived, they searched the house. They found Baker at approximately 10:45 a.m. nearby, who matched the description given to the offices, she said. Officers approached Baker and he dropped a small metal multi-tool from his hand.

Police found a number of weapons on him, including an improvised mace in his coat pocket and a kitchen knife. Mathu said the knife had a red, "blood-like" substance on it.

The victim had two one-centimetre puncture wounds to his left flank consistent with being stabbed, Mathu said, adding he was "very lucky" it wasnt more serious.

The Crown recommended a sentence of four years behind bars for the break-and-enter, saying Baker violated the victims basic need to be safe in his own home.

"This is a crime that violates the sanctity of a persons home  The accused terrorized the victim throughout his house and stabbed him," Mathu said.

Defence lawyer Bob Harrison said the case is a good example of how alcohol and methamphetamine can affect a persons life. Baker spent time in the military and as a police officer, but substances threw his life off course.

"We know what the issue is," Harrison said, adding Baker started using meth in 2018.

Baker has prominent Gladue factors, Harrison said, and was abused on a daily basis as a child. He also witnessed lots of violence and has mental health issues as a result.

"He felt like he was losing touch with reality  I think that shows his mental state and perhaps why all this happened," Harrison said, adding he was experiencing symptoms of psychosis from drug use at the time.

Harrison jointly recommended the four-year sentence with Mathu, along with a fine and probation for impersonating a police officer.

Speaking to the court, Baker alleged he was assaulted many times between 2007 and 2018, which he said resulted in a multitude of injuries.

He said showing up at the AFM building was a cry for help and a last-ditch effort to get treatment for addiction.

Baker also apologized to the victim and asked for forgiveness. He said the incident has since led him on a road to healing.

"Theres no doubt in my mind that this was probably the best thing that could have happened to me and the worst thing that could have happened to you," Baker said through tears.

Judge Patrick Sullivan said Baker was living a productive life, but alcohol and meth hit him like a train.

He said, though, the break-in was very serious.

"Im at a loss for words, to some extent, to describe what happened here," Sullivan said of the break-and-enter.

"Its out of a horror movie. A stranger breaking into your home, ordering you around your house and eventually into the basement, forcing you to kneel and then stabbing you; covering your head with a box. This is horrific."

Sullivan went along with the joint recommendation, sentencing Baker to four years in jail for the break-and-enter, minus approximately three years time already served. He also sentenced him to a $200 fine for impersonating a police officer and 18 months of supervised probation.

Despite the crimes, Sullivan said he hopes the time in jail is the life intervention Baker needed.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Calling for an end to Russias attack on Ukraine, community members gathered in front of Brandon City Hall Friday in support of the country under siege.

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Calling for an end to Russias attack on Ukraine, community members gathered in front of Brandon City Hall Friday in support of the country under siege.

Liuda Artenchuk hails from Ukraine and deeply fears the impact the invasion will have on her home country, she said.

"We dont like war. We dont want war. We dont like killing," Artenchuk said. "We just want to live in a free country."

The Canadian Press reported Russian forces are advancing on the capital of Kyiv, after invading the country on Thursday in a three-pronged attack that included ground forces, aerial bombardment and a maritime assault from the Sea of Azov in the fiercest fight the European continent has witnessed since the Second World War.

Artenchuk has family in Ukraine, including her mother and father, two sisters and their families, along with more than 30 cousins. She worries each day for what the future may hold and if they will be able to stay safe as Russian troops continue advancing.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Adelina Krugovykh holds a sign in support of Ukraine.

She calls her mother daily to check in as often as possible, because she constantly worries for her safety. Artenchuk said her mother and sisters have been living in the cellar of their home.

Artenchuk gathered with more than a hundred others Friday. They cannot fight in Ukraine, but they can share information and encourage other countries to take action, she said.

Many Canadians have Ukrainian roots and are calling on NATO to close Ukrainian air space to support the Ukrainian soldiers on the ground who are trying to protect people. They are also calling to disconnect Russia from SWIFT and cancel oil exports to the country.

"When [Russian President Vladimir] Putin stops fighting, we will live without wars. When Ukrainian people start fighting, we will live without Ukraine," Artenchuk said. "Stand by Ukraine, help us and hear us; please understand Putin is a big, huge monster."

Aliona Fluerar has been living in Canada for 20 years. She came to Canada after her home country of Moldova was invaded by Russia.

"We were in the same situation of Ukraine right now, today," Fluerar said. "Putin did the same thing to our country."

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Community members gather in front of Brandon City Hall Friday in support of Ukraine.

The experience motivated her to stand in solidarity with Ukraine to support her friends and neighbours who have been affected by the Russian invasion.

"I understand. Ive been through that and I know lots of my friends, brothers, relatives, died in that war," Fluerar said. "All that I have are just tears and pain because this is too much and it is so hard  to me, he [Putin] is just a monster. He is not a human being."

It was heartbreaking being surrounded by people who feel powerless while theyre separated from their families in Ukraine and are crying out in distress and horror. But, she said, it has been amazing to see the community come together and stand in solidarity with Ukraine.

The rally in Brandon plays an important role in spreading information about the need to protect Ukraine, rally organizer Vasyl Marchuk said.

Early Friday he called his brother in Ukraine, who could hear bombs dropping and explosions moving closer. The airport near his village had been blown out.

It is hard being in Canada because he cannot fight in Ukraine, so he and others are doing what they can to spread important information on the invasion. Marchuk said the hope is to open peoples eyes to the danger Putin poses to the world.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Community members gather in front of Brandon City Hall Friday in support of Ukraine.

"Putin would like to occupy Ukraine and all of Europe, because he tried to be like a dictator of the world before," Marchuk said. "Hitler had the same plans and he failed, but he made a lot of damage."

Adelina Krugovykhs grandmother lives in Ukraine. It has been incredibly scary because she is alone in the country.

"She is really, really terrified," Krugovykh said. "Nobody expected this."

Krugovykh and her family visited Ukraine six months ago  at the time a possible Russian invasion was not even on the radar, she said.

It is has been frightening to see how quickly the situation changed for her country.

"Its really terrifying," Krugovykh said. "If theres any way that people in Canada can support Ukraine  if its by posting stuff or just praying for Ukraine, it would be really nice and really appreciated by all the Ukrainians in Ukraine and here in Canada as well."

 ckemp@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp
Brandon Heath - Enough Already | Hoganson Media / Centricity Music

Five-time GRAMMY-nominated, eight-time Dove Award-winning Brandon Heath releases his first full-length, Centricity Music album, Enough Already, April 22. Available to pre-buy / pre-save now, the album features the top 25 and climbing NCA Monitored Billboard radio hit, See Me Through It, and eight more tracks that find Heath writing and recording for the first time with multiple producers and songwriters.

Teaming with GRAMMY-nominated producers Jordan Sapp and Jeff Pardo plus Apollo LTD, Kyle Williams (We Are Messengers) and Christian Hale, Heath also brought in Doug Weier, Nick Rad and five-time GRAMMY winner Dave Clauss to mix select Enough Already tracks. He further collaborated with multiple songwriters, co-writing with producers Hale, Williams and Apollo LTDs Jordan Phillips and Adam Stark along with Paul Duncan, Ross King, Jonathan Smith, Mallary Hope, Molly Reed Grayson, Heather Morgan and GRAMMY Award winning Ran Jackson.

Ive heard it said before that music is medicine, but I dont see myself as a pharmacist. I dont see myself as a healer. But what I do see myself as is a sharer, says Heath, a storyteller whose songwriting grapples with faith and doubt simultaneously. I cant sit down and write a prescription for anybody, but I can share some of my own pain and my own perspective, and that connection, I think, is what makes people feel the healing.

In his music, Heath is intentional to not shy away from the hard parts of his story. Instead, he hopes he brings a newfound honesty and wisdom to his songs that come from decades-worth of life experience.

I feel like Im building a repertoire that will be my legacy, Heath says, adding, Outside the realm of being a husband and dad, I have not yet found a better feeling than creating a song and then one day randomly hearing what that song that I wrote is doing in somebodys life. Nothing compares to that. Nothing.

That includes Heaths recent experience climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro last month with Young Life Developing Global Leaders. As a part of Young Life while in high school, this outreach organization became an outlet for Heath to share his songs and burgeoning musical talent.

I was singing songs for them over the summer, remembers Heath during a The 700 Club interview. Id take my guitar and lead club songs, which are usually songs you hear on the radio, but then Id start singing a couple of my own songs

From those foundational beginnings, the seeds of Heaths new songs were planted in his backyard, a place where he has spent a good portion of time over the past year thinking, praying and mowing his steep plot of land that includes a small creek, a play set for his young daughters and a fire pit for the mens group that meets at his house. Essentially, his backyard is the place where his next album has grown.

Ironically, when the pandemic shut down touring in 2020, Heath spent an unexpected amount of time in other peoples backyards. He decided to play small, safe outdoor shows by invitation-only in select backyards across the country. These Brandon in the Backyard dates were so enjoyable that Heath is making plans now to play an additional 30 backyards this spring and summer. Traveling with his family in an RV, Heath leads these events with his guitar; and more times than not, hes completely unplugged.

Playing his hits and fan favorites, Heath will also play cuts from Enough Already while on tour. The full new album track listing follows:

1) Human Nature

2) Minute By Minute

3) This Changes Everything

4) Thats Enough

5) See Me Through It

6) Another Song About Love

7) He Is Not Worried

8) Enough Already

9) Human Nature (Acoustic)

Signed last year to both Centricity Music and Centricity Publishing, all the latest Brandon Heath music, tour and more news, can be found at: www.brandonheathmusic.com, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.

About Brandon Heath:

A Nashville native, Heath quickly won the hearts of listeners when he released his major label debut in 2006. Along with his GRAMMY nominations, an American Music Award nod and an Emmy Award, Heath has three Billboard No. 1 singles to his credit, including I'm Not Who I Was, Your Love and the RIAA Platinum-certified Give Me Your Eyes. His eight Dove Awards include two consecutive Male Vocalist honors (2009, 2010) and a win for Song of the Year (Give Me Your Eyes). He has also been recognized as a top lyricist in his field with numerous songwriting accolades, including being named BMIs 2014 Songwriter of the Year. Heaths artistry and ability to connect with audiences have compelled wide media coverage across the nation to platform his story and music. Highlights include coverage in The New York Times, Billboard, People,The Wall Street Journal, Relevant, CBS Evening News, The Discovery Channel and as a presenter on the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
Michael Bethany - Walk With You | HARDY PR

DALLAS, TX - Prolific songwriter, producer, and national independent recording artist Michael Bethany releases his latest offering entitled Walk With You, via Gateway Worship label, which is available now on all digital music platforms.

Download or stream Walk With You here: https://slinky.to/WalkWithYou

Produced by Kyle Lee and written by Michael, Mitch Wong and Rita Springer, Walk With You, which is inspired by Michaels personal intimate time with the Lord, is a compelling song that will capture the heart of every true worshipper.

Walk With You is the follow-up to 2016s God With Us from his freshman album Yours Forever, which debuted in the Top 5 on Billboards Top Gospel Albums chart.

The Stellar Award nominated songwriter and two-time BMI Christian Song Award recipient (Fred Hammonds They That Wait & Here In Our Praise) is no stranger to the Gospel and Christian music scene. He is not only a gifted songwriter and background vocalist who has worked extensively with artists like Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Myron Butler, Marvin Sapp, and many others, but he also currently serves as a Pastor of Worship at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX where he resides with his wife and two sons.

Michael has been featured on TBN, Daystar television network and has mentored and empowered worship ministries around the world. His greatest passion is creating worship experiences that activate an Overflow of Intimacy with God.
Chinas crackdown on cryptocurrencies upended the world of Bitcoin last year, triggering a mass exodus of miners  who use power-hungry computers to mine, or create, new Bitcoins  to new locations around the world.

A sign advertising a bitcoin automated teller machine at a cafe in London. Credit:Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg

Now research has found that the exodus probably made crypto mining, which already uses more electricity than many countries, even worse for the climate. According to the peer-reviewed study, which appears in the journal Joule, the Bitcoin networks use of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or hydropower dropped from an average of 42 per cent in 2020 to 25 per cent in August.

One likely reason: Bitcoin miners lost their access to hydropower from regions within China that had powered their computers with cheap, plentiful, renewable energy during the wet summer months. Instead, a substantial number of miners migrated to nearby Kazakhstan as well as further afield to the United States.

In those countries, miners have been using more fossil fuels, mainly coal in Kazakhstan and natural gas in America. Coal and natural gas are both drivers of climate change because burning fossil fuels pumps vast amounts of planet-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
I am a dual-citizen of Australia and the UK. I have been living in Australia for almost 40 years, and I will soon be returning to the UK permanently. I am aged 63 and still working part-time. I have a transition-to-retirement strategy in place with a large industry super fund and do not intend to work when I return to the UK. I have been attempting to find out from my fund if my super pension, when retired, is portable. Specifically, if it can be transferred to the UK and be held in a tax-free or concessionally taxed environment there? I have been given conflicting information by various fund representatives. One told me I must keep my pension in Australia and have pension payments made to an Australian bank account in my name, and then have the bank transfer funds into a UK account. Another told me I have to withdraw the full super fund benefit if I am no longer a resident of Australia. I have emailed a financial planning company in the UK for advice, but they require me to outlay about 2000 (A$3774) before any advice is provided. Can you tell me what my options are? A.S.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no means of transferring an Australian superannuation benefit while retaining tax concessions.

The tax treatment of retirement savings is different in the UK. Credit:Tamara Voninski

Even if there is a way, why would you bother? Australian pensions are tax-free and paid out of an untaxed fund, while UK pensions are taxable on withdrawal after an initial 25 per cent tax-free lump sum.

Moreover, from my reading of Article 17 of the UK/Australia Double-Taxation Convention, an Australian pension paid directly to a UK resident is taxed in the UK.
One of the six people who have died in the emergency was a well-respected SES worker who was on her way to help a family trapped in floodwaters. Ipswich-based volunteer Merryl Dray died when the car she was travelling in was swept off a road on Friday night at Coolana in the Lockyer Valley. Three other people in the car managed to get out but Ms Drays body was found a short time later. SES volunteer Merryl Dray died in floodwaters in the Lockyer Valley. She has been remembered a much loved member of the Lowood SES Group, and a number of authorities publicly expressed their condolences to her friends and family, including the Premier.

This SES volunteer was out in the worst of the conditions trying to help her fellow Queenslanders, she said. Following an extensive search, police have also recovered the body of a 37-year-old Goomboorian man who went missing in flood waters overnight. The man was located in floodwaters in Goomboorian this about 3.20pm on Saturday by Police Dive Squad officers. On Saturday night, fears were also held for a man in his 70s who fell from a yacht into the turbulent Brisbane River near Breakfast Creek. The flood emergency is expected to intensify on Sunday with many rivers in the south-east, including the Brisbane River, due to hit flood peaks.

The Bruce Highway and various other roads were still cut by floodwaters on Sunday, and some will be closed for longer due to landslides and damage to the road surface. The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a catastrophe, with insurers fielding more than 3,500 claims in three days and with more to come. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Saturday held an emergency meeting of all the mayors in the region as well as all the emergency services to co-ordinate the response to the disaster. The Premier said they decided to evacuate at least 700 people from parts of Gympie while there was still daylight and before the area saw its flood level peak at the highest level since the 1880s.

The Boundary and Blunder roads intersection at Oxley in Brisbane was under deep water on Saturday. Credit:Zach Hope The swollen Mary River was also causing issues for Maryborough, which was due to be severely flooded for the second time in two months after heavy rain put water through the town in January. Flood warning sirens sounded for the second day in a row in Grantham on Saturday, urging residents in low-lying areas of the town in the Lockyer Valley west of Brisbane to get to higher ground. Ms Palaszczuk said the weather system was larger and slower moving than first predicted, meaning a lot of water was being dumped on the catchments across the region. At the moment, the entire catchments of south-east Queensland are being inundated, and we have this rain event we thought was going to be easing this afternoon, but we expect it to be with us for at least the next 24 hours, she said.

The Warrego Highway is closed at Gatton (the Forest Hill Fernvale Road intersection) due to flooding. Credit:Twitter Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Grant said the Gympie flood peak could be higher than the 1999 flood level. This is going to exceed an event that hasnt happened in at least 20 to 25 years, he said. Pretty much every river across the central and northern parts of south-east Queensland are under a major flood warning, but of particular concern are the Sunshine Coast rivers  this could be a fairly historic flood for many parts up there, Mr Grant said. Residents across south-east Queensland are being urged to stay in their homes if possible, unless they are directed to evacuate, and people are urged to avoid driving across floodwaters.

Flooding in Petrie, north of Brisbane, compared to the same spot earlier in the week. Credit:Reddit Another 100 to 150 millimetres of rain is predicted for the region tomorrow, with flood peaks both major and minor expected in a number of rivers. The Brisbane River downstream from Wivenhoe Dam was due for a minor flood peak of 2.6 metres with the high tide on Sunday morning. In Logan, the Logan and Albert rivers were being monitored and Beaudesert residents are urged to be on alert.

Wivenhoe Dam has filled up to above its drinking water capacity and is now filling its flood mitigation capacity, with authorities only able to manage an hour or so of spillage on Friday before having to stop due to the huge amount of water flowing into the area downstream. However, a Seqwater spokesman told reporters there was plenty of extra capacity at this stage. There is a lot more in fact, about 2 million more megalitres of supply that this dam can take at this point in time, he said. More than 1000 roads are cut off across south-east Queensland on Saturday, including the Warrego Highway at Gatton, while the Bruce Highway was also been cut by debris and water at more than one location between Brisbane and Maryborough. A pontoon carrying a boat floats past Breakfast Creek Hotel on Saturday morning. Credit:Greg Hoogstrate, Facebook
The wettest summer in Sydney for 30 years is coming to an end as an extra $200 million government funding for flood relief measures was announced.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts autumn will be warmer and wetter than average and it comes with a warning from NSW Health entomologist Professor Cameron Webb that mosquito numbers could escalate.

Spot the blue patch: showers and storms continue as we head towards autumn, February 23, 2022. Credit:Nick Moir

BOM figures show that two days short of the end of the 28-day month, Sydney had 637mm of rain over summer. The mean rainfall for the same period according to the bureau is slightly less than half at 297.6mm. February (to date) accounted for 338mm of rain against the average of 119.3mm for the same month from data collected since 1858.

On Saturday, from 9am there had been 17.2mm of rain in Sydney (by 4pm). Rainfall totals are measured from 9am-9am. In the 24-hour period ending 9am on Saturday there was rainfall of 49.8mm but the heaviest fall so far this month was in the period ending 9am on February 23 which was 105.2mm.
The push to crack down on selective breeding coincides with Norway recently banning the breeding of Cavalier King Charles spaniels and English bulldogs due to concerns the practice is causing breathing, heart and eye issues. Loading The Australian Veterinary Association is worried about the recent surge in popularity of brachycephalic dog breeds, such as British and French Bulldogs, Boston terriers and pugs. Its calling for dogs with a muzzle length less than a third of the length of their skull to be banned from being bred or displayed at dog shows. Continued selection for a dramatically shortened face has resulted in multiple anatomic changes which cause brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome ... [which] affects the animals ability to breathe, exercise, thermoregulate, sleep, play and undertake other normal behaviours, it states in a new policy document.

The peak body for veterinarians would also like to see these flat-faced breeds screened for spinal issues associated with their corkscrew tails. Dr David Neck. Credit:Cottesloe Vet Veterinarian and spokesman for the association, Dr David Neck, said while there were laws in Australia aimed at preventing the breeding of animals with defects, these were not routinely enforced. In Victoria, its an offence to intentionally or recklessly allow an animal with a heritable defect to breed. But Dr Neck said the states list of defects did not include common defects such as the breathing issues that plagued brachycephalic dog breeds or intervertebral disc disease in dachshunds. Its not known how many, if any, breeders have been charged. A spokeswoman for Animal Welfare Victoria, a branch of Agriculture Victoria, said the state government department did not keep compliance data on these offences.

Victorias commercial dog breeding laws are the toughest in the nation, the spokeswoman said. Dr Neck said most flat-faced dogs struggled to breathe due to reckless breeding and would benefit from airway surgery, a high-risk procedure that costs between $1500 and $4000. We want the dog to have their best life and that involves airway surgery so they can breathe later in life, he said. A senior scientific officer for the RSPCA, Dr Sarah Zito, said breeders should be required to inform prospective buyers of the health and welfare risks of dog breeds with exaggerated features and the cost of managing these disorders. Unfortunately, exaggerated features are still part of the pedigree breed standards...despite these exaggerated features causing health and welfare problems, she said.

Dogs Australia, the peak body for purebred breeders, is opposed to any bans on dog breeds and believes this would drive the industry underground. The organisations ambassador, Dr Rob Zammit, said in a statement that dogs and owners were suffering at the hands of unethical breeders who bypassed the checks undertaken by reputable kennels, such as DNA tests to monitor bloodlines. Legitimate breeders are registered and regulated, so they can be easily identified, he said. Illegal operators usually only have a mobile phone contact  theyre largely untraceable, so theres no pressure on them to observe health and welfare issues. Every week, a steady stream of dogs arrive at the Melbourne Bulldog Clinic in Cheltenham, in Melbournes south-east. Surgeons at Dr Marcus Hayes clinic then get to work, removing tissues from bulldogs nostrils to improve airflow, thinning and shortening their elongated palates and removing tonsils and saccules in the larynx.

Breeders will tell you that most of these dogs dont have any problems, Dr Hayes said. But these dogs suffer from nausea, chronic vomiting, an inability to enjoy normal exercise under normal conditions and most lead sleep-deprived lives because they have restricted airflow. Surgery allows them to live their most comfortable life. What weve done to them as humans is absolutely horrendous. Dr Hayes has been agitating for a raft of changes to stamp out unethical, selective breeding. He said breeders were not incentivised to change their behaviour because flatter faces are more popular. Sara and Jamie Strachan and their daughters Isla, 9, and Holly, 6, with adored British bulldog Maggie. Credit:Joe Armao Sara Strachan paid almost $3000 for her 10-month-old British bulldog, Maggie, to have airway surgery at Dr Hayes clinic. While the surgery was largely preventative, its dramatically improved Maggies quality of life. She no longer snores, vomits or suffers reflux and can walk two kilometres with minimal recovery time. Before the surgery, she was unable to walk more than one kilometre and would then collapse on the ground for an hour, panting heavily.

Ms Strachan wishes shed known more about the health conditions associated with flat-faced dogs before purchasing Maggie from a local breeder. We walked into this so ignorant, she said. We feel very guilty. Loading While Maggie is adored by the Strachan family, and even gets her claws painted by Isla, 9, and Holly, 6, they wont be rushing to buy another British bulldog. I dont think we could buy another one ethically, Ms Strachan said. I feel like we would be encouraging bad breeders.
Simon Baker looks to have made a return to his Lennox Head hometown following last years $17 million sale of the Bronte home he shared with former wife Rebecca Rigg.

According to North Coast locals, he is kicking back in a humble fibro shack near Seven Mile Beach and hatching plans to rebuild on the 500 square metre site.

The two-bedroom house was put up for auction late last year with a $2 million reserve by Elders Jason Crethar. It was sold after half a dozen buyers competed over 45 minutes, with the property snapped up by a mystery buyer from Sydney who had never seen it for $2.91 million.

Simon Baker has made a return to his Lennox Head hometown, where hes bought a $2.91 million house. Credit:Louise Kennerley

A few days later Baker and Rigg exchanged on the sale of their Bronte home.
By 1939, parts of Czechoslovakia had already been carved off and taken over by Nazi Germany, which claimed that millions of ethnic Germans were being persecuted there.

The previous September, European powers, seeking to avoid war, had acquiesced and done nothing.

But six months later, German troops were massed on the Czech border, as Nazi leader Adolf Hitler railed and threatened the county with destruction.

On March 15, 1939, the sickly Czech president, Emil Hacha, was in Hitlers study surrounded by the Fuhrers henchmen.

Hitler was at his most intimidating, historian Ian Kershaw wrote in his 2000 biography of the Nazi leader. He launched into a violent tirade against the Czechs. The Nazis needed to take over Czechoslovakia to protect Germany. Hacha must agree or his country would be immediately attacked and Prague, its capital, bombed.
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has effectively taken over the operations of stores and has offered jobs to its employees, even as the Kishore Biyani-led group is locked in a bitter battle with e-commerce major Amazon at several judicial forums over the sale of its business to the retail arm of the oil-to-telecom conglomerate.

Reliance Retail has started to take possession of the premises in which is operating its stores such as Big Bazaar and replaced them with its brand stores, said sources close to the development.

It has also started to offer jobs to employees of stores and bring them on Reliance Retail's payroll, they added.

When contacted, Amazon declined to comment on the development.

After the deal was announced in August 2020, several landlords approached Reliance as Future Retail was unable to pay the rent.

After this, Reliance signed leased agreements with these landlords and wherever possible, it sub-leased these premises to Future Retail Ltd (FRL) so that its business could continue, the sources added.

All of these stores which Reliance is taking over are loss-making and the balance stores will continue to be run by FRL. In this way, FRL's operating losses will be reduced and it can continue as a going concern, they said.

However, the exact number of stores which would now come under Reliance Retail could not be ascertained.

As per an industry source, Reliance will evaluate and use such premises which are found to be commercially viable. In doing so, Reliance will re-employ nearly 30,000 store staff, who would have otherwise lost their jobs.

In August 2020, the Kishore Biyani-led announced a Rs 24,713-crore deal with Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) for the sale of the retail and wholesale business, and the logistics and warehousing verticals.

However, the deal was opposed by Amazon. The US e-commerce giant dragged to arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) in October 2020. The matter is also pending before other forums such as the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court and NCLT.

RRVL had to extend the timeline a second time for completing its Rs 24,713 crore deal with to March 31, 2022, as it still awaits regulatory and judicial clearances.

These actions of Reliance will preserve the value of FRL, allow the scheme of merger to continue and will also be beneficial to bankers and creditors, the industry source added.

Lenders to FRL have already classified the account as a non-performing asset (NPA) after it defaulted on payment of Rs 3,494.56 crore to banks and lenders in January.

According to the industry source, when the scheme (to merge Future Group's retail business) is implemented, Reliance will pay the consideration in accordance with the terms of the scheme, which is the interest of bankers and creditors of FRL.

All this started as Amazon's litigation was delaying the implementation of the scheme and the creditors and landlords of premises were getting edgy, the source said.

Due to continuing defaults on rental payments, the landlords had initiated termination of the lease agreements and repossession of the premises.

Around December, Reliance came to know of the above scenario of the landlords terminating store leases and the prospect of stores getting shut.

If this had continued, then the scheme would have been jeopardised and the value of FRL would have been destroyed, pushing the company towards insolvency proceedings.

The step is in the interest of all stakeholders of FRL including banks, creditors and employees as its business continues and its value is preserved, the source said.

As part of the deal, Future Enterprises Limited is the transferee company to Reliance Retail.

Future Group's 19 operating in retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing would be consolidated into one entity -- FEL -- and then transferred to Reliance.

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Air India's first evacuation flight departed from Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday afternoon for Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals who were stranded in due to the Russian military offensive, officials said.

The airline's second evacuation flight departed from Delhi at 11.40 AM and is expected to land in Bucharest at around 6.30 PM (Indian Standard Time), they noted.

Indian nationals, who reached the Ukraine- border by road, have been taken to Bucharest by the Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the flights, they said.

The first evacuation flight AI1944 departed from Bucharest at 1.55 PM (Indian Standard Time) and is expected to land at the Mumbai airport at around 9 PM, they said.

The second evacuation flight AI1942 is expected to return to the Delhi airport on early Sunday morning with another 250 Indian nationals, they mentioned.

will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in .

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Around 20,000 Indians, mainly students, are currently stranded in Ukraine, the officials said.

Prior to the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, had operated a flight to Ukraine's capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26 but could not as the Russian offensive began on February 24 and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

Air India said on Twitter on Friday night that it will be operating flights on B787 aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Bucharest and Budapest on Saturday as special government charter flights to fly back stranded Indian citizens.

The Indian embassy in on Friday said it is working to establish evacuation routes from and Hungary.

My heartfelt thanks to FM @BogdanAurescu for his Governments cooperation. https://t.co/L0EknlIrHT  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022

At present, teams are getting in place at the following check points: Chop-Zahony Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, Porubne-Siret Romanian border near Chernivtsi, it said.

Indian nationals, especially students, living closest to these border checkpoints are advised to depart in an organised manner in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualise this option, the embassy said.

Once the above-mentioned routes are operational, the Indian nationals travelling on their own would be advised to proceed to the border checkpoints, it noted.

The embassy advised Indian travellers to carry their passports, cash (preferably in US dollars), other essential items and COVID-19 vaccination certificates to the border checkpoints.

Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling, it said.

The distance between Kyiv and the Romanian border checkpoint is approximately 600 kilometres and it takes anywhere between eight-and-a-half hours to 11 hours to cover it by road.

Bucharest is located approximately 500 kilometres from the Romanian border checkpoint and it takes anywhere between seven to nine hours by road.

The distance between Kyiv and the Hungarian border checkpoint is around 820 kilometres and it takes 12-13 hours by road.

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An Air India plane departed from the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning for Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in due to the Russian military offensive.

The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 AM (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Indian nationals who have reached the Ukraine- border by road are being taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in .

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24 and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Around 20,000 Indians, mainly students, are currently stranded in Ukraine, the officials said.

Before the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, Air India had conducted one flight to Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26 but it could not do so as the Russian offensive began on February 24 and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

Air India said on Twitter on Friday night that it will be operating flights on B787 aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Bucharest and Budapest on Saturday as special government charter flights to fly back stranded Indian citizens.

The Indian embassy in on Friday said it is working to establish evacuation routes from and Hungary.

"At present, teams are getting in place at the following check points: Chop-Zahony Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, Porubne-Siret Romanian border near Chernivtsi," it said.

Indian nationals, especially students, living closest to these border checkpoints are advised to depart in an organised manner in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualise this option, the embassy said.

Once the above-mentioned routes are operational, the Indian nationals travelling on their own would be advised to proceed to the border checkpoints, it noted.

The embassy advised Indian travellers to carry their passports, cash (preferably in US dollars), other essential items and COVID-19 vaccination certificates to the border checkpoints.

"Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling," it said.

The distance between Kyiv and the Romanian border checkpoint is approximately 600 kilometres and it takes anywhere between eight-and-a-half hours to 11 hours to cover it by road.

Bucharest is located approximately 500 kilometres from the Romanian border checkpoint and it takes anywhere between seven to nine hours to cover the distance by road.

The distance between Kyiv and the Hungarian border checkpoint is around 820 kilometres and it takes 12-13 hours to cover it by road.

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Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has said his government will bear the travel expenses of people from the state, who are expected to land on the Indian soil on Saturday upon rescue from war-ravaged .

An announcement to the effect was made by Kumar late Friday night when he thanked the Centre for arranging special flights to bring back those stranded in the restive country.

The CM said he has learnt that one such flight each will be landing in Delhi and Mumbai and the state government will bear expenses of onward travel of those hailing from .

Tales of harried parents eagerly awaiting their wards' return from are pouring in from all parts of the state.

"My two children are studying medicine in separate towns of . So far both are safe. But the situation is grim," said Sumitra Kumari Yadav, a resident of Kesariya in East Champaran district.

Yadav, who is also a local Congress leader, said, "My son is a third-year student in Kharkiv. He has gone to live in bunkers, as advised by the local government."



"But my daughter, who is in the fourth year, is staying at her hostel in Odessa. She has told me it was a joint decision by all Indian female students of her college, who were wary of going inside bunkers", said Yadav.

She, however, added that "my son says his college has been bombed. My daughter suggests that being a woman it is doubly unsafe for her. I just hope they are brought back at the earliest".

Similar is the plight of Ashok Kumar who resides and runs a jewellery business in Chakia area of East Champaran.

"My son Kunj Bihari is trapped in Lviv. I have learnt that he is returning. The journey is gruelling, but a big relief, nonetheless," he said.

Kumar also stated that his son will be airlifted from Warsaw by a special aircraft sent by the Indian government.

"But the biggest challenge for him and other students will be the exit from Ukraine. The Polish border is several kilometres away and they have to cover the distance on foot. I just hope it all turns out fine", he added.

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Chief Minister on Saturday said his government will bear the expenses of people from the state who are returning home from Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia.

The state government will bear the expenses of those people, including students, of Chhattisgarh, who are stuck in Ukraine and are returning home on personal expenses, Baghel was quoted as saying in an official statement.

It said the CM had directed state officials to ensure all arrangements were made for returnees to reach the state after their arrival in Mumbai or Delhi on flights arranged by the Union government.

Earlier in the day, Baghel told reporters here he spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for safe evacuation for students of the state stranded in Ukraine.

The EAM had said the students will be evacuated via countries in Ukraine's neighbourhood, the CM informed.

As per officials, over 100 people, including 70 students, from are stranded in Ukraine currently.

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As the Delhi government lifts all COVID-19 related restrictions from February 28 onwards, the Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced that the metro will now run without any restrictions, with 100 per cent capacity.

The DMRC, in a statement, said, "Passengers will be allowed to travel in the Metro without any restrictions i.e, they can travel in both standing and sitting manner."

All gates of metro stations will also remain open to facilitate passenger entry throughout the day.

"Regulation of passenger entry through a limited number of gates stands dispensed with from Monday," the DMRC said.

However, the passengers have been advised to continue following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, wearing of face mask/ cover, maintaining of social distancing etc, while travelling.

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Several market associations in the national capital are hopeful that their business will be back on track, which was affected due to the COVID-19 restrictions, after the city government decided to withdraw all curbs, including night curfew.

On Friday, the Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), chaired by Lieutenant Governor and attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, decided to withdraw all restrictions from Monday, reduce the fine for not wearing masks from Rs 2,000 to Rs 500 and resume physical classes in schools from April 1.

Ashok Randhawa, president of the Sarojini Nagar mini-market traders' association, said that the lifting of the night curfew comes as the "biggest" relief.

We welcome this move by the government, the lieutenant governor and the DDMA. With the lifting of the night curfew, we will get more time to do business. During weekdays, most of the customers come to the market for shopping after their office hours. As the restrictions were in place and the market used to close by 8 pm, many of them returned home without shopping.

The wedding season is in place and many customers are visiting the market. There is Holi next month and the cases are also reducing. We are hoping that no other variant of the comes in the future Randhawa said.

Tony Chawla, Janpath market traders' association secretary, said it is a tourist-oriented market and an increase in their footfall means a growth in business.

The Janpath market is a tourist-oriented market and the movement of national and international flights will help us get our businesses back on track. Lifting of the night curfew will not affect us as the market opens at 11 am and closes by 7.30 pm or 8 pm.

However, we welcome this move as removing the restrictions will add more local customers. We follow Covid appropriate behaviour and it will be continued, Chawla said.

Kamla Nagar market traders' association president Nitin Gupta, too, also welcomed the government's move. The Kamla Nagar market, located near the north campus of Delhi University, is a major attraction for students for pocket-friendly shopping.

We are happy and hopeful that the business will be back on track after two years. The market is a big attraction for college students. The paying guest facilities are again getting filled and the movement of the students has increased in the market area, which is a good sign for the traders.

The city budget will also be introduced in the coming days and we are hoping that the government will do something for the traders as they have gone through a difficult time Gupta said.

After detailed discussions with experts, in view of the decline in COVID positive cases and hospitalisation, it was decided to remove all COVID-19 related restrictions in Delhi from February 28, 2022 (Monday) while adhering to the guidelines issued by the Govt. of India and ensuring observance of COVID-Appropriate Behaviour, including wearing of masks & maintaining social distancing, Baijal had tweeted after the meeting on Friday.

The restrictions were put in place in December last year after cases of COVID-19 saw a rapid surge in the capital.

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The first flight carrying 219 Indian evacuees from landed at the Mumbai airport from Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday evening, ATC sources said.

Operated with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane, flight AI-1944 touched down the runway at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) here at 7.50 pm, they said.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal was at the airport to receive the Indian nationals returning from war-hit on their arrival.

The flight had left from Mumbai for Bucharest at 3.38 am Saturday and landed there at around 10.45 am (Indian Standard Time). It departed for Mumbai at 1.55 pm (IST).

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24 and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road have been taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flights.

Around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, were stranded in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24.

The distance between Kyiv and the Romanian border checkpoint is approximately 600 km and it takes anywhere between eight hours to 11 hours to cover it by road.

Since the beginning of this crisis, our main objective was to bring back each & every Indian stranded in . 219 students have arrived here. This was the first batch, the second will reach Delhi soon. We'll not stop until all of them are back home:Union Minister Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/ff1ePMRny8  ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Friday said it was working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier in the day said on Twitter that AI1944 with "219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania".

"Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring," he added.

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

Prior to the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, Air India had operated a flight to Ukraine's capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26 but could not as the Russian offensive began on February 24 and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

(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 first batch of Indian students entered Hungary from through the Zahony crossing point on Saturday.

The students are being taken to Budapest for return to India by an Air India flight, the in Hungary said.

"First batch of Indian students enter Hungary from Ukrainian side at Zahony crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by AI flight today," it tweeted.

India on Friday managed to set up camp offices in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western to facilitate the transit of Indians to Hungary, Romania and Poland.

India also positioned teams of officials at Zahony border post in Hungary, Krakowiec as well as Shehyni-Medyka land border points in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic and Suceava transit point in Romania to coordinate the exit of Indian nationals from .

India is trying to evacuate its nationals through Ukraine's land borders with Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Ukrainian government closed the country's airspace following the Russian military offensive.

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The first shipment of 2,500 metric tonnes of sent by India for Afghan people via Pakistani land route as part of its humanitarian aid reached Jalalabad in on Saturday.

Afghanistan's Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay said the convoy of 50 trucks carrying the arrived in the Afghan city and that the aid would now be distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP) among the people.

The shipment was part of the commitment made by the government of India to supply 50,000 metric tonnes of for the people of .

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, along with Mamundzay and WFP Country Director Bishaw Parajuli, flagged off the convoy of trucks at a ceremony at Amritsar's Attari border crossing on Tuesday.

"The first convoy of 2500 MT of wheat assistance reached Jalalabad this morning," the Afghan envoy said on Twitter.

He said the WFP in " would now be distributing this aid to thousands of needy families across Afghanistan".

India had sent a proposal to Pakistan on October 7 last year, seeking the transit facility to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat to the people of Afghanistan via Pakistan and it received a positive response from Islamabad on November 24.

Following the Pakistani response, both sides were in touch to finalise the modalities for the transportation of the shipments.

Each of the bags was stamped with the text: "Gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan" in English, Pashto and Dari.

On February 12, the had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the WFP for the distribution of wheat within Afghanistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that India decided to "gift" the wheat to the people of Afghanistan in response to appeals made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country.

India has already supplied five lakh doses of COVAXIN anti-Covid vaccines and 13 tonnes of essential lifesaving medicines to Afghanistan.

The last consignment of medical supplies was delivered last Saturday. It was the fifth consignment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country.

India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

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India abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, with New Delhi saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes and voicing "regret" that the path of diplomacy was given up.

The resolution did not pass since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February, used its veto. The resolution received 11 votes in favour and three abstentions, including by India, China and the UAE.

"India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in . We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in India's explanation of vote in the Council.

"Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment. It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution," Tirumurti said.

The UN Security Council on Friday voted on the draft resolution by the US and Albania and co-sponsored by several other nations including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Russia, a permanent member of the 15-member powerful Security Council, used its veto power and the resolution failed, as expected, but Western nations said the resolution seeks to show Moscow's isolation on the global stage for its invasion and actions against .

All eyes were on how India will cast its vote on the resolution given that New Delhi has strong defence ties with Moscow.

The Council resolution reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of within its internationally recognised borders.

The resolution "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's aggression against Ukraine" and decides that "shall immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and shall refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state."



The resolution also said that "shall immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders."



The resolution said Moscow "shall immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine."During a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra 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."US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss Russia's "premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine", the State Department said.

Blinken "stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire."



India has so far refrained from condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine and in a statement in the Security Council on Wednesday night, just as Putin ordered Ukraine's invasion, Tirumurti expressed "deep concern" over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region.

Ahead of the vote, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that in a call to Jaishankar, he asked "India to use all influence in its relations with to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine. Urged India as a non-permanent member to support today's draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine."



A senior Biden administration official had said a day before that Washington was putting forward the resolution "with every expectation that Russia will use its veto" and in doing so, "they will underscore their isolation."



"First, of course, we expect that Russia will use its veto. And in doing so, they will underscore their isolation. We're not going to abandon our principles; we're not going to stand by and do nothing. It's important that we send a message to Ukraine, to Russia, and to the world that the Security Council will not look away," the official said.

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On Friday, President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, kicking off a historic confirmation process for the nation's first Black female justice.

Senate Democratic leaders aim to have a vote on Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court by the middle of April. Since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, Jackson, 51, has been regarded as the front-runner for the opening on DC's federal appellate court.

Biden Nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court

Despite its historical significance, Jackson's appointment will have little impact on the court's ideological complexion. Six conservative justices and three liberal justices make up the present court, with departing Justice Breyer being from the liberal party. The court is already prepared to continue its rightward shift, with high-profile cases and opinions on abortion, gun control, and religious liberty concerns due in the coming months.

A senior administration source claimed Biden met with Jackson for her Supreme Court interview earlier this month, in a meeting that the White House managed to keep secret. Despite being present for DC Circuit Court proceedings Friday morning, Jackson received and accepted Biden's offer in a phone conversation Thursday night, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Given Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the White House contemplated delaying the announcement, but the person said it was necessary to move through with the second step of the confirmation process, according to CNN.

Biden argued for Jackson's nomination by pointing to her unusual qualities - she would be the high court's first former public defender - and the fact that she had previously been approved by the Senate for a federal bench, where she received Republican votes.

Biden praised his choice as a "proven consensus builder" who "understands how the law must operate for the people of the United States." On Friday, it will be two years since Biden promised to create history by appointing the first black woman to the Supreme Court. He made the promise at a debate in South Carolina for the 2020 presidential election.

Jackson's history as a public defender was hailed by liberals. Republicans reacted with caution, with the majority of GOP senators indicating they would meet with her with an open mind throughout the confirmation process.

Biden's drive to diversify the judiciary includes Jackson's nomination. His choice is unlikely to overturn the court's conservative leanings, but his emphasis on younger nominees ensures that his choice will have a lengthy impact on its judgments. Biden made the formal offer to Jackson on Thursday night, which was the first step in the process.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed that the lifetime appointment to the court will be confirmed quickly. To confirm her to the bench, only a simple majority is required. Democrats now possess 50 Senate seats, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie breaker. Democrats have set a deadline of early April for ultimate confirmation, with Judiciary Committee hearings expected to begin by the end of March, as per Daily Mail.

Read Also: George Floyd Murder Trial: Ex-Officers Claim Floyd Showed Erratic Behavior, Resistance [Full Details]

Is Ketanji Brown Jackson Related to Former House Speaker Paul Ryan?

In a tweet on Friday, Republican former House Speaker Paul Ryan expressed his "support" for Supreme Court candidate Ketanji Brown Jackson, to whom he is married. Despite their political differences, the former Republican congressman endorsed Jackson's character when President Joe Biden nominated her to be the first black female justice on Friday.

Jackson and Ryan have a complicated relationship because Jackson's spouse has a twin brother who is married to Ryan's sister-in-law. Ryan has been a vocal supporter of Jackson's nominations in the past. When former President Barack Obama nominated her for a seat on the US Supreme Court, she was ecstatic.

The District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal court located in Washington, DC. In 2012, at her confirmation hearing, Ryan spoke on her behalf and praised her qualifications, asking his Republican colleagues to confirm her.

Jackson was reportedly on a shortlist of candidates the White House evaluated for the position, and he has an unusual history, having served as a federal trial court judge for eight years without having previously worked as a prosecutor or for a big corporation. She also served on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals bench, where Justices Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh both worked as judges before being promoted to the Supreme Court, Washington Examiner reported.

Related Article: Biden Interviews 3 Black Women in Search of Supreme Court Nominee

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President on Saturday said that girls outperforming boys in various examinations indicate that India is on course to become a "gender-just" nation in future.

Attending the 19th Convocation of Tezpur University in Assam, Kovind said he was happy to observe that the varsity has been promoting women empowerment through education.

I am told about 1,250 students graduated today, out of whom about 45 per cent are women," he said.

Of the 47 students who have been awarded gold medals, 27 are girls and it is more than half of the total number of gold medalists, said Kovind, who is the Visitor of Tezpur University.

"I have observed this trend of our daughters outperforming the boys in most of the convocations I have attended. This excellence displayed by women is a reflection of India's future as a gender-just nation. I convey my special congratulations to each and every daughter for her distinct achievement today," the president said.

He urged the students and faculty of the varsity to strive to make it a major centre of innovation, and provide solutions to local and problems.

"I am happy to know about innovative solutions provided by Tezpur University for making available safe drinking water in many villages in Assam. The scope of the university's engagement with villages should be further expanded.

"As a Visitor of the institutions of higher education under the central government, I have been encouraging the institutions to promote Universities' Social Responsibility or USR on the lines of Corporate Social Responsibility," he said.

Engagement of students with the rural population is one of the key features of USR, and Tezpur University can adopt some villages for helping in their overall development under this initiative, Kovind said.

He also appealed to the students passing out to actively participate in promotion and marketing of organic agricultural produce from the northeast.

"I am happy to note that the university has received approval under the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme for setting up an incubation centre to process jackfruit and ready-to-eat cereal-based products," he said.

"In this context, I am reminded of the unique Joha rice of Assam, which is known for its excellent taste and aroma... Universities of Assam can help the farmers by branding, popularising and marketing this unique variety of rice. There are many such agricultural products that can be promoted," he added.

The president also lauded the efforts of the Assam government in conserving biodiversity, and said he will visit the famed Kaziranga Park to take stock of the initiatives there.

"Assam is gifted with extraordinary beauty of nature and rich biodiversity. This has to be preserved. Every resident of Assam, especially the youth, has to be very active on the fronts of conservation and sustainable development.

"The young population has greater stakes in keeping the planet green. They have to demonstrate greater awareness through their actions," Kovind said.

Kovind said that development initiatives for the eastern part of India, specially the northeast, are being given special thrust.

"The young population is both a driver and a key beneficiary of development and progress. I am happy to note that the university is promoting collaboration with major industries," he said.

The president further said that the central government has decided to establish a Digital University to provide access to students across the country to world-class universal education with personalised learning experience.

"The Digital University will provide education in different Indian languages and ICT formats. Tezpur University can become an active stakeholder in this initiative, especially by providing high-quality digital content in Assamese and other languages of the northeast," Kovind said.

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With the administration of more than 28.29 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 177.17 crore (1.77 billion) as per provisional reports till 7 am today, informed the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

This has been achieved through 2,02,74,848 sessions, said the ministry.

According to the ministry, 23,598 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) is now at 4,22,70,482.

Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.52 per cent. 11,499 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

India's Active Caseload is presently at 1,21,881. Active cases constitute 0.28 per cent of the country's total Positive Cases.

The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 11,36,133 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 76.57 crore (76,57,35,314) cumulative tests.

While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate in the country currently stands at 1.36 per cent and the Daily Positivity rate is reported to be 1.01 per cent.

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on Saturday said India is at a stage where growth and the focus on development have got to be strengthened from every side and intellectual property rights (IPRs) have an important role in it.

The minister mentioned that 28,000 were granted last year as opposed to 4,000 in 2013-2014 and the last year also witnessed registration of 2.5 lakh trademarks and over 16,000 copyrights, which will have a very strong ripple effect on the economy.

"So, these are not small numbers. This is the strength of the economy, in supporting such innovations and copyrights, all of which when scaled up are going to have a very strong ripple effect into the economy itself and that would generate its own ecosystem and revenues," Sitharaman said.

Sitharaman was speaking at the 'National Seminar on Adjudication of IPR Disputes in India' here which was organised by the Delhi High Court and attended by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and other judges.

The minister stated that the central government encouraged start-ups while protecting their IPRs as the boost would not have been possible with only "giving up restrictions".

She also highlighted the importance of innovation for the economy and said that "if general manufacturing and general production give you a level of 3 (on a scale of 10), innovative activities bring in about 7 to 8."



"As we were removing restrictive rules and regulations, we were also making sure that we give a framework within which they can work. Not just start-ups, but we were also supporting R&D in this country," Sitharaman said.

"India is at a stage where growth and the focus on development have got to be strengthened from every side. IPR plays a very important role in it," she stated.

The Union minister said that the support of the judiciary has encouraged more innovations and copyrights coming into India and there is now a systematic approach to deal with IPR issues.

"The (IPR) bench has been set up (at the Delhi High Court). You are going to face the challenge of increasing numbers but this kind of support, the knowledge being shared, rules being set, the framework being provided, I think it will be far easier for the courts to take up this challenge," she said.

Sitharaman also said that the scheme for intellectual property protection, which started as a pilot scheme in 2016, has been extended until 2023.

The scheme provides that the cost of facilitators or the payments that they have to make for challenges in the court were all borne by the government through the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademark, she stated.

"I guess that is going to be one of the important ways in which we can support technology and innovation but that support is only for ensuring that people don't hesitate from the cost point of view. Because it is going to be prohibitive costs, people are going to hesitate. We need all the innovations, we need all the because the economy stands to benefit from a multiplier kind of scale. It is far more than general routine activity," she stated.

The minister added that since 2014, the central government has been taking steps to recognise and support services that are infused with innovation, as such drone services, research and development in defence, energy, artificial intelligence etc.

"Economic activities are moving towards these areas which are so dependent on their patent being registered, copyright being registered.. these are going to be things across borders, 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.)
Prime Minister spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts in the wake of the ongoing conflict situation in .

President Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the ongoing conflict situation in due to Russia's military operations.

The Prime Minister called for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue.

PM Modi expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict.

"He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts," a PMO release said.

The Prime Minister also conveyed India's deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, present in Ukraine. He sought facilitation by Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate Indian citizens.

PM Modi's talk with the Ukraine President came two days after his telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi had appealed for an immediate cessation of violence and had called for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue in his talks with Putin.

Prime Minister had also reiterated his long-standing conviction that the differences between Russia and the NATO group can only be resolved through honest and sincere dialogue.

President Putin had briefed Prime Minister about the recent developments regarding Ukraine.

Russia had on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhanussisk - as independent entities.

India on Friday abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine saying that the "path of diplomacy was given up"."India's deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti said at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine.He said that no solution can ever be reached at the cost of human lives. Tirumurti also expressed concern over the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine.

Russia vetoed the UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine.

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An Boeing aircraft, which departed from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here for Romanian capital Bucharest early morning on Saturday to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive, is expected to arrive here at 8 pm, the airport operator said.

CSMIA, in a statement, also said it has blocked a special corridor for the arriving passengers.

flight AI-1944 had departed from Mumbai at 3.38 am and landed in Bucharest at around 10.45 am, an AI official had earlier said.

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24 and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

"In the light of the current crisis in Ukraine, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is extending full support to the evacuation of the stranded Indian students, who are arriving in Mumbai today (Saturday) by AI-1944 at 8 pm (Expected Time of arrival)," CSMIA said.

Around 20,000 Indians, mainly students, are currently stranded in Ukraine, according to officials.

The private airport operator said it has fenced in a special area at the facility for the arriving passengers to sit and will also provide them with free Wi-Fi codes, distribute food and water bottles.

They will also be provided with any guidance or medical assistance if required at the time of arrival, it said.

The airport has blocked a special corridor for the arriving passengers, CSMIA said, adding as per the guidelines laid down by the government, the Airport Health Organization (APHO) team at the facility will be conducting mandatory temperature checks.

Passengers would be required to produce either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test report at the time of arrival. In case any passenger is not able to show any of the documents at the time of arrival, they will have to undergo RT-PCR testing at the airport, where the cost would be borne by the airport, it said.

My heartfelt thanks to FM @BogdanAurescu for his Governments cooperation. https://t.co/L0EknlIrHT  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022

These passengers would be able to leave the airport post-testing negative.

Before the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, had operated one flight to Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26 but it could not do so as the Russian offensive began on February 24 and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

(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 recent military operation by in Ukraine has renewed the between the Western countries and Russia, Srikanth Kondapalli, Dean of School of Studies at JNU said on Friday.

He also cautioned that the Russian actions in Ukraine may embolden China in initiating Galwan like incident.

Referring to the military operations by in Ukraine and the announcements of new rounds of sanctions by the Western countries on Moscow, Kondapalli said, "the retaliation, counter retaliation has led to the renewal of the between the western countries and ."

Kondapalli discussed the impact of the military action of Russia on the world while addressing an online event organised by Red Lantern Analytica, an relations observer group based out of New Delhi.

Highlighting the constant deployment of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops and heavy machinery close to the Russian borders since 1999, he said, " membership of the former Soviet Union republics has made sure that the between West and Russia continued even after the collapse of USSR."

"Russia argues that Ukraine has been violating its sovereignty and integrity. They think that Ukraine may be conspiring to counter Russia and hence the Russian security interests are threatened," he said.

Emphasizing on the close cooperation between China and Russia, he said, "With Russian actions in Ukraine, we may also see China getting emboldened in initiating another Galwan like incident."

Talking about India's potential course of action, Kondapalli asserted that India has to look at "which countries have supported India in the security council.

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The invasion of Ukraine will slow down the arrival of Russian tourists but will have a limited impact on travel and hospitality business in Goa, according to industry experts.

is the number one overseas source market for tourism and tourists from the country began arriving in the state from December 31  after a gap of nearly two years due to Covid pandemic. The state has received six charter flights from till now and the seventh is expected on March 3. But with the ongoing war in Ukraine there is an uncertainty about these flights that are expected to arrive till May 15. The travel industry in the state, however, is not unduly worried about the development.

There will be an impact on the arrival of Russian tourists this season but it is not a huge concern. Domestic travel demand is strong. With the beginning of Carnival in the state from today and Holi-weekend next month we expect good business, said Nilesh Shah, president of Travel and Tourism Association of .

Demand has come back with a vengeance in February with bookings from both leisure and corporate segments. Room occupancy had dropped to 30 per cent during the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic but it has now doubled. The outlook for March is also promising, said Betty Remedios, director of sales and marketing, Grand Hyatt, .

According to her, earlier five-star hotels used to allocate a significant number of rooms for foreign charters. We havent received charters from Britain this year and Russians too are not opting for five-star properties, she added.

Around 3,000 tourists arrived in Goa in six charter flights from this season. Totally the state has received 30 charters since December and this includes 24 flights from Kazakhstan. The Russian flights are operated by Rossiya Airlines with its 522 seater Boeing 747 aircraft.

This is in sharp contrast to the pre-pandemic era. Between October 2018 to May 2019 Goa received 813 charter flights and 218,776 foreign tourists. This included around 90,000 tourists from Russia in 292 flights. This was followed by tourists from the UK and Ukraine.

We have started receiving booking cancellations from customers. There is a lot of uncertainty now regarding the charters from Russia. Typically, the payments are made prior to their arrival. The US and European countries have imposed sanctions on Russian banks and there could be issues in remittances. So it is a wait and watch situation now, said Abida Kumar, vice president (operations) of Minar Travels, which handles groups from Russia.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday spoke with Prime Minister and sought India's political support at the UN Security Council to stop Russia's military offensive against his country.

President Zelenskyy's telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi came hours after India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine.

"Spoke with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi. Informed of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression," Zelenskuyy said in a tweet.

Zelenskyy has been making desperate appeals for help as Russian forces intensified their offensive in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other areas.

"More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!" he said in the tweet.

President Zelenskyy's call to Prime Minister Modi came a day after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar and sought India's support to a UN Security Council resolution.

In the telephonic conversation, Kuleba urged Jaishankar to use India's influence over Russia to force it to cease "military aggression" against Ukraine besides supporting the UN resolution.

He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed Indias willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts: PMO  ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

In a tweet, Kuleba said he "asked India to use all influence in its relations with Russia to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine''.

"Urged India as a non-permanent member to support today's draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine," he added.

The 15-nation Security Council voted on the draft resolution Friday afternoon by the US and Albania and co-sponsored by a "cross-regional" group of 67 UN member states, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

India, China and the UAE abstained on the resolution, which received 11 votes in favour by Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, the UK and the US. The resolution was blocked since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February, used its veto.

India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in the country's explanation of vote in the Council.

The resolution sought to isolate permanent and veto-wielding member Russia on the global stage after Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch an attack on Ukraine on Thursday.

Ukraine's envoy at the United Nations Sergiy Kyslytsya expressed disappointment over the outcome.

I am saddened, however, that there is a small, handful of members that seem to be still tolerating the war, Kyslytsya said.

The US and its allies have decided to block assets of four large Russian banks, impose export controls and sanction oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin after he ordered a "special military operation" against Ukraine.

Around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, are stranded in Ukraine. The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning and therefore, the evacuation flights organised by India are operating out of Bucharest in Romania and Budapest in Hungary.

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Amid the ongoing crisis, Indian Ambassador to Poland, Nagma Mallick, on Friday (local time), said that the embassy has formed three teams that will assist in moving out of western .

"Firstly, to all stranded students, stranded Indians on the side, the government of is doing a lot to provide easy transit into to stranded people of all nationalities who are coming in via land border with Ukraine," said Indian envoy to Nagma Mallick.

"We've set up 3 teams for the exit out of western Ukraine, including one in Lviv. Poland government is doing a lot to provide easy transit into Poland to stranded people of all nationalities," Mallick said.

Earlier on Friday, the latest advisory was issued for Indians in Ukraine desiring to be evacuated via Poland.

Indian nationals in western Ukraine desiring to be evacuated to India via Poland may note the coordinates of the Embassy Offices set up for the evacuation: -

(i) Liaison Office, Lviv - Vivek Singh -- Tel: +48 881 551 273

(ii) Embassy Office, Krakowiec - Shubham Kumar -- Tel.: +48 575 467 147

(iii) Embassy Office, Medyka - Ranjit Singh - Tel.: +48 575 762 557

Embassy Control Room, Warsaw - Sukhvinder Malik, Tel: +48606700105 & +48225400000

It is reiterated that Indian nationals arriving at the Poland-Ukraine border by public conveyance i.e. by bus or taxi, are advised to make for the Shehyni-Medyka border crossing.

The Government of Poland is allowing people to cross the border on foot only via the Shehyni-Medyka border point.

The Krakowiec crossing is for persons traveling in their own vehicles.

The embassy further advised Indians crossing into Poland to register their details by filling the Google Form (https://forms.gle/TPmtUeMh98Q4XgvP9) for processing their requests for seats in the repatriation flights.

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There are three important stimulus and universal basic income application deadlines coming up this month, and you might win up to $4,000.

New Jersey has been allocated $40 million in federal funds. Undocumented immigrants would benefit greatly from this stimulus package.

Those who qualify for the New Jersey stimulus check will get a $2,000 one-time payment, up to a total of $4,000 per household. Applications are being accepted now, but the deadline is Monday, February 28. The application period may end sooner if the funds are exhausted before the deadline.

NJ, NY Stimulus Checks

Undocumented employees in New York can apply for a $2.1 billion stimulus check fund to help them get back on their feet after missing the first two stimulus payments. One just needs to be a resident of the state who earns less than $26,000 in 2020 and has lost out on previous stimulus payments.

Another way to fund the project is to invest in tourism employees whose salaries have been lowered due to the lack of visitors. According to Gov. Kathy Hochul's tweets, this includes startup funds as well as investments in tourism-related jobs.

Only twenty-five persons will be chosen at random from the applicants to receive $1000 every month for the following 17 months, totaling $17,000 in unrestricted funds.

Applicants must live in West Hollywood, be 50 years old or older, identify as LGBTQIA, and earn $41,400 or less per year to be considered for the West Hollywood Pilot for Guaranteed Income. Your yearly household income should be less or equivalent to that of low-income Long Beach, Glendale, and Los Angeles communities.

The application time for 2022 will be from February 25th through March 6th. From April 2022 to September 2023, 25 acceptable candidates will be picked at random from a pool of eligible persons to receive unconditional monthly $1000 stimulus checks, per Digital Market.

Read Also: New Jersey Faces 2,500 Job Losses If Atlantic City Casino Smoking Ban Is Implemented, Report Finds

Alabama Stimulus Payments

Bonus checks of up to $1,500 are due to be sent to workers in one state, paid for by stimulus monies from President Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan legislation.

More than 10,000 child care employees in Alabama are receiving the aforementioned bonus check payments, according to a local news story this week. They total $12.6 million and come on the heels of the Alabama Department of Human Resources' first round of Child Care Workforce Stabilization awards. From February 28 to March 18, the second round will take place.

The rewards include bonuses of $1,500 for full-time employees and $750 for part-time employees. They were issued to 1,278 child care providers that applied between December 2021 and January 2022 by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. Overall, 65 percent of the state's eligible child care providers requested financing and were successful. For a total of 10,065 employees, bonuses have been approved.

The reason for the lack of more national stimulus checks, as most people are aware, is that the political will for them in Congress has waned.

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives approved an extension of last year's monthly child tax credit stimulus checks. The idea, however, came into opposition in the Senate, where at least one dissenting Democrat (West Virginia's Joe Manchin) objected to the price tag. That was all it needed to put an end to the extension.

It is important to note that the second half of the enhanced child tax credit will be credited to your federal tax return this year. Instead of receiving monthly checks, you will receive that amount of money this year by claiming it as a credit on your tax return. Some governments and towns are also issuing their own stimulus checks, BGR reported.

Related Article: Child Tax Credit Update: How To Know if You're Exempted From Paying Back Overpayments

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Polling to decide the fate of 692 candidates in the fray for 61 assembly seats across 12 districts of will take place in the fifth phase of the state assembly elections on Sunday.

Campaigning for the fifth phase ended on Friday evening, and all necessary arrangements have been completed, state Chief Election Officer Ajay Kumar Shukla said here on Saturday.

Polling will start at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, he said.

Around 2.24 crore voters will exercise their franchise in this phase in the districts of Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti and Gonda.

Amethi and Raebareli, once considered Congress bastions, and Ayodhya, the epicentre of the Ram temple movement, will too vote on Sunday.

Prominent faces in the fray for the fifth phase include Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who is contesting from the Sirathu assembly seat in Kaushambi district. He is facing Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) candidate Pallavi Patel.

Other ministers in the fray are Siddharth Nath Singh from Allahabad West, Rajendra Singh, alias Moti Singh, from Patti (Pratapgarh), Nand Gopal Gupta Nadi from Allahabad South and Ramapati Shastri from Mankapur (Gonda).

Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, who is the MLA from Kunda since 1993, is once again in the fray from his party Jansatta Dal, with old aide Gulshan Yadav contesting against him on a Samajwadi Party ticket.

Union minister Anupriya Patel's mother and Apna Dal (K) leader Krishna Patel is contesting from the Pratapgarh seat. Apna Dal (K) has entered into an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Union minister Anupriya Patel, heading a rival faction of the party named after her father Sonelal Patel, however, has handed over the seat to the BJP to challenge her mother Krishna Patel.

Congress legislative party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona is fighting from Rampur Khas seat of Pratapgarh.

With the completion of polling on Sunday, will have voted on 292 of the total 403 seats in the Assembly. The last two phases of the elections will be held on March 3 and March 7.

As part of the electioneering for the fifth phase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have already crisscrossed the poll-bound constituencies.

BJP rivals Akhilesh Yadav, chief of the Samajwadi Party, BSP supremo Mayawati and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra too have toured the constituencies extensively.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had digitally addressed a rally for voters of her Raebareli constituency.

In the final round of campaigning on Friday, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi jointly addressed a rally in Amethi.

Prime Minister Modi addressed a series of rallies in Amethi, Prayagraj, Kaushambi and Bahraich, and attacked opponents mainly on the issues of vote bank politics and 'pariwarvad'.

(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.)
By abstaining from a UN Security Council resolution on the crisis, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy, official sources said on Saturday.

vetoed the resolution that asked to immediately stop its attack on and withdraw all troops.

The sources said India has been deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in and maintained its consistent, steadfast and balanced position on the matter that dialogue is the only answer to settle differences and disputes.

They said India has been in touch with all sides urging parties concerned to return to the negotiating table.

The UNSC draft resolution deplored in the strongest terms Russia's aggression against Ukraine and demanded that immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all its troops.

While abstaining from the voting, India issued an 'Explanation of Vote' after the vote in which it called for "return to the path of diplomacy".

The sources said India called for respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state and pitched for an immediate cessation of violence and hostilities.

They said India called on all member states to honour principles of law and the UN Charter, as these provide a constructive way forward.

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An United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair (OCHA) Director in the operations and advocacy division, Reena Ghelani, said the organisation has established a new system to monitor the humanitarian aid process in order to prevent corruption.

Ghelani, who is leading a nine-member delegation of the UN, which has arrived in to monitor the distribution of humanitarian aid, made the remarks in a special interview with TOLOnews.

She said they are working with 180 Afghan and organisations to conduct a transparent aid process, TOLOnews reported.

She urged the community to support the people of .

"Absolutely, the UN and its -- NGO partners -- we have asked for $4.4 billion, which we do not have yet, we need to raise this money because we need to urgently get assistance to people. We saw horrible nutrition . We saw children begging to go to school, both boys and girls," she added.

A member of the delegation said there is a need to work with the local communities and organisations to provide aid for the people.

"We urge the Joe Biden administration to work in close collaboration with (the) Afghans, especially women and local organisations..." she said.

This comes as many Afghans have voiced concerns over what they called the unfair distribution of aid.

"What are the necessary steps to be taken for countering corruption in the distribution of aid?"

"If the aid was provided in cash, it would help the value of the Afghan currency and would solve the cash problems in the markets," said Abdul Naseer Rishtia, a university professor.

"The government should assess the aid provided by the UN. The contracts of the UN organisations should be shared (with the government) and the government must investigate it to see if the aid is provided to the people who deserve it," said Muzamil Shinwari, an economist.

has recently seen a dire humanitarian crisis with millions of people struggling with starvation.

--IANS

int/khz/

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US President has nominated federal appeals court Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme court, the White House said on Friday, paving the way for a historic confirmation process for the first Black woman to sit in the country's highest court.

In Jackson, Biden delivers on the campaign promise to diversify a court that has constituted entirely of white men for almost two centuries.

Biden called Jackson a proven consensus builder who has "a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people.

She strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice, the president said.

Since Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who will be retiring at the end of the term this summer, Biden has conducted a rigorous search process to identify his replacement.

Biden sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law. He also sought a nominee much like Justice Breyer who is wise, pragmatic, and has a deep understanding of the Constitution as an enduring charter of liberty, the White House press release said.

And the President sought an individual who is committed to equal justice under the law and who understands the profound impact that the Supreme Court's decisions have on the lives of the American people, it said.

Incidentally, Jackson, 51, had once worked as one of Breyer's law clerks early in her career.

She attended Harvard as an undergraduate and for law school, and served on the US Sentencing Commission, the agency that develops federal sentencing policy, before becoming a federal judge in 2013.

Jackson comes with a wealth of experience in varied capacities as a federal appellate judge, a federal district court judge, a member of the US Sentencing Commission, an attorney in private practice, and as a federal public defender.

She has been confirmed by the Senate with votes from Republicans as well as Democrats three times, the White House said.

Currently serving on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, Jackson has also served as a District Judge for the District of Columbia from 2013 to 2021.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin praised Jackson's selection and said his committee would begin a formal investigation of her nomination right away with the hope of hearings in the coming weeks and a confirmation vote as soon as possible.

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The British sanctions on Russian President and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov were not painful for top Russian officials, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Friday.

The head of state used to keep money in the Rossiya Bank, which had already been sanctioned, said Peskov, adding that the updated sanctions were not painful for any representative of Russia's top leadership, Xinhua news agency reported.

Britain has slapped asset freezes and other sanctions against Russia, and has joined the United States and the European Union in imposing sanctions on Putin and Lavrov.

--IANS

int/sks

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will impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Russian Chief of Staff, Canadian Prime Minister said during a press update on the situation between and .

"We will be imposing sanctions on President Putin and his fellow architects of this barbaric war, his Chief of Staff and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov," Trudeau said on Friday.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a new round of sanctions on Russia, calling for Russia's removal from the SWIFT payment system.

Trudeau on Friday said at a press conference that will join other nations to impose sanctions directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of advisers. The sanctions will also extend to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's Chief of Staff, he added.

In addition, Trudeau called for Russia's removal from SWIFT, the payment system used for most financial transactions, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Canadian government is also prepared to match donations to Ukrainian relief efforts through the Canadian Red Cross to a maximum for 10 million Canadian dollars, he said.

--IANS

int/khz/

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US chipmaker has confirmed that it is investigating a cyber incident that has reportedly downed the company's developer tools and email systems.

told 'TechCrunch' that the nature and scope of the incident are still being evaluated, adding that the company's commercial activities have not been impacted as a result.

"We are investigating an incident. Our business and commercial activities continue uninterrupted. We are still working to evaluate the nature and scope of the event and don't have any additional information to share at this time," the company was quoted as saying.

While is not sharing any more details about the incident, The Telegraph reports that the company's email systems and developer tools have been suffering from outages over the last two days following a "malicious network intrusion", the report said.

Citing an insider, the report claimed that the company's systems had been offline for two days but that portions of its email systems had started working on Friday.

It is not yet clear whether hackers obtained data on Nvidia or its customers, nor whether any of its partners were affected. Nvidia has not yet identified the culprit, and customers say they had not been informed of any incident, according to The Telegraph's report.

News of a potential cyberattack at Nvidia comes just weeks after the Santa Clara-based company terminated its $40 billion bid to acquire British chip designer Arm.

The company said the decision was mutual, resulting from "significant regulatory challenges preventing the consummation of the transaction, despite good faith efforts by the parties".

--IANS

vc/shs

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The Swedish government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic was too slow and characterised by a lack of leadership, according to a report released by the independent Corona Commission.

"We must not forget what the situation looked like in the spring of 2020. then occasionally had among the highest death rates in Europe," said Mats Melin, Chairman of the Commission, on Friday when presenting their final report.

Since the start of the pandemic two years ago, Covid-19 has claimed 17,000 lives out of a population of 10.4 million, Xinhua news agency reported.

" should have opted for more rigorous and intrusive disease prevention and control measures," said the Commission, which was appointed by the government in June 2020 to evaluate the Covid-19-related measures taken by the government, the administrative agencies concerned, the regions and the municipalities.

Instead, while most other countries enforced strict lockdown rules, the Swedish strategy was based on advice, recommendations and voluntary measures.

Although the Commission found that this was in principle an appropriate approach as the government should not unnecessarily limit their citizens' freedoms, the report said that "it must not stand in the way of more rigorous action that may be required in particularly critical phases."

"Earlier and additional steps should have been taken to try as far as possible to slow the spread of the virus in the community," the report said, suggesting that holidaymakers returning from the Alps, where the first European outbreak was reported, should have been placed in quarantine.

The inquiry also found that shopping centres, restaurants, public indoor swimming pools as well as indoor cultural and sporting events should have been closed and canceled already in March 2020. However, this was not possible due to legislation that was not amended until mid-April 2021.

"This was, as we stated in our second interim report, too late," the Commission said in their final report.

It also found that "the Public Health Agency should not have dismissed the use of (face) masks as a disease prevention and control measure in indoor settings and on public transportation."

While most other countries introduced mandatory face mask rules early on, the Swedish Public Health Agency said that they could do more harm than good and give a false sense of security. Once the agency changed its mind in December 2020 and urged individuals to wear a mask when using public transport, many people ignored this.

According to the report, the government also relied too much on the opinion of the agency and especially its Director General.

"It was clear that the agency was setting the pace, and that the government had no objection to it doing so."

Consequently, the government's leadership in handling the pandemic was unclear.

Besides criticising how the pandemic was handled, the Corona Commission also said that their inquiry was hampered by substandard documentation and by "the government offices' initial reluctance to assist."

The Commission did not analyse recent developments, such as the government's handling of the Omicron variant that flooded in January and brought critical services to the brink of collapse.

It did, therefore, not scrutinise the recent decision to remove virtually all restrictions as well as the advice that everyone with Covid-19 symptoms should be tested.

The Corona Commission also said the handling of the pandemic deserves further investigation.

"The fact that the pandemic is not over means that it can only be regarded as a provisional balancing of the books," it said in the final report.

--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.)
Crypto technology could play a unique role in how Russias intensifying invasion of gets recorded into history.



Videos of Russian troops occupying Chernobyl and explosions rocking Kyiv make up some of the millions of digital records documenting the conflict being held on Arweave, a decentralized data storage network.

Its the decentralization thats key to why Arweave says its archive will prove so vital. Because there are lots of copies of the data stored in lots of places, it essentially cant be hacked or erased -- even if one copy goes down, there are plenty of back-ups. Plus, the data cant be edited once its put onto the network.

We started this project to build a censorship-resistant ledger of history, said Sam Williams, Arweave co-founder and chief executive officer.

Cyber warfare has already played a role in Russias invasion of . Kyiv Post, an English-language news site in Ukraine, has been targeted by digital attacks. The site has had articles uploaded to Arweave for preservation, Williams said. Meanwhile, has partially limited access to Facebook and slowed access to Twitter on mobile devices over disagreements on content.



Already, Arweave holds more than 6.6 million tweets, videos, photos and articles related to the conflict, according to ViewBlock, a data tracker that logs Arweave transactions. Anyone with a crypto wallet, and whos willing to pay a fee of about 1 cent per megabyte, is able to add to the archive. The trove of data can be accessed publicly through the ViewBlock website.

The swift and massive influx of data shows the power of being able to add to the archive of history in real time. While social media can widely disseminate information, sifting through and preserving that information is a challenge. But Arweaves digital records can act as public vault, securing the information in one place for decades to come.

Getting Started



Williams, 29, dropped out of a computer science doctoral program at Englands University of Kent to start Arweave in 2017. After studying periods like Nazi Germany, he wanted to build a platform for keeping a permanent historical record that couldnt be edited.

One of the most important things authoritarian rulers tried to do was control the information space, he said.

The immutability of distributed, digital ledgers known as blockchains appealed to Williams. He said Arweave is blockchain-like, but uses a structure called a blockweave thats better for storing large files like videos and documents.

The ledger replicates the information across the world in hundreds, if not thousands of different places, he said, without specifying exactly how many computers Arweave data is stored on.

Network users known as miners earn Arweave crypto tokens that can be exchanged for cash by using their computers to store the data.

The network guarantees 200 years of storage time. Thats of course assuming that the technology doesnt become outdated in that time. And theres also a question of whether the data thats put into the network now will still be in a format thats accessible over that long time-frame. (Cassette tapes still hold a lot of data, for instance, but not many people have a way to listen to them now.)

Arweave has raised funds from Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase Ventures and Union Square Ventures and also makes its own investments. Along with Blockchain Capital and Sino Global Capital, the company just led a $17.2 million seed round in ArDrive, an enterprise data storage product based on Arweave.

Other Archives



The Russian invasion of Ukraine isnt the first time Arweave has been used to store data during times of conflict.

The first major event the platform documented was the Kerch Strait incident, when the Russian Coast Guard captured three Ukrainian naval vessels and held them hostage in 2018. Along with other news reports, Arweave stored an article from Russian state-media agency Sputnik that was later taken down and replaced with a version with a more pro-Russian tone.

Arweave has also been used to store documents related to protests in Hong Kong, as well as to preserve articles from Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper in the city that Beijing shut down in June.

The current Ukraine- archive is Arweaves biggest data collection to date and has swiftly increased. The number of documents added daily to the archive grew 15 times between Feb. 15 and Feb. 24, according to data from ViewBlock.

The traction of Arweave is even more recognized now, said Balthazar Gronon, chief technology officer of Ashlar, the blockchain data provider that developed ViewBlock.

Still, its worth noting that while the Arweave archive cant be hacked in the sense of making the data disappear, there are still ways that these kinds of digital records can be manipulated. Since anyone can add to the collection, that includes the possibility of being flooded with inaccurate accounts and misinformation.

Support From Bundlr



Williams said his team first started building the Ukraine- archive a few weeks ago. The projects current biggest contributor is Bundlr Network, a platform with the goal of making it easier to add data to Arweave.

Bundlr Network launched in September with a focus on supporting non-fungible token storage. It started archiving as tensions increased in Ukraine, according to founder and CEO Josh Benaron.

Benaron, based in London, and another developer on Bundlr Networks six-person team have worked on automating the archiving process, such as by building a tool that gathers tweets that include keywords and the names of Ukrainian cities.

Benaron said that tweets make up about half of what they archive, and most of the videos they add depict explosions in Ukraine. He said that theyre also pulling in articles from both Russian and Ukrainian news outlets. Bundlr Network is covering the costs of storing the data.

Its important for me to provide a true archive of whats happening at the time from different perspectives, he said. The biggest challenge for us is capturing all the data.
Fuel prices are expected to continue rising as the Russian military advances in its attack against Ukraine this week.

Russia, a major oil and natural gas exporter, has raised fears that its invasion of Ukraine would disrupt the energy supply per USA Today.

According to AAA, the national average gas price in the United States jumped to $3.57 per gallon on Friday, up 3 cents from the previous day and up from $2.68 a year ago. US gas price hike prediction might hit $4 per gallon.

Oil prices dropped on Friday after exceeding $100 per barrel for a short period. The international standard Brent crude went down to $93.93 while US crude dropped to $91.43.

Oil Prices Could Shoot-Up Quickly

Tom Kloza, a chief international analyst of the Oil Price Information Service, said that there are concerns that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine could disrupt the supply of oil in the region would prompt an increase in gas prices.

Russia is the third-largest oil-producing company in the world, behind the United States and Saudi Arabia, according to the 2020 US Energy Information Administration.

DTN senior market analyst Troy Vincent predicted that crude oil price might go upward to $130 a barrel or perhaps more under the worst scenario, with Russian gas and oil entirely sanctioned and cut from the world market.

Rabobank commodity strategist Ryan Fitzmaurice pointed out that prices "could move very quickly," like what happened in the past. He cited that during the Libyan civil war in 2011, Brent jumped from $90 to over $125 in just four months, and US retail gasoline prices spiked to almost $4 per gallon from around $3 when the conflict erupted,

Meanwhile, the group of oil-producing nations OPEC+ will be conducting a meeting on March 2 to come up with a verdict regarding oil production levels according to Market Watch. For the past several months, OPEC+ failed to hit their production targets, which have raised fears about the levels of surplus oil production capacity. Concerns have also been expressed about the amount of spare oil production capacity available worldwide, which has reinforced crude oil buying support.

In July 2021, OPEC+ reached an agreement to implement an increase in monthly production by 400,000 barrels a day starting August 2021. It is intended to scrap the 5.8 million barrel in production cuts introduced in 2020.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine Crisis Explained: What Is Vladimir Putin's Reason for Starting Conflict?

Biden Will Alleviate "Pain" of Americans

United States President Joe Biden assured the public that the government is taking action and "using every tool" to ease any US gas price hike brought by the Russia Ukraine Crisis.

To counterbalance the US gas price hike, Biden is let out barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a deep underground storage complex within the Gulf Coast containing around 600 million gallons of crude, per the report of CNet.

Biden said he is aware that "Americans are already hurting" amid US Gas Price Hike, and he will do all necessary measures "to limit the pain" of the people in the United States.

On Thursday, the President declared a string of heavy sanctions to be imposed against Russia that targets to finish the Russia Ukraine Crisis that would also result in the return of oil and gas prices to normal levels.

Related Article: Hacker Group Anonymous Takes Russia to Cyber War, Disables State Websites [FULL DETAILS]

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The may still disconnect from the SWIFT international financial network over Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced Friday.

"SWIFT is something that has not been included on the table because it was not mature enough the discussion, but nothing is off the table. Maybe it can be adopted in the following days, it will depend," Borrell said at a press conference after the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Western countries have been threatening to disconnect from SWIFT as a part of economic sanctions in response to Moscow's military operation in .

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
will open a humanitarian corridor for citizens of as well as third countries fleeing Ukraine, the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto said in Budapest on Friday.

Third countries that have requested help from to get their citizens home include India, Iran, Ecuador, Israel, Zimbabwe, the Maldives, Mongolia and Jordan, he added.

"We are going to let them enter without a visa and take them to the nearest airport, which is Debrecen (east Hungary)," Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page.

The flow of people has been steady at the five border crossing points between and Hungary, but the Foreign Affairs Minister said there were 3-5-kilometre-long queues of cars on the Ukrainian side.

At the request of Ukraine, will facilitate and speed up border check procedures for humanitarian deliveries to Ukraine, he added.

He said energy (gas and oil) supply from has been uninterrupted, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Thursday evening, the Hungarian government adopted a decree according to which refugees from Ukraine would receive temporary protection. This applies to all Ukrainian citizens coming from the territory of Ukraine as well as to third-country nationals legally residing in Ukraine.

Hungary's government expects around 600,000 refugees to arrive in the country from Ukraine, according to a map shown on Prime Minister Viktor Orban' Facebook page.

For now, it is difficult to quantify the number of refugees, as many of them hold dual citizenship and/or have families or secondary residences in Hungary, a non-governmental organisation volunteer working at the Ukrainian-Hungarian border told Xinhua over the phone.

--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.)
The has decided not to deploy its aircraft in a multilateral air exercise in the next month in view of the situation arising out of the crisis in .

The exercise 'Cobra Warrior' is scheduled to take place from March 6-27 at Waddington in the United Kingdom.

"In light of the recent events, #IAF has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in UK," the IAF tweeted.

The announcement came days after the IAF said it will send five combat aircraft to the exercise.

Though the IAF did not clearly mention the reasons for the pull-out, it is learnt that the crisis in following the Russian military attack prompted the decision.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's relationship with is distinct from that the US shares with the latter and that is okay, the Biden administration said, underlining that Washington has asked every country that has leverage with Moscow to use it to protect rules-based order.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price noted that the US shares important interests and values with India.

"We share important interests with India. We share important values with India. And we know India has a relationship with that is distinct from the relationship that we have with . Of course, that is okay," Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Friday.

"India has a relationship with Russia that we certainly don't have. India and Russia have a relationship, including in the defence and security sector, that we don't have. ... we have asked every country that has a relationship and certainly those countries that have leverage to use that leverage in a constructive way," he said in response to a question.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in on Wednesday night. Russia has launched multiple attacks on several areas in central and eastern Ukraine, drawing widespread condemnation and sanctions from several countries, including the US.

The US, Price said, has a broad strategic partnership with India.

"As you know, we had an opportunity to see our Indian counterpart Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Australia just the other day when we were in the Indo-Pacific for a meeting of the Quad," he said.

"What we have done, including in the context of the bilateral discussion we had with Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Melbourne, was to share our fervent belief that countries around the world, especially those countries that have a level of influence, of clout, of leverage with the Russian Federation, needed to use that to good effect, needed to use that to protect the rules-based order," he said.

Responding to another question, Price said that the US has communicated to Pakistan its position on what was then the threat of a Russian invasion and what is now the ongoing Russian invasion of .

"Just as India does, Pakistan knows precisely where we stand on this. These are again rules, norms, guidelines that benefit India, Pakistan, the United States, and Russia as well," he said.

Putin met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Kremlin on Thursday in his first face-to-face talks since the start of the special Russian military operation in eastern and the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia.

(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.)
Internet connectivity in has been badly affected by the Russian invasion, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country where fighting has been heaviest, internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said on Saturday.

Russian forces captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol on Saturday, Russia's Interfax news agency reported, as Moscow launched coordinated cruise missile and artillery strikes on several cities, including the capital Kyiv.

Connectivity to GigaTrans, Ukraine's main internet provider, dropped to below 20% of normal levels before returning to higher levels in the early hours of Friday morning, NetBlocks said.

"We currently observe national connectivity at 87% of ordinary levels, a figure that reflects service disruptions as well as population flight and the shuttering of homes and businesses since the morning of the 24th," Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, told Reuters.

"While there is no nation-scale blackout, little is being heard from the worst affected regions, and for there's an ever-present fear that connectivity could worsen at any moment, cutting off friends and family," Toker said.

Disruptions to Ukraine's telecommunications networks could affect civilian defence groups that have been mobilising to defend their cities, he added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials released more information about an alleged Belarusian cyberespionage operation they said was targeting personal email accounts belonging to Kyiv's forces.

In a Facebook post, Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team said the hackers were targeting not just Ukrainians but also Poles, Russians, and Belarusians as well - including several Belarusian media organisations.

Emails sent to the Belarusian embassy in London were not returned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of the Islamic Emirate of in a statement has called for restraint by the parties involved in the recent tensions in Ukraine, saying that all sides need to desist from taking positions that could intensify violence.

MoFA on Friday also urged the involved parties to consider safeguarding the Afghan refugees and students based in Ukraine, TOLOnews reported.

The Russian troops on Thursday launched an all-out attack on hours after President Vladmir Putin announced that he had ordered a military operation in . The Russian forces have targeted several cities of .

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in line with foreign policy of neutrality, calls on both sides of the conflict to resolve the crisis through dialogue and peaceful means," the statement said.

Analysts believe that the issue of Ukraine will shift the attention of the community from the ongoing crisis in .

"The issue of Ukraine draws the attention of the world. The Islamic Emirate should try to ramp up visits abroad to keep Afghanistan's relations with the world countries on track," said Maiwand Babakarkhail, a political analyst.

Based on statistics, more than 50,000 refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh are living in Ukraine. Around 20,000 of them are Afghans.

What will be the impact of the Russia-Ukraine' tension on

"The Ukraine's issue will cause a reduction in attention of the world countries toward the Afghan migrants. The financial support of the European Union and other world countries will decrease," said Toreq Farhadi, a political analyst.

"The people of Afghanistan need of world now more than ever. Unfortunately, Ukraine's situation will cause Afghanistan to be forgotten by the world. This should not happen because the situation in Afghanistan is worse," said Ruslan Salmanov, a Russian journalist.

Although, the Russia's invasion of Ukraine faced widespread reactions by many world countries, Iran and China -- the two neighbouring countries of Afghanistan -- remained silent.

"China is closely monitoring the latest developments. We call on all sides to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control, said Hua Chunying's, China Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson.

The attack on Ukraine is expected to trigger a new wave of migrations from Ukraine. Many Afghans left the country for Ukraine following the fall of the former government and are living in an uncertain fate.

--IANS

int/khz/

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Residents of city reported house-to-house searches, saying the raiding of homes has caused panic among children and women.

The Islamic Emirate of said it has launched a clearing operation under the command of Mullah Mohammad Fazal Mazloom, Deputy Minister of Defense, in some parts of and its neighbouring provinces in order to tighten security.

The security forces covered many parts of on Friday, TOLOnews reported.

"Around 10 to 15 individuals stormed into the residence suddenly. They spread everywhere in the residence, including rooms, roofs and the kitchen and searched everywhere inside the house," said Sayed Azim, a resident of Kabul.

Some residents of capital Kabul criticised the house raids by the Islamic Emirate's forces.

"This arbitrary action is wrong. They should have a permit for searches and there should be women among them to search the houses," said Rashid, a resident.

"If they have information about a crime, they should go search for it, but innocent people should not be disturbed," said Haroon, a resident.

But the Islamic Emirate's Spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said in a statement that the raids are aimed to detain the robbers, kidnappers and other criminals who have been already recognised by the intelligence service. According to the statement, all necessary measures have been taken to protect civilians and innocent people.

"We have already detected all the (spots) through intelligence, and after full detection, the operations were launched and criminals were detained. There will be searching -- of course -- if there is nothing no one will be harmed but if the criminals are hiding anywhere, they will be detained," Mujahid said in a voice clip to TOLOnews.

--IANS

int/khz/

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The mayor of the Ukrainian capital is imposing an intensified curfew as Russian troops press on the city.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said on Telegram that the curfew will extend from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. and all civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

The previous curfew imposed two days ago was from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.

(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.)
Most Americans live in places where healthy people, including students in schools, can safely take a break from wearing masks under new U.S. guidelines.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention outlined the new set of measures on Friday for communities where COVID-19 is easing its grip, with less of a focus on positive test results and more on what's happening at hospitals.

The new system greatly changes the look of the CDC's risk map and puts more than 70 per cent of the U.S. population in counties where the is posing a low or medium threat to hospitals. Those are the people who can stop wearing masks, the agency said.

The agency is still advising people, including schoolchildren, to wear masks where the risk of COVID-19 is high. That's the situation in about 37 per cent of U.S. counties, where about 28 per cent of Americans live.

The new recommendations do not change the requirement to wear masks on public transportation and indoors in airports, train stations and bus stations. The CDC guidelines for other indoor spaces aren't binding, meaning cities and institutions even in areas of low risk may set their own rules. And the agency says people with COVID-19 symptoms or who test positive shouldn't stop wearing masks.

But with protection from immunity rising both from vaccination and infection the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower, the CDC said.

"Anybody is certainly welcome to wear a mask at any time if they feel safer wearing a mask," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a news briefing. "We want to make sure our hospitals are OK and people are not coming in with severe disease. ... Anyone can go to the CDC website, find out the volume of disease in their community and make that decision."



Some states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, are at low to medium risk while such as West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Arizona still have wide areas at high levels of concern.

CDC's previous transmission-prevention guidance to communities focused on two measures the rate of new COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positive test results over the previous week.

Based on those measures, agency officials advised people to wear masks indoors in counties where spread of the virus was deemed substantial or high. As of this week, more than 3,000 of the nation's more than 3,200 counties greater than 95 per cent were listed as having substantial or high transmission under those measures.

That guidance has increasingly been ignored, however, with states, cities, counties and school districts across the U.S. announcing plans to drop mask mandates amid declining COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths.

With many Americans already taking off their masks, the CDC's shift won't make much practical difference for now, said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. But it will help when the next wave of infection a likelihood in the fall or winter starts threatening hospital capacity again, he said.

"There will be more waves of COVID. And so I think it makes sense to give people a break from masking," Noymer said. "If we have continual masking orders, they might become a total joke by the time we really need them again."



The CDC is offering a colour-coded map with counties designated as orange, yellow or green to help guide local officials and residents. In green counties, local officials can drop any indoor masking rules. Yellow means people at high risk for severe disease should be cautious. Orange designates places where the CDC suggests masking should be universal.

How a county comes to be designated green, yellow or orange will depend on its rate of new COVID-19 hospital admissions, the share of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and the rate of new cases in the community.

Taking hospital data into account has turned some counties such as Boulder County, Colorado from high risk to low.

Mask requirements already have ended in most of the U.S. in recent weeks. Los Angeles on Friday began allowing people to remove their masks while indoors if they are vaccinated, and indoor mask mandates in Washington state and Oregon will be lifted in late March.

In a sign of the political divisions over masks, Florida's governor on Thursday announced new recommendations called "Buck the CDC" that actually discourage mask wearing.

In Pennsylvania, acting health secretary Keara Klinepeter urged "patience and grace" for people who choose to continue masking in public, including those with weakened immune systems. She said she'll keep wearing a mask because she's pregnant.

State health officials are generally pleased with the new guidance and "excited with how this is being rolled out," said Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

"This is the way we need to go. I think this is taking us forward with a new direction going on in the pandemic," Plescia said. "But we're still focusing on safety. We're still focusing on preventing death and illness."



The CDC said the new system will be useful in predicting future surges and urged communities with wastewater surveillance systems to use that data too.

"If or when new variants emerge or the virus surges, we have more ways to protect ourselves and our communities than ever before," Walensky 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.)
US President on Friday (local time) said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will maintain its "open door" to those European states who share its values and who one day may seek to join our Alliance.

Biden's remarks came after he met with leaders from Allies to discuss their shared commitment to collective defense and Transatlantic security, the White House said in a statement.

"As President Putin threatens the very foundations of peace and security, is once again demonstrating that it stands for freedom and democracy," Biden said.

He highlighted that the will defend "every inch of territory".

Our commitment to Article 5 is ironclad. I have ordered the deployment of additional forces to augment our capabilities in Europe to support our NATO Allies, Biden said.

US President said that he welcomed the decision "to activate NATO's defensive plans and elements of the NATO Response Force to strengthen our collective posture as well as the commitments by our Allies to deploy additional land and air forces to the eastern flank and maritime forces from the High North to the Mediterranean."

"NATO is as united and resolute as it's ever been, and NATO will maintain its Open Door to those European states who share our values and who one day may seek to join our Alliance," Biden said.

After the NATO Summit, Biden spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I spoke with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. I commended the brave actions of the Ukrainian people who were fighting to defend their country. I also conveyed ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security support being provided by the as well as our continued efforts to rally other countries to provide similar assistance," Biden said.

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CPC leadership meets to discuss draft gov't work report

Xinhua) 09:33, February 26, 2022

Photo taken on Sept. 8, 2020 shows the Great Hall of the People and the Monument to the People's Heroes at sunrise in Beijing, capital of China.(Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee met on Friday to discuss the draft government work report, which will be submitted by the State Council to the upcoming annual session of the national legislature for deliberation.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

Two reports on Party inspection were also deliberated at the meeting.

The meeting noted that the past year is a milestone in the history of the Party and the country. Faced with complex and grave domestic and international situations as well as multiple risks and challenges, China has coordinated COVID-19 control with economic and social development and accomplished the whole year's main targets relatively well, it added.

The implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) got off to a good start and China made new and major development achievements, the meeting said.

The meeting stressed that the year 2022, which will see the convocation of the CPC's 20th national congress, is significant to the development of the Party and the country's cause. Stability is the top priority of this year's work, the meeting noted.

It urged further efforts to stabilize the economy, steadfastly deepen reforms and boost the vitality of market entities.

Further efforts should be made to firmly implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand, bolster agricultural production, pursue higher-standard opening up, and promote the stable development of foreign trade and investment, said the meeting.

It also called for efforts to persistently improve the ecological environment, forestall and defuse financial risks, and safeguard and improve people's living standards.

The government should step up its self-improvement and strive to achieve socio-economic development targets set for this year, said the meeting.

Since the CPC's 19th national congress in 2017, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has upheld and strengthened its centralized, unified leadership over financial work. Efforts have been made to ensure that the financial sector serves the real economy and to punish corruption and defuse major risks in the sector, the meeting said.

The meeting stressed the need to strengthen the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over financial work, and to stay firmly on the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics.

It also called for more effective prevention and control of financial risks and resolute maintenance of financial stability.

The punishment and handling of corruption in the financial sector and countermeasures guarding against financial risks should be conducted simultaneously, said the meeting. It ordered efforts to advance financial reforms and continue modernizing the system and capacity for financial governance.

For work in 2022, the meeting said that while consolidating and deepening political inspections, intra-Party oversight should leave no place out of bounds and full-coverage inspections should be completed.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
The United States and its European allies are considering employing a "financial nuclear weapon" against Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine.

By imposing one of the most severe economic sanctions, it is kicking Russia out from SWIFT. This messaging network connects 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 nations and territories worldwide, serving as a vital hub for payments done across the globe.

The Anchorage Daily News reported that disconnecting Russia from SWIFT has been endorsed by Eastern European countries and France. The move would make it more difficult for Russian firms to handle transactions and restrict the nation's economic capacity to do business abroad. Something that could make Russian President Vladimir Putin carefully weigh on his aggression towards Ukraine.

However, several parts of Europe have objected to the notion, citing concerns about the move's impact on their economies. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden highlighted European reluctance as the reason why SWIFT was not included in the sanctions plan.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borell recognized that the bloc's member nations have not agreed on SWIFT yet. Though, he said, "it can be adopted" in the upcoming days as they explore "all possibilities."

What is SWIFT? How Crucial is It?

The SWIFT, or Society for Worldwide Interbank Banking Telecommunication, was established in 1973. It is a financial cooperative with headquarters in Belgium supervised by the National Bank of Belgium in collaboration with other major central banks, including the Federal Reserve of the United States. The Federal Reserve System, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of England.

Though, SWIFT functions not like a traditional bank. According to a Washington Post report, it does not transfer funds. Instead, it operates as a secure communications system that connects over 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries and territories, notifying banks when transactions are about to take place. The system processed 42 million messages each day on average last year.

The US and its European allies see that taking Russia out of SWIFT could be among the severest sanctions that could damage Russia's economy in both short and long terms. Russia may be blocked from most global financial transactions, including oil and gas production income, which account for more than 40% of the government's revenue.

In the past, the US has succeeded in convincing the SWIFT system to kick out Iran due to its nuclear program.

Read Also: US Gas Price Hike Prediction: Expert Warns Gas Increase to $4 Per Gallon Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Can Russia Handle the Severe Sanction?

In 2014, when Russia seized Crimea and supported separatist forces in the eastern part of Ukraine, such sanction was considered by the US and the EU but eventually dropped the idea when Russia said that booting them out of SWIFT would be equivalent to a declaration of war.

Nikolay Zhuravlev, the vice-speaker of the Federation Council, recognized the possibility of having Russia kicked out from SWIFT. But, he said, doing so would also hurt other economies, including the U.S. and Germany, which is Europe's largest economy, per Al Jazeera.

He said that since SWIFT is a "service," if Russia gets "disconnected" from the "settlement system," the country will not receive foreign currency, but buyers, "European countries in the first place," will not acquire essential goods such oil, gas, metals and "other important components of their imports."

"Do they need it? I am not sure," Zhuravlev said, adding that SWIFT is a company that involves many countries in Europe.

Related Article: Republicans Claim Ukraine Invasion Is Joe Biden's Fault and Isn't Putin's; GOP Seek Answer How 23,000 Americans Will Be Evacuated

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Ukraines ramshackle military offered no resistance to the Crimean annexation in February 2014. Since then the poorly equipped but well-motivated Ukrainian Army has taken thousands of casualties while fighting separatist forces in the eastern Donbas region. In the meantime, the country has embarked on an often haphazard reform programme of its military which has made it  while still vulnerable in many vital respects  a rather more formidable force.

Since 2014-15, Ukraine has tripled its defence budget and attempted to modernise its forces  not only to defend themselves against Russia, but to comply with the standards demanded by Nato as an entry requirement.

The results have been mixed. On paper their army looks impressive  with 800 or so heavy tanks and thousands of other armoured vehicles protecting and transporting a regular force of about 200,000. These are far better trained troops than in 2014. They have good leadership, especially in the crucial non-commissioned officer cadre  the backbone of any army. Vitally, most observers report high morale and motivation.

But this is only part of the story. Most of their armour and equipment is relatively old and, although factories have been turning out modernised versions of old models such as the T72 tank, these provide little in the way of effective opposition to the far more modern Russian tanks and armoured vehicles  some of which are equal or superior to the best Nato stock.

Further, the Ukrainian army is vulnerable both to Russian artillery, traditionally the Red Armys most formidable arm, and the threat posed by Russian strike aircraft. Recent gifts of Nato hand-held anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and other weaponry will impose losses on Russian forces  but are not gamechangers.

Ukraines air force possesses a considerable fleet of cold war-era aircraft and personnel are well-organised and trained. But has configured its aerospace forces to gain and maintain crucial control of the air using, among other systems, the fearsome S400 long-range anti-aircraft missiles. These systems give the most advanced Nato air forces serious pause for thought, let alone the 1990s vintage fighters and bombers of .

Advanced Russian fighters and missiles will dominate the sky in due course although the Ukrainians have achieved some successes against the expectations of many. There are credible reports that Ukrainian fighters are still flying and remarkably have shot down several Russian jets. Their old  but in the right hands still effective  anti-aircraft missiles have also caused Russian losses, according to Ukrainian sources.

The navy is now militarily insignificant  the more so since much of it appears to have been sunk in harbour within 24 hours of the beginning of hostilities.

Strengths and weaknesses

But this is not a foregone conclusion. Ukrainian generals are highly unlikely to play to Russian strengths and deploy forces to be obliterated by their artillery or air power. They have seen all too much of that in the past. In July 2014 a formation of Ukrainian troops was destroyed by a rocket artillery strike in eastern . What was notable was the way the rockets were guided to their targets by drones operated by Russian-supported separatist troops.

Focusing on equipment quality or quantity alone is always a big mistake. In the UK, military thinking outlines three components of fighting power. These are the moral (morale, cohesion, motivation), conceptual (strategy, innovation and military doctine) and material (weaponry). It is one thing having the advantage in the material component of war, it is quite another to turn it into success. The Ukrainians will try to exploit Russias vulnerability to having to wage a lengthy military campaign with the potential to sustain politically damaging heavy casualties.

Many Ukrainians have a basic awareness of weapon handling  the several hundred thousand reservists called up as invaded certainly do. They may be light on modern tanks and sophisticated weaponry, but may well have the edge in the moral and conceptual domains.

There is an strong tradition of partisan warfare in where ideas of territorial defence  insurgent groups fighting small actions on ground they know well backed up, where possible, by regular army units  are deeply ingrained. In the early days of the cold war after the country had been liberated from German occupation, the anti-Soviet Insurgent Army was only finally defeated in 1953. During this time they caused tens of thousands of casualties. It may have been largely forgotten by the rest of the world, but this conflict is well remembered in Ukraine.

The vaunted Russian armed forces have already deployed a large proportion of their ground troops, and have a very limited capability either to occupy ground contested by insurgents or  even more importantly  to sustain operations beyond the first break-in phase of the war. The last thing Putin wants is a protracted war, with bloody urban combat and echoes of Chechnya  which is what Ukrainian forces are likely to give him.

War takes its own course, but the likely and sensible Ukrainian approach will be to trade land for time. They will hope to inflict casualties and draw Russian forces into urban areas where their advantages are less pronounced. In the event of defeat in the field, Ukraines defenders could well default to a well-armed, highly-motivated and protracted insurgency, probably supported by the west. This is Putins nightmare.

The other side of that particular coin is that western support of such terrorism could attract an unpredictable and highly dangerous response. In his declaration of war speech Putin threatened such consequences as you have never encountered in your history to those who try to hinder us, clearly referencing Russias vast nuclear arsenal. In the face of defeat or humiliation rationality may be in short supply.

Frank Ledwidge, Senior Lecturer in Military Capabilities and Strategy, University of Portsmouth

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
As the Moscow visit of Prime Minister concludes, has not achieved any tangible gains, while irking the US further, a report has said.

"We've communicated to our position regarding Russia's further renewed invasion of Ukraine, and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy in our war," said US State Department spokesperson, Ted Price.

Imran Khan's meeting with Putin came hours after several Western nations hit with new sanctions, which Khan himself is seen joyfully describing as "exciting times" in a video shared on Twitter of Khan's landing in Moscow.

It gives the Western Powers for whom is a "non-NATO ally," reasons to be annoyed, The Times of Israel reported.

On top of this, Khan's added 'disqualification' in eyes of the US is that his country is being increasingly seen as a Chinese ally. China is the US's larger adversary that is tacitly supporting Moscow, the report said, adding further that, Khan may soon realize that he is being the "wrong man in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

The 'ill-timed' visit has been heavily criticized in Pakistan, with media and analysts questioning the utility of a visit at such a time when tensions are at an all-time high between and the West.

Prior to the Moscow visit, Pakistani security analysts had urged Khan to watch hisstep. They warned that there is a cost to one-dimensional foreign policy towardsregional powers and compartmentalizing relations, the report highlighted.

Imran Khan's visit to Moscow did not result in any financial assistance for the economically fragile country, nor much was achieved otherwise with Moscow issuing a brief statement on the visit saying that the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia.

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President snuffed out any hope of diplomacy to end the fighting in and ordered Russias military advance to press ahead, as western nations rushed aid to help the government in Kyiv defend itself.

Speaking on a conference call Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Kyiv had refused to conduct negotiations, after the two sides failed to reach agreement on a format or a location for any talks. Because the Ukrainian side in effect refused negotiations, the main Russian forces resumed their advance according to the plan of the operation, he said, declining to provide more details.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak dismissed Peskovs comments as tactics, saying that was trying to consign diplomacy to a dead end even before talks begin, according to Interfax. The president categorically rules out any ultimatums and conditions, it cited him as saying.

Negotiations were first floated on Friday shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Putin in a call to enter talks with . But success always seemed unlikely given Russias insistence on the surrender of Ukraines military and removal of the elected government, while conducting a full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Neither was there any sign that the Russian offensive had ever halted, as Peskov maintained.

struck Ukrainian military infrastructure overnight with arms including cruise missiles, and took control of the city of Melitopol, according to a Defense Ministry statement carried by the Interfax newswire. claimed to have rebuffed Russian invaders intent on toppling the government in the capital.

In a video apparently filmed on a street in Kyiv and posted on Twitter and Facebook, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that a large amount of fake information was circulating on social networks alleging that he had called on Ukrainian troops to lay down their weapons and that evacuation was under way.

We wont give up any arms, Zelenskiy said. We will defend our country.

With the war in its third day and casualties mounting, a shocked world ratcheted up the costs for the Kremlin of its aggression. The European Union, the U.S., the U.K. and have already enacted punishing sanctions on Russia, including on Putin and members of his inner circle, sending Russian markets and the ruble tumbling.

The 27-nation EU moved closer toward supporting Russias exclusion from the SWIFT financial messaging system, a drastic step that would inflict damage on the European economy and that of its EU members as well as on Moscow. Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda met with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Saturday in a bid to overturn one of the final holdouts to EU agreement on the measure.

In a sign of Moscows isolation, China distanced itself from Russia, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi saying that the situation in Ukraine is something China does not want to see, adding that it was absolutely imperative for all sides to exercise restraint.

Promises of aid for Ukraine poured in. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized the State Department to provide $600 million in immediate aid to Ukraine, including $350 million in military funding.

The Netherlands will send 200 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles as soon as possible, in addition to other military aid approved earlier this month. The Czech Republic will send machine guns, sniper rifles, handguns and ammunition on top of 4,000 artillery shells already agreed. Belgium is dispatching fuel and 2,000 small arms, while Slovakia -- which shares a border with Ukraine -- is sending shells and fuel. Germany said it would deploy troops to Slovakia to set up a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system on its territory.

Its very important that tangible military aid reaches Ukraine now, Lithuanias Nauseda said before meeting with Scholz. Sanctions are important, but sanctions will have real tangible impact on Russias behavior in some time only.

With the war raging, Russias media regulator ordered ten mostly independent news outlets to remove reports of alleged civilian casualties and attacks on cities by Moscows forces in Ukraine, as the Kremlin seeks to control the narrative at home about its invasion. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko earlier said that Russian forces were in areas of the capital, though the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said its forces are still in control of the city.

Ukraines troops are repelling air strikes, they destroyed military transport aircraft carrying Russias paratroopers, continue to carry out systematic fighting, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Facebook.

Putin said he invaded Ukraine to stop it from getting closer to NATO, the Western military alliance, and to force it to demilitarize.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to attack is a "terrible strategic mistake," said the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s leaders on Friday in response to Moscow's attack on Kyiv.

"Massive and unprecedented sanctions have already been imposed on Russia. will continue to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders and other international organisations including the EU," Heads of State and Government said in a statement.

According to the statement, has deployed defensive land and air forces in eastern part of the Alliance and maritime assets across NATO area. "We've activated NATO's defence plans to prepare ourselves to respond to a range of contingencies and secure Alliance territory including by drawing on our response forces."

"We're now making significant additional defensive deployments of forces to the eastern part of the Alliance. We will make all deployments necessary to ensure strong and credible deterrence and defence across the Alliance, now and in the future," the statement said.

NATO expressed its full solidarity with democratically elected Ukraine's president, parliament, and government, as well as with the "brave people" of the country.

It also reaffirmed its "unwavering support" for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.

(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 European Broadcasting Union, who organise the Eurovision Song Contest, have barred from participating this year following the country's invasion of .

According to Variety, in a statement, the EBU said: "The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that no Russian act will participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

The Executive Board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest's governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.

The Reference Group recommendation was also supported by the EBU's Television Committee.

The decision reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year's Contest would bring the competition into disrepute.

Before making this decision the EBU took time to consult widely among its membership.

The EBU is an apolitical member organisation of broadcasters committed to upholding the values of public service, reports variety.com.

"We remain dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which promotes exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage."

The U-turn comes as faced almost universal condemnation for its bombardment of its Eastern European neighbour, which began in the early hours of Thursday, February 24.

On Thursday, the EBU initially said both and would be welcome to compete despite a plea from the chair of Ukraine's public broadcaster, UA:PBC, to ban Russia from both Eurovision and the EBU. As the situation looks ever bleaker, however, the EBU have now reversed that decision.

Last year's Russian entry, Manizha, finished number 9 in the contest.

The question remains, however, whether EBU will also bar Russia from the organisation altogether.

In an open letter, published on Thursday, UA:PBC's chair Mykola Chernotytsky wrote to EBU's president Delphine Ernotte Cunci: "Since the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, EBU broadcasters from the Russian Federation, including Channel One and the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, have been the Kremlin's mouthpiece and key instrument of Russian-funded political propaganda. Instead of following the values of the EBU, these broadcasters constantly and systematically spread misinformation, violate journalistic standards, spread hostility, and are a leading element of the Russian government's information war against and the rest of the civilised world."

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing to the west of the country or to neighbouring states. Still are sheltering in subway stations and basements.

The death toll is already in three figures.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2022, the contest's 66th edition, is set to take place in Italy on May 14.

--IANS

dc/shb/

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Amid ongoing military operations by against Ukraine, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Friday (local time), said this is a war of choice as Moscow's latest attack is so bold and brazen that it threatens our international system.

"We are here today because of Russia's unprovoked, unjustified, unconscionable war on Ukraine," Thomas-Greenfield said at the meeting on .

Thomas-Greenfield said, "This is a war of choice. Russia's choice. chose to invade its neighbor. chose to inflict untold suffering on the Ukrainian people and on its own citizens. Russia chose to violate Ukraine's sovereignty, to violate international law, to violate the UN Charter."

US Ambassador to the highlighted the ongoing situation in and said, "all across Ukraine, people are fleeing for their lives. Residents of Kiev, and Kharkiv have left their homes with only the belongings they could stuff in their backpacks to take shelter in subway stations which have now become bomb shelters."

She said that some reports of attacks on kindergartens and orphanages in .

"Babies, newborn babies in an intensive care unit have been evacuated into makeshift bomb shelters too. We have seen heart-wrenching images of fathers sobbing as they say goodbye to their young children and sending their families away to safety, while they stay behind to defend their country," US Ambassador to the said.

She said that according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 50,000 people have fled Ukraine in less than 48 hours.

"We've also seen everyday Russians bravely speak out and demonstrate in cities across Russia against President Putin's decision to plunge them into a war with their neighbor. They do not want to sacrifice Russian lives for Putin's ambition," she said.

She further said that UN High Commissioner for Refugees charged with maintaining international peace and security was created to prevent exactly this kind of aggression from ever happening again.

"Russia's latest attack on our most fundamental principles is so bold, so brazen that it threatens our international system as we know it," she said.

Thomas-Greenfield said that the people of Ukraine will soon need food and water and shelter and medical aid.

"They will face displacement and lose everything they've worked to build. For these reasons, we and Albania in consultation with our allies and partners have proposed this draft resolution holding Russia to account for its aggression against Ukraine," she added.

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The Black Sea -- a major artery for the movement of at the crossroads of Europe and Asia -- is suddenly drawing the worlds attention as the conflict in unfolds.

Half a dozen countries touch its shores, though its vital to many others beyond, for the trade of energy, steel and agricultural products.

Crude and refined oil products from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan pass through export terminals on the seas eastern edge. On the west lie countries that depend on ships hauling crude to meet their energy needs. Known as one of the worlds breadbaskets, the region supplies tens of millions of tons of grain and vegetable oils annually from its ports. is an important source of steel for Europe.

Crude Exports



Crude is exported from three major oil terminals along the eastern coast of the Black Sea in and Georgia.



Most of the crude at risk from a break in shipments from these facilities doesnt originate in Russia, but comes from further afield. Kazakhstans exporters have the most to lose from any disruption to tanker traffic in the Black Sea.



The CPC terminal, located just to the north of the Russian port of Novorossiysk, handles about 1.3 million barrels a day of crude delivered by pipeline from Kazakhstan.

The Novorossiysk oil terminal handles about 400,000 barrels a day of Russian crude, exported either as Urals or Siberian Light, with Urals accounting for about three-quarters of the total volume.

Supsa, further south in Georgia, is the end point of a pipeline carrying crude from Azerbaijan. The line carried about 31 million barrels, equivalent to 85,000 barrels a day, of crude in 2021, according to BPs full-year results. But almost 90% of the projects crude exports are piped to an export terminal on Turkeys Mediterranean coast.

A small proportion of Azerbaijans crude exports, averaging about 1.5 million barrels a month and mostly loaded at Supsa, are shipped to . Cargoes are discharged either at Odesa or at Pivdennyi where a pipeline runs across Ukraine to connect with the southern leg of the Druzhba pipeline from .

Crude Imports



Romania and Bulgaria both import crude through terminals on their Black Sea coasts. About 200,000 barrels a day move from east to west across the Black Sea, while additional volumes are imported via the Bosphorus from the Mediterranean.



There is a regular trade in Urals crude from Novorossiysk to the refinery at Burgas in Bulgaria, which also takes occasional cargoes of Siberian Light and CPC Blend crude.

Romania imports a steady stream of both Urals and Siberian Light, as well as intermittent cargoes of CPC. The crude is either processed at the coastal refinery at Midia, or shipped along pipelines to inland plants from Constanta.

Refined Products Exports

Refined oil products are also exported from terminals along the Black Seas eastern shore. A pipeline from refineries on the Volga River carries Russian gasoil to Novorossiysk for export. That port also handles exports of fuel oil and naphtha. Further south, Tuapse ships refined products, including cargoes of gasoil, fuel oil, naphtha, vacuum gasoil and marine diesel oil.

also operates a number of smaller oil-product terminals further north, including Taman and Kavkaz, both located close to the Kerch Strait that links the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Taman handles fuel oil, vacuum gasoil and LPG cargoes, as well as vegetable oils, grains, fertilizers and sulfur. There are sporadic shipments of refined products from Kavkaz. Several small terminals on the Sea of Azov also ship refined products.

In Georgia, Azerbaijans Socar owns a terminal at Kulevi from which it ships a range of refined products including diesel fuel and heavy fuel oils delivered by rail. Refined products are also shipped from Batumi, further south in Georgia.

The coastal refineries in Bulgaria and Romania are also sporadic shippers of refined products.

Agricultural Products



Ukraine and Russia together account for more than a quarter of global wheat exports, nearly a fifth of corn trade and the bulk of sunflower oil. Nearby Romania and Bulgaria have also become increasingly prominent crop shippers. Rich, fertile soils have helped Ukraine become the second-largest grain shipper.

Those products are then sent by truck, rail and barge to ports for shipment to Asia, Africa and the EU.

Ukraines southwestern ports of Odesa, Pivdennyi, Mykolayiv and Chornomorsk handle almost 80% of its grain exports, according to researcher UkrAgroConsult.





Shipments are now grinding to a halt, with Ukrainian ports shut and Russian grain deals on pause, according to an export union. Shipping from the Sea of Azov was suspended Thursday, stranding more than 150 vessels. The two countries have about 13.5 million tons of wheat and 16 million tons of corn left to ship this season, consultant SovEcon estimates.

Buyers like Indonesia and Tunisia are already considering alternative origins as far as Uruguay and India, as well as other European countries.

Iron and Steel



Ukraines steel makes up about a tenth of Europes imports, so any disruption to mills or shipments would tighten the continents already strained market and help keep prices high after they reached a record last year.

Key producers in Ukraine include Metinvest BV, which has facilities in the nations industrial heartland in the east, including sites by the Dnieper River and two major plants in Mariupol.

European heavyweight ArcelorMittal SA owns Ukraines biggest mill, in the central city of Kryvyi Rih. Ferrexpo Plc is the worlds third-biggest maker of iron ore pellets -- a high-grade product used in steelmaking -- and has all its operations in Ukraine. Seamless pipe maker Interpipe also has a plant in the east.

United Co. Rusal PJSC runs an alumina plant in Mykolayiv, on the countrys southern coast. It opened in 1980 and has a 1.7 million-ton capacity, according to Rusals website.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the US government but turned down the offer.

Zelenskyy said in response: The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.

Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine's capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.

Kyiv: A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles (85 km) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in .

On Friday, Ukraine's military said it had shot down a Russian military transport plane with paratroopers on board.

According to a statement from the military's General Staff, the first Il-76 heavy transport plane was shot down near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles south of Kyiv. The Russian military has not commented on either incident so far, and the reports could not be immediately verified.

(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 Russian armed forces have established full control over the Ukrainian city of Melitopol in the south of the country, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"Units of the Russian Armed Forces have established full control over the city of Melitopol," Konashenkov told reporters.

He also stressed that Russian soldiers are taking all measures to ensure the safety of civilians and exclude provocations by Ukrainian special services and nationalists.

On Thursday, launched a special operation to "demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine", responding to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for "help in countering the aggression of the Ukrainian troops." The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy .

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Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running but a defiant President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the capital Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands.

As hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fled westwards towards the European Union, top Russian security official and ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow's military operations would be waged relentlessly until their goals were achieved.

Ignoring weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of on Thursday from the north, east and south, an assault that threatens to upend Europe's post-Cold War order.

In a significant ratcheting up of Russia's rhetoric, Medvedev said on social media that new Western sanctions had helped unite Russians and hinted at a severing of diplomatic ties with Western nations, saying it was time to "padlock the embassies". He said Moscow might also restore the death penalty.

After a night of airstrikes, there were some signs of panic in centre of Kyiv. Reuters reporters saw Ukrainian soldiers with guns and a group of women running along the street. Nearby, Ukrainian soldiers forced a man in civilian clothes to lie down on the pavement.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said there was currently no major Russian military presence in Kyiv, but added that saboteur groups were active. The metro system is now serving only as a shelter for citizens and trains have stopped running, he said.

Klitschko said 35 people, including two children, had been wounded overnight.

At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed and 1,115 people wounded so far in Russia's invasion, Interfax quoted Ukraine's Health Ministry as saying. It was unclear whether the numbers comprised only civilian casualties.

"We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks. The fighting goes on," Zelenskiy said in a video message posted on his social media. "We have the courage to defend our homeland, to defend Europe."

Britain said the bulk of Russian forces were now 30 km (19 miles) from the centre of Kyiv and said had yet to gain control of Ukraine's airspace.

Resistance

Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, won independence from Moscow in 1991 and wants to join NATO and the EU, goals opposes. Putin says is an illegitimate state carved out of Russia, a view Ukrainians see as aimed at erasing their distinctive history and identity.

Western intelligence sources say Russian forces have encountered far stronger Ukrainian resistance to their invasion than they had expected to their invasion.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had captured Melitopol, a city of 150,000 in southeastern . Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment and Britain cast doubt on the report.

If confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre the Russians have seized.

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. did not release casualty figures.

Putin has said he must eliminate what he calls a serious threat to his country from its smaller neighbour and has cited the need to "denazify" Ukraine's leadership, accusing it of genocide against Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine - a charge dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies as baseless propaganda.

Zelenskiy signalled on Friday a readiness to discuss a ceasefire and peace talks, as did the Kremlin, but tentative diplomatic contacts have so far produced no results.

About 100,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Thursday, including 9,000 who have entered since 7 a.m. on Saturday, Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told a news conference.

At Medyka in southern Poland, refugees described a 30-km (19-mile) line at the border. Ukrainians were also crossing the borders into Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Ukraine has evacuated its embassy staff in Moscow to Latvia, the Baltic country's foreign ministry said on Saturday.

The mayor of Chernihiv, some 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Kyiv, told citizens on Saturday: "We need to prepare for street combat. Those of you who know and understand what I am talking about, prepare the petrol bombs."

Fighting was also underway on Saturday in the northeastern city of Sumy, the municipal administration said.

Sanctions

Western nations have announced a raft of sanctions on Russia, including blacklisting its banks and banning technology exports.

They have stopped short of forcing Russia out of the SWIFT system for bank payments, but the governor of a central bank in the euro zone told Reuters on Saturday such a decision was "just a matter of time, very short time, days".

"Is it sufficient? No. Is it necessary? Absolutely.

Sanctions only make sense if there are costs for both sides and this will be costly," the central banker said.

Zelenskiy said he hoped "Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support" such a decision, which would cause economic disruption to Western countries reliant on Russian energy as well as to Moscow.

Russia's Medvedev said sanctions showed the West's impotence to change Moscow's course. Moscow will respond symmetrically to the seizure of money of Russian citizens and companies abroad by seizing the funds of foreigners in Russia, he said.

The has imposed sanctions on Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The European Union and Britain earlier froze any assets Putin and Lavrov held in their territory. Canada took similar steps.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wave from an open top limousine as they travel along a street in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this June 20, 2019, file photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency. AP-Yonhap





China's President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of cooperation between Beijing and Pyongyang in an unspecified "new situation," North Korea's state media reported Saturday.







North Korea, officially known as the DPRK, carried out an unprecedented seven missile tests in January  including its most powerful missile since 2017  with denuclearization negotiations with the United States at a standstill.







It paused testing during the Beijing Winter Olympics, with analysts saying the decision could have been made out of deference to China.







Beijing is Pyongyang's most important ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged during the 1950s Korean War.







In his message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Xi said Beijing was ready to "develop the China-DPRK relations of friendship and cooperation" under a "new situation," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.







The KCNA did not further elaborate on what the "new situation" entailed.







North Korea is reeling economically from a self-imposed coronavirus blockade, and restarted cross-border trade with Beijing last month.







China accounts for more than 90 percent of the isolated country's bilateral trade.







Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.







But regardless, it has warned it could abandon its self-imposed moratorium and resume testing intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons.







Some experts have warned that with the eyes of the world focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, North Korea might take the opportunity to test-fire long-range missiles. (AFP)


The last time President addressed a joint session of Congress, he said the country was ready for takeoff after a period of plague and strife.

It's been a more turbulent flight than expected. Biden is scheduled to deliver his first speech on Tuesday night at a moment when he' has struggled to deliver on many of his original promises and as he is being forced to confront new crises.

The gap between the two major speeches the first one was last April is the story of a presidency that has repeatedly needed to recalibrate its ambitions.

Although Biden reached a bipartisan deal on an infrastructure plan, many of his other proposals have been jettisoned or left languishing with no clear path to becoming reality.

He followed through on his pledge to remove US forces from Afghanistan, but the chaotic withdrawal left the Taliban in control and a looming humanitarian disaster. Meanwhile the coronavirus evolved into new, more contagious variants that increased the pandemic's death toll despite the widespread availability of vaccines.

And most recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expanded his invasion of Ukraine, plunging Europe into war and hijacking Biden's foreign policy agenda.

These speeches go through many, many drafts," said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice and a former chief speechwriter for President Bill Clinton.

"And I would bet they're starting some new drafts right now.

He added: Two weeks ago the speechwriters probably thought they knew what was in the speech. Vladimir Putin had other ideas.

Traditionally, speeches focus on domestic issues. But Waldman said this one is a chance for Biden to outline the stakes of the crisis in Ukraine, especially as Americans remain wary of becoming involved in foreign conflicts and worry that economic ripple effects could drive up gas prices.

This is a really important opportunity for the president to talk about Russia's appalling attack and to put it in the context of why it matters," Waldman said.

Biden is preparing his speech during one of the most consequential stretches of his presidency.

In addition to the expanding invasion of Ukraine, on Friday he announced Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee for the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, who is retiring.

Jackson, a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, would be the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court if she is confirmed by the Senate.

The nomination kicks off a closely watched process in the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also released looser guidelines for when Americans should wear masks to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Instead of focusing on caseloads, which are harder to control because of the more transmissible omicron variant, the agency is setting benchmarks based on hospitalizations, a sign that it is shifting to a new phase of the pandemic where the virus is viewed as a more manageable threat.

Michael Beschloss, a presidential historian, said that for Biden, the speech is "going to be one of the largest audiences he has, and it happens at the confluence of historic moments.

It's one rare opportunity for a president to lift his voice above the noise," Beschloss said.

"He doesn't have very many of those opportunities.

Making fresh promises to American voters could be difficult when so many of Biden's initial proposals have stalled. Some ideas were outright abandoned, such as free community college.

became mired in negotiations over the president's legislative agenda, known as Build Back Better, when Senate Democrats were unable to reach a consensus on the plan.

Limits on the cost of prescription drugs, financial incentives for fighting climate change and free preschool are among the stranded proposals.

Biden has also failed to make progress on protecting voting rights, an effort he has described as central to protecting democracy.

Republicans continue to pass laws at the state level to restrict ballot access, and former President Donald Trump has refused to abandon his baseless crusade to convince Americans that the last election was fraudulent.

Sometimes presidents have used speeches to Congress to rebound after difficult periods, such as President John F. Kennedy in 1961.

Days after taking office, he outlined his goals in a major speech. But within months, his administration was embarrassed by the botched Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba, and Americans were discouraged by the Soviet Union's successful mission to send a cosmonaut into orbit.

So Kennedy swiftly returned to Congress to deliver another speech, where he famously pledged to put a man on the moon.

That was a very specific effort to turn the page," Beschloss said.

He said Kennedy hoped "it would give a second wind to his administration, which it did.

(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 top diplomats of South Korea and the US on Saturday "strongly condemned" Russia's invasion of and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, the foreign ministry here said.

During their phone talks, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated their "steadfast support" for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and urged Moscow to cease its military actions on immediately, the ministry said in a statement.

Blinken thanked South Korea for its outspoken support for and pledge to join the community's coordinated response against Russia, it added, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea has vowed to join economic sanctions, including export controls, against and other efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

On Thursday, Washington announced sweeping export restrictions against Moscow, which could affect South Korea's exports of high-tech items, such as semiconductor and electronic parts, to .

In their phone talks that came two weeks after their meeting in Hawaii, the top diplomats agreed to continue efforts for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula based on "fully coordinated" policy toward North Korea, according to the ministry.

--IANS

int/sks

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India abstains on UNSC resolution that 'deplores' Russian aggression





India abstained on a US-sponsored resolution that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, with New Delhi saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes and voicing "regret" that the path of diplomacy was given up. The resolution did not pass since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February, used its veto. The resolution received 11 votes in favour and three abstentions, including by India, China and the UAE. Read more



US, agree to freeze assets of Russia's Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov



With a military intervention in off the table, and countries around the world looking to heap more financial punishment on Moscow, the United States, Britain and European Union said they will move to sanction Russian President and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Read more



crisis: Russia-India defence sales face looming sanctions





With facing increasing waves of economic and financial sanctions imposed by western democracies, countries such as India, which are dependent on Moscow for a large percentage of their defence equipment, are facing hard choices. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, describing President Joe Bidens meeting with G7 leaders on Thursday, promised devastating packages of sanctions on . Read more



LIC IPO: Bankers buy time to decide on valuations amid market mayhem





The turmoil in markets worldwide has put investment bankers in a dilemma over entering into discussions on the pricing of of Indias (LIC) . Investment bankers said this might not be a good time to gauge investor response, which is critical to determine the demand for the IPO and decide on the kind of valuations the investors will be comfortable with. This is because most foreign investors will prioritise realigning existing portfolios over fresh investments amid the current geopolitical tensions between and . Read more



GST intelligence body widens investigation on fintech firm BharatPe



The Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI) has widened its probe on after its earlier investigation had found the merchant-focused fintech firm had issued invoices to non-existent vendors, said officials aware of the development. Read more
Prime Minister on Friday told the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) that the UK will "imminently" impose direct sanctions on Russian President and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Addressing a virtual meeting of leaders, Johnson said his government will personally sanction the Russian leaders over their "revanchist mission" to overturn the post-Cold War order.

He also called for "immediate action" to ban Russia from the SWIFT payment platform to "inflict maximum pain" on the Russian regime.

The Prime Minister urged leaders to take immediate action against SWIFT to inflict maximum pain on President Putin and his regime. The UK would introduce sanctions against President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov imminently, on top of the sanctions package the UK announced yesterday, he said, a Downing Street spokesperson said, with reference to the meeting.

The Prime Minister added that the world must make certain President Putin would fail in this act of aggression. Ukraine was showing strong resistance. He added that there could no normalisation of relations with Russia after this act, the spokesperson said.

Johnson warned that the Russian President's ambitions might not stop at Ukraine and that this was a Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences.

The European Union (EU) has already sanctioned President Putin and his foreign minister.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called on both the UK and the EU to strengthen their package of measures hitting oligarchs supporting the Putin regime and freezing Russian bank assets.

NATO is a military alliance originally formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and France.

Members of the alliance agree to come to one another's aid in the event of an armed attack against any member state. Ukraine is not a member country but wants to join the alliance, something Putin is vehemently opposed to.

On Thursday, Johnson had outlined what he termed the largest and most severe package of economic sanctions that Russia has ever seen in the House of Commons. It involved a ban on Russian flag carrier Aeroflot and 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 also announced 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.

The UK PM informed MPs that overall Britain will be imposing asset freezes on over 100 more new entities and individuals, on top of the hundreds already announced.

Legislation to enforce some of the wide-ranging sanctions will be laid in Parliament by early next week.

These trade sanctions will constrain Russia's military, industrial and technological capabilities for years to come, declared Johnson.

It comes as the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv was hit by air strikes and fighting got closer to the capital. There are warnings that Russia could use thermobaric weapons against Ukrainian forces if they continue to hold up their advance.

Earlier on Friday, Belarussian ambassador to the UK, Maxim Yermalovich, was summoned to the Foreign Office over its role in the invasion.

The UK condemns the role Belarus is playing in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Belarus must stop supporting Russia's illegal and unprovoked actions. We must be united against Russian aggression, said James Cleverly, UK Minister for Europe and North America.

Belarus needs to desist from its support to Russia and respect Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty in line with its obligations, the minister noted.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has provoked widespread condemnation from countries in the West, unleashing sanctions against associates of the Putin administration.

(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 UK government is leading the charge in Europe to exclude from the worldwide banking network, as part of tough sanctions designed to deliver a financial blow to President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is the world's main banking messaging service which links around 11,000 banks and institutions in more than 200 countries, including India.

Based in Belgium, the system is considered central to the smooth functioning of global finances and Russia's exclusion from it would hit the country hard.

However, while Canada and some American senators are in line with the UK on this, there is reluctance within the European Union (EU) over what is seen as a last resort move that will impact oil and gas payments.

The Prime Minister urged leaders to take immediate action against to inflict maximum pain on President Putin and his regime, Downing Street said with reference to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's meeting with NATO leaders on Friday.

This was followed up during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau soon after, when Johnson reiterated the same message.

The Prime Minister said allies needed to take immediate action on SWIFT, and the leaders discussed further options to increase coordinated economic pressure on Russia, notes the Downing Street readout of the call.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is believed to be on a diplomatic mission in Europe to convince allies to exclude from this key banking system, which had last collectively sanctioned Iran in 2012.

Britain wants the system to be turned off for . But unfortunately the SWIFT system is not in our control it's not a unilateral decision, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC.

He noted: When you pay Russia for its gas, it probably goes through the Swift system, for example. It is based in Belgium. It has a number of partners that control it, or nation states.

We want it switched off. Other countries do not. We only have so many options. We are going to work all day to try and get it (switched off for Russia).

The focus on SWIFT comes as Prime Minister Johnson told the leaders of NATO, the western military alliance which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, that the UK would imminently impose direct sanctions on Russian President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Russia's aggression which threatened all of Europe.

The Prime Minister told the group that a catastrophe was engulfing Ukraine, and President Putin was engaging in a revanchist mission to over-turn post-Cold War order. He warned the group that the Russian President's ambitions might not stop there and that this was a Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences, Downing Street said after the meeting on Friday.

Later, Johnson released a video message in Russian as a direct appeal to the people of the country.

In the video posted on Twitter, he said: "I do not believe this war is in your name.

"The scenes unfolding in the streets and fields of Ukraine are nothing short of a tragedy. Brave young soldiers and innocent civilians are being cut down, tanks are rumbling through towns and cities, missiles raining indiscriminately from the skies.

"It's a generation or more since we witnessed such bloodshed in Europe. We hoped we would never have to see such sights again.

In an attempt to stress that the UK's actions are targeted at the leadership rather than the Russian people, Johnson added that "Putin's actions are leading to complete isolation for Russia".

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has provoked condemnation from countries in the West and retaliatory sanctions.

Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs have been targeted with tough sanctions and the country's national airline, Aeroflot, has been banned from landing at UK airports or flying through its airspace, alongside any private jets from the country.

Meanwhile, a United Nations Security Council draft resolution telling Moscow to stop attacking Ukraine and withdraw all troops immediately was vetoed by Russia. India abstained from the vote, calling for a return to the path of diplomacy and cessation of violence.

(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.)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his call for Russian President to hold talks to stop conflict.

"Fighting is going on all over . Let's sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky was quoted by the Interfax- news agency as saying on Friday.

Putin said Moscow is ready to negotiate with at a high level, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency tweeted on Friday.

On Thursday, the Russian President authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 137 Ukrainians were killed and more than 300 injured in the military operation, Zelensky said earlier on Friday.

--IANS

int/khz/

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A call for urgent support to life-saving humanitarian action in was made by a group of emergency experts on Friday.

A group of eight senior emergency experts from UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations gave their recommendations after a five-day mission to the country.

"According to our humanitarian colleagues, more than 24 million people, which represent 59 per cent of the Afghan population, now require lifesaving assistance in the country. That is a staggering 30 per cent increase since 2021," said a UN official in a press briefing.

"The humanitarian response plan this year, which is the largest humanitarian appeal ever launched for a single country, calls for $4.44 billion to provide aid to over 22 million people. It's only 13 per cent funded," the official added.

Earlier this month, the Special Inspector General for Reconstruction (SIGAR) reported that "record drought, rising food prices, internal displacement" as well as economic breakdown and collapse of public services constitute a "humanitarian emergency," citing numbers from UN World Food Programme.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on Saturday (local time) announced additional assistance to which includes USD 350 million for immediate support to Ukraine's defence against ongoing Russia's military actions.

The US State Department release said, "This will include further lethal defensive assistance to help address the armoured, airborne, and other threats it is now facing."

Stating the previous assistance that the US provided to the country, the US Secretary of State said, "Last fall, as the present threat against from Russia, developed, under authority delegated by the President, I authorized the Department of Defense to provide $60 million in immediate military assistance to Ukraine."

"In December, as that threat materialized, I authorized a further drawdown worth $200 million. Today, as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russia's brutal and unprovoked assault, I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the President, an unprecedented third Presidential Drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate support to Ukraine's defence," he added.

According to the state department, the recent authorization of assistance brings the total security assistance the " has committed to Ukraine over the past year to more than $1 billion."

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President is ready to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

The Russian team will consist of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential administration, Peskov added on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold negotiations with over its military operation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Kremlin Spokesman recalled the purpose of Russia's operation is to "help the 'Luhansk People's Republic' and the 'Donetsk People's Republic', including by the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, which is actually an integral part of the issue for Ukraine's neutral status."

Also on Friday, Putin held a phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who promised to create all the necessary conditions for the Russia- talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a briefing that his country has no plan to occupy and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms."

Russian forces have blockaded the Ukrainian capital of Kiev from the west, and they also continue to perform tasks in the areas of other cities, said Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman, Igor Konashenkov.

--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.)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to serve as a mediator in possible talks with Russia, Ukraine's UNIAN news agency reported.

In the early hours on Thursday, launched a special operation after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian troops. The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow.

(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.)




Four more South Koreans have fled Ukraine across the border into Romania, with 19 others on their way to border regions for evacuation following a Russian invasion of the country, a Seoul official said Saturday.







Using a rental car provided by the South Korean Embassy in Romania, the four crossed the border, the official at the foreign ministry said. As of 8 a.m. (KST), the number of citizens still in Ukraine  except for diplomatic staff  had stood at 63.







The 19 citizens trying to flee the country were said to be moving toward either the Polish border or the Romanian border.







The ministry official said currently, 25 citizens in Ukraine still want to stay in the country.







South Korea's diplomatic personnel in Ukraine have been trying to ensure the safe evacuation of citizens.







Earlier this month, Seoul barred its nationals from travelling to Ukraine and urged those already in the country to leave for "safe" countries. (Yonhap)


The telecom major on Friday said it has entered into an agreement with Vodafone Group Plc. to buy 4.7% equity in Indus Towers.

The acquisition will be done on the principal condition that the amount paid will be infused by Vodafone as fresh equity into Vodafone Idea (VIL) and simultaneously remitted to Indus Towers to clear VIL's outstanding dues.

The financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

"With the likely introduction of 5G in the future, we believe a lot more infrastructure would be required in which Indus Towers, an undisputed leader, has a significant role to play and partake in the potential growth in the business," Bharti Airtel said in a statement.

It added that the stability and sustenance of a specialised and strong infrastructure company like Indus Towers is vital for a continued strong provision of co-location services including the support to rollout 5G. Such stability warrants a strong and stable shareholding structure to ensure financial stability and flexibility to respond to evolving needs of telecom operators, it said.

Bharti Airtel said acquisition purchase "would be at an attractive price representing a significant discount typically available for such large block transactions". In addition, Bharti Airtel is also protected with a capped price which is lower than the price for the block of Indus shares sold by Vodafone on 24 February 2022, it said.

"This shall be value accretive to Airtel and protect its existing significant shareholding in Indus Towers," the company said.

Any such acquisition, it added, will only be done when such proceeds are confirmed to be utilised by Vodafone to infuse as equity into VIL including any regulatory or shareholders' approval being fully obtained.

We believe this transaction allows Airtel to secure continued strong provision of services from Indus Towers, protects and enhances Airtel's value in Indus Towers, enables it to receive rich dividends and as also paves the way for subsequent financial consolidation of Indus Towers in Airtel," it said, adding that this self-paying capital allocation serves multiple strategic purposes for Airtel.

Bharti Airtel said it remains committed to look at opportunities for monetising this vital asset at an appropriate time. In doing so it will ensure that the tower company has been stabilised and any new strategic or financial investor/s has the ability to continue to serve the critical needs of Bharti Airtel.

Indus Towers is formed by the merger of Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers. It has over 184,748 towers and 335,106 co-locations (as on 31 December 2021) and a nationwide presence covering all 22 telecom circles. Indus' leading customers are Bharti Airtel (together with Bharti Hexacom), Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio Infocomm.

Bharti Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 480 million customers in 16 countries across South Asia and Africa.

Shares of Bharti Airtel rose 2.64% to end at Rs 688.45 on Friday, 25 February 2022.

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The company's board approved raising upto Rs 50 crore through rights issue of the equity shares.

The board of Swiss Military Consumer Goods (SMCG) also approved constitution of the "rights issue committee" to decide detailed terms and conditions of the rights issue.

On 14 February 2022, the company announced that it plans to raise funds for augmenting the working capital required for the business verticals of home appliances and men's innerwear.

Last year, SMCG raised Rs 9.83 crore through a right issue. It allotted 4.91 crore equity shares on a rights basis to the existing equity shareholders at an issue price of Rs 2 per share in the ratio of 1:1. The rights issue opened on 24 November 2021 and closed on 8 December 2021.

SMCG is primarily engaged in the business of promoting, marketing and selling lifestyle products under the brand "Swiss Military". It has also added men's innerwear and brown goods/home appliances category. It has recently ventured into business of manufacturing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) e-seal.

"Swiss Military" is an internationally renowned and celebrated Swiss brand which is duly registered in over 40 countries.

SMCG reported net profit of Rs 1.02 crore in Q3 December 2021 as against net loss of Rs 0.07 crore in Q3 December 2020. Net sales surged to Rs 17.76 crore in Q3 December 2021 as against Rs 0.25 crore in Q3 December 2020.

Shares of SMCG hit a lower circuit of 5% to settle at Rs 26.65 on Friday, 25 February 2022.

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Vodafone Idea on Friday announced that the telecom company's board will meet on 3 March 2022 to consider fund raising through various modes.

In an exchange filing on Friday, Vodafone Idea said, A meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 3 March 2022, to consider and evaluate any and all proposals for raising of funds in one or more tranches by way of preferential allotment, private placement, including a qualified institutions placement or through any other permissible mode and / or combination thereof as may be considered appropriate.

Meanwhile on Friday, Vodafone Idea announced that it sold its 4.7% stake in Indus Tower to Bharti Airtel. The sale is made on the principal condition that the amount paid shall be inducted by Vodafone as fresh equity in Vodafone Idea and simultaneously remitted to Indus Towers to clear VIL's outstanding dues.

Vodafone Idea is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is amongst India's leading telecom service provider. The company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platforms.

The company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 7,230.9 crore in Q3 FY22 as against a net loss of Rs 4,532.1 crore in Q3 FY21. Revenue for the quarter was Rs 9,720 crore, a QoQ improvement of 3.3%, aided by several tariff interventions including the recent tariff hikes taken by all operators in November 2021.

Shares of Vodafone Idea closed 6.74% higher at Rs 10.29 on BSE on Friday.

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The company has acquired a 42.14-acre land at Pakhajan Village in Bharuch, Gujarat for future expansion of the manufacturing plant.

Yasho Industries manufactures performance chemicals for rubber & latex, food & flavors, perfumery, lubricants and other specialty applications.

Net profit of Yasho Industries surged 128.93% to Rs 14.56 crore on 77.23% to Rs 163.81 crore in Q3 December 2021 over Q3 December 2020.

Shares of Yasho Industries surged 4.68% to settle at Rs 1686.15 on Friday, 25 February 2022.

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Russias invasion of Ukraine is bad news for the world and worse news for India which imports 85 per cent of its oil needs. A retail shock can be expected after the Assembly elections, more so because pump prices havent risen since November, crimping consumer spending and, therefore, growth.

All of this makes for a more uncomfortable outlook than prevailed at Budget time a month ago, writes T N Ninan. Read it here

Devangshu Datta explains the impulses behind Vladimir Putins Akhand Russia vision.

The extraordinary happenings at the National Stock Exchange raise serious questions about the market regulator Sebis responsibility. Regulators inability to spot crises early across the economic spectrum is a symptom of the institutional weakness that stems from their susceptibility to political pressure. The time may have come, writes T C A Srinivasa Raghavan, to give market regulators constitutional status. Read it here
Strategic studies quiz: Why was the code to inform Indira Gandhi of the successful Pokhran-1 nuclear test Buddha is smiling? While you think about it, lets switch to Ukraine.

By the time you read this, Kyiv will have capitulated. The question thats been asked often in the past few days, and will continue to echo for decades to come, is: Would it have been so simple for Vladimir Putins Russia to crush Zelenskyys Ukraine if it hadnt given up its nuclear stockpile after the Budapest accord in 1994? This was done in return for security ...
Union Minister on Saturday received the Indian students who landed here by an Air India flight following evacuation from Ukraine.

Air ?India said AI1944 arrived from Bucharest in Mumbai at 7.50 PM with 219 passengers. Goyal shared on Twitter a video of his interaction with the passengers inside the plane after landing.

"Welcome back to the motherland," the minister told the students. The students raised the slogan "Jai Hind". Goyal was heard asking the students to reassure other Indian nationals who are still stuck in Ukraine to be patient and not to worry.

"The Prime Minister has spoken to the Ukraine president to keep Indians safe and secure and provide them safe passage. The Russians have also promised to evacuate Indian nationals. Be strong and give strength to your friends who are still there. Another flight will land in Delhi in the morning and the process will continue," he said. The minister also thanked the Air India crew and said this was the true spirit of nationalism.

"This is India's strength," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], February 26 (ANI/NewsVoir): BML Munjal University (BMU), a Hero Group initiative, hosted a two-day virtual Leadership Summit on 17th and 18th February 2022.

The second edition of the summit was attended by business leaders, policymakers, educators and entrepreneurs who discussed how businesses have started to rethink and remodel strategies of organizations towards a more sustainable future.

This year's summit reflected on the theme of "Global Sustainability & the Corporation". The summit in its second season had discussions touching upon how corporations should align themselves to India aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2070 and how we need to collaborate and strategically plan the decades ahead to achieve this ambition. The summit hosted eminent leaders from startup founders to Industry executives - bringing rich perspectives on Technology, Product Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, HR and talent management, Potential Financiers and Consultants, to define the new sustainable organisation and enterprise. Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice-Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited was the keynote speaker of the first day, while Sunil Kant Munjal, Chancellor, BMU & Chairman, Hero Enterprise was the keynote speaker on the second day.

Prof. Manoj Arora, Vice Chancellor, BMU opened the event calling for the need to rethink the purpose of our education systems in order to live in a more sustainable world. He stressed that it is education which is one of the most important mechanisms available to government, regulators and communities to bring about social transformation and thus create sustainable, equitable and resilient societies. The summit hosted six panel discussions over two days and aimed to discuss how the world came to the realization that while the market economy model focussed on improving the standard of living, it was harmful for the entire ecosystem. Today the awareness has spread across the globe hence the upcoming entrepreneurs and corporations are exploring opportunities in the field of sustainability and pivoting to sustainable business models. Overall, the summit reiterated the necessity to balance the Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit.

Addressing the summit, Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice-Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, said, "Collaboration is the key to taking one business practice to the next level. If you need to emerge as the leader in your space of work, then you need to have a collaborative mindset as a powerful business-building strategy. The power of symbiotic collaborations is often overlooked yet it is a practice that produces the strongest of results. During COVID, most of the leaders thought beyond their organization to collectively solve problems that impact humanity at ground level. At BML Munjal University this collaborative mindset underlines in their ethos, which is clearly about building a talent pool for the nation and not just for their organization. Sustainability management is nothing new and we must move on to inclusiveness, collaborations, highlight the 'Karm yogi' concept, and use these concepts for sustainable development. Coming from a healthcare background, I feel sustainability should talk about holistic health which includes preventive health as well."

Sunil Kant Munjal, Chancellor, BMU & Chairman, Hero Enterprise said, "Transitioning to net-zero carbon can catalyse new industries, create millions of jobs, and drive trillions of dollars of economic value. The World Economic Forum has suggested that India's decarbonisation journey represents a USD 15 trillion economic opportunity by 2070 and is set to create as many as 50 million net new jobs. This will require education, training, and skilling. Today's generation is responsible - it is easier for them to adopt, adapt and understand." He added, "With Propel, our incubator at BMU (BML Munjal University), we encourage ecoprenuers, and sustainable technology. Our partnership with the Atal Innovation Mission allows us to get into the larger ecosystem."

Named after the late Founder Chairman of the Hero Group, BML Munjal University (BMU) is a state-private university founded by the promoters of the Hero Group. BMU is mentored by Imperial College London and is engaged in creating, preserving, and imparting internationally benchmarked knowledge and skills. The university seeks to transform higher education in India by creating a world-class innovative teaching, learning, and research environment across Schools spanning the disciplines of law, management, economics, commerce, and engineering. The School of Management at BML Munjal University has been ranked 41st among all management institutions All India in the NIRF Rankings 2021.

The university offers undergraduate to doctoral programmes comprising BA (Hons) in Economics, BBA, BCom (Hons), BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), BBA, Integrated BBA-MBA at the undergraduate level and MBA, LLB (Hons) and PhD at the post-graduate level.

For more information log in to (https://www.bmu.edu.in).

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

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H.E. Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, unveiling the book - 'A Nation to Protect', with author Ms. Priyam Gandhi-Mody and senior journalist Mr. Vicky Kapur at the event.

Dubai [UAE], February 26 (ANI/NewsVoir): India Pavilion yesterday witnessed the release of "A Nation to Protect: Leading India Through the COVID Crisis" in the UAE - a book by Priyam Gandhi-Mody, which describes India's battle with the pandemic and its emergence from the deadly crisis under the stellar leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

HE Sunjay Sudhir, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, while unveiling the book said, "This book is of immense significance, and it is the story of India that the world ought to know."

"India has done pretty well despite many challenges as there was a very clearheaded leadership which really worked its way and found solutions relevant to the socio-economic context," he added.

Talking about India's efforts to fight the pandemic, he said, "India's vaccination drive has been the fastest in the world to achieve 1 billion doses and that too within mere 279 days. We have also undertaken very successful vaccination diplomacy. Despite all constraints, India also remained very steadfast in its commitments to the world by becoming a credible and responsible alternative for global supply chain and responding to the requests of other counties in terms of medicines, vaccines and other amenities."

Sharing her inspiration behind the book, Priyam Gandhi-Mody said, "The Prime Minister led the country so strongly that people followed his directives by placing trust in his decision which strengthened India's position in the world. The Prime Minister streamlined his communications backed by science with the people of the country. India managed to turn this COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity of growth."

A discussion with HE Sunjay Sudhir and Priyam Gandhi-Mody moderated by senior journalist Vicky Kapur followed the book launch.

Gandhi-Mody explained in the discussion, "At the onset of COVID-19, the timeliness of the lockdown in India was very crucial in our fight against the pandemic. This story is particularly intriguing as India not only survived but also has become one of the leaders in dealing with this pandemic. Indians overcame the issue and adopted the perspective of Atmanirbharta i.e., self-sufficient in the true sense."

In his closing remarks, HE Sudhir said, "COVID-19 has taught us how the goodness of human beings come together as against the cynicism and gives each one hope that is overwhelming. I hope the worst is behind us, but this is for sure that now we can deal with any situation and cope with it."

YouTube link of the panel discussion: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v-L96H0Zr0) Link

To review the book please reach out to: (mailto:Publicity@rupapublications.com)

You can buy the book from here: (https://www.amazon.in/dp/9355203551/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_api_glt_i_TT5E5XATTVQ2R5AA4N0W)Amazon Link

To know more about India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai, please visit:

Website - (https://indiaexpo2020.com)

Facebook - (https://www.facebook.com/indiaatexpo2020)

Instagram - (https://www.instagram.com/indiaatexpo2020)

Twitter - (https://twitter.com/IndiaExpo2020?s=09)

LinkedIn - (https://bit.ly/3BW0yhX)

YouTube - (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6uOcYsc4g_JWMfS_Dz4Fhg/featured)

Koo - (https://www.kooapp.com/profile/IndiaExpo2020)

To know more about EXPO2020 Dubai, please visit - (https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en).

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

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U.N. Ambassadors hold a minute's silence for Ukraine during a United Nations Security Council meeting on a resolution regarding Russia's actions toward that country, at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, Feb. 25. Reuters-Yonhap





Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution Friday demanding that it immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all its troops, a defeat the United States and its supporters knew was inevitable but said would highlight Moscow's global isolation.







The vote was 11 in favor, with Russia voting no and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, which showed significant but not total opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of his country's smaller and militarily weaker neighbor.







The resolution's failure paves the way for supporters to call for a quick vote on a similar resolution in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, where there are no vetoes. There was no immediate word on a timetable for an assembly vote.







The vote was delayed for two hours while the United States and Albania, which co-sponsored the resolution, and their supporters scrambled behind the scenes to get wavering nations to support the resolution. China's decision to abstain, rather than use its veto alongside usual ally Russia, was seen as a diplomatic achievement.







''You can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices,'' U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield told her Russian counterpart. ''You cannot veto the truth. You cannot veto our principles. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people.''







Brazil's Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, whose country's vote was initially in question but turned into a yes, said his government was ''gravely concerned'' about Russia's military action. ''A line has been crossed, and this council cannot remain silent,'' he said.







At least 198 Ukrainians killed, 1,115 people wounded in Russian invasion Ukraine's president refuses to flee, urges citizens to 'stand firm' Ukraine's capital under threat as Russia presses invasion In response, Russian U.N. Ambassador reiterated his country's claims that it is standing up for people in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the government for eight years. He accused the West of ignoring Ukrainian abuses there.



''You have made Ukraine a pawn in your geopolitical game, with no concern whatsoever about the interests of the Ukrainian people,'' he said, calling the failed resolution ''nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard.''



China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said all efforts must be made for a diplomatic solution and stressed that a response from the Security Council ''should be taken with great caution rather than adding fuel to fire.'' He warned that Western sanctions ''may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution'' and echoed Russian claims that it has been threatened by NATO's expansion over the years.



''Russia's legitimate security aspirations should be given attention and addressed properly,'' Zhang said, and ''Ukraine should become a bridge between east and west, not an outpost for confrontation among major powers.''



Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward called Russia's claim that it was acting in self-defense ''absurd.''



''Russia's only act of self-defense is the vote they have cast against this resolution today,'' she said.



The resolution's supporters had agreed to weaken the text to get additional support. They eliminated putting the resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced militarily, and a determination ''that the situation in Ukraine constitutes a breach of international peace and security, and that the Russian Federation has committed acts of aggression against Ukraine.'' They also changed ''condemns'' to ''deplores'' in sections about Russia's actions.



In the draft that was put to a vote, the council would have deplored Russia's ''aggression'' against Ukraine ''in the strongest terms'' and demanded an immediate halt to its use of force and the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.



It would have deplored Russia's Feb. 21 decision declaring areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions independent and would have ordered Russia to ''immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision.'' And it would have reaffirmed the council's commitment ''to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.



In a show of support before the meeting, representatives of the 27 nations belonging to the European Union stood outside the Security Council chamber behind Ukraine's blue and yellow flag with Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya.




Short-distance rural tourism grew more popular in Chinas capital during this years Labor Day holiday amid curbs on travel to control the pandemic. Bookings for hotels and homestays outside urban areas started earlier than usual for this years five-day national holiday, with volumes climbing since April 10. Despite Covid control measures, most scenic spots in suburban areas remain open, though visitors are required to present negative Covid-19 test results to enter

May 04, 2022 03:50 PM
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson listens to President Joe Biden as he announces her as his nominee for a Supreme Court justice in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, Feb. 25. AFP-Yonhap





President Joe Biden's selection of Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman U.S. Supreme Court nominee Friday immediately thrusts the federal appeals court judge into the center of America's debate over race.







Of the 115 people who have ever served on America's top judicial body, all but three have been white, only two have been Black and both of those were men. Biden and many leading fellow Democrats have sought to make the case that naming a Black woman is long overdue, but some leading Republicans have accused him of discrimination for refusing to consider any men or any non-Black women for the job.







"If you're a white guy, tough luck. If you're a white woman, tough luck. You don't qualify," said Senator Ted Cruz, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that is set to hold confirmation hearings for Jackson. Fellow Republican Senator Roger Wicker called Biden's promise to nominate a Black woman "affirmative racial discrimination."







During a White House appearance on Friday with Jackson, Biden noted that her parents grew up in the era of segregation "but never gave up hope that their children would enjoy the true promise of America." Biden called Jackson "extremely qualified" and also cited the need for "a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation."







Biden chose Jackson over two other leading candidates: Leondra Kruger, who serves on the California Supreme Court; and Michelle Childs, a South Carolina-based federal judge.







Race has been a divisive issue for America since its founding, including the past enslavement of and legal discrimination against Black people. Divisions have persisted.







In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in October, about six in 10 Republican respondents said they agreed with a statement that white people were under attack in America. One in six Democrats agreed. About half of Republicans said U.S. minorities were treated fairly, compared to one in five Democrats.







Naming a Black woman to the court is a sign that America is making progress in addressing racism, said Fatima Goss Graves, chief executive of the National Women's Law Center.







"When the court starts its session next year, a Black woman will be seated for the first time," Graves said. "Her presence will remind this country of the progress that is possible and will begin the job of shattering stereotypes that constrict Black women in leadership at all levels."







The percentage of America's population that is white is continuing to decline, according to U.S. census figures. Counting everyone living in the United States, the population is 61.6% white, 18.7% Hispanic and 12.4% Black, with smaller percentages for other minority groups.







Debates over race have spilled over into the Supreme Court itself, with conservative justices expressing skepticism about policies to remedy past racial discrimination.







Race will loom large over the Supreme Court's next term, which begins in October. If confirmed by the Senate, Jackson would replace retiring liberal Justice Stephen Breyer and would participate in cases in which race is front and center. The current court, which has a 6-3 conservative minority, includes one Black justice, conservative Clarence Thomas.







One major case could end affirmative action policies used by colleges and universities in their admissions processes to increase their enrollment of Black and Hispanic students to achieve campus diversity.







The justices will also decide Alabama's defense of a Republican-backed map of U.S. House of Representatives districts that a lower court found was drawn to minimize the clout of Black voters in the state. The eventual ruling could further weaken the landmark Voting Rights Act, enacted in 1965 during the tumult of the U.S. civil rights movement to protect minority voting rights that had been violently suppressed for years, especially in southern states like Alabama.







Biden's nominee has to be confirmed by the Senate, which is divided 50-50 between the two parties, by a simple majority vote. Democrats control the chamber because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote.







Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks after President Joe Biden announced her as his nominee to the Supreme Court in the Cross Hall of the White House, Feb. 25, in Washington. AP-Yonhap









For some Americans, the nomination carries profound meaning.







Kimberly Peeler-Allen, co-founder of Higher Heights for America, a group that promotes Black women in leadership, compared it to the appointment of Thurgood Marshall in 1967 as the first Black justice. Thomas was the second.







"To see someone like you ... is an inspiration for millions of others," Peeler-Allen said.







Democratic U.S. congressman Jim Clyburn, who was instrumental in 2020 in convincing Biden to commit to naming a Black woman to the court, emphasized the message such an appointment would make. It would tell every child growing up in modest circumstances "you've got just as much of a chance to benefit from the greatness of this country as everybody else," Clyburn told the CBS program "Face the Nation."







"That's the kind of conversation I had with candidate Biden way back when he was running for president," Clyburn added.







Harris, who serves as the first Black U.S. vice president after Biden picked her as his 2020 running mate, emphasized the importance of the court reflecting all viewpoints when rendering decisions.







"The idea that there would be a Black woman on the court is about ensuring that this court makes decisions in a way that reflect the experiences of all Americans," Harris told Telemundo.







Conversely, James Ho, a Republican-appointed judge serving on a New Orleans-based federal appeals court, gave a speech on Feb. 15 defending a legal scholar who had suggested in a Twitter post that Biden's Supreme Court nominee would be a "lesser Black woman."







Ho criticized the use of racial preferences in hiring, student admissions and judicial appointments, adding that the "first step in fighting racial discrimination is to stop practicing it."







Such reactions to Biden's pledge reflect growing differences between Democrats and Republicans on questions of civil rights, according to John Sides, an expert in U.S. politics and public opinion at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.







"Attacks on Biden's plan are consistent with a political landscape in which Democrats believe in taking affirmative steps to remedy racial inequality while Republicans see those steps as illegitimate," Sides said.







Racial tensions have simmered in the United States in recent years particularly in light of incidents such as the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer and Donald Trump's 2017-2021 presidency when critics accused him of pursuing policies built around "white grievance."







Debates have flared around the country over initiatives to increase workplace racial diversity, racial sensitivity training and the teaching of U.S. history and race relations in public schools. Some parent groups and Republican legislators have accused public school boards of teaching "critical race theory," an academic framework primarily used in law schools to analyze racism in U.S. law and institutions.







With the Senate confirmation process looming, attacks on Biden's nominee may carry risks for Republicans.







"Anybody we are talking about is likely to be qualified  and Republicans would understand that attacking in personal ways wouldn't be good for the party and wouldn't be helpful," said Gregg Nunziata, a former Republican Judiciary Committee staffer.







Nunziata noted that some Republicans already have used "unfortunate phrasing that has reflected badly on them." (Reuters)


Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks after President Joe Biden announced Jackson as his nominee to the Supreme Court in the Cross Hall of the White House, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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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Ben Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet are directing Chickenhare from a script by David Collard (Family Guy). The concept is based on a short-live graphic novel series by Chris Grine that was originally published by Dark Horse in the 2000s.

Sony Pictures Animation initially attempted to develop the property around 2011, but the film never made it out of development. Stassen told Screen Daily that he uncovered the idea in Sonys archives: We stumbled on a script that [Sony] had. Studios develop a lot of films. Some end up being great later on but are not produced at the studio itself. We read it, we loved it and we asked Sony  who had put it on hold  if we could take over. They said yes.

The film will launch in a number of European countries, as well as South Africa, later this year. No U.S. distributor is set.
Photo: Nicholas Johansen Kaslo Jazz Festival in 2019.

After two years of cancellations due to the global pandemic, one of B.C.'s longest-running music festivals is scheduled to return in July.

On Thursday, Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival took to social media to announce the festival's return to Kaslo Bay Park from July 29-31.

The iconic floating stage will once again be parked in Kaslo Bay over the August long weekend, the festival posted online. There is something for everyone with a wide variety of music, vendors, kids activities, workshops, and much more!"

The festival, which has run annually since 1992, was cancelled in 2020 and again in 2021, due to B.C.'s event restrictions that were in place to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Those event restrictions were lifted earlier this month, although at this time, event attendees in B.C. are required to show proof of vaccination.

Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival is unique in that the main stage floats on Kootenay Lake in Kaslo Bay, and attendees can listen to tunes while swimming around the stage, lounging in floaties, or anchored in boats in the bay.

With a permanent population of about 1,000 people, Kalso balloons in numbers for the one weekend.

In 2013, Reuters called Kaslo one of the Top 10 places in the world to see outdoor music, while USA Today gave the festival similar accolades in 2007.

No artists have been announced for this summer's event, but an initial lineup announcement is scheduled or 10 a.m. on March 3. Tickets, priced at $285 for the weekend, also go on sale March 3, while kids 7 and under can get in free.

In December, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues announced it would also be returning this summer after two years away. Founded in 1991, Roots and Blues is also one of B.C.'s longest-running festivals.
Photo: Twitter Russians protest the invasion of Ukraine in St. Petersburg Thursday.

As Russian troops were closing in on the Ukrainian capital, more and more Russians spoke out Saturday against the invasion, even as the government's official rhetoric grew increasingly harsher.

Street protests, albeit small, resumed in the Russian capital of Moscow, the second-largest city of St. Petersburg and other Russian cities for the third straight day, with people taking to the streets despite mass detentions on Thursday and Friday. According to OVD-Info, rights group that tracks political arrests, at least 460 people in 34 cities were detained over anti-war protests on Saturday, including over 200 in Moscow.

Open letters condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine kept pouring, too. More than 6,000 medical workers put their names under one on Saturday; over 3,400 architects and engineers endorsed another while 500 teachers signed a third one. Similar letters by journalists, municipal council members, cultural figures and other professional groups have been making the rounds since Thursday.

A prominent contemporary art museum in Moscow called Garage announced Saturday it was halting its work on exhibitions and postponing them until the human and political tragedy that is unfolding in Ukraine has ceased."

We cannot support the illusion of normality when such events are taking place, the statement by the museum read. We see ourselves as part of a wider world that is not divided by war.

An online petition to stop the attack on Ukraine, launched shortly after it started on Thursday morning, garnered over 780,000 signatures by Saturday evening, making it one of the most supported online petitions in Russia in recent years.

Statements decrying the invasion even came from some parliament members, who earlier this week voted to recognize the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that preceded the Russian assault. Two lawmakers from the Communist Party, which usually toes the Kremlin's line, spoke out against the hostilities on social media.

Oleg Smolin said he was shocked when the attack started and was convinced that military force should be used in politics only as a last resort. His fellow lawmaker Mikhail Matveyev said the war must be immediately stopped and that he voted for Russia becoming a shield against the bombing of Donbas, not for the bombing of Kyiv.

Russian authorities, meanwhile, took a harsher stance towards those denouncing the invasion, both at home and abroad.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said Moscow may respond to Western sanctions by opting out of the last nuclear arms deal with the U.S., cutting diplomatic ties with Western nations and freezing their assets.

He also warned that Moscow could restore the death penalty after Russia was removed from Europe's top rights group  a chilling statement that shocked human rights activists in a country that has had a moratorium on capital punishment since August 1996.

Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Kremlin human rights council, deplored it as a catastrophe and a return to the Middle Ages.

The Western sanctions imposed new tight restrictions on Russian financial operations, a draconian ban on technology exports to Russia and froze the assets of Putin and his foreign minister. Russian membership in the Council of Europe was also suspended.

Washington and its allies say even tougher sanctions are possible, including kicking Russia out of SWIFT, the dominant system for global financial transactions.

Medvedev was a placeholder president in 2008-2012 when Putin had to shift into the prime ministers seat because of term limits. He then let Putin reclaim the presidency and served as his prime minister for eight years.

During his tenure as president, Medvedev was widely seen as more liberal compared with Putin, but on Saturday he made a series of threats that even the most hawkish Kremlin figures haven't mentioned to date.

Medvedev noted that the sanctions offer the Kremlin a pretext to completely review its ties with the West, suggesting that Russia could opt out of the New START nuclear arms control treaty that limits the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals.

The treaty, which Medvedev signed in 2010 with then-U.S. President Barack Obama, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. The pact, the last remaining U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control agreement, had been set to expire in February 2021 but Moscow and Washington extended it for another five years.

If Russia opts out of the agreement now, it will remove any checks on U.S. and Russian nuclear forces and raise new threats to global security.

Medvedev also raised the prospect of cutting diplomatic ties with Western countries, charging that there is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations. Referring to Western threats to freeze the assets of Russian companies and individuals, Medvedev warned that Moscow wouldn't hesitate to do the same.

Cracking down on critics at home, Russian authorities demanded that top independent news outlets take down stories about the fighting in Ukraine that deviated from the official government line.

Russias state communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, charged that reports about "Russian armed forces firing at Ukrainian cities and the death of civilians in Ukraine as a result of the actions of the Russian army, as well as materials in which the ongoing operation is called an attack, an invasion, or a declaration of war were untrue and demanded that the outlets take them down or face steep fines and restrictions.

On Friday, the watchdog also announced partial restrictions on access to Facebook in response to the platform limiting the accounts of several Kremlin-backed media.

On Saturday, Russian internet users reported problems with accessing Facebook and Twitter, both of which have played a major role in amplifying dissent in Russia in recent years.
Welcome to CDE Today, a weekly publication from CDE Communications designed to provide you with clear, consistent updates on what is important to California schools.

Updates

Budget Season

Its budget season at the State Capitol and the California Department of Education (CDE) has taken part in multiple budget hearings this month. The Senate and Assembly are set to wrap up education budget hearings in the coming weeks. The CDE is eager to share resources and support communication with and among our many interest-holders as we prepare for the May Revise.

CDE Celebrates February as Black History Month

Each year, the CDE celebrates Black History Month in February with displays, messaging, and activities designed to reflect a theme for the year. This years theme was Health and Wellness of Black Students and Families. Efforts included webinars centered around Alzheimers Disease, mobility, and limb care advice, mental health, and Did You Know profiles and stories of celebrated Black figures. You can view the Black History Month webinars on the CDE Facebook page .

School Health, Safety & Support

K12 Universal Indoor Mask Requirement Update on Monday

California's indoor mask requirement in K12 schools remains in place. The California Health & Human Services Agency has announced that there will be an update provided on Monday, February 28, regarding future change to this requirement based on an assessment of key COVID-19 data and conditions (e.g., case rate, test positivity, hospitalizations, pediatric hospitalizations, and vaccine rates).

Vaccination Clinics Available

Local Health Jurisdictions, school districts, and individual schools all play a significant role in the collective effort to keep students healthy and in school. The California Department of Public Health continues to build resources to support school-located vaccine events for COVID-19 vaccine, seasonal influenza vaccine, and other routine immunizations. Request a pop-up mobile vaccination clinic .

Program Highlights

Guidance for the California PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program

The Early Education Division at the CDE is pleased to announce the release of guidance to help introduce local educational agency (LEA) leaders to Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) and early education concepts, research, resources, programs, partnership opportunities, and policies. The CDE has developed Guidance for the California PreKindergarten Planning and Implementation Grant Program, which is meant to support LEAs in the development of their Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) Plan for consideration by the LEAs governing board or body at a public meeting on or before June 30, 2022 (EC Section 8281.5). CDE plans to circulate further guidance later this spring that will help support UPK planning and implementation. See Volume 1 of the Universal PreKindergarten Guidance.

Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Program  Office Hours

The California AfterSchool Network (CAN) in partnership with the CDE Expanded Learning Division (EXLD), and the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence (CCEE), will co-host ELO-P Office Hours!

Every Friday, 121:30 p.m.

The first 30 minutes of the office hours will include an ELO-P 101 presentation

The remaining hour will be a time for Q&A and discussion.

Register for February through April office hours on Zoom . Please note you will need to register for each office hours session separately, and meetings are capped to keep the space small enough for generative discussion. Please consider only registering for one or two sessions that work best for your schedule and canceling your registration if you can no longer attend.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Trainings

The CDE is offering virtual YMHFA Trainings, at no cost to LEAs, schools, and community organizations. The training teaches youth-serving adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth, ages 6-18. The training is made available with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Blue Shield of Californias Blue-Sky Initiative. For additional information, visit Project Cal-Well Youth Mental Health First Aid Training. To schedule a MHFA training, please send an email to YMHFA@cde.ca.gov.

LivingWorks Start Online Suicide Prevention Training

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)s 2019 Vital Signs report, suicide deaths have been rising in nearly every state. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24. For every youth who dies by suicide, an estimated 100-200 youth make suicide attempts. Research shows that suicide is preventable and California is taking action. You can help by learning the signs of suicidal ideation and knowing what to do by taking the LivingWorks Start Training . The 90-minute, interactive training is FREE to middle (13+) and high school staff and students in California and is funded by Assembly Bill 1808. Please contact Monica Nepomuceno by email at mnepomuceno@cde.ca.gov for any questions or clarification.

Angst Building Resilience Statewide Initiative

The Angst: Building Resilience program is available to all California public and charter, middle and high schools through June 30, 2022. The 75-minute program includes a 43-minute film that highlights the prevalence of anxiety among our children and youth, discussion guides, classroom activities, and homework assignments to foster discussion with parents/caregivers. The hopeful and inspiring film, offered in English and Spanish, weaves in personal teen stories with expert perspectives to share the science, reduce the stigma, and provide resiliency skills. If you are interested in showing the film in your school or district, there are office hours available, every Wednesday from 3:304:30 p.m. to connect with the executive producer to discuss best practices for implementation. Join the Wednesday Zoom call . Read the CDE news release on the Angst: Building Resilience program and find more information including on how to host on-demand Angst Screenings for California parents at Angst Building Resilience Initiative .

A Trusted Space: Film-based Program for Adults Serving Students

A Trusted Space: Redirecting Grief to Growth," a film-based program to help educators feel seen, heard, and validated as they continue to navigate the increasing challenges shaped by the pandemic. Created by the nonprofit All It Takes, the program provides educators and school staff across the state with strategies to build safe and trusted spaces and expand their relationships with K12 students so healing and learning can happen naturally for ALL students they serve. The film, accompanying research-based SEL curriculum and 20-minute professional development, provides a practical, empathetic, and scientific understanding of how trauma impacts behavior and learning, and how to manage it within any classroom setting. Please see the CDE news release on A Trusted Space or visit the A Trusted Space website for more information.

Events and Opportunities

WEBINARS

California Arts Education Framework LaunchMarch 1

The CDE encourages local education agencies and other educational partners to annually recognize March as Arts Education Month. One activity to consider to kick off Arts Education Month is to register for the virtual launch of the 2022 California Arts Education Framework . Sponsored by the CCSESA Statewide Arts Initiative, CISC Arts Subcommittee, The California Arts Project, and the CDE, this live virtual event will be held via Zoom on March 1, 2022, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Leaders from across California are working on the design and implementation of this virtual preview of the Arts Education Framework. Additional resources for administrators and teachers are in development.

Student Behavioral Health Incentive ProgramMarch 3

The CDE and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) invite all education partners to learn about the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP), which aims to increase coordination among Managed Care Plans, LEAs, and county mental health plans to significantly improve the delivery of services to California students and ultimately benefit all delivery systems. The DHCS is distributing incentive payments over three years (January 2022 to December 2024) to Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans (MCPs) that meet predefined goals and metrics. Join us on March 3, 2022, from 2 to 3 p.m. as we learn about SBHIP, including the roles and responsibilities of SBHIP partners, the required Needs Assessment, and how this will benefit K12 students in your county. Register for the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program webinar via Zoom .

Thriving Schools: An Integrated Approach to School HealthMarch 3

Join us on March 3, 2022, from 3 to 4 p.m. for a webinar that will provide an overview of the Thriving Schools Initiative with a focus on the tools and resources that are available at no cost to any school or district in the country. Presented by Kaiser Permanente, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and the CDE, all school and district staff are welcome to join. Register for the Thriving Schools: An Integrated Approach to School Health webinar via Zoom .

Advancing School-Based Mental Health in California SchoolsMarch 8

Come join the California Center for School Climate , a CDE initiative operated by WestEd, during the upcoming Peer Learning Exchange on March 8, 2022, from 1 to 2 p.m. to engage in discussions with other educator leaders and student support providers on advancing school-based mental health in schools. The Childrens Partnership will provide an overview of key components of school-based mental health models, and present data to demonstrate that whole-child approaches to student success are integral to the achievement of students in California, especially students from marginalized communities. Register for the California Center for School Climate Peer Learning Exchange via Zoom . For more information, contact Hilva Chan, Education Programs Consultant at hchan@cde.ca.gov.

Mind Out Loud Virtual Event for Middle and High School StudentsMarch 12

The CDE is pleased to partner with Wellness Together School Mental Health and the San Diego County Office of Education to co-sponsor the 2nd Annual Mind Out Loud (MOL) Virtual Student Mental Health Event. We invite you and your middle and high school students to participate in this free event on Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will encourage middle and high school students from across California, the U.S., and around the world to hear from each other about mental health and wellness, gain practical tools and resources to advocate for their peers on campus, and to expose them to MOL's Four Pillars of Mental Health: Personal Wellness, Suicide Prevention, Support for Marginalized Communities, Awareness and Advocacy. For more information on involving your middle and high school students in the MOL 2022 event and the ongoing MOL Student Rep Program, please visit the MOL website . For more information, contact Monica Nepomuceno, Interim Education Administrator, at mnepomuceno@cde.ca.gov.

Spring Early Literacy Virtual Professional Learning Network (PLN)March 30

The PLN is sponsored by the CDE in collaboration with the California Collaborative for Excellence in Education through the Expert Lead in Literacy grant. Join Sacramento County Office of Education, district, and site colleagues, as well as collaborators interested in literacy, on March 30, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as we learn about evidence-based practices in early literacy, grades TK-3.

Dr. Carol Tolman will kick off our event with a keynote address on the topic of Scarborough's Rope: Language Comprehension. In breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of reading instruction for English learners, whole-child design, and inclusive practices in literacy. There will be an optional opportunity from 12:40 p.m. to 1 p.m. to connect with colleagues from your region to discuss implications for your work. This event is free of charge. Register for the Early Literacy Virtual Professional Learning Network .

OPPORTUNITIES

CA STEAM Symposium Call for Proposals

The California STEAM Symposium is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and those interested in presenting can apply today to submit a proposal for the STEAM Symposium . This year's symposium theme is Advance Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in STEAM: Access, Awareness, Opportunities, & Outcomes. Throughout the event, we will come together to explore high-quality strategies to cultivate systems that promote life-long learning for everyone through inclusive and targeted practices, high-impact techniques, and policies, whether from a classroom or organizational point of view. These approaches promote a sense of belonging and ignite student passion for learning as well as support the social-emotional development of our education community. The deadline for submissions is March 25, 2022, and primary presenters will be notified by mid-May whether their presentations have been accepted. Multiple submissions and co-presenters are encouraged.

2022 Classified School Employees of the Year Applications Open

Applications for the 2022 Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) Program are now open. Presented by the CDE, the California School Employees Association, and California Casualty, the CSEY Program highlights contributions of classified school employees who support the education of Californias more than six million public school students. The program identifies and honors exemplary classified school employees throughout California in the following nine occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades. Deadline for applications is Friday, April 8, 2022. The 2022 CSEY application and more information is available on the CDE CSEY web page.

Celebrations

CDE Emergency Services Team Honored with Education Champion Award

Congratulations to CDEs Jake Wolf and Joe Anderson from the Emergency Services Team who were honored on February 24 by the California Association of School Business Officials with the 2022 Education Champion Award! The award recognizes outstanding leaders in education who have dedicated their careers to the enhancement of public education through innovative and collaborative efforts. Wolf and Anderson were recognized for their outstanding efforts to help education leaders communicate with state and federal agencies during the height of wildfire season and for facilitating the delivery of PPE equipment to schools as they began to re-open.

Important Dates and Deadlines

National School Breakfast Week

The CDE encourages all California schools to participate in National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) taking place March 711, 2022. This years theme is Take Off with School Breakfast. NSBW is an excellent time to celebrate how your schools breakfast program supports a successful launch into learning.

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The CDE is committed to improving communications with more than 1,000 school districts and county offices and 10,000-plus schools. If you have any feedback about this publication or would like to see information on particular topics, please email communications@cde.ca.gov.

Last Reviewed: Thursday, March 10, 2022
Caring DAM Hearts, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist and provide hope to homeless people, veterans and less fortunate individuals in the Lehigh Valley region, on Feb. 7 held a soft opening of its new Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More shop at 7935 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

St. Valentines Day may have just passed, but a new Slatington-area store is spreading the love year-round.

Caring DAM Hearts, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist and provide hope to homeless people, veterans and less fortunate individuals in the Lehigh Valley region, on Feb. 7 held a soft opening of its new Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More shop at 7935 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County (in front of Hucksters Discount Groceries).

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Caring DAM Hearts, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist and provide hope to homeless people, veterans and less fortunate individuals in the Lehigh Valley region, on Feb. 7 held a soft opening of its new Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More shop at 7935 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County. Pictured is Caring DAM Hearts founder, CEO and President Denise "Neice Eie" Martinez, left, and Slatington store manager Lori Aikens. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

The store is open to the public with the unique feature that everything available is free to anyone in need.

Here, every day is Valentines Day, said Denise Neice Eie Martinez, founder, CEO and president of Caring DAM Hearts. We love spreading love.

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Martinez, who lives close to the store in Washington Township, established the nonprofit in 2016 after undergoing surgery for a heart condition, supraventricular tachycardia.

A corporate baker for 29 years, she was told by a doctor that work-related stress was most likely the cause of her heart issues, and she should seek other employment.

Caring DAM Hearts, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist and provide hope to homeless people, veterans and less fortunate individuals in the Lehigh Valley region, on Feb. 7 held a soft opening of its new Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More shop at 7935 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County. The store offers clothing, accessories, household items, personal hygiene products and more for free to anyone in need. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

Facing a crossroads, Martinez hit a low point, but eventually struck up a friendship with a homeless woman, who provided inspiration for her next professional endeavor.

I was living under a rock and didnt realize there were so many homeless people in the area, Martinez said. One day, she took me with her to the woods under the Eighth Street Bridge [in Allentown] where she was living, and thats how I met all of these wonderful people, who I now call my friends. It was at that moment that I decided I was just going to start collecting clothes for them.

Martinez ran Caring DAM Hearts  DAM is her initials  out of her garage and other temporary locations before opening the first location of Caring Hearts Clothing Closet in 2020 at 1341 W. Linden St. in Allentown.

The organization raises money through grant writing and fundraisers throughout the year, and it also partners with a different small business monthly that donates a portion of its proceeds to the nonprofit.

Caring DAM Hearts, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist and provide hope to homeless people, veterans and less fortunate individuals in the Lehigh Valley region, on Feb. 7 held a soft opening of its new Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More shop at 7935 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County. The shop offers clothing, accessories, household items, personal hygiene products and more for free to anyone in need. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

In Washington Township, individuals can shop mens, womens, childrens and infants clothing, including coats, jeans, sweaters and T-shirts, along with shoes and accessories such as belts, hats, handbags and jewelry.

The store features a Dress for Success area, with suits and other business attire for individuals preparing for new jobs, along with gently-used books, toys and household items such as bedding and towels. Because food stamps dont cover hygiene products, the shop also offers free soap, toothpaste, deodorant and other personal care items.

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I wanted to give people a different experience, where they feel welcome and respected in a clean and inviting space, Martinez said.

Caring DAM Hearts, which accepts donations of items in good condition (by appointment only), also features an outdoor clothesline where clothing and accessories hang in sealed plastic bags, free to anyone in need at all hours of the day.

Caring DAM Hearts, a nonprofit organization that aims to assist and provide hope to homeless people, veterans and less fortunate individuals in the Lehigh Valley region, on Feb. 7 held a soft opening of its new Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More shop at 7935 Route 873 in Washington Township, Lehigh County. The store features a Dress for Success area, with suits and other business attire for individuals preparing for new job. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

Its an extension of the Project Warm & Cozy initiative that Martinez launched five years ago in Slatington. From early December through mid-January, she and community members hang gloves, scarves and winter hats on fences and clotheslines near the Slatington Trailhead of the D&L Trail and at the Springside Sportsmen Clubs fish hatchery.

Caring Hearts Clothing Closet & More, open 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, also will soon launch a bariatric clothing swap program in coordination with local hospitals. Individuals who recently underwent bariatric surgery will be able to exchange their clothing for smaller sizes throughout their weight-loss journey. Info: 484-240-9774; caringdamhearts.org.

Downtown Easton news

In recent weeks, Ive reported on three new businesses popping up in downtown Easton: Easton Candle Co., offering locally made, all-natural soy wax candles, which held a grand opening Feb. 12 at 117 N. Third St.; Trifecta Kennels, offering dog boarding, grooming, daycare and training programs, which is expected to open in the coming weeks at 403 Northampton St.; and FD Market, a sustainable goods shop and zero-waste refillery, which is planning to open its second area location in late March or early April at 158 Northampton St.

Now, I have a trio of other Easton additions to share:

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First, Isasuma, which opened Feb. 3 on the second floor of 228 Northampton St. (above Easton Outdoor Company), offers handbags, shoes and other items that are woven, crocheted and stitched by hand by indigenous communities in Latin America.

Isasuma, which opened Feb. 3 on the second floor of 228 Northampton St. in downtown Easton, offers handbags, shoes and other items that are woven, crocheted and stitched by hand by indigenous communities in Latin America. (RYAN KNELLER / The Morning Call)

Most items are ethically sourced from artisans in Colombia, with a portion of sales benefiting the supply of clean drinking water to the countrys Wayuu community, according to Andrea Rincon, the business creative director and sales manager.

Isasuma was founded about 10 years ago by Rincons friend, Manuel Fresneda, who also operates Eastons Terra Cafe and Colombian restaurant Tierra de Fuego. It started out with sales at local festivals before expanding to an online store offering shipping worldwide.

The Easton shop is the business first brick-and-mortar location.

Isasuma, whose name was derived from the first two letters of Fresnedas family members, also offers handmade hats, jewelry, scarves, coin purses, wallets, hammocks, placemats, multi-purpose straps and yoga mat carriers. Info: 610-463-0011; isasuma.com.

Second, Lifestyle Barber Academy, offering barber license, crossover and instructor programs, is expected to open in mid- to late-March at 353 Northampton St. (next to HOZA African Restaurant), owner Fernando Cardenas Jr. said.

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Lifestyle Barber Academy, offering barber license, crossover and instructor programs, is expected to open in mid- to late-March at 353 Northampton St. in downtown Easton. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

Individuals will have the opportunity to become a licensed barber in less than a year (programs range from 7-12 months), learning traditional barbering, modern hairstyles, etiquette, management and more from trained professionals.

Cardenas, of Easton, is a master barber with 10 years of industry experience.

He also operates Lifestyle Barbershops at 1709 Butler St. in Wilson (opened in 2016) and 342 Main St. in Emmaus (opened in 2019). Info: lifestylebarbershop.com.

Third, Trading Post Depot, offering hand-crafted wooden furniture, is expected to open in March at 401 Northampton St. (former Gallery on Fourth space), according to the Greater Easton Development Partnership.

The business has become known for one-of-a-kind, live-edge creations, including bars, islands, mantels, shelves and one of its most popular offerings, farmhouse-style tables, according to a pamphlet displayed in the storefront. Live-edge slabs are also available for your own projects. Info: instagram.com/tradingpostdepot.

Trading Post Depot, offering hand-crafted wooden furniture, is expected to open in March at 401 Northampton St. in downtown Easton. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call)

Foodie finds

Ill finish with a few new businesses serving up unique eats:

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First, as my colleague Jennifer Sheehan recently reported, a new pizza shop  thats completely vegan  will open sometime this spring 554 N. New St. in Bethlehem.

Paranormal Pizza, which specializes in an array of creative sourdough pizzas using a cashew-based cheese, will take over the spot formerly occupied by Milans Bistro, which recently closed.

While several pizza shops in the Lehigh Valley offer vegan pies, this will be the first all-vegan pizza shop in the Valley.

The business started out as The Local Plant Based Pizza Co., doing pop-up events at breweries around the Valley. Some of their options include barbecue chicken with garlic knots; half Hawaiian and half spicy Hawaiian with bacun; and plain and some gluten-free options. Info: facebook.com/Paranormal-Pizza-109526758084539.

Business Buzz Daily The daily update for the Lehigh Valley business person. >

Second, Indigo 52, a 100% gluten-free and 100% dairy-free full-service restaurant, held a grand opening Wednesday at 52 S. Main St. in Nazareth (former Mersin on Main space).

Breakfast and lunch highlights, served until 4 p.m., include avocado toasts, falafel wraps, seasonal salads (available with chicken, steak or egg) and breakfast creations such as a farmers frittata, chickpea omelet, Brussels sprout latkes and banana Macadamia pancakes.

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Dinner entrees, $16.95-$32.95, include ginger chicken, shepherds pie, stuffed peppers, sundried tomato pasta and vegan crab cakes, among others. Additional menu highlights include soups such as vegan chili and creamy mushroom and rice; and appetizers such as cauliflower wings and a sweet potato mini sampler.

We have a lot of vegan options, Indigo 52 owner Felicia Rocchino said. We also serve meat! My goal is to have delicious food that everyone can enjoy. From vegan stuffed French toast to grass-fed steak kabobs with a curry coconut drizzle, we are trying to service people with allergies and support local and sustainable businesses with our scratch-made food. Each dish has a lot of love put into it, and I think people have been feeling that. Info: indigo52.cafe.

Lastly, Port 2 Flavors, offering fast-causal dining for a diverse taste, will hold a grand opening March 1 at 425 Delaware Ave. in Portland, according to the business Facebook page.

Menu highlights include Mediterranean selections such as gyros, loaded pita chips and a Mediterranean bowl (turmeric basmati rice, hummus, lettuce, cucumber, onion, tomato, pickled turnip, olives and tzatziki sauce) and Mexican favorites such as chicken tostadas, grilled tacos, loaded nachos and Mexican bowl (rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, avocado mix, onion, corn, sour cream and queso blanco). Info: 570-897-0425; port2flavors.com.

Retail Watch, appearing every weekend, keeps track of retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Contact Ryan Kneller at 610-820-6597 or retailwatch@mcall.com.
Buena Vista, CO (81211)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High near 50F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low around 30F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Danville City leaders get ready to breathe new life into the old mill village; Danville leaders ready to weigh proposal to provide real estate tax help to elderly and disabled; Danville native taking his place in Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.




Tennessee American Water Engineering Manager Grady Stout has been awarded the General Robert Neyland Young Engineer of the Year. The Chattanooga Engineers Week (E-Week) award recognizes a young engineer in the Chattanooga community who has made outstanding contributions to his/her profession, public welfare and the community at large during the early portion of their career.Gradys commitment to excellence and his passion for providing clean, safe reliable water inspire those who work with him, whether it be through his leadership at Tennessee American Water or his involvement in making our community the best place to live, said Grant Evitts president of Tennessee American Water.We congratulate Grady on this well-deserved recognition.In his role as manager of engineering at Tennessee American Water, Mr. Stout oversees a capital budget of over $25 million and is responsible for leading a team of engineering professionals who manage the timely and efficient completion of projects to replace aging infrastructure for system reliability, to strengthen fire protection and maintain water quality. Mr. Stout has led Tennessee American Waters COVID-19 emergency response to assure the continuity of essential services to their customers.Mr. Stout is a past president of the Chattanooga Engineering Club and holds a Professional Engineering license. In 2021, Tennessee American Water served as the co-host utility for the KY/TN Section of the American Water Works Association annual meeting, which was held in Chattanooga. Mr. Stout was involved in recruiting co-workers for various roles in the volunteer-led gathering and he coordinated four technical presentations by members of his engineering team.Stout received the award during the E-Week awards banquet. The event was established in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers and is celebrated across the country by local clubs to raise public awareness about engineering and the contributions that engineers make to society.
Dispatch told an officer a white male had just stolen a silver Honda Civic and was headed north on Lee Highway. The officer searched the area for the car but he was unable to locate it. The officer then responded to the scene of the crime and spoke with a man and woman. The man is the owner of the vehicle and the woman witnessed the man take it. They gave the officer the vehicle information. They said the driver's windshield was cracked, a Bart Simpson sticker was located on the windshield, and stars were on the front bumper. The vehicle had never been registered to the man and had a green temp tag on it. The man also said the tag for the car was inside the glove box. The officer entered all this info into NCIC. The woman said she believed the suspect was a homeless man who frequents the area and has a distinctive limp.

* * *

An officer was called to Wilkesview Drive to assist a man in retrieving his property. He said his ex-girlfriend was in possession of a vehicle that belonged to him. He was requesting an officer to talk to her to retrieve the keys. When the officer ran the registration, both the man and ex-girlfriend were equal owners of the vehicle. The officer told the man police could not make her give him the keys because she was an equal owner. The man left the scene.

* * *

A man on Sequoia Drive called police and said someone got into his vehicle during the night. He said there were no signs of forced entry and his wallet was taken.

* * *

A woman on Tunnel Boulevard told police she heard "Nadia" crying and yelling around the corner. The officer did not see anyone else in the area. The officer spoke with her son who said this is the third time she has called police because of stuff she is seeing and in reality they are not there. The son said they are fine and do not need police assistance.

* * *

A man called police and said he attempted to get gas at Mapco at 9101 Lee Hwy. After getting his card charged for $41.97, he attempted to pump the gas but it did not work. The man said he gave up after 30 minutes and requested a refund since he never got gas and was told by an employee they were unable to process a refund at the time. The man wanted this documented to dispute the charge with the bank.

* * *

A woman said she parked her car in the parking lot at 548 Cherokee Blvd. When she returned to her vehicle, she noticed some of her belongings that were supposed to be in the trunk of her vehicle were in the front passenger seat. She looked throughout her vehicle and noticed some things had been stolen. She is unsure how the suspects gained access. She was sure she locked her vehicle, furthermore, she said her car has a feature that automatically locks her doors if she has forgotten. There was no sign of forced entry into the vehicle. The officer looked for areas on her trunk to potentially lift fingerprints and was unsuccessful.

* * *

A woman on Cowart Street called police and said someone got into her vehicle and stole her purse with wallet and $1,000 worth of makeup she uses for work. She said there were no signs of forced entry.

* * *

Officers were dispatched to a disorder at Southside Social at 1818 Chestnut St. where a man had left the scene and was sitting in the passenger side of a Toyota Rav4. Police spoke with the man and the manager of Southside Social. The manager wanted the man to be trespassed from the property and to not drive home as he was intoxicated. Officers explained to the man he was not allowed back on the premises and then found his wife to drive him home safely.

* * *

An officer responded to an abandoned car on I-75 southbound. The white 2000 Cadillac was unoccupied with no registration plate on display and was parked on the right shoulder. The hazard lights were activated, however only half of the rear hazard lights were functioning. Upon further inspection of the car, the officer found that all the doors were left unlocked. Don Yates Towing arrived on scene and towed the vehicle to their lot at 2306-A East 23rd St.

* * *

An employee of Fulex at 2700 Riverside Dr. said her vehicle was damaged while she was at work. She said she found a big scratch on the drivers-side back quarter-panel. She believes it could have been from another vehicle but there is no proof at this time of how the damage was done or if it was intentional. She said there have been no estimates yet.

* * *

A man on Bonny Oaks Drive told police he went inside an apartment and when he came outside again his car was gone. He said he didn't report it stolen because he thought it got towed. No tow report is showing for the car. The vehicle has been entered into NCIC as stolen. Police will attempt to make contact with an agency that can allegedly track the vehicle.

* * *

A man at the Mapco at 201 Browns Ferry Road told police a truck they own, a 1988 KW cabover, was towed away from the gas station parking lot. He said the truck has not been registered yet and it is his son's truck. The man said there was a problem with the truck's engine and he had to park it at the gas station. He said he got permission from the gas station to park the truck and work on it. The man said they were about to buy a new engine and replace it. When he came back for the truck it wasnt there. The man said he went into the gas station and asked about the truck and they told him it was towed away and that it was recorded on the security camera. Police contacted the truck's owner and asked him if there was any repossession on the vehicle. He said there was no such thing and that the truck should not been towed by anyone. The owner said he wanted to report the truck stolen. He also said the keys were not in the truck at the time when it was towed. Police then spoke with the gas station staff to review the security camera footage, but the manager had left for the day and the footage couldnt be seen without the manager. Police collected the information for the truck and entered it into NCIC as stolen.
Dr. Henry Alan Benach, a Chattanooga broadcaster turned missionary who has made 75 trips to the Ukraine since the early 1990s, says nobody knows what Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to do because he has all the buttons. Dr. Benach prays Putin doesnt start World War III.



In an interview Saturday afternoon, Dr. Benach said he was recently going to Ukraine, got to Istanbul, Turkey but had to turn around and come home when there was no air service available. He said one missionary with him was able to continue hoping to take Bibles, Books and all types of supplies into the country. Dr.

Benach stressed as long as the war continues the Ukrainians are going to need the basics.Dr. Benachs translator introduced him to his wife Victoria. The translator is now a member of Dr. Benachs ministry team. Victorias family remains in Dnipro, Ukraine and for the time being shes able to talk and text them. Dnipro, the fourth largest city in Ukraine, is several hundred miles from Kiev. Mrs. Benach said she is very concerned for the safety of her family and many friends but is trusting God every day.Mrs. Benach said the Russians are surrounding Ukrainian cities but havent occupied any towns yet, but the situation gets uglier by the minute. She said Ukrainians are stocking up on supplies and some stores are running low, especially toilet paper. She said there are long lines at gas stations that have fuel but more and more are running out.Victoria said she and her sister have been texting a lot. Her sister and boyfriend left home a few days ago and really dont know where they are going, hopefully toward Poland. There are no hotel rooms but a friendly family provided them shelter and food. The rest of her family remains in Dnipro. Her brother is physically challenged and cant join the army. Her grandparents are blind and have to depend on others for help. Victoria wishes she was there to take care of her family. She intends on staying in touch with them as long as cell phone service is available.Dr. Benach said the Ukrainians are a determined people. He said they are buying up beer, emptying the bottles and using them to make Molotov cocktails.The Ukrainian railway company is trying to continue operating going toward Poland, Moldova and Hungary.Dr. Benach is staying in contact with his friends and fellow missionaries who say the people are giving blood, volunteering in the hospitals and treating their wounded soldiers; just amazing.Dr. Benach said when he was broadcasting in Chattanooga back in the 70s he never imagined hed be in mission work traveling back and forth to the Ukraine. He said its one of the greatest things to happen to him and he found out after several trips he was half Ukrainian.Dr. Benach said he conducted two nights of meetings in the Kiev sports coliseum used in the 1980 Olympics. There were 15,000 in attendance each night and everyone was given a Bible.

Ukraine has a population of about 44,000,000. He said there are some Baptists, Methodists and other denominations in the country but the major religion is the Orthodox Church. Dr. Benach is President of Jewish End Time Ministries.



The missionary said there are a lot of Ukrainians and Jewish people who live in Southeast Tennessee even a Ukraine market in Ooltewah. Dr. Benach said many Chattanoogans love and support the country and are asking Christians to pray it will somehow remain independent.



The Benachs are also praying that NATO countries will back the Ukrainians with weapons, bottled water and humanitarian supplies that are dwindling.



The missionary said, The situation in Ukraine is like David and Goliath. Dr. Benach said he loves the beautiful country and its people and is planning a trip back in April.

He said of the invasion, I couldnt believe what was happening after going in and out of the country for three decades.

While training for the ministry, Dr. Benach was a broadcast journalist for WDOD AM and FM in the 70s. His background is broadcasting.



Dr. Benach recently wrote, We have just arrived in Turkey. Obviously we will not be able to enter Ukraine. We will be working to get all the Gospel materials into Ukraine through some nationals. We are safe and I was just told that Victorias family is ok for now. Not sure what is next but we are seeking the Lord's wisdom. Thank you for praying. - at Istanbul Airport Dis Hatlar.

He said, The Gospel is still getting out in war-torn Ukraine. Of the four men that traveled there, only one man is still moving forward. Victoria and I have returned to the U.S., while Brother Ron Jackson will travel to Budapest to meet with another missionary to try to take the materials we brought with us. Meanwhile, another team member is in Ukraine and was able to give out some tracts to soldiers.



"Please pray for my wifes sister who has fled her city to go west. Her mother and brother are still at their house, safe for now. Victorias former pastor and his five children have also left but may not get out.



"After working in the Ukraine for over 30 years, I cannot believe what is happening. I am so proud of the peoples determination.






It is time for President Biden, our Congressional leaders and NATO to unite and stand up and do the right thing.

I realize Ukraine is not a NATO country, but it is a Democratic nation begging for our help as it bravely fights the Russian military alone.

Sanctions are good but assistance and a No Fly Zone need to be established now for Ukraine.

Biden and Congress, this is the time that you will be remembered as either cowards/blow hards or real leaders. Stop fighting each other for once and do the right thing.

NATO, this is the moment you were created for and the time to show your worth or it will be the beginning of the end for you.

The world is watching, especially China. Ukraine will never forget this moment. It will either be a memory of them being left alone to fight or either it will be one that they were rescued by the U.S.A. and NATO.

One more thing to mention. Trump needs to keep his mouth shut. If he were President our troops would be fighting alongside the Russians against Ukraine. Trump would give Putin the keys to Ukraine. It has been well established that, sickeningly, Trump worships Putin.



David Turner

Chattanooga

* * *

So let me get this straight, if Putin had invaded Ukraine while Trump was President, Trump would have sided with him and sent troops. Well if this is true, why didn't Pooty Poot invade while Trump was President? Geez.

Since Mr. Turner is so eager to send troops to Ukraine I would suggest he fly over and join the effort. Their heroic President is inviting volunteers from all over the world. Step forward, Mr. Turner.

Douglas Jones

Ooltewah
As the world condemns Russias invasion of Ukraine, politicians and consumers may be considering a boycott of Russian spirits, particularly vodka.

Such a backlash was seen in 2013, after Russia banned so-called gay propaganda.

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But true Russian brands are hard to find in Pennsylvania, which happens to be one of Americas largest purchasers of wine and spirits.

Gay rights activist Ann Northrop, a member of Queer Nation, participating in a demonstration in front of the Russian consulate in New York on July 31, 2013. Russia was protested for its campaign against gay-rights activism. (Associated Press)

Shawn Kelly, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), said two brands sold on shelves of the Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores  Russian Standard and Ustianochka, both 80-proof vodkas  are actually produced in Russia. Five special-order items, which he could not readily identify through the catalog, also are Russian.

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Russian Standard is owned by Roustam Tariko, a Russian oligarch. Ustianochkas website said the spirit is produced and bottled in Russia for Amruss Inc., an importer based in Beaver Falls.

All told, these Russian products represent a mere fraction of the PLCBs sales  less than $1.1 million (about 0.06%) out of more than $1.7 billion of total spirit sales over the last 52 weeks, Kelly said.

A Russian name does not a Russian vodka make.

Take Stoli. Though Stolichnaya is a historically Russian brand and is made at least partly from Russian wheat, almost all of the Stoli sold in the West is made in Latvia. (The former Soviet republic also happens to be a NATO member.) Its owned by a company in Luxembourg that is controlled by Yuri Shefler, a Russian-born billionaire who left Russia during a tiff with the Kremlin.

Kelly, of the PLCB, said the state abides by all applicable federal rules and regulations, including sanctions, if and when they are implemented. While we are unaware of any bans on Russian imports at this time, should such a ban become part of sanctions, we would no longer purchase Russian wines and spirits, he said in a statement.

He said the PLCB had no immediate plans to pull any product from shelves:

Fine Wine & Good Spirits remains committed to providing a wide range of products from around the world to suit numerous consumer tastes. Understanding there are also various points of view on todays political-economic climate, we believe that consumers and licensees should have the freedom  within the constraints of federally imposed sanctions  to make their own purchase decisions. As such, we have no immediate plans to pull any product from our shelves.

Kelly said he was unaware of regularly stocked items made in Ukraine.
1883 episode 10 marks the end of the first season of the Taylor Sheridan Yellowstone prequel. And episode 9 left fans with more questions than answers. After Elsa Dutton is struck with a filthy arrow through her stomach, James and Margaret Dutton quietly admit that they believe their daughter will die. Heres what actor Tim McGraw said about Jamess mental state during his travels, and his thoughts on Elsa.

[Spoiler alert: 1883 episode 9 spoilers ahead.]

How old is James Dutton in 1883? He leads his family across the Great Plains

Tim McGraw as James Dutton | Emerson Miller/Paramount+

James and Margaret Dutton begin their journey across the Great Plains from the South. They hope to find land to call their own in Oregon  and Shea and Thomas help lead the Duttons, as well as other immigrants, up North. Unfortunately, the road to Oregon hasnt been easy. Margaret lost her sister to suicide early in the trip, and right before 1883 episode 10, their daughter, Elsa Dutton, was shot with an arrow.

So, how old is James Dutton in 1883? Reddit users deduced hes likely around 44 years old. He fought for the Confederate Army in his 20s, which certainly colors how he looks at the world through his travels with his family.

I think James motivation was to get his family to an untainted part of the world, Tim McGraw said on The Official Yellowstone Podcast. Thats really what he wanted to do. And he was trying to outrun ghosts. He was trying to get past some of the ghosts in his life.

Does Elsa Dutton die? Tim McGraw says James Dutton doesnt have hope for his daughter

Isabel May as Elsa Dutton | Emerson Miller/Paramount+

The events leading up to 1883 episode 10 look dire for Elsa Dutton. Elsa was shot by a Native American tribe who thought her people killed their people. After speaking the language of her husband to them, she was spared. And Margaret Dutton assisted her in removing the arrow and cauterizing the wound. But when speaking privately to each other in episode 9, James Dutton expressed grave concern over Elsas condition due to the filthy state of the arrow.

Ahead of the 1883 finale, TVLine asked Tim McGraw whether James thinks Elsa will die.

I dont think he has any hope at all, McGraw told the publication with a laugh.

Theres no guarantee Elsa dies, though. While Isabel Mays character alluded to it right from the beginning of the show, more episodes of the prequel have been ordered, which means we could see more of Elsa when the show returns after episode 10. But, considering the Duttons in Yellowstone settle in Montana, this may allude James and Margaret Dutton never make it to Oregon.

The 1883 Season 2 cast may bring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill back

Tim McGraw as James Dutton and Faith Hill as Margaret Dutton | Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Little is known about 1883 Season 2, though Paramount+ plans to bring the Yellowstone prequel back for additional episodes. We anticipate 1883 episode 10 will show Elsa Duttons death, as her death has been foreshadowed since the very beginning. But it likely wont mark the end of the journey for James and Margaret Dutton.

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, the real-life married couple who play the characters, havent spoken about returning to the show. But they certainly adore working with creator Taylor Sheridan and bringing Sheridans vision to life. Another season of the show will likely bridge the gap between the end of 1883 and the beginning of Yellowstone. Additionally, fans believe the Duttons have another son, Spencer. More episodes could go through another pregnancy for Margaret.

1883 episode 10 airs Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, on Paramount+.

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RELATED: Sam Elliott Said Taylor Sheridans Part for Him in Yellowstone Didnt Speak to Him
90 Day Fiance star Cortney Reardanz has sure come a long way from her days on the hit TLC show. Recently, shes been spotted out and about with radio host Domenick Nati. And while Nati initially claimed that he was taking things slow with the reality star, he spoke to Showbiz Cheat Sheet  and also provided exclusive photos for our use  and it seems things are heating up between the pair. Could wedding bells be in the future?

90 Day Fiance star Cortney Reardanz | TLC/Discovery Press Room

The 90 Day Fiance star and the radio host were canoodling in Orlando

On Feb. 23, the 90 Day Fiance star and the radio host were spotted out and about in Orlando, Florida. A source close to the couple reported that the pair were canoodling on their date. They stopped by Roccos Tacos and Tequila Bar, where the pair dined al fresco as Nati chomped on a cigar.

The 90 Day Fiance star and the radio host ate al fresco at Roccos Tacos and Tequila Bar | Domenick Nati (used with permission)

Sources close to the couple also reported that Reardanz and Nati enjoyed the restaurants fine selection of tequilas and molcajetes.

Theyre clearly super-attracted to one another, a source close to the couple told Cheatsheet. But Cortney and Dominick are both beautiful on the inside, too! Its clear why they enjoy each other so much.

Nati hints at things going further

As Showbiz exclusively reported on Feb. 9, the 90 Day Fiance alum previously hinted at a potential engagement with Nati, a celebrity publicist whose content has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Good Morning America, and FOX News. But, at the time, Nati told us that he wanted to take things a little slower with the reality TV star.

Cortney and I have known each other for a while, he said to Showbiz exclusively. We have gone to the Dominican Republic and Cancun together. And, we just had a great time together in Orlando. Engagement is probably a ways off. For now, we are enjoying each others company without any pressure.

But these latest photos have prompted Nati to tell a different story. And while he wont confirm or deny whether hes ready to pop the question, hes clearly enjoying the time he spends with Reardanz.

Nati said that the 90 Day Fiance star has a sweet, nurturing side | Domenick Nati (used with permission)

It was another great night with Cortney, he said to Showbiz exclusively. I appreciate her more every time I see her. She has a sweet nurturing side to her that TV viewers never got to see. I cant wait to see her again.

Cortney has moved on from the show

While Nati wont confirm or deny whether well be hearing wedding bells from him and Reardanz in the near future, its clear the 90 Day Fiance star is ready to leave her old life  and loves  behind. Before she and Nati became more than friends, she went on his radio show in May 2020 and explained how many scenarios on the show were manipulated.

You film for like 13 hours a day. So when you keep doing repetitive things or you keep having the same conversation with a person all day when youre like, Oh, you know, you really irritated me today. I cant believe you did this. And you have to keep discussing a certain topic, I think it becomes like almost brainwashing where you start to feel irritated with this person, she said.

RELATED: 90 Day Fiance Star Memphis Sandoval Blasts Show, Says Its Devils Work
Singing superstar, Reba McEntire, has inarguably earned her place as a country music icon. But she gives a lot of credit to her influences, like legend, Patsy Cline, for helping to create a space for her in the first place.

Though Clines career was cut short by a plane crash, her strong voice etched a formidable position in country music history. She also led the way for other female artists to show their talent in the genre. And though McEntire has a much-celebrated voice herself, she said she wouldnt want to go against the luminary in any way.

(L) Patsy Cline | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (R) Reba McEntire | Mike Slaughter/Toronto Star/Getty Images

Patsy Cline dropped out of school at 16 to start working

Born on Sept. 8, 1932 in Winchester, Virginia as Virginia Patterson Hensley, Cline, who went by Ginny then, dropped out of school at 16 to get a job.

After recovering from rheumatic fever and a throat infection in her early teens, she found her singing voice had changed for the better. So, she tried to kick off her singing career. But she also worked at local businesses to help earn money for her single seamstress mother and family.

As she became more prominently known in local honky-tonks, she began promoting herself as Patsy in her early 20s. She eventually took on the last name of her first husband to form her stage name, Patsy Cline. She continued using it after they divorced and she married her second husband, Charlie Dick.

In 1957, she recorded and released a self-titled album. However, the popularity of television music programs at the end of that decade seemingly gave her better opportunity to showcase her talent for performing. She gained national notoriety and was eventually a regular on the Grand Ole Opry before her death in 1963.

Reba McEntire: Patsy Cline had a strong voice and attitude

When it comes to current country stars, many list Cline as one of their influences. And McEntire is among them. Though her own career is more than four decades and running, she seems very much impressed by what Cline accomplished before her death at age 30.

When speaking to PBS, McEntire specified Clines strength as something she greatly admired. Her voice was strong, her attitude was strong, and I wouldnt want to go against her in any way, she shared with a laugh.

In her autobiography, Reba: My Story, she noted how she used to sing one of Clines last recorded songs, Sweet Dreams, as an encore at her shows. She even recorded a version early in her career.

Patsy Cline and Reba McEntire took on the boys club in country music

One sizable obstacle Cline overcame to get to the Opry was the so-called boys club  something McEntire dealt with, too.

Country star, Wanda Jackson, recalled to PBS shows billed one woman at a time when Cline first hit the scene. Women werent headliners, she added. It was really a mans field.

But Cline was a headliner and she developed friendships with other female icons, like Loretta Lynn. Thats noteworthy because increased competition at the time usually left every woman for herself. That supposedly led to some unfriendly behavior between rivalrous Opry stars.

On top of all that, Cline took on gender standards and wore pants, still considered mens fashion. Some observers were offended when they saw women wearing slacks. Nevertheless, per PBS, Cline was the first woman to wear them on stage at the Opry. At the same time, she wore vivid lip and nail colors as part of her signature style.

In her own career, McEntire has noted being held to different standards than some of her male colleagues. But thats unfortunately not the only thing she has in common with Cline, as they both experienced similar tragedy.

On March 5, 1963, Cline died in a plane crash with three others at the age of 30. And in 1991, McEntire lost most of her band and her tour manager in a plane crash that killed ten people.

RELATED: Reba McEntire: Dolly Parton Is Exactly the Sweetheart You Think She Is
Sydney Sweeney has put down some roots in Los Angeles. The 24-year-olds acting career is on solid ground. After starring in hit shows like Sharp Objects, The Handmaids Tale, Euphoria, and The White Lotus, she has captured Hollywoods attention. Recently, the actor was able to celebrate years of hard work by purchasing her very first house.

Sydney Sweeney | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Inside Sydney Sweeneys new house in Los Angeles

While many celebrities are into more modern houses, The Players Table producer went in a different direction for her first home. Sweeney purchased a $3 million home in Westwood that was built back in 1933. According to Dirt, Sweeneys new digs boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and is 3,200 square feet. Sweeney was instantly smitten with her home, beating out other potential buyers to make it hers.

RELATED: Sydney Sweeney Suffered Extreme Bullying Early on in Her Career

The actor bought a house that has similar features to her childhood home

In an interview with GQ UK, Sweeney revealed that she was attracted to her new home because of its historical look. Calling herself an old soul she described her architectural style. I bought an older house, the actor revealed. I like antique furniture. Another thing that endeared Sweeney to her new house was that it boasted some of the same details as her childhood home. Features like hidden doors, secret rooms, and laundry chutes gave her a sense of nostalgia.

Where is Sweeney originally from?

Sweeney may live in LA now, but she originally hails from Spokane, Washington. Sweeney grew up on the border of Idaho and Washington and has a great fondness for her childhood home. Unfortunately, Sweeneys parents lost the home several years back. After the family moved to LA so Sweeney could pursue her acting dreams, her parents sold their home. And because they went bankrupt after relocating to LA, they were unable to get it back.

The White Lotus alum was gutted when she couldnt buy back her parents home

Naturally, Sweeney was gutted to lose her childhood home. However, she had a plan to one day buy the house back for her parents. Unfortunately, she wasnt successful at the time because she didnt have the funds. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, the Euphoria actor recalls being devastated by the reality check.

RELATED: The White Lotus Creator Didnt Recognize Sydney Sweeney in Her Audition Despite Seeing Euphoria

When youre an actor whos a minor, a small percentage of your paychecks goes into a bank account you cant access until youre 18, Sweeney explained. I naively thought I was going to have all this money, and I had this grand plan for it. When we left Spokane for LA, we had to sell the house I grew up in. It was my moms dream house. So when I turned 18, it wasnt even a year after my parents divorced and I thought, Im going to buy this house back and Ill save everyone. Ill get my family back together. Turns out, I had nowhere near enough money. I never cried more in my entire life.

Sweeney recently hosted her family at her new house

Sweeney may have not been able to buy her childhood home back at 18, but shes accomplished quite a bit in the six years since. She recently hosted her family at her new house for the Winter holidays, so hopefully, shes making new memories with family these days.

RELATED: Sydney Sweeney Appreciates People Being Worried About Her Nude Scenes in Euphoria
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaks at the Cherokee Immersion School Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Tahlequah, Okla. Federal officials have come up with a list of potential replacement names for hundreds of geographic features in three dozen states that include the word "squaw." Haaland in November formally declared the term derogatory and initiated a process to remove the term from use by the federal government and to replace other existing derogatory place names. The list was announced Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.
Jederick Estrella, a senior at Trinity College in Hartford, student-government president and a Posse Scholar recently shared, Events put on by black and brown students are rarely attended.

One Trinity tradition, an African fashion-show, is one of the most expensive events put on by students. However, only a handful attend.

Were all putting events on for each other, Estrella says, adding the hope is to create a more inclusive environment for all students.

One event Im going to is My Black Is My Beauty, a black hair event where I get to be a hair model, Estrella said. We will talk about our experience with our hair.

Other events put on during the month at Trinity include a panel of black students sharing their college experiences, African dance performances and jazz performances.

In Hamden, Quinnipiac University students will have a chance to see Death by a Thousand Cuts: A Requiem for Black and Brown Men  a play about life in America. Earlier this month, Quinnipiac hosted a webinar on improving campus climate.

Trinity College also has moved to make fundamental change, welcoming its first black and female president, Joanne-Berger Sweeney, in 2014. Sweeney will be honored at Central Connecticut State University this month.

A service in Trinitys chapel celebrated the Feast of St. Absalom Jones, a black abolitionist and clergyman. The school often hosts trivia nights for students, this months will have a Black history theme.

Central Connecticut State University will host a similar, faith-based event on Feb. 24. Guest speaker Senior Bishop Kenneth Monroe, of the AME Zion Church in Hartford, will discuss Rev. Jesse Jackson and racial justice in the U.S.

On Feb. 26, Trinity will host a closing ceremony for Black History Month. Estrella says he hopes that in the future Black History Month will be as prominent on the schools calendar as other events.

Quinnipiac will be concluding the month by hosting Dr. Christina Dickerson-Cousin for a lecture and book signing.

Sammi Bray of Southington is a first-year student at Trinity College in Hartford. She is studying public policy and law, with a minor in rhetoric, writing and media studies. She has been freelancing for the Record-Journal since June. You can contact her at sammibray03@gmail.com.
Editor's Note: This story is part of a series printed by the Record-Journal throughout February marking Black History Month. They are stories about the people who contribute to our state and help us learn more about Black history and how it influences us today.

Simply put, the United States has a very complicated history when it comes to Black history. Even the state of Connecticut, which was documented as highly anti-slavery during the Civil War and is often considered a largely blue state historically had some hideous moments that we try to reflect on and learn from today.

Despite the imperfections of our past, an incredible amount of time and effort has been put into preserving pieces of history for the purpose of education, empowerment, and enrichment; amazing things have happened here, and those things may be closer to us than we know!

Martha Minerva Franklins Gravestone, Walnut Grove Cemetery, 817 Old Colony Rd.,

Meriden

Walnut Grove Cemetery is where many incredible Meridenites are laid to rest each year. The headstone of one medical pioneer in particular, Martha Minerva Franklin, can be found there and is host to a plaque that commemorates her achievement as the first President of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN). She created the organization upon realizing she could not join the American Nursing Association (ANA) due to her race. Daughter of a Civil War veteran, she graduated high school in Meriden as the only person of color in her class. After not being accepted into any Connecticut schools because of her race, she took her talents to the Womens Hospital Training School for Nurses in Philadelphia.

Upon returning to Meriden after graduating (again as the only person of color in her class) and completely innovating the medical field in a time when nursing as a profession was uncommon, she realized how many other nurses of color were facing discrimination in the workplace. She fought for racial equality within the field through tireless NACGN efforts and eventually lived to see her aspirations come to fruition in 1951, when the NACGN officially merged with the ANA. Available to the public every day from 8 a.m. until sunset, Martha Minerva Franklins gravesite is one stop of many on the Connecticut Freedom Trail.

The Mark Twain House & Museum,

385 Farmington Ave., Hartford

Samuel Clemens, well-known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author, humorist, perpetual-learner, and all-around humanitarian who spent what he referred to as his most happy and productive years in Hartford. Growing up in an America that accepted slavery and racism as the norm, Twain wrote some of his most compelling and innovative pieces in Connecticut, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

While he is most often recognized for penning these two novels, Twain wrote many other compelling works, many of them geared towards supporting the advancement of Black scholars, and of Black folks in general. His house and museum are extremely eye-opening, especially in regard to how a white mans voice as an ally fit into the narrative of the Black experience in late 1800s America.

Harriet Beecher

Stowe Center,

77 Forest St., Hartford

With a goal of preserving Harriet Beecher Stowes Hartford home and legacy, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is another unlikely but excellent stop to honor Black History Month. With ongoing efforts to promote discussion of the author/abolitionists life and work, the center has served as a hub for action towards social justice for years and continues to be today.

Uncle Toms Cabin, the most well-known of Stowes works, vastly changed Americans view of slavery and the Black experience in the 1800s, and has continued to be a revolutionary, classic piece of literature. To explore a slice of Connecticut culture from a unique perspective, grab a copy of Uncle Toms Cabin from the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center and walk through the home where history was made.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art,

600 Main St., Hartford

An incredible experience for those looking for art and culture. Excellent at highlighting artists and innovators of all backgrounds, the museum is dedicated to sharing the contributions and creativity of Black artists this month more than ever! Hosting both in-person and virtual events to celebrate Black History Month, this organization is passionate about offering opportunities for everyone to get involved and empowering those who didnt have a place in the American art scene for far too long.

Dont miss their in-depth online descriptions of each art piece; while Id usually recommend keeping your phone in your pocket when enjoying art, whipping out the virtual guide and reading more about each artist will definitely enhance your experience at the Wadsworth!

While our states record regarding the celebration and preservation of Black history hasnt always been spotless, there is still cause for positive reflection. The bits of history we have preserved are constantly inspiring productive conversations, and new generations of innovators are creating exciting new stories to tell future generations.

We have so much history right in our little state waiting to be uncovered; dont feel anxious to learn and grow  in the words of the great Mark Twain, History doesnt repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

Francesca Fontanez is a Meriden-based journalist, educator, and creative. A graduate of both the University of New Haven and the University of Bridgeport, she is happy to be back in Meriden writing about the city she loves and surrounding areas. When shes not teaching ELA at Washington Middle School shes either exploring the Eastern seaboard for her lifestyle blog @eastsidevibes on Instagram or working on music for her band, Cessa and The Zach. Email Francesca at eastsidevibes withcess@gmail.com with tips on what you want to read about next, or just to say hi!
Chickasha, OK (73018)

Today

Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 68F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 59F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation told legislators Thursday it is willing to consider alternatives to tolling nine bridges across the state, but it hasnt seen any other idea that would generate the $2.5 billion needed to replace those bridges.

At a hearing on the 2022-23 budget before the Senate Appropriations Committee, PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said because the state is about $8.1 billion short on needed road and bridge funding every year, the department requires alternatives such as the tolling proposal to make sure money is available for other projects. The department is proposing a public-private partnership where it would turn nine major bridges across the state over to a private company for replacement and maintenance for 30 years paid for through tolls of $1 or $2.

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Under questioning from Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Johnstown, and Sen. Devlin Robinson, R-Bridgeville, Gramian said it would be difficult for the state to replace the nine bridges without tolling.

The state will receive $4 billion over five years through the federal infrastructure program, but that will only help to address the shortfall, Gramian said. The state needs to spend $1 billion of its own to get that money, she noted, so it will still be substantially short of the money it needs.

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PennDOT is proposing a public-private partnership where it would turn nine major bridges across the state over to a private company for replacement and maintenance for 30 years paid for through tolls of $1 or $2. (Courtesy of PennDOT)

Gramian said its important to keep those nine bridges open without weight restrictions and replace them before they have to be closed. She cited the recent closure of an interstate bridge in Arkansas that devastated the economy of the small towns around it.

Thats how these bridges can impact a community if we dont take care of them, she said.

The department would be willing to consider alternatives to the unpopular idea of tolling, Gramian said. But we have yet to see an alternative to address all nine bridges, she said. The $2.5 billion is a good amount of money we can use for our other local projects.

The department is reviewing proposals from two teams of contractors that followed through with formal proposals after three originally expressed interest in the project. The department, which refused to identify which group dropped out, said it expects to choose a contractor in the next few weeks.

Since one of the proposals is from a group with an international firm as the leader and the other is a national firm, Langerholc questioned why specifications were written to exclude Pennsylvania firms from being the lead. Ken McClain, PennDOTs director of the Alternative Funding Program, said only huge firms have the capacity to handle such large projects, but the contract will be written so that Pennsylvania firms get 65% of the work.

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There is a significant amount of Pennsylvania-based work in this process, McClain said.

Under questioning from Robinson, McClain said the bridges were chosen for the program because they all were built in the early 1960s, have deteriorating conditions and need significant upgrades such as wider shoulders and higher side railings to meet current construction standards.

These bridges are coming to the end of their useful life cycle, he said.

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McClain stressed that the department is committed to keeping any excess money from tolling  after construction, maintenance and a reserve fund  for projects in the area of the tolled bridge. It will conduct a study after the tolls are established to see whether a large volume of motorists use local roads to avoid paying tolls and will make improvements to local roads where needed.

The department has completed studies on the areas around seven of the nine bridges and submitted the information to federal authorities for approval to establish tolls. It expects to begin the 30-day public comment period on the Bridgeville site in May.

(c)2022 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
War is terrible. My wife and her family were in her home country of Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) for 18 months, and the sociopolitical forces that took tens of thousands of lives there can only be described as evil. The Great Lakes War that claimed millions of lives in neighboring Congo-Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) enlarges the evil to another scale. The darkness of Adolf Hitlers Third Reich dwarfs comprehension.

Now in 2022, the war in Ukraine brings violent evil to the fore once again and threatens to reshape our global future in ways we can only imagine.

Human selfishness and greed are among the sins that spawn wars: Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? (James 4:1, NAB). Collectively, however, the scale of human suffering at the hands of others also seems to presume a dimension of cosmic evil that defies even our recognition of human depravity.

There are reasons for that. The Book of Daniel speaks not just of a succession of world empires but of the spiritual forces behind them. The angelic prince of Persia delayed an answer to Daniels prayers until Michael, Israels prince, intervened; the angelic prince of Alexanders empire would follow (Dan. 10:13, 2021; 12:1). God had sovereignly allotted times in history for various angels and their empires, but his angelic and human servants must continue to work for his purposes until he causes them to prevail.

The Greek translation of Deuteronomy mentions that God appointed angels over the various nations, and Jewish thought increasingly recognized such heavenly rulers and authoritieswhat later rabbis called angels over the nations. These beings were typically hostile toward Gods people, but in the end, God would give the kingdom to his persevering people.

Because our king, Jesus, has already come, Satan has been defeated. Jesus exaltation corresponds with the angel Michaels heavenly triumph over the dragon (Rev. 12:78).

In explaining this story, scholars often invoke the World War II analogy between D-Day and V-Day. In D-Day, the success of the Normandy invasion decided the outcome of the war, and the defeat of the Nazi regime and its allies was merely a matter of time. Yet until V-Daythe final surrender of the Axis powersbattles continued and casualties mounted.

In the same way, all enemiesincluding the final one, death itselfwill be subdued when Jesus returns (Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:2526), but his servants face continuing battles until then.

In Ephesians, Paul emphasizes that Jesus is already enthroned above heavenly rulers and authorities (Eph. 1:2022) and we are spiritually enthroned with him (1:22-23; 2:6). In a letter that heavily underscores the unity between Jews and Gentiles in Christs body, this enthronement above angels of nations and empires means that our unity in Christ is greater than all the ethnic and national divisions fomented by such angels. Believers are no longer subject to the prince of this world (Eph. 2:13).

For Paul, this triumph over divisions has spiritual warfare ramifications, even for the interpersonal dimensions of our lives. In Ephesians 4, for example, denying the devil an opportunity means having integrity and controlling our anger (v. 2527). In Ephesians 6:1020, it means taking hold of the defensive armor of truth, faith, and righteousness, plus a weapon for invading hostile territory: the mission of the gospel.

I have sometimes seen brothers and sisters trying to engage in spiritual warfare by rebuking and commanding the heavenly rulers. However, this activity misunderstands our role. We are enthroned with Christ, and yes, someday we will judge angels, but we cant confuse D-Day with V-Day. Scripture expressly warns against reviling angelic authorities (2 Pet. 2:10), pointing out that even their fellow angels can confront them only by divine authorization (2 Pet. 2:11; Jude 9).

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Trying to cast down heavenly powers is different from casting demons out of those they afflict on earth. We are the ground forces, not the air force. This doesnt mean we dont have a vital role in cosmic-level spiritual warfare. It just means our modern taste for instant results wont be met.

In the Book of Daniel, Gods answer was immediate (Dan. 10:12). But Daniel persevered in prayer for three weeks before he received his answer (10:23). God showed him that empires would rise and fall but the future did not belong to them.

The Book of Revelation offers the same picture: Satan stands behind the beast of a world empire, Babylon the Great. But the future belongs not to Babylon, the prostitute, but to New Jerusalem, the bride.

The Bible reminds us that not all spiritual forces are the bad guys. God is at work even in the present world, and Scripture leads us to expect that prayers can make a difference in times of war and conflict.

Before Jacob would have to confront his brother Esaus armed band, he wrestled all night with an angel. Although later rabbis thought it was Edoms guardian angel, it was the Lord himself (Hos. 12:35). But the rabbis were right, at least, that winning the spiritual battle first made the difference for the imminent earthly conflict.

The same lesson appears when Moses uplifted hands determined the battle against the Amalekites (Ex. 17:1113). Our earthly actions have heavenly consequences. (See Ephesians 6:12 in the context of 6:10-20, and the likely meaning of Luke 10:17-18.)

Indeed, on the cosmic level, Gods forces easily outnumber the hostile ones. Elishas apprentice learned that lesson when God opened his eyes to see the mountain full of chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:1617). On that occasion, the Lord miraculously blinded an entire army to allow a peaceful resolution instead of a costly human battle (6:1823).

In another war story, God gave David victory in battle once he heard the Lords heavenly hosts marching for him (2 Sam. 5:24; 1 Chron. 14:15). Joshua likewise achieved victory after meeting the captain of the Lords army (Josh. 5:1315).

In other words, God hears us when we pray. In the Book of Daniel, arrogant nations appear as nothing more than pawns in Gods larger plan for history. By contrast, the angel announces that Daniel, the man of prayer, is precious to God (Dan. 10:11).

Heres why this common theme matters: The final outcome is already decided, but in the meantime, earthly battles continue, and individual lives remain in the balance. The prayers of a righteous person count more before God than the plans of arrogant powers in heaven or on earth.

I confess that, were it not for my faith in Scripture, these claims would sound pretty hollow to me in times of mass suffering. But because I do believe the Bible, I take courage for the future. Likewise, it was my wifes faith in Christ and Gods Word that nourished her hope and enabled her survival in the face of war in the Congo.

In the current war in Ukraine and other conflicts around the world, we do not yet see all of Jesus enemies visibly under his feet, and casualties remain high. But Jesus exaltation over angels and authorities and powers (1 Pet. 3:22) has already decided the final outcome of the cosmic war of the ages. We can rest in that truth.

Craig Keener is professor of biblical studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of Christobiography: Memories, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels.

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Last month, a short video of a mother of eight children in the countryside of Xuzhou, a large city northwest of Shanghai, caused an uproar on the Chinese internet. The footage showed a woman with iron chains around her neck answering a visitors questions with a slurred accent in a freezing shed with old, cold food on the floor. The image of the poorly dressed woman with disheveled hair and missing teeth shocked the nation.

Millions of Chinese netizens expressed concern for her, wondering if she was a victim of human trafficking and abuse, and criticized the local government s inaction. While officials have investigated the situation, the inconsistencies of their reportsas well as lingering questions about the womans origin, identity, and mental and physical healthhave sustained heated online discussions, although many critical responses have been censored.

Chinese Christians in China and overseas have also spoken out online on behalf of the Xuzhou woman. Last week, one writer, Lil Engineer Wan, published an article questioning why the government, which monitors the movement of citizens in its fight to control the spread of COVID-19, is not able to detect human traffickers and protect women and children. WeChat quickly deleted her article. A day later, FRI Chinese reported that several Chinese American Christians launched a global Christian appeal in solidarity with the chained mother of eight in Xuzhou.

CT Asia editor Sean Cheng spoke with five Chinese Christians about the incident (for security reasons, those within China use pseudonyms):

Zhang Rumin, pharmaceutical research scientist and elder of Rutgers Community Christian Church in New Jersey

Agnes Tan, Christian media worker, Christian counselor, and editor-in-chief of Behold magazine in Los Angeles

Jerry An, new media mission pastor and Chinese director of Reframe Ministries in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Joseph Jun Yi, pastor of an evangelical church in Beijing

Jasmine Qi Wan, member of an evangelical church in Shanghai

CT: As a Christian, how do you see the problems of Chinese society exemplified by the Xuzhou chained woman?

Zhang: The most prominent and serious problem is the discrimination suffered by women. According to media reports, thousands of young women (including female college students) are trafficked and disappeared every year in China. Some of them have suffered a fate similar to that of the Xuzhou chained woman. They are trafficked to the countryside and essentially become sex slaves and fertility machines for men who had difficulty finding a wife. In todays modern civilization, this is really horrific, dark, unimaginable evil. Given the Mao-era political propaganda slogan of women holding up half of the sky, many people mistakenly believe that women have equal social status with men in China. But that is not the reality in todays China.

The image of the woman in chains cries out at a decibel level that should convict the dark corner of the human heart. Her accusation against her fellow villagers is Everyone here is a rapist! Whether it is the longstanding tradition of foot binding in Chinese history (which Western missionaries to China advocated for its eradication), the murder of baby girls by drowning, the trafficking of women into prostitution by human traffickers, or the unbearable suffering like that of the Xuzhou woman in chains, all testify to the total depravity of human beings.

Qi Wan: On the surface, this is an issue of human trafficking. In reality, its about the lack of stability at the bottom of Chinese society. No matter how much we cover our bodies with the clothes of civilization today, when we lift up these garments, the inside remains the same: the traditional Chinese beliefs of passing on the family gene is the bottom line and women are inferior to men. If these women resist and run away, their captors may be punished. Instead, they are deemed dangerous and chained.

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Incidents like what happened to the Xuzhou chained women are not uncommon in the regions where the Yellow River floods (the provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu), where the tough criminal traffickers are often protected by corrupted local officials. People are shocked by the inaction of the judicial administration, but also by the fact that some officials are always thinking about their own economic interests first and are covering up the crimes. These are old illnesses in China that have never been cured.

Tan: This incident is an expression of the ultimate extension of patriarchy: the instrumentalization and objectification of women. Womens inherent value is seen as inferior to men and women are regarded as lesser beings. This is not only a problem in the general Chinese society, but Chinese Christians may also be influenced by such a culture. Some Christians even use Bible verses such as Genesis 2:18 and 3:1320 to support patriarchal ideas, ignoring the fact that the Bible makes no distinction between men and women, whether it refers to the grace of salvation in life or the gift of the Holy Spirit to build up the church after salvation.

Before sin entered the world, God created male and female in His own image (Gen. 1:27). The dichotomy of male and female relationships, with the desire to rule over each other, was not in accordance with Gods original intent. In contrast, while the Bible does not advocate for female superiority over men, instead it records heroes and villains, wise people and foolish people, without prioritizing gender. Sexism is actually inconsistent with the Christian faith, and Christians should not use the Bible to endorse a culture of male superiority and female inferiority.

CT: From the point of view of caring for the victims, how can Christians do better?

Tan: Christians should pray for the damage done to these eight children. The victims of this incident are obviously the mother of the eight children first and foremost, but the media and the masses seem to have ignored the eight children growing up in this family, who are in fact direct victims as well. I am concerned about the adult son who went off to work when he was 14 or 15 years old. How does he view women when he enters society? Will he spend his life in frustration, conflict, confusion, and pain that he cannot understand?

Since the video has been released, the second son, who is about 12 years old, has been hounded and bullied by citizen journalists, and has had to handle frequent visits from outsiders looking to donate to the family but also from the police as they investigate the situation. I worry about what kind of self-image, outlook on life, and values he will develop as he enters the key period of adolescent growth.

I noticed in the video that none of the other six children ever approached their mother voluntarily. Will they grow up with a lifelong sense of absence, low self-esteem, anger, or confusion? I am also concerned about who will take care of these children once their father is arrested and their mother is sent to the mental hospital. Who will heal their wounded hearts and correct their distorted vision, besides feeding and clothing them? Who will care about the revision and enforcement of laws regarding childrens welfare and rights?

Jun Yi: From the perspective of the Christian faith, the mother of eight children in Xuzhou was made in the image of God and cherished by God with compassion. Therefore, she has precious dignity that should be respected and preserved. Doing harm to the dignity of another person is an offense to the glory of God and a violation of his law. The beating, chaining, and sexual abuse of the mother of eight is a naked trampling on human dignity. God cares for human souls and he also cares for their well-being in this world.

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The other aspect of the matter is social reconciliation requires that people who accuse others realize that they are not totally righteous, but sinners. We may also have in our hearts the lust to commit adultery, the desire to threaten and control others, and to dominate our spouses. The father of the eight children needs repentance and Gods grace as much as we do.

CT: There is currently very strict censorship of speech in China. Speaking out may risk retaliation and persecution. In an environment of increasingly harsh speech control, is it right to ask Christians to stand up for justice? Is it fair to equate silence with complicity?

Qi Wan: Over the past couple of weeks, I have witnessed women trying their best to speak up for women. The most intense discussions and retweets on WeChat are mostly from women. There are also women who show bravery in offline real life. Two female netizens went to Feng County to visit the chained woman with a bouquet of flowers and a card saying Sister, the world has not abandoned you, They were not allowed to meet the chained mother.

Instead, several unidentified men forced black cloth bags over their heads and took them to the police station to be interrogated. After a few days of intense questioning, the women were released. However, they documented their lives in detention and gave us a glimpse of another kind of slavery. The female netizens were ahead of many media outlets, not only in seeing the truth, but also in bringing comfort to the chained woman, whom they regarded as their sister.

Whether its the women who braved Feng County with warmth, or the women who paid close attention to the aftermath events, they all started with the question Who is the chained woman? and then moved on to other questions: Who am I? As a woman, can I truly escape the fate of being trafficked and enslaved? Can I guarantee that my daughter will not be subjected to the same destruction? Do I also live in sin and have the same evil in my heart?

An: The Winter Olympics are over and the Chinese community is still concerned about the mother in chains. The situation is much like the praise of the late Dr. Li Wenliang, the whistleblower of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, two years ago. The courage to speak up is especially valuable today when speech is more tightly controlled in China. To a large extent, what people are expressing is also a backlash against this high level of speech censorship.

Late last year, the Chinese government announced new regulations about religious information services on the internet, which prohibits unauthorized posting of sermons, seminars, lectures, training, and even link sharing. Frankly, as the online censorship in the chained woman case reminds us, Christianity is by no means the only target of online speech control, and Christians are not the only group who face serious restrictions on the internet. Chinese Christians and all other people in the Chinese society are in the same boat, and we all endure and experience all kinds of storms together.

Zhang: While it is true that Christians should speak out for righteousness, we also need to be wise and loving in the face of censorship. We should be tolerant rather than judgmental toward brothers and sisters who choose to remain silent or who have different views from us. We should not fall into self-righteousness when condemning evil.

Interview and English translation by Sean Cheng

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Immediately after President Joe Biden introduced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to the US Supreme Court at a White House event on Friday, the federal appeals court judge stepped up to the podium and appealed to the divine.

I must begin these very brief remarks by thanking God for delivering me to this point in my professional journey, she said. My life has been blessed beyond measure, and I do know that one can only come this far by faith.

Jacksons words marked the beginning of what promises to be a historic confirmation process: If approved by the US Senate, Jackson, 51, who currently serves on the D.C. Court of Appeals, would be the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

If Im fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans, she said.

Biden noted the landmark nature of Jacksons nomination during his introduction, making good on a campaign promise to push for a Black woman on the countrys highest court.

For too long, our government, our courts, havent looked like America, he said. I believe its time that we have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications. And that we inspire all young people to believe that they can one day serve their country at the highest level.

While outlining Jacksons professional credentials and personal storysuch as her two Harvard degrees and family members in law enforcementBiden argued that she strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice.

If confirmed, Jackson would also be the first federal public defender on the Supreme Court and would bring the total number of women serving on the bench to fourthe most in US history.

Jackson did not mention a specific faith tradition in her remarks, so it was not immediately clear whether she would alter the religious makeup of the Supreme Court, which currently consists primarily of Catholic and Jewish justices (Justice Neil Gorsuch was raised Catholic but attended an Episcopal Church in Colorado).

[CT editors note: Jackson would fill the spot on the bench left by Stephen Breyer, for whom Jackson served as a clerk during the courts 1999-2000 term. Breyer, 83, announced his plans to retire a month ago.]

Lawmakers and liberal religious organizations celebrated Jacksons nomination.

I applaud the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Georgians want a nominee who is fair, qualified, and has a proven record of protecting Americans constitutional rights and freedoms. I look forward to reviewing this nomination, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, himself a pastor, said in a statement.

Longtime racial justice activist the Rev. Al Sharpton, who runs the National Action Network, tweeted out a statement of support for Jackson, calling her exceptionally well qualified and possessing the experience, character, integrity, and dedication to the Constitution and the rule of law to serve on the nations highest Court.

The National Council of Jewish Women also praised Bidens choice of Jackson.

Religion has been a point of interest in recent Supreme Court nomination battles, particularly the debate over Justice Amy Coney Barrett. When she was nominated by former President Donald Trump in 2020, many observers questioned whether her conservative brand of Catholic faith would influence how she approached issues such as abortion.

Although Jackson reportedly has not ruled on a case narrowly focused on abortion, her appointment nonetheless drew attention of groups concerned about the issue. Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life Education and Defense Fund said in a statement she expects Jackson to be a reliable vote for the far left and the Biden administrations radical abortion agenda.

Meanwhile, Jamie L. Manson, president of Catholics for Choice praised Jackson as a jurist with a long and distinguished record of legal work and judicial decisions that protect and advance the constitutional rights of marginalized Americans, including women and pregnant people, immigrants, and people with disabilities.

Manson also made mention of Jacksons April 2021 Senate confirmation hearing to serve on the US Court of Appeals. Manson said Jackson expressed a clear and firm commitment to the principle that true religious liberty involves both freedom of and freedom from religion.

During that hearing, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley noted Jackson had served on the board of Montrose Christian School. The Maryland school, which has since been closed, operated under a statement of faith that declared we should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death and outlined a belief that marriage exists only between a man and a woman.

In responding to Hawley, who said he agreed with the statements, Jackson distanced herself from the schools beliefs. She said she did not necessarily agree with all of the statements, and was not previously aware of their existence.

She went on to express support for religious liberty, describing it as a foundational tenet of our entire government.
Rep. Mary Miller calls for bringing God back into public schools

Republican Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois says it's time for public schools to bring God back into the classroom, insisting that the absence of faith from American education is responsible for the infiltration of sexually explicit material into public schools.

Miller participated in a panel discussion at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference Friday called Town Hall: Pupil Propaganda. The discussion focused on concerns about education in the United States, specifically the teaching of sexually explicit material and LGBT ideology to young children.

The congresswoman attributed the presence of such material in public schools to top officials in the Biden administration being openly hostile to our American values.

Ive been going at it with the education secretary, she said. He sent out an order to all public schools stating that if a teacher or student says that there are two genders, that theyre guilty of harassment, which is setting up our teachers to be fired and our students to be disciplined.

Miller added, I went at it with him and asked, How many genders are there? He tried to deflect from my question and I went after him and he finally said to me, I wont answer your question.

Conservative commentator Candace Owens, who moderated the panel, accused public schools of perpetrating active child abuse by purposefully teaching children the wrong ideas, purposefully confusing them, particularly in matters of sexuality. After identifying the problems facing American education, the panelists offered solutions.

The problem is that we kicked God out of our schools, Miller asserted. Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and it says in Jeremiah that  they refused to listen to the Word of God and they ended up having no shame.

Miller elaborated on what she saw as the consequences of keeping God out of public schools: Weve told our kids that they come from nowhere and theyre here for no purpose, theyre heading to oblivion. But that is the problem. We need to tell our kids, they were created by God, they have a gift, they have a purpose and bring that back into the public school as a foundation.

God has left us on Earth to look for opportunities to overcome evil with good and all of us have an opportunity in front of [us], she added.

Stacy Langton, a stay-at-home mom from Fairfax County, Virginia, who received considerable media attention for confronting her local school board about the presence of books she likened to pornography in the districts libraries, suggested putting warning labels on books.

Langton now runs a grassroots organization of concerned parents called Mama Grizzly and explained that Right now, the biggest thing that Im working on is I want to be able to get some type of a labeling system for these types of books because we have a labeling system for everything else.

The [Motion Picture Association of America] has ratings on films and thats to protect kids from  seeing pornography. You cant go into an R-rated film if youre under the age of 17, she added. We have it in the music industry and that exists because of what [former second lady] Tipper Gore did.

Langton expressed support for putting PAW prints on books, an acronym for parental advisory warning. She highlighted the need to close a loophole that we have in some of the laws in this country in every state that is exempting these types of materials in libraries.

Thats how these radical librarians are getting away with this right now. It was intended in the '70s to allow sex education. Well, sex education is not X-rated depictions of the act, right? Thats not what we are meant to do for children. And so, now you have radical librarians who are driving a truck through that loophole and bringing in all kinds of X-rated material.

Langton contended that until that loophole can be closed on the legislative front, if we label the books, at least then, parents wont be shocked when something is coming home in their backpack because it would have a label on it, the PAW print label, and then they would know  theres something in this book. The Fairfax County mother expressed hope that she would have the same level of success that Gore had in her efforts to put parental advisory labels on music.
Russias invasion of Ukraine: Christian groups Samaritan's Purse, World Help send relief to war victims

International Christian relief groups Samaritans Purse and World Help are standing alongside the Ukrainian Church to provide aid to victims as Russias full-scale military invasion of Ukraine enters into the third day Saturday with Russian troops storming toward Ukraines capital.

Explosions and artillery fire could be heard in the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv Friday night and street fighting with Russian forces was going on early Saturday, The Guardian reported, adding that residents had been urged to seek shelter, avoid going near windows or on balconies.

Saturday morning, a residential apartment building near the international airport in Kyiv was struck by a Russian missile attack, Kyiv Independent reported, adding that no deaths had been reported and that people across the country were taking shelter underground and in subway stations.

The street clashes in Ukraine have resulted in hundreds of casualties, The Associated Press reported.

Amid the suffering and chaos, Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritans Purse said it had deployed disaster response specialists to Poland and Romania, where Ukrainian refugees were arriving in large numbers.

More than 50,000 Ukrainians had fled the country as of Friday night, many more are moving toward its borders, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi was quoted as saying. Another 50,000 Ukrainians had left the country in anticipation of the war, Reuters reported earlier.

Grandi said Thursday that more than 100,000 people had moved within Ukraine to flee violence.

Experts have warned that a prolonged war could displace millions of Ukrainians, leading to large-scale humanitarian crisis.

We have deployed members of our Disaster Assistance Response Team to surrounding countries and are standing ready to help meet emergency needs resulting from the crisis, said evangelist Franklin Graham. Please join me in praying for the people of Ukraine and for this conflict to end quickly.

The specialists, which include medical staff, are assessing needs in Ukraines neighboring countries as a result of Russias invasion, which began Thursday. The group, led by Graham, is also speaking to partner churches and organizations in Ukraine to prepare and implement a strategic disaster response.

The group, which works with more than 3,000 churches across Ukraine, has also prepared an Emergency Field Hospital for overseas shipment in the event that it is needed.

The organization will also distribute over 600,000 gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for children through those churches and ministry partners.

Christian group World Help, through local churches and Christian nonprofits, is also providing emergency essentials for over 1,000 displaced Ukrainians.

Our hearts are breaking for the people of Ukraine, said Kraig Cole, director of International Partnerships for World Help, which serves the physical and spiritual needs of people in impoverished communities around the world.

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and we want to get people the help they need as soon as possible, Cole explained. Weve been preparing for a Russian invasion, but I dont think anyone predicted an attack like this.  We have no idea how the situation in Ukraine will escalate. Were just getting started.

Cole also urged the Christian community in America to provide help. No one is powerless to help. Even a small gift can go a long way toward helping a person survive as they flee what is quickly becoming a full-scale warzone. This is our chance to follow the example of the Good Samaritan and to go out of our way to help someone who is hurting.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden Friday night signed an order to provide up to $600 million to Ukraine  up to $350 million in military aid, and $250 million for overall assistance.

Also on Friday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to his fellow European leaders in a video call, telling them it might be the last time they saw him alive, according to Chronicle Live.

The United States had offered to evacuate Zelenskyy, but he rejected it, saying he would stay in the country as the fight is here, according to The Associated Press, which cited a source in U.S. intelligence.

The Biden administration also wants to divert Customs and Border Protection agents from the U.S. southern border crisis to facilitate evacuations from Ukraine.

In a memo sent to field operations executives Thursday, CBPs office of field operations sought volunteers who would immediately go to Poland for Operation Ukraine Support, Just the News reported.

The Office of Field Operations is seeking volunteers to assist with the possible evacuation of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their immediate family members from Ukraine, the memo read. Eligible employees who volunteer for this situation may be selected to serve a temporary duty assignment in Poland to facilitate travelers for entry into the U.S., to include providing guidance and problems resolution to other government agencies.

The Biden administration had made a similar move for Afghan evacuees after the U.S. pull-out from the South Asian country.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, the largest ground war in Europe since World War II, has drawn strong condemnation from the international community.

On Thursday, Biden said he would re-impose sanctions he had earlier lifted, but these sanctions won't begin for 30 days. He added that the U.S. would also work with allies to enact additional sanctions, including possibly cutting Russia off from Western financing (Swift payments system) and tech imports.

Biden and European nations will, however, continue paying Russia for its oil and gas imports. The president added: "in our sanctions package, we specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue."

We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the longterm impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies, he said.

Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences, Biden said.

On Friday, Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, used its veto power to block a resolution condemning its invasion. The vote at the U.N.'s headquarters in New York City was 11 in favor, one against, and three abstentions, including China and India.

In Russia, authorities have arrested at least 1,800 people for holding demonstrations against the war on Ukraine, said the local arrest watchdog group OVD-Info.

Russian pop stars, television show hosts and journalists have also voiced their opposition to the invasion.

Russia began its attacks early Thursday, targeting Ukrainian military assets in several key cities nationwide.
Russias war on Ukraine: Are we living in the End Times?

Is Russias war on Ukraine a significant event in terms of prophecies recorded in the Bible? As many Christians debate this question, Southern California Pastor Greg Laurie explains why he believes we are living in the End Times.

This is war at a scale we have not seen in a long time, Laurie, senior pastor and founder of the multi-campus Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, says in a video message posted on his churchs website, referring to Matthew 24:6, which reads, And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

The following verse, he adds, talks about plagues being around us in the last days. If the coronavirus is not a plague, I dont know what it is. Its a global plague.

Many Bible scholars believe that the mention of Magog attacking Israel in Ezekiel 38 is modern-day Russia, he continues.

According to another prophecy in Ezekiel, Jewish people will be scattered and regathered in their land again, which has been fulfilled, Laurie continues, explaining that during World War II and after the Holocaust, Jewish people from around the world began to return to their land. And Israel officially became a nation on May 14, 1948.

But Scripture also says that a nation from the extreme north of Israel, called Gog and Magog, will march on her, he says, adding that Ukraine used to be a part of the Russian Empire until 1991.

If you look on any map, youll see that is the geographical area of Russia. Are they going to be part of Russia again? Could be. But the one thing that I think of is that when I see the aggression of Russia or Magog, if you will, its a reminder that thats what were going to see when Magog attacks Israel.

And if we believe that the prophecies are coming true, we should look up, and we should remember that God is in control, Laurie concludes.

Joel Rosenberg, an American-Israeli communications strategist, author and nonprofit executive, also wrote a few years ago that: The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel wrote 2,500 years ago that in the last days of history, Russia and Iran will form a military alliance to attack Israel from the north. Bible scholars refer to this eschatological conflict, described in Ezekiel 3839, as the War of Gog & Magog.

He quotes Ezekiel 38:14-16, which reads: Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

The Christian apologist website Got Questions also talks about Russia in biblical prophecy.

Gog is a person. Whoever Gog is, he is from the land of Magog and is the leader of Tubal and Meshek (some translations add Rosh to the list) and a confederacy of other nations: Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth Togarmah (Ezekiel 38:56). And, whoever he is, he will have plans to attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people, viz., Israel (verses 11, 14, and 18). But, regardless of Gogs plans, the Lord God is against him and will defeat him soundly (Ezekiel 38:4, 1923; 39:35).

Persia, a nation listed as being in alliance with Magog, is modern-day Iran.
SBC Pres. Ed Litton gives update on sex abuse investigation: 'We need to remain very sober'

Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton shared a brief update with the SBC Executive Committee on behalf of the Sexual Abuse Task Force and urged the convention to remain very sober and determined as the investigation is still underway.

The work is progressing, Litton, the pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, said during the SBCs second plenary session in Nashville Tuesday morning.

Let me commend the staff of the EC for their cooperation on every level. The cooperation among the EC members, you may have had misgivings; Ive heard people say, I havent been a part of this, Im new. Yet, you have cooperated. Continue to cooperate, and I would encourage you to do that. The process is working; its moving.

Litton, elected president of the SBC last year, said the Committee on Cooperation  the committee that acts as a liaison between the Executive Committee, the Sexual Abuse Task Force and Guidepost Solutions  has had a few challenges to help bring people together.

But, hes happy to report that those challenges seem to be resolved and we are cooperating.

And the people that were asking to cooperate, at this point, are cooperating, he added.

Later in the session, Litton fielded questions regarding the ongoing sexual abuse inquiry. The investigation, expected to be completed by June, concerns how the executive committee has handled abuse allegations against member churches over the past 21 years.

Last year, the committee approved a motion to waive attorney-client privilege in the wake of the investigation, prompting several members to resign, including the committees former head Ronnie Floyd and its legal team.

Hannah-Kate Williams, a survivor of alleged abuse and rape at the hands of her father, James Williams, an SBC pastor, asked Litton about addressing instances outside the scope of the investigation.

The task force is charged with finding the agency that will do the investigation best; theyve been transparent reporting everything through this, Litton replied. The report will have suggestions and recommendations, and thats what theyre going to deal with. Of course, one of the things theyll look at is how any decisions will fit into our polity and how we function as a convention.

EC member Mike Keahbone told Williams the investigations report and how the EC responds is not the ending of where we stand with sexual abuse; its the beginning.

You can bet that were going move forward aggressively with how to address that.  We are all committed to that, he said.

On Feb. 7, the Sexual Abuse Task Force released an update on its work, revealing Guidepost Solutions had reviewed and processed a substantial amount of information pertinent to the investigation through the review of documents and contacting and interviewing a substantial number of current and former SBC committee members, staff and trustees.

These interviews are essential in conducting a full, fair, and comprehensive investigation and assessment. They also provide an opportunity for interviewees to offer recommendations and provide feedback as to how the SBC EC can create a safer community going forward, the report said.

On Tuesday, Litton said that Guidepost Solutions will send the results of its investigation to the Sexual Abuse Task Force 30 days before the June 12-15 annual meeting in Anaheim, California.

The Sexual Abuse Task Force will have a week to formulate recommendations, and then the findings will be released to the public.

I would encourage you to allow the Lord to humble us and to embrace it, Litton said. Setting agendas aside, this is serious; peoples lives have been damaged, hurt, ruined. And I think we all need to remain very sober about this and yet determined.

Litton prayed: We pray for wisdom, Lord, that we as we said last night, would not just brace for the impact, but that we would embrace You to act and to do what is right, and Lord, that we know we are being scrutinized by You, above all. Lord, we ask you to move, move upon our hearts, our minds. Help us to reconcile things, help us to deal with this. And Lord, we know it is not a quick fix. And so we, Lord, ask that we would truly be transformed, that the culture of our great convention would become even more like Christ, for Your glory.
Supreme Court agrees to hear Christian web designer's same-sex wedding website case

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of a Christian web designer challenging a Colorado state law requiring her to create wedding websites for same-sex couples if she also offers similar services for other couples.

In an orders list released Tuesday morning, the high court agreed to hear an appeal in the case of 303 Creative LLC et al v. Aubrey Elenis, et al.

The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to the following question: Whether applying a public-accommodation law to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, the order states.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group representing web designer Lorie Smith and her company, 303 Creative, praised the high courts decision to hear the appeal.

This could be a landmark case for religious liberty and artistic freedom, stated the ADF on Twitter shortly after the order was released. We look forward to representing Lorie before the high court.

The government doesnt have the power to silence or compel creative expression under the threat of punishment. Its shocking that the 10th Circuit would permit Colorado to punish artists whose speech isnt in line with state-approved ideology, ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner said in a statement.

Colorado has weaponized its law to silence speech it disagrees with, to compel speech it approves of, and to punish anyone who dares to dissent. Colorados law  and others like it  are a clear and present danger to every Americans constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation.

In 2016, Smith filed a pre-enforcement legal challenge to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, arguing that the law would force her to provide services contradicting her religious views that marriage is a union between one man one woman.

A key issue was that Smith wanted to start building websites for weddings, but she did not want to provide those services for same-sex weddings due to her religious objections to the unions.

In July of last year, a panel of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 against 303 Creative, concluding that Colorado has a compelling interest in protecting both the dignity interests of members of marginalized groups and their material interests in accessing the commercial marketplace.

When regulating commercial entities, like Appellants, public accommodations laws help ensure a free and open economy, wrote Circuit Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, a Clinton appointee, in the majority.

Thus, although the commercial nature of Appellants business does not diminish their speech interest, it does provide Colorado with a state interest absent when regulating noncommercial activity.

Circuit Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, a George W. Bush appointee, authored a dissent, concluding that the Constitution protects Ms. Smith from the government telling her what to say or do.

But the majority takes the remarkable  and novel  stance that the government may force Ms. Smith to produce messages that violate her conscience, wrote Tymkovich.

In doing so, the majority concludes not only that Colorado has a compelling interest in forcing Ms. Smith to speak a government-approved message against her religious beliefs, but also that its public-accommodation law is the least restrictive means of accomplishing this goal. No case has ever gone so far.

In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian baker Jack Phillips, arguing that the state of Colorado violated the bakers First Amendment rights when it penalized him for refusing to bake a custom cake for a same-sex wedding. In the 7-2 ruling, the court reasoned that laws must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion.

Last July, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a Washington-based Christian florist punished by the state for refusing to provide floral arrangements to a same-sex wedding. Last November, the florist, Barronelle Stutzman of Arlenes Flowers, agreed to pay $5,000 and retire as part of a settlement in the yearslong legal battle.
Hundreds of Catholic baptisms may be invalidated in Michigan over incorrect 'formula'

Nearly two years before thousands of Catholics learned earlier this month that their baptisms were invalidated because their priest said the wrong word during baptisms, hundreds of Catholics baptized at the St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church in Michigan learned their baptisms were also deemed invalid.

The Rev. Andres Arango, the former priest of St. Gregory Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona, resigned after a 20-year career earlier this month after church officials concluded that he had been using the phrase We baptize instead of the Vatican approved I baptize for baptisms.

Specifically, it was reported to me that Fr. Andres used the formula, WE baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The key phrase in question is the use of We baptize in place of I baptize, Thomas J. Olmsted, the bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix said at the time. The issue with using We is that it is not the community that baptizes a person, rather, it is Christ, and Him alone, who presides at all of the sacraments, and so it is Christ Jesus who baptizes.

Seventeen months ago, the Archbishop of Detroit, the Rev. Allen H. Vigneron, revealed in a statement that the now-retired Deacon Mark Springer, who performed nearly 800 baptisms at St. Anastasia from 1986-99 had made a similar error which also led to the invalidation of the baptism of Fr. Matthew Hood, a young priest Springer had baptized with the "invalid formula."

The deacon who first attempted to baptize Father Hood, Deacon Mark Springer, used this invalid formula while assigned at St. Anastasia Parish in Troy, during the period from 1986-1999, Vigneron said at the time. The parish and Archdiocese of Detroit will make efforts to contact those whom the deacon attempted to baptize, so that they may receive valid sacraments. The Archdiocese has made the deacons identity known in an attempt to alert people whom we may not have a way to contact.

Archdiocese of Detroit spokeswoman Holly Fournier told The Associated Press that only 200 of Springers baptisms were identified as valid and 71 people came forward to redo the sacrament again including Fr. Hood.

The AP reported that within days of finding out that his baptism was invalid, Hood, 31, was properly baptized and quickly ordained to the priesthood in 2020. Some 30 couples whose wedding Hood officiated also had to redo their vows.

I was expecting them to be angry, upset, confused, Hood told the news service. Their reaction was Father Matt, we feel so bad for you.

The archdiocese is still waiting to hear from hundreds of others whose baptism and other sacraments are now considered invalid.

"We reached out directly, mailing letters to everyone impacted using the most recent records we had on each individual, Fournier told the AP. We're eager to accompany anyone who comes forward."

In the Catholic Church, people are baptized once, as infants, and not rebaptized as adults. However, children, teenagers and adults who convert to Catholicism also receive baptism, often performed during Easter vigils (see examples here and here).

While admitting that even though in the Catholic tradition God has bound Himself to the sacraments, but He is not bound by the sacraments, Vigneron insisted that having the rites properly administered is an important part of Catholic life.

When properly administered, (sacraments) are visible rites and efficacious channels through which the sanctifying grace of God flows to those who receive them with the proper disposition, he said. Sanctifying grace is necessary for a soul to spend eternity in heaven, and valid sacramental baptism guarantees that this grace has been placed in the soul.

Sin is a loss of sanctifying grace, but all the sacraments work according to their purpose to give and fortify sanctifying grace in the soul. This grace is a treasure of treasures and we must do everything we can to protect the integrity of the sacraments through which we receive it, he explained. It is the duty of the local Church to ensure that everyone entrusted into her care has the full benefit and certainty that come from the valid reception of the sacraments, which have been given to us to keep us as secure as possible on the path to heaven.
A federal judge in Scranton has sentenced a Monroe County motel operator to 15 years in jail for sex and drug trafficking.

Faizal Bhimanis sentencing followed a two-week jury trial in Scranton in October 2020, in which a jury found Bhimani and co-defendant Nazim Hassam guilty, along with two hotel companies, Om Sri Sai Inc., and the Pocono Plaza Inn, formerly known as the Quality Inn, in Stroudsburg.

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Bhimani, 45, of Bartonsville, was convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and aiding and abetting in those charges, sex- and drug-trafficking conspiracy, and managing a drug-related premises.

[ Monroe County man, hotel company charged in sex and drug trafficking case ]

Authorities said Bhimani, who was first charged in 2017, conspired with others to recruit women to work as prostitutes, and conspired with others to distribute cocaine, crack, marijuana and heroin.

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According to a news release Friday from U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania:

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Bhimani was closely associated with several traffickers and knew of the methods to compel victims to have sex for money, according to the release.

Authorities also said Bhimani also warned sex traffickers and drug dealers when law enforcement were present at the hotel, including during the manhunt for Eric Frein in 2014.

Frein was convicted and sentenced to death for the an attack at a Pennsylvania State Police police barracks in the Poconos that year, during which he shot and killed one state trooper and seriously injured another.

The jury in 2020 also found the Pocono Plaza Inn guilty of managing a drug-related premises, and Hassam, part-owner and vice president of Om Sri Sai and managing shareholder of both hotels, guilty of drug trafficking conspiracy and two counts of managing a drug-related premises.

The convictions ended a joint investigation into sex trafficking, drug trafficking and violent crime in Monroe County by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which began in 2014 with an FBI investigation into the Black P Stone gang, a set of the Bloods gang, which was responsible for gun violence and drug trafficking in Monroe.

Stroud Area Regional Police Department and the Monroe County District Attorneys Office joined the investigation, which eventually expanded beyond the Black P Stones to uncover more widespread sex and drug trafficking in the county.

Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Bhimani.
Ukraine's situation is dire, but not irreversible

I imagine Im not the only one whos been watching the events at the Ukrainian border with my hands covering my eyes, opening a slit in the metaphorical fingers to check the news, asking, Did he do it yet?

Well, the answer this morning (at the time of this writing) was yes. This reality was not a foregone conclusion, as some may believe. It was hardly a year ago when the Russians conducted mass exercises in the same place, though at the time the Russian press mocked Western concerns of imminent invasion, as they have done in recent weeks. (I distinctly remember listening to Russian radio commentators saying, Its all just training, what are they so worried about over there? Given what happened the previous time Russian troops massed at the border of a neighboring nation and what has transpired since then, we had every reason to be concerned.)



Many hoped this time would be just another show of strength and a reminder to NATO  were still here, and were not going to let you rest easy. Even marching troops into Donetsk and Luhansk (the two regions that were split by the civil war) was no guarantee that the rockets would fly. Sadly, this was no empty threat.

As I am no historian, and given that far more erudite individuals have already taken to analyzing and discussing this new cold war, Ill depart the field of grand geopolitical analysis and focus on a few aspects of this debacle to which I am personally privy. My personal studies in Russian (language and sundry) and my academic stint at Cedarville University delving into all things German made it easier for me than most of my fellow Americans to keep track of the events unfolding over the last several years and leading up to now. I also had the opportunity to spend a semester in Lithuania in 2018, living amongst hallmates from all over the former USSR, including a large number of Ukrainians.

My foreign policy pet peeve since 2018 has been the Nordstream 2 pipeline. My semester in the Baltic region afforded me an almost literal front-row seat to the forfeiture of European energy independence, which I decried even at that time as foolish in the extreme, along with our previous commander-in-chief. Western European leaders protested US sanctions against companies that took part in the construction and financing of the project, while those in Eastern Europe, knowing all too well the consequences of Russian rule, called for the whole deal to be scuttled.

Not surprisingly, Ukraine took particular umbrage, as this second oceangoing pipeline would allow Putin to close the taps on gas and oil flowing through the pipelines that traveled by way of Ukraine, all without hurting Russian export numbers. As a final insult, Russian gas exports to Europe were unexpectedly cut last winter, driving up energy costs in nations like Germany that relied on imported energy after closing down reliable nuclear plants and reducing coal-based energy production to focus on green energy.



As for little Lithuania? They solved the problem years ago by permanently docking an LNG tanker, aptly named The Independence, in Klaipeda harbor that allows them to heat and power their country without imports from their former occupiers.

While Im dwelling on my past travels in the former USSR, theres another country I visited that provides a unique comparison with Ukraines plight today  Georgia. I was merely 10 years old when Russia pounced on another of its neighbors. For those not well acquainted with post-Soviet politics, Russia assisted in the breaking away (read: they invaded) of two ethnically distinct regions of Georgia to form their own de-facto nations, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which few countries outside of Russian have since recognized. To this day, there are deep resentments against Russia throughout Georgia, with signs of Russia is occupier! pasted around the capital city Tbilisi. There was pushback from the West at the time, but nothing more than a slap on the hand and some political finger waving.



Why then are we so shocked and appalled that Putin is doing the exact same thing to another former republic? Is it because Ukraine is closer to the rest of Europe while most people dont even know where Georgia is? Its forgivable that the broader public doesnt know the intimate details of the Caucasus region and its troubles, but our leaders have no excuse for allowing such aggression to go unchecked.

In the midst of all the sordid news pouring out of the Eastern front, there is a small glimmer of hope, if not for those living directly in the line of fire. When Putin seized Crimea in 2014 without firing a shot, the Russian people were buoyed by a wave of national pride, with calls of   (Crimea is ours) resounding throughout the nation.



The national mood is rather different this time around.



Instead of approval of the demilitarization and denazification of a nation that Putin claims has been waging genocide on the Russian-speaking peoples of its eastern oblasts, the hashtag # (no war) has been trending on Russian social media. Whether an affection to friends and family living on both sides of the line of conflict or the fear of a protracted war which will see many young conscripts sent home in body bags, the Russians are not so enthused about a war in Ukraine as Putin may have hoped.

Given my connections to the individuals and cultures involved in this conflict, I am deeply pained to see one side being crushed from above and the other waging an unjust war of conquest. More generally, I am concerned about the broader implications for the rest of the world. While I have no power to sway the situation directly, I can implore all those who read this column to take up a call to prayer to the our Sovereign King for our brothers and sisters in Christ who find themselves in harms way, and more generally for a nation which has already endured suffering on a scale which we can scarcely imagine.

#

Originally published at Bereans at the Gate.
home World Russias invasion of Ukraine: Christian groups Samaritan's Purse, World Help send relief to war victims



International Christian relief groups Samaritans Purse and World Help are standing alongside the Ukrainian Church to provide aid to victims as Russias full-scale military invasion of Ukraine enters into the third day Saturday with Russian troops storming toward Ukraines capital.

Explosions and artillery fire could be heard in the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv Friday night and street fighting with Russian forces was going on early Saturday, The Guardian reported, adding that residents had been urged to seek shelter, avoid going near windows or on balconies.

Saturday morning, a residential apartment building near the international airport in Kyiv was struck by a Russian missile attack, Kyiv Independent reported, adding that no deaths had been reported and that people across the country were taking shelter underground and in subway stations.

The street clashes in Ukraine have resulted in hundreds of casualties, The Associated Press reported.

Amid the suffering and chaos, Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritans Purse said it had deployed disaster response specialists to Poland and Romania, where Ukrainian refugees were arriving in large numbers.

More than 50,000 Ukrainians had fled the country as of Friday night, many more are moving toward its borders, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi was quoted as saying. Another 50,000 Ukrainians had left the country in anticipation of the war, Reuters reported earlier.

Grandi said Thursday that more than 100,000 people had moved within Ukraine to flee violence.

Experts have warned that a prolonged war could displace millions of Ukrainians, leading to large-scale humanitarian crisis.

We have deployed members of our Disaster Assistance Response Team to surrounding countries and are standing ready to help meet emergency needs resulting from the crisis, said evangelist Franklin Graham. Please join me in praying for the people of Ukraine and for this conflict to end quickly.

The specialists, which include medical staff, are assessing needs in Ukraines neighboring countries as a result of Russias invasion, which began Thursday. The group, led by Graham, is also speaking to partner churches and organizations in Ukraine to prepare and implement a strategic disaster response.

The group, which works with more than 3,000 churches across Ukraine, has also prepared an Emergency Field Hospital for overseas shipment in the event that it is needed.

The organization will also distribute over 600,000 gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for children through those churches and ministry partners.

Christian group World Help, through local churches and Christian nonprofits, is also providing emergency essentials for over 1,000 displaced Ukrainians.

Our hearts are breaking for the people of Ukraine, said Kraig Cole, director of International Partnerships for World Help, which serves the physical and spiritual needs of people in impoverished communities around the world.

We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and we want to get people the help they need as soon as possible, Cole explained. Weve been preparing for a Russian invasion, but I dont think anyone predicted an attack like this.  We have no idea how the situation in Ukraine will escalate. Were just getting started.

Cole also urged the Christian community in America to provide help. No one is powerless to help. Even a small gift can go a long way toward helping a person survive as they flee what is quickly becoming a full-scale warzone. This is our chance to follow the example of the Good Samaritan and to go out of our way to help someone who is hurting.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden Friday night signed an order to provide up to $600 million to Ukraine  up to $350 million in military aid, and $250 million for overall assistance.

Also on Friday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to his fellow European leaders in a video call, telling them it might be the last time they saw him alive, according to Chronicle Live.

The United States had offered to evacuate Zelenskyy, but he rejected it, saying he would stay in the country as the fight is here, according to The Associated Press, which cited a source in U.S. intelligence.

The Biden administration also wants to divert Customs and Border Protection agents from the U.S. southern border crisis to facilitate evacuations from Ukraine.

In a memo sent to field operations executives Thursday, CBPs office of field operations sought volunteers who would immediately go to Poland for Operation Ukraine Support, Just the News reported.

The Office of Field Operations is seeking volunteers to assist with the possible evacuation of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and their immediate family members from Ukraine, the memo read. Eligible employees who volunteer for this situation may be selected to serve a temporary duty assignment in Poland to facilitate travelers for entry into the U.S., to include providing guidance and problems resolution to other government agencies.

The Biden administration had made a similar move for Afghan evacuees after the U.S. pull-out from the South Asian country.

Russias invasion of Ukraine, the largest ground war in Europe since World War II, has drawn strong condemnation from the international community.

On Thursday, Biden said he would re-impose sanctions he had earlier lifted, but these sanctions won't begin for 30 days. He added that the U.S. would also work with allies to enact additional sanctions, including possibly cutting Russia off from Western financing (Swift payments system) and tech imports.

Biden and European nations will, however, continue paying Russia for its oil and gas imports. The president added: "in our sanctions package, we specifically designed to allow energy payments to continue."

We have purposefully designed these sanctions to maximize the longterm impact on Russia and to minimize the impact on the United States and our allies, he said.

Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences, Biden said.

On Friday, Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, used its veto power to block a resolution condemning its invasion. The vote at the U.N.'s headquarters in New York City was 11 in favor, one against, and three abstentions, including China and India.

In Russia, authorities have arrested at least 1,800 people for holding demonstrations against the war on Ukraine, said the local arrest watchdog group OVD-Info.

Russian pop stars, television show hosts and journalists have also voiced their opposition to the invasion.

Russia began its attacks early Thursday, targeting Ukrainian military assets in several key cities nationwide.



Originally published in The Christian Post.
It's just before noon in the middle of the week at the Big Sur Restaurant in San Simeon. Owner Maura Valencia is standing across an empty lunch counter from me as I ask her the obvious question, the one she probably doesn't want to hear, "Where is everyone?"

She makes a sweeping gesture with her arms around the cozy, but empty, cafe and then gives me a smile and a shrug. "What do you see?" she says. "Where are they? You tell me."

San Simeon is a town of 658 residents, located along California's oceanfront state Route 1. It's the exact midway point on the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco  approximately 240 miles away from the state's two most populous metropolitan areas.

Driving through, it's a get-distracted-and-youll-miss-it-entirely single row of hotels, motels, restaurants and a liquor store. The local economy is reliant upon Hearst San Simeon State Park and Hearst Castle, which has been closed by California State Parks since March 2020  first for COVID and then for road work.

While California State Parks San Luis Obispo Coast District Superintendent Dan Falat said the castle  which hosts an average of 750,000 visitors a year  is set to open by mid-April, local businesses in San Simeon don't know how much longer they can hold out, even with the 165-room Julia Morgan-designed, Gatsby-esque monument to the Roaring Twenties in full operation.

Life without Hearst Castle

"Weve got the castle and we've got a beach," says Miguel Sandoval, front desk manager at the San Simeon Lodge. "It's been a double whammy. First COVID, then the [castle remained] closed. It's been like this for almost two years."

"Like this," in this case, also means empty.

Besides a lone server in the San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, the hotels adjoining restaurant and lounge, Sandoval is the only sign of human life in the building. His voice echoes down the lobby corridor when he answers the phone.

The San Simeon local says that while the time leading up to spring break and summer is usually quiet, he's never seen it this dead for this long.

"We hope the crowds come back," he says. "That's all we can do."

San Simeon is missing visitors

Theres one key missing component: foreign tourists, according to Bob Matchett, a resident of nearby Cambria.

"I used to run [tour] buses," he says. "The castle has been in decline for years with locals and California residents. But for people coming from abroad  Europeans and visitors from Japan and China especially  it was a big draw."

He says after the tour groups stopped in March 2020, visitors have come around "less and less often."

"There's not much else to do besides look at the ocean," Matchett says as he straps his surfboard to the roof of his car. "I have to admit, it's nice for the locals. Imagine all this to yourself. Nobody was here at the height of the pandemic  it was amazing. It's quiet. But quiet like this really hurts."

Reality has set in in San Simeon: the community will need to be self-sustaining or pull from local and regional markets in order to stay afloat. "Sometimes people move on from a thing," says Cambria resident Casimir Pulaski, out for a morning walk along the state beach. "Everything's stopped because of COVID and then the [castle] closure. The way things are going now, it doesnt look like the world can come here anytime soon.

California visitors are finding paradise

One visiting California couple says they've "found paradise" in a "forgotten" San Simeon. Fresno residents Linda and Mike Walsh stayed at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort this week, with friends, to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

"We discovered this four and a half years ago," Linda says. "We stay right on the beach. We've been back three times. We keep looking forward to coming back. When we do, like right now, it's empty. It's glorious. It's all ours."

Back at the Big Sur Restaurant, a handful of lunch patrons wander into the cafe, and Valencia is busy getting drinks and taking orders. She pauses for a moment and says two years with no steady business is about the limit of what she can endure. "It's not enough."

"But," she adds, "we're expecting a good summer. We hope people haven't forgotten about us. We'll see."
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When she first started out as a Montgomery County criminal defense attorney in 1989, Lydia Clay-Jackson, 71, would go all through her workday without seeing another Black person.

Her singularity was picked up by judges who took to referring to her as the Black lady. In response, Clay-Jackson took on a trademark accessory, and a new descriptor: the lawyer in the hat.

As a person of color, we have to live in the majority white world, but Caucasians never have to step one foot into our world. So, that perspective that we have is dual, she said as she discussed what a Black woman would bring to the role of a U.S. Supreme Court justice.

Ahead of President Joe Bidens Friday afternoon announcement making good on a campaign promise to nominate the first African American woman to the nations highest court, Clay-Jackson and three other Black women lawyers in Montgomery County  Lorena Perez McGill, Tiana Sanford and Lisa Stewart  spoke in interviews earlier this month about how their perspectives enrich their professions.

Weve been waiting for a Black female Supreme Court justice, said Sanford, 39, a division chief at the Montgomery County Assistant District Attorneys Office.

If confirmed, Ketanji Brown Jackson, who serves as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia Circuit, will replace Associate Justice Stephen Breyer upon his retirement in the summer.

These legal professionals share unique experiences. Using data from the American Bar Association, The New York Times in January estimated the number of attorneys who are Black and female make up about 2 percent of the national total.

Montgomery County has a Black population of about 6 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Census estimates. And the primary space these women move about as they practice law, the Montgomery County Courthouse, has long been filled with the specter of the Jim Crow era.

I could do that

Perez McGill, 52, an immigration attorney, moved to a career in law having witnessed her late mother uphold her ethics as a judge in the Dominican Republic. Perez McGill ran as a Democrat against state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, in 2018 and 2020.

Speaking in her south Montgomery County office suite, Perez McGill admitted she does a beauty routine followed by countless Black women trying to avoid bias about their appearance.

Whenever I need to go before a judge, even if it is on video nowadays, Perez McGill said before lowering her voice and concluding, I straighten my hair beforehand.

Both Perez McGill and Clay-Jackson are sworn members of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, which allows them to practice law before the Supreme Court justices.

Clay-Jacksons resume is a series of pioneering bullet points beginning in 1985 when she started a general law practice in Montgomery County. She said she was the only African American lawyer working off of the Interstate 45 and U.S. 59 stretches between Dallas and Harris counties at the time.

Taking on a misdemeanor prosecutor role at the Montgomery County Attorneys Office in 1988 made her the countys first minority professional hire. She was Texas first Black woman to be board certified in criminal law and was the first woman of color named president of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Sanford, who describes herself as mission-oriented in her drive to be a lawyer, became the offices first Black chief prosecutor in 2015. But she is quick to point out the shortcoming this entails.

The moniker of the first Black or the only Black says more about the institution than it does about the Black woman because theres so many of us who are capable. Its due to a lack of access, not a lack of ability, Sanford said in a conversation at the DAs Office at the Lee G. Alworth Building in downtown Conroe.

As a special victims chief prosecutor at the DAs Office, Stewart, 38, thinks being Black better informs her understanding of certain cases. Stewart realizes kids with more pigmented skin may not bruise as easily but may still be victims of physical abuse, she said in her office at the Childrens Safe Harbor advocacy center in central Conroe.

A perk to her job, she added, is being an inspiration to those she advocates on behalf of.

It is an awesome moment to have a little Black girl see, like Oh wow. I could do that, Stewart said.

Broadening perspective

As far as a Black woman being forwarded for the Supreme Court, Perez McGill pushed back against the idea the nomination provided something novel.

Finally, the Supreme Court would start resembling the fabric of the United States of America and the fabric of the law that they are trying to interpret. Its not different. What was different was the Supreme Court and its finally trying to catch up, Perez McGill said.

Sanford, who works in diversity recruiting and retention for the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, signaled the need for broadening representation in law.

Those who interpret, those who amend, those who create these new laws, these norms that allow us to exist together in these spaces, need to reflect who we are, Sanford said, adding, For every white male thats qualified to sit on the Supreme Court, theres a Black female thats qualified to sit on the Supreme Court.

Similarly, Stewart argued for broader inclusion in the crafting of the law.

I dont think that monolithic perspective of how you interpret the law is helpful to our entire population, Stewart said. I hope people dont forget that there are extremely qualified people up for nomination and that the merits of their work is only enhanced by their experience and not because of their experience as Black women.

Surrounded by a personal collection of legal keepsakes in her homey law office near downtown Conroe, Clay-Jacksons eyes widened as she spoke about expecting to see the first Black woman nominated to the highest court in the land.

I anticipate (it) will give me the same type of feeling as when Barack Obama was sworn in as president, when Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president, Clay-Jackson said as she recalled crying with her late father in seeing the first Black president take office.

Through the front door

The county courthouses grounds are covered by sprawling trees, one of which was reportedly used to lynch a teenager in the early 1900s. A little more than a dozen years later on a street across from the building, a 20-year-old was burned alive. A defendant in 1941, was shot dead in a courtroom before jury selection in his trial began.

Each of the slain were Black males.

Today, Clay-Jackson walks through the front door of the courthouse. But she knows there was once a time when she would be forced to come through the basement. When she brings this up during jury selection, she has heard the response, Oh, we dont need to talk about that anymore.

But she said because she is Black, and sometimes the defendant is also Black, she pointedly replies, We need to talk about that.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx
UN Security Council fails to adopt resolution on Ukraine

Xinhua) 09:36, February 26, 2022

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The draft resolution, proposed by the United States and Albania, was rejected because it was vetoed by permanent member Russia.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine.

The draft resolution, proposed by the United States and Albania, was rejected because it was vetoed by permanent member Russia.

Any negative vote, known as veto, from the council's five permanent members means a failed resolution.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
America has gotten more gullible during the pandemic. Thats bad news with Russian cyberattacks looming.

The FBI warned governments and businesses last week to brace for attacks after the U.S. levied economic sanctions against Russia for the Evil Empires unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and slaughter of innocent civilians.

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Officials fear Russian cybercriminals will retaliate by trying to disrupt American infrastructure and commerce.

Governments and businesses are only as strong as their weakest employee. Many cyberattacks start with email phishing schemes targeted at workers. And new data show America has a lot of weak points.

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Consumers reported losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, an increase of more than 70% over the previous year, the Federal Trade Commission said last week.

The Philadelphia metro area (6th) and East Stroudsburg metro area (17th) ranked in the top 50 for fraud and other consumer complaints, based on complaints per population. Pennsylvania ranked seventh of all states.

While the FTC data measure consumer fraud, attacks on businesses, governments, utilities and other critical systems can occur in the same way.

With so many people being tricked in their personal lives, that makes them susceptible for being duped at work, too, when the stakes are much higher.

[ Kyiv under threat as Russia presses invasion to Ukrainian capital ]

The most common fraud complaint last year involved impostor scams. Victims are tricked into doing something based on an email, phone call or other message they believe is from a credible source such as a friend or co-worker, or a government agency like the IRS, a bank or state lottery.

Some email scams ask people to open a file or click on a link. That results in malware being dowloaded to computers. That malware captures passwords, allowing the hackers access to critical systems or data.

Last year, one compromised password resulted in a cyberattack against Colonial Pipeline Co., according to Bloomberg. That briefly shut down the countrys largest fuel pipeline and resulted in fuel shortages.

Bloomberg reported that it wasnt clear how the password was obtained. But it was found on the dark web, an internet where criminals buy and sell stolen data.

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Companies in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia areas have been hit in the past. Workers responded to what they thought were emails from co-workers asking for data about employees. The emails were from scammers seeking information to commit identity theft.

These scams can be sophisticated.

Crooks may compromise a real employees account and then use it to target co-workers. Or, they may set up email accounts that are nearly identical to corporate accounts, differing by a single letter or using a slightly different format.

Employees, especially those at banks and financial firms, energy companies, health care facilities and other critical infrastructure, should be on the lookout for phishing schemes originating from Russia, a known hotbed of cybercriminals.

The scams also occur by phone, text message, social media and mail.

American businesses are preparing for possible cyberattacks as Russia threatened 'consequences' for nations that interfere with its invasion of Ukraine. (Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS)

Its unlikely that organized Russian plots will target you and me through our personal email accounts in attempts to take down the country. Hacking us isnt going to disrupt commerce and capitalism.

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But we remain attractive targets for other reasons, to scams originating domestically and overseas.

Crooks will be happy to get access to our bank accounts or trick us into wiring them money or giving them prepaid debit card numbers. Impostor scams were responsible for more than $2.3 billion in losses last year, about 40% of the total fraud loss reported to the FTC.

In 2020, fraud losses to impostor scams were $1.2 billion.

Those tallies dont capture all fraud, just the cases reported to the FTC. Some victims contact local police or state authorities such as the Pennsylvania attorney generals office. Some victims dont tell anyone because they are embarrassed.

The pandemic was a gold mine for cyber scammers. People relied on the internet and their smartphones to communicate with friends and family while they were stuck at home with nothing to do. Online shopping boomed.

So its not surprising that more people were targeted by con artists.

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What is surprising is who was most likely to be duped  young adults.

Its a misperception that only older people get ripped off in scams. Last year, people ages 20-29 reported losing money to fraud more often than people 80 and older, according to the FTC.

Forty-one percent of people in their 20s who reported being targeted by scams said they lost money; only 17% of those 80 and older did.

Older people are more likely to be hit hard, though. They lost a median amount of $1,500, three times what those in their 20s lost.

Protect yourself from scams

* Dont respond to unexpected emails asking you to click on links or attachments, or provide data or payment. Check the email address closely. Scammers will send emails saying they are from the IRS, your boss or someone else who sounds legit, but they often come from a gmail or other common account.

Call the person, business or agency that the message purports to be from. Use a phone number you find on your own so you know it is legitimate. If you call a number in the email, that will just lead you to the scammer.

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* Watch for spelling errors and poor grammar.

* Use strong passwords and change them often.

* Have a unique password for each account. If you use the same one on multiple accounts, and it falls into the hands of a savvy scammer, they will try it on other common accounts. I made this mistake myself years ago, resulting in my PayPal account being cleaned out.

Morning Call columnist Paul Muschick can be reached at 610-820-6582 or paul.muschick@mcall.com
The coronavirus mutant widely known as stealth omicron" is now causing more than a third of new omicron cases around the world, but scientists still don't know how it could affect the future of the pandemic.

Researchers are slowly revealing clues about the strain, a descendant of omicron known as BA.2, while warily watching it become ever more prevalent.

Were all keeping an eye on BA.2 just because it has done particularly well in some parts of the world, including parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, said Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas.

This week, a technical advisory group for the World Health Organization advised public health authorities to monitor it as a distinct omicron strain.

Early research suggests it spreads faster than the original omicron and in rare cases can sicken people even if they've already had an omicron infection. Theres mixed research on whether it causes more severe disease, but vaccines appear just as effective against it.

Overall cases are falling in some places where the variant is becoming more prevalent, offering some hope that the latest troubling version of the virus won't send cases skyrocketing again as experts try to learn more.

BA.2 has been found in more than 80 countries and all 50 U.S. states.

In a recent report, the WHO said BA.2 was dominant in 18 countries and it represented about 36% of sequenced omicron cases submitted in the most recent week to a publicly available international database where scientists share coronavirus data. That's up from 19% two weeks earlier.

In the United States, BA.2 caused about 4% of COVID cases during the week ending Feb. 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage was lower in some regions and higher in others  hitting about 7% in New England.

BA.2 has lots of mutations. It's been dubbed stealth because it lacks a genetic quirk of the original omicron that allowed health officials to rapidly differentiate it from delta using a certain PCR test. So while the test can detect a BA.2 infection, it looks like a delta infection.

Initial research suggests BA.2 is more transmissible than the original omicron  about 30% more contagious by one estimate.

But vaccines can protect people from getting sick. Scientists in the United Kingdom found that they provide the same level of protection from both types of omicron.

A bout with the original omicron also seems to provide strong protection against reinfection with BA.2, according to early studies cited by the WHO.

But getting BA.2 after infection from the original omicron strain is possible, says new research out of Denmark. Study authors noted 187 total reinfections, including 47 with BA.2 occurring shortly after a bout the original strain, mostly in young, unvaccinated people with mild disease. They concluded that such reinfections do occur but are rare. Like other early studies on BA.2, this one has been posted online but not reviewed by independent scientists.

A Japanese lab study suggests that it could make people sicker, based on experiments with hamsters. Researchers concluded that the risk for global health is potentially higher from BA.2 and proposed that it be given its own Greek letter  a designation for globally significant variants of concern. WHOs technical group said BA.2 should remain under the omicron umbrella.

Though the severity experiments were conducted in animals, the study is "not something to discount, said Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Research Translational Institute. We should keep an open mind and keep assessing this.

But scientists are finding something different when they look at people. An initial analysis in Denmark showed no differences in hospitalizations for BA.2 compared with the original omicron, which tends to generally cause milder disease than the delta variant. More recently, researchers in South Africa found much the same: a similar risk of hospitalization and severe disease with the original omicron variant and BA.2.

We always have to interpret studies in animals with caution, Long said. I place more weight in studies of actual patients and what theyre experiencing.

No one knows for sure how it will affect the pandemic.

COVID-19 cases are dropping globally, including in some of the places where BA.2 is prevalent.

"The timing of the upswings and downswings in cases remains unclear, said Louis Mansky, director of the Institute for Molecular Virology at the University of Minnesota.

Its difficult for researchers to predict how much BA.2 will change caseloads because it is spreading in communities with varying levels of protection from vaccines and prior infections. Some experts believe BA.2 is unlikely to spark new surges but may slow COVID declines in some places.

WHO officials stress that the pandemic isn't over and urge countries to remain vigilant.

Doctors said individuals should do the same and remember that vaccines and boosters offer excellent protection against the worst effects of COVID-19, no matter the variant.

"For people who arent boosted, please get boosted. For people who arent vaccinated, its never too late, Long said. Your best defense against COVID is still the vaccine.
Jay R. Jordan / Chron staff

Police have arrested a Houston man who prosecutors say intentionally drove his car into a woman walking on the sidewalk and then beat her with a metal pipe early Thursday. Paramedics rushed the woman, identified by Houston police as 26-year-old Jasmine James, to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced her dead.

Chiedozie Amadi, 22, is accused of running James down around 2 a.m. in the 9700 block of Bissonnet Street. In doing so, he flipped the sedan after crashing into a utility pole and wrought iron fence, video of the collision's aftermath recorded by a witness shows. Chron has decided not to publish the video due to its violent nature.
The interior of a subway car that was manufactured at the former Bombardier plant, now Alstom, is seen in Toronto.
Florida, US (34429)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
Wilkes Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Cloudy this morning with showers during the afternoon. High 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 51F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were killed and another was injured in a shooting incident in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Friday, police officials said.

Unknown gunmen riding on motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire at a group of police officers patrolling in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, Asad Nasir, a senior police official in Quetta, told Xinhua.

The miscreants fled the scene after the attack, the official said, adding that the injured policeman has been shifted to a government hospital in Quetta.

A heavy contingent of security forces reached the site to investigate the matter, and a search operation was launched to arrest the attackers.

No group or individual has claimed the attack yet. 
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Oklahoma City, OK (73106)

Today

Variable clouds with strong thunderstorms. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 67F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low around 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Claremore, OK (74018)

Today

Thunderstorms - some locally heavy downpours are possible, especially during the afternoon hours. A few storms may be severe. High near 65F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
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.
It didnt take much time for tensions to run high during the vice presidential debates this year. When former congressman and academic Walden Bello began rebutting the statements of sitting senators Kiko Pangilinan and Senate President Tito Sotto, he could not be stopped by neither the moderators nor his mic being cut off. His running mate Ka Leody De Guzman humorously described it on Twitter as hyper. (Bello would later say during the live telecast that he didnt actually enjoy dumping on senators Pangilinan and Sotto.) When the topic of political dynasties came up, he had a few spicy words to say about absentee candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who was represented by an empty podium.

I think the main problem we face is the Marcos-Duterte tandem, Bello said. I feel very strongly about the absence of these two idiots in the debate." The word coward came up a few times, as well as some expletives. The modest crowd inside the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion couldnt decide between shock or laughter.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan offering a rebuttal to a statement by Bello. Photo by JL JAVIER

Labor leader Leody De Guzman was the only presidential candidate who showed up in support of their running mate. Photo by JL JAVIER

Economist Manny SD Lopez. Photo by JL JAVIER

This is perhaps the first time in a very long time that a televised debate for veep was so sparsely populated  without the colors that define each candidate, the debate became an opportunity to see all seven of them plainly, maybe even a little more human than ever before. But earlier that day, along the hallways of University of Santo Tomass Roque Ruano building, candidates knocked on the classrooms-turned-holding rooms of the competition, not unlike the way friends visited each other during recess. Cardiologist and social media personality Willie Ong made a whole campaign about it, making sure to have a few nice words to say about each candidate. His wife, physician Anna Liza Ramoso-Ong, trailed behind dutifully, holding onto his face mask and making sure to document Ongs every move on her own phone.

To Pangilinan, Ong extended thanks on behalf of senatorial hopeful Samira Gutoc, who ran under the Otso Diretso ticket back in 2019 but is now running under his party, Aksyon Demokratiko. Samira says thank you sa lahat ng naitulong mo [sa kanya], Ong told him. (Pangilinan replied, Tell her Im just a text away.) When he visited Bello, he was generous with his praises. He said that like Bello, he refuses to accept outside funding to fuel his campaign. Anti-imperialism rin po [ako], he told the older candidate. Bello eventually warmed up to him after Ong offered help on anything he might need  perhaps hes dealing with high blood pressure? Bello said that he does, in fact, have pretty low blood pressure, and Ong switches to doctor mode, setting his rival aside for a spontaneous consult. When a photographer started clicking close by, Ong turned him away politely and said, Wag muna CNN dito.

Doctor Willie Ong with his wife, physician Anna Liza Ramoso-Ong. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

Senator Pangilinan in his holding room. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

Bello reviewing his notes. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

David and Sotto having a chat before going onstage. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

The numbers dont matter

The latest Pulse Asia survey shows that the likely VP bet to win the race didnt even bother to make it to the debate; Mayor Duterte got the vote of 50% of respondents, followed by Sotto and Pangilinan at 29% and 11% respectively. The rest of the candidates, some of whom have never held public office, have much more work to do in order to win more votes. None of them seem to be bothered that the lion's share of votes seem to favor a candidate with an empty podium.

Pro-life advocate Rizalito David is no stranger to the odds being stacked against him. This is his third attempt at running for a national position. David came to the venue with no one but himself, and a manifesto printed on bond paper that he calls Rebuild. He says that he also personally writes the captions of his Facebook posts. When he ran for senator in 2013, placing 30th, he proudly claimed that he spent less than 100,000 and yet won a million votes. Candidates who spent way more than he did in the same elections  in the hundred millions, he said  managed to gain just the same amount of votes. I only spent a few centavos on each vote, David said.

David is the only candidate who came without an entourage or assistants. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

Lopez getting his portrait taken. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

The Senate President enjoys a few moments of calm before the debate begins. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

Lawyer Carlos Serapio pauses during an interview. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

Without the kind of fanfare national debates usually have, the candidates soon moved to the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, where tensions ran high and strong words were said. But in the common holding room backstage, seven men attempted to banter with each other; maybe to calm the nerves, maybe to psyche out the competition. (Economist Manny SD Lopez asked lawyer Carlos Serapio about the air purifier hanging from his neck. What is that, an amulet?)

Two minutes before the show began, the candidates lined up quietly after being briefed by the producers. On their side of the stage, David greeted his seatmates Bello and Lopez with good luck. The other two responded and the good luck wishes were passed among the three of them  interestingly, its the total opposite of Bellos incensed tone during the actual debate. In this interim world, everybody is nice, and everybody is here to make friends. But when the debate finally begins, its clear that the lines have always been drawn between them. Theyve just all agreed to ignore them in the meantime.

The candidates at the holding room beside the stage. Photo by JL JAVIER

Serapio during the debate. Photo by JL JAVIER

Bello and Pangilinan, with Ong in between them, exchange fist bumps after the debates. Photo by JL JAVIER
BANGKOK, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials from the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) member economies concluded a meeting Friday, after discussing work to reinvigorate regional economic integration, reconnect the region and reassure sustainability for future growth.

During the first APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) in 2022, participants from member economies deliberated on approaches for refreshing the discussions on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) in the post-pandemic context, the reopening of safe and seamless travel in the region as well as exploring the bio-circular-green economy model.

"In past years, member economies have worked hard in moving forward our work on FTAAP. While differences in positions on this issue persist, I believe there are opportunities for cooperation, given the changing landscape and emerging challenges especially from the COVID-19 pandemic," said Thani Thongphakdi, permanent secretary for foreign affairs of Thailand and APEC 2022 SOM Chair.

"Future-proofing the work on regional economic integration, next-generation issues such as health, environment, sustainability and digital economy need to be considered," Thani told a press conference Friday.

The participants also reiterated the importance of trade as a path towards economic recovery, emphasizing their strong support for the role of the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.

The first SOM, running from Feb. 14 to Feb. 25, kicked off Thailand's APEC 2022 host year, with a theme of "Open. Connect. Balance." The second SOM is scheduled for May 9-19. 
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  The fourth wave of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan program is expected to happen on the second week of March, a Department of Health official said on Saturday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the upcoming nationwide vaccination drive intend to focus on regions with low vaccination rate, and cover more senior citizens and adolescents aged 12 to 17.

About week of March 7 ang ating NVD [National Vaccination Day] 4," she said in a public briefing. "We are still finalizing the concept. Pero ang gusto ng ating mga principals, mas maaga kaya week ng March 7.

[Translation: The NVD 4 will happen on the week of March 7. We are still finalizing the concept. But our principals want it early, so it will happen on the week of March 7.]

Ifo-focus natin sa mga A2, yung ating mga senior citizens, sa mga areas na mabababa pa, at pagi-ibayuhin natin yung sa mga 12 to 17 na immunization kasi magfe-face-to-face classes na, said Cabotaje.

[Translation: We will focus on the A2 or our senior citizens, areas with low vaccination rate, and we will also continue to work on the immunization of children aged 12 to 17 because face-to-face classes will resume soon.]

She added that the fourth run of the mass immunization also seeks to increase the number of people who have yet to receive their first dose, complete their primary doses, and get their booster.

As of Feb. 25, Cabotaje said around 63 million individuals nationwide are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sputnik V from Russia

Moreover, the Philippine government has no plan yet to order more Sputnik V vaccines from Russia amid the ongoing crisis with Ukraine.

As of now, ang alam ko walang balak na bumili ng Sputnik V vaccine, we have enough ngayon," disclosed Cabotaje. "Ngayon kung ma-affect yung ibang vaccine, we are ordering yung mRNA which are from U.S., ayun na lang muna.

[Translation: As of now, theres no plan to order Sputnik V vaccine because we still have enough as of now. We are ordering mRNA vaccines from the U.S. and that would suffice if the crisis will affect the supply of other vaccines.]

But the DOH official added that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine could affect the transportation cost of the COVID-19 vaccines.

As of now, we do not see any problems in terms of other vaccines, except baka tumaas dahil sa transport. Kung ano yung mga collateral damage, baka tumaas yung presyo kasi nga yung pag-transport, Cabotaje said.

[Transportation: As of now, we do not see any problems in terms of other vaccines, except that the price could increase because of transportation. Whatever the collateral damage would be, the price could hike due to transportation.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) Three candidates engaged in a heated discussion on foreign policy and fighting for the country's maritime rights during CNN Philippines' vice presidential debate on Saturday.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan underscored the importance of broadening the country's alliances  and proposed to strengthen ties with fellow Southeast Asian nations to assert claims in the South China Sea.

"We will have to engage with ASEAN. Indonesia, Vietnam, they are also concerned about the aggression of China," Pangilinan said.

"The US, Australia, Japan, are also concerned about this nine-dash line, illegal claim," he added. "And we have to also align and strengthen our alliances with them."

Pangilinan also pushed to beef up Philippine patrols in the hotly contested waters.

Senate President Tito Sotto, meanwhile, highlighted a bill he filed which seeks to establish maritime zones.

"Kung ang China merong nine-dash line, wala tayong maritime zones, hindi maliwanag," Sotto said.

"That is why I filed the bill to ika nga ay linawing mabuti yan at kapag diyan pinasok tayo nung kapitbahay natin, papasok 'yung MDT, Mutual Defense Treaty. Ang kalaban nila si Kano na."

[Translation: If China has a nine-dash line, we don't have maritime zones, it's unclear. That's why I filed the bill to clear this up. And when our neighbor interferes, the MDT, Mutual Defense Treaty, will come in. They would have to battle the Americans.]

The senators' statements, however, were questioned by fellow vice presidential candidate Walden Bello  who argued that the Philippines should maintain an independent foreign policy.

"Nakikita na natin dito ang magiging foreign policy ng Leni-Kiko admin at saka ng Lacson-Sotto admin," Bello said.

[Translation: We can already see the foreign policy of the Leni-Kiko and Lacson-Sotto administrations.]

"We have to have independent foreign policy," the former party-list lawmaker added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  Three vice presidential candidates on Saturday gave their take on how they will address the problem of graft and corruption if elected for the second highest office.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan detailed his decades of public service to prove he has what it takes to properly deal with graft and corruption should he win vice president.

The lawmaker said that thorughout the three terms he served as senator, his name was never included in anomalies. He also said that during his term as the chairman of the National Food Authority, he was able to save government funds by rejecting overpriced bids, something he claimed was not common in the agency.

"In fact apat na beses tayong nag reject ng bid. Hindi daw nangyari yan sa 42 taon ng NFA. Bakit nag-reject? Mataas. Bakit mataas? Dahil mayroong isinisingit na tongpats at sa apat nating pagre-reject napababa nila ang presyo ng Thailand at Vietnam ng kanilang ino-offer na bigas at nakatipid nga tayo ng 7 billion pesos dahil dito," he said during the CNN Philippines vice presidential debate.

[Translation: We rejected bids four times. That hasn't happened in NFA in 42 years. We rejected bids because they were too high. Why? ... because it was padded. Due to the rejections, Thailand and Vietnam lowered the price so we were able to save P7 billion because of this.]

Manny Lopez also recounted his experience as a former officer of the NFA, but recalled the reason why he did not succeed in eradicating corruption.

"I fought graft and corruption to the fullest extent of my capability. I lost because there is no political will to fight graft and corruption in our country, it has become endemic. It seems to get worse as we elect more distinguished legislators and officials," he said.

He said there has to be systemic solutions to a systemic problem.

He also said fighting corruption will require "a renewal of our faith, our selves, our country."

Rizalito David had the same stand that strengthening faith will solve the decades-long problem of graft and corruption.

"Nagkukulang tayo sa pag-ibig, hindi political will. Ang corruption ay yumayabong dahil wala tayong pag-ibig sa kapwa," he said. "Lahat ng batas ginawa na natin para maiwasan ang korapsyon pero walang nangyayari, Bakit? ... kasi nasa puso ang kasakiman."

[Translation: We lack in love, not political will. Corruption prospers because we don't have love for our countrymen. We have crafted necessary laws to stop corruption but it is not getting fixed. Why? ... because there is greed in our hearts.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  Three vice presidential bets are not keen on working with presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos if they win in the May 9 polls.

Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Sr., is leading several pre-election surveys by a wide margin against his nine other rivals.

Senate President Tito Sotto said working with Marcos as president hasn't crossed his mind since he's sticking to his plans with running mate and Partido Reporma standard bearer Sen. Ping Lacson.

"I have not given it a thought. In my sphere, we are working on the presidency of Sen. Lacson," said Sotto, who's one of the seven candidates who attended CNN Philippines' Vice Presidential Debate.

"Wala akong naiisip na ibang mananalo (I don't think any one else would win) at this point," Sotto added.

Meanwhile, Liberal Party vice presidential bet Francis Pangilinan encouraged voters to instead choose him and his presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo, so there will be no bickering between the president and vice president unlike the current and past administrations.

Robredo is a vocal critic of Marcos and beat the former senator in a close contest in the 2016 vice presidential race.

"Ang hiling natin sa ating mga botante ay suportahan yung Leni-Kiko tandem para hindi magulo, para nagkakaisa ang presidente at bise presidente. Iyan ang pinakamainam para sa tapat na gobyerno," said Pangilinan.

[Translation: Our appeal to voters is to support the Leni-Kiko tandem so there will be order, and the president and vice president are united. That's the best way for us to have an honest government.]

As for Rizalito David of the Democratic Party of the Philippines, he emphasized that he is willing to offer his service to whoever wins the presidency, but said a Marcos victory will be bad for the country.

"Kung si Bongbong Marcos ang mananalo, which is very sad, wala na tayong magagawa doon. Babantayan natin kung anong gagawin niya. Kapag siya ay nang-abuso, gagamitin natin ang Office of the Vice President para siya ay kumbaga labanan sa kanyang pang-aabuso," said David.

[Translation: If Bongbong Marcos will win, which is very sad, we cannot do anything about it. We will watch what he'll do as president. If he abuses his power, we will tap the Office of the Vice President to fight his abuses.]

Marcos' running mate and presidential daughter Sara Duterte skipped the CNN Philippines Vice Presidential Debate. The Davao City mayor's camp gave no reason for her absence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) More than 40 Filipinos have been evacuated from Ukraine's capital Kyiv to another city and are set to return home to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.

In a statement, the DFA confirmed that the Filipino nationals safely arrived in the western city of Lviv on Friday.

More Filipinos are expected to arrive in Lviv in the coming days, the department added.

The DFA said its foreign posts would assist the group in entering Poland, where they can board their flights back to the Philippines.

At least six Filipinos have returned home from the former Soviet country, which has been under attack by Russian military forces since Thursday.

READ: What does Putin want in Ukraine? The conflict explained
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  The new chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said he would continue the controversial "white sand" project in Manila Bay.

In a statement released Saturday, DENR officer-in-charge Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said he is committed to continuing the priority projects of former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, including the multimillion-peso dolomite beach.

"We can now see the beauty of Manila Bay. Maybe only around 500-600 meters of the Manila Bay is yet to be laid down with dolomite sand," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

"I intend to continue that project because that is our commitment to our dear President," he added.

Sampulna, who was formerly DENR undersecretary, was appointed to the agency's top position after Cimatu resigned due to "health reasons".

He claimed Cimatu's projects "made a huge impact on the Filipino people".

"What I can commit is, our initiatives in the next four months, we will do these for the benefit of the Filipino people," Sampulna said.

In addition, the Boracay rehabilitation project will continue under his leadership.

"Meanwhile in Boracay, since it is also the commitment of the DENR to President Duterte, we intend to continue that," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  The seven vice presidential bets who attended the CNN Vice Presidential Debate picked different government departments where they intend to serve, in case they win the post and will be appointed to such position by the president.

Partido Lakas ng Masa vice presidential bet Walden Bello said he intends to serve as the finance secretary, with a primary task of imposing a wealth tax among 750 billionaires in the country to fund the government's social programs.

Data from US-based World Population Review show as of 2022 the Philippines has 15 billionaires, although the list is in dollars.

Bello added he will lobby Congress to pass laws on job security and higher wages, specifically increasing the daily wage to P750 per day.

"This is not just about social justice, but this is also because we want to put purchasing power in the hands of our people to really make a very creative economy. We are going to repeal all those laws that have open up our economy indiscriminately, thereby destroying our manufacturing and agriculture and forcing our people to go abroad in search of jobs," Bello said.

Rizalito David of the Democratic Party of the Philippines said he will pitch to the president the establishment of a Commission for Moral Renewal and Cultural Restoration, which he will head, to solve the lack of morality and cynicism among government institutions in the society.

"Kailangan nating ibalik ang moralidad ng ating bayan upang tayo'y umunlad (We need to restore the morality of our nation for us to progress)," said David.

Economist Manny SD Lopez said if he wins the vice presidency, he wants to head the Department of Trade and Industry with an economic agenda in place to help the country recover from the pandemic.

Lopez added he will push for the passage of a new Omnibus Investments Code to encourage more investors to set up their business and improve the productivity of enterprises in the country.

"We will be facing severe challenges in the coming years and economic recovery is a must to help uplift the lives of our people," Lopez said.

Aksyon Demokratiko vice presidentiable Dr. Willie Ong said he will leave it to the president to decide if he is fit to be the next health secretary or to be appointed to another Cabinet position.

"Depende sa presidente kung gusto nya ako ilagay sa Department of Health o gusto niya akong gawing overview sa health. Kung gusto nya ako tumulong sa mga ayuda, okay din po sa akin," said Ong.

[Translation: It depends on the president if he wants to appoint me in the Department of Health or he wants me to have an overview of our health sector. If he wants to help me aid in distribution of cash aid, it's also fine with me.]

Senator Francis Pangilinan said he is interested to be appointed in a position that responds to the country's agriculture sector to help empower the farmers and fishermen and control food prices in the market.

"Sa loob ng dalawampung taon ng halalan sa ating bansa, ako lang ang kandidato na isinusulong at gagawan ng solusyon at sinesentro ang problema ng gutom, mataas na presyo ng pagkain, at agrikultura," said Pangilinan, who served as the country's food security czar during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.

[Translation: For about 20 years of elections in our country, I am the only candidate who advocates and provides solutions and banners the problem of hunger, high food prices, and agriculture.]

Katipunan Party vice presidential bet Carlos Serapio prefers to be the country's top diplomat if he wins, citing his academic background and experience in dealing with leaders from other nations.

"In that position, I think the experiences that I've had in doing back-chanelling work will provide the kind of background as well as expertise for me to be able to do justice in the position," said Serapio.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he is interested to again head the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) or the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Sotto added he will implement "completely" the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, of which he was the principal author.

"The present situation calls for the attention of government to the problem of drug abuse, not just illegal drugs. Those are two different animals," said Sotto, who headed the DDB from 2008 to 2009.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  Vice presidential candidates boasted about their plans to shower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with enough financial resources to keep their operations afloat, but one aspirant lambasted "foreign-oriented" laws that "eat up" local firms.

During CNN Philippines' debate, four aspirants shared how they could help MSMEs hit by the pandemic and disasters.

Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, the running mate of Vice President Leni Robredo, said they would allot 100-billion assistance for small businessmen by realigning the current budget.

"Over 1 million ang ating small and medium enterprises at sila ang pinakamalaking employer," he said.

[Translation: We have over one million are small and medium enterprises and they are the largest employer.]

Pangilinan said small players can tap this funding if they commit to hold off on job cuts and rehire workers laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former lawmaker Walden Bello, the running mate of labor leader Leody de Guzman, meanwhile, reiterated their plan to earmark a whopping 250-billion emergency fund for MSMEs.

However, Bello said it would not be enough as he criticized fellow candidates Senate President Vicente Sotto and Pangilinan for supporting "foreign-oriented" laws, such as the amendments to the Foreign Investment Act and the Retail Trade Liberalization.

"We have these foreign-oriented laws that have been passed recently and Senate President Sotto was the one who pushed them through Congress and Senator Pangilinan also signed," he said.

"Sinasabi niyo na pro-Filipinos kayo and you're liberalizing all these laws," Bello added. "Let's not kid ourselves: you're sending this country and our MSMEs to the hands of these foreign enterprises that will eat them up."

In their defense, both Sotto and Pangilinan said they supported the measures to open the Philippines to more foreign investors.

"We have lowered the threshold for those who would want to invest, foreign investments, because that is the way to open up the economy," Sotto said.

Pangilinan, for his part, said the 100-billion fund would balance the effects of the laws.

Sotto, on the other hand, said he and presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson plan to distribute 1 billion per province for MSMEs.

"There are only 81 provinces, 1 billion each, imagine what it can do for the economy in Occidental Mindoro and all the provinces especially the poor provinces," Sotto said.

Lawyer Carlos Serapio, meanwhile, said they would use the budget allotted under the General Appropriations Act.

"They have actually provided big amount of money in support of MSMEs," added Serapio, the running mate of presidential bet Faisal Mangondato.

He said they would seek more funds for research and development.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  Nearly all of the vice presidential candidates are open to the country rejoining or cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has launched a probe into the Duterte governments controversial drug war.

During the CNN Philippines Vice Presidential Debate on Saturday, Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III, lawyer Carlos Serapio, and doctor Willie Ong responded in the affirmative when asked if they want the Philippines to again become a member of the international tribunal.

The country withdrew from the ICC in March 2018 after the latter initiated a preliminary examination into the States anti-drug campaign. The withdrawal became effective in March 2019.

Last September, the ICC authorized an official probe into the drug war, but the national government insisted the court has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

If elected in May, former congressman Walden Bello and Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan said they would give their full cooperation to the ICC.

Manny Lopez, however, believes bringing in "foreign interference" is not a good idea, considering the possible differences in values and perception. He added the move to rejoin has to be timely.

Bello vs Sotto

During the event, Bello also fired attacks against Sotto, accusing him of supporting President Rodrigo Duterte -- including in the bloody anti-drug campaign -- "until just very recently."

The senator, however, denied being a Duterte ally. He also rejected Bello's claim that there have been some 27,000 extrajudicial killings against alleged drug users and dealers. He said there were just over 6,000 reported, while there have been around 378,000 reported arrests.

So, kung may EJK at sinasabi nila, ibinibintang nila kay President Duterte, eh di dapat 378,000 ang patay Kung anu-ano pinapadala nilang figures sa ICC. Hindi totoo yun. You have to let the records speak for itself, Sotto said.

[Translation: If there are really extrajudicial killings which they blame on President Duterte, then there should be 378,000 dead. Theyre sending false figures to the ICC. Those are incorrect. You have to let the records speak for itself.]

Based on Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency data, 6,191 deaths related to the drug war have been reported as of August 31, 2021. However, the ICC estimates 12,000 to 30,000 civilians have been killed in the government crackdown from July 2016 to March 2019when the Philippines' withdrawal from the treaty that created the court took effect.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  Vice presidential candidate Walden Bello caused a commotion in the CNN Philippines debate, catapulting him to the top trending Twitter topics on Saturday.

The former lawmaker took the opportunity to blast his opponent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her running mate presidential Bongbong Marcos for their absence in debates, including the ones being conducted by CNN Philippines.

In two heated moments, Bello hurled expletives on live television against Duterte  calling her a coward. He then used his closing remarks to criticize what he described as the Marcos-Duterte tandem's lack of respect for Filipino voters.

"I think the main problem that we face is the Marcos-Duterte tandem. I think they just spat on the face of the Filipino people telling them that you are not worth my giving you our programs because they have no f***ing programs," he said.

Bello also went on full attack mode against his other opponent, Senate President Tito Sotto. On different occasions, he accused the veteran lawmaker of being a turncoat now after supporting the questionable programs of President Rodrigo Duterte for most parts of his term.

The former Akbayan party-list representative questioned Sotto's hand, as the head of the Senate, in the the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Public Service Act, and the Foreign Investment Act, among others.

"Wag ho tayong mag-rewrite ng history kasi lahat naman ng key legislative na itinulak ni President Duterte, who was the biggest backer? It was Mr. Sotto," he said. "He never dissented from any major legislation kaya ho hindi independent ang kandidatong ito."

[Translation: Let us not rewrite history because every key legislation pushed by President Duterte, who was the biggest backer? It was Mr. Sotto. He never dissented from any major legislation so he is not an independent candidate.]

Bello also raised Sotto's inaction when human rights abuses were allegedly committed in the administration's bloody war on drugs.

"You were an ally of the President, until just very recently. Let's be frank with our kababayan naman, huwag tayong magsisinungaling dito [Let's be frank to our countrymen, let's not lie]," Bello added.

The VP candidate also sparred with Sotto and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan over what he called their pro-United States response to China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

His microphone was temporarily turned off for interrupting his fellow candidates, going against debate rules that all participants earlier agreed upon.

Sotto later jokingly said he believes he got the heat from Bello because Mayor Duterte was not around.
SANAA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi militia announced on Friday they had shot down two spy drones believed to be made by the United States and belonging to the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen.

The first drone was shot down in the northern province of Al-Jawf while the second one was downed in Al-Jubah district in the central province of Marib, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV quoted a statement by Houthi military spokesman as saying.

The coalition has made no comment yet.

The coalition-backed Yemeni government forces have been fighting the Houthi militia for nearly seven years, and Al-Jawf and Marib are critical frontlines.

Large areas of Al-Jawf are under Houthis' control, while the oil-rich province of Marib is mainly under the government's control.

In January, government troops recaptured several districts from the Houthis in Marib and the neighboring province of Shabwa.

The Houthis have since intensified cross-border missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Most of such attacks were reportedly intercepted.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control over several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support Hadi's government. 
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27)  Candidates for the country's second highest post on Saturday offered various proposals to address rising oil prices, which have saddled consumers for weeks now.

Rizalito David said during the CNN Philippines Vice Presidential Debate that he supports the suspension of excise tax on fuel and "probably" slashing the value-added tax on it  something he has urged President Rodrigo Duterte to hold a special Congress session on.

Dr. Willie Ong, meanwhile, reiterated his team's proposal to slash taxes on fuel and power by as much as 50%.

David also eyes reacquiring Petron Corporationthe country's sole firm maintaining local oil refinery operationsand make it a "barometer" of oil prices.

Last November, Petron big boss Ramon Ang expressed willingness to sell back the company to the government.

Bello supported David's suggestion, taking it further to pitch the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law. He batted for price controls especially during emergencies.

The Department of Energy has pushed for the amendment of the measure to allow the government to intervene during surges in global oil prices.

Domestic oil prices have been going up every week since January. Gasoline prices are expected to rise again by 0.90 to 1 per liter this coming week while prices of diesel could go up by 0.80 to 0.90 per liter, according to the latest Unioil forecast.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 14)  Nine presidential candidates and seven vice presidential bets running in the May 9 polls have confirmed their attendance to the debates hosted by CNN Philippines on the last weekend of February.

Nine of the 10 presidential bets - labor leader Leody de Guzman, ex-presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, Jose Montemayor Jr., former defense chief Norberto Gonzales, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Faisal Mangondato, Sen. Ping Lacson, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Vice President Leni Robredo - are attending the Feb. 27 debate.

Former Senator Bongbong Marcos is the lone presidential hopeful who will not attend the debates for now due to conflict of schedule.

"Due to the schedules we have already confirmed for the UniTeam's campaign commitments, we are unable to accept this additional engagement at this time," the Marcos camp said.

Marcos also skipped the Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews and Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Presidential Forum.

The Marcos camp previously said he will not join forums or debates if it will lead to "bickering" with other bets.

Meanwhile, ex-congressman Walden Bello, Manny SD Lopez, Rizalito David, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio, Senate President Tito Sotto, and Willie Ong have committed to attending the debate on Feb. 26.

Marcos' running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is not attending, but her camp did not provide a reason. The invites were sent separately to Marcos and Duterte, who are the current survey frontrunners.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza committed to participate, but he begged off at the last minute as he will undergo a knee replacement surgery.

The absence of Marcos, Duterte, and Atienza will be felt as CNN Philippines will leave empty podiums on the stage.

CNN Philippines will host the presidential debate on Feb. 27, while the vice presidential debate will be held on Feb. 26. Moderated by CNN Philippines anchors, both debates will be held at the University of Santo Tomas from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the candidates attending live in front of a virtual audience.

The debates will air live on CNN Philippines Free TV Channel 9, cnnphilippines.com website, and CNN Philippines' official Facebook account.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Saturday denied traditional jeepneys will be phased out in the coming months amid the government's modernization program for public utility vehicles.

"May mga agam-agam kasi, lalo na sa mga PUJ (public utility jeepneys), na after April, after March 2022 ay ipe-phase out na daw ang mga jeep. Wala naman po itong katotohanan," LTFRB executive director Maria Kristina Cassion told a public briefing.

[Translation: The PUJ sector is worried that traditional jeepneys might be phased out after April or after March 2022. That's not true.]

In December last year, the LTFRB Central Visayas said it received a memorandum circular stating that traditional jeepneys will be phased out starting April 1 this year.

However, Cassion said the modernization of jeepneys by transitioning to Euro 4 compliant vehicles will take time.

"We all know naman na it will take time para sa mga ganito at wala namang nagsasabi. At hindi naman nagsasabi na by March 2022 ay phased out na agad," she said.

[Translation: We all know that this will take time and no one's saying it. There's no announcement that jeepneys will be phased out by March 2022.]

The government's PUV modernization program started in 2017 with the aim of improving and making the transport sector more environmentally sustainable. But some transport groups described the program as anti-poor, as drivers will shoulder the burden of modernizing their vehicles.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26)  Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte was visibly absent during the CNN Philippines debate on Saturday. This led to an opponent calling her a coward while questions about her stand on issues were left unanswered.

"Mayor Sara Duterte why are you not here to defend your positions?" bellowed VP candidate and former congressman Walden Bello during his opening statement.

Seven out of nine vice presidentiables attended the CNN Philippines debate held at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila. Duterte informed CNN Philippines ahead that she will not join the event, without giving a particular reason.

Meanwhile, candidate and congressman Lito Atienza had to bow out of the debate at the last minute as he was recovering from a knee surgery.

Candidates were asked their positions on key issues in the country such as the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption, maritime affairs and political dynasties.

I am really terribly sorry that Mayor Duterte is not here to face the people. She is a coward just like Bongbong Marcos. She is a f**king coward, argued Bello.

In a text message to CNN Philippines, Duterte's spokerperson Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco said "No comment" on Bello's exclamations.

Dutertes running mate former Senator Marcos will also be skipping the presidential debate on Sunday.
(CNN) -- Elizabeth II's health is a big talking point right now, not just because she is elderly but also because Buckingham Palace is releasing so little information about it.

So we thought we'd spend this week's edition answering your biggest questions and concerns.

Yes, she is still recovering from Covid-19.

Last Sunday, the palace announced the 95-year old monarch had tested positive for Covid that same day and was experiencing "mild, cold-like symptoms." It confirmed she was receiving "medical attention" and a royal source added that there had been an outbreak of the virus among Her Majesty's team at Windsor.

It was made clear though that she was not out of action, as the statement added that she "expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week."

What are "light duties?"

This is a relatively new term that we are still getting used to, but our sense is that it means paperwork. Mentioning it reassures us that she is still well enough to work on the most important matters of state, such as signing off on new laws.

She also found time to send a letter of congratulations to the British Olympic team in the week and offer condolences to the people of Brazil following the devastating floods in Petropolis.

But didn't she have to cancel her meetings?

She canceled her weekly in-person audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday but that's because it would have broken Covid regulations at the time, which still required her to isolate. The Queen had a call with Boris Johnson instead.

On Tuesday, she postponed an unspecified number of video calls as she continued to experience symptoms and a source told CNN that they would decide on upcoming engagements nearer the time. She also canceled her video calls Thursday but we are told they are being rescheduled.

Why can't she do video calls?

It may simply be because she doesn't want to appear on camera when she feels unwell, but it also meant we weren't able to see her for ourselves for the whole week.

Why is the palace being so secretive?

It wouldn't accept that it is being secretive. Aides agree the public has a right to updates on their head of state but they also refuse to give a "running commentary" on her medical condition. That's because they believe the family has the same right to patient confidentiality that the rest of us have.

Would they tell us if it got serious?

Well, the palace didn't tell us when she was admitted to hospital last year until it was leaked to the media and even then, it wouldn't specify what she was admitted for.

Our reading of that incident was that if there had been a procedure of some sort then we would have been informed as that was the general rule courtiers had for updates on Prince Philip's hospital visits.

If it got really serious and the Queen became incapacitated temporarily, we suspect we won't be told anything until the family and the Prime Minister were informed and a formal announcement is made about who will be acting on her behalf.

Is Covid her only health issue?

No. She also has some sort of mobility issue. At her last in-person audience with senior members of the military, she joked with them that she couldn't move. CNN was told that was probably more to do with feeling stiff rather than an injury or other ailment. It would be more surprising if she didn't feel creaky sometimes given that she's approaching her 96th birthday in April. This week can't have been comfortable for her when she couldn't move around properly and felt like she had a cold. At least she's out of isolation now, or we assume so as the isolation rules were scrapped in England on Thursday.

All this is a reminder that Elizabeth isn't superhuman, and instances like this prompt the public to worry. The palace is constantly trying to balance the public's right to updates on a publicly-funded monarch with her desire for some privacy.

In reality, the public will always want to know more but it's that mystique that keeps us captivated by royalty, and it's why we eagerly await pictures of her return to work and again keeping the country ticking over. History teaches us she won't be held back for long.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Why aren't we being told more about the Queen's health?".
(CNN) -- As Russian missiles flew through the Ukrainian sky Thursday and world leaders decried an invasion spreading across the country, China refused to condemn Russia's move outright, while appearing to levy blame on the United States and its allies.

Beijing finds itself in a complex position as Russia's invasion of its neighbor intensifies, needing to balance a close strategic partnership with Moscow with its seemingly contradictory policy of supporting state sovereignty.

A Chinese government official Thursday sidestepped questions over whether it would condemn Russia's actions or consider it an "invasion."

Instead, China's Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying -- who repeated staid lines about seeking peace through dialogue and said the situation was "not what we would hope to see" -- was quick to point the finger at the US, implying that Washington was a "culprit" for "fanning up flames," referring to US warnings in recent weeks of an imminent invasion.

"China has taken a responsible attitude and persuaded all parties not to escalate tensions or incite war...Those who follow the US' lead in fanning up flames and then shifting the blame onto others are truly irresponsible," she said.

The comments echoed those made a day earlier, prior to the invasion, when Hua blamed the crisis on "NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russia's doorstep."

"Did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall?" she said.

The presence of Hua at the briefing both days was itself unusual, as the veteran spokeswoman had not been at the podium in such briefings since she was promoted to assistant minister for foreign affairs in October.

Her comments were widely disseminated across China's official state media and social media platforms, where talk of Ukraine dominated coverage and conversation.

'War is not funny'

But while state media reflected the official government line, top trending topics on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, included a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin with more than 360 million views, as well as others looking at how Ukrainian citizens were reacting, such as a post on people lining up to donate blood with 62 million views.

The topic "Ukraine President says Western countries completely give up on Ukraine," topped the list in the morning, raking up over 1 billion views throughout the day and tens of thousands of comments.

Many of those comments on the highly moderated platform mocked Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelensky for being "pro-West" and cheered for Russia and Putin.

But others pushed back: "War is not funny at all," wrote one user, whose post was liked over 60,000 times. "It makes me feel physically sick to see all the jokes about war."

Elsewhere online, homepages of China's major state media outlets took a measured approach, citing statements and news from both the Ukrainian and Russian side, while putting focus on sanctions leveraged by other countries against Russia.

Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily highlighted comments from China's Foreign Ministry pointing to how the US had been "increasing tensions and hyping up war."

A glimpse of the kind of guidance that state media may be under emerged Tuesday, when what appeared to be an internal memo from Chinese state media Beijing News directing its employees not to publish news reports "negative to Russia or pro-West" was mistakenly published on the outlet's official social media account.

The post, which was swiftly deleted, also directed employees to "filter and release proper comments." Beijing government-controlled Beijing News declined CNN's request for comment on the incident.

A relationship with 'no limits'

The Russian invasion comes on the heels of a meeting earlier this month between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Putin, who made a show of their strong bond with a highly publicized meeting ahead of the Beijing Olympics and declared "no limits" to their relationship.

But an outright backing of Russian moves would put China at odds with the West. It would also contradict China's usual vocal support for state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a phone conversation between Xi and Putin on Friday, Xi said China "decides its position based on the merits of the Ukraine issue itself," and that China supports Russia and Ukraine resolving their issue through negotiation, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

"China is willing to work with all parties in the international community to advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept," Xi reportedly added.

The high-level call follows talks between China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Thursday, in which Wang expressed understanding for Russia's "legitimate concerns" on security issues, but said "China always respects all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to a statement by China's Foreign Ministry.

China has denied that it was complicit in Russia's moves, but Western leaders are paying close attention to the Moscow-Beijing relationship as events in Ukraine unfold.

As Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled new sanctions against Russia Friday, he said he was "concerned at the lack of a strong response from China."

Morrison said China's move to begin importing Russian wheat -- based on an agreement made earlier this month -- was "unacceptable" as Australia, the US, Europe, the United Kingdom and Japan acted "to cut off" Russia.

China hit back at the West's decision to slap a swath of economic sanctions on Russia in recent days. In her comments Wednesday, Hua pointed to China's position that sanctions are "never" effective.

"Will the Ukraine issue resolve itself thanks to the US sanctions on Russia? Will European security be better guaranteed thanks to the US sanctions on Russia?" she asked.

This story was first published on CNN.com "As war breaks out in Europe, China blames the US".
The eight Republicans running for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat shared the stage for the first time on a snowy night in Fort Lupton for a mostly cordial opportunity to pitch themselves to conservative voters as the candidate best-suited to take on Sen. Michael Bennet, the two-term Democratic incumbent.
BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a telephone conversation with Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU)'s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

During their phone talks, Wang said that China has always taken a positive attitude to advancing China-EU relations, and that China-EU cooperation is the mainstream while competition and confrontation are not desirable.

The two sides should step up communication, enhance trust and dispel misgivings, and make joint preparations for this year's China-EU leaders' meeting in a bid to promote steady and sustainable development of China-EU relations, said Wang.

All countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, he said, noting that Lithuania's blatant attempt to create "one China, one Taiwan" has strained China-Lithuania relations.

The Chinese foreign minister said that Lithuania's stance on the Taiwan question is not an issue between China and the EU, but one between China and Lithuania, not a trade issue but a political one.

China always keeps the door open for dialogue with Lithuania, said Wang, mentioning that the issue can be easily solved and thus bilateral relations can return to normal, as long as Lithuania corrects its mistakes, refrains from undermining the one-China principle in the international community, and abandons the act of creating "one China, one Taiwan."

The EU should prevent the issue from being amplified and complicated, and prevent China-Lithuania dispute from hijacking China-EU relations, Wang said, adding that the EU side should urge Lithuania to come back onto the right track of upholding the one-China principle as soon as possible.

For his part, Borrell said it is very important for the EU and China to strengthen exchanges and mutual trust, and the EU stands ready to work with China to prepare for this year's China-EU leaders' meeting.

Both sides should be committed to resolving difficulties through dialogue and managing differences in a responsible manner, said Borrell.

The one-China principle is the common policy of the EU and the cornerstone of its China policy, the top EU diplomat said, adding that the EU will work hard to ensure this right direction.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue. 
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
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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PARIS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- France will deploy 500 soldiers in Romania within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) framework, French daily Le Figaro reported Saturday, citing General Thierry Burkhard, chief of staff of the French Armed Forces.

"NATO has decided to reinforce its presence, to send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania," General Burkhard told the press late Friday night.

"We will deploy around 500 men, with armored vehicles, combat vehicles, to provide support to Romania," said Burkhard.

He added that the French military presence will also continue in Estonia, maintaining "around 200 to 250 soldiers with armored vehicles" being the alpine hunters used to fight in mountains and cold weather conditions.

Moreover, he said France will also proceed to deploy "four hunters and Mirage 2000" in Estonia. The Mirage 200 is the single-engine fourth-generation jet fighter manufactured by Dassault Aviation.

In a letter written to the French National Assembly on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France will make additional commitments within the framework of NATO "to protect the soil of Baltic and Romanian allies." 
66632.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 16 Jun 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

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DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) GBKEnglish (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003

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Byownerthailand.com scored 52 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 5 Mar 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

byownerthailand.com is very popular in Facebook. It is liked by 58 people on Facebook and it has 2 twitter shares.

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The total number of people who shared the byownerthailand homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the byownerthailand homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if byownerthailand has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the byownerthailand homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the byownerthailand homepage on Twitter + the total number of byownerthailand followers (if byownerthailand has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the byownerthailand homepage on Delicious.

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PAGE TITLE Home - By Owner Thailand DESCRIPTION sunbeltasia.com-prackard.com-bahtsold.com-thaivisa.com-forsalebyownerthailand.com-Nova group-Matrix -Pattaya Condo for sale-Pattaya Condo for rent -real Estate Pattaya-For sale by Owner - Properties Pattaya - Property Pattaya - Immobilien Thailand - Cond KEYWORDS sunbeltasia.com-prackard.com-bahtsold.com-Thaivisa.com-forsalebyownerthailand.com-Nova group-Matrix -Pattaya Condo for sale-Pattaya Condo for rent -For sale by Owner -Real Estate Pattaya - Properties Pattaya - Property Pattaya - For sale by owner-By owner OTHER KEYWORDS click for more details, click for more, for more details, click for, for more, more details, click



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Mykaef.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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PAGE TITLE My Blog  My Wordpress Blog DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS backlinks, software, backlinks software, quality, internet, to your, content



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DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

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Redknee.sharepoint.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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PAGE TITLE Sign in to Office 365 DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS account, sign in, make sure you typed, sign in with, make sure you, sure you typed, looks like



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DOCTYPE HTML 4.01 Strict CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Microsoft-IIS/7.5 OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2

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Corsicana, TX (75110)

Today

Mostly cloudy early. Isolated thunderstorms may develop this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
NATO encircling Russia

Ukraine used by western world against Russia

2014 crisis



It was surprising that Russia did nothing in 1991 when Crimea became part of Ukraine but perhaps that was the time when, in their obsession against communism, all the oligarchs were busy protecting their business interests and not interested in other states. Though Russian was the official language, after separation every effort was made to isolate the Russian language.

The Western Ukraine continued to dominate the politics and identity of Ukraine while the issues and concerns of the eastern provinces were completely overlooked. Russian president Vladimir Putin actually accused the Ukrainian government of committing genocide of Russian origin people.

This was a serious accusation and can not be ignored even if the western world might suggest it as overhyped but the fact is since 2014 Eastern Ukraine was dominated by the rebels accused of support from Moscow and virtually cut off from the rest of the country.

After the 2014 intervention in Crimea, NATO and western allies started arming Ukraine. Given by any standard, Ukraine has fairly big armed forces and NATO provided it with all the big equipment yet its leadership rarely showed the strength of a matured nation while dealing with a country it belonged to once upon a time.

It was clear that Ukraine was clearly divided between ethnicities on the issue of joining the EU as the Russian origin people were happier with Russia. It is not the issue of mere sovereignty of Ukraine but also the survival question for Russia which feels threatened if NATO expands towards the Eastern Europe.

Underestimating Russian sentiments Russia is worlds biggest country with a 36,000 kilometres long coast and 17 million square kilometres of land area. It has 11 time zones, the highest in the world. Whatever may be the differences of governance, Russia undoubtedly a great power where architecture and literature thrived.

During the second world war, it is the Red Army of the Soviet Union who defeated Hitlers fascist forces but it is also a fact that immediately after world war II, the western block decided to join hand against the mighty Communist Soviet Union. The cold war started by then though ended by 1990 when Soviet Union disintegrated but the mighty empire doesnt go away that easily.

To underestimate Russia and its power was a miscalculation on the part of the Ukrainian president who now feels that Europe and the United States have abandoned him and that he was ready for a negotiation with Moscow but it looks the matter is over. Whatever be the outcome, the massive bombardment at Ukraine has destroyed his infrastructure as the war is basically inside Ukraine and Russia has significantly destroyed its defence infrastructure and captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant.

The Ukrainian crisis should not escalate but for that western world must sit together with other nations. Each big country has its share of problems and exploitation of the other countries. Europes colonial powers have their own track record of colonising the world while Americans have taken it to themselves as the sole spokesperson of the world. Russia, China are new power places and will definitely not like to get economically isolated.

China has already challenged the Western monopoly on economy but Russia was also building up in the last one decade. The new Russia under Vladimir Putin is assertive, economically strong and militarily stronger who have shown much better diplomacy than his western counterparts on various occasions.

Now, the call for negotiations will not work as Russia will only stop once the regime change is done and a pro-Russian government is installed in Kyiv and Russians are not alone in doing so, for they have many examples in recent pasts when the western world followed the same pattern elsewhere.

The things are clear that Russia will not allow NATO to move towards its border as it is a life and death for the powerful country as it knows well that Western World never want a strong Russia but will ensure it is weakened or broken. By invading Ukraine, Putin has sent a strong message to all his neighbours in Europe and CIS countries to not cross the Red line of inviting the western world and NATO to its border as it will be a no tolerance zone for Russia.

One should not look for big moral questions in the Ukraine crisis as every country has to work according to its territorial integrity and what Putin did was perhaps important to protect Russia from encircling by NATO. No self-respecting powerful nation would allow its border to be surrounded by the adversaries.

Ukraine could have avoided the crisis by not becoming a pawn in the hands of adversaries of Russia but it looks it deliberately allowed itself to be used and now paying the price for the same. It is time all the global power sits together, introspect and strengthen mechanisms so that rights of all countries whether small or big are protected but at the same point of time it is also essential that countries do not become pawns in the hands of powerful countries and their international chess board.

The war is not between Moscow and Kyiv but between Russia and NATO whose tremors are being felt globally and must not escalate further as any miscalculation on any part might begin a chain of event which could be worse than World War III.

All efforts need to be made to stop this and look for long term solutions by not threatening economic sanctions or criticising without introspecting their own fault lines and strengthening institutional mechanism of the United Nations but for that to happen, big powers will have to negotiate for many things leaving their own economic interests and sharing it with others.

Anti-war efforts like that happened in post-world war II are needed but for that we need leaders of stature and not manipulators who have long term strategies and not their own corporate nationalist interests. Till then, we can only hope that good sense will prevail and the crisis will be over soon.

---

*Human rights defender. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat. Twitter: @freetohumanity There was no response in the western world for the Russian concerns as in the name of independence and sovereignty they only spoke about Ukraine but not about the others who felt issues of violation as Ukraine too was becoming a problem state for the Russian origin people. It gave the pretext to President Putin to intervene and annex Crimea which was widely accepted.It was surprising that Russia did nothing in 1991 when Crimea became part of Ukraine but perhaps that was the time when, in their obsession against communism, all the oligarchs were busy protecting their business interests and not interested in other states. Though Russian was the official language, after separation every effort was made to isolate the Russian language.The Western Ukraine continued to dominate the politics and identity of Ukraine while the issues and concerns of the eastern provinces were completely overlooked. Russian president Vladimir Putin actually accused the Ukrainian government of committing genocide of Russian origin people.This was a serious accusation and can not be ignored even if the western world might suggest it as overhyped but the fact is since 2014 Eastern Ukraine was dominated by the rebels accused of support from Moscow and virtually cut off from the rest of the country.After the 2014 intervention in Crimea, NATO and western allies started arming Ukraine. Given by any standard, Ukraine has fairly big armed forces and NATO provided it with all the big equipment yet its leadership rarely showed the strength of a matured nation while dealing with a country it belonged to once upon a time.It was clear that Ukraine was clearly divided between ethnicities on the issue of joining the EU as the Russian origin people were happier with Russia. It is not the issue of mere sovereignty of Ukraine but also the survival question for Russia which feels threatened if NATO expands towards the Eastern Europe.Russia is worlds biggest country with a 36,000 kilometres long coast and 17 million square kilometres of land area. It has 11 time zones, the highest in the world. Whatever may be the differences of governance, Russia undoubtedly a great power where architecture and literature thrived.During the second world war, it is the Red Army of the Soviet Union who defeated Hitlers fascist forces but it is also a fact that immediately after world war II, the western block decided to join hand against the mighty Communist Soviet Union. The cold war started by then though ended by 1990 when Soviet Union disintegrated but the mighty empire doesnt go away that easily.To underestimate Russia and its power was a miscalculation on the part of the Ukrainian president who now feels that Europe and the United States have abandoned him and that he was ready for a negotiation with Moscow but it looks the matter is over. Whatever be the outcome, the massive bombardment at Ukraine has destroyed his infrastructure as the war is basically inside Ukraine and Russia has significantly destroyed its defence infrastructure and captured the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant.The Ukrainian crisis should not escalate but for that western world must sit together with other nations. Each big country has its share of problems and exploitation of the other countries. Europes colonial powers have their own track record of colonising the world while Americans have taken it to themselves as the sole spokesperson of the world. Russia, China are new power places and will definitely not like to get economically isolated.China has already challenged the Western monopoly on economy but Russia was also building up in the last one decade. The new Russia under Vladimir Putin is assertive, economically strong and militarily stronger who have shown much better diplomacy than his western counterparts on various occasions.Now, the call for negotiations will not work as Russia will only stop once the regime change is done and a pro-Russian government is installed in Kyiv and Russians are not alone in doing so, for they have many examples in recent pasts when the western world followed the same pattern elsewhere.The things are clear that Russia will not allow NATO to move towards its border as it is a life and death for the powerful country as it knows well that Western World never want a strong Russia but will ensure it is weakened or broken. By invading Ukraine, Putin has sent a strong message to all his neighbours in Europe and CIS countries to not cross the Red line of inviting the western world and NATO to its border as it will be a no tolerance zone for Russia.One should not look for big moral questions in the Ukraine crisis as every country has to work according to its territorial integrity and what Putin did was perhaps important to protect Russia from encircling by NATO. No self-respecting powerful nation would allow its border to be surrounded by the adversaries.Ukraine could have avoided the crisis by not becoming a pawn in the hands of adversaries of Russia but it looks it deliberately allowed itself to be used and now paying the price for the same. It is time all the global power sits together, introspect and strengthen mechanisms so that rights of all countries whether small or big are protected but at the same point of time it is also essential that countries do not become pawns in the hands of powerful countries and their international chess board.The war is not between Moscow and Kyiv but between Russia and NATO whose tremors are being felt globally and must not escalate further as any miscalculation on any part might begin a chain of event which could be worse than World War III.All efforts need to be made to stop this and look for long term solutions by not threatening economic sanctions or criticising without introspecting their own fault lines and strengthening institutional mechanism of the United Nations but for that to happen, big powers will have to negotiate for many things leaving their own economic interests and sharing it with others.Anti-war efforts like that happened in post-world war II are needed but for that we need leaders of stature and not manipulators who have long term strategies and not their own corporate nationalist interests. Till then, we can only hope that good sense will prevail and the crisis will be over soon.---

Russia has invaded Ukraine after President Vladimir Putin recognised two eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent nations and then on their request it sent a Peace Keeping Force to maintain order. So we have two new nations in the world map: the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) as independent.Both these two states have a majority of Russian speaking people and have been in conflict with the Western region which dominates the East. Vladimir Putins speech was decisive when he blamed human rights violations in the Eastern Ukraine. Most of the Russian origin people in these Eastern provinces were getting Russian passports since 2014 and more than 800,000 passports were issued by Russia to its citizens in these two eastern provinces.Ukraine was part of Soviet Union and got its independence in 1991 after many republics broke away from it. The Western world celebrated the collapse of the Soviet Union and felt it was the end of the day for Communism world over. It all happened because of the politics of glasnost and perestroika initiated by President Mikhail Gorbachev.In 1991, the three biggest republics of the Soviet Union, named Russia, Belarus and Ukraine decided the end of Soviet and became independent states. Eight more republics too declared themselves as independent and creating a Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS).Ukraine is the second largest country in area after Russia. It has a size of 603,628 square kilometre and population of nearly 43.6 million and is eighth most populous country in Europe. Bordering with Belarus, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania. That apart, it has a coastal line with Black Sea which link it to Turkey and the rest of Europe. 77% of the population is of Ukrainian origin while 17% of Russian origin mostly based in the Eastern Provinces.Ukraine became an independent country on June 23, 1917 but became one of the founding members of USSR in 1922. The country is rich in mineral and other natural resources particularly Uranium, coal, iron, ore, natural gas, manganese, salt, oil sulphur, timber and mercury.It is true that after the Soviet Union disintegrated, the western world rejoiced and Americans did everything under the sun without any protest. In 1991, the US intervened in Kuwait after Saddam Husseins forces occupied Kuwait. After the September 11, 2001 attack on US financial institutions, the then President decided to avenge it with Afghanistan.Americans intervened in Iraq under the pretext of weapons of mass destruction which could never be found. They targeted the leadership, arrested Saddam Hussein as well as Col Gaddafi and through their media manipulations converted them into the worst human being. No questions were asked as why the top leadership of these countries were targeted and killed in such a brutal manner.Even when the Russians invaded Ukraine, Israel continued violating airspaces of its neighbours like Syria and Lebanon, bombing innocent people and Saudi Arab persisting with its bombing in Yemen.The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) came into existence on April 4th, 1949 after 12 founding members signed the treaty in Washington DC. These countries were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom and United States of America to create a counter force Soviet Forces placed in different countries of Europe in the post-World War II.It was suggested that it was result of a cold war pressure that compelled Western European countries to build up an alliance with the United States so that they remain safe in Europe but was NATO necessary in the post cold war especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Unfortunately, after it, NATO aggressively pursued all the independent countries emerging from the former Soviet Union such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.The other Eastern European countries who were part of the Soviet alliance such as Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia became part of NATO. Vladimir Putin had already mentioned in his speech that he would like to revive the Soviet Union if get a chance but the major factor behind his worry seems to be if the western world and NATO continue to encircle Russia then there is a real and legitimate concern related to the security of that country which needed to be addressed.The fact was, shouldnt NATO be disbanded once the cold war was over and replaced with a global peace keeping force under the United Nations but then these are part of the international mechanism to dominate.In all the international talks between Russia and the United States, the issue of NATO expansion has been of real concern for Russia. Every country has a right to protect and promote its interests. While Western world were rejoicing over the death of the Soviet Union, they made Mikhail Gorbachev the greatest intellectual, inviting him to various universities and ultimately handing over the Nobel Peace Prize for the disintegration of the Soviet Union.One may disagree with Putin and may look down upon him but none can deny that under his leadership Russia is now confident and much more powerful. It is regaining its glory which the western world wants to deny. Whether it was during Covid period or in Syria, Russia has demonstrated more maturity and control than its contemporaries.Often Putin has been criticised for being self-obsessed and using media to promote his cult but the fact is in the former Communist regimes, we had leaders who were far better planner and communicators.Every year Vladimir Putin address media and take questions from ordinary people too and any one who has seen those programmes can vouch that he knows things and far superior to many of his contemporaries elsewhere who pretend democracy and liberalism but can assault any one under the pretext of protecting democracy. No country returned to Democracy and stability after US or NATO intervention be it Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya or Syria.The roots of the current crisis in Ukraine are the protest against the then President Viktor Yanukovych who had rejected an alliance with the European Union (EU) or Europe. He was considered to be not merely pro-Russia but a stooge of Moscow but these are the narratives which western media plant to legitimize regime changes that have happened in various countries.Victor was the fourth president of independent Ukraine and had to flee his country. He was prime minister of his country from 2002 to 2007 with a break in 2004. In 2010, he became President of his country but his pro Russia policies were responsible for his ouster in 2014. The protests broke out against his policies at the Euromaidan Square for rejecting the EU deal and accepting a 15 billion dollars bail out from Russia.The western world was encouraging democratic protests and ignored the pro-Russia protests in the Eastern Ukraine terming them as insurgency. None questioned that a democratically elected government should be removed through democratic moves. It is here that the western world used the popular media narrative as per its conveniences.In their over zeal to counter Russia, western world actually ignored the human rights violation of the Russian origin people in the Eastern part of Ukraine. There is no doubt that the two eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk had huge support for Russia apart from Crimea.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference after an extraordinary meeting of the European Union (EU) leaders to address the situation in Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 25, 2022. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)

Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on telephone Thursday. According to the Kremlin, both sides had a "serious and frank" exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine.

BRUSSELS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The channels of dialogue must be kept open so that a ceasefire can be achieved, French President Emmanuel Macron said early on Friday morning over Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"We have to keep channels open so that a ceasefire can be achieved as soon as possible," said Macron after an extraordinary meeting of the European Union (EU) leaders to address the situation in Ukraine.

Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on telephone Thursday. According to the Kremlin, both sides had a "serious and frank" exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine. It added that Putin gave "comprehensive explanations of the reasons and circumstances for the decision to conduct a special military operation."

The call was "frank, direct, rapid," said Macron, who also conveyed to Putin a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, asking for a ceasefire and start of discussions.

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows an empty street in Kiev, capital of Ukraine. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

Zelensky had spoken to the gathered EU heads of state earlier on Thursday and claimed he couldn't reach the Russian president himself.

"I think it is my responsibility to take such initiatives when asked by Ukraine. And also, while condemning, sanctioning and continuing to act to keep this door open, so that the day conditions are met we can obtain a cessation of hostilities for the people of Ukraine," said Macron.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that the Russian Armed Forces have disabled 118 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine after President Putin authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass.

In a televised speech to the nation 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" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has expanded to eastern Europe and brought its military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Moscow has expressed its willingness to talk with Kiev with a focus on obtaining a guarantee of neutral status and non-deployment of offensive weapons in Ukraine.

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)
The foot, says the old legend, is a unit of measurement based on length of the king's footmeaning, his body part, the thing with the toes. Courtiers would regularly measure the foot of King Henry I, son of William the Conqueror, and all of England would have to use that length when planning out buildings or cutting up bolts of cloth. The problem was that Henry was ticklish, and he secretly suspected some of these courtiers were a little too into his feet, so he ordered that the country standardize exactly what a "foot" meant and leave him out of it.

That legend isn't true. For thousands of years, however, people worldwide did use a unit called the foot that varied considerably in length, depending on whom you asked. The English foot was based on ancient Roman statues' feet (larger than actual people's feet), but different surveyors used different statues. Ancient Rome used a different unit called a foot, which was around 10 inchesexcept for some Romans, who used a different longer foot.

Feet pretty much always had subunits, and these too varied. They used to be called "digits," not inches, and each was roughly modeled after the width of a finger. Some cultures divided a foot into 16 digits. Some divided it into 12.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday new COVID guidelines that will allow most people to go maskless, but its recommendations will not have a significant effect in Connecticut where broad mandates have already been lifted.

The CDC now recommends people living in areas with high levels of severe COVID illness and health care system strain, which accounts for only about 37 percent of counties nationwide, to wear masks indoors and in public, including schools.

As of Thursday, most of Connecticut was considered to be in the low level except Middlesex County, which was medium, according to the CDC. About 23 percent of counties nationwide are considered low and about 40 percent are at the medium level, CDC officials said Friday.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said the nation is in a stronger place today ... with more tools to protect ourselves and our communities from COVID-19. She cited vaccines, broader access to testing and accessibility to treatments as some of those tools.

With widespread population immunity, the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower, Walensky said. This updated approach focuses on directing our prevention efforts toward protecting people at high risk for severe illness and preventing hospitals and health care systems from being overwhelmed.

None of us know what the future may hold for us and for this virus and we need to be prepared and we need to be ready for whatever comes next, Walensky said. We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing when our levels are low and then have the ability to reach for them again should things get worse in the future.

Nothing so far has changed in regards to travel restrictions, but officials will review their transportation recommendations in the next few weeks, Walensky said.

Under federal rules, masks are required onboard airlines, trains, buses, taxis and other public transportation systems. Masks are also required on public and private school buses, and indoor parts of transportation hubs like airports or train stations.

The new guidance is shifting its focus from COVID cases and positivity rates to hospitalizations and local hospital capacities.

A communitys COVID-19 level is determined by the higher metric of either new hospital admissions or percentage of occupied inpatient beds, based on the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days.

Communities with low levels have fewer than 200 new COVID cases per 100,000 people within seven days, as well as less than 10 new coronavirus hospitalizations per 100,000 people over seven days, according to the CDC guidance. These communities will also have less than 10 percent of their inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients over a seven-day period, the CDC said.

Communities with 200 or more cases per 100,000 people in the past week will be considered medium or high level, the CDC said.

A community is considered medium if it has between 10 and 19.9 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people as well as 10 to 14.9 percent of its inpatient beds occupied by coronavirus patients over a seven-day period, the CDC said.

A community is considered to be in the high level if it has 20 or more COVID hospital admissions or 15 percent or more beds occupied by coronavirus patients, the CDC stated.

The agencys previous guidance recommended people living in areas with substantial or high levels of transmission wear masks regardless of whether they are fully vaccinated. The tiers were measured by the level of infection in each county.

In Connecticut, only Fairfield and Windham counties are areas with substantial transmission, according to the CDCs data tracker Friday. The remaining six counties are areas of high transmission  which previously meant fully vaccinated people should continue to wear a mask indoors, according to the former CDC guidance.

However, the new guidance doesnt mean much of a change in Connecticut, where the statewide indoor mask mandate ended in May. Unlike other states in the Northeast, Connecticut never reinstated a statewide universal mask rule despite the surge in cases from omicron, and an earlier wave brought on by the delta variant.

In recent months, local officials enacted their own mask requirements, but many of those have been lifted as the omicron surge has faded.

The omicron surge saw new daily cases of 9,000 or more on average, and hospitalizations rise to their highest level since the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. Daily case counts have since fallen below 600 on average, while the number of people hospitalized dropped to 235 on Friday when the daily positivity rate dipped to 2.55 percent.

But that comes as an omicron subvariant may now be spreading in the state, after it initially did not seem to take off. Researchers have raised concern the subvariant, known as BA.2, could prolong the states recovery from the virus because its believed to be more transmissible than the original omicron strain.

That also comes as many schools will begin allowing students and staff to not wear a mask as soon as Monday.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ned Lamont announced a plan to allow local boards of education to decide whether masks should be required in school starting Monday. Many districts have announced they will stop requiring students and staff to wear masks, while others have said theyll continue requiring face coverings a little longer.
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.
We need to find better ways to recruit and retain teachers in our classrooms

Its no secret that teachers are burnt out. In the past two years, one in four teachers have considered leaving the education profession. For a profession that has historically struggled with staffing shortages, COVID has only exacerbated the problem  and the highest-needs schools are experiencing the most severe shortages. In order to address these staffing shortages, we need to create additional accessible pathways to teaching and increase staff retention in our schools.

Staffing shortages are compounding issues that are further exacerbated by systemic issues in our districts. When these issues result in teachers leaving, teachers that stay are further burdened, have more added to their plates and are therefore more likely to leave.

This feeds into a repetitive cycle. If we do not address staffing issues at the beginning, and find ways to bring more teachers into the classroom, we will never close the gap. In Connecticut, we currently have a large number of support staff in the classroom who are ready and willing to become educators, but the current process to become a teacher is exhausting, expensive and incredibly time consuming.

Research suggests that watching teachers perform in the classroom can better indicate teacher quality over traditional multiple choice licensure assessments. Experiential assessments are less cost-prohibitive than traditional licensure tests, and give a more accurate idea of what teaching entails. Pathways that value classroom time and experience over testing and additional degrees get prospective teachers in the classroom sooner, allowing them to know what to expect and to make them more likely to succeed.

In Connecticut, teachers of color comprise only 8 percent of the educator workforce, while over 40 percent of students today are children of color. When students do not see themselves represented among teachers in the classroom, they likely will not view teaching as a future career choice for themselves. Some districts in Connecticut have implemented Grow Your Own programs. This is a strong pathway to teaching that allows students to view education as a viable career option from an early age, increasing the likelihood of these students becoming teachers as they continue through school. This will not only create a sense of community, but will also help to increase teacher diversity within our schools.

We need to ensure we are finding ways to retain new teachers entering the profession. Teachers in high-needs districts are overworked and often underpaid and the majority of teachers during last school year were concerned about balancing work, family and personal responsibilities. While not decreasing their responsibilities, paying these teachers what is fair will make them feel more acknowledged and appreciated and more likely to remain in the profession. And with more professionals remaining in the classroom, teachers will have more time to safeguard their own mental health and support their students with less risk of burnout.

Additionally, with more teachers in the classroom, veteran teachers and new teachers have more time to build working relationships. While building a sense of community, this also gives new teachers a network of professionals to turn to when feeling overwhelmed. This kind of support will help new teachers acclimate to the classroom, remain in schools, move up the ranks of teaching and be better teachers for their students.

The staffing shortages in our classrooms make it harder for teachers like myself to build strong relationships with my students because I have so much on my plate, said Mark Morrison, teacher at Six to Six Magnet School in Bridgeport. There are so many people I know who would make wonderful teachers, but simply dont have the resources or the time to dedicate to a career change. Additional pathways to teaching would allow more people access to the profession without sacrificing quality, while also easing the burden on current teachers and enhancing the experience of students in the classroom.

Teaching can be a viable career path, and one our students should strive to be a part of. Every district should incorporate strong Grow Your Own programs into their classrooms, allowing students the exposure to education they need, and inspiring a drive in future teachers. Connecticut needs to reexamine the requirements for becoming a teacher so we can make the profession more accessible and give our students the education they deserve. Demand policymakers eliminate barriers to the teaching profession and create multiple avenues to the teaching profession.

Daniel Pearson is state director of the Connecticut chapter of Educators for Excellence.
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KILLINGWORTH  A week after the Boy Scouts rejected the Trust for Public Lands $2.4 million bid on Deer Lake Camp, a spokesperson for the land trust said they will seek a second opinion and plan to submit another offer.

The Connecticut Yankee Council is selling the 255-acre property to Fortitude Capital for $4.6 million, but left open a window for a superior offer until March 31, according to a spokesperson from the council.

I dont think there is any scenario where we would stop trying, said Honor Lawlor, TPL project manager. The trust is in the process of getting second opinion.

The Trust for Public Land, which is working on behalf of conservation groups, the town and residents, released a statement Feb. 26 regarding its efforts to purchase what it called an incredible geological wonder at 101 Paper Mill Road.

TPL is working with members of Pathfinders, the local scouting organization and the town of Killingworth.

The CEO of Fortitude Capital LLC, the current high bidder, is Margaret Streicker, who is a member of the Connecticut Yankee Councils board of directors, according to a spokesperson for the council. Streicker did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Fortitude Capital actually upped its first offer of $3.875 million to $4.625 million, according toBob Brown, council spokesperson.

The Connecticut Yankee Council had rejected the land trusts lower offer Feb. 17 and at that time had declined to name the buyer.

The appraisal of the land seems to be the sticking point for the Trust for Public Land, as well as the $2 million-plus difference in the two offers. As a nonprofit, the land trust is required to do due diligence and must base its offer on an appraisal of fair market value, according to Lawlor.

Its not just that we arent offering enough money  we are bound by the IRS, Lawlor said.

We would like to make another offer and whether we could meet the financial expectations that have been set is to be determined. But I think weve got our work cut out for us to come up with a value that allows us to pay $4.7 million, she said.

She was not optimistic that another opinion or appraisal would match the current high offer: I dont see a way to get to $4.7 million.

According to the TPL statement, we cannot put our own organization and our non-profit status at risk by deviating from our process and our integrity.

Once the TPL gets confirmation from the CT Yankee Council that they are indeed willing to consider other offers until the end of March, we will continue to conduct due diligence in support of our efforts to secure the property, the statement said.

And the clock is ticking.

At this point we have 30 days  thats hardly enough time to get a new appraisal. Its going to be very tight, Lawlor said.

She said the appraisers on which the land trust relies have specific experience in appraising the value of raw land or minimally developed property and conservation.

When we talk about public money  theres a lot of integrity there, Lawlor said. We have to do these appraisals to the standards that are going to satisfy spending taxpayer dollars or charitable dollars.

Its in the best interests of the not just the TPL and [its] nonprofit status but the public agency partners and the general public that we dont pay more than fair market value, and that is what the professional appraisers help us understand, Lawlor added.

These appraisers have specialized knowledge, she said.

Then there are appraisers who do your typical house lot  you hire an appraiser to buy a home  thats not this kind of appraisal, Lawlor said.

There are approved methodologies for doing these appraisals, she added.

While the town assessor had valued Deer Lake, the land and buildings at $6 million, Lawlor said that assessment does not reflect fair market value. The trust often sees this kind of discrepancy from town to town.

A town assessor card is not a reasonable appraisal, she said. What we see is a vast difference between town assessor cards and fair market value of a property.

Town officials have maintained that it is very difficult to develop Deer Lake, which is in a residential zone, as there is not enough frontage on the property to allow for a road to be built, in addition to its rocky terrain.

TPL is experienced in helping communities and groups acquire green space.

Lawlor said the TPL has worked securing 100 properties and more than 8,000 acres of public land in the state. One of TPLs biggest successes was the purchase of The Preserve, a 963-acre forest in Old Saybrook, Westbrook and Essex. That transaction took 18 years to complete as land switched hands many times.

In the matter of Deer Lake, Lawlor noted that the TPL has much support: The town of Killingworth and Pathfinders are core partners here and I think almost every conservation group is behind this, Lawlor said. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also lent his voice in support at a press conference at the camp in late January.

We will work in tandem with all of these conservation organizations to come up with a strategy to fund the property should we get into a position where they accept an offer from the Trust for Public Land, Lawlor said.

In support of the TPL purchase, Killingworth First Selectman Nancy Gorski said she sees an opportunity to create an interconnected network of open space and greenways throughout the town.

Deer Lake is an integral piece of our town and we are working closely with TPL to ensure it stays green and provides the benefit of outdoor access for all, Gorski said.

According to the council, the current buyer has agreed to lease the property allowing the camp to run for the next three years.

The proceeds from the sale of Deer Lake will be reinvested into Camp Sequassen, New Hartford and Hoyt Scout Camp, Redding to improve and expand the facilities, programs and infrastructure, according to the council.

Deer Lake is not being sold in connection with the Boy Scouts of Americas $850 million sex abuse settlement, according to Connecticut Yankee Council CEO Mark Kraus. He told Hearst Connecticut Media that the council already had met its financial obligation with a combination of land and cash. It plans to hand over the Unions Camp Pomperaug, appraised at $1.48 million, with the remainder of the money coming out of the endowment.

Every one of the 251 local Councils across the country is required to pay a portion of the settlement, explained Kraus. The Yankee Councils share amounts to some $2.6 million, he said.

The sale, Kraus has said, has to do with dwindling enrollment numbers and that the Councils responsibility is serving youths and not running camps.
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TORRINGTON  Students who violated the Torrington High School code of conduct when protesting the districts new cellphone policy this week will be disciplined, school officials said.

After hours of debate during Wednesdays Board of Education meeting, the board approved $32,000 to buy secured pouches to keep phones locked up during the school day. The decision led some students to walk out of school in protest Thursday, according to The Associated Press.

Fire alarms were pulled Thursday morning at Torrington High School, prompting officials to cancel classes for the rest of the day and send students home early. Police responded to the school but no arrests were reported, according to the AP.

Torrington schools were closed Friday due to snow.

The school district has a policy that prohibits cellphones in class, but rarely is it enforced, members of the school board said during Wednesdays meeting.

Weve been talking about this for years, board Chairwoman Fiona Cappabianca said. Now that weve made a decision, people are objecting, but this has been discussed for a long time.

The school board on Wednesday invited Benji Spanier from Yondr, a company that makes pouches with magnetic locks, to explain how they are used in schools and why they are a benefit to students. Spanier said the pouches keep phones out of students reach until the end of the school day.

Each student is given their own pouch for the year and must bring it to school each day with their phone, locking the pouch as they enter the building and unlocking it when they leave. THS will be able to do compliance checks during the day to make sure students havent brought another phone into the building with them, Spanier said. If a student has to leave early or arrives late, a procedure will have to be in place to handle individual phone pouches, probably by the administration.

Student council members, class officers and several parents opposed to the plan told the board they use their phones for schoolwork, to keep in touch with their parents in case of emergencies and, in some cases, use apps to monitor health concerns such as asthma and anxiety. The sophomore class presented a petition to the board during the meeting.

Im a high achieving student, and I can honestly tell you that using my phone is part of my success, said Ashley Petzel. So many apps are helping me. When Im working in the lab, I cant pick up my laptop and take pictures of the slides Im working on ... I used a breathing app when I get stressed out. A lot of students do.

The school district itself is also incorporating cellular phones into some of its procedures  a fact not every school board member was aware of.

School board member Ed Corey pointed out that posters with a scannable QR code were recently hung on the walls of the high school building and students were told to scan them to make an appointment with their guidance counselor.

There are lots of ways cellphones integrate how teachers and students do their work, he said. They integrate with how everyone conducts business. Its looking us in the face.

School board member Jess Richardson questioned those points during Wednesdays meeting, and asked if the vote should be delayed.

How are phones being used by teachers? Weve heard from students that their teachers are having them taking a photo of their class assignments; so what opportunities are students losing, by losing their phones? she asked. We need to know the pros and cons of this. Some of our speakers brought up salient points.

In his presentation to the board, Spanier said unrestricted use of phones interferes with educational mission of the school, lowers pupil performance, promotes cyberbullying and contributes to an increase in teenage anxiety, depression and suicide.

He also said cellphones have dangerous consequences in the event of a school shooting or other emergency. He brought up the 2018 shooting at Parkland High School in Florida and said students were filming the activity while they were in the building and posting their videos online.

Thats a distraction, he said. Those videos can attract untrained adults to the scene of the crisis. Posting the scene on social media can alert the perpetrator or others to the location.

Yondrs surveys with high school principals showed that 74 percent of the schools they serve saw improvement in student behavior and 84 percent said they saw an improvement in student engagement in the classroom, Spanier said.

In spite of the arguments raised by students, the board voted to allocated the $32,000 for the pouches.

According to a document from the boards Feb. 23 meeting, 1,050 pouches will be bought for the high school and 950 for the middle school at a cost of $16 each. The district entered into a contract with Yondr for 2022-23 and 2023-24 and got a discount on more pouches for $12 each, which saves the district $8,000 for those years.

Board member John Kissko said a district policy will be developed to use the locking pouches.

School board member Gary Eucalitto said the comments from the students and parents came a little late.

I dont think weve seen a parent show up in five years about the concerns that were raised tonight, to hold everyones feet to the fire, he said. We need significant changes, to turn everything upside down and make every teacher accountable, or (the pouches) wont work.
The 2022 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference kicks off Sunday, Feb. 27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, with thousands of leaders ready to advocate for the credit union difference.

Registration opens at noon ET Sunday, and the first general session kicks off Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. For those who are headed to the nations capital for the event, there are several ways to ensure youre able to make the most of your experience.

First, download the official 2022 CUNA GAC app for your smartphone. Search CUNA GAC 2022 in the App Store or Google Play and login using the information you provided at registration. Additional login information has been emailed to attendees.

The app contains a complete schedule of CUNA GAC, as well as speaker and vendor information, general and breakout session information, CUNAs advocacy briefing documents, maps and more. In addition, app users are encouraged to post updates on their activities throughout the conference.
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,
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U.S. sanctions Putin, Lavrov over Russian military operation in Ukraine

Xinhua) 09:39, February 26, 2022

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows a screen displaying Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a televised address to the nation in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

The U.S. move followed that of the European Union and Britain, which announced sanctions targeting the top Russian leadership earlier on Friday.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, the White House confirmed Friday.

"In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing on Friday, adding more specifics will be announced later in the day.

The U.S. move followed that of the European Union (EU) and Britain, which announced sanctions targeting the top Russian leadership earlier on Friday.

Biden on Thursday announced additional U.S. sanctions against Russia targeting the country's major financial institutions and an additional number of Russian individuals and their family members with ties to the Kremlin, on top of the so-called "first tranche" of sanctions imposed on Russian state-owned banks, the Russian sovereign debt market as well as individual elites.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki (Rear) speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on June 8, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

Asked about the possibility of his Russian counterpart, Biden didn't commit to that on Thursday, only saying it remained an option on the table.

Psaki said Friday the reason Biden waited until after the EU and Britain announced their sanctions against the Russian president to decide on his own move is that his "strong principle ... has been to take actions and steps in alignment with our European partners."

Also on Friday, a senior administration official said future U.S. sanctions will not target Russian oil and gas industry.

"The sanctions will not target the oil flows as we go forward," Amos Hochstein, the State Department's senior energy security adviser, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

Hochstein said doing so won't necessarily reduce Russia's oil and gas revenue, and may instead lead to a scenario where "the United States and our allies would suffer the consequences."

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
Nearly 60 percent of students ages 5 and up have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, with boys and girls from Manhattan leading the way, according to school officials.

Across the five boroughs, Manhattan currently has the highest student vaccination rate, at 72%. The student vaccination rate in Queens is 63%, followed by Brooklyn at 57%, the Bronx at 52% and Staten Island at 47%.

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Dr. Rhonda Achonolu comforts her son Kenechi, 9, as he is inoculated with first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

New York City led the way in ensuring every adult in our buildings is vaccinated, mandating vaccinations for students participating in high-risk activities, and hosting clinics in schools where over 50,000 students received life-saving vaccines, said Nathaniel Styer, a Department of Education spokesman.

In the coming months, we are working with our partner health care agencies on an outreach campaign to encourage vaccination in the communities with the lowest rates.

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City health officials said families with children who are eligible but not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 can make an appointment for vaccination at vaccinefinder.nyc.gov or call 311 to find a vaccine site.

The vaccine is free for all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration or insurance status.

Manhattans Community School District 2, which covers most of lower Manhattan and the Upper East Side, had the highest student vaccination rate at 80%.

Brooklyns Community School District 23, with schools in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville and Ocean Hill, had the citys worst student vaccination rate at 38%.

At nearly 250 of the citys schools, fewer than a third of students have received at least one dose.

Starting Monday, students at New York City public schools will not be required to wear masks outdoors, but indoor mask mandates remain in place.
It's been years since the Russian state even vaguely pretended to be honest. By lying about an invasion, a genocide and a war, Moscow has perfected the art of deception to the point where the only correct action is to ignore what comes out of the Kremlin.

That said, Putin's propaganda is pumped into homes across Britain by his official broadcaster Russia Today (RT).

During the early stages of Covid, the channel spread fear and panic, trying to tear apart our community and undermine our response.

When British firms discovered a vaccine, RT spread lies trying to convince people not to take it, costing lives.

Time and again, the English-language service has done its best to confuse and undermine Britons at times when clarity was so important. It's not an information network. It's a weapon against us.

During the early stages of Covid, RT spread fear and panic, trying to tear apart our community and undermine our response

Our media watchdog, Ofcom, should have banned RT. If it had, viewers would not have been exposed to a correspondent claiming to report from eastern Ukraine as he lied that Russian tanks were helping to liberate the region and that Ukrainians defending their homes were nationalists.

The channel disgracefully allowed a Russian military commander to claim that the Ukrainian army was using civilians as human shields. They're not.

Make no mistake, RT is trying to excuse the Kremlin for war crimes being committed by Putin.

RT is trying to excuse the Kremlin for war crimes being committed by Putin. It gives a platform to charlatans and liars  people such as Alex Salmond (above), the leader of Scotland's independence movement at the last referendum, who was happy to take RT money until this week

Russia Today doesn't speak for a nation but a single person. This is Putin's propaganda, and it's poison. It's time Ofcom acted

It gives a platform to charlatans and liars  people such as Alex Salmond, the leader of Scotland's independence movement at the last referendum, who was happy to take RT money until this week.

Ken Stone, from Stop the War in Canada, still goes on to blame Ukrainians being in front of Putin's tanks.

There's nothing anti-Russian about wanting to shut down this modern-day version of Lord Haw-Haw's propaganda broadcasts during the Second World War.

Russia's poets and scientists have long shared deeper truths with us and worked on building understanding.

RT does the reverse. Even its name is a lie.

This channel doesn't speak for a nation but a single person.

This is Putin's propaganda, and it's poison. It's time Ofcom acted.
So they finally got their war. But what are they going to do now? This is the most avoidable, needless conflict in modern history.

It was nurtured and hatched in the small minds of foolish men. There was a compromise available, but because they were too proud to consider it, terrified civilians now weep outside the ruins of what were once their homes.

At this point, these noisy boasters turn out, as usual, to have big mouths and tiny fists. The Kremlin, responding to years of deliberate humiliation, taunting and provocation, finally goes mad and invades a sovereign country. The mighty West hits back by chucking Moscow out of the Eurovision Song Contest.

You might have thought that, after 30 years of tough talk, they could have come up with something a bit better than that. But if you had observed, as I have, the steady, shameful shrivelling of Britains diplomatic soft power and hard armed forces over the past three decades, you would not have been surprised.

Russia guards its interests, as do all nations, just as rain falls downwards and water is wet. Out of this realisation came Vladimir Putin, the direct consequence of the Wolfowitz doctrine. We created him. In fact, Wolfowitz and Clinton were simply wrong. China was the real danger

When I say they, I mean the army of Washington power-worshippers, think-tankers, politicians and swaggering musclemen journalists  most of whom have never heard a bullet fly or seen a corpse.

Since 1992, they have thought it wise to treat Russia like a beaten dog. The inventor of that policy is the American neo-conservative politician Paul Wolfowitz. He just happens to be the architect of that other great disaster, the Iraq War.

The New York Times in March 1992 reported the existence of a Pentagon document, believed to be the work of Mr Wolfowitz. It said that from now on there should only be one superpower. It stated Our first objective is to prevent the re-emergence of a new rival, either on the territory of the former Soviet Union or elsewhere, that poses a threat on the order of that posed formerly by the Soviet Union.

The suggestion was ridiculous. The former Soviet Union was at that time a bankrupt mass of scrap metal, rust and corruption. I was there, I know. Once the dust settled, it would find itself with an economy the size of Italys, and an ageing, ill, diminishing population. The Communist ideology which had driven its expansion and aggression was dead.

Im told I am supporting the invasion by saying we provoked it. But if I warn a child that, if he annoys a wasp, it will sting him, am I supporting the wasp?

So they finally got their war. But what are they going to do now? This is the most avoidable, needless conflict in modern history

Yet here were senior American political figures, planning further humiliation. The outcry over this dangerous language caused a hasty rewrite, and when the document was published it had been greatly toned down.

Yet within a few years, under Bill Clinton, and supported by expensive lobbying by US arms manufacturers, the USA began the eastward expansion of Nato.

Since then Nato has never said who it is defending its members against  because such an admission would be an act of aggression in itself. But it can only really be explained by a desire to keep Russia down. For what purpose?

I have never seen any attempt by anyone to reply to the urgent condemnation of this decision, made in 1998 by one of the greatest diplomats who ever lived, George Kennan. Mr Kennan, inventor of the successful strategy of containment of the Soviet Union, came out of retirement to protest.

He said Nato expansion was folly, and correctly predicted it would create nationalist backlash in Moscow. Did the neo-conservatives who created this policy really think Russia, with its huge intelligence services and vast, sophisticated foreign policy establishment, would not notice that it was being targeted?

Russia guards its interests, as do all nations, just as rain falls downwards and water is wet. Out of this realisation came Vladimir Putin, the direct consequence of the Wolfowitz doctrine. We created him.

In fact, Wolfowitz and Clinton were simply wrong. China was the real danger. Think about this. In 1989, the Soviet Empire gave way to mass demonstrations in Prague and East Germany. It could have massacred protesters in Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin, but it did not. After a few nasty but feeble attempts to fight demands for independence in the Baltic states and Georgia, Russia gave up its enormous empire in Europe and Asia. In return, Russia was treated like a pariah by the EU and Nato when it sought a civilised relationship with them.

That same year, Chinas Communists answered their peoples demands for freedom by murdering them on the streets of Peking.

The Kremlin, responding to years of deliberate humiliation, taunting and provocation, finally goes mad and invades a sovereign country. The mighty West hits back by chucking Moscow out of the Eurovision Song Contest

In the years since, they have created an ever-fiercer police state regime, tightened their dictatorial grip on Tibet, and menaced Taiwan by hugely increasing their military and naval power. They have also blatantly broken their promises to maintain freedom in Hong Kong, and engaged in a shameful and racialist repression of the Uighurs.

This is a real threat, and a regime which makes Putin look relaxed. Yet we stay on friendly terms with them. When their despots come to London, and dine at Buckingham Palace, British police cravenly crush peaceful demonstrations of protest lest our tyrannical guests are offended.

We continue to pretend Taiwan is not independent. We cravenly shun the Dalai Lama for the sake of trade. Is it precisely because we are so feeble in this real struggle that we pretend to toughness in the supposed New Cold War with Russia? I often think so.

And now here we are again, in a moralising frenzy. The BBC, which insisted on strict neutrality between Britain and Argentina in its coverage of the Falklands War, flings itself into an ignorant and one-sided coverage of the Ukraine crisis.

A leading presenter proclaims, from a city he weirdly calls Kyeeeev, that Ukraine is a European democracy, in which case he is very easily satisfied.

As my old friend Edward Lucas, no friend of Russia, put it in the Daily Mail yesterday, Ukraine is a country where oligarchs run media empires, with politicians and officials on the payroll.

The judicial system is a festering mess where arrests, prosecutions and verdicts are used as score-settlers between political and commercial rivals.

Senior positions are bought and sold. Healthcare and education are plagued by kickbacks. The security service, the SBU, is infested with intrigue and sleaze  and penetrated by Russian agents of influence.

Justified outrage over the terrible harvest of war would be more convincing if we had paid more attention to the hundreds of civilian casualties, many of them inflicted by Ukrainian armed forces, in and near the breakaway regions in the countrys East.

A 2020 report by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said that between January 2017 and September 2020, there were 946 civilian casualties, of which 161 were fatalities. Among the casualties were 100 children (73 boys and 27 girls).

It would also be more convincing if our political and media establishment had not supported the Nato bombing of Belgrade in 1999 (with major civilian casualties); the crazy invasion of Iraq in 2003; and the forgotten Nato bombing of Libya, also with its toll of dismembered children killed in supposed surgical strikes.

That intervention destroyed Libya. Mr Putin, and the Chinese police state, know that we did these things, and see them as precedents for any crimes of the same kind they may commit later.

Im told I am supporting the invasion by saying we provoked it. But if I warn a child that, if he annoys a wasp, it will sting him, am I supporting the wasp?

I am accused of treachery, or of being an apologist for Russia, for urging a different view on this crisis. Surely this is how dissent is treated in dictatorships.

I write this as a British patriot. How was it in our interests to provoke a war we cannot win, and cannot even fight, against a country which is not, in fact, our enemy?
The number of hours spent online in the UK hit record levels throughout the pandemic with the average Brits spending more than 3.5 hours online each day during lockdown.

And while social media has allowed families to connect throughout the pandemic, it means young people are more at risk than ever of being indoctrinated into an extremist group through online grooming.

Mark Bentley, Safeguarding and Cybersecurity Manager at The National Grid for Learning, shared actions parents can take to better protect their children online.

Here, in a piece written for FEMAIL, he shares advice on how to spot signs of an online predator, how to spot signs of radicalisation in children and what to do if your child is exhibiting these signs.

WHICH CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE?

Safeguarding and cybersecurity expert Mark Bentley, of The National Grid for Learning, told FEMAIL how to spot signs of radicalisation and what to do if your child is exhibiting these signs. Stock image

Sometimes people forget that protecting children and young people from radicalisation is actually a matter of safeguarding and child protection.

It's the duty of educators and parents to keep them safe from harm, but of course that is easy to say.

In practice, it is helpful to remember that extremists engage in grooming and use the same techniques and prey on the same vulnerabilities used in all other forms of grooming, whether for sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation (e.g. county lines or money mules) and beyond.

These vulnerabilities are a natural part of growing up, where young people rebel against authority and have insecurities about friendships and how they look and where they belong and are appreciated.

A young person who spoke to us about being radicalised said it was the first time that they finally felt they belonged somewhere, were treated as special and told they would amount to somethingwhereas previously they had only experienced the opposite.

Advising on signs to look out for in your children, Mark said to keep an eye on who they're speaking to online or if their views have changed dramatically but they won't talk about it. Stock image

WHAT APPEALS TO CHILDREN ABOUT EXTREMIST GROUPS?

The sense of belonging and having a clear purpose worth fighting for are key to this.

Young people can sometimes be made to feel disenfranchised in society, but extremist groomers pick up on these issues, tell young people they are right to feel these injustices and be angry.

They feed the frustration and anger and then offer them a very polarised view which is portrayed as 'a solution'.

Life is complex and often not clear cut, so it is easy to see why alternative narratives can sometimes be appealing to a young person, especially if they feel they do not have agency otherwise.

HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS

You should never jump to conclusions that a change in behaviour is radicalisation; equally, don't dismiss concerns because there are many reasons why they may need help, including other areas of harm.

If your child's behaviour or friendship groups change rapidly, it is a good time to check in with them and see how they are.

British adults had more screen time during lockdown than ANYWHERE else in Europe British adults spent more time online during lockdown than anywhere else in Europe, a new report by Ofcom revealed in July this year. They spent more than 3.5 hours (217 minutes) online each day in 2020  more than an hour longer than in Germany and France and 30 minutes more than Spain. Around half of UK adults  49 per cent or around 26 million  visited an adult website or app during the pandemic. Ofcom's Online Nation 2021 report also found that Britons spent nearly 2.45 billion on and in mobile apps across last year  with Tinder, Disney+, YouTube and Netflix topping the list. Online shopping sales rose by half (48 per cent) to nearly 113 billion in 2020, with food and drinks retailers seeing the biggest increase in sales, up 82 per cent on 2019, followed by household goods, up 76 per cent. The report showed children's online buying power is also growing, enabled by digital pocket money apps and pre-paid debit cards. Advertisement

If you feel that they are talking to someone online who is trying to break down relationships or trust between your child and their family, or they are expressing extreme views that they will not discuss, then it may be time to seek help.

We encourage all parents to find out what their children are doing online. That doesn't mean you need to understand what each app does or what it's called. Get your children to tell you or even better, show you.

And ask who they talk to online. Maybe a family online agreement might help with us  we have a template and other support here.

REMEMBEER: THE PROCESS CAN TAKE MONTHS OR YEARS

The grooming process is unpredictable, whether for sexual or criminal exploitation or for radicalisation.

Groomers are patient and can wait for months or even years, researching what young people are interested in and what they want to hear, slowly chipping away at existing relationships and trust in other people.

But sometimes it can go a lot quicker and take just a few messages to draw a young person into harmful behaviours or even radicalise them.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FEAR A CHILD IS BEING RADICALISED

Remember that radicalisation is a type of abuse and unfortunately, many worrying signs are also a natural part of growing up (for example, wanting more privacy, rebelling against parents, changing friendship groups). But the key is to show an active interest and to reach out for help.

A sensible first port of call will often be the school, which spends many hours with a young person and will know child protection referral processes very well, if these need to be used.

They are trained to take a proportionate response and won't make any knee-jerk reactions; but remember, whilst your concern might be nothing, don't ignore it.

Offering your child an opportunity to talk about their life and worries to you as a parent, to a friend or a helpline like Childline or The Mix, is often a great way to ensure that they can talk to an expert listening ear and find help in the right places.

WHAT IF YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD IS BEING RADICALISED ONLINE

Safeguarding is often referred to as a jigsaw, so if you spot anything worrying about a child, it is always good to share it with a professional. This applies to any area of harm.

If you know the young person from a school or faith setting, this might be a good first point of call as the safeguarding lead will be able to build up a picture and most likely see if there are other worrying elements or if you don't need to worry.

They might decide to pass on the concern to the authorities or to keep an eye on the young person and provide them the support and watchful eye they may need.
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Stormtroopers, Chewbacca and the Ghostbusters descended on London today as avid comic fans mingled in their favourite character costumes.

Thousands of enthusiasts, dressed as characters from comics, films, cartoons and computer games, came together at Olympia in Kensington, west London, for the first of a two-day Comic Con Spring event.

Celebrity guests at the annual event include the Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker, Richard E. Grant, from The Rise of Skywalker and The Witcher's Tom Canton, according to the organisation's website.

Also meeting fans is Harry Potter's Predrag Bjelac, as well as Mandip Gill, who plays Yasmin Khan in Doctor Who, Harriet Walter and Celia Imrie.

Hundreds of sellers have also filled the arena to sell rare memorabilia from films, including toys, costumes and collectable merchandise.

The Covid policy for the event includes the wearing of face masks, while people who've mixed with others outside their normal circles or been part of a large crowd within the last couple of days are encouraged to take a LFT before travelling to the occasion.

Organisers add: 'No person with symptoms or anyone who has tested positive in the last 10 days and has not subsequently had a negative test in the last 5 days should attend the event.'

Stormtroopers, Chewbacca and the Ghostbusters (pictured) descended on London today as avid comic fans mingled in their favourite character costumes

Thousands of enthusiasts, dressed as characters from comics, films, cartoons and computer games, came together at Olympia in Kensington, west London, for the first of a two-day Comic Con Spring event. Pictured, one person dressed as Chewbacca

Celebrity guests at the annual event include the Doctor Who's Jodie Whittaker, Richard E. Grant, from The Rise of Skywalker and The Witcher's Tom Canton, according to the organisation's website Pictured, a cosplayer during the first day of the event

A man wears an amusing costume which makes it look like an alien is carrying him. Also meeting fans at the event is said to be Harry Potter's Predrag Bjelac, as well as Mandip Gill, who plays Yasmin Khan in Doctor Who, Harriet Walter and Celia Imrie

The Covid policy for the event includes the wearing of face masks (pictured), while people who've mixed with others outside their normal circles or been part of a large crowd within the last couple of days are encouraged to take a LFT before travelling to the occasion

Organisers add: ' No person with symptoms or anyone who has tested positive in the last 10 days and has not subsequently had a negative test in the last 5 days should attend the event (pictured).'

Hundreds of sellers have also filled the arena to sell rare memorabilia from films, including toys, costumes and collectable merchandise. Pictured, an enthusiast dresses up in army gear
Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer appeared perfectly poised as she arrived at Dolce & Gabbana's catwalk during Milan Fashion Week.

The 31-year-old, who is an ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana, oozed elegance in a black longline coat, which featured leopard print detailing on the wrists, to match her similar themed handbag.

Sitting front row at the fashion show in Italy, Lady Kitty, whose twin sisters Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer have also attended MFW, commanded attention by teaming her outfit with an eye-catching bow headpiece.

Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer (pictured) appeared perfectly poised as she arrived at Dolce & Gabbana's catwalk during Milan Fashion Week

The 31-year-old (pictured), who is an ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana, oozed elegance in a black longline coat, which featured leopard print detailing on the wrists, to match her similar themed handbag

Continuing her theme of bold and beautiful, the model donned a bright red lipstick, paired with a smattering of glamorous makeup.

She added a touch of glitz to her ensemble by wearing shimmering diamond Dolce & Gabbana earrings.

The blonde beauty, who is the eldest child of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, also sported a chunky golden chain bracelet, while opting for black high heels and tights.

Meanwhile her twin sisters Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer have continued to cement their status in the fashion world by sitting front row at the Versace catwalk show during Milan Fashion Week on Friday.

Sitting front row at the fashion show in Italy, Lady Kitty (pictured), whose twin sisters Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer have also attended MFW, commanded attention by teaming her outfit with an eye-catching bow headpiece

Continuing her theme of bold and beautiful, the model (pictured) donned a bright red lipstick, paired with a smattering of glamorous makeup

The twins, 29, who recently moved from Cape Town to London, attended the event in glamorous mini dresses as they posed up a storm for the cameras.

It comes after the pair made appearances at London Fashion Week with their sister Lady Kitty and a week after they posed with Michael Kors during New York Fashion Week.

Looking gorgeous for the Italian spring, Lady Amelia opted for a black mini dress, featuring a round neck and a cut-out detail on the thigh to show a grey scale pattern.

Meanwhile her sister Lady Eliza looked equally elegant in a light purple frock, embellished with black lace details.
An ex-con has been arrested for a fatal shooting in the Bronx four months ago, police said Saturday.

Detectives took Mark McLaurin, 41, into custody on Friday for the Oct. 6 clash in front of NYCHAs Jackson Houses on E. 158th St. near Park Ave. in Melrose.

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Victim Jerode Ervin, 31, of Brooklyn, was standing outside a building on E. 158th St. about 4:35 a.m. when McLaurin shot him in the chest, cops said.

Victim Jerode Ervin, 31, of Brooklyn, was standing outside a building on E. 158th St. about 4:35 a.m. when McLaurin shot him in the chest. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

EMS rushed Ervin to Lincoln Hospital, but he could not be saved.

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It was not immediately disclosed why McLaurin targeted Ervin. Cops charged McLaurin with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

His arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court was pending Saturday.

Detectives took Mark McLaurin into custody on Friday for the Oct. 6 clash in front of NYCHAs Jacksons Houses on E. 158th St. near Park Ave. in Melrose. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News)

At the time of the shooting outside the Jackson Houses, residents said violence and bloodshed had become a fact of life in the neighborhood.

I hear a lot of stuff... you hear gun shots and all you hear is they shot so and so. I dont even look out at the window, said one man who asked that he only be identified by his first name, Alberto. If a bullet is out there for me, its out there for me, if its not its not.

McLaurin was convicted of attempted burglary in 2012 and sentenced to prison, according to State Department of Corrections records. He was released in 2014 was remained on parole until 2017.
The Tinder Swindler has today been spotted leaving a restaurant in Tel Aviv, after he was discovered living in a luxury 14-storey tower block in the coastal city in Israel.

Shimon Heyada Hayut, 31, from Israel, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on Tinder out of an estimated 7.4 million by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul.

Hayut, who operated under several aliases, including Simon Leviev, was recently found by the Daily Mail to be holed up in a high-end complex in the city after he was exposed as one of the world's most reviled fraudsters.

The crook, who is dating girlfriend Kate Konlin, a model, was pictured visiting a restaurant in Tel Aviv today, with Hayut sporting a striped jacket with a matching grey fur collar, teamed with blue trousers, a white T-shirt and low-key trainers.

Tinder Swindler Shimon Heyada Hayut (pictured) has today been spotted leaving a restaurant in Tel Aviv, after he was discovered living in a luxury 14-storey tower block in the coastal city in Israel

Above, Hayut's girlfriend, model Kate Konlin. Her Instagram is filled with pictures of her posing in skimpy attire on their modern balcony, or with an enormous teddy bear and hundreds of balloons in their lounge, or showing off her Louboutin heels in the slick lobby of their apartment building

Hayut would pretend to be Simon Leviev, chief executive of LLD Diamonds and the son of Israeli-Russian billionaire Lev Leviev, a man Forbes once called the 'King of Diamonds'.

The international conman would dazzle his victims with his apparently luxurious lifestyle of private jets, designer clothes and five-star hotels  before tricking them into giving him eye-watering sums.

In a twisted Ponzi scheme, he would use the cash he stole from them to lure in his next target, lavishing them too with trips abroad, and with hundreds of red roses and tables in VIP clubs.

He left his victims with suicidal feelings, crippling bank debts and the agony and humiliation of discovering their relationship with him was a sham.

Hayut has denied all their allegations against him, claiming he is 'not a fraud and not a fake' but instead a 'legitimate businessman' who made his fortune by investing in Bitcoin.

In an interview on the U.S. TV programme Inside Edition, he insisted this week: 'I'm not this monster. I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder.'

The crook (pictured second left), who is dating girlfriend Kate Konlin, a model, was pictured visiting a restaurant in Tel Aviv today, with Hayut sporting a striped jacket with a matching grey fur collar, teamed with blue trousers, a white T-shirt and low-key trainers

In the interview, he kissed his girlfriend Konlin, for the cameras as she accused his victims of creating a 'fake story'.

To find out more about the Tinder Swindler and to build up the most comprehensive profile of the fraudster yet, the Daily Mail spent several days in Tel Aviv, the city he comes from and to which he has now returned.

Reporters spoke to neighbours, to relatives and visited the poverty-stricken area east of Tel Aviv where he was brought up  a neighbourhood poles apart from the vibrant, city-centre location of his current home just 200 metres from the city's crowded beach.

The twice-jailed criminal was tracked down to the high-end complex where he lives with his blonde Ukrainian-Israeli girlfriend by following a trail of clues on her social media account.

Her Instagram is filled with pictures of her posing in skimpy attire on their modern balcony, or with an enormous teddy bear and hundreds of balloons in their lounge, or showing off her Louboutin heels in the slick lobby of their apartment building.

When reporters arrived, they found Hayut himself in a garish Gucci jumper making a tense phone call while pacing up and down the same balcony.

Hayut (pictured), 31, from Israel, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on Tinder out of an estimated 7.4 million by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul

Conman Hayut (above) would pretend to be Simon Leviev, chief executive of LLD Diamonds and the son of Israeli-Russian billionaire Lev Leviev, a man Forbes once called the 'King of Diamonds'

The brand new building boasts 6million five-bedroom penthouses with private rooftop swimming pools. Even the more modest three-bedrooms flats, with floor-to-ceiling windows and modern balconies, cost 1.2million.

Home to a raft of well-heeled residents  including foreign diplomats and other residents draped in designer wares  it is one of Tel Aviv's most sought-after developments.

It is also the base from which Hayut has been cashing in on his cruel crimes. The vast windows, always with their blinds drawn, have served as a backdrop to all his interviews, videos and business meetings.

While his victims are still fighting to clear the debts they took out to fund his vicious scams, he has continued to grasp at opportunities to profit from their misery.

After the Netflix documentary's release, he signed with Los Angeles agent Gina Rodriguez, who represents a raft of fame-hungry clients through her agency Gitoni.

It has been claimed that Hayut wants to 'break into Hollywood', start his own dating show and host a podcast.

In 2018, one of Hayut's targets, London-based Norwegian web designer Cecilie Fjellhoy (pictured with him), travelled to Amsterdam with more than 20,000 in cash to give him, thinking she was saving her boyfriend's life

Even though he claims he wants to clear his name, when the Mail approached him with the chance to do so through an interview, he demanded 7,000 ($10,000) 'compensation'.

When we insisted that we did not think a fee was appropriate, a Gitoni employee suggested the money would be paid to the management firm rather than to the conman himself.

He added: 'Simon has never been convicted of crimes involving the women in the documentary. He also has never been arrested or investigated by police over the accusations.'

Konlin has since signed with the same company. Hayut's other money-making schemes include charging his 'fans' 148 a time for personalised greetings messages.

He signed up to the platform Cameo, which boasts other celebrity signings including Nigel Farage and John Bercow.

Punters can ask the criminal to record any greeting or message  from wishing their loved one a happy birthday to telling them to give him a wad of cash.

It has been reported on one American gossip website that he made more than 22,000 in the first three days from this, although this should be treated with scepticism  his account only has 59 reviews.

After the Netflix documentary's release, Hayut signed with Los Angeles agent Gina Rodriguez, who represents a raft of fame-hungry clients through her agency Gitoni. It has been claimed that Hayut wants to 'break into Hollywood', start his own dating show and host a podcast

As well as selling 25 T-shirts emblazoned with tasteless quotes such as 'If she really loves you, she'll take out of a loan for you', the fraudster has also launched a series of NFTs (or non-fungible tokens)  digital artworks  of the very pictures he used to con his female victims.

Since the Netflix documentary, he has continued to parade his supposedly limitless wealth. Last weekend, he was pictured browsing Ferraris worth more than 200,000 at a garage.

When a Mail reporter visited the garage, outside Tel Aviv, a witness claimed Hayut appeared to have brought the cameraman with him.

The lifestyle Hayut seems to live could not be more different from his strict upbringing in Bnei Brak  a Hasidic Jewish neighbourhood in the east of Tel Aviv.

This is one of the most densely populated cities in Israel, made up of uniform, beige apartment blocks.

The run-down area, described as 'dirt poor' by local media, consists of crumbling buildings. Furniture and other rubbish lies in piles in overgrown grass.

Hayut grew up with his five siblings in one of 16 apartments in a concrete four-storey block.

His father, Rabbi Yohanan Hayut, still lives in the building which has a bomb shelter filled with junk and holes in the walls on the stairwell.

Hayut was eventually arrested and imprisoned in December 2019 at Tel Aviv Magistrates Court but released the following May, after serving five months of his 15-month sentence

Outside the sparse family home, a white orchid sits on a welcome mat, but the reception from Rabbi Hayut, a severe-looking man with a white beard, is anything but warm.

As soon as he opened the door to Mail reporters, he immediately slammed it shut and locked it.

Rabbi Hayut himself has been accused of teaming up with his son to defraud a wealthy rabbi in New York, although he denies the allegations.

According to neighbours, the father-of-six is a 'tough man' who used to shout at his children  at Shimon Hayut in particular. Just three of the Hayut children remain in the community, the neighbours added.

Shimon 'lost his way'. 'Shimon left the family and his religion and fell apart,' said one man, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Describing the Tinder Swindler, one neighbour said: 'He brought shame to the entire neighbourhood. How a man like this isn't ashamed of his behaviour is beyond me. What he did damaged our city's name.'

Hayut's criminal career began when as a teenager he used stolen cheques to buy a Porsche and pay for a pilot training course.

Although he was charged in 2012, he fled Israel on a stolen passport before his sentencing. Three years later, he was jailed for two years after defrauding three women in Finland.

In 2017, upon release from the prison, he legally changed his name to Simon Leviev. He was returned to Israel, to be re-charged and sentenced, but slipped out of the country for a second time.

This is when his elaborate con to trick the victims featured in the Netflix documentary began.

Hayut is currently living as a free man in Tel Aviv. He has never been charged for the crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary

After impressing his targets with his supposed riches, gaining their trust and winning their hearts, he would claim that he was in danger owing to the violent nature of the diamond business.

He would send them pictures of his bodyguard 'Peter' supposedly bleeding from the head following what he said was a criminal attack.

Claiming he had to go underground to hide from his 'enemies', Hayut told his targets he was unable to use his credit cards because he could be traced.

In this way, he persuaded his victims to give him the cash he said he needed. They used high-interest loans and platinum credit cards to raise the money before handing it over to him in the belief it was the only way to ensure his enemies would not find him.

Convinced by the outrageous ploy  and certain his previous displays of wealth proved he was not short of cash  the victims always complied.

In 2018, one of his targets, London-based Norwegian web designer Cecilie Fjellhoy, travelled to Amsterdam with more than 20,000 in cash to give Hayut, thinking she was saving her boyfriend's life.

He convinced her to pretend she worked for his fake firm on a vast salary, so she could increase her American Express allowance. She was left with debts of more than 200,000.

The other victims featured in the documentary, Pernilla Sjoholm and Ayleen Charlotte, also faced mounting debts from a carbon copy of the same scam.

Hayut was arrested for his original charges of fraud in 2019 after Miss Charlotte, who had become wise to his tricks, reported him to Interpol for using a fake passport in Greece.

He was extradited to Israel and, in December 2019, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, of which he served five.

He has since been living as a free man in Tel Aviv. Hayut has never been charged for the crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary.

Additional reporting: Jotam Confino
I have to get something off my chest. It feels odd even writing it, but I want to catch Covid.

I know it's not what you'd expect the Health Editor of The Mail on Sunday to say, but it's the truth.

Having thankfully avoided the virus (as far as I know) for almost two years, I've decided it's time to get it over with.

The other day I had a bit of a scratchy throat when I woke up.

I actually felt a vague sense of disappointment when, firstly, it disappeared, and then a lateral flow test was negative.

Have I been going out of my way to get infected? No, of course not. That'd be... weird.

I wouldn't suggest anyone does that. It's just, I'm not going to do anything special to avoid it any more. Que sera sera and all that.

It's not that I don't take Covid seriously. I do. We were the first newspaper to reveal that thousands who died in the first wave of Covid had caught the virus while in hospital.

Having thankfully avoided the virus (as far as I know) for almost two years, I've decided it's time to get it over with, says BARNEY CALMAN (pictured), health editor for the Mail on Sunday

Our GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon campaigned for mask-wearing months before it was recommended by the Government, and we have backed the vaccine drive to the hilt.

I am well aware of Covid's grim death toll  more than 160,000 in the UK and six million people worldwide.

And it should also go without saying I don't enjoy the prospect of getting ill.

But it's basically inevitable we will all catch Covid at some point, scientists increasingly agree.

It's a matter of when, not if. And to be honest, I'd really like it to happen sooner rather than later.

Because there is a compelling scientific argument that, if you've been double-jabbed and boosted as eight in ten of us have been, now is probably the best time  or perhaps the least worst time  to get it.

Certainly, the Government has made all this easier for me: last week they moved to lift all remaining pandemic restrictions, publishing its Living With Covid plan.

Judging by the emotional reactions from some, you'd think they were suggesting going from full-on lockdown to nothing in one leap  which isn't the case.

BARNEY CALMAN: Covid is still out there and it's not going away  which is exactly why, rather than feel panicked, I think more people might benefit from adopting my mindset. (stock image)

BARNEY CALMAN: The truth is, unless you plan to stay at home for the foreseeable future, you are going to be exposed to the virus and you might well get infected. (stock image)

In fact, it's a staged winding down of the measures that are still in place, as the current outbreak dissipates.

And many sensible health experts seem to agree that it's the right thing to do at this stage.

But Covid is still out there and it's not going away  which is exactly why, rather than feel panicked, I think more people might benefit from adopting my mindset.

Iceland's government seems to be thinking along these lines, too: last week, as the nation moved to lift all their remaining Covid restrictions, including limits on social gatherings and the requirement to isolate, their minister of health, Willum Thor Thorsson, said they wanted 'as many people as possible' to be infected, to achieve 'widespread societal resistance'.

Iceland, with a population of 345,000 people, is seeing an alarming rise in infections  an average of about 2,600 daily last week  despite 78 per cent of the population having been double-jabbed and boosted.

Thorsson said: 'The vaccines are not enough, even though they provide good protection against serious illness.'

Their idea is that vaccination plus infection  what scientist call hybrid immunity  gives people the most comprehensive, long-lasting protection.

And if as many people as possible attain this, it may be just what's needed to get on top of the outbreak.

Q&A: If I can't get a test how will I know if I've got Covid? - and all your other latest pandemic-related queries If I can't get a test how will I know if I've got Covid? As of April 1, free Covid tests will be available only for a small number of vulnerable people who develop bad symptoms and those in hospital with the virus. Everyone else will have to buy them from pharmacies. According to guidance from the Government, it is likely that you have Covid if you're suffering one of the three official symptoms  a continuous cough, loss of smell and/or taste and a fever. But experts say the Omicron variant can cause a whole range of other symptoms, most of which are not much different from a mild cold. There's little point testing for Covid every time you have a scratchy throat, say experts  it's unlikely you will be infectious, so a lateral flow test won't spot the virus. Rapid, lateral flow tests are accurate at detecting Covid only if used when the person is at their most infectious. 'But if the symptoms get worse and you become more coldy  usually two or three days later  it's likely you've become infectious and a lateral flow should pick up the virus,' says Professor Paul Hunter, public health expert at the University of East Anglia. Even so, Prof Hunter says, for most people there is little point in knowing if you have Covid anyway. He adds: 'Now, 90 per cent of the population have some protection against severe illness. The consequences of people walking around with the virus and passing it on unknowingly are no longer serious for most people.' Do I really have to self-isolate if I just feel a bit under the weather? Officially, from April 1 the decision to self-isolate at home if you have Covid (either proven via a test or not) will be your choice rather than a legal obligation. Public health officials advise that, similar to other respiratory illnesses such as flu, you should voluntarily stay at home if you don't feel well, to stop you from infecting others. But scientists say this depends on the symptoms you have and when you have them. 'If you wake up with a sore throat it's probably a good idea to stay at home for the morning at least,' says Dr Julian Tang, a virus expert at the University of Leicester. 'If your symptoms don't get worse, you'll know it was just a sore throat, and it should be fine to go in to the office. 'But if it gets worse, or you develop new symptoms, it's likely to be Covid and you'll be happy you didn't go to work and infect your colleagues.' Currently, people with Covid must isolate for five days  the average period of infectiousness. But Dr Tang says you can feel safe to leave isolation if you're feeling better. 'If you see an improvement in your symptoms from one day to the next, you shouldn't rush back. But if the same happens the following day, it is unlikely you're still carrying a large amount of virus that will infect others.' If Test and Trace is being wound down, will we miss new variants? No, the UK will still continue to screen for new, emerging variants of Covid-19. Test and Trace is not the only way the UK keeps tabs on the level of virus in the population and any mutations. A study conducted by the Office for National Statistics, which regularly distributes Covid tests to 240,000 homes, will continue. Covid test results from hospital patients will also continue to be logged, and roughly ten per cent of all positive cases will still be genetically sequenced to look for new variants. But fewer tests among the general public means that spotting concerning new variants may take longer. 'The fewer tests that people are doing, the less likely we are to spot a variant before it has had a chance to infect a large number of people,' says Dr Penny Ward, visiting Professor in Pharmaceutical Medicine at King's College London. While there is no guarantee that future variants will be as mild as Omicron, Prof Hunter believes it is unlikely that any new variant will scupper the protection offered by the vaccine. He adds: 'The vaccine is still very likely to protect against severe disease, because that's been the case with every variant so far.' Should I still wear a mask sometimes? There are some places where mask-wearing is required, such as in GP practices and hospitals. Everywhere else  such as public transport, shops and cinemas  masks are no longer required by law. Health experts say people should consider wearing a mask if they are feeling unwell but have to leave the house. Dr Tang says: 'Some people can't stay at home if they feel sick because of the nature of their work, or others may just be feeling slightly under the weather but have an event they don't want to miss. 'In these situations, wear a mask in crowded places which have little ventilation, such as on public transport.' Studies have shown that mask-wearing is most effective for reducing spread in the local community when more than 80 per cent of the public are wearing one. Without the mandate, however, it is likely that the proportion of mask-wearers will dwindle, reducing the impact of wearing one for those around you. Are some people still at risk from Covid? Yes, an estimated three million Britons have serious health conditions that make the Covid vaccines less effective. Despite restrictions on the public being lifted, this immunocompromised group  which includes people with blood cancer and organ transplant patients  is still considered to be vulnerable to Covid-19. But Dr Raghib Ali, an epidemiology researcher at the University of Cambridge, says: 'These changes are unlikely to significantly increase the risk to those who are most vulnerable to Covid.' There are a number of reasons for this. Experts believe infection rates aren't likely to rise dramatically because the public will, when ill, continue to self-isolate, work remotely and socially distance  despite no longer being required to by law. Data from the start of December showed that Britons cut social mixing when the Omicron wave began  even before the Plan B restrictions were implemented by the Government. More than 90 per cent of respondents to a University of Bristol poll said that they voluntarily took precautions when cases started to rise in December. 'When the Government removed Plan B in January, people thought everything would be dreadful with infections soaring,' says Dr Ward. 'But that didn't happen. People continued to stay at home when they were unwell, be careful around vulnerable people and there was still a lot of remote working. 'When people see high levels of infection in their area, they behave even more cautiously.' Dr Ward adds that while Omicron is far milder than previous versions of Covid, 'that doesn't mean it is completely harmless to everyone  it will still make small numbers of the most vulnerable people very ill'. If I am in a high-risk group, what should I do now? Experts do not advise immunocompromised people to continue shielding, but they should take extra precautions. This includes wearing a well-fitting, ultra-protective mask in crowded places  such as an FFP2/3 mask, available online and at some high-street pharmacies. 'Vulnerable people may also want to avoid indoor, crowded spaces like cinemas if the level of infection is particularly high in the local areas,' says Dr Ward. If high-risk people do become unwell and think it might be Covid, they should contact their GP for information about anti-viral medicines. Vulnerable patients now have access to five of these drugs which, when taken soon after Covid symptoms develop, can cut the risk of hospitalisation and death by up to 88 per cent. And they are advised to top up waning immunity by taking up the Government's offer of a fourth vaccine dose, which is planned for the spring. If I'm not eligible for another vaccine booster, will I become more vulnerable over time? Yes  but there's no need to panic. Data published last week showed that while the booster is initially 90 per cent protective against serious Covid illness, this drops to 75 per cent after four months. But the study included only over-75s, who lose immunity faster than younger people. Professor Martin Hibberd, an infectious diseases expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says: 'I suspect that in the future we will all need boosters once a year, in the same way that we have an influenza booster each year. Hopefully that will start this coming autumn.' 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Denmark, another highly jabbed nation, has already done something similar.

It dropped all Covid measures in late January, just as its Omicron wave hit.

Critics accused Danish ministers of being homicidal, but now infection rates are falling. At their peak, in the first two weeks of February, they were getting about 43,000 cases a day, and it's now roughly half that.

It's slightly too early to say, due to the lag between new infections, hospitalisations and deaths, but it looks like on the worst day there were around 40 deaths.

So are they doing the right thing?

Well, it's clear that Covid immunity wanes quite rapidly  the vaccines, while marvellous at stopping people getting very ill, have only a temporary effect in reducing numbers of infections.

Studies have shown that after six months, levels of antibodies produced in response to two vaccine doses drop significantly.

Antibodies are specialised proteins mainly responsible for preventing bugs from taking hold in the body  a first-line defence.

They aren't the be-all and end-all. There are other specialised cells  T cells and B cells  that fight the virus once we are actually ill.

These seem to still get produced in large numbers, even when antibody levels are low, which may offer some explanation as to why we saw increasing numbers of Covid infections with mild symptoms among the double and even triple-jabbed at the end of last year.

Boosters have a dramatic effect, pushing up antibody levels again and preventing infections.

But this is expected to be short-lived. After three months, immunity from a third dose begins to whittle away.

Although, again, researchers have pointed out that people remain protected against severe disease, this too may become weakened over time.

For these reasons, the over-75s and vulnerable groups in the UK are set to be offered a second booster in the coming months, and another in the autumn.

But what about the rest of us? The truth is, unless you plan to stay at home for the foreseeable future, you are going to be exposed to the virus and you might well get infected.

Omicron is wildly contagious  it is possibly the fastest-spreading virus in human history.

Measles is often held up as an example of an extremely transmissible virus  or at least it was.

One person with measles may be the source of 15 new infections over 12 days.

But one case of Omicron can potentially give rise to six others after four days, 36 cases after eight days and 216 cases after 12 days as it hops from person to person.

Infections are now declining, but the Office For National Statistics surveillance data suggests about one in 25 people have it in England.

It's one in 20 in Scotland and one in 30 in Wales. In Northern Ireland, one in 14 people are positive.

The power of the vaccines is clear: at the peak of the most recent wave, in January, there were roughly 19,000 hospitalisations and 800 people admitted to intensive care every day for about a week.

This is a stark contrast to the January 2021 peak, when few people had even had a single vaccine dose and we were seeing almost 40,000 hospitalisations and almost 4,000 intensive care admissions daily.

The remarkable effect of the jabs has surpassed all expectations.

I've heard care home bosses say they have outbreaks now where no one even gets particularly ill.

But timing is key. If we catch it now, rather than wait 'til autumn, we're more protected by the vaccines we've had so far.

As University College London epidemiologist Professor Irene Petersen explained: 'Trying to delay exposure is likely to increase risk of severe illness as vaccines will wane.'

Earlier this month, Prof Petersen caused a stir on Twitter when she argued that now was the time to 'speed the epidemic up'.

Speaking to me last week, she said: 'At the start, restrictions were needed to prevent too many people from getting ill at the same time and swamping the NHS.

'It also made sense to delay infections while we rolled out the vaccine.

'But now we are in a different situation. As a society, we won't benefit from delaying transmissions any further.'

Compelling studies show people who've been double-jabbed and then caught Covid have a high level of protection a year later.

There are also suggestions that hybrid immunity may even offer stronger protection against future variants.

Of course, this isn't to suggest we all go out and have a Covid party to catch it.

But what the experts suggest is that the virus is still out there, and we shouldn't be scared of that.

There are those who, despite vaccination, remain more vulnerable to Covid  people with immune conditions that mean the jabs don't work as well.

They will need to take extra care, for some months to come (research shows many are still shielding).

But even they will ultimately benefit from people like me, who are less at risk, catching Covid, says Prof Petersen: 'When no one is susceptible, due to high levels of immunity in the population, the virus won't have anywhere left to go and will die out, and so people who are still vulnerable will be protected too.

'I know it's counterintuitive, and I'm not recommending people go out and deliberately catch Covid.

'It's a nasty disease and not 'just a cold'. But people have been living with the mindset that they need to do whatever they can to avoid getting infected. And that needs to change.'

It's important to point out, no one sensible is suggesting catching Covid is an alternative to vaccination.

There is good evidence to show natural infection alone provides very weak protection in the long term.

And Covid itself still poses just as much of a threat as it ever did to those who have not had a jab.

You just need to look at the current tragic situation in Hong Kong, where they've struggled to jab their elderly population, to see that.

It also has to be pointed out, unlikely as it is, Covid could still pose a threat to someone like me, aged 42 with no other conditions, my risk was low even before vaccination.

There are no guarantees, and I've seen first-hand how differently the virus can behave.

Three of my close colleagues on The Mail on Sunday's Health desk have, at one point or other, tested positive, despite being vaccinated.

Both Deputy Health Editor Eve Simmons, 30, and our Health Reporter Ethan Ennals, 25, barely suffered so much as a sniffle.

Our writer Jo Macfarlane  who is the same age as me, was, in her own words, 'floored' by it.

She was infected during the Delta wave in the summer  having had her first two vaccine doses at roughly the same time as I did, in May and June.

Why did someone relatively young, fit and healthy feel so bad?

Would she have been worse off, if not for the vaccine? Perhaps.

It's impossible to know for sure.

I do wonder, sometimes, why I've not caught Covid so far.

I've worn a mask where recommended, but I've also gone to the gym regularly  when they have been open  where no one ever seemed to wear one.

Being in an enclosed space with lots of people exercising, and breathing heavily is, according to research, the situation with the highest risk for Covid transmission.

I've also eaten out at restaurants and used public transport.

Perhaps the timing of my booster had an impact. I got my third dose at the start of December  which gave me a good couple of weeks to build high levels of antibodies, ready for the Omicron wave.

Ethan hadn't been boosted when he caught it (but he is now), and Eve caught the virus a week and five days after her shot.

Just to check I wasn't totally out on a limb, I told my retired oncologist mum, who's 75, what I was planning to write this week.

She emailed me back: 'I agree. I sort of envy my various and many friends who have caught it since Christmas, had a mild fever and sniffles for a few days and are now glowing with all sorts of useful antibodies!'

So there you have it. There's also a chance that I've had Covid, but just didn't know, although this is unlikely as we've had to test regularly to come into our office.

Or, perhaps I won't ever get Covid.

As we've reported previously, a lucky minority have genetic characteristics that make them naturally 'super immune' to the virus.

But far more likely is that, quite simply, I've not yet been in the right place, at the right time yet.

Perhaps I ought to try a different gym class.
A breakthrough triple therapy for advanced prostate cancer can give patients years more healthy life and reduces the overall risk of death by a third.

The regime involves two standard therapies alongside a powerful new hormone medication, darolutamide.

The new drug has already proved to be effective as a standalone treatment in the earlier stages of the disease, when given to men who have stopped responding to other medications.

But a pivotal trial has now shown that when combined with standard therapies it also has a dramatic effect in patients whose cancer has spread throughout the body.

Although a cure isn't possible for these men, using darolutamide, chemotherapy and other hormone medicines reduced pain, slowed the progression of the disease and extended survival.

The men on the trial were mostly in their late 60s, although one patient was 89.

The regime involves two standard therapies alongside a powerful new hormone medication, darolutamide. (stock image)

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Those given the new combination therapy went for four years before their cancer began to progress, while in patients given the standard treatments alone their cancer worsened after just six months.

Professor Alison Birtle, consultant clinical oncologist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, called the advance 'exciting'.

She added: 'We've never had the option of a triple therapy like this before.

'This study provides a compelling argument to adding darolutamide to standard chemo and hormone treatment, as it will help men with advanced prostate cancer live longer, healthier lives, with less pain.'

There are roughly 52,000 new prostate cancer cases every year in the UK.

For those men with earlier-stage disease, surgery is typically offered to remove the prostate  and tumour within  in the hope of a cure.

If they reject surgery, which men often do as the procedure can lead to incontinence and erectile dysfunction, they are offered drugs to limit the amount of the male hormone testosterone they produce, which prostate cancers use to grow.

In 15,000 men a year the disease has already spread by the time they are diagnosed  and in many cases surgery is pointless.

Instead, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone drugs shrink tumours and keep the disease at bay for as long as possible.

But in incurable cases, most patients eventually become resistant to standard hormone drugs.

At this stage, the cancer is hard to control and men are unlikely to survive for long.

While three-quarters of prostate cancer patients live for ten years or more, the disease still kills 11,000 a year.

Darolutamide works by binding to tumour cells, preventing testosterone from reaching them.

In 2020 the drug was approved for NHS use after showing success in treating men with early-stage prostate cancer that was resistant to the usual hormone drugs.

But the new trial showed it also has a remarkable effect on those who may once have been considered lost causes.

A total of 1,306 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients were split into two groups.

Both were given the chemotherapy drug docetaxel and a standard testosterone-limiting therapy, but one group was given additional darolutamide, while the other was given placebo, or dummy tablets.

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They were then followed for more than four years.

In the group given darolutamide there was a 32 per cent reduced risk of death and a 65 per cent increase in progression-free survival  the time before the disease begins to advance again.

One patient to have benefited from the triplet treatment is father-of-three and grandfather-of-nine Roger Downes, 78.

The retired airport worker from Essex was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer five years ago, after being rushed to A&E suffering pain in his groin and blood in his urine.

Scans showed the disease had already spread into his pelvis.

He had eight weeks of chemotherapy along with standard hormone pills and darolutamide  and continued on the tablets after the chemo had finished.

He has been on them ever since.

He said: 'The cancer has disappeared from my pelvis and I'm told my PSA levels [a chemical released in high levels by the prostate when diseased] are normal.

'Now I wake up and think, today is another good day.

'I take two pills every morning and two before bed. I play bowls, I walk a lot and I feel healthy.'
Boys and young men are being circumcised unnecessarily by the NHS, risking sexual problems in later life, doctors at one of Britain's leading children's hospitals have warned.

Surgeons at Alder Hey Children's NHS Trust, Liverpool, have criticised surgeons who offer the operation on medical grounds  suggesting they should be looking for less invasive alternatives.

In an official report, the hospital's leading paediatric surgeon, Professor Simon Kenny, claims that more than half of the 9,500 circumcisions carried out for medical reasons each year in the UK should never have happened.

The analysis also found up to half of the boys who underwent medical circumcision at some trusts were under five, an age at which doctors agree the procedure is almost always unnecessary.

Prof Kenny, who is also NHS National Clinical Director for Children and Young People, declined to comment further when approached by The Mail on Sunday last week, but one of his colleagues told us: 'There are a really large number of circumcisions happening in the UK, and often not for the right reasons.'

Circumcision  the removal of the foreskin, with a scalpel or other device  is offered on medical grounds if a boy has persistent problems such as discomfort and infections.

Left untreated, these can worsen, and even cause severe difficulties in later life.

But paediatric surgeon Rachel Harwood, who also works at Alder Hey, said: 'There are many other treatments out there for boys with foreskin issues that should be considered first.

'A circumcision is non-reversible, it's a decision for life and many surgeons are effectively making that choice for parents when it's not their decision to take.'

Child specialists at other hospitals have backed Alder Hey's campaign and argue the problem is being driven by rural hospitals where there is a lack of surgeons who specialise in treating children.

The analysis also found up to half of the boys who underwent medical circumcision at some trusts were under five, an age at which doctors agree the procedure is almost always unnecessary. (Stock image)

'It relates to training and experience. If a surgeon hasn't handled many cases they might be more likely to go for circumcision as it's seen as the simple option,' says Dr Chris Driver, consultant paediatric surgeon and urologist at Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital.

But not all doctors agree. Some argue that the alternative treatments are ineffective and, at worst, more harmful than circumcision.

In many cases, they say, circumcision is the only option for children who are in considerable pain.

The vast majority of medical circumcisions are to treat a condition known as phimosis, which is where the foreskin is too tight and cannot be pulled back.

This is normal in a newborn baby, but over time the foreskin loosens and can be pulled down more easily.

This why doctors say that circumcision should, in most cases, not be offered to under-fives.

But for some children the process can take longer and, according to NHS figures, half of all children under ten have phimosis.

By the age of 17, 99 per cent of phimosis cases will have resolved themselves, some studies suggest.

In almost all cases where phimosis continues past this age it is linked to an inflammatory skin condition called lichen sclerosus.

This can cause scar tissue to build up within the foreskin, making it shrink  and leading to phimosis.

While there are treatments that can help relieve lichen sclerosus, the scarring is irreversible, meaning circumcision is the only real option for patients.

'Most men still suffering from phimosis in adulthood have lichen sclerosus, and it is one of the only reasons you should perform a medical circumcision,' says Vaibhav Modgil, a urologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.

In younger men and boys who do not have lichen sclerosis, treatments for phimosis include steroid creams, which given over several months can help soften the skin, and an operation known as a penile preputioplasty, in which only part of the foreskin is removed.

'There are many boys who do not suffer from lichen sclerosis who are having circumcisions,' says Ms Harwood.

'By comparison, very few are having a penile preputioplasty, so we know there are surgeons who aren't exploring the other options properly.'

Some doctors, however, believe that in many cases circumcision can be the only feasible option for children suffering from phimosis.

One reason is that steroid creams can be ineffective  an American study found a third of phimosis patients do not respond to them.

They also argue that penile preputioplasty is a complex operation and can cause further issues.

While this procedure can fix the phimosis, patients often report dissatisfaction at how their penis looks afterwards.

'Penile preputioplasty can be difficult to get right and it's challenging to get an acceptable cosmetic result,' says Dr Marc Lucky, a urologist at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

And while many children's phimosis will naturally resolve itself, doctors say teenagers who are in pain due to the condition should be considered for circumcision.

Phimosis can cause problems with hygiene, increasing the risk of a condition called balanitis in which the foreskin becomes inflamed, and other infections.

Paraphimosis, in which the foreskin gets retracted and cannot be returned to its original position, can also occur.

This can cut off blood supply to the penis and is considered serious if not remedied.

'If a child has these issues, particularly in their teenage years, then there's a good argument that they might need circumcision,' says Dr Lucky.

Nevertheless, doctors agree that circumcision is not a risk-free procedure. According to the British Association of Urological Surgeons, 'almost all patients' will experience some permanent reduction in sensation in the penis.

This is because the skin that is removed, either using a scalpel or surgical scissors, contains several thousand nerve endings that transmit physical sensation to the brain.

A smaller number of men who undergo the procedure, which usually takes place under general anaesthetic, can experience more severe complications.

One in 50 will develop an infection or bleeding in the area.

While rare, oedema  a build-up of fluid in the skin  can occur, leading to dramatic swelling and deformity that can take many months to resolve.

In some cases, doctors say surgeons can remove too much foreskin, or not enough, which can lead to discomfort and pain later in life.

'Circumcision gets trivialised, but it's only trivial when it goes well,' says Mr Modgil.

He says he often sees men who underwent a medical circumcision at a young age, who complain of issues in the area as a result of the surgery.

'The foreskin grows and changes with age, so if you operate on it at a young age it's hard to know what will happen to the skin later in life.

'It's common for us to see men who've been circumcised for medical reasons at a young age who are in discomfort by their 20s or 30s.'

Ms Harwood says these issues can also affect boys mentally as they grow older.

'Some patients report a lack of sensation during sex, others experience mental health issues because they feel the decision to have surgery was taken away from them.'

In the UK, fewer than nine per cent of British males are circumcised, and the majority of these are either Muslim or Jewish, who are circumcised for religious reasons.

These operations are not typically carried out on the NHS.

Surveys suggest two per cent of men in the UK have been circumcised for medical reasons.

In America, however, more than three-quarters of men are circumcised, usually in infancy, and while rates have been falling in recent decades  currently fewer than 60 per cent of baby boys in the US undergo the surgery compared with nearly 80 per cent in the 1990s  it remains a much debated topic.

The American Academy of Pediatrics maintains that circumcision is beneficial, on medical grounds, because some studies suggest it reduces the risk of HIV infection, urinary tract infection and penile cancer.

But activist groups such as Intact America have called for an end to all but the most necessary medical circumcisions and a ban on religious circumcisions.

These activists, who often refer to themselves as 'intactivists', argue that children are too young to consent to the procedure.

Medical circumcisions were, historically, more common in the UK than they are now, too. In 2000, more than 15 per cent of Britons were circumcised, according to the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.

This means the number of circumcised men in the UK has fallen by more than 40 per cent in 20 years, despite a continued increase in the proportion of the British population who are non-white and so are more likely to be circumcised for religious and cultural reasons.

Doctors say this is in large part due to the growing awareness of the risks of the procedure, as well as greater understanding of alternative treatments.

'Circumcision was a relatively normal intervention one or two generations ago,' says Dr Driver. 'It's declining, but there are still too many being done.'

Nonetheless, UK groups such as 15 Square, which has similar aims to Intact America, have repeatedly called on the NHS to address the number of medical circumcisions taking place.

They argue that men can often suffer serious mental health issues like anxiety and depression as a result of being circumcised.

Jim Pollard, one of the founders of the Men's Health Forum, an online community devoted to men's health issues, says the group believes too many circumcisions are carried out in the UK.

'Circumcision is a big deal. It's surgery on a very delicate part of the body. We don't think doctors need to intervene so drastically because tight foreskins are very, very common.

'There are plenty of options for boys before circumcision is even discussed.'

David Harding, 37, from Perthshire, underwent a circumcision aged four and says he has suffered sexual and mental health issues as a result.

He adds: 'I became acutely aware that I lacked sensitivity. Climaxing during sex was almost impossible, and it could often be painful.'

However, doctors say it is important to remember that the majority of circumcisions happen without complications, and, crucially, can relieve intense suffering.

John, 30, from London, who didn't want his full identity revealed, underwent a circumcision at 18 after suffering recurring bouts of balanitis, which is similar to lichen sclerosis but less severe and often temporary.

'It was constantly red and itchy, and this went on for years,' says John, who works in finance.

Eventually, doctors recommended a circumcision.

'It was painful, to say the least. I couldn't wear proper underwear or trousers for weeks because these would rub against the wound,' he says.

'Overall it wasn't as bad an experience as I thought it would be, and thankfully my sex life hasn't been affected and I haven't had any issues with balanitis since.'

Mr Harding hopes in future NHS hospitals will provide parents with alternatives and offer circumcision only as a last resort.

He adds: 'Circumcision is viewed as a routine practice procedure when it shouldn't be. You're dealing with someone's most intimate parts.'

For more information on circumcision and other phimosis treatments, you can visit: 4skin-health.alderhey.nhs.uk/
Those who doubted that Boris Johnson's government would dare to declare economic and financial war on Vladimir Putin's barbarous regime have been proved wrong.

Taking advantage of the City of London's status as a world-leading finance centre, and home to great swathes of the Putin regime's plutocracy, the Prime Minister has introduced sweeping measures to confiscate assets, limit trading in Russian shares, and close down the operations of Moscow-based banks, such as VTB, in parallel with the United States.

But Britain has been unable to take the ultimate step of freezing Russia out of Swift (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications), the core payments and messaging system which connects more than 11,000 banks across the globe.

Blow: Without the option of closing down Swift, bringing Vladimir Putin's Russia to its knees will be that much harder

Britain is frustrated in this ambition by the failure of European Union countries to go along with a measure so radical.

Such a step could have been decisive in bringing Russia's creaking natural resource-based economy to a shuddering halt.

It is through the Swift system that Russian energy suppliers, such as Gazprom, and wheat producers are paid by Western consumers.

Swift would also be the obvious vehicle by which London-quoted Evraz, in which Roman Abramovich holds a near 30 per cent stake, remits funding for capital investment and dividends to Russia.

The reluctance of Germany and Italy in particular to close down the Swift system is almost certainly related to dependence on Russian natural gas.

The EU would be fearful that Moscow would shut down the gas pipelines that channel their supplies if the main system by which they were paid was switched off.

Such a move would bring businesses to a shuddering halt in both countries' industrial heartlands and leave domestic consumers across the Continent freezing in their homes.

Britain is less vulnerable to Russia's energy weapon because just 5pc of our natural gas comes from Russia.

However, both the British-based oil giants, BP and Shell, are deeply involved in Russian oil and gas exploration and production and could face retaliation by Moscow.

Without the option of closing down Swift, bringing Russia to its knees will be that much harder. Moscow has rarely been better prepared to weather a commercial storm.

Since the invasion of Crimea in 2014, Putin has focused on building up the resilience of Russia's financial systems.

At the last count it was reckoned to hold up to $600billion (441billion) of foreign currency and gold reserves.

Given this treasure chest and the fact that China is now a big buyer of Russian oil and gas  and presumably will not rock the boat over the Ukraine barbarism  denuding the Russian economy will be a very long job.

Take Moscow's reaction to a run on the Russian currency, the rouble. Faced with the prospect of a collapse in its value, the Central Bank of Russia demonstrated a willingness to protect the rouble by investing some of its vast reserves in propping it up.

Other sanctions will bite immediately. The controls on operations of the offshoots of Russia's biggest banks in London will hinder the country's ability to fund itself by selling bonds.

That will, in turn, limit the Kremlin's ability to pay for government operations, including military deployments, which are hugely expensive.

The best hope for the UK and other Western governments bent on curbing Putin's territorial ambitions is to punish his family, friends and the oligarchs who have benefited so richly from his corrupt regime.

By targeting up to 100 super-rich individuals and Russian entities with assets in the UK, the Government will hope that they increase domestic pressure on Putin.

But tracking down their wealth is tricky. Establishing ownership of the stolen riches is challenging, buried as it is in a host of ghost and dummy companies.

It will require new legislation to force companies to identify owners who currently conceal themselves in faceless offshore vehicles.

Earlier this week, the leak of secret documents from Credit Suisse demonstrated how easy it is for money launderers and autocrats to hide ill-gotten gains in mainland Europe.

It took temporary closure of Swift access to help bring the extremist Islamic regime in Iran to the nuclear bargaining table.
Global stock markets rebounded and oil and gas prices eased as Western sanctions on Russia left its powerful energy sector untouched.

At the end of a turbulent week on financial markets, the FTSE 100 rallied 3.9 per cent, or 282.08 points, to 7489.46 after Thursday's plunge, while the FTSE 250 surged 3.2 per cent, or 654.87 points, to 20906.75.

The rally was echoed across Europe with benchmarks in Frankfurt, Paris, Milan and Madrid up more than 3 per cent and the Moex index in Moscow 20 per cent higher.

Bounce: At the end of a turbulent week on financial markets, the FTSE 100 rallied 3.9%

The bounce reversed many of the losses seen in the previous session when Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent financial markets into a tailspin.

Oil, which topped $105 a barrel on Thursday, dipped back below $100 while gas prices fell around 30 per cent having soared after Vladimir Putin unleashed his deadly attack.

Analysts said the turnaround on financial markets came as investors bet the impact of Russian sanctions on the global economy will be milder than feared. Russ Mould at AJ Bell said: 'The markets are telling us that the sanctions aren't particularly dramatic relative to what they could be.

'Some of it is people looking to buy on the dip and taking the alleged advice by financier Nathan Rothschild that you should buy on the sound of cannons and sell on the sound of trumpets.'

Investors were searching for bargains following the heavy selling that resulted after the Russian invasion. One beneficiary was BAE Systems (up 3.4 per cent, or 21.2p, to 653p) after analysts at JPMorgan upgraded the stock to 'neutral' from 'underweight', saying the Russian invasion of Ukraine had 'changed the defence landscape'. The investment bank also upped its target price for the stock to 630p from 555p, predicting that the war may push the US and Europe to spend more on defence equipment.

BAE has risen more than 8 per cent in the two days since Vladimir Putin unleashed his deadly military assault on Ukraine.

Cyber-security firm Darktrace soared 14.1 per cent, or 50.2p, to 407.2p as the incursion into Ukraine sparked fears that Western companies and governments could be hit by higher numbers of cyber-attacks from Russia, potentially increasing reliance on its services.

Meanwhile, rival virus protection group Avast saw profits jump 17.7pc to 295m in 2021 while revenues climbed 5.4 per cent to 703m. The results come ahead of the company's planned multi-billion pound merger with US rival NortonLifeLock which is expected to be finalised this year. Avast shares inched up 0.5 per cent, or 3p, to 625p.

Airlines were among the biggest risers as they recovered lost ground from Thursday's sell-off. Wizz Air ascended 12.1 per cent, or 387p, to 3577p while Easyjet jumped 4.9 per cent, or 29p, to 626.2p and Tui was up 6.3 per cent, or 14.9p, at 252.4p.

BP added 3.6 per cent, or 13.15p, to 378.5p after receiving an upgrade to 'outperform' from 'sector perform' by analysts at investment bank RBC. Meanwhile, Shell rose 2.4 per cent, or 47.7p, to 2000.5p.

Pearson shot higher after unveiling plans for a 350m share buyback following strong results.

Shares in the education group jumped 12.1 per cent, or 72.6p, to 672.6p after its profits for 2021 leaped by a third to 385m while sales inched up 1pc to 3.4billion. The surge was attributed to strong demand in Pearson's assessment and qualifications business, which saw sales rise 18pc year-on-year as workers retrained during the pandemic and testing restarted across schools and universities in the US.
Theresa May's former deputy has admitted ministers were wrong to allow the sale of Arm to go ahead.

Tory MP Damian Green was a senior figure in May's Cabinet when the Cambridge-based chip designer was sold to Japanese conglomerate Softbank for 23billion in 2016.

At the time, the prime minister was keen to show the UK was open for business post-Brexit and waved the deal through despite widespread concern.

Wrong: Tory MP Damian Green was a senior figure in May's Cabinet when Arm was sold to Softbank in 2016

But Green, who was work and pensions secretary when the sale was approved before becoming deputy prime minister under May, has told the Mail: 'The deal was a mistake. At the time it was seen as a vote of confidence for inward investment post-Brexit. But in retrospect that was the wrong judgement.'

The comments come amid an increasingly bitter row over Arm's future home as Softbank seeks to sell the company. Softbank founder Masayoshi Son is planning to list Arm on the stock market in New York.

MPs, leading City figures and industry experts argued, however, that Arm should return to the stock market in London.

The issue has been highlighted by the Mail's Back British Tech campaign.

The row has sparked fresh anger over the sale to Softbank, which deprived the London Stock Exchange of its leading technology company.

Then chancellor Philip Hammond insisted the deal would turn a 'great British company into a global phenomenon'. Anxious to promote the economy in the wake of the Brexit vote, he added: 'Britain is open for business  and open for foreign investment.'

But earlier this month he attempted to wash his hands of the deal.

He told the Mail: 'I hardly had any role, it was my first week in office. I inherited the deal. I can't claim responsibility.'

Having taken control of Arm in 2016, Son struck a deal to sell the company to US chip giant Nvidia for 30billion in 2020. But the deal collapsed this year under scrutiny from regulators around the world and he is now looking to list Arm on the stock market.

Lord Vinson, 90, who co-founded the Centre for Policy Studies with Margaret Thatcher, said: 'Theresa May failed to find a reason to block the deal. Alongside Thatcher I was a free marketer but I still advocated a moral framework. It's not just about taking the money. Greed is not good.

'The Arm deal was a mistake, it was a national treasure.'
BP is facing pressure from the Government to ditch its controversial stake in Russian energy group Rosneft.

The oil major's chief executive Bernard Looney was yesterday summoned to a meeting with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng amid growing unease about its Russian dealings.

Rosneft  which is backed by the Kremlin  is providing fuel to Russia's troops as they wage war on neighbouring Ukraine.

Pressure: BP's chief executive Bernard Looney was summoned to a meeting with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng (pictured)

A source familiar with the matter said Looney left the meeting 'with no doubt about the strength of the Business Secretary's concern about their commercial interests in Russia'.

BP boasts a 19.75 per cent stake in Rosneft and Looney sits on the company's board alongside Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin, who is a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

Also on the Rosneft board is chairman Gerhard Schroder, the former Chancellor of Germany, and ex-BP boss Bob Dudley. Their positions have attracted fierce criticism while BP has been urged to ditch its stake in Rosneft.

Earlier this month, Looney said BP's strategy to 'avoid the politics' has served the company well around the world. However, he said the firm would comply with any Ukraine-related sanctions.

Rosneft's largest shareholder is state-owned Rosneftegaz, with 40.4 per cent, followed by BP.
Polymetal shares have fallen 43% this week

All eyes will be on Polymetal International when the Anglo-Russian miner releases its full-year figures on Wednesday.

The gold and silver mining group has committed to releasing the results as planned  though in light of the conflict in Ukraine investors and analysts will be far more focused on the company's outlook than the cold hard numbers from 2021.

Shares have fallen 50 per cent this year, including 43 per cent this week alone.

Polymetal has sought to reassure its backers that its mines in Russia and Kazakhstan are continuing to operate as normal and that it has not been affected by the war or sanctions.

It also said it is already contingency planning, selecting equipment suppliers and securing sales channels that will keep business running smoothly. Whether this will all still be the case in a few days' time is anybody's guess.

Either way, Wednesday will be an unusual and extreme test of shareholders' mettle.

In practical terms, investors will be keen to know what sort of costs might be added to the FTSE100 group's spending in 2022. In 2021 it was already grappling with higher costs.

Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'Covid absences and also an increase in capital expenditure has seen costs mount up.'

Despite producing slightly more gold than the year before  around 1.7million ounces  falling precious metals prices have added more strain.

While Polymetal and its peers benefited in 2020, when Covid chaos sent gold prices soaring, it is on the back foot compared with industrial metals miners whose materials are in high demand.
A serial paedophile who was jailed three decades after raping at least nine schoolgirls died in prison sitting in his own faeces while watching television.

Jack Keith King began sexually abusing children in the 1970s but fled Sydney for Western Australia in 1986 after being charged and was not arrested again until 2015.

He was sentenced in the New South Wales District Court to 15 years' jail in March 2017 for raping nine girls in the 1980s, with a non-parole period of seven years and six months.

The father-of-five died alone in his cell aged 77 of bladder cancer and not even his family took part in a subsequent coronial inquiry.

Serial paedophile Jack Keith King, who was jailed three decades after raping at least nine schoolgirls, died in prison sitting in his own faeces while watching television. He was 77

King was questioned over the 1968 disappearance of seven-year-old Linda Stilwell from Melbourne's Little Luna Park at St Kilda, near where King was living. Linda is pictured right with her siblings Karen and Gary a few months before she vanished

King was born in Fulham West in the United Kingdom, was put into care by his father when he was 11 and came to Australia as a child migrant in 1955 aged 12.

He was educated at the Dr Barnados Farm School at Picton in south-western Sydney then worked at a service station in the city's north-west at Ryde.

King married in 1971 and fathered a daughter and a son. That marriage would not last but he would have three more children with another woman.

At some point King moved to Victoria and was arrested for a sexual offence against a child in the 1970s but skipped bail.

He was also questioned over the 1968 disappearance of seven-year-old Linda Stilwell from Melbourne's Little Luna Park because he was living in the area at the time.

Victoria's deputy state coroner found in 2009 that Linda's death had been caused by notorious child killer Derek Percy, who died in custody in 2013.

King died alone in his cell at Sydney's Long Bay Hospital (pictured) after being diagnosed with bladder cancer and dementia. Not even his family showed any interest in a subsequent coronial inquest

Back in Sydney, King ran a fish and chip shop with his wife in Henderson Road, Alexandria in Sydney's inner west, where raped primary school-aged girls upstairs.

King defiled his first victim, who knew him as Lionel, when she was six and continued the assaults until she was nine. He used that little girl to lure other victims.

King set up a trampoline to attract children into his lair and would ask one child to invite others to a birthday party where he would violate them.

When he was finally charged in 1986 after at least a decade of offending King failed to appear at Redfern Local Court and disappeared.

A warrant was issued for his arrest but he had fled to Western Australia where he lived quietly until a NSW dogged detective tracked him down in retirement.

King apparently thought he was safe in Western Australia. After his fingerprints (pictured) were matched with NSW records he was arrested, extradited and locked up in NSW in 2015.

In December 2013 a woman aged in her late 30s walked into a country NSW police station and reported she had been raped by a man named Lionel in the 1980s.

That woman, King's first victim, remembered 'Lionel' had a slight English accent, pockmarked skin and wore thick spectacles.

She also recalled the name of a boy she would see in King's company and the name of the boy's mother. Their names have been suppressed by a court order.

While the woman did not know the relationship between the boy and 'Lionel' he turned out to be King's son, who was located by Detective Senior Constable Ellen Quinn.

The son, who had been relentlessly physically abused during his childhood, was coincidentally contacted on Facebook by another of his father's victims.

One of King's relatives had posted a picture of King on Instagram and that photograph matched what Detective Senior Constable Quinn knew of his appearance.

Jack Keith King began sexually abusing children in the 1970s but fled Sydney for Western Australia in 1986 after being charged and was not arrested again until 2015

Jack Keith King did not have a driver's licence or passport but a man with his name and date of birth had used those details to pay utility bills at an address in Western Australia.

King, who had married again and fathered three more children, apparently thought he had run far enough to escape any reckoning.

After his fingerprints were matched with NSW records King was arrested, extradited and refused bail back in NSW on July 2, 2015.

His son attended the subsequent trial and supported his father's victims as they gave harrowing statements about the lifelong effects of what King had done to them.

While in custody King was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He was also suffering from dementia and osteoarthritis and was incontinent.

A fellow prisoner who served seven months with King at the South Coast Correctional Centre in Nowra said the degenerate appeared to be losing his mind by 2018.

'He was not liked in the wing as he consistently told bizarre stories,' the former inmate said.

'The story he used to tell me was that he tried for years to sell his special chicken recipe to KFC because it was more tasty.

'I would hazard a guess that his mental state was declining considerably.'

King was transferred to Long Bay Hospital's Aged Care and Rehabilitation Ward for palliative care management in August 2020. He died there on September 20 that year

King was transferred to Long Bay Hospital's Aged Care and Rehabilitation Ward for palliative care management in August 2020.

On the afternoon of September 20 he had refused food and was sitting in a reclining chair in front of his television in the ward's Cell 11.

About 4pm a passing nurse detected the smell of faeces coming from King's cell and saw him fidgeting. When she returned with another nurse to change his clothes he was dead.

A coronial inquest conducted by Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame in November last year found King had died of natural causes.

'The court was informed that at the time of his death Mr King was estranged from his family,' Ms Grahame reported.

'No family members wished to take part in the inquest process and no care or treatment issues were raised.'
Speaking up about being abused by fellow inmates led a 67-year-old Rikers Island detainee to be abused further, the man told a Manhattan judge Friday.

You get labeled as a snitch, the elderly detainee said in an almost weary, detached tone. You walk around with a bullseye.

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The detainee testified during a hearing at which his lawyers argued that he be put on supervised release while awaiting trial on charges of slashing another man during a fight last summer at the HELP Meyer Homeless Shelter in Harlem.

The detainees name is being withheld by the Daily News because his lawyers fear further retaliation against him.

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A 67-year-old Rikers Island detainee who was beaten four times by the same inmate as correction officers largely looked on testified Friday about his ordeal. (Obtained by Daily News)

At the Manhattan Supreme Court hearing, the detainee also told Judge Ellen Biben about being targeted for harassment at Rikers Otis Bantum Correctional Center by younger detainees who stole his food and extorted him for his phone time.

He was attacked four times by the same detainee on Aug. 4 in an incident reported by The News.

I got beat up. I got beat up with chairs and mop buckets, he testified, describing being hit over the head five or six times during the first incident that morning.

I cant remember what he [the attacker] was saying  I was trying to defend my head from getting bashed in with buckets and chairs.

Lawyers for the detainee hope to convince Biben to release the elderly man because of the dangerous conditions and lack of basic services in the city jails.

Security video obtained by The News captured three more attacks on the detainee by an inmate identified as Tracey Bennett, 34. The video shows Bennett beating the detainee as officers watch, before one leans in sprays pepper spray.

Then, as the older detainee staggers, Bennett is free to tackle him to the ground. An officer pulls Bennett away, but he is left free to attack the older detainee a third time.

One officer and a captain were reprimanded for the incident. Bennett is not facing charges for the assault.

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A 67-year-old Rikers Island detainee who was beaten four times by the same inmate as correction officers largely looked on testified Friday about his ordeal. (Obtained by Daily News)

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

In the aftermath, the detainee wasnt brought for medical treatment and missed multiple appointments. In fact, from the point he was arrested in July, he wasnt brought for medical treatment some 62 times from July to December, his lawyers said

A lawyer for the Correction Department countered that he refused to go to medical appointments three times, including on Aug. 13, a date his lawyers say they actually have proof he did see a doctor.

On Feb. 16, after the first Daily News article came out, he was attacked again. His lawyers claim an officer accused him of stirring things up, and another inmate jumped him, claiming he was snitching.

Front page for Feb. 13, 2022: Rikers officers delay aiding inmate in attack. Video shows Rikers officer waiting several seconds before helping an inmate being savagely beaten by another inmate. "They just let him beat me," said the victim. (New York Daily News)

The detainee has said the attacks have left him depressed and he has considered taking his life. He now spends his time watching TV or playing cards. I just like going to the mess hall. I stay away from people, he told Melissa Danzo, one of his lawyers.

Judge Biben ordered a mental health workup, medical attention, and a suicide watch. The hearing was continued to March 4.

A series of similar challenges in other detainees cases are being filed by New York County Defenders Services alleging conditions at Rikers violate the constitutional rights of detainees.

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In December, a Bronx judge ordered the release of a detainee charged with burglary after viewing that showed officers failing to stop an inmate fight club.
Republican House hopeful Lee Murphy used to take President Joe Biden's ticket when the then-senator commuted to Washington aboard an Amtrak train - now he's hoping to take out the president's home state ally in Delaware's Congressional race.

Murphy is again challenging Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester for Delaware's At-Large House seat.

And while the Biden name at the top of the ticket dimmed Murphy's chances in 2020 - he's hoping that this year's race will be a referendum on his home-state president.

'Delaware is a small state and I worked for 35 years on the railroad, specifically with Amtrak as a locomotive train engineer and as a conductor,' Murphy told DailyMail.com at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.

'I took his ticket many times,' Murphy said of Biden, who famously commuted between Wilmington and Washington by train earning him the nickname 'Amtrak Joe.'

Republican House hopeful Lee Murphy used to take President Joe Biden's ticket when the then-senator commuted to Washington aboard an Amtrak train - now he's hoping to take out the president's home state ally in Delaware's Congressional race

Lee Murphy (left) poses with a fellow Amtrak employee. Murphy spent 35 years working for the rail line as a conductor and engineer - and often collected President Joe Biden's ticket

GOP House hopeful Lee Murphy (right) poses with Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (left) at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida this week

The two knew each other from the train - and from political circles.

'We had many a conversation,' Murphy said. 'And Joe used to put his arm around me - get off the train - "Hey Lee you can't win in this state, you gotta be a Democrat, you come on over,"' he recalled Biden would say.

Murphy lost his 2020 House race to Blunt Rochester by about 17 points. The state has Democratic Gov. John Carney and Democratic Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper.

The last Republican senator from Delaware lost re-election in 2000. And the last GOP House member, Rep. Mike Castle, retired in 2011 and then unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate.

A photo of Lee Murphy in his Amtrak uniform. Murphy retired from Amtrak in 2011

'He'd see me anywhere and say, "That guy outta be a Democrat, you know, Lee Murphy, he'd be a good candidate as a Democrat,"' Murphy said of Biden. 'But no, no way that was going to happen.'

Murphy has always been a Republican. He said in all the years Biden was on the ballot, Murphy never voted for the man that was often his passenger.

'And, you know, it's, it's hard to believe that this guy who I've known for so many years is actually President of the United States,' Murphy said.

'I mean, it's kind of laughable,' he continued. 'I thought it was laughable when he was vice president.'

Murphy said he was motivated to run because of the opioid drug crisis, he complained that schools were not up to snuff in Delaware and said the economy was 'flat.'

As an ex-Amtrak employee - Murphy retired from being both an engineer and a conductor in 2011 - the GOP candidate supports investments in rail.

He lives outside of Wilmington, a hub on Amtrak's Northeast Regional Rail.

'He never really did anything for Delaware the whole time he was a senator and he was like a senator in Delaware for 36 years, and the Republicans never really challenged him, never really challenged him in an election, which was unfortunate,' Murphy said of Biden.

He puts Blunt Rochester in the same category.

'We have a liberal Congresswoman. Who has done zero for Delaware,' he said.

'And she's in office and she doesn't campaign. She's entitled. She plays the identity politics kind of card and feels that she won't be defeated. And supports Joe Biden, supports Nancy Pelosi and actually helped pick Kamala Harris for VP,' he added.

Blunt Rochester was part of a four-member committee Democratic nominee Biden tasked with finding him a 2020 running mate.

'She's not effective,' he continued.

But it's the spectre of Biden he hope remains at the top of the ticket.

'This is a big time referendum on probably the worst president we've ever had, at least in my lifetime,' he said, adding that if a Republican takes down Blunt Rochester 'it's gonna be known everywhere.'

Murphy traveled to the Orlando conference in hopes of getting media endorsements, raising campaign funds - and if he really lucks out, scoring former President Donald Trump's endorsement.

Lee Murphy (right) also works as an actor and even played the Defense Secretary on the second season of House of Cards (pictured)

Trump has a primetime speaking slot Saturday night.

'I'd like to get the president's, President Trump's endorsement - not Joe Biden's - even though Joe Biden would say I'm a nice guy,' Murphy said. 'But I don't even want that.'

CPAC, which kicked off Thursday, has attracted a number of Republican political hopefuls hoping to get the ex-president's attention.

Like Trump, Murphy remains skeptical about the 2020 election.

The state's Republican Party went to court in August 2020 in an attempt to block the state from sending every registered voter mail-in ballots, but in September a judge denied the move - allowing ballots to be mailed out.

'And we got phone call after phone call after phone call about people being dead receiving ballots,' Murphy said.

'So was that election legitimate? No, it wasn't legitimate. Nobody can say that,' he continued. 'Luckily this year in Delaware we're not going to have mail-in ballots. The Republicans in state legislature have assured me they will not vote for it.'

There is no evidence of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election, as Trump continues to claim.

The Cook Political Report gave Blunt Rochester's district a plus-six Democratic advantage, meaning Murphy has an uphill, but not insurmountable climb.

If it doesn't work out, Murphy has also been working as an actor for years.

And he even got a taste of Washington before - playing the Defense Secretary on House of Cards on season two of the hit political show.
SAS Australia contestant and Underbelly star Firass Dirani has ruled himself out of any involvement with the upcoming John Ibrahim TV series set to begin filming in Sydney next month.

The actor, who shot to instant fame playing Ibrahim in the 2010 Underbelly series The Golden Mile, was rumoured in TV circles to be in line to reprise his turn as Ibrahim for the new production being created for streaming service Paramount +.

However the actor, who has recently veered into a career in digital content creation, snuffed out the talk and said he no plans to return to the role which won him wide acclaim.

'That chapter is closed,' Dirani confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.

Firass says no: Despite returning to screens on SAS Australia Firass Dirani wont reprise Underbelly role

John Ibrahim with model partner Sarah Budge in Sydney on Friday

Breakout: Firass Dirani shot to fame as John Ibrahim in 2010's The Golden Mile

Dirani was plucked from obscurity to play John Ibrahim in Underbelly

It now leaves open the question of who will play Ibrahim in the autobiographical tale set to begin shooting across a number of locations in Sydney next month.

Several other actors have been touted as contenders including Zac Efron who allegedly met with Ibrahim in Sydney last year while he was in Australia shooting the Stan thriller Gold.

The pair reportedly dined together and Ibrahim 'felt him out' for the lead role however it's understood he was unable to commit at the time due to scheduling conflict.

Efron is expected to begin shooting The Disney reboot of Three Men and A Baby in the US this year and in line to serve as executive producer on a number of other projects including the true crime investment banking tell-all Straight To Hell.

Another A-list actor, Oscar Isaac, was also allegedly approached during the project's early days but passed.

The series, meanwhile, is set to play out across three episodes and explore John's relationship with his brother Sam as they ascend to power in Sydney's nightclub scene during the nineties and beyond.

Produced by former Endemol Shine CEO Mark Fennessy, the series is based of the autobiography of the same name published back in 2017 that went in to become something of a surprise bestseller for Pan Macmillan.

The tome that started it all - John Ibrahim's surprise best seller released in 2017

TV producer Mark Fennessy (L) is overseeing the series for Paramount +

The project was briefly rumoured to be in the sights of streaming giant Netflix however it landed at Paramount + last year and is set to air in the second half of 2022.

It's believed veteran screenwriter Kieran Darcy-Smith (Animal Kingdom, Wolf Creek) has penned the script.

Filming finally comes after several years and a handful of false starts as the project slowly made its way to pre-production.

It's understood Ibrahim, who was sighted yesterday attending the gender reveal for best pal and expectant father Kyle Sandilands, has taken a 'very hands on' approach to the series in particular in the way that he is portrayed.

John Ibrahim with girlfriend Sarah Budge and pal Mim Salvato at Kyle Sandilands' baby gender reveal

A source close to the series claims the former nightclub owner has made a number of significant changes to the script and is particular about projecting a 'positive' image.

Despite being linked to a number of major organised crime figures, Ibrahim has never been convicted of any criminal activity in what has been a colourful career in Sydney.

Sam Ibrahim is currently fighting deportation back to Lebanon as part of his time served for running guns

Eldest brother Sam is currently in detention fighting deportation to Lebanon after he was jailed for running guns in Sydney.

His long-time partner Sarah Budge famously beat a high-profile gun charge in 2019.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told President Joe Biden 'I need ammunition, not a ride,' when offered the chance of a US-backed evacuation.

Zelensky said in response to the offer of refuge: 'The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,' according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelensky as upbeat.

He spoke as Biden authorized the release of $350million of military assistance to Ukraine after taking his latest weekend break to Delaware as Russian troops began to invade Kyiv.

Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraines capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.

A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine. Each of the two planes can carry up to 200 troops, although a death toll has not been shared.

Earlier, Zelensky said in a televised speech: 'This night they will launch an assault. The enemy will use all of their power on all fronts to break our defense. This night we have to stand ground. The fate of Ukraine is being decided now.'

This came after a video showed him in his military tent drinking coffee with his men, he personally coordinated the defense of Kyiv.

He spoke Saturday morning in Kyiv, having survived the night, and said: 'There's a lot of fake news online that I called on our army to lay down arms, & that there's evacuation. I'm here. We will defend our state.'

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers his speech addressing the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday

A video showed Zelensky in his military tent drinking coffee with his men, he personally coordinated the defense of Kyiv

There's a lot of fake news online that I called on our army to lay down arms, & that there's evacuation. I'm here. We will defend our state President Zelensky@AP reports, when asked to evacuate Kyiv by the US he replied: I need ammunition, not a ridepic.twitter.com/8GbtLhOc98  Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) February 26, 2022

On Friday night, Biden traveled home to Delaware for a weekend break as Ukraine burns after Russia invaded and the United States was condemned for appearing weak.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden were snapped exiting the White House on Friday evening to board their Marine One helicopter as Europe faces its biggest conflict since World War Two.

President Biden, 79, and First Lady Biden, 70, donned their customary face masks, even though both are vaccinated and boosted, and the CDC itself has indicated that the time to lift almost all mandates has come.

Biden has access to technology that allows him to work from his luxury home in Rehoboth Beach, and will be following the latest developments in Ukraine from there.

But critics will likely ask whether Biden should remain at the White House to help project the power and authority that comes with his office during a time that has left many across the United States and wider world fearful for their safety.

The White House released this memorandum on Friday evening authorizing the release of up to $600 million in military assistance to Ukraine

President Biden is pictured leaving the White House for his Delaware home on Friday evening

Biden and his wife Jill appeared relaxed as they headed for Marine One, despite Europe currently experiencing its biggest conflict since World War Two

The United States has imposed a raft of punitive financial sanctions against Russia in a bid to try and deter Vladimir Putin from continuing to invade Ukraine.

But thus far, the Russian premier - whose personal fortune has been estimated by Forbes to sit at $200 billion - has not been deterred.

The US has provided Ukraine with considerable military hardware, and thus far Zelensky's forces appear to have slowed the Russian onslaught.

But Kremlin troops had entered Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning, and it is feared the capital city could fall to Putin later on Saturday.

Pentagon efforts to try and stop the war from flaring were slick, but ultimately unsuccessful.

US intelligence on Russian troops' movements ahead of the invasion was shared far more freely than normal, in an attempt to spook Putin.

America also warned of the sanctions Russia would face if Putin did invade, but the image-obsessed Russian leader ultimately decided to plow on anyway.

The POTUS and FLOTUS both wore masks outdoors, even though both have received their COVID vaccines and booster shots

President Biden and the first lady held hands as they walked towards Marine One

President Biden left for Delaware hours after the White House announced he is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin, the White House announced on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wil also be targeted.

The European Union and United Kingdom announced they would introduce sanctions targeting Putin and Lavrov on Friday.

'In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her press briefing.

She said travel ban 'would be a part of the US component' in sanctions on Putin and Lavrov.

Putin will become the highest target to be hit after the White House imposed measures on multiple Russian banks and oligarchs. Biden had been under pressure to target Putin personally for his attack of the Ukraine.

The move will be largely symbolic as it remains unclear where Putin's money is and how much there is of it.

Their chopper took off into the mild Washington evening, and flew over the iconic Washington monument.

Bloomberg notes Putin's latest financial disclosure reveals that his annual income is about 10 million rubles ($120,050), and he owns three cars and an apartment.

But there are also reports Putin owns a superyatch worth $100 million. And that his estimated worth is $200 billion.

Earlier Friday, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for about 40 minutes.

Zelensky said the two men discussed stronger sanctions on Russia and more support from the United States.

'Strengthening sanctions, concrete defense assistance and an anti-war coalition have just been discussed with @POTUS. Grateful to [United States] for the strong support to [Ukraine]!,' he wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky had pushed for Putin to be directly sanctioned.

President Joe Biden is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin (center) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right)

The Ukrainian president took to the streets of Kyiv to say 'we are still here' while Ukrainian forces slowed down Russian advances and civilians took up arms to fight for the capital Kyiv.

Zelensky had been critical of a lack of support from the United States and its allies. He was also battling a Russian-disinformation campaign that he had fled Kyiv.

'We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine,' Zelensky said in a video posted to Facebook. He spoke in the streets of Kyiv, the night sky visible behind him.

It's unclear what kind of support Biden offered to Zelensky, who said he is 'target number one' for Russian assassins and his wife and children are 'number two.'

There are fears he may be assassinated and replaced by a Putin puppet.

Before the phone call, Biden met virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected as Russian troops prepared to enter Kyiv.

U.S. intelligence officials are worried the Ukrainian capitol could fall within days, CNN reported, as Russian forces are within 20 miles of its location and residents are being urged to make Molotov cocktails to help defend the city.

Amid reports the Kremlin is gunning for him, Zelensky had slammed the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.

'Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone,' he said on Thursday night. 'Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.'

'We're defending our country alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching this from a distance,' Zelensky said.

After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation organization will send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank. Its the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies.

'We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defense context. We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities,' Stoltenberg said.

President Joe Biden will meet virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected

Ukrainian national guard were forming up on Kyiv's streets Friday as they prepared to defend the city from a Russian assault, shortly before heavy gunfire and explosions were heard

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

Russian battle plans to take Kyiv and force an early end to the war in Ukraine have been revealed by US intelligence, who say troops and armour would be used to capture airfields, before a force of 10,000 paratroopers would be flown in to capture the city, round up the government, and force them to sign a peace deal handing control of the country back to Russia

President Joe Biden (upper left) participates in the NATO meeting

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg convenes leaders for a virtual summit

A general view of a meeting room during a virtual summit called in by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium

Ukraines military said it had shot down a Russian military transport plane with paratroopers on board.

According to a statement from the militarys General Staff, the first Il-76 heavy transport plane was shot down near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles south of Kyiv. The Russian military has not commented on either incident so far, and the reports could not be immediately verified.

Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.

The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

The Ukrainian military said a battle was underway near a military unit to the west of the city center.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said new explosions shook the area near a major power plant that the Russians were trying to attack.

Zelenskyy has released a video of himself and his senior aides earlier in Kyiv to reassure the nation as Russian troops were closing in on the capital.

People fleeing the conflict from neighboring Ukraine, arrive at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland, on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. 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

In this handout photo taken from video released by Ukrainian Police Department Press Service released on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, firefighters inspect the damage at a building following a rocket attack on the city of Kyiv

In the video Zelenskyy recorded in the street outside the presidential office, he said he and his top officials are staying in the capital.

'Our troops are here, citizens are here,' Zelenskyy said, adding that 'All of us are here protecting our independence of our country. And it will continue to be this way. Glory to our defenders, Glory to Ukraine, Glory to Heroes.'

Russian troops bore down on Ukraines capital Friday, with gunfire and explosions resonating ever closer to the government quarter.

In the fog of war, it was unclear how much of Ukraine remains under Ukrainian control and how much or little Russian forces have seized. The Kremlin accepted Kyivs offer to hold talks, but it appeared to be an effort to squeeze concessions out of Ukraines embattled president instead of a gesture toward a diplomatic solution.
A cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy.

The 416ft commercial boat named the 'Baltic Leader' is understood to belong to Promsvyazbank, one of the five major Russian banks which were hit with crippling EU sanctions this week, and was seized in the English Channel early on Saturday morning.

Promsvyazbank was named in the House of Commons as one of five Russian state-owned financial institutions that would be hit with sanctions.

Meanwhile, a US Treasury document said 'Baltic Leader' was owned by Promsvyazbank, which was described as 'systemically important' to Russia's defence industry.

Maritime officers have been given the power to intercept and seize vessels suspected of contravening EU-backed sanctions of Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian invasion.

In what is understood to be the first instance of Russian assets being frozen while in transit, the boat was intercepted by customs officials near Honfleur, in Normandy, after departing from the French city of Rouen.

'Baltic Leader' a cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday, as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy

'Baltic Leader' departed from the French city of Rouen on Friday, February 25 before it was intercepted by French maritime officials and diverted to Boulogne-sur-Mer port in Normandy at around 3am local time (2am GMT)

French authorities said the ship, which has been loaded with cars, belonged to a company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

'Baltic Leader' had arrived in the French city of Rouen on February 19 and spent almost six days docked there until departing on Friday night.

The vessel had been expected to reach St. Petersburg on Thursday, March 3.

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was then diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials.

All 19 crew members aboard 'Baltic Leader' are said to be co-operating with the investigation. The process could take up to 48 hours.

Captain Magnin said the boat is 'strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions'.

Pictured: The French Customs vessel that diverted Russian cargo ship Baltic Leader after it allegedly violated EU-imposed sanctions on Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine

Pictured: The cargo ship impounded in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France on Saturday, February 26

The short journey taken by 'Baltic Leader' as it was intercepted by French maritime officials in the English Channel and escorted to Boulogne-sur-Mer early on Saturday morning

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer (above) between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials

'Baltic Leader', a Ro-Ro Cargo vessel built 22 years ago, had been expected to dock in St. Petersburg on March 6. The ship sails under the flag of Russia.

One official was quoted by the BBC saying: 'It has been taken to the French port after a request by the French government because it is suspected of belonging to a company targeted by EU sanctions against Moscow.

'French boarder forces are currently investigating the cargo ship. Crew aboard the "Baltic Leader" has been cooperating with French authorities.'

The Russian embassy in France is said to be 'seeking explanations' from French authorities behind the seizure of one of its cargo ships.

A spokesperson in Paris told the Russian TASS news agency the boat's captain had called the embassy, which had then contacted French officials.
The cold case sex killing of a woman appears to have been solved thanks to DNA technology - with the prime suspect likely a trucker found dead in a shallow grave weeks after the victim was murdered.

Police in Council Bluffs, which sits on Iowa's western border across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, believe Thomas O. Freeman killed 32-year-old Lee Rotatori at a local hotel in 1982.

Rotatori, who had just moved from Nunica, Michigan, to Council Bluffs for a job, had stayed at the hotel for several nights while she looked for a home, authorities said.

She reportedly went boating with coworkers on June 24, 1982, and then stopped at McDonald's before returning to her hotel, according to a 2016 Des Moines Register report.

That was the last time Rotatori was seen alive before she was stabbed once and sexually assaulted.

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Police in Council Bluffs, which sits on Iowa's western border across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, believe Thomas O. Freeman, pictured, was the man who killed Rotatori

Pictured: 32-year-old Lee Rotatori, who was stabbed once, sexually assaulted and killed in 1982

The Register reported that a $3,000 reward was offered for information about Rotatori's murder, however investigators who were working the case were unable to identify a suspect.

The ensuing four decades would provide bits and pieces of information, thanks to developments in DNA forensics, before the big break in the case occurred following a family member of Rotatori received a home genealogy test and submitted it into a database.

In 2001, investigators submitted evidence they had collected to a state crime lab, which revealed the presence of a male DNA profile.

There wasn't a match in state or federal DNA databases, and the lab periodically ran new checks over the years without success.

Then in 2019, investigators submitted the DNA to another lab that began a genetic genealogy case and concluded last year that the DNA was from Freeman, who had lived in the southern Illinois community of West Frankfort.

Police told the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil that Freeman was a trucker and that they think he killed Rotatori while he was passing through the area.

Freeman's body was found in October 1982 in a shallow grave near Cobden, Illinois, a village about 30 miles southwest of West Frankfort.

He had been shot multiple times and was 35 when he died. Investigators believe he was killed about three months before his body was found.

Police said they don't have a suspect in his death.

Authorities said they are trying to determine if the two deaths are somehow linked - including whether Freeman was identified locally as a suspect, and executed by vigilantes as a result.
A federal judge struck down a woke Virginia school board's 'equity' initiative at an elite public school after ruling it discriminated against Asian American students.

Judge Claude Hilton ruled on Friday that Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) new admission policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria left Asian American students 'disproportionately deprived of a level playing field.'

In his ruling, Judge Hilton wrote: 'The discussion of admissions changes was infected with talk of racial balancing from its inception.'

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is ranked as the best high school in the nation, and is known for churning out Ivy League students. In 2020, the Fairfax County School Board significantly revamped the admissions process at the school.

A standardized test that had been a linchpin of the admissions process was scrapped in favor of a system that set aside equal numbers of slots at each of the county's middle schools to balance the racial groups, among other changes.

The school eliminated the standardized testing requirement and installed a new admissions policy that guaranteed seats for 1.5 percent of each middle school's eighth-grade class, which parents argued dramatically reduced the number of Asian American students admitted to the school known as 'TJ.'

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology was ranked the best public high school in the nation by U.S. News and World Report

Although the school has routinely ranked as the best or one of the best public schools in the country, black and Hispanic students were woefully underrepresented in the student body

In his ruling Judge Hilton (pictured) wrote: 'The discussion of admissions changes was infected with talk of racial balancing from its inception'

RACIAL BREAKDOWN OF FAIRBANKS COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENTS 2020-2021 Black students - 1.23% Hispanic students - 3.29% White students - 17.70% Asian students - 73% 2021-2022 Black students - 7.09% Hispanic students - 11.27% White students - 22.36% Asian students - 54.36% Source: Fairfax County Public Schools Advertisement

The Coalition for TJ, the group of parents who challenged the admissions process in court with help from the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a statement that it 'is thrilled by Judge Claude Hiltons clear renunciation of racism and discrimination and his powerful defense of equality.'

'We hope this ruling sends the message that government cannot choose who receives the opportunity to attend public schools based on race or ethnicity,' the coalition said.

The Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Normani celebrated the victory on Twitter, posting a video reacting to the ruling.

'All of America, just know right now: We fought, we are mostly immigrant, mostly Asian families of ''Color'' and you know what we said? We don't want this illegal equity, this illegal racism, illegal discrimination. We refuse it and we stood up unapologetically,' she said emotionally as she celebrated the news of the legal victory.

Judge Hilton noted that the death of George Floyd in May 2020 prompted calls for racial justice across the country and that the Virginia General Assembly and Department of Education were pushing schools like TJ - collectively known as 'Governor's Schools' in Virginia - to develop plans to quickly address the lack of black and Hispanic students.

'Throughout this process, Board members and high-level FCPS officials expressed their desire to remake TJ admissions because they were dissatisfied with the racial composition of the school,' Hilton wrote.

But the school system has insisted its new admissions policies are race-neutral; among other things, they noted that the panelists who evaluate applications don't even know the race of the students they are evaluating.

The school system also argued that efforts to increase black and Hispanic representation are legally permissible as long as the school board had not demonstrated a desire to harm Asian Americans.

John Foster, a lawyer for the school system, said the school board will consider an appeal of Hilton's ruling.

The Coalition for TJ co-founder Asra Normani (pictured) celebrated the victory on Twitter, posting a video reacting to the ruling

The Coalition for TJ (pictured) said in a statement that it 'is thrilled by Judge Claude Hiltons clear renunciation of racism and discrimination and his powerful defense of equality'

Fairfax County Public Schools in 2020 changed its admissions policy for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology candidates in an effort to strike a racial balance. It resulted in a nearly 20 percent drop in Asian students

'The new process is blind to race, gender and national origin and gives the most talented students from every middle school a seat at TJ,' Foster said in a written statement.

Although the school has routinely ranked as the best or one of the best public schools in the country, black and Hispanic stunts were woefully underrepresented in the student body for decades.

TJ's current freshman class, the first to be accepted under the new policies, reflected a significant change in racial makeup.

During the 2021-22 school year - the first curricular year since the new policy took effect - Asian admission dropped from 73 percent to 53 percent, according to district data.

The percentage of black students rose from one percent during the 2020-21 school year to seven percent this year. Hispanic representation went from three to 11 percent and white enrolment jumped from 18 percent to 22 percent at the Alexandria school.

Hilton's ruling comes roughly a month after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a similar case filed by Asian American families against Harvard University over its admissions policies.

Harvard is being sued by a group that claims it imposes a 'racial penalty' on Asian American applicants by systematically scoring them lower in some categories than other applicants and awarding 'massive preferences' to black and Hispanic applicants.

Harvard denies that it discriminates against Asian American applicants and says its consideration of race is limited.
Actress AnnaLynne McCord has defended her cringeworthy poem that told of her desire to have been Russian President Vladimir Putin's mother and prevent war in Ukraine.

The 2:20 long video went viral and has generated 26.4 million views since it was posted on Thursday morning.

McCord appeared to show empathy for the Russian leader by suggesting that she could have been a dictator herself.

'I know how I could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself,' McCord told BuzzFeed News.

'If certain circumstances of my life were different, were I a little less bent toward healing and more toward vindication, I could have been a darkly powerful person,' she said.

Actress AnnaLynne McCord, 34, has defended her cringing poem that told of her desire to have been Russian President Vladimir Putin's mother and prevent war in Ukraine

McCord, 34, posted a bizarre poem online Thursday about her desire to be Russian President Vladimir Putin's mother

She said in an interview outside of the poem that she 'could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself'

The star has previously spoken of her tough upbringing, which saw her raised in a trailer park, but says she has managed to 'heal' and put past hardships behind her.

McCord said she was motivated to share the poem after she woke up 'in anguish' over 'the children of the war' and the young Ukrainians who are experiencing war for the first time.

She told the outlet how she feels for 'children who grow into adults and become people who do historically horrifying things' adding that she personally understands 'early life trauma.'

The former 90210 star shared her musings about the Russian president on Twitter, drawing harsh criticism from users who called McCord 'self indulgent,' and 'narcissistic' for drawing attention to herself as Putin leads a brutal attempt to take over Ukraine.

She began her verse with an apology to 69-year-old Putin.

'I'm so sorry I was not your mother,' she said. 'If I was your mother, you would have been so loved, held in the arms of joyous light.'

She told BuzzFeed that she believed her mission was to raise awareness about changes needed within 'education systems' to 'protect children and stop creating dictators and abusers and enslavers and rapists and bullies.'

McCord suggested a 'nervous system regulation practice' be added as a 'mandatory tool for young children to stop the pandemic of violence.'

Throughout the video, McCord, 34, went on about how Putin's life would have been different if he'd have been embraced by her love.

Although McCord blames the family matriarch throughout the poem, Putin's mother, Maria Shelomova, has been characterized by others as a kind factory worker who secretly baptized him during the Communist era.

The details of Putin's early life are scarce, but Putin described his mother in an interview posted on the Kremlin's website as an excellent cook who lived a simple life.

'We lived very simply cabbage soup, cutlets, pancakes,' Putin said. 'But on Sundays and holidays my Mom would bake very delicious stuffed buns with cabbage, meat and rise, and curd tarts.'

Although McCord blames the family matriarch throughout the poem, Putin's mother, Maria Shelomova, has been characterized by others as a kind factory worker who secretly baptized him

The invasion was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose widely-condemned leadership has the world on edge

Putin's mother Maria Shelomova

However, she hinted in the poem that she was speaking metaphorically and was really referring to Russia with her 'mother' references.

The actress proclaimed in her poem that she would have done a better job and spared the world from warfare if only she'd been born earlier.

'If I was your mother, the world would have been warm,' she said.

It all could have been avoided, McCord said.

'If I was your mother, if the world was cold, I'd have died to make you warm,' she said. 'I'd have died to protect you from the unjust; the violence; the terror; the uncertainty. I would have died to give you life.'

Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine this week.

Officials in the country say more than 100 civilians and soldiers have been killed as Russia attacks on multiple fronts across the country.

On the first day of conflict 57 people were killed and 169 others were wounded, Ukraine's health ministry said.

Officials in Ukraine say more than 100 civilians and soldiers have been killed

Meghan McCain led a round of criticism by tweeting: 'I'm not sure if this is meant to be a parody or truly everyone in Hollywood is just out of their minds

Others joined in at poking fun at the actress's poetry, though some said they actually liked it

McCord's poetry failed to elicit much praise on Twitter, with many blasting it as self-centered and ridiculous.

DailyMail.com columnist Meghan McCain led a round of criticism by tweeting: 'I'm not sure if this is meant to be a parody or truly everyone in Hollywood is just out of their minds.

'But thank you to this actress lady for making me smile for the first time in 24 hours. 'Nailed it girl, wars over.'

'Calm down,' tweeted @ConceptualBIG after listening to McCord's poem. 'There's no need to torture people using cringe as a weapon.'

Added @articninjapaul: 'Why do celebs keep sending their audition tapes to Twitter?'

'This should be a war crime,' tweeted @fishontherun2.

Although most poked fun at the poem, some found it heartfelt.

'If you actually listen to her words rather than just making snap judgments, her point is that blind allegiance to a country and power is an ego's attempt at a replacement for emotional needs that were not met,' one person tweeted. 'And she's right.'
A Missouri pastor is revealing how he tipped off the police to a killer mom in his flock after the murderess's husband and 26 year-old son died of antifreeze poisoning in quick succession.

Pastor Jeff Sippy put in the anonymous call in 2013 after two members of his congregation at Redeemer Lutheran Church had died in the same way.

'I shared that I am a pastor and I have a family who has experienced two deaths in a short proximity of time and has another family member in ICU,' Sippy told ABC's 20/20. 'I've never had two family members die in the same type of situations ever,' he added.

He concluded that the authorities needed to investigate.

'Now I see someone fighting for their life in circumstances and events that are just completely foreign to me,' suspecting a sinner in his flock.

Pastor recalls tipping police about the suspicious events surrounding Diane Staudte's family: "These were circumstances that needed to be investigated.



Watch "Home Sweet Murder" - premiering TONIGHT at 9/8c on @ABC. Stream next day on Hulu. https://t.co/tGv31p704k pic.twitter.com/RaFCHjZFMm  20/20 (@ABC2020) February 25, 2022

Pastor Jeff Sippy, pictured, has revealed how he reported parishioner Diane Staudte to cops after her husband and son died in quick succession. Staude was later convicted of their murders

Diane Staudte has admitted she attempted to kill her other daughter the same way. She 'made jokes and laughed' with nurses at the hospital to which her daughter Sarah was admitted in a critical condition

Poisoned: Shawn Staudte, 26, died in September 2012 after his mother poisoned his Gatorade and soda laced with anti-freeze

Victim Mark Staudte. In 2012, Mark and Shaun Staudte died six months apart of natural causes, or so everyone thought. In the years following, it would be revealed that Diane Staudte, Mark's wife and Shaun's mother, with the help of her daughter Rachel Staudte, actually murdered Mark and Shaun with antifreeze

Sarah and Rachel Staudte (right) in an October 9, 2012 photo posted by Diane. Rachel assisted their mother in attempting to poison Sarah

Sarah survived being poisoned but now lives in care after suffering nerve and brain damage

The call led to the resulting arrest of Diane Staudte, 58, who poisoned her husband Mark and two of her children, killing one and disabling another.

Mark died on Easter Sunday in April 2012 of what had been judged to be natural causes at the time.

Five months later, Mark and Diane's son, Shaun, 26, was found dead at their home after he'd suffered from flu-like symptoms.

Lastly, in June of 2013, daughter Sarah was taken to an ICU with a brain bleed and organ failure, with doctors believing she'd been poisoned.

Diane and daughter Rachel Staudte were taken in for questioning, where the mother and wife admitted to using antifreeze by pouring it into Coca-Cola and Gatorade drank by her children and husband.

Photo shows Diane, Mark, Shaun, Rachel and Sara in June of 1990 in Overland Park, KS, in their apartment where they lived there for a brief period

She entered an Alford plea on two counts of first-degree murder. Alford pleas acknowledge prosecutors have the evidence to convict someone without the defendant admitting to the crime. Diane Staudte is serving life without parole in prison.

Rachel Staudte pleaded guilty to second degree murder in 2015 in a plea deal to testify against her mother. She was sentenced to two life terms, but can be paroled after 42 and a half years in prison.

In 2016, video showed Diane Staudte telling Missouri police in never-before-seen tapes that she killed son Shaun, 26, because he wouldn't help around the house.

Staudte also admits to poisoning daughter Sarah, who survived with brain damage, saying she did it because her daughter had college debts she wasn't able to pay and refused to get a job.

Diane, however, now claims she is innocent in an interview with ABC News.

Satudte now claims she didn't commit the murders

'I said what I was told to say - I'm saying there's more to that than what people know,' Staudte said. 'Mark was with some people that are very dangerous - people have disappeared,' she added.

She now believes somebody 'came in and gave him something' in the case of husband Mark.

Authorities said they have zero evidence that anyone but Diane and Rachel pulled off the murders.

Staudte claimed to have killed husband Mark, then 61, because she 'hated his guts' and accused him of domestic abuse, tapes reveal.

Between 2012 and 2013, Staudte and daughter Rachel planned and then executed a plot to poison the rest of the family using antifreeze.

Diane Staudte is interrogated by the Springfield Police Department in 2013

According to further tapes obtained by ABC, Rachel said she and her mother bought the antifreeze online because store-bought antifreeze has a bitter chemical added to it to stop it from being consumed. Without the flavor, it tastes slightly sweet.

In the tapes, Staudte can be heard telling officers that she added 'one or two teaspoons' of the chemical into Coca-Cola and Gatorade she served to Shaun, Sarah and Mark.

Mark died suddenly in April 2012, but because of his unhealthy lifestyle medical examiners put his death down to natural causes.

The same happened after Shaun died five months later because he had a history of seizures.

Sarah is now living in care as she deals with the effects of the poisoning, while the youngest daughter, who has never been identified, is living in foster care.

Diane Staudte is seen in some of her Facebook photos

At the sentencing hearing, Sarah Staudte told the courtroom she has forgiven her sister.

Rachel Staudte also spoke and said that 'despite the bad, there are those who forgive'.
Australia's second richest woman, who first made money selling spray-on tattoos at a Perth fair, now leads a multinational tech powerhouse worth more than Telstra - but she has even greater ambitions.

Melanie Perkins' DIY graphic design platform Canva is now worth more than $55billion, of which she and co-founder/husband Cliff Obrecht own 30 per cent, which is over $16.4billion.

Their company's stunning growth, which saw Canva bring in nearly $1billion revenue before Christmas, has been fuelled by the Covid work-from-home boom that has given it 60 million customers in 190 countries.

Australia's second richest woman, who first made money selling spray-on tattoos at a Perth fair, now leads a multinational powerhouse worth more than Telstra but she has even greater ambitions

She had the idea for a graphic design business in 2005 and started Canva's forerunner, a school yearbook business called Fusion, from her mother's loungeroom. Then-boyfriend Cliff Obrecht was her co-founder (pictured, Melanie and Cliff in 2005)

Melanie Perkins, 34, is worth more than $8billion and leads one of the world's fasted growing tech companies. She is 'unequivocally the boss', her business partner Cameron Adams said.

After humble beginnings, the ultra-ambitious Perkins, just 34, has come to be regarded in tech circles as a friendly but 'intense' visionary who is obsessed that everyone uses her website, the AFR reported.

'We want every single person on the planet to use Canva,' she told a video call to the company's 2,500 staff in December.

She also told staff the company was set to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. It is already worth more than Telstra and is nearing Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group in value.

But they don't plan to keep that wealth.

In December, they signed up to Bill Gates' the Giving Pledge, committing to giving away their fortune during their lifetimes. That could happen in several ways, including setting up their own charities.

In 2013 the pair jetted off to Richard Branson's luxurious privately-owned island Necker Island in the Caribbean's British Virgin Islands (pictured on the holiday)

Mr Obrecht and Ms Perkins have dated for over a decade and made billions - but they have already signed a pledge to give it away

Its mission is to eliminate extreme poverty.

'We have this wildly optimistic belief that there is enough money, goodwill, and good intentions in the world to solve most of the world's problems,' their pledge letter read.

'We feel like it's not just a massive opportunity, but an important responsibility, and we want to spend our lifetime working towards that.'

'Who needs all that money? Personally?' Ms Perkins said.

While the co-founders, Mr Obrecht and their other business partner, Cameron Adams, agree Ms Perkins runs the show.

'She's unequivocally the boss,' Mr Adams said.

Obrecht said: 'She's usually right'.

Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht met at the University of Western Australia and at one point made money together selling spray-on tattoos at local fairs.

Before they met, she was an aspiring figure skater, getting up to train at 4.30am each morning before attending Sacred Heart College.

Australia's youngest billionaire Melanie Perkins pictured with her fiance and business partner Cliff Obrecht on a holiday to Turkey's popular Cappadocia region last year

The 34-year-old's social media profile boasts of her frequent trips to far-flung countries - including Rio de Janeiro in Brazil (pictured)

After school hours, she sold handmade scarves at markets and local shops.

Ms Perkins studied commerce at uni and made money on the side tutoring fellow students in graphic design.

She had the idea for a graphic design business in 2005 and started Canva's forerunner, a school yearbook business called Fusion, from her mother's lounge room.

'My boyfriend became my co-founder, and we started in my mum's living room,' she said.

The couple started with a bank loan and a tax rebate of $5,000, which they used to advertise online and send sample yearbooks to school.

The couple started Canva in 2013 - buying the URL canva.com for $2,500 - and moved to Sydney in 2014 to grow the business.

Ms Perkins worked tirelessly to find investors as Canva grew, being turned down 100 times before doors started to open.

After learning how to pitch, she secured $1.5million in funding, with Lars Rasmussen, co-founder of Google Maps, one of her investors.

The couple travel the world but also live a modest lifestyle when in Sydney

Cameron Adams (left), Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins run global powerhouse Canva

To curry favour with the tech gurus of Silicon Valley, she learned how to kiteboard.

But while sailing in the Caribbean channel between Richard Branson's Necker and Moskito islands on her own became stranded for hours and had to be rescued.

One of the couple's earliest business moves was convincing photographers to take 25c for the sale of their photo in Canva's image library, compared to the one-off fee they could get from Getty.

Mr Obrecht was able to convince the photographers that when Canva got huge, they'd make much more because the photos would be sold thousands or millions of times.

Canva's latest figures say an incredible eight billion designs have been made using the platform, and 400 million presentations created.

It is forecast to grow to 4,000 staff this year.

Ms Perkins, originally from Perth, founded the Sydney-based digital graphics business Canva with her fiance in 2013 after dropping out of university

Mr Obrecht, Ms Perkins and Mr Adams pose for a Canva PR shoot

The couple married on Rottnest Island in January 2021 but still live in Sydney, in a modest Surry Hills terrace they bought for $1.7million - which is the median house price for the inner-Sydney suburb.

Not that Perkins and Obrecht deprive themselves of all fun when they are not working.

Her social media profile boasts of her lavish trips to international countries - with Australia's third-richest woman most recently sharing a photo of her taking in the Rio de Janeiro skyline in Brazil.

In 2020 she shared photos of the pair enjoying a trip to Cappadocia in central Turkey.

The pair have also jetted off to Richard Branson's luxurious privately-owned island Necker Island in the Caribbean's British Virgin Islands.

Mr Obrecht proposed to Ms Perkins on the trip to Turkey, although he stresses the couple live a simple life despite the wealth they have gained from their graphic design firm.

'Mel and I are committed to giving away all our money to make the world a better place,' he told The Australian.

'I think with running such a large company with such a significant valuation now, it's an obligation on us to use that to be a force for good and make the world a better place, rather than just hoard s**t.'

Ms Perkins pictured at the Center Stage of Web Summit in Portugal in November 2019 with what appears to be the $30 engagement ring given to her by her fiance in Turkey. Her wealth is trumped only by that of Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart

Mr Obrecht said he proposed to his wife with an engagement ring worth just $30, and the couple were instead focusing on spending their money on causes like reforming the global health system.

'We live pretty modestly, and we don't really see the need to just accrue wealth. The priority for the company is education, because we really feel educating underprivileged people gives them the opportunity to break the cycle,' he said.

His fiance added she hoped to bring more equality to disadvantaged communities through her position of power in the business world.

Perkins said she hoped to bring more equality to the world through her position of power in the business world

Ms Perkins found most people struggled to use the clunky software so she developed a business idea

Ms Perkins and Mr Obrecht are still together after starting up two successful companies
Caught on camera, a woman sobbed uncontrollably as she and hundreds more gathered to remember Sabina Nessa.

The vigil took place in Eastbourne less than three weeks after the 28-year-old teacher was murdered. While those who attended were strangers to Sabina, still emotions ran high.

After all, the South Coast town was where Koci Selamaj, her killer, was later arrested  and where the Albanian migrant had made his home.

And on that October night none appeared to feel Sabina's loss more deeply than that woman at the front of the crowd  a tissue pressed to her eyes, her head tucked into her chest, the arm of a friend protectively wrapped around her.

Today, the Daily Mail can reveal the extraordinary story behind those tears.

Because the weeping woman's name is Ionela Selamaj  the wife of the man who yesterday admitted murdering Sabina.

'We met by accident at the vigil,' recalled the friend who comforted her that evening.

A woman who was seen crying (left) at a vigil for Sabina Nessa in October is Ionela Selamaj - the wife of Koci Selamaj, who yesterday admitted murdering Sabina

'She tapped me on the shoulder and started sobbing and I hugged her. She cried all evening, until late at night, when we went by the sea and threw flowers in the water.

'She kept saying she doesn't understand what he had against Sabina and that it would have made more sense if he'd killed her  not Sabina.'

Ionela, a cleaner and part-time belly dancer who married her husband at Eastbourne town hall three years ago, had experienced his increasingly erratic behaviour first hand.

'She told us that in the past months he became violent,' a friend in her native Romania revealed about a video call following his arrest.

'He tried to strangle her three times. One day he came home from work and without saying anything he just came at her and strangled her. She thought she was going to die. But something happened and he stopped.'

The final time the 36-year-old attacked Ionela it left her so scared that she decided to leave him. This was six weeks before the murder.

Then, out of the blue, on the same day he would later travel to London to kill Sabina, he arranged to meet his wife in the car park of the Grand Hotel where she cleaned.

What she did not know was that he had booked a room at the hotel. 'He asked her to meet him in the parking lot, without mentioning that he had checked in at the same hotel she works in,' said another friend.

'He proposed sex to her, she said no, and she went back into the hotel. She told me he went back to his room, without her knowing, and stayed there for a while then he went to London.

'He stayed on the third floor, while she was working on the second floor. She only found out he was there later when her boss told her.'

A few hours after that meeting, Selamaj murdered Sabina. He then got in his Nissan Micra and drove back to the hotel, where he spent the night.

Nine days would pass before he would be arrested by police, who raided the flat in Eastbourne that he had previously shared with his wife.

Ionela, a cleaner who married her husband (both pictured) at Eastbourne town hall three years ago, had experienced Koci's increasingly erratic behaviour first hand

The night before his arrest, Ionela had gone back there to discuss their break-up. She had no idea her husband was being hunted by police.

'She said his face was different and he didn't let her go into the flat and didn't want to talk,' the friend said.

Ionela was later interviewed by detectives. They allowed her to pick up some of her possessions, which is when she noticed a favourite jacket was missing. She claims to have been told by police that a jacket matching its description had been found at the scene, covering Sabina's body.

If that is indeed the case, the significance of that gesture can only be guessed at. But it is hardly surprising that Ionela believes herself lucky to be alive. And that she is now struggling to come to terms with feelings of guilt for not having done something to stop him.

'I didn't go to the police because I didn't think they would believe me,' she told a friend. 'I had no witnesses and no bruises. I stayed with him out of fear.'

According to the couple's marriage certificate, the pair wed on Bonfire Night, 2018. Selamaj left a blank under the space for 'rank or profession', while his wife described herself as a 'car washer'.

Friends say Selamaj is a Muslim while his wife is Christian. 'He wasn't very religious but she was and they had strong conversations about the matter,' one said.

Neither spoke the other's language  meaning they communicated mainly in Italian, which both spoke well. Some friends describe a 'rushed wedding' while others say they married for 'love'.

Pictures on Ionela's Facebook page include a photo of them smiling together beneath the caption: 'London with my lover  forever together'.

Another shows them in Brighton, Selamaj smartly dressed in a dark suit and tie, Ionela wearing a strapless turquoise dress. Following their marriage, the couple lived in flats above shops on the High Street.

Neighbours recalled hearing loud arguments when they first moved in.

Their relationship appears to have deteriorated sharply early last year, when Selamaj started to pressure his wife to move to London, saying he had found work there. At the time he was delivering pizzas for Domino's.

Ionela said she did not want to go. 'He changed. He started to become cold, aggressive and violent,' said a friend. Of the three incidents of strangulation, the first took place after Ionela failed to answer her phone. On another occasion Selamaj was angry that she had been in touch with an ex.

'The last time he did it, she had just come back from work and brought him food she knew he liked,' the friend said.

'He was dismissive and aggressive. He treated her bad. She felt like he hated her. They weren't sleeping in the same bed, or eating together in the house.'

Following her husband's arrest, Ionela gave up her hotel cleaning job and has moved to London to try to rebuild her life.

Koci Selamaj, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, yesterday accepted responsibility for killing Ms Nessa (pictured), who was found dead in Cator Park, Kidbrooke, in September last year

Her friend said: 'She feels very ashamed she is the wife of a murderer and she is afraid to leave her room.'

She cannot get out of her mind the fate that might have befallen her. 'I feel like it should have been me instead of her,' she said. 'I feel like God saved my life again, and chose to keep me alive.'

Quite what motivated Selamaj to kill is unclear. But prosecutors believe the murder involved a sexual or sadistic element and was 'premeditated and predatory'.

Like the murder of Sarah Everard before her, Sabina's brutal death was especially shocking because of the circumstances in which it occurred.

Targeted entirely at random, it could have been anyone's mother, wife, sister or daughter. Two lives crossing by chance  with unimaginably awful consequences for one of them.

Sabina was attacked at about 8.30pm on Friday, September 17, after buzzing herself out of her block of new-build flats in Kidbrooke, South-East London.

She had only moved to the area a few months earlier, it being ideally located for her job as a Year One teacher at Rushey Green Primary School in nearby Catford.

Sabina knew first-hand the importance of a good education, her parents having come to Britain in search of a better life.

Her father, Abdur Rouf, and mother, Azibun Nessa, arrived in London from Bangladesh in 1980, he finding work as a chef. Four daughters would follow. Jebina, the eldest, was born in North London in 1991, followed just 13 months later by Sabina.

By then the family had moved to a red-brick semi-detached council house in a quiet cul-de-sac in Sandy, Bedfordshire, where they remain to this day. A decade later the arrival of two more daughters would complete the family.

At about the same time, Abdur and Azibun became property owners, purchasing the house for 35,000 under the right-to-buy scheme. The family was well-known to neighbours, the girls familiar figures.

'They've always been a lovely family and Sabina was a lovely girl,' said one.

Sabina came to teaching having studied sociology at Greenwich University where she was, again, remembered for her love of learning.

'Honestly, Sabina did not have a bad bone in her body,' said Dr Louise Owusu-Kwarteng, who was her personal tutor as well as lecturer during her degree course.

'She had the world at her feet and I do think that she would have been a real inspiration to all of those kids that she taught.'

Having completed her degree, Sabina took a teaching postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire. She also obtained a qualification to teach English as a foreign language.

Ionela's friend in Romania said Koci had become violent and the final time he attacked Ionela (pictured at vigil), she decided to leave him. This was six weeks before the murder

Although she only joined her primary school in 2020, she had already had a big impact on her young charges.

'She was a brilliant teacher  she was kind, caring and absolutely dedicated to her pupils,' said headteacher Lisa Williams.

'She had so much life ahead of her and so much more to give and her loss is desperately sad.'

What few would have known, however, was the pivotal role Sabina continued to play within the family. She was, say relatives, their 'rock' and 'guardian'.

'For Sabina it was all about education, not just for her but for her sisters as well,' Badar Uddin Ahmed, who runs the restaurant where Sabina's father works, told the Mail.

'It was important to Sabina that they get educated.'

Mr Ahmed, who is so close to the family that the siblings regarded him as an 'uncle', said that her parents could not speak or write English.

As a result, Sabina took it upon herself to 'overcome' the difficulties that created  dealing with school matters and administration and replying to letters.

All the time, he said, she was so hungry to learn she would spend her pocket money buying books.

'She knew that education could put her in a better place and that's why she always wanted to learn, getting her A-levels, going to university, working for her Masters and all the time doing jobs in between,' the 67-year-old said.

'I would ask her, 'when are you going to stop learning?' and she would say that it was education that put you in a better place. I know she hoped that one day she could teach a language abroad. She wanted to go to Dubai.'

But those dreams have gone now. And in their place all that remain are thoughts of what might have been.

'Her life was taken too short,' her sister Jebina tearfully observed.

'She had a lot of future ahead of her, a bright future, but that was just snatched away from her  a bright, intelligent, wonderful woman.'

To celebrate what would have been her 29th birthday in October, family members gathered in the park where she was killed to release balloons in her memory.

They were given packets of sunflower seeds to plant, Sabina's favourite flower. 'They are bright and they stand up tall,' her sister said. 'Just like her.'

Sabina murderer finally confesses: Delivery driver admits he hit her over head 34 times in sex crazed attack

By Emine Sinmaz for the Daily Mail

A 'predatory' Albanian delivery driver beat primary school teacher Sabina Nessa to death in a sexually motivated murder after waiting for a lone female he could attack.

Koci Selamaj hid in bushes before chasing Miss Nessa and hitting her over the head 34 times with a 2ft metal traffic triangle in a South-East London park last September.

After rendering her unconscious, the 'cowardly and evil' 36-year-old concealed her body before strangling her and removing her underwear and tights.

Selamaj's 'sadistic' and 'premeditated' stranger attack came just two hours after he checked into a five-star hotel in Eastbourne in a failed bid to try to have sex with his estranged wife, the Old Bailey heard.

Koci Selamaj (pictured) hid in bushes before chasing Miss Nessa and hitting her over the head 34 times with a 2ft metal traffic triangle in a South-East London park last September

The balding killer pleaded guilty to murder yesterday as Miss Nessa's grieving family wept outside court.

Her sister Jebina Islam said: 'We as a family are broken and there is not a day that goes by that we do not think of her.

'There are no words to describe the pain we are going through and the pain which he has caused. The fact we will never know why he killed our sister is not only frustrating but heartbreaking.

'No family should go through what we are going through, and each day is not getting any easier.'

Selamaj had previously denied murder but had accepted responsibility for killing Miss Nessa, 28, as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, South-East London, on her way to meet a friend on September 17.

The senseless attack came just six months after Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens raped and strangled Sarah Everard, 33.

Yesterday Selamaj, who appeared in the dock in a grey prison-issue sweatshirt and navy face mask, paused before pleading guilty to murder in a whisper.

Alison Morgan, QC, prosecuting, said the starting point for the attack, which involved a 'sexual and sadistic' motive, was a life term with a minimum of 30 years imprisonment.

She said: 'This was a premeditated attack. Premeditated not in the sense that it targeted Sabina Nessa, but it targeted any lone female who would have been vulnerable to the attack on the location. By the time he was in Cator Park the defendant had armed himself with an emergency triangle.'

CCTV footage showed him chasing Miss Nessa and inflicting 34 'severe blows' to her head with the traffic triangle, rendering her unconscious.

He then moved her body out of the camera's view into some long grass before strangling her.

The balding killer pleaded guilty to murder yesterday as Miss Nessa's grieving family - including her sister Jebina Islam (pictured) - wept outside court

Selamaj had previously denied murder but had accepted responsibility for killing Miss Nessa (pictured), 28, as she walked through Cator Park in Kidbrooke, South-East London

Miss Morgan added: 'We understand... [when] Miss Nessa was likely unconscious, an act of asphyxiation occurred.

'The defendant removed Miss Nessa's tights and underwear and lifted her clothes so that the mid and upper parts of her body were exposed.'

The body of the Year One teacher from Rushey Green Primary School in Catford was found 24 hours later near a community centre in the park.

Miss Morgan said: 'The circumstances in which Miss Nessa's body was found demonstrated the sexual motivation that must have existed  the positioning of her legs, the exposure of parts of her body and the removal of her underwear and tights,' she added.

The defendant's Nissan Micra was later tracked by ANPR cameras and cell site evidence travelling to London. En route back to the South Coast, Selamaj stopped in the area of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where he disposed of the emergency triangle in the River Teise.

He arrived back at the 170-a-night hotel just after midnight. Police, who trawled through hundreds of hours of CCTV, arrested Selamaj in Eastbourne on September 26.

Mr Justice Sweeney adjourned sentencing until April 7.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: 'I do not want to waste words on this cowardly evil man apart from saying we are relieved he will now spend the vast majority of his life in prison.

'Some people have said Sabina was in the wrong place at the wrong time, I do not agree, Sabina had every right to walk through the park that night.'
A city Department of Health senior scientist bashed 13 times in her head by a hammer-wielding madman was alert and awake Saturday as police hunted the fugitive suspect in her Queens subway station beatdown.

The brother of hospitalized victim Nina Rothschild, 57, of Queens, told the Daily News that his older sibling remained alert and mentally intact despite the brutal pounding, and he believes she remembers details of the shocking caught-on-video assault and robbery on the Queens Plaza staircase.

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But his main focus remained on his older siblings recovery from the vicious Thursday night assault.

We have to take care of each other, said brother Gerson Rothschild, 54, noting their parents both died in 2000. Ill do what I can to get Nina better and get her back to where she wants to be, which is at the Department of Health, working.

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Subway attack victim Nina Rothschild (columbia.edu)

The DOH research scientist was headed down toward the subway tracks around 11:20 p.m. as the assailant stalked her from behind before repeatedly hitting Rothschild with the hammer, the gruesome video showed.

The assailant seized her bag before fleeing, and remained on the loose as his victim was still recovering Saturday at the New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical. She arrived two days earlier in critical condition with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi stopped by Friday to check on his recovering colleague, her brother said, while the NYPD was offering a reward up to $3,500 for information leading to the vicious suspects arrest.

The violent robbery was the latest in a rash of underground assaults, with major subway crime up 61% in the latest 2022 crime figures.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

This is an unprovoked, brutal and appalling crime on a woman who is just trying to get home after a days work, said NYPD Chief of Detective James Essig. A woman who dedicated her life to helping others.

Her brother said Rothschild, a Columbia University alumna, was due to receive an award at the Ivy League schools graduation ceremony later this year. She was also a past president of the Public Health Association of NYC during a long and distinguished career.

Rothschild was also a world traveler, particularly fond of trips to Europe, and a lover of flowers.

She has been all over, said her brother, a fellow scientist and a Columbia employee. Shes a very outgoing person. Shell talk to anybody about anything, and she likes to learn about a lot of different fields.

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Police released this image of a suspected mugger who authorities said attacked Nina Rothschild on subway steps with a hammer. (NYPD)

The mugging suspect was wearing a black mask, blue jeans, black shoes and a black hooded coat when he came at the unsuspecting woman. Though police had beefed-up patrols inside the Queens Plaza stop, the attack took place out of view from the officers assigned to the platform.

Rothschild said his sister would want her attacker to both face criminal charges and receive mental health assistance once in custody.

Since she works in the New York City Department of Health, she would want them to get the treatment they need, he said.
Hundreds of brave Ukranians are crossing back into their beleaguered homeland to fight against the invading Russian army.

The heroic volunteers have responded to a battle cry from Ukranian president Volodymr Zelensky urging men of fighting age between 18-60 to stay and defend the country from Vladimir Putin's onslaught.

And although according to Polish authorities more than 40,000 have left the war ravaged nation since fighting erupted earlier this week, another 9,000 have crossed back over the border and hundreds of them are ready to fight against Russian troops.

At Medyka, a Polish frontier post 50 miles west of the Ukranian city of Lyiv, Mail Online met three men who had jetted back from across the world to take up arms.

Sergei Udod, 40, Mykola Lysko, 42, and Viktor Kondratiuk, 53, had all met on a flight from Paris to Warsaw before cadging a lift to Medyka where they were planning to head onto Kyiv and take on the Russians.

At Medyka, a Polish frontier post 50 miles west of the Ukranian city of Lyiv, Mail Online met three men who had jetted back from across the world to take up arms. Sergei Udod, 40, Mykola Lysko, 42, and Viktor Kondratiuk, 53, (pictured together) had all met on a flight from Paris to Warsaw before cadging a lift to Medyka where they were planning to head onto Kyiv and take on the Russians

Although according to Polish authorities more than 40,000 have left the war ravaged nation since fighting erupted earlier this week, another 9,000 have crossed back over the border and hundreds of them are ready to fight against Russian troops

Ukrainian soldiers are pictured forming up across a highway in Kyiv as they prepare to defend the city from Russian attackers, with gunfire and explosions heard in the centre of the capital on Friday

Sergei, a doctor who is based in Libya, said: 'We have no option but to come back and fight. It's our duty. Our country must be defended and we are all ready to do so.

'The Russian aggression must be stopped. We are a proud nation and we are brave our army may be smaller than Putin's but we will make sure he has a fight and we will give him a match he will not be expecting.

'He will wish he had never crossed into Ukraine and he had stayed at home in Moscow. We will not give up without a fight and we are ready to die if we have to.'

Policeman Mykola, who was on holiday in Brazil, when Russia invaded earlier this week said: 'I could have taken the easy way out and just stayed on the beach but I couldn't do that when I knew my fellow countrymen are fighting and dying to save our country.

'I have friends and relatives who have taken up arms and I have family back in Kyiv, as soon as I saw the situation I didn't think twice and got a plane back from Brazil to Europe where I met these two guys in Paris and we flew to Warsaw.

'It has been a long journey and who knows how it will end but I will have done my duty and defended my country.'

Truck driver Viktor, who flew in from Canada, said: 'You have to stand up to aggression, that's why I have come back. I fought before in 2014 and know I will fight again. My country needs me, our president needs us and the people must all stay together to fight Putin and his forces.'

Hundreds poured across into Poland in the freezing temperatures, eagerly grabbing cups of hot tea and coffee that had been offered to them by local charities and volunteers

Many had spent hours in long queues and gridlocked roads snaking back from the border towards Lyiv and onto Kviv more than eight hours away

Just before arriving in Medyka, President Zelensky, had posted a rousing speech on Facebook, dressed in military fatigues and with his advisers, he said stirringly: 'We are all here. Our soldiers are here. The citizens are here and we are here. We defend our independence, our country. That's how it'll go.

'Glory to our defenders, both male and female, glory to Ukraine.'

His advisers replied in unison: 'Glory to our heroes.'

Another man, who declined to give his name, and who stopped as he crossed back into Ukraine from Poland, said: 'I saw president Zelensky make his speech. He was there in Kyiv with his advisers and he spoke of our brave soldiers, men and women who are fighting against a madman.

'I made sure my wife and children were safe here in Poland and now I'm going back to help in the fight. It's the least I can do.'

As he spoke hundreds poured across into Poland in the freezing temperatures, eagerly grabbing cups of hot tea and coffee that had been offered to them by local charities and volunteers.

Many had spent hours in long queues and gridlocked roads snaking back from the border towards Lyiv and onto Kviv more than eight hours away.

Bottles of water were also handed out as well as fruit and chocolate bars, overwhelmingly apparent was the number of women and children that were making the crossing, with barely any men after President Zelensky imposed a martial law banning males ages 18-60 from leaving the country.

It said this was 'in order to ensure the defence of the state, maintaining combat and mobilisation readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.'

Earlier President Zelensky had said: 'We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.'

People fleeing Ukraine as Russian forces attack the capital are seen in Medyka

Views of border between Poland and Ukraine at Medyka as people flee Ukraine

Anastasia Podhovna and Daria Rikhiemmova with their cat Siri they rescued

Law student Daria Rlkhimova, 19, had left her boyfriend behind in Lviv to fight against the Russians and blinking back tears as she crossed the border at Medyka, she said: 'People are scared, I'm scared but our country is strong, we will fight and we will resist.

'I've left my boyfriend behind to fight, my mother lives in Poland and is here waiting for me. I don't know when I will go back and see my boyfriend but we will speak every day. He is doing his duty for his country, like other brave Ukranian men and we are all proud of them.

'It took me 24 hours to get across the border and while I was there the Ukranian authorities came to the border and said all men between 18 and 65 had to turn back and there were very emotional scenes.

'Wives were crying saying they wanted to go with them but the men said no, they had to go into Poland and they would be reunited when it was all over. I saw some families even decide to go back because they didn't want to be split up. It was heartbreaking.'

As she spoke her friend, Anastasia Pedhovna, 19, stood next to her sobbing, she clutched a suitcase and was carrying a basket with her pet cat Siri, Daria said: 'I met this poor girl in the queue to cross the border. She's from Kyiv and has been crying the whole day, she's absolutely terrified and scared.

'She was there when the explosions started and her family told her to leave and go to Poland, she doesn't know anyone or have anywhere to go. All she has is a suitcase with some clothes and her cat, and that's all thanks to Putin.'
Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth has taken aim at Daniel Andrews for making it compulsory for school students to wear face masks.

Dr Coatsworth took to Twitter on Saturday to retweet a scathing post made by Crikey columnist Adam Schwab.

Schwab condemned the requirement that school students above Year 3 must continue to wear the extra layer of protection in classrooms across Victoria.

The mandate comes despite the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the peak national health agency in the US, relaxing its face mask recommendation.

Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth has taken aim at Daniel Andrews for making it compulsory for school students to wear face masks

Dr Coatsworth took to Twitter on Saturday to retweet a scathing post made by Crikey columnist Adam Schwab

The CDC announced face masks were no longer necessary in most classrooms.

'BREAKING - CDC just released guidelines stating masks no longer necessary in schools (joining most of the world),' Scwab wrote.

'Meanwhile, in Victoria, with only 38 people (0.0006%) in ICU with Covid, Dan Andrews and Brett Sutton still demanding small children where masks for 7 hours a day.'

The CDC announced on Friday it does not recommend students to wear face masks if their school is located in suburbs with 'low' or 'medium' Covid-19 cases.

Victoria recorded 5,874 cases on Saturday - one of its lowest figures since February 21.

Hospitalisations have dropped to 281 - down from 301 - while ICU rates have slightly risen to 43 - up from 38.

The US continues to record tens of thousands of new cases a day with its seven day case average at 75,208.

Dr Coatsworth retweeted the post made by Schwab to his 21,400 followers on Twitter in an apparent swipe against the premier.

The online dig is the latest attack made by the top doctor after he accused Mr Andrews of scaremongering and using the mask mandate to boost vaccine rates in children.

Schwab condemned the requirement that school students above Year 3 must continue to wear the extra layer of protection in classrooms across Victori

Students in high school and years 3 to 6 are required to wear a mask indoors at school, while children in Prep to Year 2 are exempt from the mandate (pictured, students in Melbourne)

'I haven't been a big fan of masks in primary school age children and that's because the disease is mild in that age group and we know the disease spreads far more readily in adults,' Dr Coatsworth told the Today Show on Wednesday.

'In my view, it doesn't make a lot of sense. It does trouble me that this is a sort mandate in a way to create the impetus for people to go and get their kids vaccinated when, really, it should be a choice.'

About 54 per cent of children aged five to 11 are vaccinated against Covid in Victoria, compared with 93.9 per cent aged 12 and over.

Other experts argue requiring some students to wear masks while their older siblings are exempt from the rule is impractical and unfounded.

Mr Andrews pointed to lower vaccination rates as a driver behind the decision and the risk of the virus spreading from children to the elderly or immunocompromised.

The online dig is the latest attack made by the top doctor after he accused Mr Andrews of using the mask mandate to boost vaccine rates in children
Actor Michael Madsen was arrested for trespassing at a luxury house from which he was recently evicted, DailyMail.com can exclusively report.

The Reservoir Dogs star was held Wednesday night at a $5.3 million Malibu mansion just across the Pacific Coast Highway from La Costa Beach where he had been living up until February 17.

A source exclusively told DailyMail.com, Michael had been living at the house since last year, but the lease was in another persons name.

The house was leased out by another person and several thousand dollars were owed in back rent, DailyMail.com has learned.

The owner had tried for the past two years to get the tenants evicted, but because of the moratorium on evictions on account of Covid, it took several months to go through the legal process.

In custody: Actor Michael Madsen, 64, was arrested on Wednesday night at his former Malibu home for trespassing shortly after 9pm Pacific time, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

The home's owner had been trying to get Madsen and others evicted since 2020 but a Covid moratorium prevented it until recently

The person who leased the house was taken to court and all the parties were evicted including Madsen on February 17, added the source.

Last Wednesday about 8:30PM the owner received a call phone from his rental houses security company saying that someone was trying to break into the house.

The owner who lives a few miles away from the house drove over and found Madsen, 64, out on the front porch.

The owner quickly called 911 and a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy came out and arrested disheveled looking Madsen for trespassing.

Wearing baggy jeans, a denim jacket and a partially unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, the Kill Bill star was first taken to the West Hills hospital then the police station.

According to booking documents he was given a $500 citation for a misdemeanor and released shortly before 7am on Thursday.

Since his arrest three-times-married Madsen and the owner of the property have reached an agreement which will allow him to retrieve his belongings.

Madsen was evicted from this $10,500-a-month Malibu home on February 17 but was arrested there six days later

The 4-bed, 4-bath house, across from Malibu's La Costa Beach, is now estimated to be worth around $5.3 million

The 3,400 sq. ft., 4-bed, 4-bath house hasn't been sold in more than 30 years. It was built in 1974 and was bought for $725,000 in 1991. The real estate website Redfin estimates it is now worth around $5.3 million.

When it was last offered for rent at $10,500 a month, it was advertised as 'your chance to live the true Malibu life style!!!'

The real estate agents added: 'Great open floor plan encompasses a high ceiling living room, dining room and kitchen. Beautiful ocean view from living room, master bedroom, loft and wraparound front decks.'

Madsen has had a terrible start to 2022. His arrest came just a month after his son, US Army Sgt. Hudson Madsen shot himself dead on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he was stationed with the 25th Infantry Division. Hudson was an Afghan war vet.

Hudsons death came a week after his wife Carlie underwent surgery to remove a tumor from her breast.

'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.

Tragedy: Madsen's arrest comes just a month after his 26-year-old son Hudson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound (pictured together in 2011)

Hudson Madsen's shot himself to death a week after wife Carlie had a tumor removed from her breast. She called him 'so patient throughout this whole process'

On screen: A frequent collaborator of Quentin Tarantino, Madsen has starred in films including 1993's Reservoir Dogs (left) and 2003's Kill Bill (right)

'He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so its mind-blowing. I just can't grasp what happened.'

Madsen has requested a full military investigation into his sons death. 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.

This recent arrest wasnt Madsens first brush with the law, 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 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 attend his court ordered Alcoholics Anonymous meetings his probation was revoked.

DailyMail.com could not immediately locate any formal charges against Madsen for his latest arrest.
A tiny spider just 1cm long has led to the BBC and ITV pulling out of plans for a 3.5billion theme park dubbed 'UK Disneyland'.

The London Resort  on the banks of the Thames in Swanscombe, Kent  was due to feature rides inspired by hit BBC shows such as Doctor Who, Top Gear and Sherlock as well as ITV's Thunderbirds.

But a backlash from nature lovers over the environmental impact of the park  especially on the distinguished jumping spider  has killed off both broadcasters' interest in the scheme.

The critically endangered spider is found in just one other part of the UK.

A tiny spider just 1cm long has led to the BBC and ITV pulling out of plans for a 3.5billion theme park dubbed 'UK Disneyland'

The 1,150-acre (465-hectare) theme park would be Britain's biggest but now faces an uncertain future following the broadcasters' exit.

Nature lovers launched an online campaign to get the BBC to drop its support, with the group Save Swanscombe Peninsula insisting the plan was 'in direct conflict' with its green credentials.

In November last year, the former industrial area was declared a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) due to its unique variety of wildlife. Natural England said it is home to more than 1,700 invertebrate species  including a quarter of the UK's water beetles.

Yesterday BBC Studios, the commercial ventures arm of the corporation, confirmed it was no longer involved with the project.

A spokesman said: 'BBC Studios has no commercial agreement in place with London Resort and no current plans to enter into any agreement.

'We would only consider doing so should there be clear and decisive evidence that the project would have a net positive environmental impact.'

An ITV spokesman added: 'ITV's arrangement with the London Resort was that we were a potential licensor of one of our children's brands, which was Thunderbirds.

'We can confirm that ITV no longer has a commercial arrangement with London Resort as the agreement has now ended. This means that Thunderbirds will not be a part of the park.'

The London Resort  on the banks of the Thames in Swanscombe, Kent  was due to feature rides inspired by hit BBC shows such as Doctor Who, Top Gear and Sherlock as well as ITV's Thunderbirds

Insect charity Buglife welcomed the broadcasters' decisions to pull out, saying: 'The theme of this wildlife oasis is nature and it must remain so.'

Chief executive Matt Shardlow said: 'We welcome ITV's full recognition of the environmental harm this misplaced theme park would cause.'

He added that it was 'great' the BBC has also withdrawn but called for 'a long-term commitment to never become involved'.

The theme park  were it to go ahead  would be split into six themed lands including a blockbuster warehouse district, a fairytale land, an Arthurian kingdom and a sci-fi 'starport'.

Last year, the park revealed plans for an area dedicated to dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures featuring the fastest rollercoaster in Europe, capable of reaching 70mph speeds.

The London Resort would also offer a water park, three hotels and a shopping district.

A spokesman said: 'Nobody ever said major infrastructure projects were easy or quick. We look forward to delivering the first top tier theme park for the UK.'
He walked past our white Mazda five days after we had started looking for the Tinder Swindler in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Dressed in a grey sweatshirt, well-worn blue jeans and blue, mirrored sunglasses, the unidentified man pointedly turned to look at the Mail photographer sitting in the passenger seat.

Although she couldn't see through his lenses, she felt the glare of his eyes. Calmly, he then made an unmistakably threatening gesture.

To ensure we had got the message, he looked at us again and repeated it. 'Oh my God, he's deadly serious,' the photographer said.

From the back seat of the rental car, I looked up  and saw what she meant. The man, probably in his late 30s, was unquestionably intimidating us. Then he turned away and carried on walking.

Shimon Yehuda Hayut, 31, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on the dating app Tinder out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul. (Hayut is seen above, posing in a jet)

Conman Hayut (above) would pretend to be Simon Leviev, chief executive of LLD Diamonds and the son of Israeli-Russian billionaire Lev Leviev, a man Forbes once called the 'King of Diamonds'

'We have to get out of here right now,' the photographer said, clambering from the passenger seat back into the driver's seat, then pulling the car away.

We managed to navigate our way round the tangle of one-way streets to get back to our hotel. It was not clear who the man was  but what was clear was that he wanted to convey a message.

It was not something we had expected to happen outside the luxury 14-storey tower block where we discovered Shimon Yehuda Hayut has been holed up since he was exposed as one of the world's most reviled fraudsters.

And, of course, there is no proof to suggest the incident was connected to him.

Hayut, 31, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on the dating app Tinder out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul.

Above, Hayut's girlfriend, model Kate Konlin. Her Instagram is filled with pictures of her posing in skimpy attire on their modern balcony, or with an enormous teddy bear and hundreds of balloons in their lounge, or showing off her Louboutin heels in the slick lobby of their apartment building

The crook would pretend to be Simon Leviev, chief executive of LLD Diamonds and the son of Israeli-Russian billionaire Lev Leviev, a man Forbes once called the 'King of Diamonds'.

The international conman would dazzle his victims with his apparently luxurious lifestyle of private jets, designer clothes and five-star hotels  before tricking them into giving him eye-watering sums.

In a twisted Ponzi scheme, he would use the cash he stole from them to lure in his next target, lavishing them too with trips abroad, and with hundreds of red roses and tables in VIP clubs.

He left his victims with suicidal feelings, crippling bank debts and the agony and humiliation of discovering their relationship with him was a sham.

Hayut has denied all their allegations against him, claiming he is 'not a fraud and not a fake' but instead a 'legitimate businessman' who made his fortune by investing in Bitcoin.

In an interview on the U.S. TV programme Inside Edition, he insisted this week: 'I'm not this monster. I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder.'

In the interview, he kissed his girlfriend Kate Konlin, a model, for the cameras as she accused his victims of creating a 'fake story'.

To find out more about the Tinder Swindler and to build up the most comprehensive profile of the fraudster yet, we spent several days in Tel Aviv, the city he comes from and to which he has now returned.

We spoke to neighbours, to relatives and we visited the poverty-stricken area east of Tel Aviv where he was brought up  a neighbourhood poles apart from the vibrant, city-centre location of his current home just 200 metres from the city's crowded beach.

We tracked down the twice-jailed criminal to the high-end complex where he lives with his blonde Ukrainian-Israeli girlfriend by following a trail of clues on her social media account.

Her Instagram is filled with pictures of her posing in skimpy attire on their modern balcony, or with an enormous teddy bear and hundreds of balloons in their lounge, or showing off her Louboutin heels in the slick lobby of their apartment building.

Hayut was eventually arrested and imprisoned in December 2019 at Tel Aviv Magistrates Court but released the following May, after serving five months of his 15-month sentence

When we arrived, we found Hayut himself in a garish Gucci jumper making a tense phone call while pacing up and down the same balcony.

The brand new building boasts 6 million five-bedroom penthouses with private rooftop swimming pools. Even the more modest three-bedrooms flats, with floor-to-ceiling windows and modern balconies, cost 1.2 million.

Home to a raft of well-heeled residents  including foreign diplomats and other residents draped in designer wares  it is one of Tel Aviv's most sought-after developments.

It is also the base from which Hayut has been cashing in on his cruel crimes. The vast windows, always with their blinds drawn, have served as a backdrop to all his interviews, videos and business meetings.

While his victims are still fighting to clear the debts they took out to fund his vicious scams, he has continued to grasp at opportunities to profit from their misery.

After the Netflix documentary's release, he signed with Los Angeles agent Gina Rodriguez, who represents a raft of fame-hungry clients through her agency Gitoni. It has been claimed that Hayut wants to 'break into Hollywood', start his own dating show and host a podcast.

In 2018, one of Hayut's targets, London-based Norwegian web designer Cecilie Fjellhoy (pictured with him), travelled to Amsterdam with more than 20,000 in cash to give him, thinking she was saving her boyfriend's life

Even though he claims he wants to clear his name, when the Mail approached him with the chance to do so through an interview, he demanded 7,000 ($10,000) 'compensation'.

When we insisted that we did not think a fee was appropriate, a Gitoni employee suggested the money would be paid to the management firm rather than to the conman himself.

He added: 'Simon has never been convicted of crimes involving the women in the documentary. He also has never been arrested or investigated by police over the accusations.'

Konlin has since signed with the same company. Hayut's other money-making schemes include charging his 'fans' 148 a time for personalised greetings messages.

He signed up to the platform Cameo, which boasts other celebrity signings including Nigel Farage and John Bercow.

Punters can ask the criminal to record any greeting or message  from wishing their loved one a happy birthday to telling them to give him a wad of cash.

It has been reported on one American gossip website that he made more than 22,000 in the first three days from this, although this should be treated with scepticism  his account only has 59 reviews.

After the Netflix documentary's release, Hayut signed with Los Angeles agent Gina Rodriguez, who represents a raft of fame-hungry clients through her agency Gitoni. It has been claimed that Hayut wants to 'break into Hollywood', start his own dating show and host a podcast

As well as selling 25 T-shirts emblazoned with tasteless quotes such as 'If she really loves you, she'll take out of a loan for you', the fraudster has also launched a series of NFTs (or non-fungible tokens)  digital artworks  of the very pictures he used to con his female victims.

Since the Netflix documentary, he has continued to parade his supposedly limitless wealth. Last weekend, he was pictured browsing Ferraris worth more than 200,000 at a garage.

When a Mail reporter visited the garage, outside Tel Aviv, a witness claimed Hayut appeared to have brought the cameraman with him.

The lifestyle Hayut seems to live could not be more different from his strict upbringing in Bnei Brak  a Hasidic Jewish neighbourhood in the east of Tel Aviv.

This is one of the most densely populated cities in Israel, made up of uniform, beige apartment blocks.

The run-down area, described as 'dirt poor' by local media, consists of crumbling buildings. Furniture and other rubbish lies in piles in overgrown grass.

Hayut grew up with his five siblings in one of 16 apartments in a concrete four-storey block.

His father, Rabbi Yohanan Hayut, still lives in the building which has a bomb shelter filled with junk and holes in the walls on the stairwell.

Outside the sparse family home, a white orchid sits on a welcome mat, but the reception from Rabbi Hayut, a severe-looking man with a white beard, is anything but warm.

As soon as he opened the door to Mail reporters, he immediately slammed it shut and locked it.

Rabbi Hayut himself has been accused of teaming up with his son to defraud a wealthy rabbi in New York, although he denies the allegations.

According to neighbours, the father-of-six is a 'tough man' who used to shout at his children  at Shimon Hayut in particular. Just three of the Hayut children remain in the community, the neighbours added.

Shimon 'lost his way'. 'Shimon left the family and his religion and fell apart,' said one man, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Describing the Tinder Swindler, one neighbour said: 'He brought shame to the entire neighbourhood. How a man like this isn't ashamed of his behaviour is beyond me. What he did damaged our city's name.'

Hayut's criminal career began when as a teenager he used stolen cheques to buy a Porsche and pay for a pilot training course.

Although he was charged in 2012, he fled Israel on a stolen passport before his sentencing.

Three years later, he was jailed for two years after defrauding three women in Finland.

In 2017, upon release from the prison, he legally changed his name to Simon Leviev. He was returned to Israel, to be re-charged and sentenced, but slipped out of the country for a second time.

This is when his elaborate con to trick the victims featured in the Netflix documentary began.

Hayut is currently living as a free man in Tel Aviv. He has never been charged for the crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary

After impressing his targets with his supposed riches, gaining their trust and winning their hearts, he would claim that he was in danger owing to the violent nature of the diamond business.

He would send them pictures of his bodyguard 'Peter' supposedly bleeding from the head following what he said was a criminal attack.

Claiming he had to go underground to hide from his 'enemies', Hayut told his targets he was unable to use his credit cards because he could be traced.

In this way, he persuaded his victims to give him the cash he said he needed. They used high-interest loans and platinum credit cards to raise the money before handing it over to him in the belief it was the only way to ensure his enemies would not find him.

Convinced by the outrageous ploy  and certain his previous displays of wealth proved he was not short of cash  the victims always complied.

In 2018, one of his targets, London-based Norwegian web designer Cecilie Fjellhoy, travelled to Amsterdam with more than 20,000 in cash to give Hayut, thinking she was saving her boyfriend's life.

He convinced her to pretend she worked for his fake firm on a vast salary, so she could increase her American Express allowance. She was left with debts of more than 200,000.

The other victims featured in the documentary, Pernilla Sjoholm and Ayleen Charlotte, also faced mounting debts from a carbon copy of the same scam.

Hayut was arrested for his original charges of fraud in 2019 after Miss Charlotte, who had become wise to his tricks, reported him to Interpol for using a fake passport in Greece.

He was extradited to Israel and, in December 2019, was sentenced to 15 months in prison, of which he served five.

He has since been living as a free man in Tel Aviv. Hayut has never been charged for the crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary.

As our investigation shows, he's now shamelessly exploiting his reputation as a conman to make money while many of those who suffered from his despicable deception still are yet to see justice.

Additional reporting: Jotam Confino
The woman who was kicked down the stairs at a New York City subway station and bashed in the head with a hammer has been identified as 58-year-old Dr Nina Rothschild, a scientist with the city's Department of Health.

Sickening surveillance video shows a robber kicking her down the steps and bashing her in the head repeatedly with a hammer, fracturing her skull days after Mayor Eric Adams vowed to crack down on violence in the transit system.

Rothschild's brother, Gerson, is also a scientist in Upper Manhattan at Columbia University and managed to speak with his sister on Friday as she recovers from surgery. She remains critically-ill.

'From what she told me on the phone she was just walking down the steps to get into the subway on the way home from work when she was attacked by somebody from behind,' he said to ABC7.

'She apparently remembers all of that and she kept screaming, 'stop, stop' but the person either wouldn't stop, I don't remember exactly what she said, but ultimately grabbed the bag with the cellphone and the personal papers and apparently some jewelry and ran off with it.'

Dr Rothschild has enjoyed a long and illustrious career working in public health since graduating from the Mailman School at Columbia University, and has also worked in HIV prevention, as well as in addressing mental health issues.

Video footage shot outside the station in Queens Plaza, in Long Island City, shows the robber, walking with a cane, approach Rothschild as she carefully walked down the stairs to the subway platform on Thursday at 11:22 pm.

Dr Nina Rothschild, 58, a scientist with New York City's Department of Health was kicked down the stairs at a subway station in Queens before being bashed in the head with a hammer

The robber kicked Dr Nina Rothschild, 58, down the stairs at the Queens Plaza subway station and proceeded to pull out a hammer and attack her

Dr Rothschild was found lying on the ground, suffering from a fractured skull with lacerations to her head. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she is in critical condition

The suspect kicked her in the back, attempting to knock her over, but when she managed to stay on her feet and tried to flee, the man pulled out a hammer.

He proceeded to bash her in the head 13 times while she struggled, with the final hit knocking her to the ground.

The suspect then grabbed her purse and fled. No arrest has been made and the man has yet to be identified.

Officers found Dr Rothschild lying on the ground, suffering from a fractured skull with lacerations to her head. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she is in critical condition.

Dr. Dave Chokshi, health commissioner for the city, called the attack 'horrific' in a statement and said the agency's thoughts were with the woman and her family.

'Nina has worked tirelessly in service to her fellow New Yorkers and she is truly a public health hero,' Chokshi said.

'The Health Department and I will do everything we can to support her in her recoveryand we ask that all New Yorkers keep her and her family in their thoughts while respecting their privacy during this difficult time.'

Dr Rothschild is from a family of academics. Her father, Joseph A. Rothschild, was a longtime professor of history and political science at Columbia University. Her brother, Gerson, is also a scientist in Upper Manhattan at Columbia University

Nina Rothschild's brother, Gerson, pictured, is also a scientist in Upper Manhattan at Columbia University. He is confident the assailant will be captured

Dr Rothschild is from a family of academics. It is unclear if she is also linked to the famed Rothschild banking dynasty.

Rothschild's father, Joseph A. Rothschild, was a longtime professor of history and political science at Columbia University until his death in 2000 at the age of 68.

The attack comes one week after Mayor Eric Adams announced his Subway Safety Plan initiative and deployed 1,000 additional officers, as well as teams of health workers, to crack down on rising crime in the subways.

'I do hope that the homeless outreach program will yield some results of getting the people who need it the most help that they can get, potentially reduce crime,' Gerson Rothschild said.

Meanwhile, Adams said he is 'really angry' that a city employee was attacked while walking to the subway.

'We need to deal with those who are on our streets right now that are dangerous, that are violent and have a total disregard,' he said

'A woman taking the train should not be struck in the head with a hammer, repeatedly,' Adams said. 'And for us to believe that dangerous people like that, in some corners, that we need to say because they are in pain, they should inflict pain. I don't subscribe to that. we need to catch him. He needs to be incarcerated.'

He bashed Dr Nina Rothschild's head 13 times with the weapon and then stole her purse

The suspect walks out slowly from the subway, with both cane and hammer in hand

Police are investigating the case and on the lookout for this man, who they say attacked the woman on Thursday night

The attack is the latest in a string of stabbings and robberies that have occurred in the past week in New York City's subway system, which serves more than 3 million people daily

Adams said NYPD officers would be deployed on the A, E, 1, 2, N and R lines to ensure public safety.

Both the E and R trains run through the Queens Plaza Station where Thursday night's attack occurred. The station is in the eastern-end of Long Island City, an affluent area home to many young professionals and where Amazon considered opening its second headquarters back in 2019.

An MTA worker at the station told the New York Post he was surprised about the attack in the community.

'Look around, they've done a lot with this area, so it's usually pretty safe,' he said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the new Subway Safety Plan initiative on Friday as a way to crackdown on crime and violence in the city's transit system

Under Adams' plan, officers and service workers would be part of 'End of the Line' teams with officers to make sure the trains are cleared during their final stops.

The health workers would be there to help the mentally ill and guide them to the city's support services, while the officers are directed to enforce laws against laying down, sleeping, outstretching, littering, drug use and aggressive behavior towards riders.

The plan came after a spate of recent crimes committed by homeless individuals, including a break-dancer who was stabbed by a homeless man last Thursday and Michelle Go's murder, where the 40-year-old was pushed beneath a train last month by a homeless man with a history of mental illness.

'Let's be clear on this, [the homeless] are not dangerous,' Adams said. 'The vast majority are not dangerous, but we have to be honest about the number of individuals dealing with mental health crises. They are dangerous to themselves and dangerous to New Yorkers.'

The mayor's plan received support from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who said the state would deliver 600 new psychiatric beds and another 500 beds at shelters in the city to try and provide help for those currently living in the subways, many of whom suffer from severe mental illness.

'We will accomplish what new Yorkers deserve, and that is a safe ride on our subway system while also recognizing the very real humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding before our eyes for far too long.'

The city has deployed an additional 1,000 officers to patrol the subway system starting Friday

Thursday's attack happened at the Queens Plaza Station, which services the E and R lines that were supposed to be enforced better under the Mayor's plan. An MTA worker at the station said he was shocked to learn about the attack because the area is usual safe

But despite their efforts, crime continues to plague the city's transit system, which serves more than 3 million people every day.

New York City subway stabbings and slashings have spiked 29 percent in the last last year, with 182 incidents compared to 141 a year before in 2020.

And 2022 is squaring up to be even worse. So far this year there have been 27 subway attacks on passengers - a 35 percent increase on the 20 reported for the same period of 2021.

One of the latest victims, a Trader Joe's employee named Kevin Young, was repeatedly slashed across the face, hand and behind the ear after accidentally bumping into into a disturbed passenger on February 12.

The incident occurred around 5:45 am at the Union Square subway station on East 14th street as Young tried to step off a southbound Q train on his way to work to begin his 6 am shift.

'Subway crime is out of control,' fumed Young, 36, to the New York Post.

'He's trying to get on the train and I'm trying to get out and after a shoving match he goes for his blade,' Young recalled.

'I tried to defend myself as much as possible. As soon as I held him down, he got his blade and went to work.'

New York City has seen a nearly 50 percent spike in criminal incidents this year when compared to the same span in 2021. Felony assaults have increased by more than 20 percent, while shootings are up by a marked 30 percent

Evelina Rivera, a 30-year-old chef, was struck by a homeless man wielding a metal pole on her way home from her shift on Monday morning

What does Adams's subway safety plan for NYC look like? The mayor's plan lays out how the Adams administration, in partnership with the MTA and other state entities, will confront these concurrent challenges on New York City's subway systems. Investments in people will provide immediate support and protection to New Yorkers, while investments in places like drop-in-centers, safe havens, stabilization beds, and Street Homeless Outreach Wellness vans, as well as policy changes at local, state, and federal levels will provide medium- and long-term solutions. These include: Deploying up to 30 Joint Response Teams that bring together DHS, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYPD, and community-based providers in high-need locations across the city

Training NYPD officers in the city's subway system to enforce the MTA and New York City Transit Authority's rules of conduct in a fair and transparent way

Expanding Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division 'B-HEARD' teams to six new precincts, more than doubling the precincts covered to 11. These teams will expand on the already-successful pilot of answering non-violent 911 mental health calls with mental health professionals

Incorporating medical services into DHS sites serving individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Expanded DHS Safe Havens and stabilization bed programs will offer on-site physical and behavioral health care to immediately address clients' needs

Immediately improving coordination across government with weekly 'Enhanced Outreach Taskforce' meetings that bring together senior leaders from 13 city and state agencies to address issues quickly

Creating new Drop-in-Centers to provide an immediate pathway for individuals to come indoors, and exploring opportunities to site Drop-in-Centers close to key subway stations to directly transition individuals from trains and platforms to safe spaces

Streamlining the placement process into supportive housing and reducing the amount of paperwork it takes to prove eligibility

Calling on state government to expand psychiatric bed resources and amending Kendra's Law to improve mental health care delivery for New Yorkers on Assisted Outpatient Treatment

Requiring  instead of requesting  everyone to leave the train and the station at the end of the line Advertisement

Young required 25 stitches to close his wounds, and underwent surgery at Bellevue Hospital on Thursday to fix some nerve damage in his left middle finger that he sustained during the attack.

'And I have to get pin plates inserted into my right index finger so the bones could grow back,' he groaned.

His assailant, who has yet to be identified or arrested as of Saturday, was last seen wearing a black jacket, black jeans, black Adidas bag and eyeglasses, police said.

The attack on Young comes just days after a 39-year-old woman was slashed in the forehead by another woman with a boxcutter while traveling on a 5 train at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue.

On Monday, just hours before Adams' safety plan was set to go in effect, one man was attacked with a hatchet and a woman had her nose ring crushed by a homeless man wielding a metal pipe.

The first of the brutal attacks on Monday came at around 12.30 a.m. when Kyle Westby, 42, was on his way home from a late dinner out with his girlfriend when he arrived at the Prospect Heights station and saw two men, one of whom asked 'Why are you staring at me,' the New York Post reports.

'I saw him reach into his jacket and pull out a brown object,' Westby told the Post. 'He swung at me, and I ran away, so I ran up the stairs and thank God the cops were there.

'I said 'Officers, this man swung at me with an ax.' Immediately, they went down and apprehended him.'

Police report they took Robert Griffith, 58, into custody following the attack, and charged him with attempted assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, saying Griffith also allegedly had a punch dagger and screwdriver.

Hours later, Evelina Rivera, a 30-year-old chef, was struck by a homeless man wielding a metal pole on her way home from her shift.

She was on her way home on a No. 4 train heading to the Bronx at 2.39 a.m. when a homeless man, who had earlier poured honey over himself, asked her and another female passenger: 'Oh would you guys just shut the f*** up?'

'We're like, 'Anyway,' and we keep talking, and he's like 'I'll make you shut up,' she told the Post.

At that point, she said, the man tried to strike the other woman, 'misses her by a millimeter' and instead broke the subway window, as the would-be victim used pepper spray to blind him.

Unable to see, Rivera said, the man started swinging wildly and 'hit me so hard the ball came out of my [septum] piercing. It's crooked.'

Rivera said she was 'about to have a panic attack' following the attack,' and she and the other woman got off at the next stop to report the incident to police.

But when the cops showed up, the Post reports, they patrolled the subway to look for the suspect, who is described as having facial piercings and was last seen wearing all black, but were unable to find him.

Several other New Yorkers were also attacked in vicious slashings over the weekend, with some subway stops roped off by police as blood stained the walls.

In the aftermath, MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said the attacks should not be considered 'normal.'

'People who would prey on New Yorkers riding transit should get the message that it's not going to be tolerated,' he said in a statement to the New York Times, adding they 'underscore the urgent need' for the new safety plan.

A spokesman for the mayor, Fabien Levy, also said that Adams strongly condemned the attacks, noting that they 'shouldn't be subject to sweeping generalizations.'

'We should not conflate such isolated acts of violence on the subway with broad statements about the behavioral and mental health challenges the city is confronting, or the issue of aiding those experiencing homeless that the mayor's plan directly addresses.'
One of Britain's most prolific blood donors has given his last drop at the age of 83  after donating 141 pints.

Tony White, from Newbury in Berkshire, has been giving blood for more than 60 years.

However he was forced to stop this month after doctors discovered he had an irregular heartbeat.

Tony White (pictured), from Newbury in Berkshire, has been giving blood for more than 60 years, but he was forced to stop this month after doctors found he had an irregular heartbeat

The army veteran is taking blood thinners to treat his heart problem and was told to donate his last pint, at the Fieldgate Centre (pictured) near Newbury, two weeks ago

The army veteran has donated every year since leaving the military in 1959  and sometimes gave four pints in just 12 months.

He was told to stop after he donated 100 pints when he was 70  but he refused to do so unless absolutely necessary.

However he is now taking blood thinners to treat his heart problem and was told to donate his last pint, at the Fieldgate Centre near Newbury, two weeks ago.

Calling on others to give blood, Mr White said: 'I'll drive 100 miles to donate if it's critical; I have to... You know it's being used for good.'
Covid sufferers may need sex therapy or marriage counselling in future if the virus damaged their sense of smell, a top psychologist has warned.

Loss of the ability to smell and taste is a common symptom of coronavirus. This is sometimes temporary, but other sufferers have reported long-term issues.

Dr Robert King said smell is so important to the power of attraction that loss of it  or changes to it  because of coronavirus could ruin relationships.

He warned that women may be worst-affected.

Dr Robert King warned that Covid sufferers may need sex therapy or marriage counselling in future if the virus damaged their sense of smell (stock image)

He added that previous studies had shown that if a woman's sense of smell is altered by factors such as the contraceptive pill, it can 'drastically change' her attraction to her partner.

Dr King's own research has found that women who described their male partner's smell as attractive had more intense orgasms.

The expert, from University College Cork in Ireland, said his study showed that attractive partner smell predicted 'vigorous, deeply-felt and energetic orgasmic responses' better than any other characteristics.

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Other studies have shown that women have more cells in the area of the brain that is sensitive to smell than men.

Dr King said it is likely that women evolved these extra brain cells to pick up on signals that would help them find a biologically compatible partner so they could produce healthy babies.

He added: 'While it is disputed exactly what is being signalled by partner smell, it is not in dispute that smell matters, especially to women, whose extra sensitivity to smell and 40 per cent extra density of... neural tissue [in this area] is presumably doing something important.

'It is therefore likely that the effects of Covid are going to be seen by sex therapists, marriage guidance counsellors and similar in the months and years to come,' he wrote in a letter to the scientific journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

Some scientists believe that a person's natural scent conveys information about their immune system.

It is thought we prefer the smell of a potential mate whose immune genes are different enough from ours that we would be likely to produce a healthy baby.

Women may have evolved greater sensitivity in this area because their 'reproductive investment'  nine months' pregnancy  is longer than men'.

If a woman's child were to die, she would be less likely to go on to reproduce again and so she would not pass on her genes.

Dr King said: 'Thus, [natural] selection has rewarded women who are especially picky.'

In a 2021 Italian study, a 29-year-old woman who had Covid-related smell loss told researchers: 'Without any scent clues, and with this strange, bitter taste when we kiss, my boyfriend became a total stranger to me. My sex drive disappeared... I have left him.'
Russia has threatened its close Arctic neighbours Sweden and Finland with 'military consequences' if they join NATO.

It came as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified today after a night of fighting in the capital of Kyiv especially.

Sweden and Finland are the two closest countries to Russia in the Arctic Circle.

'Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries and their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and face some military and political consequences,' foreign affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a news briefing.

Explosions were seen in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv as intense fighting continued across the country

Russia has threatened close Arctic neighbours Sweden and Finland with 'military consequences' if they join NATO

President Vladimir Putin is seen during a meeting with members of Russian business community in the Moscow Kremlin

President Joe Biden will meet virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected

The foreign ministry later reiterated the threat on Twitter.

'We regard the Finnish government's commitment to a military non-alignment policy as an important factor in ensuring security and stability in northern Europe,' the department wrote. 'Finland's accession to NATO would have serious military and political repercussions.'

Vladimir Putin is widely believed to have attacked Ukraine after western nations mooted the idea of the country joining NATO, over fears it could end up with a US military presence on its doorstep.

A similar move by Sweden or Finland could potentially provoke similar ire.

U.S. intelligence officials are worried the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv could fall by Saturday afternoon CNN reported, with Russian troops entering the city in the early hours of Saturday morning local time.

Russia just threatened military consequences against Finland and Sweden.

They f***** insane. pic.twitter.com/w4BfHfYYEW  Femi (@Femi_Sorry) February 25, 2022

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, pictured, threatened Finland and Sweden with 'military consequences' Friday if either nation joins NATO

Russia shares a substantial border with Finland but only shares a sea border with Sweden

Ukrainian leaders want to join NATO but Russia has been strongly opposed to the move.

Both NATO and President Joe Biden have said the United States would strongly defend the 30-member alliance should the Kremlin launch an attack.

Biden met virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected as Russian troops prepared to enter Kyiv.

Amid reports the Kremlin is gunning for him, Zelensky had slammed the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.

'Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone,' he said on Thursday night. 'Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.'

'We're defending our country alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching this from a distance,' Zelensky said.

After the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation organization will send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank. Its the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies.

'We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defence context. We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities,' Stoltenberg said.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, posted a video on social media on Saturday morning insisting that his country would fight on

People take cover as an air-raid siren sounds, near an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv

A view shows an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

A view shows an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

Ukrainian national guard were forming up on Kyiv's streets Friday as they prepared to defend the city from a Russian assault, shortly before heavy gunfire and explosions were heard

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

Russian battle plans to take Kyiv and force an early end to the war in Ukraine have been revealed by US intelligence, who say troops and armour would be used to capture airfields, before a force of 10,000 paratroopers would be flown in to capture the city, round up the government, and force them to sign a peace deal handing control of the country back to Russia

President Joe Biden (upper left) participates in the NATO meeting

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg convenes leaders for a virtual summit

A general view of a meeting room during a virtual summit called in by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium

Meanwhile, the Kremlin offered to send a delegation to Belarus to negotiate with Ukraine but only under harsh conditions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready to send a delegation to Minsk. But Peskovmade it clear that Russia expected Ukraine's 'denazification and demilitarization' of Ukraine, meaning Kyiv's capitulation.

Some NATO nations are already taking defensive measures as Russian aggression grows.

Lithuania declared a state of emergency Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine. Lithuania borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest. NATO members Belarus is to the east, Latvia is to the north and Poland is to the south.

'We cannot take the luxury to be (a) discussion club,' Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said overnight at an emergency summit of European Union leaders held to impose a 'heavy price' on Russia through sanctions. 'We need to take action.'

The Baltic members have said the West should '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.'

NATO began beefing up its defences in northeastern Europe after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Recently, some members have also sent troops, aircraft and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Short-term, NATO has activated an emergency planning system to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. The Pentagon said Thursday that it is sending 7,000 troops to Europe in addition to 5,000 recently deployed personnel.

A general view shows Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine February 25

Ukrainian soldiers take positions in downtown Kyiv. Russia pressed its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital on Friday

Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv
You're certainly among good company if you struggle to find a pair of jeans that fit perfectly  no matter how many shops you traipse round or pairs you try on.

Either too baggy, long in the leg, short, tight or loose at the waist, it seems jeans  the staple of many a wardrobe  are the hardest piece of clothing to shop for.

And it seems almost half of women in a poll agree  with 46 per cent saying denim is the most difficult item to buy.

A survey of 2,000 women revealed how six pairs of jeans will be disregarded on every shopping trip.

A survey of 2,000 women revealed six pairs of jeans will be disregarded on every shopping trip. And 46 per cent of women said denim is the most difficult item to buy (stock image)

It's little wonder that once found, a trusty pair are kept and reworn for six and a half years on average, despite many of us having wardrobes full of ill-fitting trousers.

In fact, the average woman owns up to three pairs of hardly-worn and badly-fitting jeans languishing at the bottom of a drawer.

Almost three quarters of those asked said shopping for jeans was frustrating. With so many styles and colours on offer, finding the perfect fit is even trickier.

And when a pair finally fit well, there are still problems to look out for  including wide bottoms on skinny jeans, unflattering pockets and an itchy waistband that gapes.

But two thirds believe jeans are the most important item of clothing to get right, meaning all the hassle is ultimately worth it.

Good quality fabric, the ability to stay up without a belt and a pair that accentuate the figure are top of the list of things women look for.

Almost three quarters of those asked said shopping for jeans was frustrating. With so many styles and colours on offer, finding the perfect fit is even trickier (stock image)

And eight in ten polled would be happy to shell out more money for a pair they know will fit well and last.

The One Poll research revealed that on average, women spend only four minutes deciding what to wear each day.

This means jeans  considered a wardrobe staple by 85 per cent  are even more important to get right.

A spokesman for fashion brand ME + EM said: 'Finding the perfect pair of jeans can feel like an almost impossible task.

'The length of time it takes to scour rails or web pages of different cuts, washes and fabrics can be overwhelming, not to mention actually trying on multiple pairs in the hope of striking gold.'
A woman and man were killed and two others, including a 15-year-old girl, were hospitalized early Saturday after a horrific crash on a Bronx highway, cops said.

The four were heading west in the far right lane of the Cross Bronx Expressway in a gray Mitsubishi Montero Sport about midnight Friday when they came up on a black Freightliner utility flatbed truck idling by the right shoulder. The operator of the massive truck was assisting a disabled tractor trailer.

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When the driver of the Montero Sport swerved to the left to avoid the flatbed truck, it slammed into a Lincoln MKX in the center lane.

Four people were inside an SUV when it crashed on the Cross Bronx Expressway at midnight Friday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

The force of the impact sent the Montero sport hurtling back into the right lane, where it struck the idling flatbed truck, cops said.

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The 33-year-old woman driving was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, but she couldnt be saved. Her name was not immediately released.

Four people were traveling in an SUV along the Cross Bronx Expressway service road nearing Rosedale Ave. in Parkchester at midnight Friday when they crashed. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)

Her 47-year-old front seat passenger, identified as Bronx resident Stephen Williams, was trapped inside the mangled SUV and died at the scene.

The teenage girl and a 32-year-old woman sitting in the back seat were also rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where they were both in stable condition Saturday, cops said.

The occupants of the other vehicles involved in the crash werent injured, cops said.
Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard crossed party lines to give the keynote address Friday night at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.

Gabbard, who's been both politically aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders and also a frequent guest on Fox News, gave a twisty-turny speech where she raged against the 'power elite' and 'their co-conspirators in the mainstream media and the security state.'

She pleased the right-leaning crowd by saying that in an ideal world 'our leaders would haul James Clapper before a judge to answer for his lies to Congress about how the government is collecting information.'

'And they would support the Durham investigation and Clinton corruption in 2016... ,' she said, not even finishing her sentence before there was raucous applause.

She went after both Democrats and Republicans in Congress 'who talk a good game about civil liberties, but when it comes time to cast that vote on things like getting rid of secret FISA courts and protecting our fourth amendment rights to privacy, they vote on the side of the power elite and against liberty.'

CROSSING THE AISLE? Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard waves to attendees of CPAC's annual Ronald Reagan Dinner Friday night in Orlando, Florida

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard uses air-quotes as she delivers the keynote address Friday night at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida

Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard delivered a speech calling out the 'power elite' and 'their co-conspirators in the mainstream media and the security state'

That line got applause too.

She said the ideology she was up against amounted to 'Biden-Clinton-neocon-neolib foreign policy.'

Gabbard wrapped up day two at CPAC, which was moved to Orlando last year for Florida's more permissive COVID regulations.

The choice of the former Democratic presidential hopeful raised eyebrows, but also made sense, as she's spent her time in Congressional retirement more on Fox's airwaves than anywhere else in politics.

She joked about the dynamic when she came onstage.

'I've gotta say, when Matt and I first spoke on the phone about me coming here, we both had a similar reaction to each other saying, "yeah, there's gonna probably be some strong thoughts that people are going to share with both of us,"' Gabbard said, referencing American Conservative Union head Matt Schlapp, whose organization organizes CPAC.

She said once her speaking slot was announced 'the blue checkmarks started lining up.'

She said the 'so-called progressives' referred to her as a 'traitor.'

'Hillary was right,' she continued. 'Get her out of here.'

In 2019, Hillary Clinton famously suggested the Russians were 'grooming' Gabbard, though didn't use the congresswoman's name.

Gabbard had quit her post at the Democratic National Committee three years before to publicly support Sanders, who was running against Clinton, and told then DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz in an email - exposed in the Wikileaks hack - that she felt the DNC was rigging the primary in favor of the more mainstream ex-secretary of state, senator and first lady.

On the CPAC stage, Gabbard said Schlapp received similar warnings from those on the right.

'And then I started seeing the things coming out from so-called conservatives, mostly directed at Matt, and saying, "How dare you? Don't you know she's a Democrat? Cancel her, disinvite her or lock the doors, don't let her in,' Gabbard said.

She then launched into an attack of tribalism in the counry.

'This kind of tribalism is dangerous and it's emblematic of an erosion of a spiritual foundation in this country,' she said. 'It's emblematic of this lack of recognition that we're all God's children, that we are one nation under God, and knowing that inspires us.'

From there, she got into the meat of her speech, which was a takedown of the so-called 'power elite.'

'They think free speech is something that should only be left to those who agree with them,' Gabbard said.

'The latest strategy and tactic that they're using is to try to undermine our free speech by taking it upon themselves to say they've got the responsibility to protect us from so called misinformation,' the former Hawaii congresswoman observed. 'So basically, they're saying that they are going to protect us from that which they claim is not true.'

She accused the leaders of the U.S. government of 'working with their mouthpieces - the mainstream media and big tech - doing exactly what our founders rejected.'

Gabbard said rather than engaging in debate, detractors get smeared.

'I'm sure you've all heard them before. I have. Like today,' she said. 'Russian asset. White supremacist. Bigot. Racist. Extremist. Traitor.'

'But what's even more dangerous than this threat of being canceled is the federal government wielding its power and might to punish those who dare to question or disagree with them and their policies,' she continued.

She pointed to the wording of a DHS.gov bulletin from earlier this month entitled: 'Summary of Terrorism Threat to the U.S. Homeland.' 'The proliferation of false or misleading narratives which sow discord or undermine public trust in US government institutions,' the document says.

'Basically, what they're telling us is you are an enemy of the state if you dare to oppose or even question the president, his administration on his policies, shut up, step back, fall in line, or we're coming to you,' she said.

She used Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's moves against the trucker protesters as an example of how something like this plays out.

Gabbard said Trudeau 'resorted to genuinely authoritarian and tyrannical means to suppress a peaceful mass protest against the power elite.'

She then asked Ronald Reagan dinner attendees to join her in 'an alternative universe.'

'One where our leaders actually took their oath of office to the Constitution seriously,' she said. 'If we were living in this world, they would shut down secret FISA courts and stop three letter agencies like the NSA, FBI and CIA from illegally spying on Americans.'

'They would denounce the Attorney General of the United States for his disgraceful attacks on American parents like those Loudoun County and across the country,' she continued.

In Loudoun County, Virginia parents were demonstrating against mask-wearing and the teaching of critical race theory.

She then name-dropped Clapper and the Durham probe.

Special Counsel John Durham is investigating the origins of the FBI's Russia probe.

Connected to that is the use of FISA warrants, which former President Donald Trump and his allies have criticized as one was used to monitor Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser for the ex-president's 2016 campaign.

After warning of these dangers, Gabbard concluded her remarks on a positive note.

'As we look forward, we can take heart in knowing that our path will be lit by the fire of freedom that burns brightly in the hearts of Americans in every community,' she said.

And then the Democrat walked offstage to a standing ovation.
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As Putin's bombs rained down on Kyiv tonight a tiny miracle was brought into the world amid the chaos.

While invading Russian forces bombarded terrified families, one woman, 23, had reason to be perhaps more fearful than others.

Her baby was due as she hid protected from the onslaught in a shelter in the city as gunfire raged outside.

But just before 8.30pm, tiny Mia was brought into the world in what must have been some of the most stressful circumstances to give birth.

He mother's screams had been heard by Ukrainian police who had rushed in to help.

One officer Mykola Shlapak said they helped her deliver the little girl and called an ambulance which took them both to hospital, where they both remain and are said to be doing well.

Last night her arrival was being hailed a miracle as her story prompted one woman to declare 'Your birth is hope in this dismal time'.

The picture of her tiny had gripping her mother's in the shelter was hailed as beacon of light amid Ukraine's darkest hour.

The incredible delivery was revealed by Chairwoman of Democracy in Action Conference Hannah Hopko.

She said: 'Mia was born in shelter this night in stressful environment- bombing of Kyiv.

'Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving.

'When Putin kills Ukrainians we call mothers of Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia war in Ukraine . We defend lives and humanity.'

As Kyiv was attacked by Russian forces, inside a bomb shelter a little baby girl called Mia was finally brought into the world

Elsewhere underneath a maternity ward in the basement a baby boy was born away from chaotic and violent scenes outside

The little boy, seen here with his mother can have no idea of the turmoil around in as Russia's force mass on Kyiv

After news of Mia's birth spread, she was hailed a 'miracle' and a beacon of hope in Ukraine and Kyiv's darkest times

Incredibly tiny Mia is not the only baby born during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A maternity ward doctor - who posted with permission of the mother - said a newborn boy was also brought into the world overnight.

Due to the bombardment the reception had been destroyed so came in the basement.

The doctor added: 'In conditions, far from those who deserve a new life - the voice of the newborn... It's a boy!'

Kyiv has endured one of its bitterest nights of fighting and its armed forces said they had shot down a Russian military transport plane carrying 150 paratroopers on its outskirts.

The plane came down near Vasylkiv, 20 miles south of Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said.

The fate of those onboard was unclear. The aircrafts - medium-range military transport aircraft, which first went into service in 1974 - can hold 150-225 fully-equipped soldiers, and is used to drop paratroopers into combat and resupply arms.

Not long after, Ukraine's State Agency for Special Communications said that Ukraine's air defense had downed a Russian close-support aircraft and a helicopter in Donbas.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is seen addressing the nation on Friday night

Photos posted to social media showed what they said were explosions in Kyiv on Friday night

Ukrainians sing their national anthem in a basement in Cherkasy, 120 miles south of Kyiv

Russian troops are now advancing on Kyiv from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, capture an airport, and fly in paratroopers who would then attack the capital. The aim would be to capture the government and force them to sign a peace treaty handing control of the country back to Russia or a Russian puppet

UKRAINE WAR: LATEST Russia said it is not willing to negotiate with Ukraine's government until military operation is over

Came after Zelensky called for a sit-down with Putin to end the fighting

Putin said he would be willing to send a team of negotiators to meet Zelensky - in Belarus, which is helping with the invasion

Russian president then called on Ukrainian military to overthrow the 'regime' in Kyiv

China's President Xi spoke to Putin by phone, called for diplomatic solution to the fighting

Ukraine says Russia has bombed 33 civilian sites in Kyiv in the last 24 hours

Two children have been reported killed in Kyiv bombing overnight

Ukraine has banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country to conscript them into armed forces

Zelensky has allowed anyone of any age to join the armed forces, and called on Europeans from other countries to come and join the fight

Russia is deploying paratroopers to Chernobyl after capturing it on Thursday, Moscow said

Ukraine reported 'anomalous' radiation levels at the plant amid fears nuclear storage was breached in fighting, but Moscow said readings are normal

Russia claims to have destroyed 118 Ukrainian military sites in 30 hours of fighting

PM Boris Johnson pledged more support is coming to Ukraine in the coming days

Johnson shared a phone call with Zelensky on Friday morning Advertisement

A S-300 surface-to-air missile system destroyed a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet and an unspecified helicopter at midnight, they said.

The Russian Air Force currently operates around 250 Su-25s of all variants, and they are considered a staple of Russian ground-attack regiments.

The news came shortly after Ukraine's president warned that the Russians intend to take Kyiv overnight, urging his countrymen to resist the expected onslaught as Western officials say the city appears surrounded.

Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the nation from a secret location in the capital, had a dire warning for his embattled and defiant people on Friday night.

'Russia will try to break our resistance with all its might,' he said, in a video posted to social media.

'Tonight the enemy will begin storming us. We need to withstand them!'

Zelensky said that Chernihiv, Symy, Kharkiv, Donbas, and the south could also come under attack.

'This night will be difficult, very difficult. But the morning will come,' he said, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The 44-year-old referenced the Russian shelling of a kindergarten in Ukraine that killed at least one child and injured more, saying: 'What kind of war is that? Were these children neo-Nazi? Or were they NATO soldiers?'

Vitali Klitschko, the former world champion heavyweight boxer who is now the mayor of Kyiv, said his city faces a 'difficult night'.

The British Ministry of Defence said they believe Kyiv, home to 1.4 million people, is close to being encircled as the Russians advance from all sides.

Kyiv's streets were empty on Friday night as people sought shelter in the city's subway system. Many had fled, with buses and trains out of the city packed with people desperate to escape, and long lines of traffic choking the roads.

In Cherkasy, home to 270,000 people 120 miles south of Kyiv, video on social media showed people in a basement on Friday night, resolutely singing the national anthem as they awaited the onslaught.

In New York, on Friday night, a United Nations resolution that called on Moscow to halt its attack on Ukraine and withdraw its troops was vetoed by Russia - a permanent member of the Security Council. China, India and the UAE abstained.

Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, urged Ukraine's troops on Friday to overthrow their own government and begin to negotiate with the Kremlin.

'It looks like it will be easier for us to come to terms with you than with this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis,' he said.
British families face being hit with even higher food bills as the war in Ukraine sends wheat prices soaring.

The cost of the grain yesterday peaked at a 14-year high of 7.16 per bushel due to threats of supply disruptions.

Ukraine and Russia account for a third of the worlds wheat exports, meaning prices are heavily dependent on supply from the two countries.

British families face being hit with even higher food bills as the war in Ukraine sends wheat prices soaring. Above: File image showing wheat being harvested in Ukraine

Wheat is a staple in foods such as pasta and bread, so increases will be felt by consumers.

Food price hikes will be a further headache for families already grappling with the cost of living crisis.

Soaring energy bills are set to increase again by an average of 693 in April, coupled with higher petrol prices. National insurance contributions will also rise.

Farming group Fram Farmers said wheat prices have been rising as Russia amassed troops on the Ukrainian border  with a spike of 16 per cent in Europe when the assault launched.
A journalist who investigated the Birmingham pub bombings yesterday insisted he had to protect his sources rather than give information to the police.

Chris Mullin is challenging an application by West Midlands Police to require him to identity a suspect he met in his investigation into the atrocity.

He said that if the application succeeded it would 'set a precedent which could be used to undermine the freedom of journalists to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice and other matters in cases involving terrorism'.

Chris Mullin at the Old Bailey in London. He is challenging an application by West Midlands Police to require him to identity a suspect he met in his investigation into the atrocity

In his book Error Of Judgement, and a series of documentaries, Mr Mullin helped expose the 1974 miscarriage of justice, leading to the release of the Birmingham Six in 1991.

In his witness statement for the Old Bailey case, Mr Mullin said he was never under the illusion that he could bring the perpetrators to justice.

'My intention was to rescue the six men who I believed to be innocent and who had by this time been in prison for 12 years and who had no prospect of release,' he added.

'It was also obvious from the outset that none of those involved in the bombings would talk to me if they thought I was merely collecting evidence on behalf of the police  although it must be said that, at the time, the West Midlands Police were entirely uninterested in pursuing any such line of inquiry.'

Mr Mullin said it was necessary for him to assure everyone he would do nothing that might identify confidential sources.

'Such assurances had to be given not merely to the guilty, but also to innocent intermediaries,' he said.

'Though in fact there is nothing unusual about this. It is standard practice for investigative journalists.

A fundamental ethical obligation of journalists is to protect the identities of confidential sources.

'This is emphasised in the NUJ code of conduct to which I have always and will always adhere.'

Mr Mullin said protecting sources was 'a fundamental principle of investigative journalism', adding: 'It goes to the heart of press freedom in a democracy. I am also confident that, even were I obliged to and did disclose the material being sought, it would not lead to the conviction of the perpetrator.'

Twenty-one people were killed in the bomb attack on two pubs in Birmingham on November 21, 1974. Pictured, a file photo of the aftermath at the Mulberry Bush pub

James Lewis QC, representing West Midlands Police, told the Old Bailey that Mr Mullin refused to identify the bomb planter  referred to in court as AB  'because he says he promised AB he would not reveal his identity'.

The barrister said redactions and omissions in material handed to police were to protect the identity of AB.

Mr Lewis told the court Mr Mullin conducted a four-hour interview with AB and made contemporaneous notes.

The barrister described the confession from AB as voluntary, accurate and reliable, adding: 'In short it is a full confession to the murders.'

He pointed out that this was not a third party disclosing information in the public interest.

'This is the murderer himself confessing,' he insisted.

Mr Lewis said the confession was a 'paradigm example of something that is likely to be of substantial value to the investigation'.

Twenty-one people were killed in the bomb attack on two pubs in Birmingham on November 21, 1974.

The Recorder of London Judge Mark Lucraft will deliver his ruling on a future date. The police are relying on the Terrorism Act of 2000.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki scoffed at reports she'll be replacing out-going MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow or fired CNN talking head Chris Cuomo.

Media reporter Dylan Byers reported Thursday that the heads of NBC News, MSNBC and CNN have all trekked down to D.C. from New York to court the fiery Biden mouthpiece for a major role in their networks.

Psaki, 43, has said that she would leave her current post this year, and appeared as a talking head on CNN prior to her role with the Biden administration.

But at the end of a sober press conference covering the White House response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Biden administration's announcement of the first black woman nominated to the US Supreme Court, she put the rumor to rest.

Psaki would feel right at home at CNN, where she's appeared many times before and usually with deferential treatment

Jen Psaki appears on 'The Lead' with Jake Tapper in 2018 to discuss Democrats capitulating on the government shutdown

'I have more than enough on my plate here,' Psaki told Africa Today reporter Simon Ateba, who asked if she was looking for another job. 'You can't get rid of me just yet.'

She pointed at Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy and said, 'Sorry, Peter for you on that.'

Rachel Maddow has been rumored to be leaving MSNBC since last year, and multiple sources told The Daily Beast that she was approaching burnout in the job.

Simon Ateba, a reporter for Africa Today, asked Psaki if she was being courted by CNN and MSNBC

'Nothing has been decided. We are deep into it with NBCUniversal and Rachel has an excellent relationship with them,' a rep at her talent agency said last year.

Maddow is looking to spend more time with her friendly, according to the Daily Beast report, and her reported $7 million a year salary could give her the breathing room to take it easy for awhile.

MSNBC may not be giving her up without a fight, though. The Daily Beast quoted sources saying that the network was taking 'major steps' to keep her.

In 2019 she told The New York Times, 'It's not good for you to work incessant long days, five days a week, 50 weeks a year for 10 years.'

Maddow's show is the top rated show on MSNBC, getting two million nightly viewers in January 2022.

Ratings plummeted for the show in the first two weeks of February when Maddow took vacation.

Still, she ranks seventh in the rating war, below six Fox News cable shows.

CNN has been looking for someone to replace Chris Cuomo since he was fired in December amid allegations that he used his media contacts to unsuccessfully help his brother, disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, wriggle out of a sexual harassment. He was also accused of sexually assaulted a woman at another network years earlier.

He's reported to be looking for a $60 million-plus settlement from the news outlet over his termination.

The Cuomo imbroglio brought down CNN head Jeff Zucker and his marketing executive girlfriend Allison Gollust.

Rachel Maddow had the only non-Fox cable news show in the top five in terms of audience in the second quarter

Psaki has appeared on both cable networks in her capacity as a White House press secretary with different results.

CNN's 'Reliable Sources' host Brian Stelter was pilloried on social media for genuflecting before the Biden spox by asking her what the press gets wrong coving the president.

On the other hand, MSNBC's lefty host Medhi Hasan gave Psaki a grilling over Biden's flipflop about filibuster reform.

It's very common for former White House staffers, especially press secretaries, to cash out of government service for lucrative gigs with TV networks.

Kayleigh McEnany, ex-Trump press secretary, works for Fox News and Sean Spicer, who also flacked for Trump, works at Newsmax.
More than 50 charities have urged the UK Government to set up a massive programme to help Ukrainian evacuees.

The Refugee Council has headed a coalition of organisations saying Britain should play a leading role in efforts to evacuate and resettle people displaced by Putins war.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, have already crossed into Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. The United Nations refugee agency has warned up to five million could be displaced.

The Refugee Council has urged the British Government to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russian troops

More than 100,000 Ukrainians have been displaced during the opening hours of the conflict

A British resettlement scheme could echo last years programme for Afghans fleeing the Taliban, under which ministers have pledged to take up to 20,000 refugees.

It could also be modelled on operations put into action by Britain during the Balkans wars in the early Nineties and the Kosovo conflict in 1998.

In a joint statement, the 50 organisations said: A generation ago, the UK saved the lives of thousands of families from the Balkans through an evacuation and resettlement programme which enabled them to rebuild their lives in our country.

The UK Government should again play a leading role in international efforts, including through a significant, well-resourced UK programme, working with councils across the country, to welcome Ukrainians who need sanctuary. Among the signatories were the Refugee Council, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee, Amnesty International, British Future and Refugee Action.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, added: It is deeply disappointing we have seen only vague assurances from the Government on how they will support Ukrainian refugees  we must quickly see a concrete plan of action.

The Government should immediately relax visa requirements to allow family members of Ukrainians in the UK to join them here.

It must also work at pace to establish a safe route so people at risk of persecution can apply for a humanitarian visa to travel to the UK to enable them to claim asylum once here. Border authorities said 29,000 people had entered Poland from Ukraine on Thursday, and about half had indicated they were fleeing the war.

Romanian interior minister Lucian Bode said more than 10,600 Ukrainians arrived through its six border checkpoints on the same day. Nearly 3,000 arrived in Slovakia. Figures for yesterday are expected to be higher after fiercer Russian military action.

Michal Mielniczuk, a spokesman for the southern Polish region of Podkarpackie, said temporary accommodation was being offered to arrivals. The vast majority continue on to other places throughout Poland after receiving a warm meal, he said.
A man fatally shot by police last night in Queensland was holding a McDonald's worker hostage before police arrived at the scene.

The 32-year-old Kedron man died of his wounds in Logan Hospital on Friday night after being shot several times by police in a McDonald's car park in Brisbane's south.

Queensland Police said the man demanded workers open the cash registers.

However, when they refused the man threatened staff with a knife and held a female worker at knifepoint.

Shocking footage of the incident was published online and shows the shirtless man walking towards police as they surround him and yell 'drop the knife'.

He then yells back at police, 'F**k off' and 'I dont even have a gun', before moving towards the officers, who direct him to get on the ground.

The officers fired at least three times and the man fell to the ground.

Shocking footage of a deadly stand-off was published online which showed several police mobilised as a bare-chested man lunges at them shouting aggressively

Police shot the man dead amid the hostage situation at the Brisbane McDonald's

The man was rushed to Logan Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died.

Earlier the same man was allegedly reported to have threatened members of the public in the nearby Marsden Park shopping centre.

A 32-year-old Kedron man died of his wounds in Logan Hospital on Friday night after being shot several times by police in the car park of a McDonald's Marsden, in Brisbane's south

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the female employee was still being held hostage when police arrived.

'Police called on this person numerous times, numerous times to put down the knife,' she said told media on Saturday.

Ms Carroll defended her officers' use of deadly force, saying 'knives are just as dangerous as guns'.

'If not more, so they can be removed very, very quickly and acted with within milliseconds,' the commissioner said.

'And that's what took place last night.'

Ms Carroll said police were still investigating the circumstances of the shooting and the dead man's relationship with the woman.

Acting Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said police tried to subdue the man with a taser before using their guns.

'Police attempted to negotiate with that person but that person ran at police,' she said.

'Our investigations will work on any footage that is available. It is quite a complex scene with multiple people who witnessed the event and multiple officers on site,' Superintendent Adams said.

McDonalds said none of its employees had been harmed during the incident.

'Its very traumatic circumstances for our people. Nobody goes to work thinking they are going to harm another person.

'This is something that will take some time for (the officers) to get through.'

'Crew involved have been offered support and we are assisting police,' the statement read.
A former oil tycoon who spent ten years in prison after falling foul of Vladimir Putin said the Russian president 'has gone mad' after ordering the invasion of Ukraine.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia, spoke out last night as Ukrainian troops battled to repel an attack by Putin's forces.

The former magnate was arrested by the Russian authorities in 2003 and charged with fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.

He was released in 2013 and fled to London, where he now leads a foundation, the Dossier Center, dedicated to exposing criminal activity by Kremlin insiders.

Speaking to The Times, he attempted to explain Putin's actions after the Russian president shocked the world by ordering the full-scale attack on Ukraine.

He said: 'I think we are not dealing with a sane person, it is someone who has gone mad.

'He wants to make Russia great again and in 50 or 100 years he wants to be remembered as a great ruler of Russia.'

A former oil tycoon who spent ten years in prison after falling foul of Vladimir Putin said the Russian president 'has gone mad' after ordering the invasion of Ukraine. Mikhail Khodorkovsky (file photo), who was once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia, spoke out last night as Ukrainian troops battled to repel an attack by Putin's forces

As he spoke, Russian missiles were raining down on Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv and families cowered in shelters as Russian forces pressed their offensive.

Khodorkovsky, 58, said in a wider video call with reporters that Putin wanted to take Ukraine, destroy its defences and install a 'puppet government' in Kyiv.

The West should help Ukraine, including by arming its people, or it will face a long, and potentially bloody, occupation, he said.

'I am in absolute shock from what has taken place,' Khodorkovsky said.

At times he appeared to be close to tears.

Khodorkovsky attempted to explain Putin's actions after the Russian president shocked the world by ordering the full-scale attack on Ukraine. He said: 'I think we are not dealing with a sane person, it is someone who has gone mad'

'The screws will be tightened' on dissent within Russia too, Khodorkovsky added.

'Changing the Putin regime through democratic means cannot happen; change can come exclusively through revolution - either revolution from above or revolution from below,' he said.

'A revolution is possible either as the result of a military defeat or when Putin passes away,' he said.

He cast the 69-year-old Putin, Russia's paramount leader since 1999, as a 'dictator' who was living in a tightly controlled 'information bubble' and who constantly needed to prove himself to his entourage.

Russian officials dismiss such criticism and point to Putin's repeated electoral victories and polling which shows he remains popular. Putin has said Khodorkovsky is a criminal.

Khodorkovsky was convicted of his alleged crimes in a Moscow trial which he said was motivated by enemies who wanted to rip apart his oil and gas company YUKOS and punish him for his political ambitions.

The former magnate was arrested by the Russian authorities in 2003 and charged with fraud, money laundering and embezzlement. He was released in 2013 and fled to London. Above: Khodorkovsky in a Russian court in 2005

He always denied the charges.

YUKOS was crippled with massive back-tax claims and then its main Siberian oil production units were sold off by the state, only to be bought later by state-controlled firms.

Khodorkovsky was pardoned by Putin in 2013 and left Russia.

He dismissed speculation that Putin was behaving irrationally over Ukraine, but said the Russian leader appeared to doubt the loyalty of some in his entourage.

He pointed to how Putin had chastised foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin before television cameras on Feb. 21.

Asked if Putin would go further than Ukraine, Khodorkovsky said: 'I am convinced that if Putin achieves his aims in Ukraine then he will want to punish someone else later.'
EU betrayed Ukraine by rubbing out red line

It is a contrast to make the blood boil.

In Ukraine, thousands of ordinary people have taken up arms, heroically prepared to fight to the last man  and woman  to repel Russian forces.

But in the gilded chancelleries of EU nations, courage is in lamentably short supply.

While words of denunciation have rolled off their tongues, the bloc's pusillanimous and self-serving politicians have refused to hit Vladimir Putin's gangster regime with the most painful economic sanctions.

A full-scale invasion was supposed to be a 'red line'  triggering instant, brutal retaliatory measures. Instead, the EU is turning that red line a watery pink.

In Ukraine, thousands of ordinary people have taken up arms, heroically prepared to fight to repel Russian forces. Pictured: Ukrainian solders take positions in Kyiv on Friday

It has dismissed Boris Johnson's pleas to eject Russia from Swift, the world's biggest financial payments system.

Such a move could cripple the regime's economy, making Putin think twice about fresh aggression.

But the bloc says this should be a 'last resort'.

This begs the question what, if not an unprovoked attack on a sovereign country, would be sufficient provocation?

The squalid truth is, while Ukrainians die defending their homeland, our erstwhile EU partners want to trade oil, gas and  incredibly  luxury fashion goods with the Kremlin. It is profoundly immoral.

Thankfully, because of Brexit we can go further and faster on sanctions than the shabby, sclerotic so-called super-state.

Absurdly, the EU boasts that it  not Nato  is responsible for peace in Europe.

Now, that fig leaf lies exposed. By failing to punish Putin with the harshest sanctions, it has not only lost its moral compass. It has delivered a devastating blow to Ukraine's fight for survival.

But in the EU nations, courage is in lamentably short supply. The EU has dismissed Boris Johnson's pleas to eject Russia from Swift, the world's biggest financial payments system

Naivety needs to end

One shocking aspect of the war is that it is happening at all.

Because, for many years, governments convinced us that state-on-state conflict had gone the way of the Zeppelin.

With armed combat raging in Ukraine, how foolish that conceit seems now.

So to face the future, ministers must have a fundamental rethink. For sovereign nations to guarantee their security in these turbulent times, it is crucial they retain independence in three strategic sectors: Defence, energy and food.

Britain, depressingly, is making a pig's ear of each. With the war pushing up energy costs, we must end our dangerous reliance on volatile regimes to keep our lights on.

If ever a moment was screaming for us to exploit North Sea gas reserves and build nuclear power stations, it is now.

Food prices, too, are soaring  especially wheat. Yet the Government seems obsessed with turning our countryside into a rewilding theme park for the Notting Hill set.

Wouldn't it be better to have a proper agricultural strategy and grow more crops ourselves?

And the rekindled knowledge that conflagration can flare up at any time should be a warning to stop running down Britain's military capabilities.

By failing to punish Putin (pictured) with the harshest sanctions, the EU has not only lost its moral compass. It has delivered a devastating blow to Ukraine's fight for survival

A properly manned and equipped Armed Forces not only fights effectively, but deters aggression.

For too long, we have been naively cavalier about the threats to our critical sectors. We must take off the rose-tinted glasses.

Our moral duty to act

The exodus of frightened, desperate people fleeing the warzone is heartbreaking.

This humanitarian catastrophe could see millions displaced from their homes to refugee camps.

That is why the Mail urges the Government to ensure Britain takes in its fair share.

Of all Europe's countries, the UK has the noblest tradition of offering sanctuary.

From the Kindertransport children rescued from the Nazis to the Syrian families forced out by Assad, we have welcomed them with open arms.

For the innocent victims of Putin's war, it is our moral duty to do so again.
Bosses at the achingly-woke NPR network were condemned over a mollycoddling write-up aimed at helping Americans left 'stressed' by the unfolding Ukraine crisis.

The story, published Friday, was titled: '5 ways to cope with the stressful news cycle,' and was blasted as patronizing and tone-deaf, given the bloodshed and heartache being faced by Ukrainians at the mercy of Vladimir Putin's forces.

NPR's guidance on clearing the mind of war-related stress involved urging people to 'breathe,' 'get moving,' 'nourish yourself,' 'stay connected,' or 'sign off' from social media and the news if they find it too upsetting.

But the network - which many longstanding listeners say has become obsessed with race, gender-identity and 'equity' in recent years - was attacked online over the tone and timing of the piece.

'Ukrainians are fighting for their lives, taking up arms, and building homemade Molotov cocktails to fight Russians who are invading their homes and your first thought is, "How can we comfort Americans who are watching the news from their couch 5,000 miles away,"' one Twitter user responded.

NPR was slated over this story sharing tips on how to keep calm as Russia invades Ukraine

'People literally dying this is the stupidest and weakest sh*t Ive ever read. Instead of perpetuating being victim, how bout practicing being grateful for not being a victim, and with that strength, do something about it,' another person tweeted in response.

'Please stop,' author Christina Sommers wrote to the outlet.

'The stupidest thing NPR has ever proposed, and that's saying a lot' tweeted Politico columnist Jack Shafer.

And journalist Nellie Bowles wrote: 'At this point a group of aggressive Shetland ponies could take our country by force and they'd deserve it.'

Ukraine's armed forces were engaged in a fierce battle for Kyiv on Friday night, with footage on social media showing explosions close to a metro station in the center of the capital; a battle ongoing for control of a thermal power plant to the north; and multiple reports suggesting fierce fighting 20 miles south near a vital airbase.

Photos posted to social media showed what they said were explosions in Kyiv on Friday night

Residents of Kyiv take cover in a bomb shelter in the early hours of Saturday

'Watching the STRENGTH and COURAGE of Ukrainians in the face of a brutal Russia invasion, has given me perspective on my struggles,' user Violet James tweeted at NPR.

'The superficiality and pettiness of America's current "social justice" movement is hard to deny today. May God keep Ukraine free.'

Meanwhile in Kyiv, footage shared on social media showed a bombardment close to Beresteiska metro station, in the west of the city.

Terrified residents posted videos filmed from their apartments, with flashes of light and the sound of gunfire.

The northern suburb of Troieshchyna was also coming under sustained attack for another night, as Russia tried to wrest control of the thermal power plant on the banks of the Dnieper river. Unconfirmed reports suggested dozens of Russians had been arrested.

Ukraine's government said on Friday night that they had shot down two Russian military transport planes carrying paratroopers on the outskirts of Kyiv.

The first IL-76 came down near Vasylkiv, 20 miles south of Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said.
Something didnt smell quite right about a batch of onions found inside a tractor trailer entering the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa commercial facility discovered almost 1,200 small packages of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of onions on Sunday. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

A K-9 unit for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection sniffed out 1,200 small bags of meth, packaged to resemble the vegetable, according to a statement release by the agency on Friday. The drugs, more than 1,336 pounds worth, were shaped into small orbs and then covered in a white wrapping.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa commercial facility discovered almost 1,200 small packages of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of onions on Sunday. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

The discovery was made Sunday during a commercial vehicle inspection in San Diego near the Mexican border, officials said. The driver, a 46-year-old man from Mexico, was arrested at the Otay Mesa port-of-entry commercial vehicle facility for the alleged narcotic smuggling attempt.

He has since been turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Otay Mesa commercial facility discovered almost 1,200 small packages of methamphetamine hidden within a shipment of onions on Sunday. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

This was not only a clever attempt to try and smuggle in narcotics, one I havent seen before, but also time consuming to wrap narcotics into these small packages, designed to look like onions, said Sidney Aki, CBP Director of Field Operations in San Diego, in the news release.

While we have certainly seen narcotics in produce before, its unusual for us to see this level of detail in the concealment.

The drugs are estimated to be worth $2.9 million on the street.

With News Wire Services
A senior member of the Police Federation has been given a final written warning for damaging policing's reputation by 'gossiping' about Wayne Couzens' defence on a Signal chat.

Sergeant Simon Kempton, of Dorset Police, was on secondment serving as treasurer to the Police Federation, the body representing officers in England and Wales, when Sarah Everard was abducted.

Following Couzens' hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 13 last year, Mr Kempton was approached by a Daily Mail journalist who filled him in on details heard in court.

Publication of the evidence was prohibited by the Magistrates Court Act, but journalists have the right to be present in court or attend via video link.

Later that evening, Mr Kempton shared information about Couzens' defence on chat app Signal in a group made up of members of the Police Federation's governing body.

In one message, he said: 'Wait til you hear what his defence was today.'

Mr Kempton goes on to set out Couzens' false claims he had abducted Ms Everard and handed her over alive to a gang of eastern European men in order to pay off a debt.

He then discusses the fact Couzens had been caught on CCTV in B&Q buying builders' bags, and the fact the victim's body had been found in these bags.

Simon Kempton (above), 43, was on secondment serving as treasurer to the Police Federation, the body representing officers in England and Wales, when Sarah Everard was abducted

Following Wayne Couzens' (pictured) hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court last year, Mr Kempton was approached by a journalist who filled him in on details heard in court

Mr Kempton adds: 'Essentially coughing to kidnap but denying murder.'

One officer replies: 'The old 'slipped and fell', the next thing I knew ...''

Adding: 'He is better off just blaming it on the fact he is ginger.'

Another said: 'He had suffered a nasty bang to his head which might explain why he thought that excuse might fly.'

The messages were reported to the Met Police by two members of the group, who wrongly believed the source of the information was a leak within the investigations team.

They assumed that anything heard in open court would be reported, and were unaware of the statutory reporting restrictions - they later retracted their concerns and supported Mr Kempton.

Mr Kempton faced misconducted proceedings for breaching standards of police professional behaviour concerning respect and courtesy, duties and responsibilities, social media use and confidentiality.

It was alleged his actions had the potential to undermine confidence in the police.

Mr Kempton admits sharing the information but said it was vital it was given to the Police Federation's senior team 'as soon as possible'

The misconduct hearing at Dorset Police headquarters (file photo above), near Dorchester, is due to conclude by Friday

Mark Ley-Morgan, presenting the case for Dorset Police, said the 'tone and content' of the messages was 'indicative of someone who was gossiping'.

Mr Kempton denied wrongdoing, telling a panel it was vital the Police Federation be brought up to speed to inform its media response, as well as any decision on paying Couzens' legal fees were he to apply for funding.

When asked about the tone of his messages, Mr Kempton said: 'It was conversational and I regret that in light of where I am sat, but it is conversational because this is a conversation.'

He said the messages were 'factual' and he was repeating what he had been told by the journalist.

Mr Kempton denied they showed a lack of respect and courtesy to Sarah Everard's family, saying: 'God only knows what they had already been through - if I had in any way contributed to their distress I would be beside myself.'

On Friday, the panel found Mr Kempton to have committed misconduct, namely by discreditable conduct and breaching standards on duties and responsibilities, authority, respect and courtesy.

Mr Kempton was handed a final written warning valid for two years.

He was cleared of breaching standards of following orders and instructions, and of confidentiality.

Following the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: 'It is disappointing that a hearing had to find an officer guilty of misconduct, especially as it was in relation to an abhorrent crime, where the reputation of the police service nationally was already very much under scrutiny.

'Sergeant Kempton's actions showed complete disregard to Sarah Everard and her family.'

He continued: 'Locally and nationally the public expect and deserve to have trust and confidence in the police.

'This trust is immensely important to us and I hope the outcome of this case sends out a clear message that we take misconduct very seriously and will not tolerate any behaviour that falls below the standards expected.'

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: 'Sergeant Kempton showed no regard to the abhorrent crime that was committed against Sarah Everard and has, quite rightly had to face the consequences of his actions.'
A pub has been fined more than $100,000 for incentivising gamblers after managers and even a security guard loaned cash to help pokie users keep gambling.

Rose and Crown Hotel in Parramatta, western Sydney, came to the light of authorities thanks to a disgruntled manager who was herself convicted of stealing $15,000 from the pub.

Staff gave gamblers free booze and cigarettes, loaned cash from the pub's safe to them and allowed punters to make at least $145,000 in credit and debit withdrawals from the eftpos machine.

Rose and Crown Hotel in Parramatta, western Sydney, came to the light of authorities thanks to a disgruntled manager who was herself convicted of stealing $15,000 from the pub

Staff gave gamblers free booze and cigarettes, loaned cash from the pub's safe to them and allowed punters to make at least $145,000 in credit and debit withdrawals from the eftpos machine

One manager loaned a patron $8,000 from the safe to keep them gambling while a security guard gave another punter $800 from the safe.

NSW's Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority fined the pub's licensee, RC One Pty Ltd, $107,358.

It also fined the pub's manager Paul Camkin $10,000 and barred him from being a licensee or managing a hotel for a year.

Two of his close associates were reprimanded and the three men were ordered to pay the costs of the regulator's investigation.

Liquor and Gaming published its decision along with a statement of reasons on Friday

The regulator's chair, Phil Crawford, thanked the pub's general manager, Samantha Glynn, for tipping off authorities.

But Ms Glynn was charged by NSW Police for stealing $15,000 and put under an 18-month intensive corrections order.

The regulator said Ms Glynn was manipulating the poker machines' payout systems, allegedly allowing her to steal up to $400,000.

NSW's Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority fined the pub's licensee, RC One Pty Ltd, $107,358 (stock image)

When she was caught by the Rose and Crown's management she was suspended. Ms Glynn then reported the hotel to the gaming authority.

"Thanks to the tip off from the general manager, we were able to step in and investigate the hotel, ultimately holding the licensee and its close associates to account," Mr Crawford said.

"The hotel was essentially facilitating cash advances for gambling via a system of fake transactions and this is an obvious risk for problem gambling."
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Joe Biden has authorized the release of $350million of military assistance to Ukraine after taking his latest weekend break to Delaware as Russian troops began to invade Kyiv.

The president's handouts, shared on Friday evening, stipulated that $350million is made available to Ukraine 'in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown.'

A further $250million will be offered 'in assistance without regard to any provision of law'.

Biden offered the cash as Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky revealed he'd snubbed a US offer of evacuation from war-town Kyiv, as Vladimir Putin reportedly dispatched kidnap squads to abduct or kill him.

Zelensky said: 'The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.' He spoke as Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed 3,500 Russian troops during a bloody night of combat across the European state, which saw street battles begin to erupt on the streets of Kyiv.

Russia has yet to capture the capital, as reports suggested the Kremlin's advance was going more slowly than anticipated.

On Friday night, Biden traveled home to Delaware for a weekend break as Ukraine burns after Russia invaded and the United States was condemned for appearing weak.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden were snapped exiting the White House on Friday evening to board their Marine One helicopter as Europe faces its biggest conflict since World War Two.

President Biden, 79, and First Lady Biden, 70, donned their customary face masks, even though both are vaccinated and boosted, and the CDC itself has indicated that the time to lift almost all mandates has come.

Biden has access to technology that allows him to work from his luxury home in Rehoboth Beach, and will be following the latest developments in Ukraine from there.

But critics will likely ask whether Biden should remain at the White House to help project the power and authority that comes with his office during a time that has left many across the United States and wider world fearful for their safety.

The White House released this memorandum on Friday evening authorizing the release of up to $600 million in military assistance to Ukraine

President Biden is pictured leaving the White House for his Delaware home on Friday evening

Biden and his wife Jill appeared relaxed as they headed for Marine One, despite Europe currently experiencing its biggest conflict since World War Two

The United States has imposed a raft of punitive financial sanctions against Russia in a bid to try and deter Vladimir Putin from continuing to invade Ukraine.

But thus far, the Russian premier - whose personal fortune has been estimated by Forbes to sit at $200 billion - has not been deterred.

The US has provided Ukraine with considerable military hardware, and thus far President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces appear to have slowed the Russian onslaught.

But Kremlin troops had entered Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning, and it is feared the capital city could fall to Putin later on Saturday.

Pentagon efforts to try and stop the war from flaring were slick, but ultimately unsuccessful.

US intelligence on Russian troops' movements ahead of the invasion was shared far more freely than normal, in an attempt to spook Putin.

America also warned of the sanctions Russia would face if Putin did invade, but the image-obsessed Russian leader ultimately decided to plow on anyway.

The POTUS and FLOTUS both wore masks outdoors, even though both have received their COVID vaccines and booster shots

President Biden and the first lady held hands as they walked towards Marine One

President Biden left for Delaware hours after the White House announced he is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin, the White House announced on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wil also be targeted.

The European Union and United Kingdom announced they would introduce sanctions targeting Putin and Lavrov on Friday.

'In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her press briefing.

She said travel ban 'would be a part of the US component' in sanctions on Putin and Lavrov.

Putin will become the highest target to be hit after the White House imposed measures on multiple Russian banks and oligarchs. Biden had been under pressure to target Putin personally for his attack of the Ukraine.

The move will be largely symbolic as it remains unclear where Putin's money is and how much there is of it.

Their chopper took off into the mild Washington evening, and flew over the iconic Washington monument.

Bloomberg notes Putin's latest financial disclosure reveals that his annual income is about 10 million rubles ($120,050), and he owns three cars and an apartment.

But there are also reports Putin owns a superyatch worth $100 million. And that his estimated worth is $200 billion.

Earlier Friday, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for about 40 minutes.

Zelensky said the two men discussed stronger sanctions on Russia and more support from the United States.

'Strengthening sanctions, concrete defense assistance and an anti-war coalition have just been discussed with @POTUS. Grateful to [United States] for the strong support to [Ukraine]!,' he wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky had pushed for Putin to be directly sanctioned.

President Joe Biden is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin (center) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right)

The Ukrainian president took to the streets of Kyiv to say 'we are still here' while Ukrainian forces slowed down Russian advances and civilians took up arms to fight for the capital Kyiv.

Zelensky had been critical of a lack of support from the United States and its allies. He was also battling a Russian-disinformation campaign that he had fled Kyiv.

'We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine,' Zelensky said in a video posted to Facebook. He spoke in the streets of Kyiv, the night sky visible behind him.

It's unclear what kind of support Biden offered to Zelensky, who said he is 'target number one' for Russian assassins and his wife and children are 'number two.'

There are fears he may be assassinated and replaced by a Putin puppet.

Before the phone call, Biden met virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected as Russian troops prepared to enter Kyiv.

U.S. intelligence officials are worried the Ukrainian capitol could fall within days, CNN reported, as Russian forces are within 20 miles of its location and residents are being urged to make Molotov cocktails to help defend the city.

Amid reports the Kremlin is gunning for him, Zelensky had slammed the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.

'Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone,' he said on Thursday night. 'Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.'

'We're defending our country alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching this from a distance,' Zelensky said.

After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation organization will send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank. Its the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies.

'We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defense context. We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities,' Stoltenberg said.

President Joe Biden will meet virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected

Ukrainian national guard were forming up on Kyiv's streets Friday as they prepared to defend the city from a Russian assault, shortly before heavy gunfire and explosions were heard

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

Russian battle plans to take Kyiv and force an early end to the war in Ukraine have been revealed by US intelligence, who say troops and armour would be used to capture airfields, before a force of 10,000 paratroopers would be flown in to capture the city, round up the government, and force them to sign a peace deal handing control of the country back to Russia

President Joe Biden (upper left) participates in the NATO meeting

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg convenes leaders for a virtual summit

A general view of a meeting room during a virtual summit called in by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium

Meanwhile, the Kremlin offered to send a delegation to Belarus to negotiate with Ukraine but only under harsh conditions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready to send a delegation to Minsk. But Peskovmade it clear that Russia expected Ukraine's 'denazification and demilitarization' of Ukraine, meaning Kyiv's capitulation.

Some NATO nations are already taking defensive measures as Russian aggression grows.

Lithuania declared a state of emergency Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine. Lithuania borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest. NATO members Belarus is to the east, Latvia is to the north and Poland is to the south.

'We cannot take the luxury to be (a) discussion club,' Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said overnight at an emergency summit of European Union leaders held to impose a 'heavy price' on Russia through sanctions. 'We need to take action.'

The Baltic members have said the West should '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.'

NATO began beefing up its defenses in northeastern Europe after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Recently, some members have also sent troops, aircraft and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Short-term, NATO has activated an emergency planning system to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. The Pentagon said Thursday that it is sending 7,000 troops to Europe in addition to 5,000 recently deployed personnel.

Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers take positions in downtown Kyiv

Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv

Additionally, pressure is building on Biden to personally sanction Putin. The U.S. has already sanctioned several members of Putin's inner circle and many Russian oligarchs who made their money off his regime.

Biden said Thursday that sanctioning the Russian leader remained 'on the table' but refused to answer a question on why Putin has not yet been personally targeted.

The European Union will freeze Putin's assets and those of the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, but will not impose a travel ban on them, the New York Times reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian forces of attacking kindergartens Friday in their attempt to overthrow his regime.

Zelensky, 44, spoke Friday as he continues to defend his country and his regime from Russian forces for the third straight day.

'What kind of war is being led against Ukrainian children in kindergartens? Who are they?'

Zelensky, a former actor, used some of the rhetoric the Russians have used to justify their invasion against them.

'Are they also neo-Nazis from kindergartens? Or are they NATO soldiers that put Russia in danger?' he asked.

He spoke after it was reported that a kindergarten and orphanage had been attacked in the city of Okhtyrka, a small city in the northeastern Ukrainian Sumy province.

Watch below

Russian missile hit kindergarten pic.twitter.com/mrbwzvwYWJ    (@3TrAmvL026aJRar) February 25, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian forces of attacking kindergartens Friday in their attempt to overthrow his regime

A child on a swing outside a residential building damaged by a missile

Photos of the attack were shared by a Ukrainian lawmaker, who wrote: 'In a town Okhtyrka Russian missiles hit kindergarten and bomb shelter. Among dead and injured are children. What else Russian fascists should do for NATO to wake up and defend Ukraine?!'

Two adults are shown, apparently lying in puddles of blood, with others crouched alongside.

This came following the bombing of a hospital Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called 'beyond evil'.

'Consider this: Putin has launched a massive war of aggression in Europe during a still raging pandemic,' he added.

Video showing aftermath of a shelling against a kindergarten in Okhtyrka in Eastern Ukraine

A residential building damaged by a missile

- A man clears debris at a damaged residential building at Koshytsa Street, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where a military shell allegedly hit, on February 25, 2022

Ukraine's armed forces were engaged in a fierce battle for Kyiv on Friday night, with footage on social media showing explosions close to a metro station in the western center of the capital by the zoo; a battle ongoing for control of a thermal power plant to the north; and multiple reports suggesting fierce fighting 20 miles south, near a vital airbase.

In Kyiv, footage shared on social media showed a bombardment close to Beresteiska metro station, in the west of the city, which is near the zoo.

More than 50 explosions and heavy machine gun fire were reported in the district of Shulyavka, near Beresteiska metro and the zoo, according to The Kyiv Independent.

A bridge near the metro was blown up, according to reports. It was unclear whether the explosion was caused by artillery or by Ukrainian forces intent on stopping the Russian advance.

The district is under the control of the 101st Independent Security Brigade of the General Staff.

Terrified residents posted videos filmed from their apartments, with flashes of light and the sound of gunfire. One video shared on social media showed an apartment building glowing with red lights, which some speculated was to guide bombers or snipers. Others said the lights were to warn the military not to bomb them.

The northern suburb of Troieshchyna was also coming under sustained attack for another night, as Russia tried to wrest control of the thermal power plant on the banks of the Dnieper river. Unconfirmed reports suggested dozens of Russians had been arrested.

By 5:30am in Kyiv (10:30pm Eastern), Ukraine's armed forces were claiming that the advance from the west had been repelled.

But a CNN crew in Kyiv reported the sounds of heavy gunfire and what appeared to be anti-aircraft fire.

Ukraine's government said earlier on Friday night that they had shot down two Russian military transport planes carrying paratroopers on the outskirts of Kyiv.

The first IL-76 came down near Vasylkiv, 20 miles south of Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said.

The second IL-76 was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of the capital, Nexta reported.

The fate of those onboard was unclear. The aircrafts - medium-range military transport aircraft, which first went into service in 1974 - can hold 150-225 fully-equipped soldiers, and is used to drop paratroopers into combat and resupply arms.

The town of Vasylkiv appeared, at 3am local time (8pm Eastern), to be a focus of heavy fighting to the south.

Nexta, a local media network, reported that Russians 'dressed in uniform of the Ukrainian national police' attacked a checkpoint near Vasylkiv, shooting at Ukrainian soldiers.

'Immediately after that a group of Russian military in a truck came in. There is a heavy fight going on,' the site reported.

New satellite images showed the build up of troops to the north, in Belarus.

The photos showed approximately 150 transport helicopters and ground troops 20 miles from the Belarusian-Ukrainian border, in southern Belarus.

Not long after the first troop carrier was shot down, Ukraine's State Agency for Special Communications said that Ukraine's air defense had downed a Russian close-support aircraft and a helicopter in Donbas.

A S-300 surface-to-air missile system destroyed a Russian Sukhoi Su-25 jet and an unspecified helicopter at midnight, they said.

The Russian Air Force currently operates around 250 Su-25s of all variants, and they are considered a staple of Russian ground-attack regiments.

Opposition was growing in Russia to the carnage in Ukraine.

Communist MP Mikhail Matveev said: 'I think that the war should be stopped immediately.

'When I voted for the recognition of the DPR / LPR, I voted for peace, not for war.

'For Russia to become a shield, so that the Donbas was not bombed, but not for Kyiv to be bombed.'

The onslaught came shortly after Ukraine's president warned that the Russians intend to take Kyiv overnight, urging his countrymen to resist the expected onslaught as Western officials say the city appears surrounded.

Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the nation from a secret location in the capital, had a dire warning for his embattled and defiant people on Friday night.

'Russia will try to break our resistance with all its might,' he said, in a video posted to social media.

'Tonight the enemy will begin storming us. We need to withstand them!'

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv's Victory Avenue in the west of the city, near the zoo, in the early hours of Saturday morning

The Ukrainian armed forces tweeted in the early hours of Saturday that the attack from the west, near the city's zoo, had been repressed, stating: 'Russian war criminals attacked one of the military units in Kyiv on Victory Avenue. The attack was repulsed'

Kyiv was in flames in the early hours of Saturday

Significant explosions were seen from Beresteiska metro station in the west of Kyiv

As the #Ukrainian authorities predicted, the night is really hard



There is an attack of the occupants on #Kyiv pic.twitter.com/cMat47j0dD  NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 26, 2022

WATCH: Fighting underway in Kyiv, with battles also being reported south of the city pic.twitter.com/u0ZSmGjJvB  BNO News (@BNONews) February 26, 2022

Zelensky said that Chernihiv, Symy, Kharkiv, Donbas, and the south could also come under attack.

'This night will be difficult, very difficult. But the morning will come,' he said, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The 44-year-old referenced the Russian shelling of a kindergarten in Ukraine that killed at least one child and injured more, saying: 'What kind of war is that? Were these children neo-Nazi? Or were they NATO soldiers?'

Vitali Klitschko, the former world champion heavyweight boxer who is now the mayor of Kyiv, said his city faces a 'difficult night'.
Protesters at New Zealand's anti-vaccine rally have donned tinfoil hats as a fake conspiracy theory swirls that the government is using 'tech weapons' to try and disperse the increasingly unwell protestors.

At least six demonstrators were photographed with their heads covered in what appeared to be aluminium foil while concern mounted over growing 'squalor' at the now-three week-old rally in Wellington.

Protestors openly claimed the government was colluding with a church to zap them with tech weapons, including electromotive force charges (EMF), radiation and brainwashing.

Protestors at NZ's version of Canada's freedom convoy rallying against vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions set up camp in the grounds of parliament house three weeks ago and have refused to leave.

At least six demonstrators were photographed with their heads covered in what appeared to be aluminium foil while concern mounted over growing 'squalor' at the now-three week-old rally in Wellington

Despite the chaos, a proudly unvaccinated young couple got married in front of fellow protestors

Despite the chaos, a proudly unvaccinated young couple got married in front of fellow protestors, stuff.co.nz reported.

The couple's planned registry office wedding had been cancelled several times because they were not permitted to keep their booking without being inoculated against Covid.

While it is not known whether the tinfoil hats were being worn as a joke, a symbol or as attempted protection, one woman claimed 'they work'.

'This is so funny, people are actually making tinfoil hats... but they work apparently so... for the sake of giving it to [the government] I'm gonna have a day where I actually wear it,' she told a stuff reporter.

'We'll see if we can inspire everyone to wear tinfoil hats.

Protestors at NZ's version of Canada's freedom convoy rally against vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions set up camp in the grounds of parliament house three weeks ago and have refused to leave

The occupiers at Parliament are dealing with a wave of illness they believe to be caused by EMF weapons. One says they are now making literal tin foil hats to protect themselves. pic.twitter.com/QdAiSI9Tec  Charlie Mitchell (@comingupcharlie) February 25, 2022

Todays theory is that police have put the EMF weapons in the concrete blocks being used as barriers. pic.twitter.com/W2u73NRxR2  Charlie Mitchell (@comingupcharlie) February 25, 2022

She said many were now using foil-lined blankets and felt encouraged by the availability of natural remedies being shared by 'holistic healers' on site.

A group of protestors turned their attention to the nearby Anglican Cathedral of St Paul, on which police had installed surveillance cameras.

They delivered a letter to the church outlining a plan to search for and remove devices they believed were causing 'Covid-like symptoms and bad moods'.

Another protestor posted a bizarre video online claiming concrete blocks placed around Wellington's Parliament House grounds may be 'transmitting' harmful levels of EMF.

'Look at this one, this one's up here at 80, whatever that means I don't know, but there's something going on ... there is something in this block that is emitting electromagnetic radiation. Does that mean it's a transmitter? Who knows.'

The poster also claimed vaccinated people were conducting higher levels of EMF than unvaccinated people.

'Holy cr**, there you go.'

Another video showed a different man with a measuring device saying there was nothing out of the ordinary in EMF readings at the site.

It is understood many of the protestors, many of whom have camped, are becoming increasingly ill.

Many have claimed of feeling unwell, with symptoms including vomiting, fever, headaches and diarrhoea while photos have circulated on social media of protestors claiming they have developed blisters on their faces.

The unvaccinated couple had to cancel their registry wedding three times because they were not permitted at government buildings due to their vaccine status

One officer who refused to give his name claimed the protest site was no place for children because of poor sanitation.

Portaloos delivered for dozens of camping protestors are said to be overflowing.

NZ's Ministry of Health also reported multiple positive Covid cases among the crowd.

A police officer also said he believed many of the protestors 'need mental health support'.

'They arent here for the purpose of this protest, a lot are here because they need to feel like they are part of something,' he said.
A Ukrainian MP toted an AK-47 in hand during an interview with Newsmax TV on Friday, vowing to defend the country's capitol before warning 'if Russians enter Kyiv, there will be hell for them' as he brandished the firearm on TV.

Alexey Goncharenko, 41, an avid critic of Russia's efforts to invade the neighboring country, made the comments on the second day that Ukraine faced its third straight day of fighting, which has since continued on to Saturday.

'It's such a magic rifle, Kalashnikov, yes,' Goncharenko said.

'And if Russians will enter, if Russians will enter Kyiv, there will be hell for them, and I will do my best, certainly. Probably, I will not make too much, because really, I'm absolutely not professional, but I'll do my best.'

Scroll down for video

Alexey Goncharenko, 41, pictured holding an AK-47 in hand during an interview Friday, vowing to defend country's capitol before warning 'if Russians enter Kyiv, there will be Hell for them'

'It's such a magic rifle, Kalashnikov, yes,' Goncharenko said during Friday's interview with Newsmax TV

Pictured: heavy fighting south of Kiev, where Russia is desperately trying to parachute in troops

'My weapon is always with me,' he added.

'And I, even sitting and giving you this interview, that's near me. And I'm not soldier. I'm not military person.'

On Friday afternoon, Goncharenko told the show's host, Eric Bolling, that he does not intend to go anywhere despite the heightening tensions, advancements and threats which saw Russian troops enter Kyiv early Saturday local time.

The MP concluded that if thousands of other Ukrainians join him in such a vigilante manner, he believes an invasion of Kyiv could be repelled.

Pictured: Kulbakino airfield in Mykolaiv is on fire following a Russian missile strike on February 25

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday morning

Residents of Kyiv take cover in a bomb shelter in the early hours of Saturday

President Biden left for Delaware hours after the White House announced he is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin, the White House announced on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also be targeted.

The United States has imposed a raft of punitive financial sanctions against Russia in a bid to try and deter Vladimir Putin from continuing to invade Ukraine.

But thus far, the Russian premier - whose personal fortune has been estimated by Forbes to sit at $200 billion - has not been deterred.

The US has provided Ukraine with considerable military hardware, and thus far President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces appear to have slowed the Russian onslaught.

President Biden is pictured leaving the White House for his Delaware home on Friday evening

Biden and his wife Jill appeared relaxed as they headed for Marine One, despite Europe currently experiencing its biggest conflict since World War II

But Kremlin troops had entered Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning, and it is feared the capital city could fall to Putin later on Saturday.

Pentagon efforts to try and stop the war from flaring were slick, but ultimately unsuccessful.

US intelligence on Russian troops' movements ahead of the invasion was shared far more freely than normal, in an attempt to spook Putin.

America also warned of the sanctions Russia would face if Putin did invade, but the image-obsessed Russian leader ultimately decided to plow on anyway.
The boss of furniture and electronic store Harvey Norman has warned recent logistic problems could see the prices of their stock skyrocket.

Executive chairman Gerry Harvey, 82, said the recent price jump in shipping containers could see the prices of electronics and furniture increase by 30 per cent.

'Shipping containers used to cost $2000, now it's $12,000 and the prices on your lounge go up by 10 per cent to 20 per cent,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Executive chairman Gerry Harvey, 82, has warned Aussies the era of cheap electronics is over with prices set to jump by 30 per cent

Customers could see a daily markup in furniture and electronic prices amid ongoing logistic issues

'You name it, no matter what product you come in to buy today, it's dearer than yesterday, and it will be dearer again tomorrow. Prices are going up by five, 10, 30 per cent.'

The retail giant has built 50 new warehouses around Australia in the last 18 months to help fight stock shortages but Mr Harvey said he believes the era of cheap electronics is over.

Luckily, he said there is still time to grab a bargain before prices soar.

'Customers are coming into our stores at the moment, and we've still got a lot of products that are priced a lot cheaper than what we can buy it for at the moment, so we can deal a bit on price,' he told the Australian Financial Review.

Executive chairman Gerry Harvey, 82, said the recent price jump in shipping containers from $2000 to $12,000 is to blame for the price increase

Harvey Norman reported a 6.2 per cent - $4.9 billion - decrease in sales in the six months to December and blamed lockdowns triggered by the Omicron outbreak.

However Mr Harvey said 2022 had started well for the company and hopes its a sign of good business to come.

'We have started off very well in January/February, which is stronger than we thought,' he said.

'There's no reason to believe at this stage it is going to change, and if it doesn't, we will have quite a good second half.'
The last text messages from a young father who disappeared six weeks ago can now been revealed.

Samuel Segal, 29, was last seen on CCTV on January 29 at Glenbrook National Park in the Blue Mountains, 73 km west of Sydney.

Texts on Mr Segal's phone showed the last conversation he had with sister, Ashlea.

Samuel Segal (above), 29, was last seen on CCTV on January 29 at Glenbrook National Park in the Blue Mountains, 73 km west of Sydney

Texts on Mr Segal's phone showed the last conversation he had with sister, Ashlea Segal, on the day he went missing, shhow his disappearance was completely unexpected.

In the exchange he asked his sister if she wanted to chat over the phone while he was on a drive.

Ashlea missed the initial message from her brother but they planned to call later in the day, but that phone call never came.

Investigators later found Mr Segal's 2021 Toyota Hilux in the Jellybean Pool car park, located within Glenbrook National Park.

A thorough search has found no trace of Mr Segal and neither his bank accounts nor mobile phone have been accessed and police do not suspect any suspicious activity.

Photos from January 26 shows a large scale search operation to find Mr Segal in Blue Mountains

Mr Segal's sister Ashlea said he did not know Glenbrook National Park well but was a keen outdoorsman and was known to explore new areas

A search for Mr Segal found his 2021 Toyota Hilux in the Jellybean Pool car park, located within Glenbrook National Park, but found no trace of the explorer

Ashlea told News.com.au that her brother wasn't familiar with Glenbrook National Park but was known to go exploring.

Mr Segal was known as a keen outdoorsman and lived in nearby Springwood, just 12.5 km from Glenbrook National Park.

During weekends, he would spend time in the local national parks with his three-year-old daughter or go rock-climbing with friends.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott McAlpine said the police 'never give up searching for a missing person' and announced the investigation into Mr Segal's disappearance is ongoing.

In response to his disappearance, Mr Segal's employer Phil Dixon has started a local men's mental health group called 'Walk It off'.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott McAlpine said the police 'never give up searching for a missing person'

NSW Police said the investigation into Mr Segal's disappearance is ongoing as his family remains hopeful he will return home safe

The group organises meetings and walks in the Blue Mountains region.

Ashlea said she can't imagine life without her brother and hopes he will return home soon.

'Sam is a fun-loving, passionate, and caring person with the biggest heart,' she said.

'He is my favourite person in the world and I just can't imagine what my life might look like without him.'

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
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Ukrainians were desperately trying to hold off the Russian invasion in the early hours of Saturday, at the end of a long night that saw Vladimir Putin's forces advance from the north, south and west.

Ukraine's armed forces tweeted as dawn broke on Saturday: 'During the night the Russian occupiers did not take any city!

'Kyiv is being cleared of the remains of saboteurs. Thank you to the courageous defenders of Ukraine!'

Ukrainians were emerging from their bunkers after a restless night to find a country still defiant, despite the barbarity unleashed by Moscow.

The night began with Ukrainians still in the cities seeking refuge in the subway for the third night in a row.

As dusk fell at 5:30pm local time on Friday, the streets were eerily empty and quiet.

Kyiv's empty streets are pictured on Friday night as the nervy residents awaited the expected onslaught

Residents of Kyiv take cover in a bomb shelter in the early hours of Saturday

Kyiv locals endured a terrifying and sleepless night on Friday, as the bombardment began at around 3am Saturday

MIDNIGHT

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, appeared on social media shortly after midnight, warning his people that the coming hours would be decisive.

In a stirring speech from his bunker in a secret location in Kyiv, Zelensky, 44, said that 'the fate of Ukraine is now being decided.'

He told his people: 'This night, the enemy will use all the forces available to break our resistance  treacherously, viciously, inhumanly.

'This night, they will make an assault upon us. We all have to understand what we are going to face. This night, we have to withstand.'

It later emerged that the United States had once more offered Zelensky and his family - his wife Oleana and their daughter Aleksandra, 17, and nine-year-old son, Kiril - the opportunity to be evacuated from Ukraine.

Zelensky refused. On Thursday night, he insisted he was staying put, and indeed on Friday morning he went out into Kyiv to film a short video for the nation, urging resilience.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is seen addressing the nation on Friday night

3am SATURDAY

The first sign that Putin was indeed launching his attack came from Vasylkiv, 20 miles south of the capital.

The city, home to a Cold War-era air base, was the scene of the first major incident when a Russian IL-76 military transporter plane was brought down - reportedly with 150 paratroopers on board.

Sources in the city then claimed that Russian soldiers, dressed as Ukrainian police, ambushed a checkpoint.

Heavy fighting ensued in Vasylkiv, as Putin's forces tried to gain a foothold in the south from which to launch their attack on Kyiv.

Kyiv was in flames in the early hours of Saturday

4am SATURDAY

A second Russian IL-76 was brought down south of Kyiv, in the city of Bila Tserkva, according to reports.

In the east of the country, Ukraine's air defenses brought down a Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jet and a helicopter, the Ukrainian military claimed.

And as the aggressors were trying to advance from the south, another attack was being attempted from the north - even closer to the center of Kiev.

5am SATURDAY

Russian troops were launching an attack on the northern Kyiv suburb of Troieshchyna - site of a thermal power station.

The suburb had been attacked earlier in the week, as Russia tried to wrest control of the strategic jewel on the banks of the Dnieper river.

Unconfirmed reports suggested dozens of Russians had been arrested.

Meanwhile, the Russians were also advancing from the west.

Dramatic footage showed explosions near the Beresteiska metro station, towards the edge of the city.

Locals living along Peremohy Avenue - a main artery into central Kyiv from the west - shared images on social media of vehicles ablaze.

Russian forces were said to be advancing towards Kyiv zoo, towards the Shuliavka district of the city.

The fighting was fierce, yet Ukraine's interior ministry said they repelled the attack - blowing up a bridge along Peremohy Avenue to stop the advancing Russian forces.

Significant explosions were seen from Beresteiska metro station in the west of Kyiv

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv's Peremohy Avenue in the west of the city, near the zoo, in the early hours of Saturday morning

7:30am SATURDAY

Ukraine's army claimed that the Russians had suffered heavy losses, with 3,500 killed and 200 taken prisoner.

They said Russia had lost 14 airplanes and eight helicopters, plus 102 tanks and 536 armored cars.

8am SATURDAY

Ukraine's interior ministry warned people to stay indoors, saying active battles were taking place in the streets of Kyiv.

Shortly after, Zelensky posted a video to social media of him walking through the streets of Kyiv, captioned: 'Do not believe the fakes.'
A Pittsburgh man who recorded himself saying the N-word pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a Black man in 2018.

Joden Rocco, a 28-year-old white man, was heard saying the racial slur several times on the night of the killing, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. In the early morning hours of Aug. 19, 2018, he stabbed 24-year-old Dulane Cameron Jr. to death.

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Rocco was bar-hopping on Pittsburghs North Side when he recorded a social media video about playing a game on how many times he could say the N-word to bartenders before getting kicked out.

Joden Rocco is pictured shortly after his arrested on Aug. 19, 2018. (Uncredited / AP)

But prosecutors countered that video with a message from Rocco, also from that night, that read: This is not a game that we do. We need to be able to beat these n-----s up, according to the Tribune-Review.

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Prosecutors also cited another text message from the night, in which Rocco snapped a photo of his boots and sent it to a friend with the caption, Carolina n----- stompers.

After being denied access to a bar, Rocco encountered Cameron and a friend walking down the street, according to witness accounts. He then started a confrontation with the two Black men before squaring up with Cameron for a fight.

In the fight, Rocco stabbed Cameron in the neck and took off, police said. Cameron died on the street that night. Rocco was arrested after trying to ask police for a ride home.

Rocco pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree murder, the Tribune-Review reported. There was no sentencing agreement attached to the plea; the maximum penalty is between 20 and 40 years in prison. Rocco will be sentenced June 2.

Shortly after the killing, the Southern Poverty Law Center examined Roccos social media pages and found he was a fan of several racist, alt-right and Nazi-adjacent accounts. Activists lobbied for hate crime charges at the time, but they were never filed.
Defiant Ukrainian kept up their spirits on Friday while sheltering in underground bunkers as the Russian army advances through their county.

The group of women were filmed singing in the city of Cherkasy, a city of 270,000 people 120 miles south of Kyiv.

They did so as Cherkasy braced itself for the oncoming Russian onslaught which hit Kyiv late Friday and into early Saturday.

A video on social media showed women in a basement on Friday night, resolutely singing the national anthem as they awaited the onslaught.

'Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom,' they sang in their native tongue, waiting out the bombing and the gunfire in what they hope is a safe place.

'Luck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.

'Our enemies will die, as the dew does in the sunshine,

'and we, too, brothers, we'll live happily in our land.

'Well not spare either our souls or bodies to get freedom

'And we will prove that we brothers are of Cossack kin'

A video on social media showed women in a basement on Friday night, resolutely singing the national anthem as they awaited the onslaught.

'Ukraine is not yet dead, nor its glory and freedom,' women sang as they waited out the bombing and the gunfire in what they hope was a safe place

The Ukrainian national anthem, which was written in 1862, is aptly entitled 'Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished.'

Still bundled in their winter coats, scarfs and knit hats, the women in the video pack benches in the cement bunker, lit with blinking florescent light, some clutch picnic baskets, others distract themselves with their cellphones or packages they brought. One woman comforts a crying child on her lap as the group sings along with the resolute hymn.

In another video, a Ukrainian woman fights back tears as she sings the anthem while she sweeps broken glass from the windows of her bombed out apartment into a dustpan. The woman's apartment block is populated mostly with former Soviet army servicemen and border guards.

The soaring music was composed by priest/composer Mykhailo Verbytsky in 1863 and the patriotic poem of Pavlo Chubynsky's was tweaked slightly when it was paired together.

It gained popularity during the early 1900s when Ukraine sought to form an independent state from parts of Russia, Poland and Austria-Hungary.

The final lyric refers to the Cossack people, an ethnic combination of Slavic and Turkish people known for their expert horsemanship. They were said to be originally runaway serfs who defied the social order and sought their freedom on the wilds of the steppe.

Russian troops are now advancing on Kyiv from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, capture an airport, and fly in paratroopers who would then attack the capital. The aim would be to capture the government and force them to sign a peace treaty handing control of the country back to Russia or a Russian puppet

The song speaks to the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainians who have chosen to fight the overwhelming force of 190,000 Russian troops that massed on the country's Eastern border.

The Cherkasy province, which sits on both sides of the Dnieper River 118 miles to the south of the capital of Kiev, has scene its share of the war.

Footage of Russian artillery raining down on the city and killing a cyclist on the street has been making the rounds on social media.

A Russian jet plane was shot down over Zolotonosha in the Cherkasy region and the pilot parachuted to safety. Local authorities asked residents to keep an eye out for the pilot who they said would try to blend into the population.

On Thursday night, a child was born in the back of an ambulance in Kiev.

After news of Mia's birth spread, she was hailed a 'miracle' and a beacon of hope in Ukraine and Kyiv's darkest times

The little boy, seen here with his mother can have no idea of the turmoil around in as Russia's force mass on Kyiv

Elsewhere underneath a maternity ward in the basement a baby boy was born away from chaotic and violent scenes outside

As Kyiv was attacked by Russian forces, inside a bomb shelter a little baby girl called Mia was finally brought into the world

Officer Mykola Shlapak, who came to the woman's aid when she heard her screams as she went into labor, said said she called an ambulance which took them both to hospital, where both the mother and daughter, Mia, are resting safely.

The little girl's arrival was hailed a miracle and one woman to declared 'Your birth is hope in this dismal time'.

The incredible delivery was revealed by Chairwoman of Democracy in Action Conference Hannah Hopko.

'Mia was born in shelter this night in stressful environment- bombing of Kyiv,' she said.

'Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving.

'When Putin kills Ukrainians we call mothers of Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia war in Ukraine . We defend lives and humanity.'

More than 50 explosions and heavy machine gun fire were reported in the district of Shulyavka, near Beresteiska metro and the zoo, according to The Kyiv Independent.

Photos posted to social media showed what they said were explosions in Kyiv on Friday night

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the nation from a secret location in the capital, had a dire warning for his embattled and defiant people on Friday night.

'Russia will try to break our resistance with all its might,' he said, in a video posted to social media.

'Tonight the enemy will begin storming us. We need to withstand them!'

The United States has offered to evacuate Zelensky and his family, but the president is refusing to leave.

On Thursday evening he told the country he was aware that he was 'target number one' for Russian assassins, but he and his family would not leave.
Outspoken opposition to Putin's invasion of Ukraine is growing in Russia - and not just among the autocracy's civilian population.

Disquiet is also now spreading through some of the countries politicians with one Communist MP, Mikhail Matveev saying outright: 'I think that the war should be stopped immediately.

Matveev is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) which sits in opposition to President Putin and the United Russia party.

'When I voted for the recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), I voted for peace, not for war,' Matveev said

'For Russia to become a shield, so that the Donbas was not bombed, but not for Kyiv to be bombed.'

Ukraine regards both the DPR and LPR as terrorist organizations due to their loyalty to Russia. The Republics are located in the historical Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine.

Communist MP Mikhail Matveev said: 'I think that the war should be stopped immediately.'

President Zelensky , pictured, had warned that the Russians intend to take Kyiv overnight, urging his countrymen to resist the expected onslaught as Western officials said the city appeared to be surrounded with Putin's troops moving ever closer

ST. PETERSBURG: Demonstrators shout slogans in St. Petersburg, Russia. Shocked Russians turned out by the thousand 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

ST. PETERSBURG: Police officers detain demonstrators in St. Petersburg, Russia. Similar protests took place in other Russian cities, and activists were also arrested

ST. PETERSBURG: Police officers detain a woman in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday

MOSCOW: Police officers detain a woman in Moscow, Russia, where at least 957 arrests were made

ST. PETERSBURG: Police officers detain a man in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky may discuss with Russia neutral status and security guarantees for Ukraine, said Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the Ukrainian leader's chief of staff .

'It will be, first of all, a detailed conversation about peace and ceasefire,' he said.

'A neutral status with a clear package of security guarantees is an option that will probably also be on the table.'

President Zelensky had warned that the Russians intend to take Kyiv overnight, urging his countrymen to resist the expected onslaught as Western officials said the city appeared to be surrounded with Putin's troops moving ever closer.

Zelensky, addressing the nation from a secret location in the capital, had a dire warning for his embattled and defiant people on Friday night.

'Russia will try to break our resistance with all its might,' he said, in a video posted to social media. 'Tonight the enemy will begin storming us. We need to withstand them!'

The United States had offered to evacuate Zelensky and his family, but the president is refusing to leave. On Thursday evening he told the country he was aware that he was 'target number one' for Russian assassins, but he and his family would not being going anywhere.

Photos posted to social media showed what they said were explosions in Kyiv on Friday night

Significant explosions were seen from Beresteiska metro station in the west of Kyiv

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv's Peremohy Avenue in the west of the city, near the zoo, in the early hours of Saturday morning

Russian troops are now advancing on Kyiv from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, capture an airport, and fly in paratroopers who would then attack the capital. The aim would be to capture the government and force them to sign a peace treaty handing control of the country back to Russia or a Russian puppet

Ukraine's armed forces were engaged in a fierce battle for Kyiv on Friday night, with footage on social media showing explosions close to a metro station in the western center of the capital by the zoo; a battle ongoing for control of a thermal power plant to the north; and multiple reports suggesting fierce fighting 20 miles south, near a vital airbase.

In Kyiv, footage shared on social media showed a bombardment close to Beresteiska metro station, in the west of the city, which is near the zoo.

More than 50 explosions and heavy machine gun fire were reported in the district of Shulyavka, near Beresteiska metro and the zoo, according to The Kyiv Independent.

A bridge near the metro was blown up, according to reports. It was unclear whether the explosion was caused by artillery or by Ukrainian forces intent on stopping the Russian advance.

The district is under the control of the 101st Independent Security Brigade of the General Staff.

Terrified residents posted videos filmed from their apartments, with flashes of light and the sound of gunfire. One video shared on social media showed an apartment building glowing with red lights, which some speculated was to guide bombers or snipers. Others said the lights were to warn the military not to bomb them.

The northern suburb of Troieshchyna was also coming under sustained attack for another night, as Russia tried to wrest control of the thermal power plant on the banks of the Dnieper river. Unconfirmed reports suggested dozens of Russians had been arrested.

By 5:30am in Kyiv (10:30pm Eastern), Ukraine's armed forces were claiming that the advance from the west had been repelled.

But a CNN crew in Kyiv reported the sounds of heavy gunfire and what appeared to be anti-aircraft fire.

Ukraine's government said earlier on Friday night that they had shot down two Russian military transport planes carrying paratroopers on the outskirts of Kyiv.

The first IL-76 came down near Vasylkiv, 20 miles south of Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said.

The second IL-76 was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of the capital, Nexta reported.

The fate of those onboard was unclear

MOSCOW: Police officers detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on February 24, 2022. Protests broke out in Moscow tonight in solidarity with similar demonstrations across Europe today as the global outcry against Russian president Vladimir Putin 's invasion of Ukraine grew louder amid the unfolding crisis

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

In Russia, President Putin has cracked down on citizens calling for peace, with authorities warning protestors they could face 'treason' charges as more than 1,700 demonstrators were detained after showing solidarity with global protestors.

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.

Russian police have detained more than 1,700 people at anti-war protests across Russia after President Vladimir Putin sent troops to invade Ukraine, an independent monitor said Thursday.

Some 1,702 people in 53 Russian cities were detained, at least 940 of them in Moscow and over 340 people in the second-largest city Saint Petersburg, according to OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies.

ST PETERSBURG: Huge crowds of people gathered to attend an anti-war protest on Thursday night, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in Ukraine

MOSCOW: Police officers in masks detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow

MOSCOW: A man is detained by three police officers on Thursday night at an anti-war protest

ST PETERSBURG: Police officers detain a demonstrator during an anti-war protest, after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in Ukraine

Meanwhile, Russians are understood to have been warned by authorities that any 'negative comments' about Putin's invasion of the Ukraine would be treated as 'treason'.

Makar Zadorozhny, a Moscow actor, published a letter from his theatre's administration, which warned employees against voicing negative opinions on the conflict.

The letter, which said it had been informed by the culture department, read: 'Negative comments will be treated as treason.'

It comes after human rights advocates warned of a new wave of repression on dissent in Russia as protests got underway.

'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.'

On Friday, 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'.

ST PETERSBURG: Demonstrators shout slogans as they gathered on Thursday to protest against Russia's attack on Ukraine

MOSCOW: Police officers drag a protester towards a police van in Moscow on Thursday night amid anti-war demonstrations

MOSCOW: Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Several Russian celebrities and public figures, including those working with state TV, have spoken out against the attack as well.

Yelena Kovalskaya, director of a state-funded Moscow theatre, announced on Facebook she was quitting her job, saying 'it's impossible to work for a killer and get paid by him'.

Earlier, a Russian opposition activist who called for anti-war protests told Reuters that she had been detained by police amid global protests against the invasion.

'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.

She also said in a video statement on Facebook: '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.'

'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,' she added.

SAINT PETERSBURG: Armored police gather in a square near demonstrators during an anti-war protest on Thursday night

SAINT PETERSBURG: Police officers detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in central Saint Petersburg on February 24, 2022

SAINT PETERSBURG: Riot police are seen during an unsanctioned anti-war protest

ST PETERSBURG: Demonstrators are seen during an unsanctioned anti-war protest after Putin announced his decision to launch a special military operation

Yelena Kovalskaya, director of a state-funded Moscow theatre, announced on Facebook she was quitting her job, saying 'it's impossible to work for a killer and get paid by him'.

Earlier, a Russian opposition activist who called for anti-war protests told Reuters that she had been detained by police amid global protests against the invasion.

'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.

She also said in a video statement on Facebook: '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.'

'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,' she added.
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The annual celebration of the iconic 'business in the front, party in the back' hairdo is back in full swing as Covid restrictions continue to ease.

All hairy revellers can sing and dance while celebrating their favourite hairstyle at third annual Mulletfest at the Chelmsford Hotel in Kurri Kurri, Newcastle, on Saturday and Sunday.

Mullet-enthusiasts of all ages were seen showing off their manes on Saturday.

The annual celebration of the iconic 'business in the front, party in the back' hairdo is back in full swing as Mulletfest returns to Kurri Kurri, Newcastle

Mullet-enthusiasts of all ages gathered on Saturday to celebrate their favourite hairdo as Covid restrictions eased

Marleene Sutherland from Buladelah was all smiles as she attended the Mulletfest at the Chelmsford Hotel in Kurri Kurri, NSW

Mulletfest is an annual competition and celebration to raise money for the Mark Hughes Foundation

Kurri Kurri local Dylan Dudley proved to be a huge hit as he entered the Mulletfest for the fourth time in recent years

Mulletfest is an annual competition and celebration to raise money for the Mark Hughes Foundation.

Mullets are judged in a range of categories including 'everyday', 'grubby', 'ranga', and 'vintage' with winners set to compete in a grand final on December 3.

The competition is even open to children with categories for kids aged under one through to 17.

The odd celebration gained attention on social media in Russia, The UK, North America, and Ireland when it first kicked-off in 2018.

The fundraiser for the Mark Hughes Foundation helps the non-profit organisation fund brain cancer research, treatment, and care.

Mulletfest will be touring the country throughout 2022 to show off unique hairdos Australia wide.

The third annual celebration of the mullet at Chelmsford Hotel saw mullet-enthusiasts travel from all over to show off their manes

Competitors can compete in a range of categories and age groups to show off their locks with some adding props to their performances

Everyone got in on the mullet-action on Saturday with a range of categories allowing kids to show off their mullets too

Competitors in Mulletfest 2022 went all out to receive a coveted mullet-trophy with the 'Best of Them All' title on everyone's minds

The famous, or infamous, business-at-the-front, party-at-the-back hairstyle has a speckled history.

About 1500 years ago, Byzantine scholar Procopius described a group of young men who wore their hair long at the back and short over the forehead.

But for others, including the Oxford English Dictionary, use of the term mullet was 'apparently coined, and certainly popularised, by American hip-hop group the Beastie Boys'.

Mulleteers competed in a range of categories including 'everyday', 'grubby', 'ranga', and 'vintage' with winners set to compete in a grand final on December 3

Mullet competitors took to the stage of Saturday to compete for a range of category titles

Anything but boring: contestants brought their A-game on Saturday with some adding colours to their mullets or props to their performances
Close to two thirds of Americans believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still president, according to a new survey released Friday.

A recent Harvard Center for American Political Studies-Harris Poll survey revealed that 62 percent of those American voters polled felt that Putin would not be launching an offense against Ukraine if Trump, rather than incumbent President Joe Biden, was still in office. Broken down, 39 percent of Democrats and 85 percent of Republicans believe that Trump would have made Putin think twice about launching the war.

Meanwhile, 59 percent of voters said it was Biden's perceived weakness that had prompted Putin to launch the bold attack in the first place, The Hill reported of the survey.

However, a total of 38 percent of Americans, regardless of political affiliation, believed that Putin would have invaded Ukraine regardless of who was president.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on the recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics

Former US President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he walks off after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Dallas, Texas on July 11, 2021

Smoke and flames rise over during the shelling in Kyiv, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine on February 26, 2022

Another 41 percent said that the person sitting in office did not play not a factor in Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

While President Biden has expressed solidarity with Ukraine and has strongly condemned the Kremlin for what he called 'unprovoked and unjustified attack,' the US has yet to do anything more than imposing sanctions on Russian financial institutions, Russian elites and their family members.

On Friday night, the White House announced $350 million in military assistance to Ukraine. It also offered to evacuate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is being hunted by Putin's kill squads, but he has vowed to stay in Kyiv and fight on.

Among those sanctioned by the US is Putin himself, the White House confirmed Friday.

Pictured: early morning 26 Feb 2022 fights at the Peremohy (Pobeda) avenue in Kyiv, Ukraine

Fierce fighting erupts in capital after transport plane carrying '150 Russian paratroopers' was shot down

However, Biden has failed to overtly make the call to remove Russia from the SWIFT international banking system, despite appeals from Ukrainian officials and some US lawmakers.

The survey results come as Biden continues to suffer dismal approval ratings, having had to navigate several other major tests for a newly-elected president, including a chaotic evacuation of US troops from Afghanistan and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey, which was conducted between February 23 and 24, included 2,026 registered voters.

However, the poll is weighted to reflect a known percentage of larger demographics.
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The head of Britain's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service has said he believes Russia's war in Ukraine will prove 'unwinnable' because President Vladimir Putin will never attain political victory over the country's people.

Richard Moore, the chief of MI6, wrote how a report suggesting Putin's forces will ultimately fail in Ukraine because it underestimated its neighbour's military strength and fierce determination 'makes sense to me'.

The article Moore, 58, was reacting to was penned by Lawrence Freedman, the Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London.

In the article titled 'A Reckless Gamble', Professor Freedman said Putin had 'become obsessed with Ukraine, and prone to outrageous theories which appear as pretexts for war but may also reflect his views.'

He wrote that victory for Moscow does not come in the form of a successful invasion that overthrows Ukraine's government, but with winning over the people of Ukraine.

This, the professor writes, is something Russia does not have the strength for.

UKRAINE WAR: LATEST Vladimir Putin urges Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace;

Ukraine and Russia discuss a place and time for talks;

Russia vetoes draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine - China abstained;

Zelensky has asked UN to strip Russia of its security council vote;

President Joe Biden instructs the U.S. State Department to release $350 million in military aid to Ukraine;

In a significant shift in policy, Germany will let the Dutch ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine;

Czech Republic is also sending weapons valued at around 6.4 million to Ukraine;

Canada, the US, Britain and the European Union said they could act to exclude Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system;

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed - Russia did not release casualty figures;

SWIFT exclusion appeared to gain support from Cyrpus, Hungary and Italy on Saturday as well. Reports also suggested Germany was considering backing the measure;

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed - Russia did not release casualty figures;

NATO allies will provide more weapons to Ukraine and deploy more forces to the eastern part of the alliance;

NATO alliance is deploying its rapid response force for the first time ever to bolster its eastern flank;

The conflict could drive up to five million people abroad;

An estimated 120,000 people have fled across borders so far;

Poland PM calls for harsher sanctions on Russia, including exclusion from SWIFT and shutting down Nord Steam 1. Advertisement

'Even if the government loses control of the capital and is forced to flee, and the command systems for Ukrainian forces start to break down, that does not mean that Russia has won the war,' he wrote.

In an unusual move for the chief of MI6, Moore shared the article with his over 130,000 Twitter followers, writing: 'Fascinating. Makes sense to me.'

In a rebuke of Putin's human rights record, Moore also wrote around the same time in a separate tweet: 'With the tragedy and destruction unfolding so distressingly in Ukraine, we should remember the values and hard-won freedoms that distinguish us from Putin, none more than LGBT+ rights.'

Moore's endorsement of the article came as other intelligence sources claimed Putin's war with Ukraine is not going to plan due to Kremlin 'overconfidence', poor tactical planning, and 'shock' at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for their nation's survival.

Dramatic video on Saturday showed a destroyed Russian convoy with Z-markings near Kherson in the south of the country on the third day of fighting after Ukraine's army held control of Kyiv and last night successfully repelled Russian advances on the capital.

In addition to the video of the destroyed convoy, another video purportedly showed the destruction of a 20-vehicle Russia military column in Kharkiv.

Images of the carnage is the snow - from which it is suspected there were no survivors - appear to show Putin's invasion suffering brutal losses.

Kyiv's defence ministry has so far put Russia's losses at around 2,800 troops, 80 tanks, 516 armoured vehicles, and 10 airplanes and seven helicopters so far.

The Russian army has now been ordered to broaden its advance 'from all directions', with Kyiv residents braced Saturday for another night sheltering underground, as Russian troops closed in on the capital and skirmishes were reported on the outskirts.

However, a senior US defence officials claimed Russia is facing more resistance than Moscow anticipated in its invasion of Ukraine, and appears to have lost some of its momentum.

Professor Freedman's article backed this theory. He wrote: 'Despite the superiority of Russian forces they made less progress than might have been expected on the first day of the war when they had the advantages of tactical surprise and potentially overwhelming numbers.

'The Ukrainians demonstrated a spirited resistance and imposed casualties on the invaders,' he added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's military is asking people to remove the names of streets, cities and villages from road signs in their regions in order to 'confuse and disorient the enemy'. In a tweet, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said: 'We will do everything possible to clear Ukraine of the Russian occupier as soon as possible!'.

A sign over a part of the Boryspil highway triumphantly declared: 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself!', in reference to the killing of a small group of Ukrainian border guards stationed at Snake Island off the coast of Ukraine after they refused to surrender to Kremlin forces.

Estonia's former defence chief Riho Terras has now claimed that Putin's war is not going to plan because Russia is fast running out of money and weapons, and will have to enter negotiations with Volodymyr Zelensky's government if Kyiv holds off the Russians for 10 days.

Russia's tyrant has allegedly convened a meeting with the oligarchs in a bunker in the Ural Mountains, at which it is claimed that he furiously vented that he thought the war would be 'easy' and 'everything would be done in one to four days'.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence sources, Terras claimed that the war is costing Russia around 15billion-per-day, and that they have rockets for three to four days at most, which they are using sparingly.

He claimed that Putin's plan has relied on panicking the country, firing missiles at residential buildings 'at random' to 'intimidate' the Ukrainians, trigger mass army desertions, national surrender, and Zelensky's flight from the country. Terras also alleged that Russian special operations have been near Kyiv since February 18, and had planned to swiftly seize the capital and install a puppet regime.

'The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered. The Ukrainians must avoid panic! ... Ukraine must stay strong and we must provide assistance!', he wrote on Twitter.

However, in a worrying sign for Ukraine, video from Russia's Western border with Ukraine showed TOS-1 heavy flamethrower tanks moving towards its neighbour. The tanks are capable of firing high-power thermobaric weapons - dubbed the 'father of all bombs'.

In Russian, 'TOS' stands for 'heavy flame thrower'. However, what the TOS-1 launches is perhaps even more frightening - fuel-air explosives (FAE) that cause a 'wall of napalm'. As the bomb explodes, it scatters dust that ignites when it meets oxygen, causing the very air around it to appear as if it is bursting into flames.

In other developments:

Authorities in Kyiv have extended a curfew until early on Monday;

Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 19 miles from the city centre.

Russian troops captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Russia's defence ministry claimed;

UK armed forces minister James Heappey said Britain did not believe Russian forces had captured Melitopol;

Refugees fleeing Ukraine continued to pour across its western borders on Saturday, with around 100,000 reaching Poland in two days;

A decision to cut Russia off from the global SWIFT payment system will be taken in a matter of days, the governor of a central bank within the euro zone said;

At least 2019 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion;

France has decided to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine to support the country against Russia's invasion;

French sea police seized a ship on Saturday that authorities suspect belongs to a Russian company targeted by European Union sanctions over the war in Ukraine, a government official claimed;

Putin urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace;

Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote.

Dramatic video shows a destroyed Russian convoy with Z-markings near Kherson in southern Ukraine

In addition to the video of the destroyed convoy, another video purportedly showed the destruction of a 20-vehicle Russia military column in Kharkiv (pictured)

In a worrying sign, video from Russia's Western border with Ukraine showed TOS-1 heavy flamethrower tanks moving towards its neighbour. The tanks are capable of firing high-power thermobaric weapons - dubbed the 'father of all bombs'

Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on the recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics

Richard Moore, the chief of MI6, wrote how a report suggesting Putin's forces will ultimately fail in Ukraine because it underestimated its neighbour's military strength 'makes sense to me'

A Ukrainian soldier runs holding his weapon outside a military facility, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region on Saturday

A fragment of a destroyed Russian tank is seen on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on February 26, 2022

A destroyed Russian military vehicle is seen on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on February 26, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A view shows a destroyed armored personnel carrier (APC) on the roadside in Kharkiv, Ukraine February 26, 2022

A screen grab from drone footage shows cars forming a line that stretches some 35 km from the Shehyni border crossing to Poland as people try to flee Russia's military operation against Ukraine outside Mostyska, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

Ukrainian tanks move on a road before an attack in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022

On Saturday morning, the upper floors of a building in Kyiv were struck by a Russian rocket (pictured). Reports suggesting at least two people were killed in the explosion

Pictured: The tower block in Kyiv, just moments after being struck by a Russian rocket on Saturday morning

A police vehicle is seen patroling the streets as a curfew has been imposed from Saturday 5 PM to Monday 8 AM local time on February 26, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine

Russia's Interfax news agency claimed Moscow had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol. Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment on the fate of Melitopol. If the Interfax report about Melitopol, which cited Russia's defence ministry, is confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre that the Kremlin has seized.

However, Britain's armed forces minister James Heappey cast doubt on the report, saying the city of some 150,000 people was still in Ukrainian hands and that fighting in the capital was so far confined to 'very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers' and that 'the main armoured columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off'.

The Ukrainian health minister said 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the Russian offensive. Viktor Lyashko said there were three children among those killed.

His statement was unclear whether the casualties included military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion.

It was later reported that a further 19 civilians were killed in shelling in Ukraine's east, while two were reported killed in a strike on a tower block early on Saturday - bringing the civilian death toll to 219.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov claimed Saturday that since the start of Moscow's attack, its military had hit 821 Ukrainian military facilities, 87 tanks and other targets.

Konashenkov didn't say how many Ukrainian troops were killed and didn't mention any casualties on the Russian side. Neither his claims nor Ukraine's allegations that its forces killed thousands of Kremlin troops could be independently verified.

A sign over a part of the Boryspil highway read: 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself!', in reference to the killing of Ukrainian border guards stationed at Snake Island off the coast of Ukraine when they refused to surrender to Kremlin forces

A column of Russian military vehicles is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, on February 26, 2022

Civilian Members of a territorial defence unit fit their weapons to repel the Russian attacking forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday

A Ukrainian serviceman checks on a man who was acting suspicious not far from the positions on Ukraine's service members in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022

A local man shakes hands with a serviceman of the People's Militia in Stanitsa Luganskaya, a rural town abandoned by Ukrainian troops without resistance, February 26, 2022

Ukrainian servicemen arrive from Zmeiny Island, their garrison voluntarily surrendering to Russian troops, February 26, 2022

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire from a bombed civilian building in a residential area on February 26, 2022, in Kiev, Ukraine. A missile has hit this residential building in the capital

A couple embraces, on Maidan Square, February 26, 2022, in Kiev, Ukraine

Kyiv's military is far inferior to its Russian counterpart with an air defence system and air force dating back to the Soviet era

HOW IS PUTIN'S WAR NOT GOING TO PLAN?

MONEY

According to Ukrainian intelligence sources, Putin's war with Ukraine is costing the Russian economy around 15billion-per-day alone  meaning the Kremlin will have spent around 45billion by the end of today in fighting Ukraine.

Writing on Twitter, Terras claimed that Russia would be forced to enter negotiations with Ukraine if Kyiv can hold off the Kremlin's advance for 10 days, by which point Russia will have spent around 150billion.

Though it is widely believed that the Russian dictator will have factored Western sanctions into his calculations, the combined effect of punitive measures on Russia's banking system will further squeeze its economy.

The United States, Britain, Japan, Canada, Australia and the European Union unveiled more sanctions on Moscow on top of penalties earlier this week, including a move by Germany to halt a gas pipeline from Russia.

President Joe Biden delivered further measures to target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors, while the EU unveiled its own new package including financial, energy and technological sanctions.

WEAPONS AND RESOURCES

Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Terras also claimed that Russia has rockets for 'three to four days at most' which they use 'sparingly'.

He added: 'They lack weapons, the Tula and 2 Rotenberg plants can't physically fulfil the orders for weapons. Rifles and ammo are the most they can do.

'The next Russian weapons can be produced in 3-4 months  if even that. They have no raw materials. What was previously supplied mainly from Slovenia, Finland and Germany is now cut off.

'If Ukraine manages to hold the Russians off for 10 days, then the Russians will have to enter negotiations. Because they have no money, weapons, or resources'.

OVERCONFIDENCE

Terras also claimed that at a meeting of the oligarchs in his lair in the Urals, Putin was 'furious' and ranted about how he thought the war would be 'easily' won in 'one to four days'.

He continued: 'Russia's whole plan relies on panic  that the civilians and armed forces surrender and Zelensky flees.

'They expect Kharkiv to surrender first so the other cities would follow suit to avoid bloodshed. The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered'.

A Ukrainian soldier smokes a cigarette on his position at an armored vehicle outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

Ukrainian service members look for unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the morning of February 26, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene

Putin gives comments to the media after a ceremony to sign a declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan at Moscow's Kremlin, February 22, 2022

WHAT'S THE STATE OF PLAY TODAY?

HELICOPTERS, JETS AND PLANES

The mayor of a city south of the Ukrainian capital claimed that the country's military has fended off a Russian attempt to take control of a military air base.

Natalia Balansynovych, the mayor of Vasylkiv, about 25 miles south of Kyiv, said on Saturday that Russian airborne forces landed near the city overnight and tried to seize the base. She said fierce fighting also raged on Vasylkiv's central street.

She said that Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian attacks, and that the situation is now calm. Balansynovych claimed there were heavy casualties, but didn't give any numbers.

At around 3am on Saturday, fighting between Russia and Ukraine broke out at Vasylkiv, which is home to a Cold War-era base.

Ukraine's military claimed a Russian IL-76 military transporter planer was brought down, reportedly with 150 paratroopers on board. Sources in the city then claimed that Russian soldiers, allegedly dressed as Ukrainian police, ambushed a checkpoint.

Kyiv: Fierce fighting erupts in capital after a Russian transport plane carrying '150 paratroopers' was shot down

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv's Peremohy Avenue in the west of the city, near the zoo, early Saturday

Significant explosions were seen from Beresteiska metro station in the west of Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is seen addressing the nation on Friday night

Heavy fighting ensued in Vasylkiv, as Putin's forces tried to gain a foothold in the south from which to launch their attack on Kyiv.

At around 4am, Ukraine's Defence Ministry claimed 'two enemy targets were shot down'  identifying them as a Russian SU-25 helicopter and a military bomber  near the separatist zone in the east.

At around 4am, a second Russian military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine. The Russian military did not comment on either plane.

Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) denied a report earlier on Saturday that Russian helicopters had landed in the Lviv region, a development that would have signalled a widening of the theatre of Moscow's invasion.

The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said Russia had landed three helicopters near the city of Brody in the western Lviv region and that Ukrainian forces had repelled the attack.

The SBU said the information was false and that no such landing had taken place. It said a Ukrainian helicopter had done a reconnaissance flight in the area.

'We ask residents to remain calm!', the SBU said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Sadovyi's office declined to comment and the SBU declined further comment. The Lviv regional administration said that footage circulating on social media of a helicopter firing rockets in the Lviv region was Ukrainian, not Russian.

Ukrainian soldiers walk past debris of a burning military truck on a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday morning

Ukrainian service members look for and collect unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in Kyiv

GROUND FORCES

Earlier, small arms fire and explosions were heard in the capital's northern district Obolonsky as what appeared to be an advance party of Russia's invasion force left a trail of destruction.

Ukrainian forces reported fighting with Russian armoured units in two locations between 40-80 kilometres north of Kyiv.

Ukraine's military claimed Russia had 'attacked one of the military units on Victory Avenue in Kyiv' but that the assault had been 'repulsed'. It also reported another incident northwest of the capital.

Kyiv said 137 people, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed during the fighting, and claimed that 2,800 Russian service personnel have died.

An adviser to Ukraine's president says that fighting is raging in the capital and in the country's south, and that the Ukrainian military is successfully fending off Russian assaults.

Russian forces were also focusing on the country's south, where intense fighting is underway in Kherson just north of Crimea, and in the Black Sea ports of Mykolaiv, Odesa and around Mariupol, it was claimed.

A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

A view shows an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

Firefighters extinguish fire in a high-rise apartment block which was hit by recent shelling in Kyiv on Saturday

A high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a devastating missile this morning as fighting continues to rage in the capital between Russian attackers and Ukrainian forces

Mykhailo Podolyak said that Russia considers it a priority to seize the south, but it has failed to make any significant gains.

Britain claimed that Russian forces have not captured the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol and armoured columns advancing on the capital Kyiv have been held up by Ukrainian resistance.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said on Saturday it was the British assessment that Russia had so far failed to capture any of its day one targets for its invasion of Ukraine, which began on Thursday.

'Even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to have taken but we can't see anything to substantiate that, are all still in Ukrainian hands,' Heappey told BBC radio.

'The fighting ... reported on the outskirts of Kyiv overnight, we understand to just be Russian special forces and pockets of paratroopers. The reality is that the armoured columns that were coming down from Belarus and the north that were going to encircle Kyiv are still some way north because they've been held up by this incredible Ukrainian resistance.'

A Ukrainian soldier stands guard behind tires in Kyiv during Russia's military intervention in Ukraine

A Ukranian fireman kneels by a damaged vehicle, at the site of a fighting with Russian troops after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

Russian missiles pounded Kyiv on Friday, families cowered in shelters and authorities told residents to prepare Molotov cocktails to defend Ukraine's capital from an assault that the mayor said had already begun with saboteurs in the city.

But an American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested a mixed picture for the Russian effort to press an offensive that Washington and Kyiv say is aimed at decapitating the government and installing a puppet regime.

'We do assess that there is greater resistance by the Ukrainians than the Russians expected,' the senior defence official said, adding Ukraine's command and control of its military 'remains intact'.

'They are not moving on Kyiv as fast as what we believe they anticipated they would be able to do. That said, they continue to try to move on Kyiv.'

Still, Russia has not yet mobilized the majority of its forces arrayed around Ukraine, the official said, assessing that just about one-third have now been 'committed' to its offensive.

Although most of the Russian targeting has been against Ukrainian military installations, some of the missiles have landed on civilian residential areas, the official said.

Ukraine's military was putting up a fight, the official added.

'They are fighting for the country,' the official said, noting that Russia had yet to establish control of the airspace above Ukraine or used the extent of its electronic warfare capabilities. 'In general, the Russians have lost a little bit of their momentum,' the official said.

A militant of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic inspects the remains of a missile that landed on a street in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk

A Ukrainian servicemen walk by a damaged vehicle, at the site of a fighting with Russian troops, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Kyiv, February 26, 2022

RUSSIA'S ACTIONS

Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.

The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

The Ukrainian military said a battle was underway near a military unit to the west of the city center.

A rescue worker says at least six civilians were injured by a rocket that hit a high-rise apartment building on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital.

Petro Prokopov, a firefighter who was taking part in rescue efforts, said the building on the southwestern edge of Kyiv near Zhuliany airport was hit between 16 and 21 floors on Saturday. He said at least six people were injured and apartments on two floors were gutted by fire. Emergency responders have evacuated 80 people.

Soldiers tasked with defending Kyiv from advancing Russian troops take up positions underneath a highway into the city

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted an image showing a gaping hole on one side of the apartment building.

AFP saw a dead man in civilian clothes lying sprawled on the pavement as nearby medics rushed to help another man whose car was crushed by an armoured vehicle.

Separately, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv.

'If the dam is destroyed, the flooding will cause catastrophic casualties and losses  including flooding of residential areas of Kyiv and its suburbs,' the ministry said.

Marine who blew himself up to destroy a bridge and halt advancing Russian troops is made a 'Hero of Ukraine' - the country's highest honour Volodmyr Zelensky has declared a marine who blew himself up along with a bridge near Crimea to repel advancing Russian forces a Hero of Ukraine. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region when Kremlin troops advanced and the battalion decided the only way to stop them was to blow up the bridge. It was mined, and Shakun had no time to get out. He texted them and told them he was going to blow up the bridge. Seconds later, they heard an explosion, a post on their Facebook page said. Shakun's efforts dramatically slowed down the Russian advance and allowed his comrades to regroup and re-deploy, the Ukrainian General Staff added. Zelensky has now made Shakun a Hero of Ukraine, the highest national title that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the country's president. Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region when Russians advanced The Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region at the Crimean crossing which the Ukrainian forces said was a key area of defense. This image was shared by Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform on Thursday A post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Facebook page detailed his heroic efforts In an emotional speech to the besieged nation uploaded to Facebook, the Ukrainian President also accused Moscow of attempting to seize Kyiv, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk', one of two separatist regions which warmonger Vladimir Putin officially recognised before launching an all-out invasion. Declaring 'we derailed their idea', Zelensky added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army. 'The [Russian] occupants wanted to block the centre of our state and put here their marionette, like in Donetsk. We derailed their idea.' Zelensky pushed for Ukraine's urgent ascension to the European Union, saying he discussed the issue with the EU leaders. He also urged cutting Russia from the SWIFT international electronic bank payment system, noting that Germany and Hungary should show 'courage' and agree to the move. Briefly switching to Russian, he claimed that thousands of Kremlin troops were killed and hundreds of those who were taken prisoner 'can't understand why they were sent into Ukraine to kill and get killed'. Thanking Russians who spoke out against the war and asked them to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin, he said: 'The sooner you say to your government that this war should be immediately stopped, the more of your people will stay alive.' Advertisement

COULD RUSSIA LOSE THE WAR?

Despite Western fears, American officials believe that Putin's assault and attempted seizure of Kyiv has become bogged down.

While Russian special forces have reached the suburbs of Kyiv, the bulk of Moscow's heavy armour is believed to be still more than 30 miles away from the capital.

Britain claimed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been slowed by strong Ukrainian resistance.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said fighting in Kyiv was so far confined to 'very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers'. He added that 'the main armored columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off'.

Heappey said: 'It looks like the Russian plan is nowhere near running to schedule. I think that will be a great cause of concern for President Putin and rather points to the fact that there was a lot of hubris in the Russian plan and that he may be awfully advised.'

However, Western officials fear that Putin could resort to high-power thermobaric weapons  dubbed the 'father of all bombs' that vaporize bodies and crush internal organs  as brave Ukrainians resist his attempts to take control of Kyiv.

A thermobaric bomb explosion during the Caucasus 2016 strategic drills at Opuk range of Russia's Southern Military District

Thermobaric weapons  also known as vacuum bombs  are high-powered explosive that use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed. Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the US and the Soviet Union in the 1960s

Thermobaric weapons  also known as vacuum bombs  are high-powered explosive that use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed.

A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 pounds and left a crater more than 1,000ft wide after it exploded six feet above the ground.

Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the US and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. In 2007, Russia detonated the largest thermobaric weapon ever made, which created an explosion equivalent to 39.9 tons. The US version of the weapon reportedly costs over $16million each.

The official said: 'My fear would be that if they don't meet their timescale and objectives they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence.

'They don't adhere to the same principles of necessity and proportionality and rule of law that Western forces do.'

'Will we declare war on Russia? No': Armed Forces Minister James Heappey insists NATO troops will not be sent in to Ukraine as he admits 'ultimate economic sanction' of removing Russia from the SWIFT system will require 'further diplomacy' NATO troops will not set foot in the Ukrainian theatre of war as Britain presses ahead with its plans to enact the 'ultimate economic sanction' and boot Russia out of the SWIFT international payment network. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey warned that any further financial penalties were being held up in the courts and reiterated the Government's desire to see Russia expelled from the international SWIFT banking system. Speaking during his media round of interviews on Saturday morning, Mr Heappey also stopped short of committing sending NATO troops to fight in Ukraine. 'You're asking me if we will declare war on Russia? No,' was his answer when pressed by veteran journalist Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey reiterated NATO troops will not be entering the Ukrainian theatre of war Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers walk around debris of burning military trucks in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, February 26 In later comments to the BBC, Mr Heappey said the Government's position on removing Russia from the international SWIFT financial servers was clear. 'The reality is that SWIFT is not a unilateral decision the UK can take. If it were, the Government's position is clear and we will push ahead with every means at our disposal. 'Clearly, it's the ultimate economic sanction. It's the one the UK government wants to see enacted.' It was also revealed that the Government will continue to supply arms in its efforts to aid the Ukrainian's attempt to repel the Russian invasion and the Ministry of Defence is working on plans to potentially support a resistance movement and a government in exile if Ukraine was finally overrun. Warning that the Ukrainian conflict could last for months to come, Mr Heappey added: 'Nobody should think that this is anywhere near over. 'What stands in front of Ukraine, its armed forces and very tragically its people, is days, weeks, months more of what we have seen over that last 48 hours'. Advertisement

Ukraine's SECOND Tiananmen moment: Local man climbs on top of Russian tank before kneeling on the ground in bid to stop military convoy as Putin's men face fierce fight back on the streets

Another brave Ukrainian local has been captured on video trying to single-highhandedly block the advance of a Russian military convoy - in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' blocking Chinese forces in 1989.

The footage emerged as Moscow's forces continued their illegal invasion of the country, where Ukrainian soldiers and citizens alike are putting up a fierce resistance against Vladimir Putin's invading army.

Video of the brave face-off showed a column of Russian tanks passing through a junction in a Ukrainian town.

As the hulking vehicles rumbled through, one man decided to take a stand, heroically climbing on to the front of one of the tanks. It continued forward a few meters, but then came to a halt, blocking the route of those following.

Once the tank was no longer moving, the man can be seen climbing down from the tank and kneeling in the middle of the road, blocking the progress of the Russian convoy.

Recognising the futility of the man's protest, onlookers are seen trying to drag the man away from the tank.

However, defiant in his protest, the man continues to hold on to the front of the tank.

Another brave Ukrainian civilian has been captured on video trying to single-highhandedly block the advance of a Russian military convoy - in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' blocking Chinese forces in 1989. Pictured: A Ukrainian local kneels in front of a Russian tank as a convoy of military vehicles passed through a town

Video of the brave face-off showed a column of Russian tanks passing through a junction in a Ukrainian town. As the hulking vehicles rumbled through, one man decided to take a stand, heroically climbing on to the front of one of the tanks. It continued forward a few meters, but then came to a halt, blocking the route of those following

The incident came after a similar confrontation went viral on Friday, which saw another man bravely walk into the middle of the road and into the path of another column of Russian military vehicles passing through Ukraine.

The footage, thought to have been filmed in the south of the country close to Crimea, shows the man bravely waving down the convoy in an attempt to block its path.

Some military vehicles in the procession swerve around the man, but others are shown stopping for him, bringing those behind them to a complete stop as well.

The man has since been dubbed 'Tank Man' on social media, and while his identity is now known, his bravery quickly drew praise from others inspired by his protest which has become emblematic of Ukraine's resistance.

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

FILE - In this June 5, 1989 file photo, a Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Changan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square. The man was calling for an end to the violence and bloodshed against pro-democracy protesters

Russian troops move towards Ukraine on the road near Armiansk, Crimea, in what appears to be the convoy that a citizen later tried to stop as it drove down a highway, February 25, 2022

Russian soldiers on the amphibious infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2 move towards mainland Ukraine on the road near Armiansk, Crimea, February 25, 2022

Kremlin website is DOWN: Russian state websites including media watchdog crash and TV channels 'are hacked to broadcast Ukrainian songs' Russian government websites including the official Kremlin and media regulator pages are down, in what could be the first round of tit-for-tat cyberattacks after the West united in their opposition to Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine Russian government websites including the official Kremlin and media regulator pages are down, in what could be the first round of tit-for-tat cyberattacks after the West furiously condemned warmonger Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's telecoms agency also announced that Russian TV channels had been hacked to broadcast Ukrainian songs, the Kyiv Independent reported on Saturday afternoon. Just hours before Russia's tyrant launched his aggressive war to 'demilitarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine, Kyiv was hit by a 'massive' cyberattack targeting its government and banks. The websites of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service, and Cabinet of Ministers were all out of action Wednesday afternoon. Bomb threats were also phoned in to several government buildings, thought to be part of a psychological pressure campaign by Moscow. The Russian president's war appears not to be going to plan due to Kremlin 'overconfidence', poor tactical planning, and 'shock' at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for national survival Advertisement

Cargo ship 'belonging to Russian bank that is pivotal' to country's defence sector and among those targeted by UK government sanctions against Moscow is SEIZED in the English Channel

A cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy.

The 416ft commercial boat named the 'Baltic Leader' is understood to belong to Promsvyazbank, one of the five major Russian banks which were hit with crippling EU sanctions this week, and was seized in the English Channel early on Saturday morning.

Promsvyazbank was named in the House of Commons as one of five Russian state-owned financial institutions that would be hit with sanctions.

Meanwhile, a US Treasury document said 'Baltic Leader' was owned by Promsvyazbank, which was described as 'systemically important' to Russia's defence industry.

Maritime officers have been given the power to intercept and seize vessels suspected of contravening EU-backed sanctions of Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian invasion.

In what is understood to be the first instance of Russian assets being frozen while in transit, the boat was intercepted by customs officials near Honfleur, in Normandy, after departing from the French city of Rouen.

'Baltic Leader' a cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday, as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy

'Baltic Leader' departed from the French city of Rouen on Friday, February 25 before it was intercepted by French maritime officials and diverted to Boulogne-sur-Mer port in Normandy at around 3am local time (2am GMT)

Pictured: The cargo ship impounded in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France on Saturday, February 26

French authorities said the ship, which has been loaded with cars, belonged to a company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

'Baltic Leader' had arrived in the French city of Rouen on February 19 and spent almost six days docked there until departing on Friday night.

The vessel had been expected to reach St. Petersburg on Thursday, March 3.

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was then diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials.

Those aboard 'Baltic Leader' are said to be co-operating with the investigation. The process could take up to 48 hours.

Captain Magnin said the boat is 'strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions'.

The short journey taken by 'Baltic Leader' as it was intercepted by French maritime officials in the English Channel and escorted to Boulogne-sur-Mer early on Saturday morning

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer (above) between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials

'Baltic Leader', a Ro-Ro Cargo vessel built 22 years ago, had been expected to dock in St. Petersburg on March 6. The ship sails under the flag of Russia.

One official was quoted by the BBC saying: 'It has been taken to the French port after a request by the French government because it is suspected of belonging to a company targeted by EU sanctions against Moscow.

'French boarder forces are currently investigating the cargo ship. Crew aboard the 'Baltic Leader' has been cooperating with French authorities.'

The Russian embassy in France is said to be 'seeking explanations' from French authorities behind the seizure of one of its cargo ships.

A spokesperson in Paris told the Russian TASS news agency the boat's captain had called the embassy, which had then contacted French officials.
NATO troops will not set foot in the Ukrainian theatre of war as Britain presses ahead with its plans to enact the 'ultimate economic sanction' and boot Russia out of the SWIFT international payment network.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey warned that any further financial penalties were being held up in the courts and reiterated the Government's desire to see Russia expelled from the international SWIFT banking system.

Speaking during his media round of interviews on Saturday morning, Mr Heappey also stopped short of committing sending NATO troops to fight in Ukraine.

'You're asking me if we will declare war on Russia? No,' was his answer when pressed by veteran journalist Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

In later comments to the BBC, Mr Heappey said the Government's position on removing Russia from the international SWIFT financial servers was clear.

'The reality is that SWIFT is not a unilateral decision the UK can take. If it were, the Government's position is clear and we will push ahead with every means at our disposal.

'Clearly, it's the ultimate economic sanction. It's the one the UK government wants to see enacted.'

It was also revealed that the Government will continue to supply arms in its efforts to aid the Ukrainian's attempt to repel the Russian invasion and the Ministry of Defence is working on plans to potentially support a resistance movement and a government in exile if Ukraine was finally overrun.

Warning that the Ukrainian conflict could last for months to come, Mr Heappey added: 'Nobody should think that this is anywhere near over.

'What stands in front of Ukraine, its armed forces and very tragically its people, is days, weeks, months more of what we have seen over that last 48 hours'.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey reiterated NATO troops will not be entering the Ukrainian theatre of war

Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers walk around debris of burning military trucks in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, February 26

Mr Heappey made clear that heavy bombardment of Ukrainian cities remained a 'very real possibility' if Vladimir Putin feared his initial advance was stalling

SWIFT (the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) is the main vehicle for financing international trade and operates as the main secure messaging system used by banks to make instantaneous cross-border payments.

In 2020, there were approximately 38 million transactions sent via SWIFT each day.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey claimed that further financial penalties were being delayed because of 'due diligence', and reiterated the Government's desire to see Russia expelled from the international SWIFT banking system.

The developments come as Britain's plan to hit Putin's inner circle with hard-hitting sanctions is being held up in the courts due to 'well-lawyered-up' Russia oligarchs, a minister has warned.

London law firms are said to be delaying sanctions levelled against key Russian clients by threatening to drag a challenge to the measures through Britain's courts, Liz Truss told MPs on Friday.

Ms Truss had been asked why the sanctions process had not been moving more quickly, and she told MPs it was 'because they had to be very careful that when they sanctioned somebody it was legally watertight because these oligarchs' lawyers in London are very litigious, and she had already had several warning letters from them'.

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw called for the law firms in question to be named in the first instance, but also potentially subject to sanctions themselves.

'(They should be) not only named and shamed, but any law firm or any British institution that works on behalf of any sanctioned Russian should themselves be subjected to the same sanctions,' he said.

Currently, eight oligarchs have been named and shamed as part of British sanctions, while more than 100 other individuals, entities and subsidiaries were hit with tough measures.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey (pictured) warned that any further financial penalties were being held up in the courts and reiterated the Government's desire to see Russia expelled from the international SWIFT banking system

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also tweeted on Saturday: 'Yesterday I urged NATO and Nordic partners to do all they can to support Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 'I am pleased even more allies have come forward with defensive and humanitarian aid. We must stand with the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracies everywhere.'

It comes as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace last night chaired a donors conference with 25 nations, some of whom pledged to send arms and other humanitarian aid.

'We know what the Ukrainians want. We are doing our best to get it to them,' Mr Heappey told Sky News.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also tweeted on Saturday: 'Yesterday I urged NATO and Nordic partners to do all they can to support Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

'I am pleased even more allies have come forward with defensive and humanitarian aid. We must stand with the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracies everywhere.

Tory MPs have also discussed the possibility of a 'no-fly zone' to protect countries from aerial incursions west of the Dnieper River, which runs through Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the Defence Committee, said there are 'many ways' Ukraine can be assisted other than 'putting in boots on the ground'.

The MP told ITV News: 'We need to reconsider this no-fly zone, let's say west of the , because that would change the optics here.'

Mr Ellwood added: 'If we don't stand our ground now, where will this go? And don't forget there are other adversaries around the world, namely China, watching very carefully how the West reacts here.'

He said if the West is seen to be 'timid' or 'risk-averse' then China 'will take full advantage of that weakness too'.

Mr Heappey also said Britain and other Western allies would continue to support the Ukrainians in every way they could.

'The more the Ukrainians successfully resist, the more I think they will be emboldened. People are rallying to the flag,' he told ITV.

'There is every chance President Putin has bitten off more than he can chew.

'We, like Ukraine's other allies in the West, will continue to support them in every way we reasonably can but we have to be very clear-eyed about the size of the Russian force he has amassed against them.'

Mr Heappey said the Government were looking at the 'next phases' of sending essential supplies of helmets, protective jackets and medical aid.

But he stopped short of committing any NATO troops setting foot in the Ukrainian theatre of war when pressed.

However, ministers face pressure from Tory backbenchers to do more to support the Ukrainians in the face of Russia's attempt to dismember a European state.

A view shows an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

Firefighters extinguish fire in a high-rise apartment block which was hit by recent shelling in Kyiv on Saturday

Ukrainian servicemen take cover as an air-raid siren sounds, near an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv

Mr Heappey also said that Russian claims that they had captured the city of Melitopol, close to the key Ukrainian port of Mariupol, on Saturday morning were as of yet unsubstantiated.

He made clear that heavy bombardment of Ukrainian cities remained a 'very real possibility' if Putin feared his initial advance was stalling.

But the former British Army officer said he was personally inspired by the bravery of every-day Ukrainians taking up arms to defend their homeland, describing their actions as 'extraordinary and heroic'.

Mr Heappey said the situation was 'very grave' but that the fighting Kyiv was so far confined to 'very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers'.

'The main armored columns from Belarus going to encircle Kyiv are still someway north because they've been held up by this incredible Ukrainian resistance,' he told BBC R4 Today.

'Clearly the Russian plan is to take Kyiv but the reality is that the Ukrainians are thwarting them thus far. It looks like the Russian plan is nowhere near running to schedule.'

Mr Heappey said the Government was working on plans to support a resistance movement and a Ukrainian government in exile if Kyiv does fall.

'That is a decision for the National Security Council to take but it is something that the Prime Minister has asked us in the Ministry of Defence to look at and plan for,' he said.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, posted a video on social media on Saturday morning insisting that his country would fight on

Helga Tarasova hugs her daugther Kira Shapovalova as they wait in a undergound shelter during bombing alert in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv
Around 90 migrants have been brought into Dover by Border Force agents in freezing conditions on the first day of arrivals after a yacht with migrants arrived on Rye Harbour.

The migrants came into Britain in inflatable dinghies on Saturday morning and were towed into Tug Haven, Dover by Border Force.

One group, mainly men, were brought in on the Border Force cutter Seeker while a second group were picked up by the Border Force vessel Hurricane.

The latest arrival takes the total number of migrants recorded arriving through Channel crossings to 1,448 on at least 49 boats during 2022.

The people on the dinghy disembarked and were taken away to be processed but their vessel had to be cut free from the Border Force Seeker it was attached to as it began to sink.

The migrants came into Britain in an inflatable dinghy at around 7am on Saturday morning

A Border Force Seeker vessel was used to bring the migrant vessel into port in Dover

Home Office data shows the meteoric rise of people crossing the English Channel last year, peaking dramatically in November and December

The boat which sailed in a small window of opportunity when the English Channel was flat and calm

There were around 90 people on the boats which sailed in a small window of opportunity when the English Channel was flat and calm before gales picked up and the sea became choppy later in the day.

The latest arrival comes after 21 migrants dived off a yacht into a river after its sailor ran it aground during low tide on February 12.

The group capsized the 20ft vessel when they rushed to one side to see why they had stopped moving, toppling it over in the water.

They got stuck near the bank in Rye Harbour in East Sussex at around 1pm after sailing the boat across the English Channel and up the river.

Footage, shared with MailOnline, showed people desperately swimming towards a nearby dinghy that was deployed from the yacht.

They got stuck near the bank in Rye Harbour in East Sussex at around 1pm after sailing the boat across the English Channel and up the river. Some were forced to jump into the water

The group capsized the 20ft vessel when they rushed to one side to see why they had stopped moving, toppling it over in the water

Some of the people were forced to leap into the water as the yacht slowly tipped over and capsized when too many grouped on one side.

At least one man could be seen swimming through the water with an orange life jacket towards the dinghy.

Footage taken later in the evening showed the boat after it had been re-floated by responders from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Official figures released for the first time yesterday showed 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.

Home Office officials have warned that this year could see more than 65,000 people arrive in the UK by small boat.

Numbers arriving in the UK reached their highest peak in November 2021, when 6,971 small boats arrived in a single month.

Despite high-profile deaths highlighting the dangers of crossing the 21-mile Dover Strait in unsuitable craft, migrants continue to arrive in high numbers

Official figures released for the first time yesterday showed 28,526 people arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in small boats last year

The people on the dinghy disembarked and were taken away to be processed

The migrant vessel had to be cut free from the Border Force Seeker vessel it was attached to as it began to sink

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.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has pledged to end people smuggling across the English Channel with the Nationality and Borders Bill which is currently passing through Parliament.

The bill will stop and divert dinghies suspected of carrying illegal migrants to the UK and return them to where their sea journey to the UK began, subject to agreement with other countries.

The Home Office has been reportedly trying to strike deals with countries to allow Britain to process asylum claims abroad in order to deter Channel crossings.
Fat Tuesday has taken on a new meaning this Mardi Gras Carnival season.

In Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, foodies with a sweet tooth are getting a taste of the annual New Orleans tradition with a new collaboration between the chef behind Americas Best Doughnuts and some Big Easy booze.

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Donuts and Southern Comfort come together at Brooklyns Fan-Fan bakery to celebrate Mardi Gras. (Credit: Molly Tavoletti/)

Fany Gerson, chef and founder of Fan-Fan Doughnuts, has baked up the limited-edition King Doughnut with Southern Comfort glaze, which is on sale through March 1, Fat Tuesday.

The blending of cultures is one of our favorite things about this city and we love celebrating all the fun traditions and holidays of our fellow New Yorkers, Gerson told The Daily News on Friday. The King Cake Doughnut has been a real treat for our customers and has sold out each day.

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Priced at $4 each, the boozy concoctions are dusted with the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold and as a nod to a timeless tradition, hidden golden babies can be found in a handful of the limited-edition desserts. Locals who find one receive a Southern Comfort Mardi Gras prize pack.

Fany Gerson is selling the sweet, boozy treats. (Molly Tavoletti/GOLIN/Molly Tavoletti/)

When a King Cake is served at a Mardi Gras party, its tradition to hide a plastic baby inside, Gerson explained. It symbolizes good luck and the winner who finds it gets to be King or Queen of the evenings festivities. Its such a fun idea and another great way to celebrate Mardi Gras so we incorporated it into our King Doughnut.

Although Gerson is a native of Mexico City, a past visit to a praline colloquium by food historian Jessica B. Harris is where she discovered a love for New Orleans and its rich culture.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Gerson has written three books, including 2010s My Sweet Mexico and 2011s Paletas.

Donuts and Southern Comfort come together at Brooklyns Fan-Fan bakery to celebrate Mardi Gras. (Credit: Molly Tavoletti/)

Considered the countrys authority on Mexican sweets, the baker said shes always exploring new ways to bring joy to her customers, who already have an array of decadently designed desserts to choose from at the walk-in shop.

We love Fany and our partnership with Fan-Fan Doughnuts is a creative way to show off Southern Comforts versatility, Southern Comfort brand director Tiffany Wilburn said.

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The New Orleans-headquartered brand sells a very popular line of alcohol-free eggnog in grocery stores that Southern Living magazine calls the only one worth buying.

Wilburn said the company is always looking for new opportunities to showcase the brands versatility and celebrate traditions.
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Are you caught up in the flight chaos or missing your luggage? Email elmira.tanatarova@mailonline.co.uk stephen.wynn-davies@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

British Airways passengers have criticised the 'absolute chaos' at London's Heathrow Airport after all short-haul flights on Saturday morning were cancelled due to a major IT outage.

The issue has also caused flight delays, with passengers stuck on planes after landing at the airport and baggage piling up.

A BA spokeswoman said that the issue is still ongoing, but the website ba.com is working and 'customers can check-in online and at the airport'.

It is also understood that BA is operating the vast majority of flights for the rest of the day.

'A number of systems are coming back,' she added.

BA's statement said: 'We are extremely sorry that due to the continuing technical issues we are facing we have regrettably had to cancel a significant number of short-haul flights from Heathrow today.

'Customers due to travel later today should check their flight status on ba.com before coming to the airport as we anticipate further disruption during the day.

'Our long-haul services at Heathrow and all flights at Gatwick and London City Airport are due to operate as planned, but customers may experience some delays.

'We are offering customers on cancelled services the option of a refund or to rebook onto another service. We will be contacting customers proactively.

'Our teams have been working hard through the night and will continue to do so to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

'We advise our customers due to travel today to check ba.com for the latest flight information before coming to the airport.

'We know we have let our customers down and we will do everything we can to make this up to them  but for now our focus is on getting as many customers and flights away as we can.'

The airline has also confirmed the issue is not a cyber attack, and relates to a hardware issue it is 'working hard to resolve'.

It added: 'We regrettably had to cancel all short-haul flights from Heathrow until midday today, and have cancelled a number of further short-haul flights this afternoon.'

The airline said the problem, which may also cause delays for its customers using Gatwick and London City Airport, is related to a hardware issue and is not because of a cyber attack.

Hundreds of people have been queuing outside Heathrow's Terminal 5 on Saturday with staff only letting passengers into the building an hour before their flight, due to the backlog inside.

BA earlier refused to confirm to MailOnline how many flights had been cancelled, and how long delays would last but will operate the 'vast majority' of flights for the rest of the day.

Dr Penny Slaney, 62, a consultant radiologist from Worcestershire, told the PA news agency the situation has been 'absolute chaos' and the lack of communication from BA has been 'appalling'.

Some passengers were handed a letter from BA which said they were cancelling more flights throughout Saturday.

It read: 'Unfortunately we have also had to take the significant decision to cancel many of our other short-haul flights today while we work on the issues which is why there are no options to fly on a later service on Saturday 26th February.

'We know this is incredibly frustrating but we don't want to offer you a flight which is at risk of cancellation again and causes you further issues and uncertainty.'

BA said long-haul flights are still operating, but customers may experience some delays.

In a statement, BA said: 'We are extremely sorry that due to the continuing technical issues we are facing we have regrettably had to cancel all short-haul flights from Heathrow today until midday.

'Customers due to travel later today should check their flight status on ba.com before coming to the airport as we anticipate further disruption during the day.

'We know we have let our customers down and we will do everything we can to make this up to them  but for now our focus is on getting as many customers and flights away as we can.'

A Heathrow spokesman said: 'Due to the technical issues affecting British Airways systems earlier today, there could be some knock-on disruption to flights this afternoon.

'Passengers should continue to check the status of their flight with British Airways before travelling to the airport. We continue to work with our airline partners to minimise the impact this could have to passenger journeys.'

Passengers queuing at Heathrow Airport on Saturday morning after British Airways cancelled all short haul flights

Passengers queue at the arrivals entrance to terminal five at Heathrow Airport on Saturday morning

The airline said the problem, which may also cause delays for its customers using Gatwick and London City Airport, is related to a hardware issue and is not because of a cyber attack

Passengers have reported receiving emails about flight cancellations just two hours in advance and after they had arrived at the airport

A member of staff checks passenger boarding passes at the entrance of Heathrow Airport terminal five

British Airways said it had not been attacked and insisted that it was just a 'technical issue'

On Saturday morning, BA said long-haul flights are still operating, but customers may experience some delays

A check in board at Heathrow Airport's terminal five showed a number of cancellations on Saturday morning

Dr Slaney said she and her daughter were due to be on the 9.15am flight to Salzburg for a holiday before their travel agent managed to move them to the 12.30 flight - but both were cancelled.

'The lack of communication is the primary issue. We heard about the IT issue from a fellow passenger,' Dr Slaney said.

She said their family have not been on holiday for three years and are missing a day of their week-long break in Austria.

'There was no information from BA at all - nothing. The news has told us more about what is going on,' Dr Slaney said.

Passengers expressed their frustrations as they directed questions at the airline and Heathrow Airport on social media following today's delays

'It has been absolute chaos. I could organise this better', she said, adding that the staff at the terminal doors checking passenger details looked freezing without any warm clothing.

'They said to us when we got to the door to "go home". I think that is very poorly managed.'

BA's website and app were inaccessible for hours on Friday evening, preventing customers from checking in online or booking flights.

On Saturday morning, the airline advised customers to check the website for the latest flight information before coming to the airport.

In a statement, BA said: 'We are extremely sorry that due to the continuing technical issues we are facing we have regrettably had to cancel all short-haul flights from Heathrow today until midday.

'Customers due to travel later today should check their flight status on ba.com before coming to the airport as we anticipate further disruption during the day.'

Drew Brennan, his wife, and their six month old son were due to fly from Heathrow to Lisbon at 12pm but their flight was cancelled when they arrived at the airport at 9.30am.

He said they managed to rebook onto a flight this evening but would have to manage a seven hour delay with a young baby as well as arriving at Lisbon late at night.

He told MailOnline: 'Staff told us they couldnt help assist in rebooking and had to use app, which was intermittently down.

'Initial thought could be a cyber attack but BA seems to have confirmed that their own IT issues.

'In light of war in Ukraine is a minor inconvenience but still very frustrating.'

Another BA passenger who was due to fly to Lanzarote from Heathrow at 7.50am today said she only received an email from the airline informing them of the cancellation at 6.15am.

Passengers scroll through their plans as they attempt to sort their travel arrangements after flights were cancelled at Heathrow

A member of staff checks passenger boarding passes at the entrance of Heathrow Airport Terminal five

A passengers stares at the check-in board at Heathrow Airport as cancellations stacked up on Saturday morning

BA said long-haul flights were not being cancelled on Saturday morning but advised passengers to expect delays

On Saturday morning, Heathrow Airport tweeted to say BA's 'technical issues' were continuing

Passengers due to fly with BA on Saturday morning experienced cancellations, while electronic boards at Heathrow showed major disruption

Customers criticise Heathrow 'chaos' British Airways passengers have criticised the "absolute chaos" at London's Heathrow Airport. Dr Penny Slaney, 62, a consultant radiologist from Worcestershire, told the PA news agency the situation has been 'absolute chaos' and the lack of communication from BA has been 'appalling'. Dr Slaney said she and her daughter were due to be on the 9.15am flight to Salzburg for a holiday before their travel agent managed to move them to the 12.30 flight - but both were cancelled. 'The lack of communication is the primary issue. We heard about the IT issue from a fellow passenger', Dr Slaney said. She said their family have not been on holiday for three years and are missing a day of their week-long break in Austria. 'There was no information from BA at all - nothing. The news has told us more about what is going on', Dr Slaney said. 'It has been absolute chaos. I could organise this better', she said, adding that the staff at the terminal doors checking passenger details looked freezing without any warm clothing. 'They said to us when we got to the door to "go home". I think that is very poorly managed.' Paolo Camara, 41, who is going through Heathrow in transit from Istanbul to his home in Jersey with his friend Francisco Costa, 38, said the situation is a 'nightmare'. 'As soon as I arrived here, I got a message saying our next flight was cancelled', he said, adding that they had paid 1,400 between them for their flights. 'We have tried ringing BA but nobody will answer. It is very confused.' 'It's just a nightmare', he added. 'There is only one more flight to Jersey today and if that doesn't go, we will have to stay in a hotel. 'We have been travelling for seven hours. I just want to go home and relax.' Mr Costa said: 'This is the last time I use these guys. Next time I use a different company.' Susan Watson, who is in her mid-40s and works in London, said she was booked on the 12.15pm flight to travel to Aberdeen for work and to see family. 'I have got my godson's 21st birthday party this evening so I was hoping to be there for that,' she said. 'I'm disappointed for both reasons, for work and for seeing my family and friends, so it is not ideal.' Joe Griffin, 29, and Janelle Yee, 28, both from London, said their 9pm flight to Geneva was cancelled on Friday night after they had checked in. After staying in a hotel, they booked a new flight for 3pm on Saturday but would be unable to get their checked bags back from BA before their holiday. Mr Griffin said: 'We were supposed to fly at 9pm and then it was delayed and after waiting at the gate for an hour one of the pilots came out and said they didn't know what was happening. 'They said "go to a hotel" and when the system was back and running, they would automatically book us on but this didn't happen. 'So we've booked a flight for 3pm today but who knows what will happen. 'I think they can't do anything about it, and without the system they are just screwed', he said, adding that he will cancel his annual leave and 'be back in work on Monday morning' if their flight doesn't go ahead. Ms Yee, who was worried their insurance might not cover the situation, added: "I don't know what to say anymore. We should have booked EasyJet.' Advertisement

Paolo Camara, 41, who is going through Heathrow in transit from Istanbul to his home in Jersey with his friend Francisco Costa, 38, said the situation is a 'nightmare'.

'As soon as I arrived here, I got a message saying our next flight was cancelled', he said, adding that they had paid 1,400 between them for their flights.

'We have tried ringing BA but nobody will answer. It is very confused.

'It's just a nightmare.

'There is only one more flight to Jersey today and if that doesn't go, we will have to stay in a hotel.

'We have been travelling for seven hours. I just want to go home and relax.'

Mr Costa said: 'This is the last time I use these guys. Next time I use a different company.'

At Heathrow on Friday evening, passengers claimed staff had suggested 'it was probably down to Putin and cyber attacks'.

But BA said it was just a 'technical issue'.

A source familiar with the situation told MailOnline: 'It's absolutely not the case a cyber attack has been carried out.

'This is a technical issue and all flights are still operating and customers are being checked in.'

BA said it is offering customers on cancelled services options including a full refund and all passengers booked to travel on short-haul services from Heathrow on Saturday can rebook to a later date for free.

The airline said it will be contacting customers proactively, adding: 'Our teams have been working hard through the night and will continue to do so to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

'We advise our customers due to travel today to check ba.com for the latest flight information before coming to the airport.'

Photographs of departure boards in Heathrow Terminal 5 showed few flights boarding, while people complained on social media about a lack of information.

Tom O'Regan said he was due to fly from Heathrow to Naples but his flight was cancelled with 'barely three hours notice'. He said nobody was answering the phone, leaving him and his two young children 'little choice but to go to the airport'.

Another customer said she was told her flight from Heathrow - which she was taking to see her nephew on his birthday - was cancelled while she made her way to the airport this morning.

Paolo Bischi advised other customers flying from Heathrow to 'not waste time today, stay home' after not being allowed inside the airport.

Maria Rua Aguete said her BA flight to Barcelona from Heathrow had been cancelled on Saturday morning.

On Saturday morning, a spokesman for Heathrow Airport added: 'There is ongoing disruption this morning due to British Airways technical issues which we are supporting them to resolve.

'We request that passengers check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

It is BA's second outage in 10 days and the latest of several high-profile IT incidents to hit the airline.

Susan Watson, who is in her mid-40s and works in London, said she was booked on the 12.15pm flight to travel to Aberdeen for work and to see family.

'I have got my godson's 21st birthday party this evening so I was hoping to be there for that', she said.

'I'm disappointed for both reasons, for work and for seeing my family and friends, so it is not ideal.'

Joe Griffin, 29, and Janelle Yee, 28, both from London, said their 9pm flight to Geneva was cancelled on Friday night after they had checked in.

After staying in a hotel, they booked a new flight for 3pm on Saturday but would be unable to get their checked bags back from BA before their holiday.

Mr Griffin said: 'We were supposed to fly at 9pm and then it was delayed and after waiting at the gate for an hour one of the pilots came out and said they didn't know what was happening.

'They said "go to a hotel" and when the system was back and running, they would automatically book us on but this didn't happen.

'So we've booked a flight for 3pm today but who knows what will happen.

'I think they can't do anything about it, and without the system they are just screwed', he said, adding that he will cancel his annual leave and 'be back in work on Monday morning' if their flight doesn't go ahead.

Ms Yee, who was worried their insurance might not cover the situation, added: 'I don't know what to say anymore. We should have booked EasyJet.'

The issue is also affecting passengers who are attempting to fly into Heathrow.

Emma Jewell said she is currently 'stranded' in Iceland with no idea of when she will be able to get home after her flight to Heathrow was cancelled.

She told MailOnline that her suitcase was left in London when she flew out to Iceland leaving her 'with no clothes or appropriate footwear'.

She added: 'British airways do not answer the phone and there is no option to book another flight through the "manage my booking" area on their website.

'British Airways have been in the news before with system issues. Is it not time they upgrade to ensure this does not happen again?'

Hayat Wahab said he is currently stuck in Istanbul, Turkey, for two more nights after his 5.30pm flight to Heathrow was cancelled.

He said he will have to pay extra accommodation costs himself after receiving 'no instruction' from BA.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: 'Ongoing technical issues don't fill consumers with much confidence.

'Many people have saved up during lockdown to get away at the first opportunity and some are now finding that computers, not Covid, are preventing their getaway.

'BA needs to be transparent on what's causing these issues and how soon they will be fixed.'

Passengers onboard BA flights claimed staff had blamed problems on 'probable cyber attack'

Ed Hall, 54, a television executive from Woodstock, Oxfordshire, was stuck on a plane for over an hour after landing at Heathrow Terminal 5 because the crew could not access any IT systems to get a stand where passengers could disembark.

He said there were issues even before his BA 399 flight took off from Brussels.

Mr Hall told PA: 'We couldn't take off as the pilot's system that calculates weight, loads and distribution went offline and we had to go back to the gate from the runway to get a (manual) copy sent from London.

'BA is running on paper tonight'.

Once he finally disembarked, baggage was piling up from passengers stuck on other flights, he said.

Mr Hall added that a friend waiting for a long-haul flight in Terminal 5 was having to board manually.

Departure screens were completely blank at Heathrow after the computer system failure

He said later on Twitter: 'Pilot on BA 399: "There might be more reasons for the IT problems we've had in the last few days, Eastern Europe perhaps" Plane on taxiway at LHR as 'frequencies' not working at Terminal 5 and no idea when we will get a stand. Are we under cyber attack?'

Another passenger added: 'Im at Terminal 5 your staff are telling me no flights going because the entire computer system is down here. Not just BA. They saying its probably down to Putin and cyber attacks.'

Photographs of departure boards in Terminal 5 showed few flights boarding.

Sophia Prout, 33, from London, waited in Terminal 5 for her BA flight to Lisbon, scheduled for 7.05pm, until it was cancelled just after 9pm.

She said it was 'frustrating' that technical issues were ongoing as she had been waiting for a total of four hours after checking in at around 5pm when only a few of the desks were working.

Ms Prout said she had arrived early because she could not check in online.

She said: 'We're lucky that we can turn around and go home if the flight gets cancelled, but would be nice to get an idea of when/if we will take off'.

Last summer BA settled a legal claim over a major data breach that affected 420,000 customers and staff.

The breach in 2018 included the leaking of names, addresses and card payment details and led to the Information Commissioner's Office handing out a fine of 20 million.

On July 18, 2018, computer problems hit BA operations at Heathrow and the airline cancelled a number of short-haul flights after the incident involving a 'supplier IT system'.

In May 2017, 75,000 bank holiday travellers were stranded after a glitch forced the airline to cancel nearly 726 flights over three days.

The outage was suspected to have been caused by human error after an engineer disconnected and then reconnected a power supply to the data centre in an 'uncontrolled and uncommanded fashion'.

The meltdown was blamed by some on aggressive cost-cutting and outsourcing of jobs.

**Are you caught up in the flight chaos or missing your luggage? Email stephen.wynn-davies@mailonline.co.uk**
A young boy reunited with his mother was one of the thousands of Ukrainians who crossed the border of neighbouring countries today to escape their war-torn homeland.

Anna Semyuk, 33, from Kamianets-Podilskyi in western Ukraine, hugged her son again after her husband had let a stranger take their children over the border and keep them safe as they fled the Russian invasion.

Their father couldn't take them since Ukraine has banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving in a bid to guarantee the country's 'defence and the organisation of timely mobilisation'.

Waiting at the border crossing on the Ukrainian side, Anna's 38-year-old husband had put his trust in Nataliya Ableyeva, 58, who ferried the children over the Hungarian border.

They made up a few of the thousands who made border crossings out of Ukraine today, on their way to Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania.

In Poland alone, 9,000 refugees desperate to leave Ukraine passed by the border today, many of them tearful when they made it.

Yet as many as four million Ukrainians could move out of the country as refugees because of the Russian invasion, a UN official admitted.

Anna Semyuk, 33, (pictured) hugs her son, after a stranger took her children across the border and kept them safe while fleeing from Ukraine and arriving in Hungary

She left after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine and met up with her children again at the Beregsurany border crossing, Hungary, February 26

Anna Semyuk, 33, (left) hugs Nataliya Ableyeva, 58, (right) who took her children across the border and kept them safe

Nataliya Ableyeva was visibly emotional after she safely handed over the children to their mother

Instead, their mother came back from a trip to Italy and met them at the border.

Nataliya said the children's father had 'simply handed over the two kids to me, and trusted me, giving me their passports to bring them over'.

She took the two small children by the hand and together they crossed the border.

On the Hungarian side at Beregsurany, they waited, sitting on a bench near a tent set up for the steady flow of refugees streaming over the frontier. The little boy was crying when his mobile phone rang.

It was his mother, she was nearly at the border post.

When Anna arrived she hugged her son and went to her daughter, lying exhausted in the back of a car and wrapped in a pink blanket.

Then she thanked Ableyeva. Standing in the cold on the scrubby ground, two women embraced for several minutes and started to cry.

'All I can say to my kids now is that everything will be alright,' Anna said. 'In one or two weeks, and we will go home.'

Ukrainian citizens arrive at a border control checkpoint between Poland and Ukraine at the railway station in Przemysl, eastern Poland

Nona from Donetsk cries at a temporary accomodation point for Ukrainian refugees in a primary school in Przemysl, eastern Poland, on February 26

People comfort a woman following fleeing from Ukraine to Hungary via a border crossing in Beregsurany

It would amount to a tenth of the Ukrainian population leaving because of the crisis.

The 9,000 Ukrainian refugees who crossed into Poland today joined thousands of others who have already fled Ukraine.

People wait for a train to Poland at the railway station of the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on February 26

A Polish border guard assists refugees from Ukraine as they arrive to Poland at the Korczowa border crossing, Poland

Poland has the region's largest Ukrainian community of about one million people and has seen a throng of refugees at its borders since the war with Russia began.

So far nearly 120,000 people have travelled into Poland from Ukraine.

The number is going up fast as Ukrainians grab their belongings and rush to escape from a deadly Russian onslaught on their nation, including an attempt to take the capital Kyiv.

Poland has declared its border open to fleeing Ukrainians, even for those without official documents.

Almost 10,000 Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Poland today since 7am as they flee the Russian invasion

Ukrainian citizens are seen arriving at the Medyka pedestrian border crossing in eastern Poland on February 25, fleeing the conflict in their country

Polish border guards ensured people were able to escape Ukraine this morning

Ukrainian citizens are seen arriving at the Medyka pedestrian border crossing in eastern Poland

A woman carried her child in her arms as she and her family arrive at the Przemysl railway station, eastern Poland

A Ukrainian man with a child kisses his wife as Ukrainians cross the border from Ukraine to Poland at the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing on February 26

On Saturday a government official also said the country had sent a hospital train to pick up those wounded in the war in Mostyska, western Ukraine, and take them to Warsaw for treatment.

The train departed from the border town of Przemysl and had five carriages adapted to transport the wounded and four stocked with humanitarian aid for Ukraine's Lviv district.

Some Ukrainian men were reportedly heading back into Ukraine from Poland to take up arms against Russian forces.

Ukrainians from Kiev board an evacuation train driving to the west of the country

Explosions and gunfire were reported around Kyiv on the second night of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has killed scores and prompted widespread condemnation from US and European leaders

Polish people with relatives in Ukraine wait for them at the border in Korczowa, Poland

People coming from Ukraine descend from a ferry boat to enter Romania after crossing the Danube river at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing

A spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said as many as four million people could potentially flee Ukraine

A volunteer carries a child of Ukrainian citizens as they arrive with buses in Przemsyl, eastern Poland, from the Medyka pedestrian border crossing

An elderly woman is helped to walk as Ukrainian citizens arrive at a border control checkpoint between Poland and Ukraine at the railway station in Przemysl, eastern Poland

People arrive at a place of help for war refugees from Ukraine organized in a car park next to one of the shops in Przemysl, Poland

Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said Ukrainian refugees were already fleeing their war-torn homeland in large numbers.

'They are sporadic and unpredictable but we do know that there are significant numbers moving,' she told GS News.

'If the situation escalates, further, there could be many more who have to flee the country to neighbouring countries and that can be up to four million, for instance.'

She added: 'Almost 116,000 have crossed international borders as of right now.

'This may go up, it's changing every minute. It's very fluid and changing by the hour.'

Ms Mantoo said most were heading to neighbouring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, and even some into Belarus - from where some Russian forces entered Ukraine.

Poland's Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker said: 'Since 7am the Ukrainian side has closed part of the lanes for cars and allowed pedestrian traffic.'

People fleeing the country because of Putin's invading army are largely women and children

The Ukrainian border agency banned men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving in a bid to guarantee 'Ukraine's defence and the organisation of timely mobilisation'

Some 198 civilians, including three children, have been killed so far by Russian forces attacking the pro-Western country, Ukraine's health minister said today, while 1,115 - including 33 children - have been wounded.

It has prompted a mass exodus from Ukraine as thousands have decided to flee to safer countries.

In protest of the war, demonstrators took to the streets across the world to protest for peace in Ukraine.

From Tokyo to London to Taipei, Ukrainians living abroad and hundreds of protesters have turned out on the streets to join anti-war rallies spreading around the world as Russia's troops pressed toward Ukraine's capital.

LONDON: 'Stop Putin': Demonstrators held a pro-Ukraine rally outside Downing Street in London, on Saturday afternoon

Conservative MP Matt Hancock joins pro-Ukraine activists protesting outside the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in London

'Stop Putin now', 'Protect Ukraine' and 'Shelter our skies': Some of the banners seen at the protest in Whitehall on Saturday

AUSTRALIA: Protesters gather in Sydney CBD during a rally against Russian attacks on Ukraine and call for end of military action and more sanctions against Russia

NORWAY: People hold a flag of Ukraine as they walk towards the Russian Assembly, during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine

GERMANY: Demonstrators - many holding blue and yellow flags - gather during an anti-war protest in Munich on Saturday, February 26

JAPAN: People hold 'Stop Putin. Stop war' placards during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Tokyo

Thousands, including Conservative MP Matt Hancock, gathered outside the Consular Section of the Russian embassy in Kensington, with reports of eggs being thrown at the building.

There were also crowds outside Downing Street on Saturday afternoon and in other cities across the UK, including large events in Manchester and Bristol, as people called for Vladimir Putin to withdraw from Ukraine.

Waving flags, banners and placards, the protesters sang the Ukrainian anthem and chanted 'Putin stop war', 'Putin go home' and 'free Ukraine'.

Similar protests have been held across the world since Putin ordered troops to enter Ukraine earlier this week.

It comes as a barrage of cruise missiles have also been launched by Russian forces against Ukrainian military facilities.

Defiant president Volodmyr Zelensky today said his country's army had successfully repelled Russian forces advancing on Kyiv and was in control of the capital after a night of brutal fighting that saw terrified residents seeking shelter underground.

People fleeing from the Russian invasion arrive in Hungary, which is to the south west of Ukraine

People fleeing from Ukraine arrive at a border crossing in Beregsurany, Hungary, this morning

A Ukrainian woman talks with her child as they wait to enter Romania after crossing the Danube river at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing point between Romania and Ukraine

Ukrainians receive free food and drinks as they enter Romania after crossing the Danube river at the Isaccea-Orlivka border crossing point between Romania and Ukraine

Ukrainians wait in line to enter Romania after escaping the war in their home country

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv's Peremohy Avenue in the west of the city, near the zoo, in the early hours of Saturday morning

Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military facility as two cars burn, in a street in Kyiv, February 26, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

Firefighters extinguish fire in a high-rise apartment block which was hit by recent shelling in Kyiv on Saturday

In a video message to the besieged nation, Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to seize Kyiv, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk', one of two separatist regions which warmonger Vladimir Putin officially recognised before launching an all-out invasion.

Declaring 'we broke their idea', he added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state.

'But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children.

'Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army.'
An accused cocaine and meth dealer was arrested after police allegedly discovered drugs inside jigsaw puzzles which were intended for sale on the dark web.

Officers raided the home of Sydney man Matthew Spencer Smith, 35, about 8.30am on Thursday and allegedly discovered drugs hidden inside children's puzzles.

NSW Police, who conducted a lengthy investigation which culminated in Smith's arrest, will allege the drugs were intended for distribution online and the 35-year-old was operating as an online vendor.

Smith was arrested by Cybercrime Squad detectives at a Moorebank home in Sydney's west.

During a search of the property, they also allegedly seized $400,000 in cash, electronic devices, designer watches and jewellery.

A Sydney man who stands accused of selling meth, cocaine and other illegal drugs online has been charged by police (pictured, some of the money seized by officers)

Police will allege Matthew Spencer Smith was selling the drugs - including cocaine and meth - on the dark web (pictured, how the drug runner was allegedly passing on the drugs to customers)

During a search of Smith's property, police allegedly seized $400,000 cash, electronic devices, designer watches (pictured) and jewellery

Officers also allegedly found packages containing prohibited drugs concealed within jigsaw puzzles, as well as further packages that had been allegedly prepared for distribution.

Another premises in Moorebank was later searched as well as several PO boxes, where officers seized more than $500,000 cash and more packages containing alleged illicit substances.

At a unit at Penshurst, detectives also found a series of packages that will be forensically examined.

Smith was charged with 10 offences, including knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime, supplying prohibited drugs for more than large commercial quantities, and supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.

He appeared at Liverpool Local Court on Friday and was refused bail to re-appear in May.

Cybercrime Squad Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, said police will continue to monitor activity on the dark web to catch those selling illegal products.

'The sale of illicit drugs on the dark web can be difficult to investigate but by no means impossible. This arrest should send a clear message that your identity can be exposed, and you will be prosecuted,' he said.

Police allegedly found a number of drugs hidden inside jigsaw puzzles at a home in Sydney's west on Thursday

Matthew Spencer Smith was charged with 10 offences, including knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime and supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis

Investigations as part of Strike Force Orielton are ongoing, with further arrests across NSW anticipated (pictured, a puzzle allegedly containing drugs)

'It will be alleged that this individual used cryptocurrency to facilitate transactions made on the dark web before posting prohibited drugs in the mail  and alarmingly, police located prohibited drugs concealed in games, like jigsaw puzzles.

'Police will continue to target the drug trade at every level of the supply chain  whether purchased on the street, online or elsewhere.'

Investigations under Strike Force Orielton are ongoing, with further arrests anticipated.
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Meta has banned Russian state media from running ads or monetising content on Facebook as Vladimir Putin launches a sweeping crackdown on internal dissent over Russias unpopular and illegal aggressive war with Ukraine.

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of security policy, announced the ban on Twitter, writing: We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world.

We also continue to apply labels to additional Russian state media. These changes have already begun rolling out and will continue into the weekend.

Putin on Friday ordered a partial block on Facebook, with Kremlin officials claiming it was a response to the tech giants censorship of its state media. The move came after Facebook limited the accounts of several Kremlin-backed media over Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

Russias tyrant is now frantically repressing domestic criticism of the war in Ukraine, with the media watchdog on Saturday ordering media to remove reports describing the Kremlins attack as an assault, invasion or declaration of war, or face being blocked and fined.

In a statement, Roskomnadzor accused several independent media outlets including television channel Dozhd and the countrys top independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta of spreading unreliable socially significant untrue information about the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the Russian army and civilian deaths.

Citing a request from the General Prosecutors Office, the communications regulator said the media outlets that also include Echo of Moscow radio will be blocked unless they remove the unreliable information.

Roskomnadzor also launched an administrative investigation into the dissemination of unreliable publicly significant information by the above-mentioned media, the watchdog said. The offence is punishable by a fine of up to 5 million rubles ($60,000), it said.

The Russian media regulator also said that reliable information could be found in official Russian information outlets.

Putin addresses the nation on the recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics

Meta has banned Russian state media from running ads or monetising content on Facebook

Rally against the special military operation in Ukraine on Pushkin Square in Moscow on February 24, 2022

Moscow has not so far provided any details of Russian losses in the fighting in the face of statements from Kyiv that they have inflicted heavy casualties on Moscows forces.

The invasion of Ukraine is taking place during an unprecedented attack on the Russian opposition, with top protest leaders assassinated, jailed or forced out of the country.

Putins war appears to be proving unpopular in Russia, with protesters taking to the streets of Moscow and St Petersburg calling for an end to the violence.

This week, Russian police have detained more than 1,700 people at anti-war protests across Russia.

Some 1,702 people in 53 Russian cities were detained, at least 940 of them in Moscow and over 340 people in the second-largest city Saint Petersburg, according to OVD-Info, which tracks arrests at opposition rallies.

Meanwhile, Russians are understood to have been warned by authorities that any negative comments about Putins aggression would be treated as treason.

Police officers detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on February 24, 2022

A person carries a banner during an anti-war protest in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2022

Police officers detain a man during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on February 24, 2022

It comes after human rights advocates warned of a new wave of repression on dissent in Russia as protests got underway.

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.

More than 150 senior Russian officials signed an open letter condemning Putins 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.

Several Russian celebrities and public figures, including those working with state TV, have spoken out against the attack as well.
Foreigners are joining brave Ukrainians heading into the heat of battle to take on the might of the Russian army.

Estonians, Latvians, Poles and Georgians were all traveling to border crossings following an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky.

He had called for Europeans with 'combat experience' to help in the bitter struggle against despot Vladimir Putin's forces.

In a video he said: 'If you have combat experience in Europe and do not want to look at the indecision of politicians, you can come to our country and join us in defending Europe, where it is necessary now.'

Among those responding at the Medyka border crossing was Jedrzej Bien, 42, from Braniewo, northern Poland, who made a 16 hour journey and was in a queue waiting to cross into Ukraine.

Dressed in army fatigues he had picked up from an army surplus store, he said: 'I feel I have a sense of duty. I heard Zelensky asking for European help and now here I am.

'The Ukrainian people need us now to fight off the Russian aggression  history provides a valuable lesson to us and we must not let 1939 happen again.'

Europeans with 'combat experience' have been called on to help in the bitter struggle against despot Vladimir Putin's forces. Pictured: A man in olive-coloured military regalia is seen at the Polish/Ukraine border

Estonians, Latvians, Poles and Georgians were all traveling to border crossings following an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky. Pictured: A man shows his support for Ukraine (left) while another man smokes a cigarette (right) in Medyka on the Poland-Ukraine border on Saturday

Families, people both young and old and pets have all been picturing fleeing war and trying to enter Poland on Saturday

Thousands of people have gathered at the Poland-Ukraine border after fleeing from Russian invaders

Russian troops are now encircling Ukraine, and meeting stiff resistance. Top Russian targets likely include the Presidential Palace at the heart of the city, and one of the remaining airports after Antonov Airport's runways were intentionally destroyed

Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military facility as two cars burn, in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday. Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine's capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out

When asked if he had any military experience he told MailOnline: 'It's complicated but I know how to fight. It has taken me 16 hours to get here and I am ready to go to Kyiv and help.'

With him was Ukrainian labourer Volodymyr Bozychok, 23, who he had met on the bus journey to the border crossing.

Volodymyr, from Shehyni, a Ukrainian town that borders Poland said: 'I have to go and f*** up the Russians. Putin is a second Hitler and he needs to be stopped.

'I have no military experience but I am willing to learn and fight. I will learn how to use a gun. My parents and sisters are all in Shehyni, they feel safe because they are just inside the border.

'The Ukranian army is doing it's best and I have to think of those brave soldiers who died on Snake Island who told the Russians to "go f*** themselves" and gave their lives for my country.

'On Facebook I have seen that Georgians, Estonians, Latvians and Poles are coming in to help us  we also have our British and American friends supplying us with weapons.'

Human rights groups have estimated that thousands of refugees will pass through the Polish border in the coming days

A mother and two young girls share lunch as they wait outside a foreign currency exchange in Medyka on the Polish-Ukrainian border

Ukrainian service members are seen after defeating a Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday morning, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene. Ukrainian soldiers repulsed a Russian attack in the capital

Also in the long queue waiting to get back into Ukraine from Poland was driver Jaroslawa Krilyshyn, 58, who was heading back to Lviv, 50 miles over the border.

He said: 'I have some military experience from when I did my National Service in Ukraine more than 30 years ago but I am willing to fight and do my bit.

'Putin is a bandit and an evil person, he will feel the might of the Ukrainian people and will regret he invaded us.

'I've heard from friends and family in Lviv who say the situation is calm at the moment but they have heard the occasional explosion.

'If true, then that is worrying as it means Putin's forces are pushing west towards the heart of Europe. It is time for us all to stand together.'

Polish border force chief Tomasz Praga said more than 100,000 people had entered the country from Ukraine since Thursday. Pictured: A Polish border guard assists refugees from Ukraine as they arrive to Poland at the Korczowa border crossing, Poland

Anna Semyuk, 33, hugs her son at the Beregsurany border after a stranger took her children across the border and kept them safe while fleeing from Ukraine and arriving in Hungary

Elsewhere on Saturday, Polish border force chief Tomasz Praga said more than 100,000 people had entered the country from Ukraine since Thursday but United Nations officials fear as many as five million could be uprooted.

Nine reception centres have been set up along the 300 mile border shared between Poland and the Ukraine.

Volunteers were manning stands offering clothes, hot drinks and food to those that were crossing over with many having waiting for more than 24 hours to get in.

A truck carrying more than a dozen Portaloos also arrived.

At one stage an ambulance battled through the traffic to get to the no man's land in between Ukraine and Poland after reports of some refugees being taken ill.

Ruslana Maxim, 26, who was among those wo managed to get across had travelled from Lviv and said: 'The traffic from the border back into Ukraine stretches almost 20km.

'Lots of people are dumping their cars and just walking to the border. My heart is bleeding for my country and my people.'

People carry their last-remaining possessions in black bin bags as they walk through checkpoints at the Polish-Ukrainian border in Medyka on Saturday

A young boy and a woman overlook piles of clothes and bags that have been dumped at Medkya on the Polish-Ukrainian border

Her account was confirmed by a Danish Embassy official who was at Medyka crossing and who told MailOnline: 'We have been here all morning waiting for a Danish citizen who is coming on foot.'

Polish officials had also lined up a fleet buses to ferry refugees back to the town of Przemysl where a reception centre had been set up in the train station and a school.

Polish TV reported one train had arrived from Odessa in southern Ukraine more than fours late after being stopped enroute and having all males aged between 18-60 were taken off.

Officials had been expecting 600 people to arrive but only half that number arrived and were solely women and children.

One passenger said: 'A lot of men were taken off before we reached Poland but some whole families also refused to get off and said they would carry on without their husbands and fathers.'

Przemysl president Wojciech Bakun said: 'Our city is carrying out a very specific role. We are not only accepting refugees but providing a safe and secure first point of contact with Poland.

'This is extremely important. We are providing them with a hot meal, advice and if needed supplies for their future journey.'
essel was carrying 39 local locals and crew back from a popular diving spot

At least 13 people have been killed and four others are still missing after a tourist boat capsized in bad weather off the coast of Vietnam, an official said.

The vessel carrying 39 local tourists and crew members got into trouble as it was returning to Hoi An from Cu Lao Cham island - a popular diving and snorkeling spot.

Local Communist Party chief Nguyen Sinh confirmed 13 people drowned and four were missing.

Harrowing photos from local media show the damaged boat floating freely in the sea amid high waves.

At least 13 people have been killed and four others are still missing after a tourist boat capsized in bad weather off the coast of Vietnam

Rescue efforts had retrieved several bodies from the water but were then suspended in the evening because of fading light and poor conditions, he said.

'We cannot do anything further as it is too dark,' he said, adding a full investigation would be carried out and some survivors were receiving medical treatment.

'We will resume the search at first light tomorrow morning for the other four people.'

A local border guard said among the missing were two children.

Rescue efforts had retrieved several bodies from the water but were then suspended in the evening because of fading light and poor conditions, he said

'Chances of them being found alive are small,' he said.

There had been rough weather - strong winds and big waves in recent days, he said.

Hoi An is around 500 miles southeast of the nation's capital Hanoi.

Vietnam's domestic tourism industry rebooted in early February, at the beginning of the Tet traditional lunar new year, after shutting down during strict coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions last year.

Hoi An's sandy beaches and beautiful architecture are a drawcard for both local and international travellers.
William and Kate today tweeted their support for Ukraine in a rare political comment.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge insisted they 'stand' with the people of the war-torn nation, as they 'bravely fight' for their future.

The royal couple also recalled the 'privilege' of meeting President Zelensky and his wife, when they jetted into London in 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said they 'stand' with the people of Ukraine as they 'bravely fight' for their future

William and Kate welcomed the Ukrainians to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 - their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown

The Duke and Duchess entertained President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room

In a personal tweet signed by the couple, they wrote: 'In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine's future.

'Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine's people as they bravely fight for that future.'

William and Kate welcomed the Ukrainians to Buckingham Palace in October 2020 - their first audience since the start of the first Covid lockdown.

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.
The protests are pouring in.

Hundreds of liquor stores and bars across the U.S. and Canada are removing Russian vodka and other Russian-made alcoholic beverages from their shelves in protest of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russia unleashed a three-pronged assault of Ukraine from the north, east and south on Thursday, in an attack that threatened to upend Europe's post-Cold War order.

Liquor stores in the provinces of Manitoba and Newfoundland said they were removing Russian spirits, while Ontario, Canada's most populous province, also directed the Liquor Control Board Of Ontario to withdraw all Russian products. Meanwhile, in the U.S., videos circulated on social media of bars and liquor stores emptying their Russian vodka and removing bottles from their shelves in a show of solidarity with Ukraine.

'Ontario joins Canada's allies in condemning the Russian government's act of aggression against the Ukrainian people and we strongly support the federal government's efforts to sanction the Russian government,' Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a statement.

'The people of Ontario will always stand against tyranny and oppression.'

More than 700 stores across the province will remove Russian-imported products, which include Stoli Vodka, Russian Standard Original Vodka, Beluga Noble Russian Vodka, and Zyr Vodka. Smirnoff, while founded in Moscow, is owned and produced by U.K. company Diageo.

Canada imported C$4.8 million (US$3.78 million) worth of alcoholic beverages from Russia in 2021, according to Statistics Canada (Statscan) data. That is down 23.8 percent from C$6.3 million in 2020. Vodka is the second most popular spirit among Canadian consumers after whiskey, Statscan said.

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Bottles of Russian Standard Vodka will no longer be sold in LCBO stores in Ontario, Canada, in solidarity of Ukraine, as Russia continues its full-scale invasion

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), which distributes alcoholic beverages throughout the Canadian province of Ontario, made the announcement on Twitter. It's decision to not sell Russian consumer products is largely seen as part of Canada's sanctions on Russia

Elsewhere in Canada, other provinces including New Brunswick, British Columbia and Nova Scotia have taken a similar stance.

'The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, along with other Liquor jurisdictions throughout Canada, has made the decision to remove products of Russian origin from its shelves,' the NLC Liquor Store said in a tweet.

In the U.S., a liquor stores in Wichita, Kansas, has removed more than 100 bottles of Russian vodka from its shelves and pouring some of it on the ground in protest to Putin's actions.

'I think the whole world knows by now that Russia's at war with Ukraine for no apparent reason,' Jamie Stratton, wine director and partner of Jacob Liquor Exchange, told KSNW-TV in Wichita, Kansas.

'I guess this is our sanction  and this may be small, but every small thing makes a difference.'

In Oregon, the owner of Pine Tavern in Bend recorded himself emptying all of his Russian vodka, according to FOX 12 of Portland.

'Russia is acting as though it's 1939 and going into Europe with a full force that they have in the Ukraine,' owner Bill McCormick told the station. 'I am so concerned about it metastasizing into other countries.'

He added that he expects to lose a few hundred dollars over his decision - but said that the protest was worth it.

Bill McCormick (pictured), owner of Pine Tavern in Bend, Oregon, is emptying the entire bar's Russian vodka in protest against Russia, which is 'acting as though it's 1939'

Bob's Bar in Michigan shared before-and-after pictures on Facebook of its bar with its usual Russian bottles on its shelves before removing the. Bob Quay, the bar's owner, said it's a 'protest against the aggression' in Ukraine

Two men working at Evel Pie - a popular pizzeria / bar in Las Vegas - decided to dump out all the Russian Vodka that it owned and replace it with Ukrainian Vodka. They are donating all of the proceeds to help the people of Ukraine

Another bar owner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, told MLive.com swept off his shelves as a 'protest against the aggression.'

'I just made the decision on the spot,' Bob Quay, owner of Bob's Bar, said. 'It's just something little we can do.'

Quay added that, once it's warmer outside, he might organize an event to pour the bottles out in the parking lot in front of a crowd, MLive reported.

A ski resort in Vermont seemingly had similar ideas but took a more drastic approach  pouring vodka down the drain.

'Sorry @Stoli lovers,' Magic Mountain Ski Area said in a Tweet. 'No more.'

In a video attached to the tweet, a customer off-camera can be heard asking for a Stoli and soda. The bartender tells him that 'we don't serve Russian products here,' before dumping a bottle of Stolichnaya vodka down the bar counter's drain.

Some brands are already feeling the effects of the boycott, with some of them, such as Stoli Group, reaching out to bar and liquor store owners to ask them to continue supporting their products.

'With regard to us being Russian. We are absolutely NOT a Russian company,' Damian McKinney, Stoli Group global CEO, wrote in a letter to Stratton, according to KSNW.

'We are a global organization with a significant portfolio of spirits and wine brands from around the world, with Stoli's European Global HQ based in Luxembourg. Stoli Premium and Elit are manufactured and bottled in Riga, Latvia.'

However, the association with Russian doesn't seem to be going away.

Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the ownership of Stoli - short for Stolichnaya - has been disputed between the Russian state-owned company FKP Sojuzplodoimport and SPI Group, a private company founded and owned by Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler.

A popular downtown Las Vegas pizzeria is also raising money for humanitarian relief in Ukraine after Russia's attack.

Evel Pie announced on social media that it will take all of its Russian vodka bottles off the shelves on Saturday and replace them with Ukrainian vodka, as well as sell 'F*** Putin shots' for $5 each and donate all of the proceeds to humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine

Stolichnaya vodka (pictured), one of the biggest Russian liquor brands in the world, is being snubbed by consumers in favor of other foreign vodka amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

The total amount of vodka imported to the U.S. from Russia in 2017 was 555,845 proof gallons - a liquid gallon of spirit at 50 percent alcohol by volume, making a standard 40 percent ABV bottle around .8 proof gallons.

The U.S. has imported 39,001,202 proof gallons of vodka total in that timeframe, meaning Russian vodka makes up only around 1.4 percent of foreign vodka in the U.S., behind countries like Sweden, France and Poland.

Vodka is also among the most popular imported alcoholic beverage in the United States. Tito's was the highest selling distilled spirit by volume in 2020, selling over 10 million nine-liter cases of vodka, with a 7.8 percent increase from 2019.

In second place was British-owned vodka brand Smirnoff, originally from Russia, selling a little more than nine million nine-liter cases, with a 2.3 percent increase from 2019.
Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky has pushed for his country's urgent ascension to the European Union and says he has discussed the prospect with the bloc's leaders.

The Ukrainian premier said now was a 'crucial moment to close the long-standing discussion once and for all and decide on Ukraine's members in the EU'.

Taking to Twitter to describe a 'new page in the history of our states', President Zelensky pointed to a surge in support from EU leaders in recent days as the Russian invasion of his country stalled.

'This is the beginning of a new page in the history of our states... Ukraine must become part of the EU,' the Ukrainian leader said.

He later added: 'Ukraine is fighting the invader with weapons in hands, defending its freedom and European future'.

Zelenskiys appeal came after a round of calls with senior EU figures, including Italian PM Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel and President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Fighting has raged on in and around major Ukrainian cities for a third consecutive day, as Kyivs defence ministry has so far put Russias losses at around 2,800 troops, 80 tanks, 516 armoured vehicles, and 10 airplanes and seven helicopters.

Intelligence experts have predicted Vladimir Putins war with Ukraine is no longer going to plan due to Kremlin overconfidence, poor tactical planning, and shock at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for national survival.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky (above) has pushed for his country's urgent ascension to the European Union and says he has discussed the prospect with the bloc's leaders

Taking to Twitter to describe a 'new page in the history of our states', President Zelensky pointed to a surge in support from EU leaders in recent days as the Russian invasion of his country stalled.

The Ukrainian premier pointed to the surge in support from EU leaders in recent days, as the Russian invasion stalled and fighting raged on in Ukraine for a third day.

He also urged cutting Russia from the SWIFT international electronic payment system, and called on Germany, Italy and Hungary to show 'courage' and agree to the move.

Ukraine has long aspired to join the European bloc, with the country's foreign minister pointedly using Ukraine's independence day last year to tell Politico they must welcome Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine into the EU.

Ukraine already belongs to the EU's Eastern Partnership as well as the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The bloc also forged closer economic and political links with Ukraine after signing a bilateral Association Agreement in 2014.

The news comes as EU member states were branded a 'disgrace' by the bloc's former president yesterday after they rejected Boris Johnson's call to eject Russia from the world's biggest financial payments system.

It comes as the bloc's former president Donald Tusk (above) rounded on Germany, Italy , Hungary and others after they vetoed moves to kick Russia out of the Swift payments network that forms the bedrock of international trade

Donald Tusk rounded on Germany, Italy, Hungary and others after they vetoed moves to kick Russia out of the Swift payment network that forms the bedrock of international trade.

Mr Tusk tweeted: 'In this war everything is real: Putin's madness and cruelty, Ukrainian victims, bombs falling on Kyiv.

'Only your sanctions are pretended. Those EU governments which blocked tough decisions (ie Germany, Hungary, Italy) have disgraced themselves.'

Donald Tusk (pictured) rounded on Germany, Italy, Hungary and others after they vetoed moves to kick Russia out of the Swift network that forms the bedrock of international trade

While EU leaders left a Swift ban out of a 'tough' package of sanctions  despite a plea from Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy  Italy got an exemption for its luxury goods industry.

Senior sources said the likes of Gucci loafers and designer handbags were not included in the export ban measures agreed late on Thursday, which focused largely on the high-tech, aviation and energy sectors.

One EU diplomat said Italy's argument was that banning sales to Russian oligarchs 'would have been largely symbolic'.

But senior Italian government sources reacted furiously, with one saying the country's prime minister Mario Draghi 'did not seek a carve-out on Italian luxury goods  that is categorically untrue'.

Mr Draghi also sparked a row with Mr Zelenskyy after he told Italian MPs the Ukrainian president had missed a planned phone call yesterday because he was 'hiding somewhere'.

Mr Zelenskyy tweeted details of heavy fighting in his country, including deaths, before adding sarcastically: 'Next time I'll try to move the war schedule to talk to Mario Draghi at a specific time. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to fight for its people.'

Mr Zelenskyy had urged European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen to back a Swift ban on Russia, saying: 'Not all possibilities for sanctions have been exhausted yet. The pressure on Russia must increase.'

Latvia's deputy prime minister Artis Pabriks condemned nations that blocked the move, saying: 'Some people in Europe are afraid of losing money while other people in Kyiv have to die.'

Boris Johnson (pictured) has been urging allies to back a Swift ban, saying only the harshest economic sanctions will have any effect on Vladimir Putin

Mr Johnson has been urging allies to back a Swift ban, saying only the harshest economic sanctions will have any effect on Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister raised the issue at a G7 summit on Thursday and again at a crisis summit of Nato leaders yesterday.

He has also raised it in one-to-one talks with fellow leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, warning him: 'Western inaction or under-reaction would have unthinkable consequences.'

A Government source said Mr Johnson 'is going to keep pushing very strongly for this'.

And Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said yesterday Britain would 'work all day' to get the Swift system 'turned off for Russia'.

EU leaders have said little publicly about their opposition to kicking Russia out of Swift. But diplomatic sources said several countries were concerned about disruption to gas supplies from Russia.

Diplomatic sources said US President Joe Biden sat on the fence on the issue at the G7 summit on Thursday.

He cited EU concerns as the reason for not going ahead with a ban.
A thrill-seeking British student has allegedly made it to Ukraine after having previously having to be evacuated from Kabul after he went there on holiday as Afghanistan fell in August.

Miles Routledge, 21, from Birmingham, says he began his trip to the war-torn country on Friday, February 25, less than a day after Russian forces invaded for a reported fare of 6 ($8) to get to Kyiv from his base in Poland.

The former Loughborough University physics student tweeted: 'It's official. Tintin goes to Ukraine, he's on the train' and has since been tweeting about his alleged journey.

The youngster said that despite the danger involved with his latest exploits, Ukraine is still 'safer than London or Birmingham' and added that he was qualified to make the comparison because he was born in Birmingham.

Miles Routledge, 21, has claimed to have made it to Ukraine after the Russian invasion this week and was gifted a Ukrainian army uniform and that he shouted at Russians wearing a Vladimir Putin mask

Routledge, of Birmingham, says he began his trip to the country on Friday, less than a day after Russian forces invaded for a reported fare of 6 ($8) to get to Kyiv from his base in Poland

He previously visited Chernobyl in 2019 and now claims he is back in Ukraine, posting: 'a few km from the frontlines.. in the capital Kiev! Listening to 80s music, mostly walking on sunshine'.

He tweeted that he had visited Donetsk and that friendly Ukrainian soldiers had given him an army uniform and he had yelled at Russians wearing a Vladimir Putin mask.

The thrill-seeking youngster has documented his exploits on his Twitter account

The youngster has been to Ukraine before, when he visited Chernobyl. He told MailOnline: 'I've been Ukraine before so I'm hoping to see something new'

Mr Routledge has said he has also spent time in Kazakhstan (pictured), South Sudan and Afghanistan

Mr Routledge previously bragged of visiting Chernobyl, posting pictures in May 2021 saying it was two years since he visited the scene of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine

He had previously told MailOnline that he hoped to visit Kharkiv, Donetsk and Crimea, all of which the Foreign Office advised against travelling to.

Routledge describes himself as a 'disaster tourist' who enjoys seeing the world's most dangerous places.

He told MailOnline: 'I've been to Ukraine before so I'm hoping to see something new.

He wrote: 'When I get settled in a hostel in Ukraine's capital, I'll do a livestream on my YouTube. I'll announce the time tomorrow or possibly the day afterwards. I know where the armoury is.

'I have an emergency satellite device I can tweet from. If I tweet the activation word 'Ronald McDonald', assume the worst and airstrike my coordinates.'

Mr Routledge wrote on Twitter: 'The flight to Ukraine is cheap as chips. I'll also be applying for a Russian visa in the meantime, just in case Russia visits me in Ukraine.'

He said he avoided Covid isolation rules by claiming he was an 'essential journalist with regular international work'.

He was previously evacuated from Kabul after he went to Afghanistan 'because it was dangerous'.

Mr Routledge had to be evacuated from Kabul after he went there on holiday as Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August

Mr Routledge says he came across two armed convoys during the Taliban insurgency, and took a selfie on one of their gun emplacements

Mr Routledge has previously bragged of visiting Chernobyl, posting pictures in May saying it was two years since he visited the scene of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine.

In posts to message board site 4chan and live streaming platform Twitch, he claims he was quizzed by armed Taliban militants while on his way to Kabul International Airport.

They apparently asked him where he was from - to which he said Wales. He claims the fighters did not know where Wales was, and let him go. Mr Routledge says he later came across another armed convoy during the Taliban insurgency and took a selfie on one of their gun emplacements.

The former Loughborough physics student dismissed people who disapprove of him travelling to dangerous places.

Mr Routledge has also been in war-torn South Sudan (pictured) according to his Twitter profile

The Birmingham youngster was invited to the country by a Sudanese local who followed his escapades in Afghanistan. He spent several weeks hiking in Uganda before crossing into Kenya to visit a fan

He said: 'I'd say I wish them all the best but truthfully they were never my audience and for every seething comment made against me, behind it was my friends and I eating popcorn and laughing at them.

'I'll continue to travel regardless of their opinions, I'll even go back to Afghanistan and there's nothing they can do about it.'

Mr Routledge, who wears a large silver cross around his neck, has said took 'supplies' to rural communities while he was in South Sudan and handed out cash to people in the streets.

The African country has been ravaged by civil war and violence since becoming independent in 2011.

Members of the Ukrainian army inspect the vehicles entering and leaving the city at the points they strengthen with concrete blocks, on January 23, in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine

A service member of the Ukrainian armed forces walks at combat positions near the line of separation from Russian-backed rebels near Horlivka in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, on January 22

A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, on January 18, 2022

He said he was hoping to arrive in Lviv, western Ukraine, on Thursday, after a flight from Luton via Gdansk, Poland.

The Foreign Office advised against all travel to Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea yesterday.

It advised against all but essential travel to the rest of Ukraine and urged British people to register their presence in Ukraine.
A father and his two young children drowned in their backyard pool in South Florida on Thursday, authorities said.

The incident took place in Hollywood, about 20 miles north of Miami.

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Officials received a call around 3:30 p.m. about a possible drowning at a home on South Highland Drive and Adams Street, NBC Miami reported.

According to police, when officers arrived at the scene, they encountered one adult male and his two young children.

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All three were unresponsive.

Officers attempted CPR and other life-saving measures before rushing them to Memorial Regional Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.

The victims identities have not been released, but police say the two children were aged 2 and 5.

According to local television station WPLG-TV, the person who called 911 was the kids mother, who had spotted them unconscious in the pool.

Aerial footage appears to show the mother being consoled by police.

I feel my heart crushed, a longtime neighbor of the family, Amparo Kostyo, told CBS Miami. When an adult has an accident or something, OK, its an adult. Whats crushed my heart was the kids. Im very sad, she added.

Police are investigating what may have caused the tragic incident, but no foul play is suspected.
The body of a 35-year-old East Harlem beautician and mother was found decomposing inside a plastic container on a Bronx sidewalk on Friday afternoon, just a few blocks from Yankee Stadium.

Nissa Walcott of East Harlem, mother to a 15-year-old son, had been reported missing by a relative on February 16, a week before her body was found, police said. The New York City Medical Examiner has yet to determine her cause of death, and a NYPD investigation is ongoing.

The man who made the grisly discovery, who frequents the site across from 950 University Avenue along the Deegan Expressway to find and resell items dumped there by people using the self-storage facility there, contacted police around 2 p.m.

He noticed a dresser that had been abandoned there around 11 a.m. and came back in the afternoon to retrieve it. A foul odor drew his attention and he saw a human foot jutting from a plastic container that he said hadn't been there earlier, WABC-TV reported.

Nissa Walcott, 35, was a beautician who friends said 'did everything for her [15-year-old] son.' Her body was found in a plastic container off the Deegan Expressway in Melrose, just blocks from Yankee Stadium

Walcott's friend characterized her as a 'beautiful person' and a 'single mother and entrepreneur who worked hard'

NYPD officers are pictures transporting Walcott's corpse in a body bag at the scene

The man who discovered Walcott's body noticed a dresser that had been abandoned there around 11 am on Friday, and came back in the afternoon to retrieve it. A foul odor drew his attention to a human foot jutting from a plastic container that he said hadn't been there earlier

It was unclear how long her body went undetected, but police sources told NBC New York that it had begun to decompose. The bin containing Walcott's body did not appear to be connected to the storage facility.

It is commonplace for furniture and trash to line that sidewalk, neighbors told outlets - but after Friday, they want that dumping to stop.

Stephanie Nunez, who neighbors the Melrose site, said that her father had parked alongside the dresser moments earlier.

'He just got out of the car and didn't notice anything,' Nunez said.

Another neighbor, who identified herself as DeeDee, told reporters that 'this is crazy.'

'It was a woman found, decomposed. I am a woman - a single, black woman at that, and I have children,' she said.

Walcott's aunt, Bernadette Butler Colon, implored anyone with knowledge of her niece's whereabouts to come forward in a Friday Facebook post just hours before the body was uncovered

Norma Menedez, Walcott's friend of 15 years who employed her at the Live on Lexington barber shop, told the New York Daily News on Friday night that she 'has no idea who would do something so cruel to her'

Norma Menedez, Walcott's friend of 15 years who employed her at the Live on Lexington barber shop, told the New York Daily News on Friday night that 'this is something you read about on the milk carton or watch on SVU.'

'This is not reality. She had a family who loves her,' she told the outlet.

'She was a beautiful person. She had a lot of life. She was an entrepreneur. She was a nice person. She was a great woman.'

Walcott's aunt, Bernadette Butler Colon, implored anyone with knowledge of her niece's whereabouts to come forward in a Friday Facebook post just hours before the body was uncovered.

'This is my niece Nisaa Walcott. She has been missing for a week now,' Colon wrote.

'She has a wonderful son and a host of family and friends awaiting her safe return home. This is strange as she would never abandon her beloved son.'

Menedez told the Daily News that 'everything [Walcott] did was for her son'

Menedez told the Daily News that 'everything she did was for her son.'

'She was a great mother. She was always there for him,' she said. 'We have no idea who would do something so cruel to her. '

Another friend, Luz Droz, told NBC New York that Walcott 'didn't deserve this.'

'She was a beautiful person, hard worker, she was a single mother, she was an entrepreneur she worked hard,' Droz said.
Russia doesn't really need diplomatic ties with the West anymore, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said as he shrugged off crippling sanctions imposed on Moscow over its all-out invasion of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin is facing a wave of sanctions and international condemnation for the 'unprovoked and unjustified' attack which is now its in third day.

Britain, the US and EU leaders have punished the Russian state with economic sanctions on several state-owned companies and banks and targeted members of Putin's inner circle of Kremlin cronies.

The Council of Europe meanwhile suspended Russia from its Committee of Ministers but said that it was still tied to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Responding in a bold statement posted on Russian social network VK, former President Medvedev wrote: 'We don't especially need diplomatic relations...'

Russia doesn't really need diplomatic ties with the West anymore, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said as he shrugged off crippling sanctions imposed on Moscow over its all-out invasion of Ukraine

Vladimir Putin is facing a wave of sanctions and international condemnation for the 'unprovoked and unjustified' attack which is now its in third day

The Council of Europe (pictured) yesterday suspended Russia from its Committee of Ministers - leading Medvedev to warn that Moscow could now restore the death penalty because of its removal from the top rights group

He added that it was time for Russia to 'padlock the embassies' and 'continue contacts looking at each other through binoculars and gun sights.'

Medvedev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and deputy head of Russia's security council, said the West's 'wonderful (sanctions) will not change a thing, of course'.

He said the sanctions also gave Russia a good reason to pull out of a dialogue on strategic (nuclear) stability and, potentially, from the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) signed with Washington in 2010 and extended in 2021.

Moscow will continue its military operations in Ukraine until it had achieved goals defined by President Vladimir Putin as 'demilitarisation and 'denazification', he said.

Shocked Russians have turned out by the thousand 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. Pictured: Demonstrations in St. Petersburg

Police officers detain demonstrators in St. Petersburg, Russia. Similar protests took place in other Russian cities, and activists were also arrested

Russian troops are now advancing on Kyiv from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, capture an airport, and fly in paratroopers who would then attack the capital. The aim would be to capture the government and force them to sign a peace treaty handing control of the country back to Russia or a Russian puppet

'The sanctions are being imposed for one simple reason - political impotence arising from their (the West's) inability to change Russia's course,' Medvedev wrote.

He condemned the decision by the Council of Europe to suspend Russian membership of its Committee of Ministers as 'really unfair', but added the move provided a good reason 'to slam the door' for good on the organisation.

Medvedev warned however that Moscow could now restore the death penalty because of its removal from the top rights group.

The chilling statement shocked human rights activists in the country which hasn't had capital punishment since 1996.

Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Kremlin human rights council, deplored it as a 'catastrophe' and a 'return to the Middle Ages'.

Putin's war has however faced mounting opposition from inside Russia as well. Disquiet is also now spreading through some of the countries politicians with one Communist MP, Mikhail Matveev (pictured) saying outright: 'I think that the war should be stopped immediately.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky (pictured), a former oil tycoon who spent ten years in prison after falling foul of Vladimir Putin, said the Russian president 'had gone mad' over his decision to invade

'Given the very low quality of criminal investigation, any person could be convicted and executed,' she said. 'To say that Im horrified is to say nothing.'

Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running but President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the capital Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands.

Putin's war has however faced mounting opposition from inside Russia as well.

Disquiet is also now spreading through some of the countries politicians with one Communist MP, Mikhail Matveev saying outright: 'I think that the war should be stopped immediately.

Matveev is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) which sits in opposition to President Putin and the United Russia party.

'When I voted for the recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), I voted for peace, not for war,' Matveev said

'For Russia to become a shield, so that the Donbas was not bombed, but not for Kyiv to be bombed.'

Meanwhile Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon who spent ten years in prison after falling foul of Vladimir Putin, said the Russian president 'had gone mad' over his decision to invade.

The former magnate, who was once believed to be the wealthiest man in Russia, was arrested by the Russian authorities in 2003 and charged with fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.

Speaking to The Times, he said: 'I think we are not dealing with a sane person, it is someone who has gone mad.

'He wants to make Russia great again and in 50 or 100 years he wants to be remembered as a great ruler of Russia.'

'The screws will be tightened' on dissent within Russia too, Khodorkovsky added.

'Changing the Putin regime through democratic means cannot happen; change can come exclusively through revolution - either revolution from above or revolution from below,' he said.

'A revolution is possible either as the result of a military defeat or when Putin passes away,' he said.

He cast the 69-year-old Putin, Russia's paramount leader since 1999, as a 'dictator' who was living in a tightly controlled 'information bubble' and who constantly needed to prove himself to his entourage.
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Russian government websites including the official Kremlin and media regulator pages are down, in what could be the first round of tit-for-tat cyberattacks after the West furiously condemned warmonger Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraines telecoms agency also announced that Russian TV channels had been hacked to broadcast Ukrainian songs, the Kyiv Independent reported on Saturday afternoon.

Just hours before Russias tyrant launched his aggressive war to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine, Kyiv was hit by a massive cyberattack targeting its government and banks.

The websites of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service, and Cabinet of Ministers were all out of action Wednesday afternoon.

Bomb threats were also phoned in to several government buildings, thought to be part of a psychological pressure campaign by Moscow.

The Russian presidents war appears not to be going to plan due to Kremlin overconfidence, poor tactical planning, and shock at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for national survival, intelligence sources have claimed.

Russian government websites including the official Kremlin and media regulator pages are down, in what could be the first round of tit-for-tat cyberattacks after the West united in their opposition to Vladimir Putins war with Ukraine

The Russian presidents war appears not to be going to plan due to Kremlin overconfidence, poor tactical planning, and shock at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for national survival

A column of Russian military vehicles is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, on February 26, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

How Russian hackers could aim to cripple Britain: Cyber attack from Moscow in retaliation for Ukraine sanctions would target UK Government and banking websites Millions of companies across Britain were today warned to prepare for a Russian cyber attack as the UK placed sanctions on three wealthy allies of Vladimir Putin and five banks in response to the 'renewed invasion' of Ukraine. 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 will prompt 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. Advertisement

Dramatic video shows a destroyed Russian convoy with Z-markings near Kherson in the south of the country on the third day of fighting after Ukraines army held control of Kyiv and last night successfully repelled Russian advances on the capital.

Kyivs defence ministry has so far put Russias losses at around 2,800 troops, 80 tanks, 516 armoured vehicles, and 10 airplanes and seven helicopters so far.

A senior US defence official said Russia is facing more resistance than Moscow anticipated in its invasion of Ukraine, including in its advance on Kyiv, and appears to have lost some of its momentum.

Estonias former defence chief Riho Terras has now claimed that Putins war is not going to plan because Russia is fast running out of money and weapons, and will have to enter negotiations with Volodymyr Zelenskys government if Kyiv holds off the Russians for 10 days.

Russias tyrant has allegedly convened a meeting with the oligarchs in a bunker in the Ural Mountains, at which it is claimed that he furiously vented that he thought the war would be easy and everything would be done in one to four days.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence sources, Terras claimed that the war is costing Russia around 15billion-per-day, and that they have rockets for three to four days at most, which they are using sparingly.

He claimed that Putins plan has relied on panicking the country, firing missiles at residential buildings at random to intimidate the Ukrainians, trigger mass army desertions, national surrender, and Zelenskys flight from the country.

Terras also alleged that Russian special operations have been near Kyiv since February 18, and had planned to swiftly seize the capital and install a puppet regime.

The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered. The Ukrainians must avoid panic! ... Ukraine must stay strong and we must provide assistance!, he wrote on Twitter.

Russias Interfax news agency claimed Moscow had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol. Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment on the fate of Melitopol. If the Interfax report about Melitopol, which cited Russias defence ministry, is confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre that the Kremlin has seized.

However, Britains armed forces minister James Heappey cast doubt on the report, saying the city of some 150,000 people was still in Ukrainian hands and that fighting in the capital was so far confined to very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers and that the main armoured columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off.

The Ukrainian health minister said 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the Russian offensive.

Viktor Lyashko said there were three children among those killed. His statement was unclear whether the casualties included military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov claimed Saturday that since the start of Moscows attack, its military had hit 821 Ukrainian military facilities, 87 tanks and other targets.

Konashenkov didnt say how many Ukrainian troops were killed and didnt mention any casualties on the Russian side. Neither his claims nor Ukraines allegations that its forces killed thousands of Kremlin troops could be independently verified.

Russian forces continued to pound Kyiv and other cities with artillery and cruise missiles in a campaign that has sent hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing westwards towards the European Union, clogging major highways and railway lines.

Top Russian security official and ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said military operations would be waged relentlessly until Putins goals were achieved, ratcheting up Moscows rhetoric.

Medvedev said new sanctions on Russia were a sign of the Wests impotence in the conflict and he hinted at a severing of diplomatic ties, saying it was time to padlock the embassies.

The United States has observed more than 250 launches of Russian missiles, mostly short-range, at Ukrainian targets, the US defence official said.

A Ukrainian soldier smokes a cigarette on his position at an armored vehicle outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier runs holding his weapon outside a military facility, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

A militant of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic inspects the remains of a missile that landed on a street in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk

We know that (Russian forces) have not made the progress that they wanted to make, particularly in the north. They have been frustrated by what they have seen is a very determined resistance, the official said, without providing evidence.

The Kremlin said Putin had ordered troops to stop advancing on Friday but they were moving forwards again on Saturday after Kyiv refused to negotiate.

Hacking collective Anonymous declares 'cyber war' against Vladimir Putin's government before announcing they have 'taken down' website of Kremlin-backed TV channel RT Hacking group Anonymous has declared 'cyber war' against Vladimir Putin's government after he mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The elusive computer experts issued the stark announcement on their Twitter account on Thursday evening. They said shortly before 10pm: 'The Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government.' Around 30 minutes later, they announced that they had taken down the website of the Kremlin-backed TV channel RT, which broadcasts in Britain and has been heavily criticised for its coverage. The cyber war declaration raises the prospect that Russia could be subjected to systematic hacking attempts in the coming days. Advertisement

An adviser to Zelensky denied that Kyiv had refused negotiations but said Russia had attached unacceptable conditions. He also said it was untrue that Russia had paused troop movements on Friday.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has fostered good ties with Russia and Ukraine, told Zelensky by phone on Saturday that Ankara was making efforts for an immediate ceasefire.

Kyivs mayor Vitali Klitschko said there was currently no major Russian military presence in the capital, but that saboteur groups were active. The metro system serves now only as a shelter for citizens and trains have stopped running, he said.

Klitschko said 35 people, including two children, had been wounded overnight and that he was extending an overnight curfew that kicked in at 5pm (1500 GMT).

In an emotional speech to the besieged nation uploaded to Facebook on Friday, the Ukrainian President also accused Moscow of attempting to seize Kyiv, overthrow the government and install a puppet regime like in Donetsk, one of two separatist regions which warmonger Vladimir Putin officially recognised before launching an all-out invasion.

Declaring we derailed their idea, Zelensky added: The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army.

The [Russian] occupants wanted to block the centre of our state and put here their marionette, like in Donetsk. We derailed their idea.

Zelensky pushed for Ukraines urgent ascension to the European Union, saying he discussed the issue with the EU leaders. He also urged cutting Russia from the SWIFT international electronic bank payment system, noting that Germany and Hungary should show courage and agree to the move.

Briefly switching to Russian, he claimed that thousands of Kremlin troops were killed and hundreds of those who were taken prisoner cant understand why they were sent into Ukraine to kill and get killed.

Thanking Russians who spoke out against the war and asked them to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin, he said: The sooner you say to your government that this war should be immediately stopped, the more of your people will stay alive.

After Ukrainian forces said they had fought off a Russian attack on their capital Saturday, Zelensky shot a selfie-style video outside his office to vow to stay and fight on. He also denounced as disinformation allegations that he had surrendered or fled.

Wearing olive green military-style clothing and looking tired but determined, he added: A lot of fake information has appeared on the internet saying that I allegedly called on our army to lay down its arms and that evacuation is underway. Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this. This is what I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine!.

As the video hit social media platforms, the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens could still be heard around the capital, as the Russian military said it had fired cruise missiles at Ukrainian military targets.
Ukrainians have been told to remove road signs and land markers by government agencies to 'confuse and disorient' invading Russian forces.

The call was posted by the Ministry's of Defence's Twitter account on Saturday as fighting around the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv intensifies between the Russian and Ukrainian forces.

The sentiment was echoed by Ukraine's road sign agency Ukravtodor on their Facebook page alongside a mocked-up road sign that reads: 'F**k off. F**k off again. F**k off to Russia' in Ukrainian.

The ministry wrote: 'In order to confuse and disorient the enemy who is illegally moving to Ukraine, we call: - to remove plaques with numbers and names of streets/cities/villages in their regions.'

The call to remove signs was posted by the Ministry's Twitter account on Saturday as fighting around the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv intensifies between the Russian and Ukrainian forces.

A sign over a part of the Boryspil highway read: 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself!', in reference to the killing of Ukrainian border guards stationed at Snake Island off the coast of Ukraine when they refused to surrender to Kremlin forces

Ukravtodor, the Ukrainian road signs agency, posted a similar request but added a mocked-up road sign that reads: 'F**k off. F**k off again. F**k off to Russia' in Ukrainian.

'We will do everything possible to clear Ukraine of the Russian occupier as soon as possible!'

Ukravtodor said: 'We dismantle road signs on all roads of the country.

'Priority #1 - indicative signs, names of settlements. Collected signs are handed over to the local authorities and the passengers.

'The enemy has a miserable connection, they don't orientate in the area.

'Let's help them go straight to hell.

'Ukravtodor urges all road organizations, territorial communities, local government authorities to immediately start dismantling nearby road signs.'

The rebuke to Vladimir Putin's forces comes after reports of a small militia of Ukrainian soldiers on Snake Island in the Black Sea defiantly told a Russian warship 'go f**k yourself' before they lost their lives defending the land.

The defiance of Snake Island's defenders has become a catch-all for Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression.

The phrase was displayed on a digital road sign on a major Ukrainian highway near Boryspil, according to the Kyiv Post, an independent English-language news outlet in the country.

Defiant president Volodmyr Zelensky has pledged to 'destroy the occupiers' as he said his country's army had successfully repelled Russian forces advancing on Kyiv

Defiant president Volodmyr Zelensky has pledged to 'destroy the occupiers' as he said his country's army had successfully repelled Russian forces advancing on Kyiv.

In a video message to the besieged nation, Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to seize the capital, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk', one of two separatist regions which warmonger Vladimir Putin officially recognised before launching an all-out invasion.

Declaring 'we broke their idea', he added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army.

'Each Ukrainian should keep one thing in mind: if you can stop and destroy the occupiers - do it. Everyone who can come back to Ukraine - come back to defend Ukraine.'

Meanwhile, a curfew in Kyiv has been imposed until 8am on Monday to ensure the most effective defence of the city and the safety of its people. A previous daily curfew had run from 10pm to 7am.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said: 'All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.'

It comes after a high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a devastating missile this morning, while Ukraine's civilian death toll hit 198.
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A Pentagon official said Saturday that Javelin anti-tank missiles were part of a new $350 million package of military hardware being sent to help Ukrainian troops hold off invading Russian forces.

The military assistance was authorized by President Joe Biden a day earlier, bringing the total amount of help to $1 billion over the past year.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said it would come from U.S. inventories 'including anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor, and related equipment in support of Ukraines front-line defenders facing down Russias unprovoked attack.'

Ukraine has been desperately asking for more Javelins as well as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles as its forces battle Russia's tanks, bombers, helicopters and missiles

A Pentagon official told reporters that Javelin anti-tank weapons were part of the package but declined to say whether Stingers were included, according to Defense News.

It came two days after Ukraine's defense minister made a direct appeal to Congress.

Alexey Reznikov said: 'We need as much Stinger and anti-tank weapons as possible.

'In order to provide for reliable procurement of equipment, you may deliver it to Poland. From there we will transport them across the land and quickly saturate our defense.'

Javelins are used by small, mobile units to destroy tanks from a distance and are seen by Kyiv as one of their best hopes for slowing the advance.

Although Ukrainian airspace is contested, the official said the Pentagon was continuing to find routes in to the country.

'Were going to look for additional venues to do that, especially now given that the president has authorized another $350 million worth of assistance,' the official said. 'Were going to do everything we can to get that into the hands of the Ukrainians.'

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said Ukraine needed Stingers.

'I hope the military aid package announced by the administration today includes these Stingers,' said Rep. Mike Rogers.

'The Ukrainians are fighting like hell to save their country and the administration should have sent this lethal aid weeks ago.'

Ukraine has desperately been appealing for more Javelin portable-anti tank missile systems. It also wants Stinger anti-aircraft systems as it desperately tries to halt Russian forces seizing the capital Kyiv

Ukrainian servicemen unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, at the Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, Ukraine earlier this month. More are on their way

Ukrainian tanks on the move ahead of an attack in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022.

Protesters in Berlin trumpet the effectiveness of Javelins. Ukrainians see them as the best chance to halt the Russian advance

President Biden authorized the new package on Friday evening, as Russian troops closed on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv

The scale of the challenge facing Ukraine was laid out by a Pentagon official.

In the past 24 hours, the US had recorded more than 250 Russian missile launches, mostly short-range ballistic missiles, according to the official. And more than 50 percent of the 150,000 troops that lined up around the border have now entered in the invasion force.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the assistance package should send a clear signal to Moscow.

'This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing,' he said.

'It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation.'

Biden offered the cash as Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky revealed he'd snubbed a US offer of evacuation from war-town Kyiv, as Vladimir Putin reportedly dispatched kidnap squads to abduct or kill him.

Zelensky said: 'The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.' He spoke as Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed 3,500 Russian troops during a bloody night of combat across the European state, which saw street battles begin to erupt on the streets of Kyiv.

Russia has yet to capture the capital, as reports suggested the Kremlin's advance was going more slowly than anticipated.

On Friday night, Biden traveled home to Delaware for a weekend break as Ukraine burns after Russia invaded and the United States was condemned for appearing weak.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden were snapped exiting the White House on Friday evening to board their Marine One helicopter as Europe faces its biggest conflict since World War Two.

President Biden, 79, and First Lady Biden, 70, donned their customary face masks, even though both are vaccinated and boosted, and the CDC itself has indicated that the time to lift almost all mandates has come.

Biden has access to technology that allows him to work from his luxury home in Rehoboth Beach, and will be following the latest developments in Ukraine from there.

But critics will likely ask whether Biden should remain at the White House to help project the power and authority that comes with his office during a time that has left many across the United States and wider world fearful for their safety.

The White House released this memorandum on Friday evening authorizing the release of up to $600 million in military assistance to Ukraine

Biden and his wife Jill appeared relaxed as they headed for Marine One, despite Europe currently experiencing its biggest conflict since World War Two

The United States has imposed a raft of punitive financial sanctions against Russia in a bid to try and deter Vladimir Putin from continuing to invade Ukraine.

But thus far, the Russian premier - whose personal fortune has been estimated by Forbes to sit at $200 billion - has not been deterred.

The US has provided Ukraine with considerable military hardware, and thus far President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces appear to have slowed the Russian onslaught.

But Kremlin troops had entered Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning, and it is feared the capital city could fall to Putin later on Saturday.

Pentagon efforts to try and stop the war from flaring were slick, but ultimately unsuccessful.

US intelligence on Russian troops' movements ahead of the invasion was shared far more freely than normal, in an attempt to spook Putin.

America also warned of the sanctions Russia would face if Putin did invade, but the image-obsessed Russian leader ultimately decided to plow on anyway.

The POTUS and FLOTUS both wore masks outdoors, even though both have received their COVID vaccines and booster shots

President Biden and the first lady held hands as they walked towards Marine One

President Biden left for Delaware hours after the White House announced he is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin, the White House announced on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wil also be targeted.

The European Union and United Kingdom announced they would introduce sanctions targeting Putin and Lavrov on Friday.

'In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her press briefing.

She said travel ban 'would be a part of the US component' in sanctions on Putin and Lavrov.

Putin will become the highest target to be hit after the White House imposed measures on multiple Russian banks and oligarchs. Biden had been under pressure to target Putin personally for his attack of the Ukraine.

The move will be largely symbolic as it remains unclear where Putin's money is and how much there is of it.

Their chopper took off into the mild Washington evening, and flew over the iconic Washington monument.

Bloomberg notes Putin's latest financial disclosure reveals that his annual income is about 10 million rubles ($120,050), and he owns three cars and an apartment.

But there are also reports Putin owns a superyatch worth $100 million. And that his estimated worth is $200 billion.

Earlier Friday, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for about 40 minutes.

Zelensky said the two men discussed stronger sanctions on Russia and more support from the United States.

'Strengthening sanctions, concrete defense assistance and an anti-war coalition have just been discussed with @POTUS. Grateful to [United States] for the strong support to [Ukraine]!,' he wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky had pushed for Putin to be directly sanctioned.

President Joe Biden is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin (center) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right)

The Ukrainian president took to the streets of Kyiv to say 'we are still here' while Ukrainian forces slowed down Russian advances and civilians took up arms to fight for the capital Kyiv.

Zelensky had been critical of a lack of support from the United States and its allies. He was also battling a Russian-disinformation campaign that he had fled Kyiv.

'We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine,' Zelensky said in a video posted to Facebook. He spoke in the streets of Kyiv, the night sky visible behind him.

It's unclear what kind of support Biden offered to Zelensky, who said he is 'target number one' for Russian assassins and his wife and children are 'number two.'

There are fears he may be assassinated and replaced by a Putin puppet.

Before the phone call, Biden met virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected as Russian troops prepared to enter Kyiv.

U.S. intelligence officials are worried the Ukrainian capitol could fall within days, CNN reported, as Russian forces are within 20 miles of its location and residents are being urged to make Molotov cocktails to help defend the city.

Amid reports the Kremlin is gunning for him, Zelensky had slammed the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.

'Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone,' he said on Thursday night. 'Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.'

'We're defending our country alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching this from a distance,' Zelensky said.

After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation organization will send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank. Its the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies.

'We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defense context. We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities,' Stoltenberg said.

President Joe Biden will meet virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected

Ukrainian national guard were forming up on Kyiv's streets Friday as they prepared to defend the city from a Russian assault, shortly before heavy gunfire and explosions were heard

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

Russian battle plans to take Kyiv and force an early end to the war in Ukraine have been revealed by US intelligence, who say troops and armour would be used to capture airfields, before a force of 10,000 paratroopers would be flown in to capture the city, round up the government, and force them to sign a peace deal handing control of the country back to Russia

President Joe Biden (upper left) participates in the NATO meeting

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg convenes leaders for a virtual summit

A general view of a meeting room during a virtual summit called in by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium

Meanwhile, the Kremlin offered to send a delegation to Belarus to negotiate with Ukraine but only under harsh conditions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready to send a delegation to Minsk. But Peskovmade it clear that Russia expected Ukraine's 'denazification and demilitarization' of Ukraine, meaning Kyiv's capitulation.

Some NATO nations are already taking defensive measures as Russian aggression grows.

Lithuania declared a state of emergency Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine. Lithuania borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest. NATO members Belarus is to the east, Latvia is to the north and Poland is to the south.

'We cannot take the luxury to be (a) discussion club,' Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said overnight at an emergency summit of European Union leaders held to impose a 'heavy price' on Russia through sanctions. 'We need to take action.'

The Baltic members have said the West should '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.'

NATO began beefing up its defenses in northeastern Europe after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Recently, some members have also sent troops, aircraft and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Short-term, NATO has activated an emergency planning system to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. The Pentagon said Thursday that it is sending 7,000 troops to Europe in addition to 5,000 recently deployed personnel.

Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers take positions in downtown Kyiv
A North Carolina police officer is accused of selling 56 grams of cocaine for $2,600 while he was in uniform and sitting in his patrol car, according to federal prosecutors.

Raleigh police officer Keven Rodriguez, 33, was taken into custody by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said at a news conference.

Rodriguez is charged with distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm in connection with that offense, Easley said.

On January 24, Rodriguez allegedly met with a confidential informant and sold them 56 grams of cocaine in exchange for $2,600 in cash, Easley said, adding that he drove to the meeting in his patrol car, while in uniform and carrying his department firearm.

The wired informant spoke to Rodriguez through his right passenger window, and the transaction was recorded on audio and video and observed live by agents.

He faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison if convicted, and a maximum of life in prison. It was unclear whether or not he had an attorney representing him at this time.

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The DEA arrested Keven Rodriguez (pictured), a 33-year-old Raleigh police field operations officer, for cocaine trafficking in Raleigh and possessing a firearm. Confidential sources tipped off investigators

US attorney Michael Easley said officer Keven Rodriguez dealt cocaine while in his police uniform and while driving his patrol car.

Rodriguez's arrest came after the start of the investigation in November 2021, when members of the Raleigh Police Department and DEA were tipped by two confidential sources on the police officer selling drugs around Raleigh, according to an affidavit that's part of the federal criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said Rodriguez is on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of internal and federal investigations.

'The arrest of Mr. Rodriguez is a disappointment to me, the Raleigh Police Department, and the citizens and residents of our community,' Patterson said.

'Although disheartening, I want to ensure transparency to maintain public trust.'

Easley declined to comment on whether there would be other arrests in the case, but said the investigation remained ongoing.

Rodriguez had been employed by the department since July 30, 2018, and is on administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of internal and federal investigations

On January 24, Rodriguez allegedly met with a confidential informant and sold them 56 grams of cocaine in exchange for $2,600 in cash prior to his arrest (stock photo)

Rodriguez, who has hired by the department on July 30, 2018, is a field operations division officer.

'When one who wears the badge breaks the law, it breaches the public trust,' Easley said. 'This alleged crime is a serious breach of public trust.'

Rodriguez made his first court appearance on Thursday regarding the charges.

Easley would not confirm whether similar arrests were expected, but suggested that there may be more officers involved than anticipated.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene told a crowd of conservatives that she never had any second thoughts about the tweet that made her the first member of Congress to ever be kicked off.

Asked if she felt like an 'extremist' after she was banned from the social media platform, the Georgia Republican said: 'The first thing I knew was I was definitely in the right.'

'Because Twitter kicked off President Trump, right everybody? So I knew I was in good company when Twitter kicked me off.'

'I also knew I had not tweeted anything wrong ... I was talking about masking children is child abuse , and I had been talking about why in knew we had to do everything we can to stop vaccine mandates stop people from being canceled, stop especially for our healthcare workers who took care of people on the front line,' the firebrand conservative said at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando on Saturday.

Trump himself will headline the conference at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Asked if she felt like an 'extremist' after she was banned from the social media platform, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said: 'The first thing I knew was I was definitely in the right.'

'Because Twitter kicked off President Trump, right everybody? So I knew I was in good company when Twitter kicked me off,' Greene said

One day earlier Greene had spoke at America First Political Action Conference in Orlando, organized by white nationalist icon Nick Fuentes.

Fuentes was involved in the deadly 2017 Charlottesville white nationalist rally and has been subpoenaed for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

In that address she claimed that Democrats had destroyed 'gender' and 'pronouns' by adopting trans-inclusive language and told the crowd they must 'fight for the Constitution.'

'You've been handed the responsibility to fight for our Constitution and stand for our freedoms, and stop the Democrats who are the communist party of the United States of America,' Greene said.

After Greene's remarks, speaker Vincent James Foxx told the crowd, 'They want to replace you.'

'Western white culture is the majority culture, to which even non-whites assimilate into today  and they're better off for it.'

Foxx works with the alt-right street fighting club Rise Above Movement.

Rep. Liz Cheney called Greene part of the 'Putin wing of the GOP.'

She posted a clip from the AFPAC where Fuentes, in introducing Greene, said, 'Can we give a round of applause for Russia?'

The crowd shouted 'Putin! Putin! Putin!' in return.

'As Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, anti-Semitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican Party leaders is deafening and enabling. All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now,' Cheney wrote on Twitter.

As Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, anti-Semitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican Party leaders is deafening and enabling.



All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now. pic.twitter.com/6fgpV6ohZ8  Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) February 26, 2022

As Greene exited CPAC, she claimed not to know Fuentes.

'I do not know Nick Fuentes. I have never heard him speak, I have never seen a video. I do not know what his views are so I am not aligned with anything that is controversial,' she told CBS reporter Robert Costa.

'I went to his event last night to address his very large following because it's a very young following and it's a generation I'm extremely concerned about,' she said.

And as her appearance at the conference gained media attention, Greene wrote on Twitter: 'I am not going to play the guilt by association game in which you demand every conservative should justify anything ever said by anyone theyve ever shared a room with. Im not going to be drawn into that. Im only responsible for what I say. So ask me about my speech.'

'I talked about God and Liberty. Im also not going to turn down the opportunity to speak to 1,200 young America First patriots because of a few off-color remarks by another speaker, even if I find those remarks unsavory.'

'I want to embrace the young, boisterous and energetic conservatives in our movementnot cancel them like the establishment does.

'I am going to play it. You spoke to a white supremacy group. You are defending your presence there. If this was not bizarro world, you would be the one censured and excommunicated from the GOP. You will lose ultimately, just like Putin. And people will curse your name,' Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., shot back on Twitter.

Even Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel weighed in on Greene's appearance at the event, saying in a statement: 'White supremacy, neo-Nazism, hate speech and bigotry are disgusting and do not have a home in the Republican Party.'

While Greene's personal account remains permanently banned, her work account, @RepMTG, was reinstated.

I am not going to play the guilt by association game in which you demand every conservative should justify anything ever said by anyone theyve ever shared a room with.



Im not going to be drawn into that. Im only responsible for what I say.



So ask me about my speech.



(1/3) pic.twitter.com/MvOI5Nsk1k  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) February 26, 2022

Greene's final tweets on her personal account show her railing at what she blasted as government overreach about COVID and discussing how life had changed since the virus hit US shores.

Greene's suspension comes almost a year after Donald Trump was permanently suspended days after the January 6 riot.

It was the fifth strike for Greene on Twitter who was last suspended in August for saying that vaccines were 'failing' to reduce the spread of COVID and that the FDA shouldn't have approved them.

She got her third strike in July after tweeting that COVID wasn't dangerous. She was also suspended in January, days after the Capitol riot, for tweets echoing conspiracy theories about voter fraud in her home state of Georgia.

Two or three strikes earn a 12-hour account lock; four strikes prompt a weeklong suspension, and five or more strikes can get someone permanently removed from Twitter.

'The FDA should not approve the covid vaccines. There are too many reports of infection & spread of #COVID19 in vaccinated people. These vaccines are failing & do not reduce the spread of the virus & neither do masks. Vaccine mandates & passports violate individual freedoms,' Greene wrote on Twitter on Aug. 9.

In a statement released by her office, Greene said she was suspended for sharing a tweet citing numbers from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a self-reporting tool for vaccine side effects managed by the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration.

A Twitter spokesperson said: 'We permanently suspended @mtrgreene for repeated violations of our COVID-19 misinformation policy. We've been clear that, per our strike system for this policy, we will permanently suspend accounts for repeated violations of the policy.'
Germany has overruled its own lethal weapons transfer policy, which dates back to the Second World War, so that guns, grenade launchers and missiles can be sent to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's invasion.

It will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from its armed forces stocks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday.

'The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putin's invading army,' Scholz said on Twitter.

In addition, the German economy and climate ministry said Germany is allowing the Netherlands to ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. Germany will also send 14 armoured vehicles and up to 10,000 tonnes of fuel to Ukraine.

The anti-tank launchers had been purchased by the Netherlands from Berlin, and The Hague had therefore required Germany's green light to hand them to Kyiv.

Likewise, a weeks-long request from Estonia for the transfer to Ukraine of nine old Howitzers purchased from ex-communist East Germany won approval.

The move confirms a shift in policy after Germany faced criticism for refusing to send weapons to Kyiv, unlike other Western allies.

Germany has had a long-standing policy of not exporting weapons to war zones, rooted partly in its bloody 20th-century history and resulting pacifism.

Germany has overruled its own lethal weapons transfer policy, which dates back to the Second World War, so that guns, grenade launchers and missiles can be sent to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia 's invasion. (Above, a Ukrainian serviceman holds a rocket-propelled grenade launcher outside the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, on February 24)

Germany will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from its armed forces stocks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday. (Above, servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces move US-made FIM-92 Stinger missiles, as part of military assistance shipped from Lithuania to Boryspil Airport in Kyiv on February 13)

Germany has had a long-standing policy of not exporting weapons to war zones, rooted partly in its bloody 20th-century history and resulting pacifism. Olaf Scholz (pictured) had repeatedly referred to this policy in recent weeks when refusing to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine

'The approval has been confirmed by the Chancellery,' a spokesman for the defence ministry said on Saturday. The rocket-propelled grenades come from stocks of the German military.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the news of weapons shipments, posting praise for Scholz on Twitter: 'Keep it up, Chancellor @OlafScholz! Anti-war coalition in action!'

German weapons and the Russian oil factor There has been recent speculation that Germany's reluctance to send arms to Ukraine may be influenced by its dependence on Russia for its supply of gas and Germany's chequered military past. Olaf Scholz also pointed out that Germany has long maintained a policy of refusing to export arms to conflict zones. But his country's reluctance to offer material support to Ukraine in the form of much-needed weaponry - until now - fuelled speculation that Germany's new left-wing government is unwilling to upset Vladimir Putin. Europe's gas markets are linked by a network of interconnecting pipelines, and while some countries have cut their reliance on Russian gas over the years, many would be unable to satisfy demand should Russia decide to slash their supply. Germany depends on Russia for up to 40% of its gas imports and the EU nation would struggle to find an alternative option should Russia decide to retaliate in the face of Germany providing weapons to Ukraine. Advertisement

Countries aiming to forward on German weapons exports need to apply for approval in Berlin first.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had repeatedly referred to this policy in recent weeks when refusing to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Kyiv's ambassador to Germany today urged Berlin to join the Netherlands and supply Ukraine with Stinger air defence rockets.

'Damn it, it's finally time to help us,' Andriy Melnyk told Reuters in an interview at the Ukrainian embassy.

'We need air defence and we need a no fly zone,' Melnyk said.

Germany has also approved the transfer of 14 armoured vehicles for Ukraine.

The vehicles will be handed over to Ukrainian services, and 'will serve for the protection of personnel, possibly for evacuation purposes', said a source.

Up to 10,000 tonnes of fuel will also be transferred through Poland to Ukraine, said the source, adding that other 'possible support services is now being examined'.

Earlier on Saturday, the Dutch government said in a letter to parliament that it will supply 200 air defence rockets to Ukraine as quickly as possible.

Berlin also still has to decide about a request by Estonia that wants to pass on old GDR howitzers to Ukraine.

Finland had bought the howitzers in the 1990s after the fall of the Berlin wall, and later re-sold them to Estonia.

Germany's offer in late January to supply 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine to help defend against a potential Russian invasion was dismissed by Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko as 'a joke'.

Berlin has also handed over a field hospital to Kyiv.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden instructed the U.S. State Department to release up to an additional $350 million worth of weapons from U.S. stocks to Ukraine on Friday.

In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that $350 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine's defence.

Ukraine has been asking for Javelin anti-tank weapons and Stinger missiles to shoot down aircraft.

On Saturday, Blinken said in a statement that this third authorisation for weapons shipments to Ukraine was 'unprecedented.'

The Pentagon said the weapons included anti-armour, small arms, body armour and various munitions in support of Ukraine's front-line defenders. In addition, a State Department spokesperson said the materiel included anti-aircraft systems.

The United States drew from U.S. weapons stocks to supply Ukraine in the fall of 2021 and then again in December. Over the past year the United States has committed more than $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, Blinken said.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare a Swedish-British portable anti-tank guided missile NLAW before an attack in Luhansk region on February 26

Germany has also approved the transfer of 14 armoured vehicles for Ukraine. (Above, protesters in Frankfurt, Germany, rally against Russia's invasion of Ukraine)

Other nations have pledged military materiel to Kyiv as Ukraine's military fights against an invading Russian force.

Russian troops started advancing into Ukraine again on Saturday after President Vladimir Putin paused the offensive a day earlier in anticipation of talks with Kyiv that never happened, the Kremlin said.

The Netherlands will supply 200 Stinger air defence rockets to Ukraine as quickly as possible, the Dutch government said in a letter to parliament on Saturday.

Belgium has pledged 2,000 machine guns and 3,800 tons of fuel.

France has decided to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine to support the country against Russia's invasion, a French army spokesman said on Saturday, adding that the issue of sending offensive arms was still under consideration

UKRAINE WAR: LATEST Putin urges Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace;

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Canada, the US, Britain and the European Union said they could act to exclude Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system;

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed - Russia did not release casualty figures;

NATO allies will provide more weapons to Ukraine and deploy more forces to the eastern part of the alliance;

The conflict could drive up to five million people abroad;

The MoD said the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv are now 19 miles from the city centre;

Authorities in Kyiv have extended a curfew until early on Monday;

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How Ukraine's defiant forces are holding back Putin with 4m missile drones bought from Turkey, UK's donation of 2,000 next-gen tank-destroying rockets and Javelins gifted by the US (as well as ammunition for 1950s artillery from the Czechs!)

By SAM TONKIN for MailOnline

British rockets, anti-tank missiles from the US and Estonia, and Turkish drones are just some of the weapons being used by Ukrainian forces in a fierce defence of their homeland.

Troops are desperately trying to repel Putin's military onslaught, with the national guard taking up defensive positions across Kyiv and residents urged to make Molotov cocktails in a battle for control of the capital.

On Thursday, Ukrainian soldiers used shoulder launched guided missiles to take out Russian tanks and helicopters, after being sent thousands of 'self-defence' weapons by a number of countries in the West.

The UK has shipped 2,000 Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapons (NLAW) to Ukraine, while the US last month sent a plane loaded with 300 Javelin missiles worth some $50million to Kyiv.

Other countries, including Turkey, the Czech Republic and Estonia have also followed suit, but nations including Hungary and Belgium ruled out supplying weapons to counter Putin.

Despite the support, Ukrainian defence minister Alexey Reznikov has pleaded for more, saying: 'We need as much Stinger [anti-aircraft] and anti-tank weapons as possible.

'In order to provide for reliable procurement of equipment, you may deliver it to Poland. From there we will transport them across the land and quickly saturate our defence.'

From cutting edge drones to artillery that was first designed in the 1950s, MailOnline looks at what military aid has been sent to help Ukraine, and which Western nation it has come from.

From cutting edge drones to artillery that was first designed in the 1950s, MailOnline looks at what military aid has been sent to help Ukraine, and which Western nation it has come from

Javelin anti-tank guided missiles

A Ukrainian soldier aims a Javelin launcher from the top of an armoured vehicle during a military parade in Kiev in 2018. The weapons can also be carried into battle by troops and fired over-the-shoulder

Countries that sent them: UK, Estonia and the US

How many has Ukraine received? 300 from the US, unknown from the others

Cost: 130,000 ($175,000) each just for the missile

How they work: Javelins work by using infrared systems to lock on to their targets, meaning troops do not need to keep aiming after pulling the trigger.

Once the missile is fired, it ejects from the tube using a small charge - so it can be fired in a confined space - before the main rockets ignite.

The missile then flies up to 490ft into the air before slamming down on its target from above - known as a 'curveball' shot.

This them especially deadly against tanks because their armour is thinnest on top, although Javelins can also be used to blow up buildings.

Javelin missiles use a 'curveball' shot - approaching their target from above - which makes them especially deadly against tanks which have less armour on the top. They also have two warheads which are designed to overcome 'reactive' armour that Russia uses

Fact-file: The FGM-148 Javelin is a US-made missile that is primarily designed to destroy tanks, using a combination of 'curveball' attack - meaning it comes down on its targets from above - and dual high explosive warheads to take them out.

Javelins were developed in the 1990s and have been in service since 1996 - coming up against Russian-designed T-72 tanks during the Second Iraq War, where they proved particularly effective.

Russia still uses T-72 tanks - with dozens of T-72Bs now deployed near Ukraine - and while they have undergone several rounds of improvements since Saddam's day, they are still thought to be vulnerable to the missile.

Where have they been used in Ukraine? In Glukhov, in the east of the country, to destroy 15 Russian T-72 tanks

Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon

Lightweight: The UK has shipped 2,000 Next Generation Light Anti-tank weapons to Ukraine (pictured during drills in Lviv)

Country that sent them: UK

How many has Ukraine received? At least 2,000

Cost: 35,000 ($48,000) per single-shot unit

How they work: Launched on the shoulder and can be fired from confined spaces.

A 'cold launch' system ejects the missile with pressurised gas before it ignites its rocket motor, accelerating the weapon to 440 miles per hour (200 meters per second).

The missile then uses an inertial navigation system to fly to a target vehicle.

Fact file: The Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) began as a joint British-Swedish project in 2002 to replace Cold War-era weapons designed to give infantry squads a portable, close-range defense against tanks.

The Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (pictured) began as a joint British-Swedish project in 2002 to replace Cold War-era weapons designed to give infantry squads a portable, close-range defense against tanks

The 3.2 feet (1 metre) long weapon, which has a shelf life of 20 years, was built from components manufactured by BAE, Saab, Thales and the US company Raytheon.

It weighs just 27.5 pounds and can launch a single 150-millimetre diameter missile out to an effective range between 65 and 2000 feet (20 and 600 metres), or up to 1,300 feet (400 metres) for moving targets.

The weapon is much lighter than the American-made Javelin missiles.

Last month British military trainers, drawn from the newly formed Ranger Regiment, were sent to Ukraine to instruct its troops on how to use the anti-tank weapons.

Where have they been used in Ukraine? Kharkiv, to the north-east of the country, to destroy four Russian tanks and three attack helicopters

Stinger missiles

The Stinger made history in the 1980s in Afghanistan when a man used the weapon to shoot down a Soviet Hind attack helicopter. A Ukrainian solider is pictured helping to transfer 92 Stinger missiles in Kyiv earlier this month

Countries that sent them: Latvia and Lithuania

How many has Ukraine received? Unknown

Cost: 97,000 ($130,000) per unit

How they work: To operate the weapon, the soldier inserts a Battery Coolant Unit into the handguard, which releases a stream of argon gas into the machine.

It also shoots a chemical energy charge, which powers the indicators and missile.

Fact-file: The Stinger made history in the 1980s in Afghanistan when a man used the weapon to shoot down a Soviet Hind attack helicopter.

The move changed the course of the war and led to the breakup of the USSR.

It is a Man-Portable-Air-Defense System (MANPADS) that uses infrared homing technology to search and strike flying targets.

The Stinger, which sits on the operator's shoulder, was first developed in the US in 1981 and is currently used by more than 18 nations.

The missile is 5.0 ft (1.52 m) long and 2.8 in (70 mm) in diameter with 10 cm fins.

And the missile weighs about 22 lb (10.1 kg), while the missile with launcher weighs approximately 34 lb (15.2 kg).

Where have they been used in Ukraine?

To bring down a number of Russian aircraft, though unclear exactly where. Ukraine's military said five Russian planes and one helicopter had been shot down in Luhansk in the east yesterday.

Bayraktar TB2 drones

Turkey first developed a prototype for the TB2 (pictured) in 2007 before the drones reached the final production stage in 2012

Country that sent them: Turkey

How many has Ukraine received? Several batches, but official figure unknown

Cost: Around 3.7 million ($5 million) each

How they work: Capable of 24-hour flights at an altitude of 24,000 feet (7,300 metres) and carrying a payload of 330 lbs (150kg), the TB2 is well-armed and is a source of Turkish national pride.

It is capable of carrying out aerial strikes against tanks and bunkers, with a maximum altitude of five miles to avoid enemy machine guns.

The drone can also navigate even if it loses GPS signal.

Fact-file: Turkey first developed a prototype for the TB2 in 2007 before the drones reached the final production stage in 2012.

They have previously been used by Azerbaijan against Armenian separatists; Turkish security forces, including their allies in Libya and Syria; and also sold to Ukraine and Qatar.

The drones are 21ft long, have a top speed of 80mph and a range of 93 miles.

Where have they been used in Ukraine? Unclear

152mm artillery ammunition

Artillery guns in 152 mm or 155 mm calibres can be found in the majority of current and recent conflicts. They are designed to provide fire support for armour and infantry forces by firing munitions at greater distances than small arms and light weapons

Country that sent them: Czech Republic

How much has Ukraine received? Unknown

Cost: Around 746 ($1,000) per round

How they work: Artillery guns are designed to provide fire support for armour and infantry forces by firing munitions at greater distances than small arms and light weapons.

Fact-file: Artillery guns in 152 mm or 155 mm calibres can be found in the majority of current and recent conflicts.

The two calibres are broadly similar in capabilities; both are able to deliver a projectile of approximately 88 lbs (40 kg) to ranges of 10-24 miles (17-40 km). 152 mm and 155 mm calibre guns are often considered to be 'heavy artillery'.

One of the most common towed 152 mm artillery pieces is the Soviet-designed M1955 (D-20) gun-howitzer, first observed during the 1950s.

Where have they been used in Ukraine? Unclear

'Let's help them go straight to hell:' Ukrainians are told to REMOVE names and numbers from road signs in their cities and villages to 'confuse and disorient the enemy' By CHAY QUINN for MailOnline Ukrainians have been told to remove road signs and land markers by government agencies to 'confuse and disorient' invading Russian forces. The call was posted by the Ministry's of Defence's Twitter account on Saturday as fighting around the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv intensifies between the Russian and Ukrainian forces. The sentiment was echoed by Ukraine's road sign agency Ukravtodor on their Facebook page alongside a mocked-up road sign that reads: 'F**k off. F**k off again. F**k off to Russia' in Ukrainian. The ministry wrote: 'In order to confuse and disorient the enemy who is illegally moving to Ukraine, we call: - to remove plaques with numbers and names of streets/cities/villages in their regions.' The call to remove signs was posted by the Ministry's Twitter account on Saturday as fighting around the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv intensifies between the Russian and Ukrainian forces A sign over a part of the Boryspil highway read: 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself!', in reference to the killing of Ukrainian border guards stationed at Snake Island off the coast of Ukraine when they refused to surrender to Kremlin forces Ukravtodor, the Ukrainian road signs agency, posted a similar request but added a mocked-up road sign that reads: 'F**k off. F**k off again. F**k off to Russia' in Ukrainian 'We will do everything possible to clear Ukraine of the Russian occupier as soon as possible!' Ukravtodor said: 'We dismantle road signs on all roads of the country. 'Priority #1 - indicative signs, names of settlements. Collected signs are handed over to the local authorities and the passengers. 'The enemy has a miserable connection, they don't orientate in the area. 'Let's help them go straight to hell. 'Ukravtodor urges all road organizations, territorial communities, local government authorities to immediately start dismantling nearby road signs.' Advertisement

Pentagon answers Ukraine's plea for more anti-tank Javelins: Department of Defense says it is sending $350 million of hardware from its inventory to help Ukrainians battle Russia, but won't say if it includes Stinger anti-aircraft missiles

By ROB CRILLY, Senior U.S. Political Reporter and JIMMY McCLOSKEY and EMILY GOODIN Senior U.S. Political Report

A Pentagon official said Saturday that Javelin anti-tank missiles were part of a new $350 million package of military hardware being sent to help Ukrainian troops hold off invading Russian forces.

The military assistance was authorized by President Joe Biden a day earlier, bringing the total amount of help to $1 billion over the past year.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said it would come from U.S. inventories 'including anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor, and related equipment in support of Ukraine's front-line defenders facing down Russia's unprovoked attack.'

Ukraine has been desperately asking for more Javelins as well as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles as its forces battle Russia's tanks, bombers, helicopters and missiles

A Pentagon official told reporters that Javelin anti-tank weapons were part of the package but declined to say whether Stingers were included, according to Defense News.

It came two days after Ukraine's defense minister made a direct appeal to Congress.

Alexey Reznikov said: 'We need as much Stinger and anti-tank weapons as possible.

'In order to provide for reliable procurement of equipment, you may deliver it to Poland. From there we will transport them across the land and quickly saturate our defense.'

Javelins are used by small, mobile units to destroy tanks from a distance and are seen by Kyiv as one of their best hopes for slowing the advance.

Although Ukrainian airspace is contested, the official said the Pentagon was continuing to find routes in to the country.

'We're going to look for additional venues to do that, especially now given that the president has authorized another $350 million worth of assistance,' the official said. 'We're going to do everything we can to get that into the hands of the Ukrainians.'

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said Ukraine needed Stingers.

'I hope the military aid package announced by the administration today includes these Stingers,' said Rep. Mike Rogers.

'The Ukrainians are fighting like hell to save their country and the administration should have sent this lethal aid weeks ago.'

Ukraine has desperately been appealing for more Javelin portable-anti tank missile systems. It also wants Stinger anti-aircraft systems as it desperately tries to halt Russian forces seizing the capital Kyiv

Ukrainian servicemen unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles, delivered as part of the United States of America's security assistance to Ukraine, at the Boryspil airport, outside Kyiv, Ukraine earlier this month. More are on their way

Ukrainian tanks on the move ahead of an attack in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022.

Protesters in Berlin trumpet the effectiveness of Javelins. Ukrainians see them as the best chance to halt the Russian advance

President Biden authorized the new package on Friday evening, as Russian troops closed on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the package should send a clear signal to Moscow.

'This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing,' he said.

'It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation.'

Biden offered the cash as Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky revealed he'd snubbed a US offer of evacuation from war-town Kyiv, as Vladimir Putin reportedly dispatched kidnap squads to abduct or kill him.

Zelensky said: 'The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.' He spoke as Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed 3,500 Russian troops during a bloody night of combat across the European state, which saw street battles begin to erupt on the streets of Kyiv.

Russia has yet to capture the capital, as reports suggested the Kremlin's advance was going more slowly than anticipated.

On Friday night, Biden traveled home to Delaware for a weekend break as Ukraine burns after Russia invaded and the United States was condemned for appearing weak.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden were snapped exiting the White House on Friday evening to board their Marine One helicopter as Europe faces its biggest conflict since World War Two.

President Biden, 79, and First Lady Biden, 70, donned their customary face masks, even though both are vaccinated and boosted, and the CDC itself has indicated that the time to lift almost all mandates has come.

Biden has access to technology that allows him to work from his luxury home in Rehoboth Beach, and will be following the latest developments in Ukraine from there.

But critics will likely ask whether Biden should remain at the White House to help project the power and authority that comes with his office during a time that has left many across the United States and wider world fearful for their safety.

The White House released this memorandum on Friday evening authorizing the release of up to $600 million in military assistance to Ukraine

Biden and his wife Jill appeared relaxed as they headed for Marine One, despite Europe currently experiencing its biggest conflict since World War Two

The United States has imposed a raft of punitive financial sanctions against Russia in a bid to try and deter Vladimir Putin from continuing to invade Ukraine.

But thus far, the Russian premier - whose personal fortune has been estimated by Forbes to sit at $200 billion - has not been deterred.

The US has provided Ukraine with considerable military hardware, and thus far President Volodymyr Zelensky's forces appear to have slowed the Russian onslaught.

But Kremlin troops had entered Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning, and it is feared the capital city could fall to Putin later on Saturday.

Pentagon efforts to try and stop the war from flaring were slick, but ultimately unsuccessful.

US intelligence on Russian troops' movements ahead of the invasion was shared far more freely than normal, in an attempt to spook Putin.

America also warned of the sanctions Russia would face if Putin did invade, but the image-obsessed Russian leader ultimately decided to plow on anyway.

The POTUS and FLOTUS both wore masks outdoors, even though both have received their COVID vaccines and booster shots

President Biden and the first lady held hands as they walked towards Marine One

President Biden left for Delaware hours after the White House announced he is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin, the White House announced on Friday.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wil also be targeted.

The European Union and United Kingdom announced they would introduce sanctions targeting Putin and Lavrov on Friday.

'In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her press briefing.

She said travel ban 'would be a part of the US component' in sanctions on Putin and Lavrov.

Putin will become the highest target to be hit after the White House imposed measures on multiple Russian banks and oligarchs. Biden had been under pressure to target Putin personally for his attack of the Ukraine.

The move will be largely symbolic as it remains unclear where Putin's money is and how much there is of it.

Their chopper took off into the mild Washington evening, and flew over the iconic Washington monument.

Bloomberg notes Putin's latest financial disclosure reveals that his annual income is about 10 million rubles ($120,050), and he owns three cars and an apartment.

But there are also reports Putin owns a superyatch worth $100 million. And that his estimated worth is $200 billion.

Earlier Friday, Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for about 40 minutes.

Zelensky said the two men discussed stronger sanctions on Russia and more support from the United States.

'Strengthening sanctions, concrete defense assistance and an anti-war coalition have just been discussed with @POTUS. Grateful to [United States] for the strong support to [Ukraine]!,' he wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky had pushed for Putin to be directly sanctioned.

President Joe Biden is planning to impose sanctions directly on Vladimir Putin (center) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right)

The Ukrainian president took to the streets of Kyiv to say 'we are still here' while Ukrainian forces slowed down Russian advances and civilians took up arms to fight for the capital Kyiv.

Zelensky had been critical of a lack of support from the United States and its allies. He was also battling a Russian-disinformation campaign that he had fled Kyiv.

'We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine,' Zelensky said in a video posted to Facebook. He spoke in the streets of Kyiv, the night sky visible behind him.

It's unclear what kind of support Biden offered to Zelensky, who said he is 'target number one' for Russian assassins and his wife and children are 'number two.'

There are fears he may be assassinated and replaced by a Putin puppet.

Before the phone call, Biden met virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected as Russian troops prepared to enter Kyiv.

U.S. intelligence officials are worried the Ukrainian capitol could fall within days, CNN reported, as Russian forces are within 20 miles of its location and residents are being urged to make Molotov cocktails to help defend the city.

Amid reports the Kremlin is gunning for him, Zelensky had slammed the United States and its allies for leaving his country to fight alone.

'Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don't see anyone,' he said on Thursday night. 'Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.'

'We're defending our country alone. The most powerful forces in the world are watching this from a distance,' Zelensky said.

After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the 30-nation organization will send parts of the NATO Response Force and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank. Its the first time the force has been used to defend NATO allies.

'We are now deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time in a collective defense context. We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities,' Stoltenberg said.

President Joe Biden will meet virtually with fellow NATO members on Friday morning to reassure eastern allies they will be protected

Ukrainian national guard were forming up on Kyiv's streets Friday as they prepared to defend the city from a Russian assault, shortly before heavy gunfire and explosions were heard

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

Russian battle plans to take Kyiv and force an early end to the war in Ukraine have been revealed by US intelligence, who say troops and armour would be used to capture airfields, before a force of 10,000 paratroopers would be flown in to capture the city, round up the government, and force them to sign a peace deal handing control of the country back to Russia

President Joe Biden (upper left) participates in the NATO meeting

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg convenes leaders for a virtual summit

A general view of a meeting room during a virtual summit called in by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium

Meanwhile, the Kremlin offered to send a delegation to Belarus to negotiate with Ukraine but only under harsh conditions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready to send a delegation to Minsk. But Peskovmade it clear that Russia expected Ukraine's 'denazification and demilitarization' of Ukraine, meaning Kyiv's capitulation.

Some NATO nations are already taking defensive measures as Russian aggression grows.

Lithuania declared a state of emergency Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine. Lithuania borders Russias Kaliningrad region to the southwest. NATO members Belarus is to the east, Latvia is to the north and Poland is to the south.

'We cannot take the luxury to be (a) discussion club,' Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said overnight at an emergency summit of European Union leaders held to impose a 'heavy price' on Russia through sanctions. 'We need to take action.'

The Baltic members have said the West should '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.'

NATO began beefing up its defenses in northeastern Europe after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Recently, some members have also sent troops, aircraft and warships to the Black Sea region, near allies Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Short-term, NATO has activated an emergency planning system to allow commanders to move forces more quickly. The Pentagon said Thursday that it is sending 7,000 troops to Europe in addition to 5,000 recently deployed personnel.

Independence Square in central Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers take positions in downtown Kyiv

Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv

Additionally, pressure is building on Biden to personally sanction Putin. The U.S. has already sanctioned several members of Putin's inner circle and many Russian oligarchs who made their money off his regime.

Biden said Thursday that sanctioning the Russian leader remained 'on the table' but refused to answer a question on why Putin has not yet been personally targeted.

The European Union will freeze Putin's assets and those of the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, but will not impose a travel ban on them, the New York Times reported.
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Rallies decrying the Russian invasion of Ukraine have popped up all over the country as relatives in the states hold out hope their loved ones will be okay as the battle in Eastern Europe intensifies.

On Saturday, thousands of Ukraine supporters in major cities including Atlanta, Denver, Washington, D.C., and New York City have rallied against the invasion, Europe's biggest security crisis in decades.

The protests come as Russian and Ukrainian forces are currently clashing in fights for Ukraine's capital Kyiv and after Russia vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would have deplored the Kremlin invasion of Ukraine.

Draped in Ukraine's blue and yellow flag and waving the country's national banner, protesters also carried signs condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempts to topple the Ukrainian government.

Ukraine's armed forces on Saturday morning claimed 3,500 Russians casualties overnight and that 200 had been taken prisoner. They said 14 Russian aircraft, eight helicopters and 102 tanks had also been seized.

Armed forces were engaged in a fierce battle for control of the capital city, with footage on social media showing explosions close to a metro station in the western center of the capital by the zoo; a battle ongoing for control of a thermal power plant to the north; and multiple reports suggesting fierce fighting 20 miles south, near a vital airbase.

Two protestors climb a pole and wave Ukrainian flags at a 'Stand With Ukraine' rally in Times Square on Saturday

Isela Hernandez (pictured) joins fellow protestors outside the State Capitol in Denver on Saturday and waves a flag during a protest against the invasion of Ukraine

A woman carries a sign in the colors of the flag that says 'Stand with Ukraine' at a Times Square rally in support of the Ukrainian people and to protest Russia's invasion of the country on Saturday

A man carries a sign that reads 'Help Ukraine, Stop Putin' at a Saturday rally outside the White House

Two protestors carry signs that read 'Shelter our sky, Stand with Ukraine' and 'Peace for Ukraine' outside the State Capitol in Denver on Saturday

A young boy is wrapped in the Ukraine flag at a pro-Ukraine demonstration outside the White House on Saturday

Protestors seen in front of the White House are among the thousands of Americans holding rallies across the country protesting the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A man donning Ukrainian flag colors yells at a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in front of the White House on Saturday

A protestor holds up a sign that shows Russian president Vladmir Putin as Hitler at the #StandWithUkraine protest rally in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday

As Ukrainians continue to battle to defend their homeland from the Russian invasion, all family members in the U.S can do is hope for the best.

In Pennsylvania, the Rev. Myron Myronyuk, pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church in Scranton, stayed up all night while his twin brother tried to flee Kyiv, only to turn back because the road out was choked with traffic, The Associated Press reported.

His in-laws, also in Ukraine, told him they couldn't get basics like bread and milk, leaving Myronyuk feeling helpless like many Ukrainians in America.

For now, families are trying to donate money and supplies, desperately seeking advice from immigration attorneys about how to get family into the U.S., and pleading for world leaders to intervene more forcefully.

'I say "We're praying for you, we wish you to be safe, go to a safe place,"' Myronyuk said.

'We have to continue to pray and ask God for help,' he added, but 'there's not much else we can do here.'

Demonstrators holds signs reading 'Ukrainians Unite!' and Ukrainian flags during a rally to show support for Ukraine on Saturday in Atlanta

Julia Ukhnovsky (pictured left) sheds a tear while Sofia Zhivocov, (right) both natives of Ukraine, waves a placard during a protest against the invasion of Ukraine outside the State Capitol in Denver on Saturday

Six-year-old Grace Mokiienko holds sign during a pro-Ukraine rally in Atlanta on Saturday. Grace's father is a Ukrainian immigrant and still has family in Ukraine

A young boy joins in on a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in front of the White House to protest the Russian Invasion of Ukraine on Saturday

A woman holds a sign that reads 'Stop Killer' with a picture of Putin as Hitler at a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in front of the White House on Saturday

A man proudly drapes a Ukrainian flag at a Washington, DC pro-Ukraine rally outside the White House on Saturday

A demonstrator carries a sign reading 'Puck Futin! More Sanctions' during a protest in support of Ukraine in Times Square on Saturday

On Thursday, demonstrators gathered in Times Square and near the Russian Federation's mission to the United Nations waving Ukrainian flags and denouncing Putin.

About 100 people took to an overpass in Chicago, putting their hands to their hearts as the Ukrainian national anthem blared from a big speaker.

'The worst part is we cannot help them any more. We would send money, but everything is closed,' said Chicago resident Hrystyna Klym, who has been in the U.S. for 15 years and has family in Ukraine.

Klym volunteers with an organization that has regularly sent clothes, magazines, money and other items to help Ukraines needy, particularly wounded soldiers, but she said there's no way to donate directly now.

At Ukrainian Village Food & Deli in the Cleveland suburb of Parma Heights, Mila Radeva, 39, said her father - who lives near the Ukrainian port city of Odessa - had taken shelter in his basement as explosions rocked the area.

'A lot of people are going to die,' said a worried Radeva, who emigrated to the U.S. 20 years ago. Asked if her father and other relatives might flee to another country, she said: 'There's no place for them to run.'

Ekaterina Mouratova, a Miami immigration attorney, said Thursday was 'a crazy day,' with phone calls and emails from Ukrainians and Russians seeking refuge in the United States. Ukrainians hope to flee Russian troops, while Russians worry they may get drafted and have bank accounts frozen in a wartime economy.

She offered little encouragement, predicting Poland would be a far more realistic possibility for escape.

'There is no effective legal mechanism to bring people here,' she said.

Ukrainians could potentially flee their country, fly to Mexico from Europe as tourists, and enter the U.S. by land to claim asylum, as a growing number of Russians have done over the last year, Mouratova said. Fleeing war, however, is not considered legal grounds for asylum.

Ukrainians could also be eligible for refugee resettlement - under which up to 125,000 can be accepted in the U.S. this year after being approved abroad - but processing has been slow as U.S. authorities focus on Afghans seeking to flee Taliban rule.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. was prepared to accept Ukrainian refugees, 'but we certainly expect that most if not the majority will want to go to Europe and neighboring countries.'

Immigration advocates urged the Biden administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukraine, a form of reprieve for its citizens already in the United States. The U.S. has granted TPS to 12 countries afflicted by war or natural disaster.

Chicago immigration attorney Natalia Blauvelt, who also fielded calls from desperate Ukrainian clients, potential clients and friends, said they are 'absolutely devastated, extremely sad.... They are panicking because of what is happening in Ukraine, and many of them dont know what to do and help their relatives.'

More than 1 million people in the U.S. report Ukrainian ancestry, according to the Census, with sizable populations in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Sacramento and Los Angeles.

While people in the U.S protest, residents of Kyiv took shelter on Saturday night as explosions and street fighting signaled another Russian push to take the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine's president Volodmyr Zelensky today claimed the country's army has successfully repelled Russian forces advancing on Kyiv and is in control of the capital after a night of brutal fighting that saw terrified residents seeking shelter underground

The body of a Russian serviceman lies near destroyed Russian military vehicles on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on Saturday

Ukrainian servicemen take positions at the military airbase Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region, Ukraine on Saturday

Empty streets are seen at Ukrainian capital Kyiv as Russian military attacks in Ukraine continues on Saturday

Defiant President Zelensky said Kyiv remained under Ukrainian control as Russian forces renewed their assault under the cover of darkness, pounding the capital with artillery and cruise missiles.

Air raid sirens and heavy weapons fire reverberated through the city, as Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers dug in to repel warmonger Vladimir Putin's forces.

Zelensky has pledged to 'destroy the occupiers' and the residents of Kyiv appear to have fully mobilized for a fight to the death.

At 5pm local time, or 10am ET, an extended 48-hour curfew took effect banning civilians from the streets of Kyiv until at least Monday night. The previous curfew had run from 10pm to 7am.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said: 'All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.'

In a video message to the besieged nation, Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to seize the capital, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk', one of two separatist regions which Putin officially recognized before launching an all-out invasion.

Declaring 'we broke their idea', he added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army.

'Each Ukrainian should keep one thing in mind: if you can stop and destroy the occupiers - do it. Everyone who can come back to Ukraine - come back to defend Ukraine.'

It comes after a high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a devastating missile this morning, while Ukraine's civilian death toll hit 198.

'More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings,' Zelensky said in a Twitter update on Saturday morning.

Civil defense volunteers are now manning checkpoints and digging trenches on the outskirts of Kyiv, where earlier on Saturday Ukrainian tanks patrolled the eerily empty streets, silent except for the sound of air raid sirens and birdsong.

Skirmishes reported on the edge of Kyiv on Saturday afternoon suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces to enter the city.

Russia's defense ministry claimed in a statement that it had paused combat operations voluntarily to pursue peace talks, but said that the military offensive would resume at full force late Saturday after Ukraine allegedly 'rejected a negotiating process,' which the Ukrainian side denies.

A senior US defense official said more than half of Putin's assembled invasion force is now inside Ukraine's borders, noting that the forces were 'largely combat power' that will now have to be sustained by supply lines.

The official said that the successful defense of Kyiv overnight Friday demonstrated a 'viable' Ukrainian resistance, and said that there is increasing Russian frustration at the lack of momentum in their invasion push.

Some of the heaviest fighting has taken place near the northeastern city of Kharkiv, and on Saturday night a huge column of Russian armor was spotted advancing toward Kharkiv on the Russian side of the border.
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UKRAINE WAR: LATEST Vladimir Putin urges Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace;

Ukraine and Russia discuss a place and time for talks;

Russia vetoes draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine - China abstained;

Zelensky has asked UN to strip Russia of its security council vote;

President Joe Biden instructs the U.S. State Department to release $350 million in military aid to Ukraine;

In a significant shift in policy, Germany will let the Dutch ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine;

Czech Republic is also sending weapons valued at around 6.4 million to Ukraine;

Canada, the US, Britain and the European Union said they could act to exclude Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system;

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed - Russia did not release casualty figures;

SWIFT exclusion appeared to gain support from Cyrpus, Hungary and Italy on Saturday as well. Reports also suggested Germany was considering backing the measure;

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed - Russia did not release casualty figures;

NATO allies will provide more weapons to Ukraine and deploy more forces to the eastern part of the alliance;

NATO alliance is deploying its rapid response force for the first time ever to bolster its eastern flank;

The conflict could drive up to five million people abroad;

An estimated 120,000 people have fled across borders so far;

Poland PM calls for harsher sanctions on Russia, including exclusion from SWIFT and shutting down Nord Steam 1. Advertisement

Desperate Ukrainians fleeing the war became so crushed at the border with Poland that several people fainted and one woman is believed to have died, a British man has said.

Jeremy Myers became caught up in the crush with his Ukrainian girlfriend as people queued for 25 hours, with temperatures plummeting to minus four degrees at night, to escape bombs in the war-torn country.

Mancunian Jeremy, 44, described the 'crush' as 'beyond unsafe' and said one person was rumoured to have died in the 'pandemonium'.

'It was absolute pandemonium,' says business consultant Jeremy, speaking safely from Poland.

'There was very little organisation and the closer you got to the front, the more people were pushing and shoving.

'Every so often there would be these big surges and people would be screaming.

'There were lots of young children and it felt very dangerous. Terrifying.

'Fights broke out as people accused others of pushing in or of hurting them. People had blood running down their faces. We saw a couple of women fainting and being carried above the crowd.

'And there was a strong rumour that someone had been crushed to death  the Polish border guards confirmed they had heard it was true.

'It was beyond unsafe. I have got bruises on me from all the pushing and I am just pleased that we finally managed to make it to Poland.'

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians rushed to the borders on Saturday as invading Russian troops pressed on with their march toward Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.

At least 150,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighbouring countries in the wake of the Russian invasion, the UN refugee agency said Saturday.

It comes after dramatic video on Saturday showed a destroyed Russian convoy with Z-markings near Kherson in the south of the country on the third day of fighting after Ukraine's army held control of Kyiv and last night successfully repelled Russian advances on the capital.

In addition to the video of the destroyed convoy, another video purportedly showed the destruction of a 20-vehicle Russia military column in Kharkiv.

Images of the carnage is the snow - from which it is suspected there were no survivors - appear to show Putin's invasion suffering brutal losses.

Kyiv's defence ministry has so far put Russia's losses at around 2,800 troops, 80 tanks, 516 armoured vehicles, and 10 airplanes and seven helicopters so far.

In other developments:

Authorities in Kyiv have extended a curfew until early on Monday;

Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 19 miles from the city centre.

Russian troops captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Russia's defence ministry claimed;

UK armed forces minister James Heappey said Britain did not believe Russian forces had captured Melitopol;

Refugees fleeing Ukraine continued to pour across its western borders on Saturday, with around 100,000 reaching Poland in two days;

A decision to cut Russia off from the global SWIFT payment system will be taken in a matter of days, the governor of a central bank within the euro zone said;

At least 2019 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed as a result of the Russian invasion;

France has decided to send defensive military equipment to Ukraine to support the country against Russia's invasion;

French sea police seized a ship on Saturday that authorities suspect belongs to a Russian company targeted by European Union sanctions over the war in Ukraine, a government official claimed;

Putin urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace;

Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote.

Mancunian Jeremy Myers became caught up in a 'crush' at the Polish border with his Ukrainian girlfriend as people queued for 25 hours to escape bombs in the war-torn country

Jeremy had flown to Ukraine to spend Valentine's Day with his girlfriend of two years, Maria Romanenko (both pictured), 29, a journalist and anti-Putin activist

The couple joined huge convoys at the small border crossing of Shehyni. Jeremy described the tight crowds (pictured) at the border as 'pandemonium' and 'unsafe'

As the war continues to rage on in Ukraine, Mancunian Jeremy Myers told of the 'pandemonium' at the Polish border as tens of thousands Ukrainians desperately tried to flee the country.

Jeremy had flown to Ukraine to spend Valentine's Day with his girlfriend of two years, Maria Romanenko, 29, a journalist and anti-Putin activist.

Her Kyiv-based family were convinced that Putin would not invade and that it was safe for the pair to stay in the country.

But on Thursday morning, they woke up to the news that the invasion had started.

Maria, who is a well-known Putin critic, reluctantly agreed to leave the country.

A few weeks ago, a photo of her wearing a bracelet which said 'f**k Putin' went viral in Ukraine  and she could be liable for arrest if the Russian army reached Kyiv.

A friend agreed to drive the couple to the border, where they joined huge convoys making the journey from Kyiv to the small border crossing of Shehyni.

Policemen were turning back cars ten miles from the border to ensure men under 60, who have been called up to defend the country, didn't try and escape.

But when the policemen saw Jeremy's passport, they waved him through saying: 'After what the English have done to help us, we will let you through.'

Jeremy said there was a 'strong' rumour that one woman had died in the crush. Pictured: The 'pen' where the crush was tightest

Maria (pictured), who is a well-known Putin critic, reluctantly agreed to leave the country. A few weeks ago, a photo of her wearing a bracelet which said 'f**k Putin' went viral in Ukraine

Ukrainian women with children are helped to carry their bags by a Polish border guard as Ukrainian refugees cross the border from Ukraine to Poland at the Korczowa-Krakovets border crossing on Saturday

A woman cries as she embraces a child at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, as Polish Border Guards close lanes for vehicles to allow more pedestrian traffic

Ukrainians fleeing their country after the Russian invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin arrive at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka in south-eastern Poland

Ukrainian families are seen at the border with Poland in Medyka as thousands of citizens are fleeing the war-torn country after Russia announced an invasion this week

People wait for their friends and relatives at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, as Polish Border Guards close lanes for vehicles to allow more pedestrian traffic

A man embraces a boy as people arrive at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine on Saturday

Huge crowds of Ukrainians were seen squeezed on to train platforms as they waited for transport to Poland. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians tried to flee the war-torn country on Saturday

Crowds of people were seen waiting at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka in south-eastern Poland on Saturday, where they were offered help by authorities

Jeremy said there was a festive atmosphere when they first reached the small village of Shehyni. But that quickly dissipated once people realised how slow the queue was moving.

'There were probably about 2,000 people queuing in the first bit,' he said.

'It was mainly women and children with some older people. There were also a few overseas students.

'After that initial queue we headed towards a rectangle space, which also had thousands of people, and then into a smaller cage-like pen. At each stage people were getting closer and closer together.

'No one was keeping any order. There were just a couple of soldiers with guns and when anyone went up to them and asked if they could organise the people they just glared back really menacingly.

'At certain times a chant would go up that they needed to set up a separate queue  a corridor for women with young children  but that was ignored.

'People were trying to help each other if they could, but everyone was in the same miserable position.

'The scariest part was when we got close to the booths  we'd been standing up for about 12 hours by then  as that's when it really felt like we were in a dangerous crush.

'There were only three people working in the booths  they were meant to be processing people before they reached passport control - and it was painstakingly slow.

A woman wept as she embraced two children at the Medyka border crossing, connecting Ukraine and Poland, on Saturday

Mothers with young children were assisted by Polish border police at the Medyka border crossing on Saturday

Policemen were turning back cars ten miles from the border to ensure men under 60, who have been called up to defend the country, didn't try and escape. Pictured: People at the Medyka border crossing on Saturday

People embrace each other as they arrive at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, as Polish Border Guards close lanes for vehicles to allow more pedestrian traffic

'There were no toilets and no place to get food or even water. There wasn't even space to sit down so people had no choice but to stand for hours on end even though they were exhausted.'

Once they had got through the first queue, they were then faced with a second one for passport control, which took another 12 hours.

Once they were through that, the Polish border was a completely different experience.

'It was fully manned and we got through there quickly,' says Jeremy.

'Once we were through, there were hundreds of volunteers who gave us food and drink and even clothes. People were standing there with signs offering to take people wherever they wanted to go for free.

'Some people drove us two and a half hours to Krakow where we have friends and refused any payment.'

Jeremy intends to return home to the UK once Maria, a former student at the University of Leeds, gets a visa which will enable her to join him.

'I feel physically and emotionally wrecked,' said Jeremy. 'But I am pleased to be in a place of safety.'

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians rushed to the borders on Saturday as invading Russian troops pressed on with their march toward Ukraine's capital of Kyiv.

A member of the Polish Border Guard holds a child at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine on Saturday

A Polish woman hugs a Polish volunteer named Jedrzej 34, waiting to cross the border to go and fight against Russian forces at Medyka border crossing

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians rushed to the borders on Saturday as invading Russian troops pressed on with their march toward Ukraine's capital of Kyiv. Pictured: A couple look at food offered by humanitarian workers in Medyka on Saturday

At least 150,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighbouring countries, the UN refugee agency said. Pictured: A father embraces his son after his wife brought the boy and his two sisters across the border to Medyka, Poland

At least 150,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighbouring countries in the wake of the Russian invasion, the UN refugee agency said Saturday.

Some walked many miles through the night while others fled by train, car or bus, forming lines miles long at border crossings. They were greeted by waiting relatives and friends or headed on their own to reception centres organised by neighbouring governments.

'The numbers and the situation is changing minute by minute,' said Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

'At least 150,000 people have fled, they are refugees outside of Ukraine. At least 100,000 people - but probably a much larger number - have been displaced inside Ukraine.'

The agency expects up to four million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further.

Those arriving were mostly women, children and the elderly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy banned men of military age from 18 to 60 from leaving.

Some Ukrainian men were heading back into Ukraine from Poland to take up arms against the Russian forces.

In contrast to other conflicts around the globe, Russia's unprovoked attack on the Western-looking democracy has ignited a huge outpouring of support for the fleeing Ukrainians.

A Ukrainian woman rests inside a primary school sports hall that has been converted for a temporary shelter on February 26 in Przemysl, Poland

UN refugee agency expects up to four million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further. Pictured: Polish border guards help Ukrainian refugees to leave the train on February 26 in Przemysl

A Ukrainian woman and a child pick food inside a primary school sports hall that has been converted for a temporary shelter on February 26 in Przemysl, Poland

A Polish Border Guard carries a child at the Medyka border crossing between Poland and Ukraine, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine

Those arriving in Poland were mostly women, children and the elderly. Pictured: People comfort each other at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine in Medyka

Some Ukrainian men were heading back into Ukraine from Poland to take up arms against the Russian forces. Pictured: People in Medyka wait outside a supermarket near the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine

This included an unconditional welcome from nations like Poland and Hungary that did not want to accept those fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

Regular people were also opening up their homes to refugees and volunteering at welcome centers. In Poland, a Facebook page was formed where people were offered rides in private cars from the border and other help.

Volunteers even came from elsewhere in Europe to pick up refugees, among them a German couple from Hamburg who held up a sign at the Polish border town of Medyka saying they could take three people home with them.

'Our country is not doing anything, and we felt we needed to do something,' said Tanja Schwarz, 51.

Despite the goodwill, the crush of people became a very real ordeal.

One family from Chernivtsi in western Ukraine waited 20 hours before being able to cross the border into Siret in northern Romania. Natalia Murinik, 14, cried as she described saying goodbye to grandparents who couldn't leave the country.

'It really hurt, I want to go home,' she said.

A woman pushes a pram at the border crossing between Poland and Ukraine in Medyka, as thousands of Ukrainians fled the war-torn country

A U.S. Army officer assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and a Polish Army officer observe border crossing operations as people flee the Russian invasion in Ukraine, in Medyka

A woman holds her daughter's hand as they arrive by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing February 26, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland

Men fill up a car with food supplies to deliver on the Ukrainian side of the border, where thousands wait to enter Poland on February 26 in Medyka

The largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where two million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years, driven away by Russia's first incursion into Ukraine when it annexed Crimea in 2014 and seeking opportunities in the booming economy of the European Union neighbor.

Poland's government said Saturday that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the past 48 hours alone.

Poland declared its border open to fleeing Ukrainians, even for those without official documents, and dropped its requirement to show a negative COVID-19 test.

The line of vehicles waiting to enter Poland at Medyka stretched many miles into Ukraine.

A woman from Lviv named Lena described seeing toys and heavy bags along the way that people had abandoned. She was bringing her four children to safety in Poland and planned to return to join her husband. Like other Ukrainians returning home as their country fights Russia, she would only give her first name.

Even Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Europe's most anti-migrant leaders, traveled to the border town of Beregsurany, where he said Hungary was accepting all citizens and legal residents of Ukraine.

'We're letting everyone in,' Orban said.

Among those arriving at that point were a Ukrainian-British family with their dogs. 'We can't leave our dogs,' said Vlasta Terasova, arriving from Uzhhorod.

Man drives his car full of food supplies to deliver on the Ukrainian side of the border, where thousands wait to enter Poland on February 26, 2022 in Medyka, Poland

More than 100, 000 people have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine in the first three days of the Russian invasion. Pictured: A man hugs a child at the Polish Ukrainian border on February 26, 2022 in Medyka, Poland

Middle Eastern citizens arrive by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing February 26, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland

The Ukrainian government issued order to stop 18-60 year-old men legible for military conscription from crossing borders. Pictured: A man looks for clothes at an aid point with donations at the Polish Ukrainian crossing point on Saturday in Medyka

A woman embraces a child as they arrive by bus a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing on February 26, 2022 in Przemysl

On Saturday, Poland sent a hospital train to pick up those wounded in the war in Mostyska, in western Ukraine, and bring them to the Polish capital of Warsaw for treatment. The hospital train left the border town of Przemysl with five carriages to transport the wounded and four others stocked with humanitarian aid for Ukraine's Lviv district.

The U.N. said said most Ukrainians were heading to neighboring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia but some even fled into Belarus - from which some Russian forces entered Ukraine. Some planned to head further on to other countries in Europe.

The border post in Siret was crowded with Ukrainians on Saturday and humanitarian groups set up tents a few miles in and offered food and drink to those arriving.

Despite the welcome, teenager Natalia Murinik's family didn't know where they were going next.

'We don't have a clue. We're waiting for our friends, and then we'll think,' she said.

Elsewhere, the head of Britain's MI6 Secret Intelligence Service said he believes Russia's war in Ukraine will prove 'unwinnable' because President Vladimir Putin will never attain political victory over the country's people.

Richard Moore, the chief of MI6, wrote how a report suggesting Putin's forces will ultimately fail in Ukraine because it underestimated its neighbour's military strength and fierce determination 'makes sense to me'.

Nigerian citizens, Victoria and her daughter, Elvira arrive by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing February 26, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland

A man rests inside a temporary shelter at the Ukrainian house on February 26, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland

A woman holds her baby as she arrives by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing on February 26, 2022, in Przemysl, Poland

The article Moore, 58, was reacting to was penned by Lawrence Freedman, the Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London.

In the article titled 'A Reckless Gamble', Professor Freedman said Putin had 'become obsessed with Ukraine, and prone to outrageous theories which appear as pretexts for war but which may also reflect his views.'

He wrote that victory for Moscow does not come in the form of a successful invasion that overthrows Ukraine's government, but with winning over the people of Ukraine.

This, the professor writes, is something Russia does not have the strength for.

'Even if the government loses control of the capital and is forced to flee, and the command systems for Ukrainian forces start to break down, that does not mean that Russia has won the war,' he wrote.

In an unusual move for the chief of MI6, Moore shared the article with his over 130,000 Twitter followers, writing: 'Fascinating. Makes sense to me.'

In a rebuke of Putin's human rights record, Moore also wrote around the same time in a separate tweet: 'With the tragedy and destruction unfolding so distressingly in Ukraine, we should remember the values and hard-won freedoms that distinguish us from Putin, none more than LGBT+ rights.'

Moore's endorsement of the article came as other intelligence sources claimed Putin's war with Ukraine is not going to plan due to Kremlin 'overconfidence', poor tactical planning, and 'shock' at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for their nation's survival.

Ukraine's military is asking people to remove the names of streets, cities and villages from road signs in their regions in order to 'confuse and disorient the enemy'. In a tweet, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said: 'We will do everything possible to clear Ukraine of the Russian occupier as soon as possible!'.

Men look for clothes in their size at an aid point with donations at the Polish Ukrainian crossing point on February 26, 2022, in Medyka, Poland

A woman arrives by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing February 26, 2022, in Przemysl, Poland

A woman holds her suitcases after arriving by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing on Saturday

A woman looks for clothes at an aid point with donations at the Polish Ukrainian crossing point on February 26, 2022 in Medyka

A sign over a part of the Boryspil highway triumphantly declared: 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself!', in reference to the killing of a small group of Ukrainian border guards stationed at Snake Island off the coast of Ukraine after they refused to surrender to Kremlin forces.

Estonia's former defence chief Riho Terras has now claimed that Putin's war is not going to plan because Russia is fast running out of money and weapons, and will have to enter negotiations with Volodymyr Zelensky's government if Kyiv holds off the Russians for 10 days.

Russia's tyrant has allegedly convened a meeting with the oligarchs in a bunker in the Ural Mountains, at which it is claimed that he furiously vented that he thought the war would be 'easy' and 'everything would be done in one to four days'.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence sources, Terras claimed that the war is costing Russia around 15billion-per-day, and that they have rockets for three to four days at most, which they are using sparingly.

He claimed that Putin's plan has relied on panicking the country, firing missiles at residential buildings 'at random' to 'intimidate' the Ukrainians, trigger mass army desertions, national surrender, and Zelensky's flight from the country. Terras also alleged that Russian special operations have been near Kyiv since February 18, and had planned to swiftly seize the capital and install a puppet regime.

'The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered. The Ukrainians must avoid panic! ... Ukraine must stay strong and we must provide assistance!', he wrote on Twitter.

However, in a worrying sign for Ukraine, video from Russia's Western border with Ukraine showed TOS-1 heavy flamethrower tanks moving towards its neighbour. The tanks are capable of firing high-power thermobaric weapons - dubbed the 'father of all bombs'.

On Saturday morning, the upper floors of a building in Kyiv were struck by a Russian rocket (pictured). Reports suggesting at least two people were killed in the explosion

Ukrainian tanks move on a road before an attack in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022

A police vehicle is seen patroling the streets as a curfew has been imposed from Saturday 5 PM to Monday 8 AM local time on February 26, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine

A screen grab from drone footage shows cars forming a line that stretches some 35 km from the Shehyni border crossing to Poland as people try to flee Russia's military operation against Ukraine outside Mostyska, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

A view shows a destroyed armored personnel carrier (APC) on the roadside in Kharkiv, Ukraine February 26, 2022

A destroyed Russian military vehicle is seen on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on February 26, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A fragment of a destroyed Russian tank is seen on the roadside on the outskirts of Kharkiv on February 26, 2022

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region on Saturday

A Ukrainian soldier runs holding his weapon outside a military facility, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

In Russian, 'TOS' stands for 'heavy flame thrower'. However, what the TOS-1 launches is perhaps even more frightening - fuel-air explosives (FAE) that cause a 'wall of napalm'. As the bomb explodes, it scatters dust that ignites when it meets oxygen, causing the very air around it to appear as if it is bursting into flames.

Russia's Interfax news agency claimed Moscow had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol. Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment on the fate of Melitopol. If the Interfax report about Melitopol, which cited Russia's defence ministry, is confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre that the Kremlin has seized.

However, Britain's armed forces minister James Heappey cast doubt on the report, saying the city of some 150,000 people was still in Ukrainian hands and that fighting in the capital was so far confined to 'very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers' and that 'the main armoured columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off'.

The Ukrainian health minister said 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the Russian offensive. Viktor Lyashko said there were three children among those killed.

His statement was unclear whether the casualties included military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion.

It was later reported that a further 19 civilians were killed in shelling in Ukraine's east, while two were reported killed in a strike on a tower block early on Saturday - bringing the civilian death toll to 219.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov claimed Saturday that since the start of Moscow's attack, its military had hit 821 Ukrainian military facilities, 87 tanks and other targets.

Konashenkov didn't say how many Ukrainian troops were killed and didn't mention any casualties on the Russian side. Neither his claims nor Ukraine's allegations that its forces killed thousands of Kremlin troops could be independently verified.

A sign over a part of the Boryspil highway read: 'Russian warship, go f**k yourself!', in reference to the killing of Ukrainian border guards stationed at Snake Island off the coast of Ukraine when they refused to surrender to Kremlin forces

A column of Russian military vehicles is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border, on February 26, 2022

Civilian Members of a territorial defence unit fit their weapons to repel the Russian attacking forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday

A Ukrainian serviceman checks on a man who was acting suspicious not far from the positions on Ukraine's service members in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022

A local man shakes hands with a serviceman of the People's Militia in Stanitsa Luganskaya, a rural town abandoned by Ukrainian troops without resistance, February 26, 2022

Ukrainian servicemen arrive from Zmeiny Island, their garrison voluntarily surrendering to Russian troops, February 26, 2022

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire from a bombed civilian building in a residential area on February 26, 2022, in Kiev, Ukraine. A missile has hit this residential building in the capital

A couple embraces, on Maidan Square, February 26, 2022, in Kiev, Ukraine

Kyiv's military is far inferior to its Russian counterpart with an air defence system and air force dating back to the Soviet era

HOW IS PUTIN'S WAR NOT GOING TO PLAN?

MONEY

According to Ukrainian intelligence sources, Putin's war with Ukraine is costing the Russian economy around 15billion-per-day alone  meaning the Kremlin will have spent around 45billion by the end of today in fighting Ukraine.

Writing on Twitter, Terras claimed that Russia would be forced to enter negotiations with Ukraine if Kyiv can hold off the Kremlin's advance for 10 days, by which point Russia will have spent around 150billion.

Though it is widely believed that the Russian dictator will have factored Western sanctions into his calculations, the combined effect of punitive measures on Russia's banking system will further squeeze its economy.

The United States, Britain, Japan, Canada, Australia and the European Union unveiled more sanctions on Moscow on top of penalties earlier this week, including a move by Germany to halt a gas pipeline from Russia.

President Joe Biden delivered further measures to target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors, while the EU unveiled its own new package including financial, energy and technological sanctions.

WEAPONS AND RESOURCES

Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Terras also claimed that Russia has rockets for 'three to four days at most' which they use 'sparingly'.

He added: 'They lack weapons, the Tula and 2 Rotenberg plants can't physically fulfil the orders for weapons. Rifles and ammo are the most they can do.

'The next Russian weapons can be produced in 3-4 months  if even that. They have no raw materials. What was previously supplied mainly from Slovenia, Finland and Germany is now cut off.

'If Ukraine manages to hold the Russians off for 10 days, then the Russians will have to enter negotiations. Because they have no money, weapons, or resources'.

OVERCONFIDENCE

Terras also claimed that at a meeting of the oligarchs in his lair in the Urals, Putin was 'furious' and ranted about how he thought the war would be 'easily' won in 'one to four days'.

He continued: 'Russia's whole plan relies on panic  that the civilians and armed forces surrender and Zelensky flees.

'They expect Kharkiv to surrender first so the other cities would follow suit to avoid bloodshed. The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered'.

A Ukrainian soldier smokes a cigarette on his position at an armored vehicle outside Kharkiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

Ukrainian service members look for unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the morning of February 26, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene

Putin gives comments to the media after a ceremony to sign a declaration on allied cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan at Moscow's Kremlin, February 22, 2022

WHAT'S THE STATE OF PLAY TODAY?

HELICOPTERS, JETS AND PLANES

The mayor of a city south of the Ukrainian capital claimed that the country's military has fended off a Russian attempt to take control of a military air base.

Natalia Balansynovych, the mayor of Vasylkiv, about 25 miles south of Kyiv, said on Saturday that Russian airborne forces landed near the city overnight and tried to seize the base. She said fierce fighting also raged on Vasylkiv's central street.

She said that Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian attacks, and that the situation is now calm. Balansynovych claimed there were heavy casualties, but didn't give any numbers.

At around 3am on Saturday, fighting between Russia and Ukraine broke out at Vasylkiv, which is home to a Cold War-era base.

Ukraine's military claimed a Russian IL-76 military transporter planer was brought down, reportedly with 150 paratroopers on board. Sources in the city then claimed that Russian soldiers, allegedly dressed as Ukrainian police, ambushed a checkpoint.

Kyiv: Fierce fighting erupts in capital after a Russian transport plane carrying '150 paratroopers' was shot down

Smoke and flames are seen billowing over Kyiv's Peremohy Avenue in the west of the city, near the zoo, early Saturday

Significant explosions were seen from Beresteiska metro station in the west of Kyiv

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is seen addressing the nation on Friday night

Heavy fighting ensued in Vasylkiv, as Putin's forces tried to gain a foothold in the south from which to launch their attack on Kyiv.

At around 4am, Ukraine's Defence Ministry claimed 'two enemy targets were shot down'  identifying them as a Russian SU-25 helicopter and a military bomber  near the separatist zone in the east.

At around 4am, a second Russian military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine. The Russian military did not comment on either plane.

Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) denied a report earlier on Saturday that Russian helicopters had landed in the Lviv region, a development that would have signalled a widening of the theatre of Moscow's invasion.

The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, said Russia had landed three helicopters near the city of Brody in the western Lviv region and that Ukrainian forces had repelled the attack.

The SBU said the information was false and that no such landing had taken place. It said a Ukrainian helicopter had done a reconnaissance flight in the area.

'We ask residents to remain calm!', the SBU said in a statement posted on Facebook.

Sadovyi's office declined to comment and the SBU declined further comment. The Lviv regional administration said that footage circulating on social media of a helicopter firing rockets in the Lviv region was Ukrainian, not Russian.

Ukrainian soldiers walk past debris of a burning military truck on a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday morning

Ukrainian service members look for and collect unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in Kyiv

GROUND FORCES

Earlier, small arms fire and explosions were heard in the capital's northern district Obolonsky as what appeared to be an advance party of Russia's invasion force left a trail of destruction.

Ukrainian forces reported fighting with Russian armoured units in two locations between 40-80 kilometres north of Kyiv.

Ukraine's military claimed Russia had 'attacked one of the military units on Victory Avenue in Kyiv' but that the assault had been 'repulsed'. It also reported another incident northwest of the capital.

Kyiv said 137 people, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed during the fighting, and claimed that 2,800 Russian service personnel have died.

An adviser to Ukraine's president says that fighting is raging in the capital and in the country's south, and that the Ukrainian military is successfully fending off Russian assaults.

Russian forces were also focusing on the country's south, where intense fighting is underway in Kherson just north of Crimea, and in the Black Sea ports of Mykolaiv, Odesa and around Mariupol, it was claimed.

A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of a burning military truck, on a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

A view shows an apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday morning

Firefighters extinguish fire in a high-rise apartment block which was hit by recent shelling in Kyiv on Saturday

A high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a devastating missile this morning as fighting continues to rage in the capital between Russian attackers and Ukrainian forces

Mykhailo Podolyak said that Russia considers it a priority to seize the south, but it has failed to make any significant gains.

Britain claimed that Russian forces have not captured the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol and armoured columns advancing on the capital Kyiv have been held up by Ukrainian resistance.

Armed forces minister James Heappey said on Saturday it was the British assessment that Russia had so far failed to capture any of its day one targets for its invasion of Ukraine, which began on Thursday.

'Even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to have taken but we can't see anything to substantiate that, are all still in Ukrainian hands,' Heappey told BBC radio.

'The fighting ... reported on the outskirts of Kyiv overnight, we understand to just be Russian special forces and pockets of paratroopers. The reality is that the armoured columns that were coming down from Belarus and the north that were going to encircle Kyiv are still some way north because they've been held up by this incredible Ukrainian resistance.'

A Ukrainian soldier stands guard behind tires in Kyiv during Russia's military intervention in Ukraine

A Ukranian fireman kneels by a damaged vehicle, at the site of a fighting with Russian troops after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 26, 2022

Russian missiles pounded Kyiv on Friday, families cowered in shelters and authorities told residents to prepare Molotov cocktails to defend Ukraine's capital from an assault that the mayor said had already begun with saboteurs in the city.

But an American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested a mixed picture for the Russian effort to press an offensive that Washington and Kyiv say is aimed at decapitating the government and installing a puppet regime.

'We do assess that there is greater resistance by the Ukrainians than the Russians expected,' the senior defence official said, adding Ukraine's command and control of its military 'remains intact'.

'They are not moving on Kyiv as fast as what we believe they anticipated they would be able to do. That said, they continue to try to move on Kyiv.'

Still, Russia has not yet mobilized the majority of its forces arrayed around Ukraine, the official said, assessing that just about one-third have now been 'committed' to its offensive.

Although most of the Russian targeting has been against Ukrainian military installations, some of the missiles have landed on civilian residential areas, the official said.

Ukraine's military was putting up a fight, the official added.

'They are fighting for the country,' the official said, noting that Russia had yet to establish control of the airspace above Ukraine or used the extent of its electronic warfare capabilities. 'In general, the Russians have lost a little bit of their momentum,' the official said.

A militant of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic inspects the remains of a missile that landed on a street in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk

A Ukrainian servicemen walk by a damaged vehicle, at the site of a fighting with Russian troops, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Kyiv, February 26, 2022

RUSSIA'S ACTIONS

Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.

The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

The Ukrainian military said a battle was underway near a military unit to the west of the city center.

A rescue worker says at least six civilians were injured by a rocket that hit a high-rise apartment building on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital.

Petro Prokopov, a firefighter who was taking part in rescue efforts, said the building on the southwestern edge of Kyiv near Zhuliany airport was hit between 16 and 21 floors on Saturday. He said at least six people were injured and apartments on two floors were gutted by fire. Emergency responders have evacuated 80 people.

Soldiers tasked with defending Kyiv from advancing Russian troops take up positions underneath a highway into the city

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted an image showing a gaping hole on one side of the apartment building.

AFP saw a dead man in civilian clothes lying sprawled on the pavement as nearby medics rushed to help another man whose car was crushed by an armoured vehicle.

Separately, Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv.

'If the dam is destroyed, the flooding will cause catastrophic casualties and losses  including flooding of residential areas of Kyiv and its suburbs,' the ministry said.

Marine who blew himself up to destroy a bridge and halt advancing Russian troops is made a 'Hero of Ukraine' - the country's highest honour Volodmyr Zelensky has declared a marine who blew himself up along with a bridge near Crimea to repel advancing Russian forces a Hero of Ukraine. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region when Kremlin troops advanced and the battalion decided the only way to stop them was to blow up the bridge. It was mined, and Shakun had no time to get out. He texted them and told them he was going to blow up the bridge. Seconds later, they heard an explosion, a post on their Facebook page said. Shakun's efforts dramatically slowed down the Russian advance and allowed his comrades to regroup and re-deploy, the Ukrainian General Staff added. Zelensky has now made Shakun a Hero of Ukraine, the highest national title that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the country's president. Vitaly Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region when Russians advanced The Henichesk bridge in the Kherson region at the Crimean crossing which the Ukrainian forces said was a key area of defense. This image was shared by Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform on Thursday A post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Facebook page detailed his heroic efforts In an emotional speech to the besieged nation uploaded to Facebook, the Ukrainian President also accused Moscow of attempting to seize Kyiv, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk', one of two separatist regions which warmonger Vladimir Putin officially recognised before launching an all-out invasion. Declaring 'we derailed their idea', Zelensky added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army. 'The [Russian] occupants wanted to block the centre of our state and put here their marionette, like in Donetsk. We derailed their idea.' Zelensky pushed for Ukraine's urgent ascension to the European Union, saying he discussed the issue with the EU leaders. He also urged cutting Russia from the SWIFT international electronic bank payment system, noting that Germany and Hungary should show 'courage' and agree to the move. Briefly switching to Russian, he claimed that thousands of Kremlin troops were killed and hundreds of those who were taken prisoner 'can't understand why they were sent into Ukraine to kill and get killed'. Thanking Russians who spoke out against the war and asked them to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin, he said: 'The sooner you say to your government that this war should be immediately stopped, the more of your people will stay alive.' Advertisement

COULD RUSSIA LOSE THE WAR?

Despite Western fears, American officials believe that Putin's assault and attempted seizure of Kyiv has become bogged down.

While Russian special forces have reached the suburbs of Kyiv, the bulk of Moscow's heavy armour is believed to be still more than 30 miles away from the capital.

Britain claimed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been slowed by strong Ukrainian resistance.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said fighting in Kyiv was so far confined to 'very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers'. He added that 'the main armored columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off'.

Heappey said: 'It looks like the Russian plan is nowhere near running to schedule. I think that will be a great cause of concern for President Putin and rather points to the fact that there was a lot of hubris in the Russian plan and that he may be awfully advised.'

However, Western officials fear that Putin could resort to high-power thermobaric weapons  dubbed the 'father of all bombs' that vaporize bodies and crush internal organs  as brave Ukrainians resist his attempts to take control of Kyiv.

A thermobaric bomb explosion during the Caucasus 2016 strategic drills at Opuk range of Russia's Southern Military District

Thermobaric weapons  also known as vacuum bombs  are high-powered explosive that use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed. Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the US and the Soviet Union in the 1960s

Thermobaric weapons  also known as vacuum bombs  are high-powered explosive that use the atmosphere itself as part of the explosion. They are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed.

A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 pounds and left a crater more than 1,000ft wide after it exploded six feet above the ground.

Thermobaric weapons were developed by both the US and the Soviet Union in the 1960s. In 2007, Russia detonated the largest thermobaric weapon ever made, which created an explosion equivalent to 39.9 tons. The US version of the weapon reportedly costs over $16million each.

The official said: 'My fear would be that if they don't meet their timescale and objectives they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence.

'They don't adhere to the same principles of necessity and proportionality and rule of law that Western forces do.'

'Will we declare war on Russia? No': Armed Forces Minister James Heappey insists NATO troops will not be sent in to Ukraine as he admits 'ultimate economic sanction' of removing Russia from the SWIFT system will require 'further diplomacy' NATO troops will not set foot in the Ukrainian theatre of war as Britain presses ahead with its plans to enact the 'ultimate economic sanction' and boot Russia out of the SWIFT international payment network. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey warned that any further financial penalties were being held up in the courts and reiterated the Government's desire to see Russia expelled from the international SWIFT banking system. Speaking during his media round of interviews on Saturday morning, Mr Heappey also stopped short of committing sending NATO troops to fight in Ukraine. 'You're asking me if we will declare war on Russia? No,' was his answer when pressed by veteran journalist Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey reiterated NATO troops will not be entering the Ukrainian theatre of war Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers walk around debris of burning military trucks in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, February 26 In later comments to the BBC, Mr Heappey said the Government's position on removing Russia from the international SWIFT financial servers was clear. 'The reality is that SWIFT is not a unilateral decision the UK can take. If it were, the Government's position is clear and we will push ahead with every means at our disposal. 'Clearly, it's the ultimate economic sanction. It's the one the UK government wants to see enacted.' It was also revealed that the Government will continue to supply arms in its efforts to aid the Ukrainian's attempt to repel the Russian invasion and the Ministry of Defence is working on plans to potentially support a resistance movement and a government in exile if Ukraine was finally overrun. Warning that the Ukrainian conflict could last for months to come, Mr Heappey added: 'Nobody should think that this is anywhere near over. 'What stands in front of Ukraine, its armed forces and very tragically its people, is days, weeks, months more of what we have seen over that last 48 hours'. Advertisement

Ukraine's SECOND Tiananmen moment: Local man climbs on top of Russian tank before kneeling on the ground in bid to stop military convoy as Putin's men face fierce fight back on the streets

Another brave Ukrainian local has been captured on video trying to single-highhandedly block the advance of a Russian military convoy - in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' blocking Chinese forces in 1989.

The footage emerged as Moscow's forces continued their illegal invasion of the country, where Ukrainian soldiers and citizens alike are putting up a fierce resistance against Vladimir Putin's invading army.

Video of the brave face-off showed a column of Russian tanks passing through a junction in a Ukrainian town.

As the hulking vehicles rumbled through, one man decided to take a stand, heroically climbing on to the front of one of the tanks. It continued forward a few meters, but then came to a halt, blocking the route of those following.

Once the tank was no longer moving, the man can be seen climbing down from the tank and kneeling in the middle of the road, blocking the progress of the Russian convoy.

Recognising the futility of the man's protest, onlookers are seen trying to drag the man away from the tank.

However, defiant in his protest, the man continues to hold on to the front of the tank.

Another brave Ukrainian civilian has been captured on video trying to single-highhandedly block the advance of a Russian military convoy - in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man' blocking Chinese forces in 1989. Pictured: A Ukrainian local kneels in front of a Russian tank as a convoy of military vehicles passed through a town

Video of the brave face-off showed a column of Russian tanks passing through a junction in a Ukrainian town. As the hulking vehicles rumbled through, one man decided to take a stand, heroically climbing on to the front of one of the tanks. It continued forward a few meters, but then came to a halt, blocking the route of those following

The incident came after a similar confrontation went viral on Friday, which saw another man bravely walk into the middle of the road and into the path of another column of Russian military vehicles passing through Ukraine.

The footage, thought to have been filmed in the south of the country close to Crimea, shows the man bravely waving down the convoy in an attempt to block its path.

Some military vehicles in the procession swerve around the man, but others are shown stopping for him, bringing those behind them to a complete stop as well.

The man has since been dubbed 'Tank Man' on social media, and while his identity is now known, his bravery quickly drew praise from others inspired by his protest which has become emblematic of Ukraine's resistance.

A brave Ukrainian citizen has been filmed apparently trying to stop a convoy of Russian Tigr-M fighting vehicles - similar to American Humvees - moving along a highway close to Crimea in scenes reminiscent of Tiananmen Square's 'tank man'

FILE - In this June 5, 1989 file photo, a Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Changan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square. The man was calling for an end to the violence and bloodshed against pro-democracy protesters

Russian troops move towards Ukraine on the road near Armiansk, Crimea, in what appears to be the convoy that a citizen later tried to stop as it drove down a highway, February 25, 2022

Russian soldiers on the amphibious infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2 move towards mainland Ukraine on the road near Armiansk, Crimea, February 25, 2022

Kremlin website is DOWN: Russian state websites including media watchdog crash and TV channels 'are hacked to broadcast Ukrainian songs' Russian government websites including the official Kremlin and media regulator pages are down, in what could be the first round of tit-for-tat cyberattacks after the West united in their opposition to Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine Russian government websites including the official Kremlin and media regulator pages are down, in what could be the first round of tit-for-tat cyberattacks after the West furiously condemned warmonger Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's telecoms agency also announced that Russian TV channels had been hacked to broadcast Ukrainian songs, the Kyiv Independent reported on Saturday afternoon. Just hours before Russia's tyrant launched his aggressive war to 'demilitarise' and 'de-Nazify' Ukraine, Kyiv was hit by a 'massive' cyberattack targeting its government and banks. The websites of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service, and Cabinet of Ministers were all out of action Wednesday afternoon. Bomb threats were also phoned in to several government buildings, thought to be part of a psychological pressure campaign by Moscow. The Russian president's war appears not to be going to plan due to Kremlin 'overconfidence', poor tactical planning, and 'shock' at the fierce resistance put up by brave Ukrainians fighting for national survival Advertisement

Cargo ship 'belonging to Russian bank that is pivotal' to country's defence sector and among those targeted by UK government sanctions against Moscow is SEIZED in the English Channel

A cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy.

The 416ft commercial boat named the 'Baltic Leader' is understood to belong to Promsvyazbank, one of the five major Russian banks which were hit with crippling EU sanctions this week, and was seized in the English Channel early on Saturday morning.

Promsvyazbank was named in the House of Commons as one of five Russian state-owned financial institutions that would be hit with sanctions.

Meanwhile, a US Treasury document said 'Baltic Leader' was owned by Promsvyazbank, which was described as 'systemically important' to Russia's defence industry.

Maritime officers have been given the power to intercept and seize vessels suspected of contravening EU-backed sanctions of Russia in the wake of the Ukrainian invasion.

In what is understood to be the first instance of Russian assets being frozen while in transit, the boat was intercepted by customs officials near Honfleur, in Normandy, after departing from the French city of Rouen.

'Baltic Leader' a cargo ship bound for St. Petersburg was intercepted in the English Channel early on Saturday, as the latest trade sanctions begin to hit at the Russian economy

'Baltic Leader' departed from the French city of Rouen on Friday, February 25 before it was intercepted by French maritime officials and diverted to Boulogne-sur-Mer port in Normandy at around 3am local time (2am GMT)

Pictured: The cargo ship impounded in the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, France on Saturday, February 26

French authorities said the ship, which has been loaded with cars, belonged to a company suspected of violating trade sanctions linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

'Baltic Leader' had arrived in the French city of Rouen on February 19 and spent almost six days docked there until departing on Friday night.

The vessel had been expected to reach St. Petersburg on Thursday, March 3.

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was then diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials.

Those aboard 'Baltic Leader' are said to be co-operating with the investigation. The process could take up to 48 hours.

Captain Magnin said the boat is 'strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions'.

The short journey taken by 'Baltic Leader' as it was intercepted by French maritime officials in the English Channel and escorted to Boulogne-sur-Mer early on Saturday morning

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, said the ship was diverted to the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer (above) between 3 and 4am (2/3am GMT) and that ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials

'Baltic Leader', a Ro-Ro Cargo vessel built 22 years ago, had been expected to dock in St. Petersburg on March 6. The ship sails under the flag of Russia.

One official was quoted by the BBC saying: 'It has been taken to the French port after a request by the French government because it is suspected of belonging to a company targeted by EU sanctions against Moscow.

'French boarder forces are currently investigating the cargo ship. Crew aboard the 'Baltic Leader' has been cooperating with French authorities.'

The Russian embassy in France is said to be 'seeking explanations' from French authorities behind the seizure of one of its cargo ships.

A spokesperson in Paris told the Russian TASS news agency the boat's captain had called the embassy, which had then contacted French officials.
Russia-Ukraine conflicts intensify, sending shock waves across world

Xinhua) 09:45, February 26, 2022

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows an empty street in Kiev, capital of Ukraine. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

KIEV, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Ukraine are plunging deeper into the mire of military conflict, sending shock waves across the world.

According to the latest information released by the two sides, multiple military targets across Ukraine were under attack; fighting was reported across several fronts; explosions were heard in the center of Ukraine's capital Kiev.

The shock waves of the conflicts have battered the world's major markets, bringing stocks down to new lows. Due to fears of supply disruptions, crude oil and natural gas prices jumped to multi-year highs.

INTENSIFYING CONFLICT

The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that the Russian Armed Forces have disabled 118 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.

Eleven military airfields, 13 command posts and communication centers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 14 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, and 36 radar stations were among the facilities put out of order, the ministry's Zvezda broadcaster reported, citing Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

On Friday morning, serial explosions rocked Kiev, which Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko later called "attacks by our air defenses on enemy planes or drones," citing operative information.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko tweeted that three people were injured, among whom one was in critical condition, after missile debris hit a residential building.

He also posted a photo showing a building with part of its wall torn down and emergency services present at the scene.

Advisor to head of the President's Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak said Russian forces have seized the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Thursday.

People take shelter in a subway station in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses captured images on camera of what appeared to be a rocket flying over the skies of Bershad in the Vinnytsia region.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass on Thursday, multiple military installations across Ukraine, including airfields, command posts, naval bases and radar stations, have been destroyed.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for more severe sanctions against Russia by the United States and its Western allies and ordered a full military mobilization that would last 90 days.

SHOCK WAVES

Amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, turmoil swept global financial markets, triggering a massive sell-off in major stock markets on Thursday.

The FTSE 100, the leading benchmark for Britain-listed blue-chip companies, ended the session down 3.88 percent at 7,207.01. The Paris CAC 40 plunged 3.83 percent or 259.62 points to 6,521.05. The German benchmark DAX index fell by 3.96 percent or 579.26 points to 14,052.10.

Russia-related companies listed in London were among the most affected of the FTSE 100.

Fears that oil supply would be disrupted sent prices much higher on Thursday. The rally was led by Brent oil, a global benchmark, which surged above 100 U.S. dollars a barrel, a level not seen since 2014.

In 2021, Russia remained among the largest suppliers of natural gas and petroleum oils to the European Union, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the union. Ukraine is a key transit hub for Russian oil and gas.

"Russia's pivotal role in the global energy supply cannot be downplayed and commodity markets have already started to price in the risk of disruption to Russia's energy exports to the West," said Capital Economics.

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows diesel and gasoline prices displayed on a screen at a gas station in Frankfurt, Germany. (Photo by Armando Babani/Xinhua)

U.S. stocks tumbled on Thursday morning but finished higher on the day, as investors assessed the geopolitical tensions over Ukraine. Analysts cautioned that continued volatility is expected amid uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis coupled with policy tightening from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Tokyo stocks closed sharply lower Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index falling to a 15-month low as investors offloaded issues amid concerns over the Ukraine issue.

South Korean stocks plunged 2.6 percent Thursday amid growing fears over the Ukraine issue. The benchmark KOSPI tumbled 70.73 points, or 2.60 percent, to settle at 2,648.80. It was the lowest close in about four weeks since Jan. 27.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday expressed deep concerns over the Ukraine crisis, noting that the multilateral lender is "assessing the implications."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States said on Thursday that it is extending its no-fly zone in Eastern Europe as conflicts in Ukraine are unfolding.

The FAA said in a statement that it issued Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) expanding the area in Eastern Europe and Russia where U.S. airlines and U.S. pilots cannot operate.

"The expanded NOTAMs now cover the entire country of Ukraine, the entire country of Belarus and a western portion of Russia," the statement read.

The Moldovan parliament on Thursday declared a state of emergency for 60 days across the country amid the latest developments in neighboring Ukraine.

Tunisia decided to send a plane to Poland to withdraw Tunisians residing in Ukraine and wishing to return to Tunisia, reported Tunis Afrique Presse on Thursday.

EFFORTS TO RESTORE DIALOGUE UNDERWAY

Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and peaceful means to settle disputes.

"I call for an immediate ceasefire, deescalation of tensions and a firm return to diplomacy and dialogue," said the UNGA president in a statement.

Underscoring that the UN Charter is based on the principle of sovereign equality, Shahid called on all member states to settle their international disputes by peaceful means.

"I renew my call to all member states to uphold their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law," said the UNGA president.

"The safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its people is a priority and the need of the hour," he said.

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows an interior view of a subway station in Kiev, capital of Ukraine. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told a meeting with top military brass that the purpose of Russia's military operation in Donbass is to prevent local destruction and civilian casualties in Donetsk and Lugansk, noting that even though the conflict has already begun, the sides must find ways to prevent bloodshed and a full-scale war.

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."

It is "imperative to establish ceasefire & to find a political and democratic resolution," he added.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
The U.S. Navy has announced it will court martial the sailor accused of setting the USS Bonhomme on fire, leaving dozens of people injured and the amphibious assault vessel damaged beyond repair.

Ryan Mays, who held the rank of seaman, is facing counts of aggravated arson and willful hazarding of a vessel for sparking the blaze, which burned for nearly five days starting on July 12, 2020. Smoke hung over much of San Diego and the bitter smell of ash remained long after the flames were finally put out.

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The fire forced the Navy to scrap the $1.2 billion boat. It also marked one of the worst noncombat warship disasters in recent history.

FILE - In this July 12, 2020, file photo, smoke rises from the USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego, after an explosion and fire on board the ship at Naval Base San Diego. A sailor accused of starting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard will face a court martial for arson. The Navy notified Ryan Mays on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, that he was to be tried in military court on two counts for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard. (Denis Poroy/AP)

Defense lawyer Gary Barthel said the decision to proceed to trial came despite a hearing officers recommendation that there wasnt enough evidence to win a conviction after a preliminary hearing in December.

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In our perspective its that the Navys not looking for justice in this case, Barthel said. What the Navys looking for is to make Mays a scapegoat.

While Mays has maintained his innocence, prosecutors previously argued that he set the fire because he became resentful after dropping out of Navy SEAL training.

FILE - In this July 12, 2020 file photo fire crews spray water from the dock onto the side of the USS Bonhomme Richard, in San Diego. (Gregory Bull/AP)

Mays, now 20, first enlisted in the Navy in 2019 with the hopes of completing the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUDS) training program. But just five days in, he opted to quit the grueling course and was ultimately assigned to USS Bonhomme Richard as an undesignated seaman.

According to his arrest warrant, its not uncommon for sailors who drop out of the BUDS program to have behavioral issues afterward.

With News Wire Services
Valery Gergiev, a conductor who is a personal friend and prominent supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will not lead the Vienna Philharmonic in a five-concert U.S. tour that started at New York City's Carnegie Hall on Friday night.

'This change was made due to recent world events,' Carnegie Hall spokeswoman Synneve Carlino said.

The 68-year-old Russian conductor is music director of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, the White Nights Festival there and is chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic.

He received a Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation prize that Putin revived in 2013 and has often voiced support of Putin, who has been widely condemned for ordering an invasion of Ukraine that began Thursday.

Gergiev has been friends with Putin for over 30 years - the pair met when Putin was an official in St. Petersburg and Gergiev was beginning his tenure as the leader of the Kirov Theater there, according to The New York Times.

He has repeatedly defended Putin's actions in the past, and supported Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The decision to remove him from the concerts comes as Russia is barred from a growing list of events in condemnation of the conflict with Ukraine, after Moscow launched an invasion on Thursday and fighting continuing over the weekend as the Kremlin tries to take the capital city Kyiv.

Yesterday, the the International Olympic Committee told International Federations to move any events scheduled to take place in Russia or Belarus out of those countries, and Russia was also banned from competing in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Valery Gergiev, pictured right alongside his long-time friend Vladimir Putin, will not lead his Vienna Philharmonic in a five-concert tour that started in Carnegie Hall on Monday night after he failed to make a statement condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Gergiev, pictured, appeared in a television ad for Putin's third presidential campaign in 2012. In 2014, the conductor signed a petition in support of the annexation of Crimea

Gergiev, right, has been friends with Putin for over thirty years - the pair met when Putin was an official in St. Petersburg and Gergiev was beginning his tenure as the leader of the Kirov Theater there

Although Gergiev had not commented publicly about the ongoing invasion against Ukraine, he had previously supported Russia's moves against the country, the Times reported.

Online posts in recent days had promised protests at Carnegie Hall, where Gergiev was to lead the Vienna Philharmonic on Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoon. The orchestra then travels to Hayes Hall in Naples, Florida, for performances on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Russian pianist Denis Matsuev will not perform as scheduled on Friday. In 2014, Matsuev said he supported Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Vienna said the weekend programs would remain unchanged, and a soloist will be announced along with a conductor for the Florida concerts.

Ron Boling, a spokesman for the orchestra, said the Philharmonic would not comment when asked whether the decision was made by the orchestra, Gergiev or Carnegie.

The move came after Milan's famed Teatro alla Scala sent a letter to Gergiev asking him to make a clear statement in favor of a peaceful resolution in the Ukraine, or he would not be permitted to return to complete his engagement conducting Tchaikovsky's 'The Queen of Spades.'

Gergiev was lightly contested by the audience during a performance Wednesday night, but the situation changed dramatically with the Russian invasion overnight on Thursday, theater spokesman Paolo Besana said. He is next scheduled to appear in Milan on March 5.

Pictured is the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Daniel Barenbolm

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala (pictured), who is La Scala's president, said the request was made because Gergiev had declared his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, who is La Scala's president, said the request was made because Gergiev had declared his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions.

'We are asking him to take a clear position against this invasion, and in the case in which he doesn't do it, we are constrained to renounce the collaboration,' Sala said. 'It is clear that the culture can go on other levels, but in front of such a situation we need to act.'

Activists launched the hashtag #CancelGergiev on Twitter, and circulated photos of the composer beside the Russian leader.

It wouldn't have been the first time Gergiev drew ire outside performances at Carnegie Hall. In 2013, protesters confronted him outside for failing to condemn Putin's restrictions on the discussion of homosexuality in the country, the New York Times reported.

The conductor appeared in a television ad for Putin's third presidential campaign in 2012. In 2014, Gergiev signed a petition in support of the annexation of Crimea.

'Ukraine for us is an essential part of our cultural space, in which we were brought up and in which we have lived until now,' the conductor told a state-run news publication at the time.

Just days before the last-minute decision this week was made, however, Vienna Philharmonic violinist and chairman Daniel Froschauer told the outlet that Gergiev would be conducting on the tour, defending his support of Putin.

'Hes going as a performer, not a politician,' Froschauer said. 'We are not politicians. Were trying to build bridges.'

Metropolitan Opera music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin (pictured) will replace Gergiev for the Carnegie concerts

Russian pianist Denis Matsuev, pictured, will not perform as scheduled on Friday. In 2014, Matsuev said he supported Russia's annexation of Crimea

Metropolitan Opera music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin will replace Gergiev for the Carnegie concerts, creating a busy schedule ahead of Nezet-Seguin leading the Met premiere of the original French version of Verdi's 'Don Carlos' in a five-hour performance on Monday night.

Gergiev is scheduled to return to Carnegie in May to lead two performances with the Mariinsky Orchestra; it is unclear if those performances will take place as planned.
Vladimir Putin has deployed a multiple rocket launcher system which 'sucks the air out of its victims' into Ukraine as his war of occupation intensifies.

The TOS-1 Buratino fires fuel-air 'thermobaric' rockets which, when they explode, consume all oxygen in the blast zone, killing everyone in the area.

Victims can appear to have no visible external injuries but will have suffered massive internal damage.

The weapon is based on the Soviet-era T-72 main battle tank with the main turret removed and replaces with a rocket launcher system holding 30, 8.5-inch rockets.

The TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launcher, pictured here in June 2020 during Moscow's Victory Day military parade, is believed to have been deployed in Ukraine

The weapon system can fire 30-8.5inch rockets within 15 seconds. The thermobaric rockets have a range of approximately two miles with each warhead causing a 1,000-ft diameter blast zone

The TOS-1A Buratino multiple rocket launcher system can fire 30 thermobaric projectiles in 15 seconds devastating a 1,000ft-wide blast zone

The system was developed in the mid-1980s and the unguided rockets have a two-mile range.

Witnesses claim to have seen the weapon system crossing into Ukraine from Belarus, possibly heading towards Kyiv.

The indiscriminate weapon is very effective against people and lightly-armoured vehicles causing devastation within a 1,000ft diameter area.

Russians describe the TOS-1 Buratino as a 'flamethrower' but military experts say it fires a 'wall of napalm towards its victims.

CNN reported that one of the terrifying weapon systems was seen on the back of a transport truck in Belgorod, near the northern Ukrainian border.

Charlie Gao, defence and national security commentator told The Sun: 'The Buratino and Solntsepek are very useful weapons for a military that might be going into urban combat with little regard for collateral damage.'

However, Putin's invasion has been getting bogged down by stronger-than-expected resistance from Ukrainian defence forces.

Kyiv's European allies are sending advanced weapon systems to support the defence against Russia.

Today, the Netherlands and Germany have promised to send weapons capable of taking out heavy armour or military jets and helicopters.

The Dutch are rapidly shipping 200 Stinger air defence rockets and 50 'Panzerfaust 3' anti-tank weapons with 400 rockets.

The Netherlands is also jointly considering with Germany sending a Patriot air defence system to a NATO battle group in Slovakia, it said.

This Russian multiple rocket launcher was destroyed outside Ukraine's second city Kharkiv following a battle. This system does not fire the thermobaric rocket

A Ukrainian soldier inspects the piece of Russian hardware which was no longer operational

The body of a Russian soldier was seen a few yards from the destroyed rocket system

The missiles are in addition to other equipment already promised by the Netherlands earlier this month, including rifles, ammunition, radar systems and mine-detecting robots.

Earlier on Saturday, the Netherlands said it was moving Dutch embassy staff from the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to Jaroslaw, across the border in Poland, due to deteriorating security.

Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Berlin will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks.

He said: 'The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in defending itself against Putin's invading army.'

Berlin also approved the delivery of 400 RPGs from the Netherlands and a request by Estonia to pass on old GDR howitzers to Ukraine. Finland had bought the howitzers in the 90s after the fall of the Berlin wall, and later re-sold them to Estonia.

Germany has a long-standing policy of not exporting weapons to war zones, rooted partly in its bloody 20th-century history and resulting pacifism. Countries aiming to pass on German weapons exports need to apply for approval in Berlin first.

Scholz had repeatedly referred to this policy in recent weeks when refusing to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Saturday's announcement was received well in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Twitter: 'Keep it up, Chancellor @OlafScholz! Anti-war coalition in action!'
President Joe Biden ridiculed Donald Trump's view of Vladimir Putin in an interview released on Saturday, laughing off the way the former president said the Russian leader's invasion of Ukraine as a move of 'genius.'

'I put as much stock in Trump saying that Putin's a genius as I do when he called himself a stable genius,' Biden said in an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.

Ukrainians are engaged in a bitter fight for their country after Moscow ordered an invasion on Wednesday night.

Republicans have been quick to blame Biden for allowing Putin to make aggressive moves, saying the Russian leader viewed him as weak.

At times they have hinted that Putin is less of a villain than Biden himself.

Trump went even further this week, talking in admiring tones about the way the former KGB officer had gone about invading Ukraine.

'I put as much stock in Trump saying that Putin's a genius as I do when he called himself a stable genius,' Biden said in an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen

Ukrainian soldiers beat back a Russian attack in the capital Kyiv only hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Moscow would attempt to take the city before dawn

Ukrainian servicemen take up position as they prepare to defend Kyiv on Saturday. Russian troops were closing in on the capital, with skirmishes reported on the outskirts

A fighter with pro-Russian breakaway forces in Donetsk walks away from the body of a Tochka-U short-range ballistic missile lying near a local oil terminal after shelling in Kirovsky District

Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine on Wednesday night after deploying about 190,000 troops over the previous six months to close in on its northern, eastern and southern borders

This week former President Donald Trump praised Putin's strategy of recognizing two breakaway parts of Ukraine before invading as 'smart' and 'genius'

Speaking with conservative podcaster Buck Sexton, the former president said: 'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius."

'Putin declares a big portion of of Ukraine, Putin declares it as independent. Oh, thats wonderful.

'So, Putin is now saying, "Its independent," a large section of Ukraine. I said, "How smart is that?"'

Trump hit the theme again on Wednesday, during a fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

'I mean, hes taking over a country for $2 worth of sanctions. Id say thats pretty smart,' he said.

In the interview, Biden said the invasion would backfire on Putin by strengthening the forces arrayed against him, including NATO.

'My goal from the very beginning was to make sure that I kept all of NATO and the European on the same page. It's the one thing I think Putin thought he could do was split NATO, creating a great aperture for him to be able to walk through and that hasn't happened

'If you notice it's been complete unanimity, and Russia will pay a serious price for this short term and long term.'

On Friday he approved sending another $350 million of military assistance for Ukraine - including hardware and anti-tank Javelin missiles.

But by Saturday night Ukrainian forces were skirmishing with Russian troops on the outskirts of their capital Kyiv.

In the interview, Biden also said the Putin had failed to divide NATO and that the invasion would ultimately backfire on Russia by uniting opposition to Moscow

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region on February 26. Russia earlier ordered all its troops to advance on Kyiv

Biden is the latest senior Democrat to condemn Trump's stance on Putin and accuse Republicans of repeating Moscow's talking points.

On Friday, Hillary Clinton told MSNBC's Morning Joe: 'I want to make sure within our own country that we are calling out those people who are giving aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin about what a genius he is what a smart move it is, who are unfortunately, being broadcast by Russian media, not only inside Russia but in Europe to demonstrate the division within our own country.

'Maybe this terrible aggression by Putin will stiffen the spines of a lot of Republicans in office who understand you cannot continue to give Trump and his enablers a blank check because they will lead us to a very bad place,' she continued.

She added that too many Republicans were 'naive in such a dangerous way.'

Speakers at the CPAC gathering of conservatives in Orlando, Florida, have taken turns to bash Biden for what they see as weakness.

They warned that China was watching what happened in Ukraine to see whether it might be able to move on Taiwan with US interference.

Others said Trump's policy of energy independence had helped keep oil prices down, preventing Putin being able to fill his war chest.
A suburban St. Louis school district has reversed its earlier decision to remove a book from its school libraries in the face of criticism and a class-action lawsuit.

The Wentzville School Board voted 5-1 on Friday in favor of a review committee's recommendation to retain Toni Morrison's 'The Bluest Eye,' which it had previously banned because of its explicit descriptions of sex, violence, rape and incest.

The committee said that banning the book 'would infringe on the rights of parents and students to decide for themselves if they want to read this work of literature.'

The book is currently not part of the district curriculum.

Daniel Brice, the board's vice president, said the district should 'tighten its policies' regarding some books, but he noted that parents already had the right to request that certain titles not be available to their children.

The district made national news last month when it removed 'The Bluest Eye' from its high school libraries in a 4-3 vote. The board has also temporarily banned other books while they are reviewed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri earlier this month sued the school district on behalf of two students.

'This is welcome news, but the fact remains that six books are still banned. And Wentzville's policies still make it easy for any community member to force any book from the shelves even when they shamelessly target books by and about communities of color, LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups,' Anthony Rothert, director of integrated advocacy of ACLU of Missouri, said of the news.

The Missouri Equity Education Partnership shared the news of the retention of 'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison on Twitter on Friday

The Wentzville School Board voted 5-1 on Friday in favor of preserving the memoir after it voted 4-3 against keeping it last month

'The Bluest Eye' (cover on left) is about the story of a young black girl living through the era of the Great Depression and who wishes to have blue eyes because she feels ugly and disheartened because of her skin color. 'Gender Queer' (cover on right) is a novel on journey of self-identity, grappling with how to come out to family and society

'The Bluest Eye' is about the story of a young black girl living through the era of the Great Depression and who wishes to have blue eyes because she feels ugly and disheartened because of her skin color. Morrison, who died in 2019, said the book's intent was to show the psychological damage caused by racism.

The novel is frequently on the American Library Association's annual list of most commonly banned books due to several passages being about incest and child rape.

Wentzville School Board member Sandy Garber told the St Louis Post-Dispatch that she voted against the controversial novel not to ban children from obscenity, but rather to 'protect' them from it.

'By all means, go buy the book for your child,' she said during a recent board meeting. 'I would not want this book in the school for anyone else to see.'

Amber Crawford, a Wentzville parent who filed against 'The Bluest Eye' being taught in schools, posted tips for parents to challenge other school districts on Facebook groups, including the one for the St. Charles County Parents Association, with links to specific parts so they won't have to read 'the whole garbage book.'

In Missouri, chapters of two conservative and female-dominant groups - Moms for Liberty and No Left Turn in Education - have been at the front foot of a campaign against diversity and equity initiatives in schools.

No Left Turn in Education labels more than 75 books on its website as inappropriate because they 'demean our nation and its heroes, revise our history, and divide us as a people for the purpose of indoctrinating kids to a dangerous ideology.' Almost all of the books on the list call attention to either black or LGBTQ characters.

Pro-First Amendment organizations, including state and national library associations, have slammed the current initiative to ban books as the biggest attack on education in decades.

'In my 20 years with the [American Library Association], I can't recall a time when we had multiple challenges coming in on a daily basis,' Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, said in a statement last month.

Book challenges at the office have risen by 60 percent in September, compared with September 2020.

In December, the National Coalition Against Censorship criticized the attacks on the books in a statement signed by hundreds of authors and groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, People for the American Way, the National LGBTQ Task Force and the National Black Justice Coalition.

While the book ban in place in Wentzville is uncommon for the St. Louis area, several other local school districts across the country have met recent challenges to library books.

Last month, the Lindbergh School Board in New Jersey, voted to keep 'Gender Queer' by Maia Kobabe in the high school library, and a review committee in the Rockwood School District in Missouri upheld its decision to keep 'Gender Queer' and five other books after fighting momentum calling for its removal.

In November, the Francis Howell School District's review committee in Missouri voted 11-11 to prevent the memoir 'All Boys Aren't Blue' from being removed from its library shelves because 'it shared a positive message of hope for individuals in society.' Before the vote, the school had faced several challenges from parents calling to remove the literary piece.

Several other local school districts across the country, noticeably in Pennsylvania and New York, have met recent challenges to library books

Several states, including Missouri, want to restrict access to certain books and limit the learning of critical race theory and other 'divisive' topics on race, sexuality and gender

Local school districts have rules in place for parents to limit their children's library privileges based on certain books, authors or themes. Policies for book challenges are much the same, involving a review committee and an overall vote by the school board.

The challenges fall in line with incoming bills in Missouri among several other states that want to limit the learning of critical race theory and other 'divisive' topics on race, sexuality and gender, according to Heather Fleming, founder of the Missouri Equity Education Partnership and a parent with children going to school in the Francis Howell District.

'The whole point and purpose of this is to have a chilling effect on equity and equity education in our schools,' Fleming said. 'We know this is about a story about a black woman instead of scenes that are too mature, because we're not banning Shakespeare.'

George M. Johnson, the author of 'All Boys Aren't Blue,' said at a virtual forum on free speech in December that critics are 'taking our work completely out of context' by focusing on gruesome passages instead of investing in the novel as a whole.

'I wrote the book that I wish that I could have read when I was a young adult, struggling with my identity, struggling with trying to figure out why I was feeling the way I was feeling,' Johnson said during the forum.
Fourteen people were shot in the crossfire between two arguing men at a Las Vegas hookah parlor before dawn on Saturday morning, with one person dying and two others critically injured, police say.

Around 3:15 a.m., multiple 911 callers reported a shooting at Manny's Glow Ultra Lounge and Restaurant on East Sahara Avenue, according to Metropolitan Police Department Captain Dori Koren.

After a preliminary investigation, detectives believe that two men got into an argument during a party at the lounge that escalated into the exchange of gunfire involving at least two guns.

Fourteen people were shot, and responding officers applied tourniquets and performed CPR.

One victim, whose identity has not yet been released, succumbed to their injuries. Two more victims are in critical condition at University Medical Center and Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, respectively. The other victims are in stable condition.

Scroll down for video

A firefight between two arguing men broke out at Manny's Glow Ultra Hookah Bar and Lounge (pictured) at 953 E. Sahara Ave. in Las Vegas around 3.15 on Saturday morning, killing one person and injuring 13 more

Police still have yet to release the name of a suspect in the shooting. Pictured are officers at the crime scene, which was extended outside the establishment and into the parking lot as additional stray bullets were found

An investigation is still ongoing, and police have yet to identify a suspect

As of 4:00 p.m. ET, no arrests have been made, Koren wrote in a press release, and an investigation is still ongoing. DailyMail.com could not reach the department for comment, and calls to the hookah lounge went unanswered.

Koren did not know what types of guns were used and did not have a description for the suspects, but he told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he could 'assure you they will be caught.'

'Our agency takes a lot of pride in the fact that our homicide section has the best solvability rate in the country,' he told the outlet.

About half of the large shopping plaza where the hookah bar is located was cordoned off with police tape late on Saturday morning and about a dozen cars were parked outside, the outlet reported.

Police were still gathering evidence and extended the crime scene after stray bullets were found in the parking lot.

Fifty yards from the building, an officer stood over a small bullet with a stain around it in a parking spot.

A black SUV parked directly outside of the lounge had police cones behind it. The doors to the lounge were propped open, and a chair was flipped over in the parking lot, the Review Journal reported.

Police were still gathering evidence and extended the crime scene after stray bullets were found in the parking lot on Saturday afternoon

The doors to the lounge were propped open, and a chair was flipped over in the parking lot on Saturday morning

About half of the large shopping plaza where the hookah bar is located was cordoned off with police tape late on Saturday morning and about a dozen cars were parked outside

Around noon, near the entrance of the UMC Trauma Center, a black BMW sedan was parked with its passenger-side doors ajar, surrounded by police tape. It is unclear whether it was related to the early morning shooting.

A man was killed and four more were injured in a nearly identical scenario earlier on February 12 in Tennessee when an argument between two men at Habibi Hookah Cafe in Murfreesboro led to a firefight.

On February 5, in Virginia, a high school student was killed and four others were injured in the same scenario at Melody Hookah Lounge in downtown Blacksburg, blocks away from Virginia Tech.
It is a story of one mans heroic struggle against the elements and often viewed as a metaphor for life itself. But Ernest Hemingways classic novel The Old Man And The Sea is the latest victim of todays woke standards, with students warned that it contains graphic fishing scenes.

Successive TV and film adaptations of the 1952 classic have been awarded U and PG certificates, suitable for children, but a content warning has been issued to History and Literature students at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland, an area renowned for its fishing industry.

Mary Dearborn, the author of Ernest Hemingway, A Biography, said: This is nonsense. It blows my mind to think students might be encouraged to steer clear of the book.

Successive TV and film adaptations of the 1952 classic have been awarded U and PG certificates, suitable for children (Pictured Ernest Hemingway (right) with Spencer Tracy (left)

The world is a violent place and it is counterproductive to pretend otherwise. Much of the violence in the story is rooted in the natural world. It is the law of nature.

Jeremy Black, emeritus professor of history at the University of Exeter, added: This is particularly stupid given the dependency of the economy of the Highlands and Islands on industries such as fishing and farming.

'Many great works of literature have included references to farming, fishing, whaling, or hunting. Is the university seriously suggesting all this literature is ringed with warnings?

The content warning was revealed in documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday under Freedom of Information laws.

The novel tells the story of Santiago, an ageing fisherman who catches an 18ft marlin while sailing in his skiff off the coast of Cuba.

Unable either to tie the giant fish to the back of the tiny vessel or haul it on board, he proceeds to hold the line for an unspecified number of days and nights.

Despite suffering intense physical pain, Santiago feels compassion for the captured animal. Only when the fish begins to circle his craft does he reluctantly kill it, but he is then forced to fight with, and kill, several sharks intent on devouring the corpse.

The novel tells the story of Santiago, an ageing fisherman who catches an 18ft marlin while sailing in his skiff off the coast of Cuba

Fans of the novel believe Santiagos battle with the forces of nature is a reference to Hemingways own struggles, while others have seen the story as a metaphor for Christianity

Santiago chastises himself for killing the marlin and tells the sharks they have killed his dreams, before eventually making it to shore.

Fans of the novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, believe Santiagos battle with the forces of nature is a reference to Hemingways own struggles, while others have seen the story of bloodshed, endurance and sacrifice as a metaphor for Christianity.

The University of Highlands and Islands, made up of 13 research institutions and colleges, has issued content warnings for other classics.

Students studying Homers The Iliad, written in the 8th Century BC, and Beowulf, an English poem penned around 1025 AD, are warned that they contain scenes of violent close combat.

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein is flagged because it contains violent murder and cruelty and students studying Shakespeares Hamlet and Romeo And Juliet are warned that the plays contain scenes of stabbing, poison and suicide.

A University spokesman said: Content warnings enable students to make informed choices.
A university named in honour of one of Englands greatest religious thinkers has issued a content warning for the Bible.

Newman University, Birmingham, tells students studying the holy book that the module includes themes of sexual violence and abuse  in images and biblical texts.

Certain passages are flagged up as especially problematic, including a chapter of 2 Samuel in the Old Testament, about David, the King of Israel who had previously slain Goliath.

The passage, marked SV to denote sexual violence, tells of Davids adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the role he played in the death of her husband Uriah the Hittite.

Certain passages are flagged up as especially problematic, including a chapter of 2 Samuel in the Old Testament, about David, the King of Israel who had previously slain Goliath

Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Anglican Bishop of Rochester, said: Works of history, literature, theology and the classics will sometimes include material about violence, including sexual violence.

University should be a time when students are exposed to different aspects of the human condition, albeit with the support of sympathetic teaching staff.

'My issue with warnings is how far do you go before you end up with some form of censorship?

Those studying the foundations of Christian theology are also warned about a description of domestic abuse in St Augustines autobiographical Confessions , written in about 400 AD.

Former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe said: I can remember when children, let alone undergraduates, felt able to read all parts of the Bible without fear of coming to any harm.

A spokesman for the university, named after 19th Century cardinal John Henry Newman, said: The guidance is not a commentary on the Bible, any sacred texts or any Christian thinkers.
A Ukrainian soldier has issued a stark warning to the Russians, telling the enemy that they are 'f****d' and should use their 'last chance' to surrender, all while grinning at the camera.

An unknown Ukrainian soldier bravely fiddles with a gun as he is seen standing in a dark place, dressed in camouflage, and grinning at the camera as he recorded his message to the enemy in their native tongue to 'make it be f*****g clear.'

The soldier's warning comes just days after Russia declared war in Ukraine on Thursday. Putin said he was undertaking a 'special military operation' to demilitarize and 'de-nazify' the country.

'I'll record this in Russian to make it be f*****g clear,' he says before greeting them like an old friend.

'Well guys, what's up?' he says in an unverified video circling on social media.

He asks the Russians if they like how 'quiet' the night was before quoting writer Nikolai Gogol - born in Ukraine, who said: 'Is everything good with you, kids?'

The defiant soldier even asks if they like 'our Bayraktars,' which are Turkish-made drones that have the ability to take out a military tank. Ukraine purchased the drones from Turkey in 2019, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces released the drones early Thursday.

An unknown Ukrainian soldier bravely fiddled with a gun as he stood in a dark place, dressed in camouflage, and grinning at the camera as he recorded his message to the enemy in their native tongue to 'make it be f*****g clear'

He told the Russian to 'use your last chance' to surrender to Ukrainian forces because 'dues, you are f****d. We've got everything! You're a** is ours, fellows!'

Ukrainian soldiers full warning to the Russians 'I'll record this in Russian to make it be f***king clear. 'Well guys, what's up? 'What? Is the Ukrainian night quiet? As the great Ukrainian writer Gogol said: "Is everything good with you, kids?" 'Do you like our Bayraktars? What do you think - what's flying above you right now? 'What do you think - what is rustling in the bushes, my guys? 'What thoughts do you have about that? What the f**k could it be? 'Dudes, you are f**ked! 'You're stopped for now. We're fine. We're pulling up our reserves. We have aviation and we have tanks. 'We've got everything! 'You're a** is ours, fellows! 'How about this? Why don't you f**king surrender while you still have that chance? 'Many of yours have already chosen that path, it's not that bad, really. It may be a mistake, but we treat prisoners of war fairly well. 'So, you are stuck right now and soon we'll start kicking your a**. And we'll start doing it right now. 'Therefore, use your last chance.' Source: Twitter Advertisement

'Do you like our Bayraktars? What do you think - what's flying above you right now?' he taunts with a Cheshire Cat grin across his face.

'What thoughts do you have about that? What the f**k could it be?'

'Dudes, you are f****d!' he blatantly tells the Russians.

'Your a** is ours, fellows! How about this? Why don't you f*****g surrender while you still have that chance?

'Many of yours have already chosen that path, it's not that bad, really. It may be a mistake, but we treat prisoners of war fairly well.

'So, you are stuck right now and soon we'll start kicking your a**,' he continues. 'And we'll start doing it right now.

'Therefore, use your last chance.'

Two Russian troops - believed to be Rafik Rakhmankulov, 19, and Mgomd Mgomdov, 26, from Kizilyurt - have been captured by Ukrainian forces in the country's East.

As of Saturday morning, Russian forces continued to make their way to Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and have taken control over several cities across the country - including the radioactive Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Residents of Kyiv took shelter on Saturday night as explosions and street fighting signaled another Russian push to try and take the Ukrainian capital.

Defiant President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv remained under Ukrainian control as Russian forces renewed their assault under the cover of darkness, pounding the capital with artillery and cruise missiles.

'We will fight as long as it takes to liberate the country,' Zelensky said in an video address on Saturday night local time.

He revealed that a baby girl was born Saturday night in the subway of Kyiv, now converted to a bomb shelter.

'If children are born in shelters, even when the shelling continues, then the enemy has no chance,' he said. 'To Victory! Glory to Ukraine!'

Air raid sirens and heavy weapons fire reverberated through the city, as Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers dug in to repel warmonger Putin's forces.

Zelensky has pledged to 'destroy the occupiers' and the residents of Kyiv appear to have fully mobilized for a fight to the death.

As they hunkered down in air raid shelters, teams of civilians worked through the night making Molotov cocktails to use against the Russian forces.

A Russian tank is destroyed by Ukrainian forces (pictured). The soldier in the video asked the Russians if they like 'our Bayraktars,' which are Turkish-made drones that have the ability to take out a military tank. It is unknown if the tank pictured was taken out by a drone

Ukrainian soldiers take up position as fight Russian soldiers from overtaking the capitol Kyiv

A building in Ukraine was allegedly struck by a Russian missile on Saturday as the war continues

Volunteers work to make molotov cocktails in the basement of a bomb shelter on Saturday night in Kyiv. Ukraine is now under general mobilization with all citizens called to join in fighting the Russian invasion

A Ukrainian soldier gives a thumb up riding atop a military vehicle before an attack on Saturday

Men and women as old as 60 prepared to use their state-issued AK-47s to repel the invasion after volunteering for the Ukrainian Territorial Defense force.

Local media reported that much of Kyiv was under attack from multiple-launch rocket systems, and that the Okhmatdyt children's cancer hospital had been struck by artillery, killing at least one child.

At 5pm local time, or 10am ET, an extended 48-hour curfew took effect banning civilians from the streets of Kyiv until at least Monday night. The previous curfew had run from 10pm to 7am.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said: 'All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.'

'If children are born in shelters, even when the shelling continues, then the enemy has no chance,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (pictured) said. 'To Victory! Glory to Ukraine!'

In a video message to the besieged nation, Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to seize the capital, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk,' one of two separatist regions which Putin officially recognized before launching an all-out invasion.

Declaring 'we broke their idea.' he added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army.

'Each Ukrainian should keep one thing in mind: if you can stop and destroy the occupiers - do it. Everyone who can come back to Ukraine - come back to defend Ukraine.'
A primary school has sparked fury among parents by inviting a drag queen to perform a show for children.

Hollymount Primary School in Raynes Park, South London, hosted the burlesque entertainer Dolly Trolley during its 'This Is Me' day last Tuesday as part of a week-long celebration of diversity.

Wearing knee-high leather boots and a low-cut sequined dress, Dolly Trolley taught a dance to pupils aged nine and over before reading to pupils aged five to nine.

A primary school has sparked fury among parents by inviting drag queen Dolly Trolley (pictured) to perform a show for children

Hollymount Primary School (pictured) in Raynes Park, South London, hosted the burlesque entertainer during its 'This Is Me' day last Tuesday

Parents voiced their anger after learning of the drag queen's visit when their children returned from school, with some taking to the popular online forum Mumsnet to express their concerns.

One mother, with a son and daughter at Hollymount, told The Mail on Sunday: 'We are usually told when an outsider will be visiting the school, but on this occasion we were not.

'My daughter said she felt weird and didn't like it. She said a lot of the teachers were pulling funny faces when Dolly came out in a very revealing short beaded dress and thigh-high black leather boots.

'After the show, Dolly went around to the other year groups and read stories.

'We've spoken to both our children and they both said their friends all thought it was weird and inappropriate for their age.'

Parents voiced their anger after learning of the drag queen's visit when their children returned from school, with some taking to the popular online forum Mumsnet to express their concerns

A poll on Mumsnet found that 87 per cent of almost 3,000 respondents regarded the drag queen's appearance at a primary school as 'inappropriate'.

The performer's website and online videos advertise a raunchy act that has been performed in clubs and cabaret shows across London and overseas.

'Completely bonkers, utterly delightful and always at 100mph, Dolly Trolley is a Yorkshire-born firecracker based in London,' it states.

'She is known for high-energy drag and burlesque, fierce dance moves, and as a queer fitness icon with her workout phenomenon, Drag Aerobics.'

The concerned mother added: 'I have spoken to a few other parents. Only one I have spoken to was supportive.

'The others, including me, are all very unhappy with a few things. We were not warned that this was going to be happening.

'We have since looked Dolly up online and they have some very inappropriate  for children  content on their website and their social-media pages.

'Some of the images are very revealing and sexual. Essentially, they are an X-rated adult entertainer.

'How is this person a good role model for our kids? Why did the school purposely not tell us about this?

'Due to their online content, I feel that this is a safeguarding issue.'

A spokesman for Merton Council, on behalf of the school and Dolly Trolley, said: 'Hollymount School held a themed week to underline its commitment to diversity. Neither the school nor the governors are aware of any formal complaints.'
Boris Johnson tonight told Ukranian President Zelensky of his admiration for he and his people's bravery before declaring 'Things are not going the way of Putin, very far from it'.

The Prime Minister described Ukrainian citizens' resistance as 'heroic' as they faced down the incoming forces.

Mr Johnson also took the moment to re-state the UK's support and said the international community needed to do more to isolate Russia.

He said: 'Lets be in no doubt things are not going all the way of President Putin, very far from it.

'The Ukrainians are fighting heroically and in some places with great success as many of us thought they would because theyre a great country and a very brave country.

'But there are some terrible atrocities being committed and there will be some very grim days ahead for Ukraine.

'We have got to do everything we can to change the very heavy odds that Ukraine face against them.

'We need to make sure we apply those much tougher economic sanctions including on Swift

'The horror of what is unfolding in Ukraine is being understood by western audiences.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meeting military personnel at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to thank them for their ongoing work facilitating military support to Ukraine and NATO

Britain has pledged to continue to supply arms to Ukraine's embattled military forces

Military personnel board a C17 aircraft at RAF Brize Norton tonight after the meet took place

Local residents seen boarding an evacuation train driving to the west of Ukraine today

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Mr Johnson and the UK for the support

'We have to face the hideous reality that the diplomacy as far as President Putin was concerned was a charade  he never really intended to alter his course.

'He is attached to a weird semi-mystical view of Ukraine as part of Russia and that is a view that the Ukrainian people passionately resolutely reject.

I think what youre seeing today and over the last few hours is a sense around the world that this is a horror they hadnt expected. This is something unconscionable. A sense of outrage and disgust is growing at what President Putin is doing in Ukraine.

Mr Johnson spoke to President Zelensky on the phone shortly before he was at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to visit military personnel.

Under darkness he thanked them for their ongoing work facilitating military support to Ukraine and NATO.

Britain has already pledged to continue to supply arms to Ukraine's embattled forces.

So far 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers have already been sent and armed forces minister James Heappey said the Ministry of Defence is working on plans to support a resistance movement and a government in exile if Ukraine was finally overrun.

Yesterday Mr Johnson said Putin was on a 'revanchist mission to overturn the post-Cold War order'.

The Prime Minister said the Russian president was trying to wind back the clock to the Soviet Union.

He made the comments as he pledged to level personal sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to echo those announced by the EU.

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region today

Dramatic video shows a destroyed Russian convoy with Z-markings near Kherson in southern Ukraine

In addition to the video of the destroyed convoy, another video purportedly showed the destruction of a 20-vehicle Russia military column in Kharkiv (pictured)

In a worrying sign, video from Russia's Western border with Ukraine showed TOS-1 heavy flamethrower tanks moving towards its neighbour. The tanks are capable of firing high-power thermobaric weapons - dubbed the 'father of all bombs'

Putin called Soviet Union's end 'Greatest geopolitical catastrope of the 20th century' The Russian leader has said many times that he suffered the same misery as his compatriots when the Soviet empire crumbled, recently claiming he was forced to drive a taxi to make ends meet when he returned to his homeland. Putin has claimed that the end of the Soviet Union was the 'greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century' - despite Russia living through two world wars. He has called Nato's expansion 'menacing' and claimed that the prospect of Ukraine joining the body is an existential threat to his country. Since 1997, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria have all joined Nato. To Putin and his supporters, this is proof of the West inching closer to Russia. Advertisement

The Prime Minister told Nato leaders in a virtual meeting on Friday that the UK would also impose restrictions announced by the EU to target the Russian leader.

Referring to Mr Putin's wish to recover territory which previously fell under the USSR, he said Russia was 'engaging in a revanchist mission to overturn the post-Cold War order'.

Mr Johnson told allies 'the UK would introduce sanctions against President Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov imminently, on top of the sanctions package the UK announced yesterday', according to a No 10 spokesman.

'He warned the group that the Russian president's ambitions might not stop there and that this was a Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences,' he said.

The Prime Minister also used the meeting to urge 'immediate action' over the banning of Russia from the Swift payment system to 'inflict maximum pain' on the Kremlin.

The move to sanction President Putin and Mr Lavrov comes after the European Union announced it was considering a similar move against the two men as it set out its latest round of measures in concert with the US and the UK.

The Government has faced criticism that it has still not gone far enough despite measures to hit five further oligarchs, and targeting more than 100 businesses and individuals.

With Russian forces continuing to advance towards Kyiv, beleaguered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said sanctions had so far done nothing to deter the Russian onslaught.

Pictured: The tower block in Kyiv, just moments after being struck by a Russian rocket on Saturday morning

On Saturday morning, the upper floors of a building in Kyiv were struck by a Russian rocket (pictured). Reports suggesting at least two people were killed in the explosion

Meanwhile Western officials have warned that the Russians could resort to thermobaric weapons - used to generate powerful, high-temperature explosions - if the Ukrainian military resistance continues to hold up their assault.

Despite beginning the attack on Thursday, the Russian forces have yet to take any of the main population centres and officials believe they failed to achieve most of their day one objectives for the invasion.

One official noted that the Russians were known to have thermobaric weapons in their armoury and that they had used them in previous conflicts.

'My fear would be that if they don't meet their timescale and objectives, they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence,' the official said.

Earlier Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has said 'the world will hold Russia and Belarus accountable for their actions'.

Addressing a press briefing following a virtual meeting of Nato leaders, Mr Stoltenberg said: 'We call on Russia to stop this senseless war immediately.'

He warned that 'the Kremlin's objectives are not limited to Ukraine' and that 'we are facing a new normal in European security where Russia openly contests the European security order and uses force to pursue its objectives'.

He said: 'President Putin's decision to pursue his aggression against Ukraine is a terrible strategic mistake.'

Mr Stoltenberg added that although significant sanctions had already been announced 'we must stand ready to do more, even if it means we have to pay a price, because we are in this for the long haul'.

The secretary-general said Nato had deployed thousands more troops to the eastern part of the alliance, and will 'do what it takes to protect and defend every ally and every inch of Nato territory'.

Britain's Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Sir Jim Hockenhull, said Russian forces were continuing to move towards Kyiv on two lines of advance.

'Their objective is to encircle the capital, to secure control of the population and change the regime,' he said. 'Ukrainian armed forces continue to offer strong resistance.'

While there have been reports of sporadic fighting in the northern suburbs, most of the main Russian units were still thought to be more than 50km away.

President Putin stepped up his inflammatory rhetoric, urging Ukrainian troops to lay down their arms saying he would find it easier to negotiate with them, than 'that gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis who have holed up in Kyiv and have taken the entire Ukrainian people hostage'.

Following the Nato meeting, alliance secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said it was clear the Kremlin's objectives were 'not limited to Ukraine'.

'We are facing a new normal in European security where Russia openly contests the European security order and uses force to pursue its objectives,' he said.

He said the alliance was deploying thousands more troops to the eastern member states - who fear they could be the next target of Russian aggression - would 'do what it takes to protect and defend every ally and every inch of Nato territory'.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ruled out calls for Britain to help mount a no-fly zone over Ukraine because the RAF fighting Russian jets would trigger a 'war across Europe'.

'He is trying to invade Ukraine. He won't stop after Ukraine. He will use everything in the Baltic states. He doesn't believe the Baltic states are really countries,' Mr Wallace told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'And we will have to stand up to it. Now, I cannot trigger a European war and I won't trigger a European war but what I will do is help Ukraine fight every street with every piece of equipment we can get to them, and we will support them, and that is the reality.'
The stark bulletins from inside Ukraine, delivered by family members to their New York relatives, detailed the jets flying steadily overhead as local basements became bomb shelters and Russian artillery rumbled past.

New York Citys Ukranian population of some 150,000 people hung on every detail Friday as troops targeted the capital city of Kyiv on day two of the Russian invasion, leaving local family members in a constant state of angst as they tried to keep tabs on their far-flung kin and the fate of their homeland.

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I try to keep as calm as possible, but Im still super-anxious, said Bensonhurt resident Viktoriya Tychynska, 17, whose grandmother, two aunts, cousins and some uncles live in Ukraine. Anxiety is on 100.

Valentyna Bardakova (Ellen Moynihan)

Valentyna Bardakova, 46, whose parents, brother and nephew are in the northern city of Chernihiv, heard that the terror was non-stop in Ukraine as the fighting raged on.

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Because they are striking constantly, said the Great Neck, L.I., woman, expressing a sense of helplessness about the ongoing Russian assault. Striking at night. Theyre striking and moving deep artillery and tanks during the day. People are hiding in the subway stations.

[ How the free world gave Putin the green light ]

Other people she knew reported residents were ducking into shelters during the night hours when the Russian Air Force was firing on the local population. Hundreds of casualties were reported as the bloody conflict continued.

People dine inside Veselka where a Ukrainian flag hangs in the East Village, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in New York. (Jeenah Moon/AP)

Bardakova said her relatives were stunned by the sudden turn of events as the superpower invaded their native land of more than 40 million a full three decades after Ukrainian independence.

It is difficult for them to accept because, for instance, my grandparents were fighting against Nazis, she said. For them to live right now, and hiding in the shelters, hiding from the Russian artillery and bombs, thats unreal.

Maria Rose Pawlyk, 44, of Bay Ridge, shared those feelings of unease on a day when Russian troops targeted the Ukraine capital of Kyiv, shelling schools, bridges and at least one apartment building as gunfire and explosions rattled the city streets.

Maria Rose Pawlyk, left, with her son and their cousins who live in Ukraine (Obtained by Daily News)

Her aunt and uncle, along with two cousins and a nephew, recounted to her watching missiles streaking through the skies as jet planes soared past their farm located alongside a military base in the city of Lviv.

The military base was bombed, she said. They said it was missiles that hit twice ... Their friends who live in Kyiv, theyre just trying to evacuate. Their close friends who were in Odessa, the whole place is just devastated.

People are really scared, she continued. People are loading up on their weapons, people are locking their gates. Theyre taking horses to get gas and bring it back ... My son and I have been there a bunch of times, and were worried. When we go there, we live at their farm with them.

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Her familys next-door neighbor barely survived the bombing run because he was away from the house when the planes attacked, she said.

A Ukrainian flag hangs outside Ukrainian restaurant, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in New York. (Jeenah Moon/AP)

Pawlyk heard from her cousins and nephew that the Russians were jamming local television station with propaganda as part of their offensive.

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On any other station, you can hear that in the background, she said. Theyre really pushing the propaganda.

Brooklynite Tychynska said most of her relatives lived in western Ukraine and were thankfully a bit removed from the main thrust of the invasion.

Theyre not really sharing a lot of details, she said. Theyre trying not to make us worried, but theyve been saying theres a lot of air missiles, theres a lot of planes flying by here and there across the skies.

Everyones anxious and everyones nervous.

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Viktoriya Tychynska (Ellen Moynihan)

According to Tychynska, it was unclear if her relatives would try to flee the warn-torn nation or wait to see what happens in the upcoming days. She was told some people had already left Ukraine, trying to reach neighboring countries like Poland to find a safe haven as the war rages.

Were taking it day by day, she said. Were trying to see what happens, if tensions calm down or if somehow the conflict becomes resolved.

But if we did have the chance to somehow get them out here, or maybe move them closer to safety  if that was possible, we take that chance.
Tory MPs have demanded the TV regulator take immediate action against Russia Today after it described Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation' to 'liberate' the country.

Misinformation spread by the television channel about the conflict includes the notion that Ukrainian soldiers are 'radical nationalists' who are defending a genocide against Russians.

Its reporters have also insisted the Russian military is not targeting civilians, despite images of bloodied Ukrainians and bombed-out towerblocks, and false claims that Ukrainians are using civilians as human shields.

A reporter on Friday evening also compared a law signed by Ukraine's Jewish President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to the policies of Adolf Hitler.

The Kremlin-funded news channel, which launched in 2005, is run by Putin's ally Margarita Simonyan, who once said that RT would conduct 'an information war against the Western world'. (Above, Putin and Simonyan in May 2019)

Tory MPs have demanded the TV regulator take immediate action against Russia Today after it described Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation' to 'liberate' the country

Misinformation spread by the television channel about the conflict includes the notion that Ukrainian soldiers are 'radical nationalists' who are defending a genocide against Russians. (Above, a Russian military vehicle is seen near the village of Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border on February 24)

On Wednesday, Simonyan (above) wrote on Twitter that the invasion was 'a standard parade rehearsal', adding: 'Except this year we have decided to hold the parade in Kyiv.' Similarly outrageous opinions about the invasion have been spouted by the channel in the past week

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries last week told Ofcom to take 'timely and transparent' action against the channel.

However, criticism of RT was shrugged off by former London mayor Ken Livingstone, who used an appearance on the station last week to declare: 'I have never seen propaganda. I've never seen a lie.'

Despite an expectation that Ofcom would crack down on RT, a spokeswoman last night admitted that no new action had been taken.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Commons' Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said RT was 'not an information network, it's a weapon against us'.

'So, what is it doing on our screens when media watchdog Ofcom already has the power to take action?' he added.

The Kremlin-funded news channel, which launched in 2005, is run by Putin's ally Margarita Simonyan, who once said that RT would conduct 'an information war against the Western world'.

RT's reporters have also insisted the Russian military is not targeting civilians, despite images of bloodied Ukrainians and bombed-out towerblocks, and false claims that Ukrainians are using civilians as human shields. (Above, damage to an apartment block in Kyiv)

Ukrainian servicemen examine fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday

On Wednesday, she wrote on Twitter that the invasion was 'a standard parade rehearsal', adding: 'Except this year we have decided to hold the parade in Kyiv.'

Similarly outrageous opinions about the invasion have been spouted by the channel in the past week.

Analysis shows it only refers to the conflict as a 'special military operation' and reporters cite the Russian claim that it will 'liberate the territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk peoples' republics'.

On Thursday, news presenter Rory Suchet  the son of ITN journalist John Suchet  repeated Russian defence ministry claims that 'direct fighting with Ukraine soldiers has largely been avoided', despite clear pictorial evidence of clashes.

And on Friday, a voiceover on a package ostensibly to explain the origins of Russia's aggression described a law signed by President Zelensky last July as 'almost a direct copy of a 1935 Reich citizenship law of Hitler's Germany'.

The Mail on Sunday can also reveal that at least 20 current and former British MPs have received almost 100,000 from the channel to speak on its programmes since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Those who have appeared include Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng, who was paid 750 for an appearance in February 2017 before he was appointed Business Secretary.

An RT reporter on Friday evening also compared a law signed by Ukraine's Jewish President, Volodymyr Zelensky (above), to the policies of Adolf Hitler

Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow on February 22

Europe Minister James Cleverly appeared on RT in 2016 to discuss the Tory leadership campaign, but said he did not accept payment.

'RT has become considerably more partisan since then and is now a regular mouthpiece for pro Kremlin disinformation,' he added. 'I would not appear now.'

Labour MP Richard Burgon has appeared 11 times and Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell at least three times since 2014. Labour frontbencher David Lammy has earned 2,000 for two appearances.

Mr Campbell said he has 'refused many invitations to appear since those interviews, because I do think it has been much clearer in recent years the extent to which it has become Putin's personal propaganda tool'.

A spokeswoman for Ofcom said: 'All licensees must observe Ofcom's rules, including due accuracy and due impartiality. If broadcasters break those rules, we will not hesitate to step in.'

Last night, a number of Russian TV channels appeared to have been hacked, with Ukrainian songs replacing usual programming. Russian Government webpages were down, while RT went offline for several hours.

It was unclear who the hackers are, but the Anonymous group have declared they are 'at war' with Russia.

TOM TUGENDHAT: Russia Today TV channel is nothing but poison, smears and anti-British propaganda, and should have been banned by Ofcom

By TOM TUGENDHAT for the Mail on Sunday

It's been years since the Russian state even vaguely pretended to be honest. By lying about an invasion, a genocide and a war, Moscow has perfected the art of deception to the point where the only correct action is to ignore what comes out of the Kremlin.

That said, Putin's propaganda is pumped into homes across Britain by his official broadcaster Russia Today (RT).

During the early stages of Covid, the channel spread fear and panic, trying to tear apart our community and undermine our response.

When British firms discovered a vaccine, RT spread lies trying to convince people not to take it, costing lives.

During the early stages of Covid, RT spread fear and panic, trying to tear apart our community and undermine our response

Time and again, the English-language service has done its best to confuse and undermine Britons at times when clarity was so important. It's not an information network. It's a weapon against us.

Our media watchdog, Ofcom, should have banned RT. If it had, viewers would not have been exposed to a correspondent called Rory Suchet (who began his career as a pop music radio DJ), claiming to report from eastern Ukraine as he lied that Russian tanks were helping to 'liberate' the region and that the Ukrainians defending their homes were nationalists and neo-Nazi battalions.

The channel disgracefully allowed a Russian military commander to claim that the Ukrainian army was using civilians as human shields. They're not.

RT is trying to excuse the Kremlin for war crimes being committed by Putin. It gives a platform to charlatans and liars  people such as Alex Salmond (above), the leader of Scotland's independence movement at the last referendum, who was happy to take RT money until this week

Make no mistake, RT is trying to excuse the Kremlin for war crimes being committed by Putin.

It gives a platform to charlatans and liars  people such as Alex Salmond, the leader of Scotland's independence movement at the last referendum, who was happy to take RT money until this week.

Ken Stone, from Stop the War in Canada, still goes on to blame Ukrainians being in front of Putin's tanks.

There's nothing anti-Russian about wanting to shut down this modern-day version of Lord Haw-Haw's propaganda broadcasts during the Second World War.

Russia's poets and scientists have long shared deeper truths with us and worked on building understanding.

RT does the reverse. Even its name is a lie.

This channel doesn't speak for a nation but a single person.

This is Putin's propaganda, and it's poison. It's time Ofcom acted.
Employers are cynically offering IVF treatment as a perk so young women will delay having children and focus on their careers, a fertility expert has claimed.

A growing number of companies, including British Gas owner Centrica, NatWest and the law firm Freshfields, are promoting egg-freezing as a workplace benefit.

They argue that it gives women the option to postpone being a parent as they work their way up the corporate ladder, but Professor Adam Balen, a former chairman of the British Fertility Society, said this reliance on the success of fertility treatments was misplaced.

Employers are cynically offering IVF treatment as a perk so young women will delay having children and focus on their careers, a fertility expert has claimed (stock photo used)

'Some organisations are offering egg-freezing. In other words, freeze your eggs now for us, and when we've had your best years, then you can use your eggs,' he said.

'There's an argument that having young eggs in the freezer is better than no eggs at all, but that could give the false impression that IVF always works.

'As much as we've made huge advances in IVF, particularly in the UK, unfortunately it doesn't work for everybody.'

Professor Balen, who is lead clinician at the private Leeds Fertility clinic, said it was 'a cynical approach to actually encourage women to work rather than supporting them to have a family'.

While some celebrities, including actresses Halle Berry and Laura Linney, have become mothers after the age of 45, Prof Balen said media coverage 'may give an unrealistic impression to people that current technology works at any age, and unfortunately it doesn't'.

He added: 'We can't reverse the natural decline in the fertility of a woman's eggs, unfortunately.'

His comments come as companies eager to attract top talent and encourage gender equality are offering cut-price fertility treatment as a workplace benefit.

Professor Adam Balen, a former chairman of the British Fertility Society, said this reliance on the success of fertility treatments was misplaced (stock photo used)

IVF involves retrieving eggs and fertilising them with sperm in a lab to create an embryo, before insertion into the mother's womb.

According to the UK fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, birth rates for patients under 35 using their own eggs were 32 per cent per embryo transferred, but less than five per cent for women over 43.

'We [Leeds Fertility] don't do IVF over the age of 45 because it simply doesn't work using your own eggs,' Prof Balen said. 'It's just wrong to put somebody through all that's involved with IVF, plus the associated costs, for zero chance.'

He suggested that firms should instead offer parental leave and childcare facilities.

'It would be more responsible for big companies and organisations to support their workforce, both men and women, to enable them to have better creche facilities and maternity and paternity leave,' he said.

'You'll get more out of your workforce if they're happy and have been able to have their family at a time that's best for them.'
Controversial Covid foreign travel forms look set to be ditched by Easter after Health Secretary Sajid Javid backed the move.

Government sources said Mr Javid was happy to see the passenger locator form (PLF) scrapped in the next few weeks.

The move should pave the way for the much-disliked form, which travellers have to complete before returning to the UK, to be abolished in time for the Easter school holidays. It comes after reports only last week that Mr Javid's Health Department was slowing down moves to remove the Covid-related bureaucracy.

Sources closed to Mr Javid warned last night that the decision was not down to the Health Secretary alone. But his views emerged just days after Boris Johnson confirmed that the requirement to fill in the complicated form would be reviewed by Easter.

The government is planning to scrap the Passenger Locator Form which is required for all people travelling into the UK as part of the Covid-19 regulations which have been loosened

The Government hopes the form, which was disliked by passengers, should be scrapped by Easter

Scrapping the forms, seen as drag on British holiday firms as well as a bureaucratic nightmare for travellers, would be hugely welcomed by the industry.

Only last week, Tory MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the Commons transport committee, urged Boris Johnson to 'give the travel industry a much-needed shot in the arm' by getting rid of the PLF by Easter.

Allies of Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he was also fully behind abolishing the forms, saying: 'Shapps is eager to have them ditched  ideally, by the Easter break.'

But they suggested there was 'bureaucratic inertia'  suggesting the Home Office 'like them because they like to keep tabs'.

However, Home Office sources said last night that they expected the forms to be scrapped.

Last night, Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, a member of the transport committee, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Now that people can freely wander round the UK with Covid, the passenger locator form is totally redundant. It should be scrapped immediately as it's holding back the recovery in our travel and transport sectors compared with other countries. The UK should do what most other European countries are now doing, which is simply check vaccine or test status at check-in without the need to fill it this over-complicated Orwellian form.'

Last night, a spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said: 'Given the relaxation of domestic Covid measures, we believe all Covid-related restrictions on international travel should be removed unless they serve a clear public health objective.

'While recent simplifications of the PLF have helped, the UK's system for collecting passenger data is much more complex than that used by many other countries. It's time to get people travelling again.'

Last night a Government spokesman said 'no decisions have been taken' on scrapping PLFs, adding: 'We have already simplified the forms as part of our efforts to make travel easier.

'We will keep all measures under review and will be updating our contingency plans to fight any new variants ahead of Easter.'

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said last night: 'You don't need a form to order a table in a restaurant or buy a drink, whether you've been vaccinated or not, so why should they be required for travel.

'What's the difference, in the age of Omicron?

'The Government has rightly removed the remaining domestic restrictions and is not basing policy on vaccination status.

'It now needs to be consistent and fair to aviation and the travel sector by getting rid of testing for the unvaccinated and removing the PLF which now serves no purpose whatsoever.'

Tory MP Mr Merriman said: 'Now that we've ended self-isolation and removed all Covid restrictions, the Passenger Locator Form has become totally redundant and needs to go.

'It's a drain on International Travel; the sector arguably most impacted by the pandemic.

'To leave this cumbersome and intrusive document in place has absolutely no logic and only adds insult to injury.'
Last summer, the NHS was awarded the George Cross by the Queen. In a handwritten personal message, she said: 'Over more than seven decades, and especially in recent times, you have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service.'

Most people would agree with this sentiment, particularly in light of the heroic response of frontline workers to the coronavirus pandemic.

Curiously, in a development that says much about Britain's relationship with its favourite institution, the perception that we had a deteriorating health service appeared to be turned on its head during the pandemic itself. The bleaker things got, the greater people's adulation.

The NHS is often compared to a national religion. Even without a global health crisis, it perennially tops voters' concerns, which makes the debate over how it is run and funded extremely sensitive.

Sadly, politicians and many of those who run the NHS wilfully deceive the public about the quality of service they receive.

The aim of our new book is to strip away such spin and paint a picture of the NHS as it really is: the good, the bad and the ugly.

It is only by knowing the truth that the country can demand better.

Even without a global health crisis, the NHS perennially tops voters' concerns, which makes the debate over how it is run and funded extremely sensitive

Extensive research among focus groups at the outset of the pandemic in March 2020, and again last November when the crisis eased, showed that people were impressed by the way the service had responded to an unprecedented situation. Nonetheless, most (rightly) believed the NHS is in a worse state than it was before the crisis began.

In our polling and focus groups, the prevailing view was that the pandemic had exacerbated existing problems  chiefly waiting times and differing standards of care between different parts of the country  and that things were unlikely to improve any time soon.

All this is true, as Health Secretary Sajid Javid recently acknowledged when he set out the extraordinary number of people who now face very long waits for hospital care.

The majority of the NHS staff work tirelessly. Undoubtedly, millions of patients receive care that is good, and thousands receive care that is outstanding, every single day.

The trouble is that millions of others do not, and the number of those who are failed is growing at the same time as taxpayers are pouring billions more into the system.

When the NHS was established in 1948, it had an annual budget of today's equivalent of about 15 billion. Average life expectancy for men was 66 years, while women could expect to live to the age of 70.

Today, NHS England has a budget of 129.7 billion and rising, but male life expectancy is just under 80, while female life expectancy is almost 83 years. In 1948, the UK population was about 50 million. Today, it's just under 70 million.

Pre-coronavirus, the NHS was dealing with more than a million patients every 36 hours, with more than 17 million hospital admissions and about 96 million outpatient attendances every year.

Much of that demand went unmet during the pandemic. Now the situation is very much worse. This is a whole new ball game. Maintaining the standard of care that everyone who works for the NHS would like to provide is becoming ever more challenging. Sometimes, it is impossible.

The public's devotion to the service and its principles  that it's available to everyone and free at the point of use  means ideas for reform are always met with suspicion. Crucially, we do not believe there is any case for diverging from the founding principles.

Even if this were desirable, no political party will do so. But change is necessary, and for the right change to be identified, we first need to define where we are.

To provide some depth, we carried out a special investigation into the state of health services in one particular part of the country. Prompted by disturbing evidence about standards of care, we selected the Isle of Wight.

Until very recently, the island was one of the worst-performing NHS Trusts in England and a dangerous place to be seriously sick.

An assessment by the Care Quality Commission (the independent regulator of health and social care services) in 2017 concluded that the trust was failing on multiple levels and was guilty of an array of safety breaches. Inspectors ruled that there were insufficient staff; medical care was inadequate; end-of-life care was 'dire'.

Under a new chief executive, much has improved. But that is of cold comfort to relatives of the many patients who meet an untimely end in the island's St Mary's Hospital and many more who receive sub-optimal care.

During official investigations into 35 unexpected deaths in 2018/19, several themes cropped up with depressing regularity.

They included overcrowding; breaching A&E waiting-time targets; doctor shortages; use of agency nurses; poor staff communication; poor medical record-keeping; inexperienced doctors; clinical staff shortages; and inadequate IT systems.

These epitomise the sort of low-level bad care that takes place every day in the NHS alongside care that is fair, good or outstanding (often all in the same place).

Taken individually, the lapses are not very dramatic. Combined, they point to an organisation that lacks the basic systems and structures to guarantee a decent standard of care.

More sinister, in May 2019, the trust admitted to 'failing terribly' in not disclosing abnormalities over the deaths of patients.

The island's coroner, Caroline Sumeray, said the trust failed to inform her of 20 serious incident investigations before the bodies were cremated, meaning the truth about how patients died, and the hospital's role in their demise, could not be uncovered. After a period in special measures, the hospital's official mortality figures are thankfully now in line with the rest of England.

However, many of the themes that contributed to the terrible failures at St Mary's  including, shockingly, the reflex to cover up errors and distort the true picture  recur throughout the NHS.

It was while watching a woman having a life-threatening seizure that the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock was prompted to try to sort out Information Technology systems in the NHS. He was shadowing a team of nurses when an alarm went off at a bed, signalling a medical emergency.

The woman needed immediate attention or she would die. Yet critical minutes were lost in a frantic scramble to locate her medical notes. In scenes that would have been farcical had it not been a life-or-death situation, someone eventually arrived with the necessary records in a big box, which was wheeled into the ward on a trolley.

As the patient fought for breath, a female consultant stood on a chair and read out the notes to the assembled medical team, occasionally struggling to decipher the handwriting. Nobody except the Health Secretary seemed fazed.

The incident could have occurred in any NHS hospital. The truth is that hospitals are still working with hopelessly patchy, unreliable and outdated computer systems, leaving doctors and nurses making critical clinical decisions in the dark.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid set out the extraordinary number of people who now face very long waits for hospital care

Unfortunately, Hancock's efforts to digitise the entire NHS were somewhat derailed by coronavirus  though the pandemic showed how fast and effectively the machine can move in an emergency. The NHS app was rapidly improved and (for better or worse) online consultations became mainstream.

Nonetheless, parts of the NHS remain in the digital Dark Age, particularly when it comes to patient records. In the early 2000s, efforts to modernise the system ended notoriously in what a parliamentary committee called 'one of the worst and most expensive contracting fiascos in the history of the public sector'.

Today, across the NHS, huge sums are squandered procuring software that is unfit for purpose and must then be upgraded, repaired or changed, usually by the same company that failed to provide what was required in the first place.

Mark Gordon, who spent years working as an interim chief operating officer in troubled NHS trusts, says the NHS 'continually' makes strategic errors commissioning the wrong systems or failing to train staff in how to use new software.

During his time at St George's Hospital in Tooting, South-West London, the introduction of a system known as Cerner descended into chaos because people did not understand how it worked.

Gordon claims that as many as two million patient records were lost during the fiasco in 2017. As they pieced everything together, he says the trust identified a high volume of cases in which patients may have been put at risk or harmed as a result of failures to follow up clinical investigations or act on test results.

He says: 'We started to find 300 patients a week who were potentially harmed, and that was only out of a sample of 650,000 of two million lost records.'

Following a 'clinical harm review' of 646 patients potentially affected by the debacle, St George's admitted that 15 had suffered 'severe harm'  meaning 'permanent or long-term damage'  and four more had suffered 'moderate' harm, but Gordon is certain the real figure is far higher. 'There were thousands of patients whose prognosis was either worsened or who were dead. It has been hugely covered up,' he says.

Those in positions of responsibility have a legal 'duty of candour'. In reality, a deeply disturbing culture of omerta continues to permeate the health service, especially in hospital trusts, meaning errors, abuses and failings are routinely covered up, and staff are fearful of speaking out.

Whether little or large, cover-ups are the norm.

Professor Sir Brian Jarman OBE is an 88-year-old academic who probably knows more about hospital mortality than anyone else in the world.

Now an emeritus professor at the School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, he is best known for developing a way of measuring whether hospitals have higher or lower death rates than expected.

Jarman's methodology adjusts patient data for factors such as age, gender, deprivation levels and whether patients were admitted to hospital as an emergency. The aim is to create a reasonable measure of the quality of care.

With depressing predictability, managers soon figured out that if they gave more patients a 'palliative care' code  meaning those patients were assumed to have come to hospital to die, and thus the hospital could not be criticised for failing to save them  they could dramatically reduce official death rates.

In another fiddle, hospitals found that they could reduce death rates by discharging dying patients to hospices.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock tried to sort out Information Technology systems in the NHS

Jarman claims that the Department of Health has been lackadaisical about rooting out such ruses. He says: 'When I first developed the [high mortality rate] alert system with chief executives and medical directors of various trusts, the Department of Health did not want to receive it. The attitude was, 'Please don't tell us what's wrong!''

In hospitals, the most widely used patient safety database is called Datix. It relies on staff inputting information about safety incidents.

It is a big database of guilty secrets, revealing the blunders and oversights, accidents and abuses, communication failures and confusions that take place every day in NHS trusts.

Every month, in almost every hospital, there are errors with anaesthetics; cancer diagnoses that come too late; mistakes with drug dosages and medicines given to the wrong patients; botched gynaecological operations; injuries to mothers during childbirth; blunders with blood transfusions; and lapses in infection control.

Taken together, these paint a worrying picture of management failures and poor standards of care.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all NHS trusts asking for Datix records from 2016 to 2019 received a comprehensive response from about half of those approached.

In all, the trusts that provided figures recorded just under 1.6 million Datix incidents in 2018/19; 173,890 more than in 2016/17, in a 12.2 per cent increase.

The surgeon who decides: life or death Every day, hospital doctors have to make delicate judgments about when to stop treatment that is more likely to prolong suffering than prolong life. What is disturbing about one surgeon whose work we investigated is their judgments about the very sick have sometimes been influenced by their personal feelings. Here's what happened on this surgeon's watch: when a very sick patient was admitted, they read their medical history, looked at them and then decided if they were likely to make it. If the surgeon liked what they saw, if they were surrounded by family and  crucially  if the surgeon thought they had a 'spark', the medic would go the extra mile. Otherwise 'I am a very experienced clinician,' the surgeon once told bereaved relatives. 'I know who can survive and who can't.' During an investigation into the sudden death of one of the surgeon's patients, it emerged that the medic had misdiagnosed him, used an insulting phrase to describe him and failed to involve the patient's wife in a discussion about whether attempts should be made to resuscitate him if his heart stopped. The surgeon did, however, decide to give the patient a chance of life, having initially written him off, because he had a spportive family. During an inquiry into the case, the NHS Trust involved apologised for a string of failings, while surgeon insisted they had done their best. Many will sympathise with doctors who are reluctant to perform interventions when a patient clearly cannot be saved. Less can be more in these situations. These are delicate judgment calls, and experienced clinicians who regularly deal with patients at the end of their lives develop an instinct for the point at which further treatment does more harm than good. Caring for the elderly and frail is extraordinarily challenging. When they are critically ill, judging whether they will pull through is an inexact science. Doctors must draw on instinct and experience, as well as medical knowledge. What few would support is one rule for patients whom doctors like, with relatives to advocate for them, another for those who are dispirited and alone. Advertisement

Assuming those that replied to the FOI request are broadly representative of all trusts in England, the total number of adverse incidents could potentially be double this figure. The three trusts with the most reported incidents were Barts Health NHS Trust in London (47,532); Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (46,413); and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (40,782).

The mystery statistic is how many adverse incidents are not recorded in the first place.

A veteran nurse who has worked in several NHS trusts and frequently uses the Datix system has witnessed widespread reluctance to flag up problems. 'Datix is there to highlight risk. It's for learning from mistakes, not punishment, but people don't like using it because they're afraid of kickback,' she says.

There are about 150 avoidable deaths in the NHS every single week, around nine of which are the result of what the Department of Health calls 'never events': blunders so serious they should never happen.

Examples that occurred before the pandemic include amputating the wrong toe; removing the wrong part of a patient's colon; leaving items including a surgical glove and part of a drill inside patients' bodies; and mistakenly removing organs.

According to the latest available data, several patients underwent operations that were supposed to be carried out on someone else.

These catastrophic errors come at a heavy cost for the NHS.

In 2018/19, NHS Resolution, the quango that handles medical negligence lawsuits, paid out 2.4 billion in damages and costs for claims. The number of compensation claims is soaring, and settling disputes takes a huge chunk out of the stretched-to-breaking-point NHS budget.

A combination of soaring demand for services, crippling legacy contracts with the private sector, mismanagement and waste means that the NHS is always in financial trouble.

In 2018/19, just under half of all NHS trusts were in deficit. A total of nine trusts were in so-called financial special measures.

Figures for 2019/20 showed a significant improvement, with just over a quarter (27 per cent) of trusts in deficit. The number in special measures fell to seven.

The single biggest financial burden on some trusts is the payments they must make every quarter for buildings constructed and maintained via so-called Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs).

Had it not been for these deals, almost all struck during the New Labour years, there would be far fewer modern hospitals. The buildings are well-kept and look good. However, they have come at a crippling price.

As of 2017, there were 128 active PFI projects, 109 of which were for hospitals and acute health units.

The average length of the contracts is 31 years. Latest estimates suggest the final bill will exceed 80 billion for buildings which would have cost about 13 billion to construct had they been paid for up front.

For patients, the only upside is that these are nice environments in which to be treated, which is a great deal more than can be said for most of the rest of the NHS estate.

Almost a third of that estate was built before 1974, and a further ten per cent dates back to the 1980s. Many trusts operate both old and new buildings but are shelling out so much money on the mortgage for the new-builds that they cannot afford to maintain the older premises. Collapsing ceilings, leaking roofs, burst pipes, broken boilers, malfunctioning air-conditioning systems and numerous other maintenance issues all present a constant challenge to hospital bosses and frequently pose a real danger to patients.

In a damning Government-commissioned report into the condition of the NHS estate, Sir Robert Naylor labelled it 'unfit for purpose', warning that the situation is probably far worse than many trusts care to admit.

There is 'no real incentive' for them to tell the truth about how dilapidated their buildings have become, he said.

Life Support: The State Of The NHS In An Age Of Pandemics by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott

Added to trusts' crippling PFI debts are the vast financial losses due to inefficiency. Mark Gordon, who has worked in multiple hospitals across the UK, estimates that hundreds of millions of pounds are lost every year due to time-wasting and operating theatres being under-used.

He recounts how surgery routinely started so late in the morning that patients at the bottom of the list were sent home without having their operations, or were delayed until the following day.

He was appalled by how often operations were cancelled just to suit staff.

He says: 'Vested interests would stop theatre lists for their own reasons  for example because a member of staff did not believe the list [would] 'finish on time', thereby causing them to stay over their scheduled work time The impact on the patient is dire.'

The reality is that NHS workers have little to no incentive to maximise output. They are paid the same amount however many patients they see, and slow work is rarely reprimanded.

Against this backdrop, it is a testament to the dedication of the depleted workforce that the NHS gets as much done as it does.

A problem which is, thankfully, far less common within the service is fraud.

Nevertheless, every year, both the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council deal with multiple cases involving healthcare professionals who falsify qualifications. Many other such abuses may never come to light.

In recent years, authorities have shut down hundreds of bogus higher education institutions peddling fake degrees, and it is now more difficult to obtain false medical training certificates.

However, our investigations revealed that very convincing fake qualifications can still be obtained on the so-called dark net, part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and is accessible only via specific software. There are multiple sellers charging between $200 and $700 for documents.

In return for sending $650 to a personal account in China, we were able to obtain a highly realistic fake degree from the University of Southampton, awarding a 'John Stone' a bachelor of nursing degree with first-class honours in adult mental health.

What is apparent from the cases that periodically come before professional regulators is that neither recruitment agencies nor NHS trusts have the resources to conduct exhaustive checks on all those who apply for jobs.

The fact is, the need for many additional healthcare professionals is among the thorniest and most urgent now facing the NHS. Yet there are no quick fixes.

Meanwhile, coronavirus and the possibility of more dangerous mutations is not going away. For the foreseeable future, the NHS will be expected to maintain high levels of surveillance, and resources will continually be diverted to ongoing vaccination programmes. Thus more planned procedures will be delayed and cancelled.

https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/life-support

 Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott, 2022

Abridged extract from Life Support: The State Of The NHS In An Age Of Pandemics by Michael Ashcroft and Isabel Oakeshott, published by Biteback on March 8, priced at 20. To order a copy for 18, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937 before March 20.

Free UK delivery on orders over 20. Lord Ashcroft (who campaigned for the NHS to be awarded the George Cross) is donating all authors' royalties from Life Support to charities supporting the NHS in England.
Clutching their precious cargo, animal lovers in Ukraine rush to protect their beloved pets, ferrying them to safe-haven countries across the border.

One man carries an assault rifle over his shoulder and a cat and exotic fish in his hands as he saves them from a shell-damaged building in Kyiv.

Even the country's police officers leapt into action to rescue two parrots from the ruins of another block of Kyiv flats hit by Russian shells.

Clutching their precious cargo, animal lovers in Ukraine rush to protect their beloved pets, ferrying them to safe-haven countries across the border

One man carries an assault rifle over his shoulder and a cat and exotic fish in his hands as he saves them from a shell-damaged building in Kyiv

In the city of Lviv, 43 miles from the Polish border in Western Ukraine, evacuees ditched their suitcases for dogs and cats as they took their pets to safety in carriers.

One woman made sure her Yorkshire terrier was warm as she wrapped the pet up in a pink jacket.

In the city of Lviv, 43 miles from the Polish border in Western Ukraine, evacuees ditched their suitcases for dogs and cats as they took their pets to safety in carriers

Even the country's police officers leapt into action to rescue two parrots from the ruins of another block of Kyiv flats hit by Russian shells

The neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania and Slovakia are all allowing fleeing Ukrainians to bring their beloved animals across borders without vet paperwork.

Romanian animal rescue charity Casa Lui Patrocle, which is based in the city of Suceava, around 25 miles from the Ukraine border, vowed to help families fleeing with their pets, writing in a Facebook post that it would provide veterinary assistance to anyone who entered the country.

The organisation said it would help treat 'any type of animal'
Dusted with snow and sitting on a tank- carrying truck, this is the menacing image of Russias deadly weapon that will spread fear across Ukraine  and the world.

After three days of dogged defence by Ukraines military frustrated the advance of Vladimir Putins forces, the Russian President yesterday deployed a fearsome rocket system onto the battlefield.

Footage verified by the American broadcaster CNN showed the Russian army moving TOS-1 Buratino rockets towards the front line.

Capable of firing a barrage of thermobaric flamethrower rockets, the weapon can wipe out everything within a 300-yard radius. British military sources warn it could kill tens of thousands of civilians.

Dusted with snow and sitting on a tank- carrying truck, this is the menacing image of Russias deadly weapon that will spread fear across Ukraine  and the world

The rockets blast produces a wall of flame that is followed by a vacuum, which can cause deadly internal damage to lungs and other internal organs.

Among the worlds most deadly non-nuclear weapons, the powerful thermobaric devices were filmed yesterday on the back of a lorry just ten miles from Russias border with northern Ukraine.

It is believed they were heading for the city of Kharkiv, 250 miles east of Kyiv, where Ukrainian troops are putting up fierce resistance against Russian forces.

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the UKs joint forces command, last night said it remained unclear whether Putin would order his troops to use the weapons, but if he does the consequences will be devastating.

The rockets blast produces a wall of flame that is followed by a vacuum, which can cause deadly internal damage to lungs and other internal organs

Unleashing thermobaric weapons and the mass concentrated use of heavy artillery will cause the indiscriminate, unnecessary and unwarranted slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent people, he said.

The thing we have never known  and nobody knows  is the intent behind this, because nobody understands what is in Putins mind.

Russian troops fighting around Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine, have become bogged down after an attempt to encircle the city was repulsed by Ukrainian troops, who launched a devastating counter-attack on Russian armoured vehicles using British anti-tank missiles.

Ilya Ponomarev, a former Russian MP, yesterday claimed that Putins military commanders expected to have seized Ukraine within one to four days.

He said capturing Kharkiv was central to the plan, adding: Theyre counting on Kharkiv to surrender first. And the other cities will follow suit, to avoid bloodshed.

The CNN footage showed the thermobaric weapons system, which was mounted on a T-72 tank chassis, travelling on the back of a tank transporter at 1.20pm local time.

It is believed they were heading for the city of Kharkiv, 250 miles east of Kyiv, where Ukrainian troops are putting up fierce resistance against Russian forces

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former head of the UKs joint forces command, last night said it remained unclear whether Putin would order his troops to use the weapons, but if he does the consequences will be devastating

Capable of firing a barrage of thermobaric flamethrower rockets, the weapon can wipe out everything within a 300-yard radius. British military sources warn it could kill tens of thousands of civilians

A thermobaric bomb dropped by the US on the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 weighed 21,600 lb and left a crater more than 1,000ft wide after it exploded six feet above the ground.

Despite scenes of civilian apartment blocks being hit by shelling, military experts say Russias military has been fighting with more restrained tactics than usual.

Russian offensives in Chechnya in the 1990s, and more recently in Syria, were marked by horrific brutality and the targeting of civilians. There is a ruthlessness in the way that the Russians have behaved in conflict and they havent yet displayed entirely that ruthlessness, said Professor Michael Clarke, a former director general of the Royal United Services Institute defence think tank.

But we know they have the hardware and certainly the psychology to do this in a much more brutal way, and sadly they may be facing that moment of decision around Kyiv in the next few hours.

One Western official said: The Ukrainians have done a lot of effective work to slow down the Russians advance. So far their objectives have not been met. Our fear is that if delays continue, the Russians will resort to indiscriminate weapons, such as thermobaric weapons, in order to make swifter progress.

General Barrons said the use of heavy weaponry could turn Russias population against Putin. The thing that is appearing now is that lots of Russians, including important Russians, are wondering what path of lunacy Putin is taking them down now, he said.

And it is open to them to do something about it, in the way that it is not open to us.

Intense fighting continued across the south of the country yesterday, including at Kherson, just north of Crimea, and in the Black Sea ports of Mykolaiv, Odessa and near Mariupol.

It emerged yesterday that Russia had staged amphibious landings, with thousands of troops storming ashore on Ukraines Sea of Azov coastline to the west of Mariupol. The assault appeared to be an attempt to cut off the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Russian forces claimed to have taken Melitopol, a city of 150,000 people in south Ukraine, although this was disputed by British officials. Russian airborne forces also landed near the city of Vasylkiv, about 25 miles south of Kiev, on Friday night and attempted to seize an air base but were repelled.
Russia was tonight cut out of a crucial global banking system as efforts to hit its economy if it invaded Ukraine intensified.

In a co-ordinated move Britain, the US, Canada and the European Union announced selected Russian banks would be excluded from the Swift global payments system.

At the same time they said the would be imposing 'restrictive measures' to prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves 'in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions'.

After talking by telephone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Johnson said the West had to do everything possible to change the 'very heavy odds' against Ukraine in its struggle against Moscow's forces.

He confirmed Britain would be sending further arms to the Ukrainians and he said that the financial measures were essential to put pressure on the Kremlin.

'It is incredibly important for tightening the economic ligature around the Putin regime,' he said during a visit to RAF Brize Norton.

Earlier German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced he was dropping his country's opposition to the move removing a major obstacle to international agreement.

'The horror of what is unfolding in Ukraine is becoming clear to Western audiences and that in turn is putting huge pressure on Western politicians,' Mr Johnson said.

Swift is an international payment system used by banks and crucial to the Russian economy

The idea of stopping Russia being able to use it is something that has been mentioned for days

Putin's invasion of Ukraine has sparked international outrage and resolution to stop him

The Swift move came despite fears of how Vladimir Putin might respond  including concerns that he could threaten to pull out of the 1970 nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But a Government source said that the measure really, really scares them, adding: They know it will really hurt.

A Downing Street source added: The Prime Minister wants Russia booted out of Swift, and has done for some time. Hes pressed in every call hes made to garner support for excluding them, and hes made clear that he will not stop until it happens.

Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, is due to meet chief executives of high street banks and building societies tomorrow  with throwing Russia out of Swift dominating the discussion.

Mr Bailey is keen to ensure sanctions do not undermine the stability of the UK financial system.

There is no problem from the UK banks, a source said. We want to do whatever we can to help.

It came as Housing Secretary Michael Gove urged for more action to seize UK properties owned by Putin's allies.

Mr Gove said more action should be taken after research showed 1.5billion or bricks and mortar was held by people accused of corruption.

Britain had been pressing for action on Swift - described by one minister as the 'ultimate economic sanction' - for some time.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed cutting several targeted Russian banks from the Swift financial transaction system

The SWIFT logo at their headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The payment system is crucial to the Russian economy

Germany and Italy - which both rely heavily on Russia oil and gas imports - were among the countries said to be reluctant.

The move came on the day the expected Russian assault on the the Ukrainian capital Kyiv failed to materialise.

A statement issued by the White House said: 'We, the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States condemn Putin's war of choice and attacks on the sovereign nation and people of Ukraine.

What is Swift? Swift, or the 'Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication', is a secure messaging system that facilitates rapid cross-border payments, making international trade flow smoothly. Banks which connect to the system and establish relationships with other banks can use Swift messages to make payments. The messages are secure so that payment instructions are typically honoured without question. This allows banks to process high volumes of transactions at speed. It has become the principal mechanism for financing international trade. In 2020, around 38 million Swift messages were sent each day over the platform, according to its 2020 Annual Review. Each year, trillions of dollars are transferred using the system. Swift, founded in the 1970s, is a co-operative of thousands of member institutions which use the service. Based in Belgium, it makes a modest profit $36 million in 2020. It is run principally as a service to its members. Excluding Russian banks from Swift will restrict the country's access to financial markets across the world. Russian companies and individuals will find it harder to pay for imports and receive cash for exports, borrow or invest overseas. Russian banks could use other channels for payments such as phones, messaging apps or email. The would allow Russian banks to make payments via banks in countries which have not imposed sanctions but since alternatives are likely to be less efficient and secure, transaction volumes could fall and costs rise. Exporters will find selling goods to Russia riskier and more expensive. Russia is a big buyer of manufactured goods. The Netherlands and Germany are its second and third biggest trading partners, based on World Bank data, although Russia is not a top 10 export market for either country. Foreign buyers of Russian goods will also find it more difficult, potentially prompting them to seek alternative suppliers. But when it comes to Russian oil and gas, foreign buyers could find it harder to find replacement suppliers. Advertisement

'And with the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people in their heroic efforts to resist Russia's invasion. Russia's war represents an assault on fundamental international rules and norms that have prevailed since the Second World War, which we are committed to defending. We will hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for Putin.

'This past week, alongside our diplomatic efforts and collective work to defend our own borders and to assist the Ukrainian government and people in their fight, we, as well as our other allies and partners around the world, imposed severe measures on key Russian institutions and banks, and on the architects of this war, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'As Russian forces unleash their assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, we are resolved to continue imposing costs on Russia that will further isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies. We will implement these measures within the coming days.

'Specifically, we commit to undertake the following measures:

'First, we commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the SWIFT messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally.

'Second, we commit to imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions.

'Third, we commit to acting against the people and entities who facilitate the war in Ukraine and the harmful activities of the Russian government. Specifically, we commit to taking measures to limit the sale of citizenship-so called golden passports-that let wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government become citizens of our countries and gain access to our financial systems.

'Fourth, we commit to launching this coming week a transatlantic task force that will ensure the effective implementation of our financial sanctions by identifying and freezing the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies that exist within our jurisdictions. As a part of this effort we are committed to employing sanctions and other financial and enforcement measures on additional Russian officials and elites close to the Russian government, as well as their families, and their enablers to identify and freeze the assets they hold in our jurisdictions. We will also engage other governments and work to detect and disrupt the movement of ill-gotten gains, and to deny these individuals the ability to hide their assets in jurisdictions across the world.

'Finally, we will step up or co-ordination against disinformation and other forms of hybrid warfare.'

Earlier EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed cutting several targeted Russian banks from the Swift financial transaction system.

It means Russia will struggle to receive payments from outside of the country, which will cause serious economic problems.

Germany had been opposed to the move but warmed to the idea further today.

Ms von der Leyen said: 'As Russian forces unleash their assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, we are resolved to continue imposing massive costs on Russia that will further isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies.

'In co-ordination with President Biden, President Macron, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Draghi as well as Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Johnson, we considered a significant tightening of our international response.

'The European Union and its partners are working to cripple Putin's ability to finance his war machine.'

Though it is widely believed that the Russian dictator will have factored Western sanctions into his calculations, the combined effect of punitive measures on Russia's banking system will further squeeze its economy.

The United States, Britain, Japan, Canada, Australia and the European Union unveiled more sanctions on Moscow on top of penalties earlier this week, including a move by Germany to halt a gas pipeline from Russia.

President Joe Biden delivered further measures to target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors, while the EU unveiled its own new package including financial, energy and technological sanctions.
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Ukraine has been pleading with the West to remove Russia from the international SWIFT banking network

The US and its Western allies announced on Saturday a new raft of crippling sanctions on Moscow, as they promised to ban key Russian banks from the international SWIFT banking network and impose restrictions on the Russian Central Bank.

They will also set up a transatlantic taskforce to go after sanctioned oligarchs, 'their yachts, luxury apartments, their money and their ability to send their kids to fancy colleges in the West,' said a senior Biden administration official.

US officials said the steps were designed to send the ruble into 'free fall' and trigger soaring inflation in the Russian economy.

The moves will be welcomed in Ukraine, which saw isolating Russian banks as a key way to choke off financing and punish Moscow for its invasion.

The announcement came as Russian troops battled Ukrainian forces on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv.

Officials said cutting Russian banks off the system will stop them from conducting most of their financial transactions worldwide and effectively block Russian exports and imports.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said it would prevent Putin using his 'war chest.'

In a joint statement, the US, European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada said: 'We will hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for Putin.'

A raft of measures will be implemented in the coming days, they said.

'First, we commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the SWIFT messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally,' they continued.

'Second, we commit to imposing restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian Central Bank from deploying its international reserves in ways that undermine the impact of our sanctions.'

In Washington, a senior administration officials said the governments were following the 'Iran model' of cutting off Moscow's banks.

'This coming week, we will launch a multilateral transatlantic task force to identify, hunt down and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies, oligarchs, their yachts and their mansions and any ill gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law,' he said.

This week, the administration delivered a raft of sanctions on key oligarchs and people close to Putin.

They include former chief of staff Sergei Ivanov; Andrey Patrushev, a Putin ally who has held high-ranking positions at the state-owned Gazprom Neft; and former Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, chairman of the management board of the oil company Rosneft.

Ukrainian soldiers take up positions outside a military facility as two cars burn in a street in Kyiv. US officials now believe some 75,000 Russian troops have entered Ukraine - about half the force that massed on the country's borders

Ukrainian tanks on the move ahead of an attack in Lugansk region on February 26, 2022.

President Joe Biden authorized a new package of military assistance on Friday. On Saturday he was at home in Wilmington, and ventured out in the afternoon for Mass at the Brandywine Catholic Church

Ukrainians have been demanding that Russia be removed from SWIFT, shutting off their banks from international transfers

Russian troops have made rapid advances since they invaded early on Thursday morning.

Skirmishes were reported around the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, as local forces tried to hold off Russian troops.

A Pentagon official said half of the 150,000 Russian troops deployed to the Ukrainian border had no entered the country.

And the Kremlin ordered its military to ramp up the Ukraine offensive 'from all directions'  as ordinary Russians started to express their horror at the war being waged in their name.

Earlier officials said that Javelin anti-tank missiles were part of a new $350 million package of military hardware being sent to help Ukrainian troops hold off invading Russian forces.

It came two days after Ukraine's defense minister made a direct appeal to Congress.

Alexey Reznikov said: 'We need as much Stinger and anti-tank weapons as possible.

'In order to provide for reliable procurement of equipment, you may deliver it to Poland. From there we will transport them across the land and quickly saturate our defense.'

Javelins are used by small, mobile units to destroy tanks from a distance and are seen by Kyiv as one of their best hopes for slowing the advance.

Although Ukrainian airspace is contested, the official said the Pentagon was continuing to find routes in to the country.

'Were going to look for additional venues to do that, especially now given that the president has authorized another $350 million worth of assistance,' the official said. 'Were going to do everything we can to get that into the hands of the Ukrainians.'

Ukrainian soldiers beat back a Russian attack in the capital Kyiv only hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Moscow would attempt to take the city before dawn

Residents of Kyiv faced an uncertain Saturday night and Russian troops entered some parts of the city in skirmishes

A wounded woman is taken to hospital after shelling in Kyiv on Saturday

Ukrainian servicemen ride on tanks toward the front line with Russian forces in the Lugansk region of Ukraine on Friday

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said Ukraine needed Stingers.

'I hope the military aid package announced by the administration today includes these Stingers,' said Rep. Mike Rogers.

'The Ukrainians are fighting like hell to save their country and the administration should have sent this lethal aid weeks ago.'

The military assistance was authorized by President Joe Biden a day earlier, bringing the total amount of help to $1 billion over the past year.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said it would come from U.S. inventories 'including anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor, and related equipment in support of Ukraines front-line defenders facing down Russias unprovoked attack.'

Ukraine has been desperately asking for more Javelins as well as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles as its forces battle Russia's tanks, bombers, helicopters and missiles

A Pentagon official told reporters that Javelin anti-tank weapons were part of the package but declined to say whether Stingers were included, according to Defense News.

World leaders say they are united in facing down Russia.

And in an interview released on Saturday, Biden said he believed NATO was stronger than ever and the invasion was backfiring on Putin.

'My goal from the very beginning was to make sure that I kept all of NATO and the European on the same page. It's the one thing I think Putin thought he could do was split NATO, creating a great aperture for him to be able to walk through and that hasn't happened,' he said in an interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen.

'If you notice it's been complete unanimity, and Russia will pay a serious price for this short term and long term.'

A stray Russian rocket slammed into the side of a residential tower on Lobanovsky Street just west of Kyivs city centre

Apartments between the 16th and 20th floors were set ablaze

The scale of the challenge facing Ukraine was laid out by a Pentagon official.

In the past 24 hours, the US had recorded more than 250 Russian missile launches, mostly short-range ballistic missiles, according to the official. And more than 50 percent of the 150,000 troops that lined up around the border have now entered in the invasion force.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the assistance package should send a clear signal to Moscow.

'This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing,' he said.

'It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation.'

Biden offered the cash as Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky revealed he'd snubbed a US offer of evacuation from war-town Kyiv, as Vladimir Putin reportedly dispatched kidnap squads to abduct or kill him.

Zelensky said: 'The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.' He spoke as Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed 3,500 Russian troops during a bloody night of combat across the European state, which saw street battles begin to erupt on the streets of Kyiv.
The Kremlin last night ordered its military to ramp up the Ukraine offensive from all directions  as ordinary Russians started to express their horror at the war being waged in their name.

In an authoritarian state that brooks little real opposition, this suggests Vladimir Putin is losing the support of his people.

Protests were staged on streets and across social media as fears grew that Putins war was going badly  and was likely to get worse.

Moscow has been refusing to admit to suffering casualties during their invasion of Ukraine, but photographs showing burned out armoured vehicles and dead soldiers - pictured here outside the city of Kharkiv - suggest the Russians are facing an unexpected level of opposition

In Kyiv, pictured, the population as well as the military are preparing for the onslaught

Citizens in Moscow have been protesting against the war, risking a violent backlash from Russian security forces

Videos and photographs from the frontlines surrounding Kyiv indicate that Russia is suffering serious casualties, despite Moscows silence on any combat losses.

Siberian student Daria Lykova, 18, posted: Putins peaceful demilitarisation is a war crime of an international scale. Im in close contact with my loved ones in the victim state. Their houses are shaking from explosions. They cant sleep, eat, or merely exist in peace. Everyone is scared.

Many celebrities in Moscow have come out strongly against the war.Author Alexander Tsypkin warned: This is a mistake that can lead to a total disaster. Recognising the independence of the disputed territories is one thing. Bombing is another.

Putins goddaughter Ksenia Sobchak  a TV star and former presidential candidate who has known the Kremlin leader since her childhood  said: We are all now trapped in this situation. No exit. We, the Russians, will be dealing with the consequences of today for many years to come.

TV presenter Leonid Parfenov added: Its not a terrible ending, its a horror without end.

Ekaterina Solonitskaya, the ex-wife of Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov, said: Not a single centimetre of annexed land is worth the life of one person.

Russias powerful state media has hit back at critics by upping its doses of propaganda, with news bulletins peppered with warnings to protesters and dissenters that they may be committing treason.

The invasion has been criticised across the globe, with protests against the war, including outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin - which was daubed in red paint

Artists and writers who hold anti-Russian views and speak out against the special military operation by calling it an aggressive war may be stripped of state awards and honorary titles, a government source said.

Around Moscows Red Square yesterday, there was no shortage of young people willing to criticise Russias leader.

Kristina Bykova, 23, said: To attack Ukraine without warning. Thats disgusting. I dont know anything about Ukraine, but I dont support Putin  he shouldnt have started a military conflict.

Western sanctions were also a concern for a 35-year-old doctor named Sofiya.

She said: Putin has gone too far and provoked the West. Everything will now change. I have cancelled my holiday in Britain, there are no flights. My friend cannot pay money from her bank account in London to Moscow because the bank is sanctioned.

Computer salesman Artyom, 39, added: We will not be able to afford Western brands because even if they are not sanctioned, the rouble has plunged.

But Russias ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said sanctions were a sign of the Wests impotence in the conflict and he hinted at a severing of diplomatic ties, saying it was time to padlock the embassies.
Ben Wallace sits down to our interview just as the first reports of Russian troops entering Kyiv flash up online. Hearing that Ukraines citizens are told to throw Molotov cocktails at the invaders, the Defence Secretary says: The nature of war is everyone is involved.

He then makes a sobering point on the human cost of the Kremlins invasion, referencing the Second World Wars Battle of Stalingrad which ended with an estimated two million casualties: When every street corner is a killing zone, the casualty rates are astronomically high. Stalingrad is burned on the hearts of most Soviets, because of the total cost it took to take a city.

While the former soldier says of Vladimir Putins assault on Kyiv  its gonna cost him  pointing out that in an urban environment, a petrol bomb into the back of a military Jeep is as effective as a missile  he admits the autocrat might still be in power for another decade.

Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace MP (centre), seen here in Olsztyn, Poland

Once Kyiv falls, the country is likely to descend into guerrilla warfare. As weve seen in Iraq, its quite straightforward to invade a country  its incredibly hard to occupy a country of 44 million. What Putin has done today will lay the seeds for the ultimate end of Putin  whether its ten years, one year; The bodies cant be hidden.

Every act of resistance is the foundation that will eventually lead to the failure of Putin.

Speaking in the Ministry of Defence offices on Friday afternoon, having spent the day in back-to-back briefings, Wallace says a deluded Putin has miscalculated and made a mistake in thinking Ukrainian people would welcome him with open arms.

But he warns that could make the war even more brutal, with Russia resorting to total violence.

What the last 48 hours has done is surprised Putin that Ukrainians are not waving flags of welcome, that he is not a liberator, which I think he convinced himself he was. In fact, he was despised.

The Russian army is run by an organisation whose view of the use of force and the rules of war are way out of anybody elses normal parameters, Wallace says. The way they conducted themselves in Chechnya and other conflicts, they use total violence when they dont get what they want.

Weve already seen reports of shelling, striking of civilian properties and locations. Wallace says he was briefed that morning about an attack on a kindergarten.

He says Putins plan is to become a disastrous tsar, but that he must not be allowed to succeed. He is scathing about the world leaders who stood by when the Russian president annexed Crimea in 2014.

Mr Wallace says Putins (pictured) plan is to become a disastrous tsar, but that he must not be allowed to succeed

Collectively, the West after 2014 was guilty of appeasement. Collectively, the West is paying the price for letting a bully take.

He added that since 2014 Britain was one of the leading countries helping Ukraine build up its capability.

But Wallace, 51, attacks French President Emmanuel Macron for having Putin as a guest of honour at Jacques Chiracs funeral in 2019. He recalls sitting not far behind the Russian leader and thinking that  after the Salisbury Novichok attacks  he shouldnt be there.

It was not long after Salisbury, and we were in a cathedral. His minders stood on the balls of their feet. I thought, why is a man who murdered a British citizen sitting as one of the guest of honours in Western Europe?

So what can be done now? At this stage, it appears, not much. The night before we meet, Ukraines president said his country had been left to fight alone. We cant do everything we want for Ukraine, Wallace says, pointing out the risk of a full-scale war with Russia if a Nato ally steps into Ukraine.

He dismisses calls from backbench Tory MPs to introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine. In typical Wallace plain-speech, he says these suggestions are crap, adding: Do you know how you impose it? You shoot down Russian jets  leading to war in Europe.

Of his fellow Conservatives backing no-fly zones  including Defence Select Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood and former Cabinet Minister David Davis  Wallace says they go around TV studio spouting this stuff, without any consequence for the world we have to live in.

He is acutely aware how frightened people in the UK are of an escalation into a full-blown war with Russia, with its huge stockpile of nuclear weapons which Putin has modernised. Asked what his message is to parents whose children ask them if we are heading towards a world war, the Minister says: Im afraid today, World War Three will last about an hour. Which is why we spend all our time avoiding World War Three.

Ukrainian service members are seen at the site of a fighting with Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv

He says his three children are anxious about it and that the power of social media makes us all frightened. He adds: Ukraine, which is actually a long way away, is beamed into our televisions, and on social media and TikTok. And I would say first of all, as I do with my children, we have to make sure we help regulate what they watch. As a Government and as a parent. Young minds are terribly anxious.

He says he spoke to his children on the phone on Thursday but hasnt seen them throughout the unfolding crisis. He had cancelled his half-term family holiday because the situation in Ukraine was rapidly deteriorating.

The next stage of the conflict will, Wallace believes, move to insurgency and guerrilla warfare. Will the UK help with this?

I think were taking it a phase at a time, he says. But he adds: Britain  we stand up to bullies. Our job in the UK is that Putin must fail. He has to fail in challenging our values and our European security architecture. He has to fail for what hes done in Ukraine. Whether he will fail next week, next month or in a decade, he has to fail.

It could take a decade. But the West is big enough, wealthy enough, sophisticated enough to pay that price if it needs to. And it should pay that price. Freedom isnt free.

Wallace says we are witnessing a dawn of a new border of Europe, the ripples of which will arrive on Natos shores. Echoing his colleague, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Wallace says that Putin wont stop at Ukraine  adding that as well as concern over the Baltic states, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan could be next.

Watch out, he tells those states, because he doesnt really think you are all independent either.

Asked if the UK could use cyber attacks against Putin, he says: There are lots of tactics against Putin, Im not going to comment on each individual one, before adding that he means the options are ones to use against adversaries in general, not any specific one.

As for the West facing cyber attacks, Wallace says everyone should start taking more precautions. We are all over-dependent on technology that leaves us open to attack, he warns.

Checking our virus software is up to date should become routine, he says. We make sure our cars are serviced because were very dependent on that. We should do the same towards our telephones and our computers because we are very, very dependent on them. We should take it incredibly seriously.
A retired SWAT commander was acquitted of murder eight years after he gunned down a fellow moviegoer during an argument over a cellphone.

Former Tampa police Capt. Curtis Reeves was charged with second-degree murder after he fatally shot Chad Oulson during a matinee screening of Lone Survivor at Grove 16 movie theater in Wesley Chapel, a suburb of Tampa. As the previews began to play the afternoon of Jan. 13, 2014, 43-year-old Oulson continued texting his 22-month-old daughters babysitter.

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Curtis Reeves, center, celebrates his verdict after being found not guilty of murder in the death of Chad Oulson on Friday in Dade City, Fla. (Douglas R. Clifford/AP)

Reeves said he politely asked Oulson to put away his phone, though the victims family has contended it sounded like an order. Either way, Oulson pushed back, prompting Reeves to seek out the help of a manager. When he returned to see Oulson still on his phone, the tensions quickly escalated. Oulson grabbed some popcorn and flicked it at Reeves, who then pulled his .380 handgun, lunged over the seat and fired a single shot, killing Oulson.

The gunfire also nearly severed the finger of Oulsons wife, Nicole, who was trying to pull her husband back to his seat.

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Chad Oulson is pictured with his wife, Nichole Oulson, in an undated photo.

A six-person jury deliberated for just a few hours on Friday before declining to convict Reeves, now 79.

As a retired Tampa police captain, Reeves testified that his background in law enforcement informed his decision to shoot Oulson, who he felt was putting his life in danger. He said he had never encountered someone so out of control over the course of his career.

Nicole Oulson, widow of Chad Oulson, center, reacts prior to the reading of the verdict at the conclusion of former Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves' murder trial. (Douglas R. Clifford/AP)

Due to his age, arthritis and other physical ailments, Reeves said he could not have defended himself except by opening fire. He was 71 at the time.

Reeves had more knowledge, more experience, more study in that area than anyone in this courtroom, defense attorney Richard Escobar said. Its a dangerous world.

Flanked by attorneys Richard Escobar (left) and Dino Michaels former Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves answers questions at the conclusion of his murder trial on Friday. (Douglas R. Clifford/AP)

But prosecutor Scott Rosenwasser argued that Reeves killed Oulson only because he threw popcorn in his face, which angered him and forced him to defend his self-image as an alpha male.

He didnt fear anything, Rosenwasser said.

With New Wire Services
North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile eastward towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea's military.

The launch came after North Korea conducted seven rounds of missile tests, including the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile launch on January 30.

Sunday morning's launch would be the Kim Jong-un regime's eighth show of force this year.

This picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency last month shows a firing drill of railway-borne missile regiment is held in North Pyongan Province

Pedestrians walk past a screen displaying a map explaining North Korea's missile launch from the land of the country toward the Sea of Japan (file photo from September 2021)

Sunday morning's launch would be the Kim Jong-un regime's eighth show of force this year

A maritime safety warning from Japans Coast Guard issued a maritime safety said an object possibly ballistic missile was launched from North Korea and that it probably landed in the sea.

Vessels in the area were warned to stay away from objects that may have fallen from the air and to report them to authorities.

North Korea last month conducted seven rounds of missile tests in what some experts called an attempt to perfect its weapons technology and pressure Joe Bidens administration to make concessions like relief from economic sanctions.

North Korea later halted testing activity after the start of the Winter Olympics in China, which is its last major major ally and economic pipeline. Some experts had predicted North Korea would resume tests and possible launch bigger weapons after the Olympics.

North Korea tests fire what appears to be a Hwasong-12 intermediate and long-range ballistic missile test. Pictured here in 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes what state media report is a hypersonic missile test at an undisclosed location in North Korea last month

Last month, North Korea said that it was lifting its yearslong self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests suggesting it could engage in further provocative actions down the road.

The continued saber-rattling from Pyongyang comes amid a deadlock in nuclear talks with Washington.

Sunday's launch comes a month after North Korea fired a Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missile, the largest weapon fired since 2017, in a test that capped a record month of mostly short-range missile launches in January.

Amid stalled denuclearization talks with the United States, North Korea has suggested it could resume testing its longer range missiles or even nuclear weapons.
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A few years ago a rumour began to circulate that by 2020, the world would run out of chocolate. Thank goodness it didnt happen, and in fact in the Caribbean the reverse has come true with a revival of the cocoa industry and an explosion in chocolate manufacturers.

Jamaica was the main supplier of the chocolate and coffee houses in Britain in the late 1700s but before that Grenada, then a French colony, was the worlds biggest producer of cocoa. Not bad for an island just 12 miles by 21. However, as Europe found its sweet tooth and other plantation centres thrived, the Caribbean chocolate market went into decline.

Now the biggest revival has taken place in Grenada, where half a dozen independent chocolate-makers are booming and the island exports fine-quality cocoa beans.

Booming: A revival of the cocoa industry has taken place in Grenada after a period of decline. Pictured is St Georges, the island's capital

If youre on holiday here, its worth taking a day away from its glorious beaches such as Morne Rouge to visit a chocolate estate, to see the cocoa walks and partake in a tree-to-bar experience. Grenada even has a chocolate festival, held in mid-May, after the winter season ends, when hotel prices are lower and the weather is still not stifling.

The festival is four days of tasting lessons and talks about the three main cocoa beans  the two used in Grenada are the criollo and trinitario beans. You can sign up for practical chocolate-making sessions and estate visits. The island micro-brewery even lays on a range of chocolate-flavoured beers. It all culminates in a ticketed gala dinner (no black tie required) in which all seven courses, from soup to dessert, contain cocoa or chocolate in bitter or sweet form.

As part of the festival, I join a group tour heading north, on the coast road that clambers over headlands and sweeps deep into huge bays, eventually reaching the cocoa estate at Crayfish Bay. Here we walk through the plantation. Cocoa trees stand 30ft high, their lustrous dark green leaves shining in the dappled sunlight. Above them soar shade trees, called immortelles but also known as madre de cacao or mother of cocoa, whose orange blooms set Caribbean valleys aflame each January.

Estate owner Kim Russell describes the age-old process. Cocoa pods  yellow, green, brown, even scarlet  that sprout randomly from trunk and branches are harvested with a knife on a pole and broken open to reveal a tower of closely packed beans sitting in a delicious, sticky white pith.

Glorious: James Henderson recommends taking a break from Grenada's beaches, like Morne Rouge beach (above), to enjoy the island's chocolate experiences

James attended the annual Chocolate Festival where visitors can learn about the three main cocoa beans. Pictured is a cacao tree

Back at the heart of the estate in a cluster of old buildings with red tin roofs, we see the beans bundled into wooden boxes and covered with banana leaves, where they are sweated for several days to ferment away the pith. Then they are spread on to trays on runners known as boucans to air-dry in the sun or pushed back under cover in case of rain. We take turns to dance the beans, shuffling through them barefoot so they dry evenly.

The final stage is roasting. Kim turns a cage of beans over charcoal embers. They give a distinctive, smoky flavour to his (mostly 75 per cent dark) chocolate.

The Chocolate Festival was created by Magdalena Fielden, a Grenada resident, originally from Mexico, who bases the event at her hotel, the True Blue Bay resort, in the south-west of the island. She gives talks on cocoas Mayan origins as currency and how its bitter flavour is key in Mexican cooking.

Next morning I head to the Belmont estate where Grenadas chocolate resurgence originated. At the new factory and visitor centre, we watch the process. After roasting, the beans pass through a sequence of aluminium vats where they are winnowed (husks separated from beans), melanged (ground down and mixed with cocoa butter and sugar, also flavouring) and then conched (more turning, to remove volatile flavours and get the right texture). The luscious, silky result is poured into moulds and cooled.

Belmont makes a variety of bars besides 75 per cent dark chocolate, flavouring them with nutmeg and sea salt, and even Oil Down, after the Grenadian national dish of salted meat and vegetable stew.

Chocs away: A Belmont creation at the chocolate festival (left) and chunks of the islands speciality (right)

The festival closes with two dinners. The first offered seven courses prepared by True Blue chef Jose Luis Gomez and chef Ramces Castillo, of the Gary Rhodes restaurant at Calabash Hotel, and included cocoa-secco and chocolate-flavoured tapenade, cocoa-nutmeg chicken and finally sesame chocolate truffle with cocoa-tea ice cream.

The second was a take on Grenadian street food, with chicken mole tacos, bitter chocolate pork ribs and cocoa nib-crusted grilled fish  and a jump-up (party).

The True Blue dock bounced to dancing late into the night.
Deborah Meaden checks in to our travel Q&A

This week, Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden checks in to our travel Q&A.

She talks about her favourite city, her dream holiday - and more...

Are you a good flyer?

Im relaxed about it and, weirdly, I quite enjoy a little bit of turbulence. Its like a fairground ride.

Cant travel without?

A huge scarf. It can protect you from the sun, the rain and, if wandering around in shorts and wanting to visit a temple, you can wrap it around your legs.

Top weekend trip?

Barcelona. It is vibrant, has great architecture, with all of the Gaudi stuff, and tapas bars. The weathers a plus, too.

First holiday memory?

As a child we had day trips rather than holidays. When I was tiny, we lived in Brightlingsea, Essex. My first memory is of a beach there building sandcastles.

Favourite city?

I love London, but when I go to New York I love it just as much. We spent a couple of days wandering around Mexico City. Its not the prettiest but its got some really interesting stuff.

Deborah says she dreams of visiting the Pantanal in South America for its wildlife. Pictured is a jaguar in the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park

Dream holiday?

Weve done a lot of travelling around Central and South America but we want to go back and spend more time with the wildlife. Theres a huge area called the Pantanal which has amazing wildlife.

Where to next?

Our next trip will be to Borneo probably, either at the tail end of this year or the beginning of next.
Married At First Sight is set to be rocked by another cheating scandal, with recent previews hinting at a romance between Carolina Santo and Daniel Holmes behind their respective partners Dion Giannarelli and Jessica Seracino's backs.

Likewise Tamara Djordjevic and Mitch Eynaud have also been teasing a steamy affair after being spotted together on several occasions since filming the reunion in mid-January.

As rumours swirl several participants have recoupled, Daily Mail Australia sets the record straight on who is hopping into bed with who.

CONFIRMED: Carolina Santos and Daniel Holmes

Will they or won't they: This year's season of Married At First Sight looks set to be rocked by another cheating scandal, with recent previews teasing a romance between Carolina Santos [L] and Daniel Holmes [R]

CONFIRMED: Daniel and Carolina WILL take their friendship to the next level and are thought to be still enjoying a blossoming romance. Daily Mail Australia spotted the Brazilian born beauty, 33, secretly meeting up with Daniel, 30, behind her groom Dion Giannarelli's back

Daniel and Carolina WILL take their friendship to the next level and are thought to be still enjoying a blossoming romance.

Daily Mail Australia spotted the Brazilian born beauty, 33, secretly meeting up with Daniel, 30, behind her groom Dion Giannarelli's back in November.

While the nature of their relationship is yet to be played out on television, well-placed sources have all but confirmed the pair are still going strong.

MAFS producers were mortified after discovering that Carolina and Daniel's drivers accidently dropped them off at the exact same time in front of photographers.

Daniel leaves behind his long-suffering bride Jessica Seracino, who already experienced heartbreak on the series.

She was originally paired with Simon Blackburn, who was dropped from the show last year after producers discovered his misogynistic, racist and homophobic videos.

Whoops! MAFS producers were mortified after discovering that Carolina and Daniel's drivers accidently dropped them off at the exact same time in front of awaiting photographers

FAKE: Tamara Djordjevic and Mitchell Eynaud

Tamara and Mitch have been spotted together on several occasions since filming the reunion in mid-January.

But despite multiple cast members claiming that Tamara, 29, tried to 'steal' Mitch from his bride Ella Ding, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the pair are just friends.

Producers tried to arrange a couple swap between Tamara and Brent Vitello and Ella and Mitch during filming - but the idea was scrapped.

The wild rumour will be addressed during the show's reunion.

FAKE: Despite claims Tamara Djordjevic [L] tried to 'steal' Mitchell Eynaud [R] from his bride Ella, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the pair are just friends

FAKE: Ella Ding and Brent Vitiello

Ella and Brent sparked romance rumours when they were photographed enjoying a cosy beach day together on Valentine's Day among other sightings.

Brent, 33, has since laughed off 'couple swap' rumours and told Yahoo Lifestyle: 'Me and Ella are just good friends'.

He also revealed that fellow bride Domenica Calarco joined them on the outing.

Sparking rumours: Ella Ding and Brent Vitiello sparked romance rumours when they were photographed enjoying a cosy beach day together on Valentine's Day among other sightings

FAKE: Brent, 33, has since laughed off 'couple swap' rumours and told Yahoo Lifestyle: 'Me and Ella are just good friends'

FAKE: Selin Mengu and Brent Vitiello

Brent and Selin were spotted hugging and walking with their arms linked in Sydney's Double Bay.

A paparazzi picture of the friendly moment was published by a magazine in January alongside the headline: 'Brent's night out with Bride Selin!'

What they didn't show was that they were also joined by their co-stars Jack Millar and Al Perkins.

But beyond this, there is no evidence they are more than friends.

FAKE: Brent Vitiello and Selin Mengu were spotted hugging and walking with their arms linked in Sydney's Double Bay. A paparazzi picture of the friendly moment was published by a magazine in January alongside the headline: 'Brent's night out with Bride Selin!'

Group date: What they didn't show you was that they were also joined by their co-stars Jack Millar (left) and Al Perkins (right)

FAKE: Cody Bromley and Al Perkins, Jack Millar and Mitch Eynaud

Some fans believe there may have been something between Cody and Al after they were photographed holding hands in Sydney recently.

Despite looking friendly with each other the two grooms were simply trolling photographers.

Jack and Mitch are also serial offenders and have been pictured walking ahead of their brides holding hands.

One outing saw Jack get a little too excited and grope Mitch's genitals.

FAKE: Some fans believe there may have been something between Cody Bromley and Al Perkins after they were photographed holding hands in Sydney recently. Despite looking friendly with each other the two grooms were simply trolling photographers
Rachel Brosnahan received a surprise visit from her sister Lydia Brosnahan on set of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in New York City.

The 31-year-old actress was seen in light blue plaid coat and a pillbox hat as she made her way through the streets of the Big Apple.

Rachel's sister, Lydia, was seen in a black puffer coat with black Ugg boots as she bared the cold winter weather in the city.

Surprise! Rachel Brosnahan received a surprise visit from her sister Lydia Brosnahan on set of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in New York City

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is currently filming its fifth and final season.

Rachel plays Miriam 'Midge' Maisel alongside a star-studded cast including Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marian Hinkle and Tony Shalhoub.

The much-loved series is centered on a New York City housewife who embarks on a career in stand-up comedy after discovering her talent for the craft.

Rachel was recently seen alongside her co-star, Gideon Glick, arriving back in New York to begin production.

Sisters: The 31-year-old actress was seen in light blue plaid coat and a pillbox hat as she made her way through the streets of the Big Apple. Rachel's sister, Lydia, was seen in a black puffer coat with black Ugg boots as she bared the cold winter weather in the city

Back in New York: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is currently filming its fifth and final season

The House of Cards star was seen in a print pink coat, with a pink pillbox hat and a large pink carry-on bag.

Gideon, 33, was captured in a blue, pin-striped coat with his long hair peaking beneath a black hat.

Amazon Prime Video announced on February 17 that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will end after season five. The show's fourth season aired February 18.

Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, lauded the 'joyous, brilliant, singular world' brought to life by the show's wife-and-husband creative team, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.

Co-stars: Rachel was recently seen alongside her co-star, Gideon Glick, arriving back in New York to begin production

'This series has meant so much to Prime Video and the effects of its success will be felt long after its final season,' Salke said in a statement.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, created by Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls), has won 20 Emmys, including best comedy series and best comedy actress for Brosnahan.

The upcoming fifth season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel currently does not have a scheduled premiere date.
Blac Chyna showed off her taut midriff when she was spotted stepping out in sunny Los Angeles this week.

The 33-year-old reality star put her sensational cleavage on display in a cherry red ribbed bra-lette that matched her leggings.

She swept her hair up into a crimson hat and warded off the California rays with a massive pair of grey sunglasses.

Stepping out: Blac Chyna showed off her taut midriff when she was spotted stepping out in sunny Los Angeles this week

Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup for her latest outing, she rounded off the ensemble with a pair of white sneakers.

Her latest outing comes after her ex-fiance Rob Kardashian decided to drop his assault lawsuit against him.

Rob, 34, ended the legal proceedings for the sake of the former couple's daughter Dream, five, Page Six reported.

'My love for Dream far outweighs my desire to proceed with my claims against her mother in a public trial,' Rob told the publication on Friday.

Off she goes: The 33-year-old reality star put her sensational cleavage on display in a cherry red ribbed bra-lette that matched her leggings

The look: She swept her hair up into a crimson hat and warded off the California rays with a massive pair of grey sunglasses

Sunshine: Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup for her latest outing, she rounded off the ensemble with a pair of white sneakers

'Now that the court has ruled that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a jury trial on my claim for assault, for our daughter's sake, I am dismissing the action and focusing on my co-parenting relationship with Chyna,' he added.

News of the dismissal follows a judge's recent denial of Kardashian's motion to delay the commencement of the trial.

Kardashian originally sued Chyna in September 2017 for assault and the case was set to begin next week.

On Friday evening Blac Chyna shared a new photo with her 16.3 million Instagram followers and said, 'Life's good.'

Exes: Her latest outing comes after her ex-fiance Rob Kardashian decided to drop his assault lawsuit against him

Good news: On Friday evening Blac Chyna shared a new photo with her 16.3 million Instagram followers and said, 'Life's good'

Rob previously filed the lawsuit and claimed his former girlfriend attempted to strangle him with an iPhone charger cord while they were staying at a home of his sister Kylie Jenner's.

He added that Chyna had done it after consuming 'copious amounts' of drugs and alcohol.

In his filing, Rob claimed in addition to suffering injuries to his neck, head and face, Chyna also extensively damaged Jenner's home.

Chyna has denied the allegations and said her actions were made in self-defense.

Update: News of the dismissal follows a judge's recent denial of Kardashian's motion to delay the commencement of the trial

Chyna's lawyer Lynne Ciani told Page Six, 'Rob Kardashian should have thought of his daughter Dream before he filed his malicious and baseless assault and battery lawsuit.

'Rob has sought to use his wealth and power via this vexatious lawsuit to smear Chyna as a mother and even as a human being for more than four years.

'Rob dropped his case on the eve of trial, not because he suddenly wanted to drop the case 'for the sake of his daughter,' but because he knew his assault and battery accusations against Chyna were false. In other words, Rob's avoidance of the serious consequences of an adverse jury verdict is why he dropped his case, not his supposed 'concern' for his daughter.

'Chyna will now seek relief from the court to make sure that Rob cannot refile his lawsuit and to make him pay for her substantial litigation costs,' she finished.

Their baby: Rob and Chyna split in February 2017 and agreed to joint custody of their five-year-old daughter Dream in September 2017

Chyna previously unsuccessfully attempted to have the lawsuit dropped after claiming to have proof she never attacked her ex. A judge denied her request to have the suit dismissed.

Chyna claimed Rob told the Los Angeles Department Of Children and Family Services she never attacked him in 2016, according to legal documents obtained by Blast.

Rob and Chyna split in February 2017 and agreed to joint custody of Dream in September 2017.
Sunrise's longtime executive producer Michael Pell is leaving the morning show after 11 years at the helm.

Pell will step down from the role at Easter.

He's planning to relocate to Los Angeles, but will continue working with Channel Seven in a new role.

End of an era: Sunrise's longtime executive producer Michael Pell (pictured) is leaving the morning show after 11 years at the helm

Rumours of Pell's departure from the network have been swirling for months.

According to a report from Private Sydney in December, the 38-year-old was eyeing potential offers in the U.S.

However, Pell confirmed at the time that his current contract with Seven was 'in negotiation' and no decisions had been made at that time.

In 2019, the Herald Sun reported that Pell had 'expressed interest' in relocating to America, prompting Seven bosses to offer him an annual salary of over $1million to stay at the network.

Exit strategy: Pell is planning to relocate to Los Angeles, but will continue working with Channel Seven in a new role (pictured with Sarah Harris)

Pell is rumoured to be one of the top paid executives at Seven and produces up to 24 hours of live television every week.

He was best friends with Sam Armytage during her time on Sunrise, and she confided in him when she stepped away from the show earlier this year.

Speaking to TV Blackbox in June, he said: 'We got really close and that is when she came to me and said, "I think I would like to leave because I want to see what life's all about".

Talk of the town: Rumours of Pell's departure from the network have been swirling for months

'And she'd had a tough year last year. If you aren't enjoying it anymore you should seek something else to do. You have to do what it's in your heart and it wasn't in her heart... it just wasn't for her anymore'.

Michael said he was 'fully supportive' of Sam's exit from the show, and was delighted that she's so happy with her new husband, Richard Lavender, 60.

'She went and met Richard and I didn't matter anymore!' he joked, adding, 'I love Richard. He is a great guy, and I have never seen her happier'.
Gordon Ramsay showed off his son Oscar, two, on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night.

The celebrity chef, 55, was on the show to promote his new TV series Next Level Chef when host Fallon, 47, asked him to settle a series of food dilemmas.

But before he agreed, Ramsay's toddler, who was getting ready to go to bed, made an on-screen appearance.

Daddy's boy: Gordon Ramsay showed off his son Oscar, two, on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night

Ramsay put Oscar on his lap but the youngster turned shy and refused to wave at Fallon or say anything, forcing his famous chef dad to quip: 'He wasn't happy with his dinner!'

After Ramsay handed Oscar back to someone offscreen, he agreed to play the segment called Gordon Ramsay Settles It and critique Fallon's sandwich making skills.

Ramsay said: 'A sandwich should look edible, yours looks like a diaper,' before telling the host to pick up two pieces of bread and put them on his ears. As Fallon did, the chef laughed and told him: 'You're an idiot sandwich!'

Mini-me: Ramsay put Oscar on his lap but the youngster turned shy and refused to wave at Fallon or say anything, forcing his famous chef dad to quip: 'He wasn't happy with his dinner!'

Tonight's guest: The celebrity chef, 55, was on the show to promote his new TV series Next Level Chef when host Fallon, 47, asked him to settle a series of food dilemmas

It comes after Gordon took to Instagram on Thursday to share some adorable snaps with his youngest son after arriving on the set of Hells Kitchen.The pair enjoyed some bonding time as Gordon filmed for the newest season of his hit American show.

He posted the snaps with his son to his 13.4 million followers, joking that Oscar was in line to host the famous cooking competition in the caption:

'Hells Kitchen season 45 host spent time on set today with the old host! Welcome to Hells Kitchen son @oscarjramsay don't mess it up please! Dad x' (sic)

Idiot sandwich! After Ramsay handed Oscar back to someone offscreen, he agreed to play the segment called Gordon Ramsay Settles It and then critique Fallon's sandwich making skills

Cheeky chap Oscar giggled as he sat in front of his dad's picture, with Gordon leaning in for a kiss.

Oscar is the youngest of Gordon and wife Tana's brood - with the pair also sharing Megan, 23, twins Jack and Holly, 22, and Tilly, 20.

Gordon is currently filming the newest season of Hells Kitchen, which will see three new restaurants opening: in Washington DC, Miami and Chicago.
She is best known for playing the fiery Goldie McQueen on Hollyoaks.

And Chelsee Healey ensured all eyes were on her as she flashed her ample cleavage in a busty ensemble while heading to Firefly in Manchester on Friday night.

The actress, 33, left little to the imagination in a tiny Tom Ford bra with a matching mini skirt and cropped blazer as she strutted her way to the venue.

Stunning: Chelsee Healey flashed her ample assets heading to Firefly in Manchester on Friday night

The bombshell TV star showed off a peek of her taut abs and accentuated her toned pins with a pair of over-the-knee leather boots.

She accessorised with a black Chanel handbag and diamond necklace featuring her name.

The former Waterloo Road cast member wore her ombre tresses in a loose curl and allowed them to cascade down her shoulders.

Wow! The actress, 33, left little to the imagination in a tiny Tom Ford bra with a matching skirt and cropped blazer as she strutted her way to the venue

Stylish: The bombshell showed off a peek of her taut abs and accentuated her toned pins with a pair of over-the-knee leather boots

Influencer: Chelsee also took to her Instagram account to the share the busty ensemble captioning the post: 'Lil short stuff'

Chelsee also took to her Instagram account to the share the busty ensemble captioning the post: 'Lil short stuff'.

Earlier in the day, Chelsee was spotted in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, after filming The Real Dirty Dancing.

She beamed at the cameras rocking a black crop top and figure-hugging Fendi trousers as she walked along the pavement.

The smiling actress completed her jaw-dropping ensemble with thick heeled army boots and a black cropped blazer.

All smiles: Earlier in the day, Chelsee was spotted in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, after filming The Real Dirty Dancing

It comes after The Real Dirty Dancing has been caught up in a 'fix' row as Tom Malone Jnr is a professional dancer.

The new reality show - hosted by Keith Lemon and Ashley Roberts - sees 10 celebrities put their dancing skills to the test as they take on a series of challenges and dance routines based on the film's classic scenes between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

However, some fans took to social media to point out that the former Gogglebox star is a trained choreographer, with one pointing out: 'Are we all just pretending that Tom Malone isnt a professional dancer?'

Jumping for joy: She beamed at the cameras rocking a black crop top and figure-hugging Fendi trousers as she walked along the pavement
Star of 90 Day Fiance Yara Zaya took to Instagram on Friday with an emotional video where she urged her followers to support Ukraine, after it was recently invaded by Russia.

The Ukraine born beauty, 26, revealed that though her family are in a safe place, there is a lot of 'crazy stuff going on there right now' and that people of Ukraine 'need support.'

'I just want for everybody to understand that if you're not there it doesn't mean it's not about you. It's about all of us because we all live in the same world,' she said.

Support: Star of 90 Day Fiance Yara Zaya, 26, took to Instagram on Friday with an emotional video where she urged people to support Ukraine, after it was recently invaded by Russia

The reality TV star started out her video by apologizing for her appearance, admitting that she hasn't gotten much sleep lately because of the tense situation going on in Eastern Europe.

And in a photo posted to her Instagram Story she wrote, 'Honestly, it's hard to sleep when you don't know what will happen to your friends and family.'

During the video, Yara spoke of her worry for her friends, who are facing uncertain circumstances.

'They're so scared. They're terrified. My friends are calling me, they're hearing bombs. They're hearing noise,' she said.

A plea for empathy: 'I just want for everybody to understand that if you're not there it doesn't mean it's not about you. It's about all of us because we all live in the same world,' she said

Yara also recalled how her female friend was forced to sleep in a parking lot.

'My friend just called me, she goes to sleep in a parking lot. It's cold in Ukraine right now, and the parking lot is kind of outside,' she revealed.

'They're sleeping on the cold cement. From warm and nice bed to the cement. I can't imagine going there with my baby and sleeping there on the cement!'

The star then urged her followers to empathize with the Ukrainian people, saying, 'If we're sleeping in a warm bed it doesn't mean it's not about us. It's about all of us.'

Having a hard time: In a photo posted to her Instagram Story she wrote, 'Honestly, it's hard to sleep when you don't know what will happen to your friends and family'

Yara said she would be posting ways for her followers to donate and show their support.

'Ukraine needs you guys. They need all of your support. Pray for them. They need that,' she said.

The star also appeared on Fox News on Friday speaking about the dreary reality of the situation.

'I love my country. It's just so hard for me to even think that in 2022, in this world right now, war still exists, and people can kill other people for land and money,' she said.

Proud: She also posted a photo of herself wearing yellow and blue clothes that matched the colors of Ukraine's flag. 'Proud to be Ukrainian,' she wrote

She went on to say that Ukrainian people were not prepared, 'They weren't prepared. They don't have enough water. They don't have enough food. My sister called me and said she tried to go to the supermarket, but there's not enough food anymore.'

She also posted a photo of herself wearing yellow and blue clothes that matched the colors of Ukraine's flag. 'Proud to be Ukrainian,' she wrote.

Yara found fame while appearing on season 8 of TLC hit show 90 Day Fiance with her husband, Jovi Dufren, 32. The couple met while they were both traveling in Budapest.

They welcomed their daughter Mylah in September of 2020.
The juror at the heart of convicted California murderer Scott Petersons retrial bid swore Friday that she had no animosity toward him until after she heard evidence that he had killed his pregnant wife in a case that grabbed worldwide attention in 2004.

Before the trial, I didnt have any anger or any resentment toward Scott at all. After the trial, it was a bit true, because I sat through the trial and listened to the evidence, former juror Richelle Nice testified.

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Petersons lawyers want to prove that she held a secret bias against him that prevented him from getting a fair trial, and that she lied on her jury questionnaire to get there.

Scott Peterson listens during a hearing at the San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood City, Calif., on Friday. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

But she generally stuck to her earlier written statements under questioning. She said she did not consider herself a victim of domestic violence, did not directly fear for her own unborn child and relied on the evidence during trial.

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Nice helped convict Peterson in 2004 of the murders of his wife, Laci Peterson, 27, who was eight months pregnant, and of the unborn son they planned to name Conner. Prosecutors say he dumped his wifes body into he San Francisco Bay on Christmas Eve 2002. The remains surfaced months later.

Nice testified only after she was granted immunity from perjury prosecution for misstatements she may have made in the earlier sworn statement.

In this Dec. 13, 2004 photo, Juror number 7, Richelle Nice, adjusts her hair as members of the jury speak with the media in Redwood City, Calif. (Lou Dematteis/AP)

In it, and in Fridays testimony, she explained why she did not disclose on a pre-trial jury questionnaire that she had sought a restraining order while pregnant in 2000, saying then that she really fears for her unborn child.

She also disputed on the stand court documents indicating that her live-in boyfriend had assaulted her while she was again pregnant, testifying that it was she who hit him.

Nice is being addressed in court by name, though she previously was referred to as Juror 7. She also used her name during post-trial media interviews and when she co-authored a book about the case with six other jurors.

She was nicknamed Strawberry Shortcake during the trial for her dyed bright red hair, which is now brown on top and blondish at the bottom.

Peterson appeared in court wearing a San Mateo County Jail uniform after Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo denied his request to wear street clothes for what is expected to be a week-long hearing.

Massullo is charged by the California Supreme Court with deciding if Nice committed misconduct by not disclosing her own history before she became a juror, and if she held a bias that denied Peterson a fair trial.

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Nice generally said her previous sworn written denials were true, but with some nuances.

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She did not consider herself a victim of domestic violence because in the case in 2000 her boyfriends ex-girlfriend didnt directly threaten her unborn child  despite the wording in her application for a restraining order at the time.

She didnt threaten my baby, Nice testified, saying that she included her unborn child in her application because I was being spiteful.

She wasnt going to deliberately hurt my child, but if we fought and rolled around like some dummies on the ground  I was in fear I would lose my child doing something stupid like that, Nice testified.

And although her live-in boyfriend in 2001 was arrested and pleaded guilty, Nice said the truth was that she hit him and not the other way around.

Eddie never hit me, so I was not a victim of domestic violence, she testified. I did punch him, yes.

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It was her boyfriend who then called the police on her, but she didnt cooperate and it backfired when he was arrested instead, Nice testified.

She said police may have been misled into arresting the wrong person because she had inadvertently cut her lip on the braces she was wearing at the time.
Eva Longoria was seen promoting Casa Del Sol tequila at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami on Friday.

The 46-year-old actress appeared to be enjoying her time at the event as she posed for several photos with different bottles of the spirit.

Longoria donned a lovely short-sleeved bright orange ruched dress while appearing at the festival.

Having fun: Eva Longoria was seen promoting Casa Del Sol tequila at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami on Friday

The performer initially launched the company, which she co-founded, at last year's Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, and she has since been heavily involved in promoting her line.

The Desperate Housewives actress added several elements of shine to her outfit with numerous articles of jewelry.

The performer's lovely brunette locks fell onto her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with the bright tone of her clothing.

Longoria previously spoke about Casa Del Sol during an extensive interview with Food & Wine, where she pointed out that her company was attempting to create a new standard for tequila production.

Standing out: Longoria donned a lovely short-sleeved bright orange dress while appearing at the festival

'You would think there were more Mexican-backed brands, and you would think there were more women in it, but there aren't. Our distillery is 100% Mexican, and the CEO of the distillery is a woman,' she said.

The performer also expressed that she was not necessarily interested in financial gain when she began working with the company.

'For me, it was never, "Oh, what's the next thing I could sell?" There is really an authentic connection I have with not only the category of tequila, but this particular brand,' she said.

Longoria downplayed her status as a public figure in favor of promoting her brand's ethical practices when it came to tequila production.

The right stuff: Longoria downplayed her status as a public figure in favor of promoting her brand's ethical practices when it came to tequila production

'Instead of being celebrity-forward, Casa del Sol is about the legacy and the liquid. It's really about the tradition of sustainabilityhow they farm the agave, how they pay fair wages,' she said.

She added that 'tequila can't be celebrity-led because it is about craftsmanship and art.'

Longoria also stated that being 'able to honor the tradition and craftsmanship of what tequila is, that's what I'm most excited about. We need to have more friends that make tequila this way, instead of an exploitative way.'

The Dora and the Lost City of Gold actress pointed out that the individuals who produced Casa Del Sol's spirits were trained professionals who had mastered their craft over time.

Strong feelings: Longoria remarked that 'tequila can't be celebrity-led because it is about craftsmanship and art'

No half measures: The Dora and the Lost City of Gold actress pointed out that the individuals who produced Casa Del Sol's spirits were trained professionals who had mastered their craft over time

'We have so many generations of tequila makers behind us. They know exactly what they are doing in the tequila region; they have done it for centuries,' she said.

Longoria concluded by stating that she had switched out one of her favorite nightcaps for a glass of her own spirit.

'Having wine at the end of the day really put me to sleep. Having tequila at the end of the day is like a high five,' she stated.
Glamorous influencer Amy Castano is known for her dangerous curves.

And on Friday, the 31-year-old showed them off in a racy cut-out dress.

Amy shared a series of sultry images on Instagram, flaunting her ample assets while going braless in her skintight outfit.

Busting out! On Friday, Amy Castano struggled to contain her ample assets going braless in a racy cut-out dress following her split from her celebrity trainer husband Jono Castano

The brunette beauty looked incredible in her minidress, which featured a plunging neckline, long sleeves and sheer paneling.

She wore her long locks out and around her face, neatly straightened.

Her tangerine dress amplified her tan and she completed her look with makeup including matte foundation and a nude lip.

Hot to trot: The brunette beauty looked incredible in her minidress, which featured a plunging neckline, long sleeves and sheer paneling

She captioned he post with a simple fire love heart emoji, with followers leaving flames underneath her images.

It comes after her split with husband Jono Castano, a celebrity trainer who has worked with the likes of Rebel Wilson and Rita Ora.

Their split was revealed in January, with a source close to the couple telling Daily Mail Australia they broke up early last year, then kept up appearances for several months.

Single and ready to mingle? It comes after her split with husband Jono Castano, a celebrity trainer who has worked with the likes of Rebel Wilson and Rita Ora

Over: Their split was revealed in January, with a source close to the couple telling Daily Mail Australia they broke up early last year, then kept up appearances for several months

They were last spotted going for dinner together at Mimi's restaurant in Sydney in November, shortly after their three-year wedding anniversary.

While they are no longer together, the insider said they remain friends and continue to operate their fitness empire together.

The couple first met on MySpace 13 years ago, before later running into one another at a nightclub and falling in love.

Jono proposed in Maui, Hawaii, on Amy's birthday, and she described the proposal as romantic and luxurious.

She told Husskie magazine: 'The concierge took me to the beach, the sun was setting, and I walked down these stairs and there was Jono surrounded by candles and rose petals everywhere!

'He worked with the chef at Four Seasons Maui and created a menu of all of my favourite foods for the night. It was absolutely magical.

'I was so surprised! Jono and I discuss everything, but he designed my ring and organised all of this without me knowing.'
Georgia Love is leaving her TV career behind at Channel Seven for a new job away from the cameras in PR.

She announced the news in a statement to the Daily Telegraph, telling the publication that she was excited to begin her next chapter in the media industry.

It comes approximately five months after Seven yanked the 33-year-old off the air and moved her to a behind-the-scenes role after she received backlash for a 'racist' Instagram post.

End of an era: Georgia Love (pictured) is leaving her TV career behind at Channel Seven for a new job away from the cameras in PR

Prior to the scandal, Love worked as a news reporter and presenter for the network.

She's now left Seven to join storytelling agency Enthral as a senior public relations and content manager.

Her new role will reportedly focus on 'positive and uplifting stories'.

'I'm looking forward to putting the skills, knowledge and experience learnt from 11 years working in newsrooms into something new, while still remaining within the media industry,' Love said in a statement.

'Storytelling has always been what I love the most about being a journalist, so when the opportunity came up to work with an agency that puts storytelling first and has a strong journalistic DNA, it couldn't have been a better fit.'

Fresh start: The 33-year-old will help create 'positive and uplifting stories' for storytelling agency Enthral

The former reality star added that she feels 'extremely positive' about her surprise career change.

She was pulled from her on-air duties at Channel Seven in September and relegated to the production desk just days after posting an offensive video on Instagram.

The journalist had sparked backlash for sharing footage of a cat behind the window of an Asian restaurant and writing: 'Shop attendant or lunch?!'

She deleted the video an hour later and apologised for causing 'offence', but at the time denied the post had any racist 'insinuation'.

Georgia also posted a similar 'joke' about pets and Chinese restaurants in 2013.

Backlash: It comes approximately five months after Seven yanked the 33-year-old off the air and moved her to a behind-the-scenes role after she received backlash for a 'racist' Instagram post

Following a workplace investigation, Seven alerted staff via email that Georgia had been 'counselled' and reassigned to an off-camera role 'effective immediately'.

A Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'We have addressed this matter internally and disciplinary action has been taken.

'Seven does not condone this inappropriate conduct and all of our staff have the right to work in a safe, nurturing workplace free from prejudice.'

Claim to fame: Georgia became a household name when she starred as the lead in Channel 10's The Bachelorette in 2016 (pictured)

Shortly after that, Love found herself in hot water again when she was called out by a colleague in leaked emails obtained by the Herald Sun for chastising the newsroom over grammar.

She was shamed by a senior reporter for correcting the newsroom over the incorrect use of the word 'surgeries' in an email titled 'grammar note' this week.

The Herald Sun understands the email was sent by Love following a bulletin read by reporter Melina Sarris.

In a leaked email also obtained by The Herald Sun, a senior reporter called out the former Bachelorette for her 'unreasonable' email, encouraging the team to 'carry on' with their 'great work'.

Career: Following The Bachelorette, Love spent several years working with 10 as a weather presenter and on-air news talent

Georgia started her broadcast career as a news anchor for WIN News in Tasmania.

She then joined Channel 10 as their official Bachelorette for season two in 2016, before staying with the network as a weather presenter and occasional on-air talent for shows like Studio 10.

In 2021, she made the move over to Channel Seven to work as a news reporter and producer.

In addition to her journalism career, Love also dabbles as a podcast host and social media influencer.
Alessandra Ambrosio has been soaking up the sights and sun of St. Barts with her boyfriend and family over the last few days.

And on Friday the Gal Floripa co-founder got the attention of her 10.8million Instagram followers as she frolicked on the Caribbean island's gorgeous beaches in a polka-dot bikini.

The longtime supermodel shared several snaps of herself modeling the sizzling two-piece.

Working it: Alessandra Ambrosio, 40, put her catwalk skills on display when she struck a few poses in a polka-dot bikini during her holiday with boyfriend Richard Lee and family

In that initial post, Ambrosio opted to wear a tan hat, similar to a bolero, and slightly covered up her toned upper body with a light button-down shirt.

The former catwalk queen would look up towards the sky for the second image as she stood in a few inches of ocean water.

A number of hours later the longtime Victoria's Secret Angel returned to Instagram to announce that she was enjoying some 'acqua therapy.'

Sultry stare: The longtime supermodel would announce she was 'by the sea' in the first post showing herself in the revealing two-piece and a hat

Looking towards heavens: The longtime supermodel stared up to the sky for one shot as the waves rolled in

For the second set of pictures, the bikini-clad stunner removed her hat and posed on her knees as the tied rolled in behind her.

She would return to the water for several more shots, one of which showed her walking straight towards the camera and gazing up at the sky.

For the impromptu photoshoot, she had her dark brown tresses styled long and flowing.

Round two: Several hours later, Ambrosio shared a second series of photos while dressed in the same bikini

Holiday: The former catwalk queen has been in the French Caribbean island for a few days

Designer: The revealing two-piece appears to be apart of her Gal Floripa swimwear brand

Later in the evening, Ambrosio slipped into a skirt and crop top combination and headed out for a family dinner, which she also documented on her Instagram.

One image showed her striking a pose outside the restaurant in the midriff- baring ensemble.

She included a darling shot of herself clanking glasses with her nine-year-old son Noah at their table. Another showed Noah posing with his grandparents.

From the looks of a short video she shared on her Instagram Story, the night out also included some sort of performance with dancers.

Family dinner: Later in the evening, Ambrosio slipped into a skirt and crop top combination and headed out for a family dinner, which she also documented on her Instagram

Cheers! She included a darling shot of herself clanking glasses with her nine-year-old son Noah at their table

Grandparents: Another showed Noah posing with his grandparents Lucilda and Luiz

To close out the night, Ambrosio's boyfriend Richard Lee joined her and her son for a swim in the pool at their resort.

Missing from the documented family fun was Ambrosio's daughter Anja Mazur, 13.

She shares her two children with her ex-fiance Jamie Mazur, whom she dated from 2005 to 2018.

Ambrosio and her current partner Lee have been romantically linked for one year, after they were first spotted canoodling in February 2021.

They have since been captured vacationing together several times, most recently in her native Brazil around the new year.

Festive: The night out also included some sort of performance with music and dancers

Night swim: To close out the night, Ambrosio's boyfriend Richard Lee joined her and her son for a swim in the pool at their resort
Hollywood star Natalie Portman touched back down in Australia with her family earlier this month.

And on Saturday, the 40-year-old was spotted out and about in Sydney's Double Bay on a coffee run.

Natalie cut a casual figure but rocked some designer accessories with some very expensive price tags.

Stepping out: On Saturday, makeup free Natalie Portman wore a $3,600 Dior jumper and a $6,400 matching bag by the designer as she stepped out in Sydney's Double Bay

The Star Wars actress, who is an ambassador for Dior, wore a grey sweater from the luxury label worth a cool $3,600.

The back of the sweater featured the brand's 'J'adior' slogan and the number eight.

She teamed the look with dark flared denim jeans and grey and red Nike sneakers.

Pricey! The Star Wars actress, who is an ambassador for Dior, wore a grey sweater from the luxury label worth a cool $3,600

Slogan: The back of the sweater featured the brand's 'J'adior' slogan and the number eight

Off-duty style: She teamed the look with dark flared denim jeans and grey and red Nike sneakers

Fuss-free: Natalie kept things fuss-free by going makeup free and pulling her brown locks into a low bun

Natalie carried a Dior bag over her shoulders, a Bobby bag from the brand which retails on average of $6,400.

Natalie kept things fuss-free by going makeup free and pulling her brown locks into a low bun.

She's back in Australia now, after hastily leaving the country for 'unforeseen personal reasons' last August.

Natalie abruptly pulled out of her movie Days of Abandonment, which was set to be filmed in Sydney, for 'unforeseen personal reasons' last year before returning to Los Angeles.

Back in Oz: She's back in Australia now, after hastily leaving the country for 'unforeseen personal reasons' last August

'Due to unforeseen personal reasons, Natalie Portman has stepped down from HBO's Days of Abandonment prior to the start of filming,' HBO said in a statement.

'Unfortunately, the production will not move forward. We are very sorry we won't be able to bring this beautiful story to the screen with our talented writer/director and cast.

'We send our sincere thanks to our cast, producers, and crew for all their passion and hard work.'

Making headlines: Natalie abruptly pulled out of her movie Days of Abandonment, which was set to be filmed in Sydney, for 'unforeseen personal reasons' last year before returning to Los Angeles

Multi-talented: Natalie was also set to executive produce the film, based on the best-selling novel by Elena Ferrante

Natalie was also set to executive produce the film, based on the best-selling novel by Elena Ferrante.

Natalie, her husband and their two children had relocated Down Under in September 2020 ahead of her filming Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney.

There were even rumours the Israeli-born actress was looking to make Australia her permanent home, after she and Benjamin inspected properties in Sydney last year.
They're the couple who recently made a joint Instagram account.

And on Saturday, fitness guru Kayla Istines and her boyfriend Jae Woodroffe appeared loved up ass they returned home to Adelaide.

The 30-year-old business woman was all smiles as she walked beside Jae, 29, with their baggage in tow at the arrivals section at the South Australian airport.

Home sweet home! On Saturday, fitness guru Kayla Istines (right) and her boyfriend Jae Woodroffe (left) appeared to be happy to return home to Adelaide as they were spotted in the arrivals section at the South Australian airport

For their flight, Kayla donned a comfortable ensemble, consisting of pair of black bike shorts and an over-sized stonewashed denim jacket.

The fitness influencer also showed off her impressive abs in a brown crop top which flaunted her taut midsection.

She paired it with white ankle socks and Converse All Star trainers.

Comfortable: For their flight, Kayla donned a comfortable ensemble, consisting of pair of black bike shorts and an over-sized stonewashed denim jacket

Abs-olutely ripped: The fitness influencer also showed off her impressive abs in a brown crop top which flaunted her taut midsection

Meanwhile, Jae wore a pair of green shorts, a white T-shirt and a backwards cap in an olive tone.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the two both had on black face masks to stay safe.

While most of their faced were covered, their eyes continued to beam as they walked back to their car closely.

Happy days: While most of their faced were covered, their eyes continued to beam as they walked back to their car

Cuddle buddies: In between their transit, the couple stopped to cuddle up to one another

In between their transit, the smitten pair stopped to cuddle up to one another.

The couple's return Down Under comes after they spent the past three weeks abroad in America.

Prior to their trip, they proved just how strong their relationship was by deciding to create a joint Instagram account.

Casual: Jae wore a pair of green shorts, a white T-shirt and a backwards cap

Joint Instagram: Prior to their trip, they proved just how strong their relationship was by deciding to create a joint Instagram account

Under the username 'itsjaylahere_' the pair have been posting loved-up snaps right across Adelaide, South Australia, where the founder of the Sweat app lives with her daughter Arna.

Some of their images are taken in the gym - where Kayla spends most of her time for work - while others are kissing shots on holiday in Bondi Beach and Los Angeles.

The account has over 14,000 followers and was given a shout out on the couple's friend Kelsey Wells' page earlier this week while the pair tour America.
Milla Jovovich shared her supported for Ukraine on Friday amid the ongoing invasion by neighboring Russia.

The 46-year-old Resident Evil star  who was born in Ukraine  wrote on Instagram that she was 'heartbroken and dumbstruck' as she came to terms with the deadly military invasion.

The actress noted that she felt 'torn in two' because of her heritage from both Ukraine and Russia, though she shared a series of links for her fans to help Ukrainians under siege.

Solidarity: Milla Jovovich  who was born in Ukraine  shared her support for Ukrainians and wrote that she was 'heartbroken' by the Russian invasion in an Instagram post from Friday; seen February 19 in LA

Jovovich's comments come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin order Russian troops amassed at Ukraine's border with Russia to attack the country, including the nation's capital of Kyiv, which is hundreds of miles from the border.

'I am heartbroken and dumbstruck trying to process the events of this week in my birthplace of Ukraine,' she wrote in her somber Instagram note. 'My country and people being bombed. Friends and family in hiding.

She continued, 'My blood and my roots come from both Russia and Ukraine. I am torn in two as I watch the horror unfolding, the country being destroyed, families being displaced, their whole life lying in charred fragments around them.'

The Fifth Element star compared the fighting in her birth country to the experiences of her father, a doctor hailing from Serbia, which was at one time part of the former Yugoslavia.

Speaking out: She attacked 'leaders who cannot bring peace' and 'the never-ending juggernaut of imperialism' in her impassioned statement

Helping out: Jovovich also directed her fans to links to donate to Ukrainian refugees, as well as the country's military; seen in 2019 in Cannes, France

Jovovich didn't sound optimistic that the current attack on Ukraine would spare its civilians.

'I remember the war in my fathers homeland of former Yugoslavia and the stories my family tells of the trauma and terror they experienced,' she wrote.

'War. Always war. Leaders who cannot bring peace. The never ending juggernaut of imperialism. And always, the people pay in bloodshed and tears.'

The actress disabled comments on her post and included a link to a document directing her followers to funds supporting Ukrainian refugees, as well as the country's military and its independent journalists.

Under attack: Russian forces under the order of President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine earlier this week, and they have moved inland to assault the capital of Kyiv; Kyiv seen on Friday

Jovovich was born in the capital city of Kyiv (often spelled as Kiev) in 1975, when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union.

It would later become an independent country in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Following an initial buildup of Russian forces at the border last year, a full-scale invasion of Ukraine commenced earlier this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has so far refused evacuation offers from the United States.

Leading up to the invasion, Putin claimed that Russian forces would 'denazify' Ukraine, but neo-Nazi groups in the country have had little electoral success, and Zelensky is Jewish.

Staying put: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has so far refused evacuation offers from the United States; Zelensky (center) seen on Friday

Doesn't hold water: Leading up to the invasion, Putin claimed that Russian forces would 'denazify' Ukraine, but neo-Nazi groups in the country have had little electoral success, and Zelensky is Jewish; Putin seen on Tuesday in Moscow

Though Jovovich was born in Ukraine, she spent much of her childhood in Moscow, before emigrating to London when she was only five.

Less than a year later, her family moved again to California, eventually settling in Los Angeles.

Early on, she worked as a model and actress, before breaking out with her lead role in the 1997 science fiction film The Fifth Element.

She's most identified with the Resident Evil series of horror films, in which she starred as the lead.

In 2009, she married the film series' first director, Paul W.S. Anderson, and they share three children.
Dion Giannarelli flew into Melbourne last week and he didn't have his 'bride', Carolina Santos, by his side.

Upon leaving the airport, the Married at First Sight star joined friends for dinner in the city.

The 34-year-old property developer appeared happy and relaxed, enjoying a laugh with his pals as he walked down the street.

Incoming: Dion Giannarelli (pictured) flew into Melbourne last week and he didn't have his 'bride', Carolina Santos, by his side

The wealthy professional looked the part, opting for a neat cream jacket over a t-shirt in a white tone.

He paired it with blue denim jeans and crisp white sneakers that looked to be brand new.

Dion finished his look by slicking back his hair and donning sunglasses and ear pods.

Fun: Upon leaving the airport, the Married at First Sight star joined friends for dinner in the city

Cheer: The 34-year-old property developer appeared happy and relaxed, enjoying a laugh with his pals as he walked down the street

It comes after his 'bride' Carolina, 33, told Dion that she wasn't attracted to him and that he's not her 'usual type'.

You're not my usual type. I don't want to sound mean because I do think there is potential, but I don't think I am attracted to you yet' she said.

'Probably all his life had girls pretend to be attracted to him because of his money, so he has probably never had munch rejection and now is like, he doesn't know how to take it,' she added.

Oh no! It comes after his 'bride' Carolina (pictured) told Dion that she wasn't attracted to him and that he's not her 'usual type'

The pair then faced off again, with Carolina telling him directly: 'I think, we all know that you have a bit of money.

'And the girls probably pretend to be attracted to you because of out, and I am not that type of girl. I like money, who doesn't, but I am not going to fake something just because someone has money.'

With Dion appearing stunned by the turn of events, the interaction did not bode well for the pair.

Dion concluded that his bride's comments were, 'a real kick in the guts'.
Karl Stefanovic and and his wife Jasmine are giving up their beloved Queensland holiday home.

The Today show host confirmed the sale of the$3.6million property in Noosa on Saturday, revealing that the pair aren't getting enough use from the house.

'The reality though is I can't get away from work in Sydney nearly enough and the logistics of coming in and out of Queensland have been challenging' the 47-year-old told The Courier Mail.

Moves: Karl Stefanovic (left) and and his wife Jasmine (right) are giving up their beloved Queensland holiday home. The Today show host confirmed the sale of the$3.6million property in Noosa on Saturday, revealing that the pair aren't getting enough use from the house

'Eventually we will come back to Noosa when we have more time. If we can afford it. It's the best beach community anywhere.'

Karl said that the pair had lovingly renovated the home to suit their needs.

'We've added a teenage retreat, a bathroom and a wine cellar. It's a really beautiful slice of Sunshine Beach paradise,' he said.

'The reality though is I can't get away from work in Sydney nearly enough and the logistics of coming in and out of Queensland have been challenging' the 47-year-old told The Courier Mail

'The views are incredible and we just love the people and area,' the television host added.

The expansive house overlooks Sunshine Beach and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage and a swimming pool.

It features a spacious living room that connects to an outdoor entertaining area with views of the beach.

Stylish: The expansive house overlooks Sunshine Beach and has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a three-car garage and a swimming pool

All four bedrooms have water views while the master bedroom also has a large ensuite with a bath and a double vanity sink.

The swimming pool has a waterfall feature and see-through glass, which means that the beach is always in view, even when underwater.

The house is just 200 metres away from the dog-friendly Sunshine Beach, where the couple can walk their pooch, Chance the Yapper.

Luxury living: The home features a spacious lounge room (pictured) that connects to an outdoor entertaining area with views of the Sunshine Beach

It is also less than 30 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport for when Karl needs to jet back to Sydney to film Channel Nine's Today show.

The house was listed for sale in July 2019 and purchased for $3.6million on January 29.

The Stefanovics have strong links to Queensland and often celebrate important holidays with their families in Noosa.

Karl studied journalism in Queensland and started his career in Rockhampton. Meanwhile, Jasmine's family still lives in Brisbane.
Amanda Seyfried appeared to be in high spirits as she arrived at the Jimmy Kimmel Live studios on Friday in Los Angeles.

The actress, 36, flashed her legs in a black sleeved minidress featuring dazzling red lip prints by Libertine, which she coordinated with the shade of her pout.

She framed her face with a pair of round sunglasses and appeared to be enamoured with her phone as she strolled through the city.

Hello! Amanda Seyfried flashed her legs in a black minidress by Libertine with dazzling red lip prints as she arrived at the Jimmy Kimmel Live studios on Friday

Adding inches to her enviable frame with a pair of black heels, the MTV Award Winner wore her luscious blonde locks in beachy waves.

Amanda was no doubt making an appearance on the ABC talk show to promote her upcoming Hulu miniseries The Dropout, which premieres on March 3.

Development began in 2019, when it was announced that a miniseries would focus on the rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.

At the time of the announcement, Kate McKinnon was set to portray Elizabeth and serve as one of the project's executive producers.

Beauty: The MTV Award Winner framed her face with a pair of round sunglasses

Gorgeous: Adding inches to her enviable frame with a pair of black heels, the Mamma Mia star wore her luscious blonde locks in beachy waves

However, the Saturday Night Live cast member later dropped out of the production for unspecified reasons last February.

It was announced that Amanda had stepped in to fill the show's lead role the following month, and Andrews was brought in to play Sunny Balwani not long after.

In addition to starring in the series, the Ted 2 actress acts as one of its executive producers.

Several other cast members, including Stephen Fry, William H. Macy and Laurie Metcalf, signed on to appear in the project in the following months.

Exciting: Amanda was no doubt making an appearance on the ABC talk show to promote her upcoming Hulu miniseries The Dropout, which premieres on March 3 (pictured in-character)

The Mamma Mia star spoke about initially turning the project down during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where she recalled that she was unenthusiastic about the show at first.

'I promised I wasn't going to give myself a hard time and try to completely mimic this other human being. It'd be impossible. And just not fun,' she said.

The performer later changed her mind and spoke about Elizabeth's desire to live privately in the midst of her highly publicized trial.

'It's crazy that she can still be such an enigma with all the information surrounding her,' she stated.

Amanda also pointed out that, in addition to telling Elizabeth's story, The Dropout would feature deeper themes about popular culture as a whole.

'We're investigating why we love a fall from grace, why we want to watch train wrecks,' she said.

The actress went on to express that, although Elizabeth's actions were not morally sound, she believed that the case surrounding Theranos had more unstated context than many would anticipate.

'She made bad choices, and she's got to be held accountable. But it's nuanced, like everything and everybody,' she said.

The Dropout will debut on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK on March 3.
Five district attorneys in Texas have hit back against Gov. Greg Abbotts directive on transgender youth health care, calling the move un-American.

On Tuesday, the Republican governor ordered state agencies to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

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His directive came just days after the states attorney general, Ken Paxton, issued an opinion stating that such procedures and treatments could legally constitute child abuse when performed on minor children.

On Thursday, in an open letter shared on social media, district attorneys of five of the states most populated counties  Dallas, Bexar, Travis, Fort Bend and Nueces  strongly condemned Abbott and Paxtons anti-trans and life-threatening directives.

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In response to Governor Abbott and AG Paxton's directives regarding transgender youth care: pic.twitter.com/oPHH7PBfz7  Dallas County DA (@Dallas_DA) February 24, 2022

We are deeply disturbed by Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxtons cruel directives treating transgender childrens access to life-saving, gender-affirming care as child abuse, the DAs wrote.

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This is part of a continued onslaught on personal freedoms. Elected officials should be protecting our most vulnerable. These two, instead, want to irrationally target and restrain children seeking medical assistance  and force caregivers to participate, the letter added.

Slamming the directive as un-American, the district attorneys said that they cannot stand silent in the face of such an egregious invasion of privacy.

The DAs were referring to a letter addressed to the states Department of Family and Protective Services, in which Abbott directed the agency to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas.

He wrote that doctors, nurses and teachers who failed to report alleged instances of abuse could face legal consequences. There are similar reporting requirements and criminal penalties for members of the general public, he added.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a campaign stop on Feb. 17, 2022 in San Antonio. (Eric Gay/AP)

In their open letter to the governor and the states attorney general, the five DAs said that they will enforce the Constitution and not irrationally and unjustifiably interfere with medical decisions made between children, their parents, and their medical physicians.

They also had a message for the states trans kids and their families.

We want to assure our residents with transgender children that they are safe to continue seeking the care their children need. We will not allow the governor and attorney general to disregard Texan childrens lives in order to score political points, they wrote.
The Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour came to an end earlier this month after five weeks touring the country.

And the stars of the show were still in a celebratory mood as Tilly Ramsay enjoyed a fun night out with Katya Jones and snowboarder Aimee Fuller at London's Soho House on Friday.

The presenter, 20, cut a chic figure in a grey checked blazer as she linked arms with her pals as they made their way down the street following their evening at the private members' club.

Celebrations: Tilly Ramsay enjoyed a fun night out with Katya Jones and snowboarder Aimee Fuller at London's Soho House on Friday

Tilly teamed her jacket with a pair of skintight black leather leggings and chunky black boots.

While the daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay also draped a black bag across her body and clutched on to her mobile phone as she shared a giggle with the ladies.

Pro dancer Katya, 32, slipped into a black leather jacket which she wore over a white T-shirt and a black dress.

The Russian beauty added knee-length leather boots to her look, finishing things off with a black clutch bag.

Girls' night out: The presenter, 20, cut a chic figure in a grey checked blazer as she linked arms with her pals as they made their way down the street following their evening at the private members' club

Meanwhile, snowboarder Aimee, 30, who had earlier joined her good pal Katya at a fitness class, wrapped up in a smart black trench coat.

The Olympian added to her look with with white boots, black fishnet tights and a red handbag.

The trio looked in great spirits as they clutched on to each other and giggled as they made their way down the street.

Looking good: Tilly teamed her jacket with a pair of skintight black leather leggings and chunky black boots.

Good times: While the daughter of chef Gordon Ramsay also draped a black bag across her body and clutched on to her mobile phone as she shared a giggle with the ladies

Style: Meanwhile, pro dancer Katya, 32, slipped into a black leather jacket which she wore over a white T-shirt and a black dress

The girls were in good company on the night as other Strictly stars also joining them on the night included Neil Jones, Janette Manrara, Nancy Xu and Robbie Kmetoni.

And it appeared that Tilly was clearly taken with pro dancer Robbie - who also featured in the live tour, with the two sharing a cuddle outside the venue.

Tilly could be seen wrapping her arms around the Italian-Slovenian dancer, 30, as they shared a close moment while mingling with their pals.

Dressed up: The Russian beauty added knee-length leather boots to her look, finishing things off with a black clutch bag

Outfit: Meanwhile, snowboarder Aimee, 30, who had earlier joined her good pal Katya at a fitness class, wrapped up in a smart black trench coat

These boots were made for walking: The Olympian added to her look with with white boots, black fishnet tights and a red handbag

It comes after Tilly declared she has 'made memories for life' as she took to Instagram earlier this month to share a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps from the Strictly UK tour.

The daughter of chef Gordon said the past five weeks touring up and down the country had been an 'incredible' experience.

Among the photo uploads was a glamorous snap with dance partner Nikita as they prepared to take to the stage, with Tilly also sharing a selfie with the girls.

Pals: It certainly proved to be a great night for Tilly and Katya

Fun times: The girls put on a raucous display as they strutted down the street

Turning heads: They attracted some attention while strolling together

Group outing: The girls were in good company on the night as other Strictly stars also joining them on the night included Neil Jones, Janette Manrara, Nancy Xu and Robbie Kmetoni

Very friendly: And it appeared that Tilly was clearly taken with pro dancer Robbie - who also featured in the live tour, with the two sharing a cuddle outside the venue

Dressed in shimmering silver minidresses, Tilly joined Nadiya Bychkova, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Katya, Amy Dowden, Luba Mushtuk and Nancy Xu for a selfie.

In another photo, the whole Strictly crew posed for a group shot with Bruno, 66, sporting a very bronzed spray tan.

Other moments included Tilly dressed up in school uniform for her dance to Matilda's Revolting Children and a hug with The Wanted's Max George.

Close: Tilly and Robbie shared a cuddle while waiting outside

Cosy: Tilly could be seen wrapping her arms around the Italian-Slovenian dancer, 30, as they shared a close moment while mingling with their pals

Not letting go: Tilly wrapped her arms tightly around the hunk

Good times: The CBBC star was certainly enjoying her time with Robbie

The Strictly cast also got into outdoor swimming in lakes and rivers across the UK and Tilly shared a photo from when they took a dip during the Sheffield leg of the tour.

She captioned the post: 'No words can describe how incredible these past 5 weeks have been!!

'So grateful for all the amazing, kind and talented people that I got to be with. Ive made memories and friends for life and have had the best time ever.'

God friends: Tilly looked very relaxed as she chatted to the dancer outside

Nice: The beauty appears to have struck up a great friendship with Robbie, who was one of the professional dancers who had joined them on the tour

Mingle: The Strictly beauties were seen hanging outside the club

Farewell! The girls waved goodbye to their pals as they eventually made their way home

Maisie Smith took to the comment section and wrote: 'Tils stop I'm gunna cry again' (sic), while John Whaite added: 'Love you Tilly'.

Amy added: 'Partner! Ding dong.... rrrready! Oh how I miss shouting this out to you before waltzing away!!! Love you Tilly!!! xxx'.

Tilly and Nikita finished the 2021 series in sixth place.

During her stint on the show, Gordon often was spotted in the audience, wiping away tears as he burst with pride watching his daughter take to the dancefloor.

Here come the girls: It comes after Tilly declared she has 'made memories for life' as she took to Instagram this month to share a slew of behind-the-scenes snaps from the Strictly UK tour

Cute: Among the photo uploads was a glamorous snap with dance partner Nikita as they prepared to take to the stage

The Strictly crew: The daughter of chef Gordon said the past five weeks touring up and down the country had been an 'incredible' experience
Helena Bonham Carter enjoyed a morning walk with her boyfriend Rye Dag Holmboe and their dogs in north London on Saturday.

The actress, 55, opted for a gothic black midi skirt with lace frills as she took their Tibetan terriers out into town.

She wrapped up in a black padded jacket amid the wintery weather and wore her light brown locks in a tousled hairdo while strolling alongside her boyfriend, 33.

Emerging: Helena Bonham Carter went make-up free as she enjoyed a morning walk with her toy boy partner Rye Dag Holmboe and their dogs in north London on Saturday

The Harry Potter star matched her tan boots to her other half's, who cut a dapper figure in a navy wool coat above a pair of jeans.

Helena and her former long-term partner, director Tim Burton, 63, famously lived in inter-connecting houses during their 13-year relationship, with each property decorated to their own his 'n' hers tastes and personal styles.

However, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden reported last year that she had made the step of choosing to share a home with her academic boyfriend, even adding to their domestic bliss by adopting house rabbits.

The couple met at a wedding in 2018, following Helena's split from Tim in 2014.

Wow! The actress, 55, opted for a gothic black midi skirt with lace frills as she took their Tibetan terriers out into town

Looking good: She wrapped up in a black padded jacket amid the wintery weather while strolling alongside her boyfriend, 33

Age-defying: She wore her light brown locks in a tousled hairdo and admired a shop window display

Explaining how they met, she told The Guardian: 'A totally random thing, which both of us nearly didn't go to, so it was one of those moments that was so chance and ended up determining so much. A really happy accident, and it's an amazing thing.'

Addressing the couple's 22-year age gap, the actress previously said in an interview with The Times: 'Everybody ages at a different rate. My boyfriend is unbelievably mature. He's an old soul in a young body, what more could I want?

'People are slightly frightened of older women, but he isn't. Women can be very powerful when they're older.'

Coordinating: The Harry Potter star matched her tan boots to her other half's, who cut a dapper figure in a navy wool coat above a pair of navy jeans

Tousled: He wore his own walnut tresses in a tousled do as he sauntered down the high street

Blending in: The Hollywood star appeared to go unnoticed by onlookers

Loved up: The couple met at a wedding in 2018, following Helena's split from Tim Burton in 2014

Helena continues to co-parent son Billy, 18, and daughter Nell, 14, with former partner Burton.

In her next acting venture, Helena will play veteran Crossroads star Noele Gordon in a new ITV drama.

The actress will take on the titular role in Nolly, a brand new three-part drama penned by It's A Sin writer Russell T Davies, and is set to begin filming this tear.

Nolly will explore the all-powerful reign, and fall from grace, of the inimitable Noele Gordon, who was declared the 'Queen of the Midlands' thanks to iconic role as Meg Mortimer in Crossroads.
Australian actress Cate Blanchett received the Honorary Cesar award during the 47th Cesar Film Awards Ceremony in Paris on Friday.

For the special occasion, the 52-year-old looked chic as ever in a stunning ensemble by French designer Louis Vuitton.

Cate donned a crocheted cardigan with a sequin trim, with the star flashing a glimpse of her black bra and midriff as she wore the top mostly unbuttoned.

So chic! Australian actress Cate Blanchett (pictured) received the Honorary Cesar award during the 47th Cesar Film Awards Ceremony in Paris on Friday

The Aussie beauty teamed it with a smart pair of black trousers and pointed black heels.

Cate finished off her red carpet look with her blonde locks styled into soft waves, opting for a dewy make-up palette, which included a coral lipstick.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button actress beamed as she made her way down the red carpet.

A look! For the special occasion, the 52-year-old looked chic as ever in a stunning ensemble by French designer Louis Vuitton

Beauty: Cate donned a crocheted cardigan which featured a sequin trim

Wowing them: The flashed a glimpse of her black bra and her midriff as she wore the top mostly unbuttoned

Glowing: The Aussie beauty teamed it with a smart pair of black trousers

The blonde beauty later became emotional as she took to the stage to accept the Honorary Cesar award.

To sign off, The Lord of the Rings star sweetly blew a kiss to audience members watching on.

In her early 50s, Cate is the second youngest recipient of the prize, which is the highest honour presented by the prestigious Film at Lincoln Center, one of the major arts organisations in the US.

What a moment: The blonde beauty later became emotional as she took to the stage to accept the Honorary Cesar award

Moved: Cate swatted away tears as she made a speech upon winning the gong

Touching: To sign off, The Lord of the Rings star sweetly blew a kiss to audience members watching on

Winner: In her early 50s, Cate is the second youngest recipient of the prize, which is the highest honour presented by the prestigious Film at Lincoln Center, one of the major arts organisations in the US

The award, which was founded in 1972 and is named after Charlie Chaplin, is given to recognise the career and contribution of artists who left their mark on the medium.

The prize has been awarded 47 times. Previous winners include Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro and Tom Hanks, the youngest to accept it.

Announcing the news in the Hollywood Reporter on February 18, a spokesperson from Film Lincoln Center said that it would be a privilege to dedicate an evening of celebration to Cate.

Pretty: Cate finished off her red carpet look with her blonde locks styled into soft waves

Star power: She opted for a dewy make-up palette, which included a coral lipstick

A special prize: Announcing the news in the Hollywood Reporter on February 18, a spokesperson from Film Lincoln Center said that it would be a privilege to dedicate an evening of celebration to Cate

Smiles: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button actress smiles as she made her way down the red carpet

'Ms. Blanchett's career includes extraordinary performances in films ranging from small independent efforts to major studio franchises.'

Blanchett has worked tirelessly for the last 25 years racking up dozens of credits in theatre, film and TV.

A regular on the global awards circuit, Cate has received major prizes from all over the world, including two Oscars, three BAFTAs, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, an Order of Australia, and in France a Chevalier, for her contribution to the arts.
Rafferty Law cut a casual figure as he grabbed a coffee with his pet Dachshund and a pal in London on Friday.

The 25-year-old actor looked almost identical to famous dad, Jude Law as he strolled through the capital with his pet in tow.

Donning a pair of turned up blue jeans, a white t-shirt and black jacket, the actor opted for a relaxed look as he headed out for the day.

Low-key: Rafferty Law cut a casual figure as he grabbed a coffee with his pet Dachshund and a pal in London on Friday

Rafferty accessorised his outfit with a pair of Adidas trainers, teamed with vibrant tartan socks.

While he's recently been seen on the cover of Wonderland, the model and actor showed what he gets up to on his day's off.

Rafferty was joined by a male pal, with the pair seeming in high spirits as they took a stroll.

Casual: Donning a pair of turned up blue jeans, a white t-shirt and black jacket, the actor opted for a relaxed look as he headed out for the day

The actor, who is son to Jude Law and Sadie Frost, has starred in movies such as Repo Men and Twist - while also being a DJ and producer.

However, Rafferty has taken a career change in recent months - seemingly following in his parents' activist footsteps.

In a brave move, Rafferty waded into a row with the Ministry of Defense in January, noting an issue with the government department's clothing policy.

Down time: He was joined by a male pal, with the pair seeming in high spirits as they took a stroll together with his pet

Runs in the family: Rafferty who is son to Jude Law and Sadie Frost (pictured), is following in his parents footsteps

He joined forces with PETA to urge the Ministry of Defence to replace the real bearskin used for the caps worn by's Guard with faux fur - to which the department responded insisting they use fur from bear killed as part of a 'sanctioned cull'.

In a joint Instagram post on February 14, Rafferty and PETA unveiled a video of Rafferty showing faux bear fur - urging his 74.1k followers to sign a petition to save the bears.

This move follows the path of his dad Jude - who previously worked with PETA to urge the World Trade Organization to uphold the EU ban on seal-fur imports.
Grant Denyer has revealed how 'unfair' and false claims he was having an affair affected him and his family.

The star called in lawyers over an October 18 article that suggested he was romantically involved with his Dancing with the Stars partner Lily Cornish.

The tabloid printed an apology in a December edition and online, acknowledging the story was false and that Grant, 44, and Lily, 22, never had an affair.

Family man: Grant Denyer has revealed how 'unfair' and false claims he was having an affair affected him and his family. He is pictured in this week's issue of Stellar with his wife Chezzi and their daughters

Speaking to this week's issue of Stellar magazine, the TV host explained why he took action over the story.

'I push the envelope a bit and I'm a little bit trickier than squeaky-clean guys like the wonderful Larry Emdur. I'm used to having stories made up about me,' he said.

'But it's unfair to do that to a 22-year-old girl and make her out to be some sort of home wrecker. That's why we went into a legal battle and won'.

'It was hard going to school to pick the kids up when you think that every other mother who's there to pick up their children thinks you're the worst human in the world, Grant said

He went on: 'It was hard going to school to pick the kids up when you think that every other mother who's there to pick up their children thinks you're the worst human in the world.

'I grew up in my career being told to take every hit, but now with social media we have a voice and I don't mind holding people accountable'.

The tabloid reached a confidential settlement with the Denyers late last year, in addition to issuing an apology to Grant, his wife Chezzi and Lily.

Case; The star called in lawyers over an October 18 article that suggested Grant was romantically involved with his Dancing with the Stars partner Lily Cornish (left)

The apology reads: 'On 18 October 2021, [publisher] Are Media and New Idea published an article that conveyed that Grant Denyer was having an extra-marital affair with his Dancing with the Stars: All Stars dance partner, Lily Cornish, and that his wife, Chezzi was heartbroken as a result. The article was false.

'Are Media and New Idea acknowledge that Grant Denyer and Lily Cornish are not having an extra-marital affair. They have never had an affair.

'Are Media and New Idea regret publishing the article. Are Media and New Idea wish to sincerely apologise to Grant Denyer, Chezzi Denyer and Lily Cornish for the hurt and embarrassment caused by the article.'

False: The tabloid printed an apology in a December edition and online, acknowledging the story was false and that Grant, 44, and Lily, 22, never had an affair. Grant and Chezzi had categorically denied the New Idea report the week it was published

The Channel 10 star also said he'd reached a 'suitable confidential settlement outside of court', but did not specify if New Idea paid any damages.

New Idea published a front-page story on October 18 falsely implying Grant was having an affair with dancer Lily.

The magazine included photos of Grant with his hand on Lily's thigh in between rehearsals for Dancing with the Stars: All Stars in Sydney.

'I grew up in my career being told to take every hit, but now with social media we have a voice and I don't mind holding people accountable' Grant tells Stellar

While the photos were accompanied by the headline 'Grant Denyer Caught Out', the full set of images was later released, offering a more complete picture of what happened.

The original article insinuated Grant and Lily were cheating on their respective partners - a claim the Denyers strongly denied - but the photos themselves actually suggested a platonic relationship.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any infidelity took place.

'It's unfair to do that to a 22-year-old girl and make her out to be some sort of home wrecker. That's why we went into a legal battle and won' Grant added

Grant later admitted he'd 'embarrassed' his family, telling 2Day FM's The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed & Erin the pictures actually showed him consoling his friend after she had received some sad personal news.

He and his wife Chezzi, 41, had categorically denied the New Idea report the week it was published in a series of social media posts.

The couple, who have been married since 2010, have three daughters, Sailor, 10, Scout, six and Sunday, one.
Elle Macpherson departed The Savoy Hotel during her 24-hour trip to London on Friday while attending business meetings for her WelleCo brand.

The Australian model, 57, looked chic in a cream knitted sweater which she combined with a pair of mustard corduroy trousers and tan cowboy boots.

Framing her make-up-free face with a pair of aviator sunglasses, she accessorised her look with a collection of dazzling gold necklaces.

Emerging: Elle Macpherson departed The Savoy Hotel during her 24-hour trip to London on Friday while attending business meetings for her WelleCo brand

Appearing to get a little windswept, her luscious walnut locks were swooped back by the breeze as she headed into the swanky Mayfair district.

It comes after the businesswoman shared never-before-seen photos of her eldest son, Flynn Busson, to celebrate his 24th birthday.

She posted a gallery of photos on Instagram of handsome Flynn, whom she shares with her ex-partner, billionaire financier Arpad Busson.

The first set of pictures showed her thrill-seeking son skydiving, flying an aeroplane and playing polo, and she captioned them: 'Always on an adventure.'

Centre of attention:: The Australian model, 57, looked chic in a cream knitted sweater as she strutted through the city

Fashion forward: She teamed the number with a pair of mustard corduroy trousers and tan cowboy boots

Happy: Elle looked a little camera-shy as she hid behind a red plinth while beaming from ear-to-ear

The catwalk queen then shared another series of snaps from Flynn's childhood.

The vintage photos showed the boy walking the streets of fashion capitals London, Paris and New York City with his world-famous mother.

Flynn, who has a 19-year-old younger brother named Cy Busson, is known to have a close relationship with his mum.

He praised Elle in an interview with Vogue Australia in 2019.

'I know everyone says that about their mum, but it really is true. My mother has always been so incredibly devoted to me and my brother,' he said.

Age-defying: Framing her make-up-free face with a pair of aviator sunglasses, she accessorised her look with a collection of dazzling gold necklaces

Beaming: She flashed a smile while heading into a nearby luxury black car

'I always knew we were her number-one priority,' Flynn added. 'It has shone through everything from the way she chooses her jobs to the way she cooks dinner.'

He said he was grateful for how his mother was always there for him growing up, despite her extremely busy schedule.

'Just from the conversations I've had with friends [about their parents], I know that she's special, in the way she prioritises us,' he said.

According to Flynn, his mother would regularly pick him up from school regardless of her work commitments and was a constant source of support and guidance.

From the archive: It comes after the businesswoman shared never-before-seen photos of her eldest son, Flynn Busson, to celebrate his 24th birthday

Flynn, who is a licensed pilot, has shared tributes to his mother on Instagram in the past, with one bearing the caption: 'Not always eye to eye, but always heart to heart.'

During the aforementioned Vogue interview, Flynn's brother, Cy, also joked that their mother would often advise them to drink more water and green juice.

Elle has previously said she decided to prioritise her family over her modelling career when she became a mother.

'I was 35 when I had my first [Flynn] and 41 when I had Cy, so I came to children a little later in life, but I made sure they were going to be the priority,' she said in 2019.

'I used to travel a lot and I'd go through that thing that [working] mothers go through,' she continued.

'I would always tell them, "Mum loves what she does and I hope in life you find something you love to do so that work doesn't feel like work and you go off and do your thing and while I'm off doing my thing. How cool for you guys to have that time without your helicopter, control-freak mother around."'

Elle also said she was 'moved' to read that one of her sons had said in an interview she made them feel like they were her 'priority' growing up.
Sharon Stone was in high spirits as she attended a photo call for Dolce & Gabbana boutique event during Milan Fashion Week.

The actress, 63, oozed glamour in a black striped blazer with an eye-catching strap detailing, while she teamed with matching trousers.

She paired the suit with a black lace bodysuit for a touch of sex appeal and added several long chains round her neck.

Having a blast: Sharon Stone, 63, was in high spirits as she attended a photo call for Dolce & Gabbana boutique event during Milan Fashion Week

Elevating her height in a pair of metallic gold heels, she accessorised her look with a pair of heart-shaped Dolce & Gabbana gold earrings.

Her short blonde locks were artfully tousled and she finished her look off with a classic red lip.

The Basic Instinct star beamed widely as she posed up a storm on the red carpet alongside Adam Senn and Sam Webb.

Elegant: The actress oozed glamour in a black striped blazer with a strap across it, which she wore with the matching striped trousers

Stunning: She paired the suit with a black lace bodysuit for a touch of sex appeal and added several long chains round her neck

On brand: Elevating her height in a pair of metallic gold heels, she wore a pair of heart-shaped Dolce & Gabbana gold earrings

She later underwent an wardrobe change, slipping into another black suit to attend the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show.

Sharon donned a black blazer adorned with gems across the lapels, with the coordinating trousers.

She added a pair of silver heels, gold earrings and toted her essentials in a silver metallic purse, while she hid her eyes behind a pair of shades.

Youthful looks: Her short blonde locks were artfully tousled and she finished her look off with a classic red lip

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.

High spirits: The Basic Instinct star beamed widely as she posed up a storm on the red carpet alongside Adam Senn and Sam Webb

Starring role: 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

She later underwent an wardrobe change, slipping into another black suit to attend the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show.

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.

Accessory queen: She added a pair of silver heels, gold earrings and toted her essentials in a silver metallic purse, while she hid her eyes behind a pair of shades
Radio king Kyle Sandilands and his pregnant fiancee Tegan Kynaston held a lavish gender-reveal party on Sydney Harbour on Friday.

And following the immaculate celebrations on a superyacht, KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show official Instagram page shared footage of planes flying overhead which released blue smoke indicating they're having a baby boy.

As a result, a whole host of celebrities sent messages of congratulations to the parents-to-be.

Congratulations! Kyle Sandilands (left) and his pregnant fiancee Tegan Kynaston (right) have been inundated with messages of congratulations from fans and stars after they shared footage from their lavish baby's gender-reveal party on Sydney Harbour on Friday

Hollywood star Paris Hilton led the Instagram comments section, quick to leave a simple but sweet note, writing, 'Congrats.'

On the home front, Aussie actor Hugh Sheridan wrote: 'This is the best.'

Meanwhile, TV presenter ex-NRL player Beau Ryan wrote, 'so good' underneath the sweet video.

Sweet messages: A-Listers from both Hollywood and Australia were quick to leave messages of congratulations for the expectant parents on social media

Adding to the celebrations, Kyly Clarke shared a number of blue hearts.

The affectionate comments come one day after Kyle, 50, and Tegan, 34, invited the whole KIIS FM production crew to celebrate the gender of their baby on the yacht.

At the time, they yelled 'Boy!' before locking lips to mark the exciting pregnancy milestone.

'Boy!' Kyle and Tegan kissed on the deck after discovering they're going to be parents to a son

Congratulations! Planes flying overhead released blue smoke indicating they're having a boy

At the soiree, the guests dressed in colours reflecting the gender they expected the child to be.

The boat was decorated with pink and blue balloons, plus a floral display.

An elaborate cake embellished with the words 'Baby Sandilands' was also prepared.

The four-tiered cake featured baby animals, including an elephant, monkey and giraffe, with a lion wearing a crown on top.

Lavish: An elaborate cake embellished with the words 'Baby Sandilands' was also prepared

Incredible: Guests were treated to a candy buffet, which included chocolate-coated strawberries and cupcakes, which were all pink and blue themed

In an interview with the 3pm Pick-Up earlier this month, Kyle detailed the first time Tegan revealed to him she was pregnant.

'I was overjoyed, picked her up, swung her around,' Kyle recalled. 'I was very happy.'

Kyle had previously said on air he wanted to have a girl or a 'little gay son'.

The couple, who have been dating since late 2019, learned Tegan was expecting at the start of the month.
Sharon Stone cut an effortlessly chic figure as she arrived for Dolce & Gabbana's Fall/Winter 2022/2023 Milan Fashion Week show on Saturday.

The actress, 63, wowed in a plunging black trouser suit and metallic heels as she arrived at the Italian fashion house's Milan store before taking her seat on the front row.

There, Sharon was sure to turn heads as she put on a sultry display as she mingled with other fashion lovers while taking in D&G's latest collection.

There she is: Sharon Stone cut an effortlessly chic figure as she arrived for Dolce & Gabbana's Fall/Winter 2022/2023 Milan Fashion Week show on Saturday

The Basic Instinct star showcased her enviable frame in the fitted blazer and cigarette trousers, both of which featured shimmering gem detailing.

Sharon boosted her height with pointed silver heels, while she stored her essentials in a pewter handbag with gold chain detailing.

The stunner rounded off her show-stopping look with a selection of gold necklaces, gold hooped earrings and dark shades.

Sitting pretty: The actress, 63, wowed in a plunging black trouser suit and metallic heels as she arrived at the Italian fashion house's Milan store before taking her seat on the front row

Her cropped blonde locks were worn in a playful, tousled style, while she added a further pop of colour with a coral lip.

Sharon was in her element as she mingled with the likes of Sam Webb and Adam Senn on the front row, both of whom had earlier joined her at a photocall during a Dolce & Gabbana boutique event.

The film star was also seen chatting to rapper Gunna, who stood out in a brightly coloured crochet top and plenty of diamonds.

Nice to see you: Sharon waved to fans as she arrived while basking in the glorious sunshine

Wow: Sharon stole the show as she rocked up to the Dolce & Gabbana showcase

Walk this way: The Hollywood star happily strutted into the venue

Gorgeous: Sharon was sure to turn heads as she put on a sultry display as she mingled with other fashion lovers while taking in D&G's latest collection

Ready for the show: Sharon joined a host of other fashion loved as they excitedly waited for the show

Style: Sharon boosted her height with pointed silver heels, while she stored her essentials in a pewter handbag with gold chain detailing

The group were in good company at the event as Lady Kitty Spencer was also in attendance.

The socialite, 31, looked elegant in a long black coat with a leopard trim cuff, which she teamed with a matching handbag.

She finished her outfit with a large black bow, pointed black heels and a sweep of classic red lipstick.

Fun: Sharon was in her element as she mingled with the likes of Sam Webb and Adam Senn on the front row, both of whom had earlier joined her at a photocall during a Dolce & Gabbana boutique event

Chit chat: The film star was also seen chatting to rapper Gunna, who stood out in a brightly coloured crochet top and plenty of diamonds

Bling bling: Gunna was dripping with expensive diamonds as he sat in the front row

Fabulous: Her cropped blonde locks were worn in a playful, tousled style, while she added a further pop of colour with a coral lip

Resting easy: The star could be seen gently resting her head on her hand as she sat on the front row

Glamour puss: The Hollywood star looked glamorous as she sat on the front row at the event in Milan

Look who it is: The group were in good company at the event as Lady Kitty Spencer was also in attendance

Elegant: The socialite, 31, looked elegant in a long black coat with a leopard trim cuff, which she teamed with a matching handbag

Audience: Lady Kitty sat a few rows from Sharon on the front row

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.

Quirky: The Dolce & Gabbana show offered up some very interesting looks

Are you fur real? One model turned heads in a very pink, fluffy number complete with matching hat, bag and leg warmers

All-black everything: Other models strutted their stuff in eye-catching black outfits

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.

Other attendees: Angelina Lacour and Sfera Ebbasta put on a stylish display on the front row

Princess vibes: Gabi DeMartino accessorised with a dazzling tiara at the show

All that glitters: The YouTuber showed off her midriff in a metallic bralet which she teamed with a black blazer, a silver mini skirt and heels

Ooh I say: Flo Milli risked a wardrobe malfunction as she went braless beneath an embellished gold cropped jacket that barely covered her modesty

Dressed to impress: Theo Hernandez and Brahim Diaz pulled out all the stops with their outfits

Meanwhile, Sharon put on an animated display as she was spotted outside the Dolce & Gabbana shop in Milan on Saturday.

She dressed in a pinstripe suit and black top with a sweetheart neckline for her outing.

The star accessorised with a pair of gold heart-shaped earrings and made a heart with her hands as she waved to fans outside the store.

Famous friends: Taking to Instagram, she also shared a picture of herself meeting designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana at their shop

Excitable: Meanwhile, Sharon put on an animated display as she was spotted outside the Dolce & Gabbana shop in Milan on Saturday

Strike a pose: She dressed in a pinstripe suit and black top with a sweetheart neckline for her outing

Hanging out: The star looked happy as she posed with her arms over the shoulders of her pals while out in the Italian city

Superstar: She was more than happy to strike a pose for awaiting photographers after the fashion show earlier in the day

The star looked happy as she posed with her arms over the shoulders of her pals while out in the Italian city.

She was more than happy to strike a pose for awaiting photographers after the fashion show earlier in the day.

Taking to Instagram, she also shared a picture of herself meeting designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana at their shop, captioning her post: 'Meeting the geniuses @dolcegabbana.'

Glamour puss: Sharon looked glamorous as she posed outside the designer store in the Italian city of Milan

Keeping it casual: The star looked relaxed as she posed with her hands in her pockets during her outing

Sharon later looked stylish as she stepped out to the Dolce & Gabbana party, wearing a long black coat over an animal print dress.

The star elegantly got out of her chauffeur-driven car and made her way into the venue while wearing a pair of tall heels.

She hid behind a pair of dark sunglasses and opted for a pair of gold earrings to complete her look.

Working it: Sharon later looked stylish as she stepped out to the Dolce & Gabbana party, wearing a long black coat over an animal print dress

Ready to party: The star elegantly got out of her chauffeur-driven car and made her way into the venue while wearing a pair of tall heels

Fabulous: She hid behind a pair of dark sunglasses and opted for a pair of gold earrings to complete her look

She was joined by Lady Kitty Spencer, 31, who caught the eye in a bright orange sequinned blazer.

She wore a low cut black top which she teamed with a matching skirt for the evening.

The model and aristocrat, who is a niece of Diana, Princess of Wales, wore a pair of black heels and accessorised with a gold necklace and matching earrings for her outing.

All stars: Sharon was joined by Lady Kitty Spencer, 31, who caught the eye in a bright orange sequinned blazer

Fashion focus: She wore a low cut black top which she teamed with a matching skirt for the evening
Kanye West has filed to have his social media outbursts rendered inadmissible in a hearing on whether his estranged wife Kim Kardashian will be declared legally single.

In the past two months he has drawn widespread mockery and opprobrium over a string of posts aimed at Kim and her new boyfriend Pete Davidson, among others.

Kim has filed court documents saying the posts contain 'a lot of misinformation' and have caused her 'emotional distress.'

Now the 44-year-old rappers' counsel has said in response: 'Kim claims she read something online allegedly by Kanye and characterizes the posts in her declaration as misinformation,' TMZ reports citing court documents.

The way they were: Kanye West has filed to have his social media outbursts rendered inadmissible in a hearing on whether Kim Kardashian will be declared legally single

'Kim needed to offer the social media posts into evidence, and show that the posts were written by Kanye,' Kanye's attorney continued.

Two months ago Kim filed to be declared legally single, and a hearing will occur next week in order to decide the matter.

Earlier this month Kanye listed multiple provisos that he insisted Kim would have to accept if she wanted to restore her single status.

One was that she cannot remove any money from trusts she created with him, and another is that if one of them dies the other has a 'right of reimbursement.'

Hitting back: Kim has filed court documents saying the posts contain 'a lot of misinformation' and have caused her 'emotional distress'

Kim's counsel argued at the time that these measures were 'unnecessary' because of the prenuptial agreement, according to Page Six.

In the new legal filing this week, however, Kanye's team argued that the prenuptial agreement - which split their assets - must not be regarded as valid yet.

Kanye's counsel has argued that the prevailing view in California is that prenuptial agreements signed after 2001 can only be made valid if either both sides of the couple consent to it or if the matter goes to trial.

Kim filed for divorce last February amid a swirl of rumors that her marriage to the rap superstar was on the verge of collapse.

Not having it: Now however his counsel has said: 'Kim claims she read something online allegedly by Kanye and characterizes the posts in her declaration as misinformation'

Over the past couple of months Kanye has been frequently airing out their disputes in public, including releasing a diss track aimed at Kim and the children called Eazy.

He has claimed that Kim declined to tell him the location of their daughter Chicago's fourth birthday party last month but that he showed up anyway.

'America saw you try to kid nap my daughter on her birthday by not providing the address,' he raged at her on social media. 'You put security on me inside of the house to play with my son then accused me of stealing I had to take a drug test after Chicago's party cause you accused me of being on drugs.'

He also took repeated public jabs at Kim's current boyfriend Pete Davidson, whom he has given the nickname Skete.

Wow: Kanye wrote: 'UPON MY WIFES REQUEST PLEASE NOBODY DO ANYTHING PHYSICAL TO SKETE IM GOING TO HANDLE THE SITUATION MYSELF' with a still from Baby Boy

Kim eventually texted him that she was worried he was 'creating a dangerous and scary environment' in which 'someone will hurt Pete and this will all be your fault.'

Kanye then posted screen-grabs of the conversation, as well as a picture of Ving Rhames putting Tyrese Gibson in a chokehold in the film Baby Boy.

'UPON MY WIFES REQUEST PLEASE NOBODY DO ANYTHING PHYSICAL TO SKETE IM GOING TO HANDLE THE SITUATION MYSELF,' he wrote.

Kim pleaded with him over text: 'Why can't you keep any of our conversations private ???' and he replied: ''Cause I got a text from my favorite person in the world,' adding: 'I'm your number one fan ... Why wouldn't I tell everyone!!!!'

Leak: Over the past weeks Kanye also shared a screen-grab of a friendly text sent to him by Pete, whom he slammed as a 'd***head'

'NO YOU WILL NEVER MEET MY CHILDREN': Kanye retorted by posting an Instagram photo of Pete and Machine Gun Kelly goofing around together in their underwear

Over the past weeks Kanye also shared a screen-grab of a friendly text sent to him by Pete, whom he slammed as a 'd***head.'

Pete expressed hopes in the text of 'one day' meeting the four children Kim and Kanye share - North, eight, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, two.

Kanye retorted by posting an Instagram photo of Pete and Machine Gun Kelly goofing around together in their underwear and wrote in the caption: 'NO YOU WILL NEVER MEET MY CHILDREN.'

They day after Valentine's Day he confessed: 'I know sharing screen shots was jarring and came off as harassing Kim. I take accountability.'

Unrelenting: Kim pleaded with him over text: 'Why can't you keep any of our conversations private ???' and he replied: ''Cause I got a text from my favorite person in the world'

He also shared: 'I've learned that using all caps makes people feel like I'm screaming at them. I'm working on my communication.'

Since Kim left him Kanye has repeatedly begged her in public to come back to him and reunite the family, including on his 2021 album Donda, and recently he even sent a truckload of roses to her house.

However in court documents cited by TMZ this week Kim declared: 'I very much desire to be divorced,' arguing that 'there is no way to repair our marriage.'

She added: '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.'
Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities in what appeared to be the next phase of an invasion that has been slowed by fierce resistance. The U.S. and EU responded with weapons and ammunition for the outnumbered Ukrainians and powerful sanctions intended to further isolate Moscow.

Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces.

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Flames billowed into the air before dawn from an oil depot near the Zhuliany airport, about 25 miles south of the capital, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office and the mayor of the nearby town of Vasylkiv.

Zelenskyys office also said Russian forces blew up a gas pipeline in Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, prompting the government to warn people to protect themselves from the smoke by covering their windows with damp cloth or gauze.

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We will fight for as long as needed to liberate our country, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised.

Terrified men, women and children sought safety inside and underground, and the government maintained a 39-hour curfew to keep people off the streets. More than 150,000 Ukrainians fled for Poland, Moldova and other neighboring countries, and the United Nations warned the number could grow to 4 million if fighting escalates.

To aid Ukraines ability to hold out, the U.S. pledged an additional $350 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Saturday, including anti-tank weapons, body armor and small arms. And Germany also said it would send missiles and anti-tank weapons to the besieged country.

Even as Zelenskyy called on his countrymen to join the fight, it was impossible to know how effective Ukraine has been in slowing the Russian advance. A curfew in Kyiv set to last through Monday morning forced everyone inside, though the relative quiet of the capital was sporadically broken by gunfire.

Fighting on the citys outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Small groups of Russian troops were reported inside Kyiv, but Britain and the U.S. said the bulk of Russian forces were 19 miles from the citys center as of Saturday afternoon.

[ SEE IT: Saturday Night Live opens with chorus singing Prayer for Ukraine ]

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine was aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighborhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south.

Ukraines health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded during Europes largest ground offensive since World War II. It was unclear whether the figure included both military and civilian casualties.

In Kyiv, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the southwestern outskirts near one of Kyivs two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

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It was unclear in the fog of war how much of Ukraine was still under Ukrainian control and how much Russian forces have seized. Western governments claimed stiff Ukrainian resistance had slowed the Russian advance, and Russia does not yet control Ukraines skies.

Huge explosions lit up the predawn sky south of Kyiv early Sunday. Zelenskyys office said one of the blasts was near the Zhuliany airport, and the mayor of Vasylkiv, about 25 miles south of the capital, said an oil depot was hit.

Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv, and Ukraine said a Russian military convoy was destroyed near the city early Saturday.

In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraines coastline, stretching from the Black Sea port of Odesa, in the west near the border with Romania, to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east.

If the Russian troops succeed, Ukraine will be cut off from access to all of its sea ports, which are vital for its economy. In Mariupol, Ukrainian soldiers guarded bridges and blocked people from the seashore area amid concerns the Russian navy could launch an assault from the sea.

The Russian military said Friday that they claimed control of Melitopol, about 22 miles inland from the Sea of Azov.

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Western officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraines government and replace it with a regime of his own. The invasion represented Putins boldest effort yet to redraw the map of Europe and revive Moscows Cold War-era influence.

Zelenskyy issued a defiant video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street early Saturday, saying he remained in the city and that claims the Ukrainian military would put down arms were false.

A Ukrainian firefighter walks between at fragments of a downed aircraft seen in in Kyiv on Friday. (AP Photo/Oleksandr Ratushniak) (Oleksandr Ratushniak/AP)

We arent going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country, the Ukrainian president said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that its our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.

The U.S. government urged Zelenskyy early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv but he turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, quoted the president as saying he needed anti-tank ammunition but not a ride.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been on the move, seeking safety in the west of the country or beyond., The UN estimates that up to 4 million could flee if the fighting escalates. Refugees arriving in the Hungarian border town of Zahony said men between 18 and 60 were not being allowed to leave Ukraine.

My son was not allowed to come. My heart is so sore, Im shaking, I cant calm down, they did not let him come, said Vilma Sugar, 68.

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City officials in Kyiv urged residents to seek shelter, to stay away from windows and to take precautions to avoid flying debris or bullets. Many spent the night in basements, underground parking garages and subway stations.

Were all scared and worried. We dont know what to do then, whats going to happen in a few days, said Lucy Vashaka, 20, a worker at a small Kyiv hotel.

The United States and other NATO allies have sent weapons and other aid to Ukraine, which is not a NATO member. NATO member nations also have beefed up their troops in allied countries in Eastern Europe, but ruled out deploying troops to fight Russia.

Instead, the U.S., the European Union and other countries have slapped wide-raging sanctions on Russia, freezing the assets of Russian businesses and individuals including Putin and his foreign minister.

French maritime officials seized a Russian-flagged cargo ship carrying cars for potential sanctions breaches and took it to a port for investigation.

Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. >

Russia remained unbowed, vetoing a UN Security Council resolution demanding that it stop attacking Ukraine and withdraw troops immediately. The 11-1 vote, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, showed significant opposition to Russias invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbor.

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A senior Russian official on Saturday shrugged off the wide-ranging sanctions that the U.S., the European Union and other allies slapped on Russia as a reflection of Western political impotence.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, warned that Moscow could react to the sanctions by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and cutting diplomatic ties with nations in the West.

There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations, Medvedev said. We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.

Putin has has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine or said how long the Russian military operation could last. He justified the invasion by saying the West left him with no other choice by refusing to negotiate Russias security demands.

Zelenskyy offered Friday to negotiate a key one: that Ukraine declare itself neutral and abandon its ambition of joining NATO.

The Kremlin said it accepted Kyivs offer to hold talks, but it appeared to be an effort to squeeze concessions out of the embattled Zelenskyy instead of a gesture toward a diplomatic solution.
Daisy Edgar-Jones has admitted she had to learn to 'part with her idea of Normal People' when it was released and accept that the show belonged to the fans.

The 23-year-old actress starred as Marianne Sheridan alongside Paul Mescal, who played Connell Waldron, in the hit series based on the novel of the same name by Irish author Sally Rooney.

The romantic drama, which was released on BBC Three in 2020, focused on the on-off relationship between Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell, beginning in their school days through to their time at university.

Candid: Daisy Edgar-Jones has admitted she had to learn to 'part with her idea of Normal People' when it was released and accept that the show belonged to the fans

Daisy told The Guardian : 'I learned in a hurry that I had to part with my idea of Normal People the moment it landed.





'That people were going to have their own relationship with, I dunno, a piece of jewellery I hadn't thought about during the whole of filming, because the show was theirs now.'

On its release, the series generated huge popularity with a fan Instagram account set up devoted to Connell's silver chain necklace, which still has more than 150,000 followers.

According to the BBC, the series drove BBC Three to its best ever week for programme requests on iPlayer at the time, with more than 21.8 million watches in its first week.

Realisation: Daisy said: 'I learned in a hurry that I had to part with my idea of Normal People the moment it landed' (pictured in-character)

The BAFTA nominee confessed that she is 'still processing' the show's extreme success and that she has not 'worked out what it all means - if it means anything at all'.

She said that she still gets feelings of nostalgia for the show and cast, and confirmed she was still in contact with friends she made on set, including Mescal.

Daisy added that filming in Dublin, Italy and Sweden, had 'real highs' and 'some lows'.

'I was very green as an actor. There were definitely times I thought, "My God, I don't know what I'm doing, I'm too wee," she added.

'There was this thought that if I had one bad day at work I'd have to live with the results for the rest of my life.'

She said she grew in confidence with help from the 'close friendships' formed on set, describing it as a 'cosy romance' with lots of people which made them almost forget they were creating something to be later watched.

Her latest role will see her tackle another central character from a beloved novel as she plays Kya in the big-screen adaptation of Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

The coming-of-age story set in North Carolina in the 1950s and 60s follows Kya, an abandoned 'marsh girl' who seeks solace in nature.

She described portraying such well-known book characters as 'pressure', adding: 'You're coming to scenes that people have already formed a deep relationship with, and you've got a couple of hours in front of a camera to get it right for them.'

Normal People is available to stream only on Stan in Australia.
Patsy Kensit was looking forward to summer as she shared a throwback bikini snap from her recent trip to Dubai and the Maldives on Instagram on Saturday.

The actress, 53, had stripped down to some beautiful Dolce & Gabbana yellow and black swimwear with a floral pattern in the snap which she also posted for her followers three weeks ago.

She wore a pair of black sunglasses and pouted for the camera, captioning the image: 'Missing the sunshine although its a beautiful day in London. Big knicker bikini, so nice Ive posted it twice.'

Summer ready: Patsy Kensit, 53, stunned as she shared a throwback snap of herself in a Dolce & Gabbana bikini from a recent trip to Dubai and the Maldives on Instagram on Saturday

Earlier this month, Patsy wrote alongside the same photo: 'Does the big knicker bikini work????'

The star recently returned from a break in both the Maldives and Dubai, with Patsy sharing a number of photos from her holiday on social media.

In one shot, she posed against a palm tree as she stood on a golden sandy beach and against a backdrop of the beautiful azure sea in the Maldives.

Fun in the sun: The star recently returned from a break in both the Maldives and Dubai, with Patsy sharing a number of photos from her holiday on social media

Rest and relaxation: Patsy posed with her legs in the air as she relaxed with the beautiful clear water of the sea in the background

Patsy was visiting her son James in Dubai after she recently revealed she was suffering from empty nest syndrome during lockdown since her children moved out.

The soap star has two adult sons, James, 28, with Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr, and Lennon, 22, with Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher.

In an interview, the thespian admitted she has been feeling an 'ache' in her heart as her sons have grown up and moved out.

Strike a pose: In another photo, Patsy wore a blue and white striped top and had a shell necklace on as she posed for the camera

The media personality told OK! Magazine: 'It's so painful I can't tell you. Everyone's emotional at the moment, aren't they? Every day it's been really hard.

'I don't let the boys know that but I know they feel it because they're constantly checking in.

'They have their own lives but I'm not going to lie, there's an ache in my heart.'
Motsi Mabuse has updated concerned fans on the welfare of her husband's parents, who she announced on Thursday were stranded in Ukraine after Russia's invasion.

The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 40, wrote on Twitter she and her Ukrainian husband Evgenij Voznyuk were 'in contact' with her in-laws but there is 'nothing they can do.'

The Ukrainian civilian death toll hit 219 on Saturday, as defiant president Volodmyr Zelensky pledged to 'destroy the occupiers', saying his country's army had successfully repelled Russian forces advancing on Kyiv.

Family: Strictly's Motsi Mabuse updated concerned fans on the welfare of her Ukrainian in-laws after Russia's invasion on Saturday (pictured with her mother-in-law in a photo shared to Instagram)

And amidst the latest developments, Motsi's Saturday afternoon update read: 'We are contact with them ! The spend more than half the day yesterday in the bunkers !!! In Kharkiv there are heavy battles so we cant get to them ! At the moment there is nothing we can do . We did try to get them earlier in Germany.'

On Instagram later in the day, the South African-German dancer shared a harrowing image of her mother-in-law in the bunker.

'My mother last few days, they have spent most of their time in the basement! It is winter cold , no heating. They tried to buy food but we're not capable to get anything. We are in contact every few hours . They will sleep there tonight,' she explained.

Tough: The South African-German dancer shared a harrowing image of her mother-in-law in the bunker

'My mother-in law': Motsi shared a selfie with her husband's mother from happier times

Family: Motsi and her husband Evgenij Voznyuk married in 2017 and share a daughter whose name has never been publicly revealed (pictured in 2020)

In another impassioned post shared to her Story, Motsi wrote: 'The question why didn't they leave earlier is not relevant and innocent children & people are suffering for what ??? They have build their homes , their lives.

'They have to build and again it's being destroyed for what ???? Is this what peace looks like ? Is this your Putin bring peace?'

She continued on a still-poignant note: 'Every night we sleep not knowing what the news will be the next day !!!!! But to receive a call at 05:00 hearing a mother cry filled with fear telling us she loves us is nothing I wish apon anyone.

Thought-provoking: Motsi used her Instagram Story to share an impassioned message

'Thank you to all who have taken time to write, I am trying to not make this about me , I am in conflict as to how much I I will open my private life but I know many Ukrainian people and it's personal. It's family.'

Motsi was inundated with support from her loyal followers.

Just one of many messages read: 'Hopefully they will be out of this dreadful situation sooner rather than later [prayer emojs]'.

Update: The Strictly Come Dancing judge, 40, wrote on Twitter that she and her Ukrainian husband were 'in contact' with her in-laws but there is 'nothing they can do'

Rallying round: The South African-German dancer was inundated with support from her loyal followers

On Thursday, Motsi revealed her husband's parents were unable to reach the Polish border, after Russia invaded Ukraine in the early hours.

The Strictly star took to Twitter to say she was 'heartbroken' after she had spoken to her 'crying' mother-in-law who has 'no possibility' of fleeing to Poland.

A fearful Motsi wrote: 'Its heartbreaking hearing my mother in law crying this morning, afraid and there absolutely nothing we can do! Just Sad honestly.'

Heartbroken: On Thursday, Motsi revealed her husband's parents were unable to reach the Polish border (pictured with Evgenij in 2018)

Social media post: The Strictly star took to Twitter to say that she was 'heartbroken' after she had spoken to her 'crying' mother-in-law

Motsi added: Our parents have been told to go outside and to switch off water &gas ! They have no possibility to get to the polish border.

She had previously tweeted: This cannot be happening!!!!!!!!!!! and asked for prayers for Ukraine and the world.

Motsi and Evgenij married in 2017 and share a daughter whose name has never been publicly revealed.

Stranded: The TV judge added they were unable to get to the Polish border (Picture: Traffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine on Thursday)

Motsi married her first love Timo Kulczak, 42, when she was just 22.

But over a decade later the couple called it quits when Motsi realised she wanted to be with her dance partner Evgenij as she told The Sun: 'Three years later whoosh! And then I was married'.

Putin personally gave the order to attack Ukraine at around 5am on Thursday, unleashing a salvo of rocket fire in order to knock out the country's military command structure.

On Friday morning Motsi posted an update, writing in German: 'Dear friends, please be sensitive when we address this topic with people from Ukraine. It hurts a lot right now and also what you share'

First love: Motsi married her first love Timo Kulczak, 42, when she was just 22 (pictured dancing together in 2001)

And on Saturday, in a video message to the besieged nation, Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to seize the capital, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk', one of two separatist regions which warmonger Vladimir Putin officially recognised before launching an all-out invasion.

Declaring 'we broke their idea', he added: 'The fights are going on in many cities and areas of our state. But we know that we are protecting the country, the land, the future of our children. Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army.

'Each Ukrainian should keep one thing in mind: if you can stop and destroy the occupiers - do it. Everyone who can come back to Ukraine - come back to defend Ukraine.'

Real talk: On Saturday, Zelensky accused the Kremlin of attempting to seize the capital, overthrow the government and install a 'puppet' regime 'like in Donetsk'

UKRAINE WAR: LATEST Vladimir Putin urges Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership and negotiate peace

Ukraine and Russia discuss a place and time for talks

Russia vetoes draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine - China abstained from the vote

President Joe Biden instructs the U.S. State Department to release $350 million in military aid to Ukraine

Canada, the US, Britain and the European Union said they could act to exclude Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed - Russia did not release casualty figures

NATO allies will provide more weapons to Ukraine and deploy more forces to the eastern part of the alliance

The conflict could drive up to five million people abroad

The MoD said the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv are now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre

A curfew is in force until 8am Monday

Russia closes airspace to flights from Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic

China's support for Putin wavers as state banks limit finance for Russian oil and gas Advertisement

Meanwhile, a curfew in Kyiv has been imposed until 8am on Monday to ensure the most effective defence of the city and the safety of its people. A previous daily curfew had run from 10pm to 7am.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said: 'All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.'

It comes after a high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was hit by a devastating missile this morning, while Ukraine's civilian death toll hit 198.

Britain's Ministry of Defence said the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Kyiv were now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre.

'Russia has yet to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Russian Air Force,' the defence ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.

But armed forces minister James Heappey said today there was no reason to think a 'happy ending is just around the corner' as he warned the conflict could rumble on for months.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'Nobody should think that this is anywhere near over. What stands in front of Ukraine, its armed forces and very tragically its people, is days, weeks, months more of what we have seen over that last 48 hours.'

As Ukrainian forces said they had fought off a Russian attack on their capital today, Zelensky vowed to stay and fight on in an impassioned video to his people.

'I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth,' he said outside his office, denouncing as disinformation claims that he had surrendered or fled.

Wearing military garb the president added: 'A lot of fake information has appeared on the internet saying that I allegedly called on our army to lay down its arms and that evacuation is underway.

'Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this. This is what I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine!'

Kyiv: A police vehicle is seen patrolling the streets as a curfew is imposed from Saturday 5pm to Monday 8am local time

Astonishing: Ukrainian soldiers took positions outside a military facility as two cars burned in a street in Kyiv, Ukraineon Saturday

Shocking footage showed a missile ripping apart a tower block near Zhuliany airport, while CCTV from inside also shows the extent of the damage after the site was hit.

Images show the building with a hole covering at least five floors blasted into the side and rubble strewn across the street below. Two people are reported to have been killed in the strike.

Anton Herashchenko also said Russia was lying about not shelling civilian infrastructure, claiming at least 40 such sites had been hit. Ukraine reported later on Saturday 19 people had been killed in shelling in the country's east.
Sean Penn called President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine a 'brutal mistake' as he took to Twitter with a scathing account of the Russian invasion which began on Thursday.

The 61-year-old actor wrote: 'Already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and if he doesnt relent, I believe Mr. Putin will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind. President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle.'

He added: 'Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost.'

Honest: Sean Penn called President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine a 'brutal mistake' as he took to Twitter with a scathing account of the Russian invasion which began on Thursday.

Penn flew into the capital of Ukraine this week, Kyiv, and was seen sitting front and center at a government press briefing mere hours into the invasion as he represented VICE for a documentary being filmed about the war, which Putin deemed a 'special military operation.'

The documentary which has been in the works for month and has focused on the rising tensions in the region  is a VICE Studios production, 'in association with VICE World News and Endeavor Content,' according to a spokesman for the media group.

In a translated Facebook post, the Ukrainian government said it was grateful for Penn being there and he was lauded as being more courageous than Western leaders.

He added: 'Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost'

On deck: Penn flew into the capital of Ukraine this week, Kyiv, and was seen sitting front and center at a government press briefing mere hours into the invasion as he represented VICE for a documentary being filmed about the war, which Putin deemed a 'special military operation'

In action: The documentary which has been in the works for month and has focused on the rising tensions in the region  is a VICE Studios production, 'in association with VICE World News and Endeavor Content,' according to a spokesman for the media group

'An American actor and filmmaker, Oscar winner Sean Penn arrived to Ukraine,' the statement read. '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.

'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.

Listening: He then met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who posted a video of their meeting on his Instagram account

Doing his best: 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!'

'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.'

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!'

In a video shared on Saturday, Zelensky gave a hopeful update on the third day of attacks as he said: 'We successfully fought off enemy attacks. We are defending our country, our land, future of our children.'

Russia has continued its invasion and reportedly claimed on Saturday that it seized the southern city of Melitopol in efforts to redraw European maps under Putin's rule, as hundreds of thousands of civilians flee the country for safety while Ukrainian forces continue to defend their country.
James Argent is said to be 'nearly back to his best' after suffering a 'very bad relapse.'

The former TOWIE star, who has battled drink and drug addiction since finding fame on the ITVBe show, confessed to being visited by paramedics earlier this month after concerned friends called an ambulance for him after a night of drinking.

Yet according to a new report, James, 34, is doing 'really well', leaving friends 'stunned' at how quickly he's turned things around.

'He's nearly back to his best': James Argent is 'doing really well' after suffering a 'very bad relapse' - and has left friends 'stunned' at his quick turnaround

Since the setback, the reality star has been getting support via a local walk-in rehab service which he uses six days a week, and said he was proud of himself for taking action and facing his addiction.

A source told The Sun: 'James is doing really, really well. He's nearly back to his best and considering how bad things were a week or so ago everyone is pretty stunned at how he's turned things around.

'But James is a fighter. His recent blip was exactly that, a blip, and he has no intention of letting it turn into a longer term period of illness.'

MailOnline has contacted James' representative for comment.

Back on track: Since the setback, the reality star, 34, has been getting support via a local walk-in rehab service which he uses six days a week

Speaking to The Sun last week, Arg admitted he 'had a very bad relapse,' and the incident has made him realise he will be an addict for life.

The alarm was raised when the reality star was not answering his phone 'after hitting a blip in his recovery' earlier this month.

Breaking his silence, Arg explained that he had enjoyed a comedy night in London with friends, where he experienced 'cravings'. He had a first drink after buying a round for friends at the afterparty back near his home in Essex.

'Addicts always say one drink is never enough - if it was, I wouldn't be an addict - but unfortunately it just escalated from there,' he explained.

'After that, I can't get into the specifics of what I did, but that's where it all started and I ended up at home having an awful relapse - I'd been clean and sober for such a long time, it hit me like a ton of bricks as my body and mind hadn't been used to it for so long.'

His 'shocked and worried' friends called an ambulance and after tests paramedics agreed it was safe for the star to recover at home.

His 'shocked and worried' friends called an ambulance and after tests paramedics agreed it was safe for the star to recover at home.

Onwards and upwards: His 'shocked and worried' friends called an ambulance and after tests paramedics agreed it was safe for the star to recover at home (pictured on Saturday with former TOWIE co-star Lewis Bloor)

Arg said that he thinks his problems started after losing 14 stone following his gastric sleeve surgery last April, and after gaining confidence in his looks he mistakenly believed he was 'recovered'.

'I thought I was cured and told myself that I can be in control and manage it - but I can't - I'm an addict and I can't just go to rehab, come back and be cured, it's something that I will have to deal with for the rest of my life and that will be in my life forever.

'I can glamorise partying but in reality it's never going to be fun for me as I'm an addict so it'll never be just one or two drinks - that will lead me to hospital or death.' he explained.

In 2019 James was hospitalised twice after overdosing on drugs at his home.

The scare was said to a 'wake-up call' to James who then 'accepted he needs professional help'.

Arg has battled drink and drug addiction since finding fame on TOWIE and in 2014 he was suspended from the show after he failed a routine drugs test.

Transformation: Last year, James' weight ballooned to 27 stone (pictured before left). Arg has lost 14 stone following his gastric sleeve surgery last April

The TV star spent three months in a facility in Thailand over the festive season in 2016 in order to get the 'ongoing support' he needed.

In August 2019, Arg returned to rehab following a split from Gemma Collins in a bid to tackle his demons.

He completed a third stint in treatment in 2020 prior to undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

Last year, James' weight ballooned to 27 stone after he replaced his cocaine habit with unhealthy eating.

He has since lost a staggering 13 stone after surgery saw 70 percent of his stomach removed in the 10,000 operation.

In January, Arg reflected on his drug recovery as he reached out to any followers who may be struggling.
Kim Kardashian doesn't just dress well; she travel in style, too.

The billionaire mogul, 41, returned from a few days in Italy for Milan Fashion Week in her brand new private jet.

The fashion icon donned her recent signature all-black look as she arrived back in Los Angeles on Friday.

Jet-setter: Kim Kardashian returned from a few days in Italy for Milan Fashion Week in her brand new private jet

The mother-of-four was dressed in leather pants, heeled booties, and an oversized leather bomber.

She took her edgy style up a notch with a pair of Prada gloves, after enjoying the luxury fashion brand's overseas fashion show.

The SKIMS founder added a pair of chic, rectangular-shaped black sunglasses and a disposable black face mask.

Kardashian slicked her dark hair into a chic and simple knot arranged at the back of her head.

Blackout: The fashion icon donned her recent signature all-black look as she arrived back in Los Angeles on Friday

Accessories: She took her edgy style up a notch with a pair of Prada gloves, after enjoying the luxury fashion brand's overseas fashion show

Glamorous: The SKIMS founder added a pair of chic, rectangular-shaped black sunglasses and a disposable black face mask

Kim skipped jewelry and carried her iPhone in her hand as she made her way to a car after debarking.

Kim traveled overseas with her glam squad to enjoy Milan's high-profile annual fashion event.

She took to Instagram on Friday and said, '[Peace] Milan - thank you Prada for the love! Cant wait to post all my @prada looks.

She added, 'Big shout out to my glam squad, u guys killed this look once again!'

Minimalist: Kardashian slicked her dark hair into a chic and simple knot arranged at the back of her head

After what was no doubt an exhausting few days, the star and her entourage were able to kick back in style on a private jet for the long flight home.

Her hairstylist Chris Appleton shared a video as he boarded a swanky private jet that featured a welcome mat fit for reality TV royalty.

The words 'Kim Air' were woven in black on a sand colored rug.

Team: Kim traveled overseas with her glam squad to enjoy Milan's high-profile annual fashion event

'Wow feeling grateful to experience Kim Air back to LA,' the celebrity hair stylist penned on Instagram. His word choice seemed to be a subtle nod to his holy grail line of hair care products, Color Wow.

Chris, Kim and her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic enjoyed a little mid-flight reading, paging through the print edition of Kardashian's recent Vogue Magazine cover story.

Appleton gushed: 'Leaving Milan this morning and finally saw the print issue of @voguemagazine.

'Love these two feeling grateful for this experience,' he added.

Luxury: Kim has been enjoying the spoils of years of hard work as an entrepreneur and media figure

A photo from inside the plane cabin saw a fresh faced Kim seated between the artists with her raven hair slicked back in a low bun and sporting an oversized leather bomber jacket.

Mario and Chris flanked the SKIMS founder on either side while holding up an issue of Vogue featuring the cover girl.

Kim's glam squad helped cement her as a global style and beauty 'it girl' and helped lead to the development of her own often sold-out beauty line, KKW Beauty, which is currently going through the rebrand.

Appleton and Dedivanovic have also pivoted their expertise into entrepreneurial endeavors with high end product lines of their own. On the hair side, Chris founded Color Wow and on the makeup end, Mario created the cult-obsessed line Makeup by Mario.

Low-profile: Kim kept her look understated and low-key as she returned from her trip

Spotted: Despite covering her famous visage with sunglasses and a mask Kim was recognizable

New post: The reality TV personality dropped in on Instagram on Saturday to share a new selfie with her 288 million followers

The reality TV personality dropped in on Instagram on Saturday to share a new selfie with her 288 million followers.

The beauty styled her locks in two low braids on either side of her head and held up a peace sign.

She sported a black bra that showed off her curves as she posed in her nude colored home, and despite the extensive travel, Kim wrote in her caption, 'shockingly not jet-lagged.'

Kim's new aircraft was designed to complement her car collection, which matches her Calabasas home.

Tremendous trio: Chris, Kim and her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic enjoyed a little mid-flight reading, paging through the print edition of Kardashian's recent Vogue Magazine cover story

Coordinated: Kim's new aircraft was designed to complement her car collection, which matches her Calabasas home

In her words: 'I wanted my cars to kind of blend in. My house is gray and I wanted them to kind of match the house, so I did all gray cars instead of my typical matte silver that I used to do,' Kim told Vogue

While things seem to be great in the sky, her estranged husband, Kanye West, filed to have his social media outbursts rendered inadmissible in a hearing on whether Kim will be declared legally single.

In the past two months he has drawn widespread mockery and opprobrium over a string of posts aimed at Kim and her new boyfriend, Pete Davidson, among others.

Kim filed court documents saying the posts contained 'a lot of misinformation' and have caused her 'emotional distress.'

Now the 44-year-old rappers' counsel has said in response: 'Kim claims she read something online allegedly by Kanye and characterizes the posts in her declaration as misinformation,' TMZ reported citing court documents.

'Kim needed to offer the social media posts into evidence, and show that the posts were written by Kanye,' Kanye's attorney continued.

Two months ago Kim filed to be declared legally single, and a hearing will occur next week in order to decide the matter.
Jussie Smollett's legal team have filed documents to request a new trial unless the judge reverses the verdict and finds him not guilty of disorderly conduct for faking the police report, according to TMZ.

The actor requested the new trial two months after he was found guilty by the jurors of five of the six felony charges against him.

The outlet reported that Jussie claimed his constitutional rights were violated after his legal team was blocked from participating in the juror selection process.

The latest: Jussie Smollett's legal team have filed documents to request a new trial unless the judge reverses the verdict and finds him not guilty of disorderly conduct for faking the police report, according to TMZ; seen in 2019

Jussie claimed that prosecutors portrayed a pattern of racism in their juror selections, TMZ reported.

In addition, he claims his defense team weren't allowed to pose questions to the potential jurors as well as alleging the pool was 'tainted.'

He also alleged that the prosecutors pressured the witnesses to give 'false testimony' and limited his defense team from questions all of the witnesses.

Jussie's legal team claimed that the judge barring the public and media from the courtroom was 'wrongful.'

Legal: The actor requested the new trial two months after he was found guilty by the jurors of five felony charges against him; pictured in November

Jussie was convicted last month for lying to police about a racist, homophobic attack that authorities said he staged, will return to court for sentencing March 10.

Cook County Judge James Linn set the sentencing date in Chicago for the former Empire actor, who told the judge he was in New York, during a hearing on Zoom.

Smollett was found guilty by a jury Dec. 9 of five felony counts of disorderly conduct under a subsection of the law that prohibits making false reports to police. He was acquitted on a sixth count.

Smollett, who is black and gay, maintained throughout the nearly three-year legal battle that he was attacked in downtown Chicago in January 2019 by people who yelled racist and anti-gay slurs and put a noose around his neck. He denied during the trial that he staged the attack.

While the charges carry a possible sentence of three years in prison, legal experts have said Smollett is unlikely to get prison time for the low-level felonies, and is more likely to be sentenced to probation and ordered to perform community service.

Meanwhile, lawsuits that were on hold pending the outcome of the criminal case may now move forward. They include a lawsuit the city of Chicago filed against Smollett to recoup over $130,000 it spent investigating what police initially believed was a terrible hate crime.

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx repeatedly misled the public about her office's handling of the Jussie Smollett case and was responsible for 'a major failure of operations' in dismissing charges against the Empire actor, a special prosecutor's damning report states.

Paperwork: newly release report by a special prosecutor has found that Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx (left) and her office were responsible for 'a major failure of operations' in dismissing charges against Jussie Smollett (right)

The 68-page confidential report detailing missteps and multiple instances of false statements made by Foxx and her prosecutors in the initial investigation of Smollett was released after a judge ruled that it should be made public.

Some of the offices actions may be violations of legal ethics, special prosecutor Dan Webb concluded. He said Foxx and others in her office did nothing criminal.

The report includes findings by Webb, who took over the case after Foxx dropped charges against Smollett in March 2019.
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Mayor Adams sought to put some distance between himself and his chief of staff, Frank Carone, on Friday in the wake of revelations that the top City Hall adviser is linked to a couple of known felons via a medical insurance business.

What happened to his business agreements prior to being my chief of staff is really something that I am not accountable for, Adams said at an unrelated press conference on Staten Island after being asked about Carones connections to the felon brothers, Zhan and Robert Petrosyants.

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What he does as my chief of staff, he will live up to the highest standard that I expect from all of my staff and employees.

New York City 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)

As first reported by the Daily News on Wednesday, Zhan and Robert Petrosyants  who pleaded guilty to federal false currency transaction reporting charges in 2014  have exchanged more than a dozen emails with Carone about a no-fault medical insurance business that the chief of staff used to control before joining Adams administration.

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The email exchanges havent been made public, but an Adams spokesman said they were about several clients that the Petrosyants recommended for Carones no-fault insurance venture, which was in a similar business realm to the one prosecutors alleged the brothers used as a vehicle for their past crimes.

While keeping Carones past dealings at arms length, Adams commended his chief of staff during Fridays press conference on divesting from some of his various private interests and placing the rest in a blind trust before joining City Hall.

When my chief of staff became the chief of staff, he turned over all of his business dealings the appropriate way, the same way Mike Bloomberg did, Adams said, referring to the former billionaire mayor.

After their February 2014 guilty pleas, Zhan Petrosyants got five years probation, community service and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, while his brother was sentenced to six months in federal prison.

Adams, who has acknowledged being close friends with Zhan Petrosyants, reiterated Friday that he doesnt consider past criminal records to be a disqualifying character trait.

I dont hold that against them like New Yorkers did not hold it against me when I committed a crime and Im now the mayor of the city in New York, he said, referencing his arrest for burglary as a teenager.

But even some of Adams supporters suggested the mayor should think about the optics of maintaining ties with the Petrosyants in light of Carones connection to them.

Awful appearance of impropriety at the very least! I dont get it, ex-Brooklyn Councilman Sal Albanese, a moderate Democrat, tweeted at Adams. (The mayor) needs to avoid this, but hes ignoring it and it can be deadly.
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Daytona Beach, FL (32114)

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Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Clear skies. Low 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Diamond Daiquiris, Dayton Ohios first ever Louisiana style daiquiri and sno-ball mobile food truck will launch with a special grand opening event at the White House Event Center, March 19 2022 3PM-7PM.

Founded by Dayton resident Leslie Brown and her family, Diamond Daiquiris aims to deliver the spirit and impeccable taste of Louisiana to the Dayton community one delicious sno-ball and Daiquiri at a time.

At the grand opening, Diamond Daiquiris will be serving up its signature items an exciting variety of the classic Louisiana based cocktail, the frozen daiquiri. Customers will be able to choose from an assortment of over ten colorful and deliciously fruity and sweet flavors like Blue-Raspberry, Pineapple-Mango, the classic New Orleans Hurricane and Strawberry Margarita just to name a few all homemade with top-quality ingredients. Prices will range from $2.75 (small 12oz) to $4.50 (large 24oz).

Diamond Daiquiris will also serve homemade sno-balls, a customizable treat made from fluffy thinly shaved ice, flavored with brightly coloured sweet syrups and topped with gummy bears, sprinkles and other tasty add-ons an irresistible treat for children and adults alike.

The sno-balls will come in two variations traditional style or special creamy style. They will also come in a variety of fun flavors like Key Lime Pie and King Cake for the classic desert lover and Red Hot and Cotton Candy for the adventurous. Sugar free options will be available too. Prices will range from $2.75 (small 12oz) to $5.00 (waffle cup).

The idea of Diamond Daiquiris was born during a trip that founder and CEO, Leslie Brown, took to the historic city of New Orleans. Inspired by the vibrant Mardi Gras colors, the sound of jazz trailing through the French Quarter and the melting pot of cultures, Brown wanted to bring back a piece of New Orleans to Dayton.

Daiquiris hold a very special memory for me- said Brown, Diamond Daiquiris was formed with the aim of bringing a taste of Louisiana to the Midwest.

After the grand opening, customers can visit Diamond Daiquiris at one of its regular service spots in the Dayton area.

Customers can also book Diamond Daiquiris to cater at private events such as birthdays, office parties, wedding receptions, bachelor and bachelorette parties and more.
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In voicing support for the citys Ukrainian community Friday, Mayor Eric Adams warned New Yorkers to avoid blaming Russian speakers in the Big Apple for Russias unprovoked war against its neighbor.

Adams appeared Friday morning on four television and radio spots with a similar message: that the terrible actions of the Russian administration is no reflection on the Russian people that are here.

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Its really unfortunate that Russia took this action. It is a stain on humanity. And I am asking New Yorkers to keep in mind that the Russian people, the Russian-speaking people who live in this city, they are not part of that action, he said Friday morning on PIX-11. There is a duality here. Lets march and stand firm with our Ukrainian residents, but lets also not in any way send out a negative message to the Russian-speaking people who enjoy this city.

Adams encouraged New Yorkers to speak out against Russias invasion of Ukraine, but added that their demonstrations should be conducted peacefully.

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Seth Wenig/AP)

We must be a safe city, he said.

With the war in Ukraine exploding and the threat of Russian cyberattacks likely, Adams emphasized the need to be vigilant when it comes to the citys cybersecurity, although he offered few specifics on exactly what to expect.

We are going to fortify our cybersecurity, he said. We put in place a joint initiative with the governor and New York City, and were going to make sure we protect and harden our soft targets in this city, and were going to do it the right way.
The 19th Century home restored with impeccable taste by Greek architect Tina Trigala and French architect Yves Lesprit is no place for evening bar crawlers or the curry in a hurry gang. (Photo by arrangement)

When it comes to heritage bayside accommodation, it cannot get any better than this  a stones throw from Puducherrys rock beach is La Villa, a stellar heritage statement curated by Segiyane Sylvain Paquiry.

The 19th Century home restored with impeccable taste by Greek architect Tina Trigala and French architect Yves Lesprit is no place for evening bar crawlers or the curry in a hurry gang. After dark, artisanal 7-course meal, with lobster bisque as the highlight, prepared by chefs Michel Christmann and Alexandre Kerbouz embrace your senses amid a cultivated chorus of laughter and rustling leaves in the courtyard.

La Villa

The suites in this gorgeously-appointed home reflect the warmth of an era gone by, and the excitement of the Puducherry vibe, that is an eclectic blend of Franco-Tamil culture. A stylish, expansive suite on the ground level features a lazy lounge area, comfortable slumber space and a spacious bath area complete with a massive rain shower. The Penthouse suite on the top floor overlooks the inviting Puducherry town and the wraparound terrace with Mango trees offering shade with leather lounging seats is just what leisure therapy looks like. And if youre in the mood for a dip in the pool, the property has a sun-kissed pool too.

When you drove into Pondy you may have had intentions of exploring the town, but once ensconced at La Villa, your heart will not let you leave the comfort of this magnificent stay. Despite its very dynamic design, La Villa feels like home, and the hosts, including the manager Sita, mix with the guests like old pals.

Its unlikely that you will taste a menu that is so carefully curated anywhere else in Pondy. La Villas charm is largely centred around its cuisine  the well-planned dinners by the Michelin Star chefs and the fresh and delicious big breakfasts. Segiyane Sylvain and his team have spent a lot of time establishing relationships with local farmers, and it shows on the plate. Everything is fresh, sourced locally and amalgamated with international recipes to bring to you a truly Franco-Tamil culinary experience.

* Do try their 7-course artisanal dinner

* Walk along the stone path beside the water body as you listen to music  its therapeutic

* The in-house shop features work of some very good local artisans and fashion designers

* And do yourself a favour, order their Apple Pie
Before the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, Air India had conducted one flight to Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India. (Representational image: PTI)

New Delhi: An Air India plane departed from the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning for Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.

The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 AM (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Indian nationals who have reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road are being taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24 and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Around 20,000 Indians, mainly students, are currently stranded in Ukraine, the officials said.

Before the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, Air India had conducted one flight to Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26 but it could not do so as the Russian offensive began on February 24 and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

Air India said on Twitter on Friday night that it will be operating flights on B787 aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Bucharest and Budapest on Saturday as special government charter flights to fly back stranded Indian citizens.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Friday said it is working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary.

"At present, teams are getting in place at the following check points: Chop-Zahony Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, Porubne-Siret Romanian border near Chernivtsi," it said.

Indian nationals, especially students, living closest to these border checkpoints are advised to depart in an organised manner in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualise this option, the embassy said.

Once the above-mentioned routes are operational, the Indian nationals travelling on their own would be advised to proceed to the border checkpoints, it noted.

The embassy advised Indian travellers to carry their passports, cash (preferably in US dollars), other essential items and COVID-19 vaccination certificates to the border checkpoints.

"Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling," it said.

The distance between Kyiv and the Romanian border checkpoint is approximately 600 kilometres and it takes anywhere between eight-and-a-half hours to 11 hours to cover it by road.

Bucharest is located approximately 500 kilometres from the Romanian border checkpoint and it takes anywhere between seven to nine hours to cover the distance by road.

The distance between Kyiv and the Hungarian border checkpoint is around 820 kilometres and it takes 12-13 hours to cover it by road.
Indian nationals hold the tricolor before boarding the 2nd special Air India flight, evacuating Indians from war-torn Ukraine, in Bucharest, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (PTI)

New Delhi: Air India's second evacuation flight from Romanian capital Bucharest carrying 250 Indian nationals who were stranded in Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport in the early hours of Sunday, government officials said.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia welcomed the evacuees at the airport by handing out roses to them.

India on Saturday began the evacuation of its stranded citizens amid the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, with the first evacuation flight, AI1944, bringing back 219 people from Bucharest to Mumbai in the evening.

The second evacuation flight, AI1942, carrying 250 Indian citizens landed at the Delhi airport around 2.45 am on Sunday, the officials said.

Air India's third evacuation flight, AI1940, which will depart from Hungarian capital Budapest, is also scheduled to return with evacuees to Delhi on Sunday, they said.

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since February 24 morning when the Russian military offensive began. Therefore, the Indian evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Indian nationals who reached the Ukraine-Romania border and Ukraine-Hungary border were taken to Bucharest and Budapest, respectively, by road with the assistance of Indian government officials so that they could be evacuated in these Air India flights, the officials said.

The government is not charging the rescued citizens for the evacuation flights, they said.

Air India shared on Twitter photos of Scindia receiving the evacuees at the airport.

"Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia receiving the Indian nationals who were flown back to Delhi from Bucharest by AI 1942 on February 27 early morning, operated to evacuate Indians stranded at war-ravaged Ukraine," the airline said.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24 that around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, were stranded in Ukraine.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said on Twitter on Saturday that Indian citizens in Ukraine should not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government officials there using the helpline numbers.

"The situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the Embassy is working continuously with our Embassies in our neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens," it mentioned.

The Indian Embassy in Ukraine said it is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who are reaching border checkpoints without prior intimation.

It said that staying in western cities of Ukraine with access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation.

"All those currently in the eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient," it said.
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy called external affairs minister Dr S. Jaishankar on Friday and sought the safe repatriation of Telugu students stranded in Ukraine. Dr Jaishankar told the Chief Minister that the Centre was taking all possible measures to this end.

He said that steps would be taken to relocate students from Ukraine to other countries nearby and later fly them to India. Jagan Mohan Reddy assured that the state government would provide any support if required.

In this regard, the Chief Minister held a meeting with the officials at the camp office. He directed officials to establish communication with everyone from the state in Ukraine, and find out their well-being and take appropriate measures for their safety.

Jagan Mohan Reddy told them to provide necessary information to the Centre, especially information received from stranded people in Ukraine. He instructed the authorities to evacuate people through special aircraft from the state if necessary.

He directed authorities to set up control rooms at the district level and collect details of stranded students. Officials informed the Chief Minister that they were constantly in touch with the external affairs ministry and APNRTS.
KAKINADA: Even as hundreds of students from the two Telugu speaking states are having a harrowing time in war-torn Ukraine, local traders here in Andhra Pradesh jacked up edible oil prices, citing the war as a reason.

According to trade experts, oil prices can be increased further in the coming days. As soon as the war began in Ukraine, oil prices were hiked by traders. Consumers alleged that the traders created artificial shortages and hiked the prices on the pretext of war and this was not correct. Consumers are wondering how the oil prices can be hiked immediately after the beginning of the war. They appealed to the state government to control the prices by taking immediate steps on the oil companies and traders. According to consumers, palm oil prices were at Rs 135 per litre before the war and now it is available at Rs 142.

Sunflower oil was at Rs 145 and now it is available at Rs 165. However, the traders made it clear that there was no artificial shortage of oil. They said the companies reduced the supply of the oil to the wholesale market and consumers also were buying oil in large quantities, expecting the prices may be hiked further. It caused a shortage of edible oils.

Wholesale oil dealer Grandhi Babji of Kakinada told Deccan Chronicle that the oil companies had hiked the prices at 8 per cent, after the beginning of the war in Ukraine and they also reduced the quantity of supply of oil to half and under these circumstances, there was a shortage of quantity in oil and also hike in prices.

According to another trader, the state and the Central governments usually conduct raids on wholesale dealers and retail merchants. But the governments should keep an eye on the oil companies and control the prices at the companies level.
New Delhi: Asking the corporate sector in defence to step-up their efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that surprise element during war can only be attained if customised and unique weapons are developed in ones own country.

He said that a third list of banning imports of more weapon systems will be soon be brought by the defence ministry. Modi added that the basic principle of security is that the country should have its own customised and unique weapon system, only then it will help you.

If 10 countries have the same type of defense equipment, then there will be no uniqueness of their armies. Uniqueness and surprise elements, these can happen only if the equipment is developed in ones own country, said the Prime Minister during defence ministrys post-budget webinar Aatmanirbharta in Defence  Call to Action.

Modi pointed out that in the defence budget, 70 per cent funds were reserved for domestic procurement. He asked the industry to suggest practical ways to implement the Budget from April 1. We have one month to prepare and we should work at a fastpace so that things can be rolled out from 1st April itself, he said.
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh state-level task force committee (APSLTFC) identified about 450 students stuck in Ukraine and the first batch of them was scheduled to reach India late Saturday evening.

APSLTFC chairperson, M.T. Krishna Babu asked students to avoid coming to the borders of Ukraine as it would prove dangerous in the present war situation and asked them to remain in their places. He said the union government issued an advisory to avoid reaching the borders in Ukraine and would inform students about its plan to evacuate. Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Krishna Babu briefed about the various measures being taken by the government to bring back stranded students in Ukraine.

Krishna Babu said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had directed to set up reception centres at the Mumbai and the New Delhi airports to receive and assist the students returning from Ukraine and bring them back to their native places. He said the state government had created a master list with details of students in Ukraine gathered from various helpline numbers and APNRT data and shared it with the Indian Embassy and ministry of external affairs. He said two flights were coming from Bucharest and one would land in New Delhi and another in Mumbai and added that the ministry of external affairs had communicated that 22 Telugu students were being flown back in the two flights. He said Mumbai flight would reach by 6pm on Saturday and Delhi flight at 2 am on Sunday and added that separate teams were formed to receive them.

Krishna Babu said inspector general, registrations department, Rama Krishna had been assigned to receive students in Mumbai airport and principal resident commissioner Praveen Prakash and additional resident commissioner Himanshu Kaushik would receive the students in New Delhi. He said arrangements were made for their accommodation and travel to their native places free of cost by the state government. He said they had shared the ministry of external affairs' latest advisory to the people in Ukraine and advised them to follow the same.

Citing the advisory of the union government not to come to the border areas in Ukraine, Krishna Babu stated that the students shall stay where they were and appealed not to come to the nearest neighbouring border countries. He said the Russian military was not targeting civilians so the students were advised to stay safe wherever they were. Those in the bombing areas were advised to move to bunkers and houses set up by the Red Cross. He said a WhatsApp group was formed and about 300 students joined the group and they were being updated with the information, suggestions and advice provided by the ministry of external affairs.

Krishna Babu said the government of India was making all arrangements to bring back the students safely. There is information that students from the state are mainly from seven universities close to Romania. He mentioned that students who registered their names on the Indian Embassy website would get information about how to come and where to come for the return journey to India and AP and hence students did not need to worry.
HMDA has enhanced the 30 per cent penalty over property tax for structural deviations of upto 10 per cent. (DC file photo)

Hyderabad: With unauthorised constructions mushrooming in the suburbs, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has decided to give one last opportunity to owners and builders, to take revised permissions right now.

However, the offer comes with a rider. They have to pay 30 per cent more than the normal building fee. This will be applicable to constructions that were done as per basic building norms.

As per existing norms, there is a 25 per cent penalty over property tax for the structural deviations of up to 10 per cent; 50 per cent for deviations of over 10 per cent; and 100 per cent for unauthorised floors or unauthorised constructions.

However, the HMDA has enhanced the 30 per cent penalty over property tax for structural deviations of upto 10 per cent. It is yet to take a decision on the over 10 per cent deviations.

According to official sources, HMDA along with the district task force and urban local bodies under the commissioner & director of municipal administration has taken up a special drive against illegal construction of buildings, godowns, poultry sheds, fuel stations, etc.

The authority has demolished 178 structures in the municipalities of Shankarpally, Badangpet, Pochampally, Dundigal, Narsingi and Manikonda, among others. Property owners have rushed to HMDA headquarters in Ameerpet to thrash out a solution and reconstruct the demolished structures.

A senior HMDA official said if sufficient land is available for construction, property owners could build additional floors.

For instance, if a property owner took permission for constructing a G+2 structure in his 500 square feet plot but constructed a G+5 structure, the HMDA would have demolished those structures. But, as per the new decision, the owners can reapply for a G+5 after paying the building permission fee and an additional 30 per cent as penal amount to erect the structure.

However, the official said the HMDA enforcement teams will make random inspections to check the deviations while the structure is re-erected. If the deviation is more than 10 per cent, the structure would be demolished without further notice.
The exercise 'Cobra Warrior' is scheduled to take place from March 6-27 at Waddington in the United Kingdom. (ANI Photo)

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has decided not to deploy its aircraft in a multilateral air exercise in the UK next month in view of the situation arising out of the crisis in Ukraine.

The exercise 'Cobra Warrior' is scheduled to take place from March 6-27 at Waddington in the United Kingdom.

"In light of the recent events, #IAF has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in UK," the IAF tweeted.

The announcement came days after the IAF said it will send five combat aircraft to the exercise.

Though the IAF did not clearly mention the reasons for the pull-out, it is learnt that the crisis in Ukraine following the Russian military attack prompted the decision.
Dont rage against the dying of the light

Its a waste of emotion and quite absurd

I think inevitable is the word

So, smile in the mirror and say goodnight

 From Dylan to Dhillon, by Bachchoo

Without any intention, gentle reader, to seem immodest, I venture to tell you about my latest foray into fiction. I am engaged in writing a book with the mildly derivate title Uncle Toms Cabinet. No, its not a book about an antique cupboard, its a foray into the world of UK politics under the prime ministership of a character I have named Gojo.

In this yarn, in deference to modernity, Gojo has recruited ministers from the Asian, black and Middle Eastern stock of British citizens. Even though these are elected members of Parliament and, by definition, representative of the constituencies that elected them, they are certainly as representative of the ethnic communities of Britain as Jeff Bezos or the electric car fellow Elon Musk is of the poor and starving of the world.

Readers may have noticed the similarity of my intended title to that of the famous nineteenth century novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe called Uncle Toms Cabin. Ms Stowe subtitled her novel Life Among the Lowly. I cant use that subtitle because the characters in it are almost all millionaires and as government ministers have power and influence.

No, the reason I have chosen this elegant title is because, over the decades, the central character of Ms Stowes book, Uncle Tom, a suffering slave, has come to represent the most subservient of humans from an oppressed race. To be an Uncle Tom has come to mean to be an arse-licker and someone whose cowardice and attitudes amount to a betrayal of his or her own people.

Take, for instance, the leading female character of my literary enterprise whom I have so far, in this first incomplete draft, called Uglii Clueless Motel. She is so called because her Asian parents inherited the surname by running a motel in Uganda before they were expelled from that country by Idi Amin. She is an extremely strong character  one cant have weak women in novels these days without being pilloried and cancelled  and as home secretary is the most virulent anti-immigrant minister Britain has had since Heinrich Himmler! (That was Germany, you idiot!  Ed. Arrey, this is fiction, yaar sub koochh chalta  fd)

Her daddy was an immigrant himself and stood as a candidate for the uniquely anti-immigrant party UKIP. Uglii follows his ideological stance but is a Tory who once held pro-hanging views and suggests that would-be immigrants who risk their lives crossing the English Channel to seek shelter from persecution should be sent to concentration camps in St Helena, where Napoleon was once imprisoned.

Her boss Gojo gets into deep trouble in the plot by blatantly defying laws he himself initiates. Perhaps he should be under police investigation and should really resign, but then Uglii supports him down the line because if he goes under as a result of hitting this iceberg, she goes with him.

In our story, Uglii also runs a scheme whereby Russian oligarchs who bring 2 million or more into the country can get Tier 1 Golden Visas. Afghan refugees bring nothing and are meet with gunboats.

The main male character of Uncle Toms Cabinet is called Hedgie Moonak. Gojo has given him the finance portfolio. Hedgie has made his money through speculation in the money markets rather than by any entrepreneurial acumen  unlike Bezos or Musk.

At one climactic point in my novel, there is a crisis with the Czar of Russia threatening to invade neighbouring countries. Gojo and his Western allies say they wont send troops to defend the invaded territories but will apply economic sanctions. Under Hedgies jurisdiction and certainly under his nose, Britain has become the global hub for money laundering as property worth 1.5 billion is bought by Russians with links to the Czar. Hedgie has allowed these Russians to register their ownership anonymously in UK overseas territories: 2,189 of these companies registered in the UK are linked to 48 multi-million-pound corruption cases.

In my novel, a respectable journal such as The Times newspaper reports that these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Gojo and Hedgie have resisted all calls to force overseas companies to reveal their ownership. It also says that the money laundering that has been overlooked by Uglii and Hedgie amounts to probably 82 billion  all of it transacted by a Russian mafia oligarchy through bribery, rigged procurement, embezzlement and the unlawful acquisition of Russian state assets.

Uglii and Hedgie are the main culprits in my projected novel, but there are other Uncle Tom characters such as health secretary Sadist Covid, another defender of Gojo, hoping that the discarded Covid masks, which he has decreed are no longer required, can be fabricated into a raft to save him when Gojos ship goes down.

Another minor character is Quasi hung-drawn Quartered, a business secretary who defends Gojo in the most obsequious way and maintains that the fraud which has, in the story become widespread during a universal plague, is not really a serious crime, not really comparable to shoplifting.

And I think Ill add a character called Games Stupidly and make him minister for Europe.

Thats like Hindu ambassador to Mecca. Should be fun!
Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged more United States aid to Ukraine as it tries to fight off a Russian invasion.

Blinken authorized another $350 million in immediate assistance to help Ukraine defend itself from Russias unprovoked and unjustified war.

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The U.S. assistance includes anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor and related equipment, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a release.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at the State Department on Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

In addition to the monetary pledge to Ukraine, Blinken appealed to the people of Russia as that countrys despot leader, Vladimir Putin, attacks his neighboring land.

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To the people of Russia: You deserve to live in peace and with dignity, just like Ukrainians. Just like people everywhere, Blinken tweeted. You do not deserve a pointless war with your neighbors, friends, and family in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine deserve to live in peace, as do you.

Blinken also posted the message in Russian.

The U.S. has provided more than $1 billion in assistance to Ukraine in the last year, Kirby said.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has neither a cause nor a justification. It is a plain and simple invasion of a sovereign democratic nation whose pro-Western tilt has been raising Russian hackles ever since its very inception. It is a crude attempt to reorder not only the European Balance of Power but the global neo-liberal political and economic led order that has been led by the United States since the collapse of the erstwhile Soviet-controlled Eastern bloc in the 1990s.

In his rather rambling walk through the park of history Vladimir Putin tried to lay out his much flawed case for the aggression on Ukraine. He commenced by negating the right of Ukraine to even exist as a sovereign and independent nation by stating Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917... As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called Vladimir Ilyich Lenins Ukraine. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents... Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.

That Mr Putin was trying to create his own truth is evident from the fact that his assertions are not borne out by historical facts What today are the nations of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus were between the ninth and the 13th centuries a part of the Kievan Rus, a medieval superpower that also subsumed huge swathes of eastern Europe in its embrace. All these three countries trace their cultural ancestry to the Kievan Rus. However, Russians and Ukrainians parted ways linguistically, historically aeons ago and politically once again in August 1991 in the death throes of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Russian nationalists, however, claim ad-nauseam that Russians and Ukrainians are one people  an integral part of the Russian civilisation. They also take within their cuddle adjoining Belarus. However, Ukrainians are not too enthused by this embrace of the Russian bear, I had opined in an earlier piece in these columns.

The formal demise of the erstwhile Soviet Union on December 26, 1991, and the collapse of its satellites in Eastern Europe hit Soviet apparatchiks very hard. In another piece in these columns published in August 2014, I had stated, The rout in the Cold War brought in its wake disastrous consequences for the former Soviet Union. Not only did it lose all its satellite states in eastern Europe, but it also had to shed its own territory. It was consumed by a crippled economy and an anarchic internal political situation where oligarchs, warlords and the mafia, not essentially in that order, ruled the roost. As a consequence, not only did the ideological construct of Marxism-Leninism lie in ruins, but also the majesty of the Russian continuum that pre-dated the October Revolution of 1917 by many a century. Russia seemed destined for oblivion in the emerging global order.

However, this collapse also gave birth to a fantasy, to resuscitate, resurrect and restore Russian prestige to its former glory. As the kleptocratic era under President Boris Yelstin ended at the turn of the twentieth millennium the building blocks of this aspiration slowly started taking shape.

The accession of Vladimir Putin to the Russian presidency was the starting point of this quest for both global dominance and renewed legitimacy. Not only did the Russian State start reasserting itself but fuelled by generous oil and gas revenues, it increasingly started mirroring the Soviet Union of earlier.

Its totalitarianism was inventively presented as a democracy. However, the charade was lost on no one. The new template was indelibly stamped by a crackdown on all forms of civil liberties but, more importantly, driven by an uncontrollable fixation to repossess the now absent exaltation of the intoxicating days of both communist-led bipolarity and, even beyond, the earlier giddier days of the Russian Empire.

The first iteration of this desire was operationalised in what Russia considers as its near abroad in the Caucasus. In the August of 2008, it occupied/liberated Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia, depending upon the narrative one would like to buy. In January 2009, it halted gas exports to Europe accusing Ukraine of siphoning gas from the pipelines without paying for it. However, both the US and other European powers looked on supinely at this ominously evolving situation in Russias neighborhood.

Emboldened by the lack of a Western response to its actions in Georgia towards the end of February 2014, pro-Russian forces began infiltrating into the Crimean peninsula and after a disputed referendum a treaty of accession was signed on March 18 between the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol and the Russian Federation to initiate the process of its formal absorption into the Russian State.

On March 21, 2014, the Russian Parliament approved this accession from the date of the signing of the treaty. Similarly, since early March of 2014 pro-Russian elements became active in the Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine. What is playing out today has its genesis in a process that commenced eight years back.

Russias aggressive approach even back then had foreboding implications for other frozen disagreements on the periphery of the former Soviet Union like Transnistria in Moldova. However, Nato still sat on its haunches and did practically nothing.

This was notwithstanding the fact the three Baltic states Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia that had been a part of the erstwhile Soviet Union and now as independent states had become a formal part of both the EU and Nato kept flagging Russias imperial ambitions time and again.

From 2001 till 2021, the United States, the military linchpin of Nato, was distracted with wars and conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and its attempts to reorder the frozen geography of the Middle East post the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire circa 1918. It came out as a loser in all these endeavours. The Europeans obtusely not wanting to spend on their own defence did not invest in creating a credible European security architecture and are today left wringing their hands.

These two decades gave both Russia and China time to consolidate themselves and now in the global power vacuum that manifested itself especially post the ignominious US withdrawal from Afghanistan a new world order is taking shape.

It is no coincidence that Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping issued a joint statement on international relations on February 4, 2022, and Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Moscow on the day of the invasion. A new iron curtain is descending on the world and behind it will lie the ancient capitals of Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and some other satellite states like Pakistan.
United Nations: India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that deplores in the strongest terms Russia's aggression" against Ukraine, as New Delhi called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and asserted that dialogue is the only answer to settling disputes.

The 15-nation Security Council voted on the draft resolution Friday afternoon by the US and Albania and co-sponsored by a "cross-regional" group of 67 UN member states, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

India, China and the UAE abstained on the resolution, which received 11 votes in favour by Albania, Brazil, France, Gabon, Ghana, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, the UK and the US. The resolution was blocked since permanent member Russia, and President of the Security Council for the month of February, used its veto.

India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in the country's explanation of vote in the Council.

Tirumurti also said India is deeply concerned about the welfare and security of the Indian community, including a large number of Indian students, in Ukraine.

He said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives.

Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment. It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution, he said.

The envoy said the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. All member states need to honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward, he said.

Russia, a permanent member of the 15-nation powerful Security Council, used its veto power and the resolution failed, as expected, but Western nations said the resolution seeks to show Moscow's isolation on the global stage for its invasion and actions against Ukraine.

All eyes were on how India will cast its vote on the resolution given that New Delhi has strong defence ties with Moscow.

The Council resolution, which condemned Russia's February 23 declaration of the special military operation in Ukraine, reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

The UNSC meeting was delayed by two hours and there were some changes in the language of the draft resolution that was finally put to vote. An earlier version of the draft had contained language condemning the 23 February 2022 declaration by the President of the Russian Federation of a special military operation in Ukraine.

The final version of the draft that was put to vote removed the reference to the Russian president (Vladimir Putin) as well as the mention of Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which states sanctions and authorisation of force. The final resolution also removed a stronger word condemns and instead used the word deplores for Russia's aggression.

The resolution deplores in the strongest terms Russia's aggression against Ukraine and decides that Russia shall immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and shall refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state.

The resolution also said that Russia shall immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, before the vote said in the Council, that this is a "simple vote and those voting no or abstaining align themselves with the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Russia.

"Let me put it plainly: Vote yes if you believe in upholding the UN Charter. Vote yes if you support Ukraine's  or any state's  right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you believe Russia should be held to account for its actions. Vote no, or abstain, if you do not uphold the Charter, and align yourselves with the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Russia. Just as Russia had a choice, so do you, she said.

The resolution also deplores Russia's decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

The resolution said Moscow shall immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

It said Moscow shall immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. It calls on the parties to abide by the Minsk agreements and to work constructively in relevant international frameworks, including in the Normandy Format and Trilateral Contact Group, towards their full implementation.

India has so far refrained from condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine and in a statement in the Security Council on Wednesday night, just as Putin ordered Ukraine's invasion, Tirumurti expressed deep concern over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region.
A number of commodities like oil, metals, and microchips, have soared in value amid the Ukraine and Russia conflict. Wheat, another commodity exported in large quantities by the nations, has also risen to record levels.

Russia and Ukraine together account for more than a quarter of global wheat exports and are among the top five producers of the food grain.

The United Nations' Comtrade database places Russia and Ukraine in the top five highest exporters of wheat, having transported 37.3 million tonne and 18.1 million tonne, respectively, in 2020.

Moscow's invasion pushed the wheat price far above its previous record high in European trading to 344 ($384) a tonne on Thursday.

Also Read | Five essential commodities that will be hit by war in Ukraine

Much of West Asia (Middle East), and North Africa are dependent on the two countries for their wheat supply.

Egypt, Turkey, and Bangladesh bought more than half of Russia's wheat in 2019, sources said told PTI.

Egypt is the world's biggest importer of wheat. It spends more than $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 $1.6 billion coming from those two countries in 2019.

From July 2021 to January 2022, Turkey, Iran and Egypt were the top importers of Russian wheat, having bought 5.8, 5.1 and 3,4 million tonne of the food grain.

Another large importer, Algeria, has clarified that the war would not impact its wheat supply. Algeria does not rely on one supplier but several as its market is open for competition, the source, from the Office Algerien Interprofessionnel des Cereales (OAIC), said.

India and China, which meet most of their wheat needs from domestic cultivation, would remain unaffected. In fact, demand is beginning to shift to alternative export origins including India and the European Union, according to two people familiar with the matter.

India's central pool stood at 24.2 million tonne, twice more than the buffer and strategic needs, sources said.

(With agency inputs)

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British Airways (BA) said it would cancel all short-haul flights from London's Heathrow airport until midday on Saturday as it deals with an IT failure.

The airline has said the problem, which came to light on Friday and affected its website, app, and airport operations was not caused by a cyber attack but was a hardware issue.

BA has been caught up in tit-for-tat bans by Russia and Britain that have stopped their respective national carriers from using each other's airspace.

"We are extremely sorry that due to the continuing technical issues we are facing we have regrettably had to cancel all short-haul flights from Heathrow today until midday," the airline said in a statement.

"Our long-haul services at Heathrow and all flights at Gatwick and London City Airport are due to operate as planned, but customers may experience some delays. Our website ba.com is working and customers can check-in online and at the airport," the airline said.

It advised passengers to check on its website for the latest information before travelling to the airport as more disruption was expected.

BA, owned by IAG, was hit by a major computer system failure in 2017 that stranded 75,000 passengers over a holiday weekend, sparking a public relations disaster and pledges from the carrier that it would do better in future.

The company said customers would be offered a full refund for cancelled services or could rebook at a later date for free.

"We know we have let our customers down and we will do everything we can to make this up to them  but for now our focus is on getting as many customers and flights away as we can."

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Amid chaos and confusion, 21-year-old medical student Mehul Rathore and his elder sister Meghna travelled in a bus for 200 kilometres from the Ukrainian city of Ternopil and walked for around 20 kilometres at night in freezing cold to reach the Ukraine-Poland border to seek safe shelter in Poland, but they have no option other than waiting in a long queue, that too in uncertainty.

This is the situation of a few hundred others who are somehow reaching the Shehyni-Medyka border, only to face chaos and get stranded as they are not being allowed to cross the border, which is witnessing huge gatherings of people wanting safe shelter.

At a distance of 630 kilometres from this border, Ayushi Vishnoi, her friends and many others are stuck in a hostel building in Kyiv, witnessing bombing, hearing frequent sirens and switching between the rooms and the underground bunkers, silently praying to god to keep them safe.

While the Poland border is comparatively safe from bombing, the situation in Kyiv is horrific with rocket strikes and bombing.

Also read: Russia says Ukraine prolonging conflict by 'refusing talks'

Like Mehul, Meghna and Ayushi, there are thousands of Indian students, including hundreds from Rajasthan, who are panic-stricken, worried and facing difficulties in evacuation.

"We are in the age group of 18-21 years. We came here just two months ago... We are not prepared to face this...not at all. We are worried, our parents are worried, we want to go back home, anyhow," Ayushi, who is from Jodhpur, told PTI over the phone.

On the verge of bursting out in tears, she said five explosions were heard on Friday night and a rocket struck very close to the hostel building.

"Many students have reached the Poland border, but there is no advisory for the students stuck in Kyiv. We want a safe passage to the border and the Indian embassy should arrange this. I have tried so many times but could not get through the helpline number provided by the embassy. I shared my details and explained the situation on a WhatsApp number. The message was seen, but there was no reply," the student of the National Medical University in Kyiv said.

"We are getting regular updates from friends and others in WhatsApp groups. Our family members are trying their level best to coordinate with us and the authorities for ensuring our safe return.

"This is worse than the situation we faced during the initial days of the coronavirus pandemic. It is a bigger nightmare," she added.

Mehul said amid uncertainty, they left Ternopil at 3 pm on Friday and managed to get a bus to the border, but due to a massive traffic jam, they had to walk for around 20 kilometres to reach near the border, where there were long queues.

"We were informed that Poland will allow us to enter, so we rushed. We paid fares that were seven to eight times higher. Some even paid 20 times higher fares to reach the border. Since there was a long traffic jam, we had to walk for 20 kilometres. Somehow we reached a place near the border at 3 am (local time) on Saturday. Since then, we have been standing in a queue. We are not being allowed to cross the border," he said, adding that they are stranded at a distance of nearly three kilometres from the border.

Read | Ukraine has 'derailed' Russian attack plan, Zelenskyy says

Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, the family members of hundreds of students are contacting the Centre as well as the state government, requesting them to make arrangements for their children to return home. They are constantly monitoring the situation on television and the internet.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has directed officials to make all possible efforts to facilitate the students and their families.

He has announced that the airfare of the Rajasthani students coming back from Ukraine will be reimbursed.

"During the war situation between Ukraine and Russia, after the advisory of the Ministry of External Affairs, the ticket amount of Rajasthanis coming back to their homeland at their personal expenses will be reimbursed," Gehlot said in a tweet.

,                           -   Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) February 26, 2022

He has also directed the officials to facilitate the Rajasthanis arriving from Ukraine in Delhi, Mumbai and at other airports.

Dheeraj Srivastava, Commissioner of the Rajasthan Foundation, said there are 600 to 800 students from the state who are stuck in Ukraine and the foundation has shared their details with the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Apart from Rajasthan, we are getting calls and requests from many people from several other states, seeking help for their relatives or students stuck in Ukraine. Apart from the central government authorities, we are in touch with migrant Rajasthanis in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other countries to facilitate evacuation," he said.

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As Russia presses ahead with its invasion of Ukraine, concerns are growing that neighbouring Belarus is also at risk of gradually losing its sovereignty without being the direct target of a military operation by Moscow.

Autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko, in power for almost three decades, allowed Russian troops to use Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine from the north.

Russia had grouped some 30,000 troops in Belarus ostensibly for exercises in the last weeks. They had been due to leave earlier this month but their presence was then extended indefinitely.

Also Read | Ukraine says its military is being targeted by Belarusian hackers

Furthermore, Belarus will on Sunday hold a referendum, denounced as illegitimate by the opposition and seen as a bid for Lukashenko to further extend his stay in power and arrange an eventual transition.

The amendments proposed by the regime include a change to the post-Soviet status of neutrality of Belarus which would allow the country to host Russian nuclear weapons and Russian forces on a permanent basis.

This has come amid an already suffocating political atmosphere in the country after the August 2020 elections that the West believes were rigged to ensure Lukashenko's re-election.

Over 1,000 opponents of his regime languish in jail, according to activists, while the candidate seen by the West as the true winner of the elections, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, now lives in exile.

Also Read | UK summons Belarus ambassador over Ukraine invasion

The Kremlin-backed strongman Lukashenko after the elections, leaving him "dependent" on Putin to stay in power, said Olga Dryndova, editor of Belarus-Analysen at the Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen.

"Moscow does not need to make Belarus officially part of Russia, which would cause public discontent and resistance," she told AFP.

"With Russian tanks in Belarus, Lukashenko could remain the face of the regime with the real power lying elsewhere."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday that Belarus and its people deserve better than to become the "accomplices and vassals" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to wage war.

"The complicity of Alexander Lukashenko's regime in the invasion of Ukraine by Russia -- in the most total disregard of international law and signed agreements -- marks a new and very serious stage in the process of the submission of Mr Lukashenko to Russia," he added.

Le Drian said NATO would have to "draw the consequences" of the referendum in the Alliance's defence stance. Belarus shares a border with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as well as Ukraine and Russia.

In an interview with AFP this week, Tikhanovskaya said Lukashenko was prepared to sacrifice the country's sovereignty because he was "grateful" for the Kremlin's support in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

"We want to be friends with our neighbours but we do not want to be the appendix of another country," she said during the visit to Paris where she held talks with Le Drian.

Lukashenko, once accused by the United States of running Europe's last dictatorship, has long projected a maverick image -- often appearing in uniform and peppering his comments with earthy and sometimes vulgar expressions.

Also Read | Ukraine central bank bans payments to Russia, Belarus

As tensions flared ahead of the Russian invasion he declared: "If needed, those of us with ranking stripes on our uniform will be first to defend the fatherland."

But this belies how beholden he is to Moscow, which analysts believe could have easily replaced him with a different figure in the fallout after the 2020 elections.

Tikhanovskaya said Lukashenko was likely aware that the presence of the Russian troops represented a threat to his own rule.

"He is weak and he may also think that one day when the Kremlin does not need him, they can get rid of him," she told AFP.

Dryndova said it was likely the Belarusian authorities had not initially imagined the Russian soldiers would stay so long and use the country as a launch pad against Ukraine.

"I do not have the feeling Lukashenko was in favour of this option. But he is not strong enough any more to say no to Putin," she said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out Saturday to the people of Russia in their own language, saying they do not deserve a "pointless war" against their Ukrainian neighbors.

In a message tweeted in both English and Russian, Blinken sought to counter President Vladimir Putin's argument that the West threatens Russia with an eastern expansion of NATO into former Soviet bloc countries.

"To the people of Russia," Blinken wrote, "you deserve to live with security and dignity like all people everywhere. No one is seeking to jeopardize that."

To the people of Russia: You deserve to live in peace and with dignity, just like Ukrainians. Just like people everywhere. pic.twitter.com/OnUm3Ghb8Z  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 26, 2022

He added: "You do not deserve a pointless war with your neighbors, friends and family in Ukraine."

NATO expansion was one of the Russian leader's repeated complaints in the months-long run up to the invasion, which he ultimately unleashed on Thursday in defiance of Western warnings of severe economic repercussions.

Also Read: Russian troops ordered to advance in Ukraine

Putin demanded -- but did not get -- guarantees that Ukraine would never obtain NATO membership, and a NATO rollback from eastern Europe.

"The people of Ukraine deserve to live in peace, as do you," Blinken wrote to the people of Russia.

State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted the same missive and added: "A message to the Russian people: We don't blame you for the actions of your government."

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French sea police seized a ship on Saturday that authorities suspect belongs to a Russian company targeted by European Union sanctions over the war in Ukraine, a government official told Reuters.

The cargo vessel transporting cars, which was headed for St. Petersburg, is "strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions," said Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture.

The ship was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France between 3 am and 4 am (0200-0300 GMT), Magnin said, adding ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials and the ship's crew was "being cooperative."

Read: 'This war will last,' warns France's Macron on Ukraine

French newspaper La Voix Du Nord, which first reported the news, said the vessel was the "Baltic Leader," which - according to website marinetraffic.com - sails under a Russian flag.

The vessel is mentioned in a United States Treasury document detailing US sanctions against Russia, which linked it to a Russian leasing company.

Magnin told Reuters the company that owns the ship belongs to a Russian businessman who is on the EU's list of sanctioned people.

The Russian embassy in France is seeking an explanation from authorities over the seizure, Russia's RIA news agency quoted the embassy as saying.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted the Russian embassy as saying all 19 people on board had been allowed to come ashore.

EU states on Friday agreed to freeze European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister to punish Russia for the attack on Ukraine. A wider list of sanctioned people was put in place earlier this month.

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Russian and Ukrainian forces clashed on the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital on Saturday as authorities urged citizens to help defend the city from advancing Russian forces in the worst European security crisis in decades.

Heavy, frequent artillery fire and intense gunfire, apparently some distance from the city centre, could be heard in Kyiv in the early hours, a Reuters witness said. The Ukrainian military said Russian troops attacked an army base on a main Kyiv avenue but the assault was repelled.

But even as the fighting grew more intense, the Russian and Ukrainian governments signalled an openness to negotiations, offering the first glimmer of hope for diplomacy since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on Thursday.

Follow live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, here

"The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday in a video address posted to his Telegram channel. "Tonight, they will launch an assault. All of us must understand what awaits us. We must withstand this night."

The air force command reported heavy fighting near the air base at Vasylkiv southwest of the capital, which it said was under attack from Russian paratroopers.

It also said one of its fighters had shot down a Russian transport plane. Reuters could not independently verify the claims.

Kyiv residents were told by the defence ministry to make petrol bombs to repel the invaders, as witnesses reported hearing artillery rounds and intense gunfire from the western part of the city.

Some families cowered in shelters after Kyiv was pounded on Thursday night by Russian missiles. Others tried desperately to get on packed trains headed west, some of the hundreds of thousands who have left their homes to find safety, according to the United Nations' aid chief.

Also Read | Vladimir Putin calls on Ukraine army to remove leadership in Kyiv

After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Putin unleashed a three-pronged invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south on Thursday, in an attack that threatened to upend Europe's post-Cold War order.

"I once again appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine: do not allow neo-Nazis and (Ukrainian radical nationalists) to use your children, wives and elders as human shields," Putin said at a televised meeting with Russia's Security Council on Friday. "Take power into your own hands."

Putin has cited the need to "denazify" Ukraine's leadership as one of his main reasons for invasion, accusing it of genocide against Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies dismiss the accusations as baseless propaganda.

Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence at the fall of the Soviet Union and Kyiv hopes to join NATO and the EU - aspirations that infuriate Moscow.

Putin says Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, is an illegitimate state carved out of Russia, a view Ukrainians see as aimed at erasing their more than thousand-year history.

'Ready to talk'

Western countries have announced a barrage of sanctions on Russia, including blacklisting its banks and banning technology exports. But they have so far stopped short of forcing it out of the SWIFT system for international bank payments.

The United States imposed sanctions on Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The European Union and Britain earlier froze any assets Putin and Lavrov held in their territory. Canada took similar steps.

Read | India abstains on UNSC resolution that condemns Russia's 'aggression' against Ukraine

However, the steady ramping-up of economic restrictions has not deterred Putin.

Moscow said on Friday it had captured the Hostomel airfield northwest of the capital - a potential staging post for an assault on Kyiv that has been fought over since Russian paratroopers landed there in the first hours of the war.

This could not be confirmed and Ukrainian authorities reported heavy fighting there.

But amid the chaos of war came a ray of hope.

A spokesman for Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Russia would consult in coming hours on a time and place for talks.

The Kremlin said earlier it offered to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk after Ukraine expressed a willingness to discuss declaring itself a neutral country while Ukraine had proposed Warsaw as the venue. That, according to Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov, resulted in a "pause" in contacts.

"Ukraine was and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace," Zelenskyy's spokesman, Sergii Nykyforov, said in a post on Facebook. "We agreed to the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation."

But US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia's offer was an attempt to conduct diplomacy "at the barrel of a gun" and that Putin's military must stop bombing Ukraine if it was serious about negotiations.

Also Read | Putin waves nuclear sword in confrontation with the West

Isolation

At the UN, Russia vetoed a draft Security Council resolution that would have deplored its invasion, while China abstained, a move Western countries viewed as proof of Russia's isolation. The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained while the remaining 11 members voted in favour.

A picture of what was happening on the ground across Ukraine - the largest country in Europe after Russia - was slow to emerge.

Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter that there had been heavy fighting with deaths at the entrance to the eastern cities of Chernihiv and Melitopol, as well as at Hostomel.

Witnesses said they had heard explosions and gunfire near the airport in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, close to Russia's border. Ukraine's military said Russian troops had been stopped with heavy losses near the northeastern city of Konotop.

There were also have reports of fighting near an air base some 30 km (20 miles) southwest of Kyiv.

Britain's defence ministry said Russian armoured forces had opened a new route of advance towards the capital after failing to take Chernihiv.

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. Russia did not release casualty figures. Zelenskyy said late on Thursday that 137 soldiers and civilians been killed in the fighting, with hundreds wounded.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart and condemned reported civilian deaths, including those of Ukrainian children, in attacks around Kyiv, the State Department said.

The White House asked Congress for $6.4 billion in security and humanitarian aid for the crisis, officials said.

Air raid sirens wailed over Kyiv for a second day on Friday as residents sheltered in underground metro stations.

Windows were blasted out of a 10-storey apartment block near the main airport.

"How can we be living through this in our time? Putin should burn in hell along with his whole family," said Oxana Gulenko, sweeping broken glass from her room.

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In a significant shift, the German government said it will send weapons and other supplies directly to Ukraine, which is fighting to keep Russia from invading its capital city. Germany is also ready to support some restrictions of the SWIFT global banking system for Russia, officials said.

Germany's chancellery announced on Saturday evening that it will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 "Stinger" surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine "as quickly as possible."

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement. "In this situation, it is our duty to help Ukraine, to the best of our ability, to defend itself against Vladimir Putin's invading army."

Also Read | Germany can do without Russian gas, minister says

The news came shortly after the German economy and climate ministry said in a Saturday evening statement that Germany is allowing the Netherlands to ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. The government has also approved the shipment of 9 D-30 howitzers and ammunition originally from Estonia.

Germany had long stuck to a policy of not exporting deadly weapons to conflict zones, including Ukraine. As recently as Friday, government officials said they would abide by that policy.

But the country  which has the strongest economy in the 27-nation European Union  has faced criticism from Ukrainian officials and other allies that it has not acted decisively enough to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion. Previously, Germany contributed 5,000 helmets to Ukraine's defence, a move that was mocked on Twitter.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the news of weapons shipments, posting praise for Scholz on Twitter: "Keep it up, Chancellor @OlafScholz! Anti-war coalition in action!"

Also read: Russia welcomes India's 'independent position' on Ukraine crisis

In addition, the German economy and climate ministry said on Saturday that Germany will send 14 armoured vehicles and up to 10,000 tons of fuel to Ukraine.

"After Russia's shameless attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement. "The federal government is therefore supporting Ukraine in providing urgently needed material."

And after earlier opposing the prospect of banning Russia from the SWIFT global financial system, Baerbock and Habeck said that Germany supports a "targeted and functional restriction" of SWIFT.

What is needed is a strategy to "limit the collateral damage of decoupling from SWIFT in such a way that it affects the right people," Baerbock and Habeck said.

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Explosions and bombings reverberated around Kyiv early Saturday as Russian invaders advanced toward Ukraines capital  but Ukrainian defenders were believed to have slowed the massive attack, at least temporarily.

Shelling pounded bridges, schools and a Kyiv apartment building as Western powers aimed new economic sanctions directly at President Vladimir Putin.

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This night we have to stand firm. The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Friday night speech.

With Kyiv transformed from a bustling metropolis into a war zone, the Ukrainian authorities asked residents to prepare Molotov cocktails and said they had distributed 18,000 firearms to reservists in and around the capital.

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Air raid sirens roared over the city after nightfall, and Zelenskyy warned that Russia intended to storm the city in the coming hours.

Bodies of Russian servicemen wearing Ukrainian service uniforms lie inside and beside a vehicle were shot during a skirmish in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 25, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

The Ukrainian military said it had shot down a troop-carrying Russian Il-76 military transport plane, The Associated Press reported. Such planes can carry up to 125 paratroopers. The shootdown was confirmed by a U.S. intelligence official, the AP said.

Ukrainian authorities claimed Russia had incurred significant military costs.

The enemy is clearly surprised by the resolve of the Ukrainian armed forces and volunteers, Oksana Markarova, Ukraines ambassador to Washington, said in a news briefing on the second day of the war. They didnt advance the way they planned.

The Pentagon press secretary, John Kirby, reinforced the impression, describing Russian setbacks but cautioning that the situation remained fluid ahead of a potentially dark night in Kyiv.

Terrifying wait for news from Ukraine for NYC relatives amid Russian attack: Anxiety is on 100

We see clear indications that the Ukrainian armed forces are fighting back and bravely defending their country, Kirby said from the Pentagon podium on Friday afternoon. Without getting into a blow-by-blow, it is not apparent to us that the Russians  over the last 24 hours  have been able to execute their plans.

Firemen extinguish a fire inside a residential building that was hit by a missile on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

In the afternoon, gun-toting civilians roamed the streets of Kyiv. But the city faced an apparently intensifying onslaught, and missiles rained from the sky.

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The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the citys fall remained a distinct possibility. Weve continued to see Russias progression, Psaki said in a briefing.

On Friday night, the rumble of explosions appeared to grow closer to the citys center, according to posts on social media. The extent of the Russian advance was not clear.

A Ukrainian Army soldier inspects fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. It was unclear what aircraft crashed and what brought it down amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (Vadim Zamirovsky/AP)

Zelenskyy spent much of the day phoning Western leaders, including President Biden. To dispel rumors he had fled Kyiv, he released a blurry video that showed him and other government leaders.

Former boxing heavyweight champs Klitschko brothers vow to stay and fight for Ukraine independence

We are all here, our soldiers are here, and the citizens of the country are here, he said. We are all here protecting our independence and will continue to do so. Glory to our defenders.

   :

"   -   ,  !    .     !  !" pic.twitter.com/hojX94ONDI  Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 25, 2022

Around the world, resistance to Putins ruthless war on Ukraine hardened, and Western leaders slapped new, unprecedented sanctions on the Kremlin. The U.S., European Union, and Britain said they were directly sanctioning Putin and his foreign secretary, Sergey Lavrov.

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On Thursday, Biden promised that the invasion would end up costing Russia dearly economically and strategically and render Putin a pariah on the international stage.

A UN Security Council resolution meant to condemn the invasion on Friday was derailed by Russias veto, but the gathering was marked by sharp censures of Russia by members. Russia is alone, said Nicolas de Riviere, Frances ambassador.

President Joe Biden speaks at the White House, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

In a remarkable departure from papal protocol, Pope Francis paid a half-hour visit to the Russian Embassy near Vatican City to express his distress over the conflict, according to Vatican News. The sight of the pope leaving the walled city to appeal for an end to war had not been seen in modern memory.

Meanwhile, Putin, buffeted by large protests on his home turf in Moscow, ramped up his information warfare. The Kremlin said it was partially restricting Facebook access in Russia, accusing the social media giant of illegally censoring Russian news outlets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 25. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP)

The Russian president has weaved together a falsehood-filled rationale for his attack on Ukraine, portraying the nation as an American vassal state that has aggressed against Russia.

Facebooks parent company, Meta, said Russian authorities had ordered it to stop fact-checking content from four news outlets, all state-run Russian mouthpieces.

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We refused, Nick Clegg, the president of global affairs at Meta, said in a statement. As a result, they have announced they will be restricting the use of our services.

Ukrainian women and children are seen at the Slovak-Ukrainian border crossing at Vysne Nemecke on February 25, 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (PETER LAZAR/AFP via Getty Images)

In the statement, Clegg urged Russians to continue to use Metas social media platforms, including Instagram and WhatsApp, to make their voices heard, share whats happening, and organize.

In Opinion: How the free world gave Putin the green light, Garry Kasparov writes

Across the world, people rallied to the cause of the Ukrainians, decrying the scenes of war cascading out of Eastern Europe. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have already poured out of their homeland, fleeing the largest invasion in Europe since World War II.

In New York, home of the largest Ukrainian population of any state in America, the Empire State Building glowed with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag on Friday night, matching with the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the London Eye.

This community is hurting right now, Rep. Carolyn Maloney said at an event at the Ukrainian National Home in the East Village, which is part of her district. I wish I could provide words of comfort, but there is no comfort in war.

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Other New York landmarks, including the Freedom Tower and the archway outside Grand Central Terminal, were bathed in the same hues.

We stand in solidarity with those in New York who are scared for their family and loved ones, and our prayers are with the innocent victims as they fight to maintain their freedom as a sovereign people and nation, Gov. Hochul said in a statement.

In a news conference in Midtown Manhattan, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York echoed the sentiment and condemned Putin as an immoral man who will suffer the consequences for his actions.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holding the Daily News with an article showing support for Ukraine in Manhattan, New York on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (courtesy Angelo Roefaro)

Ukrainians are familiar with Russian attempts to dominate Ukraine, Schumer said. Ukraine will, like in the past, fight back. We will support them.
India on Saturday abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine. Stressing on the importance of dialogues to settle differences and disputes, New Delhi voiced "regret" that the path of diplomacy was given up.

Here are 10 key points:

 The draft resolution demanded Russia to immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all its troops. An earlier draft of the resolution had proposed moving the resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides the framework within which the Security Council may take enforcement action. However, this was dropped in the final version that was put to vote. The resolution sponsored by US and Albania and by about 50 countries was taken up as reports came in that Russian troops were advancing on Kyiv.

 Eleven member countries voted in favor of the resolution. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained. Russia, which has veto power as one of five permanent members of the council, voted against it.

 The resolution failed to pass as Russia, a permanent member and President of UNSC for February, used its veto.

 The matter now goes to the 193-member UN General Assembly, which the nonmembers of the Council who backed the failed resolution would be able to register their votes there. Diplomats said that the UN General Assembly would act next week on a resolution condemning Russias war on Ukraine. Countries do not have veto power at the General Assembly, but its resolutions are symbolic and not legally binding, as the Security Councils are.

Also Read | India abstains from UNSC resolution that condemns Russia's 'aggression' against Ukraine

 Thus far, India has refrained from condemning Russias actions in Ukraine and in the UN, permanent representative Tirumati expressed deep concern as Putin ordered the Ukrainian invasion. "India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," T S Tirumurti said on India's stand.

 Abstentions by India and the United Arab Emirates, a US ally in the Middle East, came as a surprise. Both countries said they had not voted in favor of the resolution because it might have closed the door for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. India and Russia share strategic interests especially in the defence and security sectors. India reportedly abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution so it could retain the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy.

 The abstention by China was not a surprise. China has taken a both-sides approach to the conflict, calling for defusing of tensions and respect for sovereignty but stopping short of condemning Russia.

 Western nations said the resolution (and the abstentions especially from China) sought to show Moscow's isolation on the global stage for its invasion and actions against Ukraine.

 During a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday "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."

 Ahead of the UNSC vote, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that in a call to Jaishankar, he asked "India to use all influence in its relations with Russia to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine. Urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support today's draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine."

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India abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, with New Delhi saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes and voicing "regret" that the path of diplomacy was given up.

The resolution did not pass since permanent member Russia, and the President of the Security Council for the month of February used its veto. The resolution received 11 votes in favour and three abstentions, including by India, China and the UAE.

"India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in India's explanation of vote in the Council.

Also Read | Vladimir Putin calls on Ukraine army to remove leadership in Kyiv

"Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment. It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution," Tirumurti said.

The UN Security Council on Friday voted on the draft resolution by the US and Albania and co-sponsored by several other nations including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Russia, a permanent member of the 15-member powerful Security Council, used its veto power and the resolution failed, as expected, but Western nations said the resolution seeks to show Moscow's isolation on the global stage for its invasion and actions against Ukraine.

All eyes were on how India will cast its vote on the resolution given that New Delhi has strong defence ties with Moscow.

The Council resolution reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

Read | Alarm over radiation in Chernobyl after Russia attack

The resolution "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's aggression against Ukraine" and decides that Russia "shall immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and shall refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state."

The resolution also said that Russia "shall immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders."

The resolution said Moscow "shall immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine."

During a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra 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."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss Russia's "premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine", the State Department said.

Read | Ukraine says more than 1,000 Russian soldiers killed so far

Blinken "stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire."

India has so far refrained from condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine and in a statement in the Security Council on Wednesday night, just as Putin ordered Ukraine's invasion, Tirumurti expressed "deep concern" over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region.

Ahead of the UNSC vote, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that in a call to Jaishankar, he asked "India to use all influence in its relations with Russia to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine. Urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support today's draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine."

A senior Biden administration official had said a day before that Washington was putting forward the resolution "with every expectation that Russia will use its veto" and in doing so, "they will underscore their isolation."

"First, of course, we expect that Russia will use its veto. And in doing so, they will underscore their isolation. We're not going to abandon our principles; we're not going to stand by and do nothing. It's important that we send a message to Ukraine, to Russia, and to the world that the Security Council will not look away," the official said.

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India's relationship with Russia is distinct from that the US shares with the latter and that is okay, the Biden administration said, underlining that Washington has asked every country that has leverage with Moscow to use it to protect rules-based international order.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price noted that the US shares important interests and values with India.

"We share important interests with India. We share important values with India. And we know India has a relationship with Russia that is distinct from the relationship that we have with Russia. Of course, that is okay," Price told reporters at his daily news conference on Friday.

Read | India abstains on UNSC resolution that condemns Russia's 'aggression' against Ukraine

"India has a relationship with Russia that we certainly don't have. India and Russia have a relationship, including in the defence and security sector, that we don't have. ... we have asked every country that has a relationship and certainly those countries that have leverage to use that leverage in a constructive way," he said in response to a question.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine on Wednesday night. Russia has launched multiple attacks on several areas in central and eastern Ukraine, drawing widespread condemnation and sanctions from several countries, including the US.

The US, Price said, has a broad strategic partnership with India.

Also Read | Vladimir Putin calls on Ukraine army to remove leadership in Kyiv

"As you know, we had an opportunity to see our Indian counterpart Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Australia just the other day when we were in the Indo-Pacific for a meeting of the Quad," he said.

"What we have done, including in the context of the bilateral discussion we had with Foreign Minister Jaishankar in Melbourne, was to share our fervent belief that countries around the world, especially those countries that have a level of influence, of clout, of leverage with the Russian Federation, needed to use that to good effect, needed to use that to protect the rules-based international order," he said.

Responding to another question, Price said that the US has communicated to Pakistan its position on what was then the threat of a Russian invasion and what is now the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Read | Ukraine says more than 1,000 Russian soldiers killed so far

"Just as India does, Pakistan knows precisely where we stand on this. These are again rules, norms, guidelines that benefit India, Pakistan, the United States, and Russia as well," he said.

Putin met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Kremlin on Thursday in his first face-to-face talks since the start of the special Russian military operation in eastern Ukraine and the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia.

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Kyiv authorities on Saturday toughened curfew orders in the city, saying violators would be considered "enemy" saboteurs as Russian forces press to capture Ukraine's capital.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said that to improve the defence of the capital the curfew will be extended from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am local time between Saturday and Monday.

"All civilians who are on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups," Klitschko wrote in an online post.

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The NATO alliance is deploying its rapid response force for the first time ever to bolster its eastern flank in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Here are some facts and figures on what is considered NATO's most response-ready element.

The 40,000 troop strong NATO Response Force is designed to be ready 365 days a year to respond within two or three days when a security crisis emerges.

All 30 members of NATO must agree to activate the force, which they did on Thursday, though it will not be deployed to Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.

Member states contribute forces annually on a rotating basis, with overall command held by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, currently US General Tod D. Wolters.

Wolters called the force's activation a "historic moment".

Also Read: We will not put down our weapons: Ukrainian president vows to fight on in Kyiv

Created in 2002 to accelerate NATO's response capability, the force consists of land, air, sea and special operation forces and is intended to respond to a wide gamut of challenges, including disaster relief and evacuations.

In addition to exercises, the Response Force has so far carried out security missions, such as to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, and contributed to disaster relief, including after Hurricane Katrina in the United States and a devastating earthquake in Pakistan.

In August 2021, elements of the force also supported the evacuation and relocation of Afghans who worked alongside NATO and their families.

In 2014, in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea and conflicts in the Middle East, a special "spearhead" force was attached to the detachment and is considered NATO's highest-readiness element.

Known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, leadership of these 20,000 strong forces rotates annually and is currently held by France, to be followed by Germany in 2023.

It's main brigade of about 5,000 troops now consists of a joint Franco-German unit based in Lille, France with contributions from Spain, Portugal, and Poland.

The Allied Joint Force Command based in Brunssum, the Netherlands, currently commands the entire NATO Response Force.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday did not give any details on where the response forces were being sent, saying it was up to NATO's top military commander.

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The Kremlin on Saturday accused Ukraine of prolonging the military conflict by refusing to negotiate as Russia pressed on with its invasion of the pro-Western country.

"In connection with the expected negotiations, the Russian president yesterday afternoon ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces of the Russian Federation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a conference call.

"Since the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate, the advance of the Russian forces resumed this afternoon."

Read | Ukraine has 'derailed' Russian attack plan, Zelenskyy says

On Friday, as Moscow's forces approached Kyiv, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin was ready to send a delegation for talks to Belarus, where Russia has stationed thousands of troops.

It is one of the places from where Ukraine says it is being attacked.

A few hours later, Putin called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow the country's leadership whom he described as "terrorists" and "a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had repeatedly called for talks with the Russian leader during a weeks-long diplomatic push in which Western countries tried to deter Putin from launching an attack.

As Russian troops closed in on Kyiv on Friday, Zelensky issued a new statement urging talks.

"I would like to address the President of the Russian Federation once again. Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let's sit down at the negotiating table to stop the deaths of people," he said.

The Kremlin on Saturday also said that Russia had "seriously prepared" for the international sanctions, which it said it had "predicted."

"Measures are being taken immediately to minimise damage to all sectors of our economy," Peskov said.

Russia has been hit by a barrage of Western sanctions after Putin announced his attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday.

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Russia on Saturday ordered its troops to advance in Ukraine "from all directions" as the Ukrainian capital Kyiv imposed a blanket curfew and officials reported 198 civilian deaths.

Kyiv residents took shelter to the sound of explosions as Ukraine's army said it had held back an assault on the capital but was fighting Russian "sabotage groups" which had infiltrated the city.

Moscow said it had fired cruise missiles at military targets and would "develop the offensive from all directions" after accusing Ukraine of having "rejected" talks.

Also Read: 'Prisoners of War': No escape yet from Ukraine's bunkers, metro stations

But, on day three of Russia's invasion, a defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed his country would never give in to the Kremlin.

Zelensky spoke in a video message, wearing olive green military-style clothing and looking tired but determined.

"I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth," the 44-year-old said.

"Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this."

He later said Ukraine had "derailed" the Russian plan of overthrowing him and urged Russians to pressure Putin into stopping the conflict.

Ignoring warnings from the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed a full-scale invasion that the UN refugee agency said has forced almost 116,000 people to flee to neighbouring countries.

Tens of thousands more are estimated to be displaced within Ukraine, with many on the move to western areas of the country less affected by the fighting.

Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed in the conflict and 1,115 wounded.

In Kyiv, residents took shelter in the subway system and in cellars and basements.

"We thought something like this might happen, but we were hoping until the end that it wouldn't," Irina Butyak told AFP in one shelter.

Also Read: 'Wonderful' sanctions on Russia won't change a thing, military operation in Ukraine to go on: Medvedev

"We were hoping that common sense and common decency would prevail. Well, it didn't," the 38-year-old teacher said.

Thousands of refugees made their way to the Polish border city of Przemysl by train.

"We don't want to be running from country to country and asking for support, but support is really needed this time," one refugee, who only gave her first name, Anna, told AFP.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the world must brace for a long war.

"This crisis will last, this war will last and all the crises that come with it will have lasting consequences," Macron said.

"We must be prepared".

After speaking to Macron, Zelensky tweeted to thank "partners" for sending weapons and equipment.

Several NATO members have sent weapons and ammunition to Ukraine in recent weeks, including Britain, the United States and ex-communist countries in eastern Europe.

In the latest contribution from Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $350 million (310 million euros) in additional military equipment.

NATO has said it is deploying its rapid response force of 40,000 troops to eastern Europe for the first time, but the Western military alliance has made clear it will not send any troops to Ukraine.

In the early hours of Saturday, AFP reporters in Kyiv heard occasional blasts of what soldiers said were artillery and Grad missiles being fired in an area northwest of the city centre.

There were also loud explosions in the centre.

Also Read: Smartphone in hand, Ukraine's president takes centre stage in a capital under attack

Emergency services said a high-rise apartment block was hit by shelling overnight, posting a picture that showed a hole covering at least five floors blasted into the side of the building.

Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said the building had been hit by a missile.

"The enemy is trying to break into the city, in particular from Gostomel, Zhytomyr, where the aggressors are neutralised," Klitschko said, referring to two settlements to the northwest and west of the city.

"Now in Kyiv there are, unfortunately, sabotage groups, there were several clashes," he said.

Hours later, AFP saw a destroyed Ukrainian military truck in the city centre and a civilian volunteer digging a trench for soldiers.

Ukrainian army tanks were also seen manoeuvring all over the centre but the streets were mostly empty and the centre silent except for the sound of air raid sirens and birdsong.

The city said it was toughening a curfew in place and anyone on the streets after 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) would be considered "members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups".

The curfew will last until 8:00 am on Monday.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, AFP saw traces of an airstrike on a military base near the village of Rozsishki in central Ukraine, including two destroyed trucks.

At the entrance to several villages and towns on the way to Lviv, men in civilian clothes could be seen manning improvised concrete barriers.

When he announced the beginning of the assault Thursday, Putin said it was to defend Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces for eight years in a conflict in which more than 14,000 people have been killed.

Putin called the current conflict a "special military operation" and Russia's communications regulator on Saturday told independent media to remove reports describing it as an "assault, invasion, or declaration of war".

In a statement, the regulator accused the media outlets of spreading "untrue information" about the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the Russian army and civilian deaths.

Russia has brushed off international condemnation and increasingly stringent sanctions adopted by the United States, Canada, Britain and the European Union, including against Putin himself and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Moscow said sanctioning the pair was "a demonstration of the complete impotence of the foreign policy" of the West.

Zelensky has called on Western allies to go further by expelling Moscow from the SWIFT banking transfer system -- a move that would cripple Russia's trade with most of the world.

But a number of EU countries, including Germany, Hungary and Italy, have been reluctant over fears Russia could cut off gas supplies.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki slammed countries such as Germany, which Warsaw has long criticised for its economic ties to Russia.

"There is no time today for the kind of unyielding egoism that we see in certain Western countries, including here in Germany unfortunately," Morawiecki said in Berlin ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"That is why I came here... to shake the conscience of Germany. So that they finally decide on sanctions that are actually crushing," he told Polish reporters.

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Leaders from Poland and Lithuania urged the European Union on Saturday to go further in their support for Ukraine in the face of a Russian invasion, as they headed into a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said all sanctions against Russia should be on the table, including shutting the Nord Stream pipelines that supply Russian gas to Europe and halting its access to the SWIFT global payments system.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda also said it was important that Ukraine was provided with "real military help."

Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running but a defiant President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the capital Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands.

Poland and Lithuania both share borders with Russia and Belarus, while Poland also borders Ukraine.

"I came to Berlin to shake the conscience of Germany so that they would finally decide on truly harsh sanctions that will influence the Kremlin's decisions," Morawiecki told reporters outside Scholz's office.

"We need to shut down Nord Stream 1 and 2, we need to cut reliance on raw materials, cut off Russian financial institutions from capital markets, confiscate assets of oligarchs, close off SWIFT for Russia... All sanctions against Russia should be on the table."

Speaking alongside Morawiecki, Nauseda said he would ask Scholz to support giving Ukraine the status of an EU candidate country and sending it significant military help.

"I talked to Zelenskiy on the way here, and he said that European perspective would be a large motivation to Ukrainians to fight for their and their children's future," said Nauseda.

"And it is important to provide real military help to Ukraine now. This is most important ... we need a quick decision," he added.

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The morning after Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the nation in his favourite style: the selfie video.

Unshaven, wearing a khaki jacket and flashing a smile, he told the nation that contrary to reports of him trying to flee, he was staying put in the capital.

"Good morning to all Ukrainians! Lately there has been a lot of fake information online that I am calling on our army to lay down their arms and to evacuate. Listen. I am here," he said, in a video that received 3 million views on Instagram in an hour.

Read: Russia says Ukraine prolonging conflict by 'refusing talks'

The setting was suitably eerie, with Zelenskyy standing in the morning light in front of the "House with Chimeras", an Art Nouveau landmark covered in otherworldly animal figures across the road from his presidential office in Kyiv.

It has been an unlikely transformation for the 44-year-old, who was a comedian and actor with no political experience before he was elected as president in 2019 - except when he played a fictional president in a satirical TV series.

At the beginning of the crisis, some Ukrainians on social media feared Zelenskyy was out of his depth against veteran Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Moscow massed troops on the border to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He had been criticised for taking public swipes at the United States and other friendly powers when he felt they were not being sufficiently supportive.

But Zelenskyy's refusal to evacuate with Russian troops closing in on Kyiv and his calm presence in social media videos has won plaudits, even from self-described sceptics.

"Whatever happens next, history will remember the simple physical courage Volodymyr Zelenskyi displays in remaining in his capital, with his people, amidst a horrible invasion, knowing that he is its target," Timothy Snyder, a history professor specialising in Ukraine at Yale said on Twitter.

Olena Halushka, an activist at a well-known Ukrainian anti-corruption organisation, said on Twitter she had misjudged him. "I couldn't imagine I'll be proud of him as the supreme commander. He is worthy of our incredible nation."

The President stays

Zelenskyy has been a prolific social media user throughout his time in politics, goading his rivals during the election campaign in 2019, snapping pictures and videos of himself at the gym, in his office or addressing the nation with instructions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Critics and political rivals have often sought to label him as a "clown" unsuited for high office.

Also Read: How Ukraine crisis will impact wheat prices

Before 2019, he dressed up in buffoonish costumes on stage, performed song and dance acts and, as the fictional president on TV, drunkenly fell into a swimming pool after a meeting with the head of the International Monetary Fund.

Now, he is posting videos trying to give reassurance.

In a previous selfie video, he stood on the street with his inner circle, showing them that his chief of staff, prime minister and closest advisers had also not left the capital.

His style stands in contrast with Putin, who has often kept even close officials on the other side of a long table during meetings during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nassim Taleb, the best-selling author of the book "The Black Swan", compared Zelenskyy to the images that Putin has used in the past to project strength, including images of him riding bare-chested on horseback.

"Putin the poseur on horseback is hiding in his remote bunker, while Zelenskyy, the former comedian, is risking his life on the frontline," he said.

On camera, Zelenskyy has spoken mainly in Ukrainian but also switched to Russian to address the Russian people, urging them to come out into the streets to protest the war.

Vyachslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, asserted on Saturday without evidence that Zelenskyy had fled to the western city of Lviv and that his self-recorded video appearances were in fact pre-recorded.

There was heavy fighting in several parts of the country on Saturday including clashes in the capital, and there have been media reports of Zelenskyy declining offers from foreign governments to be evacuated.

Asked to comment on the reports, Zelenskyy's spokesman said: "The president stays in Kyiv, the president stays with his people. No one will run away or drop weapons."

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RTHK: US sanctions Putin and Lavrov over Ukraine

The US government on Friday joined European countries in slapping sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as Western nations sought to increase pressure on Moscow to halt its assault of Ukraine.

The rare but not unprecedented US imposition of sanctions on a head of state came just a day after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, assaulting by land, sea and air in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

"President Putin and Minister Lavrov are directly responsible for Russias unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state," the Treasury Department said in a statement late on Friday announcing the sanctions.

It said sanctions against a head of state were "exceedingly rare," and put Putin on a short list that included the leaders of North Korea, Syria and Belarus. Further actions could follow.

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters that President Joe Biden decided to target Putin, Lavrov and other officials after speaking by phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier on Friday.

Treasury said the moves built on a raft of other sanctions imposed this week that targeted Russian banks and rich oligarchs, cut Russia off from access to critical technologies, and restricted its ability to raise capital.

Earlier on Friday, EU states and Britain agreed to freeze any European assets of Putin and Lavrov, as Ukraine's leader pleaded for faster and more forceful sanctions to punish Russia's attack on his country.

The imposition of sanctions against Putin and Lavrov reflect the West's "absolute impotence" when it comes to foreign policy, RIA news agency cited a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman as saying on Friday.

Edward Fishman, an Atlantic Council fellow who worked on Russia sanctions at the State Department during the Obama administration, said that while the sanctions on Putin are largely symbolic, targeting the Russian leader was a reasonable step for the United States and its partners to take.

"It certainly sends a very strong message of solidarity with Ukrainians who are under fire right now," Fishman said.

The US government also sanctioned two other senior Russian officials, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury Department said.

Psaki said on Twitter that the Treasury Department would also impose sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which she described as a "state owned financial entity that functions as a sovereign wealth fund, which is supposed to attract capital into the Russian economy in high-growth sectors."

A Treasury spokesperson said the action against the Russian Direct Investment Fund would be in the coming days.

"We are united with our international allies and partners to ensure Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its further invasion of Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in statement. "If necessary, we are prepared to impose further costs on Russia for its appalling behaviour on the world stage."

Treasury, which has already designated 11 members of the Russian Security Council, said it would continue to target Russian elites for "their role in bankrolling Russia's further aggression against Ukraine, empowering Putin or participating in Russia's kleptocracy."

Putin urged Ukraine's military to overthrow its political leaders and negotiate peace on Friday, as authorities in Kyiv called on citizens to help defend the capital from a Russian assault that its mayor said had already begun.

The sanctions targeting Putin are the latest punitive action from Washington over Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The United States this week imposed sanctions on Russian banks, members of the elite, and the company in charge of building the US$11 billion Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany.

Responding to reports that the US government had ordered officials to stop most contacts with Russia, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the assault on Ukraine had "fundamentally changed" Moscow's relationship with Washington and other nations.

Price told reporters that US officials will continue to engage with their Russian counterparts on important national security issues, including the talks to return to a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Freedom of religious belief fully protected in Xinjiang: imam

Xinhua) 10:22, February 26, 2022

URUMQI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- As an imam of a major mosque in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Memet Jume is well-positioned to witness how freedom of religious belief is protected and guaranteed in the region.

His mosque, the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, southern Xinjiang, has a history of more than 500 years. After it was listed as a key national cultural relics unit in 2001, the Chinese government has several times allocated special funds to carry out major renovations for the mosque.

Thanks to government support, the mosque now boasts flush toilets, shower rooms, tap water, internet connection, a heating system, and firefighting equipment, among other modern facilities.

From late 2021 to early 2022, the government again invested over 1 million yuan (about 158,000 U.S. dollars) in repairing the gatehouse, roads, fences and steps of the mosque, Memet Jume said.

As the son of an imam of the same mosque, Memet Jume is delighted to see that the historic religious venue has become a major tourist attraction in Kashgar.

"It is located at the heart of Kashgar's old city," said Memet Jume. "More than 2,000 visitors visited the mosque every day during the peak tourist season last year. The number was even bigger before the epidemic."

The religious freedom of all ethnic groups is fully guaranteed in Xinjiang, he said, noting that believers are free to participate in religious activities at the mosque.

In the winter, due to the cold weather, many believers prefer to worship in their homes or go to the mosque in the afternoons.

"We usually receive over 100 worshippers in winter afternoons, and the number would double in the summer," said Memet Jume. "Residents living in the neighborhood are the bulk of the worshippers while Muslim tourists or business people also drop by."

At present, Memet Jume, also a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, is busy researching his proposal as the annual session approaches.

During last year's session, he put forward a proposal for strengthening efforts to train medical talent in the countryside and at the community level.

"This year, I will continue to focus on the work and livelihood of ordinary people," he said.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
Milla Jovovich shared an emotional Instagram post on Friday, urging her near 4 million followers to help her native country of Ukraine against the full-scale military invasion ordered by Vladimir Putin earlier this week.

I am heartbroken and dumbstruck trying to process the events of this week in my birthplace of Ukraine, Jovovich wrote. My country and people being bombed. Friends and family in hiding.

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The 46-year-old actress and supermodel was born in Kyiv to a Serbian father and a Russian mother. According to her IMDb page, her family left the then-Soviet Union for the U.K. when she was 5, and they eventually relocated to Los Angeles.

My blood and my roots come from both Russia and Ukraine. I am torn in two as I watch the horror unfolding, the country being destroyed, families being displaced, their whole life lying in charred fragments around them, she wrote, recalling her familys experiences with brutal and bloody conflicts.

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I remember the war in my fathers homeland of former Yugoslavia and the stories my family tells of the trauma and terror they experienced. War. Always war. Leaders who cannot bring peace. The never-ending juggernaut of imperialism. And always, the people pay in bloodshed and tears, she wrote, adding the hashtag #helpukraine.

Actress Milla Jovovich arrives for the screening of the film "Sibyl" at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 24, 2019. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

In the post, which received nearly 47,000 likes as of Saturday morning, the star of the Resident Evil film franchise added several links to organizations who can help the people of Ukraine.

Among them, a link to the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund; the Return Alive Foundation; the Ukrainian Foundation, which helps children living in the war zones of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions; the Kyiv Independent, in support of independent journalism in Ukraine; and link to a site that supports LGBTQ members of the Ukrainian military.
Associated Press journalists around Ukraine and beyond are documenting military activity during Russia's invasion. With disinformation rife and social media amplifying military claims and counterclaims, determining exactly what is happening is difficult. Here's a look at what could be confirmed Friday.

Activity with direct witnesses:

 Explosions heard from central Kyiv, about 800 meters from the president's headquarters.

 Multistory apartment building in Kyiv hit by shelling, with major damage, on the eastern side of the Dneiper River that cuts through the capital, 13 kilometers southeast of the government quarter.

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 Shooting near a main thoroughfare leading into central Kyiv from the south.

 Ukrainian soldiers evacuating an unmarked military vehicle damaged by gunfire in Kyiv, in the Obolon district about 10 kilometers north of the government quarter.

 Ukrainian military establishing defensive positions at bridges around Kyiv. Armored personnel carriers driving through Kyiv streets. Ukrainian authorities placed snowplows at some spots along Kyiv roads to force traffic to slow down.

 Russian missile launcher seen on the edge of the northeastern city of Kharkiv, shelling heard in the distance.

 A bridge destroyed at Ivankiv, some 60 kilometers northwest of Kyiv.

Announced by Ukrainian and Russian authorities, and others:

 A second Russian military transport plane was shot down Saturday near Bila Tserkva, 85 kilometers south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.

 Russian Airborne Forces on the outskirts of Kyiv early Saturday attacked Ukrainian units on three sides, but Ukrainian troops were able to repel some of the assaults, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.

 Ukraine's military said Friday it had shot down a Russian military transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv, a city 40 kilometers south of Kyiv, an account confirmed by a senior American intelligence official. It was unclear how many were on board. Transport planes can carry up to 125 paratroopers. Russia has not commented on the incident.

 A senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine said the capital city of Kyiv was under missile bombardment late Friday night. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had no immediate information on what targets might have been hit.

 Russia's military said it has taken over Melitopol, a city in the Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine 50 kilometers off of the Azov Sea coast. The claim could not be independently verified.

 Ukraine's nuclear energy regulator said higher than usual gamma radiation levels have been detected in the area around the Chernobyl nuclear plant, site of the world's worst nuclear accident, after it was seized by the Russian military. The International Atomic Energy Agency said the reported levels don't pose any danger to the public. The Russian Defense Ministry said radiation levels in the area have remained normal.

 Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said gunfire and explosions in several parts of the city came as Ukrainian troops were fighting groups of Russian saboteurs. He also said five explosions hit an area near a major power plant on the city's eastern outskirts. No electricity outages were immediately reported.

 UK Defense Intelligence Chief Sir Jim Hockenhull says Russia launched a series of strikes on targets in Kyiv overnight and that multiple rocket launchers have been employed in Chernihiv and Kharkiv.

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 137 heroes, including 10 military officers, had been killed. The Ukrainian military said it has killed over 1,000 Russian troops while fending off Moscow's invasion. The Russian military hasn't reported any casualties during the attack. Neither claim could be independently verified.

 The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said its staffers have so far verified at least 127 civilian casualties, 25 people killed and 102 injured, mostly from shelling and airstrikes.

 The Russian military said it took control of an airport outside the Ukrainian capital. The airport in Hostomel, a town 7 kilometres from Kyiv, has a runway long enough to receive all types of aircraft, including the biggest cargo planes. Its seizure allows Russia to airlift troops directly to Kyiv's outskirts.

 The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces sealed the cities of Sumy and Konotop in northeastern Ukraine. It said they have knocked out 211 military infrastructure facilities. The claims couldn't be independently confirmed.

 The mayor said a school building was hit by a Ukrainian shell in the rebel-held city of Horlivka in eastern Ukraine, killing its headteacher and a teacher; rebels who hold Donetsk said the city's main hospital was damaged by shelling but there were no casualties.

 Moldova's national naval agency said a Moldovan-flagged ship was hit by a missile in neutral waters in the Black Sea, leaving two crew members seriously injured.

 A US defense official said a Russian amphibious assault was underway, and thousands of Russian naval infantry were moving ashore from the Sea of Azov, west of Mariupol. The official said Ukrainian air defenses have been degraded but are still operating, and that about a third of the combat power that Russia massed around Ukraine is now in the country.

 British Intelligence Chief Sir Jim Hockenhull says Russia launched a series of strikes on targets in Kyiv overnight and that multiple rocket launchers have been employed in Chernihiv and Kharkiv.

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Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine's capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter. The country's president refused an American offer to evacuate, insisting that he would stay. The fight is here, he said.

As dawn broke in Kyiv, it was not immediately clear how far the soldiers had advanced. Ukrainian officials reported some success in fending off assaults, but fighting persisted near the capital. Skirmishes reported on the edge of the city suggested that small Russian units were probing Ukrainian defences to clear a path for the main forces.

The swift movement of the troops after less than three days of fighting further imperilled a country clinging to independence in the face of a broad Russian assault, which threatened to topple Ukraine's democratic government and scramble the post-Cold War world order.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered renewed assurance Saturday that the country's military would stand up to the Russian invasion. In a video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street, he said he had not left the city and that claims the Ukrainian military would put down arms were false.

Also read: 'Prisoners of War': No escape yet from Ukraine's bunkers, metro stations

We aren't going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country, the Ukrainian president said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that it's our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.

US officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine's government and replace it with a regime of his own. The invasion represented Putin's boldest effort yet to redraw the map of Europe and revive Moscow's Cold War-era influence. It triggered new international efforts to end the invasion, including direct sanctions on Putin.

The Kremlin accepted Kyiv's offer to hold talks, but it appeared to be an effort to squeeze concessions out of the embattled Zelenskyy instead of a gesture toward a diplomatic solution.

Zelenskyy was urged early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the US government but turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation. The official quoted the president as saying that the fight is here" and that he needed anti-tank ammunition but not a ride.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Also read: 'Prisoners of War': No escape yet from Ukraine's bunkers, metro stations

Saturday's street clashes followed two days of massive air and missile strikes that Russian officials said targeted Ukrainian military facilities as their ground troops moved in from the north, east and south. The assault pummeled bridges, schools and apartment buildings, and resulted in hundreds of casualties.

We're all scared and worried. We don't know what to do then, what's going to happen in a few days, said Lucy Vashaka, 20, a worker at a small Kyiv hotel.

But Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukrainian forces controlled the situation when the small Russian units tried to infiltrate Kyiv. City officials in Kyiv urged residents to seek shelter, to stay away from windows and to take precautions to avoid flying debris or bullets.

It was unclear in the fog of war how much of Ukraine was still under Ukrainian control and how much Russian forces have seized. UN officials said millions of residents could flee Ukraine for neighbouring countries in the West.

Ukraine's military reported shooting down an II-76 Russian transport plane carrying paratroopers near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles (40 km) south of Kyiv, an account confirmed by a senior American intelligence official.

A second Russian military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles (85 km) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.

Also read: We will not put down our weapons: Ukraine President

The Russian military did not comment on either plane.

The United States and other global powers moved to freeze the assets of Putin and his foreign minister Friday as part of tougher sanctions on Russia as the invasion reverberated through the world's economy and energy supplies.

Sports leagues also sought to punish Russia, and even the popular Eurovision song contest banned Russian acts from the event's May finals in Italy.

Through it all, Russia remained unbowed, vetoing a UN Security Council resolution demanding that it stop attacking Ukraine and withdraw troops immediately. The veto was expected, but the US and its supporters argued that the effort would highlight Moscow's international isolation.

The 11-1 vote, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, showed significant opposition to Russia's invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbour.

NATO, meanwhile, decided to send parts of the alliance's response force to help protect member nations in the east for the first time. NATO did not say how many troops would be deployed but added that it would involve land, sea and air power.

It was unclear how many people overall had died in the largest ground war in Europe since World War II.

Ukrainian officials reported at least 137 deaths on their side from the first full day of fighting and claimed hundreds on the Russian one. Russian authorities released no casualty figures.

UN officials reported 25 civilian deaths, mostly from shelling and airstrikes, and said that 100,000 people were believed to have left their homes. They estimate that up to 4 million could flee if the fighting escalates.

Also read: Visuals of Indians in Ukraine bunkers disturbing: Rahul

Late Friday, US President Joe Biden signed a memo authorising up to $350 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total security aid approved for Ukraine to $1 billion over the past year. It was not clear how quickly the aid would flow.

The assault was anticipated for weeks by the US and Western allies and denied to be in the works just as long by Putin. He argued that the West left him with no other choice by refusing to negotiate Russia's security demands.

Putin has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave a hint, saying, We want to allow the Ukrainian people to determine its own fate. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia recognises Zelenskyy as the president, but would not say how long the Russian military operation could last.

Zelenskyy's whereabouts were kept secret after he told European leaders in a call Thursday that he was Russia's No. 1 target  and that they might not see him again alive. His office later released a video of him standing with senior aides outside the presidential office and saying that he and other government officials would stay in the capital.

Zelenskyy offered Friday to negotiate on a key Putin demand: that Ukraine declare itself neutral and abandon its ambition of joining NATO. The Kremlin said Kyiv initially agreed to have talks in Minsk, then said it would prefer Warsaw and later halted communications.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said later that Moscow would discuss prospects for talks on Saturday.

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The world must brace for a long war between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow launched an invasion of its pro-Western neighbour, French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Saturday.

"If can tell you one thing this morning it is that this war will last," Macron's told France's annual agriculture fair.

Also Read: We will not put down our weapons: Ukrainian president vows to fight on in Kyiv

"This crisis will last, this war will last and all the crises that come with it will have lasting consequences," Macron added, warning: "We must be prepared".

Macron cut short his visit to the agriculture fair, usually one of the main fixtures on the French political calendar, in order to return to dealing with the crisis triggered by the Russian invasion.

"War has returned to Europe, this was chosen unilaterally by President (Vladimir) Putin, with a tragic humanitarian situation, a (Ukrainian) people who are resisting and a Europe that is there and resisting by the side of the Ukrainian people," said Macron.

With the war and sanctions against Russia risking damage for specific sectors in France, notably the wine industry, Macron vowed a "plan of resilience" to help them cope.

The French leader was a key figure in efforts to avert conflict, repeatedly speaking to Putin and seeking in vain to broker a summit between the Russian leader and US President Joe Biden.

The war has also broken out as the clock ticks down to France's presidential elections in April.

Macron, who is expected to seek and win a second term, has left the official declaration of his candidacy to the last minute, although he must make a move next week ahead of a March 4 deadline to register.

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Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu asked Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to end the military operation in Ukraine during a phone call on Saturday, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

Ankara has repeatedly called the Russian invasion of Ukraine "unacceptable".

Cavusoglu told Lavrov that further escalation of military tensions would not benefit anyone, the source, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Read: Ukraine has 'derailed' Russian attack plan, Zelenskyy says

Turkey had offered to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv.

Cavusoglu also reiterated Turkey's "readiness to host negotiations that could take place between the Russian Federation and Ukraine," according to the source.

Turkey has found itself in a balancing act between Russia and Ukraine, with which it has friendly ties. Ankara is highly dependent on Russia for energy supplies.

The Council of Europe on Friday said it was suspending all representatives of Russia from the pan-European rights body over Moscow's attack against Ukraine.

Turkey abstained during the vote.

In a televised interview late on Friday, Cavusoglu said: "We don't want to cut off the dialogue" with Russia.

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Ukraine braced for an all-out assault on its capital early Saturday, as the military blew up a bridge to slow the advance of Russian soldiers, street fights erupted in a northern district of the city, and the nations leaders warned residents that Russia wanted to bring the capital to its knees.

The moves to defend Kyiv escalated Friday, the second day of a Russian military incursion. The fighting came as western governments imposed new sanctions, including on Russian President Vladimir Putin, tens of thousands of refugees fled the country, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared in a video warning that the fate of Ukraine is now being decided.

Follow live updates of Russia-Ukraine crisis, here

Zelenskyy warned that Russian sabotage groups had entered Kyiv with the aim of destroying the head of state.

Early Saturday, gunfire could be heard every few minutes in central Kyiv, with the crack of shots and bursts of automatic fire apparently coming from neighborhoods in the north. Artillery fire was reported in the Shuliavka neighborhood, and videos showed vehicles on fire there.

A US Defense Department official said the Russians were not moving on Kyiv as fast as they anticipated it going and that, significantly, Ukrainian command and control is intact to direct the defense of the country. But officials warned that as of Friday morning Russia had sent into Ukraine only 30% of the 150,000 to 190,000 troops it had massed at the border.

On Friday, a Kremlin spokesperson said Putin was prepared to send representatives to Belarus for talks with a Ukrainian delegation. But later in the day, Russia claimed Ukraine had rejected immediate talks  a characterization at odds with a report from Ukraines ambassador to Israel, who said Zelenskyy had asked Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to mediate negotiations in Jerusalem.

Also Read | Ukraine 'repulsed' Russian attack on main Kyiv avenue: Army

At a rare emergency summit Friday, NATO agreed to make significant additional defensive deployments of forces to the eastern members of the alliance, it said in a statement.

European Union foreign ministers approved a second set of sanctions Friday that would freeze the assets of Putin and his foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and impose financial, technological, industrial, trade and travel-related bans and restrictions. President Joe Biden joined the EU in imposing sanctions directly on Putin, Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said it would close its Moscow office and terminate Russias application for membership in the group, which represents 38 of the worlds most influential economies.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees fled the country in response to what the United Nations described as a growing humanitarian crisis. Martin Griffiths, the United Nations top humanitarian and emergency coordinator, said Friday that the agency was setting aside $20 million from an emergency fund to help with the crisis in Ukraine.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought India's political support at the UN Security Council to stop Russia's military offensive against his country.

Zelenskyy also informed Prime Minister Modi of the course of Ukraine repulsing the Russian aggression.

Read | Amid Russia war, Zelenskyy takes centre stage in Kyiv

"Spoke with Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi. Informed of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression," Zelenskuyy said in a tweet.

"More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!" he said.

India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, as New Delhi called for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities and asserted that dialogue is the "only answer" to settling disputes.

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By Frank Ledwidge for The Conversation,

Ukraine's ramshackle military offered no resistance to the Crimean annexation in February 2014. Since then the poorly equipped but well-motivated Ukrainian Army has taken thousands of casualties while fighting separatist forces in the eastern Donbas region.

In the meantime, the country has embarked on an often haphazard reform programme of its military which has made it  while still vulnerable in many vital respects  a rather more formidable force.

Since 2014-15, Ukraine has tripled its defence budget and attempted to modernise its forces  not only to defend themselves against Russia but to comply with the standards demanded by Nato as an entry requirement.

The results have been mixed.

Also read: Study medicine in India, not smaller foreign nations, PM Modi says amid Ukraine crisis

On paper their army looks impressive  with 800 or so heavy tanks and thousands of other armoured vehicles protecting and transporting a regular force of about 200,000.

These are far better trained troops than in 2014. They have good leadership, especially in the crucial non-commissioned officer cadre  the backbone of any army.

Vitally, most observers report high morale and motivation.

But this is only part of the story. Most of their armour and equipment is relatively old and, although factories have been turning out modernised versions of old models such as the T72 tank, these provide little in the way of effective opposition to the far more modern Russian tanks and armoured vehicles  some of which are equal or superior to the best Nato stock.

Further, the Ukrainian army is vulnerable both to Russian artillery, traditionally the Red Army's most formidable arm, and the threat posed by Russian strike aircraft.

Recent gifts of Nato hand-held anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and other weaponry will impose losses on Russian forces  but are not gamechangers.

Ukraine's air force possesses a considerable fleet of cold war-era aircraft and personnel are well-organised and trained.

Also read: Russia says it has captured Ukraine's Melitopol

But Russia has configured its aerospace forces to gain and maintain crucial control of the air using, among other systems, the fearsome S400 long-range anti-aircraft missiles.

These systems give the most advanced Nato air forces serious pause for thought, let alone the 1990s vintage fighters and bombers of Ukraine.

Advanced Russian fighters and missiles will dominate the sky in due course although the Ukrainians have achieved some successes against the expectations of many.

There are credible reports that Ukrainian fighters are still flying and remarkably have shot down several Russian jets. Their old  but in the right hands still effective  anti-aircraft missiles have also caused Russian losses, according to Ukrainian sources.

The navy is now militarily insignificant  the more so since much of it appears to have been sunk in harbour within 24 hours of the beginning of hostilities.

Strengths and weaknesses

But this is not a foregone conclusion. Ukrainian generals are highly unlikely to play to Russian strengths and deploy forces to be obliterated by their artillery or air power. They have seen all too much of that in the past.

In July 2014 a formation of Ukrainian troops was destroyed by a rocket artillery strike in eastern Ukraine. What was notable was the way the rockets were guided to their targets by drones operated by Russian-supported separatist troops.

Also read: We will not put down our weapons: Ukrainian president vows to fight on in Kyiv

Focusing on equipment quality or quantity alone is always a big mistake. In the UK, military thinking outlines three components of fighting power.

These are the moral (morale, cohesion, motivation), conceptual (strategy, innovation and military doctine) and material (weaponry).

It is one thing having the advantage in the material component of war, it is quite another to turn it into success. The Ukrainians will try to exploit Russias vulnerability to having to wage a lengthy military campaign with the potential to sustain politically damaging heavy casualties.

Many Ukrainians have a basic awareness of weapon handling  the several hundred thousand reservists called up as Russia invaded certainly do. They may be light on modern tanks and sophisticated weaponry, but may well have the edge in the moral and conceptual domains.

There is an strong tradition of partisan warfare in Ukraine where ideas of territorial defence  insurgent groups fighting small actions on ground they know well backed up, where possible, by regular army units  are deeply ingrained.

In the early days of the cold war after the country had been liberated from German occupation, the anti-Soviet Insurgent Army was only finally defeated in 1953.

During this time they caused tens of thousands of casualties. It may have been largely forgotten by the rest of the world, but this conflict is well remembered in Ukraine.

The vaunted Russian armed forces have already deployed a large proportion of their ground troops, and have a very limited capability either to occupy ground contested by insurgents or  even more importantly  to sustain operations beyond the first break-in phase of the war.

Follow live updates on Russia-Ukraine crisis here

The last thing Putin wants is a protracted war, with bloody urban combat and echoes of Chechnya  which is what Ukrainian forces are likely to give him.

War takes its own course, but the likely and sensible Ukrainian approach will be to trade land for time. They will hope to inflict casualties and draw Russian forces into urban areas where their advantages are less pronounced.

In the event of defeat in the field, Ukraines defenders could well default to a well-armed, highly-motivated and protracted insurgency, probably supported by the west. This is Putins nightmare.

The other side of that particular coin is that western support of such terrorism could attract an unpredictable and highly dangerous response.

In his declaration of war speech Putin threatened such consequences as you have never encountered in your history to those who try to hinder us, clearly referencing Russias vast nuclear arsenal. In the face of defeat or humiliation rationality may be in short supply.

(The author works at the Senior Lecturer in Military Capabilities and Strategy, University of Portsmouth)
The United States is providing Ukraine with $350 million in additional military equipment to fight off Russia's "brutal and unprovoked assault," Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Saturday.

"This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armoured, airborne, and other threats it is now facing," Blinken said in a statement.

Blinken said that last fall as Russia started amassing troops on the border with its pro-Western neighbour, President Joe Biden authorised $60 million in immediate military assistance to Ukraine, then another $200 million in December as President Vladimir Putin's threat became more acute.

Also read: Ukraine has 'derailed' Russian attack plan, Zelenskyy says

Now the US is authorising a third package "as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russia's brutal and unprovoked assault," Blinken said.

This means total US security assistance committed to Ukraine over the past year now exceeds a billion dollars, the secretary said.

Blinken did not detail what kind of weaponry was involved.

"It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation," he said.

The new assistance follows a series of US and other western sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs in an effort to punish Putin and his inner circle for the invasion of Ukraine and cripple the Russian economy.

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Choosing sides in Ukraine's crisis would have once been easy for Gulf states long protected by the US, but growing ties with Moscow are forcing them to strike a balance.

As the world rushed to condemn the Russian invasion of its smaller neighbour, the wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have largely kept quiet.

Middle East experts say their reticence is understandable given what's at play -- energy, money and security.

"It is not only the economic ties that are growing but also the security ties of these states with Moscow," said Anne Gadel, a Gulf expert and contributor to the French think-tank Institut Montaigne.

Also Read | We will not put down our weapons: Ukrainian president vows to fight on in Kyiv

On Friday, the UAE abstained along with China and India from a vote at the US Security Council demanding Moscow withdraw its troops.

Russia as expected vetoed the resolution co-written by the US and Albania while 11 of the council's 15 members voted for it.

After the vote, Emirati state news agency WAM said the UAE and US foreign ministers spoke by phone to review "global developments". No mention was made of Ukraine.

Russia's foreign ministry meanwhile announced that the UAE and Russian foreign ministers would meet Monday in Moscow to discuss "further expanding multifaceted Russia-UAE relations".

Hours before Russia unleashed its massive ground, sea and air assault against Ukraine on Thursday, the UAE had "stressed the depth of friendship" with Moscow.

Gulf powerhouse Saudi Arabia has not reacted to the invasion, like the UAE, Bahrain and Oman. Kuwait and Qatar have only denounced the violence, stopping short of criticising Moscow.

Also Read | Ukraine has 'derailed' Russian attack plan, Zelenskyy says

For more than seven decades, the United States has played a key role in the conflict-wracked Middle East, serving in particular as a defender of the oil-rich Gulf monarchies against potential threats such as Iran.

But in recent years, Washington began limiting its military engagements in the region, even as its closest allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE have come under attack by Yemen's Huthi rebels.

Saudi oil giant Aramco's facilities were hit in 2019 by the Iran-aligned insurgents.

Gulf countries "understand that they need to diversify their alliances to compensate for the perceived withdrawal of the United States from the region", said Gadel.

Politics are paramount too.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two US allies hosting American troops, have seen their ties with Washington change to a love-hate relationship over arms deals and rights issues.

The 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate has strained relations with Riyadh, and the UAE has threatened to cancel a mega-deal for US-made F-35 jet fighters.

"Russia is seen as an ideological ally while American human rights strings attached to their support are becoming ever more of an issue," said Andreas Krieg, Middle East expert and associate professor at King's College London.

"There has been an integration of grand strategy between Moscow and Abu Dhabi when it comes to the region. Both are counter-revolutionary forces and were eager to contain political Islam."

Also Read | Vladimir Putin calls on Ukraine army to remove leadership in Kyiv

Despite growing security cooperation with Russia, which is directly involved in the Syrian and Libyan conflicts, Krieg says most GCC states will "still put their security eggs into the US basket".

But "they have started to diversify relations with American competitors and adversaries in other domains".

Trade between Russia and the GCC countries jumped from around $3 billion in 2016 to more than $5 billion in 2021, mostly with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, official figures show.

The UAE, in particular Dubai, has been long seen as a magnet for Russian investment, and a vacation destination for the Russian elite.

As major players in the energy markets, most GCC states have a relationship with Russia as fellow producers.

Riyadh and Moscow are leading the OPEC+ alliance, strictly controlling output to buoy prices in recent years.

"Arab members of OPEC are in a tough spot diplomatically, as maintaining" the OPEC+ deal, which controls production, "is clearly at the forefront of their considerations", said Ellen Wald, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think-tank.

"Gulf countries fear damaging this relationship and seek to maintain Russian participation in OPEC+... If Russia left the group, the entire agreement would probably collapse."

Despite calls by some major oil importers for crude producers to boost supply and help stabilise soaring prices, Riyadh, the world's top exporter, has shown no interest.

"Staying silent on Russian action in Ukraine is probably the best course for this at the moment," Wald said.

"But this pragmatic stance may become untenable if pressed on their position by Western leaders."

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In a rare move, the US has slapped sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, holding them "directly responsible" for Moscow's "unprovoked and unlawful" invasion of Ukraine.

The latest US sanctions build on other sweeping actions that America and partners took earlier this week targeting the core infrastructure of the Russian financial system, including sanctions against Moscow's largest financial institutions, the US Department of the Treasury said in a statement.

The US, in coordination with allies and partners, continued to forcefully respond to Russias "unjustified, unprovoked and premeditated" invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Putin and Lavrov, as well as other members of Russias Security Council, according to the statement issued on Friday.

Also Read | EU agrees to freeze Putin, Lavrov assets over Ukraine

Putin and Lavrov are "directly responsible for Russias unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state", it said.

The sanctions will go directly after their assets.

It is exceedingly rare for the Treasury to designate a head of state. "President Putin joins a very small group that includes despots such as (North Korea's) Kim Jong Un, (Belarus President) Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad," the statement said.

In addition, the US also slapped sanctions against Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defence, and General of the Army Valery Gerasimov. The Treasury has previously designated 11 members of the Russian Security Council.

President Joe Biden has built a global coalition to stand up in the face of Putin and his "aggression and invasion of Ukraine, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference.

What he has done is he has rallied the world, our European partners, even at cost to them in some capacities, to put in place significant sanctions, historic sanctions that would have an enormous impact on the Russian financial sector. It is President Putin's choice to go to war and invade Ukraine. That is what he has done, she said.

It is our choice and our responsibility, and the role of the president of the United States to rally opposition and make sure they feel significant pain from that choice. That's exactly what we have done, Psaki said.

Also Read | Low fee, hassle-free admission attract Indian med students to Ukraine

"Cumulatively, these actions impose unprecedented diplomatic and economic costs on Russia and further isolate it from the global financial system and international community," the treasury department statement said.

Treasury Secretary Janet L Yellen said Putin rejected every good faith effort the US and its allies and partners made to address "our mutual security concerns through dialogue to avoid needless conflict and avert human suffering".

The US is prepared to impose further costs on Russia for its appalling behaviour on the world stage, she said.

This is a dangerous moment for Europe and really for freedom-loving people everywhere. Putin's assault on Ukraine is an attack on the principles that undergird global peace, stability, and security the world over, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference.

But Putin didnt account for everything, and he didnt account for the bravery and resolve of the people of Ukraine. We commend the Ukrainian people for showing strength and determination in response to an unprovoked attack by the Kremlin. We have seen Ukrainian soldiers demonstrate incredible bravery in the first day of self-defence: shooting down Russian aircraft, firing at tanks, and holding many of the positions while under violent assault, he said.

The Kremlin continues to use disinformation, including false reports alleging widespread surrender of Ukrainian troops. Moscow is resorting to outright lies in an effort to weaken the resolve of Ukraines military and of its people, Price said.

We also are seeing reports that the Russian Federation plans to threaten to kill the family members of Ukrainian soldiers if they do not surrender. These tactics are classic intimidation; they are synonymous with the Kremlin; they are unacceptable. This isnt the first time, of course, Putin has decided that his country can attack another country with impunity, he said.

Putins war of choice has required that we follow through on imposing the massive consequences and severe costs, and that we ensure his flagrant violation of international law will be a strategic failure. We stand united with our NATO allies and partners in Europe and around the world in confronting the Russian government and holding President Putin and those around him to account, Price said.

Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, welcomed the sanctions.

He said, "With these targeted, personal sanctions that go directly after Putin and Lavrov assets, President Biden has made it clear: those who ordered the illegal invasion of Ukraine will pay a severe price.

Combined with earlier sanctions, the Kremlin is already suffering the weight of the international response. The value of Russias currency has fallen massively, its economy is starting to lose access to the worlds financial systems, and its technology and military industries will soon feel the pinch of these historic actions, Reed said.

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Friday, European Union and U.S. officials finally agreed to freeze the assets of Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Also Friday, Russian missiles bombarded Kyiv as troops entered the city to topple Ukraines government, an advance that gives the final lie to the now patently ridiculous pretense that Putin was merely supporting Russians in breakaway regions.

Of course, Russia, ending a tragicomic one-month rotation as chair of the UN Security Council by vetoing a resolution condemning its invasion, should be ejected from that body forthwith for having made a mockery of its mission to maintain international peace.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to chair a Security Council meeting in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP)

One of the worlds largest and most powerful countries is engaging in a forceful takeover of a neighboring democratic state, a display as brazen as it is brutal as it is criminal. The world is watching, and its made itself powerless to stop a violent felony in progress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the same man who Donald Trump in 2019 tried to pressure to announce an investigation into Joe Bidens son  dangling the delay of congressionally authorized military aid meant to stave off precisely this type of Russian invasion  called for his countrymen to defend his homeland with Molotov cocktails. That was apt, for the term, a pejorative reference to the USSR foreign minister, was coined by Finns resisting Soviet tanks. It was also desperate.

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Trumps toying with Ukrainian security is the most egregious example, but as resolute Putin critic and former chess champion Garry Kasparov writes in the Daily News, it is far from the only recent failure to take firm steps to contain Putin on the path to what many could see was his premeditated murder of Ukraine. Over many years, the West handed the autocrat revenue and power and effective permission to execute his imperialist fantasies.

We cannot turn back time, but we can and must searchingly ask why, with full knowledge of his long rap sheet and his intent to kill, we let him get away with this.
An Air India plane departed from the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning for Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.

The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 AM (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Indian nationals who have reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road are being taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

Also Read | India begins evacuating citizens stranded in Ukraine

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24 and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

Around 20,000 Indians, mainly students, are currently stranded in Ukraine, the officials said.

Before the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, Air India had conducted one flight to Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26 but it could not do so as the Russian offensive began on February 24 and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

Also Read | What attracts Indians to study medicine in Ukraine

Air India said on Twitter on Friday night that it will be operating flights on B787 aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Bucharest and Budapest on Saturday as special government charter flights to fly back stranded Indian citizens.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Friday said it is working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary.

"At present, teams are getting in place at the following check points: Chop-Zahony Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, Porubne-Siret Romanian border near Chernivtsi," it said.

Indian nationals, especially students, living closest to these border checkpoints are advised to depart in an organised manner in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualise this option, the embassy said.

Once the above-mentioned routes are operational, the Indian nationals travelling on their own would be advised to proceed to the border checkpoints, it noted.

The embassy advised Indian travellers to carry their passports, cash (preferably in US dollars), other essential items and COVID-19 vaccination certificates to the border checkpoints.

"Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling," it said.

The distance between Kyiv and the Romanian border checkpoint is approximately 600 kilometres and it takes anywhere between eight-and-a-half hours to 11 hours to cover it by road.

Bucharest is located approximately 500 kilometres from the Romanian border checkpoint and it takes anywhere between seven to nine hours to cover the distance by road.

The distance between Kyiv and the Hungarian border checkpoint is around 820 kilometres and it takes 12-13 hours to cover it by road.

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Left-affiliated student and youth groups, on Saturday, clashed with police at Panchla in Howrah, the district adjoining Kolkata, a day before 108 municipal bodies in the state go to polls.

The elections are due in 20 (of 23) districts. The protests over the mysterious death of student leader Anis Khan, however, has drawn all attention away from the Sunday polls.

The 2,276 seats in 108 municipal bodies have around 90 lakh electors, with 11,290 booths. Around 44,000 police personnel will be deployed during the election.

The Trinamool candidates are unopposed contestants in over 100 wards.

The municipal bodies going to polls are located in Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24-Parganas, South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum districts.

Also read: WB Guv sticks to stand on Assembly session at 2 am

The Trinamool, which has been successful in winning majorities in the earlier elections to Kolkata, and four major urban bodies, is confident of a strong performance in the Sunday polls.

In Jago Bangla, partys mouthpiece, the party has issued 10 guidelines to its supporters, telling them not to get provoked by candidates of the Opposition as they know that they will lose.

BJPs plea for the deployment of central forces during the election has been turned down by Supreme Court. The Bengal BJP has claimed that several of its candidates have been attacked at different locations. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has claimed that people will not let seats go uncontested towards the Trinamool, and will vote for the BJP.

Meanwhile, the Anis Khan mysterious death case continues to be the cause of protests in West Bengal. On Saturday, protests by the Students Federation of India, and the Democratic Youth Federation of India -- the two Left-affiliated organisations at Panchla in Howrah district turned violent with bricks thrown towards the police personnel who resorted to lathi-charge and used tear-gas to disperse the crowd.

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The salutation Jai Hind reverberated inside the government-chartered Air India plane as it touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

The first evacuation flight carrying 219 passengers from war-torn Ukraine had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest this afternoon.

The passengers hugged each other and there were cheers and tears of joy as the first flight of Operation Ganga landed on Indian soil.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi deputed Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal to receive the first flight.

Also read: PM Modi speaks to Ukrainian President, expresses India's willingness to contribute to peace efforts

Welcome back to the motherland! Glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport... the mother never leaves the children in peril, he said as the passengers burst into Jai Hind and cheered.

The Air India Boeing 787 aircraft, AI1943 landed around 7.50 pm.

It was a very comfortable flight, said one of the evacuees, a student.

We are Indians... we knew someone would come for us. We were confident. Definitely, there were some tense moments, but we were sure... It feels great, said another student.

   The mother never leaves her children in peril. The first batch of evacuees return home to safety from Ukraine.#OperationGanga pic.twitter.com/mNLkXw3rMn  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 26, 2022

Goyal also thanked Air India. "This is a true sense of nationalism," he said.

A large number of relatives of homebound passengers were present at the arrival concourse of the Mumbai airport to receive their near and dear ones.

There were tears in the eyes of parents as their kids arrived at the airport.

For the last two days, the Prime Minister Modi ji, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were worriedthe Prime Minister spoke to Russian President (Vladimir Putin) and Ukrainian President (Volodymyr Zelenskyy), Goyal said, adding that while Mumbai was the first flight more evacuation flights are being operated and the second flight is likely to land in Delhi in the wee hours of Sunday.

Goyal was accompanied by Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and Mumbai North Central MP Poonam Mahajan.

Also read: PM Modi speaks to Ukrainian President, expresses India's willingness to contribute to peace efforts

The Mayor was seen receiving the evacuees with folded hands. They are our future, she said.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Bureau of Immigration and the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation had made special arrangements to handle the flight and make the arrival hassle-free.

The airport has blocked a special corridor for the arriving passengers, CSMIA said, adding as per the guidelines laid down by the government, the Airport Health Organization (APHO) team at the facility will be conducting mandatory temperature checks.

Passengers would be required to produce either a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test report at the time of arrival.

The BMC provided them free Covid testing, vaccines, food and all other facilities, said Pednekar.

After the immigration formalities were done students broke into a selfie-mode with each other, Goyal and those who came to receive them.

Around 16,000 Indians, mainly students, were stranded in Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said on February 24. The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Friday said it is working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary.

(With PTI inputs)

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The Ministry of Education (MoE) appealed to the Indian students stranded in Ukraine on Saturday to follow all the guidelines issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian embassy.

It also assured the students that all possible efforts are being made by the government to bring them back from Ukraine.

"Government of India is making all possible efforts to bring our students back from Ukraine. We appeal to our students to follow all advisories and guidelines being issued by the MEA and the Indian embassy," the MoE said in a tweet.

Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here

About 16,000 Indians, mostly students, are stranded in Ukraine as Russia's invasion of the east European country entered its third day on Saturday. Many of the students are studying medicine in Kharkiv and Kyiv. About 2,500 of them are from Gujarat and 2,320 from Kerala.

As tensions escalated in Ukraine and worried families back in India counted the hours till their children returned home, several state governments requested the Centre to make immediate arrangements for their safe evacuation.

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The Indian Air Force on Saturday decided to pull out of a multilateral air exercise in the UK next month in view of the situation arising out of the crisis in Ukraine, officials said.

The decision to not participate in the 'Cobra Warrior' exercise came just three days after the IAF announced that five Tejas light combat aircraft would be sent for the drills from March 6 to 27 at Waddington in the UK.

The IAF on Saturday morning tweeted that it has decided not to deploy its aircraft for exercise in the UK in "light of the recent events". However, the tweet was deleted later.

Though there was no reason given why the tweet was deleted, officials said the decision to not participate in the exercise stands.

"The IAF is not participating in the exercise 'Cobra Warrior'," said a senior official.

The pull-out came amid a deepening crisis in Ukraine with Russian troops advancing on Kyiv and other key cities.

The decision also came hours after India abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

Official sources said by abstaining from the resolution, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

On Wednesday, the IAF announced that it will participate in the 'Cobra Warrior' exercise with a fleet of five Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).

The IAF had said that the exercise 'Cobra Warrior 22' was aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating air forces.

In a statement, It had said that the exercise would be a platform for the indigenously developed Tejas aircraft to demonstrate their manoeuvrability and operational capability.

"The exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating air forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship," it had said.

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Several opposition leaders criticised the government on Saturday after India abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution on the Russian attack on Ukraine, saying it needed to stand up against the wrong and not stand aside.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said "there comes a time when nations need to stand up and not stand aside."

"I sincerely wish India had voted in solidarity with the people of Ukraine at UNSC who are facing an unprecedented and unjustified aggression. 'Friends' need to be told when they are wrong," he said.

Echoing his view, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said in an article: "Invasion is Invasion; we should tell our friend Russia."

"...if 'friends' can't speak honestly to each other, what is the friendship worth," Tharoor asked.

Also read: First Air India flight carrying Indian evacuees from Ukraine lands in Mumbai

"India's decision to abstain in the United Nations Security Council vote on Friday night, on a resolution that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, did not really come as a surprise," the former Minister of State for External Affairs said.

Tharoor also said, "After our abstention, many regretted that India had placed itself on the 'wrong side of history'."

Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the government of hypocrisy and said, "Interestingly those who can't stop abusing and criticising India's first PM, Nehru, are using the non-alignment policy to justify their position in the UN."

"Abstain from voting against a war doesn't make your relationship better but makes your principles weaker against violence and human rights violations," the Rajya Sabha member said.

"Tomorrow it could be us not getting support against China. Today we stood on the same side as China, that speaks loads about our foreign policy.

"Having said that, besides a resolution condemning Russia's action, what is the UN's role going to be to help Ukraine on ground? Ally countries are expressing words of support but have left Ukraine alone to defend and fight for itself. The UN will need to relook at its relevance in the New World Order," Chaturvedi said.

Russia used its veto power to block the US-sponsored resolution that sought to deplore in the "strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine.

In the 15-member UN Security Council, the resolution received 11 votes in favour of it, Russia opposed it and India, China and the United Arab Emirates abstained from the voting.

By abstaining from voting on the resolution, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant parties to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy to defuse the crisis, official sources said on Saturday.

Though India abstained from voting on the resolution, it called for respecting "sovereignty and territorial integrity" of States and sought immediate cessation of "violence and hostilities", in comments that the sources said reflected a "sharper tone" and criticism of the Russian offensive.

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The Supreme Court has ordered an insurance company to pay enhanced compensation of more than Rs 1.41 cr to a Deutsche Bank employee who remained in a coma even after years of road accident in Bengaluru in 2013.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and B V Nagarathna partly allowed an appeal filed by Benson George through her mother against the Karnataka High Court's order which had increased compensation from Rs 94,37,300 to Rs 1,24,94,333.

The top court noted the petitioner suffered prolonged hospitalisation and multiple brain injuries and that he was still in a coma due to the accident in 2013. The claimant was just 29-year-old at the time of the mishap.

So the High Court erred in awarding him just Rs 2 lakh compensation under the head of pain, shock and suffering which should be enhanced to Rs 10 lakh, the bench said.

The top court also enhanced the amount of compensation under the head loss of amenities and from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

"In the facts and circumstances of the present case when the claimant is in coma even after a period of eight long years and that he will have to be permanently bedridden during his entire life, the amount of compensation awarded under the head loss of amenities and happiness of Rs 1 lakh only is unreasonable and meagre," it said.

The court ordered Reliance General Insurance Co Ltd to pay Rs 1,41,94,333 with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum from the date of filing the claim petition till realisation of the amount.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar on his death anniversary.

In a tweet, Modi hailed him as a great freedom fighter who, he said, was an epitome of sacrifice and resolve.

His life dedicated to serving the motherland will always be a source of inspiration for the countrymen, the prime minister said.

A foremost proponent of the Hindutva ideology, Savarkar died in 1966.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during which he called for an immediate cessation of violence and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts.

The prime minister also expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to ongoing conflict, according to a statement by the PMO.

It said Modi conveyed India's deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students in Ukraine and sought facilitation by Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate them.

Also read: First Air India flight carrying Indian evacuees from Ukraine lands in Mumbai

"President Zelenskyy briefed the prime minister in detail about the ongoing conflict situation in Ukraine. The prime minister expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict," the statement said.

"He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts," it added.

On his part, Zelenskyy said he informed Modi of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression.

"More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in the UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!," the Ukrainian President tweeted.

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Actress Amanda Bynes is reportedly asking that a conservatorship imposed in 2013 be lifted.

The What a Girl Wants star will make her case in a March 22 hearing, according to E! News. The conservatorship began nearly a decade ago during a run of strange behavior by the 35-year-old former Nickelodeon personality. In 2014, the temporary conservatorship granted to her mom Lynn was made permanent.

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Amanda Bynes attends an appearance at Manhattan Criminal Court on July 9, 2013 in New York City. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

An attorney for Bynes mom reportedly said Lynn is so incredibly proud of the progress Amanda has made and supports her daughters efforts to move ahead with her life.

Bynes tweeted in 2014 that she was suffering with bipolar disorder and living on $50 per day. She had just spent 20 days on a psychiatric hold in Pasadena, Calif., and blamed her parents for her hardships. She complained about her conservatorship, too.

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[ Britney Spears freed: Judge ends pop stars 13-year conservatorship ]

She told Paper magazine in 2018 that drugs had been a problem for her, but claimed shed cleaned up and was doing well.

Those days of experimenting are long over, she said. Im not sad about it and I dont miss it because I really feel ashamed of how those substances made me act.

Bynes said then that she was enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, but had not ruled out a return to showbiz.
As days pass on the SOS calls by Malayali students stranded in various parts of Ukraine were turning out to be emotional ones as many of them were running out of food and water and lamenting over adequate support from the Indian embassy.

While many students were conveying their plight over video messages to the media, many had shared their grievances with NORKA-Roots, an agency of Kerala government for welfare of Malayali NRIs.

NORKA-Roots resident vice chairman P Sreeramakrishnan said that the complaints received from students stranded in Ukraine were passed on the to the Minster of External Affairs along with the information of the Malayali's stranded. So far 3,077 Malayalis, mainly students, shared their information with the NORKA-Roots.

Also Read: Follow guidelines issued by MEA, embassy, education ministry tells Indian students stranded in Ukraine

Students stranded in major cities including capital Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa lamented over lack of efforts from the embassy officials in proper evacuation. The students said that while students from many other countries were being arranged transportation by the embassies of those countries to travel to borders, the Indian embassy was not making any such efforts. Owing to lack of money the students were unable to afford the heavy charges being demanded by bus operators to move to borders. Many of them were also running out of food and water and staying jam packed in bunkers. The massive explosions in many regions were adding up to the the tension of the stranded students.

Ajay, a Malayalai student stranded in Kharkiv, said in a message that the situation of most students stranded were turning miserable. Most of them were having food and water just for a day left with them and many were even left with no money.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government was making arrangements for the transportation of Malayalis arriving in the evacuation flights to India. Sreeramakrishnan said that the state government would be meeting the entire expenses involved for transporting students their homes.

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A Delhi court on Friday sent NIA's former Superintendent of Police Arvind Digvijay Negi, Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez and others to judicial custody for a month in a case related to the terror funding in the valley.

Special Judge Parveen Singh sent the accused persons to jail till March 24 after they were produced before the court on expiry of their custodial interrogation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The agency had arrested Negi, a former SP of the NIA, for allegedly leaking secret documents to an overground worker of the banned terror group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The case was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including those related to terrorism and terror funding.

The NIA had alleged that the accused had been running a network of over ground workers of LeT and recruited persons across India.

In pursuance to conspiracy, the accused were in contact with their foreign based handlers and upon their directions were engaged in gathering intelligence on vital installations, security forces as well as identification of target locations for launching of terrorist attacks, the agency said

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A video appeal by two students from Bengaluru stuck in Ukraine seeking help to get out of the war-hit country on Saturday prompted top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to urge the government to execute urgent evacuation, saying the visuals from the bunker were disturbing.

Meghna and her friend Daksha shot the short video from a bunker they were staying in, urging the Indian authorities to take steps to evacuate them.

Visuals of Indian students in bunkers are disturbing. Many are stuck in eastern Ukraine which is under heavy attack. My thoughts are with their worried family members. Again, I appeal to the Government of India to execute urgent evacuation, Rahul tweeted.

Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here

In the video, which Rahul shared on Twitter, Meghna said there are a number of students from various parts of India who are in the bunker with little food, water or proper ventilation.

We need to be rescued. We need help from the Indian government. We cannot see anyone taking steps from any high office or the Indian government. There is no special flight to accommodate us. We are staying in a bunker. It is really hard for us. We request you to please send help as soon as possible, Meghna said.

Daksha said there are over 15,000 students in Ukraine and the government should take steps to evacuate all of them. "Please help us out. We need help," she said.

Also Read | 'Prisoners of War': No escape yet from Ukraine

The video also showed a number of people staying in the bunker with practically no light. In the video, Meghnas younger brother was also seen appealing for her immediate evacuation.

My sister is stuck in Ukraine. Can you please help her? I want her back, the brother said.

Gandhi and his party have been urging the government to act swiftly to evacuate all Indians stuck in Ukraine.

The Congress has also criticised the government's response to distress calls from students in that country and accused it of inaction.

With Russian troops advancing on Kyiv and other key cities, India on Saturday asked its nationals stranded in Ukraine to exercise caution at all times and not move towards any border post to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine issued a fresh advisory for the Indian citizens as the overall ground situation deteriorated further with gunfire, bombings and missile attacks continuing to rock various parts of the country, including its capital Kyiv.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had on Thursday said there were around 20,000 Indians in Ukraine and nearly 4,000 of them have returned to India in the last few days.

With PTI inputs.

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Congress Legislative Party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah said that he will expose the BJP in Karnataka.

Addressing party workers at Kallapu while on his way to Ullal uroos, he said "We will reveal the corruption of the government. I will explain how Karnataka is inching closer to bankruptcy after BJP came to power in the state. The development of the state has come to a standstill."

Stating that people of Dakshina Kannada have knowledge on politics, he said people will understand politics easily. "We should not support any political party blindly without proper analysis. People should try to know how the BJP has turned corrupt."

He said there were no allegations against him or others when Congress was in power in the state. "There were no charges against our government. However, corruption is rampant everywhere after BJP came to power in Karnataka. It is not my opinion. Karnataka State Contractors' Association president D Kempanna has sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining the corruption in Karanataka. Do we need this government or oust them? The day will come when the BJP government will collapse and we will come back. We will expose the BJP when we come back," he said.

Siddaramaiah has alleged that a man in Belthangady was murdered by a Bajrang Dal leader.

"We will condemn any murder. Be it in Shivamogga or Belthangady. Life is precious. Nobody should stoop the level of murdering anyone."

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The Congress is said to have roped in poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu to help the party's offensive against the ruling BJP in the run up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls.

According to sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi introduced Kanugolu to senior party leaders Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge during discussions held in New Delhi this week.

Kanugolu, a former consultant with McKinsey, was earlier associated with ace pollster Prashant Kishor. Along with Kishor, Kanugolu was among the key members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 campaign.

"Kanugolu's engagement is yet to be made formal or official," a party leader said.

Sources in the party, however, are optimistic that Kanugolu can bring to the table formulae that can see the Congress through the finish line in 2023.

Kanugolu has also worked with the DMK and Shiromani Akali Dal.

Overall, the Congress is optimistic about the future notwithstanding reports of rivalry between its legislature party leader Siddaramaiah and KPCC president D K Shivakumar - both chief ministerial candidates should the party come to power.

"If an election happens today, Congress can get 85-100 seats," a senior leader said, adding that the party will have to slog through the last-mile to get a majority.

The Congress high command has repeatedly asked its state unit to put up a united front.

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The Congress will resume its Walk for Water demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu project from Ramanagara on Sunday.

The five-day walk will culminate at the National College ground in Basavanagudi on March 3, after covering a distance of nearly 80 km. This is the second leg of the foot march that had to end abruptly in Ramanagara in January when the third wave of the Covid-19 peaked.

The prevailing Covid-19 norms carry a ban on fairs, rallies, dharnas and protests.

On Saturday, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar took a Metro ride to Basavanagudi to take stock of the preparations for the public meeting that is planned as a valedictory for the march.

Also Read | Congress seeks film industry's support for Mekedatu march

I urge citizens to join us. This is your right, your agitation, your water. Lets walk for it and be part of history. Your descendants will remember that you walked for the city to get water. If you register, youll get a certificate also, Shivakumar told reporters.

The Mekedatu project involves constructing a balancing reservoir to regulate the flow of water to Tamil Nadu and utilise 4.75 tmc water for Bengaluru.

"Even the 7th phase of Cauvery will not provide water to 7,000 apartments in the city," senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad said.

On Sunday, the march will start from Ramanagara and end at Bidadi. On February 28, the march will stop at Kengeri. On March 1, the march will formally enter Bengaluru through Jnanabharathi and Rajarajeshwari Nagar all the way to Jayadeva junction. On March 2, the march will reach Mekhri Circle. On March 5, the final day, the march will start from Cauvery Theatre to the National College ground.

Shivakumar urged participants to use the Metro so that the citys traffic is not affected.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai mocked the Congress. The world knows why Congress is doing this padayatra. We know why part one happened and how it was. For Congress, only politics is important. They spoiled the Assembly session because of their politics. Outside also they want to do the same, he said. "There are minimum Covid norms that everyone must follow."

Bandobast

The Ramanagara district administration has deployed 1,200 security personnel along with 20 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police as bandobast for the Mekedatu march. According to Ramanagara SP K Santosh Babu, Congress has not obtained permission. He said the police will take action as per the law if Covid-19 norms are violated.

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Derry-based North West Regional College (NWRC) is recruiting students for a new Apprenticeship in Dental Nursing, and is calling on local dental practices to partner with them to provide employ- ment for the trainees during the course.

Last year NWRCs Health and Care Department piloted a successful dental nursing apprenticeship, and they are back this year with a new and more extensive C &G Level 3 specification Diploma in Dental Nursing.

NWRC has now opened two unique state-of-the-art dental suites at their campuses in Limavady and Strabane, providing dental nursing students with the industry-standard facilities needed to complete their training.

Kim Boyle, NWRC Curriculum Manager for Health, said the apprenticeship is a mutually beneficial opportunity for students with an interest in dentistry to train in the field, as well as allowing local dental practices to be part of training the next generation of dental health professionals.

She added: Whats really unique about this course is that for the first time were running the majority of the theory element of the course online, combined with a number of days at the colleges new state of the art dental suites when students will be taught practical subjects onsite.

The rest of the time students will be working with employers assisting in all aspects of patient care, learning technical skills and knowledge to equip them to assist in dental procedures such as general check-ups and specialist treatments.

The apprenticeship will be of interest to students from both inside and outside our normal geographical catchment area as they will not have to factor in regular transport to the college for lectures.

One of the new state of the art dental suites at North West Regional College.

Last year we had a number of local dental surgeries partner with us to provide employment for apprentices and were hoping to expand this even more. Financial incentives are available from the Department for the Economy and employers are eligible for up to 3000 for each apprenticeship opportunity created until March 31 next.

Applications close on March 7. To apply to go: https://www.nwrc.ac.uk/courses/dental-nursing-level-3-apprenticeship-2

Dentists who wish to find out more information about the Dental Nursing Apprenticeship or students with any queries can email kim.boyle@nwrc.ac.uk or ring 07909233540.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has branded Vladimir Putin the Hitler of the 21st century.

Leo Varadkar said the invasion of Ukraine is an atrocity and made it clear Ireland is not politically neutral on the issue.

His comments come as his Government colleague, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, met with EU counterparts in Brussels to discuss further sanctions against Russia.

The EU agreed a package of measures on Thursday and there are plans for more economic measures against President Putin and Russia in the coming days.

Mr Coveney said an asset freeze on Mr Putin and Russias foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is likely.

Mr Varadkar said Ireland will support banning Russia from the Swift international payment network.

He said the Government will also discuss cutting the number of Russian diplomats in Ireland from 20  based at the embassy in Dublin  to around three.

He said expelling ambassador Yuri Filatov has not been ruled out.

Opposition parties in Ireland are demanding Mr Filatovs expulsion.

There were angry scenes outside the embassy in Dublin earlier on Friday as a large crowd of Irish-Ukrainians gathered outside the gates to denounce the invasion.

Earlier, Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed her department has removed visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland.

She said it will help with the swift exit of Ukrainian family members of Irish citizens and the family members of people from Ukraine who live in Ireland.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the package of measures agreed by the EU so far as comprehensive and predicted it will attack Russias finance, industry, trade, energy and transport sectors.

Mr Martin said the invasion by Russia is a gross violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

He admitted there will be a price to pay for European countries as a consequence of the sanctions.

Europe has responded very strongly. In its totality it is very strong, he said.

Mr Varadkar also acknowledged that sanctions such as banning Russia from Swift would have economic implications for Ireland.

But he said those consequences needed to be accepted given the situation in Ukraine.

I dont think were in that space where we can be concerned about the economic impact on Ireland when a democratic country in the European Union is being invaded and the attempt is being made to overthrow a democratic government there, he told RTE Radio One.

He added: The last time I can think of that happening in Europe is in the 1930s and I think we should see this conflict in that context.

We knew that Putin was a bad man, weve known that for a long time now, but we didnt think that he would be the Hitler of the 21st century and I think hes putting himself into that space.

He continued: When it comes to this conflict, Ireland is not neutral. We we support Ukraine in any way we can  short of military action.

This is the kind of thing that we havent seen on this scale in Europe really since the 1930s. And it is shocking, it is immoral and its important that the European Union is united and that we stand up to Russia at this time.

Earlier, speaking in Brussels, Mr Coveney condemned the horrific images from Ukraine, as forces in the capital Kyiv prepare for an all-out assault from Russia.

He described them as the kind of images that I think most people on the continent of Europe felt were consigned to history.

He added: We are seeing a full-scale war being waged on one of Europes largest countries by a nuclear superpower next door, and we need to respond to that as the European Union.

Mr Coveney also hit back at Mr Lavrov after he referenced the use of the English language in Ireland during a press conference on Ukraine.

If in Ireland, if they prohibited English language, what would the UK think about it? Mr Lavrov asked.

Also offering the example of the use of French in Belgium, he added: I cant imagine that a law like that would last for more than a couple of days or even hours.

Mr Coveney rubbished the comparison.

In a strongly worded tweet, he said Russia should not try to use Ireland to justify an unjustifiable war.

He said the Irish-British relationship is an example of two countries with a difficult past that found a way to shape and sustain a peace process, guaranteeing an absence of violence.

On Friday, following the protest outside the embassy, ambassador Mr Filatov claimed his countrys invasion of Ukraine is a humanitarian intervention.

He said there is no proof that Russian forces has targeted civilians in the assault.

He claimed Ukraine has recently used diplomacy as a cover for preparing an offensive on the Donbas region of the country.

Its not our choice, the military option is not our choice, he told RTE.

He added: There was no other choice to end the suffering of Donbas through real humanitarian intervention  thats what this special operation is exactly about.

The only aim of the operation is to neutralise the ability of the Ukrainian military to inflict any more suffering on Donbas. Ukrainians should not be afraid of that.

Asked why he should be allowed to stay in Ireland, the ambassador said: You might ask your Government, its up to them. I can leave any time.
This years NAACP Image Awards will have some real royalty within its ranks.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be recognized for their social justice work and be honored with the Presidents Award.

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FILE - Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose for pictures after visiting the observatory in One World Trade in New York, Sept. 23, 2021. (Seth Wenig/AP)

The NAACP and BET announced that the global humanitarians will receive the honor, which is given to those who have dedicated their time to public service.

Past recipients include Muhammad Ali, LeBron James, Rihanna, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Shawn Jay-Z Carter.

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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 in the U.S. and around the world, NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement.

Its a true honor 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, Prince Harry and Meghan said. Were proud to support the NAACPs work and to also partner with the organization 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 couple are also recognizing leaders who are creating change in technology and social justice with the NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award. Each year, the honoree will be awarded a $100,000 unrestricted stipend to be used to advance new work, expand leadership and expertise, or continue to make an impact in the field.

This years inaugural NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award recipient will be given to Dr. Safiya Noble, an internet studies scholar and professor of gender studies and African American studies at UCLA. The 2021 MacArthur Fellow is known as a trailblazer in intersecting digital technologies with culture, race and gender.

Archewell, a nonprofit foundation named after their son, Archie, was founded in 2020 shortly after they stepped back from their roles as senior members of the royal family and settled in Los Angeles.

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, Johnson added.

The 53rd NAACP Awards will be broadcast live Saturday at 8 p.m. EST on BET from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California.
Duncan, OK (73533)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by strong thunderstorms during the afternoon. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. High 73F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
All eyes will be on Louth on Monday, March 7th as the county hosts a huge national Retail event as part of Local Enterprise Week 2022.

Welcoming the event, Thomas McEvoy, Louths Head of Enterprise explained:

Its a huge honour for any Local Enterprise Office to be selected to host a Spotlight event for the national audience.

We are so proud of the line-up of incredible speakers and are delighted that Retail Guru Miriam Simon will host it. This event is a must for anyone running a retail business.

The online event is open to anyone across Ireland running or starting a retail business, and has been billed as a brilliant opportunity to learn from industry experts.

Miriam Simon, of miriamsimon.ie, explained:

We always knew that retail was changing fast, but the last two years have really accelerated that.

This pace of change is going to continue.

But Irish retailers are really agile, nimble and adaptable.

In this dynamic session, we will explore the current retail landscape, managing through change, staying connected with customers and selling across different platforms.

We want retailers to gain knowledge and feel inspired and empowered after this session.

Speakers will include retail industry leaders Duncan Graham of Retail Excellence, Jean McCabe of Willow Group, Orla McDonnell of OMD Consultancy and Aidan Harte of Optimum Results.

Minister for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English will address this event as guest of honour.

The event will also feature one of Miriam Simons Future Focus sessions, where she explores some of the big new innovations in retail.

Taking place online on Monday, 7th March at 7pm, this event is open to retailers across the country.

The event is free of charge but pre booking is essential.

To book this, and other Local Enterprise Week events, visit Localenterprise.ie/Week.

Thomas concluded:

We are delighted to host this Local Enterprise Week event for a national audience and look forward to putting Retail firmly in the Spotlight.
Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
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Mardi Gras is back in New Orleans.

The pre-Lent festivities, canceled last year because of COVID, have resumed and the mood, while joyous, is anti-politics.

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Among the dozens of floats separated by marching bands and costumed knights on horseback were parodies mocking President Biden, former President Donald Trump, top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, plus former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his ex-CNN host brother, Chris.

Float of Andrew Cuomo at Mardi Gras, 2021. (Richard Johnson )

Mardi Gras group Krewe of Chaos seemed nicer to Biden, depicted in sunglasses with two thumbs up  and hair on his head  than to Trump, who was in a straitjacket.

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The Trump float was titled The Back Nine Sore Loser Retirement Country Club.

Float of Donald Trump at Mardi Gras, 2021. (Richard Johnson )

Observant viewers noticed a rendition of Bidens son, Hunter, on the back of the presidents float smoking a crack pipe.

The cheering crowds caught necklaces of plastic beads, made in China, as another float rolled by showing Fauci with two mouths. A sign on one side said 10 Days while a sign on the other said 5 Days.

The Cuomo brothers were ridiculed, as well, with former CNN star Chris Cuomo in the front saying, Oh, brother, and Andrew Cuomo behind the bars of Me Too Jail.

The last Mardi Gras in 2020, held just before COVID closed things down, was a superspreader event leading to 50,000 infections.

But its already a fading memory for celebrants who just want to let the good times roll.

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The hanging deaths in prison of both Jeffrey Epstein and his former partner in MC2 Model Management, Jean-Luc Brunel, should be worrisome for Ghislaine Maxwell, sources say.

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Maxwell, Epsteins former lover, is set to be sentenced in June on sex-trafficking charges.

Ghislaine Maxwell (Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)

But the alleged jail cell suicides of Epstein and Brunel, who was imprisoned in France, dont bode well for her.

A Vegas oddsmaker should create a betting pool on this, Michael Gross, author of Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women, told me. I hope MI6 doesnt get their hands on her.

The odds of two prisoners in related cases offing themselves is .00093, a mathematician told me. And there is plenty of motive.

When Maxwell, 60, is sentenced to hard time, she could write a book that would name the rich and powerful men who partied with her and Epstein.

The music pounds, the champagne flows, went the opening lines of Gross 1995 book. There is brimstone in the air  It is the smell of a factory that feeds on young girls.

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Gross story, The Modelings Miscreants due out in PARK magazine in March, quotes Brunel saying, You (sleep) with a model, is that a crime?

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Media mavens will love F*ck Off, Chloe: Surviving the OMGs and FMLs in your Media Career (Skyhorse) by first-time author Jeremy Murphy.

The book, out March 1, skewers wokeism in media and Gen Zers with prewritten value statements.

Murphy, founder of 360bespoke, a New York-based customized media agency, and longtime VP at CBS, calls the title a pocket b--ch, because it fits in your pocket and its b--chy.

Among the chapters are How to be Literally Woke, Reasons why PR People Drink, and How to Interview with Anna, meaning Conde Nast boss Anna Wintour.

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The authors advice: Be early; Wintour will wear sunglasses but you should not; wear color; and be yourself, even if you are uninteresting.

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Bruce Springsteen and Harrison Ford are among the VIPs who have participated in Kelly Sullivans FingerSmears paintings. Sullivan is expanding her business and has just bought the historic Strand Theatre in Lambertville, N.J., to reopen as a performance space.

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Chuck Schumer can sing? New Yorks senior senator took the stage at Nebula nightclub in Times Square on Thursday night and performed a painless version of Im a Believer by The Monkees.

One onlooker said that he was actually good.

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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Andrew Harnik/AP)

I was pleasantly surprised at how well it landed and he had a really good voice  who knew. If it was Showtime at the Apollo he wouldnt have been pulled off stage!

The Community Capacity Development for the Human Justice Network was honoring its leader K. Bain and celebrating Black History Month.

The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. >

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams didnt have to cover his ears.

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Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff has been spotted in Palm Beach riding around on a custom-made black scooter while recovering from foot surgery. Jean drove' right into the Colony Hotel for lunch at Swiftys, startling other diners.

Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff has been spotted in Palm Beach riding around on a custom-made black scooter while recovering from foot surgery. (Martin D. Shafiroff)

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Giuseppe Franco, the Beverly Hills hair guru and good friend of Arnold Schwarzenegger, has a daughter, Tatiana, 23, who just signed with Ford Models. Shes a beauty, said my source. Move over, Gigi and Bella Hadid.
North Andover, MA (01845)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. High 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Information on travel tips and making wall hangings for childrens rooms will be the featured topics on Creative Living at noon Tuesday and at 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Adventure writer and photographer, Yvonne Lanelli will tell how preparation...
Ive watched war come through my television as long as I can remember. Seeing it again this week is as sobering as ever.

They say the Vietnam War was the first time war was brought into the home in images every night. Its said growing up with...
TALLAHASSEE  In another blow to the states troubled insurance market, a Leon County circuit judge Friday appointed the Florida Department of Financial Services as a receiver for a property-insurance company that records described as insolvent.

The department will liquidate the Orlando-based St. Johns Insurance Co. The departments website said it was seeking court approval of a transition plan that would move policies to Slide Insurance Co., effective Tuesday.

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The order Friday by Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey came two days after Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier sent a letter to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis that said the company had agreed to receivership and acknowledged that it is insolvent.

The referral of this company to the (Department of Financial Services) Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation is the first step in a comprehensive plan to provide a seamless transition for all St. Johns Insurance Company policyholders, Altmaier wrote.

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The letter, which was attached to the petition for receivership filed in court, did not detail how many policies are involved. The information on the Department of Financial Services website said the court order triggered a process in which the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association and the South Carolina Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association will cover existing claims.

St. Johns Insurance sold homeowners policies in Florida and South Carolina, according to its website. The Florida Insurance Guaranty Association is a longstanding agency created to pay claims of insolvent insurers.

Dempseys order came less than two weeks after St. Johns Insurance notified agents that it was halting writing new business.

The Feb. 15 notice said the company had used many strategies to manage our risks, such as not renewing policies, using new rules for eligibility for business and making rate changes. But it said, At this time, St. Johns Insurance has made the difficult decision to suspend all new business writing statewide as of February 15, 2022  This closure applies to all lines of business.

The receivership is another sign of problems in Floridas property insurance market, where insurers are shedding policies and seeking large rate increases because of financial troubles.

The problems have led to a surge in policies at the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which was created as an insurer of last resort but has become a dominant player in the market. As of Jan. 31, Citizens had 776,790 policies, about a 75 percent increase over the past two years.

Lawmakers are considering proposals to try to bolster the market and slow the flow of policies to Citizens, with the Senate Appropriations Committee slated Monday to take up a bill (SB 1728) filed by Banking and Insurance Chairman Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton.

During a meeting this month, Boyd, an insurance agent, likened the property-insurance system to a catastrophe.
Hava Java in Las Sendas offers a contemporary ambience to enjoy a cup of joe or other beverage.
A ROMANTIC proposal at Gougane Barra led to the wedding day of Debbie Leahy and Leon Rowley.

The couple, Debbie. from Cobh. and Leon. from the Northside, live in Cobh with their four daughters Maegan, Amy and twins Daisy and Lilly.

This week the couple feature in our Wedding of the Week.

They met in December, 2017, on a night out in Cork city.

Recalling their engagement, Debbie said: My aunt took the twins one day, they were about seven months old, so we took full advantage and headed away for a spin and lunch. We ended up in Gougane Barra... little did I know he was going to pop the question, which he did on the side of the lake, it was perfect.

Hes not good at keeping secrets but this time he pulled it off, I was so surprised and absolutely over the moon.

The bride and groom with their wedding party.

They got married in Cobh Cathedral.

The bride recalled: It was the most amazing sunny day on the 21st of October.

The bride got her dress in The Moderne in Cork, an elegant Stella York dress. Leon got his and the groomsmens suits in Morleys, Cork city. The brides hairdresser on the day was Mairead Hastings, a close friend, from Yummy Hair Design in Cobh, with help from Yvonne McKiernan from Cobh. Make-up was by Shirley Ryan MUA, also from Cobh.

With Covid restrictions still in place, they had 100 people at the wedding, which included close family and friends.

The couple first met on a night out in Cork city and were engaged in Gougane Barra.

Recalling the day, Debbie said: Honestly, everything was just perfect on the day, I cant fault one thing.

The reception was held at the Carrigaline Court Hotel, which they said was fantastic.

The cake was by Ellen ODriscoll from Ellens Kitchen, Cobh, and they had a balloon display from Happy.Bambis party supply.

Debbie Leahy and Leon Rowley at their wedding reception in Carrigaline Court Hotel.

What was the most memorable thing about the day?

The best memory I have of the day is standing at the end of the cathedral aisle (which is like a runway!) and just taking it all in before walking with my dad up to Leon. This was extra special as my baby girls ran down the aisle screaming mammy, which put me a bit more at ease, the bride said.

She added that family and friends were so supportive in the run up to the big day.

The couple on the dance floor.

I would just like to say thank-you again, I cant believe this is all over. I just wish I could do it all over again.

She praised Laura and Benny, their photographers: I cant begin on how amazing these two were.
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.

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.
HOLLYWOOD 

One man was hospitalized Saturday morning after a police-involved shooting at a Hollywood Beach condominium, officials said.

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About 8 a.m. police received calls about a man with a gun at the Alexander Towers at 3505 Ocean Drive, according to Hollywood police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi.

The man fired at police, Bettineschi said. He was eventually shot by a Hollywood police officer. No one else was injured.

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Hollywood police respond Saturday to the Alexander Towers on Hollywood Beach. A suspect was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital from an officer-involved shooting at the scene. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The SWAT team was on the scene along with Hollywood police as both directions of Ocean Drive were closed to traffic.

The man was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital. Theres no word on his condition.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating, which is typical in an officer-involved shooting.
Athens, AL (35611)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 80F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 60F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
On Saturday morning, as Russias invasion of Ukraine entered its third day, some of the countrys official government websites went down following a series of alleged cyberattacks. Among the sites that arent accessible as of the writing of this article include that of the Kremlin and the countrys Ministry of Defence. Several Twitter accounts claiming affiliation with Anonymous say the international hacking collective is behind the attacks.

The Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government. #Anonymous #Ukraine  Anonymous (@YourAnonOne) February 24, 2022

Faced with this series of attacks that Ukraine has been suffering from the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, we could not help but support the Ukrainian people, said one account. At the start of the conflict, the group said it would launch a cyber war against the Russian government. However, the Kremlin has denied Anonymous is behind the attacks, according to CNN.

Its believed Anonymous is also responsible for hacking several Russian state TV channels. People have uploaded videos showing those channels playing Ukrainian music and displaying images of the countrys flag and other nationalistic symbols.

Someone hacked into Russian state TV channels. They feature Ukrainian music and national symbols. 



Internet users suspect that this may be another action by the hacker group #Anonymous, which declared a cyber war to Russia in connection with the attack on #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/XaoclymVTs  Beczka (@Beczkax1) February 26, 2022

The collective has also pledged to keep the Ukrainian people online as best we can, even as the invasion takes a heavy toll on the country's internet infrastructure. While there hasnt been a widespread blackout, some parts of Ukraine, particularly those areas where fighting has been the most intense, have seen greatly diminished access. That's something that has prevented people from staying in touch with their loved ones.
The Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation this week into a large number of media, telecom and infrastructure companies that operate in the United States with ties to Russia, CNN reported. The probe, allegedly being conducted jointly with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, is aimed at firms considered a national security risk, and covers a wide array of business types including wireless providers, VoIP services and submarine cable operators.

The FCCs review also arrives as many US cybersecurity experts warn of the increased danger of cyber attacks, especially on critical infrastructure. The US recently imposed a number of sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, and its possible Russia may retaliate through cyber warfare. Recent cyber campaigns suspected to have ties to the Russian government include the hacks of the Olympics, SolarWinds, Ukraine's government websites and coronavirus vaccine research in the US, UK and Canada. US cyber officials have also warned businesses, banks and state and local governments to be vigilant for ransomware.

A similar investigation against Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE launched by the FCC in 2019 over concerns their equipment allowed for Chinese surveillance of US activities. Its unknown exactly how many similar companies with Russia ties will be covered by the probe. Russia also funds media companies in the US and other countries. UK prime minister Boris Johnson recently ordered a probe into the UK license for RT (Russia Today) a Kremlin-backed global news outlet with offices in the United States and across Europe. US company T&R Productions, which backs RT America, has received over $100 million from the Russian government, an Open Secrets investigation revealed.
Its been more than a year since Big Tech acted in tandem to ban the President of the United States from the digital public square. Now, at long last, Donald Trump has made good on his promise to create a competitor to these social-media companies.

His platform, Truth Social, represents the hopes of millions of conservatives who believe they have found their political opinions throttled and censored with increasing frequency. Truth Social promises to be a place where they can speak their mind freely, so conservatives are understandably excited about its launch.

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But lets not pop open that bottle of champagne quite yet. Weve seen this movie before. While our Big Tech-funded friends on the Right are constantly urging us to build our own Twitter, we should remember what happens every time we try.

Rachel Bovard is the policy director at Conservative Partnership Institute. Jon Schweppe is the director of policy and government affairs at American Principles Project.

In the immediate days following Trumps bans, hundreds of thousands of new users flocked to another free-speech-friendly competitor, Parler. The upstart platform quickly rose to the top of Apples App Store charts and was just beginning to achieve sustainable growth when the major tech platforms acted in concert to shut it down and destroy it. Amazon Web Services pulled the plug on Parlers cloud hosting, while Apple and Google simultaneously removed Parler from their app stores. And like that, Parlers moment passed.

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This is not the kind of free market capitalism that conservatives support. Predatory monopolies are the engines of socialist economies, not capitalist ones. Unchecked monopoly power distorts the free market by silencing opponents, crushing competitors, and killing innovation. Conservatives have always understood where this type of overwhelming, concentrated power leads, whether in government or in any other institution. And, as President Bidens increasingly aggressive demands for more Big Tech censorship have shown, the line between public and private is becoming vanishingly thin.

In the case of dominant speech platforms, this problem is particularly urgent. These monopolies dont just distort the market, they distort the free exchange of ideas. Tech monopolies have the ability, completely unchecked, to wield total control over the flow of information. Has any propaganda machine had more totalizing power over the spread of facts and narratives than Google has? These companies find it within their power to ban businesses, news stories, books, scientific papers, legal defense funds, campaign ads, House candidates, congressional testimony, sitting senators and the President of the United States. Content moderators in Silicon Valley should not have such power, but as it stands currently, they absolutely do.

So what can Republicans do? If we are to have any hope of fighting this threat to our basic freedoms and liberties, Republicans will need to get comfortable with passing laws, or at least updating the ones that already exist. But without a filibuster-proof majority in Congress, or a change of heart from the Democrats, only one solution seems politically viable in the near term: Republicans should revive their more-than-a-century-long tradition of antitrust enforcement.

There are some signs that this revival is already well underway. Two bills recently, the Open Apps Market Act, and the Innovation and Choice Online Act, both of which take aim at the anti-competitive practices of tech monopolies, recently passed out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support. More proposals from both Republicans and Democrats are likely forthcoming.

Antitrust is law enforcement for the marketplace. It isnt criminal to be a big business in this country, but its criminal to wield market power in ways that harm competition  the very remedy that conservatives support. Where Big Tech is engaging in market abuses, those abuses should not stand. And where the law needs to be clarified and updated for the digital economy, those reforms should be given serious consideration.

Republican voters overwhelmingly support federal action to curb the influence of Big Tech companies. They recognize that the right to a voice in the public square and access to the increasingly digitally controlled marketplace is essential to a functioning democracy. They understand and support our countrys longstanding tradition of antitrust enforcement. Republicans must seize on this opportunity. The free market awaits its defenders.

Rachel Bovard is the policy director at Conservative Partnership Institute. Jon Schweppe is the director of policy and government affairs at American Principles Project.
Valve says its willing to work with Microsoft to bring PC Game Pass to Steam. I dont think its something that we think we need to do ourselves, building a subscription service at this time, Valve CEO Gabe Newell told PC Gamer in a recent interview. But for their customers its clearly a popular option, and wed be more than happy to work with them to get that on Steam.

Newells subsequent comments suggest PC Game Pass wont come to Steam anytime soon, but that the two companies have had discussions about the possibility. Weve talked to people there quite a bit about that topic, he said. If your customers want it, then you should figure out how to make it happen. Thats where were at.
A new bill that guarantees benefits for ride-hail drivers while still classifying them as gig workers has passed the Washington State House. It's backed by Uber and Lyft, as well as the local Teamsters union, and represents a compromise between all parties involved. Under the legislation, drivers are guaranteed benefits that include paid sick leave, a minimum pay rate and a resource center for drivers who want to appeal their deactivation  all while still being classified as gig workers.

Meanwhile, the companies can't set their workers' schedules under the legislation, and cities won't have the power to regulate ride-hailing firms. According to LaborNotes, the bill is getting mixed reception from drivers, with some arguing that the benefits may not be enough.

Uber, Lyft and other gig companies have long fought attempts to force them to classify their workers as employees, even spending hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure that's the case. In California, the companies spent over $200 million to campaign for Proposition 22, a ballot that overturns a local law that made drivers full employees. The companies prevailed, and the proposition passed with a decently wide margin.

Peter Kuel, president of the Teamsters-affiliated Drivers Union, told Bloomberg:

"Thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers  predominantly immigrants and people of color  will benefit from this long overdue expansion of pay raises, benefits and protections statewide."

LaborNotes says, though, that Drivers Union supported the bill mainly because the companies threatened to pursue a ballot initiative if they don't get a compromise in Washington. Don Creery, a Drivers Union board member, told the publication:

"They're also holding the gun at our heads with the possibility of an initiative. They spent $200 million on California. It comes down to the reality that we don't have the money to buy TV ads. They do. They will misinform the public with a barrage of TV ads, so we will lose an initiative. We could lose everything."

The legislation is now heading to the State Senate, which will hold a public hearing for it today, February 26th.
Twitter has temporarily paused ads in Ukraine and Russia, one of several steps the company is taking to highlight safety information and minimize risks associated with the conflict in Ukraine.

Were temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads dont detract from it, the company wrote in an update that was also shared in Ukrainian. Twitter also said its temporarily halting the recommendations feature that surfaces tweets from accounts users dont follow in their home timelines in order to reduce the spread of abusive content.

Twitter didnt indicate how long these measures would be in place, but said it was part of its ongoing work to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Were actively monitoring for risks associated with the conflict in Ukraine, including identifying and disrupting attempts to amplify false and misleading information, the company said.

Were temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads dont detract from it.  Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) February 25, 2022

The company added that its directing users to Moments and Events curated by its editorial team in order to provide additional context about whats happening in Ukraine. Researchers have warned that misinformation and disinformation about Ukraine will continue to flood social media platforms.

Twitter said its also working to keep high-profile accounts safe from hacking attempts. Were actively monitoring vulnerable high-profile accounts, including journalists, activists, and government officials and agencies to mitigate any attempts at a targeted takeover or manipulation. The companys move comes one day after Facebook announced it was enabling its one-click lock profile tool for people in Ukraine to help users there safeguard their personal information.
Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister has called on Apple to stop selling its products and to shut down its App Store in Russia. Mykhailo Fedorov, who also serves as the country's Minister of Digital Transformation, has asked Tim Cook for the tech giant's support in a letter. "The whole world is repelling the aggressor through the imposition of sanctions  the enemy must suffer significant losses... [I]n 2022, modern technology is perhaps the best answer to tanks, multiple rocket launchers and missiles," he wrote in a bid to convince Apple's chief executive.

Ive contacted @tim_cook, Apple's CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions! If you agree to have the president-killer, then you will have to be satisfied with the only available site Russia 24. pic.twitter.com/b5dm78g2vS  Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) February 25, 2022

Russia launched a full-scale military assault on Ukraine in early Thursday, entering the country from three sides and attacking by land, air and sea. It bombed the country's major cities, including the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which was bombarded with missiles on Friday morning. As a response to the invasion, the US government and its allies have unveiled new sanctions against Russia to block its access to exports in hopes of constraining its military and technological capabilities. In addition, the sanctions are targeting Russian oligarchs by limiting their ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen.

As Bloomberg notes, Apple has an online store in Russia and offers a local version of its App Store in the country. Last year, it complied with a Russian legal requirement to highlight apps made by local developers. According to the news organization, it also registered a business office and posted job listings for positions in Moscow in the past few months, most likely to comply with local regulations. Russia started enforcing a law last year that requires tech companies like Apple, Google and Meta to have a physical presence within its borders.

Fedorov ended his letter to Cook, which he posted on Twitter, with what Ukraine hopes would happen if Apple pulls out of Russia: "We are sure that such actions will motivate youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression." Cook previously said that Apple is doing all it can for its teams in Ukraine and "will be supporting local humanitarian efforts," but the company has yet to publicly respond to Fedorov's plea.
The US government has imposed harsh export restrictions against Russia designed to drastically limit its access to both low- and high-tech goods from overseas. As first reported by Reuters, the Commerce Department has posted a list of expanded licensing policies and requirements implemented in response to Russia's further invasion of Ukraine.

Under the expanded sanctions, US suppliers that want to ship to Russia will have to obtain licenses for goods that didn't require one in the past. Those goods include microelectronics, telecommunications items, sensors, navigation equipment, avionics, marine equipment and aircraft components.

In addition, the US is adding companies designated as "military end users" due to their alleged ties to the Russian military to the entity list. Any company seeking to ship products made abroad to those military end users will have to obtain licenses from the United States if they're using US-made tools, technology and software for their products. The government says these sanctions should "significantly impact Russia's ability to acquire items it cannot produce itself."

The new rules state that license requests will be reviewed "under a policy of denial," which means the Commerce Department will deny almost all of them. The administration will only approve licenses in rare exceptions, such as applications related to aviation and maritime safety, as well as humanitarian needs. Smartphone exports to Russia are also allowed, so long as they're not shipped to Russian government employees and state-owned enterprises.

Former Commerce Department official Kevin Wolf told Reuters that the rules are so complex, many companies might simply stop dealing with Russia completely to avoid mistakes despite the carveouts. However, Cordell Hull, another former official, predicted that the rules would be difficult to enforce.

During a speech announcing the new measures, President Joe Biden said partner countries are adopting or have expressed intent to adopt similar sanctions. The list of partner countries includes 27 members of the European Union, such as Italy, France and Germany, along with Canada, Australia, Japan and the UK, to name a few. "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," he said.
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. &&
Rehabilitation is always a challenging project. This article is an attempt to analyse the process of housing rehabilitation among the coastal community through the perspectives of traditional fi shers.

Kerala has a coastal line of 590 kilometre (km), out of which around 350 km are under the severe threat of coastal erosion and vulnerable to a range of hazards. It is the fourth most extensive coastline of Indias 8,118 km sea coast. The consequences of hazards, such as floods, tsunami, sea wave formations, coastal erosion, cyclones, and high power tides have affected the lives and livelihoods of the coastal communities in the state. The never-ending physical and social vulnerability makes them a consistent tagline of outlier from the so-called achievements of the state (Kurien 1995). Landlessness, poor housing, relatively high infant mortality and maternal mortality, low level of life expectancy, worsening sanitary conditions, adverse femalemale ratio, poverty-induced disease, to name a few continue to beset these groups (GoK 2011).

The Government of Kerala (GoK) has been a front runner in social innovations and introduced a series of fishery interventions to better their socio-economic position. Housing is one area of innovation that has been incorporated in the policy and programme of rehabilitating the fishers from the disaster-prone area, especially those living within 50 metres (m) from the high tideline (HTL). Before this, the fisheries department has delivered housing needs under the two lakh and four lakh housing schemes, the 10 lakh housing rehabilitation project, the Ockhi house scheme and finally, the house repair scheme (GoK 2020a).
The new NOS guidelines adversely affect the higher education aspirations of marginalised students.

The National Overseas Scholarship (NOS) scheme administered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) marks a significant threshold with regards to the marginalised students aspirations to gain higher education abroad. This scheme is aimed at facilitating the masters- and doctoral-level education of candidates belonging to (i) Scheduled Castes (SCs), (ii) denotified, nomadic, and semi-nomadic tribes, and (iii) landless agricultural labourers and traditional artisans at universities situated abroad. For 202223, this scheme aims to offer fully funded scholarships to 125 candidates, where 115 seats are reserved for SC candidates and 30% of the total seats are reserved for female candidates. This scheme is applicable to researchers in the fields of humanities and social sciences, medicine, and engineering. However, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DSJE) has recently introduced a specific rule that excludes subjects or topics that broadly come under the umbrella of humanities and social sciences from within the purview of this scholarship.

Under the recently released guidelines of this scheme applicable for 202223, one of the mandatory conditions reads [t]opics/courses concerning Indian Culture/heritage/History/Social studies on India based research topic shall not be covered under NOS. This implies that students whose research work relates to the above-mentioned areas of study stand summarily excluded from the purview of this scholarship scheme. The same guideline further mentions that [t]he final decision as to which Topic can be covered under such category will rest with [the] Selection-cum-Screening Committee of NOS.
For the second straight year, an Orlando hotel hosted a secret white nationalist conference as CPAC went on nearby, and this year Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was the special guest.

Greene then appeared Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in a panel discussion entitled They Cant Shut Us Up!

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The Orlando World Center Marriott on Friday night was the scene of white nationalist Nick Fuentes America First Political Action Conference, according to HuffPost. The Daily Beast also reported the gathering at that hotel.

The Hilton Orlando was the host to AFPAC last year, also during CPAC.

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Fuentes was involved in the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 and has been subpoenaed over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack.

Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke at a white nationalist conference Friday night.



On Saturday at 11:15 a.m. she is scheduled to be a speaker on the main stage of @CPAC. https://t.co/1GKN2ugmk6  Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) February 26, 2022

Speakers at his event this year praised Western white culture and called for White House advisor Anthony Fauci to be hanged, HuffPost reported. Attendees also chanted, Putin! Putin! and cheered the Russian invasion of Ukraine, said Ben Lober, a research analyst at Political Research Associates who watched a live stream of the event.

Fuentes praised the crowd as our secret sauce ... young white men, Lober wrote on Twitter.

[They say] Vladimir Putin is Hitler and they say thats not a good thing, Fuentes said, according to a video of the event. I shouldnt have said that, he added, smiling, to laughter.

Shortly before bringing up MTG, the camera showed a sizeable and raucous crowd. Fuentes praised "our secret sauce...young white men." Fuentes then solicited a round of applause for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and the groyper crowd chanted "Putin, Putin." pic.twitter.com/I8BGH1TYGm  Ben Lorber (@BenLorber8) February 26, 2022

Calls to the Marriott to ask about the event were cut off or immediately sent to voicemail. A request for comment from a corporate Marriott spokesperson was not returned.

An Orange County Sheriffs Office spokesperson said deputies went to the Marriott at about 9 p.m. for several bomb threat calls that were made. A package was located and deemed safe.

Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. >

Fuentes revealed Greene as a secret guest, referring to the gathered crowd as canceled Americans, HuffPost reported.

In a video posted Saturday to Greenes website, she said she was not familiar with Fuentes views and that she spoke because there were a large group of young people with whom she wanted to share American first policies.

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CPAC, held this year at the Rosen Shingle Creek resort, has tried to distance itself from Fuentes, kicking him out last year when he attempted to enter.

But Greene, one of the most controversial Republican Congress members, spoke at CPAC Saturday morning.

Grumbling could be heard when Greenes name was announced. But she later got cheers when she said, I refuse to be silent, and I refuse to shut up and Im so proud to be up here ... because none of us are going to stay quiet.

Greene was stripped of her committee assignments last year for her endorsements of QAnon conspiracy theories and threats of violence against Democrats.

Like last year, Fuentes kept the location of his gathering secret until the last minute. At the time, a Hilton spokesperson who refused to be identified had no comment beyond insisting the event followed Orange County mask protocols imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ukraines fate hangs in the balance. Renewed international diplomacy strengthens hopes for a negotiated settlement, but the specter of all-out war still looms large. If Russia launches a new offensive against Ukraine, the ripple effects for European interests will travel far beyond the two countries, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) likely to be particularly affected. The war in Ukraine will likely create new problems for Europe in the region. While states in the MENA region will not be able to single-handedly replace Russia as Europes main energy provider (as some hope), they will secure greater leverage over the West. This could be a setback for the Biden administrations efforts to shift its focus away from the Middle East and towards Asia, but it could create new opportunities for European diplomacy such as mediation efforts between Algeria and Morocco to open energy pipelines.

Meanwhile, rising tensions between the West and Russia will likely damage regional stabilization efforts, particularly in Libya and Syria. All-out war between Russia and Ukraine could also prompt a sharp increase in global energy and wheat prices. This could have a devastating humanitarian impact on already fragile states in the Levant and North Africa, whose governance problems could worsen. Regional states that were already struggling economically could find themselves even weaker and more vulnerable to external pressure. These dynamics are especially dangerous in a region where rising bread prices have so often been an indicator of political upheaval and broader turmoil.

ENERGY - The war in Ukraine underlines the dangers of Europes dependency on Russian gas. Current tensions have stoked fears of a disruption of Russian gas flows. This would intensify existing energy shortages and lead to even higher prices for European consumers who are experiencing a severe cost-of-living crisis. Against this backdrop, replacing Russian gas with Middle Eastern gas seems to be an attractive solution. But it is easier said than done. Qatar, as the worlds second-largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has so far been the main focus of efforts to find alternative energy supplies. Since late January, Washington has been pushing Doha to reroute gas exports to Europe. However, Qatari production is close to maximum capacity, with much of its supply tied up in contracts with key customers in Asia. If the US fails to convince its Asian partners to release some of their purchases for delivery to Europe, new gas supplies will be limited and delivered at spot market prices, which are already at an all-time high.

Qatars bargaining power is enhanced by a lack of alternatives, especially since Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates do not have comparable LNG production and export capabilities. But Saudi Arabia is important to the energy mix in other ways. An escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict could reduce Russian oil supplies, prices of which have already skyrocketed. Riyadh is under significant US pressure to increase its oil production to drive down prices. So far, it has refused to do so  because higher prices are boosting its revenues, accelerating its recovery from the pandemic. But heightened conflict will intensify Western demands. Saudi Arabia may also sense an opportunity to challenge Russias dominance over the eastern European oil market, using its recent inroads into Poland to try to seize a greater global market share.

North Africa represents another potential solution to Europes energy woes, given Algerias and Libyas positions as possible alternative gas suppliers. But this too would come with significant complications, not least the way in which North Africas messy politics could threaten the stability of supplies. Escalating tensions between Algiers and Rabat have already halted energy exports through the pipeline that connects Algeria and Spain. The long-standing animosity between the sides offers little hope of a swift resolution  though the Ukraine crisis could prompt stronger European efforts to mediate the dispute. However, Algeria could still provide LNG supplies to Europe or export more gas eastwards through a pipeline to Italy. Meanwhile, Libyas political instability and the ongoing threat of conflict make it a troublesome energy partner, particularly given its limited extra capacity. Europeans may support whoever they see as capable of providing short-term stability in western Libya, the location of a major gas pipeline. But this would not be a sustainable solution. Russia could complicate these dynamics further by leveraging its presence in eastern Libya and the countrys oil fields to disrupt energy flows to Europe.

GEOPOLITICS - The Russia-Ukraine conflict could provide the MENA states with significant new leverage over the US and Europe. Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia will likely seek to use energy dynamics to strengthen their positions. The US designation of Qatar as a major non-NATO ally in January 2022 may be one gesture in this direction. But Qatar will likely want Europe to make concessions. Top of its list may be for the European Commission to shelve a four-year investigation into Qatars alleged use of long-term contracts to inhibit the flow of gas to the European single market. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) wants to escape the status of international pariah he has had since Jamal Khashoggis murder in 2018. Riyadh could seek to use US and European requests for increased oil supplies to regain the Wests good favor. This could involve a long-sought meeting with US President Joe Biden and a general softening of US criticism of Saudi Arabia.

Turkey will also be an important part of the equation, given that it is a NATO member and has close ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Like MBS, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been shunned by Europe and the Biden administration. But the conflict in Ukraine would enhance his visibility and increase Turkeys importance. Russia and the West are now competing to draw Ankara behind their respective positions on Ukraine  with Washington keen for Ankara to continue its weapons sales to Kyiv. Turkey is unlikely to fully align with the West against Russia, given its complicated relationship with the country. But these dynamics will doubtlessly lead to a more self-confident Turkish foreign policy  especially in the Mediterranean and Syria  and toned-down Western criticism of Erdogans domestic conduct. The Western priority of keeping Turkey and other regional states onside is likely to overshadow concerns about values and human rights. At the same time, heightened tensions between Europe and Russia over Ukraine risk complicating Europes position in the crises in Syria and Libya, where Russian intervention has already left Europeans in a weak position. Increased tensions with Moscow will further reduce the likelihood that the West and Russia can come together to secure stabilizing political solutions to these crises.

If tensions in Ukraine result in further European sanctions on Russia  or other such punitive measures  Moscow may use its position in Libya to retaliate, including by exploiting renewed conflict and increased migration flows to increase pressure on Europe. Moscow may have less leverage in Syria, given that it effectively owns the Syrian war and wants the West to provide stabilization support. But heightened conflict in Ukraine could nonetheless impede negotiations on Syria between Russia and the US, impeding even modest progress on humanitarian issues. One significant unknown is whether the war in Ukraine will affect negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear agreement. Russia has played a constructive role in recent talks, working closely with Western actors to draw Iran back into compliance. But the crisis in Ukraine could push Moscow towards the more disruptive approach of easing pressure on Tehran. For its part, Iran may feel that rising US-Russia tensions and higher oil prices give it breathing room and increase its leverage in negotiations.

Other Middle Eastern states are likely to hedge their bets. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, will be wary of alienating Russia by aligning with the West. This consideration may also limit Riyadhs willingness to use the crisis to try to seize some of Russias current share of the oil market. The last decade has seen a blossoming of security and economic relations between Russia and several states in the Middle East, motivated by a sense of decreasing US interest in the region. It is likely that Israel will take a similar stance. Israel views the US as its primary international ally. However, ever since Moscow deployed its military to Syria, Israeli officials have come to view Russia as their new neighbor to the north. They are reliant on Russian cooperation to conduct airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in Syria.

FOOD SECURITY - Finally, there is a risk that escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine will significantly affect wheat exports from the two countries, which account for nearly 29% of the global supply. At a time when food prices are rising largely due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, this would further increase the threat of food insecurity. Another spike in the price of bread  combined with a sharp rise in energy prices  could have a severely destabilizing effect on the MENA. The region already has some of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world, and further price increases could deepen humanitarian crises and feed wider unrest. Few in the MENA region would be spared from these effects. States that are hovering dangerously close to famine, such as Yemen and Lebanon (both major buyers of Ukrainian wheat), would face the worst consequences. But rising prices would also pose a threat to countries such as Libya and Egypt, which import essential supplies from Ukraine, as well as Tunisia and Algeria, where rising food costs have often sparked popular anger. All these states will be looking on warily as Russian forces gather on Ukraines border.

Unsettled: The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis on the Middle East and North Africa  Commentary by a Team of Authors  European Council on Foreign Relations / ECFR.

The Commentary can be downloaded here
NATO to provide more weapons to Ukraine, Jens Stoltenberg says

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was deploying parts of its combat-ready response force and would continue to send weapons to Ukraine, including air defenses.
Russian missiles pounded Kyiv, families cowered in shelters and authorities told residents to be prepared to defend Ukraine's capital from an assault that the mayor said had already begun with saboteurs in the city.
Friday, February 25, 2022

Albert Goldson CEO ofthe Cerulean Council provided his contrarian perspectives on Putins longevity& de-nazification of Ukraine, Budapest Memorandum and President Xisperspectives during an interview on the KMJFresno podcast, 24 February 2022. The following is an enhanced summary withmore detailed explanation on the following issues:

The Budapest Memorandum

This memorandum was signedon December 5, 1994 between the US, UK and Russia to include Ukraine, Belarusand Kazakhstan.

The gist of thememorandum was the removal of 1,900 intercontinental ballistic missiles in silosin Ukraine in exchange for Ukraine independence and sovereignty of its borders.

Three key points





1. TheUS would compensate Ukraine for the extraction of the highly enriched uraniumfrom those weapons.

2. TheUS would assume the cost of the deconstructing its nuclear infrastructure.

3. Assurancesof Ukrainian security.

During this time Boris Yelstinwas the Russian president presiding over the former Soviet Union denuded of anymilitary or political leverage.

Fast-forward to present-dayPresident Putin claims that he is not dishonoring the memorandum because the2014 Ukrainian revolution which ousted the pro-Russian president replacing himwith a pro-western one was, in his opinion, a new state. For this reason Putin reasonedthat Russia had no obligation to honor the agreement.

From a legalperspective this is a memorandum which is not legally binding nor does it haveany enforcement mechanism. It does however indicate in vague and general terms,that the aggrieved party has the right to protest or even retaliate throughassurances, not guarantees.

The US is honoring thismemorandum by retaliating economically, not militarily, with a series ofprogressively draconian sanctions against Russia. Because Ukraine is not a Natomember, the Nato is not legally bound to defend Ukraine militarily underArticle 5 which stipulates that if any Nato country comes under militaryattack, then they have a right to respond accordingly.

Putin's De-Nazification Mandate

Putins plans for the de-nazificationis an emotional trigger. The word Nazi preloads the images and thoughts of themost horrific modern atrocities. By using this phrase Putin is accusing the Ukrainiangovernment of ethnic cleansing of Russian history, culture and people.

For this reason hejustifies that the invasion gives the Russian government the moral right to punishthe Ukrainian leadership and de-nazify those evil thoughts from theUkrainian citizenry and assume their true Russian identities.

Furthermore, as a furtherstep, Russia would re-educate Ukrainians and provide them Putins imaginedhistory, to become Russians just as the Chinese are doing with the Uighurs andthe Japanese did to the Koreans during their annexation and occupation from1905-1945. In fact a leftover result of that brutal occupation is that many in1905 lasting until 1945. Many elderly Koreans first language is Japanese withKorean as their second language.

Strongman PutinsLongevity & Vulnerability

Putin assumed the presidencyin late 1999 still in the rubble of the collapse Soviet Union at the nadir ofRussian power. There was still political chaos and a hollow military. For thisreason Putin lacked any leverage to present former Soviet satellite countries thatserved as their buffer since WW II from joining Nato.

Since that time Putinhas reinvigorated the Russian armed forces through the robust revenue of energyexports creating an efficient, modernized army. Though it falls short of the brutalmight of the Soviet army, its newly defined purpose is to secure and dominateRussias Near Abroad which includes Ukraine.

The Russian military hascut its teeth in gaining some experience in their aerial operations in theMiddle East from its Syrian bases and the soft annexation of Crimea and theDonbas which require more logistical practice for the former ad limited battlepractice for the latter.

Russias nextpresidential election is scheduled (by law) on Sunday, March 17, 2024. Putin iseligible to run for two more 6-year terms. I believe that Putin can only beremoved from office, like most autocrats, through the collaboration of the militaryand upper echelon of society in key industrial and financial sectors.

The salt of the earthprotests provides dramatic visuals and heartfelt individual stories formainstream media coverage who express their fury at government policies howeverthey rarely remove a leader. However they inspire the military and elite asan indication of the will of the people to justify triggering a palace coup.

Putin has copious enemies,typical of a strongman, and probably some within his ever shrinking innercircle whose false flag was the invasion of Ukraine and are planning theRussian version of Operation Valkyrie, the name of the operation to unseatHitler in July 1944.

China | President Xis Perspectives

I personally believethat president Xi insanely jealous that Putin has launched a major militaryoffensive in Europe to capture a country with shared identities withoutincurring a military response from US/Nato.

Xis an autocraticalliance of convenience with Russia is to combat a common enemy: the US. Present-dayChina is engaged mostly in checkbook diplomacy particularly through theirBelt & Road Initiative vs Russian militaristic thuggery.

China can boast impressive military numbers and trophyweaponry but it has not been tested which requires the seamless at all levels ofpolitical leadership, military, grunts and weaponry vs the US, the mostseasoned battle tested empire through its endless wars.

Nonetheless there are fewlegally binding commitments between these autocratic entities despite the many publicrelations photos and bombastic anti-western statements, and military saber-rattling.Because Xi matches Putins continental-sized egos Xi may be compelled toaccelerate his plan to destabilize Taiwan.





Copyright 2022 Cerulean Council LLC





TheCerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient,beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments ongeopolitical dynamics and global urban security.
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Authorities have confirmed that a couple who were killed last weekend in a double homicide in San Antonio were a husband and wife who had worked for decades in Houston public schools.

William Henry Burger, 56, a middle school assistant principal, and Noreen Burger, 58, a retired educator, died around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.
A proposal by an environmental organization to sharply limit construction in floodplains in San Antonio has cleared an initial hurdle at the city Planning Commission  and developers are not happy about it.

The nonprofit Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance proposed a set of amendments to the citys Unified Development Code that would prohibit most construction in floodplains and would require developers in certain circumstances to incorporate flood-control measures, such as natural bioswale channels for stormwater runoff, into their projects.

The protective measures would have to be sufficient to withstand a 25-year rainstorm, a weather event with a 4 percent chance of happening in a given year.

The Planning Commission, at a meeting Tuesday night, gave the proposed amendments initial approval. Next, they will be examined by the commissions 18-member Technical Advisory Committee and other city boards and agencies. If they survive that review, the proposed changes would be taken up by the City Council in the fall.

Currently, developers can build in floodplains in San Antonio with the proper permits. They also can avoid adding drainage controls to a project if they secure approval from city staff and pay an annual fee based on the type of development and how large an area would be covered with impervious material such as asphalt.

On ExpressNews.com: SAWS facing tough decisions on how, where to expand service

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance said it is pushing for tighter floodplain regulation because extreme storms are growing in frequency. The citys development code must keep pace with such realities using the latest scientific research, said Deborah Reid, the organizations technical director.

Building in floodplains can diminish the lands natural ability to absorb large amounts of rainfall and can worsen flooding and degrade water quality in areas downstream.

Annalisa Peace, executive director of the aquifer alliance, cited the Shops at Babcock  a development under construction on the Northwest Side  as cause for concern in this regard.

The project, on the south side of Loop 1604 just west of the University of Texas at San Antonios main campus, sits partly in a floodplain, according to San Antonio River Authority maps. The site is in the Leon Creek Watershed, which is one of the most flood-prone areas in the city.

Members of the Real Estate Council of San Antonio, a trade group representing developers, property managers and others, were critical of the proposed amendments. Stephanie Reyes, executive director and CEO of the Real Estate Council, said the proposed restrictions lacked a scientific basis and would increase construction costs.

The amendments by the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance were submitted last minute and without the input of real estate experts, such as developers and builders, as well as the business communities, the organizations affected most by these amendments and the people responsible for investing in our communitys growth, Reyes said.

The alliance challenged those claims and said although flood controls could increase the cost of a project, the expense would be small compared to the damage caused by a major flood.

Trying to fix damage after the fact is so much more expensive than just paying landowners to develop in a more sensitive and cost-effective way, a way which other parts of the country are already embracing, Reid said.

Planning Commission member George Peck, a civil engineering consultant and vice president of government affairs for the Real Estate Council, said at Tuesdays meeting that he could not support several of the alliances proposals, including the requirement for stormwater detention in certain circumstances.

The system the way it is may have some flaws, but it provides flexibility for developers, Peck said. If you are having adverse impacts downstream, doing detention is the way to go. But if there are no issues downstream from the development, then paying the city a fee is the best way to go.

Ultimately, the commission decided that the nine amendments should proceed to the Technical Advisory Committee for further review. If approved there, the amendments would be considered by the Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, the Historic and Design Review Commission and other city agencies.

Reid was encouraged that the proposals had cleared their first hurdle. Its great, she said. Now we can start having the discussions we need to be having.

On ExpressNews.com: Finding a balance: River authority removes trees for native grassland to prevent flooding

Tuesdays commission meeting was held to consider proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code, which regulates growth and development in San Antonio.

Of 40 amendments proposed, the commission approved 35. Three were rejected, and two were scheduled for further consideration at the commissions next meeting.

The last time the development code was up for revision was in 2015. The next opportunity was supposed to be in 2020, but it was delayed until this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, some 234 amendments were proposed, but only the 40 submitted by groups or individuals outside city government, called external amendments, are required to go before the Planning Commission. Proposed amendments from city departments and the two city-owned utilities, CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System, are exempt from that initial review.

Some believe thats unfair. Bianca Maldonado, a member of the Technical Advisory Committee, told the commissioners that external amendments should be treated the same as those that originate within city government.

I believe as far as access to government, this is a huge barrier for individuals who are seeking to engage with the public process, who have to come to you to advocate for your sponsorship so they can move forward in the process, Maldonado said. Please just give them an opportunity to be heard.

Elena Bruess writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. elena.bruess@express-news.net
He exposed himself to and molested preteen and teenage girls. He was convicted of indecency in 1988, 1993 and 1995. He was put on probation the first two times and was sentenced to eight years in prison in the last bundle of cases.

Gary Dale Cox was a serial kidnapper who took his own life near Kerrville as police closed in on him two decades ago.

People with criminal records similar to his could be among those under scrutiny in the investigation of the disappearance of 3-year-old Lina Sardar Khil, who has been missing since Dec. 20.

Retired investigators say it is very unlikely Lina wandered away from the apartment complex where she lived with her family in the South Texas Medical Center area. They say investigators working the case might have to re-examine the interviews and information collected so far, delve into tips that previously seemed far-fetched and look at sex offenders or convicts who have a history of targeting children.

Others say police also may have to look at cases that seemingly have nothing to do with children, such as burglaries.

Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News Robin Jerstad /Contributor Law enforcement and volunteers search for missing 3-year-old Lina Sardar Khil along a greenway near the corner of Babcock and Huebner roads, about 2 miles from where the girl went missing on Dec. 20, 2021. (File photos) Law enforcement and volunteers search for missing 3-year-old Lina Sardar Khil along a greenway near the corner of Babcock and Huebner roads, about 2 miles from where the girl went missing on Dec. 20, 2021. (File photos)

Its a hard case. It really is, said retired FBI special agent Nancy Fisher, whose duties included serving in the San Antonio squad that investigates crimes against children.

Fisher said she has no inside information about the San Antonio Police Department investigation into Linas disappearance or about how the FBI is helping. Searches in a creek 2 miles from her familys home and more than an hour away in Fredericksburg  prompted by undisclosed tips  have yielded no breakthroughs.

SAPD says it is actively searching for Lina but has stopped short of saying she was abducted. In a tweet, Police Chief William McManus said, SAPD continues to work with the FBI to find Lina Sardar Khil who went missing on Dec 20. The investigation is on-going. Pls report any info no matter how insignificant you may think it is.

Former San Antonio Police Chief Albert Ortiz, who also stressed he has no inside information on the case, said the investigation into a case like Linas begins with a narrow focus.

You start with family, neighbors, friends, and you kind of expand that circle, said Ortiz, who has served as an expert witness on police practices and procedures. Internally, you also expand the sphere of influence within the investigation. You ask other detectives, can you take a look at this? Perhaps a detective who has more experience might take a look at it from a different perspective.

At this stage, a priority for investigators is to determine whether there is indeed a perpetrator, and if so, whether the person was a stranger to Lina, Fisher said.

Officers may also contact other law enforcement agencies searching for missing children  or adults  to see if there are similarities, Fisher said.

Law enforcement will look at registered sex offenders or (convicts) who have had contact with children in the past, said Alan Nanavaty, executive director of the missing childrens section of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, or NCMEC. His organization is supporting SAPD in Linas case.

Detectives in other police units might be able to help solve a missing person case.

San Antonio Police Department

Cases like burglaries  which ones did not appear to be to steal something but to attack or target someone? Ortiz said.

Lina was last seen between 4:30 and 5:10 p.m. Dec. 20 at a playground in the Villas del Cabo apartment complex in the 9400 block of Fredericksburg Road. Her family, refugees from Afghanistan, has pleaded for help in finding her. Rewards for information leading to her discovery or the arrest of a suspect now total $250,000.

Fisher surmises that at this stage, the investigation may have been scaled down to a handful of officers or detectives. They likely will take a step back and look at interviews, information and leads already explored to see if anything was overlooked. Tips that had previously been deemed unreliable will likely now be pursued.

Theres multiple layers, and you peel them back until you plateau and then go back and ask, What did we miss? Fisher said.

Ortiz said staffing limits and a backlog of cases could force detectives to prioritize. In police work, theres a long-standing theory that chances of solving a case  such as homicides  are cut in half if detectives dont get a viable lead within the first 48 hours.

Youve got seven or eight new cases coming in and ... youve got to nail down your evidence within the first 48 hours, Ortiz said. Youre juggling a lot of balls. The ones that are going to fall first are the old ones.

Jessica Phelps

Ortiz oversaw the SAPD homicide unit during two high-profile murder cases that began as missing persons or abduction cases. The victims were Heidi Seeman and Erica Botello. Seaman, 11, and Botello, 7, disappeared from different parts of the city in August 1990, and their bodies were found later that month. The killings have never been solved.

Ortiz said detectives worked the cases hard and exhausted all leads but eventually had to move on to other cases.

Nanavaty said that in child abduction cases, only about 1 percent involve a perpetrator unknown to the child.

Fisher recalled one of those rare cases: Nykema Augustine was 9 when she was abducted in March 2001 while she played near her familys Northwest Side apartment.

After a massive air and land search, Augustine was dropped off in front of the apartment five days later by her kidnapper.

Her suspected abductor, Gary Dale Cox of the Houston area, shot and killed himself in May 2001 as police closed in.

He had another kidnapping victim with him, 11-year-old Leah Henry of Houston. The girl was rescued when Kerr County sheriffs deputies found Cox.

Investigators said Cox was also suspected in the kidnapping of Lisa Bruna, 11, who was abducted in Slidell, La. The abductor held Bruna and Augustine for several days, then released them, and there was evidence he used tape or other means to restrain them. Investigators suspected Cox carried out additional abductions.

Fisher said police used descriptions and other information provided by the girls, along with a diary one of the girls kept on a store receipt, to develop Cox as a suspect. Also crucial to finding Cox was a fortuitous, unplanned trip by a Kerr County deputy to a hunting shack. Cox had repainted his car and put on fake license plates.

He was caught, totally 100 percent, by luck, Fisher said. Thats what youre hoping for in a case like (Linas), that an opportunity will surface  that someone will say, I heard someone talking about something like this.

In 2020, NCMEC assisted law enforcement, families and child welfare agencies in 29,782 cases of missing children. Nanavaty said 92 percent of those missing kids were recovered. In Texas, NCMEC assisted with 3,588 cases of missing children in 2020, and the center helped recover all but 226 of them.

In Linas case, Nanavaty said, law enforcement officers hope someone will come forward simply out of concern for the child, rather than for the reward money.

But if it leads to a safe recovery, then thats the way law enforcement can go, Nanavaty said.

Jessica Phelps

In the meantime, Nanavaty said, NCMEC will keep Linas case in the limelight, through digital ads, social media and other means.

The public will help for as long as its kept in the public eye, Nanavaty said.

SAPD said anyone with information should contact the departments missing persons unit at 210-207-7660.

guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland
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No one ever came to a Ukrainian orphanage to visit a little boy with cerebral palsy who couldnt speak. He spent his time in a crib and lived a sad existence.

In autumn 2020, Kelci Jagge, a wife and mother living in Saint Hedwig, outside San Antonio, saw a photograph of the child, Ruslan Manzhos, on a website run by Reeces Rainbow, a nonprofit that provides special needs adoption support. The boy captured her heart immediately.

On Valentines Day, Kelci and her husband, Theron Jagge, both 33, finally boarded an airliner with 4-year-old Ruslan to fly home as tensions were mounting in Ukraine because of imminent threats from Russia.

They got out just in time.

The Jagges adopted Ruslan in the days leading up to Russias invasion of Ukraine and went through a harrowing ordeal fraught with hurdles to take him home with them. Ruslan received the very last visa issued by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv before the embassy was evacuated because of the political turmoil.

I feel like the Lord really helped us get through all of this.  He helped us overcome all these obstacles, Kelci said. I dont think that Ruslan would have lived that much longer. We know that he was scheduled to be transferred to an institution before we traveled.

Ruslan has been in University Hospitals intensive care unit since he arrived in San Antonio on Feb. 16. He is recovering from pneumonia and going through withdrawals from medications he was given at the orphanage to sedate him, his parents said.

Once he is well, the Jagges will take him home to meet their other children, an 11-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. The two boys will share a room decorated with travel landmarks and loaded with toys, stuffed animals, miniature cars and books.

Sam Owens /San Antonio Express-News

Ruslan was born prematurely and abandoned at birth at a Ukrainian hospital, the Jagges learned. He spent the first eight months of his life in a hospital because of his health issues. Then he was moved to the orphanage in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, not far from the Russian border. The orphanage was located very close to the occupied territory, Kelci said.

On ExpressNews.com: Ukrainians in San Antonio in despair over the invasion by Russian forces

After Ruslans picture captured their hearts, the Jagges signed up with an adoption agency in early 2021 and started going through the process.

They traveled to Ukraine to meet Ruslan for the first time in December.

When we got to the orphanage, they took us to the directors office, and the director kind of talked to us about all of his needs, said Kelci, who works as an interior designer. Honestly, they were kind of like trying to convince us not to adopt him.  (They said) Are you sure you dont want to meet another child? That was kind of sad, honestly. We kept telling them, Yes, yes, were sure  hes who we want to meet.

Soon the couple heard a stroller approaching the directors office. Then they saw Ruslan for the first time.

I just immediately started crying, Kelci said. Wed been staring at his picture for so long. Just to see him  it was surreal. He was kind of staring at us, sort of like, Whats going on? And we got to pick him up and hold him.

She learned that she and Ruslan share the same birthday  Jan. 9.

Sam Owens /San Antonio Express-News

The Jagges returned home to Texas while waiting for a court date to finalize the adoption. They returned to Ukraine for a Feb. 3 court proceeding, where the judge approved a waiver of the usual 30-day wait after a court ruling. Then the family began gathering all the required paperwork, medical records and a visa to take Ruslan home with them.

Meanwhile, political tensions were escalating while the Jagges were staying in Kramatorsk.

There were a bunch of journalists there. So there was a lot of buzz, I would say, Kelci recalled. And the people in Ukraine didnt seem too concerned, so we werent as nervous.  But things started to ramp up when we went back to Kyiv.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio cybersecurity experts prep for Russian attacks

The family faced a lengthy wait Feb. 11 at the U.S. Embassy, which hadnt received Ruslans medical records yet. The Jagges and Ruslan were the only visitors in the building. It was after 5 p.m., so only one worker and two guards were on duty. But at 5:20 p.m., Ruslan received his visa.

The embassy was evacuated the very next day, Kelci said.

She called the last-minute approval of Ruslans visa a miracle because I dont know how we would have ever gotten out without that.

The day after receiving the visa, the Jagges and Ruslan went to the airport with plans to fly home. But officials at the airports passport control division said the familys paperwork was invalid and dismissed the Ukrainian courts waiver of the 30-day waiting period as unacceptable. The officials would not allow the family to board their flight.

The Jagges called the embassy, their facilitator and a nonprofit known as Exitus, which helps trafficking victims and orphans get to freedom. The Jagges adoption team in Ukraine hired a lawyer to assist them. The attorney said she would appeal to a supervisor in the airports passport control offices. She gave it a 50-50 chance of success.

By the time (Feb. 14) rolled around, we started to get calls  major concerns about what was going on in Ukraine, Kelci said. Exitus was telling us that they were concerned about airstrikes in Kyiv.

By midday, the Jagges learned the appeal worked. The decision to prevent the family from leaving Ukraine was overturned. Exitus booked the family a flight on Turkish Airlines to take them to Istanbul.

They let us through, Kelci said. And that was, let me tell you, just like the biggest relief ever because we were concerned about what could happen that night. And our sons health was declining, and we were running out of medications.  So we just made it on the flight.

The plane took off, and the parents laughed with joy, delirious with happiness. The sense of relief was overwhelming, Kelci said.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Ukraines story may inspire; still, its one of horror

The family then flew from Istanbul to Atlanta, then boarded another flight to San Antonio. During the flights, as they got closer to home, Theron Jagge felt elation.

I couldnt really control my emotion at that point, said the husband and father, who works as a mobile service manager for technicians that assist 18-wheelers. Ive never felt a sense of relief like that. Ive never been so thankful in my life.

Once the family landed in San Antonio, they took Ruslan straight to University Hospital.

He was spiking a lot of fevers at that point, and he had a really bad cough, Kelci said. And we were out of medications also.  The pneumonia was my biggest concern at that point in time.

Sam Owens /San Antonio Express-News

Ruslans health has improved, but he will likely be hospitalized for at least another 10 days, his father said. He is expected to be released soon from the ICU to another hospital room.

On Monday, the 4-year-old boy will undergo surgery to receive a gastrostomy tube so he can be fed directly through his stomach. This is being done to avoid the dangers of him aspirating his food.

While the Jagges are safe, they are heartbroken over Russias invasion of Ukraine and the upheavals happening in Ruslans home country.

I was very upset this morning to wake up and see all the news of whats going on there, Kelci said. We have people that we love there. The facilitating team that helped us  I love them. I want them to be safe.

Beyond that, theres tens of thousands of orphans there. And then there are a lot of families here in the U.S. that are currently in the adoption process. There are families who are supposed to travel next week to get their kids. And so my heart is really broken for those families. They dont know when theyll be able to go; they dont know if their kids are safe. So, yeah, its definitely scary.

On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: As Ukraine suffers, only Russia at fault

Theron Jagge said seeing the news of whats happening in Ukraine evokes strong emotions.

Im in disbelief, to be honest with you, he said. I thought that this was just being blown out of proportion for a long time. Leading up to this point, I really thought that there would be a resolution. And now seeing places no more than a city block away from where we stayed for a long period of time in Kyiv, (theres) bomb sirens going off.

Im seeing videos now of Russian jets firing missiles on communities. And it makes me sick to think that there are so many innocent people over there that are just living their lives and now this war has crept up on their doorstep for what reason.

Theron said he and his wife received word Thursday from one of their translators in Ukraine that she was hiding in a subway tunnel with many other people.

That is just devastating to hear, he said. It really brings pain to think about what theyre going through. And it just shouldnt have to happen this way.

The Jagges expressed thanks to God and the many selfless people who worked tirelessly to allow them to bring Ruslan to his new home in Texas.

Kelci said she hopes her familys story educates others on the plights that orphans face, not only in Ukraine, but elsewhere in the world.

Im really praying that our whole situation encourages others to adopt and just brings awareness, she said.

pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare
Comedian Cristela Alonzo read my mind Thursday as cable networks started covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine in real time.

Alonzo, a political activist from the Rio Grande Valley who starred in her own sitcom, thought of the journalists in the middle of what could be the start of a world war.

Richard Engel, @cristela9 tweeted about the longtime foreign correspondent, is like the weatherman of NBC News.

A wartime weatherman.

He has to go everywhere something terrible is happening to prove to people that its happening, she tweeted, using more colorful language than that. I love that guy.

Engels familiar face has joined that of many other foreign correspondents now reporting from Ukraine and Russia.

Tom Jones of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, a nonprofit journalism school and research center in Florida, wrote Thursday about this special breed, and about how CNN has stood out for its boots-on-the-ground coverage of the war.

He cited CNNs Matthew Chance, who this week was reporting from near an air base outside Kyiv. At one point, he saw what he thought were Ukrainian troops arriving at the base. They actually were Russian airborne soldiers preparing for combat  and already so close to the Ukrainian capital.

Earlier generations might have looked to Ernie Pyle, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American combat correspondent, or the Budapest-born photographer Robert Capa, famous for his photos of the Normandy invasion.

Pyle was celebrated for his intimate portraits of unsung GIs. He was killed by a Japanese machine-gun round during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

Capa is best-known for saying, If your pictures arent good enough, youre not close enough. He died in 1954 in Vietnam while covering the French Indochina War for Life magazine.

Today we have CNNs Clarissa Ward, who on Thursday was in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, interviewing Ukrainians in a subway turned bomb shelter.

The scene was surreal, reminiscent of the London blitz, when Brits hid in the Underground during World War II.

You have to admire the courage to volunteer for such an assignment, even to lobby hard for it.

I love journalism but Ive never possessed that kind of mettle. The closest Ive come to battle was a school board meeting in a small Texas town. I was the enemy.

For days, weve watched journalists, men and women from all over the world, take great risks to report from an Eastern European democracy fighting for its very survival.

The spirit and patriotism of the Ukrainians is inspiring. Its heartbreaking to think how many lives will be lost and how many cities could be destroyed.

Journalists armed with cameras, recorders, cell phones and notebooks have parachuted into a place with the misfortune to share a border with a country led by a corrupt madman.

Like first responders who run toward danger and disaster while sane people run away, reporters go into war zones to bear witness and keep an accounting.

Theyre not just courageous. Theyre invaluable.

San Antonio has its own examples in Express-News military affairs writer Sig Christenson and former Express-News photographers Mark Sobhani, Edward Ornelas and Nicole Fruge.

The three photographers were Christensons partners in covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2010, eight tours in all.

Christenson, whose interviews with military types were a wonder to overhear in the Express-News now-shuttered newsroom at Third Street and Avenue E, says each of the photographers is as brave as any solider or Marine I ever met.

Sobhani and Ornelas are now independent photographers. Fruge is director of visuals at the San Francisco Chronicle.

In war and in other situations, photographers like to ride close to the edge and to the action. They put themselves there, as Capa instructed, to make the best pictures.

Theyre far more visible than reporters and carry equipment that might easily be mistaken for a weapon.

Nineteen years ago next week, Christenson and Sobhani left San Antonio for Kuwait to cover the American invasion of Iraq. They embedded with the Armys 3d Infantry Division, in a battalion that spearheaded Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Christenson said the soft-spoken Sobhani was the first American photographer to cross the sand berm dividing Iraq and Kuwait, though the reporter says there may be disagreement about that.

One of Sobhanis early photos of the war appeared in the New York Times, spread across the page.

The two rode in separate tracked vehicles into a 360-degree battlefield, Christenson recalled. It was a turkey shoot.

Yet Sobhani seemed unafraid. Mark is taking pictures like theres nothing going on. He was fearless, the reporter said. What he did was in the finest tradition of American war correspondents.

Sobhani said he was relieved to return to the U.S. and had no intention of ever covering another war.

But Christenson, he recalled, was already trying to figure out how to get back.

Christenson is right there among the best, and hes ours.

Such are the people who will be in my prayers this weekend as they, too, come under fire.

May they all survive to tell their grandchildren about it.

eayala@express-news.net
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A first group of about 200 Libyans has been evacuated from Ukraine to Slovakia following the military offensive launched against the country by Russia, the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced in a statement on Saturday
As Floridas Dont Say Gay or Trans bill is closer to becoming law, here in Texas, the most recent discriminatory human rights attacks on transgender children and their families are, remarkably, even more ruthless.

The Florida bill, passed Thursday by the states House of Representatives, prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in the states primary schools. It is expected to pass in the Republican-majority Senate.

Its terrible these vulnerable students wont be able to get much-needed support in school, but in the shameful, relentless race among GOP states to outdo each other in anti-LGBTQ+ efforts, Texas remains in pole position. While our Legislature didnt pass Senate Bill 1646, which sought to classify gender-affirming care as child abuse, its political impact endures, magnified in the primary season.

In a Feb. 18, 13-page, nonbinding legal opinion, indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said each of the sex change procedures and treatments described can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions of Chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code. Paxton is facing his own legal and ethical issues, so maybe he is looking to change the subject.

Perhaps Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants to change the subject from ERCOT and Winter Storm Uri. In a Feb. 22 letter to Commissioner Jaime Masters, Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to abide by the opinion, writing: As OAG Opinion No. KP-0401 makes clear, it is already against the law to subject Texas children to a wide variety of elective procedures for gender transitioning.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services spokesperson Patrick Crimmins said the agencys investigations policy hasnt changed, adding: In accordance with Governor Abbotts directive today to Commissioner Masters, we will follow Texas law as explained in Attorney General opinion KP-0401.

Crimmins said there are no pending investigations of child abuse involving gender transitioning procedures, but if such allegations are reported, they will be investigated.

This isnt completely new. In an August 2021 response to Abbotts request for interpretation of state law, Masters said gender transitioning through reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse pursuant to state law.

Its too bad DFPS cant protect kids from Texas politics. This is an incredible intrusion by our state government.

In his opinion, Paxton wrote that the medical evidence does not demonstrate that children and adolescents benefit from engaging in these irreversible sterilization procedures.

Really? Because health, medical and civil rights experts advocate the opposite. It is well known that children who are LGBTQ+ are high risk for mental health conditions and suicide, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

A 2020 study published in the journal Pediatrics concluded: There is a significant inverse association between treatment with pubertal suppression during adolescence and lifetime suicidal ideation among transgender adults who ever wanted this treatment. These results align with past literature, suggesting that pubertal suppression for transgender adolescents who want this treatment is associated with favorable mental health outcomes.

The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations say health care decisions for children who experience gender dysphoria  psychological distress over conflicts between a childs gender identity and their sex assigned at birth  are best left between patients, their families and physicians.

Thursday, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales joined four other Texas district attorneys in a statement condemning Abbotts and Paxtons directives, calling them life-threatening.

Parents will not be prosecuted for protecting their children. Grandparents will not be prosecuted for loving their grandchildren, Gonzales said in his statement. Doctors will not be prosecuted for providing medical care for their patients. The governor has chosen to involve several state agencies in matters best left to the family, in particular where there is no abuse.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas CPS says it will treat hormone therapy for transgender kids as possible child abuse

ACLU-Texas and the Human Rights Campaign are among those advocating against the directives. HRC Texas State Director Rebecca Marques called Abbotts actions unconscionable and Paxtons opinion poorly researched, poorly reasoned  and entirely political.

The directives are selfish, partisan acts to distract from other issues during the primary season. But they are also more than political actions. These directives discriminate and harm the vulnerable. Every Texas leader, candidate, business and voter should oppose them.

Nancy.Preyor-Johnson@express-news.net
Justice is elusive, and when it comes, the response is often a mix of joy and relief.

At this time of bitter polarization, we can add a third reaction to the mix  disbelief.

All three reactions greeted news of the guilty verdict in the federal hate crime trial of three white men accused of killing a Black man on Feb. 23, 2020, in Brunswick, Ga.

The jury deliberated for four hours, finding the defendants  Travis McMichael, his father, Greg McMichael, and their neighbor William Roddie Bryan  guilty on all counts of killing Ahmaud Arbery.

The three men, who were also found guilty of weapons charges and attempted kidnapping, could receive life in prison, as well as heavy fines.

As the nation continues to grapple with racially motivated violence by police and vigilantes who shroud themselves in self-appointed authority, the jury sent a powerful message: We see you for what you are, and we will not tolerate your deadly campaign of intimidation, Marc H. Morial, chief executive of the National Urban League, told the New York Times. This verdict draws a clear line in the sand.

The facts of the case were beyond dispute, thanks to a cellphone video that captured the incident. Arbery, 25, was jogging through a suburban neighborhood, and the three men, suspecting him of burglarizing a home under construction, chased him in their pickups. He was shot three times with a shotgun.

Bryan and the McMichaels were convicted last year of murdering Arbery, but hate crime trials are rare  and notoriously hard to win. Prosecutors are reluctant to bring these cases to trial. They must not only prove that the defendants are racist but that the racism provoked the crime.

Defense lawyers argued that while the three men expressed racist views, the killing was not racially motivated  a contention the prosecution skewered. An FBI intelligence analyst testified about a series of offensive messages Travis McMichael posted on his social media accounts, including racial slurs. Some were sent on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Another witness testified about a conversation she had with Greg McMichael in 2015. She told him Julian Bond had died. Bond was a board chairman of the NAACP and founding president of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

I wish that guy had been in the ground years ago, McMichael responded.

The prosecution portrayed the three men as racists whose crime was motivated by animosity toward Black people.

The verdict was a triumph for justice, but the toxic attitude toward minorities in this country created an atmosphere in which civil rights advocates feared the worst. Would the hate on the streets be transferred to the courts? Would one crime be compounded by another, this one perpetrated by the legal system?

These are not rhetorical questions, spurred by flighty, intellectual musings. They are crucial, and they must be asked  and answered. Jurors represent the communities they serve, and racism is alive and well in many of those communities, testament that Jim Crows death is a slow one.

Hate crimes rose 44 percent last year in major U.S. cities, according to the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino. The spike in hate crimes against Black people followed the murder of George Floyd the previous year. It is interesting  and disturbing  to note that while Arbery was killed before Floyd, his murder did not gain full national prominence until the cellphone video was leaked two months later.

After the verdict, friends and family expressed joy, but it was tempered by the skepticism they took into the courtroom. They knew a guilty verdict was not a given. And they knew it would not bring Arbery back.

As a mother, I will never heal, Wanda Cooper Jones told reporters. They gave us a small sense of victory, but we will never get victory because Ahmaud is dead.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden is nominating federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court Friday, making her the first Black woman selected to serve on a court that once declared her race unworthy of citizenship and endorsed segregation.

In Jackson, Biden delivers on a campaign promise to make the historic appointment and to further diversify a court that was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. He has chosen an attorney who would be the high court's first former public defender, though she also possesses the elite legal background of other justices.

Jackson would be the current courts second Black justice  Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other  and just the third in history.

She would also be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, and her confirmation would mean that for the first time four women would sit together on the nine-member court.

The current court includes three women, one of whom is the courts first Latina, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Jackson would join the liberal minority of a conservative-dominated court that is weighing cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

Biden is filling the seat that will be vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring at the end of the term this summer.

Jackson, 51, once worked as one of Breyers law clerks early in her legal career. She attended Harvard as an undergraduate and for law school, and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the agency that develops federal sentencing policy, before becoming a federal judge in 2013.

Her nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority by a razor-thin 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker. Party leaders have promised swift but deliberate consideration of the presidents nominee.

The next justice will replace one of the more liberal justices, so she would not tip the balance of the court, which now leans 6-3 in favor of conservatives.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin has said that he wants the Senate to move quickly on the nomination, and senators have set a goal of confirmation by mid-April. But that timeline could be complicated by a number of things, including developments between Russia and Ukraine and the extended absence of Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, who suffered a stroke last month and is out for several weeks. Democrats would need Lujans vote to confirm Bidens pick if no Republicans support her.

Once the nomination is sent to the Senate, it is up to the Senate Judiciary Committee to vet the nominee and hold confirmation hearings. After the committee approves a nomination, it goes to the Senate floor for a final vote.

The entire process passes through several time-consuming steps, including meetings with individual senators. While Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed just four weeks after she was nominated ahead of the 2020 election, the process usually takes several weeks longer than that.

Jackson was on the presidents short list as a potential nominee even before Breyer retired. Biden and his team spent weeks poring over her records, interviewing her friends and family and looking into her background.

Biden has said he was interested in selecting a nominee in the mold of Breyer who could be a persuasive force with fellow justices. Although Breyers votes tended to put him to the left of center on an increasingly conservative court, he frequently saw the gray in situations that colleagues were more likely to find black or white.

Jackson serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a position that Biden elevated her to last year from her previous job as a federal trial court judge. Three current justices  Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts, the chief justice  previously served on the same court.

Jackson was confirmed to that post on a 53-44 Senate vote, winning the backing of three Republicans: South Carolinas Lindsey Graham, Maines Susan Collins and Alaskas Lisa Murkowski.

Bipartisanship is important to Biden, who has often said he was reaching for GOP support as he closed in on a nominee. Another GOP connection: Jackson is related by marriage to former House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

In one of Jacksons most high-profile decisions, as a trial court judge she ordered former White House Counsel Don McGahn to appear before Congress. That was a setback to former President Donald Trumps efforts to keep his top aides from testifying. The case was appealed, and a deal was ultimately reached for McGahns testimony.

Another highly visible case that Jackson oversaw involved the online conspiracy theory pizzagate, which revolved around false internet rumors about prominent Democrats harboring child sex slaves at a Washington pizza restaurant. A North Carolina man showed up at the restaurant with an assault rifle and a revolver. Jackson called it sheer luck no one was injured and sentenced him to four years in prison.

Jackson has a considerably shorter record as an appeals court judge. She was part of a three-judge panel that ruled in December against Trumps effort to shield documents from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Miami. She has said that her parents, Johnny and Ellery Brown, chose her name to express their pride in her familys African ancestry. They asked an aunt who was in the Peace Corps in Africa at the time to send a list of African girls names and they picked Ketanji Onyika, which they were told meant lovely one.

Jackson traces her interest in the law to when she was in preschool and her father was in law school and they would sit together at the dining room table, she with coloring books and he with law books. Her father became an attorney for the county school board and her mom was a high school principal. She has a brother who is nine years younger who served in the Army, including in Iraq, and is now a lawyer.

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman and Jessica Gresko contributed to this report.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday that his budget chief and secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, Melissa McCaw, will be resigning to take a job as the finance director for the town of East Hartford.

News that McCaw would be leaving her post, which comes as one of her former top deputies is under federal criminal investigation, was first reported by Hearst Connecticut Thursday night. She declined to comment when reached by phone late Thursday.

Her resignation comes amid a federal probe into school construction contracts and redevelopment of the State Pier, supervised by her former deputy.

In an afternoon press conference outside his office at the state Capitol, Lamont and other administration officials heaped praised on McCaw. The governor called her a great friend and credited her with turning the states finances around.

She took over at a real time of dire need in this state when we were confronted with a $3.75 billion deficit, Lamont said. We had about 60 days to put that budget together. We worked around the clock to get that right. A lot of people said this isnt a real budget. Its smoke and mirrors. Its not going to be in balance. Thats not the way Melissa McCaw does it.

The state now has a predicted surplus of $1.5 billion and the biggest rainy day fund in history, he added.

In a statement issued in a news release Friday announcing her departure, McCaw said she was grateful to the governor for his faith in me and for giving me the opportunity to be part of this team and make a difference for our state.

We have weathered the pandemic, expanded services, maintained a budget surplus, invested in critical programmatic areas, and paid down our pension liabilities by nearly $2 billion over our annual payments generally without raising taxes, she said.

Lamont said he and McCaw met at the governors residence in Hartford on Thursday night after he returned from an economic development trip to Israel, and thats when she told him she would be taking another job. The governor said he did not ask for McCaws resignation, but that he wasnt shocked by her decision.

Theres a lot of back and forth going on right now. Its distracting, Lamont said. She still had to get through OPM, get through this budget cycle, probably figured a fresh start over in East Hartford makes sense for her and makes sense for OPM right now.

McCaws departure is effective immediately. Her last official day will be March 11 after she takes accumulated personal leave time. Jeff Beckham, an undersecretary at OPM, will take over for McCaw. Her resignation had not been submitted in writing by the afternoon press conference, according to Max Reiss, the governors spokesman.

Asked whether McCaw properly supervised her deputy, Konstantinos Kosta Diamantis, who is being investigated by federal authorities for his role in school construction projects and the state-financed redevelopment of the State Pier, Lamont said: Ive got confidence in her as secretary of OPM.

I think she did a good job, he added. Its a big agency with a lot of things going on.

Later, the governor was asked if McCaw bears any responsiblity for the unfurling scandal.

She was overseeing a $24 billion budget in the middle of the pandemic, Lamont said. There was a lot of things going on.

There are no public allegations that McCaw acted improperly in the school contracting issues. In recent weeks officials in several cities and towns have accused Diamantis or a member of his staff of pressuring them to hire certain construction firms, including one that employed his daughter, and that his office steered work to favored contractors.

McCaw only recently commented publicly on the allegations against Diamantis. She said in an interview with the CT Mirror this week that she was not aware of any broad steering of work to favored firms, and that she is extremely disturbed by the information unfolding in the press.

She hired Diamantis, a former Democratic lawmaker from Bristol, as her deputy secretary at OPM in 2019. He previously worked for the Office of School Construction Grants & Review, which was under the Department of Administrative Services. Lamont and McCaw allowed him to keep the school construction portfolio when he moved over to OPM.

Controversy surrounding Diamantis first came to light publicly last fall due to a separate issue - that his daughter, Anastasia, was hired as an executive assistant to Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr.

At the time Colangelo hired Anastasia, he was lobbying her father and other OPM officials to approve salary increases for himself and other top prosecutors around the state. Colangelo announced his retirement a week after the release of a state investigation by outside lawyers into the allegations of nepotism, which Lamont ordered. McCaw was not implicated in that report.

The allegations prompted Diamantis to be fired from his post at OPM, a political position, on Oct. 28, 2021, by Paul Mounds, the governors chief of staff, not McCaw. Diamantis chose to quit instead of face suspension from his civil service job at the school construction office, which moved back under DAS shortly after he was fired.

Asked Friday whether McCaw agreed with the decision to fire Diamantis, Lamont said he did not discuss it with her.

We didnt have that conversation, the governor said. Paul made that determination and I think it was the right determination.

Friction between McCaw and Lamonts office has been evident since Diamantis departure. Diamantis claims that Lamonts chief of staff and chief operating officer had been disrespectful to McCaw. In opening her annual presentation of the governors proposed budget on Feb. 9, McCaw did not deny those allegations.

It is not easy to work professionally at this high a level of field that has been dominated by white males, McCaw, who is Black, said at the start of the online presentation. And while I cannot say the same for everyone in this administration, I want you to know that Gov. Lamont and I have always had a strong and close working relationship based on mutual trust and mutual respect.

Previous reporting from Columnist Dan Haar and Staff Writer John Moritz is included in this story.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
A North Stonington woman was charged Thursday in a crash from last Halloween that sent five to the hospital, Connecticut State Police said.

Police determined that Mackenzie Balicki, 26, of North Stonington, was driving with a blood alcohol content about three times over the legal limit on Oct. 31, 2021. Her children, a 4-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl, were in the back seat at the time, according to an arrest warrant provided by state police.

She allegedly was driving north in the southbound lanes of Route 49 and hit a car driving the correct way. Balicki, her children and the two people in the affected car were all sent to the hospital, the arrest warrant stated.

Police served an arrest warrant on Balicki Thursday. She was charged with driving while intoxicated with a child passenger, failure to drive in the proper lane, safety belt violation of a child, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and three counts of third-degree assault. She was temporarily surrendered to the York Correctional Institution in Niantic and was seen in court in New London on Friday, state police said.

A state trooper was called to the two-vehicle collision on Route 49 in North Stonington around 8 p.m. Oct. 31. The trooper saw a 2017 Honda Civic with severe damage on the front passenger side stopped on the south shoulder as well as a 2013 Nissan Frontier stopped in the center of the road. The Nissan was damaged on the passenger side, the arrest warrant stated.

Balicki, the owner of the Honda Civic, said she was driving her two children home from a grocery store and did not recall what happened before the collision, according to the arrest warrant.

The trooper noticed Balicki was unsteady on her feet, speaking with slurred speech and had bloodshot and glassy eyes, the arrest warrant states.

Balicki said she had consumed alcoholic beverages about two hours before driving. Balicki also told the trooper she has considered going to get help for her alcohol abuse, but she could not afford rehabilitation, according to the arrest warrant.

The trooper attempted to administer a field sobriety test on Balicki three times but she was too distracted by the emergency medical personnel on scene and kept walking away, according to her arrest warrant.

The driver of the Nissan, a 77-year-old man, told troopers that he was driving south on Route 49. While going over a hill, the driver said he saw a pair of headlights traveling north in the southbound lanes and they were coming right at him, the warrant states.

The driver attempted to swerve out of the way, but couldnt and the two cars collided, according to the arrest warrant.

The front seat passenger of the Nissan, a 65-year-old woman, complained of severe pain from the incident and requested emergency medical assistance. A resident who lived near the crash site also told the trooper that Balickis daughter had lost consciousness for about a minute and had not been in a car seat, according to the arrest warrant.

The trooper noticed injuries on all drivers and passengers. Balicki and her children were taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, while the driver and passenger of the Nissan were taken to Westerly Hospital in Westerly, R.I., the warrant states.

Police later discovered, through looking at Balickis medical records, that she had a blood alcohol content of 0.33  more than three times the legal limit of 0.08, according to the warrant.

Medical records also showed that the 65-year-old woman suffered a bruise on her chest wall as well as other chest pain. The 77-year-old man suffered from a contusion of a rib on his right side and other chest pain, the warrant states.
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FAIRFIELD  As the situation in Ukraine changes by the hour, an international nonprofit based in town is ramping up fundraising efforts to protect the countrys most vulnerable  its children.

There is really no safe place in Ukraine any longer, said Janti Soeripto, the president and CEO of Save the Children.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday - sending troops, vehicles and aircraft into the eastern European country as well as bombarding military bases, cities and other infrastructure. As of Friday, Russian forces were bearing down on the capital city of Kyiv.

As The Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third day, Soeripto said millions of people are being displaced. She said Save the Children is anticipating a large increase in refugees fleeing their homes to neighboring countries such as Poland and Romania.

Soeripto said the nonprofit is also moving to ramp up aid in Ukraine and the countries surrounding it.

She said there are 7.5 million children in Ukraine. Save the Children is looking to raise $90 million to reach 3.5 million children and their families the organization thinks are at the most risk..

But, as always with these things, it (changes) every day, she said. So it all depends on how long violence will continue and where its happening.

There are large numbers of people on the run and looking for safety in Ukraine during a very cold winter, Soeripto said, adding it is making an already dangerous situation for children and their families even harder.

Our founder (Eglantyne Jebb), over 100 years ago, infamously said all wars are waged against children, even though it doesnt always seem that way, she said. That remains, sadly, the truth. Thats why were there in Ukraine. Were staying to deliver.

Soeripto said Save the Children is one of the largest independent organizations in the world that provides humanitarian aid to children. She said that aid includes lifesaving health care, education and protection.

We do that work both here, in the United States, in mostly rural communities, as well as in about 100 countries in the world, she said. We are probably in some of the hardest places in the world to be a child.

Soeripto said those countries include Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ukraine.

Save the Children first started operations in Ukraine in 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean Penninsula and fighting began between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukranian military in the eastern part of the country.

Since the beginning of the first escalation, we actually moved into Ukraine for the first time, she said. Weve been working there ever since.

Soeripto said a relatively small team operates in Ukraine, about 25 people, who coordinate services and aid to children with the help of local partners. She said that work took place both in eastern Ukraine and in government-controlled areas.

In light of the invasion, Soeripto said, the non-profits mission does not change but its actions on the ground do. As an example, she noted that education work in Ukraine has been suspended.

We then move into, Okay, what is needed immediately on the ground and where do we best add value to what is there already?, she said, adding it involves coordinating with local authorities and non-government organizations. Sometimes, that literally means we send money to local partners to help them do some of that work at a larger scale.

Soeripto said her teams have been working together for months preparing for this eventuality, positioning supplies and money around Ukraine to make sure it would be immediately available when needed. She said some staff in Ukraine are sheltering in their homes while others have started to go out and assess where to distribute food, blankets and other necessities.

This is a daily, shifting situation, she said.

The conflict in Ukraine has been going on for eight years, Soeripto said, so it was already a place where children were traumatized. The escalation of military actions there just makes the trauma and violence worse, she said.

We think it will have a long-lasting impact even when the violence tapers off, which we sincerely hope it does, she said, noting the organization has called for a cessation of hostilities.

Soeripto said some of Ukraines children will have lost family or friends, which will severely impact their mental well-being for much longer than this conflict lasts. She also said there will be economic repercussions to the war both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries.

If the economy gets hit hard, that means families will drop back into poverty, and children are always bearing the brunt of situations like this, she said. That means they will not go back to school. That means they will have to go out to work. That means that they cannot have a normal childhood.

Soeripto said people who want to donate or support Save the Children can find more information at www.savethechildren.org , where the organization also posts information about their work and conditions on the ground.

joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com
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.

The discovery has revolutionized our treatment of migraine, said Dr. P. Christopher H. Gottschalk, a neurologist at Yale Medicine and assistant professor of neurology at the Yale School of 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.

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 migraine. 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.

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.

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.

Insurance Coverage

The CGRP receptor antagonists are, predictably, expensiveabout $500 a monthbut Mehla and Gottschalk are optimistic about their cost to patients in the longer term.

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.

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.

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, she said, 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.
China urges Britain to cease meddling in Hong Kong affairs

Xinhua) 10:38, February 26, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The so-called British National Overseas (BNO) passport is not recognized by China, and Britain should stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs in any form, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Friday.

It has been reported that Britain will in October put forward a new plan that would allow Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above and born on or after July 1, 1997, to apply for a relevant U.K. visa as long as one parent holds a BNO passport.

In response, spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing that Britain's move fundamentally violates the promise it made in a relevant memorandum, openly interferes in Hong Kong affairs, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, and violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations.

"China deplores and firmly rejects this," Wang said.

He stressed that the historical merits of the issue are very clear. Prior to Hong Kong's return to China, the British side made the explicit commitment that it would not confer the right of abode to Chinese citizens in Hong Kong who hold BNO travel documents. But more than 20 years after Hong Kong's return to China, Britain has formulated its new policies for the BNO passport and is attempting to turn many Hong Kong residents into second-class British citizens.

China has announced that it will not recognize the BNO passport as a valid travel document or proof of identity, Wang said, and China urges Britain to immediately rectify its mistakes and cease meddling in Hong Kong affairs in any way.

"No attempt to destabilize Hong Kong or damage Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will ever succeed," he said.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
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Grain merchant Cefetra has acquired two grain stores in Scotland for over 7m, adding approximately 140,000 tonnes to the firm's capacity.

One of the grain stores acquired by Cefetra, at Ormiston in East Lothian, has a capacity of circa 80,000 tonnes.

The other, at Charlesfield in Melrose, near the Scottish Borders, can hold approximately 60,000 tonnes.

Cefetra, which owns over 39 storage sites and 20 ports, is one of the major traders of grains and animal feed raw materials in the UK and Ireland.

Managing director Andrew Mackay said the significant investment would 'further strengthen' the company's grain origination business.

It demonstrates our long-term commitment to supporting both the farming community and our established customers across Scotland and Northern England," he added.

These grain handling, processing and storage facilities, with drying, cleaning and grain analysis operations, give us the infrastructure required to operate in key grain production areas of Scotland.

"They allow us to work with and support farmers, whilst also enabling us to supply quality grains, oilseeds and pulses to key customers in Scotland and Northern England.

Cefetra dispatches between 85,000  90,000 tonnes of raw materials to industry partners every week, and delivers 550  600 lorry loads per day.
The Irish government has announced a multi-million euro support package for the country's pig sector, but Defra continues to deny funds for struggling producers in England.

Irish agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue unveiled 7 million for Ireland's pig producers as they battle with soaring costs and low pig prices.

The fund will be distributed through a flat rate payment of a maximum of 20,000 per individual commercial pig farmer sending more than 200 pigs per annum to slaughter.

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) national pig chairman, Roy Gallie welcomed the support package, calling it an 'important first step'.

Pig farmers are currently losing between 35 and 40 a pig and it is very tough for pig farmers at present. We must get this money out to them as a matter of urgency."

Ireland's announcement is the latest of a series of emergency support packages for pig producers brought in by governments across the UK and EU.

It joins Scotland, Northern Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland and others by introducing measures to help its pig farmers struggling due to low pig meat prices and extraordinarily high input costs.

But Defra has repeatedly rejected calls for compensation to be issued to farmers in England, despite many forced to cull pigs as a result of on-farm backlogs caused by staff shortages in pork plants.

There are currently 200,000 pigs on contract backed up on farm across the country, latest figures show, with 40,000 healthy pigs culled and simply thrown away.

During this week's NFU Conference, Defra Secretary George Eustice again batted away calls for a fund to support English pig producers.

NFU President Minette Batters responded by saying the crisis was a 'disgrace' that was a direct result of the governments "poorly designed change to immigration policy".

This truly is an utter disgrace and a disaster for the pig industry," Mrs Batters said at the union's conference.

"This is down to the governments poorly designed change to immigration policy and what I can only say appears to be its total lack of understanding of how food production works and what it needs.

Situations like this make me more and more determined to shape a new and better future for not only how we produce our food but how we achieve a fair return for it."
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 79F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
What do you peg as one of the basic necessities for the world to function currently? Yes, it is fuel. And Sanya Goel, Co-founder and Director of Humsafar, knows it well. The masters degree holder in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, is the architect of Delhis only legal doorstep diesel delivery service provider. Her aim is to meet the demand for diesel without compromising on the efficiency, quality and safety.

An app-based doorstep diesel delivery service provider Humsafar functions well for farmers, housing societies, hotels, hospitals, malls, construction sites, industries, banquets and other bulk diesel buyers. Goel says that the primary aim is to ease the lives of the end consumers, saving them the hassle of transporting large amounts of diesel from petrol stations to their desired location.

Being a part of the fourth generation of a business family, Goel knew she wanted to become an entrepreneur. However, when she went abroad for higher education, she had to device whether to join the retail business run by the family or start in a different vertical. And thats how she thought of Humsafar, along with Co-founder Mayank Agarwal. Today, the app is active in 12 states across the country.





Goel admits that doorstep delivery of fuel as a structured service was unheard of in India. She hit upon the idea when observing rickshaw pullers coming in with barrels, having them filled them with diesel and going on their way. It was a lot of hard manual labour, which was not only unoptimised, but overall risk-prone. This made me contemplate finding a way to develop technology-assisted fuel delivery alternatives to help resolve this challenge, she says. Upon research, Goel also realised that customers faced challenges such as safety, poor quality of fuel and pilferage, which concretised the idea further.



There, I observed the operations, the customer behaviour, and pain points from close quarters. Thus, the know-how was already acquired, and once the government opened up the diesel delivery sector for doorstep delivery services, my idea got wings, she says. As luck would have it, her father backed her, and as things progressed, she gradually mastered the processes, streamlined the operations and ensure resource optimisation.

But then how do they ensure they keep up the safety and quality checks? With a solution focusing on two key aspects. The first is customer service. We believe in loyalty-based revenue generation and have built a customer-facing organisational structure. We placed territory managers in major consumption centres, an approach that has benefitted us richly. The second is delivery mechanism. Once the buyer places an order, the diesel is procured from a fuel station and delivered within 24 hours in a pilferage-proof system, with OTP-related measures at every step.





Like any new venture, this one too faced its set of challenges. Initially, we faced the challenge of acceptance. However, market acceptance is rapidly growing now. The only real-time challenge that we face now is regulatory procedures, Goel mentions.



Holistic growth being the aim of every new venture, it is so for Humsafar as well. While algorithm improvements and technical capabilities are being worked upon, they plan to hit more states of the country soon.

Next Story : This Chef Transformed Her Terrace Into A Work Of Art With Plants

Goel, who is passionate about travelling when she has the time, leaves us with some food for thought: I have learnt that nothing is impossible. Even if someone dreams of making a mark in an area that is not popular or undiscovered but feasible, with existing demand, I would say go for it wholeheartedly. Solutions are found once you start. So go ahead and chase your dreams!
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NEW BRUNSWICK (dpa-AFX) - A New Jersey bankruptcy court has upheld Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) bankruptcy claim to handle the infamous talcum powder fiasco. The company is currently battling around 40 thousand lawsuits against its now-discontinued talcum powder which has allegedly caused ovarian cancers to thousand of women during its decades of production.



Judge Michael Kaplan of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Trenton, N.J., has ruled that LTL Management, a subsidiary of the mother company created to handle the lawsuit alone, is right in the chapter 11 filing and deems that this is the only way the company can get out of the mud. This type of legal maneuver is called the 'Texas two-step' strategy where a bigger entity creates a smaller subsidiary to be the metaphorical scapegoat of a large mishandling and then files for bankruptcy to evade a huge payout.



However, the claimants had argued that the strategy is an unjust move pulled off by the company to strip the sufferers of their legal rights. The judge ruled that the claimants' legal team has failed to show that the move was made in 'bad faith', therefore legitimizing the bankruptcy ploy.



J&J has proposed a $2 billion settlement for the case, much less than what the company would've had to pay if the strategy were not granted by the court. The company, claiming that the talc is not harmful, said that the litigation of the deluge of cases would cost the company $190 billion. 'We continue to stand behind the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder, which is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer,' said J&J.



'Given that this determination is limited to the unique facts of the case presently before the court, this ruling will not open the floodgates to an unchecked, unregulated, or inherently abusive method of addressing liability,' Judge Kaplan said in the ruling.



The original verdict of $4.7 billion was awarded by a Missouri jury in 2018 after 22 women blamed Johnson and Johnson for using asbestos in their talcum powders and baby products, which has led to their ovarian cancer.



While the amount of the verdict was reduced to $2.14 billion, the present amount is going to stay unchanged as the company is entangled in 21,800 cases regarding the same issue. The company said that it has already rolled back the baby-powders due to the allegations and has been facing a drop in demand due to the filings.



Earlier last year, the SC rejected to even consider the company's argument and just turned over the file with other cases it didn't want to talk about.



'The bankruptcy code was never intended to be abused in this way by massively profitable corporations as a means to delay or prevent cancer victims from having their day in court,' said Jon Ruckdeschel, an attorney for the complainants.







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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2022) - Prism Resources Inc. (TSXV: PRS) ("Prism" or the "Company") announces the resignation of Julian Bavin as a director effective February 25, 2022. Mr. Bavin had agreed to resign as the Company shifts its focus away from future exploration activities in South America. Mr. Bavin had served as a director of the Company since 2012.

The board would like to thank Mr. Bavin for his many years of service to the Company and wishes him well in his future endeavors.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Brian Kerzner

President & CEO

For more information contact:

Brian Kerzner

Prism Resources Inc.

Email: brian@kerzner.ca

Scott M. Ross

Prism Resources Inc.

604-803-4883

Email: sross@prismresourcesinc.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.

None of the securities issued in connection with the Financing have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this release. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible events and statements with respect to possible events. The words "is expected" or "estimates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could" occur and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained in this release which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the ability of the Company to secure financing on the proposed terms and for the aggregate amount. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold or certain other commodities; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, or other countries in which the Company may carry on business in the future; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; and contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of gold exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or the inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking statements made in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators in Canada. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may vary, and future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements cannot be guaranteed.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114900
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2022) - Bolt Metals Corp. (CSE: BOLT) (FSE: A2QEUB) (OTCQB: PCRCF) ("Bolt" or the "Company") announces it is postponing the annual general and special meeting scheduled for March 29, 2022 (see the Company's press releases of January 13, 2022, February 22, 2022 and December 23, 2021 on its profile at www.sedar.com). Bolt will post notice of a new meeting and record date once one is chosen in accordance with regulatory requirements.

About Bolt Metals

Bolt Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production grade nickel and cobalt deposits, key raw material inputs for the growing lithium-ion battery industry. Visit https://boltmetals.com/ to find out more.

Bolt Metals Corp.

Ranjeet Sundher - President and CEO

(604) 922-8272

rsundher@boltmetals.com

Steve Vanry - CFO & Director

(604) 922-8272

steve@vanrycap.com

Sean Bromley - Director & Investor Contact

(778) 985-8934

sean@theparmargroup.com

Reader Advisory

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114965
Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 25, 2022) - SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) ("SPC Nickel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a further increase to its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") due to oversubscriptions. The Offering was originally announced February 12th, 2022, to raise gross proceeds of up to $1,920,000, and due to oversubscription, the Offering has been further increased to raise aggregate proceeds of up to $3,138,507.

All terms of the Offering remain the same, provided that the Company now intends to issue up to 10,540,714 Charity flow through units (the "Charity FT Units") at a price of $0.15 per Charity FT Unit, for proceeds of up to 1,581,107 and up to 11,980,000 flow-through Units (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.13 per FT Unit, for proceeds of up to $1,557,400. Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one flow through common share of the Corporation and a half share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each FT Unit will consist of a flow through common share and one half of a Warrant. Each full Warrant issued as part of either the Charity FT Units or the FT Units will entitle the holder to purchase one additional non-flow through common share (a "Common Share") for a period of 18 months from closing at a price of $0.18 per Common Share.

Finders' fees may be paid in connection with the placement to certain finders that assist with the Offering, as determined by mutual agreement between the Corporation and such finders, subject to regulatory approval. The finders' fee will consist of 6% cash and non transferable share purchase warrants equal to 6% of such Charity FT Units or FT Units sold to investors ("Compensation Warrants"). Each Compensation Warrant will permit the holder to purchase one Common Share for 18 months from closing at a price of $0.18 per share. The gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Charity FT Units and FT Units will be used to incur Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE") that are "flow-through mining expenditures" (as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) on the Company's mineral properties.

Securities issued in connection with the Offering, including any Common Shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants, will be subject to a four-month restricted resale period and applicable securities legislation hold periods outside of Canada from the closing date. Completion of the private placement will be subject to all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that the private placement will be completed as proposed or at all.

About SPC Nickel Corp.

SPC Nickel Corp. (TSXV: SPC) is a new Canadian public corporation focused on exploring for Ni-Cu-PGMs within the world class Sudbury Mining Camp. The Company is currently exploring its key 100% owned exploration projects Lockerby East and Aer-Kidd both located in the heart of the historic Sudbury Mining Camp and holds an option to acquire 100% interest in the Janes project located approximately 50 km NE of Sudbury. In addition, the Company recently acquired over 43,000 hectares covering a large proportion of the high prospective Muskox Intrusion, located in Nunavut. Although our focus is on Sudbury, we are an opportunistic company always looking for opportunities to use our skills to add shareholder value. Additional information regarding the Company and its projects can be found at www.spcnickel.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Further information is available at www.spcnickel.com or by contacting:

Grant Mourre

President and CEO

SPC Nickel Corp.

Tel: (705) 669-1777

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, PROVIDED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION OR APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114970
Good-Loop, a New York-, London, UK- and Edinburgh, Scotland, UK-based tech company that converts peoples attention to ads into donations to good causes, raised $6.1M in Series A funding.

The round, which brought total funding to $8.2M (6m) since 2016, was led by Quaestus Capital Management (QCM), with participation from Scottish Enterprise, SIS Ventures, First Party Capital and investment raised on the crowdfunding platform Seedrs.



The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its product roadmap, including the development of new solutions aimed at reducing digital advertisings substantial carbon footprint, expand its international teams, including opening new offices in New York and Chicago to serve its US markets that currently comprise 33% of total revenue.

Led by CEO Amy Williams, Good-Loop is an ad tech platform that drives ad engagement by converting peoples attention into donations to good causes around the world. The companys ad formats motivate people to watch an entire ad online by allowing them to unlock a free charitable donation at the end of each spot. This strategy allows advertisers to receive more meaningful brand engagement, while appealing to consumers goodwill by providing a cost-free means of philanthropy. Current clients include Unilever, PepsiCo, Nestle, Levis, adidas, NBC Universal and Nike.

Good-Loop has also launched a suite of solutions to help advertisers measure and offset the carbon cost of their digital ad campaigns, including its Carbon-Calculator and Green Ad Tag  a 11 tracking pixel that enables brands and agencies to track and offset the carbon cost of their digital advertising in real time.

The B Corporation runs campaigns in over 18 markets around the world.

FinSMEs

25/02/2022
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Braden Manning, Gettysburg baseball: Braden went 9-for-13 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 7 RBI over 4 games. He also struck out 11 batters in a win over South Western.

Amy Anderson, Delone Catholic softball: Amy went 5-for-12 with 6 RBI, 3 runs scored and a triple over 3 games. She also struck out 17 batters and went 2-1 in those games.

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A variety of cream puffs will be available at Beard Papa when it opens in Gilbert on Saturday.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Cloudy with showers. High around 50F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
High school students put their electrical skills to work wiring the interior of a veterans home as part of Operation Enduring Gratitude, Thursday, Feb. 17, in Glendale.

(Photo by David Minton)
DAYTON, Ohio, Feb. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aptima, Inc., a leader in human-centered engineering is pleased to announce that Roger Edwards has joined Aptima Ventures, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aptima, as Chief Commercialization Officer. In the new role, Edwards will oversee and lead all aspects of commercialization, drawing on Aptimas extensive research and development (R&D) in the Department of Defense and its research laboratories.



Im thrilled to have this opportunity, which is a culmination of my professional experiences and offers the potential to impact humans lives in many ways, said Edwards. Theres a common thread through Aptimas unique human-centered engineering that offers so much potential, whether thats to provide better training, tailored support in technology saturated environments, or solutions to better sense and protect people to keep them safe.

Edwards is also the Co-Founder/Managing Director of Gem City Business Solutions and recently retired from serving as the Vice President and General Manager for the Accelerant Venture Capital Fund, an Initiative of the Dayton Development Coalition. He has more than 25 years of experience in providing business, investment and technical guidance for the development and commercialization of new solutions within a variety of different markets.

Roger brings incredible experience and vision to all aspects of commercialization, said Daniel Serfaty, Principal Founder and CEO of Aptima and Chairman of Aptima Ventures. Were excited to have a leader of his caliber who can identify, nurture, and transition emerging technologies and find new uses and pathways for existing ones.

Aptima has long partnered with our customers in government and defense, conducting R&D on some of the most pressing problems. They, like us, want to see that innovation return to the market as commercially viable, cutting-edge solutions that can benefit both government and industry. Roger is a key part of that. Commercialization is not only a multiplier for economic growth, it also advances our societys technological leadership, Serfaty added.

Since 1995, Aptima has applied its deep understanding of how humans perform in complex, high risk, safety- and mission-critical environments, researching and developing innovative ways to measure, assess, and augment performance in defense, healthcare, and other sectors.

Aptima Ventures most recent commercialization is Sentinel, a Dayton-based venture backed company spun off from Aptimas work with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). After repurposing previous AFRL R&D into a solution to better monitor and protect Air Force aviation maintainers, the technology was transitioned into a commercial product whose application has been expanded to serve numerous industries whose workers operate in hazardous settings.

Successful commercialization, such as Sentinels, is about more than funding. It also depends on innovation and talent, added Edwards. The opportunity to work alongside Aptimas management team, its scientists, and to manage the launch of an Entrepreneur In Residence Program to accelerate commercialization opportunities is extremely exciting.

Edwards is a Certified Public Accountant within the State of Ohio and holds a dual major in Accountancy and Finance from Wright State University.
English French

OTTAWA, Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Red Cross wishes to thank Global Affairs Canada following an announcement that it will match donations to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. The Government of Canada will match every donation made by individual Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross between February 24, 2022, and March 18, 2022, up to a maximum of $10 million (CAD). Donations will support those impacted by ongoing conflict in Ukraine.



Global Affairs Canada will transfer the matching funds to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal which will support the efforts of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to respond to the humanitarian needs in Ukraine and surrounding countries. Donated funds will allow the Red Cross to support preparedness, immediate and ongoing relief efforts, recovery, and other critical humanitarian activities as needs arise, both in Ukraine and surrounding countries, including support to populations that have been displaced.

The Canadian Red Cross is always impressed by Canadians for their generosity following a disaster or crisis anywhere in the world, said Conrad Sauve, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for their support and hope that the announcement to match funds, further motivates individuals in Canada to donate in support of those impacted by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Canadians wishing to make a donation to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal can do so online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

Additional Resources

@RedCrossCanada | facebook.com/CanadianRedCross | redcross.ca/blog

Red Cross donor inquiries: WeCare@redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111

About the Canadian Red Cross

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement  which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 192 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies  the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need, and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

MEDIA CONTACTS

English Media: 1-877-599-9602

French Media: 1-888-418-9111




SILICON VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Black Legend Awards Silicon Valley Induction Ceremony, held on February 19, 2022, was an inspirational and engaging virtual event honoring the 22 nominees who were inducted into the Black Legends Silicon Valley Hall of Fame. Among them, Meriwest Credit Union Community Relations Manager, Helen Grays-Jones, the Class of 2022 inductee for the Joyner-Stroughter Community Service Award.



In receiving this award, Ms. Grays-Jones, remarked, Thank you to the Black Legends Voting Committee for selecting me for this very prestigious community service award. After 40 years and 50,000 hours of volunteerism I still have that same passion to serve others. I want to thank my parents for teaching me to live by the mantra Live a life serving others and you will always live with purpose as well as my late husband, Charles Jones, who was inducted into the Black Legends Silicon Valley Hall of Fame in 2017. I am so honored and thankful for this distinguished award.

The 22 Black Legend Awards Silicon Valley nominees were announced at the 7th Annual Nominees Reception on December 11, 2021 and were warmly welcomed by the current Black Legends Silicon Valley Hall of Fame inductees from the classes of 2015 through 2021. There are 102 members, ninety-four (94) African American pioneers, and eight (8) Community Organizations in the Hall of Fame.

The full list of 2022 Hall of Fame inductees can be viewed at www.blacklegendawards.org.

About Meriwest Credit Union

Founded in San Jose, California on May 5, 1961, Meriwest Credit Union, one of Silicon Valleys largest and most established financial institutions, provides proactive, personal, convenient, and innovative financial services to over 80,000 businesses and families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Tucson, Arizona. Meriwest is one of the top-200 largest credit unions in the United States with assets in excess of $1.9 billion, and offers a wide array of personal banking, business banking, and wealth advisory products and services to members. In 2020 & 2021, the credit union was voted a Best Place to Work by the Silicon Valley Business Journal and was included in The Mercury News 20th Annual Best in Silicon Valley Readers Choice Awards in 2021. More information can be found at www.meriwest.com.

Contact:

Helen Grays-Jones

Meriwest Credit Union

Community Relations Manager

Direct Line: 408-365-6328

hgrays@meriwest.com
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V., (NYSE: PAC; BMV: GAP) (the Company or GAP) announced the following:



Pursuant to a resolution adopted by our Board of Directors on February 22, 2022, and in accordance with Articles 180, 181, 182 and other applicable articles of the Mexican General Corporations Law and Article 35 of the Companys by-laws, GAP invites its shareholders to the General Ordinary and General Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting on April 22, 2022 at 12:00 and 2:00 pm, respectively, in Salon Midtown Ballroom 3, 3rd floor of the Hilton Hotel, located at Av. Lopez Mateos 2405-300, Col. Italia Providencia , Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, to discuss the following:

ANNUAL GENERAL ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS MEETING

AGENDA

I. In compliance with Article 28, Section IV of the Mexican Securities Market Law, the following will be presented and, if applicable, submitted for approval:



The Chief Executive Officers report regarding the results of operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, in accordance with Article 44, Section XI of the Mexican Securities Market Law and Article 172 of the Mexican General Corporations Law, together with the external auditors report, with respect to the Company on an unconsolidated basis in accordance with Mexican Financial Reporting Standards (MFRS), as well as with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), each based on the Companys most recent financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, under both standards, as well as the 2021 Sustainability Report.



Board of Directors opinion to the Chief Executive Officers report.



Board of Directors report in accordance with Article 172, clause b, of the Mexican General Corporations Law, regarding the Companys main accounting policies and criteria, as well as the information used to prepare the Companys financial statements.



Report on transactions and activities undertaken by the Companys Board of Directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, pursuant to the Mexican Securities Market Law.



The annual report on the activities undertaken by the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee in accordance with Article 43 of the Mexican Securities Market Law, as well as the ratification of the actions of the various committees, and release from further obligations.



Report on the Companys compliance with tax obligations for the fiscal year from January 1 to December 31, 2020, and an instruction to Company officials to comply with tax obligations corresponding to the fiscal year from January 1 and ended December 31, 2021, in accordance with Article 26, Section III of the Mexican Fiscal Code.



II. As a result of the reports in item I above, ratification of the actions of our Board of Directors and officers and release from further obligations in the fulfillment of their duties.



III. Presentation, discussion and submission for approval of the Companys financial statements for the fiscal year from January 1 to December 31, 2021, on an unconsolidated basis, in accordance with MFRS for purposes of calculating legal reserves, net income, fiscal effects related to dividend payments and capital reduction, as applicable, and approval of the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS for their publication to financial markets, with respect to our operations that took place during the fiscal year from January 1 to December 31, 2021; and approval of the external auditors report regarding both aforementioned financial statements.



IV. Proposal to approve from the Companys net income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, reported in its unconsolidated financial statements, presented in agenda item III above and audited in accordance with MFRS, which was Ps. 5,811,099,785.00 (FIVE BILLION EIGHT HUNDRED ELEVEN MILLION NINETY-NINE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE PESOS 00/100 M.N.), the allocation of the entire amount towards increasing the Companys retained earnings account, without separating an amount for the Companys legal reserves, given that the account currently represents more than 20% of the historical common stock of the Company, thereby meeting the requirement established in Article 20 of the Mexican General Corporations Law. In addition, proposal to cancel from the Companys current legal reserves such amount exceeding 20% of the historical common stock of the Company, in accordance with the requirements established in Articles 20 and 21 of the Mexican General Corporations Law and allocating said excess amount to the Companys retained earnings account.



V. Presentation, discussion and submission for approval that from the retained earnings account pending application which amounts to a total of Ps. 10,529,179,720.00 (TEN BILLION FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY PESOS 00/100 M.N.), a dividend be declared equal to $14.40 (FOURTEEN PESOS 40/100 M.N.) pesos per share, to be paid to the holders of each share outstanding on the payment date, excluding any shares repurchased by the Company in accordance with Article 56 of the Mexican Securities Market Law; any amounts of retained earnings pending application remaining after the payment of such dividend will remain in the retained earnings account pending application. The dividend will be payable in one or more installments within 12 (twelve) months after April 22, 2022.



VI. Cancellation of any amounts outstanding, as of the date of the General Ordinary Shareholders Meeting, under the Share Repurchase Program approved at the General Ordinary Shareholders Meetings that took place on April 27, 2021 and September 14, 2021, and proposal to approve Ps. 2,000,000,000.00 (TWO BILLION PESOS 00/100 M.N.) as the maximum amount to be allocated toward the repurchase of the Companys shares or credit instruments that represent such shares for the 12-month period following April 22, 2022, in accordance with Article 56, Section IV of the Mexican Securities Market Law.



VII. The report regarding the designation or ratification of the four members of the Board of Directors and their respective alternates appointed by the Series BB shareholders.



VIII. Ratification and/or designation of the persons that will serve as members of the Companys Board of Directors, as designated by any holder or group of holders of Series B shares that owns, individually or collectively, 10% or more of the Companys common stock.



IX. Ratification and/or designation of the persons that will serve as members of the Companys Board of Directors, as designated by the Series B shareholders and certification of independence.



a) Ratification of Carlos Cardenas Guzman

b) Ratification of Angel Losada Moreno

c) Ratification of Joaquin Vargas Guajardo

d) Ratification of Juan Diez-Canedo Ruiz

e) Ratification of Alvaro Fernandez Garza

f) Ratification of Luis Tellez Kuenzler

g) Designation of Alejandra Palacios Prieto



X. Ratification and/or designation of the Chairman of the Companys Board of Directors, in accordance with Article 16 of the Companys by-laws.



XI. Ratification of the compensation paid to the members of the Companys Board of Directors during the 2021 fiscal year and determination of the compensation to be paid in 2022.



XII. Ratification and/or designation of the member of our Board of Directors designated by the Series B shareholders to serve as a member of the Companys Nominations and Compensation Committee, in accordance with Article 28 of the Companys bylaws.



XIII. Ratification and/or designation of the President of the Audit and Corporate Practices Committee.



XIV. The report concerning compliance with Article 29 of the Companys bylaws regarding acquisitions of goods or services or contracting of projects or asset sales that are equal to or greater than US$ 3,000,000.00 (THREE MILLION U.S. DOLLARS), or its equivalent in Mexican pesos or other legal tender in circulation outside Mexico, or, if applicable, regarding transactions with relevant shareholders.



XV. Presentation of our Public Objectives for environmental, social responsibility and corporate governance of the Company for the year 2030.



XVI. Appointment and designation of special delegates to appear before a public notary and present the resolutions adopted at this meeting for formalization. Adoption of the resolutions deemed necessary or convenient in order to fulfill the decisions adopted in relation to the preceding agenda items.



EXTRAORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS MEETING

AGENDA

I. Discussion and submission for approval of an increase in the Company's Common Stock, through the capitalization of the "Restatement effect of Common Stock" account, as recorded in the Company's unconsolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021, in the amount of Ps. 8,027,154,754.00 (EIGHT BILLION TWENTY-SEVEN MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOUR THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FOUR PESOS 00/100 M.N.).



II. Proposal to approve the cancellation the Companys shares that have been repurchased and are, as of the date of the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting, held in the Companys treasury.



III. Perform all corporate legal formalities required, including the amendment of Article 6 of the Companys by-laws, derived from the adoption of resolutions at this shareholders meeting.



IV. Appointment and designation of special delegates to appear before a public notary and present the resolutions adopted at this meeting for formalization. Adoption of the resolutions deemed necessary or convenient in order to fulfill the decisions adopted in relation to the preceding agenda items.



Shareholders are reminded that in accordance with Article 36 of the Companys by-laws, only those shareholders registered in the Companys share registry as holders of one or more of the Companys shares will be admitted into the shareholders meetings, and they will be admitted only if they have obtained an admission card. The share registry will close three (3) business days prior to the date of this meeting.

In order to attend the meeting, at least one (1) business day prior to the meeting: (i) shareholders must deposit with the Company their stock certificates, shares or a receipt of deposit of shares from S.D. Indeval Institucion para el Deposito de Valores, S.A. de C.V. (Indeval) or from a local or foreign financial institution, and (ii) brokerage firms and other depositors at Indeval should present a listing containing the name, address, nationality and number of shares of the shareholders they will represent at the meeting. In exchange for these documents, the Company will issue, in accordance with the Companys bylaws, an admission card and/or the forms required under Article 49, Section III of the Mexican Securities Market Law in order to be represented. In order to attend the meeting, shareholders must present the admission card and/or the corresponding form.

Shares deposited in order to gain admittance to these meetings will only be returned, via a voucher that will have been given to the shareholder or his/her representative.

Shareholders may be represented by proxy at the meetings by any person designated by a power of attorney signed before two witnesses or as otherwise authorized by law. However, with respect to the Companys common stock traded on a stock exchange, the proxy or proxies may only verify their identities via Company forms. These will be available to all shareholders, including any stockbrokers, during the time period specified in Article 173 of the Mexican General Corporations Law.

Following the publication of this announcement, all shareholders and their legal representatives will have free and immediate access to all information and documents related to each of the topics included in the meeting agendas, as well as all proxy forms that must be presented by persons representing shareholders. These documents will be available at the Companys offices located at Av. Mariano Otero #1249-B, 6th Floor, Col. Rinconada del Bosque, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44530 or at Arquimedes #19, 4th Floor, Col. Bosque de Chapultepec, C.P. 11580, Alcaldia Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico 11580.

Shareholders are invited to contact the Company should they have need for any additional information.

Company Description

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GAP) operates 12 airports throughout Mexicos Pacific region, including the major cities of Guadalajara and Tijuana, the four tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, La Paz and Manzanillo, and six other mid-sized cities: Hermosillo, Guanajuato, Morelia, Aguascalientes, Mexicali and Los Mochis. In February 2006, GAPs shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PAC and on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GAP. In April 2015, GAP acquired 100% of Desarrollo de Concesiones Aeroportuarias, S.L., which owns a majority stake in MBJ Airports Limited, a company operating Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In October 2018, GAP entered into a concession agreement for the operation of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica. In October 2018, GAP entered into a concession agreement for the operation of the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica and took control of the operation in October 2019.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on managements current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, plans and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

In accordance with Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and article 42 of the Ley del Mercado de Valores, GAP has implemented a whistleblower program, which allows complainants to anonymously and confidentially report suspected activities that may involve criminal conduct or violations. The telephone number in Mexico, facilitated by a third party that is in charge of collecting these complaints, is 01 800 563 00 47. The web site is www.lineadedenuncia.com/gap . GAPs Audit Committee will be notified of all complaints for immediate investigation.
Los Angeles, Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Los Angeles, California -

Los Angeles, CA - While the focus of 2021 was mostly on the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. border agents seized 1,066% more fentanyl compared to 2020, revealing drug problem thats growing at an alarming rate. Fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. and is being added to heroin and other drugs more than ever before.

California lost 3,946 residents to fentanyl overdose in 2020, 970 of those occurred in Los Angeles county. Experts say its not just heroin thats being laced with fentanyl now. Increasingly other drugs including counterfeit prescription pills, methamphetamine, and cocaine are being adulterated with fentanyl unbeknownst to users.

This trend, combined with the social isolation and mental health impacts of the pandemic, has resulted in record-breaking opioid overdose deaths in the country and in California.

The CDC reported that the US had reached a terrifying milestone in April 2021 when the previous 12 months saw over 100,000 drug overdose deaths. This was by far the largest number of overdose deaths the country had seen in one year and represented a 30% increase over the previous year. The opioid crisis has continued to surge at unprecedented levels during the pandemic.

As Los Angeles looks to reduce the number of opioid-related deaths, accredited addiction treatment centers play a key role. Drug addiction is difficult to break alone and those who dont find professional help are facing ever-increasing dangers as fentanyl-laced drugs flood into California.

The best drug rehab programs in LA focus on healing the root causes of addiction. They provide evidence-based behavioral therapies that help clients explore and resolve the reasons they turned to drugs and alcohol in the first place. They also provide safe medical detox and holistic treatments that aid in sustaining recovery and improving the overall quality of life. Treatments should always be customized to meet the unique needs of each individual patient.

Angelinos are finding effective treatment at Muse Addiction Treatment Center. The LA Drug Rehab has received overwhelming praise from past clients whove left heartfelt 5-star reviews on Google. Heres some of what they had to say:

Once I got to treatment all the staff was awesome they treated me with love and respect. When I first arrived to the facility I was sad nervous and scared but when I arrived Angela greeted me and did my intake and she made me feel so comfortable and made me forget where I was at, because we had a great connection from the start. I felt safe from the start, and knew I would be in good hands. https://goo.gl/maps/2Cz8fSXd7YPXMrow6

I came to Muse with nothing and the girls here and the staff blessed me with everything that I needed with no questions asked. They welcomed me like I was already family.

https://goo.gl/maps/6Y5vK89P71gbQFtv5

This place got me back to my old self. I cant even begin to tell you all how much I loved my time there. It was a lot of hard lessons and it humbled me- which I needed in my entitled, arrogant, addiction.

https://goo.gl/maps/QF8htNVBsBXWEpbf6

The staff at muse saved my life I used to do a shot of heroin before and after everything i did in my life and I was extremely unhappy. I had no idea how miserable I was until muse helped pull me out of my addiction and my depression. They help you through the withdrawals by tapering you off and they make you as comfortable as possible, and the medical staff will check on you every hour of the day to reassure you that there isn't anything else they can do to make you feel any more comfortable.

https://goo.gl/maps/aqZ3rYp4NpnowJYM7

Most of the staff at Muse are in recovery themselves so they understand with what their clients are going through. Theyre able to provide provide genuine empathy and compassion along with personalized addiction treatment that matches individual needs with the right therapies and services. They help to overcome the intense withdrawal symptoms of opioids and other drugs through their medically-assisted detox program and then treat the underlying causes of addiction which lie in a persons biology, development, and environment.

Muses whole-patient approach is one of the keys to their success. The holistic style of treatment helps improve patients overall quality of life because addiction is a complex disease that touches every aspect of a persons reality.

Muse is a dual diagnosis treatment center meaning they treat addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders in tandem. Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD are common in people struggling with addiction. In fact, theyre often a leading cause of substance abuse because people use alcohol and drugs in an attempt to self-medicate. Treating mental health greatly improves patients chances of remaining in recovery long term and avoiding relapse.

Anyone in need of addiction treatment, whether in Los Angeles or anywhere else, is encouraged to reach out for help. Call (800) 426-1818 to speak with a treatment specialist anytime, 24/7. Muse Treatment Alcohol & Drug Rehab Los Angeles aims to be the #1 addiction treatment center in Los Angeles, California. Calls are completely confidential. Those not ready to talk can visit www.musetreatment.com to learn more or to start a live chat with an admissions counselor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtQGgOnLr9U

###

For more information about Muse Treatment, contact the company here:



Muse Treatment

(800) 426-1818

1251 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP) (the Company or TAAT) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement dated Friday, February 25, 2022 to acquire HLND Holdings, Inc. (HLND), the parent entity of a convenience and tobacco wholesaler based in Ohio. HLND presently maintains a network of more than 5,000 convenience stores through its direct and indirect relationships with independent and corporate retailers as well as a network of regional sub-distributors. From 2019 to 2021 HLND realized at least 10% growth of its net revenues each year, with net revenues for calendar 2021 amounting to CAD $87,181,400.32 (approximate conversion from USD as at February 23, 2022), and continues to be profitable. The Company anticipates that by acquiring HLND it could fortify its existing revenue sources as well as its portfolio of assets as TAAT continues to expand both in the United States and internationally.



With its agreement to acquire HLND, the Company is embarking on a journey in which it plans to convert certain aspects of its supply chain into wholly-owned internal business units, which aligns with the practices of current leaders in the global tobacco industry. With HLNDs seasoned executive team and personnel in sales, logistics, and product development, the Company can leverage these invaluable skill sets as part of commercializing TAAT products on a larger scale.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5840231-aae7-491d-b6c8-d2864802541b

The Company has entered into an agreement to acquire HLND, which will provide TAAT with its own wholesale presence in the Great Lakes region of the United States. HLND operates a long-established convenience distribution network in categories to include tobacco, snacks, candy, and various other convenience products.

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

HLND has aggressively expanded its footprint in the Great Lakes region of the United States, which can add to the Companys overall presence with its first owned facility and distribution network in the northeastern region of the country. Besides TAAT and leading brands of tobacco cigarettes (e.g., Marlboro, Newport, Camel), HLND also carries a selection of consumer packaged goods (CPG) oriented towards the convenience segment such as candy, snacks, beverages, and paper products. Additionally, HLND already stocks a diverse range of alternatives to tobacco cigarettes such as e-cigarettes and vaping cartridges, which the Company intends to complement with its heat-not-burn offering as detailed in its February 18, 2022 press release. Since 2019, HLNDs net revenues have seen double-digit growth (i.e., growth of 10% or more) year-over-year (YoY) as shown in the table below.

Year HLND Net Revenues 2018 $54,134,739.20 2019 $60,181,829.12 (+11.17% YoY) 2020 $78,629,344.00 (+30.65% YoY) 2021 $87,181,400.32 (+10.87% YoY) All figures in this table are expressed in Canadian dollars (CAD) as approximate conversions from United States dollars (USD) as at February 23, 2022



TAAT Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella commented, In competitive industries such as tobacco, long-term success largely depends on how self-sustaining and independent your operations are at a macro level. TAAT has proven quite popular in the Midwest, and I believe that by owning a regional fulfillment centre we will be able to distribute our products more efficiently and more profitably as we continue to build market share. Additionally, with direct access to Ohio stores through HLND we can test new offerings and initiatives, and overall gain an improved understanding of a products journey to market from a distributor perspective. HLND has proven to be a very reliable, insightful, and beneficial business partner of ours since they began carrying TAAT. As such, we are excited about making them part of the TAAT family, where we anticipate they will be invaluable to us for growing our distribution, developing new products, and formulating strategies for commercializing TAAT on an even larger scale.



HLND Director Barry Adelman stated, Ever since we started carrying TAAT over a year ago, it has proven to be an impressive product among our existing tobacco offerings. Over the past several decades we have seen numerous alternatives to tobacco cigarettes hitting the market, though for a combustible product to be nicotine-free and tobacco-free is rather unique, and that alone does a great job at capturing the attention of our retail accounts, leading to repeat orders when consumers are ultimately compelled to make the switch. Having worked side-by-side with TAAT all this time, we have identified countless opportunities for them to potentially generate unparalleled value as our parent company. The combustible Original, Smooth, and Menthol offerings are just the beginning; between the recently announced heat-not-burn offering and the ability to develop and test new variations, our facilities, team, and network are capable of bringing many great things to fruition for TAAT, which we are very excited to begin exploring.

The purchase price to acquire HLND will be equal to CAD $6,604,000 or the equivalent of approximately USD $5,200,000 (the "Purchase Price"), representing a valuation of CAD $8,890,000 or the equivalent of approximately USD $7,000,000 (the "Valuation") less CAD $2,286,000 or the equivalent of US $1,800,000 debt outstanding on the HLND line of credit. The final Purchase Price on closing shall be adjusted accordingly as the sum of the Valuation less the Debt Amount on the Closing Date. The Purchase Price shall consist of up to CAD $1,254,760 or 19% of the Purchase Price in cash ("Cash") and the remaining CAD $5,349,240 or 81% of the Purchase Price in Common Shares of TAAT (the "Consideration Shares").

All Consideration Shares will be issued upon closing, and will be subject to a lock-up schedule whereby one-third (1/3) of the Consideration Shares will be released from lock-up on the 4th, 8th and 12th month from closing.

The transaction as contemplated in the agreement between the Company and HLND is expected to close on or about March 15, 2022.

In connection with the closing of this transaction, TAAT will pay a finders fee of 5% of its value (paid as 50% in cash and 50% in shares) to an arms length party.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC.

Setti Coscarella

Setti Coscarella, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT Investor Relations

1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)

investor@taatglobal.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About TAAT Global Alternatives Inc.

The Company has developed TAAT, which is a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional cigarettes offered in "Original", "Smooth", and "Menthol" varieties. TAAT's base material is Beyond Tobacco, a proprietary blend which undergoes a patent-pending refinement technique causing its scent and taste to resemble tobacco. Under executive leadership with "Big Tobacco" pedigree, TAAT was launched first in the United States in Q4 2020 as the Company seeks to position itself in the $814 billion1 global tobacco industry.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com .

References

1 British American Tobacco - The Global Market

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information 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 information in this news release includes statements regarding the anticipated performance of TAAT in the tobacco industry, in addition to the following: Completion of the Companys planned acquisition of HLND under the terms of a February 25, 2022 agreement; the ability of management to integrate HLND's business into its current operations; and the ability to execute on its plan to expand both in the United States and internationally. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individuals health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms
ORO VALLEY, Ariz., Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tautachrome Inc. (OTC: TTCM) today describes the direction and focus of its integrity defense activity seeking to curb stock troll criminality aimed at the Companys securities.



The Company understands that internet platforms of all kinds exist that empower anybody to speak or shout-out comment of every kind. And we consider that good. But we also believe that the power to comment does not carry the right to criminally troll, that is to hide behind pseudonyms and make false and misleading statements aimed at damaging others.

As we announced earlier this week, the Company has established an integrity defense activity aimed at curbing stock troll attacks against Companys securities and has reactivated Michael Nugent, our former advancement official, to lead the activity.

Mr. Nugent spoke today on the Companys direction and focus on this activity.

For a public Company like Tautachrome, stock trolling is a serious matter, Nugent said. We know from first-hand experience that trolls will ride certain investment forums in order to make false and misleading statements for the express purpose of manipulating the price of stocks they are trading, the effect of which is stealing money from the accounts of other investors who are unaware of the manipulation.

Nugent went on to say: Criminal trolling is exponentially increased when owners of investment forums not only permit such trolling, but go to extreme lengths to protect trolls from exposure. An example of an investment forum whose policies protect stock trolling is InvestorsHub. We see trolling of our own Company by pseudonymous individuals on this forum, and find the forums reluctance to act to cure the illegal behaviour very troubling.

My information shows, he said, that InvestorsHub is a wholly owned subsidiary of the London firm ADVFN PLC, whose CEO, Clem Chambers, has for years been responsible for the forums reluctance to curb criminal stock trolling on their InvestorsHub. Chambers has allowed pseudonymous trolls to post false and misleading information about listed companies to gain hits and clicks to sell advertisement, and yet has carefully protected his own company, ADVFN PLC, from such troll attack.

Today we learned, said Nugent, that Chambers was yesterday removed from ADVFN PLC, and replaced by the new CEO Mr. Jonathan Mullins. That could be good news for the integrity of the InvestorsHub forum. Today we therefore ask Mr Mullins to tear down the wall that InvestorsHub has erected protecting criminal trolls.

The Company intends to adapt to changes that come our way and we fully understand that the public environment changes constantly. But the securities laws under which we abide are stable and do not change in this way. They need to be enforced so that criminal stock trolls be held to account.

About Tautachrome, Inc: Tautachrome, Inc. (OTC: TTCM) is an emerging growth company in the Internet applications space. The company has licenses, patents, and patents pending in augmented reality, smartphone image authentication, and imagery-based social networking. The company is leveraging these technologies to develop privacy and security-based applications for global business and personal use.

Tautachrome, Inc. posts important information and updates through tweets from the official Company twitter page https://twitter.com/Tautachrome

Forward-Looking Statements: Statements made in this press release are forward-looking and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general business conditions, risks of raising money sufficient to achieve the Companys objectives, risks of managing growth, governmental regulatory risks, technology development risks, schedule slippage risks, and political and other business risks. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this paragraph and the risks and other factors detailed in Tautachrome's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tautachrome undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Press and Investor contact:

David LaMountain, COO

520-318-5578

Dlamountain@Tautachrome.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Copper Corp. (the Company) (CSE: ALCU) is pleased to announce that it has closed its non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) of 2,011,037 flow-through units (each, an "FT Unit") of the Company at $0.65 per FT Unit and 12,540,186 non-flow-through units (each, an "NFT Unit") of the Company at $0.50 per NFT Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $7,577,267.05.



Each FT Unit is composed of one common share of the Company (each, a Common Share), issued on a flow-through basis pursuant the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ITA), and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable at $1.00 per share for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Each NFT Unit is composed of one common share and one Warrant. All securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a four-month and one-day statutory hold period.

The Company paid finders fees in the amount of $204,371.54 and issued 394,775 Warrants to licensed brokers and consultants in association with the Private Placement. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses, within the meaning of the ITA, for general administrative and working capital purposes and to evaluate and pursue new business opportunities.

The Company also announces it has retained Round Table Marketing Group Inc. (Round Table) to provide the Company with marketing services to communicate to the US financial community information about the Company pursuant to an agreement dated effective February 15, 2022 (the Agreement). The Agreement carries an initial three-month term (Initial Term).

Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company will pay Round Table $5,000 per month for the Initial Term and $5,000 per month for any month subsequent to the Initial Term.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Darryl Jones

Darryl Jones

Director

604-788-9533

Further information about the Company is available under its profile on the SEDAR website, www.sedar.com.

Neither CSE Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forwardlooking statements". Forwardlooking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forwardlooking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forwardlooking statements.
MANDEVILLE, La., Feb. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It was recently announced that the $MIL token, created by Military.Finance - a team dedicated to supporting our military heroes, has been selected as "The Hottest Crypto To Watch In 2022" by Crypto Weekly Magazine.

After taking their first token from $10K to $70 million market cap in just five weeks, the Military.Finance team is now stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever to make a difference in the lives of veterans and first responders.

One of Military.Finance's Lead Advisors, Andy Stumpf said:

"Veterans and first responders are often the first ones putting their lives at risk to ensure we have opportunities in the future. To help ensure they have opportunities that haven't been readily available in the past, the $MIL community is ready to open new doors."

Military.Finance ($MIL) is tipped to be a big topic of conversation at the upcoming Crypto Expo in Dubai on March 16-17, which Crypto Weekly Magazine is a key sponsor for.

Nathan Hill, the co-owner of the CMC group which owns Crypto Weekly will be speaking at the conference, as well as over 60 other speakers from more than 30 countries.

Over 10,000 traders and investors are expected to attend and Stumpf is keen to spread the word about Military.Finance's goals:

"This token empowers the people to make a huge impact in restoring the lives of veterans nationwide. This is a project for those heroes, backed by heroes."

About Military Finance: Military.Finance launched in May 2021 focused on providing financial and emotional support to military veterans when they return home from the battlefield through direct donations and partnerships with individuals and organizations.

Press Contact:

Brad Dahl, media@military.finance

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
New Orleans, Feb. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Orleans, Louisiana -

Baton Rouge [Dec 8, 2021] - Today, Governor John Bel Edwards Office of Disability Affairs awarded New Orleans Opportunities Academy their top statewide recognition for impact on the disability community. The Distinguished Merit Award is presented annually in recognition of extraordinary service that has consistently presented opportunities for people with disabilities to utilize their capabilities in achieving full participation in society.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell nominated the charter school for the award. She wrote, It was a great honor to nominate Opportunities Academy for this recognition. They are extraordinarily deserving of the award. The school has expanded the educational opportunities for young people with disabilities in New Orleans, transforming the lives of the students and families they serve.

Opportunities Academy (OA), part of the nonprofit Collegiate Academies network of public charter schools, began as a pilot program at Abramson Sci Academy in 2015. The Orleans Parish School Board granted the program its own charter in 2019-20. Since then it has grown to serve approximately 75 young adults ages 18-22 with intellectual disabilities and autism. OA offers students a truly individualized experience. The instruction and applied learning experiences are tailored to each students unique needs and long-term goals. For example, a number of students operate an on-site coffee shop (rOAst), while others participate in externships with potential career partners across New Orleans.

OAs service, leadership, and commitment to the disability community in Louisiana were celebrated in a ceremony at the Old State Capitol on December 8th. Executive Director Sophia Scott said, Im so proud of the students and team at OA. Together weve built a community that helps every individual grow and reach their full potential. Were honored to receive this recognition of our work.

State Senator Karen Carter Peterson wrote in support of the schools nomination, OA sets an example for school systems across our state. Im proud to support them. They have created a caring and rigorous learning environment that provides each student with a personalized pathway to achieving their dreams.

Likewise, State Representative Royce Duplessis added in his letter of support, Like my father, a long-time Orleans Parish teacher, the educators at Opportunities Academy embrace the call to be servant leaders. They demonstrate an unwavering commitment to young people with disabilities in New Orleans.

Dr. Henderson Lewis, Superintendent of NOLA Public Schools said, Congratulations to Opportunities Academy for achieving this prestigious recognition. It is a remarkable place that has been transformational in the lives of so many young people with disabilities in New Orleans. It is also a great reminder of all the hard work our community of schools puts in every day to make sure every child has access to high-quality education.

Collegiate Academies Interim Chief Executive Officer Stacy Martin attended the award ceremony alongside OA Executive Director Sophia Scott. Martin noted, The OA community of families, students, and educators has persevered through so many challenges over the last two years. Through it all, they stayed focused on the young people they serve. Im so grateful to Governor John Bel Edwards administration for the opportunity to shine a line on the great work happening at OA.

###

For more information about Opportunities Academy, contact the company here:



Opportunities Academy

Davis Zaunbrecher

985-373-0721

hello@opportunitiesacademy.org

2625 Thalia Street

New Orleans, LA 70113
Gloucester, MA (01930)

Today

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. High around 50F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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
For Red Bull Racing, the first test week of the 2022 season went better than expected. The team was able to put down a lot of miles with their new car, the RB18, and despite problems on Thursday with Sergio Perez, the entire team looks back on a successful week of testing.

"We had a good day today," explained Guillaume Rocquelin, Red Bull's Head of Race Engineering, in the press release of the Milton Keynes-based team.

"The drivers were happy and we started to put in some decent lap times. To sum up the week I would say it has been a very promising few days with this new car."

Red Bull not the fastest in Barcelona

The fastest times on Friday were finally driven by the Mercedes duo, also in 2022 the biggest competitor of Max Verstappen and Perez. Lewis Hamilton drove the fastest time of the entire week on Friday afternoon, George Russell had already set a very fast time in the morning. In third and fourth place were the two Red Bull drivers, but that gives Rocquelin no reason to worry.

"The most pleasing thing for me is that we have got a solid platform and direction to build from. We will consolidate some things that we have learnt here before Bahrain, but it is more considerate than a big step," Rocquelin concluded.
There is unrest at Haas. The American team has had UralKali as their main sponsor since last season and since then they have also been driving with the Russian flag on their car. However, Russia's invasion of Ukraine put pressure on Haas to stop working with UralKali. First steps have already been taken in this with the removal of the name on the car, but the consequences could be much greater.

Because the Russian company not only brings a lot of money. One of the drivers is also closely linked to UralKali. The future of Nikita Mazepin is also hanging by a thread, because he ended up in F1 via UralKali. His father owns the company and his sponsorship helped secure a seat for Mazepin in F1.

Logical choice for Steiner

Guenther Steiner already hinted on Friday that he is not sure whether Mazepin will stay on as a driver, but he did not say who would replace the Russian. To the American F1 journalist Bob Varsha of Speed City Broadcasting he let it be known that that choice has already been made. "If Nikita couldnt drive for one or another reason, the first call would go to Pietro (Fittipaldi, ed.).

Fittipaldi has already driven two races for the American team in 2020, when Romain Grosjean could not finish his last F1 season after his hard crash in Bahrain. "Pietro is always around with us for a reason. The last years, we needed a reserve driver, having COVID around, so he is always around. He knows the team, he knows the car to jump in for one day to the other. There is nobody better than Pietro around at the moment."

Mazepin's future may not be in the hands of Haas

Mazepin's possible F1 career is not in the hands of Haas, Steiner has also revealed. With countries in Europe and America imposing sanctions on Russia, the main thing for the American team is to wait and see how severe those sanctions are and what the consequences are for Haas' financial situation. More clarity on the upcoming season for Haas is expected in the coming week.
It was one of the topics of conversation in Barcelona, the jumping up of the car at high speed. 'Porpoising' it is called, and it means that the car jumps up and down when there is a lot of pressure on the car. Almost all teams suffer from it, while two teams seem to have found a solution.

On the first day of testing all the teams seemed to suffer from bouncing on the straights, the two days that followed showed a clear difference between the cars on the straights. Adrian Newey, technical director of Red Bull Racing, explained the dilemma the teams are currently facing.

Teams struggle with bounce

"It's not difficult to solve the problem. It's mainly difficult not to lose any lap time with that solution," Newey explained to German Auto, Motor und Sport. That's what teams are currently struggling with, but two teams seem to have found a solution. Indeed, according to Mercedes, McLaren has found a way to counteract the bouncing without losing speed.

They have done this by creating a route for the air when there is a lot of pressure. Other teams also see that McLaren has made a move in that regard. Haas also made similar changes after the first day of testing, which greatly reduced the bouncing.

Ferrari finds alternative solution

At Ferrari, they solved it differently. There they set the car a bit higher on the asphalt. Normally you lose time, but they have adjusted their suspension accordingly. So they gain all the lost time back in the slow corners. This was also the case in Barcelona, where they made up for all the time lost in the last sector.

In the coming weeks, the other teams will also look at how they are going to solve the problems around the bouncing of the car. In Bahrain, we will see if they have opted for a concept like Ferrari's, or if, like McLaren, they are going to see if they can get the airflow past the car in a strategic way.
Chevron USA, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, and Iwatani Corporation of America (ICA), a wholly owned subsidiary company of Iwatani Corporation will co-develop and construct 30 hydrogen fueling sites in California by 2026.

As part of the agreement, Chevron plans to fund construction of the sites, which are expected to be located at Chevron-branded retail locations across the state. The stations will initially fuel light-duty vehicles while retaining the flexibility to service heavy-duty vehicles over the long term.

Iwatani will operate and maintain the hydrogen fueling sites and provide hydrogen supply and transportation logistics services. Chevron plans to supply a portion of the fueling sites with excess hydrogen production capacity at its Richmond Refinery and future hydrogen production from pilot projects in Northern California.

Iwatani is Japans only fully integrated supplier of hydrogen and presently supplies its extensive base of light and heavy-duty hydrogen refueling stations and industrial customers via five liquid and ten gaseous hydrogen production plants throughout the country.

Leveraging its parent companys expertise, Iwatani Corporation of America (ICA) has embarked on a growth program to establish a vertically integrated hydrogen business in the US, which includes hydrogen supply, distribution and logistics services as well as operations & maintenance services to hydrogen refueling station owners. ICA also owns and operates a growing network of Iwatani-branded hydrogen refueling stations in California.

Iwatani Corporation of America has headquarters offices in Houston, Texas and Santa Clara, California.
Cameron Judd is a lifelong Tennessean born and raised in Cookeville, and a Greene County resident since 1982. An award-winning columnist and extensively published author of western and frontier fiction, he is retired from The Greeneville Sun. He and wife Rhonda live in Chuckey.
Danny Tyree is a lifelong resident of Marshall County in Middle Tennessee. He welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol.com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyrees Tyrades. Copyright 2022 Danny Tyree, distributed by Cagle Cartoons Inc. newspaper syndicate.
Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Friday said it has entered into an agreement with Vodafone to buy its 4.7 per cent equity interest in Indus Towers.

According to Bharti Airtel, the agreement is based on the principal condition that the amount paid for the equity stake shall be inducted by Vodafone as fresh equity in Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) and simultaneously remitted to Indus Towers to clear VIL's outstanding dues.

"The said acquisition purchase would be at an attractive price representing a significant discount typically available for such large block transactions," the telcom major said.

"In addition, Airtel is also protected with a capped price which is lower than the price for the block of Indus shares sold by Vodafone on February 24, 2022. This shall be value accretive to Airtel and protect its existing significant shareholding in Indus Towers."

Besides, the telecom major said that any such acquisition shall only be done when such proceeds are confirmed to be utilised by Vodafone to infuse as equity into VIL including any regulatory or shareholders' approval being fully obtained.

"We believe this transaction allows Airtel to secure continued strong provision of services from Indus Towers, protects and enhances Airtel's value in Indus Towers, enables it to receive rich dividends and as also paves the way for subsequent financial consolidation of Indus Towers in Airtel.

"We believe that this self-paying capital allocation serves multiple strategic purposes for Airtel."

Furthermore, Airtel said it remains committed to look at opportunities for monetising this vital asset at an appropriate time.

"In doing so, it will ensure that the tower company has been stabilised and any new strategic or financial investor/s has the ability to continue to serve the critical needs of Airtel."

In addition, the company said that the telecom market structure has started to stabilise on account of the efforts of the Centre including the recent relief package.

"With the likely introduction of 5G in the future, we believe a lot more infrastructure would be required in which Indus Towers, an undisputed leader, has a significant role to play and partake the potential growth in the business.

"The stability and sustenance of a specialised and strong infrastructure company like Indus Towers is vital for a continued strong provision of co-location services including the support to rollout 5G."
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GREENWICH  Greenwich Avenue took its final shape in 1932, when Vermont granite was laid down for sidewalks and the old trolley tracks were ripped up.

Now, in 2022, a potential building boom could reshape central Greenwich and its main commercial corridor with the addition of hundreds of new residential units and tenants proposed for the neighborhood along Greenwich Avenue.

As the list takes shape of the large proposed construction projects, neighbors and local leaders are beginning to ask: Can the downtown district handle so much new residential construction? And what would it do to the character of the community?

Currently on the drawing board are five building projects totaling 466 units, none of which have been approved. All are seeking greater density through the states affordable housing statute, which makes it easier for developers to build projects that set aside units for workforce and middle-income earners despite local opposition.

Five development projects in central Greenwich that are currently seeking approvals at Town Hall include:

192 units at Church Street and Sherwood Place;

60 units at West Elm Street in the Bank of America parking lot;

110 units at Benedict Place and Benedict Court;

18 apartments at 281 Railroad Ave.; and

86 units on Brookridge Drive near Greenwich High School.

In addition, 30 units are already under construction on lower Milbank Avenue at Havemeyer Place. Plans are also under discussion for a large assisted-living facility for seniors at Old Track Road.

The proposals for large-scale residential construction projects follow numerous smaller-scale developments in central Greenwich and a number of teardowns that have also remade the look and feel of the neighborhood in recent years.

It all sounds overwhelming to some local residents, particularly when it comes to the possibility of a seven-story residential building that would take out a row of older homes and businesses on Church Street. Developers there want to build a 192-unit apartment building that would demolish a number of old Victorian homes on the block.

We need to take a pause, consider the slippery slope in danger of turning Greenwich into another White Plains or New Rochelle, N.Y., if we dont consider these development projects being proposed as a whole and the long-term ramifications for the town, said Francine Gingras, a Church Street resident and board member of a condo association on the street.

She is also working with the Greenwich Preservation Network to oppose the large-scale demolition in her neighborhood.

On a recent morning, Glen Vickers, a 50-year-resident of the Fourth Ward Neighborhood north of the Post Road in central Greenwich, shook his head when talking about the building proposed for Church Street.

Its going to be a mess, said Vickers, who raised a family in the neighborhood with his wife and sent both of his two sons to Harvard. No place to park, the parking is already crazy, he added.

There are already problems with the sewer system in the area, Vickers said, and a large new residential building would be a huge burden on the infrastructure.

Diane Fox, chairwoman of the Greenwich Preservation Network and former planning director for the town, said the loss of historical buildings on Church Street would be a serious blow to the community.

We need to stop this unreasonable destruction of significant structures in this district. This sets a dangerous precedent not only for the Fourth Ward but for other historic districts and significant structures which are part of Greenwich history, Fox said in a recent statement.

A Change.org online petition opposing the demolition of the older homes on the block has already garnered more than 1,100 signatures.

The business community is also looking at the proposed construction projects with an anxious eye.

We are hearing many concerns about the effect that new residential building in central Greenwich might have on parking and traffic congestion, said Marcia OKane, president of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce.

Market conditions and a demand for housing in the tri-state suburbs have been setting records recently and laying the groundwork for new construction.

In central Greenwich, all of the recent housing proposals would use the states affordable housing law, referred to as 8-30g. The laws allow developers that set aside 30 percent of the units they build as affordable to be exempt from local zoning regulations on size and height.

A number of state lawmakers and town leaders from Greenwich say the state law is facilitating projects that are out of scale and too dense for local communities. They are looking for modifications to the law at the state capital in Hartford.

We need to reform 8-30g. It puts every town in a vulnerable position. One size fits all doesnt work, First Selectman Fred Camillo said of the surge in 8-30g applications in recent months. The town has received more affordable-housing applications using the state formula in the past year than in the preceding 29 years when the law was first passed, Camillo said.

Theres concern for the aesthetics  how its going to look and add to the congestion and exacerbate an already bad situation when it comes to flooding. Were going to keep our eyes and focus on it, he said. If all these projects go through, youll have a very different town.

The building proposals are under the review of the town Planning & Zoning Commission.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
Caregivers of family members with dementia are invited to free training program to help them with end-of-life care for their loved ones.

The CARES End-of-Life Dementia Care program is offered by the Guam/Micronesia Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program at the University of Guams School of Health, according to a UOG press release.

There are five modules in the program, and three modules will take place this month. Participants can attend a Wednesday or Saturday session for each module.

Module 1: Introduction to End-of-Life Dementia Care

68 p.m. Wednesday

10 a.m.noon Saturday

Module 2: The CARES Approach

68 p.m. March 16

10 a.m.noon March 19

Module 3: Decision Making at the End of Life

68 p.m. March 30

10 a.m.noon April 2

If you complete all five modules, you will receive a certificate of completion and will be eligible for CARES Dementia Certification.
Nihi!, an indigenous production house based on Guam, has been busy throughout the pandemic despite the complications COVID-19 has brought to their door.

They have just released the pilot episode of their new series, Eat With Your Ancestors, and begun distribution of their We Are Protectors series and lesson plan package for local teachers.

Nihi! has its roots in director Cara Flores own needs as a parent. When she moved back to Guam to care for her grandmother in the early 2000s with a daughter of her own, she was struck by the need for media that served the present and future needs of the local population.

I realized how much had shifted since I was a kid here. I mean, I grew up in the jungles, on the beach, outside, feeling very connected to places and the spaces around me and to the natural environment.  I just kind of saw the shift in disconnection from outside places. That there was like a generation that was growing up not as connected to the land and the ocean, Flores said.

I guess at the end of the day, if youre not connected to these things why would you want to take care of them and protect them? And how would you do that if you dont even know that they exist?

Flores began Nihi! as a hobby so her daughter would have access to media that reflected their values.

Over time, it evolved into a community project and eventually the nonprofit production house and media education hub that operates now as Duk Duk Goose, Inc.

On a really basic level, our mission is to inspire a deep love for land. For land, ocean and communities. If you want to look at it from a broader lens, its really about amplifying indigenous voices, knowledge issues and stories in Guahan, the Marianas and then all across Micronesia, Flores said.

New content

Their YouTube channel, Nihi! Kids, is where youll find the majority of their content, including series like Nihi! Kids Talk, which features elders and cultural practitioners alongside curious kids, and the longer form episodes of Nihi! Season One.

They are recently joined by newer projects, such as the newly released pilot episode of Eat With Your Ancestors.

(Its a) series that facilitates intergenerational conversations, and explores connections using ancestral foods. Thats connections with both land and with each other. So although were a CHamoru media production company, part of being CHamoru is really understanding who our neighbors are, and what we have in common, and celebrating those things, Flores said.

Protected areas

Flores and her team have also been developing a land-focused series, We Are Protectors, for educators to use in the classroom.

Another thing that weve been working on through COVID with Micronesia Conservation Trust is media that introduces kids and their families and our community to protected areas to help them understand what protected areas are, why theyre so important to us, to our survival and our community. And then what the threats are against protected areas and how we can reduce those threats, Flores said.

The term protected areas, thats a very loose term to describe something broad, because there are protected areas that the federal government manages like Liteykan, or Ritidian, which is no longer protected, because its becoming part of a firing range complex, she said.

Then there are areas that families within our community protect. Ancestral land that they pass down from generation to generation, and that theyve decided collectively as a family, OK, were not going to build on this, were not going to develop it. We want our children and their childrens children to be able to come to this beach or to this ranch, for generations to come.

I think the protected areas that we really know about are generally the ones that are managed by the government, but areas can be protected within families. And that is actually one of the more successful ways to protect land, Flores said.

Educational outreach

Flores welcomes teachers interested in the Nihi! We Are Protectors media and lesson plan package to reach out, as its offering a short training soon for those interested.

Flores and her team have even scaled the lesson plans to cover elementary, middle and high school students.

As Nihi! has grown over time, it has expanded to include an educational component that goes beyond producing media  such as offering internship projects to introduce young aspiring filmmakers to the production process.

A lot of times we started out and it was an all male crew. And so weve slowly been working so that theres a better reflection of, you know, there are women on our crew.  We do want some of our audio folks and some of the folks on camera to be female. Weve worked with a bunch of youth over the past two years during COVID, whether its online, or there were some in person meetings that we held for the smaller groups, Flores said.

Looking toward the future

Building local filmmaking capacity dovetails with Flores vision for the future of Nihi! as a fully functional indigenous production house, creating high quality media and supporting the careers of the artists integral to that process.

We have been incredibly grassroots, working with minimal funding, minimal equipment, and still creating a quality product that is relevant for the children in our community. When you look at communities like Aotearoa  also known as New Zealand  or Hawaii, or Australia, there are fully functioning indigenous media production houses that produce indigenous media at a really high quality, and regularly, and they are sufficiently funded to do that work, Flores said.

Thats where Id like to see Nihi! in the next couple years, is to really become a fully functioning indigenous production house that is funded properly.
Atkins Kroll, through its Community Matters program, donated $1,914 to support foster children at Harvest House, Feb. 22, 2022. In attendance were, from left to right, Trina Cruz, marketing and communications director of Atkins Kroll, Bethany Taylor, Executive Director for Harvest House, Ernie Galito, director of Atkins Kroll business development and Ashley Lemley, the resource coordinator for Harvest House.
A permanent team to regularly hunt brown tree snakes on Cocos Island is planned as a large-scale eradication program moves forward.

Before creating the team and the eradication program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had to satisfy requirements in the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

Regulators wanted to ensure native and endangered species on Cocos, like the koko, remain unharmed when snakes are killed.

Now we have our regulatory approval completed. We have begun some preliminary work on eradication, said Aaron Collins, the state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife SDervices for Guam and the Western Pacific.

The team

A full-time team of four Guam Department of Agriculture employees will hunt snakes on Cocos Island while the full eradication plan is being developed.

This work with the Guam Department of Agriculture is important because we are going to begin removing as many snakes as we can and dropping that population, Collins said.

The team will start in about a month after a cooperative service agreement is signed between the two departments to access federal funds through the government of Guam.

The Office of Insular Affairs will help with long-term budget plans and training staff on how to catch and kill brown tree snakes.

Difficulties

Snakes on Cocos Island are harder to catch than on the rest of Guam because they avoid traps with both live and dead bait because they have more wild prey to hunt.

The primary method for removing snakes involves searching at night and catching them by hand.

Olympia Terral, a research associate for the University of Guams Western Pacific Tropical Research Center, has continued volunteer efforts to hunt snakes on Cocos Island.

A total of 15 snakes have been caught by Friends of Islan Dano, a volunteer group that raised money for boat trips to the island through a GoFundMe campaign in the summer of 2021.

She said funds ran low in December, so the group started a second round of GoFundMe donations, raising another $1,500.

More trips were needed to increase the chances of catching snakes, which often escape high into the trees where they cant be reached.

The latest hunt was Feb. 19 with a team of 12 people. Terral said the group plans to hunt snakes as often as possible.
Chinese FM holds phone talks with French president's diplomatic counselor

Xinhua) 10:47, February 26, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Wang said that China is willing to maintain close communication with the French side, jointly promote the opening up of a new horizon in bilateral relations and make new contributions to the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukrainian issue and held that the most urgent task is to push the parties concerned to start diplomatic negotiations as soon as possible to ease tensions, calling on abandoning the mentality of bloc confrontation and seeking a solution that accommodates the concerns of all parties.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
An Air India flight carrying evacuees from the war-hit Ukraine is expected to land here later in the day, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), officials said.

Union Minister for Textiles Piyush Goyal is likely to receive them at the airport, along with other officials.

The CSMIA has geared itself to handle the evacuees reaching here by AI-1944 with a special corridor and all necessary facilities.

As per Centre's guidelines, all the students shall undergo a mandatory temperature check and will be required to produce a Covid-19 vaccination certification or a negative RT-PCR report on landing.

If they are unable to show these documents, they will be made to undergo a RT-PCR test, at the airport, free of cost, and permitted to leave only if they test negative.

For those testing positive, they shall be clinically managed as per the government protocols including quarantine or treatment.

The CSMIA has also fenced a special area at the airport for them to sit, giving them free WiFi access, food, water and medical assistance if required.

An estimated 1,200 students from Maharashtra, besides some who had gone for business or tourism purposes, are stranded in Ukraine, as their concerned families await their news.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the state officials to coordinate with the Centre for the evacuation process and extend all possible help to the evacuees.

Congress President Nana Patole and Maharashtra Minister Vijay Wadettiwar said the state government has managed to contact over 350 of the stranded persons from Maharashtra.

Minister Uday Samant wrote to the Centre three days ago seeking urgent assistance for evacuating the stranded people including those from Maharashtra.

Over two dozen students are from Mumbai, plus others from Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur and different districts or cities.




Haiti - Social : The FOKAL Foundation, winner of the prestigious Zayed Prize





Friday, February 25, the jury of the Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity has just announced the names of the winners of its 2022 edition. This year, it has decided to reward the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation (FOKAL), as well as King Abdallah II of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania.



"This is a Prize for all Haitians, for all our partners and for all those who promote the values for which we fight" rejoiced Michele Pierre-Louis, President of FOKAL adding "This Prize gives us immense joy and gives us courage to continue our work."



Inspired by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb who signed the document on human fraternity on February 4, 2019, the Zayed Prize is in its 3rd edition and recognizes the winners for their contributions to the construction of a more peaceful, harmonious and compassionate world, based on the values of human brotherhood.



FOKAL succeeds Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations and the activist against extremism Latifa ibn Ziaten, laureates of the year 2021.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #708





GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022:

Epidemiological situation:



Saturday February 26, 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 433,765,102 cases (+1,749,143 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,638,796)



Number of countries infected: 221



*Healings: 363,491,363 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+2,286,798 in 24 hours), the day before (+2,180,027)

*Deaths: 5,958,391 people died of Covid-19 worldwide (+10,179 in 24 hours), the day before (+10,169)

*Active cases (less deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 64,315,348 cases (-547,834 in 24 hours), the day before (-551,400)



Average cure rate in the world: 83.79% (+)



Average mortality rate in the world: 1.37% (=)



World: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 10.74 billion doses of vaccine injected (+30 million doses injected in 24 hours. Updated February 26, 2022 (latest data available).



HAITI:

Epidemiological situation:

Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after February 22, 2022 daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti. Accordingly, the data below on the situation in Haiti is the latest available.



According to the Ministry of Public Health, +37 new cases in 48 hours of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of February 22, 2022 (latest partial data available) for a total of 30,336 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 (+12 cases on February 20, 2022).



Heals: 25,206 (+21)



Cure rate: 83.08% (-)



Deaths: 820 deaths (+0)



Death rate: 2.70% (=)



5th Wave (Omicron Dominant):

Total of the 5th wave (starting December 27, 2021) amounts to 4,341 confirmed cases and 54 deaths



Haiti: Active Cases Trend: (less recoveries and deaths)





(Day-1)



Screening since the start of the pandemic: 178,471 tests (+377 in 48 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: 723 (+2); Petion-ville 612 (+2); Port au Prince 404 (+4); Tabarre 278 (+2); Cross-Bouquets 224 (+5)



Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020):

West: 2022: 2,484 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: 162 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases)

Northeast: 2022: 147 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases)

Southeast: 2022: 225 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases)

South: 2022: 211 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases)

North West: 2022: 241 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases)

Grand'Anse: 2022: 136 cases; (2021: 861); (2020: 176 cases)

Nippes: 2022: 33 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

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 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): 80,532,307 cases (+85,727 in 24 hours), the day before (+74,176)

*Healings: 52,866,250 healings (+203,580 in 24 hours), the day before (+209,108)

National Cure Rate: 65.64% (+)

*Deaths: 972,200 deaths (+2,598 in 24 hours), the day before (+3,072)

National mortality rate: 1.20% (=)

*Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 26,693,857 (-120,451 in 24 hours), the day before (-138,004)

Tests: 947,131,392 last data available.



USA: Number of daily confirmed cases





(Day-1)



Vaccination: 552.43 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (+470,000 doses in 24 hours). Update February 26, 2022 (latest data available).



DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:

Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 573,776 cases (+318 in 24 hours) the day before (+422). First case (March 1, 2020)

Healings: 567,749 healings (+522), the day before (+1,139)

National Cure Rate: 98.94% (+)

Deaths: 4,365 deaths (+2 in 48 hours), the day before (+3)

Death rate: 0.76% (=)

Positivity rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 6.15% (-)

Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 1,662 cases (-206 in 24 hours) the day before (-280)



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:

Maria Trinidad Sanchez: +92 new cases in 24 hours ()

Santo Domingo: +69 new cases in 24 hours (+13 compared to the day before)

Santiago: +40 new cases in 24 hours (-17 compared to the day before)

National District: +37 new cases in 24 hours (-54 compared to the previous day)

Sam Jose de Ocoa: +28 new cases in 24 hours ()



Tests (since the 1st case): 3,098,279 tests (+6,736 in 24 hours), the day before (+6,251)



Vaccination: 15.24 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 25, 2022 (latest data available).



QUEBEC:

Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 918,821 (+1.542 in 24 hours), previous (+1.517)

Healings: 886,721 people (+2,298 in 24 hours), previous (+1,846)

Cure rate: 96.50% (+)

Deaths: 13,955 deaths (+24 in 24 hours), previous (+28)

Death rate: 1.51% (=)

Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 18,145 cases (-780 in 24 hours), previous (-357)



Quebec: Confirmed case trend:







Test: 16,658,680 people tested since the first case (+18,485 in 24 hours)



Vaccination: 18,382,262 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+14,825 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of February 25, 2022)



FRANCE:

*Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 22,593,109 cases (+58,138 cases in 24 hours), previous (+ 66,732)

*Healings: 20,464,974 healings (+214,354 in 24h), previous (+240,768)

National Cure Rate: 90.58% (+)

Deaths: 137,958 deaths (+188 in 24 hours), previous (+281)

Death rate: 0.61% (=)

Active Cases: 2,146,581 (-156,404 in 24h), previous (-174,317)

Test: 243,529,298 (last data available February 17, 2022)



France: Number of daily confirmed cases:





(day-1)



Vaccination: 140.64 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+80,000 doses injected in 24 hours. Update February 23, 2022 (latest data available)



Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36047-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-707.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...





Petion-ville : A bus stop riddled with bullets, 8 victims

In the evening of Thursday February 24, armed men riding on motorcycles opened fire on people at the Girardo bus stop (Petion-ville), injuring at least 7 people and killing one (a small merchant).



A bus robbed 4 victims

On Friday in Martissant, heavily armed men attacked a bus from the "Voix des Anges" company, providing the Cayes-Port-au-Prince route. A plainclothes policeman on the bus reportedly opened fire on the assailants, causing an exchange of fire which reportedly injured 3 passengers. The Policeman is said to be dead. All passengers were stripped of their belongings. The bus was riddled with bullets.



The economist Beauboeuf's son kidnapped

Jean David Beauboeuf, son of engineer and economist Jean-Leon Beauboeuf, was kidnapped this week in front of the family residence in Torcel. The kidnappers demand a ransom of 500,000 dollars for his release.



Journalist killed : A investigating judge designated

The Dean of the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince, Judge Bernard Saint-Vil has appointed Judge Chavannes Etienne to investigate the case of photo-journalist Maxihen Lazzarre, shot dead during the workers' demonstration on February 23 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36041-haiti-justice-death-of-journalist-maxihen-lazzare-police-could-be-involved.html .



The Protestant Federation wants to leave the Montana accord

The Protestant Federation of Haiti (FPH) would be according to its President on the verge of leaving the Montana agreement, believing that this agreement is about to fail.



Local products and school canteens

Friday, February 25, the World Food Program (WFP) met Charlot Bredy Minister of Agriculture and members of his cabinet to discuss a framework for collaboration, in particular on the supply of school canteens with local products.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Romney, WV (26757)

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Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 71F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/02/25

Preview images were recently released for the upcoming March issue of the men's magazine Arena Korea. This issue will feature a photoshoot and interview with Lee Dong-wook, the stars of such television dramas as "Tale of the Nine-Tailed" and "Bad and Crazy" among others projects. The images of the photoshoot emphasizes the sharp, cool look of Lee Dong-wook, indicating an ease with his surrounding environment.

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In regards to "Bad and Crazy" Lee Dong-wook noted that he did a lot of ad libs of material that wasn't in the script. Lee Dong-wook expressed gratitude to director Yoo Seon-dong for being understanding in their inclusion and importance to his character. Lee Dong-wook also noted how he has never once thought of acting as easy, and thinks of each new character as a new challenge.

Lee Dong-wook was also asked what he thought a pure, strong, responsible actor should strive for. Lee Dong-wook responded by saying a good actor can't be that responsible to family just because of the nature of the work, and they can't live purely for the same reason. Lee Dong-wook instead reemphasized his desire for new challenges, in spite of desires from his fans that he take more rest, because for him the challenge of acting is what makes his life enjoyable.

Written by William Schwartz
Affirming its nonaligned heritage, India has abstained on a Security Council resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and put a strain on its growing ties with the US and the West.

India joined China and the United Arab Emirates on Friday evening in staying on the sidelines on the resolution which received 11 votes in the 15-member Council, but was shot down by Russia which as a permanent member used its veto.

Explaining the abstention, India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said, "It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it."

"Dialogue is the only answer to the settling of differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment", he said.

Without naming Russia, Tirumurti, however, said, "India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities."

He added, "The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. all member states need to honor these principles and finding a constructive way forward".

The resolution sponsored by he US and Albania and by about 50 countries was taken up as reports came in that Russian troops were advancing on Kiev.

The resolution sought to declare that Russia has committed acts of aggression against Ukraine and the situation is a breach of international peace and security.

It also would have demanded that Russia immediately stop using force against Ukraine and completely withdraw its military forces from Ukraine, and rescind its recognition of the breakaway Ukrainian regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent nations.

The matter now goes to the 193-member General Assembly, which is expected to take up a similar resolution next week and the nonmembers of the Council who backed the failed resolution would be able to register their votes there.

Russia's isolation was apparent because the three abstentions did not amount to support for it either.

As symbolisms go, it was stark as China abstained even though Russia's President Vladimir and China's President Xi Jinping had signed a statement this month on ties with "no limits".

India was courted by both the US and Russia given the symbolic nature of the vote and the West's desire to isolate the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to press the case for voting for the resolution.

India's abstention will strain India's growing relationship with the US and the West as Washington had made the voting on the resolution a litmus test for how countries stand with Washington's position.

"There is no middle ground," US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said before the vote.

And after the vote, she said, "This vote showed which countries truly believe in supporting the core principles of the UN and which ones deployed them as convenient catchphrases. This vote showed which Security Council members support the UN Charter and which ones do not."

Britain's Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward said, "History will record how we voted today. And which countries stood up to be counted in defense of the charter and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

Tirumurti's remark that India "was deeply concerned about the welfare and security of the Indian community" in Ukraine drew a sharp response from Ukraine's Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya.

Turning towards Tirumurti and raising his voice he said, "It is exactly [for] the safety of your nationals right now in Ukraine that you should be the first to vote to stop the war to save your nationals in Ukraine."

The vote was taken by a show of hands around the horseshoe-shaped desk of the Council against a mural symbolising UN's mission of bringing peace and freedom to a world ravaged by war.

Kyslytsya asked to observe a moment silence to "pray for the souls" of all victims of the war in Ukraine without mentioning any nationalities or to meditate for peace.

Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenza, who was presiding over the meeting as his country held the rotating chair this month, interrupted to add those he said were victims of Ukraine.

After the minute of silence, the chamber erupted in applause.

India's dilemma on the Russia vote has been underscored by its dependence on Moscow for weapons, although it has been trying to diversify.

After decades of an assertive nonaligned foreign policy with a tilt towards the Soviet Union, India has been developing closer strategic ties with the US and the West in the post-Cold War world.

New Delhi may now have to find ways of mending the ties with the West frayed by the abstention.

Its effect may be found in some aspects of the relations, especially in the defence area, if the US persists in a Cold War "you-are-with-us-or-against-us" attitude, and even otherwise it could lose goodwill in Congress and elsewhere.

For example, India faces some sanctions for buying the Russian-made Triumf S-400 anti-missile defence system and Washington has not yet decided to exempt it.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who is a hawk on Russia, introduced a bill last year to exempt India from the sanctions, and it will yet to be seen how he and others supporting the bill will react to the abstention.

The US, Britain and France have supported India's claims to a permanent seat in the Security Council and it may be question questioned by those not sympathetic to India, especially in the US and Britain.

A Soviet veto saved India during Bangladesh's War of Independence when its troops went into what was then East Pakistan in support of Bangladeshi freedom-fighters trying save the country from a genocide.

But in recent years it is the US, Britain and France that have come to aid of India when China tried to bring up the Kashmir issue in the Security Council, while Russia drawing closer to Beijing has been indifferent.

The West has also supported India whenever it faced Chinese agression.

In fact, drawn together by the shared threat of Beijing's agressiveness, India has joined the Quad made up the US, Japan and Australia as a bulwark against China in the Indo-Pacific.

India has been assigned a key role in the US Indo-Pacific strategy which says it would "support Indias continued rise and regional leadership".

Now, ironically India found itself alongside China in the Security Council balancing act.

India also shares some problems that Ukraine faces: Territorial incursions from a larger neighbour and foreign support for separatists.
Mary Lou Montgomery, retired as editor of the Hannibal (Mo.) Courier-Post in 2014. She researches and writes narrative-style stories about the people who served as building blocks for this regions foundation. Books available on Amazon.com by this author include but are not limited to: "The Notorious Madam Shaw," "Pioneers in Medicine from Northeast Missouri," and "The Historic Murphy House, Hannibal, Mo., Circa 1870." She can be reached at Montgomery.editor@yahoo.com Her collective works can be found at maryloumontgomery.com
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Answering the prayers of hundreds of their anxious relatives, 219 Indians, mostly students and a majority of them girls, finally landed here by Air India's first evacuation flight from Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday evening, officials said.

The AI-194 special service with the passengers -- largely Indian students studying in various universities in Ukraine -- landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at around 8 pm, sending waves of relief among their near and dear ones keeping vigil outside the airport.

Expressions of joy, easing of intense stress, weary smiles or controlled tears of happiness were visible among the evacuees, some of whom managed to speak with their waiting kin outside on video-calls.

At the CSMIA, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and other officials received, welcomed and comforted the evacuees, as they trooped out of the arrival lounge.

In the past few days, many of them had sent desperate SOS for help through social media, seeking return to their parents and motherland.

This is the first batch of evacuees arriving from the war-hit Ukraine, and several more airlifting operations are expected in the next few days.

An estimated 1,200 students from Maharashtra, besides some who had gone for business or tourism purposes, are stranded in Ukraine, as their concerned families await news from them.

Goyal said that more flights will be operated over the next few days and will not stop till all Indians are airlifted from there safely.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minster of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and other officials are continuously monitoring the situation and will render all help to those stranded in the war-hit country.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the state officials to coordinate with the Centre for the evacuation process and extend all possible help to the evacuees.

State Congress President Nana Patole and Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar said the state government has managed to contact over 350 of the stranded persons from Maharashtra.

State minister Uday Samant wrote to the Centre three days ago seeking urgent assistance for evacuating the stranded people including those from Maharashtra.

Over two-dozen students are from Mumbai, plus others from Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur and different districts or cities.

The CSMIA was fully geared to handle the evacuees reaching here by AI-1944 with a special corridor and all necessary facilities.

As per Centre's guidelines, all the students shall undergo a mandatory temperature check and will be required to produce a Covid-19 vaccination certification or a negative RTPCR report on landing.

In case they are unable to show these documents, they will be made to undergo an RTPCR test, at the airport, free of cost, and permitted to leave only if they test negative.

For those testing positive, they shall be clinically managed as per the government protocols, including quarantine or treatment.

The CSMIA has also fenced a special area at the airport for them to sit, giving them free WiFi access, food, water and medical assistance if required.
On Thursday morning, a Turkish UAV targeted a car carries passengers on Qamishlo-Amuda road, which was heading to Qamishlo, this attack left 4 injuries including 3 women.

In this context, the components of Qamishlo city made it clear that Turkey seeks to exterminate the peoples of NE Syria through its ground and air attacks, and called the International Community to hold Turkey accountable for its crimes and violations.

The citizen Musa Khalil from the Kurdish component decried the Turkish drone attack by saying : "The Turkish state chooses sensitive dates to target the will of the free peoples, in order to fulfil its plans."

Musa said that "the Turkish occupation state does not differentiate between military and civilian in its attacks on the region,"

"To confront enemy's attacks on us, peoples of NE Syria should analyze policies and history of enemy in detail." Musa added.

Principle of revolutionary people's war as basis of the resistance"

He added, "The attitude of the components against Turkish occupation will be through their unity and solidarity together," stressing the need to raise the pace of struggle and take the principle of the people's revolutionary war as a basis for resistance in order to confront all attacks against the region.

The citizen Fatima Jassim from the Arab component, she indicated that after failure of ISIS attack on Sina'a prison, the Turkish occupation intensified the attacks on the border areas in northern and eastern Syria through its drones to conceal failure of ISIS attack.

The citizen Suleiman Othman from the Kurdish component said: "The government of the Justice and Development Party is practicing inhumane acts in North East Syria, but we will not surrender to these attacks, we will remain steadfast against all those attacks."

A.K

ANHA
Brandon Rowe, the Kerr County Sheriffs Office interdiction officer, prepares to go on patrol. Rowe is part of a newly-created three-county targed patrol unit.
(Diesen Artikel gibt es auch auf Deutsch)

(This article is also available in English)

(      )

In crisis situations communications is everything  and that includes human care. The feeling of not being alone is crucial for coping with such situations. It's important for maintaining motivation or building it up in the first place. In personal relationships, this only works if both sides can trust the medium used.

Today, the easiest way to do that is via encrypted messengers that are not in the hands of large corporations. And even though Telegram seems to be the most popular messenger in Ukraine despite its controversial history, it is not fully encrypted. Group chats are basically not encrypted at all, every content is stored on servers and can also be accessed via a browser. And in the case of WhatsApp, although it is encrypted, this service belongs to Facebook's infrastructure - in the event of cyberattacks, that is likely to be the first target, because it can also be used to shut down WhatsApp and Instagram.

We recommend either Signal or Threema as alternatives. Both are end-to-end encrypted and just as easy to use as other messengers. A detailed test shows the differences and advantages and disadvantages.

Free calls and SMS to Ukraine

Of course, such communication channels depend on some kind of access to the Internet. However, as long as there are no large-scale cyberattacks, this can be assumed. Mobile phone providers may also be affected by this due to end-to-end IP networking. As long as this works, telephone and SMS are still the most reliable and simple applications. Consequently, Telekom and Vodafone in Germany have made both services free of charge for the time being, with A1 and its sub-brands in Austria are joining in, as do Drei and Magenta. Yes, calls and SMS from Austria and Germany to Ukraine via these providers are free at this time, provided the volume does not reflect commercial abuse of the offer.

If you can't agree on a messenger or other service, or the appropriate equipment isn't available, there are free services for videoconferencing that can be joined by phone with sound only. One such service is the German project Senfcall, which is financed by donations, does not store your conversations, and is based on the open source software Big Blue Button. Those who use such services on a regular basis should make their financial contribution to it.

Trustworthy sources of information

Today's hybrid warfare also includes targeted disinformation and stifling discourse with a flood of misleading posts in all sorts of public forums. That Russian bots and troll armies are not a myth was recently demonstrated by the editor-in-chief of the Frankfurter Rundschau. As Thomas H. Kaspar reported on Twitter, his community team ran into Facebook's deletion limit: More than 10,000 misleading comments on posts by the editorial team had been received within hours. Such attacks are often long-lasting, here they were later followed by a wave of bot-posts in other social media channels of the Funke Media Group which Frankfurter Rundschau is a part of.

It is therefore important to use reliable sources in dynamic news situations. Especially on Twitter, freelance and staff journalists provide a lot of unfiltered information in real time. German journalist Philip Banse (Podcast: "Die Lage der Nation") has compiled a list called "Eastern Europe" for this purpose, in which journalists, NGOs and academics comment in various languages

Those who appreciate the international overview and also want to understand and forward news in foreign languages can also find an overview of Deutsche Welle accounts on Twitter. Their news are also available in Russian and in Ukrainian.

The view from abroad can be helpful for your own assessment. The BBC's live ticker on the Ukraine crisis and CNN's counterpart are just two examples. Both offer insights beyond the EU's borders, particularly with regard to the financial sector.

Whenever dealing with news in the form of text or video snippets, it is important to keep the source and its intention in mind. The two articles of c't magazine Fakt oder Fake (Fact or Fake) and Nix mit Fake (Down with Fake) offer techniques for recognizing fakes and disinformation.

With all the sources in social networks, most of the bots and political trolls can be easily identified: As a rule of thumb, the accounts are quite new and post identical posts in many groups and also other networks. Likewise, the use of the same memes over and over again, sometimes with drastic images and text, is suspicious. Not only should you not fall for such disinformation, it is especially important not to spread it further and to initiate a possible deletion via the networks' reporting functions.

VPN against government censorship

If trustworthy sources cannot be accessed, for example due to government restrictions, virtual private networks, also known as VPNs, can help. These redirect access so that it appears to come from another country and also bypass DNS blocks and other attempts to control the flow of information. We have had good experiences with the provider NordVPN (review), as well as the Finnish service Freedome from F-Secure. More services, a feature overview and direct links to the applications can be found at Heise Download.

A VPN is particularly useful for people in Ukraine. Anyone working there as a journalist or for an NGO should definitely use a stable VPN with many servers and access points distributed around the world. This can also make it more difficult for attackers to intercept communications or, worse, manipulate them.

Help for refugees

Those who not only want to inform themselves but also to provide practical help may first think of donations. Since a large number of refugees can be expected, the relevant organizations are the first port of call for this. For example, the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, already states that 100,000 people from Ukraine want to leave the country. The UNHCR has already launched initial aid campaigns for this purpose and is asking for donations.

As the escalation of the conflict was foreseeable, NGOs Caritas and Malteser have also prepared concrete relief actions. The links lead to pages of the respective programs. A cross-organization donation option is offered by the German Action Alliance for Disaster Relief (Aktionsbundnis Katastophenhilfe).

Apart from donations, it is also possible to provide help locally in Germany. Many cities have their own organizations for this purpose, the listing of which would go beyond the scope of this article. If many refugees should arrive in Germany, practical work is needed there. It can also be worthwhile to ask local authorities and local politicians now, for example through their citizens' offices, whether the community is prepared and can offer help. One example is spontaneous offers of help in arrival centers, such as those already offered by the state of Berlin.

Resource lists that can be edited by anyone and that contain offers of help and practical tips on fleeing Ukraine are difficult to verify. They are distributed in social networks via Google Docs, among others. We link an example of this here with reservations - the content can change at any time. We have randomly checked the information, at the time of publishing this article it was correct. If in doubt, you should at least check who made the latest changes and check the associated social media accounts. False information via SMS has also been observed. Caution is advised whenever contact is made by unknown persons; above all, links in such messages should not be clicked on under any circumstances.

Support for relatives and friends in Ukraine

As mentioned at the beginning, communication is everything. However, those who are indirectly affected and worried about their loved ones should be careful not to make the their emotional situation even worse. Not every news snippet about the latest developments needs to be shared. People's stress levels vary, and when someone asks for information, it's legitimate to counter-ask: why do you want to know? Of course, nothing should be withheld from relatives, but it makes sense to agree on a framework for supporting each other beforehand.

The same applies to the lucky ones who only watch the war from a distance. It's perfectly fine to remove yourself from the news flurry for a few hours or a day and, analogous to the principles of Digital Detox, also do some News Detox.

When all else fails

In the worst case scenario, a loved one in a war zone can no longer be reached. Even then, as simple as it may sound, it's important to stay calm and not immediately assume the worst. Mobile and fixed networks can fail, be overloaded or be disrupted by attackers. If contact is lost for an extended period of time, or if there are specific reasons for concern due to trustworthy reports of attacks on the missing person's location, the Red Cross Tracing Service can help.

Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations are internationally networked and experienced in searching for missing persons. Likewise, they have the means of Red Cross Messages (RCMs), which can also be delivered to prisons, for example. The relief organizations can also conduct video conferences, if technically possible, when the missing person is finally found.

This text may be distributed under the license of CC-BY 4.0

(nie)
THE incoming president of the Henley and District Agricultural Association is to champion local, seasonal produce.

Judy, the Hon Lady McAlpine, who will succeed Alan Pontin, wants to use her time in office to educate the public on the importance of British farming.

She used to have a farm in Kent before moving to the Fawley Hill estate, where she lived with her late husband Sir William McAlpine, who was the associations president in 2010.

The association organises the annual Henley Farm & Country Show, which will take place for the 130th time on Saturday, September 10.

Lady McAlpine, who is co-chairman of the Thames Traditional Boat Festival in Henley, said she felt the show needed some changes.

I am quite stroppy about things I think are not right and I said I would only be president if I was listened to, she said.

Even when my husband was president there were things that we felt were not right, such as the food stands at the show not being local and not serving local products or produce.

I have proved with the Trad that it is possible to have only local street food stands  you can do it.

The Henley Farm and Country Show is a farming show so it should all be about local farming and produce and I feel really strongly about that.

I had a farm in Kent before I came here and, to a degree, we farm deer here [at Fawley Hill].

Yes, we are an animal sanctuary but Bill used to farm red deer before we started taking animals in and we have an agricultural holding.

I care very passionately about our farms and producers and I feel very angry about the food we import that we dont need to.

If certain fruit and veg is out of season then you dont have it and whats wrong with that?

I find that youngsters nowadays are more aware and are beginning to listen but it is that middle age group that we need to convince and thats why agricultural shows are important.

It is important to know where your food comes from.

Lady McAlpine said the show was a damn good day out, adding: People should come because they will learn about food production in this country.

The associations annual meeting will be held at Hambleden village hall on Monday, March 21 at 8pm.
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Board of Commissioners approves hiring deputy coroner

Special Photo Coroner Donald Cleveland has been granted approval to hire a chief deputy coroner to handle the countys increasing caseload.

McDONOUGH  Henry County Coroner Donald Cleveland is a busy man. In 2021, he and his departments two part-time deputy coroners responded to 653 deaths, each taking an average of nine hours to investigate and process.

The work load increases as the countys population grows. In the last 10 years, more than 37,000 people have become Henry County residents.

As a result, Cleveland requested the Board of Commissioners allow him to combine the two per-call positions into one full-time chief deputy coroner.

In the executive summary, Cleveland stated it has become impossible for one person to handle the increasing caseload, along with administrative duties and being called out in the middle of the night, basically working around the clock.

According to the Death Investigation Act, a corner is responsible for investigating deaths that are a result of violence; suicide or casualty; suddenly when in good health; in any suspicious manner, with particular attention paid to those ages 16 and under; after birth before age 7 if the death is unexpected or unexplained; execution; when death occurs in a penal institution; after having been admitted to a hospital unconscious or without regaining consciousness within 24 hours of admission; apparent drug overdose; or when unattended by a physician.

Depending on the manner of death, investigations can take anywhere from five hours for a natural death to eight to 10 hours for homicides, suicides, traffic fatalities or suspicious deaths.

Cleveland also stated on multiple occasions calls come in one after another creating a dilemma for police or Emergency Medical Services who must remain on scene until a coroner arrives. Calls are responded to in the order they are received, Cleveland said in the summary.

In addition to answering calls, the chief deputy coroner will help with administrative duties, answering phones, responding to open records requests and performing follow-up investigations.

The board passed the measure unanimously.

Cleveland said in the 2022-23 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, he is considering hiring a full-time administrator to complete administrative duties crucial to the growing needs of Henry County.

He said the change will better serve the citizens of the county.

The chief deputy coroner annual salary is $55,000. The position will be filled immediately.
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Belarusian state-sponsored hackers are targeting the private email addresses of Ukrainian military personnel amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) said in a Facebook post that a mass phishing campaign is targeting the private accounts belonging to Ukrainian military personnel.

"Mass phishing emails have recently been observed targeting private ai.ua' and ameta.ua' accounts of Ukrainian military personnel and related individuals," the CERT-UA said late on Friday.

"After the account is compromised, the attackers, by the IMAP protocol, get access to all the messages. Later, the attackers use contact details from the victim's address book to send the phishing emails," it added.

The Minsk-based group called 'UNC1151' has been found to be behind these activities. Its members are officers of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus.

Cyber-security firm Mandiant earlier linked the group to the Belarusian government in November last year.

The Kiev government said the 'UNC1151' group was behind the cyber-attack that brought down Ukrainian government websites last week.

Reports have surfaced that after attacking Ukrainian government websites and banks with massive cyber attacks, Russia-sponsored hackers were now hitting Internet infrastructure in the country to silence the locals amid a full-blown war.

The cyber invasion already cut Internet connectivity in some parts of the country after the invasion began on Thursday.

Outages also affected the Triolan Internet service provider, which services a number of cities and other areas across Ukraine, including Kharkiv.

Russia has previously been linked to DDoS attacks against Ukrainian government sites but a full blackout would mean to disable telecommunications infrastructure at the network level, and silencing Ukrainians in the process.
Greenville, TX (75401)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High near 85F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 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
LG Electronics Inc said on Wednesday that it will introduce new C with its artificial inte
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, citing Ukraine's Parliament members, said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has left Kiev and is currently in Lviv, Interfax reported. Zelensky has left Kiev in a hurry. He wasn't in the Ukrainian capital yesterday. He and his entourage have fled to the city of Lviv where a place of residence was organized for him and his aides," Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday, the report said. This information was provided by members of the Ukraine Parliament who tried to meet Zelensky in Kiev, Volodin claimed. "They were invited to Lviv for the meeting," he said. The video from Kiev on Zelensky's social networks were recorded in advance, and Zelensky himself "is guarded by neo-Nazis", he said, Interfax reported. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video to social media on Saturday morning showing himself walking around the streets of Kiev after a night of artillery fire in different parts of the city, telling the nation "I'm here", Fox News reported. Zelensky said in a short video address to Ukrainians, "We will defend our country," and said that there's a lot of false information online. "Do not believe in fake information," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media after the sun came up in Kyiv on Saturday morning. "I am here. We will be defending our country, because our strength is in our truth." "We will be defending our country," the Ukrainian President added.




The ARRL report that the upcoming solo Crozet Island DXpedition spearheaded by Thierry Mazel, F6CUK, will likely arrive on the island around Christmas.

While traveling aboard the Marion Dufresne, Mazel will make stopovers at other remote islands that are also rare DXCC entities, including Tromelin Island. The Crozet and Tromelin islands are administered as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (abbreviated in French as TAAF).

After the permission granted by the TAAF and the DXpedition announcement, [the] time has come to gather the equipment and move forward with the preparations, Mazel said. The Marion Dufresne will leave Reunion Island on December 8, with a stopover at Tromelin to resupply the people there, then head for Crozet.

Mazel expects to spend a solid 3 months operating from the Alfred-Faure base on Crozet. The Marion Dufresne will return on March 26, 2023, after stopovers at the Kerguelen Islands and Amsterdam, arriving at Reunion Island on April 16, 2023. He said dates may vary depending upon weather conditions.

His first task upon arrival will be to erect antennas and set up his station, for which hell need to enlist help from others. Hell also have to contend with the weather, as Crozet is subject to strong winds.

No call sign has been issued at this point, although Mazel has requested one that will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first amateur operation from Crozet in 1961 and 1962. To head off problems with pirates, the call sign wont be released until after Mazel has arrived on Crozet, and just hours before he begins operation. Paul Granger, F6EXV, and Jean-Michel Duthilleul, F6AJA, will spread the word once that happens. Mazel had hoped to use an Elecraft K3 transceiver, but will use a pair of Kenwood TS-590 transceivers instead. Hes settled on 500 W ACOM 1010 tube amplifiers.

I have asked the TAAF [for] permission to send part of the equipment with the previous ship supply mission leaving in November, Mazel said. It sometimes happens that, because of the weather during landing, not everything can be brought to the island. Imagine being on the island without a station!

Mazel said much remains to be done, including finalizing antenna designs, securing winter clothing, and organizing scheduled contacts with school children via the QO-100 geostationary satellite.

Crozet will be an ATNO [All-Time New One] for many, and you cant afford missing it, as nobody knows when the next ham operation will take place from this #3 most-needed, Mazel said in urging contributions to the DXpedition effort.

The last ham radio activity from Crozet was in 2009 by Florentin Bard, F4DYW, who operated as FT5WQ. The 2022  2023 solo DXpedition is anticipated to cost upward of $60,000.

For additional information, visit the Crozet Island DXpedition website.

ARRL
FEBRUARY 26: The Heat have officially signed Highsmith to a second 10-day contract, the team announced (Twitter link).

FEBRUARY 25: Forward Haywood Highsmith will sign another 10-day contract with the Heat, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.

Highsmith signed his first standard 10-day contract on February 15. That contract was extended by one day due to the All-Star break and will expire after tonights game against the Knicks.

The Heat will not be able to offer Highsmith another 10-day after the next one expires.

Highsmith had an earlier 10-day stint with Miami under the hardship exception in late December and early January. Prior to Fridays game, he had appeared in six games with Miami this season, averaging 3.7 PPG in 11.8 MPG.

Highsmith had a brief stint with the Sixers in 2018/19, appearing in five games for the club on a two-way contract. The 25-year-old also spent the 2020/21 season in Germany, but has otherwise played mostly for the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphias G League affiliate, since going pro in 18. He has appeared in 17 games with the Blue Coats this season, averaging 13.6 PPG on 39% shooting from three-point range.
For Angela "Aj" Jennings, Black history is about more than just a month. She's striving to make history in her field every day.

With a storied career in retail management as the first Black woman to lead retail development at some of the country's most preeminent names in the retail real estate sector  The Portman Company, The Taubman Co., Simon Property Group and Federal Realty Investment Trust  she has shattered countless glass ceilings in a white male-dominated industry.

Her passion drove her to more than 30 cities across the country, where she has chartered innovation at 16 malls, many of which hold national acclaim. For the last three years and counting she has continued to write history as the senior general manager behind Rice Village's 2019 transformation.

Jennings, 64, led and developed award-winning properties all while being a single mom of three and serving as an active member and leader at a number of community organizations, including the Austin Urban League, the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club and Make a Wish.

"I didnt sleep well," she said. "It was hard for me to shut off my brain."

Even when she was off the clock, mall shopping with her children, she was still on. As a self-proclaimed "mall nerd," she couldn't help herself. It was her passion.

"The thing that drove my kids crazy is if something wasnt folded, I would fold it," said Jennings. "Or if trash was on the floor, Id pick it up. I cant go into a mall without paying attention to everything. My kids would say 'mom this is not your shopping center.'"

But her ascension as a force in the industry didn't come easily.

Pressure being the "first"

No matter how passionate she is about retail, no matter how many awards and accolades properties under her belt have received, and no matter how many commercial properties she has improved, she was still reminded often of the color of her skin.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Black History Month tribute event draws questions about Sugar Land 95 cemetery name

From naysayers questioning whether she rose through the ranks by her credentials or via affirmative action to employees comparing her to her predecessors, she had her fair share of struggles as the first Black woman in charge.

In 1991, when she took over as the general manager at a Colorado center, she said her employees struggled initially adjusting to a new boss.

"In every meeting it was 'well Susan did this and Susan used to do it like this.' Jennings said of her staff's constant mention of her predecessor.

That all changed one day after Jennings played a cassette tape of Whitney Houston's 1991 hit "My Name is Not Susan" in a meeting.

After that, Jennings said she never heard the name Susan again.

But one of the most difficult moments in her career was an incident where she felt her family's safety was compromised. Jennings was the face of Fairlane Shopping Center in Dearborn, Mich., on June 22, 2000 when a Black man named Frederick Finley died while being held in a chokehold by a department store loss prevention officer. Security guards had accused Finely's stepdaughter of shoplifting a $4 bracelet, according to ABC News. The officer was indicted, but the charges against him were dismissed in 2004, according to NBC News.

After Finley's death, protests emerged, drawing activists such as Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton to town calling for justice, and soon Jennings found herself working alongside them to cultivate change in the community.

Meanwhile, she found people would approach her when she went to the grocery store.

"People would say 'arent you that girl from Fairlane?' "Jennings said.

Yet the most troubling part was being called "the token," she said.

"The pressure came not only from being called the n-word, but from things like the 't-word,'" said Jennings.

"Dont call me that, but Ive worked hard for everything Ive done. Moving my kids across more than 30 cities Dont call me a token. Ive earned this. And I wasnt just called the token by whites, but by some Blacks."

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Thats when she realized she was in a position of power to make a difference, she said. When she got to Detroit in 1993 the majority of the security staff were white. When she left in 2000 for an opportunity to develop and open a new luxury shopping center in Tampa, the International Plaza, she left behind a diverse team  something Jennings considers a necessity for every team she manages.

Its okay to be the first, I just dont want to be the only, she said.

A U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission analysis on the employment of women of color in the private sector found that that the industries most likely to employ African American women as officials and managers are social assistance, nursing and residential care facilities and religious/grantmaking, civic, professional and similar organizations.

HISTORIC HOUSTONIANS: 20 Black trailblazers from Houston that you should know

"Shes the creme de la creme in a male-dominated industry," said Michael Smith, the president and managing partner of Pine Place Development and a longtime friend from high school.

"She thinks outside the box. There might be retail concepts that dont make sense, but she figures out a way to make that concept work. Thats why shes in such demand all over the country. People recruit her. Its not because shes a woman, its not because she Black, its because shes good. You pick up a trade magazine and you see her name and face in it."

Destined to make history

As an adolescent, Jennings recognized that she was destined to be the first Black woman to accomplish something. She just didn't know what it would be.

Growing up in North Tulsa in the 1960s and a descendant of the original "Black Wall Street," she aspired to be in politics, taking influence from civil rights activists and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

She had an epiphany at just 11 years old when her role model, King, was assassinated.

"It impacted me because I was like 'oh my God I cant go into politics because theyll kill me,'" she said, acknowledging that she was "outspoken."

ESSAY: Is there a right or wrong way to honor Rosa Parks?

Retail beginnings

So she changed courses and at 15 started working in retail sales at Dillard's, lying about her age and claiming she was 16.

She worked there through college, making her way through every department except appliances and shoes.

"That gave me the basis for customer service," Jennings said. "My basis for customer service became my makeup. Its just a part of who I am."

"She has worked hard to earn her stripes," said Becky Heston, her former supervisor and managing partner of Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group.. "From early on she focused on retail. She was smart because she recognized the advent of this new product type thats called vertical mixed-use and recognized that this was the future, and started gearing her career towards that. She didnt jump around. She worked smart by targeting an area where she had passion."

Revamp of Rice Village

When Jennings arrived to the historic Rice Village in June 2019, her team focused on making the property look fresher with landscaping and painting. They covered the property with new plants and turned the "old, dated red brick" to white. Then she brought in a variety of destination retailers and restaurants, focusing on home furniture and dining.

"Thats the whole point. Youre in a village. You want to people watch," Jennings said of the property, which is operated by REIS Associates. "I talk to people that say thats where they used to go, but Im coming back. More than anything I hear people telling me about their grandparents taking them there when they were young. Were giving them reasons to come back."

They were on a roll, then the pandemic hit in March 2020 and they had to adjust as people went home again, Jennings said. Then in February 2021 the deadly Texas freeze happened, and killed more than 50 percent of their landscaping, forcing them to replace most of the landscaping that had just been planted.

Although Rice Village was another opportunity to improve a historic property, Jennings didn't solely come to Houston for work. After four years of dating long distance, she would finally be in the same city as her "sweetie" and now-husband, Dale Jennings. As avid bikers, the pair originally met in Maryland at a Buffalo Soldier's Motorcycle Club event. They tied the knot on April 3, 2021 in an intimate ceremony in the backyard of their dream home in League City.

Although she's been asked about retirement, Jennings said she has no plans anytime soon. But Houston is her last stop. Here, she has found her forever home.
University of Houston

The University of Houston is now offering a Bachelors of Arts in Mexican American and Latino/a Applied Studies. The schools Board of Regents unanimously approved the program at its meeting last week.

We live in a global world and a global economy, we have developed a program to not only give students cultural competency, but also prepares them to get jobs, said Dr. Jeronimo Cortina, associate director of the universitys Center for Mexican American Studies who led the effort to establish the degree program.
If you are a Florida Power & Light customer, you are helping to fund the utilitys $175 million plan to expand its network of electric vehicle charging stations across the state.

FPLs plan to expand charging stations through 2025, part of a program it calls EVolution, was approved by the Florida Public Service Commission last October as part of the utilitys latest four-year rate plan. It will increase fast-charging facilities along an 800-mile network of major roadways, as well as provide charging ports at businesses and residential homes. As electric vehicle sales increase in coming decades, it will also provide an additional revenue stream for FPL.

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Two Florida lawmakers are seeking to remove the burden of funding the program from the utilitys 5.6 million ratepayers who arent among the states 58,000 electric vehicle owners.

Sen. Keith Perry, who represents the Gainesville area, and Rep. David Berrero, whose district includes parts of Broward, Miami-Dade and Collier counties, are sponsoring bills that would bar investor-owned utilities from recovering development costs for EV charging stations from all ratepayers after January 1, 2024.

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Utilities would only be allowed to build and operate EV charging stations by creating separate non-regulated entities, like NextEra Energys for-profit FPL Home Services subsidy that markets warranty plans, surge protectors, air conditioners and other products to FPL customers.

Berrero and Perry argue that investor-owned utilities, which include FPL, Duke Energy and Tampa Electric, enjoy an unfair advantage over private-market charging station providers because they have such a large captive source of investment income.

An FPL electric vehicle gets charged in the Brightline parking garage in West Palm Beach in this 2019 file photo. (Thomas Winter / Courtesy)

When utilities are allowed to recover EV charging development costs from their ratepayer bases, that gives investor owned utilities a significant competitive advantage over third parties, like gas stations or electricity pump manufacturers [that want to] enter into the field, Borrero told the Houses Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee on Feb. 15.

He argued, Non-users of EV pump stations should not have to pay the cost for EV users.

FPL increasing stations to meet growing demand

The bills are supported by Chargepoint, a California-based private-market network of charging stations, and the Florida Retail Association. Opponents include Associated Industries Florida, a lobbying organization that includes Floridas publicly owned utilities among its largest donors.

While the bills cleared their first committee hearings in the House and Senate, neither has been scheduled for a subsequent hearing as the sessions scheduled March 11 end approaches. Typically, bills need to be approved by three committees in each chamber before advancing to a vote by that chambers full membership. But its not uncommon for bills to take multiple years, and numerous revisions, before advancing to the governors desk.

Currently, FPL operates about 55 fast-charging stations across the state and about 50 private workplace locations, according to data provided by the utility. According to FPLs website, the public stations offer nearly 1,000 charging ports. After stations currently under construction are complete, nearly 100 public stations will be available with more to come, FPL spokesman Chris McGrath said by email.

[ RELATED: FPL says rooftop solar customers arent paying fair share. Solar advocates say FPL wants to kill their industry ]

Electric vehicle owners recently received emails from FPL inviting them to sign up for a program that would provide fast-charging ports in their homes with no upfront equipment or installation charge. That program, which will bill EV owners a flat monthly fee and provide all-you-can-eat charging power during off-peak nights and weekends, is not funded by all ratepayers, McGrath said.

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The cost for the charging equipment and electrical work is factored into the price of the program, he said. Importantly, this voluntary program is paid for 100% by participants, not the general body of ratepayers.

Critics see hypocrisy

Critics charge that FPLs plan to require all 5.6 million of its ratepayers to fund a program that currently benefits an estimated 58,000 electric vehicle owners smacks of hypocrisy.

Even as the utility funds its EV charging station program through its overall ratepayer base, its pushing a bill that would stop such funding for rooftop solar users.

It claims the infrastructure needed to keep solar customers connected to its grid is paid for by non-solar customers. To reduce that burden, the utility is seeking to reform a 2008 state law that requires FPL to credit rooftop solar owners  at current retail rates  for excess electricity their systems send back to the grid for use by other customers. FPL wants to reduce those buyback rates to no more than what it would otherwise spend to generate that electricity itself. The utility also wants the right to impose fixed fees to ensure solar owners pay their fair share for the cost of remaining connected to the grid.

Rooftop solar owners and installers are crying foul. They say FPL has presented no evidence to prove that each of its 31,700 solar owners enjoys $90 a month in value, or about $30 million annually overall, that non-solar customers have to cover.

Hypocrisy? Absolutely, said George Cavros, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energys Florida director and its energy policy attorney. FPLs argument that non-solar users subsidize solar users is driven by unvetted and incomplete information, he said, adding that no utility has presented data that proves the argument.

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Still, he said, the alliance does not take the position that non-users of electric vehicles shouldnt help to fund EV charging facilities. The alliance, he said, believes theres a role for utilities to play in expanding access to charging stations in rural and low-income areas where investment by private industry would be less likely.

We support utility investment that addresses the climate crisis. Electrification of transportation plays a crucial role in that, he said.

FPL says critics are wrong

FPLs McGrath disputed accusations of hypocrisy.

Unlike private rooftop solar installations that are fueling a rapidly growing, multi-million-dollar annual cross subsidy for non-rooftop solar customers, the FPL EVolution program is not expected to have a significant impact on the general rates that customers pay, he said.

Furthermore, there is potential to provide significant benefits for FPLs general body of customers in the longer term, as the benefits of vehicle electrification are not limited to owners of EVs, he said. Expected increased revenues from EV charging that result from expanded market penetration of EVs will contribute to the recovery of the utilitys fixed costs and put downward pressure on electric rates, thereby benefitting the general body of customers.

But Bradley Marshall, senior attorney for the environmental law firm Earthjustice, says ratepayers should not be expected to fund utility projects that could be handled by the private market. He pointed out that projects funded through what are called utilities rate bases are structured in a way that delivers a built-in return on investment to the utilities investor-owners.

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Earthjustice is certainly in favor of electric vehicles and development of EV infrastructure generally, he said. It just has to be done in a fair manner so people who cant buy electric vehicles wont pay higher bills to help investor-owned utilities make extra profits.

Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
History often focuses on specific questions  What happened? Why did it happen?  overlooking a more interesting cultural question: Where did it happen?

Architecture plays a huge role in history, with momentous events occurring in humble structures or grand locations providing a backdrop for others that play out slowly. Heres a look at 10 architectural sites in Houston and the role they played in local Black history and culture.

1. Texas Southern University

When Moody Nolan architects designed the new Library Learning Center at Texas Southern University, they created a beacon for the campus and its Third Ward neighbors. The modern structure that welcomes visitors and students alike has a skylight at the top of a five-level atrium, emitting a column of light you can see from a distance at night.

Moody Nolan is the largest Black-owned architecture firm in the U.S. and has worked on nearly 60 buildings at more than 30 historically Black colleges and universities. This Library Learning Center was cited recently by travel magazine Fodors as one of 11 projects by Black architects that are worth visiting.

A visit to TSUs campus  a school that formally organized in 1947  provides an opportunity to see more than this new building that opened in 2021. Check out the beauty of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the Martin Luther King Jr. School of Communications, buildings designed by the late John S. Chase, the states first Black licensed architect.

If you have time, look for murals by the late artist John Biggers: Web of Life in the University Museum (Fairchild Building, first floor); Family Unity in the Sterling Student Life Center; and NUBIA in the Jesse Jones Business Building.

2. Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

Perhaps no other building in Houston tells the story of the strength and survival of African Americans as the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, a humble stone structure with Gothic features that stands proudly at 500 Clay, surrounded by towering modern skyscrapers made of glass and steel.

As the Civil War ended and slaves learned of their freedom, they formed Antioch Baptist in 1866, first meeting under a bush arbor on the banks of Buffalo Bayou and eventually in the church they built in 1875, with the Rev. Jack Yates as their first full-time pastor.

Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1866 in Houston on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Jack Yates once served as pastor of the church, which was Houston's first African American Baptist congregation. / Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

It was the citys first Black Baptist church and is the oldest original Black church structure still standing. In its earliest years, Antioch Baptist was a center of activity for Black Houstonians starting new lives as free people.

Those who attend Sunday morning services here still sit in the churchs original wooden pews, contemplating the struggles of those who came before them more than a century earlier.

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3. Trinity United Methodist Church

While Antioch Baptist may be the citys oldest church facility, Trinity United Methodist Church is the oldest Black church, formed in 1848 by slaves who followed the Methodist faith.

The church has been located at Live Oak and Holman streets in Third Ward since 1951 and is known for its stunning stained-glass windows by artist Jean Lacy, depicting Bible stories from creation to crucifixion and portraying those historical figures as people of color.

Other panels tell of more contemporary struggles, from slavery to the civil rights movement, depicting figures such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr.

4. Emancipation Park

In 1872, the Rev. Jack Yates, the Rev. Elias Dibble, Richard Allen and Richard Brock gathered $800 to buy 10 acres to create Emancipation Park in Freedmens Town, where former slaves were building a community southwest of downtown.

The park, originally meant as a place where Black Houstonians could celebrate Juneteenth, has had its ups and downs through the decades. Its currently on an upswing, with nearly $34 million in improvements in 2017, its official selection as a state-designated cultural district and the completion of four bold mosaic monuments by artist Reginald Adams to honor its four founders.

During the era of segregation, Emancipation Park was the only park Black Houstonians could visit. Now, its a place where any Houstonians should proudly visit.

Karen Warren / Staff photographer Steve Pine (L) A decorated utility box at Emancipation Park, Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Third Ward, Houston. After Houston Community College participated in the 149th Juneteenth Celebration Benefiting the Emancipation Park Conservancy (EPC). / Karen Warren / Staff photographer (R) Blue Triangle Multi-Cultural Association, Inc., has won a 2020 Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston for restoring the mural The Contribution of Negro Woman to American Life and Education by John Biggers (1953) in the Blue Triangle Community Center in Third Ward. / Steve Pine

5. Heritage Society

A cluster of historic buildings on the edge of downtown at the Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park includes both the Rev. Jack Yates House and an old Fourth Ward Cottage.

The Heritage Society moved the home built in 1870 by Jack Yates, a former slave who became a Baptist minister and Black leader, to the park in 1996. Through it, they tell the story of Yates and his efforts to lead the newly formed Black community after emancipation. He and wife Harriet raised their 11 children in this home, the first two-story house in the Black community, with Tuscan columns and upstairs and downstairs porches.

The other structure, a 19th-century cottage was originally located on Robin Street in Houstons Fourth Ward and moved to Sam Houston Park in 2002. Its earliest residents were German immigrants until it became a rental house for any number of tenants through the decades.

Courtesy of Heritage Society Steve Ueckert, HC staff / Houston Chronicle Courtesy of Heritage Society (Left) The Fourth Ward cottage at Heritage Society. / Courtesy of Heritage Society (Top Right) A portrait of Jack Yates hangs inside the opened doors, Tuesday, of the Yates house at Sam Houston Park. / Steve Ueckert, HC staff / Houston Chronicle (Bottom Right) The Jack Yates House at Heritage Society. / Courtesy of Heritage Society

6. DeLuxe Theater

Count the DeLuxe Theater as a big success for the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, a group revitalizing its neighborhood one big project at a time. In 2015, the building on Lyons Avenue celebrated its grand opening, providing a new venue for classes, art exhibits and performances.

The building opened in 1941 as a movie theater but closed in 1969. Now its a historic landmark thats part of a thriving cultural arts district. The next time the theater hosts an interesting show, use it as an excuse to see a beautiful building that means a great deal to its neighbors.

Karen Warren / Staff photographer Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Andrew Richardson, HC staff / Houston Chronicle The DeLuxe Theater was renovated in 2014 in the Fifth Ward in Houston. / Karen Warren / Staff photographer / Andrew Richardson, HC staff / Houston Chronicle

7. Freedmens Town

If you find yourself in whats left of Freedmens Town in Fourth Ward, look down at the brick streets and appreciate that they were put in place by hand by men and women whod spent their entire lives enslaved and were starting anew as free people.

After emancipation, many former enslaved people migrated to bigger cities such as Houston, seeking opportunities. Freedmens Town grew up around the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and other churches, and it was a prosperous, if segregated, community for decades. By 1930, a third of Houstons 36,000 Black residents lived in this neighborhood.

Progress  a new city hall building, the Gulf Freeway and other projects  consumed parts of this district, which became a National Historic Landmark in 1985. The Houston Freedmens Town Conservancy and the Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum are working to restore the remaining original homes.

The next time the areas Art Houses host an exhibit, visit. Appreciate both the art and all of the effort it took to create this experience.

8. Project Row Houses

Project Row Houses is a unique effort that connects cultural and historic preservation to the arts and neighborhood revitalization. Instead of watching encroaching gentrification, it preserves the legacy of the original neighborhood from Bastrop to Live Oak streets and Elgin to Holman streets.

A group of African American artists, lead by Rick Lowe, looked at a group of derelict shotgun houses at Holman and Live Oak and saw nothing but potential.

For years theyve been agents for grassroots change, using row houses  also called shotgun houses  as venues for their work. Shotgun houses originated in West Africa, and enslaved people brought the style with them. After emancipation, it became one of the most popular styles of homes for newly freed people.

Karen Warren, Staff / Houston Chronicle Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Project Row Houses on Holman Street, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in Houston. The hybrid art gallery-social experiment, has a new executive director, Linda Shearer. Project Row houses aims to improve its Third Ward neighborhood, one of the poorest parts of inner-city Houston. / Karen Warren, Staff / Houston Chronicle

Courtesy of David Heymann Hester + Hardaway, photographer Dan Hardy, HP staff / Houston Chronicle The Houston home of modernist architect John S. Chase, the first licensed African American architect in Texas. / Hester + Hardaway, photographer

9. John S. Chase house

John S. Chase overcame much to become the states first Black licensed architect. When he graduated from the University of Texas in 1952 he launched his own firm, building a house for his own family to show how his modernist style played out in residential projects.

The home in Riverside Terrace was built in 1953 as a one-story home and later added a second floor with additional bedrooms and bathrooms. It sold to a new owner last year after Chases wife, Drucie, died in early 2021. Chase died in 2012.

In its heyday, the home was legendary for its parties, fundraisers and gatherings that drew Hollywood celebrities, political figures and others.

10. St. Elizabeths Hospital

In an effort driven by the Fifth Ward Redevelopment Company, the Art Moderne building that once housed St. Elizabeths Hospital and, later, other health care efforts, is in the process of being turned into much-needed mixed-income housing at 4514 Lyons.

The hospital was designed by architects Wyatt C. Hedrick, Claude H. Lindsley and Thomas E. Lightfoot Jr., and was built during segregation to improve Black Houstonians access to health care.

The front of the main, three-story building, which has state and national historic landmark status, has a grand staircase leading to the front vestibule and an exterior of honed limestone, rock face limestone and curved side walls made of glass block on each side of the doorway.

Its heartening to see the building, an architectural gem, saved by its own community at a time when other buildings are being demolished in the name of progress.

diane.cowen@chron.com
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Traditional Ash Wednesday services are held in a church sanctuary where Christians are marked with a cross on their foreheads as a reminder of death and repentance. And drive-thru services are available for busy people who start Lent without leaving their cars.

The Rev. Jordan Czichos has an entirely different approach for the observance.

It starts with a group gathering around a table in the evening, discussing Ash Wednesday over a few pints, sharing prayer and imposing ashes on each other.

She wanted to do something unique for the occasion and make it more accessible. Fortunately, the date coincided with a small group she launched a few months earlier.

Where Are We Wednesdays invites young adults in their 20s through 40s to gather at a brewery on the first Wednesday each month. The spot is different each time and the events center on striking up conversation. The group has already met four times.

We talk about Scripture, how it relates to our lives and ask questions, said Czichos who serves as pastor of evangelism at the church.

The idea was born while Czichos  pronounced seek-us  was brainstorming with the churchs teaching pastor Ken Coneby.

Where can we go in the city where people will ask questions, like why is there a woman in a clerical collar drinking beer at a brewery? Czichos asked with a laugh.

Yi-Chin Lee, Photographer / Staff photographer

The two ministers from First United Methodist Church started selecting breweries  only spots that also have nonalcoholic options like root beer  and began spreading the word.

Want to go? Where Are We Wednesdays next meets 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday, March 2 at Platypus Brewing, 1902 Washington. See More Collapse

I know a lot of young adults who wouldnt want to step into a church, she said. But they would be comfortable sitting around a table at a brewery.

During the Wednesday brewery sessions, she asks for prayer requests and reminds participants that everyone needs support. Ash Wednesday is especially meaningful to Czichos. Its a time that reminds people of their trust in God. It draws us back to our humanity and Gods divinity, she said.

The mark of ashes on the forehead is a reminder, Czichos said. Its an outward sign of how we recognize God is alive in the world, despite our humanity. And God is working.

When others see the symbol, it can be the beginning of a conversation.

People are going to ask you about it, Czichos said.

Christa Kroon, 25, joined the group at 8th Wonder Brewery for the last meet-up.

Its a really good group, with people from all different backgrounds, she said. People really opened up and we learned a lot from each other.

Not everyone who attends is Christian, and Kroon said she enjoyed hearing their stories and learning about their backgrounds.

I was definitely looking for young adult groups, said Kroon, who lives in the Heights. There are few churches in Houston that seem to have a strong young adult ministry.

The mix of attendees at Where Are We Wednesdays teaches us to be people who are willing to talk about our faith, Czichos said. It also makes room for people to be comfortable asking questions.

Guests usually arrive around 7 p.m. Some are religious, and some are not.

Last time, we had everything from an atheist to a hopeful skeptic to someone who has been a member of First United Methodist Church for their whole life, Czichos said.

For Ash Wednesday, on March 2, the group is meeting at Platypus Brewing, 1902 Washington. All are welcome, and this type of organic gathering is what the minister said creating a community is all about.

The pandemic has had people searching for authentic connections, she said.

Theres a thirst for that  and were offering a space for that to happen, Czichos said. And, at the end of the day, we all grow in understanding together.

She was also well aware that the age group might not feel comfortable meeting in a traditional church setting.

In Houston, people like tacos, and people like beer, Czichos said. And making spirituality and faith more accessible is the goal.

Church used to be a social thing, she said. Thats kind of disappearing. How do you keep talking about God in ways that are helpful?

Kroon offered an example.

I remember Jordan saying, However you pray, even if you dont pray, assume a position, Kroon said. Ive never heard a pastor say anything like that before.

God is not limited to inside the walls of a sanctuary, Czichos said.

Yi-Chin Lee, Photographer / Staff photographer

I experience God in dive bars, breweries and coffee shops, on the streets in Houston, she said. Isnt the church meant to be around the table? Isnt the church meant to be about discussion?

Czichos hopes to find more authentic ways to continue the conversation, especially during the Lenten season, which she said is an opportunity to reflect and grow in faith.

Were trying to find places where goodness is growing in the ash, she said. We can be honest with ourselves and where we mess up. Thats a part of Lent. Developing good habits is a part of Lent. Its all about trying to find goodness, hope and peace.

Czichos wants to create ways to move forward on a faith journey. There are still spaces to do that, she said. Sometimes, we have to seek them out.

And sometimes, those spaces may be surprising, like a brewery.

Other churches might try starting something similar. Just get three friends together and go grab a beer. Its as simple as that, she said.

In the meantime, the pastor invites those who want to celebrate Ash Wednesday together to come to Platypus Brewing on Wednesday.

All are welcome, Czichos said.  Ill be the woman in the clerical collar on the porch outside.

Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
As Black History Month wraps up, five Fort Bend County leaders sat down on Thursday, Feb. 24 for a panel discussion focused on The Future of Black America.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George opened the event and said since the county is the nations most diverse, according to the Kinder Institute, it can be a model for other communities on how diverse cultures can live together well. He said he wanted to bring together leaders to examine what the future looks like for Black people in Fort Bend County, the Greater Houston area, the state and the nation.

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Topics ranged from engaging Black voters to mental and heart health.

Bridgette Smith-Lawson, Fort Bend County county attorney, said bringing out the Black vote requires saturating the community with messages through radio and TV ads, texts and robocalls and going door to door in order to address apathy toward voting.

Then also, before you get to that, there has to be an understanding that our vote counts, our vote matters, she said, noting the nations history of institutional racism and how it has deeply impacted what the Black community thinks about voting.

People who dont like what they see from their government officials should consider whether they themselves could do a better job and then be willing to step up and run, or think about a friend who might do well in the office, said Charann Thompson, Fort Bend County assistant district attorney.

Senate Bill 1 was signed into law last September. Among other changes, it altered voting hours and identification requirements for mail ballots. Smith-Lawson said if voters are upset by the law or if they support it, they can vote to choose the representatives who decide those decisions. She also encouraged voters to make sure they go to polls during the hours they are open.

Thompson said representatives are responsive to the demands of the people and will act on what their base constituents want. If that is not acceptable to a voter, they can choose other candidates at the polls.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Rosenbergs FISH-tastic Childrens Fishing Tournament postponed to March 5

Christin Lee, licensed psychological associate with Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services, said barriers to mental health in the Black community stem from lessons passed down by generations which teach people they have to show strength and hide their emotions to survive and avoid harm.

We have to normalize feeling our feelings, we have to normalize not being OK, and we have to normalize asking for help, Lee said.

Azeb Yusuf, chief development officer for Bee Busy Wellness Center, said financial barriers are the top issue in mental health among Black communities. They are seeking help but limited by the cost of care. For example, some may receive three sessions of mental health services but then have to pay for additional help. An immigrant whose culture avoids discussing mental health, Yusuf said cultural barriers are an issue as well.

Understanding the situations that caused a person to need mental health services alters the conversation, said Connie Almeida, director of Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services. She said mental health professionals should avoid diagnosing someone after 15 minutes and try to better grasp the roots of the problems. Its, I care enough about you to enter into a conversation to really understand how you got here, which also talks about trauma. And it creates that safe space to talk about that.

Addressing criminal justice and police reform, Thompson said she believes poverty among neighborhoods with minorities leads to more interactions with law enforcement and increases the likelihood of arrests that add up over time.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Cultures, kites and fireworks: Sugar Lands International Art & Kite Fest set for March 26

She added that the recent introduction of body cameras for Fort Bend County law enforcement officers should have an impact because the cameras provide a third set of eyes beyond the officer and the person they are addressing. So, the cameras will play a large role in making decisions about cases, Thompson said.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly 50,000 Black American women die from cardiovascular diseases every year. Yusuf said bringing affordable organic food into lower-income areas would help combat the issue.

Smith-Lawson emphasized the importance of daily exercise. In 2013, she was overweight and stressed out until her doctor intervened and told her she needed to make some changes or face going on medication.

But we have to make that a part of our life, like brushing your teeth, Smith-Lawson said. Get up, get out, get your exercise. If you can get your hair done, your nails done, you can definitely make time to go to a gym. Working out will help reduce our risk of heart disease.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Houston attorney Rick Ramos expects hell be thinking about Arlene Alvarez and her family for a long time.

All cases are different, and youre always a professional, but some make you reflect more than others, said Ramos, who became the familys attorney after the 9-year-old was shot and killed Feb. 14. Any time a child gets killed in the fashion that Arlene died

It was Friday morning, and Arlenes family was preparing to lay their little girl to rest at Grace Church Houston. Its a large, loving family that includes parents, brothers, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with many other relatives and friends who have been left in mourning.

In anger, too.

It is not just us, said Armando Alvarez, Arlenes father, at a march Monday night, calling for an end to gun violence against Houstons children. Hes right. Children being shot, even killed, by mistake happens with alarming frequency. Nine-year-old Ashanti Grant, for example, remains in the hospital after being shot in the head during a Feb. 8 road rage incident along Southwest Freeway. Her grandmother, Elaine Grant-Williams, was among the Houstonians who joined the march in support of the Alvarez family.

In 2021, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, his office responded to hundreds of scenes at which juveniles had been shot. He said that after the Feb. 3rd shooting of 11-year-old Darius DJ Dugas, and he was, at the time, hoping that this year would be different.

Will it? Thats up to us, ultimately. While it may not be clear what to do, in the wake of Arlene Alvarezs death, such a cruelly senseless tragedy does point to the need to change.

Melissa Phillip / Staff Photographer Melissa Phillip / Staff Photographer Melissa Phillip / Staff Photographer Melissa Phillip / Staff Photographer Melissa Phillip / Staff Photographer

It was Valentines Day, and the Alvarez family was en route to dinner at Spankys Pizza, a favorite local joint. Meanwhile, a robbery was transpiring outside of the Chase Bank at 2900 Woodbridge. Tony Earls and his wife, Deyonna Hines, were at a drive-through ATM when they were approached by a robber, armed with a handgun, who took some cash and their car keys.

Earls, who was in the passenger side, had a handgun too. He exited the car with it, then fired several shots in the direction of the Alvarez familys truck, which was passing by. One hit the gas tank. Another hit the little girl, who had her headphones in, and therefore hadnt heard her parents scream a warning when they heard shots fired.

The 41-year-old Earls was clearly in distress at a news conference Monday, joined by Hines, who read a statement on his behalf, and his lawyer. Hines expressed sympathy for the Alvarez family, and pointed to the unidentified robber as the real villain: Without this man trying to rob us, we wouldnt be in this position.

That is true. But they also wouldnt be in this position if Earls hadnt pulled his gun.

Earls and Hines contend that Earls was acting in self-defense, and that the robber fired first, after Earls got out of the vehicle to retrieve the car keys, which the robber had flung aside. We didnt know if wed get out alive, said Hines, at the news conference.

Ramos doesnt buy that, and points to audio and security camera footage of the incident. Under Texas law, you can defend yourself with lethal force if you reasonably believe you are in danger; there is no duty to retreat. The situation captured on security footage doesnt qualify, Ramos argues, because at the time the first shots were fired, the robbery had ended.

The robber had turned his back on their vehicle, and was running away. Strolling away, really, with the air of someone who wasnt worried about being apprehended by authorities.

By the time [Earls] comes out of the vehicle, theres no threat to himself, no threat to his wife, and the car keys are gone. The robbers moving away, Ramos said. At that point in time you lose, in my opinion, the ability to say I was affirmatively defending myself. 

He argues that Earls, who has been charged with aggravated assault, should be charged with murder. A grand jury may agree.

In the meantime, Houstonians should reflect on what we can do to avoid losing more children to gun violence. Some of the responses may be granular: this particular Chase Bank location, for example, is close to the freeway, sees a good amount of foot traffic, and has no security to speak of after the end of the business day.

But guns are part of the issue too. In the wake of Arlenes shooting, its hard to forget that Texas last year passed a permitless carry law, under which anyone can carry a handgun without a license. That may not explain why gun-related killings have increased in Houston, but it does say something about the culture in which those deaths have transpired.

A lot of people carry a gun and dont have the knowledge or the temperament or the responsibility to actually know how to use this lethal weapon that they carry on themselves to protect themselves, Ramos said. You have to educate yourself on when you can use your weapon.

Morally, yes. Legally, not anymore. In order to get a license to carry a handgun in Texas, you have to, among other things, attend some training. But under the new law, such training is essentially voluntary. And it would be naive to expect all gun owners to seek training, when our gun laws are so permissive, and our attitude to many shootings is so blase, if not celebratory.

Perhaps this goes without saying, but Earls decision would have been a reckless one, even if it hadnt resulted in the death of a child. Robbery is a crime, and to be robbed is a horrible experience, a violation of ones person. At the same time, you shouldnt pull a gun on someone over $40, or $4,000, for that matter. Such a response is disproportionate, laws aside. And, as the senseless death of Arlene Alvarez  a happy, loving, cherished child  proves, it can all to easily end in tragedy.

erica.grieder@chron.com
A man accused of running over a woman on a west Houston road and then hitting her with a metal pole has been charged with murder.

Chiedozie Amadi, 22, was arrested Thursday, shortly after authorities said he killed Jasmine James.

Houston police said patrol officers responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian about 2 a.m. at 9700 Bissonnet Street, west of the Southwest Freeway in the Westwood neighborhood. Amadi was standing over the 26-year-old woman, police said.

Witnesses told police that Amadi appeared to intentionally strike Jones with his vehicle as she walked on the sidewalk. The collision caused his vehicle to flip over. Amadi, after getting out of the wreckage, then grabbed a metal object and hit the woman in the head, witnesses told police.

A court document filed in the case said Amadi hit her with a metal pole.

Houston Fire Department paramedics took James to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Amadi is being held at the Harris County Jail after a magistrate judge set bail at $2 million, the amount that prosecutors requested in their motion for sufficient bail.

"Defendant ran down complainant with his car, then beat her with a metal pole," the document states. "The repeated and violent nature of this incident indicates that defendant poses a threat to the community and public safety everywhere if released."

He is expected on Monday to appear in the 338th District Court.
Houston Police Department

A man died after a southeast Houston shooting Friday evening, according to Houston police.

A call came in about the shooting around 5:30 p.m. Authorities responded to the 5000 block of Sunflower. The man was dead at the scene, police said. No other details were immediately available.
Harris County District Attorney's Office

A Missouri City man was sentenced for a 2019 shooting at a southwest Houston club that injured two people, the Harris County District Attorney's Office announced Saturday.

Landon Johnson, 40, was sentenced 45 years by a Harris County jury for shooting two nightclub security guards with an assault rifle while free on bond for a separate shooting in Fort Bend County, according to the release.
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Most Harris County residents can safely take off their masks indoors under new COVID-19 guidance released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which adjusted the way it measures community spread to account for hospitalizations in addition to caseloads.

The new framework, which focuses on preventing severe illness, comes as Houston and Harris County ease COVID mitigation measures and a bevy of states announce plans to relax mask rules, including California, Massachusetts and Nevada. Texans largely have not been required to wear masks indoors, but many people have continued to voluntarily follow guidance to wear masks from restaurants, retail outlets, hotels and grocery stores.

The CDCs move represents a significant long-term shift in COVID mitigation strategies nationwide  one that will allow most Americans to return to a semblance of ordinary life with the virus still circulating.

Were in a stronger place today as a nation, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a call with reporters on Friday, pointing to progress on vaccinations, boosters, testing availability and access to treatment.

With widespread population immunity, the overall risk of severe disease is now generally lower as the virus continues to circulate in our communities, she said. We must focus our metrics beyond just cases in the community, and direct our efforts toward protecting people at high risk of severe illness, and preventing COVID-19 from overwhelming our hospitals and our healthcare system.

This is not the first time the CDC has changed mask guidance. In mid-May 2021, the agency said fully vaccinated people didnt need to wear masks in most settings but reversed course two months later, at the beginning of the delta surge.

This latest change offers a more nuanced rollback, with a different set of metrics that trigger mask-wearing recommendations only during times of high transmission. Experts largely applauded the updates, as they more closely align with the risks people face in their day-to-day lives.

I think part of this was an effort for CDC to put some guidelines in place that people would actually use, said Dr. James McDeavitt, executive vice president and dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine. You have to balance science and practicality of managing the pandemic, and (the CDC) has always been about a month late with these things once society has moved on.

More than 83,000 Texans have died of COVID-19 since the global pandemic was declared nearly two years ago. Now, the country is entering another lull following the omicron surge that quickly sickened a record number of people and stressed hospitals.

Experts say the most recent wave likely provided some degree of protection that will bolster the vaccine-induced immunity. Nearly 64 percent of the Texas population age 5 and older are fully vaccinated  a figure that jumps to 66 percent in Harris County.

The previous CDC guidance used the number of cases in the community to recommend whether people needed to wear masks. By that measure, about 95 percent of U.S. counties, including Harris County, were still considered areas of substantial or high transmission, where all residents should have been wearing masks in indoor public settings.

Under the new guidance, only 37 percent of counties have a high enough transmission rate to warrant mask-wearing indoors. The CDC now considers three metrics: new COVID-related hospital admissions over the previous week, the percentage of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID patients, as well as new COVID cases per 100,000 people over the previous week.

Based on those measures, each county could fall into a category of low, medium or high transmission. Now most residents in counties with low or medium transmission  the category in which Harris County falls  can now safely not wear masks indoors. Residents of communities with high transmission should still wear well-fitted masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Within the nine-county greater Houston region, Austin, Fort Bend and Galveston counties have a high community transmission level. Montgomery County, like Harris County, has a medium transmission level. Brazoria County is the only one with a low transmission level.

Even within the lower-transmission communities, the CDC continues to stress the importance of vaccination and boosters. People who test positive or are exposed to COVID should follow the existing recommendations for isolation and quarantine. And indoor ventilation is still a recommended way to prevent the virus from spreading.

The new guidance does not affect mask mandates on public transit, the agency said. People at high risk of severe disease, including the immunocompromised, should still consider wearing masks in communities with low and medium transmission.

Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist at UTHealth School of Public Health in Dallas, was pleased with the new guidance overall  especially the continued focus on the benefits of testing and vaccinations. Personally, however, she plans to continue wearing a mask indoors in public, even though she resides in a county with a medium transmission level.

Personally, Im uncomfortable with this high of a transmission level in the community, she said.

While Fridays development may not immediately change personal habits, it could lead to a shift at Houston Independent School District, one of the few Texas school districts to maintain a mask mandate.

HISD had previously planned to reassess its COVID protocols on March 11. But the district on Friday said it is reviewing CDCs new guidelines and will share an update early next week.

julian.gill@chron.com
The omicron wave has nearly subsided in Florida with new cases plunging this week to 25,640.

The number of new COVID-19 cases declined by nearly 40% for the past seven days, dropping from 42,473 new cases the prior week.

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The states positivity rate for the week ending Feb. 24 fell to 5.6% from 8.2% a week ago.

With the case count and positivity rates falling, vaccinations have dropped off as well. One of the busiest weeks for vaccination in Florida was the week ending Dec. 3, when 631,912 people got vaccinated. This week, Florida gave out a notably low number of shots: 49,023, including boosters.

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Additional deaths from omicron appear to be on a downward trend: Health officials reported 888 new deaths, a drop from 1,330 new COVID deaths a week ago. That brings the states overall death toll to 69,790.

The weekly count reported Friday reflects all deaths over the past week or even weeks prior that are newly confirmed with COVID as the cause of death.

Throughout the pandemic, a total of 5,800,561 people in the state have had a confirmed case of COVID-19. That does not include Floridians who learn their positivity status using rapid at-home tests.

[ RELATED: Heres where to find coronavirus vaccines in South Florida ]

New cases

All three South Florida counties reported a significant decline in new cases for the week ending Feb. 24.

Palm Beach County reported 1,202 additional cases, a drop from 1,840 additional cases a week ago. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 362,530.

reported 1,202 additional cases, a drop from 1,840 additional cases a week ago. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 362,530. Broward County reported 1,765 additional cases, a drop from 2,800 additional cases a week earlier. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 595,601.

reported 1,765 additional cases, a drop from 2,800 additional cases a week earlier. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 595,601. Miami-Dade County reported 3,176 additional cases, a drop from 4,655 additional cases a week earlier. The total number of confirmed cases in the county stands at 1,169,782.

Testing positivity

Health officials reported a drop in the statewide positivity rate  5.6%, a decline from 8.2% a week ago. Floridas test positivity climbed as high as 20.5% during the delta surge during the week ending Aug. 19 and 31.3% during the omicron surge in the first week of January.

In South Florida, the new case positivity rate declined in all three counties.

In Broward, it was 3.5%, down from 5.2% a week ago; in Palm Beach County, it was 4.5%, down from 6.1% a week ago; and in Miami-Dade, it was 2.8%, down from 3.7% a week ago.

Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations for COVID are declining and intensive-care units have fewer patients than last week.

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On Friday, 3,358 people with COVID were hospitalized compared to 4,646 people a week ago and 6,301 people two weeks ago. COVID patients now occupy only 5.6% of Floridas hospital beds. During the height of the delta wave this summer, more than 17,000 COVID patients were hospitalized in Florida.

Florida hospitals intensive-care units saw a decrease in COVID patients this week. On Friday, COVID patients occupied 8.9% of ICU beds, compared to 15.4% only two weeks ago.

In Broward County, COVID patients occupy 5% of hospital beds in the county, with 196 patients admitted.

[ RELATED: COVID summer surge: Is the virus seasonal in Florida? ]

Vaccines

Floridians received 49,023 doses of a COVID vaccine for the week ending Feb. 24, even fewer than the 58,603 doses given out a week earlier. Of those, 13,116 were first doses of a vaccine.

Of Floridians ages 5 and older, 74% now have at least one dose.

Floridians received another 20,494 booster shots this week. That brings the total number of Floridians boosted to 5 million.

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More than 15.4 million people in Florida ages 5 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. Of those, 8.2 million have completed their two-shot series, 2.1 million people have received only a first dose, another 5 million have received an additional or booster dose.

[ RELATED: Back to the office during COVID. What are your rights? ]

The most heavily vaccinated age group in Florida is 65 and older, which is 95% vaccinated with at least one dose.

With the vaccine eligibility lowered, 22% of Floridas 1.68 million children between ages 5 and 11 now have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine.

Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or Twitter @cindykgoodman.
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Judges in Harris County appear to be setting higher bail for the most violent cases than what the courts set in 2017, according to a review of records detailing the amounts.

For example: More than 750 defendants charged in connection to felony robbery cases garnered a $30,000 bail or higher last year compared with the 266 defendants who received bail in the same range in 2017.

The Harris County Justice Administration Department revealed the data this week in a dashboard analyzing bail amounts for felony and misdemeanor cases from 2017 until 2021 in an attempt to identify systematic issues. The rising bail amounts was also found in homicides, sex offenses and assaults.

The data tracker stems from a Commissioners Court vote in November that approved a dashboard on bail activities in the county  a move that followed a Houston Chronicle investigation revealing that some bail bondsmen are accepting lower fees on more violent crimes to secure a defendants release from jail with the promise to return to court.

Bondsmen typically require 10 percent of the bail amount to be paid upfront but fees for some defendants dropped to as low as 2 percent or 3 percent, the investigation showed.

More Information The Justice Administration Department dashboard can be found at https://jad.harriscountytx.gov/Data. The data, stripped of identifying information, spans five years and is expected to be updated periodically with more records. Next week, the dashboard will be updated with expanded bail amounts for felony offenses, officials said. See More Collapse

Commissioner Adrian Garcia pointed out the trend of higher bail in the courts  which coincides with pressure among victim advocates and law enforcement to keep some offenders jailed. In most cases, the Texas Constitution guarantees a defendants right to bail.

Missing from the dashboard, Garcia continued, are the surety fees that bail bondsmen are charging to allow some defendants their freedom. Bail companies are not obligated to enter their contracts  which would detail how much defendants pay to get out  into the public record.

If a bail bondsman accepts a lower than the traditional 10 percent fee on violent offenses, it doesnt matter what the judge sets, Garcia said. Bondsmen, in some situations, have the final say in a case, he argued.

Bondsmen must accept that they, too, have a role in our system of safety and must make their defendants show up for court, the commissioner continued.

He pointed to the case of Deon Ledet  whom authorities said shot and killed a Houston police officer in September  as an example of bail bondsmen accepting the risk to bail out a defendant and then failing to secure their return to court.

In Ledets case, the bondsman Wisam Muharib posted his bail in November 2020 following his arrest on multiple drug charges.

The fees paid to secure Ledets release is not not known.

A warrant was issued the following month when Ledet failed to appear in court and multiple bond forfeiture cases began. Muharib was inevitably ordered to pay the courts about $4,500 because of Ledets failure to appear, district clerk records show. Ledet was initially held on a combined $40,000 worth of surety.

He skipped court and committed more crimes, Garcia said. We know that bondsmen are making the decision, a business decision, to still get them back on the street.

Ledet died in the exchange of gunfire with police.

Paul Castro, father of David Castro  the teen shot and killed in July following an Astros game  helped inspire making the bail data more accessible, Garcia said. Police apprehended Gerald Williams in the teens death last August and a judge ordered he be held on a $350,000 surety bond.

Williams made bail later that year with the help of bondsmen Sheba Muharib, court records show.

Bond companies provided him with bail funds and he was released back on the streets, Castro said of the man accused in his sons death. We have no idea how much was actually paid to balance out my sons death.

Williams remains free on bond and under house arrest. He appeared in court last week.

All that protects us from him is an ankle monitor, Castro said.

The dashboard also ranks bail bondsmen by the face-value of bond amounts they have accepted. The agent who secured Williams release ranked second last year for assuming $39 million in risk.

Sheba Muharib did not return a request for comment.

The Commissioners Court this month called on the Harris County Bail Bond Board to consider requiring bondsmen to require a minimum 10 percent fee. The state legislature grants the board broad authority under the occupations code to set business requirements, such as contracting and licenses, officials said.

The board is expected on March 9 to discuss a mandate.

Mario Garza, president of the Harris County Professional Bonding Association, has warned that requiring a 10 percent fee could harm indigent defendants accused of felonies  but guarantee that bail bondsmen collect their desired fees.

The dashboard comes as Crimes Stoppers of Houston in January pledged to create their own data depository  the Safe Community Institute  to track bail amounts set by judges and magistrates.

Andy Kahan, the Houston nonprofits victim advocacy director, took a peek at the county dashboard after it published. He hopes updates to the dashboard will include defendants released on multiple felony bonds, as well as statistics on bond forfeitures and revocations.

This is a good first step, Kahan said.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Requests for at-home abortions have soared in Texas since the state began banning the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, according to new research released Friday.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, show a nearly three-fold increase in daily requests to Aid Access, an Austrian nonprofit that ships and provides information about abortion medications.

Between October and December of last year, the group received an average of 29.5 daily requests, up from about 11 daily requests between October 2020 and early May 2021. Thats nearly 900 requests a month, a bigger jump than Aid Access saw at the beginning of the pandemic, when Gov. Greg Abbott temporarily cut off all abortion services, leading to a doubling of requests.

Researchers said the results suggest women in Texas are still finding ways to end their pregnancies even under the strictest statewide regulations in decades. The new state law prohibits abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and delegates enforcement to private citizens.

Self-managed abortion isnt really being talked about, and it is, I think, filling part of that gap said Abigail Aiken, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Texas Austin and the papers lead author. She stressed that the data dont show the total number of at-home abortions, only the requests for medications to perform them.

The trend could become especially relevant as other conservative-led states pursue similar restrictions and as the U.S. Supreme Court considers rolling back federal abortion protections in place since 1973.

YESTERDAY: Texas Supreme Court takes up narrow challenge to 6-week abortion ban

Aid Access is a popular option for women seeking the procedure outside of a clinic setting, in part because it is based outside of the U.S. and is donation based, making it more affordable and less risky. The group received nearly 46,000 requests for abortion medications across the country at the end of last year.

In Texas, requests spiked in early September when the ban took effect, then leveled off at the higher daily volume through the end of the year, according to the data. Abortion clinics in surrounding states have also reported huge influxes of Texas patients, many of whom may be too far into their pregnancies for abortion medications to be safe and effective.

The Food and Drug Administration authorizes the two-pill regimen through 10 weeks of pregnancy, though some doctors prescribe it off label through the 11th week, at the end of the first trimester.

Republican state leaders moved last year to crack down on mail-ordered abortion medications, imposing penalties on providers that ship them into the state. But its unclear how the state can enforce those regulations on foreign entities like Aid Access, which is already in violation of Texas strict abortion laws.

John Seago, the political director at Texas Right to Life and one of the early proponents of the ban, said state and federal officials could eventually target foreign groups in the same way they do drug traffickers.

Thats a public policy dilemma to be looked at, he said, adding that more U.S. providers may try to set up similar mail-order networks. I think youre going to see a lot fewer actual brick-and-mortar abortion providers in Texas and theyre going to shift their model accordingly.

Fridays findings come as new data from the Guttmacher Institute show the frequency of medication abortions surpassed other forms of the procedure in the U.S. for the first time in 2020.

Abortion rights proponents have repeatedly warned that the new crack downs will impact marginalized and low-income communities most, where it can be harder to travel to neighboring states or cross immigration checkpoints.

What is still unknown to researchers is how many women are choosing or being pressured into carrying out their pregnancies because of the new restrictions.

Anti-abortion groups like Seagos say they have heard accounts of women choosing to give birth.

Were going to continue to get this kind of data piece by piece to put the picture together, he said of Aikens findings. But from the pro-life perspective, the bill is still saving lives, and we need to look at how the is government going to respond to these kinds of illegal activities.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
Attorney General Ken Paxtons Feb. 18 legal opinion labeling most therapy for transgender children and teens as child abuse spread over 13 pages, contained 21 footnotes and credited no fewer than eight lawyers, including Paxton, in coming to its radical conclusions. What it didnt include was evidence that any of the nearly 750 attorneys who work for Paxton bothered to speak with someone such as Mack Beggs, a transgender Texan who could have explained that the treatments Paxton labels abusive are often life-saving.

Beggs, 22, could have told Paxton that he felt like a boy for years, long before anyone else recognized the confusion he was feeling inside what appeared to be a girls body. When his mom watched a video about transgender people with him when he was in the seventh grade, he felt as if he finally had an answer for questions hed been carrying around for years.

I did my own research after that and it really solidified for me that this is legitimate and not just something in my head, he told the editorial board this week. It helped me be true to myself.

Beggs started seeing a therapist at 13, and halfway through freshman year, his doctor at Childrens Health in Dallas prescribed medication to delay the onset of puberty. The next summer, his doctor prescribed low dosages of male hormones, which in time helped his body look more masculine. The summer between high school and college, he had top surgery at 18 to remove his breasts.

All of these things  the reversible puberty blockers, the hormone therapy and the surgery  can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions of chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code, Paxtons opinion states, adding that for these purposes a child is anyone under 21. They also would trigger legal duties for physicians and others aware of such treatments to alert authorities.

The Texas Legislature had an opportunity last session to outlaw these therapies, but the bill failed as did similar bills in Alabama and elsewhere. (Nationwide, more than 150 bills that targeted trans youths were introduced last session, including restrictions similar to the ones that passed in Texas regarding transgender athletes.) After Texas third special session ended, Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, asked Paxton for his offices opinion on whether existing prohibitions against child abuse could be interpreted to already outlaw surgery and other treatments. Paxtons opinion says yes.

As if on cue, Gov. Greg Abbott weighed in on Tuesday, citing Paxtons opinion in a letter to Commissioner Jaime Masters of the Texas Department of Families and Protective Services ordering a prompt and thorough investigation of any reported instances of these abusive procedures in the State of Texas.

Paxtons opinion is merely advisory, but what Abbotts call for an investigation means for Beggs and others who have received those therapies or for their parents or doctors is not clear. At least five Texas district attorneys have rejected Paxtons legal interpretation. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said his office will ignore it.

Other types of harm have already been done. The message to trans youths that they are unnatural is clear. The message to their parents and doctors is that helping will be risky.

What unites Paxton, Abbott and Krause on this issue, besides their desire to incite their voting base, is a belief that gender is determined before birth and anyone who believes otherwise is either deluding themselves or being lied to. In his opinion replying to Krause, Paxton writes, While you refer to these procedures as sex changes, it is important to note that it remains medically impossible to truly change the sex of an individual because this is determined biologically at conception. No doctor can replace a fully functioning male sex organ with a fully functioning female sex organ (or vice versa). In reality, these sex change procedures seek to destroy a fully functioning sex organ in order to cosmetically create the illusion of a sex change.

There are many things wrong with that statement, which it is grossly dismissive of the very children Paxton purports to be helping.

Paxtons opinion embraces a notion advanced by some conservative thinkers that a persons body helps defines who they are. No one is born in the wrong body, because no one is born in a body. Rather, we are our bodies, writes Princeton professor Robert George and author Ryan Anderson in an 2019 article cited in Paxtons opinion. There is nothing that could be in the wrong body, for the soul is the substantial form of the body  not some sort of separate substance.

There is plenty of evidence that anatomy alone can be an ambiguous marker for gender identity, says Christy Olezeski, an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale and director of the Yale Pediatric Gender Program. Some people are born with both sets of genitalia, for instance. George and Anderson write that those cases are disorders, but Olezeski suggests they are clues that outward sexual characteristics alone cant define ones gender. For most people, they do align, so throughout history there hasnt been a lot of mainstream thinking about these exceptions, she said. In the past couple of decades, though, more people who are experiencing a mismatch between how they present anatomically and their gender identity have spoken up, and found growing numbers of physicians and therapists willing to treat them.

Paxtons and Abbotts actions threaten to deter those who would provide gender-affirming, and potentially life-saving, care. Talk about child abuse.

Olezeski said there are lessons to be learned from how society once forced gay people to either hide their homosexuality or live as heterosexuals: What we have seen from that data from conversion therapy is that forcing young people into one mode or another causes extreme mental health issues.

In his opinion, Paxton notes that there are not yet any long-term studies that can prove the efficacy of gender-affirming treatments. What are the long-term effects, for instance, of increasing estrogen for a transgender girl? Or for surgeries such as the one Beggs underwent? Olezeski and others the editorial board consulted agree that there are unknowns, which is why medical professionals prescribe them rarely and with great caution.Standards of care used by endocrinologists and other physicians caring for transgender youths require extensive counseling before therapies begin, and close monitoring.

Wake Forest University law professor Marie-Amelie George, an expert in laws that affect transgender care, told us that no state has outlawed these rare therapies, and in most cases when courts are asked to intervene  usually during a custody case  judges have mostly sided with the parent who is affirming the childs choice. Thats because evidence shows that transgender children are happier when they receive support and, eventually, medical care that affirms their identity, she said.

At the Yale Pediatric Gender Program, Olezeskis team treats about 400 patients between 3 and 25. She said roughly 36 percent of the patients receive no therapy at all, just support, counseling and help with navigating school or peers. Some transgender youths, she said, ultimately decide to simply express their identities through a new name or style of dress. About 48 percent take hormones. Roughly 15 percent of the patients are on medication to delay puberty, which can prevent transgender girls from developing an Adams apple or broad shoulders, for instance, and help transgender boys delay the development of breasts.

The puberty blockers can be important because, while their effects are easily reversible, the changes a body undergoes during adolescence are not.

If you force them to pause until 21 then you are creating a space where they cant have their body aligned with who they are, she said. What the officials in Texas arent considering is that there are considerable risks of not providing these treatments to those who need them.

About 10 percent of patients, all in their late teens, have had surgery to remove breasts. Only 1 percent, all of them adults, have had so-called bottom surgery to alter genatalia.

Beggs said bottom surgery is a big step, one hes not taken. Its expensive, often not covered by insurance, and its not for everyone, he says.

But why should a government official be the one making that decision? Its a matter of control over ones own body, he said.

His own doctor had counseled patience throughout his teen years. There were at least three times when I asked to speed up the treatment, for a higher dose of hormones, for example, and she slowed me down. But when he graduated, he was ready to have surgery, he said.

It was the best thing that ever happened to me, he says now, more than three years later. Just looking in the mirror was a relief. The way I look finally made sense with whats been inside my head.

Paxton and Abbott would want the world, and no doubt voters in this coming Republican primary election, to interpret Beggs story as child abuse. They couldnt be more wrong.

There is a myth that providers of gender-affirming care are pushing these treatments, Olezeski said, but were not. We help patients and their families understand the pros and cons of the decisions they make. We understand that what were doing isnt child abuse. Were helping.

Abbott, Paxton and Krause are hurting. Hurting the children by threatening doctors and parents, and also offending the sensibilities of any Texan who still believes in personal freedom and limited government. Theres nothing more personal than health decisions affecting ones own body and nothing more worthy of condemnation than governments intrusion on those decisions.
Regarding Texas Republicans rip Russia's Ukraine invasion, even as Trump praises Putin's 'peace force, (Feb. 24): I believe in a people's right to self-determination. I believe in democracy over totalitarianism as the best way to protect that right. I believe in freedom. I prefer peace to the evil insanity of war. I believe that it is evil to attack another country in order to subjugate their people. The idea that Russia was threatened by Ukraine is a lie. Russia is run by an illegitimate, megalomaniac dictator, Vladimir Putin. Less than a week ago, Putin was lying to the entire world about his clear intention to attack and conquer a neighboring sovereign nation. He has attacked and is killing and maiming women, children, parents and grandparents and civilians with weapons of war. Putin is deliberately, intentionally, with no legitimate justification destroying the lives and property of others.

I have no memory of such an evil, irredeemable military action in my lifetime. I want to thank Senators Cornyn and Cruz for condemning this evil. The free world must stand united against such travesty. Putin's actions are not "savvy" or "genius." They are purely evil. His military is not a "peace force" and anyone who so suggests is serving as nothing but a puppet propagandist for an evil dictator. I call for the people of Russia to oust the criminal monster who rules their country. I stand with and pray for the poor people of Ukraine.

Tanner Garth, Houston

Im glad to see a few Republican representatives showing enough huevos to disagree with their golden haired calf. Mr. Putin is not savvy or genius. He is a bully, a product of the KGB, and is driven (I think) by a desire to reconstruct the USSR at any cost. Regardless of how we regard Joe Biden, he is our president and we need to support his administration and support our allies around the world in stopping the Russian aggression. Ukraine is only the first stone Mr. Putin will step on.

Alan Nicholson, Pasadena

This tragedy could be foreseen. The seeds of it lie in the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ukraine became one independent nation when, in hindsight, two nations should have been formed from the territory  East Ukraine and West Ukraine. In language and culture, the eastern sector is heavily oriented toward Russia. The west is oriented toward Europe. In the eventuality that a West Ukraine was considered for NATO membership, at least Russia would have the buffer zone of an East Ukraine.

The next momentous event which has led to the current conflict was the coup in 2014. In order to assure that Ukraine looked west rather than east in terms economic integration, the U.S. and its allies encouraged and supported the overthrow of the Russia-leaning government. The new government was not only friendly to the West but militarily hostile toward the eastern region. The 2015 Minsk Agreements have not worked to prevent the war. Thus the current, very tragic, state of affairs.

One can only hope that the battle is short and the two sides can come to a long-lasting peaceful conclusion.

Shaun Smith, Houston

Regarding Opinion: Houstonians respond to invasion of Ukraine, (Feb. 24): Apparently some of your readers need to be reminded of some old aphorisms, like Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it. What we have in Ukraine is a repeat of Hitlers playbook when he chipped off one country after another, while promising to stop after each, as the European countries dithered and believed him. Look where that got us. The cost of liberty has always been high. And Benjamin Franklin reminds us, They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Bob Wiemer, Houston

Instead of criticizing and nitpicking what Biden is doing (actually any president or leader), we should all be praying for wisdom, guidance and discernment for Biden, his advisers, our generals and NATO leaders. If were unhappy because it seems as though sanctions could have been levied sooner, remember Biden is not the only one having to make these decisions  NATO leaders are involved as other countries are affected. It can't be a snap your fingers decision.

Carole Wakefield, Houston

We seem to have forgotten that the Ukrainians, with barely an army themselves, and not a member of NATO, sent some of their overworked and under-equipped troops to help us out in Afghanistan.

Dianne Wells, Houston

Republicans are trotting out the trope that if Donald Trump was still president the Russian invasion of the Ukraine would not be happening. One letter writer goes so far to state that under Trump no new wars occurred. Yet they seem to have quickly forgotten that the worst cyber attack against the U.S. ever, the SolarWinds attack, was under Trump. The cost and damage are still being tallied. Under Trumps America First, hands-off approach, totalitarian leaders like Turkeys President Erdogan were green-lighted to invade their neighbor on false pretense, just as Russia is doing today. They have apparently forgotten how Trump insulted and tried to weaken NATO, playing right into Putins hands of dividing his enemies. I will have to admit that I do agree with Trump on one thing, Putin was a genius by clearly exploiting Trumps naivete and incompetence.

Robert Dempsey, Houston

Regarding Opinion: What Putin gets wrong about Texas, and about Ukraine, (Feb. 24): Imagine Mexico launching an invasion of Texas in an attempt to take this state back into the country of Mexico, because there are Spanish-speaking people here. (There are about seven million Spanish-speaking people in Texas, by the way.) Texans would fight to the death to boot out the invaders, and the Spanish-speakers would fight along with them. Don't forget we did that once, in 1836. That's how ridiculous Putin's folly is in Ukraine. And for the same reasons, the Ukrainians will fight to the death to keep the Russians out. Putin will fail. He needs to remember how the last person who started a world war ended up.

Caroline Brown Greene, Houston
Following his recent speech to the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Rep. Dade Phelan, speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, tweeted that the Texas Legislature is developing a program to replace Chapter 313, the soon-to-be defunct provision in the Texas Tax Code that allows school districts to give property tax breaks to businesses.

Members of the Legislature are doing this because last year Texans all across the political spectrum sent them a clear message that it is wrong for Texas school districts to give multi-million property tax breaks to big business while average Texans property tax bills are skyrocketing.

For instance, the progressive group Every Texan partnered with the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation in expressing grassroots opposition to unjustified business tax breaks. Their joint statement said, Its time to call these tax breaks what they are: handouts to favored industries and to the few school districts that use them to incentivize companies to locate there. Texans shouldnt be on the hook for these sweetheart arrangements, and we certainly shouldnt maintain them at the expense of our schools. Texas ought not to extend Chapter 313.

The Houston Chronicle investigated Chapter 313, reporting, the biggest corporate tax giveaway in Texas has helped businesses cut more than $10 billion from their property taxes  and there are no limits on the programs exponential growth.

Because of the outpouring of opposition, the Texas Legislature last year failed to pass any of a number of bills extending Chapter 313 past its scheduled expiration date of December 31, 2022.

Now it appears that Phelan and other legislative leaders are listening to representatives of big business rather than voters. However, they should not ignore the constituents who put them in office because opposition to Chapter 313 tax breaks is alive and well across Texas.

In January, the Stephenville ISD School Board voted to discontinue negotiations on 313 abatements for a proposed solar farm in Erath County. The 5-1 vote came after county residents had expressed their opposition to the abatements through public meetings, communications with school board trustees, and an active social media campaign.

One Erath County resident who fought against the abatements, Joanna Friebele, said, I want everyone to remember this is America and we are all entitled to our opinions, we are entitled to work at it and if we do, sometime we get to reap the rewards. She also reminded fellow activists of the ongoing efforts of businesses to get tax breaks, This is also a multi million dollar corporation and they will work at it too.

Robert Fleming led a number of Bell County residents in another effort successfully opposing abatements in Troy ISD. The school board voted down (6-1) the abatements for a proposed solar farm last June. He talked about how difficult the fight is because of the resources the businesses bring to the fight.

These companies are very organized, theyre very professional, Fleming said in a Texas Farm Bureau report. They come into our communities, they separate family, they separate friends, they separate neighbors with a dollar bill, and that is what really bothers me the most.This same battle has been fought  and often won  across the state, including in Montague, Brown, Wharton, Matagorda, Clay, Val Verde, Concho, Van Zandt and Coleman counties.

One country where the battle is ongoing is Comanche County. Residents were caught off guard a number of years ago when a wind farm successfully campaigned for abatements. However, they were better prepared when a solar farm recently approached Comanche ISD seeking a 313 property tax abatement.

Over 60 residents showed up for a February community meeting. Topics discussed include the 313 approval process, environmental concerns related to solar farms and the proposed boundaries of the reinvestment zone, which has to be adopted before the tax breaks can be offered. The meeting also included property owners who had signed leases with the solar farm.

Comanche ISD will take the first step in the process at its February 28 school board meeting. Many county residents hope the board trustees will follow the lead of the trustees in Bandera ISD, who unanimously rejected Montague Solars 313 application on February 14.

Bandera and Comanche are not that far from Austin. Yet the message of residents in these and other parts of Texas does not seem to be reaching the Texas Capitol. If members of the Texas Legislature listened to their constituents back home, theyd understand that Texans are tired of paying higher property taxes so that big businesses can get big tax breaks.

Bill Peacock is a policy consultant living in the Texas Hill Country with more than 30 years of experience in Texas public policy. He is a policy consultant and policy director for the Energy Alliance, a project of the Texas Business Coalition.
On the last day for candidates to file for the 2022 primary elections in Texas, things were looking good for state Sen. John Whitmire.

The longtime Democrat, sitting on an $11 million campaign war chest, had recently announced his plan to run for mayor of Houston in 2023. The more pressing matter  Whitmires re-election to the state Senate in 2022  seemed a mere formality, with the filing deadline hours away and no other Democrat running in his deep-blue district.

Instead, Whitmire drew a last-minute challenge from Molly Cook, an emergency room nurse and progressive activist who appears to be the incumbents most formidable opponent in decades.

The longest-serving member of the Senate, Whitmire is heading into Tuesdays election with clear-cut advantages over Cook, having outspent her roughly 3-to-1 and having represented the district since nearly a decade before she was born. Still, Whitmires declared  and potential  mayoral opponents are keeping a close eye on the contest, which poses a fresh test of the senators electoral strength in a district that takes in a large chunk of the Houston electorate.

Whitmire said he takes each and every opponent very seriously, including Cook. He has shaped his re-election bid around his 39 years of experience in the Senate, arguing that his knowledge of the legislative process and presence on key committees  as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee and a member of the budget-shaping Finance and Business & Commerce committees  give him clout even in the Republican-dominated chamber.

I think my chairmanship of Criminal Justice is reason alone for people to support me, said Whitmire, 72. Experience matters.  I dont even think its a close call on who is prepared, from day one, to represent Houston.

KNOW THE CANDIDATES: Houston Chronicle voter guide / San Antonio Express-News voter guide

Though Cook, 30, is making her first run for elected office, she entered the race after spending more than a year as a lead organizer behind Stop TxDOT I-45, the group opposing the state transportation agencys $7 billion plan to remake Interstate 45 north of downtown Houston. She said her deep ties to grassroots organizing would shape her approach to serving in the Senate, vowing to seek input from community advocates through bottom-up planning.

At the same time, Cook argues that Whitmire  who was elected to the House in 1972, while a senior at the University of Houston, before moving to the Senate a decade later  has lost touch with the district through his nearly half-century in office. She has also accused Whitmire of running for two offices at once by way of his early mayoral announcement.

Sparring at forum

At a forum in late January, Cook said Whitmires way of doing things is no longer serving our district or our state. She touted her own fresh perspective and public health and policy expertise.

Sen. Whitmire has been in the Legislature since he was 23, Cook said. I have the experience of being a health care worker, making sacrifices to afford my health care, renting my home and grassroots organizing. Sen. Whitmire is weighed down by experience, decades of campaign contributions, backroom deals and protecting personal political capital.

Whitmire insists that he is completely focused on his current election, and he dismissed charges from Cook that he would already have one foot out the door during the 2023 legislative session. He noted that Mayor Sylvester Turner ran for re-election to the state House in 2014 even as he was gearing up for a mayoral run the next year.

Nothing matters more to me right now than the Senate race. Any future race, well take up after this race. I see no conflict, Whitmire said. So, thats just a smokescreen. My opponent had to say something. Shes not going to say Im a good guy. She should, but, you know, theres no core Democratic issue to talk about. I voted nearly exactly like (state Sens.) Borris Miles and Carol Alvarado. We work very closely as a delegation.

Whitmire has particularly emphasized his role in criminal justice policy, characterizing his philosophy as tough, but smart on crime. He has touted the closure of state-run lockups and heightened focus on treatment and rehabilitation during his time chairing the Criminal Justice Committee.

But during the January forum, Cook said the prison closures were largely a result of budget shortfalls. And she bashed Whitmire for receiving campaign contributions from private prisons up to 2016, also saying she would reject such donations.

Whitmire said he wasnt aware of the contributions and said they were not relevant because he no longer takes donations from the for-profit prison industry. He argued that private prisons still under contract with the state are largely treatment facilities that provide psychiatric and emotional assistance that the state has been unwilling to do.

A bellwether for 2023 mayoral race

In some ways, the outcome of Tuesdays election may offer lessons to Whitmire and his opponents in the 2023 mayoral contest, said Keir Murray, a Houston-based Democratic strategist.

If there are one or more candidates in the mayoral race next year who are trying to run as a more progressive alternative to Sen. Whitmire, then depending on how Ms. Cook does in this race, that might offer some lessons for them on how they want to prosecute their campaigns, Murray said.

But Murray also noted the electorate that will decide next weeks primary will look much different from the one that typically turns out for citywide mayoral contests, which are nonpartisan and take place during off years, drawing a more conservative crowd.

During redistricting last year, state lawmakers preserved most of Whitmires Senate District 15, which includes Montrose, The Heights, Humble, Atascocita, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and most of northwest Houston.

Whitmire is also campaigning in unfamiliar territory, however, with some 200,000 new residents added to the district from Bellaire, Meyerland, West University Place and other areas.

Even if Cook loses, a strong showing could establish her as a front-runner in what would likely be a crowded race to replace Whitmire if he wins the November 2023 mayoral race, said Jeronimo Cortina, a political science associate professor at the University of Houston.

Perhaps what she wants to do is get on the ballot early and claim that particular space that is going to be opened, Cortina said. I think its a smart move on her behalf.

Cook said that if she comes up short next week, she would likely run for the seat again if the opportunity arises in 2024.

I dont like to make promises or commitments looking forward, because anything could happen, Cook said. But I would say that theres a high likelihood.

jasper.scherer@chron.com
Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday tweeted a request that restaurants, bars and retailers across the Lone Star state pull Russian products from their shelves, as Russia and Ukraine battle for control of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and Russians at home are being arrested over anti-war protests.

"Ive asked the members of the Texas Restaurant Association, Texas Package Stores Association & all Texas retailers to voluntarily remove all Russian products from their shelves," Abbott said. "Texas stands with Ukraine."
GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called China a hostile nation. Hes accused it of "causing the disaster" of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is Abbott also investing state tax money in Chinese companies?

Thats the claim from Don Huffines, one of the Republican gubernatorial candidates challenging Abbott in the states March 1 primary.

"Under Greg Abbotts leadership, Texas is putting taxpayer dollars into Chinese companies," Huffines declared in an ad on Facebook and Instagram.

Abbott is not directly investing tax money in Chinese companies.

Huffines claim alludes to investments in Chinese companies made by the states public pension systems. Those systems are funded in part with tax dollars, but their investments are not directly managed by the governor or his appointees.

How the governors race shapes up

Huffines is a Dallas businessman and former Texas state lawmaker. Abbott is seeking his third four-year term as governor.

The Democratic primary, whose candidates include former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, is also contested.

Overall, the race has been sized up by campaign watchers as likely or solid Republican.

What Huffines claim refers to

Huffines ad links to a February 2022 story from the San Antonio Express-News. The story reported that $9.12 billion is invested in companies in China through Texas seven public pension funds.

The story indicated that the responsibility for investment choices is not primarily Abbotts.

It said that generally, "theres a dividing line between decisions made by politicians and those made by the pension money managers," though the Texas Legislature has ordered pension funds to divest from companies that boycott Israel, from Sudanese and Iranian companies, and from those of other nations believed to sponsor terrorism.

The governors limited role

"The Texas governor has absolutely no direct impact on the specific investment choices of any of the pension funds," said John Diamond, director of the Center for Public Finance at Rices Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The role is limited to oversight.

With the advice and consent of the state Senate, the governor appoints the members of the Texas State Pension Review Board, which oversees all Texas public retirement systems. The governor also appoints nearly all board members of the pension systems.

There are, in turn, a number of layers between the governor and the people who make the investment decisions for the seven systems.

For example, the Texas County & District Retirement System has a board appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the state Senate, that sets investment policy. But an executive director and staff run the day-to-day operations; and the system hires private consultants who in turn advise on selecting professional managers, such as JP Morgan, to manage various investment portfolios within the system.

The investment funds come from contributions made by government employees and the employers, such as individual county governments. For example, the Teacher Retirement System is funded by 8% employee contributions and 8.87% employer contributions, which are from taxpayer funds.

In March 2021, the Pensions & Investments trade publication reported that the Texas County & District Retirement System committed $40 million to a Beijing-based manager to be split between two China-focused private equity/venture capital funds. The two funds focus on early-stage and growth-stage Chinese technology companies.

"It seems extremely unlikely that Governor Abbott is personally directing any of the investment choices of the various Texas state and local pension funds. Extremely unlikely," said economics professor Dennis Jansen, director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University.

Anyone investing in a passive world index fund, such as Vanguards Total International Stock fund, is investing partly in China, or in many international funds, Jansen added.

"It is not as if China is a small part of the global economy. Having appropriate diversification across industries and countries is well-established investment advice," he said.

The Huffines and Abbott campaigns did not respond to our requests for comment.

Our ruling

Huffines said in an ad: "Under Greg Abbotts leadership, Texas is putting taxpayer dollars into Chinese companies."

Texas public pension funds, which include taxpayer money, have invested in Chinese companies.

But Huffines' use of the word "leadership" suggests Abbott is directly leading the investment decisions. He is not doing that, Abbotts role is limited. The governor appoints the boards that oversee the public pension systems, and the day-to-day investment decisions are made by the systems, not Abbott.

Huffines statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. Thats our definition of Mostly False.

Sources
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The owner of Boston Beef by the Sea in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea happens to be a major TikTok star: Boston Be A Man, who has racked up 4 million followers as a viral TikTok star and almost half a million more on Instagram. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The owner of Boston Beef by the Sea restaurant, in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, is a 60-something Bostonian who wants you to quit whining, eat roast beef and be a man.

At least 4.5 million people have heard  and laughed at  his peculiar brand of advice: a parody of toxic masculinity and the idea that men never learn from their mistakes. He goes by the social media handle @BostonBeAMan, and has racked up 4 million followers as a viral TikTok star and almost half a million more on Instagram.

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In the thick of last summers pandemic wave, Boston Be A Mans 10-second, tongue-in-cheek videos exploded across social media, mocking all manner of manly shortcomings. Topics range from mens reluctance to shop in supermarkets (Dont go food shopping. Starve. Die. Be a man.) to personal health (Deny medical attention. Be a man.) to fighting at the bar (If youre in bar brawl, smash a bottle off your head to set the tone. Be a man.).

@bostonbeaman Eat beef @chrisgronkowski - gonna be at my new spot Boston beef by the Sea in lauderdale today 4-8 swing thru #fyp #fyp  Taste - Tyga

In real life Boston Be A Man goes by Harmon  not his actual name; hes too popular on TikTok to risk stalking by overzealous fans  and is a 63-year-old, semiretired loan officer living near Boston. At Boston Beef by the Sea, a sandwich shop selling roast beef on the corner of Commercial Boulevard and A1A, Be A Man is chief marketing operator, a fancy title meaning that hes a hands-off promoter, using his social-media muscle to tempt new customers.

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A couple of years ago, I thought I was going to retire, but thats all changed now since Be A Man, he says, biting into a three-way sandwich (roast beef, a slice of white American cheese, James River BBQ sauce) at a table outside Boston Beef. So I love the fans but I hate the fans.

Taso Nikolakopoulos, Francesca Caponigro and "Harmon," better known as Boston Be A Man, are the owners of Boston Beef by the Sea in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Still, all the fans make Boston Be A Man great for business at Boston Beef, says Taso Nikolakopoulos, who owns Boston Beef with Harmon, Harmons brother Carlo Caponigro, and Carlos wife, Francesca. The TikTok star shows up once a month for meet-and-greets outside the shop, mugging for selfies, a perfect mascot for silly, often outrageous manliness. Although the Boston Be A Man TikTok and his roast beef shop came together independently, lately, marrying the two brands has brought droves of new customers.

Many customers, Nikolakopoulos says, dont know his restaurants North Shore-style roast beef is Bostons regional specialty, like cheesesteaks in Philadelphia. Boston Beef serves 18 versions of the sandwich from the Floridian (pickles, red onion, coleslaw on ciabatta) to the Beefdale (Italian-style roast beef with tomato and red onion), along with cheesesteaks and rockin lobstah rolls.

The "three-way" roast beef sandwich from Boston Beef by the Sea is made with top round, a slice of white American cheese and James River BBQ sauce. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Whats manlier than roast beef? Nikolakopoulos says. Roast beef is getting more international because of social media. Be A Man is really helping to pack them in.

Because of his popularly, fans wont stop hounding Harmon. Hes not a comedian and barely knew what TikTok was until last year. Now Be A Man acolytes follow him everywhere, quoting one-liners at him at airport terminals, flagging him down for selfies. On a recent Friday a fan named Aaron spotted Be A Man on the sidewalk, screamed Be a Man! and extended a fist bump.

Of course, Be A Man had a job to do: shill.

Its my place. Grab a menu, Harmon tells the vacationer from Connecticut, who replies, Oh, really? and looks incredulous at the news.

Customers wont find him shaving ribbons of top round on the deli slicer. That would be Nikolakopoulos. Last year, Nikolakopoulos sold his fathers 50-year-old business on Bostons North Shore, Johns Roast Beef & Seafood, and set his sights slinging roast beef to snowbirds in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.

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The cheesesteaks from Boston Beef by the Sea in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The Boston Be A Man TikTok is the invention of a Boston comedy group called Breaking Balls, which includes Harmon, Carlo and their creative directors, Tonzo Sutton and Joe McCall. The group, at first, produced clips for a YouTube chat show called I Love Mondays out of their small studio in Swampscott, Mass. Carlo Caponigro, Sutton and McCall came up with an idea to write short one-liners from the perspective of an old-school Bostonian, a tough guy who grew up hard and short-tempered and full of hilariously illogical advice that stubborn men of a certain age always have. They invited Harmon, whos 6-foot-3 and broad-shouldered like the foreman on a wrecking crew.

My brother was perfect as the face for this, says Carlo Caponigro. Just look at him: hes a beast. He looks like hes been through some s---. And people are tired of things being so PC. You cant give someone a dirty look these days without getting taken to court. But we keep [the jokes] right on the line so they dont offend people too much.

Much like his breakout TikTok video, which racked up 1.6 million views and turned Boston Be A Man into an overnight cult success. On it, images of Home Depot flicker across the screen as Be A Man says, If you cant find what youre looking for at the store, dont ask for help. Walk out. Be a man.

Obviously most of the stuff is tongue-in-cheek and a lot of it is handed down from my father, says Harmon, a part-time Fort Lauderdale resident. Hes blue-collar, grew up during the Depression and was always tough on us. He didnt call girls girls. He called them broads, and I got a kick out of it because it offended girls sometimes. The girls laugh at it now because they know Im joking around.

Of course, the idea to parody white toxic masculinity is hardly new  even with a Boston accent  but his homespun wisdom, always apolitical and lighthearted, has attracted a wide following of college kids and millennials. Some 45 percent of his social media followers are women, he says.

All the attention means Boston Be A Man cant go anywhere without hearing his catchphrase. He currently charges $75 for a personalized message on Cameo. Actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, comedian Bill Burr and New England Patriots defensive end Chase Winovich follow him on social. Timberland boots, a softball bat company and various strip clubs have DMed him on TikTok for endorsements. He records a podcast, the Be A Man Experience, with actor John Fiore of HBOs The Sopranos.

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Harmon has no plans to stop recording anytime soon. Boston Be A Man has released more than 700 videos. Hes has recorded more than 3,000.

So if I get hit by a bus tomorrow, youre going to see my ugly face around for years, Harmon says.

I like that [the TikToks] are 10 seconds or less. Thats all I can remember to record, anyway. Like most men, I have a very short attention span.

Boston Beef by the Sea, at 107 Commercial Blvd., in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, is open 11 a.m.10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 954-900-2632 or go to BostonBeefBytheSea.com.
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Canadian PM calls for Russia's removal from SWIFT payment system

Xinhua) 10:51, February 26, 2022

OTTAWA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a new round of sanctions on Russia, calling for Russia's removal from the SWIFT payment system.

Trudeau said at a press conference that Canada will join some other nations to impose sanctions directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of advisers. The sanctions will also extend to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's chief of staff, he said.

In addition, Trudeau called for Russia's removal from SWIFT, the payment system used for most international financial transactions.

The Canadian government is also prepared to match donations to Ukrainian relief efforts via the Canadian Red Cross to a maximum for 10 million Canadian dollars, he said.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
The annual Sistrunk Parade & Festival Parade that took place on Saturday morning on Sistrunk Blvd. featured marching bands, ROTC, steppers stepping, drill teams twirling, and decorated floats ridden by local business owners and politicians. (Scott Luxor / Contributor)

Fort Lauderdale  Education mixed with fun, music, food, and sunshine Saturday at the 42nd annual Sistrunk Historical Festival. Oh, and dont forget strengthening the ties that bind, which is another key element of the annual gathering on Fort Lauderdales historic Sistrunk Boulevard, and another reason people return year after year.

The camaraderie and the friendships, Anthony Avery said when asked about the best things about the festival.

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Friends you havent seen in a long time.

Verna Johnson, who was among the thousands in attendance, agreed.

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It looked like they opened the sky up and everybody fell in, she said with a laugh.

The daylong event on Sistrunk Boulevard, which was closed to traffic, started with a parade at 9 a.m., and continued with a 5k run and the street festival that stretched from 9th Avenue to 13th Avenue.

The annual Sistrunk Parade & Festival Parade that took place on Saturday morning on Sistrunk Blvd. featured marching bands, ROTC, steppers stepping, drill teams twirling, and decorated floats ridden by local business owners and politicians. (Scott Luxor / Contributor)

The festive atmosphere featured two stages, one at 9th Avenue and the other at 13th Avenue, lots of music and numerous tables, exhibits and displays ranging from voter registration sponsored by the NAACP, food trucks and setups from places such as Ednas Cafe (soul food), Deberrys cuisine (soul food, BBQ), Miss Jessies Hair Products, Broward College, Holy Cross Hospital, and the Urban League of Broward County.

The wide-ranging activities included Italian Ice, frozen lemonade, pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce house, and a table for Girl Scout Troop 14139.

Its good to be out and see all types of people, Avery said. And no craziness.

People of all ages packed Sistrunk Boulevard all day to enjoy the festival and the tail end of Black History Month, an aspect of the festival that particularly appealed to Ann Clark and Felice Walker.

I come out here for the history, Walker said, before turning her attention to the youth.

The kids need to know what happened and how they got to where we are today. And who to thank for it.

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Both women said theyre disappointed schools dont teach more Black history. They both said they prefer kids learn more about themselves and their past.

Thats why Black History is every month for me, not just one month, Clark said.

Nearby there was an opportunity for a different type of education as Elite Realty was holding a homebuying workshop in its office. It wasnt affiliated with the festival, but it was an educational opportunity nonetheless.

Back at the Sistrunk Historical Festival, everyone appeared to be having a good time.

There were wide smiles, laughter, and an overall joyful atmosphere all up and down Sistrunk Boulevard.

Some people camped out all day with beach chairs and coolers, enjoying the sights and sounds. That was the case for a 58-year-old man who goes by Smooth. He was relaxing with his cousin, Johnnie Black. Smooth said hes been attending the festival for years.

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I come out to see the people and celebrate the history, he said.

The same is true for many who ventured out to the festival, including Clark.

Ive been coming here since its been at Sistrunk, she said. Its like a family reunion.
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.
Creduce Technologies Private Limited  HCPL JV today announced winning the bid for Indias single largest Hydro Power Carbon Credits project with Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. The project activity will result in the creation of more than 80 million carbon credits from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigams vintage project, making it the biggest public-private collaboration for the claim and trade of carbon credits in the country. The carbon credit project activity is poised to fetch approx USD 100 Million revenue into SJVNs books.



SJVN invited bids from the eligible service providers for availing the carbon credits. Creduce  HPCL JV emerged as the winner of the rigorous tendering process. SJVN and Creduce are also aiming to align with the new rules emerging from the Paris Climate Agreement.



The announcement is a major step towards the mission of achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070 as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the COP26 summit.



Commenting on the mega collaboration, Shailendra Singh Rao, Founder, Creduce, says, Pursuant PM Modis announcement at COP26, Creduce has embarked on the ambitious journey of creating and servicing within the compliance and voluntary carbon credits framework for all green projects to claim and utilize carbon credits. We are honoured to be a part of this deal where we would help SJVN claim millions in carbon credits and subsequent revenues over the coming decade.



With SJVNs vintage and future produce, the numbers would definitely help enhance the health of the balance sheet and support the implementation of more such projects in Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country.



We are proud to have partnered with Creduce to help de-carbonise the Indian and global economy. It is incumbent among each firm, be it government or private to commit to the carbon markets and help the fight against climate change, said Kartik Upadhyay, Managing Director, Hydel Consultants Private Limited (HCPL).



The additional revenue will also bolster efforts for SJVNs additional projects that it is implementing and operating in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh in India, besides neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan.



The Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) began with a single project and state operation (i.e. Indias largest 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station in Himachal Pradesh). However, the Indian public sector undertaking has commissioned several projects totalling more than 2500 MW of installed capacity. Besides the Nathpa Jhakri project, SJVN also has a Rampur Hydro Power project in Himachal Pradesh with a capacity of 500 MW together with consolidated installed and upcoming wind and solar power contributing to another 500 MW.




Cyber fraud is not ending in India anytime soon. In the latest of many incidents, the server of an ATM was hacked by 5 men who then took out Rs 8.3 lakh from the machine on February 7, as per TNN.

What happened?

It happened in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The accused have been nabbed by the Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell. They are all from different parts of India.

They are Sandip Singh (Punjab), Ravi Solanki (Surat), Neeldip Solanki (Kutch), and Gurudev Singh and Amritpal Singh (both from Assam), as per The Indian Express.

They allegedly were involved in hacking the ATM server of the Bandhan bank at Ahmedabad's Maninagar branch.

iStock

"The bank authorities filed a complaint against unidentified persons for illegally accessing the ATM server and withdrawing money," said an official from Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Cell, according to the report.

After a probe, it was revealed that 25 transactions were carried out by the accused at an ATM kiosk. They used 2 ATM cards of SBI and Axis Bank for the fraud.



A police officer said Rs 10 lakh cash was found on the accused after they were taken into custody.

iStock

On being questioned, they identified their gang leader as Pramod Kumar alias Krishna, who hailed from Delhi. They said he gave them a gadget which can be attached to an ATM card slot to hack its server.

They siphoned off Rs 32 lakh in the past month. They looted many ATMs in Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Rajkot.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Even as Russian troops headed towards Ukraine's capital Kyiv and explosions rocked the city, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his people to "stand firm", as per AP. He help from USA to evacuate and said "The fight is here."

President stands firm

"This night we have to stand firm," he said.

AFP

"The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now," he added.

Hundreds of casualties were reported in the fighting, which included shelling that sliced through a Kyiv apartment building and pummeled bridges and schools.

This attack is a representation of Vladimir Putin's boldest effort in recent times to redraw the world map and revive Moscow's Cold War-era influence.

Ukraine fighting back

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces brought down a Russian aircraft over Kyiv, as per Reuters. It then hit a residential building and it blasted into flames, according to said Anton Herashchenko who is an adviser to the interior minister.

Several explosions were heard in Kyiv earlier. Herashchenko said they were due to air defences firing at the aircraft.

Massive casualties

At least 198 Ukrainians, 3 kids among them, have been killed due to the Russian invasion, said the head of the Ukrainian Health Ministry as per the Interfax news agency, according to TOI.

Reuters

USA has announced sanctions on several Russian business entities and individuals. The individuals include President Putin and foreign minister Lavrov.

Plight of Indians

Several Indian students and others who are still stranded in the war zone have appealed for help from the government. While evacuations are on and many have been brought home and many are being brought home, there are many more who need to be brought home.

Russia launched a massive military offensive on Ukraine on February 24, something they were preparing for a long time. The action has been condemned worldwide and public opinion has turned against Russia for this act.

India abstains

As per TOI, India abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with China and UAE.

Russia exercised its veto, while 11 countries- US, UK, France, Ghana, Kenya, Gabon, Ireland, Albania, Norway, Mexico and Brazil were in support of the resolution.

There has been a lot of fighting going on in the last 48 hours and it does not look like stopping soon and even as Russia storms forward, Ukraine is holding its ground.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


A Ukrainian soldier is being hailed as a national hero after he sacrificed his own life in the line of duty in the ongoing war with Russia.

The soldier, identified as Vitali Shakun, from the marine unit, blew himself up along with a bridge in Crimea, allowing his battalion some more time to regroup against the incoming Russian troops.

Twitter

Shakun was manning the Henichesk bridge in Kherson, Ukraine when the Russian troops were advancing.

The only option left in front of Shakun and his battalion to stop the Russians was to blow up the bridge.

However, as the Russian troops were closing in, they did not have much time left in front of them to do it safely.

Shakun could not plant the explosive and carry out the blast from a safe distance, so he told his fellow soldiers that he was going to detonate the explosion.

Twitter

According to a Facebook post by the General Staff, the battalion received a text message from Shakun saying that we will blow up the bridge, which he was standing on.

Seconds after his message was received, they heard the explosion, according to a post on the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Facebook page.

Facebook

Incidentally, this is in the same city where an ordinary Ukrainian woman gave a dressing-down to Russian soldiers and even gave one of them sunflower seeds telling him to keep it in his pocket so that after he dies it will bloom in Ukraine.

Screengrab

Extreme courage

This is not the first time the Ukrainians who are heavily outnumbered and outgunned have shown unimaginable courage in front of the enemy even while facing deaths.

On Thursday, the first day of the Russian invasion 13 border guards stationed on Zmiinyi Island, aka Snake Island, in the Black Sea, were killed by Russian forces after refusing to surrender.

An audio clip has since gone viral, suggesting what went down in their final moments.

This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and unnecessary victims, or you will be bombed, a voice is heard saying.

AP

To this, a Ukrainian soldier replies saying "Russian warship, go f**k yourself.

This was followed by the sound of a large explosion.

President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged their sacrifice and said they will be honoured with the Hero of Ukraine medal, which is the highest honour.

On our Zmiinyi Island, defending it to the last, all the border guards died heroically, he said. But they did not give up. All of them will be posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. Eternal memory to those who gave their lives for Ukraine, he had said.

For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
For the past three years, the leader of Broward schools communications department has juggled her district duties with her privately owned company, business relationships and desire to protect the former superintendent.

Kathy Koch, who makes $168,300 a year, secretly organized a rally that was held on district property during the school day April 23 to try to save the job of former Superintendent Robert Runcie, after his arrest on a perjury charge.

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She also left her job one morning in 2019, without taking leave, to secure a contract for her private company, a school district investigation has revealed.

The personnel investigation of Koch, which resulted in a 185-page report, initially focused on whether she acted improperly by organizing the Runcie rally. But the scope was later expanded to review whether she performed work for her private marketing company on district time. A professional standards committee determined by a 5-2 vote that insufficient factual or legal basis exists to establish just cause for inappropriate conduct.

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Thats largely because the district has no clear policies addressing these issues, officials said. But that could change soon, possibly affecting numerous employees.

Newly appointed Superintendent Vickie Cartwright told the South Florida Sun Sentinel she will propose in the near future a policy change that will address secondary paid employment and district business hours.

Its a move several School Board members say is needed.

Board member Nora Rupert said she knows many district employees have second jobs, often to make ends meet, but there needs to be clear rules for high-paid employees in leadership roles.

When people are making over $100,000 a year and their job is to do PR, advertising, etc., and theyre doing a rally, maybe for us, maybe for some other group, there are just too many conflicts, Rupert said.

Board member Debbi Hixon, who first asked the district to investigate Kochs actions, agreed, saying, There should be a specific and concise policy about this.

Kathy Koch, chief communications officer for Broward schools, speaks at a Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency in September 2019 as she seeks a contract renewal for her private public-relations firm, Ambit Advertising & Public Relations. (City of Hollywood / meeting screen shot)

A district Special Investigative Unit investigation of Koch, 72, paints a picture of an administrator who comingles her work and personal emails, attends business events where its unclear if shes representing the district or a private business and works hours that could include logging on to her school district account at 5 a.m. or meeting with private business clients from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., as she did in 2019.

Although Koch wont face discipline, shell receive a memo explaining that Cartwright expects that any time taken for personal purposes during what would be considered standard operational hours must be approved in advance by their immediate supervisor and appropriate leave taken from the individuals accrued leave, according to a report from a district professional standards committee.

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Koch, in an email response to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, said she believes the finding of no just cause for discipline proves that suggestions she engaged in improper conduct are unfounded.

The District has an investigative process through which it can determine whether or not an employee did something that was inappropriate, Koch said. The process worked.

Koch has been the districts chief communications officer since November 2018. She also has been the president of the Fort Lauderdale-based company Ambit Advertising & Public Relations since the late 1980s, although that business is now dormant, she told Ed Costello, a detective with the districts Special Investigative Unit, in a December interview.

The districts investigation started as a result of a July 18 Sun Sentinel article that described Kochs secret but elaborate efforts to bring business, religious and political leaders to an April 23 rally at district headquarters to try to save the job of Runcie, who had been arrested two days prior on a felony perjury charge.

Runcie agreed a few days later to resign because of dwindling support on the School Board.

Koch emailed extensive notes about her two-day rally planning efforts from her Ambit account to her school district email address. She told Costello that was the one really, really stupid thing that I did. The Sun Sentinel received a copy of the notes through a public records request.

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[ RELATED: Broward Schools PR chief under investigation over pro-Runcie rally ]

In the notes, Koch describes reaching out to Runcie allies she knew from the Broward Workshop and Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, two business groups where she has strong ties, as well as elected officials, and leaders of nonprofit organizations.

She wrote a press release for a local public-relations company to distribute, edited pro-Runcie remarks from then-County Commissioner Dale Holness and coordinated event logistics with district staff, according to her notes. She also stressed that she didnt want anyone to know she organized it and would remain invisible at the event.

Koch was critical of the Sun Sentinels news stories and editorials about her role in the rally. The coverage led to the districts investigation into whether she used district time and resources to organize the event.

You accused me of something for which you had no proof  because there is none, Koch emailed a Sun Sentinel reporter Thursday. A thorough investigation found your groundless assumption to be false. Are you planning to include an apology to me?

She seemed less certain that she did all the organizing on her personal time when she testified under oath before the Attorney Generals Office on July 29. She first said she made calls to participants on her own time but then asked if she could amend her statement.

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie hugs Chief Communications Officer Kathy Koch at the end of an April 27 meeting where he announced he's stepping down. (Scott Travis/Sun Sentinel)

I dont know exactly when the calls were made, she told prosecutors, who had subpoenaed her as a witness in Runcies criminal case after reading the Sun Sentinel story on the rally. My intention was to do as much as I possibly could do at home. I dont want to misstate by saying broadly that they were all not done during the day.

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She said her overall role in the rally was limited when questioned by the school district detective in December. She said a PR company, Smith & Knibbs, did most of the work, and she only made five phone calls on her personal cellphone, all at night or early in the morning before work.

I did a very small portion of the planning, she told Costello.

The district investigation was expanded in October beyond the rally to include whether there were any possible conflicts involving Ambit, her longtime private business.

Costello learned from Kochs secretary, Kasey Parson-Chance, that in September 2019, Koch spoke on behalf of Ambit for nearly 90 minutes at a city of Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency meeting. She was seeking to renew an $800,000 contract to buy tourism ads, with up to $96,000 going to Ambit.

Koch did not take personal leave time to attend the meeting, the report said. Its unclear whether Runcie approved it or even knew about it: I believe I had told the superintendent I was doing it but Im going on my memory, Koch told the detective. There was nothing that was written.

[ RELATED: Schools PR chief orchestrated secret attempt to save Robert Runcie ]

Runcie, who could not be reached by the Sun Sentinel, told the school district that lawyers in his criminal case advised him not to answer any questions for the Koch investigation.

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Jeff Moquin, who has served as chief of staff for both Runcie and Cartwright, told Costello that if it were him, he would have taken leave time for the meeting, but he did not know the specifics of the potential agreement between Mr. Runcie and Ms. Koch for her business and the potential overlap of it with her district duties, according to the report.

During the Hollywood meeting, Peter Hernandez, who was then a city commissioner, questioned Koch about her dual roles.

My concern is how much time are you going to be able to spend on us versus you have a full-time job, Hernandez said.

I have a staff that has been doing the work for years, Koch told him.

The City Commission approved Ambits contract, with Hernandez dissenting.

[ INVESTIGATION: Broward schools took extraordinary steps to hide key details of massive data breach ]

Koch told Costello that the contract approved in 2019 was for the final year of an agreement with Hollywood. Koch said an employee who attended the meeting with her handled all the duties involving that contract. A Hollywood spokeswoman confirmed the city no longer has a contract with Ambit.

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Kochs attendance at the Hollywood meeting apparently violated no policies: The investigative report didnt include a section detailing what policies, if any, might pertain to situations like this.

She told the detective that under Runcie, she was required to work at least 37.5 hours a week and always worked more, but had no required set hours.

There wasnt anything that was contractual with the district other than not do anything that would be of conflict with the district nor take any time from the district, she told Costello. That was in speaking , of course.

In a statement to the detective, Koch referred to an employee handbook, which states, The work schedule should be determined by the supervisor based on department need.

[ RELATED: Cartwright asked to be permanent superintendent ]

She told Costello there are no more potential conflicts with Ambit because she hasnt had any clients, employees or income since Ambits Hollywood contract expired in 2020.

However, she kept her position as company president and her memberships in the Broward Workshop and Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, two business groups that were strong defenders of Runcie.

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I sit on the board of the Broward Workshop. The only requirement to be a board member at the workshop is that you are the CEO of a company, she told Costello. It does not define size. Does not define status.

Kochs secretary, Parson-Chance, told Costello that Koch attends meetings of both organizations during the workday, but Koch disputed that. She said in her interview that Broward Workshop meetings are held before work at 7:30 a.m., and that she only attends Fort Lauderdale Alliance meetings and events when they dont happen during business hours.

Even though Koch was representing Ambit, she sometimes spoke at Alliance meetings about her marketing efforts with the school district, she told Costello. I feel that I have, although its my own membership, Ive been able to use that position to leverage positively the relationship between the organization and the district, she told Costello.

[ RELATED: Broward schools cries out for an image overhaul. Can 3 new positions help? ]

She said in the interview that when she started with the district, Runcie told me that my involvement with the business and community organizations, and their leadership was an asset to the school district. He requested that I maintain those relationships.

The investigation also showed Koch comingled her district and Ambit email accounts, forwarding notices from her Ambit address to her district account about district and non-district matters.

When Im working at home if theres something that I want to print  I wanted to get some information to the district for something I was working on at home ... I would send it, she said. It wasnt sneaky or anything. I just needed to get something from there over to there.

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Koch promised the detective she would no longer send anything from her Ambit account to her work email again.

Still waiting to hear whether Kathy Koch will be representing clients for her Ambit Marketing company while working for the district. She says Ambit Marketing will be "stronger than ever." https://t.co/GMr6pDUnGE  Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) November 16, 2018

Kochs tenure with the district started in 2018 because Runcie wanted to replace Public Information Officer Tracy Clark, who struggled to defend the district and Runcie as they faced national scrutiny related to the Parkland tragedy. She beat out 158 other applicants.

I met Superintendent Runcie when he arrived in Broward County in [2011], followed his successes with the district, and also the challenges he faced in communication to the community, she told Costello. It struck me that with my communications background, my skills and excellent reputation in Broward County I could make a positive difference to the school district in this role.

Runcie allowed to her to maintain her private company. But in November 2018, she said she would scale back Ambits operations after facing questions from the Sun Sentinel about potential conflicts of interest.

New Broward schools chief spokeswoman Kathy Koch says her company, Ambit Marketing, does not & will not work for vendors or potential vendors of the school district, or for other causes that may pose a conflict of interest. No longer working for Broward League of Cities.  Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) November 21, 2018

Ambit will still exist and will be stronger than ever. Ive got an amazing team who works better (my guess) when Im not in their faces all of the time! Koch first responded to a Sun Sentinel reporter at that time.

After the reporter pressed her about how the arrangement would work, Koch said the next day that Ambit will not pursue new PR business starting immediately. I am committed to my new position as Chief PIO at Broward County Public Schools and the time that it will require to do my best job.

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In December 2018, she told the Sun Sentinel that she only had four clients and none did business with the school district. Runcie said then he would ask Koch to turn over her client list to the districts procurement department to ensure there were no conflicts. But that never happened.

The school district had and still has a longtime contract with one of those clients, the city of Hollywood, for police protection in schools. When the Sun Sentinel asked for her full client list in late 2019, Koch declined.

Back in late 2018, @browardschools Supt. Runcie said he would require @KatherineKoch turn over to the procurement dept her client list from her private PR business Ambit to ensure there were no conflicts. I thought it would be an easy public records request. I thought wrong. https://t.co/Td6oh6jvDp pic.twitter.com/5ihzjh7JNw  Scott Travis (@smtravis) July 18, 2021

I was advised by General Counsel that this is not a records request because my private business has nothing to do with the School District, she said in an email.

A Sun Sentinel reporter responded that any client lists given to the district were public record and asked Koch how, if the list hadnt been turned over, the district would know if there were any conflicts.

Tell him we discuss it verbally, then-General Counsel Barbara Myrick wrote in an email to Koch in December 2019, copying a Sun Sentinel reporter in the exchange.

During her interview with Costello, Koch lamented that her work with the district has been called into question due to what she viewed as unfair coverage by the Sun Sentinel.

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I do not mind working hard. But because of an article from that reporter that started this cascade, [it] has been difficult for me, she said. I am regretful that this can happen to me or anyone like me who makes a life-changing decision to work here. Because I feel so strongly that its the right thing to do.
In the midst of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian space director has posted a slurry of dangerous threats about chances of International Space Station (ISS) deorbiting and crashing.

The head of Russia's space programme, Dmitry Rogozin warned that the ongoing series of sanctions against Russia would effectively lead to the premature death of ISS.

NASA

Could ISS crash without Russia's help?

Roscosmos' chief wrote on Twitter that in the absence of Russian assistance, the ISS would essentially lose orbit eventually and fall into the United States, Europe, or even India.

"There is also the option of dropping a 500-ton structure to India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect? The ISS does not fly over Russia, soa ll the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?," Rogozin Tweeted.

Twitter / The Verge

While translating from Russian to English could be tricky, the suggestion here is quite straightforward. If Russia pulls out of ISS, NASA would need to find an alternative way to keep ISS in its orbit around Earth.

Also read: Google Maps Recorded Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Before It Officially Began

Twitter / The Verge

Even if that were to happen, ISS' deorbit wouldn't be swift. In conversation with The Verge, Wayne Hale, member of NASA's Advisory Council said that NASA would have enough time to devise an alternative method if Russia were to pull out. "It's not like a week, it'll probably be several years."

It's unclear whether Rogozin was openly threatening or suggesting what could become of the ISS after US' sanctions of Russia's space programmes, but the Roscosmos head is not a stranger to provocative Tweets.

Also read: Russia's 'Mobile Crematoriums' Reportedly Deployed In Ukraine To Hide Losses



Twitter / The Verge

Regardless, ISS has managed to withstand disagreements and both Russia and US have pledged to keep supporting it to the end of its life cycle that is expected to end over the next decade. A new era of private space stations is currently being promoted by NASA so that ISS may eventually be decommissioned.

What do you think about Russia's open threat? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
Amid the distressing turmoil happening in Ukraine due to Russian invaders, people have taken shelter in underground metro stations in the country's capital, Kyiv. According to a BBC report, the people have been using the Telegram app to communicate with the outside world.

Now, a few hours ago, reports of a woman giving birth at one of the metro stations has surfaced from Kyiv. Reports suggest that the woman is 23 years old and has given birth to a baby girl.

Twitter

When Russian troops invaded Ukrainian cities, the woman's baby was due. She took shelter at one of the metro stations and that is where she ended up giving birth.

According to Wion News, she soon experienced labour pains and Ukrainian police rushed in to help her. Officer Mykola Shlapak said they helped her deliver the baby, Mia, just before 8.30 pm. They also called an ambulance and took both of them to hospital. The mother and daughter are said to be doing well.

Chairwoman of Democracy in Action Conference Hannah Hopko shared the news and said, "Mia was born in shelter this night in stressful environment- bombing of Kyiv. Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving."

 Mia was born in shelter this night in stressful environment- bombing of Kyiv. Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving. When Putin kills Ukrainians we call mothers of Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia war in Ukraine . We defend lives and humanity ! pic.twitter.com/qsBDcfc1Q9  Hanna Hopko (@HopkoHanna) February 25, 2022

We send love and prayers to the new mother.

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A survivor of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, who was abandoned in an orphanage before being adopted in Ireland has described her fears of another European wide catastrophe caused by the Russian invasion which would also end her plans to visit her newly-found family.

Raisa Carolan revealed her concerns after reports of higher than usual gamma radiation levels detected in the area near the decommissioned nuclear plant, taken over by Russian forces.

Ukraine's nuclear energy regulatory agency attributed the rise to a 'disturbance of the topsoil due to the movement of a large amount of heavy military equipment through the exclusion zone and the release of contaminated radioactive dust into the air'.

The 29-year-old Ambassador for the Chernobyl Children's International has experienced first-hand the horror of nuclear effects and dreads the thought of radiation being unleashed on a large scale on the world again.

Raisa has undergone 25 operations to treat the many physical deformities she was born with as a result of the radiation from the disaster.

These included a cleft palate and eventual limb amputation because of being born with webbed legs and a club foot.

The determined young woman who now has a Masters in Criminology started life in No. 3 Orphanage in Minsk where she was left in her cot alone for days and whipped with belt buckles and nettles.

However, she now calls herself a 'Meath woman' after being adopted by Tom and the late Ann Carolan in Trim where she has lived since she was ten years old.

In the last year, the employee of social media giant TikTok has tracked down her birth family after a search of many years and has been in regular contact with them in Belarus by email since January.

The Russian invasion means that she is worried for their safety and any dreams of meeting them soon may now be scuppered.

"I am very fearful of the consequences if the reactor is activated again or sealed radiation is emitted on a large scale over the region, and indeed into wider European territories. The results could be catastrophic," she said.

"There are also a lot of people buried in the exclusion zone who gave their lives in order to close down the reactor and save others and this invasion is trespassing on that exclusion zone and disturbing those graves."

Ukraine's nuclear energy regulatory agency attributed the rise to a 'disturbance of the topsoil due to the movement of a large amount of heavy military equipment through the exclusion zone and the release of contaminated radioactive dust into the air'. Picture: AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File

After surviving the orphanage in Belarus and undergoing numerous painful operations to improve her health, Raisa undertook a search for her family - a search which lasted many years before finally tracing her parents and brother with the help of Adi Roche.

"In the last year I have found my family, my mother and father and brother, all of whom are still living in Belarus.

"I have been emailing my brother regularly and I had hoped that I would meet them soon but I don't think that is now going to happen for a long time and I fear for their safety as no one can guess how this conflict will play out or escalate.

"I've already been through a Chernobyl nuclear disaster as a child and I've seen the devastation it has caused to both the physical and mental health of children who have been left with defects and disregarded and abused in orphanages."

Raisa has no good memories of her harsh orphanage life where she was physically abused and 'left to one side' and does not want these experiences to be revisited by anyone again.

"You are treated as nothing and not worth the time to teach how to eat or talk. I was left in my cot in the same clothes for days.

"I was punished if I stepped out of line with a belt buckle or nettles from the nearby woods.

"There was a room in the orphanage full of toys - everything a child could dream of. But, it was all for show for visitors. When they'd arrive, we'd be allowed to play there, to pretend everything was great. When the visitors left, the toys were taken from us and the room was locked again. I was lucky to be helped by Adi and I was incredibly blessed to find my Irish mother Ann.

"Even on Valentine's Day, Adi and the Chernobyl Children's International helped to stage heart operations on 30 babies suffering from defects due to the fallout from Chernobyl. The horror from 1986 is still going on and we don't want a new band of radiation to cause even more suffering. I don't ever want to see another Chernobyl and hope from the bottom of my heart that this will not be the case."
A Corkman who was caught stepping off a Dublin bus in Cork City with 16,800 worth of heroin in 2018 has since managed to turn his life around completely  to the extent he has been given a fully suspended jail sentence.

Judge Dara Hayes addressed the accused man, Greg Duggan, of Fairfield Avenue, Farranree, Cork, directly at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The Greg Duggan who committed this offence is not the Greg Duggan who comes before the court. Society would not be served by him being sent to prison.

You were in a bad place. You are in a much better place now. Take the chance and keep going. You have a second chance. Good luck, Judge Hayes said to the 36-year-old as he gave him a four-year suspended sentence.

Greg Duggan came to the attention of drugs unit gardai after 9pm on November 21, 2018, when he got off the Aircoach at St Patricks Quay, Cork.

Detective Sergeant Joe Young testified that the defendant had gone to Dublin with money to get heroin and he returned with the 120g package.

Gardai followed him to St Patricks Street where they stopped and arrested him and brought him to Bridewell Garda Station.

Det Sgt Young said Duggan found himself in this position because he was a chronic heroin user and he was being paid in heroin for the trips he was making to Dublin to bring the drug back to Cork.

Brendan Kelly, defence barrister, said the defendants lifestyle was totally chaotic at the time but that the turnaround of his life had been very unusual and complete in that he was now clear of drugs and in employment.

Det Sgt Young agreed and said he could not envisage a situation where Greg Duggan would come back on to the Garda radar.

Judge Dara Hayes noted in his judgement that the accused had been given money to collect the package in Dublin and was to have been paid heroin for his role.

He has a very large number of previous convictions, including three under the Drugs Act but not for sale or supply. His offending arose from addiction and a then-chaotic lifestyle. He was preyed upon by others and paid in drugs. That it often how those higher in the drug trade operate.

He is hardworking and conscientious. He has engaged with rehabilitation and detoxed from heroin. He has a very positive probation service report, Judge Hayes said.
Yesterday marked the first day of full-scale conflict in Ukraine.

Today, Russia expanded and intensified its attacks. From early this morning, reports suggested that Russian troops had pushed all the way into the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Here are today's main developments:

Thousands continue to flee

Traffic jams are seen as people leave the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. Picture: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Thousands of Ukrainians have continued to flee their homes amid widespread fighting across their country.

Images circulating on social media show major traffic build-up along the main thoroughfares of Ukraines larger population centres.

There are reports of cars being backed up at border crossings as authorities in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova mobilised to receive them, with offers of food, shelter and legal assistance.

UN officials have said they are preparing for millions of people to flee Ukraine.

Ukraine president orders full mobilisation

In the early hours of this morning, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy ordered a full military mobilisation of Ukrainians to counter the Russian invasion.

In a decree, Mr Zelenskiy said the measure would last 90 days.

Both Mr Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian military urged those wishing to join the fight to come forward. They said anyone who wished to receive a weapon would be given one.

One Ukrainian army officials even encouraged residents of Kyiv to prepare Molotov cocktails in advance of a Russian assault on the capital.

Zelenskiy pleads for international help

Later in the morning, Mr Zelenskiy pleaded for international help and for western powers to act faster to weaken the Russian economy and to provide Ukraine with military assistance.

When bombs fall on Kyiv, it happens in Europe, not just in Ukraine. When missiles kill our people, they kill all Europeans," he said.

Fighting reaches Ukrainian capital

People rest in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine. Picturw: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Following a night of missile attacks last night, Russian forces advanced to the outskirts of the city from three sides while Ukrainian soldiers established defensive positions at key positions.

Kyiv has entered into a defensive phase its mayor, prominent boxer Vitali Klitschko said.

In a statement, the Russian military said it had seized a Hostomel airport just outside Kyiv and cut the city off from the west.

Military experts have said that Russia may move to take full control of the capital as early as tonight or tomorrow.

Appeal for negotiations

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. File Picture

This afternoon, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy's urged Russia to enter peace negotiations.

"I want to appeal to the president of Russia, let's sit down and talk to stop people dying," he said.

Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters that "if talks are possible, they should be held."

"If in Moscow they say they want to hold talks, including on neutral status, we are not afraid of this," he said.

"Our readiness for dialogue is part of our persistent pursuit of peace."

Later, a Kremlin spokesman said Russia was ready to send a delegation, including foreign and defence ministry officials, to the Belarusian capital of Minsk, for talks with Ukraine.

The spokesperson said the talks could proceed, provided Ukraine agreed to demilitarise.

More sanctions

Following on from additional sanctions imposed yesterday, the European Union, UK and US today further agreed to freeze the assets of Russian president Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

According to the finance minister of Latvia, the decision to freeze Mr Putin and Mr Lavrovs assets indicates that western powers are moving towards unprecedented measures to try to stop the invasion of Ukraine".

However, the move is largely symbolic and does not include a travel ban, as ministers wish to maintain a diplomatic way through the crisis.

The EU is also holding back from blocking Russia from an international payments system through which it receives foreign currency, though this may change.

Ukraine reports higher but 'not critical' Chernobyl radiation

- PA

The site of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. File Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Higher than usual gamma radiation levels have been detected in the area near the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear plant, after it was seized by the Russian military, according to Ukraines nuclear energy regulatory agency.

The state nuclear regulatory inspectorate said on Friday that higher gamma radiation levels have been detected in the Chernobyl zone, but did not provide details of the increase.

It attributed the rise to a disturbance of the topsoil due to the movement of a large amount of heavy military equipment through the exclusion zone and the release of contaminated radioactive dust into the air.

Ukrainian authorities said that Russia took the plant and its surrounding exclusion zone after a fierce battle on Thursday.

Council of Europe suspends Russian membership

In the evening, the Council of Europe began a process to suspend Russias membership.

Russia had previously been kicked out of the Council of Europes parliamentary assembly over the annexation of Crimea in 2014, but was reinstated in 2019 with full rights.

The Council of Europe has suspended Russias rights of representation.https://t.co/V8uUfjBkm3 pic.twitter.com/LfVLnNfvDz  Council of Europe (@coe) February 25, 2022

Todays motion, brought by Ukraine and Poland, was approved by 42 out of the 47 member states.

Putin calls on Ukrainian army to seize power

Russian president Vladimir Putin. File Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

In a video address earlier, Russian president Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian military to seize power in order to better negotiate with Russia.

In the video, a visibly angry Putin called the Ukrainian government a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis".

He also repeated a claim that the Ukrainian leadership and army had engaged in genocide in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Nato meets, pledges to further strengthen its eastern borders

NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. Picture: AP Photo/Olivier Matthys

In a press conference, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg suggested that Russia's intentions would not cease with Ukraine.

Mr Stoltenberg said Putins decision to pursue a war against Ukraine was a terrible strategic mistake for which Russia would pay a severe price".

He said US president Joe Biden and his counterparts have agreed to send parts of the organisations response force to help protect allies in the east.

He did not say how many troops would be deployed, however.

"We are facing a new normal in European security," he said.

Lithuania, a former soviet state and current Nato member, has declared a state of emergency, according to reports

Death toll mounts

A Kyiv building damaged by an explosion during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Picture: Maia Mikhaluk/PA Wire

Ukrainian officials reported at least 137 deaths on the Ukrainian side so far, with up to 500 injured. However, these figures have not yet been verified.

Ukraine also claims hundreds more had died on the Russian side.

Conversely, Russian authorities have released no casualty figures.

UN officials have so far reported 25 civilian deaths, mostly from shelling and airstrikes.
As a Fine Gael TD, it is rare for me to welcome any moves from the Sinn Fein party.

However, its move this week to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine and pledging its support for wide ranging sanctions is a good move, one that should be applauded.

That it has taken a large-scale invasion and war in Europe to bring about this shift in policy is another matter and one that deserves genuine analysis despite the prickly reaction of some Sinn Fein TDs and its online supporters.

When held up to the light, Sinn Feins stance on Russia is a worrying one that raises serious questions about the partys overall approach to foreign policy; be that its support of the dictatorship in Cuba, frequent commendations for China or its long-standing Euroscepticism.

In 2014 when Ukraine was invaded by Vladimir Putins "little green men", the response of Sinn Fein was deafening silence.

Apart from in the European Parliament, when after the EU agreed a new treaty with Ukraine, then MEP, Matt Carthy, tweeted: In EP for votes on EU Ukraine association agreement; history being rewritten by Eurocrats failing to reflect EUs role in causing conflict.

In EP for votes on EU Ukraine association agreement; history being rewritten by Eurocrats failing to reflect EU's role in causing conflict.  Matt Carthy TD (@mattcarthy) September 16, 2014

In 2018, in the wake of a nerve agent attack on a former Russian intelligence officer, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury, the Irish Government expelled a Russian diplomat suspected of being tied to this act of aggression.

At the time, the Sinn Fein Leader, Mary Lou McDonald, described this sensible move as having a flagrant disregard for Irish neutrality.

Last December, the European Parliament voted on a resolution condemning the large Russian military build-up on the Ukrainian border, demanding that the government in Moscow immediately withdraw its forces and stop threatening its neighbouring country while calling for increased EU sanctions.

Only 69 MEPs voted against this resolution. Shamefully, four of them were Irish, including Sinn Feins sole MEP, Chris McManus.

The other three MEPs that voted against this were the Independents Clare Daly, Luke Ming Flanagan, and Mick Wallace. All three of these MEPs have worrying records when it comes to their votes and speeches in the European Parliament condemning the EU, the US and NATO while praising the regimes in Russia, China, Syria and elsewhere.

In February of last year, Clare Daly slated perceived "Russophobia" in the European Parliament, in a speech that featured prominently on the Russian state propaganda channel, RT or Russia Today.

Astoundingly, Ms Daly called Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, racist.

Mr Navalny had previously been hospitalised after he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent before being awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament for his work on human rights.

The people of Ukraine are suffering and the actions of Vladimir Putin are that of a thuggish dictator that will impact all of Europe, says Neale Richmond Picture: Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Reacting to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Mick Wallace has demanded Nato be abolished having previously accused it of desiring full-scale war with Russia while lashing out at mainstream media.

All three belong to the left political grouping in the European Parliament where they sit alongside Sinn Fein. Despite this weeks welcome shift in emphasis from Sinn Fein on its policy to Russia, we have not seen it call for its fellow Left MEPs from Ireland or elsewhere to take a similar stance.

The people of Ukraine are suffering and the actions of Vladimir Putin are that of a thuggish dictator that will impact all of Europe.

We in Ireland are not at a remove from these actions. Kyiv is less than a four-hour flight from Dublin and there are over 2,000 Ukrainian citizens living in Ireland.

The consequences of this conflict will impact Ireland economically, in terms of energy supply and we will need to welcome many refugees.

And while Russia is invading Ukraine today, where next? Last summer, Estonia was a victim of a cyberattack that crashed its entire system of Government for three days; all intelligence cites Russia as the source of these cyberattacks. Indeed, the cyber-attack on our HSE last summer also bore the traits of similar attacks from Russian protected criminal entities.

On Thursday, the Lithuanian government declared a state of emergency and asked for Nato to deploy additional troops due to Russian forces massing on Lithuanias borders with Russia and Belarus.

The Russian backed regime in Belarus has been engaging in hybrid warfare on the Lithuanian and Polish borders for much of the past year. Migrants brought to Belarus from Iraq and Afghanistan are sent over the border in a coordinated effort to overwhelm and disrupt the security services in these EU Member States.

Those that have been silent on Russias expansion, have defended it, have attacked those who oppose Putin or who have voted against sanctions deserve to have their records analysed.

The people deserve to know exactly what their elected representatives have said or done and the very real ramifications of these actions. The reaction from some to genuine scrutiny of their record is illuminating, highlighting an understandable sensitivity when their shameful actions and non-actions of very recent years are exposed.

In one day last week alone, 137 Ukrainians lost their lives to this conflict, with the death toll rising by the hour. These deaths are purely down to Russian aggression and those who try to place the blame elsewhere are being deliberately misleading.

Neale Richmond TD is the Fine Gael spokesperson on European Affairs
Just hours after Russian military forces invaded their homeland, members of the Ukrainian community in South Florida protested the incursion with a rally in Hallandale Beach and voiced hopes for the safety of friends and relatives who have taken shelter or fled the country.

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that more than 100,000 people were believed to have left their homes in Ukraine and that up to 4 million may flee to other countries, the Associated Press reported.

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But whether any of them can take refuge in the United States in the near future remained an open question on Friday.

The Biden Administration has yet to decide on whether to add to protections available to Ukrainians who seek to come here.

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[ RELATED: Theres no way we can help them: South Floridians are anxious for word of their loved ones in Ukraine ]

I hope the U.S. administration will take some sort of action to help those people evacuate, said Aleksey Shtivelman, a Ukrainian-American and international dispute resolution lawyer at the law firm of Shutts & Bowen in Miami. The U.S. has issued previous emergency declarations regarding refugee admissions.

Shtivelman, who has clients in both Ukraine and Russia, was born in the Black Sea port city of Odessa, the scene of intense fighting. He moved to New York via Israel in the 1990s, and has relatives in New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association is urging the administration to expedite cases of Ukrainians who are eligible to migrate to the U.S.

AILA calls on the Biden Administration to immediately ensure that Ukrainian nationals who may be eligible to come to the United States may safely and expeditiously do so and to ensure that we do not send people back to danger, said Allen Orr, president of the Washington, D.C.-based association in a statement.

[ RELATED: South Florida groups offer ways to help the people of Ukraine ]

William Gerstein, a Fort Lauderdale immigration lawyer with Gerstein & Gerstein P.A., said Ukrainians currently visiting the U.S. could be granted temporary protected status. The U.S. has granted the status to Venezuelans living in the country after they fled the authoritarian regime of strongman and disputed President Nicolas Maduro.

CBS News, citing unidentified sources, reported Friday that the Biden Administration is considering protecting some Ukrainians now in the U.S. from deportation. The protection would come either through TPS or so-called Deferred Enforced Departure orders.

U.S. citizens with Ukrainian family have always had the ability to sponsor their family but may not have thought to act on it in the past, Gerstein said. For an individual to be brought to the U.S. that does not have a tourist visa or cannot get one, there is humanitarian parole available for situations such as these.

Under humanitarian parole, refugees with a compelling emergency and an urgent humanitarian reason may be allowed to temporarily enter the United States, according to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

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Refugee status is granted indefinitely and has no expiration date. But refugees are required to apply for permanent residency or green card status a year after living in the U.S., according to the agency.

[ LEE EN ESPANOL: Opciones de migracion ucraniana a EE.UU. siguen sin estar claras mientras continua la invasion rusa ]

Refugees talk outside of a temporary refugee shelter in a cultural center run by the municipality of Zahony, Hungary, near the Ukrainian border on Friday, Most Ukrainian refugees arriving in Hungary have relatives to stay with, but some don't have anywhere to go. It remains unclear whether or how many the United States might accept as the Russian invasion unfolds. (Anna Szilagyi/AP)

Gerstein said he has one client who lives close to the hotly contested Donbas region in the southeast of Ukraine.

They are trying to hunker down and not be on the move, he said.

Refugees seeking to stay in the U.S. are a more complex lot than those living here under temporary status, lawyers say.

Both take considerable time, said David Abraham, professor emeritus of law at the University of Miami School of Law who specializes in immigration and refugee law and the political economy of Europe.

The normal route would require one or two things: an asylum application which would require getting to the U.S. and asking at the airport for asylum on the grounds of persecution back home, Abraham said. That process is one at a time and you have to get here to do it.

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The other route takes refugees through camps managed by the United Nations and that process can take two years, Abraham said.

Eligibility for refugee status is determined on a case-by-case basis through interviews with officers with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, according to the agencys website.

During the interview, an officer examines all relevant evidence, including testimony. The agency considers the conditions in the country of origin and evaluates the persons credibility.

We also confirm that security checks have been completed and the results of the checks are reviewed and analyzed before approval, the agency says.

But as the invasion and subsequent geo-political picture unfolds, it is unclear about where Ukrainians will want to end up if their country is overtaken.

Open arms from European Union

According to the Associated Press, Poland, Germany, Hungary and Italy are taking in people fleeing the conflict.

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Exacerbating the pain is the division of family members and a fierce loyalty to their country. Most refugees arriving in neighboring countries are women, children and the elderly, according to reports. Thats because men of military age are required to stay and help defend the country.

If there is any chance to return, a lot of people will want to return to it, Abraham said.

For now, Poland, which borders Ukraine on the west, is a prime destination for those seeking immediate refuge. But Abraham, citing uneasy historical relations between the two countries, suggested Poland may be more of transition point for Ukrainians than a long-term landing spot.

Depending on the reception of places like Poland, which may be initially warm out of anti-Russian feeling, there is still a lot of xenophobic sentiment in Poland, he said. The history of Polish-Ukrainian relations is not a happy one.

He suggested Polands primary value is its membership in the European Union which enables you to get to Berlin or Paris or a lot of more desirable places. I think the overwhelming majority will want to go home.
French sea police seized a ship on Saturday that authorities suspect belongs to a Russian company targeted by European Union sanctions over the war in Ukraine, a government official told Reuters.

The cargo vessel transporting cars, which was headed for St. Petersburg, is "strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions," said Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture.

The ship was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France between 3am and 4am (2am-3am Irish time), Magnin said, adding ongoing checks were being carried out by customs officials and the ship's crew was "being cooperative."

French newspaper La Voix Du Nord, which first reported the news, said the vessel was the "Baltic Leader," which - according to website marinetraffic.com - sails under a Russian flag.

The vessel is mentioned in a United States Treasury document detailing U.S. sanctions against Russia, which linked it to a Russian leasing company.

Magnin told Reuters the company that owns the ship belongs to a Russian businessman who is on the EU's list of sanctioned people.

The Russian embassy in France is seeking an explanation from authorities over the seizure, Russia's RIA news agency quoted the embassy as saying.

Russia's TASS news agency quoted the Russian embassy as saying all 19 people on board had been allowed to come ashore.

EU states on Friday agreed to freeze European assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister to punish Russia for the attack on Ukraine.

A wider list of sanctioned people was put in place earlier this month.
Russian troops closed in on Ukraines capital on Saturday after a night of explosions and street fighting sent Kyiv residents seeking shelter or fleeing the city.

The countrys leader claimed Ukraines forces had repulsed the assault and vowed to keep up the struggle.

The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message, accusing Russia in a video message of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets.

We will win, he said.

Central Kyiv appeared quiet on Saturday, and skirmishes reported on the edge of the city suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces.

Britains defence ministry said Saturday that the bulk of Russian forces were 19 miles from the middle of the city.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko extended a curfew he imposed two days ago to run from 5pm until 8am.

He said all civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemys sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine was aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighbourhoods have been hit since the invasion began on Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south.

Ukraines health minister reported on Saturday that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded during Europes largest ground offensive since the Second World World War. It was unclear whether the figure included both military and civilian casualties.

A damaged apartment building in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

In Kyiv, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the south-western outskirts near one of Kyivs two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

The conflict has driven thousands of Ukrainians from their homes in search of safety.

UN officials said more than 120,000 Ukrainians have left the country for Poland, Moldova and other neighbouring nations.

It was unclear in the fog of war how much of Ukraine was still under Ukrainian control and how much Russian forces have seized.

Western governments claimed stiff Ukrainian resistance had slowed the Russian advance, and Russia does not yet control Ukraines skies.

Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn on Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv, and Ukraine said a Russian military convoy was destroyed near the city early on Saturday.

In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraines coastline, stretching from the Black Sea port of Odesa, in the west near the border with Romania, to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east.

If the Russian troops succeed, Ukraine will be cut off from access to all of its sea ports, which are vital for its economy. In Mariupol, Ukrainian soldiers guarded bridges and blocked people from the seashore area amid concerns the Russian navy could launch an assault from the sea.

The Russian military said on Friday that they claimed control of Melitopol, about 22 miles inland from the Sea of Azov.

(PA Graphics)

Western officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraines government and replace it with a regime of his own. The invasion represented Mr Putins boldest effort yet to redraw the map of Europe and revive Moscows Cold War-era influence.

Mr Zelensky issued a defiant video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street early on Saturday, saying he remained in the city and that claims the Ukrainian military would put down arms were false.

We arent going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country, the Ukrainian president said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that its our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.

The US government urged Mr Zelensky early on Saturday to evacuate Kyiv but he turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been on the move, seeking safety in the west of the country or beyond.

City officials in Kyiv urged residents to seek shelter, to stay away from windows and to take precautions to avoid flying debris or bullets.

Were all scared and worried. We dont know what to do then, whats going to happen in a few days, said Lucy Vashaka, 20, a worker at a small Kyiv hotel.

The United States and other Nato allies have sent weapons and other aid to Ukraine, which is not a Nato member.

Nato member nations also have beefed up their troops in allied countries in eastern Europe, but ruled out deploying troops to fight Russia.

Instead, the US, the European Union and other countries have slapped wide-ranging sanctions on Russia, freezing the assets of Russian businesses and individuals including Mr Putin and his foreign minister.

Ukrainian soldiers on patrol in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

French maritime officials seized a Russian-flagged cargo ship carrying cars for potential sanctions breaches and took it to a port for investigation.

Russia remained unbowed, vetoing a UN Security Council resolution demanding that it stop attacking Ukraine and withdraw troops immediately.

The 11-1 vote, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, showed significant opposition to Russias invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbour.

A senior Russian official on Saturday shrugged off the wide-ranging sanctions that the US, the European Union and other allies slapped on Russia as a reflection of Western political impotence.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, warned that Moscow could react to the sanctions by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and cutting diplomatic ties with nations in the West.

There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations, Mr Medvedev said. We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.
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Ithaca, NY (14850)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 60F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 42F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
GUEST OPINION: There are several reasons why real-time is really taking off, and the rise of event-driven architectures is one of them.

The challenge of doing business in real-time is that it means different things to different people, and the expectation of how quickly things need to occur continues to shift over time.

Everyone understands that latency matters. There's a good understanding generally of the impact that higher ping times have on access to applications and data.

Similarly, organisations understand how data  and faster access to it  can fundamentally change the value proposition they create for customers.

For these organisations, it's no longer sufficient to look at past application usage or purchase patterns as a predictor of future customer behaviour.

Instead, organisations are cognisant they now operate in a "real-time economy," where what matters most is what I  as the user or consumer  am looking at now, combined and enriched with the historical context of my past transactions..

For organisations, it's about making online, not offline, predictions. It's about having the ability to learn and execute while the user is still active and engaged. From a technology perspective, it's the ability to continually learn by updating machine learning models in real-time and incorporating new incoming data.

That's the essence of the real-time challenge that organisations are faced with enabling today.

Time matters

Executing the processing and predictive work while the user is online means that time is always going to be of the essence. More to the point, there's still a lot of 'fuzziness' around how real-time an organisation's capabilities have to be in order to execute on that.

Does it need to occur in seconds, milliseconds, microseconds or nanoseconds?

The short answer is 'yes,' but with a big 'but' as it will largely depend on business SLA. Even within early use cases, such as fraud detection and prevention, personalised offers and gaming, there are differences in what constitutes acceptable, real-time performance.

And that gets to the essence of the challenge around real-time: there's a continuum of options as to the time it takes to execute the process.

Where an organisation starts on that continuum is not an indication of where it'll stay. The goalposts will continually move, and organisations will need to keep pace. Real-time is a journey and may take a few steps to accomplish.

As expectations of what really constitutes real-time shift, it's critical that organisations build real-time applications on a platform that enables them to keep pace with this constant compression of the acceptable time window available for processing and predictive analysis.

It's the only way to ensure they remain real-time and that the applications satisfy the value it creates for the customers.

How we got here

The migration from batch processing and offline behavioural analysis to real-time analysis  while a customer is active online  is a trend that's been a while in the making but is coming of age due to a confluence of factors.

The 'art of the possible' is now orders of magnitude different than it was a decade ago. It wasn't long ago that the recommendation from Netflix was the North Star of what was possible. While the engine is still highly effective  with some reports suggesting it drives 80% of stream time  improvements continue to the engine and its underlying machine learning algorithms.

Yet, other large technology-based organisations have since emerged with engines of their own that significantly advance the state-of-the-art. TikTok is an example of this progression; the data science behind its operations is seen as a key reason for its meteoric rise, and more importantly, why its user base is so obsessive.

What this demonstrates is that the power of the underlying platform is a key factor in the drive to real-time, as well as the ability for more organisations to enable real-time approaches in their operations.

Organisations know data is gold. They understand how data can fundamentally change the value they create for customers and, in turn, change customers' behaviours. However, only a fraction of fresh streaming data is being used today. They also know that the era of real-time is possible because there's now enough compute and storage capacity available to power these ambitions.

Additionally, real-time is made possible by advances on the customers' end as well. Other key enablers for accessing data and services in real-time are the constant march to more powerful edge computing devices, as well as the emergence of powerful, low-latency, highly resilient networks like 5G.

Where real-time goes next

The other reason organisations have gone real-time is because of the emergence of more platform-like solutions to execute this strategic direction.

To enable organisations to build real-time solutions, a set of core capabilities or services are required. These include a way to ingest real-time event and messaging, a way to store and have quick access to the data once ingested, streaming analytics, and real-time machine learning.

The challenge organisations face is that it's still non-trivial to stitch these capabilities together. Not every organisation is the size of a Netflix or TikTok, with the engineering resources to build and continuously improve a real-time application or capability.

That's why application enablement is emerging as a key building block for organisations in this space. To build a real-time business or application, organisations need the support of a modern data platform that has the components and underlying compute to realise their real-time ambitions.
Ellenex, an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) device manufacturer, based in Australia, and covering wide range of industrial applications from farming to oil & gas or smart cities, has joined forces with Actility as a channel partner to broaden their offer with ThingPark solutions.

Ellenex is an engineering and technology company in the industrial internet of things (IIoT) space. The company designs and manufactures low power sensors, operating systems, and software platforms to address challenges on industrial asset monitoring in remote areas. Ellenex was one of the first companies to introduce integrated LPWAN sensors and solutions to the market, offering a wide range of LPWAN measurement systems to monitor industrial assets in water and wastewater, agriculture and farming, smart cities and HVAC, transport and logistics, mining and construction, and oil and gas, says Actility.

Ellenex believes industrial IoT solutions need to be modular, integrable, and application-centric to make them scalable and profitable for clients. Therefore, modularity and integrability is their philosophy and one of their key differentiators.

This company offers over 200 LPWAN products over, which can be found on Actilitys ThingPark Market, and forms a wide range of industrial use cases in the market, selling over 60 pre-configured solutions. Ellenex reaches far away from Australia, selling their products to over 500 international companies in over 50 countries, where they work with more than 20 different network providers, Actility advised.

This modular and integrable architecture found in Ellenex hardware-software framework, allows it to offer more complex solutions to monitor pressure and level completed by a wide range of parameter (temperature, water quality, flow, location, load, and strain, among others) and feed the data to any other third-party platform or control / SCADA system. This is attractive for industries with distributed network of assets in remote areas to address their monitoring challenges at a much lower cost compared to other technologies in the market.

Actility says by partnering with it, Ellenex finds an ally which can provide the necessary LoRaWAN connectivity, and which can be accompanied by a globalised platform, ThingkPark Enterprise, making the building of networks and infrastructures much easier and allowing customers to manage their own LoRaWAN gateways, adding sensors, monitoring devices, and all Ellenexs offer. This grants the opportunity for customers to be able to control the flow of data and enabling the deployment of large-scale IoT projects in record timings.

Actility says Ellenex has made a successful move to develop more than 200 product variations based on low-power communication technologies (mainly NB IoT / LTE Cat M1, LoRaWAN and low power Satellite) and covers most of the potential applications for battery-operated industrial use cases, like wireless pressure, level, temperature, load, and flow monitoring systems, etc. Such a varied offer gives access to participate in uncountable real-life use cases.

At Ellenex, we developed composable IoT framework and offer one of the widest ranges of LPWAN solutions for complex industrial applications, where modularity and integrability is demanded. LPWAN solutions are heavily relies on reliability, durability and scalability of the network. This partnership with Actility makes it possible to offer reliable and durable IIoT solutions at scale to global industrial clients. said Ellenex CEO Amin Shad.

We are delighted to be partnering with such a pioneering company which offers perfectly fitted devices for so many LoRaWAN-enabled use cases. We are happy to work together towards an even more connected industrial global infrastructure, while growing the LoRaWAN ecosystem through our collaboration. said Nicolas Jordan, COO at Actility.
Republican Senators Kelli Stargel, from left, Dennis Baxley and Ben Albritton chat with one another before hearing public comment on SB 146, a proposed abortion bill in the Florida Senate, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP) (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat/AP)

After Dont say gay, whats next for Gov. Ron DeSantis? Will Florida discourage teachers from listening to students abused at home? Can a parent sue a teacher who reveals a childs confidential information that Daddy or Uncle Bill comes into their darkened room at night?

And when DeSantis signs the new abortion bill (HB 5), will a child have to bear a nine-month pregnancy because she had no idea what was wrong with her in time to end it? What is this state coming to?

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I cant imagine how any woman could vote for such a misogynistic man. But then our state and country are run by misguided, misinformed creatures who call themselves men. A real man would not back such nonsense. Lets have a new movement: Real men support equality.

Barbra Nightingale, Hollywood

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Legal obstacles loom

I fear that the article, Experts question legality of Dont Say Gay bill, will give readers an incorrect impression on the likelihood of a successful First Amendment challenge to two bills that would limit what can be taught in Florida schools. Law professors, like the two who are quoted in the article, tend to be optimistic about such challenges. But as one who taught First Amendment law for decades, I dont share their optimism.

The Supreme Court, across ideological lines, has been very protective of free speech for many years. But there are exceptions, notably with regard to the rights of students and government employees, including teachers, when they speak as government employees.

In addition to legal precedent, common sense supports the conclusions that a student has no First Amendment right to have a particular subject taught or discussed in school, and a teacher has no First Amendment right to teach outside a prescribed curriculum. The two bills in question, which impose restrictions that have generated understandable opposition, should persuade even the most ardent advocates of freedom of speech that the First Amendment cannot be sensibly understood to give teachers the right to teach whatever they want.

Professor Caroline Mala Corbin would likely respond to me by arguing, as she is quoted in your article, To completely eliminate an entire topic of discussion ... really signals hostility to an idea. No it doesnt. Barring a topic avoids the problem of viewpoint discrimination.

Marc Rohr, Fort Lauderdale

The writer is professor of law emeritus at Nova Southeastern Universitys Shepard Broad College of Law.

Kids as political pawns

The effort to take $200 million from school districts that did not comply with mask mandates amounts to taxation without representation. That money comes from taxpayers in those districts. This isnt a gift from the state or the governor. Its money that people paid to educate children. Shame on the governor and the legislature for once again playing politics with childrens lives and education.

Robert Herrick, Fort Lauderdale

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A matter of ignorance

Its preposterous that the rail carrier is at fault because so many people are killed by oncoming trains. The fact that people run gates and ignore signals shows the ignorance and stupidity we all face from drivers in South Florida.

No one deserves to die, but people should learn to live with the 30 seconds that it takes to have a Brightline train pass by.

Are these the same people who drive in emergency lanes in rush hour because their lives are so important?

Ive also noticed that certain crossings have police stationed there 24/7 keep drivers from running the gates. Absurd. Maybe we could draw a big bright line through the gates to remind drivers a Brightline train is coming.

Wesley Glassgow, Hollywood
Jacksonville, TX (75766)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.




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Johnson City, TN (37604)

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Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 77F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

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A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Joplin, MO (64801)

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Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to steady rain this afternoon. High 61F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.
Street Art Walk and Gallery Tours

Gibraltar Cultural Services has hosted twenty school classes from six educational establishments as part of the 2022 Youth Arts Jamboree programme, with tours of the Street Art Mural walk, GEMA Gallery and the Mario Finlayson National Art Gallery.

Age groups have varied from A-level to the youngest being Year 1 students.

Pupils have learnt about the murals which can be found in different areas of urban Gibraltar as part of the Governments Street Art initiative. The pupils were also met by some of the artists involved in these creations, Eleanor Dobbs and Jessica Darch who created the murals at Octopus House, Prince Edwards Gate and Fountain Ramp. They outlined their inspiration, materials used, and the process undertaken. Geraldine Martinez explained her murals which focus on issues of the environment, with students really interested in the facade at the Department of Education. Monica Popham answered questions on the GAMPA mural with students keen to hear about her design and how she painted in this challenging area.

GEMA Gallery at Montagu Bastion also proved an interesting location, where students learnt about mixed media work, the works produced by Christian Hook, many young artists, and other winners from local competitions. Colour, form, landscapes, portraits, sculpture, and video installations were all viewed by the youngsters who left the Gallery buzzing with excitement. The interactive sessions saw them explore the vaults and smaller rooms asking inquisitive questions about the creations and artists ideas.

The Mario Finlayson National Gallery captured their interest in other ways too. Here pupils admired the accomplished works of our heritage artists; Gustavo Bacarisas varied and skilled paintings, Leni Mifsuds colourful and energetic palette and Mario Finlaysons rooftops to mention a few. The City Hall building provided a captivating venue where some of the young people had a chance to visit the Mayors Parlour and stand on the balcony overlooking John Mackintosh Square.

The Youth Arts Jamboree programme continues over the next few weeks.
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State Reporter

Eric covers state government and does special projects. Eric joined the JI in June 2014. He graduated from CCSU, and his hobbies include speaking truth to power and exposing hypocrisy. He is a fan of the New York Giants and Metallica.
Volkswagen has been forced to idle two of its German plants after failing to obtain parts from Ukraine, in the clearest sign yet that Russias invasion of its neighbour is disrupting the European car industrys supply chains.

The carmakers Zwickau plant in east Germany will be idle for four days from next week, and the nearby Dresden plant will be closed for three days, a spokesman confirmed, adding it was impossible to say how long the shutdowns would last.

VW has been unable to secure electrical wires from manufacturers in Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter, and realised late on Thursday that it would have to cut back production. VW declined to name the supplier.

On Friday evening, VW said its global network includes a number of suppliers in western Ukraine and may experience disruptions in the supply chain.

It is reviewing alternatives to its Ukrainian suppliers.

Wiring harnesses, electric cabling inside the car, are a specialism of Ukraine and are also made in north Africa.

Most Ukrainian factories, which had contingency plans in place earlier this week for an invasion, have shut. Bosch, which has 350 staff in the country and a factory supplying local garages, said it was looking at measure to support and protect its workers .

VWs closures will lead to roughly 1,200 fewer cars being produced every day, and will particularly affect the manufacturing of VWs electric ID models, made in Zwickau. Demand for the vehicles has been so high that VWs own staff have been asked to drive petrol models for the moment to increase the available supply of battery-powered vehicles.

Earlier on Friday, Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess said it was too early to assess the impact of the war in Ukraine on VWs business. VW had already offered to fly Ukraine-based staff out of the country a few weeks ago, he added .

As of Friday evening, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Renault, Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover all also said they were so far unaffected by stoppages in the country.

Mercedes said it was monitoring the situation closely since it is still early to assess the full impact of this escalation on our business.

General Motors, which does not operate in Europe, told the FT on Thursday it had limited supply chain exposure to Ukraine.

Although Russia and Ukraine are small markets for Volkswagen, which sold 9m cars globally in 2021, both countries provide raw materials and components that are crucial to the industrys supply chain. One large car manufacturer told the Financial Times its employees were trying to work out whether rail deliveries that come via Russia would be disrupted.

The temporary closure of VWs factories echoes a similar move taken by the carmaker towards the end of 2020, caused by a shortage of semiconductors. The bottlenecks soon escalated into a serious crisis, leading to fewer millions vehicles being produced across the industry in 2021. Shifts at some VW plants are still cancelled because of a lack of chips.
Statement from the Chief Minister on the Crisis in Ukraine

"Todays actions by Russia, launching a full-scale invasion of a sovereign, democratic nation without any provocation or reasonable excuse, is nothing short of appalling."

"None of us expected to witness such unforgivable aggression in Europe in our lifetimes.

"Gibraltar therefore joins with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, leaders of other nations and people around the World in condemning this action in the most strident terms.

"Our thoughts and prayers today are with the people of Ukraine."

"Her Majestys Government of Gibraltar, within the limits of our powers, will join with and support Her Majestys Government in London in taking whatever action is necessary to persuade Russia to reverse its decision and to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, and to stop any other adverse interference in that country which undermines its sovereignty.

"To that end, whatever sanctions and other penalties the United Kingdom imposes on Russia will automatically be recognised and enforced in and by Gibraltar.

"HE The Governor, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel, and I today convened a meeting of the Gibraltar Security Council.

"We considered if our overall security posture needs to change. We decided that, given there has been no specific intelligence or otherwise to suggest that Gibraltar is targeted in any way, that security posture will remain as it is now.

"However, our police forces, the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Gibraltar Defence Police, our Borders and Coastguard Agency and HM Customs have heightened their alert state as a precautionary measure for the time being.

"The Governor and I remain in constant contact and, together with my colleagues in Government, are keeping our territorial security and well-being under constant review.

"Likewise, and repeating the Governments recent message to individuals and commercial organisations on Cyber security, the Government has today circulated to every public servant a notice alerting them to the potential of cyber interference and the need for care in the use and application of such systems.

"The Government urges everyone to make proper provision for the protection of their digital systems.

"Todays events leave us all shocked and anxious, for Ukraine and for the whole of Europe.

"Gibraltar has endured war and knows what it means, especially as it affects civilians.

"Gibraltar will therefore stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends and allies across Europe at this dark hour, but especially alongside our friends in Ukraine with whom we stand in solidarity at this dark moment in modern European history."
Wheat and other grain prices have soared since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But those prices are not an adequate picture of the problems with losing Ukrainian grain exports.

The disruption of grain exports from Ukraine and Russia through the Black Sea will probably lead to physical shortages of food in the world, particularly for countries dependent on those supplies.

If the war is prolonged, it will impact millions of people living in places such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Pakistan and Indonesia. That could have political consequences. Local and imported grain shortages have been cited as one of the causes of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, as well as the Syrian civil war.

It is all a reminder of the historic importance of Ukraines grain production. Evidence from the Nuremberg war crimes trials show the prospect of grain and grain lands were a big part of German motives for attacking Ukraine in 1941.

And Lenin is credited with saying: Wheat is the currency of currencies. Even in the middle of the cold war, in 1974, the Soviet Union had to arrange and pay for huge wheat imports from the US.

The post-Soviet governments in Russia and Ukraine did away with the micromanagement and confiscations that led to the Communist era shortages. Now Russia and Ukraine are, or were, among the largest wheat exporters in the world.

According to S&P Global Platts, Russia and Ukraine together were projected to export 60mn tonnes of wheat in the crop year of 2021-2022. All Ukrainian wheat exports, and most Russian exports, pass through terminals along the north shore of the Black Sea.

It is not certain when Black Sea ports can reopen. Ships are not available for chartering, and even if the owners were willing, insurance would be unavailable.

Americans, as expressed in commercial campaigns, think their country is the breadbasket of the world. That was true, in part, for a while. But in the 2021-2022 crop year, the US is forecast to export 22mn tonnes, less than half the Russia/Ukraine total, according to S&P Global Platts. Canada should export about 15.2mm tonnes and the EU 37.5mn tonnes.

Worse, given the effects of the war, the wheat carry-over  whats left from past crops  is expected to be the lowest in at least five years, and by some accounts the lowest since 2008.

According to the US Department of Agricultures November World Agricultural Supply and Demand estimate, the carry-over is estimated to be 16.19mn tonnes by June 2022. That is not enough to offset the Black Sea shortfalls, even it were all available.

Russia has rail links east to China and smaller ports in the Baltic and Arctic. These are not as economic as shipping through the Black Sea, but the alternative routes could make a difference, especially to ensure its ally China does not go short of grain.

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In the next weeks and months, North African and Asian countries that depend on Ukrainian grain will be hoping the international community settles the Russian war quickly and that transport infrastructure and grain terminals are not sabotaged.

Droughts in countries such as Iran, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt have added to shortfalls in global wheat production.

Some would suggest that other grain producing areas could simply plant more to offset the loss of Black Sea exports, but that would take time and be dependent on readily available fertilisers.

And, since Russia has prohibited the export of nitrogen fertiliser until April and China the export of phosphate fertiliser until at least June 2022, more grain output from other producing areas is even more problematic now.

If European authorities consider restricting heavy industrial users of natural gas, as they already did last autumn, they should probably set aside some gas for nitrogen containing fertiliser production. Otherwise European grain production will decline.
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US expected to impose sanctions on Putin as soon as Friday, sources tell CNN
More than 22,000 students in Kelowna schools had been about to receive COVID-19 rapid antigen tests. But the distribution has been paused based on a Health Canada advisory, issued Thursday, that such kits should be kept out of the reach of children.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney shakes hands with Kaycee Madu after Madu's swearing in as minister of municipal affairs in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Madu would later become justice minister, but has been moved out of that portfolio over a call he made to Edmonton's chief of police after Madu received a traffic ticket. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A person walks past an LCBO in Ottawa, Thursday March 19, 2020. The leader of Ontario's Liberal Party is asking the LCBO to stop selling Russian products following that countrys invasion of Ukraine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 88F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Ketchikan, AK (99901)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 49F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of light rain. Low 39F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Springfield Police are investigating allegations of sexual misconduct involving Dr. Stephan Ames.

Police said an investigation has been ongoing since late 2019, and so far, three people have come forward with claims of inappropriate bedside manner. The case can be complex because it involves a doctor and his patients, according to police.

"Primarily from a victim standpoint when you don't expect it to happen, or you're not maybe on guard or maybe you don't recognize something is inappropriate, so that's the biggest hurdle we face in cases like this," said Springfield Police Sgt. Justin Myers.

According to the Oregon Medical Board, complaints against Ames go back to 2013 and involve allegations he violated the Medical Practice Act. The same year, he had agreed "to conduct all examinations of or procedures on female patients, aged 15 or older, in the presence of a medically trained chaperone and refrain from providing treatment outside of the clinical setting." In 2015, the board removed the chaperone requirement.

Then, in 2019, the board launched a new investigation after multiple patients alleged sexual misconduct.

"He would listen to my heartbeat where I would expect him to in my upper chest area but he would also always cup his hands to my breast," said one former patient who asked to stay anonymous.

The former patient said Ames was her doctor for nearly 20 years, but she never filed a complaint because she was confused.

"For a while there because I'm a large-breasted girl, I was wondering if he wasn't hearing what he needed to hear [through his stethoscope], but after a couple of times of him doing that, I thought that was really wrong," she said.

She said Ames acted particularly strange when she brought her husband to the visits.

"When my husband was there, he did things completely differently," she said. "He literally barely made eye contact with me. But when I was the only one in the room, he would always cup my breasts."

As part of an agreement with the Oregon Medical Board, Ames has surrendered his Oregon medical license and will not reapply for one in the state under the terms.

At this time, Myers said a more thorough case is being compiled before an arrest is made.

"Making the arrest is just the front end of things," said Myers. "The bulk of all the work is after the arrest, the court system, the court process and the prosecution. Building the case takes time."

Myers said the expertise of outside parties may be needed for this case.

"As cases like this move forward, one of the pieces of this is consultation with an outside medical professional," said Myers. "Evaluating what the exam is supposed to look like and have experts weigh in on what is proper and improper care."

Police are encouraging anyone with information or who would wish to come forward to call 541-726-3721.
Russia does not plan to occupy Ukraine, ready for talks: Lavrov

Xinhua) 11:01, February 26, 2022

MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia has no purpose of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

"Russia will ensure the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine. We have suffered too much from Nazism, and the Ukrainian people suffered too much to just turn a blind eye to all this," Lavrov said during a press conference.

No one will abuse the Ukrainian soldiers, who can return to their families after ending hostilities, he said.

Russia has always been in favor of talks and there is still a chance for dialogue on Russia's security concerns, according to Lavrov.

"We have always advocated a diplomatic solution. It was Russia that played a decisive role in laying a reliable foundation for a diplomatic solution, the Minsk agreements," the minister said.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday that the Russian Armed Forces have disabled 118 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
MAPUTO, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi affirmed on Wednesday in the northern province Cabo Delgado that the government is committed to clean energy production and environmental protection as he inaugurated a new photovoltaic power plant in the region once plagued by terrorism.

"In alignment with the global agenda for environmental protection, we want Mozambique to be a relevant player in this phase of energy transition," said the president who was speaking at the ceremony at the Mueda district, Cabo Delgado, where the power plant was located.

Other actions to ensure transition to clean energy include the approval of a legal framework to attract more investments in the sector, thus increasing availability and lowering prices to the end-users, said the president.

According to the president, access to electric power will facilitate economic activities by reducing costs, creating jobs, improving living conditions, and promoting national and regional integration.

The president called for high vigilance to protect the 920 solar panels and the entire system, as the unrest caused by terrorism has not completely subsided in the region.

The photovoltaic system, an achievement the president calls a strong indicator of inclusive development, is funded by the government of Mozambique with partners. 
Kilgore, TX (75662)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
The South East region saw employment grow by 9.3 per cent last year and by 34% over the past 10 years, according to figures released by the CSO, according to Fine Gael TD, John Paul Phelan.

A record 2.48 million people are now at work, close to the 2.5 million target set in the Economic Recovery Plan published by the Tanaiste last year, Deputy Phelan added.

Despite the imposition of restrictions at the end of last year, 17,500 jobs were still added in October, November and December.

Deputy Phelan said: Its really encouraging to see South East region which is heavily dependent on tourism grow employment and add 17,500 jobs over the course of 2021. In fact, all 8 regions in Ireland recorded strong employment growth. Employment outside of Dublin increased by 156,800 or 9.7%.

Balanced regional development is a priority for this government. The pandemic and Brexit remain risk factors for the year ahead and the Government will be monitoring the situation closely, but we have grounds to be hopeful. These impressive jobs figures are a testament to the exceptional levels of financial support the Government has provided workers and businesses over the last two years.

A new record high in female participation suggests that remote working may have made our jobs market more accessible, creating greater opportunity for participation, now and in the future.

Last week, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister Damien English and Minister Robert Troy launched the first of nine regional enterprise plans in Nenagh.

In the coming weeks, a dedicated regional enterprise plan for the South East will be unveiled.

These are bottom-up, community-led plans that will be backed up by up to 180 million in funding from government to boost regional development, Deputy Phelan concluded.

A closer look at data from the South East shows employment grew from 153,400 at the start of 2012 to 188,100 at the end of 2020. It grew further to 205,600 at the end of 2021. This shows an annual change of 17,500 to the end of 2021 and an increase of 52,200 between the start of 2012 and the end of 2021.

Each of the nine regional plans have been developed throughout 2021 by Regional Steering Committees, chaired by a senior figure from the private sector and includes the Enterprise Agencies, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices, Local Authorities, Regional Assemblies, higher and further education bodies and others.
MOGADISHU, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A minivan was hit by a landmine on Friday in southern Somalia, killing 10 passengers, including five women and four children.

Deqow Abdinur Aden, an army commander in Jubaland State in southern Somalia, said the passenger bus was heading to the southern port city of Kismayo when it was hit by the landmine.

"Three others were injured in the landmine blast carried out by militants. The injured ones are being treated at the hospital in Kismayo," Aden told local media.

Aden said that Jubaland State forces were fighting al-Shabab militants at the time of the landmine blast, adding that several militants died while two soldiers sustained injuries during the operation in the north of Kismayo. 
RABAT, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Morocco on Saturday urged its citizens to leave Ukraine amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

In light of the current situation and for their own safety, Moroccan citizens in Ukraine are asked to leave through the available commercial flights, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said on its website.

Moroccans wishing to head for Ukraine are asked to delay their trip for the moment, it added. 
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Generally cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 60F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low near 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Photo taken on Nov. 24, 2021 shows a view of Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The so-called British National Overseas (BNO) passport is not recognized by China, and Britain should stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs in any form, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in Beijing on Friday.

It has been reported that Britain will in October put forward a new plan that would allow Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above and born on or after July 1, 1997, to apply for a relevant U.K. visa as long as one parent holds a BNO passport.

In response, spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing that Britain's move fundamentally violates the promise it made in a relevant memorandum, openly interferes in Hong Kong affairs, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, and violates international law and the basic norms governing international relations.

"China deplores and firmly rejects this," Wang said.

He stressed that the historical merits of the issue are very clear. Prior to Hong Kong's return to China, the British side made the explicit commitment that it would not confer the right of abode to Chinese citizens in Hong Kong who hold BNO travel documents. But more than 20 years after Hong Kong's return to China, Britain has formulated its new policies for the BNO passport and is attempting to turn many Hong Kong residents into second-class British citizens.

China has announced that it will not recognize the BNO passport as a valid travel document or proof of identity, Wang said, and China urges Britain to immediately rectify its mistakes and cease meddling in Hong Kong affairs in any way.

"No attempt to destabilize Hong Kong or damage Hong Kong's prosperity and stability will ever succeed," he said. 
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A woman cries next to her house following a rocket attack in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 25. AP-Yonhap



Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles for a third day Saturday but a defiant President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the capital Kyiv remained in Ukrainian hands.



As hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fled westwards toward the European Union, top Russian security official and ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow's military operations would be waged relentlessly until their goals were achieved.



Ignoring weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine on Thursday from the north, east and south, an assault that threatens to upend Europe's post-Cold War order.



In a significant ratcheting up of Russia's rhetoric, Medvedev said on social media that new Western sanctions had helped unite Russians and hinted at a severing of diplomatic ties with Western nations, saying it was time to "padlock the embassies." He said Moscow might also restore the death penalty.



After a night of airstrikes, there were some signs of panic in center of Kyiv. Reuters reporters saw Ukrainian soldiers with guns and a group of women running along the street. Nearby, Ukrainian soldiers forced a man in civilian clothes to lie down on the pavement.



Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said there was currently no major Russian military presence in Kyiv, but added that saboteur groups were active. The metro system is now serving only as a shelter for citizens and trains have stopped running, he said.



Klitschko said 35 people, including two children, had been wounded overnight.



At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed and 1,115 people wounded so far in Russia's invasion, Interfax quoted Ukraine's Health Ministry as saying. It was unclear whether the numbers comprised only civilian casualties.



"We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks. The fighting goes on," Zelenskiy said in a video message posted on his social media. "We have the courage to defend our homeland, to defend Europe."



Britain said the bulk of Russian forces were now 30 km (19 miles) from the center of Kyiv and said Russia had yet to gain control of Ukraine's airspace.





An apartment building damaged by a missile attack on the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 26. AP-Yonhap



Resistance



Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, won independence from Moscow in 1991 and wants to join NATO and the EU, goals Russia opposes. Putin says Ukraine is an illegitimate state carved out of Russia, a view Ukrainians see as aimed at erasing their distinctive history and identity.



Western intelligence sources say Russian forces have encountered far stronger Ukrainian resistance to their invasion than they had expected.





Russia vetoes UN demand for it to stop attacking Ukraine Ukraine's president refuses to flee, urges citizens to 'stand firm' China is Russia's best hope to blunt sanctions Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had captured Melitopol, a city of 150,000 in southeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment and Britain cast doubt on the report.



If confirmed, it would be the first significant population center the Russians have seized.



Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. Russia did not release casualty figures.



Putin has said he must eliminate what he calls a serious threat to his country from its smaller neighbor and has cited the need to "denazify" Ukraine's leadership, accusing it of genocide against Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine  a charge dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies as baseless propaganda.



Zelenskiy signaled Friday a readiness to discuss a ceasefire and peace talks, as did the Kremlin, but tentative diplomatic contacts have so far produced no results.



About 100,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Thursday, including 9,000 who have entered since 7 a.m. Saturday, Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker told a news conference.



At Medyka in southern Poland, refugees described a 30-km (19-mile) line at the border. Ukrainians were also crossing the borders into Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.



Ukraine has evacuated its embassy staff in Moscow to Latvia, the Baltic country's foreign ministry said Saturday.



The mayor of Chernihiv, some 150 km (93 miles) northeast of Kyiv, told citizens Saturday: "We need to prepare for street combat. Those of you who know and understand what I am talking about, prepare the petrol bombs."



Fighting was also underway Saturday in the northeastern city of Sumy, the municipal administration said.



Ukraine's biggest national flag flies in Kyiv on Feb. 26. AFP-Yonhap

Sanctions



Western nations have announced a raft of sanctions on Russia, including blacklisting its banks and banning technology exports.



They have stopped short of forcing Russia out of the SWIFT system for international bank payments, but the governor of a central bank in the euro zone told Reuters, Saturday, such a decision was "just a matter of time, very short time, days."



"Is it sufficient? No. Is it necessary? Absolutely. Sanctions only make sense if there are costs for both sides and this will be costly," the central banker said.



Zelenskiy said he hoped "Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support" such a decision, which would cause economic disruption to Western countries reliant on Russian energy as well as to Moscow.



Russia's Medvedev said sanctions showed the West's impotence to change Moscow's course. Moscow will respond symmetrically to the seizure of money of Russian citizens and companies abroad by seizing the funds of foreigners in Russia, he said.




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Lawmakers who tried to overturn election should be disqualified
Auburn natives and sisters Katie, left, and Kendyl Smith posed for a photo recently in Bloomington. They participated in the opening ceremony for new Sibling Cities of Bloomington, where Kendyl attends Indiana University, and Palo Alto, California, where Katie studies at Stanford University. They are the daughters of Jama and Thompson Smith of Auburn.
A sign of the Otkrytie bank is seen in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 25, 2022. 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. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, the White House confirmed Friday.

"In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing on Friday, adding more specifics will be announced later in the day.

The U.S. move followed that of the European Union (EU) and Britain, which announced sanctions targeting the top Russian leadership earlier on Friday.

Biden on Thursday announced additional U.S. sanctions against Russia targeting the country's major financial institutions and an additional number of Russian individuals and their family members with ties to the Kremlin, on top of the so-called "first tranche" of sanctions imposed on Russian state-owned banks, the Russian sovereign debt market as well as individual elites.

Asked about the possibility of his Russian counterpart, Biden didn't commit to that on Thursday, only saying it remained an option on the table.

Psaki said Friday the reason Biden waited until after the EU and Britain announced their sanctions against the Russian president to decide on his own move is that his "strong principle ... has been to take actions and steps in alignment with our European partners."

Also on Friday, a senior administration official said future U.S. sanctions will not target Russian oil and gas industry.

"The sanctions will not target the oil flows as we go forward," Amos Hochstein, the State Department's senior energy security adviser, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

Hochstein said doing so won't necessarily reduce Russia's oil and gas revenue, and may instead lead to a scenario where "the United States and our allies would suffer the consequences." 

The signs of Bank Otkritie (L) and Sovcombank (R) are seen in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 25, 2022. 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. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)

A woman passes by an office of VTB bank in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 25, 2022. 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. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)
HELENA, Mont. - Montana is getting a $80 million from an opioid settlement against the top three pharmaceutical companies in the nation.

The three major pharmaceutical companies being held accountable are Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Johnson & Johnson.

A release from Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen's office said the settlement money will pay for opioid reduction costs--which may cover spending on programs such as opioid abuse treatment, giving Narcan to emergency or first responders and drug treatment courts for people with abuse issues or histories related to opioids.

The opioid epidemic is destroying communities and ruining lives which is why Im committed to addressing the problem and holding those responsible for this crisis accountable, AG Knudsen said in the release. Opioid overdoses have killed hundreds of Montanans and thousands more struggle with addiction. The millions of dollars we secured in this settlement will help us save lives and treat those who need help.

The Department of Justice acquired participation in the agreement from all 56 Montana counties and six qualified Montana cities: Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula.

"Local subdivisions will receive 15 percent of the settlement and may receive additional funding from the settlement abatement fund that comprises 70 percent. The remaining revenue will go to the state," AG Knudsen's release said.

The settlement totals $26 billion among 52 states and territories working to fight the opioid epidemic.

AG Knudsen's release states following pharmaceutical companies are required to do the following:

"Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen will: Establish a centralized independent clearinghouse to provide all three distributors and state regulators with aggregated data and analytics about where drugs are going and how often, eliminating blind spots in the current systems used by distributors;

Use data-driven systems to detect suspicious opioid orders from customer pharmacies;

Terminate customer pharmacies ability to receive shipments, and report those companies to state regulators, when they show certain signs of diversion;

Prohibit shipping of and report suspicious opioid orders;

Prohibit sales staff from influencing decisions related to identifying suspicious opioid orders; and

Require senior corporate officials to engage in regular oversight of anti-diversion efforts. Johnson & Johnson is required to:

Stop selling opioids;

Not fund or provide grants to third parties for promoting opioids;

Not lobby on activities related to opioids; and

Share clinical trial data under the Yale University Open Data Access Project."

"Following successful state sign-on and subdivision sign-on periods, the defendants will start releasing funds to a national administrator on April 2, 2022. Money will start flowing to state and local governments in the second quarter of 2022," according to AG Knudsen's release.
MOSCOW, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

The Russian team will consist of representatives of the defense ministry, the foreign ministry and the presidential administration, Peskov said.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold negotiations with Russia over its military operation.

Peskov recalled the purpose of Russia's operation is to "help the Lugansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic, including by the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, which is actually an integral part of the issue for Ukraine's neutral status."

Also on Friday, Putin held a phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who promised to create all the necessary conditions for the Russia-Ukraine talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a briefing that his country has no plan to occupy Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms."

Russian forces have blockaded the Ukrainian capital of Kiev from the west, and they also continue to perform tasks in the areas of other cities, said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. 
BILLINGS, Mont. - A young Ukrainian man living in Montana is watching helplessly as his family waits to evacuate from a city near Kyiv.

Russia is invading Ukraine on multiple fronts, and I spoke with 19-year-old Andrii Mykhailiuk who was born and raised in Ukraine.

Although he is currently staying with a host family in Montana, his parents and his siblings are still in Ukraine here is what he has to say.

Right now my family is in my town.. they're waiting for a time when they can leave, Mykhailiuk said.

Two days ago it was 9 or 10 pm, I woke up because I saw a message on Telegram saying Kyiv had been bombed. I thought it was fake because I thought there would be peace in Ukraine but after people started sending videos from there - how at 5 in the morning planes started bombing Kyiv and 13 other towns in Ukraine. It wasn't like military bases or places where there are army it was just places that people live and streets.

Roads right now are full because everyone is trying to leave Ukraine. My family lives close to Kyiv in a town called this town called Pereiaslov it is like 40 minutes away from Kyiv.

All stores - grocery stores, banks are still working - they're trying to keep working because they know if they don't work it will destroy normal people. our government is trying to protect these places.

My family right now are ready to go anywhere. they have suitcases with clothes and shoes and food. they're planning to go to Poland.

I can only hope and pray for Peace. I ask you to pray for Ukraine if you have an opportunity to go support Ukraine in any way - thank you so much and please do it. if not, pray for Ukraine. It's the most powerful thing your people can do right now.

Andrii did speak with his family shortly before our interview and tears streamed from his eyes as hoped to see them again soon.
Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com.
The Northern New England Red Cross is installing smoke detectors this weekend. Do you have a fire evacuation plan for your home? How about when you are traveling?
A man refuels a cab at a gas station in New York, the United States, Feb. 25, 2022. Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders cautiously eyed updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery lost 1.22 U.S. dollars, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 91.59 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery decreased 1.15 dollars, or nearly 1.2 percent, to close at 97.93 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders cautiously eyed updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery lost 1.22 U.S. dollars, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 91.59 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery decreased 1.15 dollars, or nearly 1.2 percent, to close at 97.93 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday told a briefing that his country has no plan to occupy Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms."

On Thursday, oil prices rise with both WTI and Brent exceeding 100 U.S. dollars a barrel in intraday trading, after Russia-Ukraine tensions escalated into a military conflict.

For the week, the U.S. crude benchmark gained 1.5 percent, while Brent surged 4.7 percent, based on front-month contracts. 

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows a digital screen displaying oil prices at a gas station in New York, the United States. Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders cautiously eyed updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery lost 1.22 U.S. dollars, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 91.59 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery decreased 1.15 dollars, or nearly 1.2 percent, to close at 97.93 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

A cab passes by a gas station in New York, the United States, Feb. 25, 2022. Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders cautiously eyed updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery lost 1.22 U.S. dollars, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 91.59 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery decreased 1.15 dollars, or nearly 1.2 percent, to close at 97.93 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Vehicles are seen at a gas station in New York, the United States, Feb. 25, 2022. Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders cautiously eyed updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery lost 1.22 U.S. dollars, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 91.59 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery decreased 1.15 dollars, or nearly 1.2 percent, to close at 97.93 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Vehicles are seen at a gas station in New York, the United States, Feb. 25, 2022. Oil prices dropped on Friday as traders cautiously eyed updates regarding the Russia-Ukraine tensions.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery lost 1.22 U.S. dollars, or 1.3 percent, to settle at 91.59 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for April delivery decreased 1.15 dollars, or nearly 1.2 percent, to close at 97.93 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
LAKE GENEVA  A felon reportedly sent police on a high-speed chase with speeds over 100 mph starting at the Lake Geneva McDonald's.

Dakota Lininger, 27, of the N1400 block of Hillside Boulevard, Genoa City, is being charged with three counts of felony bail jumping; attempting to flee or elude an officer; and obstructing an officer.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle in the McDonald's parking lot around 2 a.m. on Feb. 14. Officers reported that the vehicle sped around the drive-thru and exited the parking lot when police activated emergency sirens.

Officers chased the vehicle that failed to stop at two stop signs, traveling over 80 mph in a 25 mph zone. Police chased the vehicle for about three miles, reaching speeds of about 112 mph before officers lost sight of the vehicle.

Police reported that another vehicle had been stopped in the McDonalds parking lot when the traffic stop was conducted. Officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle who reported that he was there to meet Lininger. Lininger was later identified as the driver of the suspect vehicle through surveillance footage.

Then, at around 1:41 p.m. that same day, Lininger reportedly called the Walworth County Sheriff's Office to report that his vehicle had been stolen from Shavers gas station around 7 p.m. on Feb. 13.

Officers made contact with Lininger who reportedly denied any knowledge of the vehicle pursuit. Police reportedly that Lininger could not provide any details about the reported theft of his vehicle.

Police asked Lininger why he did not stop his vehicle when officers attempted a traffic stop. Lininger reportedly admitted that he did not stop because he did not have a valid driver's license.

Officers made contact with an individual who was reportedly with Lininger during the time of the pursuit. The man reported that Lininger was traveling at 140 mph in a school zone. He also told police that Lininger had reportedly turned off his headlights to get away from police, driving all the way to Pell Lake with his headlights off.

The man also reported to police that he was the first person to call and report that Lininger's vehicle had been stolen. He told officers that Lininger had reportedly forced him to call and report that the car was stolen. Lininger had reportedly threatened the man and would not let him leave the car until he called.
There had been rumblings of an invasion, but as Olena Belka played with her young nephews on Wednesday it was peaceful in her native Ukraine.

President Biden for days had been expressing his concern for the plans of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had some 150,000 troops lined up near the border of Ukraine and was thought to be readying an attack on Feb. 16. But the Ukrainian government, Belka said, indicated there was no reason to panic, and days went by without violence.

"(Leaders said) 'Stay calm, they're not going to attack, there are going to be severe sanctions to stop Russia from moving forward on Ukraine. Do not worry about it.' People weren't expecting it," recalls Belka. "So people were not ready and they did not leave."

Belka's plane from Odessa, Ukraine, had just landed in Chicago, where she was awaiting transport back to La Crosse, her home city for the past decade, when she heard from her brother.

"He said, 'You're so lucky you left  they started,'" Belka says. "I thought he was joking. Then I saw a message from my mother about the explosion. That was a very shocking moment for me. As soon as I left, around 5 a.m. (Ukraine time) they started to bomb the strategic spots in Odessa, and one of them was the airport. That was where I was."

Her family, Belka says, is essentially trapped in Odessa, as martial law has been imposed and gasoline and money withdrawals have been capped.

"They can't go anywhere  they can't physically get there," Belka says of neighboring countries offering refuge.

Belka's brother, a former officer, has been mobilized and is expected to be called to duty Saturday, which will leave his wife with their two young sons alone. They had planned to flee to Podolsk, but the city too was attacked.

"I don't think there is really now a safe spot in Ukraine, honestly," Belka says. Her family lives in the Black Sea port, which is also where Belka, 34, owns several properties. Belka is reaching out to U.S. government officials in hopes of flying back to help her family and hopefully bring them to the states.

"If (Russia) keeps mobilizing, this war will thread a lot of man," Belka says. "They don't understand the culture is a bear. You poke the bear  the bear was sleeping, until you poked it. It is a different world. They don't respect the law. I grew up in Ukraine, I remember times when I lived with mafia (influence). It is a completely different values and appreciations that men in power choose to follow."

Some 137 Ukrainians have already died in the past two days, and hundreds more have been wounded.

"This is just the beginning," Belka says. She is fearful of an outcome similar to 2014 Annexation of Crimea. "There are very, very aggressive politics, kind of closer to communist politics."

The U.S. and allies on Thursday announced "sweeping financial sanctions and stringent export controls" which target Russia's 10 largest financial institutions, with a White House statement noting, "The scale of Putins aggression and the threat it poses to the international order require a resolute response, and we will continue imposing severe costs if he does not change course." Biden had discussed sanctions against Russia in January, prior to actual attack.

"I think United States promised severe sanctions, including possibility to apply sanctions against Putin personally and cut SWIFT (banking system), and they backed off from them. What I'm trying to understand is why United States is not imposing what they're supposed to impose on Putin, that will truly hurt him. And it will hurt the United States and Europe as well. There's no doubt. But reducing purchasing power on gas and oil, cutting all the financial resources  right now they're bombing and Russia is pumping gas through Ukraine to Europe," Belka says.

To help with skyrocketing oil prices, some U.S. officials are calling on Biden to releasing oil from the strategic petroleum reserve.

Everything happening in Ukraine, including the threat to the life of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is "absolutely surreal," Belka says.

While media Thursday morning reported the possibility of talks between Zelenskyy and Putin, Belka says it is like "Comparing a bear with a flower  can you compare it? (Putin) is not going to stop war if Ukraine keeps resisting. How much are Russia and Ukraine willing to lose carrying the pride? As terrible as it sounds, I think we should ask Russians, 'What do you want? Let's sit down and figure out what exactly you want to stop killing our brothers and sisters.' If we do not do that in a couple of days, there will be so many victims."

Belka expresses gratitude for Poland, Romania and other European countries opening their arms to those fleeing the turmoil in Ukraine.

Says Belka, "They're pretty fast in setting up refugee camps and helping us to recover from that, at least with their kindness, if there is none in Ukraine right now."

Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net.
With COVID-19 infections abating, state officials announced Friday that employees and visitors would no longer be required to wear face coverings inside some state buildings beginning Tuesday, and that the weekly COVID-19 testing program for unvaccinated executive branch employees will end March 13.

Workers in the departments of Corrections, Health Services and Veterans Affairs, and those working in congregate facilities, such as prisons, will be required to wear masks until at least April 1, according to updated guidance issued Friday by the state Division of Personnel Management. Quarantine rules for those who test positive for COVID-19 are not changing.

While the Department of Corrections will continue requiring masks until at least April, the department announced Friday the recent drop in COVID-19 cases prompted it to resume in-person visitation for inmates.

Dane County on Feb. 14 announced that its indoor mask mandate would be allowed to expire at the end of this month, while the Madison School District on Wednesday said its requirement would remain until at least the end of spring break, or April 1, but that beginning Tuesday, students and staff could go unmasked outdoors on school property. The majority of other school districts in Dane County will loosen or drop their requirements entirely as of Tuesday.

UW-Madison announced on Feb. 16 that it will lift its mask mandate when spring break starts March 12.

The seven-day average for positive COVID-19 tests in Dane County has dropped from as high as 22% in early January to less than 5% as of Thursday, according to Public Health Madison and Dane County. Hospitalizations due to the virus are also down 19% over the last two weeks, while nearly 80% of residents have been vaccinated and more than 69% of those older than 12 have had their boosters.

In guidance updated Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaves the decision on whether to wear a mask in Dane County up to your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk. Under a new three-tier risk-rating system, which the agency calls Covid-19 Community Levels, Dane is considered low risk, the least dangerous. The system is based on hospital bed use and admissions and number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

Its a significant shift from the CDCs previous mask guidance, issued Jan. 21. Under that guidance and its method for calculating risk, Dane County was deemed to be at a high level of risk as late as early Friday afternoon, and masks indoors were recommended.

In announcing the partial end of the state buildings mask mandate, the Division of Personnel Management noted that positive COVID-19 tests and test rates are at levels not seen since last summer, and that more than 77% of Wisconsin state employees have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series.

State quarantine rules will continue to require that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 stay home for five days. They can return to work after that if they are symptom-free but must wear masks around others for an additional five days.
Osage Beach, MO (65065)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain during the afternoon. High 62F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 56F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near an inch.
Ravyn Bashore, Pennsylvania FFA state sentinel, reflects on the lessons she has learned over the last few challenging years and why agriculture is so important.
Some of the 90,000 snow geese that filled the sky over Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Stevens, Pa., on Feb. 18 make a pretty picture during trying times for the poultry industry. Middle Creek, which is managed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, requires all birds harvested during hunting season to be tested for avian influenza. All tests have come back negative, according to the Game Commission. As of Feb. 18, the Ag Department had not asked Middle Creek to trap and test any of the migrating birds, but the Game Commission is prepared to do so if asked, according to the Middle Creek employee who was managing a very busy visitors center that Friday.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 26 (ANI): A day after India abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday took a jibe at the Central Government saying that abstaining from voting against war doesn't make "your relationship better but makes your principles weaker" against violence and human rights violations.

"Abstain in voting against war doesn't make your relationship better but makes your principles weaker against violence and human rights violations. Tomorrow it could be us not getting support against China. Today we stood on the same side as China, which speaks loads about our FP," Chaturvedi tweeted.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre to Execute Urgent Evacuation to Bring Back Indians Stranded in Ukraine.

"Having said that, besides a resolution condemning Russia's action what is the UN's role going to be to help Ukraine on the ground? Ally countries are expressing words of support but have left Ukraine alone to defend and fight for itself. UN will need to relook at its relevance in the New World Order," she added.

Earlier on Friday (Local Time), India abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine saying that the "path of diplomacy was given up".

Also Read | India Reports 11,499 New COVID-19 Cases, 255 Deaths in Past 24 Hours; Positivity Rate Drops to 1.01%.

"India's deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," said India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine.

Tirumurti said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. Tirumurti also expressed concern over the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission with a budget of Rs 1,600 crore for five years and said that the Ayushman Bharat Health Count Number (ABHA Number) will strengthen the digital health ecosystem in India.

Taking to Twitter, the Mandaviya said, "Thanks to PM Narendra Modi ji for approving Rs 1600 crores for the next five years for the National Roll-out of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Now citizens of India will be able to keep their health records in one place through the ABHA number. ABHA number will prove useful for quick and quality healthcare."

Also Read | Rajasthan: BJP Worker Vicky Arya Allegedly Murdered in Kota, 2 Held.

"Ayushman Bharat Health Count Number (ABHA Number) will strengthen the digital health ecosystem in the country. Now the citizens will be able to access their health records anywhere in a digital way," he added.

As per the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

Also Read | Young, Healthy Adults Die From COVID-19 Due to ECMO Shortage, Says New Study.

Digital health solutions across the healthcare ecosystem have proven to be of immense benefit over the years, with CoWIN, Arogya Setu, and eSanjeevani further demonstrating the role technology can play in enabling access to healthcare.

However, there is a need to integrate such solutions for a continuum of care, and effective utilization of resources.

Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide range of data, information, and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality, and privacy of health-related personal information.

Under the ABDM, citizens will be able to create their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) numbers, to which their digital health records can be linked. This will enable the creation of longitudinal health records for individuals across various healthcare providers, and improve clinical decision-making by healthcare providers. The mission will improve equitable access to quality healthcare by encouraging the use of technologies such as telemedicine and enabling national portability of health services.

The pilot of ABDM was completed in the six Union Territories of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep with successful demonstration of technology platform developed by the NHA. During the pilot, a digital sandbox was created in which more than 774 partner solutions are undergoing integration.

As of February 24, 2022, 17,33,69,087 Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts have been created and 10,114 doctors and 17,319 health facilities have been registered in ABDM.

Not only will ABDM facilitate evidence-based decision-making for effective public health interventions, but it will also catalyze innovation and generate employment across the healthcare ecosystem. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Feb 26 (PTI) Stating that the offense was committed against "womanhood", a court here refused bail to Akash Suyal (19), arrested for allegedly making objectionable comments about women and a particular community in conversations on the Clubhouse app.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Six Manipuri Students Stranded in War-Hit Ukraine en Route to Romania, Says CM N Biren Singh.

Additional sessions judge Sanjashree Gharat on February 22 rejected Suyal's bail plea. The detailed order became available on Saturday.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Class 10 Student Jumps to Death From His Residential Building in Faridabad After Bullied Over Sexuality.

Suyal and two others, Jaishnav Kakkar and Yash Parashar, all residents of Haryana, were arrested in January by the Mumbai police's cyber cell.

According to the police, the accused created `chat rooms' on Clubhouse, an audio social media platform, and made derogatory and offensive comments about women in general and a particular community during online conversations in these chat rooms.

While Kakkar and Parashar were granted bail by a magistrate's court, Suyal's bail plea was rejected, following which he moved the sessions court. While denying him relief, the sessions court noted that the investigation was in progress and if the accused was granted bail it would create hurdles in the probe. The accused was found passing comments against females and a particular community. The offence is not committed against any one individual. It is an offence against all women, the court held. Suyal was using defamatory and derogatory statements against womanhood," Judge Gharat added. He had also created a group with derogatory names, she noted. The bail plea claimed that he was falsely implicated. He was a young man and unwarranted incarceration would ruin his educational career and future, it said. The case has been registered against the accused under Indian Penal Code sections 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc), 195 (A) (threatening a person to give false evidence), 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 354 (D) (stalking), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 500 (defamation) and section 67 of the Information Technology Act.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Wu Shaoyu (1st, R) displays the production process of Hainan traditional sugar-making craft as she records a video in Xuelan Village in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Nov. 6, 2021. (Xinhua)

HAIKOU, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- For the Spring Festival holiday, Wu Shaoyu managed to sell 230,000 yuan (36,400 U.S. dollars) of hand-made sugar online.

"It just shows that with proper sales channels, traditional craftsmanship will prove its value," said Wu, an inheritor of Hainan traditional sugar-making, a craft that has received provincial-level recognition in south China's Hainan Province.

She is also an online influencer, with followers of about 23,000, and her account has drawn nearly 106,000 likes on Douyin, a popular short-video app in China.

As a Hainan local, she keenly promotes the traditional hand-made sugar, hoping the craftsmanship will garner more public attention.

BITTERSWEET SUGAR-MAKING CULTURE

Wu grew up in Xuelan, a small village in the province's Danzhou City, where most villagers made a living by growing sugarcanes.

"Every family knew how to make sugar by hand," Wu said, as she recalled how locals made sugar sitting under a thatched shack with a big bowl.

"People would make square-shaped black sugar from the sugarcanes they grew and leave some sugar at home for the children as snacks," she said. "The rest of the sugar would be sold at the local rural market to boost family income. Those were memorable, sweet days."

Wu Shaoyu displays the production process of Hainan traditional sugar-making craft as she records a video in Xuelan Village in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Nov. 26, 2019. (Xinhua)

But the traditional sugar-making technique gradually lost popularity as the modern sugar-making industry burgeoned.

"Traditional sugar-making just faded out in my village, the number of villagers who had mastered the skills gradually declined," she said. "More importantly, individual villagers that grew and sold sugarcanes for a living slowly slipped into poverty."

Wu used to work in the metropolis of Shanghai. Whenever she returned home, her father would complain about the situation.

"I am getting old, the big bowl at home is decaying, and the traditional sugar-making techniques are dying," her father would often tell her. "I will probably never be able to eat the homemade sugar again. I'm sad."

These words struck a chord with Wu, and she decided to help pass on the old techniques.

"If we lose our tradition, we lose our ground," she said.

SWEET BUSINESS

In 2013, Wu gave up her career in Shanghai and returned to Xuelan Village to renew the prime of the sweet business. She built a traditional sugar-making base with her father to help protect and pass on the craft.

"We had an old house, a cow to pull the millstone and big bowls to stew the sugar," she said. "The entire process is quite complicated, including 18 procedures."

Wu realized that expanding new sales channels was essential for making traditional sugar better known among the public. So she chose to explore an emerging industry: short videos.

According to a report released by Shenzhen-based research firm AskCI Consulting, China had about 880 million online short-video users as of June 2021, and the number is expected to grow. Another report published by CSM Media Research said that nearly 42.8 percent of short-video users have started uploading their own video clips.

Wu started uploading videos on the internet in April 2020. Within less than two years, she uploaded about 50 videos presenting the beauty of her native village as well as local snacks, and each video was carefully produced.

Wu Shaoyu poses for a photo in the rice field in Xuelan Village in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province, Nov. 6, 2021. (Xinhua)

In her videos, she records how she chops wood, grows and picks vegetables, and makes delicacies. She does not sell sugar directly in the videos, but the down-to-earth, serene and simple rural lifestyle has evoked a sense of nostalgia among many urbanites that place orders for the sugar in her store.

"For many people, it's not about the sugar, but rather about a nostalgic feeling," she said.

As Wu's business is thriving, she is also leading over 370 local households who are working with her towards prosperity.

"This is a dream come true," she said. "I am glad that the traditional sugar-making craft is gradually shining in the spotlight." 
New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): As the Delhi government lifts all COVID-19 related restrictions from February 28 onwards, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced that the metro will now run without any restrictions, with 100 per cent capacity.

The DMRC, in a statement, said, "Passengers will be allowed to travel in the Metro without any restrictions i.e, they can travel in both standing and sitting manner."

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Speaks to PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Political Support at UNSC.

All gates of metro stations will also remain open to facilitate passenger entry throughout the day.

"Regulation of passenger entry through a limited number of gates stands dispensed with from Monday," the DMRC said.

Also Read | Wagah-Attari Style Beating Retreat Ceremony Restarts by BSF Along IB in Jammu.

However, the passengers have been advised to continue following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, wearing of face mask/ cover, maintaining of social distancing etc, while travelling. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): A Kenyan lady arrested on Friday with contraband heroin worth around Rs 1.25 crore at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station here, informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Delhi Division.

The suspected foreigner lady was identified as Alice Wangri Waithira, 50, a citizen of Kenya.

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Speaks to PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Political Support at UNSC.

The RPF revealed that after receiving the information that a foreign woman was carrying contraband drugs while travelling in train Nizamuddin Express, from Mumbai, the RPF team got ready with their plan.

Krishan Kumar, Head Constable of RPF and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) staff jointly, along with two ladies staff checked the train on Friday.

Also Read | Wagah-Attari Style Beating Retreat Ceremony Restarts by BSF Along IB in Jammu.

Vigilant RPF Team traced and identified the suspected lady in the train though she was trying to conceal her face with a mask and other clothes.

"She was brought to the RPF Post and while searching RPF found some unusual bulge over the outer layer of her handbag on turning her handbag up and down, it was observed that some material was expanding. So, the outer layer of both the sides was cut by blade and white type substance powder substance was found filled up which was taken out and tested with drug kits which were found to be Heroin," read the release by the RPF.

The RPF also revealed that the total weight of the heroin was 390 grams worth a value of Rs 1.25 crore approximately.

The seized drug and accused were handed over to NCB where a Case under NDPS Act was registered against the accused. (ANI)

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 26 (ANI): Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has blocked a special corridor for Indian students who had been evacuated from Ukraine and would be arriving in Mumbai by AI1944 at ETA at 8 pm on Saturday, said CSMIA spokesperson.

"In light of the current crisis in Ukraine, CSMIA is extending full support to the evacuation of the stranded Indian students who are arriving in Mumbai today by AI1944 at ETA 20:00 hours," stated the CSMIA spokesperson.

Also Read | Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Launches Polio National Immunization Day 2022, Administers Polio Drops to Children.

The airport has blocked a special corridor for the arriving passengers. As per the guidelines laid down by the Government, the Airport Health Organization (APHO) team at the airport will be conducting mandatory temperature checks, added the CSMIA spokesperson.

Passengers would be required to produce either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test report at the time of arrival, stated the CSMIA spokesperson.

Also Read | Odisha Panchayat Election Result 2022: BJD Leading in 249 Zilla Parishad Seats Followed by BJP 32 and Congress in 13.

In case any passenger is not able to show any of the documents at the time of arrival, they will have to undergo RT-PCR testing at the airport, where the cost would be borne by the airport, as per the CSMIA spokesperson.

These passengers would be able to leave the airport, post-testing negative. If any passenger is tested positive, they shall be clinically managed as per the protocols laid down by the Government.

Besides, CSMIA is undertaking steps to smoothen the process for the young students arriving at the airport. It has fenced in a special area at the airport for the arriving passengers to sit and will provide them with free WiFi codes, distribute food and water bottles, and provide them with any guidance or medical assistance if required at the time of arrival. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], February 26 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday expressed grief on the demise of former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal and described him as an "efficient and popular politician".

In a condolence message, he said, "His contribution to the betterment of the marginalized sections of society and overall development of the state will be remembered."

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Aparna Yadav Claims BJP Tsunami in UP, Says 'Yogi Adityanath Govt To Return to Power With Thumping Majority'.

The Chief Minister conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished them well.

Biswal, 83, passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar while undergoing treatment on Friday.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Worried Parents Hold Demonstration Outside Russian Embassy in Delhi, Seek Safe Evacuation of Their Children From Ukraine.

Biswal served as the Chief Minister of Odisha twice from December 7, 1989, to March 5, 1990, and from December 6, 1999, to March 5, 2000. (ANI)

(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 26 (ANI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday welcomed the first batch of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai Airport and said that the Government will not stop until all of them are back home.

He further said more evacuation flights are being operated and the second flight is likely to land in Delhi in the wee hours of Sunday.

Also Read | Mumbai Reports 89 New COVID-19 Cases; No Death During the Day for Seventh Time in February 2022.

"Since the beginning of this crisis, our main objective was to bring back each and every Indian stranded in Ukraine. 219 students have arrived here. This was the first batch, the second will reach Delhi soon. We'll not stop until all of them are back home," Goyal told ANI.

He asked the returning passengers to speak to their friends still in Ukraine and reassure them not to worry.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: CM Yogi Adityanath Says 'Only Saifai Family Flourishes in Samajwadi Party'.

He said, "Government is working in mission mode to ensure safety of our citizens. The Minister said that PM Narendra Modi has spoken with the Ukrainian President and stressed about the safety of Indian citizens. The Russians have also promised to help evacuate all Indians."

Piyush Goyal said "glad to see the smiles on the faces of Indians safely evacuated from Ukraine at the Mumbai airport".

The Minister whole heartedly thanked Air India for its commitment to the national cause, which was met with an applause by all the homecoming passengers.

An MBBS student who returned from Ukraine said that there was some fear and panic, but he is very happy to be back to India.

"I had trust upon Indian government that they will definitely bring us back to our country. There was some fear and panic, but we are very happy to be back home," he said.

Air India flight attendant said that students were filled with joy once we landed here in Mumbai.

"We are very happy to bring our students back home. The students were filled with joy once we landed here in Mumbai. Thanks to the Government of India for giving us this opportunity," she added.

The first evacuation flight of Air India, AIC 1944 touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 7.50 pm. The aircraft, which had taken off from the Henri Coanda International Airport, Bucharest, Romania this afternoon, brought home 219 passengers, mostly students from India.

A large number of relatives of homebound passengers were present at the arrival concourse of the Mumbai airport to receive their near and dear ones.

Meanwhile, another batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at Zahony-Uzhhorod border crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight on Saturday.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 26 (ANI): Attacking the Opposition parties in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday alleged that in the previous governments there was electricity on festivals like Eid and Muharram, but not on Holi and Diwali.

Addressing a rally in Kushinagar, Chief Minister Yogi said, "Earlier electricity was also politicized. There used to be electricity on Eid and Muharram but not on Holi and Diwali. But no such discrimination is there today. In double-engine government, people are getting a double dose of ration every month along with various items."

Also Read | Indian Embassy Issues Fresh Advisory for Its Citizens in Ukraine Desiring to Be Evacuated Via Hungary.

"If our double engine government comes to power again then all women older than 60 years of age will be given free access to travel in state corporation buses. We will give free scooty to girls and free electricity to farmers," promised Yogi Adityanath.

Earlier on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also held rallies in Ballia and Ambedkar Nagar.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Six Manipuri Students Stranded in War-Hit Ukraine en Route to Romania, Says CM N Biren Singh.

"After four phases of polling, I can say this with confidence that there is a wave in favour of the BJP and it will get an absolute majority. Once again BJP will cross the mark of 300 seats," the BJP leader said in Ballia.

Taking a jibe at Samajwadi Party leaders, Yogi Adityanath said that after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, most of the 'pariwarwadis' will be seen offering 'kar seva' with Lord Ram devotees in Ayodhya.

"When we come back after 2024 Lok Sabha polls, most of these 'pariwarwadis' will be seen offering 'Kar Seva' with Ram devotees in Ayodhya...BJP govt believes in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, " he said in Ambedkar Nagar

He further said, "Haathi (elephant) slipping here and there...Cycle can be easily punctured...Those who ate the poor's ration, we've bulldozers for them. Power of bulldozer is such that it's used for construction and to raze illegal possession of mafias, corrupt ministers."

The fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections will be held on Sunday and the result will be announced on March 10.

Polling for four phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded.The fifth phase, which is scheduled on Sunday, will majorly cover the eastern region.

The remaining two phases will take place on March 3 and March 6. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, February 26: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday expressed his concern for Indian students stranded in war-hit Ukraine and appealed to the Government of India to execute an urgent evacuation. "Visuals of Indian students in bunkers are disturbing. Many are stuck in eastern Ukraine which is under heavy attack. My thoughts are with their worried family members. Again, I appeal to GOI to execute an urgent evacuation," tweeted the Congress leader.

In an effort to evacuate stranded Indian nationals from war-hit Ukraine, Air India is operating two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) today. "Based upon inputs from the Ministry of External Affairs on the emerging situation in Ukraine, Air India will operate two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) tomorrow, that is, February 26. Air India shall be operating VBM flights," Air India informed.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Russia-Ukraine War: US President Joe Biden Signs Memorandum For Military Aid to Ukraine As Russian Forces Close in on Kyiv.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow.Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely. In the coming days for Indian citizens, more flights are going to be operated from Ukraine (Kiev) amid tension in the country.

(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 26 (ANI): Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari on Saturday said that Russia stood by India during times of adversities but "when a friend commits a mistake it needs to be corrected".

Speaking to ANI, Tewari said, "Russia has stood by us in our adversities, but if a friend commits a mistake, we've to correct them. It presents the world with a new iron curtain with nations on one side advocating democracy and others supporting the totalitarian way. India has to pick its side."

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He further said, "India's Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) policy has been gradually ended since 1991, and today if India thinks of treading back to the same policy, it will be a mistake." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nalgonda (Telangana) [India], February 26 (ANI): A woman trainee pilot died after an aircraft belonging to a private aviation academy crashed in Thungathurthy village of Telangana's Nalgonda district, local police on Saturday.

"A woman trainee pilot died in the plane crash in Thungathurthy village. The aircraft belongs to a private aviation academy. Further investigation underway," said P Paramesh, sub-inspector, Nalgonda.

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Speaks to PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Political Support at UNSC.

Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia extended condolences to the family members and loved ones of the deceased pilot.

"Shocked to hear about the tragic crash of a training aircraft in Nalgonda, Telangana. An investigation team has been rushed to the site. Unfortunately, we lost the student pilot. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and loved ones," tweeted Scindia. (ANI)

Also Read | Mumbai Reports 89 New COVID-19 Cases; No Death During the Day for Seventh Time in February 2022.

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New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): A special flight of Air India AI-1943 landed at Bucharest in Romania for the evacuation of stranded Indians in Ukraine on Saturday morning.

This is the first special flight that is travelling through another route after the air route to Ukraine was shut down.

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The 787 Dreamliner has the capacity to carry 250 passengers and it is expected that at least as many will be brought back to India.

The government is expected to operate such flights to neighbouring countries of Ukraine in order to evacuate stranded Indians in the country.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Rahul Gandhi Urges Centre to Execute Urgent Evacuation to Bring Back Indians Stranded in Ukraine.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2022 shows Gan Min (L), Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, talking with a student at the Asia Euro University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

The close ties between China and Cambodia have driven a "Chinese fever" among Cambodians, inspiring more students to learn the language and explore the culture behind it.

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The passion to learn Chinese is on the rise among Cambodians as the two countries have enjoyed close ties in diverse spheres even during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You Rong, a senior majoring in Chinese literature at the Asia Euro University (AEU) in Phnom Penh, said the huge influx of Chinese investors and tourists in recent years had motivated him to learn Chinese.

"In Cambodia, the number of Chinese people and investors have increased from year to year, and more importantly they always need Chinese-speaking persons to be their assistants or interpreters," he told Xinhua, saying the language had enabled him to get a decent job.

The 23-year-old student, who currently works as a storekeeper for the Chinese delivery app E-GetS, said Chinese proficiency is essential for him to communicate with Chinese colleagues. "With Chinese, it will be easy to communicate with them or to do business with them," he said.

The screenshot shows students in the major of Chinese literature at the Asia Euro University (AEU) enjoying the Spring Festival couplet collection activity on Jan. 29, 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia/Handout via Xinhua)

"I think there is a vast job market for Chinese translators and it will be possible for them to earn a good income to support their families," he said.

Nem Sreang, a sophomore student in the major of Chinese literature, said a lot of Chinese people are coming to Cambodia for investments and holidays, offering the opportunities for lucrative jobs.

"Chinese language is widely used. No matter it's in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam or other countries, there are always Chinese people there for investments," she told Xinhua.

The 21-year-old student said her Chinese proficiency has well improved since all lecturers at the Department of Chinese Language at the AEU are native speakers.

"When I graduate, my goal is to run a private school offering Chinese and English languages as well as computer courses," Sreang said.

Junior student Lim Meavleng, who has learned Chinese since her childhood, said she wants to work as an interpreter after graduation so that she can introduce the tourist attractions and history of Cambodia to Chinese people.

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2022 shows students studied at the Asia Euro University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

"What motivated me to study Chinese is that I want to understand the history of China and the daily lives of Chinese people," 20-year-old Meavleng said. "If I have a chance to visit China, I want to go to Wanli Changcheng (the Great Wall of China) because when Chinese people come (to Cambodia), they always say the site is magnificent."

"Chinese language not only gives me the platform to communicate with Chinese people but also opens a door to a plethora of opportunities," said 24-year-old Kong Tifong, who dreams of pursuing his Master's degree in east China's Shanghai.

"After graduation, I want to be an international relations specialist because this kind of job will give me an opportunity to communicate internationally and to improve my public relations skills," he said.

He said close relations between China and Cambodia in politics, economics, trade, investment, tourism and culture have prompted Cambodians to learn Chinese.

Photo taken on Feb. 20, 2022 shows students reading in the library at the Asia Euro University in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua)

Gan Min, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), said learning Chinese is very popular in the Southeast Asian nation when nearly 100,000 students had registered to study at the institute in the past 12 years during the pre-pandemic era.

She said the teaching sites of the Confucius Institute of the RAC are available in six Cambodian provinces and cities, with two Confucius classrooms, 19 Chinese language centers, and two university Chinese departments.

She said the AEU is one of a few universities in Cambodia providing Chinese language programs at degree levels with support from the Confucius Institute of the RAC and the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia.

Gan added that the university has been well equipped with digital equipment, so during the pandemic, students still can learn online with Chinese native lecturers.

"We hope that the pandemic will be over soon, so we can return to in-person classes again," she said. 
Ballia (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 26 (ANI): Actor-turned Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Mathura, Hema Malini, on Friday, lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that new India has been born in the last seven years.

She also asserted that everyone wants PM Modi's intervention in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: Aparna Yadav Claims BJP Tsunami in UP, Says 'Yogi Adityanath Govt To Return to Power With Thumping Majority'.

Addressing a public rally in UP's Ballia on Friday, Malini said, "Everyone is requesting Modi Ji to stop Ukraine-Russia war because everyone considers him a World leader. He has brought the country so far, and the world respects him."

"PM Modi is regarded as a big world leader. It is a matter of pride for all of us. New India has been born in the past seven years, so UP should also participate in the building of this new India," the BJP MP stated.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Worried Parents Hold Demonstration Outside Russian Embassy in Delhi, Seek Safe Evacuation of Their Children From Ukraine.

PM Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday night amid Moscow's ongoing military operations in Ukraine and appealed for an immediate cessation of violence while stressing concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

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.

The fifth phase, which is scheduled on February 27, will majorly cover the eastern region.The remaining two phases will take place on March 3 and March 6. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New York [US], February 26 (ANI): The global fight against the shadowy, ever-morphing threat posed by the ISIL terrorist group - known officially as Da'esh - and its affiliates, remains a "long-term game" for which there are "no quick fixes," the UN counter-terrorism chief told the Security Council earlier this month.

Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, said the threat from Da'esh is still very real in both Syria and Iraq, where the group retains an estimated 6,000-10,000 fighters and continues to carry out hit-and-run operations, ambushes, and roadside bombings.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Armed Forces Disable 118 Military Infrastructure Facilities in Ukraine, Says Defense Ministry.

Voronkov described a recently attempted jailbreak by Da'esh fighters in Syria's Al-Hasakah city - which resulted in widespread clashes and a humanitarian crisis for the local population, including children - as a "shattering and sober reminder" of the network's "extreme brutal" violence, UN News reported.

Following those events, a targeted attack reportedly by United States special forces resulted in the death of ISIL leader Abu Ibrahim Al-Hashimi Al-Quraishi, marking perhaps the most significant recent blow to the group's leadership.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: US Treasury Imposes Sanctions Against Vladimir Putin and Other Leaders Over Ukraine Invasion.

However, Voronkov warned that Da'esh is known for its ability to regroup and even intensify its activities following major defeats.

"We have learned over the past two decades that counter-terrorism is a long-term game and that there are no quick fixes," he said, underlining the need for both military counter-terrorism operations and more comprehensive measures with a focus on prevention.

Against that backdrop, Voronkov called for renewed efforts to rebuild social trust and restore human dignity.

Such work should begin by addressing the desperate situation in displacement camps and detention facilities across Syria and Iraq, where thousands of people - especially children with presumed family links to ISIL members - remain stranded through no fault of their own.

Citing the risk of their further radicalization and recruitment, he welcomed efforts by those Member States that have repatriated foreign fighters and their family members.

However, the current pace of repatriation lacks sufficient urgency, and more efforts are needed to ensure the protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration of repatriated individuals.

The Under-Secretary-General also reported on the expansion of the network and its affiliates beyond Syria and Iraq, which he said continues at an "unsettling" scale and pace, according to UN News.

The epicenter of the group's activities now appears to be the African continent, with terrorist activities intensifying in Central and West Africa - especially Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria - and attacks increasingly reported in the border area between Mozambique and Tanzania.

Pointing to potential spill-over effects that could reach even beyond the continent, he urged countries to use every tool at their disposal to sustain important gains made against Da'esh, preventing its further regional expansion, curtailing its attack capabilities, and preventing additional recruitment.

"As we begin a new decade of counter-terrorism, it is time to ask ourselves difficult questions and search for honest answers," he said. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing [China], February 26 (ANI): China is carrying out propaganda where the Chinese media is praising a Han Chinese PLA soldier as a "model philanthropist" while the genocide of many Uyghur activists continues.

One article in the Chinese media describes the PLA soldier, Shen Jianjia, as "helping the children for many years with no regrets," with "wholehearted warmth". "We celebrated a happy Lantern Festival together," Shen is quoted as saying in a Chinese media article.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian Casualties Heavy and Greater Than Anticipated by Kremlin, Says UK.

Ilshat Hassan Kokbore, vice president of the executive committee of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) expressed disgust at this propaganda.

Notably, the PLA soldier moved to Xinjiang with his parents and five siblings when he was two years old, according to the report.

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Declares a Marine Who Blew Himself Along With a Bridge in Crimea as Hero of Ukraine.

The Vice President said that the PLA soldier has appeared in the Chinese media while millions of native Uyghurs have been imprisoned in camps and prisons. He stressed the Uyghur 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'.

"Their goal is very obvious -- to cover up the genocide they are committing and to show that the CCP and its government is the saviour and helper of the native people and to tell the world that what they are doing is good instead of evil," he said, reported Radio Free Asia.

He has termed this rewarding of the PLA soldier as Chinese propaganda to cover up the genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Chinese government has given many awards to this CCP official for being an "ideological and moral building exemplar," a "model of ethnic unity," and a "philanthropist", reported Radio Free Asia.

Meanwhile, many Uyghurs are held in detention camps in the name of vocational training centres. "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," he added. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): As Russian troops continued to advance on the capital city of Kiev, German Ambassador to India Walter Lindner on Saturday condemned President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch military operations in Ukraine.

"It's Putin's war; it's a shame that it is happening. We react with economic sanctions. We can't allow the occupation of one country by another. We want an international community that is based on international laws," Ambassador Lindner told ANI.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Indian Air Force Exits From Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in UK.

These remarks come a day after the heads of missions of European countries in India, including ambassador Lindner, expressed solidarity with their Ukrainian counterpart while condemning Russia's military action in Ukraine.

"The violation of national sovereignty and international laws is not acceptable. We must respect the international borders. My heart goes out to every student who has to leave Ukraine due to invasion by the Russian Army," he said.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Twitter Pauses Ads and Recommendations in Russia and Ukraine To Safeguard Users From Misinformation.

Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported on Saturday.

Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks.

Amid the growing military operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to defend his country while standing on the street of the national capital.

Kremlin said that the Russian President is ready to send a delegation of high-ranking officials to Minsk to hold talks with Kiev. (ANI)

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Islamabad, Feb 26 (PTI) More than 2,400 Pakistani students stranded in the war-hit Ukraine have been safely evacuated to Poland, Pakistan's ambassador to Ukraine Noel Israel Khokhar said on Saturday.

Khokhar posted a voice message on the Twitter handle of Pakistan Embassy Ukraine after hue and cry in the country about the fate of nearly 3,000 students in Ukraine.

Also Read | Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky Speaks to PM Narendra Modi, Seeks Political Support at UNSC.

The ambassador said that a vast majority of students in Ukraine have been safely evacuated despite the difficult situation in the country.

There were about 3,000 students in Ukraine; the bulk of them have been evacuated. Only 500-600 students are left and they are also in the process of being evacuated, he said.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russian Casualties Heavy and Greater Than Anticipated by Kremlin, Says UK.

Khokhar mentioned about the difficulties due to the ongoing Russian attack, which has forced the closure of air travel and said that Pakistani nationals were safe.

All Pakistanis are safe and we are trying to guide them under the difficult situation, Khokhar said, as he cited the closure of flights, banking systems and non-availability of transport and fuel.

Pakistan was forced to shift its embassy from Kyiv to Ternopil, according to the spokesman of Foreign Office.

Khokhar said a total of 62 people, including 21 family members of the embassy staff, had already been evacuated, whereas 59 people were on the Ukraine-Poland border crossing.

He said another 79 people, including 67 students and 12 family members of embassy staff, were on their way to the Ukraine-Poland border. A batch of 104 students from Kharkiv was arriving via train while 20 other students were being evacuated from Kyiv on a bus arranged by the embassy.

Poland has already opened border crossings for pedestrians after the Pakistani embassy in Ukraine formally requested the Polish government to open more crossing points for pedestrians on its border with Ukraine, according to the Foreign Office.

Thousands of Pakistani students every year enroll in countries of erstwhile USSR due to relatively cheaper education.

Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan are among the preferred destinations for students who cannot get admission in medical colleges and for other professional courses in Pakistan.

(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 26 (PTI) India abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that condemned Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine and demanded "immediate, complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighbouring country.

The UN Security Council voted on Friday on the draft resolution sponsored by the US and Albania and supported by several other nations including Poland, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Luxembourg and New Zealand.

Also Read | Pakistan Army Promotes Hindu Officer 'Kailash Kumar' As Lieutenant Colonel.

Eleven counties voted in favour of the resolution while three countries, including India, abstained.

A permanent member of the Security Council, Russia used its veto power blocking the resolution, as expected, but western nations said the resolution seeks to show Moscow's isolation on the global stage for its invasion and actions against Ukraine.

Also Read | Russia President Vladimir Putin Ready To Send Negotiation Team to Minsk for Talks With Ukraine As Russian Troops Encircle Kyiv.

All eyes were on how India will cast its vote on the resolution given that New Delhi has strong defence ties with Moscow.

During a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra 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."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss Russia's "premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine", the State Department said.

Blinken "stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russia's invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire."

India has so far refrained from condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine and in a statement in the Security Council on Wednesday night, just as Putin ordered Ukraine's invasion, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti expressed "deep concern" over the developments, which if not handled carefully, may well undermine the peace and security of the region.

Ahead of the UNSC vote, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet that in a call to Jaishankar, he asked "India to use all influence in its relations with Russia to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine. Urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support today's draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine."

The resolution condemned Russia's "aggression against Ukraine" and decides that Russia "shall immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and shall refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state."

The resolution also said that Russia "shall immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders."

The resolution said Moscow "shall immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine."

A senior Biden administration official had said a day before that Washington was putting forward the resolution "with every expectation that Russia will use its veto" and in doing so, "they will underscore their isolation."

"First, of course, we expect that Russia will use its veto. And in doing so, they will underscore their isolation. We're not going to abandon our principles; we're not going to stand by and do nothing. It's important that we send a message to Ukraine, to Russia, and to the world that the Security Council will not look away, the official said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Feb 26 (PTI) Prominent Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna has expressed disappointment over India's decision to abstain from the UN Security Council resolution on Russia's aggression against Ukraine, saying it is the US and not Russia that will stand with New Delhi against China's current expansionist plans.

India, China and the United Arab Emirates on Friday abstained from the US-sponsored resolution against the Russian aggression which was vetoed by Moscow. As many as 11 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted in favour.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Ukraine, Russia Signal Interest In Talks As Russian Forces Close in on Kyiv.

Five countries -- the US, the UK, Russia, China and France -- are permanent members of the council and have veto powers. India is a non-permanent member and its current two-year term expires this year.

In 1962, President (John F) Kennedy stood with India against China's invasion. It is the US, not Russia, that will stand with India against China's current expansionist plans, Khanna tweeted on Friday.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: 50 Countries Issue Joint Statement Against Russias Veto on Ukraine Resolution.

This is the time for India to stand with the free word (sic) against Putin. Abstention is not acceptable, said the three-term Democratic Congressman from California.

Echoing Khanna, Congressman Eric Swalwell also termed India's move as "disappointing".

Rep Ro Khanna and I represent the largest Indian-American districts and this vote is contrary to what we hear from our constituents. Indian-Americans believe in territorial integrity and human rights, said Swalwell, who is serving as representative for California's 15th congressional district that covers most of eastern Alameda County and part of central Contra Costa County.

Abstaining from the UNSC resolution that deplores in the strongest terms Russia's aggression" against Ukraine, India on Friday said dialogue is the only answer to settle differences and disputes.

In the country's explanation of vote in the Council, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said New Delhi is "deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine and urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities.

He said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives.

Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment. It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution, Tirumurti said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Moscow [Russia], February 26 (ANI): Russian Defence Ministry on Friday said that its forces have staged a "successful landing operation" to capture Gostomel airfield in the suburbs of Kiev in Ukraine.

"On February 24, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a successful landing operation in the area of Gostomel airfield in the suburbs of Kiev. More than 200 Russian helicopters were involved in the operation," the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Also Read | Pakistan Army Promotes Hindu Officer 'Kailash Kumar' As Lieutenant Colonel.

"During the capture of the airfield, more than 200 nationalists from the special units of Ukraine were eliminated. The success of the landing was ensured by the suppression of the entire air defence system in the landing area, the complete isolation of the combat area from the air and active electronic warfare," the statement added.

The statement said there are no casualties in the Russian Armed Forces.

Also Read | Russia President Vladimir Putin Ready To Send Negotiation Team to Minsk for Talks With Ukraine As Russian Troops Encircle Kyiv.

"At present, the main forces of the airborne troops have connected with the units of the Russian servicemen at the Gostomel airfield, blocking Kiev from the west. The units of the Russian Armed Forces continue to perform tasks in the area of Kiev and other cities," the statement said.

"At present, reconnaissance data show that Grad multiple launch rocket system mounts have been deployed on Shevchenko Square in Kiev to strike at the Gostomel airfield," it added.

The Ministry claimed that Pentagon and CIA advisers "taught the Ukrainian military leadership how to place rocket artillery systems in residential areas to provoke return fire on local residents".

"Use by the Kiev regime of residential areas to cover the firing positions of its artillery is a war crime. This is familiar to us. These techniques are actively used by terrorists supervised by the CIA in the Middle East and other countries," the statement said.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukraine "nationalist leadership uses the same methods as the terrorists" and that it wants to use citizens "as a human shield".

"Russian Armed Forces will not inflict any strikes on residential areas of the Ukrainian capital," the statement said.

The Russian Defence Ministry also said that the units of the Lugansk People's Republic in the Severodonetsk direction rapidly advanced to a depth of 12 kilometers. It said the troops of the Donetsk People's Republic in the direction of Volnovakha advanced 11 kilometres deep into the defence of the nationalist battalions.

The statement said the units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have completed blocking Chernihiv city.

"Russian servicemen are taking all measures to prevent casualties among the civilian population," it said.

The statement claimed that "units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not participate in hostilities for the most part" and "only battalions of Ukrainian Nazis are resisting".

"Moreover, in advance, the Security Service of Ukraine integrated into the military units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces groups of notorious nationalists numbering 25-30 people who underwent special training. Nationalists identify unreliable among Ukrainian servicemen. And if the commanders of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decide to withdraw from the occupied lines, they act as barrage detachments. In some directions, they blow up bridges to exclude the possibility of retreat of military units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the statement said.

The statement claimed citing "Ukrainian servicemen who laid down their arms" that more than one case has been recorded of "lynching and reprisals by nationalists against who do not want to fight to intimidate the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine".

Russian President Vladimir Putin had on Monday recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. (ANI)

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London [UK], February 26 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be hit with an assets freeze as part of the UK's punitive sanctions regime to degrade Russia's economy and military infrastructure, the UK foreign office said on Friday.

"In a third wave of punishing sanctions in just four days, the UK's sanctions have been strategically coordinated with international allies to impose a severe cost on Putin and his regime," the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a statement.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Twitter Pauses Ads and Recommendations in Russia and Ukraine To Safeguard Users From Misinformation.

The new sanctions, which are targeted personally at Putin and Lavrov, will see any UK-based assets frozen immediately and UK companies will be barred from providing goods, services or assets to them in the future.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "These new sanctions send a clear message that nothing and no one is off the table. These measures reflect the horror and gravity of what Putin and his regime has done, violating the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation with an illegal and unjustified invasion."

Also Read | Facebook Bans Russian State Media from Running Ads, Monetizing Platform Over Ukraine Invasion.

"Today's announcement follows a sweeping package of financial sanctions targeting Russian banks, oligarchs and key strategic businesses, as well as territorial sanctions and restrictions on sovereign debt announced on Tuesday."

Previous sanctions announced as part of the UK package included: assets of all Russian banks frozen including, a full asset freeze on VTB.

"Russian companies will be prevented from borrowing on the UK markets, effectively ending the ability of those companies closest to Putin to raise finance in the UK. This is in addition to banning the Russian state itself from raising funds in the UK, as previously announced," the statement said.

The foreign office added designated banks will be prevented from accessing Sterling and clearing payments through the UK. Banks subject to this measure will be unable to process any payments through the UK or have access to UK financial markets.

The sanction also includes a ban on the export of a range of high-end and critical technical equipment and components in sectors including electronics, telecommunications, and aerospace. (ANI)

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Kiev [Ukraine], February 26 (ANI): As the Russian military continues to advance in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev and other cities, terrified families have been forced to seek shelter underground, the UN said on Friday, adding that at least 100,000 people have likely been displaced by the violence.

"There have been major attacks in Kiev that have created great fear and panic among the population, with families really scared, moving alongside their children into subways and shelters, and this is clearly a terrifying moment for children across the country," said Afshan Khan, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, speaking in Geneva.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Space Agency Suspends Cooperation with Europe on Launches in Kourou Spaceport.

The development follows renewed condemnation for the Russian move by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who on Thursday appealed for peace and allocated USD 20 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to meet urgent needs, UN News reported.

The use of force by one country against another is "the repudiation of the principles that every country has committed to uphold," which applied to the military offensive in Ukraine, Guterres insisted.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Russian Armed Forces Establish Full Control Over Melitopol, Says Defense Ministry.

Two days after Russia launched military operations inside Ukraine, the UN rights office, OHCHR, confirmed that many civilians have already been killed and injured, according to UN News.

"We've received reports of at least 127 civilian casualties; this includes 25 killed and 102 injured in Ukraine, caused by shelling and airstrikes...this is very likely to be an underestimate," said Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR spokesperson.

Communities are already in need of aid relief, too, UN humanitarians warned.

"When we look at shortages, we're talking about fuel, which has been well reported in the media; we're talking about cash, because often in humanitarian situations, cash assistance would be our first support to families, so obviously there's been a drawdown on banks," said UNICEF's Khan.

Echoing that message and in an appeal for guaranteed humanitarian access to the most vulnerable individuals, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted concerns that medical teams face being overwhelmed.

"We don't have reports yet from the hospitals, when we look to particular injuries and the medical details," said Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.

"Where our focus has been now is prepositioned medical kits. We will run out of them soon, so what is important currently...is how to ensure new supplies to come and...[that] there are humanitarian corridors from the neighbouring countries available."

Announcing the $20 million emergency funding allocation for the Ukraine crisis, Guterres underscored that the UN and its humanitarian partners are "committed to staying and delivering, to support people in Ukraine in their time of need."

Forced mass displacement has also begun, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed.

"There are more than 100,000 who we estimate have lost their homes and are displaced inside [the] country and we are also aware of several thousand who have crossed international borders in the region, and we've seen those really just happening since the onset of the situation," said UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo.

"We're seeing these reports and we've seen for instance yesterday that there were about 5,000 refugee arrivals in Moldova already, but the other movements are being reported in Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Russian Federation."

While the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) warned that Ukraine's people were "terrified of further escalation," agency spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani flagged concerns inside of Russia. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Taiwan's DPP accused of exploiting Ukraine issue

Xinhua) 11:05, February 26, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Friday accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority of exploiting the Ukraine issue.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was asked to comment on the DPP saying that it would join the economic sanctions initiated by the United States against Russia.

The DPP authority is taking undue advantage of the Ukraine situation, which is more evidence of their determination to seek "Taiwan independence" by banking on foreign forces, said Ma, warning that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end.

The spokesperson also urged a handful of countries to abide by the one-China principle and stop playing the "Taiwan card."

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
HAIKOU, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 5 million passengers traveled via two major airports in southern China's island province of Hainan during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which ended on Friday.

Haikou Meilan International Airport in the provincial capital handled 19,673 flights and its passenger throughput hit 2.46 million, with those figures respectively increasing 35.4 percent and 37.2 percent year on year.

Sanya Phoenix International Airport handled 16,424 flights and approximately 2.54 million passengers, up 21.2 percent and 24.3 percent year on year.

The Spring Festival peak travel period in 2022 lasted from Jan. 17 to Feb. 25. During the travel season, many Chinese people chose to travel to the tropical island for the Chinese Lunar New Year, which was celebrated on Feb. 1 this year. 
London [UK], February 26 (ANI): Extending support to Ukraine, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday (local time) called for an end to Russia's involvement in the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) international payments system, to limit the ability of Russia to trade outside the country.

The Prime Minister said that they have also sent military support to the Polish border with Ukraine along with defensive military aid.

Also Read | Indian Embassy Issues Fresh Advisory for Its Citizens in Ukraine Desiring to Be Evacuated Via Hungary.

The UK has trained 22,000 Ukrainian troops through Operation Orbital.

"We have imposed sanctions on President Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, five Russian banks, more than 100 companies and oligarchs at the heart of Putin's regime, and Belarus," Johnson said in a tweet.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Bulk of Russian Forces 30 km From Centre of Kyiv, Says UK Defence Ministry.

He further said that the UK has offered a full package of support to NATO to strengthen its eastern flank.

"We are providing 1.100 million for economic reform and energy independence in Ukraine, and guaranteeing up to USD 500 million of Development Bank financing," he added.

The UK has convened the Joint Expeditionary Force, bringing together members from the EU, NATO and Nordic states.

He said that the UK has also banned Russian airline Aeroflot.

On Thursday, Johnson had announced new sanctions against Russia over the military operation in Ukraine, saying the UK will aim to "squeeze Russia from the global economy."

Overall, the UK will be imposing freezing of assets on more than a hundred of new entities and individuals, he added.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday said that France has agreed to supply military equipment to Keiv as well as ban Russia from the SWIFT international banking system.

Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine.

Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special military operation after the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow. (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 26 (ANI): The United States embassy for Ukraine has warned US citizens that "conditions may deteriorate without warning," and advised them to locate their nearest shelter.

"The security situation throughout Ukraine remains highly volatile, and conditions may deteriorate without warning. US citizens should remain vigilant and know the location of your closest shelter or protected space," the embassy said in a tweet.

Also Read | Air India Plane Lands in Bucharest to Evacuate Indians Stranded in Ukraine Amid Russia-Ukraine War.

This comes as explosions have been heard in parts of Kiev as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported.

Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks.

Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Ukraine, Russia Signal Interest In Talks As Russian Forces Close in on Kyiv.

As Russian forces drew closer to the capital Kiev, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Friday asked its citizen to "make Molotov cocktails." Even, one of the television channels gave instructions on how to make cocktails, urging residents to resist Russia's military action.

Amid the growing military operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to defend his country while standing on the street of the national capital.

"We are all here. Our military are here. Citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state and it will remain so. Glory to our defenders! Glory to our women defenders! Glory to Ukraine," said Zelensky in a video posted on Facebook.

On Friday, the US urged Russia not to harm Zelensky, saying that doing so would be a "horrific" act.

Meanwhile, Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation of high-ranking officials to Minsk to hold talks with Kiev. (ANI)

(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 26: US President Joe Biden on Friday authorized a sanction of USD 350 million to Ukraine for procurement of Defense equipment and imparting military training and education. Authorization was also given to the secretary of state to sanction up to USD 250 million in assistance, if "it is important to the security interests of the United States," a Memorandum issued by the White House said.

The aggregate assistance to Ukraine by the US is to the tune of USD 600 million. This comes when Ukraine is under significant pressure, as Russian forces appear to be closing in on Keiv. They have entered the Obolon district in the north of the city, just a few miles from its centre, according to the Ukrainian defence ministry as reported by CNN.

The units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have completed blocking Chernihiv city. On February 24, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a successful landing operation in the area of Gostomel airfield in suburbs of Kiev, " Russian Defence Ministry said. Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Ukraine, Russia Signal Interest In Talks As Russian Forces Close in on Kyiv.

Kremlin on Friday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation of high-ranking officials to Minsk to hold talks with Kiev.

NATO said in a statement that it will continue to coordinate closely with relevant stakeholders and other international organizations including the European Union (EU).

(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 26 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine.

"We have almost full support from EU countries about disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelenskyy said in a video address that was posted on his Telegram channel, Sputnik News Agency reported today.

Also Read | BREAKING: Signs of Disruption to Twitter Access in Russia  Latest Tweet by The Spectator Index.

Zelenskyy said also that Ukraine has a right to EU membership, and achieving this would be a key sign of support for the country.

"This is the decisive moment to close one and for all the multi-year strategic discussion, make a decision on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. I discussed this with Charles Michele, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron," Zelenskyy said, as per Sputnik.

Also Read | France Ready To Assist Ukraine With Military Equipment, Says Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Italy would support the EU's position on sanctions, including cutting Russia off from SWIFT, the Chigi Palace said in a statement.

"Prime minister Draghi confirmed to president Zelenskyy that Italy supports and will support the European Union's position on sanctions against Russia, including on SWIFT," the press service of the Italian council of ministers said.

However, as per reports, the decision of whether to cut Russia off from the SWIFT international financial network or not will be made within a few days.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
An Ethiopian migrant was killed and four others wounded in a crossfire on February 25 when trying to illegally enter #SaudiArabia from #Yemen, Yemeni medics said. pic.twitter.com/70bceT7Qus IANS Tweets (@ians_india) February 26, 2022

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ICYMI: More than a century after being taken, two Benin bronzes were returned to a traditional palace in Nigeria. Some 90% of Africa's cultural heritage is believed to be in Europe, French art historians estimate https://t.co/9kbKOnOAab pic.twitter.com/aCzzaCeDu3 Reuters (@Reuters) February 26, 2022

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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in California is set to release its benefits for low-income individuals and families in a new schedule.

CalFresh is distributed through an electronic benefits transfer or EBT card, which acts like a prepaid debit card that is automatically loaded each month with the amount of the recipient's benefit, according to a Go Banking Rates report.

The state of California distributes SNAP benefits on the first 10 days of the month, with the specific day being connected to the last number of the recipient's case number.

If the case number ends with 1, the recipient's EBT card will be loaded on March 1 with the amount of benefit. For those with a case number ending with 0, the benefit will be distributed on the 10th day of the month.

The amount of benefit that will be sent will depend on the size of the household that qualifies. The state of California has named its benefits card the Golden State Advantage EBT card.

In addition, people may qualify for expedited service if they are seasonal farmworkers and also have less than $100 on hand right now.

READ NEXT: Florida Stimulus Checks 2022 Worth Up to $1000; California Deadline for $1200 Payments Ending Soon

CalFresh and Safeway

Safeway became the first grocery retailer in San Francisco to allow CalFresh recipients to purchase goods online for both pickup and delivery using SNAP benefits.

Safeway's program also removes minimum cart fees as well as the 25-cent charge for bags. The program is set to be introduced in the Bay Area before spreading to the rest of Northern California later this year, according to The San Francisco Standard report.

CalFresh recipients can choose an EBT debit card as their payment method on the Safeway website. In addition, they can keep track of eligible products and view their SNAP benefits online.

However, CalFresh recipients cannot purchase non-food products such as alcohol, and medicines. Hot prepared foods cannot be bought as well with the SNAP EBT card.

Wendy Gutshall, Safeway's government affairs director for Northern California, said that the new service is about creating easy access to the shopping experience for everyone.

Gutshall said that it is also about providing options to people, whether they choose to order through their e-commerce platforms or when shopping at their stores.

Safeway said there are some minor issues reported with the rollout of the use of the SNAP program. Customers are advised to contact its grocery delivery customer service department at (877) 505-4040 if they are experiencing technical difficulties.

California SNAP Benefits 2022 Guidelines

CalFresh provides aid to individuals and families with low incomes, particularly seniors, disabled people, and households with children.

In addition, people who are employed or unemployed, homeless individuals, students, SSI recipients, and immigrants can also be covered by the benefits.

People can apply online at GetCalFresh.org.

Most grocery stores, farmer markets, and retail food outlets accept CalFresh benefits, according to a CUESA fact sheet.

The benefits can also be used to purchase prepared meals through the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program for people who are 60 years of age or older, disabled, or homeless.

READ MORE: SNAP Benefits 2022 Schedule for California, Florida, Texas and More: When to Get Food Assistance Each Month

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: CalFresh Benefits News CalFresh Benefits News - from County of Los Angeles






U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has handed over intelligence to China's government months before Russia's plans to invade Ukraine. The Biden administration was urging China to avert the Russian invasion.

However, China's officials rebuffed U.S. officials, saying that they did not think an invasion was underway. In December, U.S. officials got intelligence that China shared the said intelligence to Russia, according to The Daily Wire report.

When China handed over the U.S. intel to Russia, the Beijing government reportedly told Russians that the U.S. "was trying to sow discord," adding that China would not try to block Russian plans and actions.

White House officials also told China about the possible tough sanctions that they would impose on Russia and how those could negatively affect China due to their close ties with Russia.

READ NEXT: Pres. Joe Biden Smirks, Picks Teeth After Reporter Asks if He 'Underestimated' Russia's President Vladimir Putin

U.S.-China Talks About Russia's Invasion

The account is based on senior administration officials' interview, who all have knowledge of the conversations. They spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the diplomacy.

The Chinese Embassy spokesman, Liu, Pengyu, said that China has promoted the political settlement process of the Ukraine issue for some time, according to The New York Times report.

China has been Russia's most powerful partner, with the two nations strengthening their bond for many years when it comes to the diplomatic, economic, and military sectors.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin told Xi Jinping in a call that the U.S. and NATO had ignored Russia's "reasonable" security concerns and had revoked their commitments.

Xi then repeated China's position, saying that it was important to respect the "legitimate security concerns," as well as the "sovereignty and territorial integrity" of all countries.

Putin told Xi that Russia was willing to negotiate with Ukraine, while Xi said that China supported any such move.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ambassador to Japan is pushing China to join international talks to stop the Russian "massacre" in the country amid Beijing's lack of criticism of Russia's actions, according to the Associated Press News report.

Ukrainian diplomat Sergiy Korsunsky said that he believes China can play a much more active role to straighten it with Putin "in a manner we expect for civilized countries to do."

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China understands Russia's "legitimate concerns on security issues."

He then called for parties to "exercise restraint and avoid further escalation of the situation."

Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian troops will try to take the capital city Kyiv during the night, according to an Aljazeera News report.

He then called special attention on Kyiv, saying that they cannot lose the capital.

The Ukraine leader said that he is turning to the defenders of the country on all fronts, adding that the enemy will use all the forces it has to barrage in through their defense in a "treacherous, harsh, and inhumane way."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Russian soldiers in Ukraine to "return their barracks."

READ MORE: Former White House Doctor Rep. Ronny Jackson Reiterates Call for Pres. Joe Biden to Take Cognitive Test, Saying "He Is Not Fit to Be President" Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: China's Foreign Ministry says U.S. is fueling the fire and worsening the Russia-Ukraine conflict - from CNBC International TV






The death toll from the landslide incident in the mountain city of Petropolis in Brazil kept on rising, reaching more than 210, with many still missing.

As Brazilian authorities continued to search and recover bodies more than a week after the torrential rain, police said on Friday that a total of 217 bodies had already been recovered on the rubbles, while 33 people remain missing, Al Jazeera reported.

Officials from the South American country further noted that children were among the victims of floods and mudslides that swept through the picturesque tourist city north of Rio de Janeiro on February 15. The latest figures revealed that 42 children were among those killed.

Officials in Brazil also faced several challenges as they acknowledged that identifying the victims through fingerprints is difficult, CGTN reported.

Authorities then noted that DNA analysis might be a better solution in identifying the victims to inform their family members.

After the floods and landslides, Petropolis had a complete power failure, but the power was "partially restored."

According to Al Jazeera, hundreds of people remain displaced. As of Friday, nearly 900 Petropolis residents remain in emergency shelters.

READ NEXT: Brazil Mudslide Disaster: Pres. Jair Bolsonaro Visits Petropolis, Says Destruction Looks Like War Zone

Brazil Landslide: USAID to Give Financial Aid and State Government to Provide Help to Businesses

After the city of Petropolis experienced a tragic landslide, displaced families started to fill out requests for financial aid.

Reports noted that each family is expected to receive about $195 per month to find new housing. However, it was unclear where the money would be coming from.

On Thursday, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it will be sending $100,000 in "immediate humanitarian assistance" to support residents affected by severe flooding and landslides.

"This funding will support USAID partner the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to provide critically needed relief supplies such as cleaning supplies and hygiene kits... to help landslide-affected families meet urgent needs," the USAID said.

The agency added that their disaster experts in Brazil and Washington, D.C. were closely monitoring the situation, together with humanitarian partners and the U.S. Embassy.

According to reports, donations from all over Brazil were also coming into the city to help the residents. Businesses in Petropolis were also affected.

On Friday, the Rio de Janeiro state government announced that it would release $30 million for emergency repairs and another $40 million to support the businesses affected in the city.

Brazil Landslide Disaster

A month's worth of rain dumped in a few hours turned the streets of Petropolis into violent rivers, with the water taking cars, trees, and soil along with it.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who went to Petropolis last week, compared the destruction to an aftermath of a war.

Rescue workers and volunteers on Thursday continued to dig through mountains of mud and rubble to locate more bodies.

There was reportedly 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.

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.

In the past three months, at least 236 individuals have died in severe storms in Brazil. According to experts, climate change increases the frequency and intensifies extreme rainfall.

READ MORE: Brazil: Here's How the 'World's Oldest Man' Celebrated His '121st Birthday'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Deadly Flooding, Mudslides After Storm in Brazil - From ABC News
One of the 12 jurors who convicted Scott Peterson in 2004 maintained on the witness stand Friday that she did not lie about her past to become a juror on the case.

According to The Mercury News report, Richelle Nice testified that she had never been a victim of domestic violence as she was the one who had been the aggressor in a fight with her ex-boyfriend a couple of years ago before she even filled out a jury questionnaire and was picked to become a juror.

"We went to our bedroom. I closed the door and I took off on him... I punched him. I hit him and he called the police on me," Nice said during the first day hearing on Peterson's quest for a new trial.

When police arrived, Nice said they saw her with a bloody cut on her lip. She noted that it was from yelling at her boyfriend through braces that often caught her lip.

In the end, Nice's ex-boyfriend was the one charged and convicted of domestic violence. But Nice insisted on the stand that she was not a victim of domestic violence or a crime victim.

READ NEXT: Scott Peterson Resentenced to Life Imprisonment Over 2002 Murder of Wife Laci Peterson

Scott Peterson New Trial

The latest hearing will determine whether Scott Peterson will get a new trial. Based on Peterson's petition for habeas corpus filed by his defense team in 2015, the hearing will focus on his side's allegation that a jury committed "prejudicial misconduct" by failing to disclose that she had been involved in prior legal proceedings.

Peterson's lawyers claimed that Richelle Nice had kept the details of her personal life that could have been a conflict during his initial trial.

Nice is accused of "prejudicial misconduct" for not disclosing that she was the victim of domestic violence and had sought a restraining order in 2000 for fears that her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend would be a threat to her unborn baby.

According to Law and Crime, Nice testified under a grant of immunity from prosecutors so she could testify on the stand without fear of self-incrimination after she had threatened to plead the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions.

In seeking a restraining order against her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend while she was pregnant in 2000, Nice wrote that she "really fears for her unborn child" due to threats from the woman.

Nice on Friday tried to clarify that her fears were about the potential for a fight that could result in losing her child and not a "genuine fear" that someone would actually hurt her child with any specific intent aimed toward the kid.

"She didn't threaten my baby," Nice noted, referring to her former boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.

On the other hand, Peterson's lawyers said the 2000 case is relevant to whether Nice was accurate when she filled out the juror questionnaire.

Peterson's lawyers questioned Nice about stating "no" in the questionnaire whether she had "ever been involved in a lawsuit."

They reminded her that the 2000 matter, in technicality, was a lawsuit. The former juror said she did not know her request for a protection order qualified as a lawsuit, and she "made amends" with the woman she accused and dropped her appeal.

Nice further noted that the jury questionnaire was now "partially true." In particular, she said that before the trial, she did not have "any anger or resentment toward Scott at all." But after the trial, she admitted that she did.

Scott Peterson was first convicted in 2004 of first-degree murder concerning his wife and of second-degree murder of their unborn son. He was sentenced to death in 2005.

The 49-year-old suspect remained on death row until 2020, when the California Supreme Court had overturned his death sentence after finding that Peterson's jury was improperly screened for bias against the death penalty.

In its ruling, the California Supreme Court said a judge would decide the matter in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo now has the authority to overturn the suspect's conviction and grant him a retrial. She will reportedly base her decision on testimony from several witnesses at the hearing.

The evidentiary hearing is expected to continue until next week, with Nice going back on the stand Monday. After the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will have 90 days to decide if she will grant Peterson's request for a new trial.

Scott Peterson Arrested for Killing His Wife, Laci Peterson, and Their Unborn Son

Scott Peterson was arrested in La Jolla, California on April 18, 2003 - the same day the two decomposed bodies washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay were identified as Laci Peterson and their unborn child, Conner.

Investigators noted that Peterson bought a brand new boat 15 days before Laci disappeared. They also said he could not identify what type of fish he was trying to catch when a police officer asked him on December 24, 2002, when Laci was reported missing.

Investigators also discovered that Peterson was having an affair with massage therapist Amber Frey at the time of his wife's disappearance.

Frey told investigators that Scott Peterson told her that he was not married, and she admitted that they had a romantic relationship. Prosecutors argued that the affair was Peterson's motive to kill his wife, allowing him to be with Frey.

READ MORE: Scott Peterson Wants a New Trial in His Murder Case

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Former Scott Peterson Trial Juror Denies Bias - From KPIX CBS SF Bay Area






MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed Forces have struck Ukrainian military objects with air- and sea-based cruise missiles, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"During the night, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a long-range precision strike with air- and sea-based cruise missiles on Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities," Konashenkov said, according to a statement of the Russian Defense Ministry.

"I would like to emphasize once again that only military facilities are subject to attack, no damage is caused to residential and social infrastructure," he added.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack. 
Russia's Space Agency has threatened to drop the International Space Station on countries like America that impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion into Ukraine.

In a series of chilling tweets, Dimitry Rogozin, the head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, said the International Space Station (ISS) could fall out of orbit and crash into America or Europe if they stop cooperating with Russia.

"If you block cooperation with us, who will save the ISS from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or Europe?," Rogozin said in response to President Joe Biden's announcement of new sanctions on Thursday.

,       ,       " ".     ,              ...   (@Rogozin) February 24, 2022

Rogozin also listed China and India as options for the 500-tonne drop, Daily Star reported. Rogozin noted that the International Space Station's orbit and location in space are under Russia's control.

Apart from cutting off Russia from western financial markets, Biden's latest sanctions on Russia also imposed restrictions on the exports of advanced technology used to power the country's tech and military sector.

"We estimate that we will cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports [to] strike a blow to their ability to continue to modernize their military. It will degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program," Biden noted.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Slammed, Asked to Resign After Acknowledging New Sanctions on Russia Not Designed to 'Prevent' Ukraine Invasion

Western Official Fears Russian President Vladimir Putin Could Use 'Father of All Bombs' in Invading Ukraine

Western officials warned that Russia's President Vladimir Putin could resort to using superweapons, dubbed as "father of all bombs," that vaporize bodies and crush internal organs if their invasion of Ukraine did not go as planned, Daily Star reported.

The West is concerned that Putin could unleash vacuum bombs if their "schedule" is slowed down further by the resistance put up by Ukrainian forces. These explosives are among the most powerful non-nuclear weapons ever developed.

Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union developed thermobaric weapons in the 1960s, and Russia has detonated the largest one ever made in September 2007.

The unnamed official admitted that his fear would be that if Russia does not meet "their timescale and objectives they would be indiscriminate in their use of violence."

Russia's President Vladimir Putin Hinted Nuclear Response if West Retaliates on Ukraine

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier said that the United Kingdom would respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with the "largest and most severe package" of economic sanctions that will "hobble the Russian economy."

But in his speech aired on national television early Thursday, Vladimir Putin seemed to hint at a nuclear response if U.K. and U.S. troops come to Ukraine's aid. Putin warned that any military intervention by NATO would be met with a massive response "never seen in history."

Putin 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."

"All relevant decisions have been taken... 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 added.

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.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government on Friday joined European countries in imposing sanctions on Vladimir Putin and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The EU states and Britain agreed earlier Friday to freeze any European assets of Putin and Lavrov to increase pressure on Moscow to halt its invasion of Ukraine.

READ MORE: Joe Biden Condemns Vladimir Putin's 'Premeditated War,' Says Russia Will Be Held Accountable for Ukraine Attack

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Russian Space Chief Says He Could Let International Space Station Crash Into U.S. if Sanctions Proceed - From Raw Story
A burglar who cut himself breaking into a high end bar closed during lockdown after his bottle of vodka was stolen has been jailed for two and a half years.

Defence counsel, Brian Storan BL, told the court that the window Kevin Maughan (48) broke to access the bar was ironically emblazoned with a stay safe, stay home sign.

Maughan, who has 240 previous convictions, was identified by DNA from the blood found throughout the bar area after he cut his hands breaking the window. A cash register and alcohol were stolen during the break-in.

Gardai also observed a trail of blood leaving the scene towards St Stephens Green where he was later spotted carrying the cash register.

Maughan of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Bar 37, Dawson Street, Dublin city centre, on April 28, 2020.

Judge Melanie Greally noted Maughan had committed the poorly executed offence in a state of intoxication and caused considerable damage to the window and door of the premises.

The judge noted that his offending was largely related to his addiction and that while he achieved stability in custody, he was then released into homelessness and reoffended.

She noted he was again drug free, had cooperated well with his probation assessment and was highly motivated to make a change in his life.

Judge Greally imposed a three and a half year sentence and suspended the final year on strict conditions including that he complete any recommended drug and alcohol intervention and co-operate with any community mental health treatment plan.

During the sentence hearing, Garda Paul Cummins told Aileen Collard BL, prosecuting, that while on mobile patrol during the first Covid lockdown he had observed Maughan bleeding heavily walking at Stephen's Green and that on noticing gardai he had attempted to
BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two batches of mainland health experts have arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to work with the HKSAR government in fighting the latest COVID-19 outbreak, a health official said on Saturday.

The central government will continue to support Hong Kong in epidemic prevention and control, with mainland experts continually working closely with their Hong Kong counterparts, National Health Commission official Wu Liangyou said at a press conference. 
The State privacy watchdog is set to face questioning at the Laois Joint Policing Committee in March over the obstacles that have blocked community CCTV schemes or left others in a legal limbo.

Just one CCTV scheme in Laois fully complies with privacy legislation which which governs the use of cameras in Ireland to prevent crime. Mountmellick Neighbourhood Watch attained this status after Laois County Council agreed to be the Data Controller as complied with legislation.

However, up to a dozen other schemes remain in a holding pattern which is large due data protection and retention issues as policed by the Data Protection Commission.

The issue has been raised by politicians and community representatives at previous Laois JPC meetings where the finger was pointed at Laois County County Council for holding up schemes.

However, the local authority has pointed out that it must operated in compliance with data protection laws. The local authority has also said that its own use of cameras to police illegal dumping has been severely restricted due to data protection issues.

Now, the Data Protection Commission, which has offices in Portarlington, will come before public representatives, council officials and gardai in March in Laois to outline the position and answer questions.

A spokesperson confirmed to the Leinster Express that it would be at the next meeting.

I can confirm the DPC will attend the next meeting of the County Laois Joint Policing Committee Meeting in March 2022, said the brief statement.

Laois County Council recently informed councillors that a new arrangement is in the pipeline that would see the Gardai becoming joint data controllers. This would mean a member of a community alert scheme that operates the cameras would not have to attend court if the footage was to be used in criminal proceedings.

The purpose of a Joint Policing Committee is to provide a forum where a Local Authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of the area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests such as the IFA, to consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area.
Russia's Ambassador to Ireland should leave while Vladamir Putin should be brought indicted before the International Criminal Court for ordering the invasion of Ukraine Laois Offaly TD and former Government minister Charlie Flanagan has demanded.

Dep Flanagan, who is chairman of the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee Charlie Flanagan, has called for ambassador Yury Filatov to get of out of Ireland.

In a tweet, Ireland's former minister for foreign affairs Flanagan said he called on the ambassador to "pack up and leave".

He expanded in statement to the Leinster Express.

"As Chair of Foreign Affairs and Defence I call on Russian Ambassador to Ireland to leave our country. He lied to our Parliamentary Committee two weeks ago," said the Fine Gael TD.

The TD also had words for Vladamir Putin. MORE BELOW TWEET.

Russian ambassador with his coterie of friends and advisers in Dublin should pack up and go. #WeStandWithUkraine. https://t.co/dpci6ksSCD  Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) February 26, 2022

The former minister for justice who is also a solicitor, also said international criminal law should be applied to President Putin.

President Putin must now stand indicted before the International Criminal Court. He has turned his country into a pariah state.

President Putin must now stand indicted before the International Criminal Court. He has turned his country into a pariah state. Putin & his henchmen must therefore be treated as pariahs by the international community a). Politically b). Economically c). Legally. https://t.co/pm8w2EvSWL  Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) February 26, 2022

In another comment he said it was good to see the EU acting in one voice in response to the invasion.
The expulsion of Russias ambassador in Ireland has not been ruled out, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

The Tanaiste said the Government is not currently planning to expel Yuri Filatov but it remains an option.

Mr Varadkar suggested that the Government may move imminently to cut the number of Russian staff at the embassy in Dublin from 20 to around three.

The Government is facing growing calls from opposition parties to expel Mr Filatov.

On Friday, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald called for his expulsion.

Asked if the Government will expel Mr Filtov, Mr Varadkar told RTE: Its not something that we plan to do at the moment; its not something that were ruling out either.

As is often the case, these things are done on an EU-coordinated level.

On the number of Russian diplomats in Dublin, Mr Varadkar added: I think it would be appropriate for us to reduce the diplomatic presence by Russians in Ireland but I think the detail of that has to be left to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Simon Coveney) and has to be worked out on an EU-wide basis.

Mr Filatov was asked on Friday about the potential of him being expelled.

You might ask your Government, its up to them. I can leave any time, he told RTE.

Earlier, Ms McDonald said the Mr Filatovs expulsion should be included in a range of tougher sanctions on Russia.

It is clear that significantly strengthened sanctions on Russia are needed, she said.

The situation has now reached a point where this must include the expulsion of the Russian ambassador to Ireland.

Ms McDonald added: The sanctions announced to date against the Russian Federation and the oligarch elites close to President Putin are having no effect in deterring the invasion of Ukraine. They are simply insufficient to persuade Putin to reverse course.

It is clear that significantly strenthened sanctions on Russia are needed. The situation has now reached a point where this must include the expulsion of the Russian Amabassador to Ireland. #russianinvasion  Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) February 25, 2022

Our solidarity with Ukraine must take the form of significantly strengthened sanctions against the regime of President Putin. We need sanctions which can end Russian aggression against Ukraine and force a complete withdrawal of Russian military forces.

Ms McDonald raised concerns about the movement of Russian money through the financial centre of Dublin to Russia, a concern that has been flagged several times in the Dail in recent days.

The IFSC in Dublin is a significant European centre for financial services. The Irish Government therefore needs to take a lead in arguing for rapid and decisive sanctions which freeze the assets of Putins financial backers, and which shut off the Russian banking system from the European banking system, she said.

The Sinn Fein leader said the EU must not take a wait-and-see approach to the Russian invasion.

The EU must act today with sanctions of such scale where there can be no doubt that Putin and his oligarch supporters will pay a huge price for choosing the course of military conflict over dialogue and diplomacy, she said.

Earlier this week, Mr Varadkar accused Sinn Fein of being soft on Russia.

The Tanaiste accused the party of being highly critical of a Government decision to expel a Russian diplomat over the nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018.
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Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, and the images and stories emerging from the attack are harrowing.

By the end of the first day, the Ukrainian government said 137 civilians and military personnel had been killed.

Horrific Russian rocket strikes on Kyiv. Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany. Ukraine defeated that evil and will defeat this one. Stop Putin. Isolate Russia. Severe all ties. Kick Russia out of everywhete.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 25, 2022

The Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, described the horrific rocket strikes on Kyiv, tweeting: Last time our capital experienced anything like this was in 1941 when it was attacked by Nazi Germany.

In the face of such senseless violence, it can be easy to feel hopeless and powerless  but if youre wondering how you could help people in Ukraine, there might be some ways.

These are a few ways you can help from home

Donate to relevant charities

More than anything, children in Ukraine need peace. pic.twitter.com/vkyIsDcpnB  UNICEF (@UNICEF) February 24, 2022

If youre able to afford it, donating money to various charities will go a long way to supporting those on the ground.

UNICEF executive director Catherine M. Russell said in a statement: 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 traumatised by the chronic insecurity.

Donate here: unicef.org/ukraine/en/donate-now

High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said the UN Refugee Agency is working with the authorities, UN and other partners in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian assistance wherever necessary and possible. Donate here: donate.unrefugees.org.uk

There are no winners in war but countless lives will be torn apart. We remain firmly committed to support all affected populations in Ukraine and countries in the region. Video message by @FilippoGrandi, High Commissioner for Refugees  pic.twitter.com/mrtfgbm2lG  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) February 24, 2022

Sunflower Of Peace is a local charity gathering medical supplies for paramedics and doctors on the front lines. Donate here: facebook.com/donate/507886070680475

The British Red Cross has launched an urgent appeal to help Ukraine  you can send your money here: donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

Finally, head to United Help Ukraine (unitedhelpukraine.org) to support a charity focused on providing humanitarian aid to those in need, as well as raising awareness of the conflict.

Write to your TD

Writing a letter to your local TD can help put pressure on the government to act. This could encourage Micheal Martin's administration to put harsher sanctions on Russia.

Ireland's Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, today (Friday February 25) lifted visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland which she stated applies "to all Ukranians".

Support local journalism

Russia is attacking Ukraine. We are staying on the ground and bringing you the news you can trust. Support us so that we can continue working for you GoFundMe https://t.co/2rQHaZEpko, Patreon https://t.co/iNjWfwvs1X. Crypto:BTCbc1q444wayyye4jke3ty87sdvm77dwkysz9hwcyu6u  The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 25, 2022

The fact were so up to date with whats happening in Ukraine is largely down to the tireless work of journalists reporting on the ground.

To help them continue this crucial work, follow the news from local sources such as The Kyiv Independent (kyivindependent.com  you can also donate on its website) and The New Voice of Ukraine (english.nv.ua).

Educating yourself on the history and nuances of the crisis from respected sources before speaking about it online will help tackle disinformation.

Join a peace protest

This might not seem as direct a way to help Ukrainians as, for example, donating money  but it could still have a big impact.

Joining a peace protest (if you are able to do so and feel comfortable being in a crowd) is a public way of showing your support for the people of Ukraine, and putting pressure on those in powerful positions to help those affected.
A DRUNK man assaulted a food delivery driver after a dispute arose over the cost of a takeaway on St Patricks Day, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

Garda Aoife Keane gave evidence that the defendant went into his home, returned with a knife, smashed the delivery drivers car window, swung it at the delivery man before driving off in the vehicle and crashing into a sign.

David Ryan, aged 34, of Knockalisheen Road, Limerick city was sentenced to a total of two and a half years in prison in relation to the incident and a separate theft. A request by Mr Ryan to attend his sons Confirmation in April was refused by Judge Tom ODonnell.

Thomas Rice BL, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, said the injured party delivered food to the defendant at 9.30pm on March 17, 2018.

A dispute arose between the injured party and the accused about the cost. The accused was out during St Patricks Day and was intoxicated, said Mr Rice.

Garda Keane agreed it was over a small amount of money.

Mr Rice said Mr Ryan suddenly became aggressive and pushed the delivery man out the gate of his house.

He (driver) sat into his car. The accused went to his house, reemerged with a lengthy knife and approached the injured party while wielding the knife. He smashed the window to gain access to the unfortunate man. He was swinging the knife at him and, fortunately, the injured party received cuts of a minor nature to the shoulder.

The accused got in the car, drove to the far end of the road and collided with a sign. He sustained damage to his arm from breaking the window, said Mr Rice. Garda Keane, who investigated the matter, confirmed the events of the night.

The court heard that Mr Ryan claimed the injured party produced the knife and broke the window himself.

Aaron Desmond BL, for Mr Ryan, asked Garda Keane if pushing and punches were exchanged between both parties. Yes, said Garda Keane.

She also agreed with the barrister that Mr Ryan required stitches to his arm and was unfit for questioning due to his level of intoxication.

Separately, Garda John ONeill gave evidence of Mr Ryan committing a theft from a vehicle parked in the city in May 2020.

Mr Rice outlined that the daughter of the driver of the car had returned from the UK and was self isolating.

She put her luggage in the boot of the car. The driver on the day parked his car near a shop. He failed to lock the MPV. The defendant approached the car and removed the sat nav. He left and then returned, opened the boot and removed the luggage. The property was not recovered, said Mr Rice.

The barrister said that Mr Ryan has 70 previous convictions including for public order, theft, burglary, trespassing.

In mitigation, Mr Desmond said his client has spent most of his adult life struggling with substance use.

Mr Desmond said that on St Patricks Day his client was clearly intoxicated but it was no excuse for his behaviour. He said the theft was at the lower end of the spectrum.

Mr Desmond said his client hasnt come to adverse garda attention recently and is drug free for the first time since he was 16. He said Mr Ryan is hopeful of attending his sons Confirmation in April.

Judge ODonnell called what happened on St Patrick's Day an outrageous incident and explosive situation.

The injured party was going about his business delivering food when he was accosted by the defendant after he took issue over a small amount of money. It was fortunate he didnt suffer more serious injury, said Judge ODonnell, who added that it was committed while on bail.

The judge described the theft from the car as mean spirited.

Judge ODonnell sentenced Mr Ryan to a total of 18 months in prison for assault causing harm and a further 12 months for the theft to be served consecutively.

I am not prepared to suspend any part, said Judge ODonnell.

When asked by Mr Desmond about Mr Ryan attending his sons Confirmation, Judge ODonnell said he was not prepared to do that.

These are serious matters, he said.
A LIMERICK based artist has been capturing the character of the city since the first lockdown through illustrative sketches of iconic local buildings.

Jane Hogan is originally from Tipperary but has called Limerick her home for the last 15 years, having completed her degree in Fine Art and Printmaking at Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD).

The Corbally resident admits to always being in awe of architecture, having spent time abroad living in Luxembourg, and travelling to cities rich in design, such as Barcelona, Prague, Budapest and Berlin.

It started in lockdown one, when the streets were quiet and the character of the city slowly began to diminish, she told the Limerick Leader.

It was only then, she said, that people realised what certain places and buildings brought to the city in terms of atmosphere, and how badly people began to miss them.

Her first sketch was of Canteen, on Catherine Street, where she would regularly sit in for a coffee, admiring the drive of young independent businesses and new cultures coming into the city.

After that, the project began to grow legs and after putting the call out on social media, she penciled out popular Limerick haunts such as The Chicken Hut, Donkey Fords and Dolans.

Discussions began to take place of how people missed going to their favourite gigs, recalling their fondest memories of times before.

It wasnt until the reopening of society, when Jane took her collection of prints to a local market, that she really began to connect with what these places truly meant to people.

That was the reason why I started doing it. The stories that I am hearing about the drawings are really funny. I love the stories behind the places and the reasons why they choose a certain drawing, she said.

The success behind her series, she said, is that the buildings are illustrative not photographic and carry slight imperfections, which add to the overall character and realism of the depiction.

The iconic Limerick buildings begin with a real-life photo, which is then printed out at her desk (pictured), taking shape as a loose sketch which is then layered and built up until it begins to look like the real thing.

She has also started to add in cultural symbols, such as a drama and a film symbol at the Belltable, one of the most difficult pieces she has completed due to its fine detail, and the fabled fiver on its way into Costellos Tavern.

As well as returning to LSAD to complete a Hdip to become an art teacher, most of Janes time is taken up with private commissions and personalized pieces and gifts "connecting a place to a memory."

Most of all, Jane enjoys the banter around her artwork on Twitter, asking her followers questions about the local culture, like whether it is called a gravy chip or a super chip in Chicken Hut.

With her father originally from Limerick and now being engaged to a Limerick man, she acknowledges that it is a county full of people that tell it to you straight.

The funny thing about Limerick people is that they wouldnt be long putting you into your place if you start getting any notions, she joked.

Having put the feelers out across her social media channels, Jane can reveal that she has Tom Collins pub and Nancy Blakes in her cross hairs, with some surprises sure to come in time.

Looking to the future, she hopes to complete her Limerick series and possibly venture into her home county and maybe further afield, after that.

But for now, its all about keeping the neighbours happy, she quipped.

To purchase or request a commission from Jane, visit her website www.janey.me or her social media channels under Jane Hogan Artist.
A MAN who spat at his ex-partner and entered her home in the middle of the night as he believed somebody was in the house with her, has been given three months in jail.

The male, aged in his 20s, pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a safety order and one of criminal damage. He cannot be named as the matter was held in camera to protect the identity of the victim.

Garda Niall McInerney said he was called to a location in County Limerick on a date in September in 2021.

The defendant had had a verbal argument with his ex-partner. He spat at the injured party. The injured party hit the defendant. He punched the passenger side window of her car causing it to shatter. He breached the safety order by putting her in fear, said Garda McInerney.

The garda told Kilmallock Court that the defendant accepted liability for the damage and signed his notebook that he would pay for it.

There was a child present when I arrived at the scene, said Garda McInerney, who added that the accused has 20 previous convictions.

In November 2021, Garda McInerney said the injured party was asleep in her home at 2.30am. The defendant started banging on her door. He woke up the children who started crying. He walked in as he believed somebody was in the house with her, said Garda McInerney.

The following morning at 10.30am the court heard that the accused returned to the house but the injured party did not engage and hid in the house.

She was in fear of him, said Garda McInerney.

Joseph McMahon BL, who represented the accused, said his client and the injured party had been in a relationship for over a decade and had a number of children together. He said the defendant had a problem with substance use at the time but has spent three months in Cuan Mhuire.

Judge Patricia Harney asked if he had any paperwork? Mr McMahon said he didnt. Judge Harney asked if compensation was paid for the car window. Mr McMahon said no.

The barrister said the parents had arranged the meeting in September.

One of the children asked to leave with my client. He has had more trouble letting go of the relationship than his partner has. He has admitted his wrong doing, said Mr McMahon.

Judge Harney said the man before the court has an unenviable record which is quite frankly appalling.

This woman has every reason to be frightened of him. He signed the gardas notebook to say he would pay for the damage and he didnt. She had to claim off her insurance. He has no word at all  a big man, real impressive, said Judge Harney, who imposed a month in jail on each of the three safety order breaches to be served consecutively. The criminal damage offence was taken into consideration.
A MOTORCYCLIST who was hospitalised following a road accident last year has been disqualified from driving for two years, writes David Hurley.

Declan Hennessy, aged 29, of The Gables, Knocklong was prosecuted before Kilmallock Court in relation to an incident at Knocklong East in May 17, 2021.

Inspector Pat Brennan said gardai were alerted to the single-vehicle accident at 2.20pm but were unable to attend the scene for a number of hours.

Mr Hennessy was subsequently interviewed at University Hospital Limerick where he admitted, to gardai, that he did not have insurance or a licence to drive a motorbike.

Judge Patricia Harney was told Mr Hennessy has a number of previous convictions and that he was convicted of a separate no insurance offence in January 2021.

Solicitor Kevin Power said his client, who works as a roofer, has a car licence but not one to drive a motorbike.

He said he wished to apologise and accepts that a driving ban had to be imposed in the circumstances.

In addition to the mandatory two-year disqualification, Judge Harney imposed fines totalling 950.
IARNROD EIREANN is looking to launch a new rail line in Limerick that would reduce delays and see train journeys to Dublin cut by 20 minutes.

The new line, which will provide a second connection between Colbert Station and Limerick Junction, is tipped to allow more flexibility and fewer delays between the two stops.

Irish Rail CEO Jim Meade sat before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications Networks this month, to discuss the public consultation element of the National Development Plan (NDP).

He said that the second Limerick track would allow for increased speeds of up to 80 to 90 km/hr, in sections, if required.

It will also give us more flexibility, so that we dont have to wait for more crossing points, and we dont have to be delaying trains at intermediate stations, he said, in reference to Limerick Junction.

He stressed that the development of rail possibilities in the Limerick area forms part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework as part of the Review to Renew guide in the NDP.

He emphasised that the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategy (LSMATS) was being looked at, based on the existing network of lines around the city.

The rail service believes that the second track, which would take 18-months to construct, once plans have been signed off, would reduce the journey to the capital to 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The timeframe for the project would also include a two-year design and procurement phase.

The goal of the project, Mr Meade added, was to decarbonize inter-urban travel in Ireland including line-speed enhancement and capacity enhancement.

Sustainable transport can be a key driver for the recovery of growth, and rail travel is an essential pillar of any modern sustainable public transport network, with a significant opportunity to strengthen its role to support Ireland's wider recovery, the Chief Executive concluded.
The UN refugee agency has said nearly 120,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries amid the Russian invasion.

The number was going up fast as Ukrainians grabbed their belongings and rushed to escape from a deadly Russian onslaught, including an attempt to take the capital Kyiv.

Almost 116,000 have crossed international borders as of right now. This may go up, its changing every minute, said Shabia Mantoo, spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Its very fluid and changing by the hour.

Ukraine: UNHCR will soon be launching a portal with current displacement estimates.Latest update is that almost 116,000 have fled to neighbouring countries since 24 Feb  mainly Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania. Numbers are rising.  UNHCR News (@RefugeesMedia) February 26, 2022

The agency expects up to four million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further.

Ms Mantoo said most were heading to neighbouring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, and even some into Belarus  from where some Russian forces entered Ukraine.

She did not have details on numbers by country, but by far the largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where two million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years, driven away by Russias first incursions into Ukraine in 2014 and seeking opportunities in the booming economy of the European Union neighbour.

Polands government said on Saturday morning that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the border in the past 48 hours.

At the Medyka border crossing, a line of vehicles waiting to enter Poland stretched nine miles into Ukraine, according to people crossing the border, Polish broadcaster TVN24 reported.
Part of my series on product skills.

This is a pretty easy and fun mental motion. If youre in business leadership or engineering, its an invaluable skill.

Examples:

When my cofounder and I hired our first employees in 2014, we thought about creating an office and having everyone work from there, but decided to invest instead in remote-working infrastructure, since we thought we would eventually benefit from being able to hire people across the globe.

When annoyed by how long you have to wait for a subway train, try to estimate how often a train would ideally arrive, given that the train system is adequately funded.

Notice that you need 3 servers today to host your complicated web service, and then ask the question how many users am I likely to have if this succeed? Will this service scale?

How should a company reimbursement process work? Should the company require employees to write lengthy expense reports and get reimbursed, or just let them put stuff on a company card? Does it matter how many employees they have?

In US politics, voter turnout for the most popular elections tends to be in the 60% range. What number should that be, in an ideal democracy?

In 1961, the US was behind in the space race with the USSR, and President Kennedy set a goal of putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Yudkowsky wrote this fictional account of a world like ours, but where people are better at coordination (long!)

The mental motion is something like: notice a problem in the short term, and figure out how the world would look if the problem were solved successfully. Or: notice a short term trend, and extrapolate it to a stable state.

Not many people do this regularly, and its an easy one to add to your toolbox. Its useful for business, because sometimes it makes it clear that your business will need to be a certain way (maybe you feel strongly about the remote working policy, as we did) or that your code will need to be structured a certain way. Its also fun  at least, if thinking about the future of society is fun for you  e.g., wouldnt it be great if subway trains arrived every 2 minutes?
LONDONThe British government is pressuring British oil giant BP PLC to offload its minority stake in Russian oil company PAO Rosneft, citing the Russian oil giants links to the Kremlin and accusing Rosneft of fueling the Russian armys advance into Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter.

It is unclear if the U.K. government, which doesnt own a stake in BP, could force the sale of BPs nearly 20% interest in Rosneft.

The issue was raised when BP Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney held a conversation on Friday with Kwasi Kwarteng, British Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the person said. Mr. Kwarteng expressed deep concern about BP owning the stake.

A BP spokesman confirmed a meeting between Mr. Kwarteng and Mr. Looney but declined to comment on what they discussed.

The British company is the most exposed of oil-and-gas majors to Russia, analysts say, through its 19.75% stake in Russian state-controlled energy company Rosneft, as measured by voting shares. BPs economic interest in the companythe ownership share that defines financial distributionswas 22% as of late 2021, BP filings show.

BP executives earlier this month played down the potential risks of sanctions as tensions escalated between the countries. The company hasnt publicly weighed in on Russias invasion of Ukraine except to say the company was monitoring the situation.

The BP-Rosneft strategic tie-up dates back more than two decades, and BPs presence in Russia goes back 30 years, something Mr. Looney cited on a recent call with analysts as evidence of the companys deep roots and staying power through other geopolitical tensions.

Mr. Looney has been on Rosnefts board since June 2020. Analysts have projected BPs dividends from its Rosneft stake to exceed $1 billion this year. The first payment has been expected midyear. In 2021, BP received $640 million in dividends from its Rosneft stake, paid in two installments.

Mr. Kwarteng also expressed concerns about Mr. Looneys position alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin on the board of the Russian Geographical Society, the person familiar with the discussion said.

According to the organizations website, Mr. Putin chairs the board, which includes Mr. Looney as well as heads of Russian banks and other entities that have been subject to Western sanctions. The organization supports arts and other cultural causes, according to the website, which says trustees serve voluntarily.

Mr. Looney has served on the organizations board since 2020, replacing former BP CEO Bob Dudley, according to the BP spokesman. He said Mr. Looney has attended one virtual meeting related to the board role, in April 2021. BP declined to comment further.

Rosneft contributes roughly a third of BPs oil-and-gas production.

The BP-Rosneft relationship intensified a decade ago, through mutual interest in jointly exploring for oil and gas in the Russian Arctic. At the time, BP was reeling from its April 2010 Deepwater Horizon drilling-rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which was costly financially and reputationally.

BP is Rosnefts biggest private shareholder, according to the Russian company.

According to a December 2021 Rosneft business update, BP is the leading British investor in the Russian economy with a total investment of $18 billion." The figure fluctuates based on Rosnefts value, which has been hammered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions.
Amid ongoing global crisis involving Russia and Ukraine , Indian students are being evacuated from Ukraine for their safety. There are almost 2,320 students from Kerala who are stuck in Ukraine.

The Pinarayi-Vijayan led Kerala government on Saturday announced that the Ukraine evacuation. The state will bear the tickets from Delhi or Mumbai to Kerala.

Vijayan has asked district collectors to make necessary arrangements to for those reaching airports in Kerala.

Earlier, Kerala CM and Leader of Opposition had sent two separate letters to the Minister for External Affairs saying that among the Indian students there, 2,320 were from Kerala and many were staying back as they do not want a break in their studies. He urgedthe EAM to ensure a safe return of those students.

"I am writing this letter to request the kind intervention of your good self with the authorities in that country for ensuring the safety of our students. I also request your kind intervention to make necessary arrangements for their return by arranging special flights," Vijayan has said.

Air India has offered flights to evacuate students from Romania, Poland. An evacuation flight is supposed to land in Mumbai, India at 8pm tonight.

A data has suggested that Indian students numbering about 18,000 constitute the largest group out of the nearly 76,000 foreign students studying in Ukraine, mainly in medical courses

Parents and families, state governments, and opposition parties in India have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate steps to ensure the safe return of the students.

Modi's government says it is trying to evacuate the students. Teams of Indian foreign ministry officials have been sent to Ukraine's borders with Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romania to assist any fleeing Indian nationals.
India's ambassador to Romania Rahul Shrivastava addressed the Indian students who had boarded the flight to India from Romania, Poland. these students are being evacuated from Ukraine in the face of a war that could shake the post Cold war security understanding between the nations.

On Thursday, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin declared a special military operation on Ukraine, wherein Kyiv, the capital and most populous city of Ukraine, was attacked first, followed by an engagement near Chernobyl, where, Russian forces are now in command of the Chernobyl nuclear plant site.

The Indian government has been devising alternative routes to bring back the Indians from Ukraine safely, especially the students. Indian students form a major chunk in the Ukrainian student population, especially for medical courses. These students had earlier decided to stay back in order to continue their studies.

The students have come over to the Ukraine-Poland border from where the Polish authorities have taken over and India has sent flights to evacuate these students, following Ukraine's closure of airspace for civilian flights following an escalation in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

Rahul Srivatsava addressed the students inside the aircraft and urged them to remember this day always whenever the students face any difficulty, going forward. Whenever in life you feel things are becoming difficult, things are not moving, remember this day, 26 February, and everything will be fine", he said.

"You are in the last leg of your journey back home where your relatives, friends and families would be waiting with open arms to welcome you. While you reach there, they will embrace, you embrace them, hug them," he said.

"But while you do that, when you are back in our motherland, you should also remember that your friends are still there (Ukraine). When you talk to your friends who are waiting to be evacuated, you should tell and assure them that the entire government of India team is working day and night including all officials here to evacuate everyone," the envoy said.

He further added: "Our mission is not complete till we have taken the last person to India out of Ukraine. Wishing you a very safe journey back home." the ambassador was heard saying in the video shared by news agency ANI.

#WATCH | "...Entire GoI is working day & night to evacuate everyone and our mission is not complete till we have evacuated the last person. Remember this day 26th Feb in your life...," Rahul Shrivastava, Indian Ambassador in Romania to the evacuated Indians from #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/Ro4pBGrB76  ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

All the students gave a big round of applause to the envoy's brief remarks.

These Indians have reached Romania from Ukraine via the Suceava border crossing as part of a coordinated evacuation mission by the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania.

This was the first flight of India's alternative evacuation plan for which the evacuees were taken to Bucharest. The flight will reach Mumbai at 9pm on Saturday.

Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania," foreign minister S Jaishankar also tweeted in this regard.

Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress.



Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring.



The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania. pic.twitter.com/8BSwefW0Q1  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2022

Another evacuation flight will be returning to Delhi on Sunday.

India on Friday managed to set up camp offices in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine to facilitate the transit of Indians to Hungary, Romania and Poland. India also positioned teams of officials at Zahony border post in Hungary, Krakowiec as well as Shehyni-Medyka land border points in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic and Suceava transit point in Romania to coordinate the exit of Indian nationals from Ukraine.

(With inputs from PTI)
SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan woman has helped in constructing a school for girls in the country's northern Jawzjan province, which has been welcomed by Afghans as an initiative towards developing education in the country.

In Aqcha, a far-flanged district of the Jawzjan province, Hajji Bibi Nazira has built a 12-classroom school on 650 square meters of land at a cost of 65,000 U.S. dollars, largely solving the school shortage for girls in the district.

She has become the first woman who built a girls' school from her own wealth since the Taliban took over the power of Afghanistan in mid-August last year.

Local officials said local female students, who used to attend classes under tents, now have finally found a place to study with rooftops.

Provincial director of Education Department Mohammad Tahir Jawad told Xinhua recently that getting education is vital for everyone as well as for the whole society.

"The Islamic Emirate encourages education for girls and the new school has been built with the support of the government to promote education," Tahir Jawad said.

Provincial education authorities have named the school Hajji Bibi Nazira Girl School, calling upon more capable Afghans to follow the suit.

"Half of Afghanistan's population are women and girls are paving the ground for them to get education. It definitely would have a positive impact on our society," an elder of the area, Nematullah told Xinhua.

Although there are no official statistics on the number of literate and illiterate people among the war-torn country's some 35 million population, it is reported that the majority of Afghans, particularly the women, are illiterate.

Local businessman Abdullah Safi, inspired by Nazira's benevolence, has donated 250,000 U.S. dollars for building another school in Aqcha to accommodate more students.

"The children and pupils traveling tens of kilometers daily to attend classes and with building the new school, the problem in our area would be solved," Rohullah Habibzai, a close aide of Safi said.

Ahead of the new educational year beginning in late March, Habibzai said investment and donations to support education would encourage more people to send their children to schools. 
On the 1852 map of Niagara County, the area where James Patterson built his hotel on Main Street near Falls Street, and later his house on Mechanic Street (Prospect Street), is shown. The Falls Hotel on this map was not Pattersons; it was the one that burned in 1861.
A tribute to trailblazing physician Dr. Nathan F. Mossell, a Lockport native, has been installed in the main lobby at Eastern Niagara Hospital. Taking part in dedication of the display earlier this week were, from left, Vince Davis, Jackie Davis, hospital president and CEO Anne McCaffrey and Flora Hawkins. (Contributed image)
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a UN General Assembly high-level thematic debate titled "Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination" via video link, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said it is impossible to be completely safe as long as there is an immunization "gap" in the world, calling for stronger vaccine support for developing countries.

Wang made the remarks during a UN General Assembly high-level thematic debate titled "Galvanizing Momentum for Universal Vaccination."

Stressing the responsibilities of major countries, Wang said it is necessary to strengthen COVID-19 vaccine support for developing countries, especially African countries.

He called on all parties to improve epidemic prevention and control measures, and promote research on mutant viruses and drug development cooperation on the basis of increasing the vaccination rate.

It is necessary to effectively help developing countries strengthen public health systems, adhere to true multilateralism, and improve the global health governance system, Wang said, calling for attention to coordinating epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development.

China has so far supplied more than 2.1 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries. One in two vaccines used globally is "Made in China," Wang noted.

It is also the first to support vaccine intellectual property rights exemption and the first to transfer technology to developing countries.

China is willing to continue to work with all parties to strengthen vaccine cooperation and jointly build a community of health for all, Wang said. 
The Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) and The Housing Agency have announced details of a competition that is looking for innovative ideas to improve Irelands housing sector, including in county Longford.

Called Housing Unlocked, the initiative is calling for architects, together with people from a variety of disciplines and members of the public with a common interest in housing, to team up and submit ideas to solve housing issues in towns and villages in Longford.

Entries are now open, with practical ideas and creative thinking being sought in the areas of density, construction technologies, social inclusion, environmental and other issues. A jury of high-profile judges will select around eight submissions which will each receive funding of 7,500 to develop their proposals into an exhibition piece. The exhibition will open to the public in September this year.

Bob Jordan, CEO of The Housing Agency, said: We are seeking innovative and practical solutions that address the housing issues in Ireland. We are asking applicants to share practical solutions to the everyday issues that they are facing when it comes to delivering homes.

We would like to invite architects, in collaboration with all those who are interested, to apply for the opportunity to be featured in the public exhibition later in the year.

All submissions must be made through an online form on the Housing Unlocked website at HousingUnlocked.ie, where further information is available. Entering teams must include at least one member with a qualification in architecture.

The closing date is midnight on April 24.
Nassau County Executive Calls for the Expulsion of Russian Diplomats & Boycott of Russian Products

Local News

By Long Island Published: February 26 2022

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke outside a Russian-owned compound in Glen Cove this morning where he asked for the expulsion of Russian diplomats

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke outside Killenworth, a Russian-owned compound in Glen Cove this morning, where he asked for President Biden to expel Russian diplomats.



The County Executive also called on Long Islanders to boycott Russian products such as Vodka.



The County Executive also asked the people of Russia to stand-up against President Vladimir Putnam.



The historic mansion is used by Russian diplomats as a Holiday retreat.
10 Bake Shops on Long Island to Get the Best Bread

Food, Wine, & Dining

By Long Island Published: February 25 2022

We have the best bakeries here on Long Island!

One thing everyone knows about Long Island is that we have the best bakeries. (We have a lot of things that are the best like pizza, pies, and bagels, but we also are proud of our genuine bakeries.) Below we listed just ten of the bakeries we love. Got your own to add? Tell us in the comments or on social media.

Front Street Bakery - A perennial favorite. Location: 51 Front St., Rockville Centre, (516) 766-1199.

Dortoni Bakery - Breads baked fresh daily and they offer gluten free items. Location: 3264 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown, (516) 796-3033.

Photo: Heritage Bakers Facebook page.

Heritage Bakers - Award-winning bread. Location: 1 Garvies Point Road, Glen Cove.

Blacksmith's Breads - Two chefs who bake bread and surf! Location: 870 W. Beech Street, Long Beach.

Duck Island Bread Company - Described as an artisan bakery celebrating the traditions of generations of European bakers. Location: 201 E. Main Street, Huntington, (631) 223-2799.

Photo: Cieslasks Modern Bakery Facebook page.

Cieslaks Modern Bakery - Try the cheddar bread. Location: 235 S Wellwood Ave, Lindenhurst.

Photo: Emilia's Bakehouse Cafe Facebook page.

Emilia's Bakehouse Cafe - Location: 664 Walt Whitman Road, Melville.

Tilda's Bake Shop - Selection of breads you can order online. Location: 640 Route 25A, Rocky Point, (631) 744-3762.

Carissa's The Bakery - Get their Salty Soured Pickled Rye shipped. Locations: 68 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, (631) 527-5996; 221 Pantigo Road, East Hampton, (631) 604-5911.

Photo: Fritzsche's Bakery Facebook page.

Fritzsche's Bakery - People rave about their sourdough and pumpernickel. Location: 56 Main Street, Sayville.
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(Alliance News) - International Consolidated Airlines SA's British Airways has suffered a major outage with passengers complaining of cancellations and delays while digital systems were down.

The airline's website and app were inaccessible for hours on Friday evening, leaving customers unable to book flights.

BA said it was a "technical issue" and that it is still operating flights and checking passengers in.

Ed Hall, 54, a television executive from Woodstock, Oxfordshire, was stuck on a plane for over an hour after landing at Heathrow Terminal 5 because the crew could not access any IT systems to get a stand where passengers could disembark.

He said there were issues even before his BA 399 flight took off from Brussels.

Mr Hall told PA: "We couldn't take off as the pilot's system that calculates weight, loads and distribution went offline and we had to go back to the gate from the runway to get a (manual) copy sent from London.

"BA is running on paper tonight".

Once he finally disembarked, baggage was piling up from passengers stuck on other flights, he said.

Mr Hall added that a friend waiting for a long-haul flight in Terminal 5 was having to board manually.

Photographs of departure boards in Terminal 5 showed few flights boarding.

Sophia Prout, 33, from London, waited in Terminal 5 for her BA flight to Lisbon, scheduled for 7.05pm, until it was cancelled just after 9pm.

She said it was "frustrating" that technical issues were ongoing as she had been waiting for a total of four hours after checking in at around 5pm when only a few of the desks were working.

Ms Prout said she had arrived early because she could not check in online.

She said: "We're lucky that we can turn around and go home if the flight gets cancelled, but would be nice to get an idea of when/if we will take off".

It is BA's second outage in 10 days.

The airline said: "We're investigating and working hard to resolve a technical issue and apologise for the inconvenience.

"We will provide further updates as quickly as possible".

Heathrow Airport said: "Heathrow's systems and air traffic control are operating as normal.

"We are aware of a technical issue that @British_Airways are investigating and we will be working with them to provide updates to passengers as soon as they are available".

By Sophie Wingate, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The Biden administration has announced that it will move to freeze the assets of President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following the EU and the UK in directly sanctioning top Russian leadership.

The Treasury Department announced the sanctions shortly after the EU said it had also approved an asset freeze against Putin and Lavrov as part of a broader package of sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also told Nato leaders during a call on Friday that Britain would move to impose sanctions against Putin and Lavrov.

It was not immediately clear how impactful an asset freeze would be on the pair, but the direct action targeting the Russian president was meant to be seen as a warning to Putin that he could emerge as an international pariah if he does not end the invasion of Ukraine.

By Raf Casert, Associated Press

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Jefferson, GA (30549)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 60F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
BENZIE COUNTY  The futures of the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan are uncertain after Lisa Peacock announced her resignation from both departments in a letter Tuesday.

In the letter, Peacock cited an increasingly toxic relationship between her and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Commissioners as the main reason for her resignation as the health officer for both health departments which oversee six counties including Antrim, Charlevoix, Ostego, Emmit, Benzie and Leelanau counties.

Gary Sauer, a commissioner on the Benzie-Leelanau board of health, said he's not concerned at the moment about Peacock's resignation but he said that might change.

He cited the possibility that the board of health for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan could vote to terminate their contract but he's hoping that doesn't happen. He said that the board of health for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan is meeting next week.

He noted that the Benzie-Leelanau have six months to hire a health officer if their contract with their Health Department of Northwest Michigan were to be terminated. If a new health officer is chosen, nothing will change in terms of the current contract, which also includes the medical director for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.

As for Lisa Peacock's decision, he's a little disappointed. "It's her decision. I understand all the pressure she was under and sometimes moving on is the best decision. I have nothing bad to say about Lisa."

For her part, Peacock noted that despite what she has faced, her situation was not particularly unique. She said that she was not the only health officer in Michigan or the country at large who has faced increased hostility from politicians and the public alike.

"I am not the only health officer or medical director who has faced similar difficulties, Peacock said. "It is unfortunate that there are so many forces working against public health at this time. Public health workers are not politicians and typically take their roles and duties very seriously, wanting nothing more than to protect the health and well-being of the public. It is an exciting and challenging field in health care  the whole community is your patient.

She noted that she hopes her experiences will not be the future for public health leaders, but that she is concerned about what she and other public leaders have faced over the past two years.

"I cant speak for future leaders, but I hope we see people with a passion for this work standing up to take the torch and communities getting behind them and supporting them. I am gravely concerned about the level of trauma we have experienced and the impact that will have on our current workforce."

She noted that despite her resignation, she will continue to work until April 29, 60 days from her resignation on Feb. 22. She noted her duties will remain the same as they have and described what the work is like as a public health officer.

"My duties remain the same and I am the health officer for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. With the support from my leadership team and our dedicated staff, we provide a variety of services to citizens throughout our jurisdictions. The health officer is like a CEO and is responsible for oversight of all health department operations," Peacock said.

She said she also has a transition and a person to take over for her in mind.

"I plan to continue my duties until my planned departure on April 29. At the same time, I am working on a transition plan with our leadership team in both health departments."

Peacock also had advice for her successor.

"The next person who takes on this role will have his or her own skill set and leadership style. I would advise them to rely on their superior skills and dedication to our mission to serve our entire community and to achieve health equity by promoting well-being, preventing disease, and protecting the environment through partnerships, innovation and excellence in public health practice.

She also said it is important to delegate responsibilities" and to rely on the incredibly talented leadership and staff at both agencies who are experts in their fields."
As the state and nation continue to move out of their highest coronavirus levels in two years, discussions suggesting the pandemic may be nearing an end have increased, but Mark Hamed of the Michigan Board of Medicine says it might be too early to say for sure.

"It is too early to call it and say we are over it," Hamed said. "I know we want to get over this pandemic and move on to normal life  and we definitely should move on to normal life  but I am cautiously optimistic."

Hamed isnt reporting from a birds eye view, but from the trenches as a practicing physician at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and emergency room and hospital medical director at McKenzie Health in Sandusky.

Hamed also serves as the medical director for Tuscola and Sanilac counties, along with District Health Department No. 2 in Northeast Michigan and is the medical director for the Upper Thumb region in the state.

"We are still seeing cases of COVID," Hamed said. "We are seeing, for the most part, mild cases. But I will tell you a lot of people are still assuming it can't be COVID, but it is."

In recent weeks Michigan has seen a steady decline in coronavirus cases, and last week only saw approximately 6,000 new cases reported, compared to the pandemic record 129,000 cases reported seven weeks earlier.

"Omicron threw people for a loop because it was a lot more contagious, but a lot less serious," he said. "The kicker is this might be how it is going to be from now on."

With an omicron sub-variant being tracked around the world, the situation could rapidly change again, but Hamed is hopeful early data is correct, and it doesn't.

"The new variant that is out there, the BA.2, I think we are going to see the same thing and is more contagious, it will creep up over time to our community and, honestly, I think we will have a lot of immunity to it," Hamed said. "The big question is 'Is it more severe?' and the data says no."

The BA.2, dubbed as the "stealth" omicron because of the difficulty differentiating it from the delta variant. However, it is more transmissible than delta and the original omicron variant, and some have suggested it should have its own Greek letter designation. Currently, the World Health Organization suggests 36% of the omicron cases in recent weeks are actually the sub-variant.

Hamed has previously warned of the possibility of new variants. He said a warmer weather variant, which could spread through the summer months, could be a concern because to survive warm weather it would be more hardy and resistant to treatment.

Hamed said it is unclear if there is or will be herd immunity.

According to the Mayo Clinic, herd immunity occurs when the majority of the community becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of the disease unlikely, and in turn protecting the whole community. However, Hamed said it is unclear if herd immunity will be possible with COVID, because it also requires long-term immunity, and there isn't enough data to show that COVID immunity lasts long-term.

"We cannot say for sure that we have long-lasting immunity to this," he said. "With omicron, we aren't seeing the same level of illness, and the milder cases might not have long-lasting immunity."

With spring break around the corner, Hamed suggests people have a good time and live their normal life, but be careful.

"Avoid people who are sick, choose outdoor activities, and use caution," he said. "If you have symptoms, then stay home. That is a key thing, self-ownership, if you have symptoms act upon it."

Hamed said he has had patients who, despite a positive COVID test, didn't want to quarantine or didn't want to cancel travel plans.

"Don't expose other people to COVID if you have it," he said. "Be careful and be mindful. Use the resources that are out there. We have effective vaccines, effective at preventing what they are supposed to  severe illness and death."

Hamed said that although omicron was considered very mild, he saw a large number of patients who were unvaccinated and hadn't had COVID previously, that got very sick. Meanwhile, he saw patients who were vaccinated and had omicron, that weren't sick enough to require hospitalization.

Don't rely on monoclonal antibody therapy to treat COVID, Hamed said, because the therapy might not work against every variant. Hamed has also previously warned that the therapy is only possible when the COVID diagnosis is within the first five days.

Ultimately, Hamed hopes people will choose to be tested if they are sick, and stay home to avoid exposing other

Hamed said pandemics typically end as viruses become milder, and more able to be controlled medically. Hamed said the key to moving from a pandemic stage to an endemic stage is how people behave.

"The most important part is to take more self-ownership, if you are sick get tested," Hamed said. "Be honest with yourself and if you aren't feeling right and are sick stay at home. Don't go to work or school."

However, the responsibility doesn't just fall on individuals, according to Hamed. He said businesses should continue to keep policies in place to provide sick time to their employees, so they are able to stay home when they are sick.

"I don't think it is fair that we tell people to take time off of work but don't provide them a way to do so," Hamed said. "From an employee level, I know that hospitals are no longer offering hazard pay or COVID pay, and then they want you to stay home if you are sick. Then you burn through your (paid time off) and what do you do?"
People take shelter in a subway station in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Moscow continued to exert hefty pressure on Kiev by striking more military targets in Ukraine, while the two sides have expressed intention to start direct dialogue.

The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing.

During the fighting, a large number of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine over the past few months have been seized, including the Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the United States, Konashenkov said.

The Russian forces have blockaded Kiev after capturing the Gostomel airfield in a suburb of Kiev, killing more than 200 members of Ukraine's special units.

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows a screen displaying Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a televised address to the nation in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Russia has also taken full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and military units of the two sides there have reached agreement on the protection of the nuclear facilities and the sarcophagus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with permanent members of the country's Security Council via video link on Friday, commending the performance of Russian soldiers and officers.

"The Russian army's main armed clashes are taking place not with regular Ukrainian armed forces' units but with nationalist groups," he said.

The president noted that Ukraine's nationalists are deploying heavy weapons, including multiple-rocket launchers, right in the central districts of large cities, including Kiev and Kharkov.

Putin urged the Ukrainian military to "take power into your own hands."

Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference on Friday.

Vehicles travel past the Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Dongxu)

Also on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold dialogue with Russia.

Putin agreed to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential administration.

But Kiev later suggested holding talks in Poland's Warsaw and then stopped responding, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Ukraine and Russia are currently discussing a date and a place of possible negotiations, as the sooner dialogue begins, the more chances there will be to resume normal life, Zelensky's press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov said on Friday night. 
Bill Gates may no longer be running Microsoft, but his actions are still monitored and scrutinised around the world and he has created a buzz because of some of his recent movements in the stock market.

The Microsoft founder famously predicted that something like the coronavirus pandemic could happen and is now looking ahead to what the next pandemic might be, even writing a book titled 'How to Prevent the Next Pandemic'.

Gates has been selling many of his stocks and changing the focus of his investments, which experts are viewing as a signal of another possible crisis in the structures of the market. The theory is that if Gates thinks certain sectors are becoming more risky then they probably are.

Which sectors is Bill Gates investing his money in?

Gates' fortune is valued at 111,000m euros, the fourth largest in the world. A lot of it is currently tied up in investments, although the profile of these companies is changing.

It has been reported that Gates is buying shares in sectors related to basic human needs, such as those in agriculture (Sanderson Farms) or water (Canadian Pacific). He is also purchasing stocks in domestic transport, which some are taking to mean he foresees another international crisis.
In a rapid turn of events, President Joe Biden released a memo through the White House Press Staff where he demands Congress for $350 million that will be for the military. He is dead set on the idea to provide immediate military support to Ukraine amid all the chaos that unsued throughout the night in the entire Eastern Europen country. President Joe Biden immediately took action during Friday night in the United States. He decided to intervene in the conflict but wasn't clear what type of military aid he will provide to the country of Ukraine.

This is the entire memo published in the White House's official website: "By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the following authorities, subject to fulfilling the requirements of section 614(a)(3) and section 652 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), in order to provide immediate military assistance to Ukraine: (1) The authority under section 614(a)(1) of the FAA to determine whether it is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $250 million in assistance without regard to any provision of law within the purview of section 614(a)(1) of the FAA; and (2) The authority under section 506(a)(1) of the FAA to direct the drawdown of up to an aggregate value of $350 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown."

What does Biden mean by immediate military assistance?

This term can't be confused with military intervention, which are two vastly different actions. President Biden was very clear when he said that the United States Military troops would not enter the country of Ukraine. However, the situation throughout the night is forcing his hand to offer various types of military assistance. Congress can provide the necessary money to provide Ukraine with military equipment, communications equipment and other type of aid that Ukraine could need as a country to defende themselves against Russia. The problem is how Vladimir Putin will take this clear action against the invasion he has been conducting for two straight days.
As it turns out, the so called 'Ghost of Kyiv' is actually real! There are now various official sources that have confirmed his existence and some even shared a picture of him. Former president Petro Poroshenko decided to upload a picture of the heroic pilot who downed 6 aircraft from the Russian Government on Thursday, February 24. This confirms that the 'Ghost of Kyiv' is not only real but he remains active in the air. In one of the toughest nights for the capital of Ukraine, this pilot is roaming the skies looking for more victims to add to his list of kills. When the story of this ghost began spreading like wild fire, many didn't believe this to be real.

In a time when we are all begging for heroes, this ghost is the clear reminder that there is still hope in a world filled with war. Poroshenko uploaded an image of the pilot who is in charge of an MiG-29 fighter jet with his entire gear on. There is no way to confirm his face or real identity, but this confirmation from the president turns a wild urban legend into reality. This is exactly what the people from the Ukraine need at the moment. And that's not all, this 'Ghost of Kyiv' is already making more headlines in the 'Battle for Kyiv' that is taking place right now in the capital of Ukraine. Eventually, other official media outlets confirmed the existence of this ace pilot.

The Ghost of Kyiv adds more kills to his list.

During the night, reports started coming from a plane downing another four helicopters and a Russian Ilushyn II-76 that was carrying a landing force near Vasilkyv in the south of Kyiv. As it seems, this ghost is already in the air and defending the citizens of Kyiv. But he needs to be careful to not remain there for long because the Russians can catch on to him quickly. Even if former president Poroshenko just posted a picture of a generic pilot, this keeps on giving hope to all the citizens of Ukraine who are fighting for their country right now. This is what he tweeted: "In the image we have the MiG-29 pilot known as 'The Ghost of Kyiv'. He terrorizes enemies and makes Ukrainian people proud. He's got six wins over Russian pilots! With such powerful defenders, Ukraine will definitely win!"
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. &&
BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Guoping, a community worker in Shanghai, will be among thousands of deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, to attend its upcoming annual session this March.

In 2014, she had the opportunity to interact with her fellow NPC deputy, Chinese President Xi Jinping during an in-person deliberation session.

During the session, Zhu told Xi about the healthcare, elderly care and education issues facing residents of the community of more than 1,000 households that she served.

"Patients from across the country are flocking to big cities like Shanghai to see doctors, making hospitals no less crowded than railway stations. It is understandable if they want to get treatment for major diseases, but it is a waste of resources and efforts if they only have minor ailments," said Zhu, who hopes for a more balanced and improved healthcare system nationwide.

Zhu told Xi more stories about the everyday life of ordinary people that she had heard or seen first-hand, and Xi listened carefully.

Addressing the session, Xi stressed the important role of urban communities in social governance, and urged better services and stewardship in communities to boost the capacity of social governance.

During the "two sessions," the annual sessions of China's national legislature and top political advisory body, the candid communication between the leadership and people like Zhu mirrors the development of China's whole-process people's democracy.

Unlike many Western systems, China's NPC deputies come from all walks of life and work part-time as lawmakers. However, the performance of their duties goes beyond the "two sessions" period.

Zhu works full-time as a community worker, and she makes down-to-earth suggestions based on her experience of serving residents.

After going through due procedures, these suggestions are passed on to relevant departments, and many are translated into concrete responses and measures from the government.

Zhu said that this year, she will put forward suggestions on how to assess long-term care insurance for the elderly and tackle internet addiction among children.

In the district she works in, there is an outreach office set up by the top legislature. Zhu and local residents have used this office to participate in the revision of more than 30 laws, including laws on domestic violence and the protection of minors, and put forward over 600 legislative opinions.

Their endeavors inspired Xi to raise the concept of whole-process people's democracy when he visited the outreach office during a 2019 inspection tour in Shanghai.

"We are very happy to see our opinions were written into the law, and the feeling that we are the masters of our country has grown stronger," Zhu said. 
BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- As a country poised to address the issue of its aging population, China is now moving to tackle problems in elderly care, especially the proportionate lack of nursing care beds for seniors.

China has a considerable population of elderly people with disabilities, yet the huge demand for professional elderly care services has yet to be met.

To bridge the gap, China's State Council recently released a plan that specifies a host of supportive measures to boost the supply of nursing beds in elderly care institutions, and to raise their proportion in such institutions to 55 percent by 2025 -- a target outlined in China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).

Support will be delivered to approximately 1,000 public elderly care institutions to increase the number of nursing beds, and more of the central government budget will be invested in projects to construct new nursing care facilities for the elderly and upgrade care services, according to the newly released plan.

Efforts will be made to guide local authorities to implement differentiated subsidies for ordinary beds and nursing beds, improve protocols to verify eligible nursing beds, and establish regulations for the evaluation of the standard and quality of long-term care services, according to the plan.

While the supply of nursing beds for the elderly in professional institutions will be increased, community and home-based care services are also encouraged.

Many localities have piloted at-home elderly care services, offering such things as elderly friendly facilities, nursing beds and monitoring equipment.

Institutions are encouraged to provide professional care services directly to homes, which will also help meet demand. 
BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed unswerving adherence to China's path of human rights development.

Xi made the remarks while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday.

Xi called for more efforts to pay attention to, respect and safeguard human rights and better advance the development of China's human rights cause as the country has embarked on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist China.

To respect and protect human rights is a persistent pursuit of the CPC, Xi stressed.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC has continued to make the respect for and protection of human rights an important agenda of national governance, and has prompted historic achievements in China's human rights cause, Xi said.

The problem of absolute poverty has been solved, whole-process people's democracy further developed, social equity and justice firmly safeguarded, and the world's largest education, social security and healthcare systems established, Xi said, highlighting some of the progress in human rights development.

China has effectively combated COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of the people to the greatest extent possible. China maintains that all ethnic groups are equal, respects people's religious beliefs, and safeguards the lawful rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups, Xi said.

China has ensured long-term social stability. It is the only major country in the world that has consecutively formulated and enforced four national human rights action plans. It also actively participates in global governance on human rights, Xi added.

In the practice of advancing the cause of human rights, China has blazed a path of human rights development that is consistent with the trend of the times and suits the nation's conditions, Xi stressed.

Xi noted six main features of China's development of human rights: upholding the Party's leadership, respecting the people's principal position, proceeding from national realities, upholding the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, safeguarding human rights in accordance with the law, and participating in global governance on human rights.

The features are also experience that should be further upheld and developed in the context of new practices, Xi said.

Xi urged further efforts to fulfill the people's expectation for high-quality and better lives, and meet their growing needs to exercise lawful rights in various aspects.

The legal protection for human rights should be strengthened to fully cover the whole process of legislation, law enforcement, administration of justice, and observance of the law, Xi stressed, adding that the miscarriage of justice, which hurts people's sentiments and interests, must be completely eradicated.

Xi urged extensive publicity and dissemination of human rights knowledge, so as to create a positive environment for respecting and protecting human rights.

Xi stressed actively promoting global governance on human rights, upholding the common values of humanity, and advancing the global governance on human rights in a fairer, more equitable, rational and inclusive direction.

Human rights cannot be detached from the context of different social, political conditions as well as history and cultural traditions in different countries, Xi said.

Whether human rights are upheld in a country cannot be judged by the criteria from others, Xi said, adding that the practices of applying double standards or using human rights issues as political tools to interfere in others' internal affairs must be opposed. 
China urges U.S. to return assets to Afghanistan

Xinhua) 11:09, February 26, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the United States to unconditionally return assets belonging to the Afghan people and take concrete actions to repair the damage caused to them.

Global Times, an English-language Chinese newspaper, launched an online petition on Thursday, calling on the U.S. government to give back the "life-saving money" to people in Afghanistan.

When asked to comment on the petition, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing that the petition received signatures from over 200,000 netizens within 24 hours. He said this proves that what the United States has done to Afghanistan is piracy, and it has enraged the public.

Calling the United States the culprit of the Afghan issue, the spokesperson said more than 30,000 innocent civilians were killed during the Afghan war started by the United States and about 11 million people have become refugees.

The irresponsible withdrawal of its forces by the United States has created a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, with 22.8 million people facing starvation and 3.2 million children under five suffering malnutrition, the spokesperson said, citing figures of the World Food Programme.

At this critical moment, the United States did not shoulder its due responsibility to help the Afghan people alleviate their humanitarian crisis. Instead, it openly plundered the country's assets, further aggravating the suffering of the Afghan people, Wang said.

He noted that the U.S. behavior has proved the essence of the so-called rules-based international order as touted by the United States is actually the order of power politics for the purpose of maintaining U.S. hegemony.

"We call on the United States to immediately and completely lift the 'freeze' on Afghan assets in the United States and unilateral sanctions, unconditionally return assets belonging to the Afghan people, and take concrete actions to repair the damage caused to the Afghan people," Wang said.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
Zhu Guoping, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), is interviewed via video link before the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, May 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jinhai)

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Guoping, a community worker in Shanghai, will be among thousands of deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, to attend its upcoming annual session this March.

In 2014, she had the opportunity to interact with her fellow NPC deputy, Chinese President Xi Jinping during an in-person deliberation session.

During the session, Zhu told Xi about the healthcare, elderly care and education issues facing residents of the community of more than 1,000 households that she served.

"Patients from across the country are flocking to big cities like Shanghai to see doctors, making hospitals no less crowded than railway stations. It is understandable if they want to get treatment for major diseases, but it is a waste of resources and efforts if they only have minor ailments," said Zhu, who hopes for a more balanced and improved healthcare system nationwide.

Zhu told Xi more stories about the everyday life of ordinary people that she had heard or seen first-hand, and Xi listened carefully.

Addressing the session, Xi stressed the important role of urban communities in social governance, and urged better services and stewardship in communities to boost the capacity of social governance.

During the "two sessions," the annual sessions of China's national legislature and top political advisory body, the candid communication between the leadership and people like Zhu mirrors the development of China's whole-process people's democracy.

Photo taken on May 27, 2020 shows a view of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Unlike many Western systems, China's NPC deputies come from all walks of life and work part-time as lawmakers. However, the performance of their duties goes beyond the "two sessions" period.

Zhu works full-time as a community worker, and she makes down-to-earth suggestions based on her experience of serving residents.

After going through due procedures, these suggestions are passed on to relevant departments, and many are translated into concrete responses and measures from the government.

Zhu said that this year, she will put forward suggestions on how to assess long-term care insurance for the elderly and tackle internet addiction among children.

In the district she works in, there is an outreach office set up by the top legislature. Zhu and local residents have used this office to participate in the revision of more than 30 laws, including laws on domestic violence and the protection of minors, and put forward over 600 legislative opinions.

Their endeavors inspired Xi to raise the concept of whole-process people's democracy when he visited the outreach office during a 2019 inspection tour in Shanghai.

"We are very happy to see our opinions were written into the law, and the feeling that we are the masters of our country has grown stronger," Zhu said. 
In his application essay to become a Daily Page in the Kentucky House of Representatives during an upcoming day dedicated to Family Resource and Youth Service Centers, Highland Elementary School fifth-grader Atley Thompson said he has seen first-hand how valuable the FRYSCs are for all students.

Recently one of Thompsons classmates experienced a house fire and lost everything, he wrote in his application, and the Highland family resource coordinator, Ellie Humphrey, helped him get clothes and other necessities.

I was filled with gratitude to her for helping him, said Thompson about his resource coordinator. She also provides family-oriented activities to promote kindness, gratitude and togetherness. She sends home information on how to get assistance with everyday needs.

Family resource coordinators know that focusing on families is the key to success for all kids, he wrote.

Thompson will be joined by Daviess County High School sophomore Isabella Bella Skibba to present the Daviess County Public Schools district on March 1 for the Family Resource/Youth Service Centers Coalition of Kentucky Legislative Page Day in Frankfort.

Daily Pages range in age from 10 to 18, and they perform services for all representatives and staff by delivering messages, running errands, delivering bills, or copying materials.

The application process includes a submitted cover letter with information from the student about why they would like to be a House Page, as well as a resume. Students may also be asked to sit for a job interview, and they must be in good academic standing, according to the Kentucky Legislature.

Skibba said she wanted to pursue the opportunity of Page Day to see the state legislature operating in live-action.

The process of policy-making, she said, and the time and deliberation put into the process fascinates her. It also is great preparation for the mock government conferences she attends with her high schools Student Y club, like the Kentucky Youth Assembly and the Kentucky United Nations Assembly.

Im beyond excited to represent my district, school, and Family Resource Center in Frankfort this year, Skibba said.

Humphrey said these hands-on experiences are great for students because they support FRYSC, but they also give students a chance to see curriculum in action. Thompsons leadership was one of the reasons he was invited to apply for the legislative page program.

His teacher nominated him because he is a very conscientious student and they wanted to give him more opportunities to encourage his education, Humphrey said.

Megan Nicodemus, DCHS youth service center coordinator, said she is also looking forward to joining Skibba in Frankfort. Being a legislative page allows students hands-on, real-life educational experience and memories that can change a life.

FRYSCs go above and beyond daily in their roles because they support the students, their families, and the community, Nicodemus said.

It is important for legislators to continue to support the FRYSCs, as they assist the whole child, she said, and its important for all to advocate for continued legislative support so educators and FRYSCs can continue removing all barriers to student education.

We build bridges between the school, home and community, she said.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
Bills IGA, known to generations of Hawesville residents as Bills on the Hill, has a new owner after remaining in the same family since opening in November 1978 as Bills Quick Service.

Co-owner Billy Stephens said he and his brother Wayne Stephens decided that at nearly 73 and 76 years of age, it was time to take a step back from work in order to spend more time with family.

We are getting old and we want to see our kids and grandkids, Stephens said. We have missed a lot of opportunities to see our kids and grandkids in different things.

Stephens said the IGA located at 290 Hawes Blvd. in Hawesville was purchased by Mafaz Ansar of Glasgow, Kentucky.

The new owner will retain the Bills IGA name.

Wayne Stephens said the brothers would not have sold the store to just anybody, wanting to make sure it was taken over by someone who understands the communitys connection to the store.

Billy and I are probably serving a third generation, he said. We like to give out suckers to the kids that come in there and we are giving them out to the grandkids of people we gave suckers to.

Billy Stephens said a lot has changed since he started the store with his parents back in 1978, but Bills IGA has remained a fixture in the community.

We are good to the customers and we are open when other stores are closed, he said. You have to understand that when we open those doors at 5 a.m. those workers coming in they are going to these plants and they want to get service and get in and get out.

Stephens said that while the store maintains a focus on offering fresh cut meat and fresh vegetables, it takes more than quality items to make an independent grocery store successful.

We have real good employees, he said. Good employees is what the key is.

Steve Robertson, store manager, is the third generation of his family to work at the store, and he plans to continue on under the new ownership.

Robertson said he was attending Western Kentucky University, when his grandfather, store founder Bill Stephens, became ill and he moved back home to help out.

Now 25 years later, he cant see doing anything else.

I am going to stay here and make a go of it and just try to keep it going like it has been, he said.

Robertson said he believes its the friendly service that has helped make Bills IGA a beloved store in the Hawesville community.

I think it is just the down-home atmosphere that you get when you come in here, he said. I think people are just a little friendlier. A lot of that is knowing each other and familiar faces.

Billy Stephens said the new ownership will be keeping current store staff members that would like to stay, and he and his brother will still be around to help during the transition period.

We are going to stay here and help them out a while, he said.

Although theyre looking forward to retirement, Stephens said it was not an easy decision to make.

It is bittersweet, he said. I havent been able to hardly sleep for a month thinking about it. I have done it all my life.
Hospitalizations and new COVID-19 cases continue declining throughout Kentucky with an update in guidance expected in coming weeks, according to Gov. Andy Beshear, if the virus continues its downward trend.

The positivity rate for Kentuckians continues dropping from nearly 13% Monday to 10.8% as of the last update on Wednesday, in just a three-day period.

Hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have also been on a continuous decline, both locally and throughout the state.

At Owensboro Health, 24 patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the health care system as of Thursday evening, 19 of whom were housed at OH Regional Hospital.

Of the total patients, six were in critical care, one of whom was fully vaccinated, and three on ventilators, all of whom were unvaccinated.

The report shows the lowest number of COVID-19 patients admitted to OHRH for the past three months, according to a statement from OH.

Owensboro Health may be turning a corner in its two-year fight against the pandemic, but diligence is still needed in weeks to come, OH stated.

Still, hospital leaders remain, cautiously optimistic, that progress is being made, said Dr. Michael Kelley, vice president of medical affairs.

We have expected the late winter will bring lower COVID numbers and a bit of a respite for our team, he said. COVID is not leaving us, but the signals indicate we are reaching a more normalized stage of how it will be in the future.

Throughout Kentucky, Beshear said earlier this week, there have been similar trends with hospitalizations, critical care patients and patients on ventilators for COVID-19 symptoms continuing to fall along with new cases of the virus.

Though the fatality rate is still higher than hoped for, Beshear said it is likely deaths will also begin to decline.

The top line on COVID is, cases continue to fall at a good rate, he said. We are heading in the right direction and at a good pace.

If the downward trend continues, Beshear said he plans to update state COVID-19 guidance by March 14.

Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360
The International Center has been working diligently with several businesses throughout the community to help Afghan refugees find local employment.

Many Afghan refugees, according to International Center Executive Director Anna Allen, have unique work and educational histories that have allowed the center to pursue new employment avenues.

Daviess County Public Schools is among many employers that have hired multiple refugees, and are actively seeking to hire more, according to Courtney Payne, human resources manager for DCPS.

Payne said that like many businesses locally and nationally, DCPS is in the midst of a staffing shortage. The entrance of refugees into the community, some with backgrounds working within school systems, has provided an opportunity on both sides to fill a need.

We have a variety of positions available that can accommodate a wide array of skills and aptitudes. The individuals weve had the pleasure of meeting have been very eager to join the communitys workforce as soon as possible, she said. As a community employer, we also recognize the importance of helping these individuals integrate into our community and know theyre welcome.

So far, she said, two positions have been filled by Afghan refugees and the school system is working to match other individuals for open positions for teachers, mechanics, food service, transportation and several others.

What many people dont realize until theyve met some of the Afghan refugees is that many of them are highly skilled and educated with impressive work histories, (including) teachers, engineers, doctors, mechanics, etc., she said.

Not only do refugees help to fill needed positions within the school systems, they also offer a unique perspective and DCPS is grateful to have them, Payne said.

Additionally, having refugees fill positions within the district allows refugee children in the school system to see adults in the building that not only look like them, but come from similar backgrounds and are experiencing a massive transition just like themselves.

When our students see adults in their building every day that look like them, have had similar experiences or are from the same culture, they may be more inclined to reach out to those adults, she said. Relationships are an important part of the education experience for students. We want our students to have trusted adults around them that they know they can go to for their needs throughout the day whether thats a teacher, support staff, or administrator.

According to Khaibar Shafaq  a refugee who, having experience with disaster relief, has volunteered with translation and organizational efforts for refugees  nearly all refugees who have sought employment have been employed locally with only a few who are expected to be employed in the next week or two.

Shafaq has also been employed recently and is working to provide case management to tornado survivors in Kentucky, as well as with refugees locally through Catholic Charities.

He said he easily fits into the role as he worked with Red Cross in the Middle East for around 15 years before coming to the United States in August.

When he came here, he said he had hoped to be able to find work doing what he has done for years  helping people.

Upon arrival, Shafaq said it was second nature to jump in and start helping get refugees organized and ensure everyone had their needs met, whether it was translation assistance, getting medical appointments, food, clothing, whatever it may be.

When Catholic Charities visited with refugees in December to help provide immigration orientation assistance, he said he helped with translation and worked with the organization to help get appointments and other needs set up with refugees.

However, when the tornado hit western Kentucky in mid-December, he said Catholic Charities became heavily involved with disaster relief throughout the state.

Shafaq said he wanted to help and asked Catholic Charities if he could assist in any way.

Ive been doing this job for years and I was doing disaster response in Afghanistan, in Africa, in the Middle East and Arabic countries, so I know how to do that, he said. A few days later, we had a trip to Mayfield where we visited some of the places that got hit by this tornado.

Shortly after, he said he was asked to apply for an open position with Catholic Charities to assist with case management in Mayfield.

The job, he said, has enabled him to continue the important work he left behind when he evacuated.

Ive been there to assist them and help them and take their hand through these difficult times and be with them to rebuild their lives, basically, he said. I have experienced, myself, the same thing recently. In August, I lost my house, I lost all my stuff, I lost my country; so I can feel what (they) are going through and I can put myself easily into (their) shoes.

Christie Netherton, cnetherton@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7360
Within the last decade, the growth of nontraditional, or post-traditional, college students has been on the rise.

The number of those students peaked during the Great Recession years because a lot of working adults were jobless.

During 2011, for example, Owensboro Community & Technical College reported as much as half its student enrollment being nontraditional, or students older than 25 years old.

Nontraditional students are those who dont enter into a postsecondary option immediately after graduating high school. Or, maybe they did, but had to stop for whatever reason and are returning to college after a break.

Brescia University and Kentucky Wesleyan College are typically residential campuses, and so most of their nontraditional students are enrolled in online classes.

About 23% of Brescia degree-seeking undergraduate students are nontraditional. About 65-70% of KWCs online students are nontraditional.

Josh Baldin, KWC online enrollment counselor, said the average age of students enrolled in Kentucky Wesleyan online is 29. Something that makes the online style of learning advantageous for the nontraditional learner is that they can set their own learning schedules, typically.

With our online programs, we have them set up in an asynchronous status, meaning there isnt a specific time for students to be in the classroom, so they can learn on their own time around their own lives, he said. It is designed with that kind of student in mind.

He also said online courses run differently. They are typically seven-week courses, and students may only take two at a time. Designing it that way allows for smaller course loads for students to manage.

Baldwin said a lot of their students work full-time, or have to balance home, children, or being the caregiver for an aging parent.

He also said this has been a growth area at the school, and that a decade ago this would not have been an opportunity for the non-traditional student.

Ten years ago that person would have had to juggle an even harder schedule with coming to and from campus, he said. Specifically in the last two-to-three years, our enrollment has dramatically increased with a newer focus on reaching out to those individuals and trying to meet them where they are.

Shanda LaRue, director of operations for BUonline, Brescias online learning platform, said BUonline and the schools Transfer Center were created specifically to meet the needs of non-traditional students returning to school.

She said many non-traditional students have been out of school for many years, and they have anxieties about their abilities to return.

To assist with that, her department makes sure students understand what Brescia can offer them, and if the school is the right fit for them, she said.

We work hard to ensure that our students are confident before courses begin, she said.

OCTC especially caters to non-traditional students, as a lot of its students are working adults who are seeking higher credentials to advance in their careers.

Similar to the flexibility provided through online programming at its four-year counterparts in the county, OCTC can also offer several options for adults who have busy lives, and need to work higher education around their jobs and family life.

Kevin Beardmore, OCTC vice president of student affairs said about 27% of its students are over 25-years-old. Because many of those students are working, they often dont meet a lot of financial aid requirements, and so the Work Ready Scholarships available to them have been helpful.

He said an interesting aspect of adult students is they are focused on the payoff.

They want to know how much they will make when they finish with their degree or credential, he said. They want to know how much itll cost them to advance their credential, how long it will take, and they want to know how flexible the degree process will be. Those are areas we shine in.

Bobbie Hayse, bhayse@messenger-inquirer.com, 270-691-7315
From antique furniture to military surplus and handmade crafts, those looking to spend some time on a treasure hunt do not have to go any further than Owensboros two vendors malls.

Jo Beth Mathews, manager of T&T Vendors Mall in Owensboro, said the mall has been open for a about a year and a half, taking over the space from a previous vendors mall that had operated for 22 years.

While management keeps everything running smoothly, the vendors themselves are the heart of any indoor or outdoor market.

Rebecca Wells of Bardstown said she and her husband operate booths in 28 different indoor vendors malls in Kentucky and Indiana, and are currently looking to expand into Virginia.

While some people opt to operate a booth as a way to make some extra income, for Wells and her husband, it is their full-time job.

My husband got in it before I met him, Wells said. He got into it because he had three little girls and he was a single dad. He asked his dad what he should do because he couldnt afford babysitters, so his dad said flea markets.

Locations were gradually expanded over the years, with the couple dividing up duties such as making orders, pricing items and restocking their booths.

It is a lot of fun; I love it, Wells said. There is a good opportunity if you work at it; you have to work it.

Wells said she has seen some people gain an interest in operating a booth only to stock it once a month, thinking it would be a financially rewarding venture.

You have to keep them stocked and you have to keep them changed up, she said.

Wells, who has multiple booths at T&T Vendor Mall, said that while they stock a variety of items, including luggage, comforters, and tin signs, tools are their best seller.

Janie Johnson of Owensboro operates a vendor booth at the Consumer Mall, 2930 Kentucky 144 in Owensboro, with the sole purpose of raising funds for the nonprofit organization Spay-A-Stray.

I was trying to think of ways to raise money and I had liked doing flea markets, Johnson said. I had done one before, so I just decided to develop it into a money making project to help people get their animals spayed and neutered.

Johnson said she has operated the booth for 14 years, and sources her items from garage sales, estate sales and donations.

It is varied to say the least, she said. We dont do clothes or anything like that. I like antiques, small furniture, nice and clean glassware. It cant be chipped or anything and just household decorative items.

Mathews said its exciting to see what the vendors bring into their booths, because it can be almost anything or everything.

It is really fun to see what comes in and to be able to help people start their own businesses, she said. It is actually really fun to be a vendor. You get to show off your creativity.
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The USA Gleaner Arbor will be donating a huge box of snacks to both the Sebewaing Fire Department and the Sebewaing Ambulance crew as well as a box to the Sebewaing Police Department. The group wants to thank our local heroes for all that they do for the community. The group purchased $500 of snacks that will be distributed in Sebewaing and the same amount in Unionville.

The group will be delivering these boxes on Tuesday, March 1 at 4 p.m. at the Sebewaing Ambulance office as some children in the group wanted to be present.
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MANISTEE  The house on 269 Fifth St. is loaded with gaping holes in the walls and shattered windows  but the owners like it that way for now.

On Thursday, neighbors and passersby could see the Manistee City Fire Department vehicles parked at the residence and see firefighters geared up going in and out of windows and doors at the house.

Mark Cameron, Manistee fire chief, said the house was going to be demolished, but before that happened, the owners wanted to lend it to the fire department for training that is hard to come by.

The property is owned by John and Tara McCrackin, according to the Manistee County Property Search tool online. Cameron said he was deeply grateful to the McCrackins for the rare ability to use the house for training.

Because were in the city, we cant burn, so were using it for every other purpose that we possibly could, he said. It is (a great opportunity) and they dont come around very often.

He said the last time the department had a chance to do house training exercises like this was about six to eight years ago with a house that was demolished near the Super 8 by Wyndham Manistee hotel.

Cameron said some of the trainings included making holes in walls in case they need to self-rescue.

If were inside a center room of a house thats closed, one of our tactics is to pop a hole (in the wall). And because its old, construction studdings are different than a standard 16 inch. So in these cases where we cant fit through, we have to reach up on our pack, do a maneuver, slide, spin our packs, push through and then work our way (through).

Other maneuvers focused on breaching a door or climbing to upper floors by ladder and rescuing a person through the windows.

Every type of door creates a different obstacle or a different tactic we kind of use on it, Cameron said.

He said the house is typical of the types of houses the department would respond to during a fire call in the city.

This is an old style house, its an old Greek Revival . Typically we classify this as a ballon-frame construction, he said. The studs go from all the way from the basement to the peak and then theyre tacked on for each floor. So fire spread in these type of houses is great. Its very prominent because it gets into that void space and just travels from the basement all the way to the attic  theres no fire stops.

Ladder rescue situations are a little different with some of the older homes like the one during training as well since the single-pane windows tend to break into large shards as opposed to shattering into small fragments like newer windows.

In this case, the firefighters need to also think about wind direction and ladder placement for smashing and clearing the jagged glass from the windows.

Because of the owners' demolition plans for the house, the department needed to arrange a training day quickly. Cameron said the demolition is expected to occur within a few weeks.
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MECOSTA, OSCEOLA COUNTY  The newest team of victim advocacy volunteers will be activated following a three-day training hosted by the Mecosta and Osceola County sheriffs offices this weekend.

Our offices are joining together to incorporate a Victim Services Team that will work with each of our agencies to provide comfort and direction in a time of crisis," Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller said. "This team is being put in place to help families cope with the loss of a loved one, assist a victim of a crime, provide solutions to those in need, and bridge the gap between our offices and the victim advocates of the two prosecutor's offices."

The 13 Mecosta/Osceola advocate candidates, along with 18 others from around the state, will attend the MSA VSU Advocate Training at the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety over the weekend, he said.

The all volunteer team will be trained by the Michigan Sheriffs Association to provide short-term crisis intervention to victims and their families.

The 20-hour training will cover subjects such as the role of the advocate in crisis, how to calm agitated victims, grief counseling, active listening and observation, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It will also cover the five stages of grief, effective communication techniques, law enforcement protocols and the rights of victims in the criminal justice system.

Presentations will be conducted by representatives from a local funeral home, the prosecutors office, Community Mental Health Central Michigan, Spectrum Health, 911 dispatch, Ten16 Recovery Network, Mecosta County fire and crime scene investigative teams, the Red Cross, emergency management and the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Victim services advocates are caring, compassionate volunteers who are recruited from the community," Miller said. "Representing a broad cross-section of the population, they often have experienced their own personal tragedy and want to help others."

Program coordinator, MOISD behavioral specialist Michael Bausano told the Pioneer in a previous interview that they wanted the volunteers to have the ability to step into a very difficult situation and remain emotionally stable, while imparting sympathy and understanding to the victims.

Once employed, the advocates are expected to try to help the victims understand the information they are receiving, help them determine what they need to do next, act as a liaison between the family and law enforcement and remain with the family until their own support system is in place and provide referrals for long-term care needs.

It is likely they will stay on the scene after the first responders leave, from a few minutes to up to several hours, as well as doing follow up visits, depending on the needs of the victim, Bausano said.

Miller said he discovered that there was a similar victims advocacy unit in the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office a long time ago, but wasnt being used anymore, and felt it would be important to be able to provide that service during a critical incident. He reached out to Osceola County Sheriff Mark Cool to see if his office was interested in participating.

The two agencies are collaborating on the program to assist victims in a time of crisis, Miller said.
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A recall election has been set in Lee Township.

Midland County Clerk Ann Manary made a declaration of sufficiency for the recall petitions aimed at Lee Township Supervisor Kristy Gustafson and Lee Township Trustee Darla Rippee.

The recall election will take place when polls open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Lee Township Hall, at 1485 West Olson Road in Midland.

The subject of a recall is automatically listed as a candidate in a recall election, unless the subject withdraws within 10 days of the filing of the recall petition.

Gustafson said she's looking forward to voters making a decision.

"I'm not surprised by it at all, with all the animosity that's gone on in the township the past few years," she said on Friday. "But, I'm not just going to give up. I'm hoping people do their research, they listen and reach out... It'll be up to the voters. That's why I haven't fought (or) appealed anything."

Gustafson said Lee Township residents have reached out to inquire about the recall process. She said some residents have asked about potential opposition for the recall election.

Those interested in running as a candidate without political party affiliation may file a qualifying petition with at least 10% of the number of signatures required under MCL 168.544 by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 7 in the office of Midland County.

Gustafson said she wasn't aware of any potential candidates.

The sufficiency of recall petitions for Gustafson and Rippee was filed in the Midland County Clerk's office on Friday, Jan. 21. Manary then called the special election to be conducted on the next regular election date, which is Tuesday, May 3.

Gustafson said she has yet to receive a recall election certification notice from the county. However, Manary was able to confirm the subject was aware the petitions certification a couple weeks ago and knew the election was going to take place.

The certified recall petition sponsored by Lee Township resident Doug Kruger reads, "Gustafson voted 'yes' on a motion to transition township trash removal process from the Lee Twp. waste station to a 'curbside without recycle' solution, without utilizing the Lee Twp. bid process nor establishing an assessed district." During a December clarity hearing, Gustafson said this language was clear but it was untrue.

Rippee was unable to be reached in time of publication after the recall election had been declared. She most recently declined to speak with the Midland Daily News after the Monday, Feb. 14 board meeting in Lee Township.

Lee Twp. residents with questions regarding the recall election can contact Manary at amanary@co.midland.mi.us.
Midland City Council will discuss the possibility of having Ashman and Rodd streets become two-way streets during its next meeting.

At 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, council will meet in its regular meeting at Midland City Hall. Residents can tune in either in-person or over livestream through the citys website or its government channel, MGTV-188.

Currently, Ashman is a one-way street with traffic flowing southwest from the intersection of Saginaw Road to Ann Street in downtown Midland. Rodd, parallel to Ashman and one or two blocks away from it, is a one-way street with traffic flowing in a northeast direction from East Main Street in downtown to Cambridge.

Many major buildings in town are located on the two streets, including Kroger, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Dan Dan the Mattress Man, and St. Brigid Catholic Church and School on Ashman; and Central Park Elementary School and the U.S. Post Office on Rodd, among others.

After council approved a redesign of Buttles and Jerome streets (Business US-10) by the Michigan Department of Transportation in 2021, this prompted the city to consider also changing Ashman and Rodd streets to two-way traffic. At an earlier meeting this year, council gave direction to city staff to look into the possibility of having these roads go in both directions.

According to the meeting agenda, the topic has been brought up by the Downtown Development Authority, Center City Authority, the Midtown neighborhood, and MDOT since 2016. Recent discussions of a Center City redevelopment have also brought up the possibility of making the roads go both ways.

Ashman and Rodd streets have been one-way streets since the 1960s, according to the meeting agenda. The city would explore making both streets two-way from Saginaw Road to Ann Street, a stretch of about 1.3 miles.

(East Ashman, which starts east of Saginaw Road, is a two-way street.)

Council will vote on possible assistance for city staff to further study and provide design recommendations for the two streets to become two-way. Public input will be collected during the design work, with a final report and recommendation coming back to council by the end of May.

Council will also hold a public hearing on a concept plan for an assisted living facility on Bay City Road, and council will vote on a resolution for a second year of having Bird e-scooters available for rent in Midland.
BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

Wang said that in October last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which provided important guidance for the development of China-Britain relations.

Wang noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Britain diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level, an important link between past and future in the history of the development of China-Britain relations.

The experience and lessons of the past 50 years have proved that mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Britain fully serves the interests of both countries, Wang said.

The two sides, he said, should cherish the achievements of their exchanges over the past 50 years, continue to strengthen communication and dialogue based on the principle of equality and respect, and jointly promote steady and sustained progress in China-Britain relations.

He added that in the current volatile international situation, China and Britian, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should do more to ensure the stability of the world.

For her part, Truss said that it is very important for Britain and China, both permanent members of the Security Council, to maintain regular communication, and that Britain is willing to further strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with China so as to jointly push forward bilateral relations.

The two sides gave special attention to the situation in Ukraine during their exchange of views. 
Gov. Ned Lamont will announce Friday afternoon that Melissa McCaw, his budget chief as secretary of the state Office of Policy and Management, will exit that role immediately, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans.

It was unclear Thursday night whether Lamont was firing McCaw over her involvement in school construction contracting issues that are now under federal criminal investigation; or whether McCaw was resigning under pressure.

Reached by phone Thursday evening, McCaw declined to comment. Lamont spokesman Max Reiss had no comment.

The state Office of School Construction Grants and Review was under McCaws OPM from November, 2019 until Oct. 28, 2021, when the director of that office, Konstantinos Kosta Diamantis, retired rather than accept a suspension ordered by Lamont. Lamont that day also fired Diamantis from his appointed role as McCaws top deputy.

A federal investigation into allegations about contracting issues in that office was announced on Feb. 2, with the release of a state investigation by outside lawyers, ordered by Lamont, into possible nepotism in the hiring of Diamantis daughter by Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr.

Colangelo announced his retirement a week after that report was released.

McCaw was not implicated in that report and there have been no public allegations that she acted improperly in the school contracting issues.

Officials in several cities and towns have alleged that Diamantis or a member of his staff improperly coerced them or urged them to hire certain construction firms, including one that employed his daughter; and that his office steered work to favored contractors. Diamantis has denied wrongdoing and said his actions saved taxpayers money.

In an interview published Monday, McCaw told Mark Pazniokas of the CT Mirror that she was not aware of any allegations of steering.

Despite rising pressure including from fellow Democrats, Lamont has stood by McCaw. He said on Feb. 16, immediately before he traveled to Israel on an economic development mission for a week, that he had confidence in her ability to lead the state budget and policy office. Lamont returned from Israel Thursday morning and had no public appearances.

Friction between McCaw and Lamonts office has been evident since Diamantis departure. The former Bristol lawmaker told Mark Pazniokas of the CT Mirror the night Lamont fired him that Lamonts chief of staff and chief operating officer had been disrespectful to McCaw.

McCaw, opening her annual presentation of the governors proposed budget on Feb. 9, addressed the friction.

It is not easy to work professionally at this high a level of field that has been dominated by white males, McCaw, who is Black, said during the online presentation. And while I cannot say the same for everyone in this administration, I want you to know that Gov. Lamont and I have always had a strong and close working relationship based on mutual trust and mutual respect. I am very grateful to the governor for the opportunity to lead the Office of Policy and Management and to have a real impact on our state.

One possible explanation for the ill feelings: Unlike some previous governors who have granted their OPM secretaries vast powers over state agencies, Lamont created a new chief operating officer position in addition to maintaining a powerful chief of staff, and has given certain commissioners sweeping authority over areas such as health, infrastructure and economic growth.

Republicans have latched onto the issue of ethics in state government as a theme in this years election campaign for governor  a likely rematch between Lamont and GOP 2018 nominee Bob Stefanowski  using the investigation of the school construction office as a centerpiece. Lamont has responded that he has and will continue to take swift action, including firing Diamantis and pressuring Colangelo to step down, in what the governor calls a zero tolerance stance.

On Thursday morning, House Republicans called for an investigation of the school contract office and of state contracting overall, by the General Assembly  a move Lamont said would be fine with him.

Separately, the state Department of Administrative Services continues to investigate and reform the school contract office, which moved from DAS to OPM at McCaws insistence in 2019, and back to DAS the day after Diamantis retired. Lamonts administration has brought in outside auditors to examine contracts over the last five years, an official said Thursday.

McCaw, a Middletown resident and 2001 graduate of Wesleyan University, was the budget chief for the city of Hartford before Lamont tapped her at the start of his term in early 2019.

She has had an unusual tenure as the states budget chief for two reasons. First, she rarely speaks with reporters in a job where several of her predecessors spoke daily with multiple members of the media. And second, she has presided over balanced budgets that have come under less political fire than tax-and-spending plans in the recent past.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
KYIV, Ukraine - The United States and key Western allies on Saturday announced severe new sanctions on Russian banks as the Ukrainian capital came under bombardment with some of the fiercest shelling since the start of the Russian invasion.

The Biden administration, Canada and European allies will impose major restrictions on Russia's central bank, freezing its ability to use its $640 billion in foreign reserves. They also announced that they would remove certain Russian financial institutions from the SWIFT messaging network that connects banks worldwide, a move that to date has been taken against only Iran and North Korea.

The latest steps to economically choke Moscow and its ruling class come as Kyiv is under attack from Russian forces encroaching on Ukraine's largest city. A massive fireball was visible to the southwest of Kyiv following a pounding explosion that rocked the city in the early-morning hours local time on Sunday. At least one high-rise apartment building had been struck directly earlier Saturday, fueling skepticism of Russia's claim that it was targeting only military facilities.

Meanwhile, civilians have been fleeing westward in droves to escape the worsening fighting. The United Nations said more than 150,000 Ukrainians have fled the country already, while U.S. officials noted that the lines of those trying to cross into Poland and other nations were extremely long.

As the humanitarian crisis worsened, volunteers in Poland and other countries neighboring Ukraine to the West scrambled to organize food, shelter, transportation and other resources to meet the needs of the incoming waves of refugees.

Leaders across Europe stepped up on Saturday promising more concrete action to help Ukraine, even though the United States and its NATO allies have pledged not to send any troops into Ukraine. The United States announced that it would send Ukraine an additional $350 million worth of small arms, protective gear and anti-armor missiles - including antitank Javelins - to help defend the country from the slowed but steadily encroaching Russian onslaught. Germany, meanwhile, announced plans to send 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine to help it beat back Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the contributions as he tried to buoy his country's spirits, posting several video messages on the messaging app Telegram throughout Saturday.

He vowed to fight "for as long as it takes to liberate the country." Although Western officials have noted that Ukraine's resistance to the invasion was stronger than Russian President Vladimir Putin had anticipated, Russian troops continued to press into the country and threaten its biggest population centers.

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Before the worst strikes began, Russian reconnaissance forces had entered Kyiv, a senior U.S. defense official said, though this person would not say whether those were Russian special operations troops, known as Spetsnaz. There had also been reports of street fights in the capital.

Though the bulk of Russian troops remained about 20 kilometers outside the capital to the north on Saturday, the city was increasingly bombarded with shelling from Russian positions outside the city, fueling skepticism that Russia is targeting military facilities.

For days, Russian troops have been moving steadily into Ukraine from the north, east and south, launching air, land and amphibious assaults. The Pentagon believes that over 50 percent of the troops Russia dispatched to the theater around Ukraine are now operating inside the country, according to the senior defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the unfolding situation on the ground.

"The Russians are increasingly frustrated by their lack of momentum, particularly in the north part of Ukraine," the senior defense official said, noting that a "viable" and "very determined Ukrainian resistance" had "slowed them down."

Still, Russian missiles struck a cargo ship and an oil tanker that a Ukrainian shipping company claimed was bringing fuel supplies to Ukrainian forces, in what the company said was a targeted attack. Russian forces also destroyed a dam in a water reservoir near Kyiv, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States said Saturday, creating a flood risk in the already-beleaguered capital.

As the intensity of attacks increased, casualties on both sides have been rising, but accurately counting the dead has proved difficult to verify. On Saturday, Ukrainian leaders claimed that fewer than 200 civilians had died, but that forces had killed or injured around 3,500 Russian troops - numbers that a senior U.S. defense official said the Pentagon could not, and probably would not ever be able, to verify. The United Nations reported late Saturday that there had been at least 240 casualties, including at least 64 dead.

The Ukrainian government also announced a hotline for Russian mothers to call to see if their sons were among those killed in the fighting - apparently a move to wins hearts and minds in Russia, where nearly all of the media is state-controlled and the government has been downplaying the severity of the fighting in Ukraine. There were reports Saturday of Twitter and Facebook being blocked.

Ukraine has banned men ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country in case they need to be called upon to join the national defense. Cities have been enlisting civilian volunteers to join territorial defense forces across the country. Even people in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine that has been treated as a safe haven, were preparing for the war to arrive on their doorstep.

In Kyiv, citizens lined up at a police station for weapons they could use in defense of the capital. Others made molotov cocktails to use against Russian forces if they reached the city.

The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, also imposed a 5 p.m. curfew on Saturday, warning that anyone found on the streets after that would be treated as "members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups."

Ukrainian authorities have encouraged civilians to rip down street signs in an effort to confuse Russian troops, and called for technology experts to volunteer for the "IT army" to "fight on the cyber front." Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has also seen heavy fighting and has long championed itself as a tech hub.

As Ukraine's cities came under bombardment and citizens prepared for potential hand-to-hand combat with Russian troops in the streets, NATO countries made additional gestures of solidarity. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic all shuttered their airspace to Russian aircraft, encouraging the rest of Europe to do the same. Meanwhile, Sweden and Finland denied a top Russian official flying to Moscow permission to have his plane cross their airspace, as a rebuke over the war being promulgated in Ukraine.

"War has returned to Europe," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video address Saturday, predicting that "this crisis will last. This war will last," and that the Ukraine war will "have lasting consequences."

It is not clear how Russia will respond to the West's latest financially punitive measures. Earlier on Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had shrugged at the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other nations, calling them "quite serious" but "predictable."

Going after Russia's central bank, and barring its financial institutions from SWIFT - a move administration officials intimated would not include any waivers for energy transactions - may surprise the Kremlin.

Targeting the central bank could have a particularly devastating effect on Russia's economy: If Moscow is barred from using its foreign reserves to stabilize its currency, it could cause a dramatic slide in the value of the Russian ruble. The administration is coupling those actions with additional sanctions on oligarchs as well, that will "go after their yachts, their luxury apartments, their money and their ability to send their kids to fancy colleges in the West," a senior administration official said. "Russia has become a global economic and financial pariah."

The strategy is not without risks - and experts note they could be viewed in Moscow as an escalation. It is possible that the Kremlin could react by escalating hostilities against Ukraine. Or it is possible that the Kremlin could attempt to take measures aimed directly at the West.

"There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations," former president Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, wrote Saturday on his official page on the Russia social media site VKontakte.

"Padlock the embassies," he continued. "We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights."

Even before the sanctions were announced, the potential for a diplomatic off-ramp to bring an end to the fighting on the ground in Ukraine appeared grim. The Kremlin announced Saturday that Putin reversed a Friday decision to schedule a strategic pause in attacks, to lure Kyiv to negotiations about a "neutral status" for Ukraine - a posture that would require its government to abandon NATO aspirations.

But Ukrainian officials bristled at what they viewed as an effort to strong-arm them, criticizing Russia for not being willing to have "full-fledged negotiations." By Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had received the green light to "advance in all sectors," resuming its assault "along key axes."

The Pentagon has tracked the Russian invasion along three main pathways: from Belarus in the northwest, the Belgorod region of Russia in the northeast, and by land and sea in the south, via the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea and Russia's positions in Crimea.

- - -

The Washington Post's Robyn Dixon in Moscow; David L. Stern and Loveday Morris in Lviv, Ukraine; Sudarsan Raghavan in Kyiv, Ukraine; Rick Noack in Paris; Adela Suliman in London; and Shane Harris, John Hudson, Jeff Stein, Tyler Pager, Michael Birnbaum, Cate Cadell, Kimberly Kindy, Dan Lamothe, Chico Harlan, Tory Newmyer, Kim Bellware, Timothy Bella, Joseph Menn, Miles Long, Marisa Iati, Atthar Mirza and Elyse Samuels in Washington contributed to this report.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russian troops pressed toward Ukraines capital Saturday after a night of explosions and street fighting sent Kyiv residents seeking shelter underground. The country's leader refused an American offer to evacuate, insisting he would stay. The fight is here, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

It was not immediately clear how far Russian troops had advanced. Ukrainian officials reported some success in fending off assaults, but fighting persisted near the capital. Skirmishes reported on the edge of the city suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but civilians have been killed and injured during Europe's largest ground war since World War II.

A missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the citys southwestern outskirts near one of Kyivs two passenger airports, Mayor Vitali Klitchsko said, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

The mayor extended a 10 p.m.-7 a.m. curfew he imposed two days to run from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. as of Saturday.

All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemys sabotage and reconnaissance groups, Klitschko said.

The conflict has already driven hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians from their homes. U.N. officials said more than 120,000 Ukrainians have left the country for Poland, Moldova and other neighboring nations.

Saturdays street clashes followed two days of massive air and missile strikes as Russian soldiers moved in from the north, east and south. The assault pummeled bridges, schools and residential neighborhoods, and resulted in hundreds of casualties.

It was unclear in the fog of war how much of Ukraine was still under Ukrainian control and how much Russian forces have seized. Russias defense ministry claimed the Russian military had taken full control of the southern city of Melitopol, about 22 miles inland from the Azov Sea coast, and said Russia-backed separatists had made significant gains in the eastern region of Donbas.

Ukrainian and Western officials, however, say Ukrainian forces have managed to slow the Russian advance. Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv.

Western officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraines government and replace it with a regime of his own. The invasion represented Putins boldest effort yet to redraw the map of Europe and revive Moscows Cold War-era influence. It triggered new international efforts to end the invasion, including direct sanctions on Putin.

Zelenskyy offered renewed assurance Saturday that the countrys military would stand up to the Russian invasion. In a defiant video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street, he said he remained in the city and that claims the Ukrainian military would put down arms were false.

We arent going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country, the Ukrainian president said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that its our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.

Zelenskyy said in a second video later Saturday Moscows plan to quickly seize the capital and install a puppet government had been unsuccessful. In an emotional speech, he accused the Russian forces of hitting civilian areas and infrastructure.

The president's whereabouts were kept secret after he told European leaders in a call Thursday that he was Russias No. 1 target  and that they might not see him again alive.

The U.S. government urged Zelenskyy early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv but he turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation. The official quoted the president as saying that the fight is here" and that he needed anti-tank ammunition but not a ride.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Ukraine's health minister reported Saturday that 198 people,, including three children, have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded since the Russian offensive started before dawn Thursday. It was unclear whether the figure included both military and civilian casualties.

Ukrainian officials say hundreds of Russians have been killed in the first days of fighting. Russian authorities released no casualty figures.

The U.N. estimates that up to 4 million could flee if the fighting escalates. Refugees arriving in the Hungarian border town of Zahony said men of fighting age were not being allowed to leave Ukraine.

My son was not allowed to come. My heart is so sore, Im shaking, I cant calm down, they did not let him come, said Vilma Sugar, 68.

City officials in Kyiv urged residents to seek shelter, to stay away from windows and to take precautions to avoid flying debris or bullets. Many spent the night in basements, underground parking garages and subway stations.

Were all scared and worried. We dont know what to do then, whats going to happen in a few days, said Lucy Vashaka, 20, a worker at a small Kyiv hotel.

A British official, Armed Forces Minister James Heappey, said fighting in the capital was so far confined to very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers and that the main armored columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off.

The United States and other global powers moved to freeze the assets of Putin and his foreign minister Friday as part of tougher sanctions on Russia as the invasion reverberated through the worlds economy and energy supplies.

Sports leagues also sought to punish Russia, and the popular Eurovision song contest banned Russian acts from the event's May finals in Italy.

Russia remained unbowed, vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding that it stop attacking Ukraine and withdraw troops immediately. The 11-1 vote, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, showed significant opposition to Russias invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbor.

A senior Russian official on Saturday shrugged off the wide-ranging sanctions that the U.S., the European Union and other allies slapped on Russia as a reflection of Western political impotence.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, warned that Moscow could react to the sanctions by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and cutting diplomatic ties with nations in the West.

There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations, Medvedev said. We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.

NATO, meanwhile, decided Friday to send parts of the alliances response force to help protect member nations in the east for the first time. NATO did not say how many troops would be deployed but added that it would involve land, sea and air power.

Late Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a memo authorizing up to $350 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, bringing the total security aid approved for Ukraine to $1 billion over the past year. It was not clear how quickly the aid would flow.

The assault was anticipated for weeks by the U.S. and Western allies and denied to be in the works just as long by Putin. He argued that the West left him with no other choice by refusing to negotiate Russias security demands.

Putin has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gave a hint, saying, We want to allow the Ukrainian people to determine its own fate. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia recognizes Zelenskyy as the president, but would not say how long the Russian military operation could last.

Zelenskyy offered Friday to negotiate on a key Putin demand: that Ukraine declare itself neutral and abandon its ambition of joining NATO. The Kremlin said it accepted Kyivs offer to hold talks, but it appeared to be an effort to squeeze concessions out of the embattled Zelenskyy instead of a gesture toward a diplomatic solution.

___

Isachenkov reported from Moscow. LaPorta reported from Boca Raton, Florida. Francesca Ebel, Josef Federman and Andrew Drake in Kyiv; Jill Lawless in London; Angela Charlton in Paris; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Raf Casert and Lorne Cook in Brussels; Vanessa Gera in Warsaw; Nic Dumitrache in Mariupol, Ukraine; Matt Sedensky in New York; Jennifer Peltz at the United Nations; and Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Nomaan Merchant, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
The White Sox have agreed to minor league contracts with Wes Benjamin and Patrick Kivlehan, according to the club transactions log at MLB.com. Both players saw some big league action last season but were later outrighted off their teams respective rosters and qualified for minor league free agency.

Benjamin is joining his second club, having previously spent his entire career with the Rangers. A former fifth-round pick, he made it to the majors for the first time in 2020. Benjamin had an alright debut showing, pitching to a 4.84 ERA across 22 1/3 frames in a multi-inning relief role. The left-hander induced swinging strikes on a solid 12.3% of his offerings that season and showed passable control, only walking 7.1% of opponents. Benjamin served up four home runs in that time, but he looked like a potential long relief/spot starter option for Texas heading into 2021.

Things went off the rails last year, though. He was tagged for an 8.74 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. His swinging strike percentage dipped to 9.5% while his walk rate more than doubled to 15.2%. The 28-year-old struggled just as much with the Rangers top affiliate in Round Rock, where he posted an 8.29 ERA in 15 outings (including 10 starts). Benjamin wasnt as homer-prone in the minors, but he mustered subpar strikeout and walk numbers and allowed a .402 batting average on balls in play.

Theres no risk for the White Sox in giving Benjamin a non-roster opportunity to rebound from his rough year. He has plenty of starting experience in the minors and has been a capable performer up through Double-A. The University of Kansas product posted a sub-4.00 ERA at each stop until Triple-A and could serve as either rotation or long relief depth with Chicago.

Kivlehan has logged some MLB action in four different seasons. The bulk of that experience came with the 2017 Reds, for whom he tallied 204 plate appearances and hit .208/.304/.399. He showed some power and walked at a solid 10.8% clip that year, but he fanned in 29.9% of his trips and otherwise has scant big league experience. Kivlehan has a cumulative 46 MLB plate appearances in three additional seasons with the Padres and D-Backs, including five games with San Diego last May.

The 32-year-old has far more experience at Triple-A, wheres generally been an effective hitter. Over parts of five seasons at the minors top level, Kivlehan owns a .262/.324/.485 line. He spent last season with the Friars top affiliate in El Paso, posting a .261/.316/.508 mark with 21 homers in 91 games (albeit in an extremely hitter-friendly environment). Hell give the White Sox a right-handed bat with some pop to stash in the upper minors. The bulk of Kivlehans MLB time has come in the corner outfield, but hes logged more than 3,000 innings at third base and nearly 2,000 frames at first base in the minors.
The annual Salon de l'Agriculture has long been a political minefield for politicicans, as French farmers, cultivators and wine-growers showcase the best of the country's produce. As the expo gets underway this weekend, observers speculate that President Emmanuel Macron may be accorded a more positive welcome at the gathering than in previous years.

Relations between Emmanuel Macron and farmers got off to a rocky start at the beginning of his mandate in 2017, before becoming positively cordial by 2022 as his first five-year term comes to an end.

According to Bruno Dufayet, president of the National Bovine Federation, "the head of state will not be entering a hostile environment" when he arrives at the Salon de l'Agriculture this Saturday.

The relationship between the president and agrarian circles represented by the FNSEA famers union has significantly improved over the past five years, especially since the arrival of Julien Denormandie as Minister for Agriculture in July 2020.

Denormandie's appointment has been globally welcomed by farmers as he "knows how to talk to them and adopt the words they want to hear", remarks the sociologist Francois Purseigle.

The researcher sees in Julien Denormandie "a trump card in Macron's game, setting in place a strategy of conquest" when it comes to the agrarian electorate.

In 2017, relations between the city-slicker Macron and the farming community got off to a poor start, marred by mistrust.

According to Dominique Charge, who defends the interests of France's 2,200 agricultural cooperatives, Macron kicked-off his first term in office with "very anxiety-provoking themes for farmers," specifically the president's desire to ban glyphosate, the weedkiller that's as controversial as it is effective, within three years.

In the end, France only restricted the use of the herbicide.

The president's 'lessons'

A majority of the farming community in France didn't appreciated the presence of ecologist Nicolas Hulot in 2017.

At another outing, this time to the Rungis market Macron told farmers: "We must collectively rethink a new agricultural France" and suggested that French producers "stop the production of poultry or pork, which no longer corresponds to our tastes and needs".

FNSEA president Christiane Lambert, herself a pig farmer, admits that she found it difficult to accept the president's "lessons".

Farmers disliked Macron's "double speak" at a time when they were facing competition from countries with less stringent health and environmental standards flooding the market.

Specifically when French members of parliament were pushing through the free trade treaty between Europe and Canada back in 2019.

On the day CETA was signed, Greta Thunberg was received at the National Assembly to press for a greener environment, which farmers perceive as politically incoherent.

Farmers are generally grateful to the government for trying to improve their income through the Egalim and Egalim 2 laws.

They are also grateful to the government for allowing sugar beet growers to use insecticides that are harmful to bees against an aphid that threatens production.

Not everyone is happy

However, the left-wing Confederation Paysanne, once headed by the iconic Jose Bove, has drawn a completely negative assessment of Macron's approach.

According to the union that opposes intensive farming: "The speech that Emmanuel Macron made at Rungis seemed to lay the foundations for a rethink of the agricultural model. Five years later, we feel like we've been taken for a ride."

The Confederation laments that France will just continue to use chemical products to produce more for less, to be competitive with other countries in the world.
HONG KONG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- As the epidemic situation has been rapidly escalating in Hong Kong, it has become a top priority that various measures should be taken to suppress the coming epidemic peak, a mainland expert said.

Thus far, two groups of medical experts from the mainland have arrived in Hong Kong and exchanged views with relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and medical workers. They conducted field visits to communities, isolation facilities, medical institutions and some other organizations, and learned about the treatment of COVID-19 patients with mild and severe symptoms.

Feng Zijian, who participated in the supervision of the mainland's anti-epidemic efforts in Hong Kong, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the mainland expert teams had smooth communication with the Hong Kong side, and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, as well as the mainland's relevant experience.

"Since the outbreak of COVID-19 two years ago, the medical community in Hong Kong has been paying close attention to the successful experience of the mainland in fighting the epidemic, and the medical staff of the two sides have exchanged views in their daily work," Feng said.

Feng, also Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, believed that the experience of the mainland would play a positive role in Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic.

Hong Kong reported 17,063 new COVID-19 cases and 66 deaths on Saturday, according to local health authorities.

Feng admitted that the fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong is rapidly escalating, which will put great pressure on Hong Kong's medical system.

Feng said that with the full support of the central government, the HKSAR government is doing its utmost to increase the number of hospital beds. Also, the construction of eight mobile cabin hospitals built with the assistance from the mainland is underway.

Feng said that Hong Kong's Hospital Authority is optimizing patient assessment and triage, prioritizing medical resources to critical patients to minimize avoidable deaths.

Feng said the top priority for Hong Kong in containing COVID-19 is to take non-medical public health measures to suppress the peak of the epidemic and reduce the pressure on the medical system as much as possible.

He said the mainland expert teams and Hong Kong health officials and experts discussed the necessity and timing of further tightening public health and containment measures.

"As the epidemic continues to develop, the window period for tightening public health and social prevention and control measures is getting shorter and shorter," Feng said, stressing that the timing is very important.

On Thursday, the HKSAR government announced the gazettal of the Emergency (Exemption from Statutory Requirements) (COVID-19) Regulation (the Regulation) made pursuant to the Emergency Regulations Ordinance (Chapter 241), with a view to providing the legal basis for the HKSAR government to implement the anti-epidemic measures supported by the Central People's Government (CPG), including the construction of hospitals and isolation facilities, etc. The Regulation came into operation on Thursday.

The Regulation empowers the Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government 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).

Some Hong Kong media interpreted that the regulation provided a legal basis for mainland medical workers to come to Hong Kong to help treatment of COVID-19 patients. No authoritative information has been released on whether the central government will send medical workers from the mainland to Hong Kong to help treating the COVID-19 patients.

Feng said that the current health care system in Hong Kong is facing the risk of overload, and the shortage of medical staff is the bottleneck. It will be a major breakthrough if medical workers from the mainland were allowed to participate directly in Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic.

Talking about the future trend of the epidemic, Feng said that the situation is indeed serious, but there are also advantages for Hong Kong in the battle. Firstly, Hong Kong has the full support of the central government and the concerted efforts of Hong Kong society. Secondly, people in Hong Kong have a strong awareness of law-abiding and epidemic prevention.

Thirdly, Hong Kong has advanced medical technologies and equipment, and its medical staff are highly qualified. Fourthly, the mainland has rich experience in fighting COVID-19, which Hong Kong can learn from, he said. 
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South constituency in the Upper East Region has challenged the leadership of the governing New Patriotic Party in Parliament to come clear on its numbers in the house.

Let the truth be told that the NPP cannot have the extortionist revenue mobilization bill otherwise known as E-levy passed because they have a problem with their numbers on the floor, Mr. Apaak said.

I can bet my last penny that if Adwoa Safo out of the blue should come to Parliament today, the NPP cannot have the E- levy passed, he stated.

He said aside from Adwoa Safo who is the MP for Dome-Kwabenya constituency, there is another NPP MP who is unavoidably absent from the floor in the long to the medium term.

Dr. Apaak said this on the Citizen Show on Accra 100.5 FM hosted by Kwabena Bobie Ansah on Thursday, February 24.

He was quick to add that the Majority is delaying the passage of the E-levy because they have some difficulties in mobilizing their numbers in the house.

As the Minority group, we are determined to meet them squarely, we cannot be bribed or coerced by the Majority he added.

He noted the 137 Minority members of the house stand with Ghanaians in rejecting the obnoxious E-levy.

Ghanaians are agitated over the E-levy and the NDC as a party stands with Ghanaians on that score, he said.

Dr Apaak alleged that the Majority is bent on having the E-levy passed so that they can in the near future use it as collateral for loans like they have done with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and others.

---Classfmonline.com
The chairman of the Convention Peoples Party for Foreign affairs and International Relations has condemned President Akufo-Addo and other Heads of State for going to France to discuss how to stabilize the security instabilities in Africa amid recent coups and infiltration of some countries by some Jihadists.

According to comrade Oduro Kwarteng, it is not only shameful for leaders of sovereign African countries to go all the way to Europe to seek solutions to problems in Africa, it is also an invitation by our leaders for re-colonialization of Africa.

Speaking at the 56th Commemoration of the overthrow of the Nkrumah's government at the Party's headquarters in Asylum Down Accra, comrade Oduro Kwarteng questioned the relevance of Ecowas and the African Union if they cannot develop what he calls simple homegrown solutions to such problems.

To the senior Nkrumaist, Ghana and Africa have become a public ridicule in the eyes of the international community.

"A country and a continent well endowed with everything natural resources needed for their development who have been reduced to beggars," he remarked.

He called on Ghanaians to terminate their voting pattern and vote for the CPP in 2024 to make Ghana the leading and shining example of Africa.
Government has finally decided to evacuate Ghanaian students from Ukraine to neighboring countries  Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia and Hungary  due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Friday February 25 said The Ministry through its Mission in Berne, Switzerland and the Honourary Consulate in Ukraine are in touch with the Ghanaian students in Ukraine through their leaders.

A list of students has been compiled to facilitate an evacuation exercise.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) had maintained that evacuating Ghanaian students from Ukraine is the single most effective response to the conflict.

In a petition to the government on Friday February 25, NUGS said We therefore make the following recommendations which must all be geared ultimately towards evacuation, Parliament should direct and supervise our mission in Switzerland through the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs to take immediate steps to make food, water and sanitary materials available to students while preparation for evacuation is underway.

The embassy must improve its communication with students and establish formal means of giving out information to reassure the students who are losing hope in our systems.

The Government of Ghana had earlier expressed concerns about the safety of Ghanaian students in Ukraine following the conflcit with Russia.

In series of tweets on Thursday February 24, 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.

3news.com
Nigerian kidnapping kingpin Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as "Evans, has been sentenced to life in prison.

A judge in Lagos also sentenced two co-defendants to life for abducting businessman Donatus Dunu in 2017.

The CEO of a pharmaceuticals firm was held for nearly three months before managing to escape and telling police about his ordeal. This enabled officers to catch Evans and his gang.

An employee of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd told the court in 2018 that he had paid a ransom of about $260,000 (195,000) to the kidnappers for the release of his boss - but he had not been freed.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi said the men showed no remorse for their crimes.

I believe a lesson must be taught, he was quoted as saying when handing down the sentence

For several years, gangs nationwide have been kidnapping both rich and poor people - and sometimes killing abductees whose families fail to pay, and often demanding more money once a first ransom has been paid.

Source: BBC
26.02.2022 LISTEN

Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo displayed rude behaviour to Chief of Staff Frema Osei Opare when the former Ayawaso West Wuogon MP visited the embattled Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, at her residence to try to convince her to join her fellow MPs on the majority side so they could get the e-levy passed in December last year, Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong has revealed.

Mr Agyapong said after the Chief of Staff had flown Adwoa Safo down from the US on a private jet and even wired some GHS120,000 to her account, Ms Safo kept Osei Opare waiting at her gate for half an hour before allowing her in.

In an interview on Accra-based Asaase FM on Tuesday, 22 February 2022, the maverick MP, in responding to some criticisms thrown at the Akufo-Addo administration and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) by party stalwart Dr Richard Amoako Baah, in connection with calls by some prominent party figures to have Ms Safos seat declared vacant due to her protracted absence from parliament, said the Ms Safo, with whom he has two children, is holding the government to ransom.

Yesterday, I read  I dont know how far it is true  [that] Dr Amoako Baah was saying that President Akufo-Addo has not treated Adwoa Safo well, the party has not treated Adwoa Safo well. I respect Dr Amoako Baah very well, so, I want to inform him quietly and nicely; Ill not insult, Ill not do anything but let him know that there are fine gentlemen and women in the party that have made several efforts to talk to Adwoa. First is the President himself. I dont know why he has a soft spot for Adwoa Safo. Two, its the Chief of Staff; three is Hon. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and myself, Mr Agyapong began.

Dr Amoako Baah, the treatment Adwoa Safo is giving to NPP today; if you think if Adwoa Safos seat is declared vacant, we are going to lose, weve already lost because the woman is in the name of NPP but she doesnt come to parliament.

Now let me tell you; the true sons and daughters of NPP and how we think: NPP doesnt belong to my family, its not an inheritance; we all, collectively believe in one ideology and joined the party, so, one person cannot impose his or her will on the party that, this is the only thing that will make me join the party or do what you want me to do. It is completely wrong.

Mr Agyapong, who has two children with Adwoa Safo continued: I did surgery, I was recovering; I spoke to the Chief of Staff and she said: Look, rest before you come. This same woman who said I should rest, made the call through Hon Asiamah that: Look, theres e-levy going on and we have a problem and we need you although I said you should rest, we need your vote.

I flew first class with Emirates but Hon. Asiamah, because they needed me, said: Look, we are going to hire a private jet to come and pick you, people, up  Adwoa Safo, myself, Hon Henry Quartey and Hon Amoako-Attah. What I said to the minister is: Please, I dont want my name anywhere; you [give me] any flight because mine was going to be Monday and they needed the vote on Friday so the Thursday, I said, any flight you get for me, Ill come; I dont want any private jet.

Quartey drove from Philadelphia  Dr Amoako Baah should listen carefully [about] all the efforts everybody has made, the commitment that weve all made  Henry Quartey drove from Philadephia to New York, Kennedy Airport; Hon Amoako-Attah flew from Minnesota to New York, Airport; I drove from New Jersey to New York. Adwoa [was in] Boston  Dr Amoako Baah, what do you know  Adwoa Safo refused to come. And NPP people should listen carefully.

Adwoa Safo, they hired a private jet to bring the woman here and when she came she refused to come to parliament. She refused to come to parliament.

The Chief of Staff, after buying the ticket and flying her in, had to take a motorcade to Adwoas house; she [Chief of Staff] stood behind her [Adwoa Safos] gate for 30 minutes. What kind of rudeness is that? Before she opened [the gate]. The Chief of Staff was made to sit at her [Adwoa Safos] living room for 35 minutes. When she [Adwoa Safo finally] came [to parliament], Bagbin was tired, hes sick, he cant wait. If you cant get your numbers, so be it and we couldnt vote. Going back [to the USA], she [Adwoa Safo] was demanding another private jet. Excuse me. Dr Amoako Baah, Im sorry. You dont know what has transpired.

They forced me to call Adwoa Safo; I placed a call through my daughter; 13 times, she [Adwoa Safo] refused to talk to me. What do you want us to do again?

A chief has travelled to where she is just to convince her; she refused to come. If we lose [Dome] Kwabenya seat, weve already lost. By her behaviour, weve lost. So, if there is a by-election and we lose, we dont lose anything. Case closed.

I applaud Dokua. Dokua had given birth and after two weeks, she left the baby to come here; the second one, she came. Adwoa says no and now look at her conditions: demanding to be made a deputy majority leader and the announcement of the removal of Alexander Afenyo-Markin from that position.

I had gone to Chief of Staffs office to plead on behalf of Adwoa; she said, my brother, please dont go there. If you are saying A, B, C, D, Ive just spoken to her: these are her demands. So, I said, well, Ive done my part.

Ive kids with her but its gotten to this point. This is purely politically. I think shes wrong. She should rather apologise to the party. They should stop begging her.

Adwoa Safo; Chief of Staff called me, I went there. She [Chief of Staff] said now this is what she [Adwoa Safo] is saying; I swear on my mothers grave; Chief of Staff gave me GHS120,000, deposited in Adwoa Safos Fidelity Bank account. I put the money there in her Fidelity [Bank] account. Ask her PA if what Im saying is not the truth. The way Adwoa is treating the party, its clearly showing that we are in opposition and this should not be tolerated at all.

Classfmonline.com
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned its members, who aspire to be the partys parliamentary candidates in the 2024 elections, to desist from courting disaffection for sitting parliamentarians in the course of their campaigns.

The partys secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, in a statement also indicated that such campaigning activities should cease immediately as the party is yet to formally open the period for internal party campaign activities.

According to the statement, some aspirants are courting hatred and malice against sitting legislators in the various constituencies by claiming that the sitting MPs have neglected their constituencies, among others.

It has come to the attention of the National executive committee of NDC that some individuals who intend to contest for the partys 2024 Parliamentary primaries are going round constituencies with sitting MPs instigating hatred and malice against them. These individuals, amongst other things, have been alleging that some of our MPs have abandoned the constituencies and prefer to stay in Accra The party wishes to inform its numerous members and sympathizers across the country that it has become necessary for all our 137 members of Parliament to be present in Parliament at all times to perform duties that are extremely of importance to the nation and their constituencies, hence their unavailability to be in the constituencies at regular times as used to be the case, the statement indicated.

The NDC is yet to officially open nominations for internal elections, such as the election of parliamentary candidates for the 2024 elections, but some aspirants have already hit the ground running with campaigns in their various constituencies.

Asiedu Nketiah warned that persons who are found to be campaigning outside the official yet-to-be-announced period could face sanctions, including the possibility of being disqualified from contesting when the time comes.

He further urged all members of the party to desist from any activity that will bring the name of the party into disrepute.

Read the full statement below:

citinewsroom
The Youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding that the government prioritises the evacuation of all Ghanaians caught up in Ukraine amid the attack from Russia.

In a press release issued by the group, it says Ghana cannot afford to lose its citizens in the troubled European country especially students stranded in the crossfire.

In light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the accompanying military activities, the Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress calls on government to prioritize evacuating Ghanaians, especially students caught up in the crossfire. The stories and videos coming out of Ukraine is cringing and we cannot afford to lose any Ghanaian in the skirmishes, a release from the NDC Youth wing signed by national youth organiser George Opare Addo has said.

It adds that if evacuation is not possible, the government should ensure Ghanaians in Ukraine are moved to a safer zone.

While insisting that this is not the time for political indecisiveness and passiveness, the NDC Youth wing charges the government to fully use its diplomatic contacts and resources to ensure our students are safe and kept away from harms way. Government must announce a plan on it intends to execute this very critical assignment.

The release concludes, While we urge government to do all that is necessary to bring our countrymen home, we call on our Consulate in Ukraine to start mobilizing students and offering them shelter in the midst of ongoing developments.

Below is a copy of the NDC Youth Wings press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EVACUATE GHANAIAN STUDENTS IN UKRAINE

Accra, 25th February, 2022-In light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the accompanying military activities, the Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress calls on government to prioritize evacuating Ghanaians especially students caught up in the crossfire. The stories and videos coming out of Ukraine is cringing and we cannot afford to lose any Ghanaian in the skirmishes.

This follows similar actions taken by other countries who prioritize lives of its citizens. The fact that government has remained silent on this issue for nearly three (3) days is very telling.

As a matter of urgency, we call on government to put in place measures to relocate Ghanaian students to a safer zone in the region or bring them back home. The ongoing stand off between Ukraine and Russia, and its attendant military actions must not be taken for granted more-so when Ghanaian lives are at stake.

The National Democratic Congress joins similar calls made by the National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS) and its sister body in Ukraine, urging government to quickly evacuate students studying in the country.

This is not a time for political indecisiveness and passiveness. Government must fully use its diplomatic contacts and resources to ensure our students are safe and kept away from harms way. Government must announce a plan on it intends to execute this very critical assignment.

While we urge government to do all that is necessary to bring our countrymen home, we call on our Consulate in Ukraine to start mobilizing students and offering them shelter in the midst of ongoing developments.

Signed

George Opare Addo,

National Youth Organizer,

National Democratic Congress.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned party followers against all forms of anti-party behaviour.

In a press release from the main opposition party, it notes that it has learnt of how aspiring Members of Parliament (MP) are going behind sitting MPs to insight their constituents against them.

It has come to the attention of the National executive committee of NDC that some individuals who intend to contest for the party's 2024 Parliamentary primaries are going round constituencies with sitting MPs instigating hatred and malice against them.

These individuals amongst other things have been alleging that some of our MPs have abandoned the constituencies and prefer to stay in Accra, parts of the release reads.

Explaining that the work of an MP goes behind staying in his or her constituency, the NDC has warned that anyone caught campaigning to serve their personal interest will be sanctioned by the party.

Members are also to take note that the opening of the period for campaign activities for the party's internal elections are not yet due. Any member who jumps the gun could face sanctions including the possibility of being disqualified from contesting when the time comes, the NDC release adds.

The release signed by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketiah concludes that all party members are advised henceforth to desist from this and any activity that will bring the name of the party to disrepute.

Below is a copy of the NDC release:
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that a train that was carrying some Ghanaian students was attacked by the Russians in Ukraine.

Thankfully, Mr Ablakwa said, all the Ghanaian students escaped unhurt.

He said this on the Key Points on TV3/3FM with Dzifa Bampoh on Saturday February 26 while commenting on the decision by the Government of Ghana to evacuate Ghanaian students from Ukraine.

The Government of Ghana finally decided to evacuate Ghanaian students to neighboring countries  Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia and Hungary  due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Friday February 25 said The Ministry through its Mission in Berne, Switzerland and the Honourary Consulate in Ukraine are in touch with the Ghanaian students in Ukraine through their leaders.

A list of students has been compiled to facilitate an evacuation exercise.

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) had maintained that evacuating Ghanaian students from Ukraine is the single most effective response to the conflict.

In a petition to the government on Friday February 25, NUGS said We therefore make the following recommendations which must all be geared ultimately towards evacuation, Parliament should direct and supervise our mission in Switzerland through the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs to take immediate steps to make food, water and sanitary materials available to students while preparation for evacuation is underway.

The embassy must improve its communication with students and establish formal means of giving out information to reassure the students who are losing hope in our systems.

The Government of Ghana had earlier expressed concerns about the safety of Ghanaian students in Ukraine following the conflcit with Russia.

In series of tweets on Thursday February 24, 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.

Reacting to the new development, Mr Ablakwa said I must say that the latest shift in position by the government to take concrete steps to evacuate our nationals particularly, students stranded in Ukraine is a positive development.

I will like to commend the government for this major shift in position. You will recall that earlier in the week, when the only indication was that the students should take shelter and go into hiding, I said that it was inadequate and that it was not a helpful posture particularly, considering the fact that other countries were taking more pragmatic steps to take their nationals out of danger zone.

I followed keenly what the Indians did, I followed keenly what the French did, what Jamaica did, what the Nigerians are doing. I thought that even though we do not have a resident Diplomatic Mission in Ukraine, it is possible to form some bilateral partnerships with those who were conversant with the terrain, who had more logistical capacity and had elaborate escape plan.

I have been in touch with student leaders in Ukraine, NUGS-Ukraine, they tell me that the Polish border appears too choked now, and so, they are using the Slovakia, Hungary and Romania border points. Our diplomatic mission in Berne Switzerland is in touch with them giving regular updates, arrangements have been made across the border to meet those who are on the first train.

I have seen the movement plan of some other buses that are moving from some different cities particularly in Kyiv later today. I think these evacuation arrangements are heartwarming and we should keep our praying and our thoughts with our nationals in Ukraine. Let us pray that the good Lord will bring them out of harms way to safety.

He added There was some little skirmishes yesterday, which I followed keenly. Some of our students who were in the train which came under attack from the Russians. Thanks be to God they escaped unhurt. It is quite a dangerous situation and so far, it is to the Glory of God that none of our nationals has been hurt or part of the casualty numbers and so its is really positive.

3news.com
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has admitted that teachers and civil servants in Ghana are paid indecent salaries.

At a recent town hall meeting in Wa, Upper West Region, to sensitise Ghanaians to the e-levy and why the government needs it passed urgently, President Nana Akufo-Addos cousin told his audience on Monday, 21 February 2022: I look at teachers and civil servants, for example, and I will be the first to admit that the salaries are indecent; nobody will argue with that.

So, yes, there is a legitimate demand for more and there is a legitimate reality that there is no money, he admitted.

So, what do we do as a society? he asked.

Then, you ask me to give you more salary; which is fine. Then, I say: But it is your colleague civil servants who collect the money who are not collecting the money, so, how can you, responsible for collecting the money, not collect it and then tell me to give you the money. That will be another issue, he illustrated.

The initially proposed 1.75 per cent e-levy has now been reviewed to 1.5 per cent.

It is still in abeyance in the hung parliament because the Minority Caucus has refused to play ball with the Majority side to get it passed.

Classfmonline.com
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is one of those against the controversial e-levy, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has said.

In the reasoning of the 2020 vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a recent comment by President Nana Akufo-Addos cousin that there is no money means he is hostile to the e-levy, a proposed tax that has been in abeyance for the past three months due to the refusal of the Minority Caucus in the hung eighth parliament of the fourth republic, to play ball.

During one of the many town hall meetings being spearheaded by the Finance Ministry to sensitise Ghanaians to the initially proposed 1.75 per cent tax  which has now been reviewed to 1.5 per cent  Mr Ofori-Atta told the people of Wa in the Upper West Region on Monday, 21 February 2022: I look at teachers and civil servants, for example, and I will be the first to admit that the salaries are indecent; nobody will argue with that.

So, yes, there is a legitimate demand for more and there is a legitimate reality that there is no money, he admitted.

So, what do we do as a society? he asked.

Then, you ask me to give you more salary; which is fine. Then, I say: But it is your colleague civil servants who collect the money who are not collecting the money, so, how can you, responsible for collecting the money, not collect it and then tell me to give you the money. That will be another issue, he illustrated.

Commenting on Mr Ofori-Attas comments, Prof Opoku-Agyemang said at an event on Friday, 25 February 2022: Alternatives have been proposed to replace the controversial e-levy, quizzing: If what the Minister of Finance is saying is true  and since he hasnt denied it, I have no reason to doubt him that the government has no money  how can the poor citizens have money?

By his own admission, he [Ofori-Atta] has, unwittingly, joined those opposing the e-levy, the former Education Minister argued.

What we need is proper economic management, Prof Opoku-Agyemang said.

Classfmonline.com
Russia has crippled the operations of more than 800 Ukrainian military infrastructure sites so far, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said on Saturday, the third day of Russia's offensive.

Ministry spokesperson, Igor Konashenkov, said 14 military airfields, 19 command posts, 24 S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems and 48 radar stations were destroyed. In addition, eight Ukrainian naval boats were hit, he said.

Separatist fighters from the rebel region of Luhansk had now advanced some 30 kilometres into territory previously controlled by Ukrainian government forces, Konashenkov said.

Fighters in Donetsk, the other rebel area, had been able to make further gains of over 6 kilometres with Russian support. On Friday evening, it was reported that those insurgents had advanced 25 kilometres further into Ukrainian-controlled territory.

The authenticity of the ministry's information could not be independently verified.

GNA
The Ukrainian armed forces say theyve inflicted heavy losses on Russian troops since the beginning of the invasion.

Some 3,500 Russian soldiers had been killed and 200 others captured, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said on Saturday morning.

In addition, 14 planes, eight helicopters and 102 tanks as well as more than 530 other military vehicles were destroyed.

The figures being put out by both warring sides could not be independently verified.

Heavy fighting is taking place in various parts of the country, the statement added, with Russian air attacks having taken place in the north-eastern city of Sumy, Mariupol in the south and Poltava in the east. Civilian targets were also hit in the capital Kiev, where street fighting broke out overnight.

GNA
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire  Participants at the on- going international interfaith symposium in Abidjan (from 23-26 February) have formulated five different sub-themes to make for a more comprehensive approach to the issue of religious intolerance both in Cote d'Ivoire and Africa as a whole.

Adherents of various faith groups - mainly Muslims, have been increasingly confronted with the questions of religious violence and extremism being perpetrated by a few individuals and various groups of non-state actors across Africa.

However, embedded in all religions - particularly Islam, is the ideal of peace and tolerance.

The first theme deliberated on the role of the family and the school - considering the crucial role of parents as the first agent of early childhood education - where the building blocks of behavior are molded and nurtured - to be built upon by the school.

The second theme looked at the role of the Ivorian and African civil society groups - considering their huge socio-political impacts as policy actors and influencers on the continent.

Training and sensitization of religious leaders is the third theme being deliberated on. This is perhaps the most crucial short-term measure - considering the huge recognition faith leaders are accorded in Africa. Armed with the right, moderate, human-centered orientation, religious leaders will play an invaluable role in nurturing inter-faith peace and tolerance.

The joint-roles of religion (itself), communication, and acts of preaching is the fourth theme deliberated upon. Religion, by its compelling power in influencing behavior is an effective tool in the hands of its agents. Communication - particularly the traditional and modern forms of communication through the social media - holds a strong potential in influencing behavior - more especially for those who rely on this means of information to make sense of the day-to-day issues. Acts of preaching itself hold one of the most effective influences on individuals and society at large.

The fith theme discussed was the role of public authorities and religious stakeholders in facing up to the issues of radicalization and violent extremism. Indeed, government - as the formulator and driver of public policy, has a crucial role to play in providing the needed impetus, tools, and incentives to undertake effective public education - and this could have maximum impacts in collaboration with various faith-based stakeholders across the continent.

By Alhassan Y. Al-Waiz, Special Correspondent
First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu (Joewise) has said the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin made unreflective and unfair comments against him in the matter of the former overruling the latters decisions in Parliament.

Alban Bagbin had told Joewise that his attitude of dismissing a decision he Mr Bagbin has taken is illegal and offensive.

This comes after Joewise overruled an earlier decision taken by Mr Bagbin on the motion filed by the Minority that was seeking a probe into the Covid-19 spending.

Mr Alban Bagbin had early admitted the motion. But Joewise in his ruling on Tuesday February 22 overturned the decision saying All the committees of the house including the Public Accounts Committee are bipartisan, and the Public Accounts Committee is designed by nature to be chaired by members of the Minority.

In all its form, the Public Accounts Committee , if it is minded to investigate anything related to the Covid-19 expenditure, fully sees to the authority and power to investigate that, particularly because all the accounting of it has been provided for in the budget which budget has been provided by the House and is before the committee.

My view is that this motion ought not to have been admitted, and it's improperly before the House.

A livid Bagbin who noted that this is the second time Joewise is rubbishing his decisions said among other things in Parliament on Wednesday February 23 that The penchant of the 1st Deputy Speaker to overrule my ruling is to say the least, unconstitutional, illegal and offensive. Be that as it may I shall not be taking any steps to overrule the decision of the 1st Deputy Speaker to dismiss the motion as moved by the Honorable ranking member of the Finance Committee.

Mr Bagbin further assured that the two of them will meet and find a way out in order to prevent this development for recurring.

But in a statement responding to the Speakers flak against him, Joewise said On Wednesday, 23rd February, Mr. Speaker once again issued one such formal communication by Mr Speaker. In the said formal communication, Mr Speaker purported to comment on the error which, in his view, I committed when I permitted the Deputy Majority Leader to raise a preliminary objection to a Motion Mr Speaker had earlier admitted and which was advertised on the Order Paper for the 23rd of February.

Mr Speaker's complaint is that I should not have allowed the motion to be moved after same had been seconded but rather I should have allowed it to be moved before the motion he had earlier admitted was seconded, I have read that Mr Speaker said that he had directed and actually instructed me, to allow the Deputy Leader to move his motion before it was seconded. Whilst I do not doubt Mr Speaker's statement, I must confess that I heard otherwise and I indeed so ruled, and stated that the objection be moved after secondment.

But, Mr Speaker did not end it at pointing out my purported miscommunication or misapprehension of his order rather, he continued to comment on what he says has become the penchant of the honourable First Deputy Speaker to overrule my rulings is to say the least, unconstitutional, illegal and offensive.

This is where I find Mr Speaker's communication to the House most unfair and totally un-reflective of my conduct as the First Deputy Speaker in the 7th and 8th Parliament.

Mr Speaker proceeded to cite as an example, my ruling on the motion by the Majority to declare the purported vote to reject the 2022 budget by 137 of the 275 Member House of Parliament as falling short of the number required to take a decision and thereforeunconstitutional, null and void. In fact, in his statement from the Chair, subsequent to that ruling, he described myconduct as tantamount to in-subordination.

On that occasion I characteristically elected not to comment on Mr Speakers statement in public in order not to create the impression that theres tension between him and his Deputy.

There is however no doubt that in putting the question when the record showed that there were less than half of all members of Parliament in the chamber Mr speaker had contravened Order 109(1)of the Standing Orders and more importantly Art 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution. The purported decision of the house was a nullity and I rightly so declared it.

3news.com
Greetings to you in the name of the Country men you lead.

I have observed with awe your recent ostentatious travels and have wondered if everything is okay.

In 2016, I voted for you and you won. But in 2020 after what you did to Amidu and Domelovo, I decided not to vote at all and it was clear you almost lost. In 2024, it hurts me that you wont be on the ballot paper because I would have voted against you and I can promise you you would have lost miserably.

We are told that your recent two trips to Germany and UK in a VIP Charter jet required some 28 hours of travel distance plus an additional 13 hours of pick up and drop off time. The Ghanaian taxpayer has however been burdened with an amount of $574,000 which is equivalent to a staggering 3.46M Ghana Cedis. Earlier this year, we were told you hired a private jet at a cost of 2.8 Million Ghana Cedis. Why do you continue to engage in this profligate spending?

Gradually you are turning a country without war into a war torn country while you live like a black Arabian King. Everything is in despair. Water is not flowing through taps for months in Katamanso and parts of Kasoa. Lights have not been stable in many parts of the Country, fuel prices go up like your Chartered Jets and unemployment is now the new normal. Many are suffering in their travels for greener pastures, young boys as young as 15 and 16 are engaged in robbery and ritual murder and you still find it prudent to live the kind of wasteful life you live?

As a literature student, one of the books I read was Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again. In the book, Ola Rotmi satirizes the immorality of Nigerian Political leaders in the person of Lejoka Brown, people of dubious and unscrupulous characters who see politics as the only way of survival. What is worse is the belief in the magical power of the snake which Lejoka Brown keeps under his bed as a means of gaining and maintaining political power. This sadly brings to memory the ridiculous chair you carry around in a dedicated Toyota V8 at the cost of the tax payer.

Instead of believing in the magical powers of a Chair, let us explore more realistic and scientific solutions to maintaining power. Let the people feel you are serving them and not the other way round. Your ostentatious living which is far apart from the average Ghanaian is becoming worrying.

Teachers are on strike, hospitals are suffering, teenagers have become prostitutes and youths have become accustomed to bets. Also, is it true that in the next three months if something is done even salaries cannot be paid? You see where your economic gurus have landed us? It is obvious you are driving this country to hell. Sometimes, I wish your e levy will pass because it is clear you have run out of ideas. But its your fault it wont pass because of the magnificent life you live.

Like the story of the animal farm, looking through the farm house window at the party of elites, we, the common animals can no longer tell which are the pigs and which are the human beings.

Mr. President, the people around you who within four years of your tenure in office became millionaires will not tell you the truth. If you want the truth, listen to me. You better stop living like an Arabian King in the air and descend on earth to your people.

The Country is becoming a hell to live in and you dont have to let all hell break loose.

Thank you and I wish you well

Abraham lartey
26.02.2022 LISTEN

The Savannah Regional representative for the 2021 edition of Ghana Most Beautiful (GMB) shown on TV3, Miss Arama Sulemana on Friday, February 25, 2022, paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief for Buipe Traditional Area, His Royal Majesty Buipewura Jinapor II.

She was accompanied to the Buipewura's Palace by her team led by the Lead Coordinator Mrs. Mary Korsa and Madam Felicia Kraja.

Speaking at the Palace, Miss Arama said the purpose for her visit was to express her heartiest gratitude to Buipewura and his subjects for their contribution and enormous support given her when she was vying to be crowned the winner of last year's Ghana's Most Beautiful pageantry show.

According to her, she was overwhelmed with the amount of support shown her by the people of Buipe and its surrounding communities.

She used the occasion to impress on parents to ensure that girl child education and support becomes something paramount to them because she believed that the girl child equally has the potentials to be of immense service to societies when educated.

She presented over one thousand worth of books to the Buipewura Jinapor Education Fund for onward distribution to students in the Buipe township.

She appealed to the distributors to ensure that the Buipe Girls Model JHS gets a greater chunk of the books.

On his part, Buipewura Jinapor II, heaped praises on Miss Arama for putting up a stellar performance in the 2021 edition of the all women reality show organized by TV3 a subsidiary of Media General.

According to him, Arama was evicted because their enough was not good and promised to do more in subsequent editions to bring the crown to the good people of the Savannah Region.

He pledged his support to Miss Arama Sulemana and asked her not to relent in her quest to ensure that girl child education is enhanced in the Savannah Region.

According to him, girl child education and empowerment is very much dear to his heart and he will do everything within his remit to enhance education among girls in his paramountcy.

Buipewura Jinapor II aslo crowned Miss Arama with a chieftaincy title know as "Mbita Wurche" (Queen of beauty) for her show of courage and strength in the past edition of the pageantry show.

Miss Arama Sulemana later climaxed her visit to the Buipewura's Palace with a visit to the Buipe Girls Model JHS where she had an interaction with students and Teachers of the all girls school.

Addressing the students, she urges them to take their studies seriously and also endeavor to set goals for themselves as they strive to become better positioned in society through education.

She conveyed her heart felt appreciation to them for their support and prayers for her over the past year.
For sometime now the question, who is the most experienced politician in the history of Ghana? keeps invading my thoughts. As I was pondering over this, I stumbled over some information which makes President John Dramani Mahama unarguably the title holder. Checkout this:

He was an MP for three terms, Deputy Communications Minister from 1997 to 1998. He became the substantive Minister for Communications from 1998 to 2001. H.E. John Dramani Mahama served as the chairman of the National Communication Authority, and played a key role in stabilising the Ghana telecom sector after deregulation in 1997.

He also served as a member of the Pan African Parliament where he was chairman of the West Africa Caucus. He was the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for communications from 2001 to 2004, and NDC National Director of Communications in 2002.

In 2005, Mr. Mahama was the Minority Parliamentary Spokesman for Foreign Affairs, and became Vice President of the Republic of Ghana on 7th January, 2009. He became a caretaker president in 2012 when President Atta Mills died. The young man from Bole was sworn in as President on 7th January, 2013, after winning a one-touch presidential election in 2012.

On the international front, he was elected chair of ECOWAS for two terms, and was also elected chairman of AU Trade Committee. There are more: he was co-chairperson of the group of sixteen SDGs advocates set up by the UN.

He was head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission to Kenya, head of ECOWAS Election Observer team to Liberia and member of the Commonwealth Observer Mission to Sierra Leone, just to mention a few. Importantly, he has lost an election as a sitting president; an experience that cannot be underestimated.

Former President Mahamas next bid is going to be a doozy of brilliant collaboration of experience and learned lessons, and such wealth of experience is very much needed to make Ghana the pride of Africa, and I have no doubt that a second chance for him will be fructified.

I like an Akan proverb which says that if someone who has chewed a calabash tells you he will chew a crab, you shouldn't doubt him. President Mahama has chewed and swallowed a calabash by solving the most difficult challenges of our nation -- infrastructure development; therefore, no one should doubt him if he says he will chew a crab -- putting the economy in shape and creating jobs in his second term to give a full meaning to the change we are craving for.

Ghana has profoundly missed him; and as my two-year old grand daughter will say, Mamama Onaapo.

But let us not worry, let us hold tight because change is on the way! The same God who gave Mahama to us in 2012 will give him to us again in 2024.

Anthony Obeng Afrane
26.02.2022 LISTEN

Folks, While the debate rages on whether the E-Levy is the answer to all Ghanas socio-economic problems or not, I have just settled for the term Evil-Levy to summarise it all. Simply put, even the conceptualisation of the levy and the idea of it including the planning and implementation is just plain evil. There is no need for a debate. How can you seek to raise 7bn cedis from the poor when the rich and those in government waste over 12bn cedis a year, according to your own preferred Auditor-General ( Not the Ghanaian/ Togolese Domelovo from Ada) is pure simply evil. If our leaders become considerate and stop profligacy, wastage, bathing in the skies, payment to spouses and driving 47 V8 vehicles from Accra to Kumasi for a one hour radio interviews, we wont need the EVIL-LEVY

Now to the argument that the minority is stopping the majority from passing the bill. How kindergarten is this argument? The party in power says it has majority in parliament. It has a flagship economic policy proposal that it wants to pass, why blame the minority for your inability to pass it? The minority and about 95% of Ghanaians including me, say its an Evil-Levy. We cant support it. You say its the magic wand of economic emancipation and your economic messiah. Minority say, it will cripple the economy and make the poor poorer and worsen the countys economic woes. I add that its an electoral suicide. Dont pass it. But if you want to pass it, go ahead and suffer the electoral consequence. Then the funny and most childish argument from the esteemed Minister of Interior, Mr Ambrose Derry, and his side-kick the National NPP pollster, Ben Ehpson that if the minority believes its electoral suicide for the NPP, then it must help it pass it. Ebei! What childish argument? The minority argument is very simple. On this occasion at least, they will stand with the poor in society and majority of the electorate and make sure that all their 137 MPs vote against the bill when it is presented in parliament. You say you have majority , 137 plus 1 MPs. Use your majority to pass your EVIL-LEVY and face the consequence. Why must the minority help you and share in your guilt or electoral suicide? Cant you use your possibly myopic eyes to see that if the minority helps you to pass the EVIL-LEVY , they will be complicit in the passing of the EVIL-LEVY?

So simple. You are the majority. Pass your bill and bare the consequences. The minority will not help you with its 137 MPs. Pass the bill alone and face the wrath of the populace alone. If the minority helps you, it becomes your partner in crime and stands on the wrong side of history. They become your accomplices and stand to gain no electoral advantage from you folly and suicide. It is like wanting to commit suicide because you cant pay your gamble debts, then you go to your enemys house and beg him to openly dish out the poison for you in front of witnesses. Why? Do you want your enemy to be blamed and go to prison for your childish decision to commit suicide? Or is it the best to man up, wise up and face your debtors and boldly re-negotiate new terms of payment?

Or is it true that the majority NPP government has realised that some constituencies are so incensed that they have warned their own NPP MPs not to vote for this EVIL-LEVY so even within their own ranks, they are failing to find the numbers in parliament to pass their EVIL-LEVY? Please pull the other one. Already, the benefits of the E-Levy for the first year if it were approved, has been eroded by the number of V8s fuelled and driven across the country for the so-called town hall meetings on the EVIL-LEVY. The town hall meetings go on for about 4 hours. The drivers sit in the sun with the engines of the V8 running and Air-Conditions on, waiting for their ministers and big men to speak brofo inside the halls. Just add the big lunches, the palm greasing brown envelopes for journalists and hangers-ons, the hotel bills for the ministers and party activists that are bussed around to make the town halls look full and participatory as well as the cost of the venues with decorations and you will see that the Town Hall meetings are nothing but a very well choreographed expensive waste on the tax payer. Please dont forget to add the laundering bill for the clean white political suites of the Finance Minister and his entourage. How can you decide on a policy go to parliament and fail when you proposed 1.75% tax then already decide that you will reduce it to 1.5% and then travel round the country to consult people who you think already agree with you? Should the consultation come before the agreed policy principles or after?

The minority in parliament and we, the ordinary tax payers in the street, ( who cant join you in bathing in the skies) will not help you or make it easy for you to pass your EVIL-LEVY. We dare you, if you have the numbers, pass it.

AND STOP WASTING OUR EARS!

K Kakraba Pratt.
26.02.2022 LISTEN

Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute his or her quota to national development. Despite the huge inequality in our society, we must encourage everyone to see the need to contribute to national progress through any resourceful means. Despite the political differences between the ruling NPP and the opposition NDC, it's important as citizens to come to the understanding that national development surpasses the whims and caprices of any political party. Our patriotic virtues echoed by the constitution must be translated into a commitment towards supporting any government, irrespective of colour brand, to succeed.

Government borrowing had gained political currency in the current republic and each prospective government cash on to rising to political power. Currently, the government is being accused of huge borrowing which many experts believe is not prudent for a developing economy like Ghana. The government has been urged on by experts and other civil societies to cut down expenditure and maximize revenue for which the digitization agenda became very relevant.

Though corruption continues to rock successive governments and is also a major concern for our development agenda, it's important any government in power focus more on raising enough revenue through any possible means whilst cutting down expenditure. The current administration has demonstrated beyond every circumstance that it's to push for revenue mobilization and to cut down expenditure through the digitization agenda. It will be highly unfair, if not for political reasons, to say contributing our widows' mite as citizens is an attempt by the government to rob the ordinary man of his meagre living.

The introduction and the passing of the E-levy have generated both political controversies and public outcry mainly due to fierce resistance by the opposition NDC. NDC has somewhat succeeded in pushing the masses against the government, a situation that has forced the NPP to organize town hall meetings across the country on the E-levy. The 2022 budget has suffered setbacks in parliament because of E-levy and government business is partially being derailed.

Notwithstanding, we cannot underestimate the importance of E-levy to the development of our country. Over 20 millions Ghanaians use some form of digital platform in transferring and receiving money and the governments ability to properly tax these transactions will go a long way to bridge the revenue gap and reduce government borrowing muscles. It is therefore opportunistic to suggest that government wants to burden Ghanaians with more taxes and discourage them from using mobile money. E-levy has not been designed to target the poor or the vulnerable in society. It has been designed to be able to tax transactions in a manner that is not different from the charges of the telecos and the government will do it once on transactions above GH100.

As citizens, we must ask ourselves that we pay GH1.50 to a foreign company on GH150 transfer and receipts totalling GH3.0. These charges profit them and the monies are repatriated to develop their country. What it means is that every single transaction that one makes is charged by these telecos. This shows the skyrocketing profit they are making out of Ghanaian citizens. What then prevents the government from profiting from this huge profiteering avenue? The government has therefore tasked the telecos to reduce their charges to enable every citizen to contribute a levy to support national development.

Technically, the government needs the support of its citizens and the E-levy is a form of appeal to support government business through a common platform used by over 20million Ghanaians. Unfortunately, E-levy has suffered the backlash from a section of Ghanaians mainly because the opposition NDC has made it look as though the government is highly insensitive to its citizens. Well, NDC as a party is a potential government in the making and their fierce resistance to revenue mobilization only point to the fact they want Ghana to return to IMF to beg for a bailout. IMF bailout has proven to be detrimental to Ghanas development and if we want the nation to develop, it is prudent to embrace all forms of risks and swallow the bitter pill to help develop it. We might have reservations about how revenues are used by the government and the revenue drains in our system, but we cannot despise any genuine effort to develop the nation by any government.

Isaac Ofori
MANILA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,223 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 3,660,020.

The DOH said 128 more people died from COVID-19 complications, pushing the country's death toll to 56,351.

Guido David, a professor at the University of the Philippines and OCTA Research fellow, said the COVID-19 situation in Metro Manila remained at low risk with a positivity rate of 4 percent.

Citing DOH data, David said the capital region's reproduction number as of Friday was 0.21, healthcare utilization rate at 25 percent, and intensive care unit utilization rate at 27 percent.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque, the chair of an interagency coronavirus task force, said earlier that Metro Manila is ready to deescalate to alert level 1 on March 1.

The Philippines has seen four waves of COVID-19 infection since 2020. The country reported the highest single-day tally on Jan. 15 this year, with 39,004 new cases.

The Philippines, with a population around 110 million, has tested over 26 million people. 
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

26.02.2022 LISTEN

Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has commended the government for taking steps to have Ghanaians in troubled Ukraine evacuated.

The government of Ghana through a release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Friday, February 25 has outlined plans to get Ghanaians in the European country to safety.

According to the release, efforts are underway to evacuate Ghanaian students from Ukraine to neighboring countries  Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia, and Hungary.

The Ministry through its Mission in Berne, Switzerland and the Honourary Consulate in Ukraine are in touch with the Ghanaian students in Ukraine through their leaders.

A list of students has been compiled to facilitate an evacuation exercise, part of the release said.

Impressed with the move, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has applauded the government.

I must say that the latest shift in position by the government to take concrete steps to evacuate our nationals particularly, students stranded in Ukraine is a positive development.

I will like to commend the government for this major shift in position. You will recall that earlier in the week, when the only indication was that the students should take shelter and go into hiding, I said that it was inadequate and that it was not a helpful posture particularly, considering the fact that other countries were taking more pragmatic steps to take their nationals out of danger zone, part of a statement from Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said.

The statement from the North Tongu MP adds, I think these evacuation arrangements are heartwarming and we should keep our praying and our thoughts with our nationals in Ukraine. Let us pray that the good Lord will bring them out of harms way to safety.

Read the full statement below:

I must say that the latest shift in position by the government to take concrete steps to evacuate our nationals particularly, students stranded in Ukraine is a positive development.

I will like to commend the government for this major shift in position. You will recall that earlier in the week, when the only indication was that the students should take shelter and go into hiding, I said that it was inadequate and that it was not a helpful posture particularly, considering the fact that other countries were taking more pragmatic steps to take their nationals out of danger zone.

I followed keenly what the Indians did, I followed keenly what the French did, what Jamaica did, what the Nigerians are doing. I thought that even though we do not have a resident Diplomatic Mission in Ukraine, it is possible to form some bilateral partnerships with those who were conversant with the terrain, who had more logistical capacity and had elaborate escape plan.

I have been in touch with student leaders in Ukraine, NUGS-Ukraine, they tell me that the Polish border appears too choked now, and so, they are using the Slovakia, Hungary and Romania border points. Our diplomatic mission in Berne Switzerland is in touch with them giving regular updates, arrangements have been made across the border to meet those who are on the first train.

I have seen the movement plan of some other buses that are moving from some different cities particularly in Kyiv later today. I think these evacuation arrangements are heartwarming and we should keep our praying and our thoughts with our nationals in Ukraine. Let us pray that the good Lord will bring them out of harms way to safety.

There was some little skirmishes yesterday, which I followed keenly. Some of our students who were in the train which came under attack from the Russians. Thanks be to God they escaped unhurt. It is quite a dangerous situation and so far, it is to the Glory of God that none of our nationals has been hurt or part of the casualty numbers and so its is really positive.
Ghanas Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that although the demand from civil servants for a salary increase is legitimate, government is broke.

The admission of the countrys worrying financial situation comes on the back of the strike from the University Teachers Association (UTAG) of Ghana that lasted six weeks before it was suspended last Wednesday.

UTAG decided to strike to demand an improved conditions of service to ensure members earn more.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Wa in the Upper East Region last Monday, Ken Ofori-Atta stressed that indeed teachers and all other civil servants have a case when they push for an increase in salary.

Unfortunately, the Finance Minister insists that government has no money hence difficult to satisfy civil servants.

I look at teachers and civil servants, for example, and I will be the first to admit that the salaries are indecent; nobody will argue with that.

So, yes, there is a legitimate demand for more and there is a legitimate reality that there is no money, Ken Ofori-Atta shared.

He continued, So, what do we do as a society? Then, you ask me to give you more salary; which is fine. Then, I say: But it is your colleague civil servants who collect the money who are not collecting the money, so, how can you, responsible for collecting the money, not collect it and then tell me to give you the money. That will be another issue.

The town hall meeting was organised to sensitise and educate Ghanaians in the Upper East Region on why the government needs the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy).

The government is confident that once the levy is approved by Parliament, it will be able to accrue additional revenue for various projects.
The manuscript of The Little Prince travelled from the United States to France for the first time during the week as part of a Parisian exhibition about its legendary author Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

"It is incredible to imagine that this monument of French literature, The Little Prince, was written in New York and is now preserved there. We are very fortunate that the Morgan Library has lent it to us to show it to a European public for the first time," Anne Monier Vanryb, curator at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, told RFI.

The pilot-explorer Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote the tale about an alien prince and his interstellar travels while in exile in the United States in 1942, having fled France after the German invasion.

He left the US the following year to fight on the North African front, leaving the manuscript with journalist Sylvia Hamilton, who sold it to the Morgan Library & Museum in New York in 1968.

Among the treasures on display in the exhibition A la rencontre du Petit Prince (Meeting the Little Prince) are the original watercolours of the Little Prince's asteroid home and the hero wearing his trademark long coat with red lapels.

Saint-Exupery disappeared during a mission over the Mediterranean in July 1944, never to know of the worldwide success of his book, which had been published only in the US.

But he had found his voice after being initially reluctant to illustrate the story himself.

The exhibition shows how long the story was in gestation with a letter to his future wife in 1930 in which he shares his idea about a child who discovers a treasure and becomes melancholic.

"Each letter, each of Saint-Exupery's writings was accompanied by a drawing. It was part of the author's way of expressing himself," said Vanryb.

Visitors see what was left on the cutting-room floor: characters including a snail, a butterfly collector and an old couple that chase him from his home.

There is a discarded opening in which the narrator admits he doesn't know how to draw an airplane.

The exhibition also explains the complicated love story between the writer and his wife Consuelo.

"The tumultuous relationship of Saint-Exupery and Consuelo is the relationship of the Little Prince and his rose. Antoine and Consuelo met in Argentina. She was from El Salvador, where there are many volcanoes, like on the planet of the Little Prince. There are many autobiographical details in the story," Vanryb added.

 A la rencontre du Petit Prince runs until 26 June at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris.
The Volta Regional House of Chiefs is appalled by the installation of multiple claimants to a single stool.

He said the situation needed urgent attention to forestall bloodbath and violence.

Mr Harry Attipoe, Registrar of the House, who raised the concern at its first meeting of the year, said the incidences had multiplied in recent times, raising fears of chieftaincy clashes in the Region.

He, therefore, appealed to kingmakers to ensure the necessary dialogues were exhausted before the enstoolment to help bring a meaningful end to the disputes.

Togbe Tepre Hodo IV, President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, said wrong kingmakers were a major problem and called on clans to properly constitute and maintain an impregnable structure of kingmakers.

He said each clan must maintain its criteria for appointing kingmakers to help keep out pretenders.

The problem has to do with people who also pretend to be kingmakers. Because every stool has its own kingmakers and the Supreme Court has decided in a case called Essilfie vrs Anerfo that it is only the kingmakers of a particular stool who have the power to enstool and destool a chief.

So, you see, some of the incidents of two people vying for the same stool, it is as the result of some people who have arrogated to themselves the position of kingmakers when in fact they are not.

That is why we are making appeals to the chiefs that it is high time they identify the kingmakers of all the stools within their jurisdiction, so we weed out these pretenders because sometimes they are the source of the problem, the President of the House told the Ghana News Agency after the meeting.

He said the House was scrutinizing the processes and undertaking an administrative process to generate a database of all kingmakers of all traditional areas

Togbe Tepre Hodo said the House had also commenced an exercise to draw up the lines of succession to stools to help ensure smooth transitions of traditional authority in the Region.

Other chiefs supported the call to address challenges with succession in the Region and the plan to strengthen administrative and traditional structures.

The House appointed committees to consider disputes ongoing in various traditional areas, including Agortime, Kpenoe, Akini, Aflao, Abutia and Liati.

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, who had paid a call on the House, said the political administration would be available to assist traditional authorities in their developmental pursuits.

He said his office would ensure the various agencies and departments of the government provided the needed cooperation to the House.

He thanked the chiefs for their role in maintaining peace and security in the Region and said the government had recognized more traditional councils, which would be granted soon.

The Regional Minister also said roads in the Region had been given special attention in recent times and listed progress of work on prime roads, including the Eastern Corridor, the Ho to Aflao, and the Ho carriageway and bypass.

The top Management of the Lands Commission, Regional heads of the National Fire Service, and the Regional Director of the Department of Gender, also called on the House during the meeting.

Two paramount chiefs, who were recently installed, Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, of Amugo-Wego Traditional Area and Togbe Dadzi V of Penyi, were inducted as members of the House.

GNA
26.02.2022 LISTEN

Prince Ekow D. Heer, a Ghanaian student in Ukraine said he and his compatriots are eagerly waiting to be evacuated from Ukraine.

He said although the city he lives in, Dnipro is relatively peaceful, he does not want to take chances hence, his desire to leave.

Speaking on the mid day news with Emmanuel Samani on TV3 Saturday February 26, he said For now, Dnipro City is very calm but I dont know what is going to happen next. So I have to move fast to the border line of Poland and see what will happen next, the bus is ready.

Meanwhile, the first batch of Ghanaian students stranded in Ukraine has been safely evacuated to Romania, 3news.com can confirm.

The students, who were in Chernivtsi, were evacuated as part of arrangements made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration via Ghana's Mission in Berne, Switzerland.

The Ministry on Friday night conceded that as a result of the difficulty in airlifting Ghanaian students due to a shutdown of Ukrainian airspace, arrangements were rather made the evacuation be by land through neighbouring Moldova, Belarus, Slovakia and Hungary.

3news.com
MISSOULA, Mont. - The 19th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is a hybrid event. Screenings at the Wilma, Roxy, ZACC, and MCT run through Feb. 27th. Seating is limited; it is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance at bigskyfilmfest.org/festival/tickets. Door sales are not guaranteed to viewers who arrive without a ticket. All tickets are good for in-person or online screenings.

Short films are available online through Thursday, March 3rd. Feature films will be available to view online for four days, beginning the day after the films last in-person screening.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Its Pitch Day at Doc Shop! Filmmakers representing 10 prospective documentary projects make their case for funding and other support in front of a panel of industry heavyweights. Free and open to the public, registration required. More info on the BSDFF webpage under the DOCSHOP tab. Missoula Public Library, 10:00am  4:00pm.

Reciprocity Project  seven short films from Indigenous filmmakers, created in collaboration with the Reciprocity Project, a multimedia platform that invites learning from time-honored and current Indigenous ways of being. Featuring a live musical performance from Jennifer Kreisburg, a contributor to many of the films scores. Wilma, 6:00pm.

Stand-up comedy plus short film! Comedian Mo Welch performs set, followed by screening of Dad Jokes  Mo Welch sets out to meet her dad for the first time in almost twenty years, but not without shedding all of her dad jokes on the way. World Premiere. Roxy, 9:15pm.

FILMS

One Road to Quartzite - A ragtag group of crustpunks, libertarians, snowbirds, and elderly folks become unlikely neighbors during their annual pilgrimage to a temporary long-term camping community in Quartzsite, Arizona. Steeped in rural folklore and full of a diverse and quirky set of characters, this is a beautiful, poetic, observational portrait of people trying to live outside of the constraints of American society, or to simply escape the winter. World Premiere. Wilma, 1:00pm

Montana State MFA Shorts  12 short films (all under 10 min) from students of MSUs Science & Natural History Filmmaking program. Wilma, 3:30pm.

Schoolhouse Docs continue. Films curated especially for school-aged kids. Roxy, 4:00pm.

Midwives - Two midwives, one Buddhist and one Muslim, defy strict ethnic divisions to work side by side in a makeshift clinic in western Myanmar, providing medical services to the Rohingya of Rakhine State. Over five years we witness their struggles, hopes and dreams amidst an environment of ever-increasing chaos and violence. Northwest Premiere. Roxy, 6:15pm.

Tigre Gente - Bolivias Madidi National Park is the most biodiverse region on earth. As jaguars are found dead in the park, a Bolivian park ranger and a young Hong Kongese journalist risk their lives to investigate a new, deadly jaguar trade thats sweeping South America. Northwest Premiere. Wilma, 9:00pm.

FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE

Q&A following film screening

One Road to Quartzite  Ryan Maxey, director. Wilma, 1:00pm.

MSU Shorts  MFA filmmakers present. Wilma, 3:30pm.

Seeds, The Legacy of the Land Fernando Valencia, director; Cristobal Camarena Gonzalez Rubio, producer. Schoolhouse Docs. Roxy, 4:00pm.

Ocean Reveries   Eric Foster, Director of Photography. World Premiere. Where is my Darling?  Adam Finney, director. North American Premiere. Anchored Out  Clara Mokri, Katie Bernstein, directors. Montana Premiere. Shorts Block 12. ZACC, 5:30pm.

Reciprocity Project  Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Alisha Carlson, Brit Hensel, Flor Palmar, Brianna Smith, Christopher Newell, Roger Paul, Lauren Stevens, Jeremy Dennis, Justyn Ah Chong, filmmakers; Taylor Hensel, Adam Mazo, Kavita Pillay, Tracy Rector, producers. Wilma, 6:00pm.

West Country  Rowan Ings, director. North American Premiere. No Soy Oscar  Jon Ayon, director. Montana Premiere. Shorts Block 13. ZACC, 8:00pm.

Tigre Gente  Elizabeth Unger, director. Wilma, 9:00pm.

Dad Jokes  Mo Welch, co-director, subject. Roxy, 9:15pm.

DocShop continues! Panels and workshops all week at the Missoula Public Library. Free and open to the public. Check bigskyfilmfest.org/docshop for schedules and seat reservations.

Festival HQ: ZACC, 216 W Main St. Purchase tickets, passes, and merchandise. 11:00am to 6:00pm.
February 26, 2022

Disarming Ukraine - Day 3

Yesterday the Russian military halted its advance to give time to the Ukrainian president Zelensky to agree to ceasefire talks. The U.S. however told him not to hold such talks and said he should leave Kiev. Up to this morning Russia had received no response to its ceasefire offer and resumed the attack. Zelensky decided to stay in Kiev.

There was little operational news from the ground that could be verified. Despite that lots of claims were made about the progress or non-progress of the Russian campaign. I believe that these claims are nearly all propaganda and will refrain from reproducing them.

Approximate situation today



"Blue dots=Ukraine forces presence/siege of military HQ or control of all main roads around."

Source - bigger

The units from Crimea are moving towards north and east. The eastern group, together with a move from Donbas west, is supposed to surround the Ukrainian units in and around Mariupol. Some Ukrainian units near to Donbas seem to fear getting encircled and are moving out.

There was a Russian attempt to capture another airport by an air assault. It may have failed. I have seen no hard evidence to confirm that in either way.

Russia has moved in more heavy rocket and mortar artillery. The so far rather light touch of the traditionally very strong Russian artillery may well get stronger.

Several European countries are sending weapons to the Ukraine. This is mostly 'small stuff' like machine guns and anti-tank missiles. Throughout the day there were lots of international diplomatic reactions and promises. AP had a live update that catches these.

The idea of kicking Russia out of Swift seems to be still on that table. It would be the beginning of the end of U.S. dollar supremacy.

Cutting Russia off from SWIFT a "matter of days" - euro zone central banker Reuters

The U.S. aim is to create an insurgency in the Ukraine.

The Coming Ukrainian Insurgency - Foreign Affairs

Russias Invasion Could Unleash Forces the Kremlin Cant Control

Since 2015 the CIA has trained Ukrainian groups for exactly that purpose.

CIA-trained Ukrainian paramilitaries may take central role if Russia invades - Yahoo

CIA support for Ukrainian Nazis has a long history.

Op-Ed: The CIA has backed Ukrainian insurgents before. Lets learn from those mistakes - LA Times

A new Nazi insurgency in eastern Europe is an exceptionally bad idea. Fascist groups form everywhere would join in. A few years from now it may well lead to Nazi terror in many European countries. Have we learned really nothing from the war on Syria and the ISIS campaign?

Posted by b on February 26, 2022 at 18:15 UTC | Permalink

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Texas Railroad Commission has overseen the states oil and gas  and pipeline and mining  operations for well over a century.

But as Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick reminded attendees at the Permian Basin Water in Energy Conferences Keynote Dinner on Wednesday, the definition of oil and gas is broader than might be believed.

You are in the fluid industry, she said. Water is fluid, too, and its important to us.

The agency is part of the Government Advisory Council of the Texas Produced Water Consortium at Texas Tech University, working to advance the reuse and management of produced water, she said.

The agency is also actively monitoring the seismic activity taking place around Midland-Odessa and taking action on water injection as it relates to seismicity.

The industry has worked well with us to figure out how to manage these issues, Craddick said. Were getting good data. Please share your data with us.

She and her fellow commissioners Wayne Christian and Jim Wright are proud that we can address the environment while letting the industry continue to operate.

Craddick was speaking as Russia was launching its invasion of Ukraine, raising concerns about energy supplies. Ukraine, which she said has been bullied by Russia over its energy needs, would like to get its natural gas from the US. And here the Biden Administration has been asking the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase production to lower US energy costs, she said.

Texas ability to meet state, US and world demand for energy cant be overstated, she stated.

The importance of oil and gas in everyday life also cannot be overstated, she said, noting that it is present not just in gasoline and plastics but even the smartphones that are so much a part of life today.

This industry touches everything. Its so much more than filling up a gas tank. It affects what we wear, what we eat, how we travel. It also affects the bottom line; it affects the Texas budget.

She said the states Economic Stabilization Fund  known as the rainy day fund  contains $11 billion, which came from the severance taxes paid by the oil and gas industry. Last year, she said, the industry paid $15.8 billion in taxes and royalties, or about $43 million a day. That is money that goes to the states schools, roads and first responders, she said.

The industry is also driving the nation to become the worlds largest exporter of liquefied natural gas by the end of the year. And all but one of the LNG export terminals will be located along the Texas Gulf Coast.

But the industry faces headwinds from the federal government, she warned, citing potential federal regulations from the Endangered Species Act to Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and action from federal agencies from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

US policies are going in the wrong direction, and thats affecting our standing in the world. Ukraine tops the list, Craddick said.

Europe, she continued, should be relying on us, not Russia and not OPEC, she said.

Looking ahead, Craddick told her audience there has been an uptick in Permian Basin activity and the region remains responsible for about two-thirds of the states activity. I dont see that changing. You have good rock, smart people, and you can get production to market.
As the Railroad Commission continues to update its information technology systems and access better data, the agency is increasingly sharing that data with the public.

Earlier this month the agency launched its newest online database of flaring and venting applications, making available all applications for exceptions to Statewide Rule 32 filed electronically with the agency from May 2, 2021, to the present. The rule specifies exempt and authorizing flaring in which an operator can flare, including for safety reasons, without going through the application process to obtain an exception to the rule. Other flaring requests must go through the application process and be reviewed.

Railroad Commission Spokesman Andrew Keese told the Reporter-Telegram that before the database query went online, the data could only be obtained through public information requests.

Now that data is automatically available in the query and can be accessed any time of the day, he said by email. The query has many benefits for the public. A person can check to see whether a specific request for an exception has been approved by searching for exceptions using various fields. For example, your readers can go and search by a county, such as Midland, Ector or whichever county they wish to search. Other searchable fields in the query include property (lease, gas ID), or operator.

Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick said there had been conversations about flaring at the agency for the last 2 1/2 years. Efforts to improve information included updating the data sheet for the rule about two years ago, she said. The updated data sheet provides specific guidance on when an exception to flare would be permissible, under which circumstances and for how long.

We were able to get better data to know what operators are doing with flaring, she said. She pointed out that over the last five years, flaring has dropped a percentage a year and now less than 1 percent of the states natural gas is flared.

We want to be transparent, Craddick said. We want people to have real data. The public gets suppositions on whats going on. The whole idea is to be more transparent; we want to give the public good data.

Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association and a member of the Texas Flaring and Methane Coalition, offered his support for the new database query.

The Railroad Commissions launch of its new database for flaring and venting applications shows both a commitment to transparency and a responsiveness to Texans concerns, Staples told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Importantly, the latest RRC data from November shows record-low flaring rates in Texas of less than 0.2 percent. Initiatives like the Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition will continue to prioritize this issue and promote operational and environmental best practices using the latest technologies to minimize flaring and methane emissions in our state.



Data in the query database is information supplied by an operator when filling out the online application form. The database entries may also include comments or correspondence between agency staff and the operator before administrative action on the application.



The primary data in the Flare/Vent Exceptions Query is information supplied by an operator when filling out RRCs online application form. Entries in the query may also include comments and/or correspondence between RRC staff and the operator prior to administrative action on the application.
Four Trinity School of Midland administrators were arrested Friday by Midland police after failing to report an alleged sexual assault of a student on campus.

Those arrested were Shelby Hammer, the head of School; Todd Freese, the Middle School and Upper School dean of students; Chrystal Myers, the head of Middle School; and Adrianne Clifton, the assistant head for Administration/director of Admission.

The four administrators have been charged with professional failure to make required child abuse report intentional conceal, a state felony. Bond for each person was set at $5,000. Reports showed they bonded out by early Friday evening.

The arrests are related to alleged assaults that took place for four months in 2019. According to an arrest affidavit, the victim was forensically interviewed by the Midland Childrens Advocacy Center on Feb. 22.

Trinity was the second school in Midland to have administrators/officials arrested for failure to make required child abuse report intentional conceal in nine days. Five officials from Midland Christian School were arrested on Feb. 16.

The most recent event (at Trinity) was spurred on by stories that came out from first event (at MCS), Midland Police Chief Seth Herman told the Reporter-Telegram on Friday.

During the interview at the Childrens Advocacy Center this week, the victim stated she was sexually assaulted on campus every other day for four months in 2019. She stated it started in September and ended in December, a week before Christmas break when she finally broke down and told a friend.

The affidavit states the victims friend told the dean of students  identified as Freese  who called the suspect into his office. The following day Freese spoke with the victim, who told him about the incidents taking place on campus and in front of school cameras. She stated she didnt give consent. According to the affidavit, legally she could not "give consent to sexual contact as they were under the age of 14.

The victims mother told Midland detectives that in December 2019 she was reviewing the victim's text messages and became aware of inappropriate touching between the victim and another student. She also told police they contacted Freese via email, but Freese claimed he never received the email. The email was sent on Dec. 12, 2019, four days before the last incident with the suspect, according to the affidavit.

On Dec. 17, 2019, the victims parents met with Freese at Trinity School. During that meeting, when he told the parents he had interviewed the suspect. Freese also said he would look for camera footage. He also stated it was a he said, she said situation downplaying the incident, according to the affidavit.

Following the holiday break, the parents met with Myers and Freese on Jan. 15, 2020. According to the affidavit, the victims parents wanted answers about their investigation and to know why the suspect had not been removed from classes with their daughter. The parents were also told that Hammer was not aware of the incident, but the parents had already contacted her about the assault and had set a meeting with her for Jan. 20, 2020, about the policies in place for future incidents, according to the affidavit.

On Jan. 22, 2020, the victims mother met with Hammer. Clifton was present and took notes, according to the affidavit.

The parents decided to remove their daughter from school after the students returned to campus following the COVID shutdown.

On Sep. 18, 2020, Hammer sent the parents a confidential waiver and release of all claims. According to the affidavit, the document stated that if they signed the agreement, they would allow the victim's parents to receive a portion of the tuition paid for the 2020-2021 school year. If they didnt sign, they would not receive that money in return according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, an excerpt of the confidential waiver and release of all claims stated: whereas the parents, collectively and individually, and the school desire to compromise, resolve and settle fully and finally the dispute regarding the tuition obligation and any and all claims between or among them up to the date of this agreement, including any and all claims arising out of the incident, students enrollment in the school or the enrollment agreement, in order to avoid the time, expense and inconvenience attendant upon litigation between them and without admission of liability or wrongdoing of any kind of anyone.

The parents told MPD detectives they believed Trinity School wanted them to sign the agreement so they would not come after the school for the incident. The parents hired an attorney to assist them with the agreement but decided they did not want to take away their daughter's right to talk about the assaults.

Michael McWilliams, president of the Trinity Schools board of trustees, responded Friday in a statement. He said, While we cannot provide specific details given the active investigation, we can share that to the best of our knowledge, the matters in question occurred years ago and were reported to Child Protective Services. Please rest assured that we are continuing to cooperate with the authorities.

McWilliams also wrote that Tim Jones has been asked to serve as acting head of School.

We are grateful to him, administrators and the faculty and staff who continue to hold the welfare and safety of your children as their highest priority and who stepped up today to care for your children and ensure that their learning was uninterrupted, McWilliams wrote.

McWilliams also wrote that Hammer wrote to you recently to share information about Trinitys child protection policies and protocols, including mandatory reporting. Mandatory reporting and student safety is taken very seriously at our school.

--

The following is the entire statement from the Trinity School of Midland about the arrests of four administrators.

Dear Trinity Community,

As many of you are aware, Midland police were on campus this morning to detain Head of School Shelby Hammer, Director of Admissions Adrianne Clifton, Head of Middle School Chrystal Myers, and Dean of Students Todd Freese in order to question them for failure to report abuse or neglect. I write this evening to let you know that the Board of Trustees and Administrative Leadership Team are aware of the situation and committed to navigating these difficult circumstances with the students best interest in mind.

As you may know, Shelby Hammer wrote to you recently to share information about Trinitys child protection policies and protocols, including mandatory reporting. Mandatory reporting and student safety is taken very seriously at our school. While we cannot provide specific details given the active investigation, we can share that to the best of our knowledge, the matters in question occurred years ago and were reported to Child Protective Services. Please rest assured that we are continuing to cooperate with the authorities.

Tim Jones has been asked to serve as Acting Head of School. We are grateful to him, administrators and the faculty and staff who continue to hold the welfare and safety of your children as their highest priority and who stepped up today to care for your children and ensure that their learning was uninterrupted.

We will continue to share information with you as best we can.

Michael McWilliams

President, board of trustees
Muskogee, OK (74401)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 67F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.
NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The violent rhetoric in India has reached "a dangerous new pitch" in recent weeks, to the point that a genocide might occur, warned global human rights organizations, local activists, and India's retired security chiefs, the New York Times reported recently.

While activists and analysts has alerted that calls for anti-Muslim violence, even genocide, are moving from the fringes to the mainstream, political leaders keep silent.

The paper quoted Gregory Stanton, the founder of a nonprofit group named Genocide Watch, as saying that "the demonizing and discriminatory 'processes' that lead to genocide have been well underway in India."

Stanton raised similar warnings ahead of the massacres in Rwanda in the 1990s. 
Horry Countys chief associate judge of the Probate Court hopes to lead the court as the new Probate Judge, according to a statement issued by Allen Beverly Friday afternoon.

The primary election for the office of Probate Judge will be held on June 14. Beverly is running as a Republican.

Serving as Probate Judge is a calling I am passionate about, said Beverly. The citizens of Horry County need a Probate Judge who is fair, understanding, knowledgeable, experienced, and will be available for support and help during difficult times.

In September 2019, Beverly was hired as chief associate probate judge by current Probate Judge Kathy G. Ward, who recently announced she will not seek re-election after serving two terms as judge and 40 years in the department.

Judge Ward is an excellent mentor and leader in this community, said Beverly. I have learned a great deal from her governance, and I am honored she has trusted and confided in me as chief associate probate judge.

As a former practicing attorney with more than 15 years of experience, Beverly worked closely with the probate court representing court appointed cases. Beverly also taught business law at Horry Georgetown Technical College and served as vice chairman of the Horry County Zoning Board of Appeals. He is an active member of the South Carolina Association of Probate Judges.

A Conway native, Beverly and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 12 years and have two small boys. Beverly looks forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Horry County in a professional, respectful and compassionate manner.

Growing up in Horry County, I value the people and will work extremely hard to serve them, said Beverly. It would be a privilege and honor to represent Horry County as probate judge.
Although some groups have resumed meetings, others schedules may have changed because of pandemic restrictions. It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com.



ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

217-370-4002

Jacksonville locations:

 First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible.

 Club HOW, 638 S. Church St.

Monday

 Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

Tuesday

 Open discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Womens open meeting, 5:30 p.m., First Christian Churchs Fireside Room.

 VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets.

 ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St.

Wednesday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

Thursday

 Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW.

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group.

Friday

 Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group.

 Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW.

 VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave.

Saturday

 Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW.

 Open meeting, noon at Club HOW.

Sunday

 Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group.

 Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open)

 SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St.



AL-ANON

Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend.

217-248-6434.

Wednesday

 Al-Anon, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance).

Thursday

 Al-Anon, noon at First Presbyterian Church, 870 W. College Ave. (open meeting).



NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization.

Jacksonville locations:

 First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. (enter through far southeast door). 217-883-1975.

 Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975.

Wednesday

 Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Lutheran Church for the Deaf.

Friday

 Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church.



OTHER MEETINGS

Monday

 Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall.

 PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388.



Tuesday

 Dementia Caregiver support group, 2-3 p.m., free virtual event. Call 800-272-3900 to register, which is required. Hosted by the Springfield office of the Alzheimers Association Illinois.

 American Legion Post 279, first Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m. at 903 W. Superior Ave.



Wednesday

 Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Passavant Area Hospital, Meeting Room 2.

 ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670.



Thursday

 Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882.

 Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons.

 WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St.



Friday

 Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons.

 PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388.



Saturday

 Jacksonville Amateur Radio Societys Net, 9 p.m. Transmitted on K9JX repeater. K9JX.com.
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The Underground Railroad  a secret network of houses and paths that helped slaves escape to free states  remains a fascinating and inspiring chapter in the fight for equality in the United States.

Many in the Jacksonville area played a role.

The area was home to several stops on the Underground Railroad, some of which remain today. A small band of interested people have devoted their time to the preservation and appreciation of that portion of the region's legacy.

In the mid-1800s, Jacksonville was one of the busiest and most important cities in cooperation with the Underground Railroad, said Jacksonville resident Ruth Linear, who has studied the topic extensively for the past quarter century. As early as 1823, fugitive slaves were helped toward freedom by white, abolitionist men of our county. That continued until the Civil War.

The loose network of abolitionists and other anti-slavery people opened their homes and farms to runaway slaves during the time.

All transport, meeting sites and safe houses were shrouded in secrecy, because the abolitionists themselves risked prosecution, imprisonment and social reprisal. Abolition was not a popular viewpoint in the mid-19th century, even in the North. In many cases, slaves moved between stations on the railroad in the dark of night.

Woodlawn Farm

Still, some in Jacksonville wanted to take part. In its earliest decades, the city was a center for progressive thinking, influenced by New Englanders like the Yale Band that founded Illinois College. The fierce opposition of that group and many students to slavery remains a cherished part of the college's history.

Others in Jacksonville were equally committed to helping those in bondage gain freedom. Some opened their homes and farms to runaway slaves, feeding and sheltering them before sending them to other safe havens on their journey north.

More Information Woodlawn Farm is open to the public. For more information, go to woodlawnfarm.com or call 217-473-1303. See More Collapse

One example was the Huffaker family, who established Woodlawn Farm on Gierke Lane east of Jacksonville in 1824. Michael and Jane Huffaker were from Kentucky but did not share that states acceptance of slavery. They arrived in the Jacksonville area on horseback and built cabins for their family and for several free blacks, whom Michael hired to work the farm.

In 1840, the Huffakers built a two-story brick home that remains the central feature of the farm.

When refugees would go from station to station, Huffaker welcomed them and would help them, Linear said. If they wanted to go on, he helped them, but if they wanted to stay in Jacksonville, hed let them stay at his farm and act like they were the farmhands."

That threw off those who were out to capture the slaves.

"That way, if Huffaker was asked if he was hiding slaves, he could say, No, these people are my workers, and no one thought much of it.," Linear said.

Asa Talcott House

Another key site in Jacksonville is the Asa Talcott House at 859 Grove St., where Linear and others are working to create an African-American history museum. The group hopes to open the museum this year.

Talcott, a Connecticut native who was a bricklayer and plasterer, settled in Jacksonville with his wife, Mary, in May 1833 and began building the house. It was enlarged in 1844 and 1861 and slaves reportedly were kept in the Talcott barn, sometimes hidden in the hay.

Talcott and other abolitionists often were assisted by Benjamin Henderson, who remains a remarkable figure in the story of the Underground Railroad in Jacksonville.

Born into slavery in Kentucky in 1811, Henderson bought his freedom for $250 in 1837, married the following year, and relocated in 1841 to Jacksonville, where he worked as a Teamster. He became a conductor, or guide, on the Underground Railroad, often using his own house at 405 Marion St. as a station.

Henderson came to Jacksonville, liked it, and decided to stay, Linear said. He became a conductor until 1856 and helped a lot of his people toward their freedom. Henderson worked well with the abolitionists and often worked with David Spencer, a free Black man.

Spencer was raised by a white family in Morgan County and later served in the Civil War. Henderson sometimes made two trips a week, returning with up to 15 people each time, Linear said. Spencer, in turn, provided food and clothing.

They had to be careful, since the slave-catchers were always watching closely, Linear said. Henderson would take the refugees on to Springfield and Farmington in his horse and buggy.

Henderson and Spencer were among residents of Little Africa, an African-American neighborhood in the general vicinity of Church, Anna, Marion and Grove streets. One source said Little Africa was home to as many as 156 residents, many of them former or escaped slaves.

In December 1833, Talcott and his wife were among the 32 founding members of the Congregational Church at 520 W. College Ave. Led by its deacon, Elihu Wolcott, and members such as William Kirby and Ebenezer Carter, the congregation shared an opposition to slavery and became known as the Abolition Church.

Numerous church members joined in the Underground Railroad's efforts, risking their own freedom and safety to help others.

Joining the effort

Two blocks from the Talcott home, at 1005 Grove St., is the Bezaleel Gillett residence, another safe haven on the railroad. A physician and merchant, Gillett was a civic leader who helped found the Episcopal Church in Jacksonville  the first of that denomination in the state  in 1832, and was an original trustee of both the Jacksonville Female Academy and the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane.

Gillett housed runaway slaves in a spacious shack that once sat to the south of his home. While the shack has been demolished, the Gillett home remains and has been donated to Illinois College.



The college's Beecher Hall, the original campus building, not only is an anchor of the colleges history but also its involvement in the Underground Railroad.

The building is named for the first president of Illinois College, Edward Beecher, who was the brother of Harriet Beecher-Stowe, the author of "Uncle Toms Cabin," and abolitionist clergyman and reformer Henry Ward Beecher. Edward Beecher played a role in establishing the Illinois Antislavery Society in 1837.

The heralded Jonathan Baldwin Turner, who taught at Illinois College from 1833 to 1848, published an abolitionist newspaper, The Illinois Statesman, from 1843 to 1844. In one instance, Turner assisted three female slaves in their flight. The site of his home at 1146 W. College Ave. is noted by a historical marker.

Many IC students opposed slavery, and some tried to assist refugees passing through the area.

In one celebrated case in 1843, student Samuel Willard unsuccessfully tried to help Judy Green.

Green was brought to Willard but later recaptured and returned to servitude. Willard and his father, Julius, were convicted and fined for harboring fugitive slaves. The Willards were pardoned by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn in 2014.

The anti-slavery movement was rocked by the killing of abolitionist editor Elijah Lovejoy in Alton on Nov. 7, 1837. Lovejoy was a friend of Beecher and had visited the campus in Jacksonville. In response to Lovejoys death, there was a protest meeting by Illinois College students, an event commemorated by a plaque near Beecher and Sturtevant halls on campus.

The Underground Railroad remains an integral part of Illinois College history. One source aptly labels the school an engine of abolitionism.

Other sites in Jacksonville that relate to the Underground Railroad but no longer are standing include the Elihu Wolcott home at Sandy and West Morgan streets, the Dr. Marco Reed home on Morgan Street, the Thomas Melendy home on West State Street, the Joseph King home on West College Avenue, the David Spencer home on Marion Street and the William Kirby home on West College Avenue. There also was the Henry Irving home on Prairie Street, the Ebenezer Carter home on South Main Street, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church at 905 N. Clay Ave., the Dr. Azle Pierson home on Pitner Place, the William Verry home on South Minor Drive, the Jonathan Baldwin Turner home at 1146 W. College Ave., and the John Laurie home, near Hazel Green Cemetery.

Linear, who presents historical programs within the community, believes the Underground Railroad should be remembered as a key part of U.S. history, particularly for African-Americans.

In many ways, the Underground Railroad was part of the Civil Rights movement, she said. African-Americans were dissatisfied with how things were, and wanted better lives.

"And they did what it took for their freedom.
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The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated.

 Kiara R. Walton, 32, of 750 E. Chambers St., Apt. 14, is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on a fraud charge.

She is a Black female standing 5 foot 5 and weighing 135 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

 Ashley S.N. Fritsche, 26, of 738 N. East St., Apt. 6, is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on charges of possession of methamphetamine and driving while license is suspended.

She is a white female standing 5 foot 6 and weighing 165 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

Morgan County

Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Kahley M. Johnson, 19 of 1040 N. Fayette St. was arrested at 4:02 p.m. Friday on a charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer after police said she disobeyed officers' commands during the investigation of a disturbance.

 Brianna M. Kuebrich, 25, of 858 N. Diamond St. was cited at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on a charge of visitation or parenting time interference.

ACCIDENTS

 Kelly A. Jones, 41, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of driving too fast for conditions after the car she was driving slid on the ice-covered road about 3:57 a.m. Friday and hit two cars parked in the 800 block of West State Street.

 Zoey M. Brogdon, 19, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of operating an uninsured motor vehicle after police said the car she was driving backed into a parked car about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 1200 block of Grandview Avenue.

VANDALISM

 The tire of a car parked in the 800 block of North Main Street was punctured, according to a report filed at 7:55 p.m. Thursday.

 A concrete yard decoration in the 500 block of South Fayette Street was damaged, according to a report filed at 11:27 a.m. Friday.

Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
KIEV, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Ukraine has successfully beat off "enemy attacks," but battles are ongoing across the country.

"We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks," Zelensky said in a video message.

Battles are still ongoing in many cities and districts of Ukraine, said the president. "But we know that we are defending the country, the land, the future of children." 

Related:

Russian forces hit 821 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects -- spokesman

Ukraine won't lay down weapons: Zelensky

Zelensky says weapons, equipment from partners "on the way to Ukraine"

Russia says its forces have taken full control of Ukraine's Melitopol
At 12:01 a.m. Monday, masks no longer will be mandated in most indoor locations in Illinois.

The restriction will not change for long-term care facilities, day cares, health care facilities and some other congregate settings. Masks also still will be required in some locations, such as airplanes and public transportation, because of federal regulations. Municipalities and private businesses also can make their own rules for mask use.

But schools will not be on that list of places where masks still must be worn.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker originally said he would see what lifting the mandate did to cases of COVID-19 before determining whether to exempt schools. He reversed that late Friday after the Illinois Supreme Court denied his appeal of a restraining order that said the school mandate was not legal.

Many districts already have allowed students and staff to decide for themselves whether to wear a face covering because of the restraining order.

A mask mandate has been in effect for indoor public settings since Aug. 30, when coronavirus cases started to spike in Illinois.

Public health officials defended the highly polarized decision to require mask use. They pointed to Illinois having fewer new cases, hospitalizations and deaths than other Midwest states in the months that followed the mandate. Critics, however, pointed to Illinois being among the last states to remove the mandate and the continued perceived government intrusion into personal choice.

After hitting pandemic-high levels in January, new infections have fallen by about 70% and availability of once-scarce intensive care unit beds has risen by a fourth, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Throughout this pandemic, weve taken action to save lives and keep our economy open  and Im proud that Illinoisans have done the hard work that has our made our state a leader in the Midwest, Pritzker said. Our hospitals are much better positioned to handle emergencies and more than half of all eligible adults have been boosted; this is the progress we needed to make to remove our state indoor masking requirements."

He encouraged people to make the choices going forward they felt were best for their health and for their family and, "most importantly, to treat each other with kindness and compassion.

The Illinois Department of Public Health said Friday that there were 13,028 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease and 355 related deaths statewide last week. Since March 2020, 3,026,737 cases and 32,654 deaths have been recorded in Illinois.

We are now entering the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and, while our focus continues to be on preventing severe illness and ensuring our health care systems arent overwhelmed, we are also looking forward to how we will coexist with COVID-19, state health Director Ngozi Ezike said. We each have a role to play in staying healthy and we have many tools that can help protect us from severe illness due to COVID-19."



More than 8 million eligible Illinois residents have been fully vaccinated and about 16,000 COVID-19 vaccines are being administered each day in the state, according to the health department.



Updated Feb. 26, 2022, to reflect decision late Feb. 25 to lift mandate for schools.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's currently military action in Ukraine is nearly a century behind the times, according to a Western Illinois University associate professor of political science.

"It's a state-on-state invasion," said Gregory Baldi, who also lead's WIU's graduate program. "It's pretty clear."

For a second day on Friday, Russian troops made their way to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital. Putin has said Ukraine should be under Russian control, as it was under the Soviet Union's control 30 years ago.

What Putin is doing is an old form of military action, something Baldi's students believe belongs in the 1940s rather than be used as a tactic of modern times, Baldi said.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization moved eastward, bringing into its fold most of the Eastern European nations that previously had been under Communist rule.

In 2004, NATO added the former Soviet Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Four years later, NATO said it someday would offer membership to Ukraine.

Putin is opposed to Ukraine being a NATO member.

Now an estimated 4 million Ukrainians are seeking refuge in neighboring countries after Russian troops began an unprovoked attack on the Democratic nation.

"This special military operation has a deeper, strategic goal to remove the Ukraine government," Baldi said.

Baldi and his students have discussed the invasion and they agree that Putin's actions seem barbaric and outdated, he said.

"It's deeply unsettling," he said. "These sort of things are in the wrong era. This does not belong in 2022."

Baldi also has been discussing with his students just how close countries are in Eastern Europe and how different that region is from the U.S.

"We have been looking at a lot of maps," he said. "It's not the first time Russia has done this."

In August 2008, Russia invaded Georgia after that country deported four suspected Russian spies in 2006. Russia then began a full-scale diplomatic and economic war against Georgia, followed by the persecution of ethnic Georgians living in Russia.

Baldi believes Putin wants Ukraine back in the Russian fold as part of an attempt to rebuild the once-powerful Soviet Union  and gain even more nuclear power, he said.

"He has made it clear that (he believes Ukraine is) a territory of Russia," Baldi said. "He feels he's justified."

U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to send U.S. troops to Europe honors NATO's Article 5  known as the commitment clause  which asks every NATO member to consider an armed attack against any member state, whether in Europe or North America, as an attack against all 30 members of the organization.

Protests in cities from New York to Tokyo have condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as have protests by Russian citizens in Moscow and elsewhere across Russia.

Lincoln Land Community College faculty members will have a round-table discussion about the Ukraine conflict at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road in Springfield. The public is invited to attend.

With military intervention in Ukraine off the table and countries around the world looking to add more financial sanctions on Moscow, the United States, Britain and European Union said Friday they will move to directly sanction Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to the Associated Press.

The EU's unanimous decision, which was part of a broader sanctions package, indicated that Western powers are moving toward unprecedented measures to try to force Putin to stop Russia's brutal invasion of its neighbor and prevent a major war in Europe.

Baldi is happy to see NATO and other countries are coming together to fight the issue, rather than being divided, he said.

"The U.S. does not want to have a land war," he said, adding that he hopes the combined economic sanctions and the united opposition against Russia will end the conflict and leave Ukraine to continue as an independent democracy.
Sonora, CA  An expired registration led to the arrest of a Sonora man for DUI and a Murphys man for drugs early this morning.

A Sonora Police Officer made the traffic stop on a 2004 Cadillac Escalade just before 2 a.m. on Barretta Street after spotting that the registration sticker had expired. During questioning of the driver, 24-year-old Collin King of Sonora, the officer determined he was under the influence of a drug. Police relayed, King was taken into custody for suspicion of being three times the legal limit to drive in California.

The officer then questioned the passenger, 27-year-old Forest Harris of Murphys, who was found to have 12 grams of cocaine. Police added, Other evidence located by the officer strongly suggests that Harris was in possession of the cocaine with intent to sell it.

That evidence was green baggies, as can be seen here. Harris was arrested for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to sell.
CCPH vaccination card incentive program View Photo

San Andreas, CA  A new vaccine incentive program using state funds started this week in Calaveras County, but residents should act quickly, as once that money is gone so is the program.

The Calaveras Public Health Department (CCPHD) COVID-19 gift card incentive program is for residents five and older who have received or will receive a COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster, between July 1st of last year through April 30th of this year. CCPHD Analyst Haley Graham noted it is an incentive for residents to get the shot and say thanks to those who already have been vaccinated sharing, To actually do retroactive incentives as opposed to just prospective incentives. Its been really helpful to also incentivize those who have gotten the vaccine because all of the previous incentives didnt really apply to those who had gotten it prior to the release of financial incentives.

Those eligible will receive a $45 gift card for each COVID-19 vaccination  for up to two vaccinations for a total of $90.

Given only 57 percent of Calaveras County residents are fully vaccinated, that is far from where we want to be, said Dr. Rene Ramirez, Calaveras County Health Officer. Our community is vaccinated at nearly 17 percentage points lower than the state rate. We must do everything we can to increase the COVID-19 vaccination rate in the communityIt will take our entire community to get past this pandemic.

Those wanting to participate should act fast as the gift cards will be available at select sites and only until funding runs out. Graham explained, The county got a nearly $200,000 grant from the California Government Operations Agency and they hope to dole out the gift cards to around 5,000 eligible residents.

CCPHD listed these requirements for people to participate:

Provide a form of identification, vaccination card, and proof of residency. Those under 18 will need a parent or guardian present.

Register ahead of time by going to: https://bit.ly/354SyyH

Pick up their gift card at select locations throughout the county.

Businesses still wanting to get in on the action are still encouraged to register at https://bit.ly/3zuEn1k or call 754-6460 with questions. The program gives priority to businesses like groceries, food, and gas among other establishments that meet basic needs with requirements listed here.

It is a win-win situation, Graham explained, Youre giving back to people that you know, to family-owned businesses, to the local gas stations. Thats really what we want. We want the economical boost. Weve been in such a pitfall for the last couple of years and this is a really good way to give back.

Further questions can be directed to CCPHD at (209) 754-6460. Health officials remind the public that COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, are safe and effective at preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19.
R&D growth keeps nation in forefront

12:30, February 26, 2022 By Zhang Zhihao ( China Daily

Innovative capability climbed two spots to reach 12th place in the world last year

China spent around 2.79 trillion yuan ($441 billion) in research and development last year, a year-on-year increase of 14.2 percent and a signal that China has achieved a good start to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Friday.

R&D spending on basic research had grown to nearly 170 billion yuan last year, a 15.6 percent increase over the prior year.

China's overall national innovation capability reached 12th place in the world last year, climbing two spots, Wang Zhigang, minister of science and technology, said at a news conference by the State Council Information Office.

Beijing, Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area had also been listed among the world's top 10 innovation hubs last year, he said, adding that China has made major strides in basic research, core technologies, institutional reforms and international cooperation.

Some notable examples in science and engineering include creating new quantum computers named Zuchongzhi-2 and Jiuzhang-2; the Tianwen-1 Mars rover starting the nation's first exploration of the red planet; and China launching its first sun observation satellite Xihe, Wang said.

China has also collaborated with 17 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and South Africa, in creating new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic technologies for COVID-19, he added.

Meanwhile, China is proactively contributing to major global scientific projects such as the International Thermonuclear Experiment Reactor that seeks to unlock the secret of nuclear fusion and building the world's largest radio telescope dubbed Square Kilometre Array.

"During China's reform and opening-up, science and technology has always been at the forefront of this progress," Wang said. "In the future, the door of China's science and technology will only open wider."

This year, Wang said, China will aim to strengthen its national strategic research capability, enhance basic research and core technologies, encourage the private sector to play a bigger role in making innovations, train quality talent and facilitate international cooperation.

Shao Xinyu, vice-minister of science and technology, said the country's 169 national high-tech zones recorded total annual revenue of over 48 trillion yuan last year, with a net profit of 4.2 trillion yuan.

"These high-tech zones account for 0.1 percent of China's land area, yet they are able to produce 13 percent of the country's gross domestic product," he said. "Suffice to say, these zones are testimony to China's innovation-driven and high quality development."

Zhu Xuehua, director general of the ministry's department of science and technology for social development, said one major focus of the ministry's work is to commercialize scientific findings and use innovation to improve people's lives.

One example is the fight against COVID-19, he said. As of today, there are 25 Chinese vaccines in clinical trials and seven have been granted emergency use or conditional market approval, Zhu said.

China has also approved 68 COVID-19 diagnostic kits for market use, with the fastest being able to produce a result in around half an hour, he said. As for treatments, one neutralizing antibody drug by Chinese scientists has been granted conditional market use and several more drugs are currently in phase three clinical trials.

"In the future, the ministry will enhance its support for science and technology that can benefit society, and facilitate breakthroughs for achieving China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, as well as for combating COVID-19, cancers and other major chronic diseases," he said.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows an empty street in Kiev, capital of Ukraine. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Moscow continued to exert hefty pressure on Kiev by striking more military targets in Ukraine, while the two sides have expressed intention to start direct dialogue.

The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing.

During the fighting, a large number of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine over the past few months have been seized, including the Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the United States, Konashenkov said.

The Russian forces have blockaded Kiev after capturing the Gostomel airfield in a suburb of Kiev, killing more than 200 members of Ukraine's special units.

Russia has also taken full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and military units of the two sides there have reached agreement on the protection of the nuclear facilities and the sarcophagus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with permanent members of the country's Security Council via video link on Friday, commending the performance of Russian soldiers and officers.

"The Russian army's main armed clashes are taking place not with regular Ukrainian armed forces' units but with nationalist groups," he said.

The president noted that Ukraine's nationalists are deploying heavy weapons, including multiple-rocket launchers, right in the central districts of large cities, including Kiev and Kharkov.

Putin urged the Ukrainian military to "take power into your own hands."

Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference on Friday.

Also on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold dialogue with Russia.

Putin agreed to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential administration.

But Kiev later suggested holding talks in Poland's Warsaw and then stopped responding, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Ukraine and Russia are currently discussing a date and a place of possible negotiations, as the sooner dialogue begins, the more chances there will be to resume normal life, Zelensky's press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov said on Friday night. 
The Plainview Area Retired School Personnel Association (PARSPA) will meet March 7 at 11:45 a.m. at the Plainview Adult Activity Center, 1107 Smyth St.

The program will be presented by OLLI  Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (Texas Tech University) with Shelby Crews and Terri Navrkal.
The Plainview High School Choral Department had success this month in the regional level UIL Solo and Ensemble contest.

Head Choir Director Jennie Hsu said her team did well and ended the day with 20 Division One Soloists and three Division One Ensembles earning those participants a trip to the state competition.

These students, these soloists and ensemble students will travel to Austin at the end of May for the Texas State Solo and Ensemble contest, said Hsu.

To earn a Division One rating, participants must perform and master a piece of music from the class 1 category, meaning it has to be a difficult piece, she said. Students can perform pieces that vary in difficulty but only those who perform selections from the most difficult level are able to achieve a Division One performance rating.

Division One means a superior rating, she explained.

Hsu is proud that given the opportunity to choose, a majority of her choir students voluntarily chose to perform pieces eligible for that rating level.

Another factor that aids the degree of difficulty and makes their Division One ratings more impressive is language, she noted. Students must memorize selections in a foreign language like Latin, German or French, to name a few. Its not easy to get to the next level, she emphasized.

In a continued break from years of traditional contest facilitation, the judge actually came to Plainview High School to watch the participants perform.

While the contest is broken up by solos and ensemble categories, participants can take part in both  and many of Hsus students did. Her team includes students of all high school grade levels.

Hsu is in her first year as head choir director and her third overall with Plainview High Schools choir department having served the previous two years as an assistant director. This year her assistant choir director is Ian Klotzman who is in his first year with PHS.

With the regional contest behind them, Hsu and her choir are looking forward to May to show what they can do.

Choir members who advanced include:

Seniors

Jordan Wallace

Sophie Cain

Kylie Carter

Zachary Collins

Cassidy Delgado

Eyanha Garcia

Skyler Garcia

Caleb Geyer

Alex Gomez

Kenzi Knippa

Daisy Maciel

Landon Mooney

Emmalee Tavarez

Avery Moudy

Juniors

Cynthia Belmares

Xzavier Chavez

Zachary Franklin

Lillian Leatherman

Cielo Morales

Amery Watters

Sophomores

Dalton Henderson

Cooper Savage

Mackenzie Sims

Freshmen

Ethan Aguirre

AJ Alcozer

Javi Campos

Landri Nelson

Cameron Plante
Plainview Rotarians met Tuesday and made arrangements to launch the clubs annual Words for Thirds dictionary program.

The program for the day was presented by City Manager Jeffrey Snyder who provided an update on plans to use the approximately $5 million allotted to Plainview through the American Rescue Plan Act. He also gave an update on current and future construction plans related to the bond issue.

Snyder explained that ARPA was part of the federal Covid recovery plan and the money is intended to help communities recover from financial challenges brought on by the pandemic. Eligible uses include road building and maintenance and other infrastructure, including parks; water and sewer infrastructure, provision for police, fire and other public safety services; and health and educational services. Snyder said the City is in the planning stage of coming up with ways to allocate the funds.

Following the meeting, the club dismissed and looked to the community for ways to show Service Above Self.
Feb. 9

An assault was reported to the Plainview Police Department on Feb. 9 at the 800 block of W. 7th St.

A victim told Plainview police that a yard decoration was stolen from a yard at the 2000 block of El Paso sometime between 3:30 p.m. Feb. 7 and 4:20 p.m. Feb. 9.

Theft from a yard was reported at the 200 block of W. 5th St. on Feb. 9.

Police arrested two men on Feb. 9 at the 1300 block of W. 5th St. Officers located two suspicious individuals at the location and arrested 24-year-old Samuel Louis Baca and 25-year-old Kristan Gabrielle Esquivel and charged them both with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony.

Feb. 10

A burglary was reported at the 900 block of Lexington St. on Feb. 10.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1100 block of N. Quincy St. on Feb. 10.

Officers found marijuana during a traffic stop at the 1100 block of Quincy St. on Feb. 10. According to an incident report, the vehicle was stopped for an unsafe lane change at the location. The vehicle was searched with probably cause and marijuana was located. Charges were filed and a criminal citation was issued to the driver for possession of marijuana.

Plainview Police arrested a man and a woman during a traffic stop at the 900 block of Denver St. Officers detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The man, David Sanchez Flores Sanchez (sic), 24, was arrested and charged with delivery of marijuana, tampering/fabricating physical evidence, and with possession of a controlled substance, which are all felonies. The individual was also charged with an outstanding warrant. Jousdy Judith Munoz, 20, was also arrested for delivery of marijuana and for tampering/fabricating physical evidence, both felony charges.

An aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was reported at the 500 block of Baltimore St. on Feb. 10.

Harassment was reported at the 500 block of Baltimore St. on Feb. 10.

Four individuals were arrested on Feb. 10 at the 810 block of Denver St. Police arrested 33-year-old Raul Davila Jr. for possession/delivery of drug paraphernalia and with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Officers also arrested three others at the location. Those individuals  a 38-year-old man, 40-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman  were all arrested and charged with one count each of criminal trespass of a habitation/shelter. Davila also received a criminal trespass charge.

Two individuals were arrested on Feb. 10 at the 400 block of W. 5th St. when officers found amphetamine during a traffic stop. The stop was initiated when officers noticed the vehicle driving with a flat tire endangering those within. Officers found both the driver and passenger  25-year-old Jessie Lee Espinosa and 36-year-old Christopher Lynn Cantrell  to be in possession of a controlled substance. They were both charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance. Espinosa was also charged with active warrants for failure to appear and failure to maintain financial responsibility.

Feb. 11

A hit-and-run crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on Feb. 11 at the 100 block of W. 9th St.

A theft was reported at the 1500 block of N. I-27 on Feb. 11.

An assault was reported at the 300 block of W. 5th St. on Feb. 11. A 39-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury.

A crash was reported at the intersection of Ennis and W. 10th St. on Feb. 11. According to the incident report, one vehicle was stopped at the stop sign at the 3100 block of W. 10th St. The vehicle failed to yield right-of-way to a second vehicle traveling southbound on the 1100 block of Ennis St. The first vehicle pulled into the 1000 block and struck the second vehicle in the intersection.

Police located a woman at the 600 block of W. 27th St. who was intoxicated. The 17-year-old was arrested and charged with public intoxication and was transported to the Hale County Jail.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on Feb. 11 at the 1300 block of Travis St. after officers responded to a disturbance caused by an intoxicated individual. The same individual was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, search or transport.

Feb. 12

Officers responded to the 800 block of Oakland St. on Feb. 12 in reference to damaged property. Upon arrival, officers found a vehicle that had been damage with a rock.

A burglary of a habitation was reported at the 1100 block of Kokomo St. on Feb. 12.

A hit-and-run was reported at the 2000 block of E. 5th St. on Feb. 12.

Police responded to the 1900 block of W. 24th St. on Feb. 12 in reference to an assault that allegedly occurred at the 2500 block of Sabine. The victim alleged they were choked and punched by the suspect.

A theft was reported at the 1500 block of N. I-27 on Feb. 12.

Feb. 13

An assault was reported at the 600 block of W. 11th St. on Feb. 13.

An abandoned vehicle was reported at the 320 block of W. 6th St. on Feb. 13.

An assault was reported at the 1600 block of N. Date St. A 14-year-old individual was arrested.

A hit-and-run crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1100 block of N. Date St. on Feb. 13.

Feb. 14

A hit-and-run crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 700 block of Independence St. Officers were dispatched and met with the reporting party who told police their vehicle was backed into while parked on the side of the road.

A theft from a vehicle was reported at the 300 block of Cedar St. on Feb. 14.

A hit-and-run crash resulting in private property damage was reported at Columbia and CR 68 on Feb. 14.

A 49-year-old man was arrested at the 220 block of SE 10th St. on Feb. 14. A known person was found to have an active warrant for assault causing bodily injury. He was arrested and transported to the Hale County Jail where he was booked and released.

A burglary was reported at the 2500 block of Holiday on Feb. 14.

An assault was reported at the 700 block of Fresno on Feb. 14.

Feb. 15

An assault was reported at the 900 block of W. 28th St. on Feb. 15. A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury.

Theft from a yard was reported at the 200 block of E. 5th St. on Feb. 15.

A burglary was reported at the 700 block of W. 5th St. on Feb. 15.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on Feb. 15 at the 320 block of Cedar St. and was charged with several outstanding warrants for charges including running a stop sign, driving with no license and for failure to appear.

A 26-year-old man was arrested on Feb. 15 at the 500 block of N. Columbia St. for a criminal traffic violation. The individual was charged with driving with an invalid license with a previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution.

Feb. 15

Criminal mischief was reported on Feb. 15 at the 300 block of Ash St. Damaged property, including damage to a vehicle, was reported.

An assault was reported at the 100 block of Pecos Place on Feb. 16. A 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury.

A 37-year-old man was arrested for outstanding warrants during a traffic stop at the 400 block of W. 5th St. on Feb. 16. The driver was found to have warrants for running a stop sign, failure to appear/bail jumping and failure to maintain financial responsibility. The individual was transported to the Hale County Jail.

Plainview Police arrested a 17-year-old man for several outstanding warrants at the 1700 block of W. 16th St. The warrants are for squelching tires, failure to maintain financial responsibility, driving with no license and for violating a promise to appear.

A 28-year-old man was arrested at the 2500 block of Holiday St. on Feb. 16. Officers were called to the location in reference to a suspicious vehicle. Christofer Alonso Albarran was arrested and charged with an active warrant for engaging in organized crime and with a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.

A theft was reported at the 500 block of Oakland St. on Feb. 16. A person reported a burglary of a vehicle. An unknown person took tools from a toolbox in the bed of a pickup.

An assault was reported at the 1600 block of W. 12th St. on Feb. 16. The person reported that their boyfriend strangled them to the degree of impeding their breath.

An assault was reported at the 700 block of Zephyr on Feb. 16. Officers initially responded to a report of a disturbance and met with a victim. It was reported that a suspect interfered with a call for emergency services.

A sexual assault was reported to the Plainview PD on Feb. 16. The victim told officers the assault occurred on Feb. 14.

Feb. 17

Police were dispatched to Covenant Health Plainview Hospital on Feb. 17 in reference to an assault that had already occurred. The individual was allegedly assaulted at the 1300 block of Elm St.

A 40-year-old man was arrested at the 1300 block of W. 11th ST. on Feb. 17. The individual was arrested for obstruction of justice via a violation of a court order.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the intersection of W. 24th and Utica on Feb. 17.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the 1200 block of El Paso on Feb. 17. Officers were dispatched to the location in reference to a domestic disturbance. No injuries were reported but the man was charged with two outstanding warrants for leaving the scene of an accident and for driving with no license.

A 48-year-old man was arrested at the 1300 block of N. Columbia for an outstanding warrant.

Theft of parts from a vehicle was reported at the 1300 block of N. I-27 on Feb. 17. Officers were dispatched to Plainview First Assembly where a catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle around midnight.

Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of N. I-27 on Feb. 17 and arrested 47-year-old Mistie Dawn Miller for an out-of-county felony warrant for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. She was also arrested for a warrant for a parole violation.

A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 400 block of W. 16th St. on Feb. 17.

An assault was reported at the 700 block of Zephyr on Feb. 17. Officers were dispatched to the location in reference to a domestic disturbance. During the investigation, charges were filed against two individuals for assault.
OTTAWA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a new round of sanctions on Russia, calling for Russia's removal from the SWIFT payment system.

Trudeau said at a press conference that Canada will join some other nations to impose sanctions directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of advisers. The sanctions will also extend to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's chief of staff, he said.

In addition, Trudeau called for Russia's removal from SWIFT, the payment system used for most international financial transactions.

The Canadian government is also prepared to match donations to Ukrainian relief efforts via the Canadian Red Cross to a maximum for 10 million Canadian dollars, he said. 
The Mary Allen Seminary, located on top of a hill in the East Texas town of Crockett, is one of the oldest colleges in Texas where black women could receive a higher education. First established in 1886 by the Board of Missions for Freedmen of the Presbyterian Church, the four-story building, which later became the Mary Allen Junior College, finally closed down for good in 1972. It's a significant landmark in Texas and American history. However, the historic structure has fallen into disrepair over the last 50 years.

Robbie Brown, a historical and paranormal investigator and content creator from Devine, recently took an excursion out to the site to assess the state of things.

"When I got inside it was one of the most extremely hazardous places I've ever been, only for the fact that it was four stories and all three top stories were caved in. Even the back corner of the building was collapsed to the ground," said Brown.

Robbie Brown

While the exterior brick remains mostly intact today, the interior has fallen victim to the elements. A 1983 document from the National Register of Historic Places states that the building suffered damages from various fires, as well as from Hurricane Carla in 1962.

"Once the site of a 12-building campus and the home of a noted academic program of quality education and religion, this site serves as a reminder of the proud heritage of Texas' black population," a sign on the property reads.

More historical Photos: Photos show Splashtown after permanently closing last summer

Robbie Brown

Robbie Brown

With friend and fellow explorer Nick, otherwise known as "Project Bad," Brown captured the dilapidated building on camera for his exploratory YouTube channel, Unknown Ventures.

"After doing the video there, what it left me thinking was like 'man, what can be done for that place to help save it?'" said Brown.

The institution began as a boarding school, and was named after the wife of Reverend Richard Allen, who was a part of The Board of Missions for Freedmen. Mary Allen was instrumental in raising the organizational funds for the new seminary, according to signage on the property, and helped the organization along with Reverend Samuel Fisher Tenney to establish the school.

In 1924, the program was restructured when Dr. Byrd R. Smith became the school's first black president. With expanded programming, he enabled students to get teaching certificates. In 1933, Smith transitioned the seminary into a coeducational junior college, accredited by the State Department of Education, according to official documents. However, Smith's death in 1941 and the outbreak of World War II resulted in a blow to enrollment. In 1943, the school was sold to the General Baptist Convention of Texas, before shuttering in the early 70s.

"I would love to see something done with the seminary in a positive way, of course. I just wish something would be done to preserve it better, because I mean, it's getting older, and based off what I was reading from locals it's getting in worse shape," he continued.

The Mary Allen Museum in Crockett did not immediately reply for MySA's request for comment about the state of the building, however, previous reporting has described monetary roadblocks to maintaining the historic site.

Robbie Brown

Robbie Brown

"That's what I try to do is make these videos and bring back to life a lot of these old places and show that there is some value no matter what. You know, paranormal value or or historical value, it all tells a story" said Brown.

Since 2020, Brown has visited historic and haunted places across the country. In San Antonio, he has also recently explored the shuttered Splashtown location as well as the haunted Victoria's Black Swan Inn.

More Black History:'We will carry the torch': San Antonio's Eastside mourns passing of Carver Center leader
Inside Hook

Its that wonderful time of year again when Girl Scouts set up shop outside grocery stores and in office buildings around the country, peddling delicious cookies that will almost definitely be gobbled up in one sitting. Unfortunately, this also means its once again time for the girls selling those cookies (some as young as five) to be harassed by grown ass adults for absolutely no reason.

According to a recent report from Insider, harassment of Girl Scouts just trying to sell some cookies is nothing new, but it has gotten worse in recent years. One L.A.-based scout parent suggested the harassment has worsened in the past 10 years or so, and even more significantly since the pandemic. But what kind of problems could someone possibly have with an innocent girl whos just trying to sell them some beloved cookies? According to Insider, Girl Scouts selling cookies are subject to all kinds of bullying, aggression and mean-spirited comments from adults who take issue with everything from the inflated price of the cookies and their caloric content to the Girl Scouts rumored ties to Planned Parenthood and use of environmentally unfriendly palm oil. Meanwhile, the girls are also routinely subjected to plenty of fat-shaming and plain old sexual harassment.
Book bans are not a new phenomenon in the United States, but recent efforts to remove books in schools in Texas and across the country have made an aggressive comeback over the past year. The American Library Association reported it received an unprecedented 330 reports of book challenges in fall, an uptick from the same periods in recent years.

The current movement has been largely driven by conservative parents, activists and politicians campaigning against critical race theory, an academic concept used to explore the role of race in society. To date, more than half of book challenges are initiated by parents compared to 1 percent of students, the ALA reports.

In Texas last week, two parents in the McKinney Independent School District challenged more books in a single day than the record number of books previously challenged over the course of an entire year.

The parents requested the district remove 282 books with alleged obscene sexual content from its libraries after claiming they underwent the unpleasant task of reading each of the books. All 282 works are also on a list of 850 titles compiled by Republican state legislator Matt Krause as part of an inquiry launched in October into books he believed might make students feel uncomfortable.

Krause's list, which targets many texts with LGTBQ themes, has successfully prompted several large-scale book removals in Texas schools. Books on the list oftentimes coincide with titles being challenged in other states. This is largely due to concerted efforts from right-wing organizations like Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education and Texans Wake Up to circulate book lists online of titles that they have deemed inappropriate.

From these lists, parents and activists find the most explicit passages and recite them at school board meetings out of context, asking schools if the books are available to their children.

Among frequently listed titles is the 2015 young adult novel Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez. The book, described as a fictional reimagining of the 1937 New London explosion that killed more 295 people as a backdrop for a riveting novel about segregation, love, family, and the forces that destroy people, has been challenged in at least eight districts in Texas, and at least eight different states.

The conservative website Texans Wake Up, which dubbed Perezs book pervasively vulgar, contains passages of the book, a list of profane words that can be found in it (including a word count of each) and Texas school districts that have the book stocked in their libraries. The guide is downloadable for use at school board meetings.

A parent from the Austin-based Lake Travis Independent School District went viral after reciting the same passages featured on the website during a school board meeting as she requested removal of the book from middle school shelves. The next day, the book was pulled from libraries for review.

No Left Turn in Education, another group leading the charge, has circulated a list of more than 75 books it says spread radical and racist ideologies to students. Nearly all of the featured books are about Black or LGBTQ stories, including the title All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson which has been targeted for removal in at least 14 states. The list also features classics like Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale.

Parents Defending Education, which promotes No Left Turn in Education, likewise has its own list of books, many of which have been frequently targeted in Texas such as "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison and "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe. Gov. Greg Abbott referenced the latter novel when introducing his Parental Bill of Rights that would ban alleged "pornographic" material in school libraries.

In January, The Guardian reported that most of these groups are also linked to right-wing politicians and wealthy Republican donors. Parents Defending Education president Nicole Neilly was previously the executive director of the conservative organization Independent Womens Forum. Neilly also worked at the Cato Institute, a right-wing think tank co-founded by Republican mega-donor Charles Koch, according to The Guardian.

"Weve noted that there are a number of groups like Moms for Liberty, Parents Defending Education, No Left Turn in Education that have particular views on what is appropriate for young people, and theyre trying to implement their agenda  particularly in schools, but also taking their concerns to public libraries as well," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom, to The Guardian.

However, such widespread book banning efforts have not gone unchallenged. This week, students in Katy ISD, which made national headlines for several book challenges this school year, distributed hundreds of copies of banned books that discuss race and the LGBTQ experiences to their peers after the district removed some library books and blocked certain websites from being accessed on campus, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Texas librarians launched the organization #FReadom Fighters shortly after Krause's book list went public. The group has since provided resources for librarians, teachers or authors facing book challenges. A February CBS News poll shows that 80 percent of Americans don't think books should be banned from schools for discussing race and criticizing U.S. history, for depicting slavery in the past or more broadly for political ideas with which they disagree.
Patient readers, once again I apologize for the dominance of news from Ukraine, but its a story not without interest, so here we are. lambert

DNA Clears Hank The Tank!!! Now the Bear Will Be Spared TMZ

Do Birds Have Language? Smithsonian. Some would say yes.

Study finds elk are too smart for their own good, and the good of Utah Phys.org

Monkeys in Their Own Right Verfassungsblog. The Estrellita Judgement of the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court.

Climate

The digital worlds real-world impact on the environment High Country News

#COVID19

China?

Heres how the Russia-Ukraine conflict affects Malaysia and why we should care Malay Mail. Irredentism.

Syraqistan

A Dysfunctional Peace: How Libyas Fault Lines Were Redrawn War on the Rocks. Another brilliant success for US policy.

New No-So-Cold War

Biden Administration

Trump Legacy

Supply Chain

Health Care

Op-Ed: The anti-vax movement was already getting scary. COVID supercharged it LA Times. The 1st public option health plan in the U.S. struggles to gain traction NPR. The plans had a hard time getting networks put together because the hospitals wouldnt play, said state Rep. Eileen Cody, the Washington legislator who introduced the public option bill in 2019. Theyre a big part of the problem.' The same thing happened with MaineCare.

The Schools

Our Famously Free Press

Classy: This morning the Associated Press tried to sell an NFT of a refugee boat drifting on the Mediterranean Sea. They've since deleted the tweet. pic.twitter.com/duaGU0s7r5  Nanjala Nyabola (@Nanjala1) February 25, 2022 Blog Terminated Paul Robinson, Irrussianality. I respect Robinsons decision, but he might have given consideration to waiting for David Frum to resign from his editorship of The Atlantic, and only then terminating his blog.

Fed Up With Google, Conspiracy Theorists Turn to DuckDuckGo NYT. Musical interlude.

The Bezzle

Startup founder says he lost his company and $100 million by relying on Facebook: Sends chills down my spine to watch others build businesses on Instagram and TikTok Business Insider (JB). If your business depends on a platform.

Assange

Class Warfare

Cryptographers Achieve Perfect Secrecy With Imperfect Devices Quanta

U.S. Plans New Safety Rules to Crack Down on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Portable Generators Pro Publica. This gives me an opportunity to clarify: Portable generators are jackpot-ready, in that they buy time if (when) the grid collapses. They are not jackpot-compliant, because they assume the continued distribution of fuel; they do not comply with newly imposed rigors.

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here
Yves here. Lordie. As most readers know, Medicare solvency is not a real issue, since the US as a currency issuer can always fund it. And it could easily be fixed in a way that would satisfy deficit scaredy-cats, by ending the salary cap on FICA contributions. But instead the latest plan is a budgetary three card monte to make the Postal Service look better, when its funding crisis is the result of bogus accounting, by loading more costs onto Medicare.

By Michael McAuliff. Originally published at Kaiser Health News

A congressional effort to fix the nations deteriorating mail service may come at the expense of an even bigger and more complicated problem: Medicare solvency.

The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 would help shore up post office finances by ending the unusual and onerous legal requirement to fund 75 years of retirement health benefits in advance. In return, it would require future Postal Service retirees to enroll in Medicare.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the move could save the postal retirement and health programs about $5.6 billion through 2031 while adding $5.5 billion in costs to Medicare during that span, and probably much more in later years.

Considering the massive size of Medicare  it spent $926 billion in 2020  the costs dont amount to much. That small financial impact, and the ongoing immediate crises with mail delivery, probably account for the strong bipartisan support the postal bill has received in Congress, with 120 Republicans joining Democrats to pass the bill in the House on Feb. 8.

But late in the process, some lawmakers are raising alarms over the move, arguing that maybe Congress should look more carefully at the financial impact to Medicares trust fund, which is expected to run dry in 2026.

This bill simply shifts risk to Medicare recipients by adding billions of new costs to Medicare, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said Feb. 14 in blocking requests on the Senate floor to expedite passage of the bill. Scotts objection delayed consideration of the bill until early March, after the Senate returns from its Presidents Day break.

Currently, Postal Service employees are covered by plans offered in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. When they retire they have several choices for health care, including staying in their original plan or switching to Medicare as their primary coverage and having an FEHB plan serve as supplementary coverage. About 20% of postal retirees do not sign up for Medicare, preferring their current federal plan. Under this legislation, they would have to switch to Medicare, but they would keep a new Postal Service version of the FEHB plan as secondary coverage.

Since the change wouldnt fully take effect until 2025, and the Congressional Budget Offices cost estimate doesnt capture a full decade, Scott wants to know the price tag for the next 10- and 20-year periods, as well as the specific impacts on the various components of Medicare, such as premiums for Medicares Part D drug plan and the Part B program, which covers a variety of outpatient services.

The overall cost is likely to be much more significant than the shorter-term analysis found, said Robert Moffit, a senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, who has also raised concerns.

There is a total cost thats being ignored, Moffit said. You basically have a situation where you have unfunded liabilities in the Postal Service Health Benefits Program, retiree benefits, that amount to about $75 billion.

That projected cost doesnt vanish. It falls on Medicare, though the exact impact is unclear. Moffit agreed with Scott that Congress should be looking at longer-term implications, including effects on premiums and the costs borne by taxpayers and beneficiaries.

We ought to step back, take a deep breath, and look at what were doing here, Moffit said.

Postal Service unions are not worried about the change, however, with all of them supporting the switch, noted Democrats who responded to Scott earlier this month.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer argued that the bill would save the government money overall, and that moving postal retirees into Medicare would ensure that they receive benefits theyve paid for but were not using.

For Schumer and most other lawmakers, the comparatively small impact on Medicare is simply not as pressing as getting the mail delivered on time.

We will pass this bill because America needs it. Rural people need it. Senior citizens need it. Veterans need it  80% of the veterans prescriptions are sent through the mail, Schumer said. Nobody should be standing in the way of this bill.

Scott is now among a minority objecting to the latest effort and pointing to Medicare.

Others who remain concerned about Medicares poor finances also thought fixing the problems with postal delivery was worth the cost to Medicare.

I would let Congress have a small win here and, really, this is not just a small win, said Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at the Senior Citizens League advocacy group.

She said the failures of the mail system also have health consequences, with payments for insurance and shipments of prescriptions going missing, which has happened to her.

The shift to Medicare envisioned in the legislation could add to the sense of urgency  all those retired postal workers would be joining Medicare just in time for a solvency crisis if Congress drags its feet. Its inaction in Congress that would cause that, Johnson said.

Johnson noted it will be difficult to reach a bipartisan consensus on something as momentous as Medicare reform. Youre going to have to pass something, and it depends on whos the majority. It may not be very pretty when it happens.
(Natural News) Spains decision to inject subsidies into renewable energy 17 years ago prompted thousands of families to invest in solar energy. Now, approximately 62,000 Spaniards are bankrupt as their government failed to keep its promise.

The Spanish government encouraged its citizens to invest in solar energy and promised subsidy for their investment along with a guaranteed purchase price for the energy produced.

It was supposed to be my source of energy, but it has been the source of all my troubles, lamented Cesar Vea, an owner of a solar park in Cantabria, who spent one million euros on six solar panels in 2007. My investment was supposed to have been paid off in 15 years time after which I was supposed to start making profits. I really thought it would be a good way to earn money to pay for my sons studies if he wanted to study abroad.

Spanish government cuts promised solar energy subsidies

In 2010, the horizon darkened for Vea and others when huge investors who were attracted to Spains long hours of sunshine began to flock in, which resulted in an electricity production capacity that was nine times higher than predicted. Incapable of delivering the payment, the government cut off the promised subsidies to its people who had invested in the solar energy project. (Related: Corporations now trying to charge people for choosing solar energy.)

Vea said the government sent a message that it would stop paying the people who invested in the solar energy project and that they would be excluded from the bonus system.

The solar park owner said he couldnt imagine their own prime minister bankrupting his own people.

The solar project, according to Vea, was the whole familys dream and they had pooled all their savings into the solar park. He added that when the subsidies were cut off, they were no longer able to pay back their loan and they were even close to losing their family home.

Vea started a demonstration in front of the Spanish parliament six months ago to demand justice and find a solution.

Spanish solar energy producers demand compensation

The 62,000 Spaniards who invested in the government-sponsored solar energy project now feel cheated and the Spanish National Association of Solar Energy Producers or Anpier, a State scope and non-profit association that represents and defends the interests of small and medium producers of photovoltaic solar energy, is now questioning the government about the issue.

Members of the organization thought they were helping their country by pivoting to solar energy, which was then under pressure to meet European Union goals in ecological transition.

The group said the government had encouraged its citizens to invest in solar energy, but it never kept its promises except in paying them back for the installations. The association added that the lack of planning, bad calculations and insufficient regulations pushed the state to improvise.

According to Anpier Vice-President Juan Antonio Cabrero, the authorities could have told them to limit the number of investors and the group is now asking for compensation for the damage that the government has caused them. Anpier is demanding from the state at least 25 to 30 percent out of the 30 to 50 percent that it has cut from investors.

Meanwhile, Spains conservative Peoples Party is now pushing for an amendment that could serve as a lifeline for the families who were affected by the governments decision to withdraw the subsidies.

Juan Diego Requena, spokesman for the Peoples Party, said the goal of the amendment is to allow the families who built the solar energy installations to receive the bonuses that they were promised.

More related stories:

New, low-cost battery technology could drive boom in household solar energy.

Scientists now looking at transparent nanolayers for increased solar power production.

California proposes sharp reductions in subsidies for residential solar customers.

Watch the video below to know how much solar panels cost in the United States.

This video is from the Solar Surge channel on Brighteon.com.

Follow SolarPanels.news to know more about solar panels and solar energy.

Sources include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

Anpier.org

Brighteon.com
MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday that the current sanctions against Russia could be a reason to review relations with all states that have imposed them.

"Sanctions are a good reason to review all relations with those states that have imposed them, and to interrupt dialogue on strategic stability," Medvedev said in a post on his Vkontakte page.

These restrictions will not change anything, including Moscow's decision to conduct a military operation and to protect Donbass, he wrote, adding that the operation would be carried out in full until the final results are achieved.

Medvedev said that the sanctions were imposed due to the "political impotence" of Western leaders and their "inability to change Russia's course," and were also used as a means to justify "their shameful decisions."

The West is also threatening to seize the money of Russian citizens and Russian companies abroad, Medvedev wrote, noting that this will bring about a symmetrical response, namely seizing funds of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia. 
(Natural News) Surgical pain experienced by post-operative patients affect the quality of their sleep, even as they recover in intensive care. With this in mind, Turkish researchers turned to aromatherapy massage to see if it could positively affect the sleep quality of post-operative patients.

Aromatherapy and massage therapy are two of the most common complementary and alternative therapies used today. The former is already commonly used by nurses and has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, as well as reduce pain and anxiety.

One frequently used essential oil in aromatherapy is lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), a well-known aromatic and medicinal herb. The active ingredients of lavender essential oil can be quickly absorbed through the skin and have sedative, antidepressant and muscular relaxant effects. They also have a positive effect on sleep quality.

With this in mind, researchers from Ataturk University and Ataturk University Research Hospital decided to test whether aromatherapy massage with lavender essential oil could help enhance the sleep quality of post-operative patients in a surgical intensive care unit.

Their findings were published in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines.

Testing aromatherapy massage on post-operative patients

For their study, the researchers used a sample size of 60 patients whom they divided equally into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The patients were assigned to either group using convenience sampling.

The researchers used strict inclusion criteria for the participants to minimize sample variability. The patients had to be at least 18 years of age, able to speak Turkish, post-operative, lacking open scars or complications, conscious and extubated to be eligible. Any patients involved in an emergency operation or who had chronic pain problems, hearing impairment, cognitive impairment, hemodynamic instability or have been intubated were also excluded.

None of the patients in the experimental and control groups had any interaction with each other prior to the study.

Prior to the experiment, data was collected from the patients through face-to-face interviews using the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). In addition, the physical parameters of patients in both the experimental and control groups were tested while they were in bed. As part of this, patient characteristics such as age, gender, experience with intensive care, pain levels and sleep duration were identified and recorded.

Patients in the experimental group received aromatherapy massage at 10:00 p.m. for 10 to 15 minutes. To test if any of the patients had any allergic reaction to lavender oil, it was only applied to a small area on the inner portion of a patients arm first before full application.

The patients were given a whole-body massage, involving their deltoid muscles, arms, back, shoulder, thighs, palms and fingers, front and posterior parts of the legs, forearms, belly and chest, front and back of feet, auxiliaries and neck muscles.

Following the massage, the patients physical parameters were once again tested.

Aromatherapy massage improves sleep quality in post-operative patients

The researchers noted that patients who were part of the experimental group had a higher mean score on the RCSQ than those in the control group. This indicated that the former had better sleep quality while in the intensive care unit than the latter. (Related: Assessing the use of aromatherapy in clinical practice.)

With regard to physiological parameters, the researchers noted that those in the experimental group experienced a decrease in diastolic blood pressure after the massage. No other differences in physiological parameters were noted.

Based on these, the researchers concluded that aromatherapy massage can enhance the sleep quality of post-operative patients in surgical intensive care. This in in addition to some positive changes in certain physiological parameters.

For more studies on the benefits of aromatherapy massage, visit AlternativeMedicine.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

ResearchGate.net

Hindawi.com

Journals.ATHMSI.org
(Natural News) A bill filed in the California State Legislature seeks to penalize doctors promoting misinformation about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). The proposal also urges the states medical board to go after such doctors and expedite any complaints filed against them.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2098, filed on Feb. 14 by lawmaker Evan Low of the California Assembly, would make it easier for the Medical Board of California (MBC) to punish physicians espousing misinformation by classifying the behavior as unprofessional conduct.

According to Low, AB 2098 will make it clear that the state medical board must go after physicians who advocate so-called misinformation about COVID-19. The spreading of misinformation  of inaccurate COVID-19 information  contradicts the responsibility [of] doctors, threatens to further erode the public trust in the medical profession and puts all patients at risk, he said.

The proposal defines unprofessional conduct as any actions by doctors to disseminate or promote misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19. Examples of misinformation mentioned in AB 2098 include false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment and the development, safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.

Erring doctors could face disciplinary action for disseminating information that resulted in an individual declining opportunities for COVID-19 treatment or prevention that was not justified by the individuals medical history or condition. This section of the bill appeared to target doctors refusing to recommend the antiviral drug remdesivir as a COVID-19 treatment due to its toxicity.

The bill came as a result of Low and other lawmakers expressing frustration with the MBCs slow, complaint-driven process. In turn, this has allowed several doctors in the state to promote conspiracy theories and unproven treatments throughout the pandemic. (Related: The worst Covid MISINFORMATION SPREADERS on the planet.)

AB 2098 seeks to enforce a one and only truth

Emergency room doctor Nick Sawyer expressed support toward AB 2098. The founder of the group No License for Disinformation said it would affect a small group of doctors who spread blatantly inaccurate and extreme misinformation despite their medical training. Sawyer added that while the MBC is authorized to go after those doctors, the bill was necessary due to the boards slow response.

This isnt a call for a policing of free speech. This is a call for protecting the public against dangerous misinformation, which patients are parroting back to us in our emergency room departments every day, he said.

Vaccine injury and epidemiology expert Dr. Meryl Nass begged to differ, however. The member of Childrens Health Defenses scientific advisory committee denounced the proposal as an attempt to legislate  [the definition of] what is truth and what is misinformation, with medical providers having to follow lockstep with that definition. She compared AB 2098s intent to that of the Ministry of Truth in George Orwells novel 1984, adding that it seeks to enforce a one and only truth.

Nowhere does this [bill] define what is misinformation and disinformation. They do talk about contemporary scientific consensus; but as we know in the last two years, the so-called scientific consensus  or the public health agency consensus  on masks, vaccination, boosters, etc. has flip-flopped all over the place. We have adequate examples that the concept of contemporary scientific consensus is basically meaningless in this context, said Nass.

The Maine-based Nass also disagreed with Sawyers remarks in support of AB 2098. The result is removing options from doctors and patients. The longer-term consequence is that doctors will become irrelevant if they are not needed to assess each individuals personal risks and benefits from each type of medical care, she explained.

More related stories:

Twitter continues to punish conservatives; boots Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from platform over phony claim of COVID misinformation.

YouTube suspends Dr. Rand Paul for spreading covid misinformation when he was actually just quoting the real science.

This is your brain on CNN: Sotomayor shocks nation by spewing COVID misinformation in Supreme Court.

Dr. Mercola sues Elizabeth Warren for telling Amazon to censor covid misinformation.

Watch Dr. Sam Bailey explain how to spot COVID-19 misinformation below.

This video is from the Fearless Nation channel on Brighteon.com.

Find more stories like this at Disinfo.news.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

LATimes.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Brighteon.TV host and Reawaken America Tour founder Clay Clark touched on government corruption and played several clips of globalist leader Klaus Schwab on the Feb. 24 episode of Thrive Time Show.

Clark first played a video of Dr. Robert Malone speaking in his recent appearance on the War Room podcast. The mRNA vaccine inventor revealed the science fraud committed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by concealing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine safety data.

Malone told podcast host Steve Bannon that he and his colleagues at the Global COVID Summit Group have been carefully watching the data and raising concerns. He added: Weve all been attacked by the media for doing so  and now we see the smoking gun. The CDC has been hiding data from all of us. (Related: Scientific fraud: Drs. Robert Malone, Ryan Cole react to CDC hiding data.)

But Malone warned that the mainstream medias coverage of the fraud within the CDC is a ploy to obfuscate and soft-peddle this news. He told Bannon: I think whats going on here is that theyre getting out ahead. Theres a good chance theyre trying to get [the news] out ahead of a whistleblower or something like that at [the] CDC.

The mRNA vaccine inventor quoted Northeastern University Affiliate Professor Samuel Scarpino. Heres what he [Scarpino] said: The CDC is a political organization as much as it is a public health organization. The steps it takes to get something like [vaccine safety data] released are often well outside their control.'

Clark then pointed out Scarpinos affiliation with the Rockefeller Foundation, which authored the so-called Rockefeller Plan. The Brighteon.TV host said: The plan  which was written in 2010  called for quarantines, curfews [and] lockdowns. [Its on] page 16 of that document.

The plan also lauded China for swiftly imposing a lockdown during the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. The Chinese governments quick imposition and enforcement of mandatory quarantine for all citizens, as well as its instant and near-hermetic sealing off of all borders, saved millions of lives; [stopped] the spread of the virus far earlier than in other countries and [enabled] a swifter post-pandemic recovery.

Clark exposes Schwabs plans in a series of clips

Clark also played footage of several individuals that strive for the so-called Great Reset  first and foremost among them World Economic Forum (WEF) Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

If I look at our stakeholders  we have businesses, of course, as a very important audience. We have [politicians]; we have continuous partnerships with many governments around the world. We have NGOs [non-government organizations] and trade unions. Of course, media  [and] even religious leaders. And very important: Experts and scientists [in] academia. If we are looking at the future, I think we should look at new solutions and [these] will be very much driven by technological developments, said Schwab.

The WEF founder mentioned several leaders who were part of its Young Global Leaders program. These included former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. We penetrate the cabinets. I was at a reception for Trudeau, and I say half of his cabinet  or even more [than] half of his cabinet  are actually Young Global Leaders, Schwab admitted.

Furthermore, Schwab highlighted the importance of chips implanted in the human brain as an important step to create the physical brain for digitalization  adhering to his transhumanist plan. The difference of this Fourth Industrial Revolution is it doesnt change what you were doing: It changes you. If you take genetic editing, just as an example, its you who [is] changed. Of course, this has a big impact on your identity.

More related stories:

Thrive Time Show: Covid vaccines part of bigger plan to ELIMINATE free will  Brighteon.TV.

Globalist Klaus Schwab called for implantable global health pass microchip back in 2016.

Clay Clark digs into vaccines and transhumanism with Dr. Carrie Madej  Brighteon.TV.

Yuval Noah Harari: Humans are now HACKABLE ANIMALS thanks to vaccines.

Watch the full Feb. 24 episode of Thrive Time Show below. Catch new episodes of Thrive Time Show with Clay Clark from Mondays to Fridays from 3:30-4 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Globalism.news has more on the globalists using the pandemic to herald the Great Reset.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TimeToFreeAmerica.com [PDF]
(Natural News) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russian occupation forces are attempting to seize control of the shuttered Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which, if disrupted, could release radioactive dust across Europe.

Advisor to Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko announced that Russian troops from the territory of Belarus have entered the Chernobyl containment zone, which covers a vast region where radiation still lingers from the April 1986 disaster.

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, Gerashchenko warned.

In a tweet, Pres. Zelenskyy wrote that Russian occupation forces are attempting to seize control of Chernobyl.

Our defenders are giving their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated, he said. This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.

It is important to stress that these leaders are saying a disruption at Chernobyl is possible, not certain. A disruption could happen since the facility is right in the crosshairs of the ongoing invasion.

Belarusian soldiers join fight alongside Russian troops, reports suggest

Russian Pres. Vladimir Putins show of force so far is clearly on a shock and awe scale, and is not just limited to the Donbas area in the east of Ukraine.

An ongoing air war on Kiev and several other cities throughout the country suggests that Putin means business. Tanks have also been seen speeding across Ukraines border from Belarus with widespread reports that Belarusian soldiers are teaming up with Russian troops to attack Ukraine.

Just hours after Russias military launched its attack, it announced that all of Ukraines air defenses have already been eliminated. Russia continues to maintain a large aerial presence with fighter jets and helicopters roving much of the country.

Buzzfeed News correspondent to Kiev Christopher Miller tweeted that Russias strong aerial presence has been confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

A large air assault operation with Mi-8 helicopters on Antonov International Airport in Hostomel, he wrote. Interior Ministry says Russia has seized control. Very dangerous; its just 15 minutes west of the capital ring road.

Kiev authorities say that hundreds of Ukrainians have been killed, including civilians. Much of the countrys command and control military infrastructure is believed to have been targeted and hit in the first wave of attack.

Ukrainian border guards were also attacked, with some reports indicating that soldiers had already fled in advance of the attack. Moscow also announced safe passage for any Ukrainian soldier who agrees to lay down arms and surrender.

Ukraines state emergency service announced that a Ukrainian military plane was downed, killing five people.

Russias goal, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, is the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.

Ideally, Ukraine should be liberated, cleansed of Nazis, of pro-Nazi people and ideology, he said, indicating that military operations will end only once these objectives have been reached.

Whether this means regime change in Kiev remains to be seen, but such a scenario seems likely. Early reports also suggested that Pres. Zelenskyy has also been offered safe passage if he agrees to leave Ukraine.

More than 200 attacks from Russia have been documented so far with severe clashes occurring in multiple areas of Ukraine. There are also reports that a Russian flag has been hoisted on a hydroelectric plant building in Nova Kakhovka, which is located about 60km into Ukrainian territory.

The Crimean front appears to have collapsed, tweeted someone from Ukraine.

The Biden regime, meanwhile, has announced severe and far-reaching new sanctions on Russia, which are scheduled for announcement on Thursday.

More related news can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Recent claims that a new variant of HIV has been discovered may just be an attempt to create another pandemic.

This is according to television host and producer Del Bigtree who spoke about it on the Feb. 22 episode of his show The Highwire with investigative journalist Jefferey Jaxen.

Reports of a new variant of HIV started emerging in early February. The claim is according to a study published in the journal Science that claims HIV has mutated to create a more severe disease with more rapid transmission.

Chris Wymant, lead author of the study and senior researcher from the Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford, worked with a database that collects HIV samples from Uganda and several European countries. Wymant studied 17 samples with unusual mutations. Fifteen of these samples were from the Netherlands.

According to the study, the database discovered a total of 109 people who had the more dangerous variant and never knew about it. Some of the individuals have had HIV since 1992, leading Wymant and his co-authors to deduce that the variant may have emerged sometime in the late 1980s, picked up steam around the early 2000s and then slowed down by the 2010s.

Even after 100 years of HIV infecting humans, it still has the capacity to evolve and change, said Joel Wertheim, associate professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego. We should never underestimate the potential for viral evolution. Let this study stand in stark contrast to the claim that all viruses will inevitably evolve to be benign.

Variant claims could be a way to push for mandatory HIV testing

Jaxen and Bigtree are incredulous at the idea that potentially hundreds or thousands of people have had the more virulent HIV variant since the 1980s or 1990s but it was only discovered recently.

When were reading this, you start scratching your head because you go, Wait a minute, these people have been carrying this highly contagious variant that goes into serious disease very quickly for 30 years, and they didnt know it?' questioned Jaxen.

This is supported by the latest news circulating in mainstream media outlets claiming that HIV is now more prominent among heterosexual people than gay or bisexual people. This news was followed by a call for more people to get tested for HIV  a call that was amplified with the use of celebrities like Prince Harry.

Every single one of us has a duty, or at least an opportunity, to get tested ourselves to make it easier for everybody else to get tested, Prince Harry said in an interview. And then it just becomes a regular thing, like anything else. But if were not getting tested, and were like, Oh, you know, HIV, thats not  but how could that possibly affect me? Thats affecting, you know, people over there. And its like, no, it could affect you. (Related: Doctors are testifying that COVID-19 vaccines are giving people cancer and AIDS.)

What happened to safe sex campaigns and things like that? Now, were gonna go into testing? We just got out of [mandatory] COVID testing, and now lets get into HIV testing? Maybe [they] can create a pandemic around this, remarked Bigtree.

Mainstream media outlets have already come out with articles claiming that tests for HIV should be as common as tests for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Even Wymant and his co-researchers have come out with statements supporting public health strategies that emphasize getting tested for HIV and getting so-called treatment as early as possible.

The public health intervention thats been rolled out and expanded in the Netherlands over the last decade or so  improving access to treatments, getting people tested as soon as possible, getting them onto treatment as soon as possible  has helped reduce the numbers of this variant, even though we didnt know that it existed yet, claimed Wymant.

Alternatively, Jaxen and Bigtree said the new HIV variant may just be adverse effects caused by the COVID-19 vaccines. They pointed out that, as early as 2020, researchers were warning that the vaccines that were still in the early stages of development at the time could increase a persons risk of acquiring HIV.

And now were seeing headlines all over the country  all over the world  Look out, we may be having a rise in HIV, you may want to get out and get tested,' commented Bigtree. Do you see the writing on the wall? Do these connect? We dont know.

More related stories:

Media pushing HIV variant narrative as cover story for vaccine-induced immune system collapse.

Vaccinated people around the world are showing AIDS-like symptoms.

As covid injections spread autoimmune disease and VAIDS, media pivots to incoming AIDS vaccine that will only accelerate the vaccine genocide.

The fully vaccinated may already be suffering from jab-induced AIDS, government data suggests.

COVID-19 vaccines may increase the risk of HIV infections.

Covid-19 and the HIV connection revealed.

Listen to this episode of The Highwire with Del Bigtree and guest Jefferey Jaxen as they talk about the supposed emergence of the HIV variant.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NPR.org
(Natural News) A physician has warned the public that the graphene in Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines is transforming within peoples bodies. Worse yet, the fully vaccinated are now starting to infect the unvaccinated with vaccine toxins through shedding.

Dr. Philippe Van Welbergen, medical director of Biomedics Clinic in the United Kingdom, recently demonstrated that the graphene in the COVID-19 vaccines is organizing and growing into large fibers and structures, gaining magnetic properties and becoming more complex.

In mid-2021, Van Welbergen first noticed a problem when he started receiving more and more patients who exhibited an unusual array of symptoms. He explained in an interview with a South African media outlet that his patients started complaining about chronic fatigue, dizziness, memory issues, paralysis and even late-onset of heavy menstruation for women in their 60s.

Van Welbergen was concerned that it may have something to do with structural changes in their blood, and so he took blood samples from all of them.

Upon examining the blood samples under a microscope, he found that their blood was clumping up and forming strange shapes not typically seen in healthy blood. The shape of individual red blood cells was also not round, but more crumpled.

Van Welbergen also found that the nuclei of the cells were destroyed and many of them were starting to form large gold tubular structures.

All of his patients were vaccinated with Modernas mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. They all reported feeling extreme fatigue, dizziness, tiredness, a general aura of not feeling well and mental confusion.

Thick graphene fibers found in the blood of vaccinated individuals

Van Welbergen explained that the gold tube-like structures resemble the graphene oxide samples found by Spanish researchers. He described them as resembling folded over toilet paper under paint. (Related: Researcher sounds alarm after finding PARASITES, nanobots and graphene in COVID-19 vaccines.)

During another interview with the same media outlet, Van Welbergen presented images of his latest blood slides and explained what happened to the blood of his vaccinated patients.

In one image of a blood sample Van Welbergen shared, he pointed out that the vaccinated individuals blood was coagulated, the red blood cells were badly misshapen and clumped together and the blood was filled with graphene fibers which dwarfed the red blood cells in size. He warned that graphene fibers these massive could block small blood vessels and cause serious health complications.

Van Welbergen also warned that he was starting to notice a magnetic or electric polarity effect on different sides of the graphene fibers. This behavior was not present when he first started examining the blood of his vaccinated patients, but they were now popping up out of nowhere.

These things have changed, he said. Their reaction with surrounding blood cells has changed  and I dont know what triggered it.

The vaccinated are shedding and infecting the unvaccinated

Worse yet, during one interview Van Welbergen showed a blood sample from an unvaccinated three-year-old patient. He examined the blood and found thin shards of clear material that resemble smaller versions of the graphene fibers he found in the blood of his vaccinated patients.

The three-year-olds parents were both fully vaccinated. This led Van Welbergen to speculate that the unvaccinated are now being contaminated by fully vaccinated individuals who were shedding graphene.

Van Welbergen also had another unvaccinated patient  an eight-year-old child  who came to him because of serious health concerns. The childs right arm and upper right leg were paralyzed and the child was unable to properly move the affected limbs.

When he examined the childs blood, he found a large mass of graphene that was forcing the red blood cells around it to clump together and get squished. This large mass of graphene is most likely preventing the child from properly using the affected limbs.

What this shows is that not only are the fully vaccinated in danger of experiencing severe health complications due to the material in the COVID-19 vaccines, but they are now clear threats to the health of unvaccinated individuals as well.

More related stories:

CONFIRMED: Covid vaccine vials definitely contain graphene oxide.

German chemist Dr. Andreas Noack found DEAD after exposing presence of graphene hydroxide in covid vaccines.

The Dr. Hotze Report: Graphene oxide found in COVID vaccines  Brighteon.TV.

Dr. Steven Hotze warns about the dangerous ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines, including graphene oxide  Brighteon.TV.

Spanish study finds Pfizer vaccine contains high levels of TOXIC graphene oxide.

Watch this clip of vaccine researcher Dr. Carrie Madej talking about the graphene oxide in COVID-19 vaccines.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Learn more about whats really inside the COVID-19 vaccines at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

DailyExpose.uk

Anti-Vaccines.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Brighteon.TV host Dr. Bryan Ardis talked about the illusion of the pandemic when he served as a witness on the third day of the Pandemic Grand Jury, a public trial that exposes everything thats wrong with the governments handling the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic  from vaccine fraud to misuse of PCR tests and the number of cases.

Ben Armstrong shared a recording of the trial during the February 23 episode of the Ben Armstrong Show.

Asked by the member of the Grand Jury, Dr. Reiner Fuellmich, to expound on the illusion of the pandemic, Ardis said the corruption cannot be understated regarding that matter. (Related: After a history of medical ethics violation, Pfizer is using the COVID-19 pandemic to carry out yet more crimes against humanity (op-ed).

The PCR test does not determine if you have SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 or any respiratory virus, for that matter. Its a faulty test and faulty cycle set up to create exaggerated cases of COVID-19, Ardis said.

He proceeded to reveal that in March 2020, the CDC allowed all hospitals to mark all flu and pneumonia patients as COVID-positive cases even though they tested negative for COVID-19, especially if the hospital is in a city where the media reported cases of the virus.

By calling the flu or pneumonia COVID, hospitals are given a 20 percent bonus for the diagnoses. In short, beginning March 2020, the CDC started incentivizing hospitals and clinicians to give false COVID-19 diagnoses to patients.

Armstrong also noted that its been confirmed that the PCR tests will not actually test for the coronavirus. They are faulty, defective and give false-positive results. It was a designed pandemic in the aspect that they used PCR tests and geared them up to make you think there were these massive amounts of cases, he said.

Kidney failure is caused by remdesivir, not a COVID-19 symptom

During the trial, Ardis said kidney failure is caused by remdesivir  not s symptom of COVID-19. He noted that countries with the most COVID-related deaths are those with people who are treated at hospitals for the virus. In the United States, it was because these hospitals were using remdesivir.

Ardis said during the grand jury trial: It is an illusion orchestrated by our federal health agencies to exaggerate the cases of COVID, to exaggerate the causes of death from COVID. And theyre calling them complications of COVID.

He added that those who have had loved ones die from COVID to take a look at the death certificates to see if they have died of complications of COVID-19. (Related: Dr. Jane Ruby: Fauci knows remdesivir is a failed drug that kills people  Brighteon.TV.)

The people who died from acute kidney failure from complications of secondary COVID-pneumonia, according to Ardis, did not actually die from such complications. You put an IV bag, flooding water into the veins of someone, and they cant excrete the water from their kidneys. Youve shut them down, you flood their abdomen with water, it then floods inside the heart and then it infiltrates the lungs and you drown them. Its called pulmonary edema, Ardis explained.

Other channels have echoed Ardis claims that COVID-19 deaths are medically induced. Others even stated that the deaths caused by remdesivir were being faked to encourage people to take the vaccines.

Ardis also discussed a conspiracy involving National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other health authorities who made COVID look more deadly than it was by approving remdesivir so they could murder people and convince them that they are dying of COVID-19.

Yes, theres an illusion that [patients] are dying from a virus. Theyre being poisoned to death with ill-advised protocols. Healthcare workers are also being asked and incentivized to artificially exaggerate positive cases and give a diagnosis for it, Ardis said.

More related stories:

COVID-related crimes to be investigated by public grand jury.

International criminal grand jury investigation finds that globalist psychopaths used covid to commit crimes against humanity.

Bidens free COVID tests found to be not helpful as false positives skewed pandemic picture.

Peoples Court to prosecute WEF-controlled globalists who used the pandemic to commit crimes against humanity.

Conquered by a fake pandemic, we can kiss America good-bye.

Watch the full February 23 episode of The Ben Armstrong Show below.

This video is from The New American channel at Brighteon.com.

Follow Pandemic.news for more updates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

FirstDraftNews.org
(Natural News) As The Organic Prepper predicted, yet did not hope for, the Ukrainian-Russian war has now popped off. There were simply too many signs to believe that anything other than a full-scale invasion would happen. (Seriously. If you believed otherwise, you need to quit trusting your TV.) Ukraines largest cyberattack ever. Massive blood shipments being staged.

(Article by Aden Tate republished from TheOrganicPrepper.com)

It never was a military drill on Russian soil. It never was sabre rattling. This was about war from the beginning.

And now it is here.

Russian forces began rolling into Ukrainian in the night hours of February 23, rapidly gaining ground in what is best described as a blitzkreig.

President Zalensky of Ukraine quickly began tweeting out calls for help, both to his own countrymen, and to the international community at large. Anybody who desired a weapon in Ukraine can now get one. It appears that all prisoners within Ukraine can now be released provided they fight for their country as well. This is liable to prove an attractive alternative by many rather than being placed in a Russian jail.

Air strikes have literally taken place throughout the entire country of Ukraine. Nowhere there right now is truly safe. In addition, there has been a significant portion of the country that has already fallen to the Russians. As of this writing, the Russians have made significant headway on the Eastern Front, are positioned in the north, and have made significant advances into the underbelly of Ukraine as well.

Well, I never see nothing like this before.

RIP #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/TSGfeVDwvi  mehdiMj (@mehdiMj_ir) February 24, 2022

From Telegram: Video. 20 km to Kiev. Vyshgorod, Kiev region. pic.twitter.com/qE4CmyYlRN  American Partisan (www.americanpartisan.org) (@AmericanPartis1) February 24, 2022

Were not entirely sure what to make of the next video. Perhaps there was a military target nearby? Was this just fired into a neighborhood?

People are flocking underground.

Within the major cities, civilians are flocking to the subways in the hopes of being able to survive incoming missiles. There are some videos surfacing of civilians having been hit by rockets. We have not linked to them below as they are rather graphic.

Hundreds of people, including many women and children are currently taking shelter inside a subway station in Kharkiv, #Ukraine as explosions are heard in the city. @washingtonpost pic.twitter.com/ZddeHqlMvU  Salwan Georges (@salwangeorges) February 24, 2022

Massive numbers of Ukrainians are fleeing the country right now as well. Major traffic jams have been reported outside of the city of Kiev as people attempt to leave in unison. Poland has set up a number of centers in their country in an attempt to handle the large number of Ukrainian refugees that are fleeing across the border.

Russias primary news website, RT.com, had previously posted an article discussing how American troops and Polish soldiers handling refugees in Poland were dangerous to Russian interests. This post cannot be linked to as the site RT.com is now inaccessible.

Hacker collective Anonymous has publicly stated they are dedicating their resources and personnel to attacking Russian interests. There is a possibility that they are responsible for taking down the site. A cyberattack by Ukraine is most certainly not out of the question here either.

Read more at: TheOrganicPrepper.com
(Natural News) A veteran Canadian military chaplain said that Justin Trudeau has declared war on his people, treating the Freedom Convoy and its supporters as terrorists.

(Article by Michael Haynes republished from LifesiteNews.com)

Speaking to Christian Issues, Etc., Pastor Harold Ristau said that from the beginning the Convoy had been met with lies, demonisation, antagonisation, from the government, from Justin Trudeaus own lips.

Trudeaus invocation of the Emergencies Act means that you basically declare war on your own people, said Ristau, born in Ontario.

Reverend Harold Ristau, a Lutheran pastor and military chaplain who served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, joined the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa where he led veterans in removing a blockade around a war memorial, before leading them in prayer and a rendition of O Canada.

Doubling down on his radio comments, Ristau told Fox News that Canadians concerns over the increasing mandates and COVID restrictions had fallen on deaf ears, leading freedom-loving Canadians to join in the Freedom Convoy.

Justin Trudeau has made it clear without using the word terrorist, hes basically treated the protesters as he could with any terrorist organization, saying I wont negotiate with terrorists, said Ristau.

Ristau slated Trudeau for the Prime Ministers denigration of the convoy as a fringe minority, saying that the opposite is true as the protestors are within the millions.

The only acts of violence actually happened in the last couple of days by the police, noted Ristau, taking aim at Trudeaus invoking the Emergencies Act. He has treated us as if were terrorists.

We have masses of people praying in front of the police as they come in and use pepper spray and rubber bullets on them, Ristau told The Federalist. When its illegal to protest illegality, what measures do we have left? Ristau asked.

A recipient of the Chief of the Defense Staff Commendation for achievements beyond the line of duty, Ristau spoke of how his experience in the line of fire taught him the the importance of freedom. The attack on freedom currently underway in Canada scared him more than his experience on the battlefield, he said.

His opposition to the COVID mandates was born out of his Christian duty and was an example of standing for the sake of Christ, he declared. As a Christian, I am interested in ensuring that our freedom of speech is ensured, that the preaching of the gospel is not muzzled.

But he ridiculed Trudeaus depiction of the Freedom Convoy as terrorists, saying that my parents escaped from Germany under the Nazis and Communists. Ive seen real terrorism. Our freedoms are at stake here.

Read more at: LifesiteNews.com
(Natural News) So Putin has finally made a move, issuing a decree formally recognizing the sovereignty of the separatist-held Donbas territories in eastern Ukraine known as the DPR and LPR. Russian troops are being deployed to the region in what Putin describes as a peacekeeping mission amid a dramatic spike in ceasefire violations.

(Article by Caitlin Johnstone republished from CaityJohnstone.Medium.com)

The recognition of the DPR and LPR means Russias withdrawal from the Minsk agreements, which were signed in 2014 and 2015 to establish the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, writes Antiwars Dave Decamp. Under the Minsk agreements, Ukraine agreed to cede some autonomy to the DPR and LPR. Russia has grown increasingly frustrated over the fact that Kyiv hasnt fulfilled its end of the agreement.

Needless to say, the US empire has not been happy about this move. President Biden has already imposed strict sanctions on the DPR and LPR, saying Moscows recognition of their independence threatens the peace, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and thereby constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

Tomorrow we will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki added.

This decision represents a complete rejection of Russias commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russias claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, adds Secretary of State Tony Blinken.

Other member states of the empire were equally upset about this unforgivable violation of Ukraines sovereignty.

Canada strongly condemns Russias recognition of so-called independent states in Ukraine, tweeted Justin Trudeau. This is a blatant violation of Ukraines sovereignty and international law. Canada stands strong in its support for Ukraine  and we will impose economic sanctions for these actions.

Tomorrow we will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, tweeted UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

This further undermines Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party, says NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Had Biden admin been willing to give up on making Ukraine a proxy on Russias border, it couldve had a demilitarized Donbas in a neutral Ukraine. It instead shunned Minsk & targeted Nordstream 2. Rather than a Russian invasion, it got Russias recognition of breakaway republics.  Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) February 21, 2022

There are all kinds of criticisms that one can level against this move by Moscow, if one feels that the entire western political/media class screaming all of these criticisms in unison does not have enough amplification. For myself, I would just like to point out that the US-centralized empire is the very last institution on this planet who has any business babbling about the sovereignty of other nations. Absolute dead last.

I say this not out of any kind of fondness for Putin or support for his decisions, but because the absolute worst violator of national sovereignty in the entire world by a truly gargantuan margin complaining about violations of national sovereignty is bat shit insane.

Pointing out things the US empire has done while it shrieks about the actions of a foreign government will get you accused of whataboutism, but its not a whataboutism. Its pointing out that the US is the absolute least qualified government on earth to comment on the issue at hand, so it should shut the whole entire f#ck up about it. If the US wants to legitimately complain about the transgressions of unaligned governments, then it must cease being the worst transgressor.

Some might say, Two wrongs dont make a right. Okay. But inflicting ten thousand wrongs definitely means you should shut the fuck up about anyone doing one wrong.

This would after all be the same empire that has is currently circling the planet with hundreds of military bases and waging wars which have killed millions and displaced tens of millions just since the turn of this century. Its sanctions and blockades are starving people to death en masse every single day. It works to destroy any nation which disobeys its dictates by toppling their governments via CIA coups, proxy armies, partial and full-scale invasions, and the most egregious number of election interferences in the entire world, while threatening the entire species with nuclear brinkmanship on multiple fronts.

How the hell does anyone pretend America has the moral high ground when Joe Biden is intentionally starving millions of #Afghan children?????????????https://t.co/NQ8Ho0m5fC  Peter Daou (@peterdaou) February 21, 2022

What the US and its proxies are doing in Yemen alone is orders of magnitude worse than anything Russia is doing to Ukraine. Or what the US is doing in Afghanistan. Or in Venezuela. Or in Syria. Hell, the Biden administration has already done worse than what Putin just did in recognizing Israels outright annexation of the Golan Heights.

To say nothing of the fact that the US thought so little of Ukrainian sovereignty in 2014 that it was perfectly comfortable staging a coup there with the support of actual neo-Nazi militias, who the liberal media are still running PR segments for to this day even after years of yelling about Donald Trumps intimacy with the far right. The US thinks so highly of Ukraines sovereignty that its willing to ramp up cold war brinkmanship with a nuclear superpower to defend it, but not highly enough to refrain from backing literal Nazis to topple its government.

The US empire criticizing Russia for violating another nations sovereignty is like Jeffrey Dahmer criticizing someone elses eating habits.

After watching the insane, erratic, dishonest way the western power alliance has been navigating the Ukraine crisis, it is clear to anyone with open eyes that this is the very last institution we should want negotiating a power struggle that could quite literally end our world. We can only hope that the empires demise arrives before it manages to get us all killed.

Read more at: CaityJohnstone.Medium.com
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun said Friday that any action by the UN Security Council should be truly conducive to defusing Ukraine crisis.

"Any action should be truly conducive to defusing the crisis, rather than adding fuel to fire," Zhang made the remarks after the council failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine proposed by the United States and some other countries.

"If not properly handled, or blindly exerting pressure and imposing sanctions, it may only lead to more casualties, more property loss, more complicated and chaotic situations, and more difficulties in bridging differences," the ambassador said.

Zhang said China is deeply concerned about the latest developments of the situation in Ukraine. Currently, it has come to a point which China does not want to see, he noted.

China always forms its own position based on the merits of the matter at hand, the envoy said, adding that China advocates that all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld.

"We have always called on all parties to seek reasonable solutions to address each others concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We welcome and encourage all efforts for a diplomatic solution, and support the Russian Federation and Ukraine in resolving the issue through negotiations," said Zhang.

Zhang pointed out that in the past week, the Security Council has held two emergency meetings, and parties have fully elaborated on their positions and concerns on the current situation.

"At present, faced with the very complex and sensitive situation, the Security Council should make a necessary response. At the same time, such a response should also be extremely cautious," the ambassador added.

If the Ukraine issue cannot be solved in a proper way, Zhang said, "it may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution, and eventually it is the vast number of innocent people that will be the victims."

"We must draw profound lessons from the extremely painful experience in the past. For this reason, China abstained in the voting just now," he added.

Zhang stressed that the Ukraine issue is not something that only emerged today, nor did the current situation occur suddenly overnight. It is a result of the interplay of various factors over a long period of time.

"China advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," he said, adding that one country's security cannot be at the expense of the security of others, and that regional security should not rely on muscling up or even expanding military blocs.

The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be respected. Against the backdrop of five successive rounds of the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia's legitimate security demands should be given attention to and properly addressed, Zhang said.

Ukraine should become a bridge between the East and the West, not an outpost for confrontation between major powers, Zhang added.

China strongly calls on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, ease tensions, and avoid civilian casualties, Zhang said. "The final settlement of the Ukraine crisis still requires abandoning the Cold War mentality, giving full attention and respect to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and conducting negotiations to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism," he said.

China urges all parties to immediately come back to the track of diplomatic negotiations and political settlement, show sincerity and goodwill, make a political decision and engage in dialogue and consultation for a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine issue, he noted.

The Security Council has held multiple emergency meetings since the recent escalation of the Ukraine situation. In the voting this time, the United States and other members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution while Russia vetoed it. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained in the voting. 
An ancient royal tomb, unlooted and untouched, was discovered at the historical site of El Castillo de Huarmey in Peru. The discovery highlights socio-economic and political progress achieved by the Wari Empire in South America-before it was discovered by Europeans.

Prior to the rose of the Inca Empire in the 15th century, the Wari Empire achieved marvelous feats since its rise to power in the 7th century and fall in the 12th century. The El Castillo de Huarmey is both one of the greatest historical infrastructure and symbolic achievements of the Wari Empire.

El Castillo de Huarmey

On Friday, Feb. 25, National Geographic explored the discovery of an ancient royal tomb at the famous El Castillo de Huarmey historical site in Peru back in 2012. Although ancient artifacts at the El Castillo de Huarmey have been looted for more than a thousand years, the tomb remained previously unexplored.

Milosz Giersz, an archaeologist from the University of Warsaw in Poland, and his team have reportedly discovered that grave robbers have missed. The team, along with Peruvian archaeologist Roberto Pimentel Nita, found the passage to the tomb through buried walls along a large rock.

The archaeologists then discovered the tomb which has been unlooted for centuries. The excavation of the tomb in 2013 showed the remains of four women, including a queen or princesses, from the Wari empire. Furthermore, 54 other high-born members were unearthed.

The El Castillo de Huarmey is a pyramid-shaped structure located in the Ancash region of Peru. The site is situated in a coastal area, located approximately 300 kilometers north of the capital city of Lima. For centuries, grave robbers have looted the site with the ancient tomb remaining untouched.

Also read: New Clues Discovered in Deciphering Inca's Mysterious Ancient String Code

Wari Empire

The Wari Empire, also called Huari Empire, was one of the ancient civilizations in the Americas between the years 600 and 1,100 AD-long before Christopher Columbus discovered the continent.

The Wari Empire existed also prior to the rise of the ancient Inca Empire, as per a study published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology.

Based on the study, the rise of the Wari Empire was a result of a series of colonization. The empire established its own social and political power in the Cusco region of what is now Peru. Known for their craft in art and textile-making, the empire was theorized to have ended due to a severe drought.

According to the Peruvian Times, the Wari Empire, along with other newly established regimes, was unable to adapt to several centuries of severe drought caused by global warming. As a result, the Inca people moved in until they established a new empire in ancient Peru.

Potential Archaeological Excavations

The discovered ancient royal tomb at the El Castillo de Huarmey in Peru indicates that some archaeological sites will be followed by further excavations. The Society for American Archaeology supports this idea by stating that archaeologists may plan further excavations a significant site is found.

Related article: Mayan Civilization Crumbled, Was Water the Cause?
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NEW CANAAN  A recent application for a 102-unit apartment complex on the corner of Weed and Elm Street has prompted residents to ask officials why the town does not currently have a moratorium for development under 8-30g affordable housing statutes, as it has in the past.

Since Connecticut General Statute 8-30g allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations, towns such as New Canaan apply to the state for moratoriums after an affordable housing project is completed, since the town does not currently have 10% of its housing inventory deemed affordable. Because of a delay in the towns latest affordable housing development due to circumstances that officials say were out of the towns control, that moratorium was lapsed and the town has yet to file for an extension.

The Canaan Parish project was delayed around a year by Connecticut state budget issues and COVID/supply chain issues, Housing Authority Chairman Scott Hobbs said Friday.

Officials anticipated that the towns moratorium, received after building affordable housing at Millport Apartments, would remain in place through the construction and eventual completion of the first building of the new Canaan Parish last year. However, the moratorium received after the building of the Millport Apartments expired in June 2021, while the new building was not completed until the end of October.

The search for someone to file a new moratorium application was undertaken while public notices alerted developers so they knew the timetable for these items, Hobbs said.

Town officials asked State Sen. Will Haskell to step in and intervene with the state, since COVID-19 and supply chain issues were allegedly blamed for slowing the building, he said Thursday. Calling affordable housing a political third rail, the senator said that state officials told him they did not have the authority to grant such an extension and there was no leeway in the law.

Since the state-level efforts failed, another moratorium application is being worked on now, Hobbs said. Since there are so few moratoriums awarded, nobody specializes in this, and it took the town a while to find someone who was interested.

Though Haskell said he thinks affordable housing is important, the 8-30g statute, first passed into law in 1989, is not perfect and the state should reform the laws.

After residents raised concerns about the development, local and state officials held a press conference to address the issue on Feb. 17. State Rep. Tom ODea said he was also asked to intervene with the state, so that we wouldnt have a lapse, since the circumstances for construction delays are not the towns fault.

Sen. Ryan Fazio is seeking changes to the8-30g law, including a desire to include all types of affordable housing, not just types of affordable housing that meet all the complex labyrinth of rules that were created by the state, he said at the briefing in front of Canaan Parish while construction of the new affordable housing units was underway.

Fazio wants housing to be deemed affordable regardless of the year it was built and whether it was built for town employees or as accessory dwelling units. What should matter is that were reaching our goals, not that we are acquiescing to all the complex regulations that were set, he said

First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said it is unrealistic for the town to meet the states affordable housing goal of 10% of the towns housing units, which he estimated would be over 700 affordable units.

According to the Connecticut Data Collaboration website, New Canaan has 7,625 total housing units. Once the 40 affordable units expected to be completed in November are done, the towns affordable housing inventory would sit at 213 units, or 2.8% of total housing units. That data may not include the market-rate housing units of the nearly 100-unit development, the Vue, Hobbs said Friday.

The new construction proposed by developer Arnold Karp, who built the nearby Vue, would have 31 affordable housing units consistent with state statutes, but is not viewed favorably by residents.

As of Friday afternoon, there were 2,419 signatures on a change.org petition and $51,520 raised via a GoFundMe page in an effort by residents to push back against the development.

The town has two affordable housing developments, both updated in recent years. Residents have moved into the first of two new Canaan Parish affordable housing buildings at 186 Lakeview Ave. with another multi-story structure being constructed to add 40 more due to be complete in November. Nearby, Millport Apartments now houses 113 affordable units, across from the pond on Millport Avenue.

If the only addition to the total housing number were the development on Weed Street, that inventory total would rise to 244 affordable housing units out of a total of 7,767 housing units in New Canaan, or 3.1%.

ODea urged residents at the presser that he wouldnt direct the anger at the builders, but towars the state. Though he supports affordable housing, it needs to be accomplished in a thoughtful manner, he said.
KIEV, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday refuted reports that the country's army will disarm and evacuate.

"We will not lay down any weapons, we believe in our army and our country. We will protect it. Glory to Ukraine!" Zelensky said, noting that he did not leave Kiev, which was under heavy shelling overnight.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that at least 35 Kiev residents, including two children, were injured in clashes with Russian forces or shelling.

According to Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko, 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed in Russia's operation against Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook that Ukraine shot down a Russian transport plane IL-76 near Vasylkiv town in Kiev.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" in Ukraine. 
Dereham group supports project in Thailand Dereham group supports project in Thailand

An Overseas Missionary Fellowship prayer group in Dereham has been supporting Rebecca Penrose as she reaches out to ex-prisoners in Thailand.

Rebecca, who is originally from St Neots in Cambridgeshire, has been working with a project to help ex-prisoners, and their families, as the ex-prisoners make the difficult journey back into society. The project includes building relationships and encouraging the men to learn practical skills which will enable them to support themselves outside prison.



Every Wednesday evening, we travel out to a home about 40km from Lopburi Town, writes Rebecca, where we meet with some former prisoners who live there. We read the Bible and pray together. On Saturday afternoons we visit other former prisoners and their families with the intention of encouraging and supporting them. Please pray for wisdom in how best to do this.



You can watch a video of the work with ex-prisoners here.



Rebecca has now completed a formal course in Thai language, with exams, to help her communicate more effectively.



The OMF team in Thailand has also distributed relief packages for those affected by the Covid pandemic. The distribution coincided with a period of flooding, with many streets under water. The OMF team helped to clear up after the floods went down, which gave an opportunity to further build relationships.



You can watch a video of the relief work here.



There is more about OMF on their website here.



Pictured above is Rebecca sharing a story with a former prisoner and his family.

Eldred Willey, 26/02/2022
Newburyport, MA (01950)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. High 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 821 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"In total, the Russian Armed Forces hit 821 military infrastructure objects of Ukraine. Among them: 14 military airfields, 19 control points and communication centers, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations," Konashenkov said, according to a statement published by the ministry.

Seven combat planes, seven helicopters and nine drones have been downed, he said, adding that 87 tanks and other armored vehicles, 28 multiple launch rocket systems, and 118 special military vehicles have been destroyed.

"The Russian Navy destroyed eight military boats of the Ukrainian Navy," the spokesman said. 

Related:

Ukraine won't lay down weapons: Zelensky

Zelensky says weapons, equipment from partners "on the way to Ukraine"

Russia says its forces have taken full control of Ukraine's Melitopol
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.
Reporter

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).
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Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey).
"I remember being in the mass spectrometer lab in the Natural History Building when the landline phone rang  no caller ID back then  and the person told me I had been chosen to receive the F.W. Clarke Award of the Geochemical Society. At first, I thought it was a prank."
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban inspects a border station with Ukraine in east Hungary, Feb. 26, 2022.(Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

BEREGSURANY, Hungary, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban checked a border station with Ukraine in east Hungary on Saturday and consulted with local authorities and border guards in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"The war is next door, so we have to be very disciplined," Orban said to journalists a few hundred meters away from Ukraine on the side of the road.

Currently, the flux of people leaving Ukraine was nothing like the migration wave of 2015, but Orban warned this could change in the future: "For the moment, the war is further back in Ukraine, but if the worst case scenario is to happen, it could spread to our immediate vicinity, and we will have to be even more disciplined."

Orban informed that he consulted with local mayors and officials, and promised the central government would provide them with everything they should need.

A white tent was set up on the curb of the road to provide the arriving Ukrainian women and children with water, food and blankets.

Two mobile heaters were also being set up to give some warmth to those arriving on foot.

About a dozen people were entering Hungary following Russia's special military operation in eastern Ukraine, many of them have relatives in Hungary, and many just transit through the country. Those on their own were seated in vans of the local authority and driven to a shelter provided by the city council of Beregsurany, a village in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county in eastern Hungary.

By Saturday morning, local authorities estimated that 1,600 people have crossed the border from Ukraine.

"When on Hungarian soil, we treat them as anyone else, they are also to be helped," Orban added.

He also reaffirmed that Hungary's position was completely in line with the Europe Union (EU)'s position about sanctions against Russia: "There is war: now is not the time to be 'smart', it is time to be united."

"Our border with Ukraine is over 130 kilometers long. In this situation Hungary's security must also be guaranteed, because for us that is the most important consideration. I made it clear that Hungary will not take part in this war, and it will not allow itself to be drawn into it," he also said. 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks to journalists after checking a border station with Ukraine in east Hungary, Feb. 26, 2022.(Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)
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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.
A newly launched startup is building upon innovations developed over several years at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS), and Brigham and Womens Hospital (Brigham) to engineer functional kidney tissue for renal repair and replacement therapy.

Jennifer Lewis and Ryuji Morizanes teams found previously that culturing kidney organoids under fluid flow causes endogenous endothelial progenitors to create more mature vascular networks which pervade the whole organoid and interact with epithelial compartments. This finding presents a critical advance toward the future development of new approaches by Trestle to treat chronic kidney disease using 3D bioprinting and stem cell-based tissue engineering. Credit: Wyss Institute at Harvard University

San Diego-based Trestle Biotherapeutics has been granted a license, by Harvards Office of Technology Development (OTD), to commercialize a suite of stem cell- and 3D bioprinting-based kidney regenerative medicine technologies developed at Harvards Wyss Institute, SEAS, and Brigham. Founded in 2020, Trestle is led by Ben Shepherd, Ph.D. and Alice Chen, Ph.D., both with deep experience in commercial efforts focused in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and 3D bioprinting.

The lack of transplantable kidney tissues and whole organs is an enormous challenge in the treatment of chronic and end-stage kidney disease. As of 2021, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 550,000 dialysis-dependent patients and 100,000 patients waiting for kidney transplants, yet only about 20,000 transplants are performed each year, with nearly 5,000 patients on waiting lists dying each year without receiving a transplant. Beyond kidney failure, there are more than 60 genetic diseases that directly or indirectly affect renal function, many of which cannot be appropriately treated with existing therapeutics.

The foundational technology was pioneered by researchers in the lab of Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D., who is a Wyss Core Faculty member, leading the Wyss Institutes Organ Engineering Initiative, the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard SEAS, and a Affiliated Faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). Lewis lab has collaborated with several clinicians, including Joseph Bonventre, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Division of Renal Medicine and Founding Chief of the Engineering in Medicine Division at the Brigham, and Ryuji Morizane, M.D., Ph.D., who is now an Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), an Affiliated Faculty member at Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and a Visiting Scholar at the Wyss Institute.

Were very excited to bring the biofabrication and stem cell biology technologies developed in the Lewis and Morizane labs into what we are building at Trestle. The teams at Harvard, Wyss, and the Brigham have a renowned track record in translational innovation, and were thrilled with the opportunity to carry their work forward for patients benefit. Shepherd, CEO, Trestle

More than a dozen members of my lab contributed to the innovations in tissue engineering that have created this technology platform, said Lewis. Most recently, we developed a new biomanufacturing method, known as sacrificial writing in functional tissue (SWIFT), that enables the fabrication of vascularized kidney tissues. Im pleased that Trestle has now launched to translate this robust technology to address the growing need for kidney tissues and organs.

Supported in part by Harvard OTDs Physical Sciences & Engineering Accelerator, and later by the Wyss Institute's Organ Engineering Initiative, Lewis and her colleagues at the Wyss and SEAS made seminal contributions to the field of multimaterial 3D bioprinting. Using their platform technology, Lewis and her collaborators have created 3D kidney-on-chip models for drug screening and disease modeling and have established foundational technology for rapidly generating vascularized kidney tissue at scale for repair and regeneration.

Central to the success of this approach was a collaboration between the Lewis Lab and researchers at the Brigham. Morizane, Bonventre, and other clinicians had developed a method for generating kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro. These tissue constructs contained large numbers of well-organized nephrons, but lacked a vascular network that could be perfused with blood. This deficiency was overcome by subjecting the organoids to the flow of fluids on bioengineered devices. In a collaborative effort published in Nature Methods, the joint team succeeded in generating vascularized kidney organoids with enhanced nephron maturation in vitro.

We were able to demonstrate for the first time a more advanced kidney architecture and functionality in human kidney organoids, which is important for creating tissue segments for use in drug testing and disease modeling and, ultimately, in vivo therapeutics, said Morizane. Lewis and Morizane are members of Trestle Biotherapeutics scientific advisory board.

By combining these approaches with additional solutions for cell and tissue manufacturing, internal expertise in stem cell and kidney organoid biology, and the commercialization of 3D bioprinted human tissues, the team at Trestle will work towards its goal of creating a new standard-of-care option for patients with kidney failure through the development of bioengineered kidney tissue with the ability to assume vital kidney functions.

The move of this visionary technology, developed by Jennifer Lewis, Ruji Morizane, and their colleagues, out into the world where it will contribute to kidney repair and replacement therapies that patients so urgently need is a testament to the Wyss Institutes unique focus on advancing research and technology development that result in positive near term impact. Now with Trestle, we look forward to seeing this technology rapidly advance to the clinic, said Wyss Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., who is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at HMS and Boston Childrens Hospital, and Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
T cells play important roles in helping to fight infections and cancers-;and they can also drive autoimmune diseases. Now researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have discovered new genes in CD4+ "helper" T cell subset that are linked to risk of autoimmune diseases.

As they work to shed light on the exact functions of these CD4+ T cell subsets, the researchers have uncovered major differences between donors based on genetics and how the cells may function in men and women.

To fuel further research into human immunity, the LJI team has created a free online resource for other immunologists around the world who want to investigate the data sets in real-time, download and use their data. This data sharing is part of the LJI-hosted Database of Immune Cell Gene Expression, Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and Epigenomics (DICE).

This investigation expands our DICE resource to help scientists find target genes and cell types linked to risk of human diseases." Pandurangan Vijayanand, M.D., Ph.D., LJI professor, study leader, member of the LJI Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation and Center for Cancer Immunotherapy

"These cells are critical for protecting the body, and we uncovered many new genes that are linked to risk of human diseases," says study first author Benjamin Schmiedel, Ph.D., an instructor at LJI.

The new study in Science Immunology gives the scientific community the most in-depth and complete look yet at differences in gene expression between CD4+ T cell subsets. The researchers used a method called single-cell RNA sequencing to compare differences in gene expression in more than a 1 million CD4+ T cells from 89 healthy blood donors.

Because T cells can play many roles in the body, such as "remembering" past invaders and alerting other immune cells, the LJI scientists expected to find strong differences between cell subsets. In fact, they set out hoping to gain insights regarding eight pre-defined CD4+ T cell subsets they'd investigated in a 2018 Cell study.

In previous studies, researchers had investigated various T cell subsets isolated from blood samples without stimulating them. For this new study, the LJI team activated the T cells before sequencing and analysis. This step allowed the researchers to mimic how the cells would respond when called upon to fulfill their role and protect the body from infection.

"Stimulating the cells is like turning on the light-;suddenly you can understand the function of these cells much better," says Schmiedel.

This investigation shed a light on known cell subsets-;and revealed additional, little-understood subsets. "Why do these cells have different features?" asks Schmiedel. "There is no information in the literature to help us understand what those cells are, so that's something we want to follow up on."

Already, the researchers have learned more about these T cells by performing single-cell expression quantitative trait loci (sc-eQTL) analyses. This technique showed them which genes are affected by genetics and had the most profound effects across the different T cell subtypes.

The team also spotted major sex-based differences in how the T cells worked. In comparing the cells of people assigned either male or female at birth, the researchers found variations in how the various CD4+ T cell subsets may communicate with other immune cells and how they produced disease-fighting cytokines. Biological sex turned out to be an important factor in how these cells do their jobs.

These differences could help explain why men are more prone to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, or why women are more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases.

"If we can understand how an immune cell from a woman differs from an immune cell from a man, we could figure out why certain diseases affect one sex more often than another," says Schmiedel.
MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed Forces have established full control over the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a briefing on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Russian military had entered Melitopol without meeting resistance.

"On the evening of February 25, after an amphibious landing near the locality of Azovske (Ukraine), Russian units marched and, without meeting resistance, entered Melitopol," the ministry's Zvezda broadcaster reported.

The Russian troops were greeted by residents of Melitopol, and some older citizens took to the streets with red flags.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack. 
The poll workers volunteered to help with the local primary elections on Tuesday.
(Newser)  As the chief executive officer of Paycom Software, Chad Richison claims pay of more than $210,000,000, while the average worker at Paycom takes home $71,259a CEO-worker ratio of 2963:1. And he's not the only head honcho that has a salary that's way in excess of what it probably should be, according to a ranking of the nation's most overpaid CEOs by investor advocacy group As You Sow, per Insider. The group looked at not only CEO and worker pay, but also the percentage of shares that voted against such a pay package, and how much "excess pay" a CEO receivesin other words, how much their chunk of change outpaces how the company is actually doing. "CEO pay is increasingly becoming untethered from company performance," Insider notes. Here, the top 10 overpaid bosses and their excess pay:



Chad Richison, Paycom Software; $194,741,967 Frank Del Rio, Norwegian Cruise Line; $23,704,730 H. Lawrence Culp Jr., General Electric; $60,992,444 G. Michael Sievert, T-Mobile; $40,146,706 John J. Donahoe II, Nike; $38,929,237 Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton; $41,490,753 John C. Plant, Howmet Aerospace; $24,946,110 David M. Zaslav, Discovery; $24,412,179 Brian R. Niccol, Chipotle Mexican Grill; $23,041,282 Leonard S. Schleifer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; $121,683,158

Check out the report to see workers salaries, CEO-worker ratios, and more. (Read more CEO pay stories.)
(Newser)  After giving birth, most new moms can't wait to see their child. For Macenzee Keller, it would take more than two months, as she fought for her life against COVID-19 while under sedation and breathing with the help of machines. Mother and child were reunited on Feb. 3 when Keller's mom brought the healthy 11-pound, 13-ounce baby boy named Zachery to her hospital bedside, per the AP. "It was very emotional because I was like, 'Oh, I got to finally see my baby that I was waiting for so long to see,'" said Keller, who has since returned home to Manchester, NH. Two weeks before her Dec. 7 due date, Keller was diagnosed with COVID-19. She remembers leaving her apartment for the hospital on Nov. 27, suffering from shortness of breathand that's it.

Her son, Zachery, was born the next day via emergency cesarean section at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. She was sedated and intubated at the time. Keller was later transferred to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in the city of Lebanon. Kellerstill sedated, still very sickwas put on a specialized blood oxygenation treatment. Blood was pumped out of her body into an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO for short) machine, which removes carbon dioxide, then pumps the blood back into the body. "People like Macenzee who are younger and have a really good chance of getting bettershe's kind of the perfect candidate for us to offer it," said Ciaran Moloney, a nurse who was part of her care team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Keller was on the ECMO circuit for 47 days. Patients usually get the treatment for closer to a month or less, Moloney said. It was touch and go at times. Keller was still hooked up to a ventilator. "I would come in some days and she would be taking larger breaths, and then she would have setbacks," Moloney said. "There were times where we were very scared of how she was doing." Keller wasn't vaccinated against COVID-19, and says she planned to wait until after she delivered to get the shot. She'd heard that some people feel sick for a day after getting the vaccine, "and I was just nervous that if I did get it, it would cause complications to Zachery." The CDC says COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are pregnant, and that the benefits of receiving the vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

Doctors told Keller she has to wait a couple more weeks before she can be vaccinated now. In hindsight, when asked if she would have made the same choice, she said, "I don't know. Part of me says I would have got the vaccine, but then another part of me still says that I didn't want to risk anything." Keller, who's engaged to be married, still uses a pulse oximeter to measure her blood oxygen levels and has additional therapy appointments to help with her walking. But her recovery is considered amazing, Moloney said. "She went from being completely reliant on the ECMO pump to being fully interactive within just a span of a couple of weeks," he said. He added, "My wife, we found out she was pregnant roughly around the same time, and that just made it very emotional for me to see everything that Macenzee was going through."

(Read more newborn stories.)
(Newser)  Tragedy in South Florida after a dad and his two young children were found dead in their backyard swimming pool. Hollywood police say they received a call around 3:30pm on Thursday about three possible drownings at an area residence, and when they arrived they found an adult male and two kids unresponsive, reports NBC Miami. Police and first responders tried to administer first aid on the scene before all three were rushed to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead, per People.

The identities of the victims haven't yet been released, but the children were said to have been 2 and 5. "I feel my heart crushed," a neighbor tells CBS Miami, adding she's known the family for years. "What's crushed my heart was the kids, I'm very sad." Police say no foul play is suspected and that an investigation continues. In the meantime, locals have started a makeshift memorial on the front porch of the family's home. (Read more drowning stories.)
(Newser)  Russia exercised its veto power Friday to block a UN Security Council resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine, but US officials say that's not the end of the matter. The veto, granted to the Security Council's five permanent members, was anticipated; 11 nations supported the resolution, while China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained, per the New York Times. But the US wanted to force the Russians to cast the vote blocking it. "In so doing, they will underscore their isolation," a senior administration official said before the vote, per the Los Angeles Times.

US officials already planned to take the resolution next to the General Assembly, which allows no vetoes and requires only a simple majority for a measure to pass. The resolution, which isn't legally binding, calls on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and its recognition of the two separatist areas in eastern Ukraine it declared independent, per the AP. "You can veto this resolution but you cannot veto our voices," US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Russian representative Friday. "You cannot veto the UN charter. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people. You cannot veto accountability."

The US and allies have been lobbying other members on the issue, and it's not certain the resolution will have the overwhelming support its backers are seeking. The State Department is lobbying nations such as Portugal, Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. China's foreign ministry on Friday expressed support for all nations' sovereignty but called Russia's security concerns about Ukraine "legitimate." Other nations don't want to alienate any of the parties. India has urged de-escalation without being critical of Russia. Turkey, which has become a closer trading partner of Russia recently, called the attack "unacceptable" but hasn't said much specific since. (Read more UN Security Council stories.)
(Newser)  Russian troops closed in on Ukraines capital Saturday after a night of explosions and street fighting sent Kyiv residents seeking shelter or fleeing the city. The country's leader claimed Ukraine's forces had repulsed the assault and vowed to keep up the struggle, reports the AP. The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message, accusing Russia in a video message of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets. "We will win," he said. Central Kyiv appeared quiet Saturday, and skirmishes reported on the edge of the city suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Britain's defense ministry said Saturday that the bulk of Russian forces were 19 miles from the middle of the city.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko extended a curfew he imposed two days ago to run from 5pm until 8am. He said "all civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemys sabotage and reconnaissance groups. Russia claims its assault on Ukraine was aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools, and residential neighborhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east, and south. Ukraines health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded during Europe's largest ground offensive since World War II. It was unclear whether the figure included both military and civilian casualties.

In Kyiv, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the southwestern outskirts near one of Kyiv's two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured. The conflict has driven thousands of Ukrainians from their homes in search of safety. UN officials said more than 120,000 Ukrainians have left the country for Poland, Moldova, and other neighboring nations. It was unclear in the fog of war how much of Ukraine was still under Ukrainian control and how much Russian forces have seized. Western governments claimed stiff Ukrainian resistance had slowed the Russian advance, and Russia doesn't yet control Ukraine's skies.

In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraine's coastline, stretching from the Black Sea port of Odesa, in the west near the border with Romania, to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east. Western officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine's government and replace it with a regime of his own. The invasion represented Putin's boldest effort yet to redraw the map of Europe and revive Moscow's Cold War-era influence. Zelensky issued a defiant video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street early Saturday, saying he remained in the city and that claims the Ukrainian military would put down arms were false. "We aren't going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country," the Ukrainian president said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that it's our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that."

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  As the world watches developments in the Russia invasion of Ukraine, all eyes are on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been calmly leading his country through the turmoil. And he has the chance himself to get out of the capital of Kyiv, with reports of help offered from the US to evacuate him. So far, though, Zelensky seems to have no intention of leaving. "The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride," Ukraine's Embassy to the UK quoted Zelensky as saying on Saturday. A senior US intelligence official confirms the Zelensky quote to the AP, adding that the president so far remains "upbeat."

The embassy added in its tweet: "Ukrainians are proud of their President." CNN notes that Zelensky also put out a video early Saturday in which he said he was still in Kyiv and that people shouldn't believe disinformation claiming otherwise. "I am here," he said in the video. "We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this." He concluded: "That is it. That's all I wanted to tell you. Glory to Ukraine." Zelensky, who has a wife and two children, has said his family is still in Ukraine, too, but he's staying mum as to where.

US and Ukrainian officials confirm to the Washington Post that the US is on standby to help Zelensky if he needs it, as his life personally is in danger. "According to the information we have, the enemy has marked me as target No. 1, my family as target No. 2," he told Ukrainians in a Friday speech. "They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state." A senior US official tells the Post that the US has been having recent conversations with Zelensky about his security, including recommendations on the best places for him to hunker down and keep Ukraine's government effective. "We stand ready to assist him in any way," says Rep. Adam Schiff, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee. (Read more Volodymyr Zelensky stories.)
People from Ukraine arrive at Beregsurany, eastern Hungary, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua)

Currently, the flux of people leaving Ukraine was nothing like the migration wave of 2015, but Orban warned this could change in the future: "For the moment, the war is further back in Ukraine, but if the worst case scenario is to happen, it could spread to our immediate vicinity, and we will have to be even more disciplined."



BEREGSURANY, Hungary, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban checked a border station with Ukraine in east Hungary on Saturday and consulted with local authorities and border guards in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"The war is next door, so we have to be very disciplined," Orban said to journalists a few hundred meters away from Ukraine on the side of the road.

Currently, the flux of people leaving Ukraine was nothing like the migration wave of 2015, but Orban warned this could change in the future: "For the moment, the war is further back in Ukraine, but if the worst case scenario is to happen, it could spread to our immediate vicinity, and we will have to be even more disciplined."

Orban informed that he consulted with local mayors and officials, and promised the central government would provide them with everything they should need.

A white tent was set up on the curb of the road to provide the arriving Ukrainian women and children with water, food and blankets.

People from Ukraine arrive at Beregsurany, eastern Hungary, Feb. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)

Two mobile heaters were also being set up to give some warmth to those arriving on foot.

About a dozen people were entering Hungary following Russia's special military operation in eastern Ukraine, many of them have relatives in Hungary, and many just transit through the country. Those on their own were seated in vans of the local authority and driven to a shelter provided by the city council of Beregsurany, a village in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county in eastern Hungary.

By Saturday morning, local authorities estimated that 1,600 people have crossed the border from Ukraine.

"When on Hungarian soil, we treat them as anyone else, they are also to be helped," Orban added.

He also reaffirmed that Hungary's position was completely in line with the Europe Union (EU)'s position about sanctions against Russia: "There is war: now is not the time to be 'smart', it is time to be united."

"Our border with Ukraine is over 130 kilometers long. In this situation Hungary's security must also be guaranteed, because for us that is the most important consideration. I made it clear that Hungary will not take part in this war, and it will not allow itself to be drawn into it," he also said.



People from Ukraine arrive at Beregsurany, eastern Hungary, Feb. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)
(Newser)  A Florida jury has found a retired police SWAT commander not guilty in a fatal shooting in a movie theater in 2014. Curtis Reeves, 79, had been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated battery, WTVT reports, but the judge had told jurors they could return lesser guilty verdicts, including manslaughter. Instead, they acquitted after a three-week trial. Nicole Oulson, the wife of Chad Oulson, who was 43 when he was killed, broke down when the verdict was read. She then rushed from the courtroom, per the Tampa Bay Times.

The confrontation took place during a matinee the film Lone Survivor. Reeves, who was sitting behind Oulson, was unhappy that Oulson was scrolling on his cellphone as previews began and told him to put the phone away. The defense argued that Oulson turned, yelled, and reached for Reeves, leading the retiree to reasonably think his life was in danger, per the AP. When Oulson tossed a bag of popcorn at him, the retiree pulled out a pistol and fired. Reeves decided to fire in fear, based on his law enforcement experience and training in the use of reasonable force, his lawyer argued. Prosecutors said Reeves fired in anger.

The former Tampa police captain told investigators he'd never seen a person so out of control and frightening. "In his entire career that is the most he has ever been scared? Absolutely unreal," a prosecutor said. The duration of the case, partly due to appeals over changes in the state's stand your ground law, was an "embarrassment to the criminal justice system," a state attorney said. Former and current law enforcement officers are allowed to carry guns, records show; an off-duty sheriff's deputy who also had a weapon was in the theater and disarmed Reeves. "It was a sad day for everybody on both sides," Reeves said Friday. "It never should have happened. I never wanted it to happen." (Read more fatal shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Dragging suitcases and carrying children, tens of thousands of Ukrainians rushed to the borders Saturday as invading Russian troops pressed their advance into Ukraine, moving toward the country's capital of Kyiv. Nearly 120,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighboring countries in the wake of the Russian invasion, the UN refugee agency said Saturday, per the AP. Some walked many miles through the night, while others fled by train, car, or bus, forming lines miles long at border crossings. They were greeted by waiting relatives and friends or headed on their own to reception centers organized by neighboring governments. "This may go up, it's changing every minute," said Shabia Mantoo, the spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "It's very fluid and changing by the hour."

The agency expects up to 4 million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further. Those arriving were mostly women, children, and the elderly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky banned men of military age from 18 to 60 from leaving. Some Ukrainian men were heading back into Ukraine from Poland to take up arms against the Russian forces. In contrast to other conflicts around the globe, Russia's unprovoked attack on the Western-looking democracy has ignited a huge outpouring of support for the fleeing Ukrainians. This included an unconditional welcome from nations like Poland and Hungary that didn't want to accept those fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. Regular people were also opening up their homes to refugees and volunteering at welcome centers.

In Poland, a Facebook page was formed where people were offered rides in private cars from the border and other help. Volunteers even came from elsewhere in Europe to pick up refugees. Despite the goodwill, however, the crush of people became a very real ordeal. Jeremy Myers, from Manchester, England, was on vacation in Ukraine with his Ukrainian girlfriend when the war started. They fled Kyiv and waited 23 hours in a fenced-off area where there was no food or water and that was controlled by armed guards on the Ukrainian side. He witnessed people fighting and getting crushed and a woman who fainted. Mantoo said most Ukrainians were heading to neighboring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia but some even fled into Belarusfrom which some Russian forces entered Ukraine. Some planned to head further on to other countries in Europe.

The largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where 2 million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years, driven away by Russia's first incursion into Ukraine when it annexed Crimea in 2014. Polands government said Saturday that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the past 48 hours alone. The line of vehicles waiting to enter Poland at Medyka stretched many miles into Ukraine. The border post in Siret, Romania, was crowded with Ukrainians on Saturday, and humanitarian groups set up tents a few miles in and offered food and drink to those arriving. Despite the welcome, teenager Natalia Murinik's family didn't know where they were going next. "We don't have a clue," she said. "We're waiting for our friends, and then we'll think."

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  After resisting the idea for months, Germany reversed course Saturday and agreed to send 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine to fight off the Russian invasion. There have been exceptions, but Germany has long avoided sending lethal weapons to any nation's battle zone, the Washington Post reports. The policy sprang from the nation's role in World War II and especially applied to arms that could be used against Russia, which fought the Nazi regime in the war. Germany also has tried to keep other nations from sending weapons it made to Ukraine. But the situation has changed since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the attack, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

"The Russian invasion marks the turning of an era," Scholz said in a statement Saturday. "It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin's invading army." In addition, German officials said 400 handheld antitank missiles and 14 armored vehicles will be sent to Ukraine through Poland, and Germany will donate 10 metric tons of fuel to Ukrainian forces. And the Netherlands received clearance Saturday to send German-made weapons to Ukraine, per the Wall Street Journal. That shipment includes 400 rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

Germany had kept Estonia, a NATO member, from sending artillery pieces to Ukraine in January. Since that refusal, nations including the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland, the US, and the UK have sent lethal defensive weapons. Germany's major policy reversal could open the floodgates for arms shipments to Ukraine, per the Post. At one point, Germany was ridiculed for its contribution: 5,000 helmets and a field hospital. The helmets arrived in Ukraine on Saturday. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
(Newser)  Some bars and liquor stores think theyve found a potent way to punish Russia for invading Ukraine: Theyre pulling Russian vodka off their shelves and promoting Ukrainian brands instead. "I woke up yesterday morning, and I saw that Russia had invaded Ukraine. You wonder what you can do," said Bob Quay, owner of Bob's Bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "The US obviously is putting on sanctions. I thought I would put on sanctions as well." So he rid his shelves of the old Soviet brand Stolichnaya and started promoting Ukraines Vektor, the AP reports. "We have a sign above it that says: Support Ukraine." A Ukrainian flag is going up next week, he said.

Quay announced the move on Facebook, and "it blew up. We've got people coming in who've never been in the bar before." Likewise, the Southern Spirits liquor store in Indian Land, South Carolina, is doing a booming business in the Ukrainian vodka Kozak after pulling Russian brands off its shelves. "It's selling out a lot faster than we thought," said general manager Drew Podrebarac. "It's been awesome." The Magic Mountain ski resort in Londonderry, Vermont, posted a video on Twitter showing an employee pouring Stolichnaya down the drain and saying, "Sorry, we don't serve Russian products here."

In Canada, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario on Friday announced that "all products produced in Russia will be removed from LCBO channels," including 679 of its stores across the province. It promised to accept the return of any Russian products and declared that it "stands with Ukraine" and the Ukrainian Canadian community in Ontario. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the Department of Commerce to halt the purchase and sale of Russian Standard vodka, and Ohio's 487 liquor agencies have been asked to pull Russian Standard and Green Mark vodka, per WKYC. In Wichita, retailer Jamie Stratton recommends Khor vodka, per WJW. "If you want to buy some vodka, dont buy Russian," he said. "Buy Ukrainian."

(Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini students came out with flying colours in a hackathon held at the Expo2020 Dubai. A campaign highlighting the health risks of electronic cigarettes (vaping) helped Bahraini students clinch the top honour.

The three-day hackathon was at the pavilion of the GCC General Secretariat as part of the Expo2020 Dubai initiatives.

The competition featured three categories  mental and social health of the elderly, the risks of electronic cigarettes, and the danger of drugs. Saudi students won the award for best content (drugs), and the prize of most creative content went to the Qatari team (risks of vaping).

The UAE team clinched the award for best visual presentation (mental and social health of the elderly. Kuwaiti students won the team spirit award for a campaign highlighting the dangers of drugs.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A majority of African Americans have listed racial injustice and police violence as the most worrying problems, U.S. daily The Hill reported on Tuesday, citing a survey.

Police misconduct, violence and racial discrimination were exceptionally important issues to African Americans, said the report.

On the most worrying problems, 59 percent of African Americans listed racial injustice and police violence on the top of the list.

The survey, conducted by Nia Johnson, a bioethicist involved in race and social justice research, found that African Americans were 3.5 times as likely as whites to be killed by police.

Some 65 percent of respondents believed that the deaths of African Americans during encounters with police in recent years have been signs of a broader problem.

Also, 63 percent of African Americans said that they felt unsafe because of their race or ethnicity. 
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Embassy of India organised a virtual Open House yesterday, where the ambassador called on community members to continue adhering strictly to COVID-19 preventive measures.

Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava interacted with the Indian community members for redressing their urgent/ non-routine consular and labour issues. Srivastava said the meeting addressed the grievances and issues of the Indian Community.

Some cases are resolved at the open house, while others are set aside for further processing and action. The ambassador briefed the community members about bilateral talks held to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Bahrain and other GCC countries.
The advance of Russian troops and fighting through Ukraine has prompted Suzuki Motor, Japan Tobacco and other global multinationals to halt operations inside the country to ensure the safety of workers.

Suzuki is suspending business activities at all 20 Ukrainian dealerships, the Japanese automaker said Friday. Operations were paused Thursday after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law across the country.

Japan Tobacco suspended production at its factory in Kremenchuk in central Ukraine. The factory makes Camel-branded cigars for the Japanese market. When operations will resume is unclear, but the effects on Japanese sales are expected to be limited due to sufficient inventory.

Japanese auto supplier Sumitomo Electric Industries shut down its wire harness factory in the western part of the country. Because the area is anticipated to be targeted by Russian forces, "we will prioritize the safety of our employees," said a company representative.

None of the roughly 6,000 workers were injured as of Friday and no equipment has been damaged, the company said.

Fujikura, another Japanese wire harness maker, will halt its facilities in western Ukraine until Monday local time. The 1,300 affected workers have been ordered to stay home. ...continue reading
Russia continues to hit Ukraine targets, with Moscow-Kiev talks expected

Xinhua) 14:30, February 26, 2022

People take shelter in a subway station in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Moscow continued to exert hefty pressure on Kiev by striking more military targets in Ukraine, while the two sides have expressed intention to start direct dialogue.

The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing.

During the fighting, a large number of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine over the past few months have been seized, including the Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the United States, Konashenkov said.

The Russian forces have blockaded Kiev after capturing the Gostomel airfield in a suburb of Kiev, killing more than 200 members of Ukraine's special units.

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows a screen displaying Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a televised address to the nation in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Russia has also taken full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and military units of the two sides there have reached agreement on the protection of the nuclear facilities and the sarcophagus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with permanent members of the country's Security Council via video link on Friday, commending the performance of Russian soldiers and officers.

"The Russian army's main armed clashes are taking place not with regular Ukrainian armed forces' units but with nationalist groups," he said.

The president noted that Ukraine's nationalists are deploying heavy weapons, including multiple-rocket launchers, right in the central districts of large cities, including Kiev and Kharkov.

Putin urged the Ukrainian military to "take power into your own hands."

Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference on Friday.

Vehicles travel past the Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, Feb. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Dongxu)

Also on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold dialogue with Russia.

Putin agreed to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential administration.

But Kiev later suggested holding talks in Poland's Warsaw and then stopped responding, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Ukraine and Russia are currently discussing a date and a place of possible negotiations, as the sooner dialogue begins, the more chances there will be to resume normal life, Zelensky's press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov said on Friday night.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Saturday that the United States is offering 350 million U.S. dollars worth of "lethal defensive" weapons to Ukraine to help defend itself against the ongoing Russian military operations.

Blinken said in a statement that U.S. President Joe Biden authorized him to decide on such a move. As such, he has authorized the Department of Defense to carry out the presidential drawdown, which will help Ukraine cope with "the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing."

The secretary said the latest sum was on top of the 60-million-dollar and 200-million-dollar immediate military aid to Ukraine that Biden delegated to him last year, bringing total U.S. security support to the Eastern European nation over the past year to more than 1 billion dollars. 
The 1,200 square foot retail facility is strategically located at the northwest corner of Lankershim Boulevard and Hesby Avenue in the NoHo Arts District, a vibrant and heavily trafficked section of metropolitan Los Angeles. NoHo is fast developing, with over $1 billion being invested over the coming years in a series of large-scale housing and commercial development projects 1 .

"It has been a lengthy, complicated process to get to this pivotal and exciting moment for the Halo team. Despite the ongoing challenges COVID and external forces have presented us, we have persevered and our first Budega store in NoHo is on the verge of opening. With the licenses in place the team can begin the final stages of preparing and stocking the store for its opening," said Katie Field, President and Director of Halo.

Retail Strategy Budega

The NoHo location is expected to generate up to $10 million of annual retail sales at maturity2. The Company is also licensed for delivery, and this additional service is expected to increase top-line sales and help capture overall market share. The NoHo location's delivery service area will include Studio City, North Hollywood, Hollywood Burbank, and the Eastern San Fernando Valley.

Budega will offer a product assortment exceeding 1,000 SKUs, including many top-tier California brands and the debut of the Budega branded product lineup. The Budega dispensaries will also stock Halo's Hush branded cartridges, gummies and pre-rolls. Ms. Field commented further, "Not only will the opening of NoHo significantly increase our topline net revenue but, furthermore, the Company expects to increase profit before tax margins by stocking up to twenty percent of Budega's shelf space with Halo brands and products."

California remains the highest-grossing state for cannabis retail sales in the United States but also has among the lowest per capita density among other mature recreational cannabis markets. There are approximately 250 licenses3 in Los Angeles County for a population of 3.9 million across 500 square miles, compared to Oregon, which has a population of 4.3 million people and approximately 800 stores4 across 98,466 square miles5. In California, licensed cannabis shops offering legal goods are more sparsely scattered across the state. There are roughly two licenses per 100,000 people in California, one of the lowest rates in the nation among states that support legal recreational sales. By comparison, Oregon has 18 retail shops for every 100,000 residents. Colorado boasts a similar ratio, and Washington state's rate is more than triple California's6.

___________________________ 1 https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-11-17/district-noho-housing-office-retail-transit-complex-planned-north-hollywood 2 Based on a standard 12-month ramp based on Management's estimates and experience in the cannabis sector and utilizing a proforma matrix taking into account time to saturate the applicable market with branding and consumer awareness. The topline projection number were further prepared using Management's retail algorithm which factors known market conditions, size of store, historical data, area traffic counts and estimated market / consumer size and other third-party data sources. 3 Downloaded from DCC license database https://search.cannabis.ca.gov/.

About Halo Collective Inc.

Halo is a leading, vertically integrated cannabis company focused on the West Coast of the United States and operates other emerging businesses in CBD and non-psychotropic mushroom functional beverages. In its cannabis operations, the Company cultivates, extracts, manufactures, and distributes quality cannabis flower, oils, and concentrates and has sold hundreds of millions of grams of cannabis in the form of flower, pre-rolls, vape carts, edibles, and concentrates since inception. The Company sells a portfolio of branded cannabis products including its proprietary Hush, Winberry Farms, Williams Wonder Farms, and Budega brands, and under license agreements with Papa's Herb, DNA Genetics, Terphogz, and FlowerShop*.

In Oregon, Halo has a combined 14 acres of owned and contracted outdoor and greenhouse cultivation. The Company also operates Food Concepts LLC, a master tenant of a 55,000 square foot indoor cannabis cultivation, processing, and wholesaling facility in Portland.

In California, Halo maintains licenses for extraction, manufacturing, and distribution. The Company has partnered with Green Matter to purchase the Bar X Farm in Lake County and plans to develop up to 63 acres of cultivation, comprising one of the largest licensed single-site grows in California. Halo is opening three retail dispensaries in Los Angeles under the Budega brand in North Hollywood, Hollywood, and Westwood.

Halo is also expanding into other consumer health and wellness categories expected to experience rapid growth in consumer demand, including functional supplements such as nootropic nutraceuticals. The Company has recently agreed to acquire H2C Beverages, a company focused on cannabinoids and non-psychotropic mushroom functional beverages, and entered into a distribution and manufacturing agreement with Elegance Brands Inc., to propel the national distribution of beverages, capsules, and topical supplements under H2C and Halo's functional mushroom brand, Hushrooms.

Halo has acquired a range of software development assets, including CannPOS, Cannalift, CannaFeels, and a discrete sublingual dosing technology, Accudab. The Company intends to reorganize these entities (including their intellectual property and patent applications) into a subsidiary called Halo Tek Inc., and to complete a distribution of the shares of Halo Tek Inc. to shareholders on record, at date to be determined.

Outside of North America, Halo is the largest shareholder of Akanda Corp. ("Akanda"), an international medical cannabis company whose mission is to be the world's leading platform for medical cannabis and wellness products. Led by an experienced global leadership team and guided by the highest ethical standards, Akanda is building a unique seed-to-patient model that leverages the competitive advantages of its cultivation campus in the Kingdom of Lesotho and a distribution marketplace and other innovative solutions designed to maximize patient access and choice. Halo also operates three Kushbar retail cannabis stores located in Alberta, Canada, leveraging its Oregon and California brands.

___________________________ 4 Downloaded from https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/Pages/Marijuana-Market-Data.aspx 5 Population figure sources include US Census Bureau. Square miles are sourced from https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/los-angeles-ca-population. 6 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/23/california-legal-illicit-weed-market-516868

For further information regarding Halo, see Halo's disclosure documents on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Connect with Halo Collective: Email | Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Halo's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Halo's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or 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", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to the anticipated licensing and opening of the Company's Budega-branded retail dispensaries in California and the prospects thereof, including projected annual sales revenue, management's plans regarding its portfolio of cannabis businesses, the Company's expansion plans regarding Canada, the expected size and capabilities of the final facility planned at Ukiah Ventures, the size of Halo's planned cultivation facility in Northern California, and the ability of Bophelo and Canmart to serve the UK market and the proposed spin-off of Halo Tek Inc.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Halo is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Halo has made certain assumptions. Although Halo believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Among others, the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: inability of management to successfully integrate the operations of acquired businesses, changes in the consumer market for cannabis products, changes in the expected outcomes of the proposed changes to Halo's operations, delays in obtaining required licenses or approvals necessary for the build-out of Oregon operations, dispensaries or Canadian operations, the proposed spin-out with Halo Tek Inc., delays or unforeseen costs incurred in connection with construction, the ability of competitors to scale operations in Northern California, delays or unforeseen difficulties in connection with the cultivation and harvest of Halo's raw material, changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; and the other risks disclosed in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2021 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Halo does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Halo or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

Third Party Information

This press release includes market and industry data that has been obtained from third party sources, including industry publications. The Company believes that the industry data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this press release or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources

Non-Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

SOURCE Halo Collective Inc.

For further information: Halo Collective Inc., Investor Relations, [email protected], www.haloco.com/investors
BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said that China will continue to stand firmly with the Afghan people, and help Afghanistan achieve transformation and development and integrate into the international community at an early date.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when responding to a query about China's position on and actions related to Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction.

"Afghanistan is at a crucial stage of moving from chaos to order," Wang said, adding the Afghan people are facing a historic opportunity to take their destiny into their own hands and seek a development path that suits their own national realities.

They are also facing humanitarian, economic, counterterrorism and governance challenges, which calls for more international support, he said.

Wang noted that China will, as it always has, pursue a friendly policy toward the Afghan people and respect Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China will not interfere in the country's internal affairs.

China has already provided 300 million yuan (47.5 million U.S. dollars) worth of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and will continue to provide assistance to the Afghan people, Wang said.

China will help Afghanistan improve its capacity for independent development and will import more high-quality agricultural products from Afghanistan, in order to generate income for the Afghan people, the spokesperson said.

"In the long run, China is ready to strengthen exchanges in state governance experience with Afghanistan and the construction of connectivity projects. China will strive to build up the international synergy to support Afghanistan's peaceful," Wang said. 
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of all ages across the country can access immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. PocketWell, a free companion app to the WTC online portal, provides another way to help Canadians access online mental health and substance use resources, and measure and track aspects of their mental well-being.

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 25, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to monitor COVID-19 epidemiological indicators to quickly detect, understand and communicate emerging issues of concern. The following is a brief summary with the latest national numbers and trends.

With a shift to more targeted testing, a range of other indicators, from laboratory test positivity to daily numbers of people in hospitals and critical care continue to be important for monitoring trends.

Epidemiological indicators of COVID-19 disease activity have continued to improve nationally and in most jurisdictions; however, some jurisdictions are reporting weekly increases in cases counts and others could see additional bumps in the weeks ahead. During the latest 7 day period (Feb 18-24, 2022), an average of 5,902 new cases were reported daily across Canada, a 24% decrease compared to the week prior. Likewise, laboratory test positivity during the latest 7 day period (Feb 16-22, 2022) decreased to 11%, indicating declining but still widespread activity across the country.

Severe illness trends are similarly continuing to decline, with weekly reductions reported in most jurisdictions. The latest provincial and territorial data show that an average of 6,099 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Feb 18-24, 2022), which is 16% lower than last week. This includes, on average, 738 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU) daily, which is a 16% decrease compared to the prior week, and an average of 60 deaths were reported daily (Feb 18-24, 2022). Keeping infection rates down remains key to further reducing severe illness trends and protecting vulnerable populations over the coming weeks.

Immunization for all those who are eligible, but are yet to receive their primary series, remains a top priority. As of February 24, 2022, provinces and territories have administered over 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines . The latest provincial and territorial data indicate that over 80% of the total population are now fully vaccinated. Age-specific vaccine coverage data , as of February 20, 2022, show that over 88% of people 12 years or older have at least one dose and over 84% are fully vaccinated, while among children aged 5-11 years of age, 57% have at least one dose.

Health authorities continue to strongly recommend up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible people, including for those who have had or may have had a COVID-19 infection . All told, over 5.5 million eligible Canadians need one or more doses to complete their primary series and many others are eligible to get a booster dose to help improve protection that may have decreased since their second dose and to provide even better protection against severe illness from Omicron. In particular, getting a booster dose if you are eligible and especially for those 50 years of age or older is very important for achieving better, longer-lasting protection against COVID-19. The evidence supporting the value of booster doses continues to get stronger. Recent studies indicate that an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose enhances the overall immune response, which can provide longer lasting protection and possibly better effectiveness against variants. As of February 24, over 17 million third doses have been administered to date. National data as of February 20, 2022 indicate that over 82% of seniors aged 70 years or older and 59%-73% of 50-69 year olds have received an additional dose.

As we move into a lower transmission phase and beyond, our best advantage going forward will be maintaining a state of readiness. At the individual level, readiness can be best achieved by keeping COVID-19 vaccinations up-to-date , including getting a booster dose when eligible and continuing to follow public health advice tailored to local epidemiology and circumstances to guide your individual and family risk assessment and decisions on use of personal protective practices . In particular, properly wearing a well-fitted and well-constructed face mask as appropriate, avoiding crowding , and getting the best ventilation possible in indoor spaces , are layers of protection that can reduce your risk in all settings. Canadians are advised to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada at this time; if you must travel, be aware of requirements for visiting other countries and for returning to Canada.

We can also stay healthier by getting up-to-date with other recommended vaccines and routine vaccines for children and adults . For additional information regarding vaccination in your area, reach out to your local public health authorities , healthcare provider, or other trusted and credible sources, such as Immunize.ca and Canada.ca , which includes information to help Canadians understand the benefits of being vaccinated against COVID-19 .

Canadians can also go the extra mile by sharing credible information on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities . Read my backgrounder to access more COVID-19 Information and Resources on ways to reduce the risks and protect yourself and others, including information on COVID-19 vaccination .

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. Tirumurti also expressed concern over the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine.

India on Friday (local time) abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russias attack on Ukraine saying that the path of diplomacy was given up. Indias deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities, said Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine.

Tirumurti said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. Tirumurti also expressed concern over the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine. We are also deeply concerned about the welfare and security of the Indian community, including a large number of Indian students, in Ukraine, he said, adding that the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

All member states need to honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward. Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however, daunting that may appear at this moment, Tirumurti said.

It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons India has chosen to abstain on this resolution, Tirumurti added.
The Foreign Minister also urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support the draft resolution on "restoring peace in Ukraine." Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the way out.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday called External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and urged New Delhi to use all influence in its relations with Moscow for ending military operations against Ukraine. The Foreign Minister also urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support the draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine. Call with my Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar. Asked India to use all influence in its relations with Russia to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine. Urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support todays draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba said in a Tweet.

Jaishankar said he received a call from Kuleba who shared his assessment of the current situation. The External Affairs Minister said he emphasized that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the way out. Received a call from Ukrainian FM @DmytroKuleba. He shared his assessment of the current situation. I emphasized that India supports diplomacy & dialogue as the way out. Discussed predicament of Indian nationals, including students. Appreciate his support for their safe return, Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Indian embassies in the neighbouring countries of Ukraine have organized evacuation operations for the Indian citizens. The Indian Embassy in Warsaw issued an urgent advisory for its citizens who desire to be evacuated via Poland. Indian nationals arriving at the Poland-Ukraine border by public conveyance i.e. by bus or taxi, are advised to make for the Shehyni-Medyka border crossing, not Krakowiec crossing, it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs Camp Offices are now operational in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine. Additional Russian-speaking officials are being sent to these Camp Offices. Officials are assisting Indian citizens who reach these cities and will facilitate their departure from Ukraine through adjoining border crossings.
SoulShine is a group of seasoned New York musicians who, through their mutual love of the Allman Brothers Band, have united for the sole purpose of bringing you the ultimate Allman Brothers experience.

The seminal catalogue of the Allman Brothers singalongs and jams are carefully replicated with all of the important attention to detail: spot on guitar and vocal harmonies, two drummers, a real Hammond B-3 organ with Leslie speaker, mind-bending improvisation and amazing slide guitar playing, all in front of a dazzling video backdrop display.

SoulShine, featuring guitarists Geoff Hartwell and Norm Dodge, bassist Bob Goetz, Hammond player Chris Burke and drummers Rob Wallis and Ron Negro started out as a group of musician friends who did an Allman Brothers tribute show.

We did a rehearsal and sat down and played the first song, and we just sat in stunned silence afterward. We knew we had something special on our hands, Negro said.

The first show they did was in 2017, and was supposed to be a one time event. But once they played, people kept clamoring for more.

The Allman Brothers Band were an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman (founder, slide guitar and lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards, songwriting), as well as Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals, songwriting), Berry Oakley (bass guitar), Butch Trucks (drums), and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson (drums). The band incorporated elements of blues, jazz, and country music, and their live shows featured jam band-style improvisation and instrumentals.

Group leader Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident later that year  on October 29, 1971  and the band dedicated Eat a Peach (1972) to his memory, a dual studio/live album that cemented the band's popularity. They were later inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

SoulShine started selling out shows, and then when Gregg Allman died, they knew that was the tipping point. For people to see Allman Brothers music live, they would need to see a tribute band. And SoulShine was the real Allman Brothers experience, as per fans. After selling out those shows, it became clear they were a large club/theater-ready act, according to Negro.

They fully embraced the word experience to the point where they included it in the name of the band, SoulShine: an Allman Brothers Experience.

We feel that we bring an even higher elevation to our shows than just a tribute, Negro said.

The band was supposed to play The Capitol Theatres Garcias in Port Chester on New Years Eve, but it was canceled due to pandemic concerns. They were then rescheduled for a residency at Garcias. The next and last two dates in the residency are March 3, and March 17.

Those attending the March 3 show are in for a special treat. The band intends to play the classic Allman Brothers album, Eat a Peach, in its entirety for the first set.

SoulShine just finished a successful show at the Infinity Hall in Norfolk, CT and will be playing at the Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport on April 22.

Negro says Garcias is one of the bands favorite places to play, both for the venue and the location, given the band are all natives of Westchester.

Fans are just attracted to the jam band scene the Cap is, Negro said.

Negro says the SoulShine is just beginning its musical journey, and hopes to one day play the full Capitol Theatre.

This is something we believed in from the beginning. We are nowhere near done. We aspire to have a much wider audience, Negro said.

For more information or for tickets, visit thecapitoltheatre.com/events/detail/soulshine-g5vvz9dk7fo8h.
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Connecticut lawmakers have introduced a bill that would block police departments from hiring officers who were previously fired for serious misconduct or who left another law enforcement agency while under investigation.

The legislation would address loopholes highlighted by a Hearst Connecticut Media Group investigation last year into police misconduct and punishment called Policing the Police.

We are trying to make sure people are not getting a job of public trust when they should not have a job of public trust, said state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague and co-chairwoman of the public safety committee.

The proposal would prohibit the states Police Officer Standards and Training Council, which grants licenses to officers statewide, from certifying an officer dismissed for malfeasance or who resigned or retired while under investigation for misconduct.

Last years Hearst Connecticut Media investigation found examples in which a police department fired an officer for serious offenses only to see that same officer hired by another department.

For example, Officer Dan Loris was hired by Fairfield police in 2021 after being fired the year before by the Shelton Police Department for ethics and sexual harassment violations and misconduct while on duty.

Hearst also obtained records showing that 34 local officers retired or resigned while internal affairs investigations into their conduct were underway between 2015 and 2020. Those departures often ended the probe and allowed officers to avoid a determination or punishment.

The investigation by Hearst Connecticut uncovered one other way officers can return to the force despite prior misconduct.

Following criminal convictions on domestic violence-related charges in 2013, Paul Cari was stripped of his law enforcement authority at the Bridgeport Police Department. But in 2020, Cari received a pardon for his convictions, allowing him to regain certification as an officer, despite objections from the POST Council. Cari, who could not be reached for comment, is now patrolling the citys streets.

While the early version of bill does not prohibit certifying an officer who received a pardon, Osten said the legislation may be updated to include that prohibition.

This may deal with some of those kind of issues, Osten said. That is not something that we would want to see.

State Rep. Maria Horn, D-Salisbury and House co-chairwoman of the public safety committee, said the proposed bill closes loopholes in a sweeping Police Accountability Act passed in 2020. Horn said at least one local department found the prior legislation to be ambiguous.

We are trying to close this door, she said, noting the legislation has the backing of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which oversees the State Police.

After the Hearst Connecticut series was published, a number of lawmakers expressed interest in additional reforms to increase police accountability and transparency.

Police union head Troy Raccuia said he opposes the proposal now before the committee.

The General Assembly has already enacted multiple measures related to police accountability and transparency, said Raccuia, director of collective bargaining for AFSCME Council 4, which represents police officers.

POST has been given more power to decertify officers, barring them from employment in law enforcement, Raccuia said. Qualified immunity protections have been curtailed only for police officers. A permanent special prosecutor is in place to prosecute only police officers. Body cameras are used extensively.

Raccuia added, Legislators need to examine how these measures are impacting the ability of officers to do their jobs and hampering recruitment and retention. At what point do we reach overkill in monitoring, disciplining, or calling into question the overall character of police officers?

Complete investigation

Horn and Osten said the bill is designed to prod police departments to finish internal affairs investigations even if the officer resigns or retires.

In our conversations, we found that there is a diversity, some finish and some dont, Horn said, referring to whether police departments complete IA investigations.

Horn said the bill, for now, does not require Connecticut departments to complete IA investigations after an officer leaves the department. But, she said, an upcoming public hearing will help determine if that clause should be added.

The public safety committee on Friday scheduled a March 3 public hearing on the bill.

If someone resigns in midst of an investigation, that investigation should be finished so it exists in some official forum, Horn said. The idea is to stop this from happening.

Hearst found that most departments closed their investigations after an accused officer left the department  which meant no conclusion was reached  but there were exceptions.

Ridgefield police completed an IA probe into former Lt. Craig Worster in 2015, upholding various sexual harassment allegations, but no formal action was taken against the officer since he had previously retired.

Worster was later hired as chief of a small police department in Millinocket, Maine. Soon after taking that job, he was accused of similar misconduct and fired.

Fullfilled requirements

Loris, the officer fired by Shelton and later hired by Fairfield, received certification from the POST Council despite the changes the state enacted under the 2020 police reform legislation.

Fairfield Police Chief Robert Kalamaras told Hearst last year he stood by the decision to hire Loris, who joined a lawsuit against Shelton contesting his and other terminations.

He has fulfilled all of the state requirements necessary to assume the duties and responsibilities of a police officer and I fully support the decision of the previous chief, Kalamaras told Hearst, pointing out he did not personally hire the officer.

The allegations against Loris stemmed from photos posted on social media of officers changing their clothes in a parking lot to protest Sheltons closing of bathrooms used by officers.

Loris could not be reached for comment.

Horn said the legislation being proposed now was tucked into a larger package of reforms that passed the House last year but failed to make it through the Senate. She said separating the bill from other issues should lead to passage this year.

Once we have a hearing, we will know more clearly, Horn said, referring to support for the bill. No one has objected to me.

bcummings@ctpost.com
EAST HAVEN  The worry and the heartbreak, the feelings of helplessness, were clear in her voice.

Its been really, really difficult. Looking at the news, I feel really helpless, said Melania Korenovsky, one of the thousands of Connecticut residents worried about what will become of their relatives in Ukraine as Russia continues to pour soldiers, helicopters, tanks and other hardware into the proud country.

Melania, a 15-year-old tenth-grader at East Haven High School, was born in the U.S. But her family still speaks Ukrainian in their home and they have roots squarely planted in both worlds.

Part of Melanias family  including an aunt and some first cousins who live in eastern Ukraine  was in the process of fleeing to Poland Friday, although her uncle planned to stay behind to take care of aging relatives who are not able to travel, she said.

She and her family  her mother, Natalie Chermak, stepfather Liubomyer Chermak, grandmother Orysia Yanovski, grandfather Stepan Yanovski and older sister Stephania Korevenovsky, 18, who goes to the University of Connecticut, have been glued to the news and social media.

In Melanias case, that means Instagram, where everybodys posting all the shellings and everything, she said. All I can think about is, I have a three-year-old cousin there. ... They should be playing with toys. They shouldnt have to worry.

Another part of her family lives in Lviv in western Ukraine near the Polish border, where so far, its been pretty safe, Melania said.

They have not had to leave their home, she said  yet.

Its very scary. It looks like history is repeating itself, she said, referring to the past conflicts between Russia and Ukraine.

Meanwhile, as she watches thing unfold, she cant help but think: There should be more countries helping Ukraine right now, she said.

Melania recently spoke to one of her cousins in Ukraine, Olena, who told her that with all thats going on, they didnt have school. Theyre terrified. ... They already had to go to the basement a few times, she said. There were planes flying near their house.

She also has family in Kiev, several of whom had tried to leave Ukraines capital beginning Thursday, finally managing to get out Friday morning. Theyre headed to stay with older relatives near the northern border with Belarus.

Theyre not sure where they should go, Melania said. Their end goal is to get out of Ukraine.

Other relatives  at least some of them  are hoping to leave for Austria, although the men are likely to stay back she said.

Meanwhile, younger family members  both the ones in Ukraine and the ones in Connecticut  arent getting much done beyond worrying.

I went to school yesterday ... and I could only think about Ukraine, Melania said. If its this hard for me, how is it for them? Its terrible.

Russia is destroying it, she said. Ukraine was trying to build itself back up, and now hes trying to bring them down again. Its really terrible.

Melania and her family are far from alone in their worry and stress.

Robert Skolozdra, 56, a half-Ukrainian New Haven architect who grew up in Milford, lives in Hamden and has relatives of his late father in Ukraine, has an urn on the mantle in his house.

Theyre his fathers ashes.

As one of his final wishes, Roman Skolozdra, who died Sept. 14, 2017, wanted those ashes to be scattered in Ukraine, where he was born.

COVID-19 put that plan on ice for a couple of years.

Now Skolozdra doesnt know when he might be able to fulfill his fathers wish.

But he continues to pray for and worry about his Ukrainian relatives.

Its been a little bit of an emotional day for me ... as I read my Facebook messages, said Skolozdra, 56, a partner in Svigals + Partners in New Haven.

While Skolozdra grew up here, he knows many of his Ukrainian relatives because he went to Ukraine and Poland in 2013 and was able to connect with them. He keeps in touch with several of his cousins, one of whom, named Ivan  now in his 40s  posted on Facebook Thursday that hes going back into the Ukrainian army.

Skolozdra told Ivan, who previously enlisted in the Ukrainian army in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea in the south of Ukraine, that all of his friends in the U.S. want to know what his relatives in Ukraine think about whats going on and I dont know what to tell them other than to pray for you.

Just a few minutes later, Ivan  by then practically on the battlefield  wrote back that to pray is the most powerful weapon in the world. Thank you.

For Skolozdra, watching the news this past week was like being on a roller coaster.

My initial reaction was, theyre just after Kiev and the east, he said. When I realized that they were really coming from all over, I thought, Its more than that. Theyre really just trying to take over the whole country.

He was heartened, however, to see protests of the invasion in the heart of Moscow, to see that there are even war protests in Russia.

Anna Salemme of West Haven, also born in the U.S., has a second cousin and a goddaughter in Ukraine.

When I talked to my second cousin (several days ago) she said that they didnt really think that they were going to get invaded, said Salemme, branch president of the Ukrainian National Womens League of America.

I thought they would just go into the two separatist regions in the far east of the country, she said. But I didnt think he was going to go in and just bomb the hell out of the country. ... Were still trying to wrap our brains around it.

While efforts to raise money for Ukraine are continuing to take shape, one effort underway that involves a local organization is the Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund (https://bit.ly/35oc0Xv), which Rabbi Yossi Yaffee of Chabad of the Shoreline sent out a plea for Friday morning.

Ukraine is home to 350,000 Jews and they are living in fear and desperately need our support, Yaffe wrote.

Wherever they are, and whatever the needs, Chabad-Lubavitch is there for them, he wrote. Even as bombs drop and the war unfolds, the nearly 200 Chabad-Lubavitch emissary families in 35 cities throughout the length and breadth of Ukraine remain with their people, providing much-needed material aid, encouragement, and spiritual strength and support.

... Today more than ever, they need our support, he wrote.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
As the situation continued to deteriorate in Ukraine, the Chinese embassy in Ukraine on Friday said Chinese nationals could register for chartered flights to leave the country.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

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Light rain this morning. Then remaining cloudy. High 59F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

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There is serious tension and controversy over the impeachment of former Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau by the St...





There is serious tension and controversy over the impeachment of former Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau by the State House of Assembly.





The impeachment followed allegation of financial misapproriation and failure to report promptly to the office since Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).





It was gathered that the State lawmakers had earlier summoned the embattled former deputy Governor to defend himself over the allegations but he refused to appear.





Instead, he rushed to court to stop the impeachment process.





The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been accusing Governor Matawalle of being responsible for the impeachment, but the Governor through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Zailani Bappa denied the claim, saying that the Governor cannot dictate to the State House of Assembly on its activities.





The PDP had stated that after extensive review of the impeachment, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau still remains intact as the Deputy Governor of the State.





However, this medium authoritatively reports that since the political crisis started between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP in the State, activities of the PDP have been moving on the lowest ebb, as all the leaders of the party have shifted their base from the State.





According to the partys legal Adviser in the State, Barrister Bashir Abubakar Masama, it was the tension that forced them out of the State.





With less than one year to the 2023 general elections, the party has not made any arrangement to coordinate its supporters.





Reacting swiftly over the impeachment of the deputy Governor, the State legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Barrister Bashir Abubakar Masama had also described the impeachment as illegal.





He explained that the State House of Assembly has no constitutional power to go on with the impeachment process since the case was still in the court.





He pointed out that the court had earlier asked everyone to maintain the status quo.





Also, in a press statement signed by the principal private secretary to the former Deputy Governor, Mr. Aminu Umar, he said since the deputy Governor refused to defect to APC with the Governor last year, the monthly allocation of N30 million naira to his office had been stopped.





This is a legal battle that must be won for the cause of justice because we have hope in the judiciary.





Both the House of Assembly and the 7 man judicial panel did not give the deputy Governor a fair hearing at all.





We were all disappointed by the ugly trend since the House has said that no court could stop the impeachment of the Deputy Governor which means the lawmakers had concluded on impeaching him without fair trial, he said.
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ekti State, Funmi Ogun, has rejected her nomination as partys deputy governorship candidate...

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ekti State, Funmi Ogun, has rejected her nomination as partys deputy governorship candidate.

Ogun was Commissioner for Works during ex-Governor Ayo Fayoses second term of office.

Her February 24, 2022 letter, entitled Re: My Nomination as Deputy Governorship candidate, was addressed to the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

Ogun informed Ayu that she was aware Ekiti stakeholders submitted her name for the June 18 gubernatorial election.

Notwithstanding their good intentions, I formally write to reject the nomination for personal reasons.

However, I appreciate the uncommon recognition and I assure the party that no effort will be spared at ensuring our victory at the election, she noted.

NAN quoted the politician saying the letter was not meant to slight anyone.

She complained that after the endorsement and nomination to the PDP national leadership, the latter failed to act.

Ogun said she wrote the memo so as not to be on a collision course with party heads.

I have written this letter while awaiting the reaction of our leader, Ayo Fayose and the national leaders. This doesnt suggest any trouble in Ekiti State PDP, the chieftain assured.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has assured Nigerians of its continued efforts to return the supply of petrol to normalcy. ...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has assured Nigerians of its continued efforts to return the supply of petrol to normalcy.

The NNPC asked Nigerians to be patient, saying it has sufficient stock of petroleum product for distribution across the country.

The company also said it is working with partners to ensure the product reaches every part of the country.

The NNPC, in a statement, said it is intensifying efforts to resolve distribution hitches being experienced in some parts of the country.

To this effect, NNPC is engaging depot operators to load product round the clock to accelerate the restoration of normal distribution, it said.

NNPC has also engaged the services of Government Security Agencies to ensure that all products loaded get to the right destination. We urge Nigerians to continue to be patient as we strive to return the situation to normalcy.
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a pastor, Peter Omope, for attempted murder and unlawful possession of a prohibited firea...





Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a pastor, Peter Omope, for attempted murder and unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm.





The pastor who is the Shepherd in charge of a Celestial Church of Christ, Jesu Yan Parish, situated at Olambe junction Akute, Ogun State, was arrested for shooting a female guest worshipper, Kemi Johnson, at the entrance of the church.





The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.





Oyeyemi explained that the suspect was arrested following a distress call received at the police divisional headquarters at Ajuwon, Akute from one Deji Olalekan.





Oyeyemi said Olalekan told the police that he and 18-year-old Kemi Johnson took their boss whom they are working with as a driver and housemaid respectively to the airport.





He said, After dropping the madam, they took the vehicle to the house of their boss relation as directed.





But on their way home, they were informed that the Oro sacrifice was ongoing at Olambe area which made it impossible for them to pass through the area.





They then saw a celestial church where a vigil was ongoing and decided to join them since it was already late in the night.





While they were at the entrance of the church, the suspect who happened to be the shepherd in- charge came out with a pump action rifle and before they could utter any explanation, he shot Kemi Johnson on the leg.





Upon the distress call, the DPO, Ajuwon division SP Andrew Akinseye quickly mobilised his men and moved to the scene where the suspect was promptly arrested.





The victim was quickly rushed to Ifako Ijaye general hospital, from where she was referred to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and finally to Orthopedics Hospital Igbobi Lagos.





The pump action rifle and five live cartridges had been recovered from the suspect.





The PPRO however said the Commissioner of police, Lanre Bankole, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.
The Nigerian government has asked Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and embrace diplomatic measures to address the current crisis...

The Nigerian government has asked Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and embrace diplomatic measures to address the current crisis involving both countries.

Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, said this on Friday after a meeting with the envoys of the G7 countries in Nigeria.

Months of tensions between Russia and Ukraine took another dimension on Thursday with airstrikes recorded in Ukraine.

As of Friday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians had been killed since the Russian invasion began.

In a televised address on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian military to seize power in their country.

Speaking on the development after the meeting, Onyeama said the Nigerian government has advised the adoption of peacebuilding initiatives to resolve the conflict.

Peace and diplomacy to be prioritised by both sides, NAN quoted him as saying.

We support every effort being made to stop the aggression and Russian troops to return to Russia.

Also speaking to journalists after the meeting which held behind closed doors, Birgitt Ory, German ambassador to Nigeria who also chairs the G7 group, commended the African Union (AU) for condemning the invasion.

The German ambassador commended Nigeria for taking a position, adding that the federal governments stance is an important voice the world needs to hear.

Ory added that there would be resolutions taken by the United Nations Security Council, as well as the General Assembly, on the invasion.

In attendance at the meeting were Mary Beth Leonard, United States ambassador to Nigeria; Catriona Laing, British high commissioner to Nigeria; Samuela Isopi, head of the European Union delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as well as representatives of the embassies of Japan and Canada.
BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The heroic act of Australian police officer Kelly Foster, who sacrificed her life to save a Chinese citizen, will be remembered by the Chinese people, and there should be no doubt concerning the friendly sentiment between the Chinese and Australian peoples, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a daily press briefing on Friday.

The Chinese embassy in Australia held a ceremony on Thursday to award the Great Wall Commemorative Medal to Foster, honoring her selfless act. The medal, established by the Ministry of Public Security of China in December 2020, is awarded to foreign law enforcement personnel who have made outstanding contributions to protecting the safety of Chinese citizens.

The gold medal presented to Foster was the first to be awarded worldwide, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

Wang said that human nature does not distinguish between countries, nations or cultures, and Foster's righteous act has conveyed the kindness and amity of the Australian people toward the Chinese people. "Chinese people always cherish friendship and righteousness, we will always remember her heroic behavior."

"Facts have proved that the friendly sentiment between the Chinese and Australian peoples are beyond all doubt," Wang said, "The common aspirations of the two people are the direction of our efforts."

Citing remarks from the foreign ministry last year concerning Foster, which noted that "the kindness and sincerity of human nature shine even in the harsh winter," Wang expressed the hope that this beam of light would continue to bring warmth to the two peoples and nourish their friendship. 
A Ukraine-based Nigerian pastor, Sunday Adelaja, has raised an alarm following the declaration of war on the country by Russian President ...





A Ukraine-based Nigerian pastor, Sunday Adelaja, has raised an alarm following the declaration of war on the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin.





Adelaja disclosed that hes one of the influential people on Putins hit list.





The pastor, based in Ukraines capital of Kyiv, said Putin intends to eliminate him and other influential people if Russian forces capture the city.





To this end, Adelaja said he and his family had to run away to a safe place.





From American intelligence, we got to know that they (Russia) have a list for elimination; this is not ordinary people but those who are influential. And Im on that list.





I knew I was on the list because I was declared a persona non-grata in Russia since 2005. I have been a personal enemy of Putin for over 20 years now, and he banned me from going to Russia, so I know I will be on that list.





Since Thursday, Russia started a military operation in Ukraine over the countrys decision to join NATO.





Russian forces are currently heading towards Kyiv, intending to capture the capital city.
Watertown, NY (13601)

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A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 56F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Farmers harvest bananas in Longhan banana plantation base in Lingao County, south China's Hainan Province, Aug. 15, 2021. (Xinhua)

HAIKOU, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- At the break of dawn, Wang Hai pushed open his door and walked into the banana fields to check the condition of the plants.

"I usually walk around the fields for three to four hours a day," said Wang, 60.

Wang is the manager of the Longhan banana plantation base in Lingao County, south China's Hainan Province. He looks after approximately 67 hectares of banana plantations and has reaped solid profits over the past few years through his hard work. "Life is so much better now," he said.

Wang's plantation career is flourishing as China pushes forward rural vitalization.

China unveiled its "No. 1 central document" for this year on Feb. 22, highlighting efforts to stabilize and increase agricultural production, and steadily raise farmers' incomes.

FROM SECURITY GUARD TO SKILLED FARMER

Wang's first foray into the tropical fruit industry was years ago as a security guard. In the early days, he and his fellow villagers used to make ends meet through paddy rice farming and sugarcane plantation.

"Life was hard back then and I used to live in a windowless house," Wang said.

In 2000, an ecological farming company came to the village to undertake banana plantations. Wang seized the opportunity and applied to become a security guard there and secured the job.

"My responsibilities included looking after the banana trees, preventing cattle from damaging the plantation and ensuring villagers do not enter the area," he said.

While the job provided a steady income, it fell short of his ambition, which was learning about banana farming.

"When I patrolled the fields, I would observe how the workers fertilized the fields," Wang said. "I learned how much fertilizer each banana plant required and when to fertilize the plants."

He would take notes and learn the farming techniques, and soon mastered the skills of banana farming.

CLIMBING THE SUCCESS LADDER

After a few years, the company head recognized Wang's potential and appointed him manager of a small patch of banana plantation area. Wang was in charge of everything from farming to electricity and irrigation.

Thanks to the skills he had gained, Wang's first batch of banana trees each bore more than 350 kg of yield per hectare, much higher than the average output in previous years.

"It was quite impressive, and my boss transferred me to larger fields," he said.

With the money he earned, Wang built a new house and bought cars for his family.

But Wang's career was not all smooth sailing. In 2010, a typhoon completely destroyed his banana fields, leaving him devastated.

"I did not know what to do at the time, I was at a loss," Wang said, adding that it was the encouragement of his company staff that instilled hope in him. "Life goes on no matter what happens."

The natural tragedy came as a blessing in disguise, as it taught him to better prepare for future calamities by chopping the leaves of the banana plants to mitigate the impact.

There are currently 18 workers in Wang's banana fields, all of whom are local villagers. They can each earn up to 20,000 U.S. dollars a year, much more than what they used to earn by rice or sugarcane farming.

Wang is now hatching bigger plans for his farming career. "We plan to grow more tropical fruits, such as pineapples, which have high economic value."

Wang believes that in the days to come people in the region will continue to embrace greater prosperity. 

Wang Hai (L) shows the technique of watering banana trees in banana fields in Lingao County, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 10, 2020. (Xinhua)

Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2021 shows the banana fields of Longhan banana plantation base in Lingao County, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua)
Yes. Gov. Hochul chose Mr. Benjamin, and she's stuck with him through the election.

No. The state should have the option to remove someone under criminal indictment.

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Comedian Zane Helberg knows his audience. Its clear at the start of his 2018 album, Zane Helberg: Live from Rehab.

Do you like to draw? What are you drawing? he asks someone in the audience as hes beginning his set. Oh, youre filling shit in. So meth is your thing?

The crowd howls in laughter, and its no joke that Helberg is recording his show for an audience of people in a rehab program. Hes been booking his own rehab-friendly tours around the country since 2018.

Helberg brings his show to New Orleans and Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge on March 2. Comedian Aaron Patrick opens.

Helberg got into comedy because it was on his bucket list, he says by phone from his home in Southern California. He had been interested in theater when he was young but had put off trying stand-up comedy out of fear.

I took a class and did a workshop and did a little recital at The Improv in 2008, he says. I hit the ground running and started doing open mics because it was not as terrifying as I thought it would be.

Several years later, after years of alcoholism and drug addiction, he got sober, and being more clear-headed helped him focus on his act. After a few more years of performing at open mics and some booked gigs around Southern California, however, he was still looking for his place in the comedy scene.

I decided to start doing shows for people in recovery in Los Angeles, and then a hospital in Encino gave me a call, he says. They said, Hey, we heard about your show. We cant bring people to your show because theyre in drug detox, but why dont you come and do a show here? Me and my buddies went and did a show for a handful of people, and they absolutely loved it and were so excited they were able to get some laughs in without any drugs in their body. I realized at that moment that this is an awesome thing that I had to keep doing.

Helberg toured California hospitals and rehab centers, eventually quit his day job, recorded his album and toured across the country.

His act includes jokes and stories from before, during and after addiction, and plenty of material has nothing to do with substance abuse. He starts one dark-humored bit about solving the problem with homelessness with the concession that its hard to get past the fascist-sounding beginning of the plan: You have to round them up first, he says.

Most of his shows are no holds barred, and his interactions with audiences during shows proves that they appreciate it.

If youre in a rehab with someone who is missing teeth, then youre going to talk about that, just like if theres a couple, youre gonna work in their relationship, he says. Absolutely they want to laugh at themselves. Ninety-nine percent of the time what they want is someone to talk to them like theyre a normal human being and make fun of them the way you would make fun of anything else. So often drug addicts and alcoholics are shamed, ostracized, considered second-tier citizens. When you find humor in things that other people shame, it puts you on a level playing field.

In addition to touring, Helberg also books tours for comedian Sam Tripoli, and he has a podcast called How to Seem Rich So People Like You.

Zane Helberg performs at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge. Alcohol will not be served on the night of the show. Tickets are $20.
The son of a state judge in St. Bernard Parish was arrested this week for allegedly punching his girlfriend in the eye, leaving a gash that prompted the judge to drive her to his brothers plastic surgery clinic for stitches.

Eric Bopp Jr., 30, spent two days in the St. Bernard Parish jail, booked on a count of second-degree battery, before his release Friday on $5,000 bond, with conditions that include an ankle monitor and curfew.

His father, Judge Eric Bopp, recused himself from the case on Wednesday, as did the rest of the 34th Judicial District Court bench: Judges Kim Jones, Jeanine Juneau, William McGoey and Darren Roy. It was assigned to an ad hoc jurist, Franz Zibilich, a former Orleans Parish criminal court judge who signed a protective order Friday and ordered it sealed.

District Attorney Perry Nicosia also recused his office from the case, which was referred to Attorney General Jeff Landrys office. A spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Bopp Jr. has not been charged.

The alleged victim reported that he punched her with a closed fist in the right eye early Sunday after a night of drinking, according to St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Office reports. She began to bleed, called over neighbors and dialed up Bopp Jr.s sister to get him.

Instead, Judge Bopp arrived about 8:30 a.m. to pick up his son, then returned with his wife and took the alleged victim to a plastic surgery clinic in Metairie for medical treatment, she told deputies, adding that the clinic where she received four stitches belongs to the judge's brother.

The brother, Dr. Felix Bopp, runs Bopp Dermatology and Facial Plastic Surgery on Causeway Boulevard.

That evening, the woman reported the incident to the Sheriffs Office, telling a deputy she didnt want to press charges against Bopp Jr. but that an attorney friend had recommended filing a report to protect herself.

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Judge Bopps role could make him a key witness in the battery case against his son and might prompt a review by the state Judiciary Commission over whether the judge, during the course of this incident, did anything that would be a violation of the judicial code of conduct, said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Goyeneche said the Judiciary Commission could review whether Bopp should have reported a possible crime if he suspected one.

The initial incident report doesnt suggest the judge was trying to conceal evidence or keep her from going to the police," said Kim Sport, an attorney and advocate for victims of domestic violence. "It looks like parents being parents."

Jones, one of Judge Bopp's colleagues on the St. Bernard bench, signed a warrant on Tuesday for Bopp Jr.s arrest before she and the other judges recused themselves. Bopp Jr. surrendered Wednesday and was released Friday afternoon, records show. He's due back in court March 23.

A message to his attorney was not returned Friday. Judge Bopp, 61, could not be reached.

He won a seat on the 34th Judicial District Court bench in November 2020, months after the Louisiana Supreme Court reinstated his law license after suspending him early that year over a pair of drunk-driving arrests. He completed diversion after his most recent DUI arrest, in 2017.

Judge Bopp agreed to a license suspension of a year and a day, with all but 90 days of it deferred. The suspension term required him to apply for reinstatement, which the court granted a few months before he qualified to run for the seat.
The New Orleans coroner identified victims of two separate homicides in the Plum Orchard area this week.

Ricardo Ledesma Soto, 22, was one of two men shot at around 1:22 a.m. Monday in the 7900 block of Chef Menteur Highway, police said. The two men were involved in an "altercation" with other people when one of the men rammed his vehicle into another vehicle. Someone in the other vehicle opened fire, police said, hitting the two men multiple times.

Soto died of his wounds at the scene, and the other man went to the hospital via ambulance in critical condition. His current condition is unknown.

Christian Carrie, 20, was identified as the man shot and killed Tuesday night in Plum Orchard. Officers were called at about 7:20 p.m. to the 4300 block of Dodt Avenue, where they found Carrie. Emergency Medical Services took him to a hospital, but police said he died within an hour.

Anyone with information is asked to call Homicide Detective Nickolas Davis at 504-658-5300 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Carlie Kollath Wells contributed to this report.
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.  The United State Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joseph Rinker, 51, of Lycoming County was sentenced to two years of probation by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann for tax evasion.

According to United State Attorney John C. Gurganus, Rinker pleaded guilty to a criminal information that charged him with using his position as manager of the Harvest Moon Restaurant to embezzle over $300,000, that he subsequently failed to report as income to the Internal Revenue Service from 2014 to 2017.

Rinker was ordered to pay $64,250 in restitution to the IRS prior to the sentencing held on Feb. 18, 2022.

The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.

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Kiev has plunged into chaos after Russian forces launched a military offensive against Ukraine. Xinhua has spoken with residents in Kiev and Moscow to get their thoughts on the ongoing Ukraine crisis.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Valve's CEO might be looking to integrate some metaverse features in the next Steam Deck iteration, as he mentions a possible VR component. Additionally, the price points might be increased, since the high-end Steam Deck model turned out to be the most popular during the pre-sales.

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

Valve has barely started shipping the Steam Deck handheld console, and the company is already making plans for the second iteration. A glimpse at the upcoming version's possible specs along with some surprising statistics related to the first version were shared by Gabe Newell himself in a recent Edge Magazine interview.

Apart from faster hardware specs, Newell foreshadowed that the upcoming version should focus on combining its portability advantages over traditional desktop gaming rigs with virtual reality features that are now trending once again thanks to the metaverse boom. Newell explains that the first step is to let you play the great games that exist today. The second iterations are going to be more about: what are the capabilities that mobile gives us, above and beyond what you would get in a traditional desktop or laptop gaming environment? One of the things [Steam Deck] represents is battery-capable, high-performance horsepower that eventually you could use in VR applications as well. You can take the PC and build something that is much more transportable. Were not really there yet, but this is a stepping stone.

Valves CEO also shared some pre-order statistics that took the company by surprise, as the most popular Steam Deck model by far turned out to be the high-end version with 512 GB storage and anti-glare screen. Newell believes that the majority of Steam Deck customers are saying We would like an even more expensive version of this, in terms of horsepower capabilities or whatever. You know, thats why we always love to get something out there and ship it. Because we learn a lot from that, and it helps frame our thinking for Deck 2. This could suggest that Steam Deck 2 may get a reworked tier system and an overall price bump.

With the overwhelming popularity of the more expensive versions of the Steam Deck, it is clear that Valve intends to grow this into a successful brand, unlike some of Valves missed opportunities and previous console concepts.

Buy the Steam Wallet Card $20 on Amazon
Intel has finally launched its most powerful NUC yet, the NUC 12 Extreme. Codenamed 'Dragon Canyon', the NUC 12 Extreme comes with a compact design, powerful Alder Lake processors, and space for a powerful graphics card like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti.

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

Intel has unleashed the NUC 12 Extreme, a machine that leaked earlier this week. As expected, the NUC 12 Extreme features Intel's latest Compute Element, codenamed 'Eden Bay', which has an LGA1700 socket. As such, the NUC 12 Extreme is compatible with any Alder Lake processor, so long as its PBP is below 65 W.

Additionally, the NUC 12 Extreme supports up to 64 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, three M.2 SSDs connected via PCIe 4.0 and PCIe Gen5 x16 graphics cards. Also, Intel notes that the NUC 12 Extreme is backwards compatible with PCIe Gen4 and Gen3 devices. Moreover, the machine features Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, plus the following ports:

1x 10 Gbit/s Ethernet

1x 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet (Core i9 models)

1x 3.5 mm headphone jack

1x HDMI 2.0b

1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4

1x SDXC card reader

2x Thunderbolt 4

6x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A

Moreover, the NUC 12 Extreme has enough space for 30.4 cm-long and 350 W graphics cards. Hence, the machine supports some of NVIDIA's most powerful desktop graphics cards, including the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti FE. In saying that, some custom graphics cards will exceed these power and size requirements.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Amin Awad of Sudan as assistant secretary-general to serve as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.

Guterres announced the appointment on Friday while meeting reporters at the UN headquarters in New York after the Security Council meeting on Ukraine concluded.

Awad has served in a range of senior roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which brought with him over 30 years of experience in the field of humanitarian affairs, strategic action, planning and development, according to a press note issued by the UN chief's office.

Awad's appointment came as Ukraine is faced with increasing humanitarian needs amid its growing tensions with Russia. 
Contact Jillian Lynch at 574-6274 or jlynch@dnronline.com. Follow Jillian on Twitter @lynchjillian_

Contact Ian Munro at 574-6278 or imunro@dnronline.com. Follow Ian on Twitter @iamIanMunro
EAST CHICAGO  Hundreds of Lincoln Elementary students waited outside Wednesday morning in 20-degree weather to greet and welcome representatives of Enchanted Backpack, which is donating more than $40,000 worth of supplies to the school.

Students held up signs that said thank you for your service and cheered, saying they love their city and thanking Enchanted Backpack. In the hallways, students stood along their lockers cheering and clapping as they saw items roll in.

Large bags and boxes filled with items were rolled out of the two Enchanted Backpack vans into Lincoln Elementary. The supplies were selected by Enchanted Backpack and were meant to be a surprise. Several volunteers helped bring in items to the school, moving quickly and unloading the vans in under 20 minutes.

Starting in 2017, Enchanted Backpack works annually to deliver supplies to schools. Requests for aid are reviewed on a rolling basis based on time, availability and need. A qualifying elementary or middle school must have at least 50% of its students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

Lincoln Elementary School was one of 50 schools to be selected to receive the donation this year. Schools are able to apply to receive materials by filling out a form.

Supplies given to Lincoln Elementary ranged from typical school supplies, to hats and gloves, board games, toiletries and more.

Jesse Gomez, a school board member for the School City of East Chicago, was there to welcome the delivery. He said the school city was fortunate to receive the donation and noted that East Chicago has another school receiving supplies soon: Washington Elementary.

This is not the first time Enchanted Backpack has visited the Region. Joe Froelich, assistant logistics manager, said they visited a school in Merrillville last week.

In addition, Enchanted Backpack visited Scott Middle School in 2020, which is in the School City of Hammond. Scott was the first Indiana school to receive supplies.

Froelich said they do not always have students greeting them outside, especially with this weather. He said it was a really special time and enjoyed the production.

We are so incredibly fortunate to receive this donation as only 50 schools are selected each year, Sylvia Alvarez, district parent coordinator for the School City of East Chicago, said in an email.

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LAPORTE  Audrey Jeffers brought her horse to school Thursday.

The LaPorte High School senior was not the only one to bring an animal. Other students brought in cows, sheep and chickens, among others.

The students were participating in a petting zoo in honor of FFA (Future Farmers of America) Week. This is the seventh year the event was held.

This year, the school also held a Kiss the Cow event, where students could donate money in the name of any teacher they wanted to see kiss a cow. Dan Jeffers, a social studies teacher and father to Audrey, won with approximately $150 donated.

More than $500 was raised in total and will go toward St. Jude Childrens Hospital.

Jeffers said she had never brought her horse, Merlin, to the petting zoo before. But it is her senior year, and she wanted to be able to show him off. She also brought her bearded dragon, donkey and mini horse.

Merlin is 13 years old. Jeffers has been riding horses competitively for a long time. She has also been involved in 4-H, which is an agricultural program for youth, for 10 years. This year is Jeffers last year, as high school graduation is the cut-off for the program.

She has been involved in FFA for four years and is currently the local chapter president. She plans to go to Purdue University next year to study animal science.

In LaPorte county, LaPorte Community School Corp. is the only school district to have a large FFA chapter. But within the district, it is relatively popular. There are 92 students currently in the program, and Principal Chris Alber said the districts agriculture programs are expanding.

Jesi Davenport, a teacher at LaPorte High School who oversees FFA, said this was one of many events held during FFA week. Friday, a teacher breakfast was held. They also had themes throughout the week, such as wear a hat day or blue and gold day.

Classes sign up to bring students down during the petting zoo. Davenport said it is very popular, with several classes coming down every class period.

Students in FFA arrive at school for the petting zoo as early as 6:30 a.m. They get set up and bring everything to support their animals, outside of gates, which are provided through LaPorte County Fair and the 4-H program the students are involved in.

Nathan Baima, a senior at LaPorte High School, brought two calves. They were only a few weeks old. He works with animals at Conrad Dairy and in turn is allowed to use them for 4-H and FFA.

Baimas cow Big Mac was part of the Kiss the Cow event. Baima said everybody was super excited for the event.

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MERRILLVILLE  The PAD Foundation is hosting its second annual Princess and Prince Ball Sunday at the Croatian Center.

This Disney-themed event is from noon to 3 p.m. at the center, 8550 Taft St., Merrillville.

It includes a plated lunch and a Disney-themed dessert table. Dancers from the Indiana Youth Ballet will perform.

Children are encouraged to wear dresses or suits, even Disney princess and prince costumes. The ball will conclude with a silent auction and dancing with the Disney princesses.

The proceeds will benefit animal shelters in Northwest Indiana and surrounding areas.

The PAD Foundation, established in 2018, is a tribute to the memory of Peter and Adam Bathurst Del-Rio, both of whom were dedicated animal lovers.

Their mother, Elizabeth Bathurst, created the organization to honor her sons after they died in 2016 and 2017, respectively, both from fentanyl-related causes.

Bathurst is the longtime director of the Indiana Youth Ballet.

The PAD Foundation strives to provide financial assistance to local animal shelters in and around Northwest Indiana. Fund recipients include but are not limited to no-kill, nonprofit and volunteer-run shelters.

For more information, go to http://padpets.org. or Facebook page: @PAD Foundation.

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EAST CHICAGO  A Lake County Sheriffs Department officer was found dead inside his patrol car Friday outside of the Lake Superior Courthouse, police said.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said the officer was a 51-year-old veteran of the sheriffs department. His identity and cause of death have not been released.

The officer was found at 4:30 p.m. outside of the court at 3711 Main St. in East Chicago.

A civilian employee of the Lake County Sheriffs Department discovered the officer dead inside his squad car in the parking lot.

The Lake County coroners office and East Chicago Police Department are continuing the investigation. The area around the parking lot near the intersection of Main Street and Broadway was blocked off by crime scene tape Friday night.

A Lake County coroners van was parked at the rear of the courthouse surrounded by officers.

Martinez said further information will not be released at this time.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of this officer, and also to the men and women of the Lake County Sheriffs Department, Martinez said. It is extremely difficult to cope with the loss of one of your own.

Check back at nwi.com for updates.

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CROWN POINT  A Lake Criminal Court judge told a man Friday he was selfish, dishonest and cruel for killing a 5-month-old child in 2020 and leading the baby's family to believe it was an accident.

Efrain Gonzalez, 26, agreed to a 22-year prison sentence in October, when he pleaded guilty to one count of battery resulting in death of a person less than 14 years old, a level 2 felony.

Judge Natalie Bokota accepted Gonzalez's plea agreement and sentenced him according to its terms.

"You will never know what a mother feels for her child," Bokota said. "To lead her to believe that it was an accident is truly one of the most selfish things I have ever heard of in my life."

The baby, Anayelli Avina, died Oct. 5, 2020, at University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital from injuries she suffered Sept. 29, 2020, at her home in the 6400 block of New Hampshire Avenue in Hammond.

Anayelli's mother, Yecenia Del Real, had put her baby down for a nap and was taking a shower when Gonzalez caused the injuries that led to Anayelli's death, according to court records.

Del Real said she can no longer take a shower without thinking about hearing her baby cry.

"Never in my life did I think that anybody would kill my baby intentionally," she said. "I'm sorry to my family for thinking there was no such thing as monsters."

Del Real said Gonzalez used to tell her about how his father locked him in a cage as a boy and abused his mother, she said.

She hopes Gonzalez sees Anayelli's face every night when he goes to sleep, she said.

Anayelli's grandmother, Elsa Del Real, said she wanted to know what made Gonzalez get up and hurt her granddaughter.

"You stole her from us," she said. "You took her last breath from us."

Defense attorney John Cantrell said nine people were in the courtroom to support Gonzalez.

He said the plea agreement "wasn't done easily or quickly" and asked Bokota to accept it.

When Gonzalez said he wanted to apologize to the Anayelli's family members, Bokota urged him to turn around and face them.

"I really apologize to you all for what happened," he said.

He was using drugs at the time and wasn't in his "right mind," he said.

Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Nadia Wardrip said investigators determined Anayelli suffered severe blunt force trauma, but it was never clear exactly what Gonzalez did to her.

"There is no question at all that Efrain Gonzalez is not only a monster but also a coward," she said.

A medical examiner said Anayelli's injuries resembled what doctors see when a child is in rollover car crash, Wardrip said.

"We could not have a more innocent victim than a 5-month-old baby who just wants her mother," she said.

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CROWN POINT  A Gary man was released Tuesday from the Lake County Jail after being held for about 14 months on a murder charge prosecutors ultimately decided to drop.

Tyree K. Williams, 24, of Gary, told police he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Max Reed, 31, of Merrillville, early Dec. 15, 2020, inside an apartment in the 3600 block of Michigan Court in East Chicago, court records show.

Williams was arrested the day of the shooting and subsequently held without bail on one count of murder, to which he pleaded not guilty.

In a motion to dismiss the charge, Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Shaw wrote further review of the evidence led the state to decide could not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota granted the state's motion and dismissed the charge.

Reed, who was represented by attorney Susan Severtson, initially told police he and Williams fought earlier in the day over allegations Reed had threatened two women, charging documents show.

Witnesses told police Reed left, but later returned with a gun and confronted Williams and others because he felt Williams had disrespected him.

Williams accused Reed of entering an apartment and holding Williams, Williams' girlfriend and Reed's girlfriend at gunpoint while ordering one of the women to search a closet for a gun.

Williams told police he feared for his life, so he reached under a pillow for a gun and shot Reed.

Williams claimed he dropped the gun and left the apartment, but police had not recovered the gun at the time charges were filed, records state.

Reed died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the head.

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Leaders in the worlds of law and politics in Northwest Indiana, particularly black women, are applauding Democratic President Joe Biden's nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

If confirmed by the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate, Jackson will be the first black woman ever to sit among the nine justices on the nation's highest court.

Former Indiana Attorney General Karen Freeman-Wilson, who also served as Gary mayor from 2012 to 2019, said she was happy to learn Friday morning Biden selected Jackson, a federal appeals court judge, to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

"Judge Jackson has a proven track record of judicial scholarship and service. I am looking forward to her confirmation, and I know she will bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique life experience to the U.S. Supreme Court," Freeman-Wilson said.

"As a fellow Harvard alumnus and the parent of an aspiring lawyer, I take pride in Judge Jackson's historic nomination by President Biden and her opportunity to break this glass ceiling," she said. "I thank the president and his advisers for his decision to ensure that the U.S. Supreme Court better reflects the country that it serves."

Shelice Tolbert, a partner at the Gary law firm of Tolbert & Tolbert, said as a black, female attorney it's exciting to see Jackson nominated for the Supreme Court, and she looks forward to Jackson's confirmation.

"Judge Jackson is highly qualified to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer," Tolbert said. "Her pedigree, being a double Harvard graduate, along with her experience as a federal district court judge and service on the D.C. federal appellate court, will add a much-needed perspective and value to the U.S. Supreme Court."

State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, a former adult probation officer in Cook County, Illinois, likewise was pleased Biden chose Judge Jackson, no relation, to become the first black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.

"The fact that this barrier has been broken during Black History Month is a great testament to President Biden's promise to make appointments that represent all Americans," Jackson said.

Across the state line, Democratic Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the first black woman to hold that office, said the president's nomination of Jackson to the Supreme Court will inspire women and girls across the nation.

"I understand the weight of responsibility, the joy, and the determination that comes with being a first. We work so we will not be the last  so that our passion and our narratives always have a seat at the table where decisions are made," Stratton said.

"Jackson has dedicated her career to upholding justice for all, showing us that anything is possible when we use our gifts and expertise to uplift and speak truth to power," Stratton said. "I commend President Joe Biden for his commitment to ensure the diverse ideas and experiences of our nation are represented on the highest court through his nomination."

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince echoed that sentiment by calling Jackson's nomination "a long-overdue step towards a Supreme Court that better reflects the America it serves."

"To uphold equal justice, our justices must be fair-minded and bolster the rights of all people, not just the wealthy and powerful," Prince said.

Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter similarly cheered Biden's decision to send to the Supreme Court not just a black woman, but a person with a unique and different perspective  one that resonates with a larger demographic, and one that makes the court more representative of the people it serves.

"Given her background, life experiences and professionalism, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will be someone who will be committed to equal justice under the law and who understands the profound impact that the Supreme Courts decisions have on the lives of the our very diverse American people," Carter said.

Meanwhile, the two Indiana senators who will vote on Jackson's nomination sometime in the next few months were considerably more tepid in their responses to the president's history-making selection.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., both voted against Jackson last year when Biden nominated her to serve as a federal appellate judge in Washington, D.C.

In contrast, both U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., and U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., supported Jackson's 2013 appointment as a federal district court judge after she was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama.

Young said he believes Supreme Court nominees deserve a thorough and fair vetting, and he pledged to approach the process with the seriousness it deserves.

"I look forward to reviewing Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons record to evaluate whether she is committed to upholding the Constitution and to ensure she will not legislate from the bench on our nations highest court," Young said.

Likewise, Braun said his consideration of the nominee will be based on whether she "has demonstrated respect for our Constitution rather than a desire to legislate from the bench."

"I look forward to examining Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's record with a level of respect that was denied other recent court nominees," Braun said.

On the other hand, the presumptive Democratic nominee to represent Indiana in the U.S. Senate, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., said he'd have no qualms supporting Jackson, or a similar high court appointee, if Hoosier voters elect him over Young at the Nov. 8 general election.

"Jackson is supremely qualified to serve on this court and will bring a unique, badly needed perspective," said McDermott, an attorney.

"Congratulations President Biden on a historic U.S. Supreme Court nominee. Appointing the first African American woman to the U.S. Supreme Court is magnificent!"

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CROWN POINT  The political and medical prognosis for one of Lake Countys most prominent politicians is guarded.

Lake County Clerk Lorenzo Arredondo hasnt been in the public eye since he suffered head injuries in a fall at his Crown Point apartment.

Newly filed court papers state the 80-year-old former judge is now living in a nursing home and so incapacitated that he needs a court-appointed guardian to temporarily manage his affairs.

Arredondo and his family have been a presence in Lake County politics and prominent in Northwest Indianas public service community for six decades.

Arredondo was a Lake Superior Court, County Division judge in the 1970s and Lake Circuit Court judge from 1980 until he retired in 2010 as the longest-serving Hispanic state trial judge in the nation.

That prestige vaulted him into a statewide campaign for Indiana attorney general in 2016. Though unsuccessful there, it set the plate for him to run and win election as county clerk in 2018, receiving 115,535 votes  on the prestige of his decades of public service.

But he has been absent from recent meetings of the Lake County election board, of which he is a member.

Nikki L. Angel, his chief deputy clerk and long-time employee of the judge, declined Thursday to comment on Arredondos ability to return to work as county clerk.

She would only say the clerks office, which employs more than 100 deputies keeping records for all 17 Lake Circuit and Superior Courts, is functioning as usual under her role as Arredondos second in command.

He currently is on the ballot for the May 3 Democratic primary election, one of five Democrats running for that public office.

Among his last public appearances was Jan. 5 at the front of the line of candidates filing for a position on the May 3 primary election ballot.

Arredondo spoke animatedly to The Times that day about his past career as a judge and his chances of winning another four years in office.

Lake Superior court documents obtained by The Times portray Arredondo as a man facing severe difficulties.

The court papers were filed earlier this month by lawyers for two people with competing interests to supervise the daily affairs of Arredondo, who they characterize as an incapacitated adult.

Those lawyers said Thursday it is only a temporary measure and were upbeat about Arredondos changes for recovery.

(Arredondo) is up and conscious, Merrillville lawyer Daniel C. Kuzman said.

Kuzman is filing for a guardianship over Arredondo on behalf of Merrilee Frey, a former county coroner, a registered nurse for 35 years who worked under Arredondo as a Circuit Court employee.

Crown Point lawyer Jewel Harris has filed a counter petition on behalf of Ramon Arredondo, a brother of the clerk.

Superior Court Judge Calvin Hawkins has scheduled a March 4 hearing on whether a guardian is needed and, if so, who would perform that duty.

Harris also expressed hope Arredondos health will rally and he will be an active candidate for reelection.

Their emergency petitions state Arredondo was found unconscious Jan. 12 on a landing of the stairs leading to his Crown Point apartment.

He was transported to Franciscan Heath, Crown Point where he was diagnosed as having multiple skull fractures. He was placed in a medically induced coma and on a respirator.

Court papers state he was able to breath on his own and removed from the respirator by Jan. 19 but was initially in a state of semi-consciousness.

They state he currently is in the care of a nursing home in suburban Lake County.

Voters will be choosing May 3 from among five Democrats running for clerk.

One of Arredondo's opponents is Michael A. Brown, the prior county clerk and now an employee under Arredondo.

In January, Brown accompanied Arredondo to the county election office, saying he wanted to visibly support his boss reelection.

Shortly after Arredondo was injured, Brown filed his name on the ballot as one of Arredondos opponents. Brown declined Thursday to comment on his about face.

Andrew Sylwestrowicz, a former Merrillville town council running against Arredondo in the May 3 primary, said last week he is praying for Arredondos recovery.

Alex Garza, a Hobart Democrat, running against Arredondo declined comment.

Jesse Gomez, an East Chicago Democrat, said he entered the race for clerk last month after hearing concerns about whether Arredondo would recover, but silence from those closest to Arredondo.

The voting public of Lake County has a right to know whats going on so they can make an informed decision when they go to cast their votes," Gomez said.

I do wish my good friend Lorenzo a healthy recovery. He and his family have been lifelong friends of my family. He is in our prayers, Gomez said.

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Omicron is very different from the coronavirus variant that arrived on our shores two years ago. And the population is different too: A large majority of Americans are now vaccinated or recently infected. Effective therapies are becoming more widely available and, precisely because the disease is so virulent, caregivers have battle-won experience in treating it even in the face of stretched hospital capacity.

For nearly two years, basing national Covid-19 guidance on new case counts made sense. Health experts knew that a reliable proportion of those cases would result in hospitalizations, and a proportion of those hospitalizations would lead to deaths. There was a tight link between cases and severe disease for most of the pandemic: as cases spiked, hospitals would reliably fill up and deaths would soon follow. This link among cases, hospitalizations and deaths was the bedrock of guidance to minimize infections through public health measures like mask wearing, crowd avoidance and widespread testing.

But the Omicron surge changed everything. The variant arrived when a larger proportion of the U.S. population had some immunity  either because of vaccination or recent infection. Because Omicron also has a high degree of immune evasiveness, many people getting infected have had Covid before or have been vaccinated and even boosted, which meant that they were far less likely to get severe disease. And finally, compared to its predecessor Delta, the Omicron variant appears to inherently be somewhat less severe, although for unvaccinated or unboosted individuals, it is still quite deadly. Ultimately, Omicron caused a very large surge in cases and left in its wake a very different reality to which the C.D.C. is now responding.

Today, because there is a high degree of population immunity, the ability of the virus to cause severe disease and death is far more variable. Someone vaccinated a month ago is not as vulnerable to severe disease as someone who recovered from an infection 18 months ago. If there are 1,000 infections in Massachusetts today, the number of those that will develop into severe illness depends on whether the individuals are vaccinated, boosted, previously infected or immunologically naive (that is, neither previously infected nor vaccinated). The mix of those four categories varies dramatically across the nation. Thats why relying entirely on cases to dictate risk no longer makes sense, and shifting to measures of severe disease levels, like hospitalizations, is much more appropriate.

In some places, there are plenty of hospital beds and staff and therefore, hospitalizations dont cause the same stress as they would in places with far less capacity. Think of a city like Boston with many large hospitals versus rural Ohio where there are far fewer resources per capita. In that context, a surge of hospitalizations in Boston has fewer dire consequences than one in rural Ohio. Hospital capacity matters enormously, not just to care for patients with Covid-19 but to secure all the essential services that hospitals provide under normal circumstances. One of the tragedies of Covid surges is that when hospitals get stretched, they can no longer provide high-quality care for patients with heart attacks, injuries from car accidents, appendicitis, cancer or the myriad other conditions that need to be treated. Thats why paying close attention to health care capacity is a welcome change in a nation with large variations in that capacity.
The musician and actress Selena Gomez has twice as many followers on Instagram  over 298 million  as Russia has citizens. Yes, Vladimir, I can hear you laughing from here and echoing Stalins quip about the pope: How many divisions does Selena Gomez have?

She has none. But she is an influencer with followers, and there are thousands and thousands of Selenas out there on the World Wide Web, including Russian celebrities who are posting on Instagram about their opposition to the war. And while they cannot roll back your tanks, they can make every leader in the West roll up the red carpet to you, so you, and your cronies, can never travel to their countries. You are now officially a global pariah. I hope you like Chinese and North Korean food.

For all these reasons, at this early stage, I will venture only one prediction about Putin: Vladimir, the first day of this war was the best day of the rest of your life. I have no doubt that in the near term, your military will prevail, but in the long run leaders who try to bury the future with the past dont do well. In the long run, your name will live in infamy.

I know, I know, Vladimir, you dont care  no more than you care that you started this war in the middle of a raging pandemic. And I have to admit that that is what is most scary about this World War Wired. The long run can be a long way away and the rest of us are not insulated from your madness. That is, I wish that I could blithely predict that Ukraine will be Putins Waterloo  and his alone. But I cant, because in our wired world, what happens in Waterloo doesnt stay in Waterloo.

Indeed, if you ask me what is the most dangerous aspect of todays world, Id say it is the fact that Putin has more unchecked power than any other Russian leader since Stalin. And Xi has more unchecked power than any other Chinese leader since Mao. But in Stalins day, his excesses were largely confined to Russia and the borderlands he controlled. And in Maos day, China was so isolated, his excesses touched only the Chinese people.

Not anymore  todays world is resting on two simultaneous extremes: Never have the leaders of two of the three most powerful nuclear nations  Putin and Xi  had more unchecked power and never have more people from one end of the world to the other been wired together with fewer and fewer buffers. So, what those two leaders decide to do with their unchecked power will touch virtually all of us directly or indirectly.

Putins invasion of Ukraine is our first real taste of how crazy and unstable this kind of wired world can get. It will not be our last.
The failed Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine as well as the nations 15 operating reactors are safe and secure amid Russias invasion, according to nuclear experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency, an arm of the United Nations that sets safety standards for the worlds nuclear reactors and inspects them for compliance.

The only real issue is if a nearby target got hit and caused some collateral damage, said Edwin Lyman, a reactor expert at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a private group in Cambridge, Mass. I dont see this as an imminent radiological threat. I dont think Russia would deliberately target a plant.

In 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered a meltdown that sent radioactive clouds over parts of Europe and locally left a wasteland of contaminated soil. All four Chernobyl reactors are still shut down, and the plants work force closely monitors the safety of Chernobyls Unit 4 reactor, which in 1986 exploded and caught fire. An exclusion zone for hundreds of square miles surrounds the abandoned plant to limit public access and inhabitation.

The sprawling plant  some 10 miles from Belarus, a Russian ally  is on one of Russias main invasion routes. Western experts said it was in Moscows interest to keep Ukraines reactors and electrical system running smoothly if its aim was regime change rather than national ruin.
As expected, Landy led from the start, building a 15-yard lead. But Bannister  by then Dr. Bannister  closed in on the last lap, and Landy could sense him coming. Rounding the final turn, he peeked over his left shoulder to see where Bannister was. But Bannister was on his right, and as Landys head was turned, Bannister stormed by him, and won, in 3:58.8. Landy came in second, in 3:59.6.

It was the first time two men had bettered four minutes in the same race. Today, a statue in Hastings Park in Vancouver, near the former site of the stadium, commemorates the moment.

Only later was it learned that Landy had run the race with a wounded foot. By his account, he could not sleep the night before the race, so he got up and, barefoot, walked the streets  only to gash a foot on a photographers discarded flashbulb. He allowed a doctor to close the wound with four stitches, but only after the doctor swore that he would keep the incident quiet.

Years later, Landy said, I keep running that Vancouver race on the theory that if I rerun it a thousand times, the results will at least once be reversed, but it hasnt happened yet.

Landy and Bannister remained friends. Landy has played Ralph Branca to Bannisters Bobby Thomson, Newsday said in 1994, likening Bannister to the New York Giants hitter who won the 1951 National League pennant with the legendary shot heard round the world, and Landy to the pitcher who served up the fateful ninth-inning home-run pitch. They have become a team of sorts.

Critics said Landy was a runner and not a racer, more interested in running fast than in winning races. He did not argue the point. I would rather be beaten in 3:58 than win in 4:10, he said.
The day before Russia invaded Ukraine, former President Donald J. Trump called the wartime strategy of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia pretty smart. His remarks were posted on YouTube, Twitter and the messaging app Telegram, where they were viewed more than 1.3 million times.

Right-wing commentators including Candace Owens, Stew Peters and Joe Oltmann also jumped into the fray online with posts that were favorable to Mr. Putin and that rationalized his actions against Ukraine. Ill stand on the side of Russia right now, Mr. Oltmann, a conservative podcaster, said on his show this week.

And in Telegram groups like The Patriot Voice and Facebook groups including Texas for Donald Trump 2020, members criticized President Bidens handling of the conflict and expressed support for Russia, with some saying they trusted Mr. Putin more than Mr. Biden.

The online conversations reflect how pro-Russia sentiment has increasingly penetrated Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, right-wing podcasts, messaging apps like Telegram and some conservative media. As Russia attacked Ukraine this week, those views spread, infusing the online discourse over the war with sympathy  and even approval  for the aggressor.
In particular, some have said that explicit assurances from the United States that Ukraine would not become a member of NATO might have been enough to satisfy Mr. Putin.

In the run-up to his attack, the Russian leader repeatedly said the prospect of Ukrainian membership in NATO was an unacceptable threat to his country, although he also issued other, far more sweeping demands about the alliances posture in Europe that Western officials called non-starters. The United States and Europe offered Mr. Putin little in return for his implied threat  he publicly denied any intention to invade Ukraine  proposing talks on relatively narrow subjects like arms control and military exercises in Europe.

My sense is that Putin was negotiating in good faith and that he would not have invaded Ukraine if the Biden administration had given a written guarantee not to expand NATO into Ukraine and pledged to stop arming and training Ukraines military, said John Mearsheimer, an international relations scholar at the University of Chicago and a prominent critic of NATO expansion.

Samuel Charap, a former State Department official who is now a Russia analyst at the RAND Corporation, was more skeptical but said it seemed at least possible that assurances about Ukraines future NATO membership might have been enough to defang Mr. Putin.

Was there a deal to be had? Its unclear to me whether we fully tested that proposition down to the core issue, he said, adding that the blame for the invasion falls entirely on Mr. Putin.

As war seemed to grow nearer, several European and at least one Ukrainian official appeared to float the possibility that Kyiv would forswear its NATO ambitions.

President Biden noted in public remarks last month that the widely accepted truth was that Ukraine was not very likely to join NATO anytime soon. Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, said that the Cold War neutrality model known as Finlandization was an idea on the table. And Ukraines ambassador to Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, told the BBC that his country could be flexible about NATO membership (although he quickly backtracked).
But the conflict in Ukraine and Washingtons focus on it could potentially upset the plans and slow her consideration. In addition, one Democrat, Senator Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, had a stroke last month and has been absent. Democrats will want all their members on hand for the final vote in case they are needed.

After they were informed of the nomination on Friday, Democrats and their liberal allies portrayed Judge Jackson, a federal judge since 2013, as an impeccable pick who would provide valuable experience as a former public defender. She would ensure that the Supreme Court reflects the nation as a whole, said Senator Chuck Schumer of the New York, the majority leader.

To be the first to make history in our nation, you need to have an exceptional life story, said Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee will preside over confirmation hearings, which are expected in late March. Judge Jacksons achievements are well known to the Senate Judiciary Committee, as we approved her to the D.C. Circuit less than a year ago with bipartisan support.

Other Democrats said the fact that Judge Jackson was recently grilled by Republicans on the Judiciary Committee in winning her spot on the U.S. Court of Appeals was a significant advantage.

She gave as good as she got in a very respectful and graceful way, said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut and a member of the panel. She was just masterful.

While Republican lawmakers mostly held their fire on Friday, party activists were out in force denouncing Judge Jackson within hours of her selection. The Republican National Committee called her a radical, left-wing activist and put out a document previewing the partys line of attack, calling attention to a decision she made blocking an element of President Donald J. Trumps restrictive immigration policy, her work as a lawyer on a brief filed by abortion rights groups and her membership in the Cosmos Club, a private institution it called a club of the Washington elite.

The Senate could confirm Mr. Bidens Supreme Court nominee without a single Republican vote, but he and his party would like to avoid that if possible  and Judge Jackson has drawn some Republican support in the past. Even before the judge was chosen, the president and Mr. Durbin reached out to Republicans they saw as potentially open to supporting a Biden nominee, including Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah.
WASHINGTON  The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol said on Friday that it would compel Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancee of former President Donald J. Trumps eldest son, to testify after she abruptly ended a voluntary interview with the panel.

Ms. Guilfoyle, a television personality who is engaged to Donald Trump Jr., met virtually with the committees staff investigators on Friday after she provided documents the committee described as germane to its inquiry. But she became agitated and cut off the questioning upon learning that members of the committee  including Representatives Adam B. Schiff of California and Jamie Raskin of Maryland, both Democrats  were participating in the session, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke about the confidential interview on the condition of anonymity.

Members of the committee routinely take part in the panels interviews of high-profile witnesses.

When news of the interview leaked to news media outlets, Ms. Guilfoyle refused to continue, and her lawyer accused the panel of attempting to sandbag her and using her participation in the inquiry as a political weapon against the former president.

Ms. Guilfoyle, under threat of subpoena, agreed to meet exclusively with counsel for the select committee in a good-faith effort to provide true and relevant evidence, Ms. Guilfoyles lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said in a statement after the interview fell apart. However, upon Ms. Guilfoyles attendance, the committee revealed its untrustworthiness, as members notorious for leaking information appeared.
WASHINGTON  For the Russian military, the difficult part came quickly.

On the first day of President Vladimir V. Putins invasion of Ukraine, his generals and troops followed a textbook strategy for land invasions. They attacked the countrys military installations and air defense systems with missiles launched from the air, sea and land, seeking to take ownership of the skies, and sped forces to Kyiv, the capital, with the goal of decapitating the government of the democratically elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

But then, things slowed. It is one thing to cross the border of another country with tanks and artillery, protected by warplanes above, Pentagon officials and analysts say. It is another thing entirely to lay siege to cities and an army populated by people willing to put their lives on the line to protect what they view as their sovereign right to self-determination.

Within a day of entering Ukraine, Russian forces lost some momentum, senior American and British officials said, as Ukrainian fighters mounted a resistance. No population centers had been taken, a senior Defense Department official told reporters at the Pentagon on Friday. Nor had Russia yet managed to achieve air superiority over Ukraine, partly because the Ukrainians are using mobile systems and partly because Russian missiles have hit old air defense sites, which could show a flaw in Russias intelligence. The Ukrainian air defense and missile defense systems were degraded, he said, but the countrys air force was still flying planes and denying air access to Russia.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration moved on Friday to relax sanctions that have contributed to the collapse of Afghanistans economy since the Taliban takeover in August, issuing a measure that makes clear that people can lawfully engage in transactions with the Afghan government in most circumstances.

The measure, known as a general license and announced by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, says that people can lawfully transfer money to civil servants in government agencies  including ministries now led by Taliban officials. The move covers transactions like taxes, fees, import duties and the purchase or receipt of permits, licenses or public utility services.

In a statement, Wally Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, portrayed the move as part of a larger effort by the United States to not just support the flow of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, but also to facilitate commercial and financial activity there that could allow the economy to function  without directly benefiting Islamist extremists.

In light of this dire crisis, it is essential that we address concerns that sanctions inhibit commercial and financial activity while we continue to deny financial resources to the Taliban, the Haqqani network and other malign actors, he said.
On the district court, too, Judge Jackson on several occasions ruled against Mr. Trump and his allies.

In 2019, she ordered Donald F. McGahn II, Mr. Trumps former White House counsel, to testify about what House Democrats said was a pattern of presidential obstruction of justice. She said federal courts could resolve clashes between the other branches and rejected the administrations argument that close advisers of the president had absolute immunity from congressional subpoenas.

Presidents are not kings, she wrote, adding, They do not have subjects, bound by loyalty or blood, whose destiny they are entitled to control.

She also blocked a Trump administration policy in 2019 aimed at speeding deportations, noting its human impact. There is no question in this courts mind that an agency cannot possibly conduct reasoned, nonarbitrary decision making concerning policies that might impact real people and not take such real life circumstances into account, she wrote in a decision later reversed by the appeals court.

In 2018, she struck down the bulk of three executive orders from Mr. Trump that would have made it easier to fire federal employees, saying they conflict with congressional intent in a manner that cannot be sustained.

This court has no doubt that the net effect of these provisions is to put an entire hand on the scale with respect to certain negotiable provisions of a collective bargaining agreement before negotiations even begin (never mind the thumb), she wrote, and to require agency negotiators to cut off any digits that union representatives might seek to extend in the hopes of reaching an agreement on these particular issues.

The appeals court vacated the decision, saying the unions could not sue in federal court and had to bring an administrative challenge.
We hope this ruling sends the message that government cannot choose who receives the opportunity to attend public schools based on race or ethnicity, Erin Wilcox, a lawyer with the Pacific Legal Foundation, which represented the coalition, said in a statement. The foundation, a 49-year-old conservative legal group based in California, has also filed lawsuits in New York and Maryland.

An organization formed by TJ alums who supported the new admissions process, the TJ Alumni Action Group, issued a statement saying it was appalled by the courts ruling, urging the school system to appeal the decision.

Fairfax County Public Schools, the defendant in the case, said on Friday that it was considering an appeal. A lawyer for the school board, John Foster, said in a statement that the admissions process that was struck down is blind to race, gender and national origin and gives the most talented students from every middle school a seat at T.J. He added that it meets all legal requirements.

The debate over race and diversity in T.J.s classes goes back decades. Changes have been made to the admissions process repeatedly to bring in more Black and Hispanic students, who make up a much larger share of the students in Fairfax public schools than they do of the students at T.J. Yet the disparity had never gone away.

In May 2020, the Virginia legislature enacted a requirement that the states regional magnet schools, called Governors Schools, set diversity goals and submit status reports to the governor in the fall.

Jeremy Shughart, the high schools director of admissions, presented a white paper to the school board, outlining some alternative approaches to admissions that might, as he said in an email at the time, level the playing field for historically underrepresented groups, including racial minorities but also students from poor households and English language learners.
SEOUL  Both North and South Korea are likely to be closely watching the American response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, though for different reasons, analysts say.

North Korea carried out a flurry of missile tests in January, but none this month  possibly out of deference to its neighbor and ally China, which was hosting the Winter Olympics. With the Games now over and the Biden administrations attention fixed on Ukraine, North Korea might decide its time to resume weapons tests, to gain more diplomatic leverage with Washington.

The crisis in Ukraine gives North Korea more room for options, whether its a long-range missile test or even a nuclear test, said Cheon Seong-whun, a former head of the Korea Institute for National Unification, a government-funded research institute in Seoul.

In South Korea, many people will see Washingtons response to Russias invasion as a test of its dependability as a military ally, said Lee Byong-chul, a professor of political science at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University in Seoul.
Canadas drug regulator has approved a plant-based coronavirus vaccine that may be a palatable alternative for people who have worried, despite evidence to the contrary, about the safety of the mRNA technology behind vaccines like those made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

The regulator, Health Canada, said trials had shown that the two-dose Covifenz vaccine, developed by Quebec City-based Medicago, was 71 percent effective against infection. The approval only covers people ages 18 to 64.

It is the second non-mRNA vaccine cleared for use in Canada. Last week, Health Canada approved a protein-based vaccine developed by Novavax, a company based in Maryland. A scientific advisory panel that makes vaccine recommendations to the government said the Novavax option could be used for people who are not willing to receive an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.

On Thursday, Dr. Howard Njoo, the deputy chief public health officer of Canada, said that to date, the panel had preferred mRNA vaccines because of their effectiveness and also because of the well-known safety profile. The panel will offer its guidance on the Medicago vaccine in about two weeks.
In Canada, a country with one of the worlds largest Ukrainian diasporas, Russias invasion of Ukraine has been met with particularly visceral emotion, including from the deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, the daughter of a Ukrainian-Canadian mother.

Speaking after Russia invaded Ukraine this week, Ms. Freeland, who lived for a time in Ukraine as a student in the late 1980s, said that President Vladimir V. Putin had cemented his place in the ranks of the reviled European dictators who caused such carnage in the 20th century.

The horrific human costs of this cruel invasion are the direct and personal responsibility of Vladimir Putin, she said in a speech peppered with Russian and Ukrainian, adding: To my own Ukrainian-Canadian community, let me say this: Now is the time for us to be strong as we support our friends and family in Ukraine.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukraine braced for an all-out assault on its capital early Saturday, after a day in which the military blew up a bridge to slow the advance of Russian soldiers, street fights erupted in a northern district of the city, and the nations leaders warned residents that Russia wanted to bring the capital to its knees.

The moves to defend Kyiv escalated on Friday, the second day of a Russian military incursion, as bursts of small-arms fire and at least five explosions could be heard in the center of the city, hours after an overnight missile barrage struck it and a rocket crashed into a residential building.

The fighting came as Western governments imposed new sanctions, including on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia himself, tens of thousands of refugees fled the country, and Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, appeared in a video warning that Russian forces planned an all-out attack and that the fate of Ukraine is now being decided.

This night, the enemy will use all the forces available to break our resistance  treacherously, viciously, inhumanly, Mr. Zelensky said in the speech posted online after midnight on Saturday, according a translation provided by his office.
MEDYKA, Poland  Cradling her 3-year-old son, who was gravely ill with cancer, the 25-year-old Ukrainian mother staggered into Poland on Friday.

She was now safe from the bombs and rockets unleashed by President Vladimir V. Putin but despondent at being separated from her husband by a Ukrainian order that all able-bodied men stay behind to resist the Russians.

He is not just my husband but my life and my support, said Olha Zapotochna, one of the tens of thousands of Ukrainians, nearly all women and children, who have poured into Poland, Hungary and other neighboring countries since Monday. I understand that our country needs men to fight, but I need him more, she added, patting the head of her moaning sick child, Arthur.

The exodus from Ukraine gathered pace on Friday as fear spread that the Kremlin intends to impose its will far beyond just the east of the country, the scene of what Mr. Putin claims, with no evidence, is a genocide of ethnic Russians.
Russia on Friday vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution of which it was the target, effectively blocking action by the panel, which is responsible for protecting and maintaining international peace.

The resolution, written and presented by the United States and dozens of its allies, strongly condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine and called on Moscow to withdraw its troops immediately and provide safe access for humanitarian relief work.

Eleven member countries voted in favor of the resolution. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained. Russia, which has veto power as one of five permanent members of the council, voted against it.

Russia, you can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices, said the U.S. ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. You cannot veto the truth. You cannot veto our principles. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people. You cannot veto the U.N. Charter. And you will not veto accountability.
The I.R.S. supports two programs that offer free tax help to underserved groups. One is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA, which generally helps people with income of $58,000 or less, as well as people with disabilities and those who speak limited English. The program works with local community groups, which staff offices during tax season with volunteers trained by the I.R.S. You can use the I.R.S. locator tool to find a site near you. Many require that you make an appointment. (You can also go to GetYourRefund.org, a VITA partner that helps families with somewhat higher incomes  up to $66,000.)

The second is the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program, which generally offers free tax help to people 60 and older. The program specializes in tax matters unique to older people, like pensions and retirement-related issues. (Many of the sites are operated by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.)

MilTax, a program of the Defense Department, offers free tax preparation and help to service members and their families. The program includes tax software that addresses questions specific to the military, like deployments and combat and training pay.

The I.R.S. Free File program offers no-cost online tax programs to people who earn $73,000 or less. The program began in 2003 as a way to offer do-it-yourself tax software to the public, through a pact between the I.R.S. and the Free File Alliance, a collection of commercial vendors.

But the program was not widely used, in part because the I.R.S. lacked money to promote it. While 70 percent of filers were eligible to use it, just 2.4 percent did, according to a federal review. H&R Block dropped out of the federal program in 2020, and last year Intuit, which makes the popular TurboTax program, said it was leaving as well. In its regulatory filings, Intuit said it had left because the Free File agreement was changed in 2019 to eliminate the pledge by the I.R.S. that the agency wouldnt offer a competing service.

Still, eight software providers are participating this year, including TaxAct and TaxSlayer. These companies have a good product, said Tim Hugo, executive director of the Free File alliance. Some states offer free state tax returns through FreeFile as well.

Surveys have found that a vast majority of users are happy with Free File, Mr. Hugo said. People like the product, he said. We just need more people to know about it.
PARIS  French energy companies operating in Russias Arctic Sea. Italian luxury boutiques near Red Square. German auto factories around the Russian south.

As the United States and European Union apply sanctions to penalize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, European companies are bracing for the possibility that the punishment intended for Moscow may hurt them, too.

The sanctions, which include preventing the government and banks from borrowing in global financial markets, blocking technology imports and freezing assets of influential Russians, had been drawn up to maximize pain to the Russian economy while inflicting as little harm as possible within the European Union, the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, said Friday.

But thousands of foreign companies that have done business in Russia for years are bracing for an inevitable economic blowback, and war in Ukraine threatens to disrupt supply chains and drag down Europes economy just as it was starting to recover from the lashing of Covid lockdowns.
Our cross-country drive last winter from New York to Lake Tahoe was going to be eventful enough, with a pandemic, blizzards and the cancellation of salads at McDonalds. But by Omaha, when the lanes on Interstate 80 seemed to be bouncing around before my very eyes, we entered unexpected territory.

Are you practicing your slalom turns at 80 miles an hour? my wife asked.

Road conditions were normal. Our S.U.V. had new tires. But the lanes often seemed to blur together. Sometimes the melding of lanes occurred late in the day, sometimes early. Sometimes in blinding sun, sometimes in fog. If I closed one eye, the lanes became separate again.

What was happening? Id worn glasses for nearsightedness since fifth grade; Id seen my eye doctor within the year; my prescription was current.

When we reached Tahoe, I went to an optometrist before even unpacking my skis. She said my eyes were fine, but advised an M.R.I. to rule out a brain bleed or a tumor. Days later, it did.
When the plan, Justice 2020, came out, it was a non-story, because he had already sold it and begun to implement it, said Tali Farhadian Weinstein, who served as general counsel under Mr. Gonzalez, and ran unsuccessfully against Mr. Bragg last year. She and several other former colleagues said the quiet, incremental rollout was typical of his style. Not because youre trying to hide the ball, but because thats sometimes the best way for public safety, she said.

In his first full term, Mr. Gonzalez continued the work he began as acting district attorney: He dismissed tens of thousands of summonses for low-level offenses, and virtually stopped prosecuting marijuana possession. He expanded a mentorship program that allowed some young men arrested with a gun for the first time to avoid prison, and he reached plea deals with immigrant defendants that allowed them to avoid deportation.

Yung-Mi Lee, the legal director of the criminal defense practice at Brooklyn Defender Services, said an important difference between Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Bragg was that Mr. Gonzalez did not come out of the gates with a sweeping set of changes.

Instead, Ms. Lee said, he had been quietly implementing his policies, in terms of what kinds of cases should be prosecuted, which kinds of cases he has been declining to prosecute  with some getting a very hard-line approach.

Its all about prosecutorial discretion, she said.

When residents of Bay Ridge were upset about a group of men who often lingered on a corner near a school, drinking and urinating, Mr. Gonzalez said, his office intervened. Instead of seeking charges, the office contacted a charity service, and got a couple of the men into shelters.

Eric Gonzalez, rhetorically, is very progressive, said Carl Hamad-Lipscombe, the executive director of the Envision Freedom Fund, a Brooklyn nonprofit and bail fund that pushes for alternatives to pretrial detention.

What plays out in court is often very different, Mr. Hamad-Lipscombe said, with prosecutors from Mr. Gonzalezs office seeking bail in cases that might not call for it.
With Congress doing little on climate change, President Biden must use his executive authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions across the U.S. economy.

The Supreme Court appears determined to thwart him.

In a case to be argued on Feb. 28, the court seems poised to restrict the Environmental Protection Agencys legal authority to limit carbon pollution from power plants and, by doing so, frustrate the countrys efforts to slow the pace of climate change.

The justices went out of their way to take the case brought by coal companies and Republican-led states even though no federal rule in effect regulates greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and no company or state is required to take any action to control those emissions. No power company petitioned the court for its review, and in fact, several of the nations biggest power companies opposed the justices adding the case to their docket.

The Biden administration argues that the court should wait until the E.P.A. issues a rule, as it plans to do; otherwise, any decision would be an advisory opinion based on a hypothetical, which the court has said repeatedly the Constitution does not allow. But the State of West Virginia and its fellow petitioners, including 17 other states and coal and mining companies, argue that any agency rule to cut carbon from the electric power sector will have such enormous consequences that the court should act now to curtail the agencys authority.
With the Republican crusade against critical race theory still on full blast in states and localities across the country, I thought it was worth sharing the results of a new CBS poll on race and education that sheds a good deal of light on where the public actually stands on these issues.

The survey, conducted this month, asked respondents to weigh in on the impact of teaching about race. When asked if teaching about race in America makes students understand what others went through, 68 percent of Americans said yes. When asked if this teaching made students feel guilty about past generations, 23 percent agreed. Just 16 percent of respondents said that teaching about race makes current students less racially tolerant.

When asked if books should ever be banned for discussing race or depicting slavery, an overwhelming 87 percent of Americans said no. A similarly large percentage said no when asked if books should be banned for criticizing U.S. history or sharing political ideas you disagree with. And 58 percent of Americans, including 52 percent of white Americans, say that racism is a major problem in America today.

Among the most notable results in the poll is the fact that most Americans  65 percent  have heard either a little or nothing about critical race theory. Among those with an opinion on the matter, 49 percent hold a very or somewhat favorable view versus 51 percent with a very or somewhat unfavorable view.
In the midst of his extraordinary, if predictable, doublespeak, as The Timess Roger Cohen called it, Putin draped the albatross of the unwarranted invasion of Iraq around Americas neck:

To prove that there were W.M.D.s in Iraq, Putin said, the U.S. secretary of state held up a vial with white powder, publicly, for the whole world to see, assuring the international community that it was a chemical warfare agent created in Iraq. It later turned out that all of that was a fake and a sham, and that Iraq did not have any chemical weapons.

Hard to argue with that.

George W. Bush and Dick Cheney let their own egos, gremlins and grandiose dreams occlude reality. W. wanted to outshine his father, who had decided against going into Baghdad when he fought Saddam. And Cheney wanted to kick around an Arab country after 9/11 to prove that America was a hyperpower. So they used trumped-up evidence, and Cheney taunted Colin Powell into making that fateful, bogus speech at the U.N., chockablock with Cheney chicanery.

Though Donald Trump was Putins lap dog, upending traditional Republican antipathy toward Russia, Putin no doubt has contempt for the weak and malleable Trump. Putin could have been alluding to Trump in his speech Thursday when he accused the U.S. of con-artist behavior, adding that America had become an empire of lies. Certainly, Trump was the emperor of lies.

Republicans used to be so allergic to Communists that George H.W. Bush told this story in his memoir: In his 1964 Texas Senate bid, the John Birch Society slimed him by implying that Barbara Bushs father, the president of McCall publishing, put out a Communist manifesto, Redbook, the womens magazine.

As President Biden marshaled world opinion against Putin, Trump offered nauseating praise of this murderer. Like the thug he so admires, Trump let his fragile ego and world-class delusions distort reality. Trump politicized the Covid response in a dangerous way. And, unable to accept the designation of Loser, he helped spread the lies and misinformation that led to Jan. 6. In a breathtaking betrayal, the president of the United States tried to scuttle the democracy he was running; Trump abandoned the Constitution he was sworn to protect.

But if President Biden got no backup on helping Ukraine from the quisling Trump, he did get a boost Friday from his inspiring Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, who reminded us, The United States of America is the greatest beacon of hope and democracy the world has ever known.

As for Putins Napoleonic megalomania, perhaps the Russia expert Nina Khrushcheva summed him up best in a Vanity Fair podcast: Hes a small man of five-six saying hes five-seven.
Any action by Security Council should be truly conducive to defusing Ukraine crisis: Chinese envoy

Xinhua) 15:02, February 26, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun said Friday that any action by the UN Security Council should be truly conducive to defusing Ukraine crisis.

"Any action should be truly conducive to defusing the crisis, rather than adding fuel to fire," Zhang made the remarks after the council failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine proposed by the United States and some other countries.

"If not properly handled, or blindly exerting pressure and imposing sanctions, it may only lead to more casualties, more property loss, more complicated and chaotic situations, and more difficulties in bridging differences," the ambassador said.

Zhang said China is deeply concerned about the latest developments of the situation in Ukraine. Currently, it has come to a point which China does not want to see, he noted.

China always forms its own position based on the merits of the matter at hand, the envoy said, adding that China advocates that all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld.

"We have always called on all parties to seek reasonable solutions to address each others concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We welcome and encourage all efforts for a diplomatic solution, and support the Russian Federation and Ukraine in resolving the issue through negotiations," said Zhang.

Zhang pointed out that in the past week, the Security Council has held two emergency meetings, and parties have fully elaborated on their positions and concerns on the current situation.

"At present, faced with the very complex and sensitive situation, the Security Council should make a necessary response. At the same time, such a response should also be extremely cautious," the ambassador added.

If the Ukraine issue cannot be solved in a proper way, Zhang said, "it may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution, and eventually it is the vast number of innocent people that will be the victims."

"We must draw profound lessons from the extremely painful experience in the past. For this reason, China abstained in the voting just now," he added.

Zhang stressed that the Ukraine issue is not something that only emerged today, nor did the current situation occur suddenly overnight. It is a result of the interplay of various factors over a long period of time.

"China advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," he said, adding that one country's security cannot be at the expense of the security of others, and that regional security should not rely on muscling up or even expanding military blocs.

The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be respected. Against the backdrop of five successive rounds of the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Russia's legitimate security demands should be given attention to and properly addressed, Zhang said.

Ukraine should become a bridge between the East and the West, not an outpost for confrontation between major powers, Zhang added.

China strongly calls on all parties concerned to exercise maximum restraint, ease tensions, and avoid civilian casualties, Zhang said. "The final settlement of the Ukraine crisis still requires abandoning the Cold War mentality, giving full attention and respect to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and conducting negotiations to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism," he said.

China urges all parties to immediately come back to the track of diplomatic negotiations and political settlement, show sincerity and goodwill, make a political decision and engage in dialogue and consultation for a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine issue, he noted.

The Security Council has held multiple emergency meetings since the recent escalation of the Ukraine situation. In the voting this time, the United States and other members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution while Russia vetoed it. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained in the voting.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
One of the most important things that came out of this tragedy was the activation of an entire new generation of civil rights leaders. That was part of what President Barack Obama told The Times when we asked him what the killing of Trayvon Martin, 10 years ago Saturday, meant for the United States, the movement for civil rights and for him personally.

On Feb. 26, 2012, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, spotted Martin in a hoodie walking through a gated townhouse community not far from Orlando.

Suspicious, Zimmerman called 911 and followed Martin. Dispatch told him, We dont need you to do that. There was an encounter between the two before Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest at close range.

Martin was just 17 years old, a boy, and he was where he was supposed to be.

He was unarmed. He was carrying Skittles and a can of iced tea.
Still, even the most successful scenario for his invasion of Ukraine  easy victory, no real insurgency, a pliant government installed  seems likely to undercut some of the interests hes supposedly fighting to defend. NATO will still nearly encircle western Russia, more countries may join the alliance, European military spending will rise, more troops and material will end up in Eastern Europe. There will be a push for European energy independence, some attempt at long-term delinking from Russian pipelines and production. A reforged Russian empire will be poorer than it otherwise might be, more isolated from the global economy, facing a more united West. And again, all this assumes no grinding occupation, no percolating antiwar sentiment at home.

Its possible Putin just assumes the West is so decadent, so easily bought off, that the spasms of outrage will pass and business as usual resume without any enduring consequences. But lets assume that he expects some of those consequences, expects a more isolated future. What might be his reasoning for choosing it?

Here is one speculation: He may believe that the age of American-led globalization is ending no matter what, that after the pandemic certain walls will stay up everywhere, and that the goal for the next 50 years is to consolidate what you can  resources, talent, people, territory  inside your own civilizational walls.

In this vision the future is neither liberal world-empire nor a renewed Cold War between competing universalisms. Rather its a world divided into some version of what Bruno Macaes has called civilization-states, culturally cohesive great powers that aspire, not to world domination, but to become universes unto themselves  each, perhaps, under its own nuclear umbrella.

This idea, redolent of Samuel P. Huntingtons arguments in The Clash of Civilizations a generation ago, clearly influences many of the worlds rising powers  from the Hindutva ideology of Indias Narendra Modi to the turn against cultural exchange and Western influence in Xi Jinpings China. Macaes himself hopes a version of civilizationism will reanimate Europe, perhaps with Putins adventurism as a catalyst for stronger continental cohesion. And even within the United States you can see the resurgence of economic nationalism and the wars over national identity as a turn toward these kinds of civilizational concerns.
For years, people have mourned the slow death of the lesbian bar. Only three are left in New York City, according to the Lesbian Bar Project, and fewer than two dozen total in the United States. The pandemics toll on the service industry has not helped. Many L.G.B.T.Q. institutions closed to patrons in the spring of 2020; some never reopened.

But as full service has resumed at bars and nightlife has made a comeback, new pop-up sites have sought to fill the void and reimagine what lesbian spaces are for.

Daves Lesbian Bar, a monthly pop-up in Queens, is among them. For its February event  a Valentines Day-themed Heartbreakers Ball on Feb. 12  more than 1,400 people packed into the Bohemian Beer Hall in Astoria, which had been decked with pink streamers, balloons and signs indicating the gender neutrality of every restroom. In the upstairs ballroom, guests sang along to a cover of Munas Silk Chiffon, a single about women loving women, performed by the pop-punk band Daisy Grenade. Downstairs, several guests chanted Mullet, mullet! as a stylist from Hairrari, a gender-neutral barbershop, clipped anothers hair.

In line with the nights prom theme, there were tuxes and ball gowns; Princess Diana- and cottagecore-inspired outfits; and lots of spandex and sequins. Several guests had come in from the suburbs for the event.
The situation puts the tech companies in a bind, caught between their public support for free expression and privacy and their work in countries with authoritarian leaders. It has forced them to weigh having their services available in Russia against leaving altogether.

Increasingly, the companies are facing pressure from Ukrainian officials and U.S. lawmakers to limit their involvement in Russia. Ukraines vice prime minister has asked Apple, Google, Netflix and Meta to restrict access to their services inside Russia. Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia who is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to Meta, Reddit, Telegram and others, urging them to not let Russian entities use their platforms to sow confusion about the war.

The companies are facing contradictory demands from all over the globe. Censorship issues that were once isolated to China, which is home to perhaps the worlds most restrictive internet, have spread to Russia, Turkey, Belarus, Myanmar and elsewhere as some of them try to build a more tightly controlled web.

For Russia, censoring the internet isnt easy. While China has built a series of filters known as the Great Firewall around its internet, Russias internet is more open, and U.S. tech platforms are widely used in the country. To change that, the Russian government has built new technical methods for blocking content, which it used last year to throttle access to Twitter.

Now Russia is expected to ramp up pressure on the tech companies as the authorities try to control what information is disseminated about the war in Ukraine. Russians have used Facebook, Instagram and other foreign social media outlets to criticize the conflict, stoking concerns of a crackdown on the platforms.
You wake up, you check

In Evanston, Ill., when the notification popped up on his phone on Wednesday that Russia was invading Ukraine, Alex Telischak, 42, rushed to turn on the news and then quickly called his wifes parents. They live in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, and he and his wife worried they might not be able to contact them again for an unknown amount of time if phone lines or internet service failed.

Thats emotionally difficult for both parties, he said. You are not saying goodbye, but it is almost like that, because you dont know when the conversation might continue.

His wifes parents are among the 130,000 Jehovahs Witnesses in Ukraine. In 2017, Russia banned the denomination, whose members believe in nonviolence and refuse to take up arms in war; Russia called it an extremist group. Since then, some 1,700 Witnesses homes in Russia have been raided and about 320 Witnesses have been imprisoned, including a crackdown in Crimea, according to the denominations statistics. Mr. Telischak did not dare to venture a guess as to what could happen in Ukraine.

The couple tried to not watch too much news to avoid getting too upset, he said. When it was time to sleep, they kept looking at Viber, the messaging app they use to communicate with their family. You go to bed, you check. You wake up, you check, he said. We told them, Anything, you text, you call, whatever the time is.

On Thursday afternoon, his wife got a message that an air raid siren had gone off, and that her parents fled their old concrete-style building. Outside, a member of their Jehovahs Witness congregation was driving by and piled them into his car. Men from their congregation had been checking on them and others for weeks, making sure everyone had a go-bag, flashlights, water and a plan.

If the parents had to leave the country as refugees, Mr. Telischak trusted other Witnesses would take them in. Having a community, or a religion that is borderless, that is a tremendous comfort to us, he said.

He has been finding comfort in the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus told his disciples not to fear when there would be wars and rumors of wars, when nation would rise against nation.

We also understand the Bible foretells a time when all this goes away, when there wont be these wars anymore, there wont be these conflicts between nations, and enmity and strife, he said. The disciples werent asking because they wanted to know when things would get really bad. They wanted to know, when was the solution, when was the fix going to come.
Their sacrifices were heroic, charging into gunfire on Civil War battlefields. Free Black men from the North took up arms while their family members were still enslaved in the South. They wrote of hope in letters to their wives.

Black troops played a significant role during the Civil War, one that has been preserved in photographs and service records. But historians say their contribution has not been adequately honored. More than 150 years after the end of the Civil War, two Democratic legislators want to fix that.

This month, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia introduced a bill that would award the Congressional Gold Medal, Congresss equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to about 200,000 Black troops and naval men who fought for the Union.

The medals first recipient was George Washington for his wise and spirited conduct in 1776 in the siege and acquisition of Boston. Other recipients rescued survivors of the Titanic, flew polar routes, composed patriotic songs or led troops in World War I.
Mr. Papademetriou understood sooner than many that the surge of immigration to the United States was part of a pattern that presented similar issues to wealthier nations everywhere. As a pioneer in the nascent field, he was one of the first to compare trends and policy contexts across different countries.

He was perhaps best known for his central role in designing what came to be called the grand bargain on immigration issues between the United States and Mexico in 2001, when he was director of the international migration policy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

He organized and directed a high-level bilateral commission that made a number of recommendations: that the United States expand legal pathways for Mexican migrants, including undocumented immigrants who were already established there; that Mexico improve economic conditions in specific regions to alleviate the pressure on its citizens to leave; and that both governments crack down on migrant smuggling and dangerous border crossings.

Meeting in Washington in early September, President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox of Mexico agreed to the framework for such an accord and also agreed to finalize a document within a few months. The grand bargain was touted as potentially the most significant change in decades in American immigration policy.

But days later, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 profoundly reordered American priorities. Immigration was now viewed not as an economic issue but as a matter of security and risk. Public opposition to immigration rose sharply, and any hope for a grand bargain collapsed almost immediately.
A Maryland legislative committee on Friday approved the State Board of Educations decision to allow all 24 local school districts to decide whether to require face coverings in schools.

The decision, effective immediately, ends an emergency order mandating the masking in schools that had been in effect since the beginning of the school year. Both Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, and the state superintendent of schools, Mohammed Choudhury, had lobbied for the decision, which came on the same day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new masking guidance that allows many more areas of the country to ease pandemic restrictions.

Other states also announced the easing of some restrictions on Friday, including California, Colorado and Illinois.

The Maryland State Education Association, the union that represents 76,000 teachers and other support staff, had urged caution, asking for the mask mandate to remain in place longer.
If Mr. Biden underestimated his counterpart, Mr. Putin may have done the same. Perhaps influenced by the chaotic American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer, Mr. Putin knew that the United States had no appetite to commit forces to Ukraine and may have calculated that Mr. Biden would not otherwise strongly resist Russian aggression, according to American and Russian analysts.

But while some critics believe he should be even tougher, Mr. Biden was unrelenting in calling out Mr. Putins plans to invade Ukraine in recent weeks and has rallied European allies into a more or less common front.

Like Kennedy and Khrushchev, theyre such polar opposites in many way but they also share an understanding of the Cold War, said Nina Khrushcheva, the great-granddaughter of the Soviet leader, who now teaches at the New School in New York. And I think they do understand each other.

Still, she added that they both may have miscalculated in thinking that their familiarity would lead to concessions when neither was actually in a position to deliver what the other really wanted. Mr. Biden wanted Mr. Putin to basically stay in his box and Mr. Putin wanted to expand the size of his box.

They are both children of the Cold War, raised, educated and married in an era when the specter of a planet-ending conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union hovered over everything. Yet they emerged from that twilight struggle with radically different views of how it ended, one celebrating it as a victory for freedom and democracy, the other mourning it as a disaster for his nation and people.

They both come from modest upbringings and are products of their disparate systems, but they rose to power along distinct paths. Mr. Biden, 79, is a backslapping politician who relies on the force of his upbeat personality to drive diplomacy while Mr. Putin, 69, is a dour former intelligence agent who nurses resentments and conspiracy theories.

Mr. Putin never talks about his family, while Mr. Biden can hardly stop talking about his. Mr. Putin spent no time in elective politics before being plucked out of obscurity to succeed Boris N. Yeltsin, while Mr. Biden spent a lifetime running for office. They each have a penchant for macho exhibitionism, Mr. Putin posing for pictures shirtless or with tigers and Mr. Biden showing off his muscle cars and boasting that he would like to beat up Mr. Trump.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Russias invasion of Ukraine has much of the world transfixed and on edge. President Biden announced a new Supreme Court appointment who is unlikely to get any significant Republican support.

But at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual gathering of the right wing of American politics, the news convulsing the world seemed oddly distant. Instead, the focus was on cultural grievances, former President Donald J. Trump and the widespread sense of victimization that have replaced traditional conservative issues .

Like so many of the Republican officials who have remade themselves in his image, Mr. Trump, in a speech to the conference on Saturday night, sought to portray himself as a victim of assaults from Democrats and the news media. He said they would leave him alone if he were not a threat to seek the presidency again in 2024.

If I said Im not going to run, the persecution would stop immediately, Mr. Trump said. Theyd go on to the next victim.
Follow the latest updates on Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

WASHINGTON  After the Supreme Courts landmark 2004 ruling that Guantanamo Bay prisoners could file lawsuits challenging their indefinite detention, the federal public defender in the District of Columbia took on several such cases and assigned a young lawyer in his office to handle them: Ketanji Brown Jackson.

They involved very complex legal issues that were just being worked out and it needed someone who was incredibly bright and an incredibly good lawyer, recalled the public defender, A.J. Kramer. We thought Ketanji was the best fit.

Ms. Jackson, who went on to become a federal trial judge and then an appeals court judge, is now President Bidens Supreme Court nominee. But her two and a half years as an assistant public defender, including her work on behalf of accused terrorists and of criminal defendants, is likely to receive particular scrutiny under the glare of her coming confirmation fight.

Lawyers who harbor ambitions to be a judge  as she clearly did, having written in her high school yearbook that a judgeship was her goal  typically serve as prosecutors who help put criminals in prison. If confirmed, Judge Jackson would be the modern courts first justice with experience as a public defender.
WASHINGTON  Since 1977, Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist, has been serving two life sentences in federal prison for his role in the killings of two F.B.I. agents during a shootout in 1975 on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota  a punishment that his supporters have long held was the product of an unfair prosecution and a flawed trial.

Now his backers, including members of Congress, are making what they consider a last-ditch effort to win clemency for Mr. Peltier, who is 77 and suffering from diabetes, hypertension, partial blindness from a stroke, and an aortic aneurysm. Mr. Peltier, whom many Native American activists consider a political prisoner, also recently tested positive for the coronavirus.

Efforts to overturn his conviction over the years have failed, as have campaigns for a pardon or commutation of his sentence. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both left office without acting on pleas to grant him clemency, Mr. Clinton after hundreds of former and current F.B.I. agents angrily marched to the White House to protest his considering such a move and the bureaus director at the time made his opposition clear.

Representative Raul M. Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona, has sent letters to the White House on Mr. Peltiers behalf, including one last month after he tested positive for Covid-19. That letter was signed by eight other members of Congress. Mr. Peltiers lawyer is also pursuing the issue through the regular clemency process at the Justice Department.
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WASHINGTON  Russias invasion of Ukraine has pushed tens of thousands of people out of their homes and fleeing across borders to escape violence. But unlike the refugees who have flooded Europe in crises over the past decade, they are being welcomed.

Countries that have for years resisted taking in refugees from wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are now opening their doors to Ukrainians as Russian forces carry out a nationwide military assault. Perhaps 100,000 Ukrainians already have left their homes, according to United Nations estimates, and at least half of them have crowded onto trains, jammed highways or walked to get across their countrys borders in what officials warn could become the worlds next refugee crisis.

U.N. and American officials described their concerted diplomatic push for Ukraines neighbors and other European nations to respond to the outpouring of need. President Biden is certainly prepared to accept refugees from Ukraine, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said on Thursday, but she noted that the majority of them would probably choose to remain in Europe so they could more easily return home once the fighting ended.
In addition to adding up its blockade-related bills to present to the federal and provincial governments for reimbursement, the City of Ottawa must also figure out who will lead its police force after the resignation  mid-protest  of Peter Sloly as chief. Although the reason for his departure during the policing crisis was never made explicit, it followed increasing outrage among many in Ottawa over what they perceived as an excessively slow and tepid response to the situation. His successor is supposed to be selected by a police services board, which also saw several of its members quit or removed by council on Feb. 16.

Federal politicians will also weigh in on the police operation that ended the occupation as they review Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus decision on Feb. 14 to invoke the Emergencies Act, a move unprecedented in Canadian history. The declaration, among other things, allowed the government to have banks and other financial institutions freeze accounts associated with protest organizers and protesters who jammed up streets with their trucks, cars and pickups. Those accounts started to be reopened at the beginning of the week, except for ones blocked by specific court orders.

[Read: Canada Ends Its Freeze on Hundreds of Accounts Tied to Protests]

Although the House of Commons approved Mr. Trudeaus decision after an emergency debate, the Senate was in the midst of its deliberations about the declaration when the prime minister announced that the need for emergency powers was over. Members of the Conservative caucus, many of whom were prominent supporters of the protesters at least initially, are likely to continue their criticism of Mr. Trudeaus decision to bring in special measures that they contend were an unnecessary overreach during the Parliamentary post mortem required by the emergency law. Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, is also challenging the move in court.
ATHENS  Rescuers exploring the charred hull of a passenger ferry that caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu this month have recovered eight bodies and were searching on Saturday for another three, Greek authorities have said.

A total of 281 people were rescued from the Italian-owned Euroferry Olympia after the fire broke out in the early hours of Feb. 18, a few hours after the vessel left the northwestern Greek port of Igoumenitsa, bound for Brindisi, Italy.

Most of those aboard the ferry were rescued by the Greek Coast Guard, aided by the Italian authorities, in the first few hours after the fire broke out. Another two passengers were rescued by helicopter later in the day, and a third managed to reach the deck after being trapped in the vessels bottom-level garage for more than 50 hours.

The search is continuing, a spokesman for the Greek Coast Guard, Nikolaos Alexiou, said Saturday morning. The ships ramp remained stuck shut, he noted, which had limited rescuers access to the garages. Were going to resume efforts to open it today, he said.
When Western governments announced on Friday their intention to freeze assets belonging to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as punishment for invading Ukraine, there was no indication they knew of significant holdings that could be tied to him.

In fact, very little is known about what Mr. Putin owns and where it could be. Despite years of speculation and rumor, the extent of his wealth remains maddeningly opaque, even as billions of dollars have sluiced through the accounts of his close friends and luxury properties have been connected to family members.

Officially, Mr. Putin earns about $140,000 a year and owns a small apartment, according to his public financial disclosures.

But that would not account for Putins Palace, a vast estate on the Black Sea estimated to have cost more than $1 billion, with a Byzantine ownership history that does not include the Russian president but has been linked to his government in various ways. Nor would the disclosures account for Putins Yacht, a $100 million luxury vessel long tied to him in speculative news reports. (The yacht, Graceful, was tracked leaving Germany for Russia just weeks before the invasion of Ukraine.)
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Does President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia have the support he needs at home to wage a costly war in Ukraine?

That may seem like an odd question. After all, Mr. Putin has already invaded Ukraine, suggesting he feels confident in his resources. And his public image is that of a strongman, with the power to direct the Russian state as he pleases.

But no leader can govern alone. And a series of events this week, including Russias decision to throttle access to Facebook and censor news about the war in Ukraine, raise questions about just how much political support Mr. Putin will be able to draw on during the conflict.
Arsan, 35, the owner of a coffee shop in Lviv, Ukraine, was among those who volunteered.

Only three days ago, he was going to the gym and getting ready for work when his wife told him the country was at war. On Saturday morning, he was learning to make firebombs and to spot fluorescent missile targets on buildings placed there by the Russians, and joining a brigade of citizens getting ready to fight.

We can learn to shoot, because we dont know how this situation will develop, he said.

Asked whether Ukrainian soldiers could hold off the Russian attack on Kyiv, Arsan said that every night was terrible but that he believed they would prevail. The Ukrainian army is doing a great job, he said. They are super people.

In Russia, where street protests have been met with force and arrests by the police, Moscow escalated its crackdown on free speech. But hackers found a way to break through. Six government websites were down, according to Ukraines state telecommunications agency.

The Kremlins communications regulator slowed down access to Facebook and warned 10 Russian independent news outlets that their websites could be blocked. Their offense: publishing articles in which the operation that is being carried out is called an attack, an invasion or a declaration of war.

In response, Facebook and Twitter blocked Russian state media from running ads on their platforms.
ROME  For years, a global choir of right-wing politicians have sung the praises of Vladimir V. Putin. They looked up to the Russian strongman as a defender of closed borders, Christian conservatism and bare-chested machismo in an era of liberal identity politics and Western globalization. Fawning over him was a core part of the populist playbook.

But Mr. Putins savaging of Ukraine, which many of his right-wing supporters had said he would never do, has recast the Russian president more clearly as a global menace and boogeyman with ambitions of empire who is threatening nuclear war and European instability.

For many of his longtime admirers  from France to Germany and the United States to Brazil  it is something of an awkward spot. The stain of Mr. Putins new reputation threatens to taint his fellow travelers, too.

It will be a decisive blow to them, said Lucio Caracciolo, the editor of the Italian geopolitical magazine Limes, who considered Mr. Putins invasion an irrational, and potentially, a politically suicidal move. He said that members of the international ultraright who enjoyed a special relationship and financial support from Mr. Putin were in serious trouble.
KYIV, Ukraine  As Russian troops lay siege to Kyiv, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, again appeared on camera on Saturday to furnish proof of his continued presence in his countrys capital, praise his outgunned and outmanned military and beseech Western countries for more support.

We have withstood and successfully repelled enemy attacks, Mr. Zelensky said in a video posted around noon local time, the latest of several speeches he has released. The fighting continues in many cities and districts of our state, but we know that we protect the country, the land, the future of children.

He said the Ukrainian army still controlled the capital and key cities nearby.

The occupiers wanted to put a blockade on the seat of our states power and set up their puppets here, he said.

We messed up their plans, they did not gain any advantage over us, he added in Ukrainian. The enemy used everything against us: missiles, fighters, drones, artillery, armored vehicles, saboteurs, landing. The occupiers are hitting residential areas using jet artillery, trying to destroy energy facilities. They have very vile tactics.
To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The spectacle of a mass flight out of Ukraine was resonating deeply in the Middle East on Saturday, with many taking to social media to express their sympathy and to commiserate with the plight of those now forced to flee their homes amid a Russian military invasion.

But in a region that has been plagued by seemingly endless wars, the empathy was tinged with bitterness from some who saw European nations taking a more compassionate stance toward the Ukrainians than they had in recent years toward Arab and Muslim migrants trying desperately to reach the safety of Europes shores.

Images of ravaged cities from Syria and Iraq to Libya and Yemen circulated online, with memes and comments accusing Western democracies of stoking violence and destabilizing these countries while evading responsibility and applying double standards, especially in their treatment of refugees.
Scientists released a pair of extensive studies over the weekend that point to a large food and live animal market in Wuhan, China, as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic.

Analyzing a wide range of data, including virus genes, maps of market stalls and the social media activity of early Covid-19 patients across Wuhan, the scientists concluded that the coronavirus was very likely present in live mammals sold at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in late 2019 and suggested that the virus spilled over into people working or shopping there on two separate occasions.

Members of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leaving the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on Jan. 11, 2020. Noel Celis/Agence France-Presse

The studies, which together span 150 pages, are a significant salvo in the debate over the beginnings of a pandemic that has killed nearly six million people across the world. The question of whether the outbreak began with a spillover from wildlife sold at the market, a leak from a Wuhan virology lab or some other event has given rise to pitched debates over how best to stop the next pandemic.

When you look at all of the evidence together, its an extraordinarily clear picture that the pandemic started at the Huanan market, said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona and a co-author of both new studies.

Several independent scientists said that the studies, which have not yet been published in a scientific journal, presented a compelling and rigorous new analysis of available data.

Its very convincing, said Dr. Thea Fischer, an epidemiologist at the University of Copenhagen, who was not involved in the new studies. The question of whether the virus spilled over from animals has now been settled with a very high degree of evidence, and thus confidence.

Map of Wuhan showing the location of the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market WUHAN Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market WUHAN

But others pointed to some gaps that still remained. The new papers did not, for example, identify an animal at the market that spread the virus to humans.

I think what theyre arguing could be true, said Jesse Bloom, a virologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. But I dont think the quality of the data is sufficient to say that any of these scenarios are true with confidence.

In a separate study published online on Friday, scientists at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed genetic traces of the earliest environmental samples collected at the market, in January 2020.

By the time Chinese researchers arrived to collect these samples, police had shut down and disinfected the market because a number of people linked to it had become sick with what would later be recognized as Covid. No live market animals were left.

Photos of animals for sale in the Huanan market. Animals for sale in the Huanan market in 2019 and 2014, including raccoon dogs, Malayan porcupines and a red fox. Source: Michael Worobey et al., preprint via Zenodo. Photos taken by a citizen and posted to Weibo in 2019 (first three), and by Edward C. Holmes in 2014.

The researchers swabbed walls, floors and other surfaces inside the market, as well as meat still in freezers and refrigerators. They also caught mice and stray cats and dogs around the market to test them, while also testing the contents of the sewers outside. The researchers then analyzed the samples for genetic traces of coronaviruses that may have been shed by people or animals.

Although the Chinese researchers conducted their study over two years ago, it was not until Fridays report that they publicly shared their results. They reported that the Huanan market samples included two evolutionary branches of the virus, known as lineages A and B, both of which had been circulating in early Covid cases in China.

These findings came as a surprise. In the early days of the pandemic in China, the only Covid cases linked to the market appeared to be Lineage B. And because Lineage B seemed to have evolved after Lineage A, some researchers suggested that the virus arrived at the market only after spreading around Wuhan.

But that logic is upended by the new Chinese study, which finds both lineages in market samples. The findings are consistent with the scenario that Dr. Worobey and his colleagues put forward, in which at least two spillover events occurred at the market.

The beauty of it is how simply it all adds up now, said Jeremy Kamil, a virologist at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, who was not involved in the new studies.

Mapping Cases

Although the Huanan market was an early object of suspicion, by the spring of 2020 senior members of the Trump administration were promoting the idea that the new coronavirus had escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a coronavirus laboratory located eight miles away on the other side of the Yangtze River.

Theres no direct evidence that the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was present at the lab before the pandemic. Researchers there have denied claims of a lab leak.

But the Chinese government has come under fire for not being forthcoming about the early days of the pandemic.

The report from the Chinese C.D.C. about the Huanan markets samples, for example, had remained hidden. Starting in June 2020, two newspapers, The South China Morning Post and The Epoch Times, reported on what they claimed were leaked copies of the report.

In January 2021, a team of experts chosen by the World Health Organization traveled to China to investigate. Collaborating with Chinese experts, the group released a report in March 2021 that contained previously undisclosed details about the market. They noted, for example, that 10 stalls in the southwest corner of the market sold live animals.

The report also noted that 69 environmental samples collected from the market by the Chinese C.D.C. had turned up positive for SARS-CoV-2. But the frozen meat and live animals had all tested negative.

A member of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team inside the closed Huanan market on Jan. 11, 2020. Noel Celis/Agence France-Presse

Still, the W.H.O. left many researchers dissatisfied. Dr. Worobey and Dr. Bloom both signed a letter, along with 16 other scientists in May 2021, calling for more investigation into the origins of Covid  including the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 had escaped from a lab.

The W.H.O. experts had identified 164 cases of Covid-19 in Wuhan over the course of December 2019. Unfortunately, the cases were marked by fuzzy dots scattered across a nearly featureless map of Wuhan.

Dr. Worobey and his colleagues used mapping tools to estimate the longitude and latitude locations of 156 of those cases. The highest density of December cases centered around the market  a relatively tiny spot in a city of 11 million people. Those cases included not just people who were initially linked to the market, but others who lived in the surrounding neighborhood.

Spatial analysis of Covid cases in Dec. 2019. Covid cases in Dec. 2019 Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Concentration of Covid cases in Dec. 2019 WUHAN 2 miles Covid cases in Dec. 2019 Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Concentration of Covid cases in Dec. 2019 WUHAN 2 miles Source: Michael Worobey et al., preprint via Zenodo The New York Times

The researchers then mapped cases from January and February of 2020. They drew upon data collected by Chinese researchers from Weibo, a social media app that created a channel for people with Covid to seek medical help. The 737 cases pulled from Weibo were concentrated away from the market, in other parts of central Wuhan with high populations of elderly residents, the study found.

Spatial analysis of Covid cases in Jan.Feb. 2020. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Concentration of Covid cases in Jan.Feb. 2020 Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Concentration of Covid cases in Jan.Feb. 2020 Source: Michael Worobey et al. The New York Times

These patterns pointed to the market as the origin of the outbreak, Dr. Worobey and his colleagues concluded. The researchers ran tests that showed it was extremely unlikely that such a pattern could be produced merely by chance.

Its very strong statistical evidence that this is no coincidence, Dr. Worobey said.

But David Relman, a microbiologist at Stanford University, raised the possibility that these patterns might be just evidence that the market boosted the epidemic after the virus started spreading in humans somewhere else.

The virus would have arrived in a person, who then infected other people, he said. And the neighborhood of the market, or the market itself, became a kind of a sustained superspreader event.

Multiple Spillovers

Dr. Worobey and his colleagues argue against that possibility, pointing to signs of spillovers within the market itself.

The researchers reconstructed the floor plan of the Huanan market based on the W.H.O. report, the leaked Chinese C.D.C. study and other sources. They then mapped the locations of positive environmental samples, finding that they clustered in the area where live animals were sold.

Strikingly, five of the samples came from a single stall. That stall had been visited in 2014 by one of the co-authors of the new studies, Edward Holmes, a virologist at the University of Sydney. On that trip, he had taken a photograph of a cage of raccoon dogs for sale at the time.

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China. XINHUA ROAD Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side East Side FAZHAN BLVD. XINHUA ROAD Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side East Side FAZHAN BLVD. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side XINHUA ROAD FAZHAN BLVD.

Diagram of the Huanan market. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side Human cases of Covid-19 Coronavirus found in stall Stall selling live mammals Stall selling unknown meat East Side XINHUA ROAD Photograph of raccoon dogs caged over birds in 2014. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side Human cases of Covid-19 Coronavirus found in stall Stall selling live mammals Stall selling unknown meat East Side XINHUA ROAD Photograph of raccoon dogs caged over birds in 2014. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side Human cases of Covid-19 Stall where coronavirus was found Stall selling live mammals Stall selling unknown meat XINHUA ROAD Photo of raccoon dogs caged over birds in 2014.

Distribution of coronavirus samples in the Huanan market. Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side East Side Distribution of positive coronavirus samples in the market Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side East Side Distribution of positive coronavirus samples in the market Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market West Side Distribution of positive coronavirus samples in the market Source: Michael Worobey et al. The New York Times; Satellite image via Google Maps

Another co-author, Chris Newman, a wildlife biologist at the University of Oxford, was part of a research team that documented a number of live, wild mammals for sale at the Huanan market in November and December of 2019, including raccoon dogs.

Dr. Worobey and his colleagues also carried out a new analysis of over 800 coronaviruses sampled from early Covid cases. They found that both Lineage A and Lineage B underwent separate bursts of explosive growth.

The most likely explanation for their results, they concluded, is that Lineage A and Lineage B each jumped on their own from an animal into different people, likely in November.

Both jumps, they said, could have happened at the Huanan market. In their analysis, Dr. Worobey and his colleagues found that the two earliest cases of Lineage A involved people who lived close to the market.

The Chinese C.D.C. study published on Friday revealed a Lineage A coronavirus on a glove collected when the market shut down.

I think weve cracked this case, said Joel Wertheim, a virologist at the University of California, San Diego, and a co-author of the new studies.

Dr. Bloom, however, questioned the idea that there had been two separate spillovers. He noted that the Lineage A glove sample from the market was collected some time after the virus had begun spreading in humans, raising the possibility that it had been brought into the market.

I am especially unconvinced by the conclusion that there must have necessarily been two different spillovers in the Huanan Seafood Market, Dr. Bloom said.

Workers in protective suits disinfect the Huanan market on March 4, 2020. Reuters

New evidence could still emerge. The Chinese government, for example, could release samples taken from Wuhan patients who came down with pneumonia in November 2019, noted Dr. Relman of Stanford.

Researchers could also learn more by looking at the genetic samples collected by the Chinese researchers. Its possible that the samples included genetic material not just from viruses, but from animals at the market. Sharing the raw data could enable other scientists to investigate the potential spillover in more detail.

Kristian Andersen, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., and a co-author of the new studies, said it was important to figure out where the wild mammals for sale at Huanan came from, and to look for evidence of past outbreaks in those places. Its possible, for example, that villagers at the sources of that wildlife still carry antibodies from exposures to coronaviruses.

If I had to say what would be most helpful to do now, it would be those types of studies, he said.
Stillwater, OK (74078)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 67F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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.
A man who said he wanted to be locked up after he was cautioned by Gardai following his arrest was sentenced to six months in prison. Before Tullamore district court was Keith Kilroy (49) 19, Clonroosk View Portlaoise.

On February 2 2022 at Lavish Nails Spa, Portlaoise, Mr Kilroy damaged a CCTV to the value of 200. On February 22 2022, he smashed the window of The Bay Tree, Portlaoise, causing 250 worth of damage and took the till which contained 500. Blood was found on the windows, the same blood was later found on the defendant. The 500 was recovered.

Mr Kilroy had 110 previous convictions including burglary, robbery and one attempted robbery.

He was addicted to heroin and he committed theft to feed the addiction. He had been thrown out of a B&B where he was residing when the landlord learned he had trespassed, his solicitor told Judge Catherine Staines.

He cooperated with the gardai and pleaded guilty. His last conviction was in 2020 when he was sentenced to 3 years and six months in prison with two years and six months suspended.

Judge Catherine Staines noted that Mr Kilroy was in breach of a suspended sentence which will have to go back to the circuit court. She said the defendant had an appalling record and has a long standing heroin addiction. She noted he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

She imposed six months in the Midlands Prison.
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Leader of the so-called Freedom Convoy Pat King has been denied bail because of a "substantial likelihood" he would reoffend, according to Justice of the Peace Andrew Seymour, and a dissatisfaction with the surety.
Canadian businesses are at risk of being targeted for online attacks if Russia chooses to retaliate against government sanctions, a cybersecurity expert said Friday.
Follow our rolling coverage as the focus turns to Ukraines capital where Russian forces are being met with fierce resistance.
As night fell in Kyiv on Saturday, Ukrainians were continuing to resist Vladimir Putins march on their capital as soldiers and citizens fought side by side to hold off Russias invading forces.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) spoke at the America First Political Action Conference on Friday. AFPAC is led by White nationalist Nick Fuentes, who told the crowd, Our secret sauce here  its these young, White men. The Anti-Defamation League has described Fuentes as a White supremacist leader and organizer and podcaster who seeks to []
Russian forces are bearing down on Ukraine's capital after attacks on cities and military bases around the country. Meanwhile, Germany has likely changed its stance on weapons sales to Ukraine. Follow DW for the latest.
Russian forces are bearing down on Ukraine's capital after attacks on cities and military bases around the country. Meanwhile, Germany has changed its stance on weapons sales to Ukraine. Follow DW for the latest.
TomoNews US 16 Mar 2022

KYIV, UKRAINE  The Ukrainian military says it used a very low-tech way to sink a Russian warship that had attacked the soldiers..
Many people are fleeing the war zone in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The German government is gearing up for rapid aid and wants to support the local residents first.
Tearful protesters branded Vladimir Putin a "barbarian" and "an animal" as they gathered in London to express their anger at the invasion of Ukraine.
Demonstrators in cities across the globe have expressed solidarity with Ukraine, with many expressing anger at the Kremlin's decision to invade Russia's neighbor.
Delhi has canned COVID restrictions, but officials have warned citizens to stay vigilant. Meanwhile, Germany's health minister has advised against easing restrictions as infection rates remain high. Follow DW for more.
"The Islamic Emirate calls for restraint by both parties," The Taliban government in Afghanistan said regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. says all 13 defenders on the island were killed during the fighting. Zelenskyy hails them as heroes of Ukraine.
There is no mechanism to remove a permanent member of the Security Council written into the UN Charter, so Russia cannot be kicked out after its invasion of Ukraine. But is Russia there validly at all? Andrew MacLeod examines the issue.
From New York to Paris, cities around the world lit buildings in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.


Mashable 27 Feb 2022

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine unfolds, much of the world continues to watch via social media. In response, Russia has..
British Airways has suffered a major outage, causing several flights to be cancelled and leaving passengers stuck on planes after..

Sky News 25 Feb 2022
Kyiv residents braced Saturday for another night sheltering underground, as Russian troops closed in on Ukraine's capital and skirmishes were reported on the outskirts. Ukraine's leader, meanwhile, vowed to continue fighting the Russian...
Oskaloosa, IA (52577)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 61F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with rain developing after midnight. Low around 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Ottumwa, IA (52501)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High around 60F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 50F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Collin Periatt.

Thursday, Feb. 24

10:58 p.m.  Deputies responded to Department of Natural Resources state land in Hope Township for a report of a suspicious situation. Deputies were unable to access the land due to impassable trail conditions for patrol cars. Nothing suspicious was heard or seen by deputies. The information was turned over to the DNR.

10:11 p.m.  A deputy responded to the ER for a dog bite. A 9-year-old boy was bitten by his family dog. An isolation notice was served to the dog owner.

9:46 p.m.  A deputy spoke with a 58-year-old Jerome Township man regarding his 58-year-old wife being missing. The woman was located unharmed.

9:30 p.m.  A deputy stood by at a Warren Township residence while a man obtained his property. The civil standby occurred without incident.

8:20 p.m.  During a traffic stop near Waldo Avenue and Beech Street, officers discovered the suspect was driving with a suspended license.

6:11 p.m.  Officers investigated a suspicious situation on Mill Street.

5:41 p.m.  A deputy made contact with a Greendale Township woman who stated that the past two days, a suspicious man had come to her house stating he was from Charter and was collecting payment of her bill. The woman stated she wished the incident to be documented. She was advised to call 911 if the man returned.

2:59 p.m.  Officers investigated a suspicious situation on Eastman Avenue.

12:46 p.m.  Deputies were sent to a Midland city residence regarding an eviction. They attempted contact with the resident, a 55-year-old woman, and her 58-year-old boyfriend, but were unsuccessful. A deputy spoke with management and will continue to make attempts to remedy the eviction matter with the tenants.

12 p.m.  Deputies and Midland Police Department officers were dispatched to a Midland fast food restaurant regarding a mental health court order. The petitioner set up a meeting with the defendant and advised the Sheriff's Office and the police of the time and location of the meeting. Deputies were able to transport the 30-year-old defendant to MyMichigan Medical Center without incident.

11:36 a.m.  Officers investigated a suspicious situation on Ronan Street.

7:08 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township business for a man in a vehicle with a possible medical issue. While en route to the business, deputies were advised by EMS that they were no longer needed due to the suspect refusing medical treatment.

2:27 a.m.  Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police requested that deputies be on the lookout for an older blue Pontiac Grand Prix, regarding a suspicious situation that occurred in Isabella County. Deputies and Midland Police checked various roads in Midland County and did not find the vehicle
Thursday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, joined by several other governors, sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging quick passage of economic competitiveness legislation that includes full funding for the Creating Helpful Incentives for the Production of Semiconductors for America Act, or CHIPS Act.

The $52 billion in incentives provided under the CHIPS Act to boost domestic chip production will help the United States regain its leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and support the businesses and workers who make the products dependent on these chips.

We are encouraged that Congress is moving forward on a landmark bill to improve our economic competitiveness and boost domestic chip production, said Whitmer in a Thursday press release. The chip shortage has hit working families and businesses in Michigan and many other states hard. Thousands of jobs up and down the auto supply chain and across multiple industries are at risk, and the solution is clear  fund the CHIPS Act now. If were going to protect working families and maintain Americas competitive edge, Congressional leaders must come together to get this done."

Whitmer was joined by the following: Governor Newsom of California, Governor Lamont of Connecticut, Governor Little of Idaho, Governor Pritzker of Illinois, Governor Holcomb of Indiana, Governor Kelly of Kansas, Governor Beshear of Kentucky, Governor Baker of Massachusetts, Governor Sisolak of Nevada, Governor Murphy of New Jersey, Governor Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Governor Hochul of New York, Governor Cooper of North Carolina, Governor DeWine of Ohio, Governor Brown of Oregon, Governor Wolf of Pennsylvania, Governor Cox of Utah, Governor Scott of Vermont, Governor Inslee of Washington, Governor Evers of Wisconsin, and Governor Gordon of Wyoming.

"I am grateful for the Michigan Congressional delegations work to include the CHIPS Act in both the House and Senate competitiveness packages," Whitmer stated. "Passage of an investment tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing and design, as provided in the FABS Act, would be another significant tool in our toolboxes to attract chip-focused investment. I hope that both chambers can now come together to send a unified package that fully funds these important incentives to the presidents desk as fast as possible so we can address this crisis and further Michigans economic momentum.

After the U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act in June 2021, Whitmer led a group of bipartisan governors urging the U.S. House of Representatives to also pass economic competitiveness legislation funding the CHIPS Act. A few months after the letter, the House passed the America COMPETES Act, which includes funding for the CHIPS Act, on Feb. 4, 2022.

Now, both the Senate and House have passed bills funding the CHIPS Act. Currently, both chambers, led by members of Michigans congressional delegation, are working to reconcile differences between their two bills and send a final version to the presidents desk.

The governors wrote a letter to urge Congress to take swift bipartisan action to reconcile the two bills to get to the president for his final sign off as soon as possible. The letter can be read at bit.ly/3tcnjdM.

CHIPS Act Opportunity

The CHIPS Act would fund $52 billion in incentives to boost domestic semiconductor production and research, $2 billion of which would be dedicated to incentivizing production of the mature node semiconductors used by automakers and parts suppliers. Mature node chips are also used in medical devices, agricultural machinery like farm tractors and combines, as well as radiation-proof chips required by our national defense industrial base.

The CHIPS Act would provide a new, powerful tool in Michigans economic development toolbox. Increasing domestic chip production near automakers and other manufacturers will spur innovation, reduce inefficiencies, and avoid costly delays, helping Michigan attract long-term, sustainable investments from companies around the world.

Recently, the Michigan Legislature, businesses, labor, and utilities worked with Whitmer to pass bipartisan economic development legislation that helped Michigan land a $7 billion investment from GM creating and retaining 5,000 good-paying jobs. Passing the CHIPS Act paves the way for similar projects. The CHIPS Act will revitalize chip manufacturing and design in the U.S., leading to more transformational projects that will invest billions into our communities and create thousands of good-paying jobs.

Chip Crisis Impact

Semiconductor chips are a vital component of many products used by people every day. The global shortage of these chips, exacerbated by the pandemic and supply chain constraints, has impacted people and industries across the country from auto manufacturing to consumer electronics, home appliances, medical devices, agriculture, defense and more. These shortages have resulted in reduced production and in some cases, idled plants, impacting more than 575,000 auto-related American jobs. In 2021, automakers in North America lost an estimated 2.2 million vehicles, equaling over 3,000 days of work.

This means workers with less income, higher prices at the store, less products for consumers to buy and an ever-growing dependence on foreign supplies. In the long run, increasing domestic production of chips will protect and create jobs, strengthen our supply chain, and grow the economy.

Passing the CHIPS Act will bring chip manufacturing back home, creating and protecting thousands of good-paying jobs, growing Michigans economy, and lowering costs for families.
House Bill 5294, Expand ban on offering faux-government services: Passed 38 to 0

To expand a state consumer protection act provision that restricts third parties from offering online services that are similar to ones performed by a governmental agency, by requiring they conspicuously indicate that the operation is not a government entity, and disclose the prices and terms.

31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y

Senate Bill 445, Waive some unemployment job search requirements during epidemic: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To revise during the coronavirus epidemic an unemployment benefits requirement that a recipient be "available" for either part-time or full-time work. Under current law the requirement is to be available for full-time work.

31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y

House Bill 5637, Expand right to try experimental drugs to coronavirus: Passed 56 to 48 in the House

To extend to COVID-19 treatments a 2014 "Right to Try state law that lets terminal patients use and drug companies provide non-FDA approved treatments, subject to a broad array of restrictions, conditions and requirements.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal D - Saginaw N 96 Rep. Timothy Beson R - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Mount Pleasant Y

House Bill 4173, Eliminate cap on crime information rewards: Passed 102 to 0 in the House

To eliminate the $2,000 cap in a law authorizing counties to offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a criminal, or the capture of an escaped convict. Under the bill there would be no limit on how large a reward a county could pay.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal D - Saginaw Y 96 Rep. Timothy Beson R - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Mount Pleasant X

House Bill 4693, Revise landlord referral restriction: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To revise a law that bans landlords from offering, and tenants accepting, more than half a months free rent in return for a tenant referral. The bill would allow up to a months free rent for this.

31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y

House Bill 5686, Require legislature get notice of changes to school "seat time" rules: Passed 54 to 50 in the House

To require that prior to their adoption any changes made by state officials to a pupil accounting and auditing manual must be sent to the chairpersons of the state House and Senate education policy committees. This document is used to set standards for the number of school days and hours provided by public school districts for purposes of determining whether a district meets the qualifications to get state school aid money. As introduced the bill would have required legislative approval for these changes, which have played a role in school districts' decisions to close classrooms during the COVID epidemic.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal D - Saginaw N 96 Rep. Timothy Beson R - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Mount Pleasant Y

House Bill 5527, Raise spending cap on job training subsidy program for select employers: Passed 82 to 22 in the House

To increase from $50 million to $100 million the debt cap in a 2008 law that authorized state job training subsidies for particular employers, provided through community colleges. The scheme diverts income tax collected from the new employees to repay the local college for the training.

95 Rep. Amos O'Neal D - Saginaw Y 96 Rep. Timothy Beson R - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Mount Pleasant Y

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, Thursday announced her support for a plan that will lower income taxes for all Michiganders.

This is a plan that prioritizes income tax relief for everyone in Michigan  not just a select few, Glenn said after a joint hearing of the House Appropriations and Tax Policy committees. Inflation is crushing household budgets all across our state. Anyone who has visited a grocery store or gas station recently can attest to that. This plan will help workers, families and seniors hang onto more of their own hard-earned money.

The plan is advancing to the House floor for further consideration.

House Bill 5838 provides an estimated $1.7 billion in annual, ongoing tax relief. It starts with rolling back the income tax rate to 3.9%  down from the current 4.25%  for all individual payers of the Michigan income tax.

Seniors would be in line for additional relief. The income exempted from taxes for those 62 and older would rise to $20,000 for individual filers and $40,000 for joint filers. An additional exemption would be applied specifically to retirement income  also at $20,000 for single filers and $40,000 for joint filers.

Glenn  a member of the House Appropriations Committee  was one of the first Michigan state lawmakers to say tax relief should be included in the states next budget plans. She noted the advancing House plan provides more comprehensive tax relief for seniors than other plans that have been announced.

Michigan House committees also today advanced House Bill 5054, which provides $1.5 billion in one-time funding to reduce debt and improve the finances of public employee retirement systems. Most of the funding would go to pension plans for local governments and road commissions, with an additional $350 million to improve financing in the Michigan State Police retirement system.

Improving the finances of these systems today will help local governments continue to provide essential public services well into the future, Glenn said. It will also help ensure municipal workers who served our communities for years will receive the benefits theyve been promised in retirement.
Many years ago, at a river cottage we had, I found a horseshoe the previous owner had left behind. I recall hearing that if you had one you were supposed to hang it above the entrance door...so I did. I thought it was cool and smiled every time we arrived and I saw it above the door. That is, until some friends of ours joined us for a visit and informed me that I had hung the doggone thing incorrectly. Incorrectly? Yup! I had mounted it above the door with the open part facing down. They told me this was bad because it was letting all of the luck run out. They told me that the open part was supposed to be facing up where it could collect and hold all of the luck to be bestowed upon the household.

So I did what any person would do when they get called out by one of their best friendsI did research. Heres what I learned: Hanging a horseshoe in a U shape facing upwards is said to keep evil out and bring good luck into your home. Conversely, hanging it upside down will have luck flowing out of your home. Used horseshoes are deemed by some to draw the most luck. Its best to hang a horseshoe above an entry door outside. Painted horseshoes can be hung outside as a good luck charm. Theres more, but after researching for 30 minutes, I came to some unique conclusions.

You see, the direction we choose in life shouldnt have to ever depend on something like luck. It should depend on what weve learned from our research in the areas of life that are most important to each of us. And thats different for everyone. The only time bad luck stands a chance is if we fail to take any direction. And its okay if the direction we choose veers off course as long as were willing to make a correction to get back on track.

Are you aware that a plane flying from San Francisco to Hawaii is off-course over 95% of the flight, yet always successfully lands exactly where it intended? Thankfully, as the pilot is made aware of the plane veering off the direct path, they make an adjustment. All of the adjustments and corrections made during the flight result in complete success. This thought process should be one of the primary components in our tool kit for life.

When were deciding on where we want to be in life, and defining how we believe we can get there, we need to develop a story that explains why weve chosen the direction. Its the story that keeps us motivated as we tell it to ourselves over and over, and it secures encouragement from others when we share the story with them. Once we settle on a direction and feel good about the reasons (the story), we can pursue that direction with a plan of action. Remember, nothing is ever accomplished nor achieved without some form of action. Its truly amazing what action can accomplish.

I acknowledge that different times in our life we all may choose a direction that is destructive to ourselves and others, believing at first that its a direction that will bring us joy. When that choice is made, some of us can recover from it. However, not everyone can. The good news is that there are professionals willing to help with anyone experiencing mental health challenges and/or addictions. The challenge is summoning the courage, and taking action, to ask for help. If you know of anyone struggling with the direction theyre currently pursuing in life, please encourage them to ask for help. Its important that they know help is available and really important that they know where to find it and how to ask for it. Maybe if you do the initial research, you can provide an easier path for them to follow in an attempt to learn where to find help and how to ask for it. Caring for others is always a worthwhile direction.

When I titled this article, I envisioned any direction as acceptable as long as it would move you forward in your pursuit of living a joyous and wonderful life. Any direction will do once you associate a story that moves you to action. So, give yourself a gift. Sit down and create a vision of where you want to go in life and what direction you need to pursue to get there. Create your story explaining the "why" of your vision and use the story each day for motivation. Take action consistently while making small adjustments so you land at the intended destination. Cmondo itright nowcmonI believe in youpursue the joy thats waiting for you. When direction doesnt matter, choose a direction and GiddyUp!

Paul White is a retired Midland businessman who currently has a self-help book in the works. He writes a weekly column for the Daily News.
Ann Brown, age 67, of Palestine, Texas, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 in Palestine, Texas. Funeral service will be held at 10AM on Friday, May 6, 2022 at Evangelistic Temple. Burial will follow at Tennessee Colony Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6PM to 8PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022 a
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA)  Mauritius has called for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine given its adverse impact on global stability, the government said in a communique released on Friday
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday reiterated its support for the independence of the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC), joining five Western embassies in the country which have also expressed similar views
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US on Friday announced the imposition of visa restrictions against a number of Somali officials and other individuals for their obstructionist actions as the country misses another deadline to complete parliamentary elections
Photo: (Photo : Getty images )

Police were able to locate the body of a young boy in the freezer at a Las Vegas home after his sister handed her elementary school teacher a note.

According to USA Today, the note said her mom's boyfriend kept her mom in their home against her will. It also said that the mom had not seen her younger son for months. The message prompted the police to investigate, leading to a freezer in the garage where the body of her younger brother was kept. The mom's boyfriend was also arrested.

On Tuesday, the teacher alerted the authorities at 8 AM, prompting the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer to conduct surveillance in the family's home in northeast Las Vegas.

The children's mother and her boyfriend, Brandon Toseland, were seen leaving the house. The police intercepted them and detained Toseland while they interviewed the children's mother.

Abuse at home

The mother told the police officers that her boyfriend had abused her. She also said she could not leave home and feared that her son might have been killed. The mother told the police that she did not know the whereabouts of her pre-school child.

A lawyer for the woman told the Associated Press that she had been subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse for months. Toseland threatened that he would kill her children if she ever left him. The lawyer also said that the woman was locked in a room, bound or handcuffed all the time. She never had the chance to take her daughter and run, News 3LV reported.

Toseland did not allow the mother to see her son, and he told her that the boy had become sick and "it was too late." He later told the mother that the boy was dead, and she could not see his body because Toseland would lose his freedom. The police report also indicated that Toseland never called the police or paramedics.

It further stated that the abuse started slowly and methodically increasing control over them when the mother and the two kids moved in with him. He covered windows, used video surveillance, sequestered the mother's phone, and isolated her from her family.

The woman worked as a health care technician collecting blood samples from patients until her work received a message that she quit one day.

Read Also: US Shows Increased Number of Maternal Deaths, CDC Report Says

Missing boy identified

When the officers searched the garage, they found the boy's body in the freezer. Authorities also said that it showed "visible injuries," and they also found a hole dug in the backyard, which they believed may be intended to serve as the makeshift grave.

The boy's family also identified the child as Mason Dominguez. The mother told authorities that she had not seen her son since December 11, 2021. The 4-year-old boy's father died of pneumonia in 2021 at 29.

As of Thursday, 8 News Now reported that Toseland is now facing murder and kidnapping charges.

Related Article: Father Finds Wrong Body in a Coffin, Later Learns His Son Was Cremated by Mistake
Photo: (Photo : Zuzana Gogova/Getty Images)

An emotional moment between a father and his daughter saying goodbye to each other was caught on camera and has gone viral amid the escalating Russia-Ukraine war.

The short clip showed the father planting a kiss on his young daughter's head after he helped her with her beanie as she prepared to board the bus with her mother. The dad then crouched down to his crying child, and he was also in tears. He then hugged his family tightly as they said their goodbyes.

Reports revealed that the father had to stay behind because he had to help defend his country from the invaders. Meanwhile, many families have been torn apart as women, children, and pets flee to neighboring cities in Poland and Moldova for safety.

"Families are being forced to take the agonizing decision to split up," a witness said, per the New York Post. The witness also added that, despite the long tension with the Russians, Ukrainians could not believe that the invasion would actually happen.

Read Also: New Jersey Parents Adopted 7 Siblings From Ukraine Even as They Have 6 Biological Children

Fathers, Sons Can't Leave Ukraine

Shortly before midnight on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, the interior minister of Ukraine confirmed that men between 18 to 60 years old are not allowed to leave the country anymore. The announcement also stated that members of the State Border Guard Service had been instructed to restrict departures from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law in the wake of Russia's first blow.

Vilma Sugar, a 68-year-old mom, said she couldn't stop shaking after safely crossing the border because her 47-year-old son could not come with them. They have been constantly in touch with her son through mobile phones, but the lines are sometimes bad.

The United Nations said that 137 individuals have died while 316 have been wounded on the first day of the Russia-Ukraine war. In the eastern borders of Ukraine, one man was overheard telling a sibling over the phone that their mother had been hit and her body lies outside their house.

More than 50,000 Ukrainians are now in the safe haven of their neighboring countries, yet an estimated three million are refusing to leave because they want to protect their homes. They will soon need food and other essentials if the invasion turns for the worst. Ukraine's total population is over 40 million.

Prayers from Families in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Sharyn Borodina flew back to her native of North Idaho after living in Ukraine for 20 years. She brought her two daughters with her, but her husband is still in Ukraine.

Before the Russia-Ukraine war, Borodina said that she and her husband had been growing concerned for their safety. The couple is involved in Christian ministry, and her husband has been taking care of 20 families now displaced by the war.

Borodina said that while she and her daughters are safe, her heart is still in pain for the place she calls her home. She appreciates that many prayer vigils are taking place in Idaho and Washington state.

Related Article: Parents Preparing School Kids for Ukraine Invasion With Stickers Bearing Blood Type; Surrogate Babies at Risk
Photo: (Photo : Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Five months after the death of Gabby Petito, her father, Joe Petito, visited Florida to open a domestic violence shelter in honor of her memory.

The SafeSpace, located in Vero Beach, opened its doors on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022, and received the $15,000 donation that kickstarted its operation from Joe through the Gabby Petito Foundation.

The father said that women and children need domestic violence shelters given the rising statics of the victims. He told WCBV 5 that domestic violence affects "1 in 3 women, 1 in 5 men, 10 to 20 million kids a year" in America and that's roughly a third of the country.

Since his daughter's death due to domestic violence, Joe has been actively speaking and raising awareness about this societal problem. He said that supporting causes like SafeSpace will allow Gabby to "live on through" the many victims who will be saved.

SafeSpace will not only be a shelter providing bedspace for the victims seeking refuge. This facility will also help with therapy, financial advice, food, clothing and job placements. Joe has been using the money donated to his family in the weeks following Gabby's disappearance and death.

Read Also: Gabby Petito: Timeline Leading to Death as FBI Issues Arrest Warrant for Brian Laundrie

Gabby Petito's Death Gripped the Headlines

In September 2021, the reported disappearance of Gabby, 22, following her cross-country trip with fiance Brian Laundrie, 23, gripped the headlines. Days after investigators found her body, Laundrie became a person of interest amid reports that the couple had violent fights and disagreements.

Laundrie, however, also disappeared after telling his parents, Chris and Robert Laundrie, that he was going camping at Florida's Carlton Reserve. After weeks of search, the FBI said they discovered Laundrie's body at the reserve. He died by suicide. The FBI also revealed that Laundrie wrote his admission of killing Gabby in the notebook found stashed among his possessions.

In an interview with "60 Minutes," Joe admitted that he and Gabby's mother, Nichole Schmidt, thought Laundrie would take care of their daughter. Joe described Laundrie as a quiet and polite person.

They also thought that Gabby was happy in her relationship with her fiance. Looking back, however, the parents said they have misjudged Laundrie but nothing they do to examine the past will bring back their daughter. Instead, the parents have been focused on helping domestic violence victims and missing persons cases in the hopes of lowering the statistics.

"I Can't Hug You"

Last Christmas, Joe posted a tweet to say that it's their family's first Christmas without Gabby. He admitted that it was a hard day for him because he cannot hug his daughter anymore.

Merry Christmas to my baby girl in heaven. I cant call you, I cant hear your voice, and I cant hug you. What I can do is say we love and miss you. Damn, today is a hard day, but we will get through this together. #neverthesame #MerryChristmas #GABBYPETITO pic.twitter.com/Nb09hR3KFk  joseph petito (@josephpetito) December 25, 2021

Meanwhile, the parents of Laundrie will not be charged for the death of Gabby despite speculations and criticisms that they remained silent throughout the investigation because they were protecting and hiding their son. However, the FBI said that Laundrie has been the "sole person" responsible for Gabby's death. The case was finally closed in January 2022.

Related Article: Parents of Brian Laundrie Can't Be Arrested for Not Cooperating With Police, Lawyer Says
Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Canada is ready to administer the world's first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine for its citizens. The regulators from Health Canada have approved a two-dose shot of the vaccine for the 18 to 64 age group.

Medicago is a homegrown company based in Quebec City. They have created a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine, called Covifenz, that could mimic the spike proteins found in the virus after purifying the leaves and adding ingredients from a chemical produced by Britain's GlaxoSmithKline.

Clinical studies involving 24,000 individuals showed that the vaccine is effective by 71 percent against COVID-19 and 75 percent against the Delta variant. However, the studies were completed before the emergence of the Omicron variant. As with the other vaccines, side effects from the plant-based COVID-19 vaccine include fever and fatigue, which are usually mild.

Medicago will be initially supplying 76 million doses for Canada as soon as possible. The company is also planning to fulfill orders for Japan, the U.S., as well as some European and Asian countries.

Read Also: COVID-19 Complications: Parents Remember 'Amazing' 7-Year-Old Girl Whose Brain Swelled from the Virus

Covifenz Omicron Clinical Studies Underway

In an interview with CBC News, Dr. Brian Ward, Medicago's medical officer, said that they will know how their plant-based COVID-19 vaccine works against the Omicron variant in the coming months. They are also going to conduct a study on Covifenz as a booster shot.

It comes as health authorities across the globe are looking for more potential vaccine sources to increase the supply worldwide. It also comes as Sanofi is almost ready to launch its protein-based vaccine using the same ingredient from GlaxoSmithKline.

Prior to the approval of Covifenz, the government of Canada has secured more vaccine doses from Pfizer/BioNTec, Moderna and Novavax to last until 2023. Canada is also eyeing the Sanofi-GSK vaccine once it receives regulatory approval.

Canada has more than 80 percent fully vaccinated individuals and its cases have dropped to a daily average of 6,000 following a worrying Omicron surge in January. Restrictions have also eased in some regions and will potentially remove the face mask requirements by mid-March 2022.

Health officials, however, continue to warn the locals that the virus remains active thus they continue to push the booster shots.

CDC Updates Face Mask Guidelines

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines on the wearing of face masks. As of Friday, Feb. 26, 70 percent of Americans may now go maskless and disregard social distancing if they are fully vaccinated. The unvaccinated, however, are still required to wear a face mask even in low-risk areas.

The health experts said that America is past the virus surge and they can start relaxing the restrictions. Following this new recommendation, schools across America may soon end the indoor masking rule.

However, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that the public must still be ready for what might come next with the rules relaxed as the virus is still in the air. Cases must also be continually monitored so that hospitals will not be overwhelmed.

Related Article: Face Mask Off! Experts Weigh in as School Mask Mandates Dropped; Should Parents Worry?
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Nigeria's president has signed into law new election guidelines that will allow votes cast on election day to be electronically collated, ending years of controversy.



Analysts have blamed the manual collation of results as one of the factors responsible for widespread rigging, which is also linked to increasing voter apathy in Africa's most populous nation.



Now polling stations will be able to electronically send their results to the electoral commission.



Civil society groups have welcomed the news ahead of elections next year.



The chairman of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) said the new law would make elections "impossible to rig".

Source: BBC









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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Of all the reasons that have been bandied around on why the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, seems to be holding the government to ransom, refusing to return to the country, has been the claim that she is demanding for her former job as the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament.



This claim by her colleague MP, Kennedy Agyapong of the Assin Central constituency, is one of the things she has been seeking for in order to return to base, but the man currently occupying that slot says he isnt even aware of such a demand being placed on his office.



According to a report by myjoyonline.com, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, who is also the MP for Effutu, says this is an information alien to him.



I dont want to comment on that matter, I havent heard about it and Im not supposed to hear about everything, he said in response to the question on whether or not he had heard about such a demand.



From 2017 to 2020, Sarah Adwoa Safo served as the Deputy Majority Leader but was replaced at the start of the second term of the NPP government, and rather offered a ministerial role at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.



She has however been out of the country in the last few months on a number of reasons which include one that she is away on health grounds, the NPP Chairman, Freddie Blay, had earlier stated.



Adwoa Safos absence from parliament has been a major talking point also because it has been a blockade in the Majority successfully pushing for the passage of the controversial Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy).





Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly told European Union leaders in a video call Friday night that it could be the last time they see him alive. Walla News Diplomatic Correspondent Barak claims two people briefed on the call told him.



Zelenskyy is currently hiding in Ukraines capital city of Kyiv as more than 100,000 Russian troops continue to attack the country on Russian President Vladimir Putins orders.



We were supposed to talk on the phone this morning, but he was no longer available, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi told his Parliament Friday morning of Zelenskyy.



Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who was also on the Thursday-night call with Zelenskyy, reportedly told the Swedish News Agency that this may have been the last time we saw Zelensky.



Zelenskyy said in an early Thursday-morning address that Russian saboteurs had entered Kyiv and said intelligence found the enemy has identified me as the number one target. U.S. President Joe Biden issued more sanctions on Russian banks and high-profile oligarchs Thursday but stopped short of sending troops in.



We have no intention of fighting Russia, Biden said during a press conference. We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the United States and our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory.



More than 1,700 anti-war protestors have been arrested across more than 50 Russian cities in a rare display of public outrage at Putins invasion.









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 Convention Peoples Party has appointed Akosua Asamoah, a member of the partys youth league as its Youth League Diaspora Coordinator.

The appointment offers Ms Asamoah the opportunity to link the youth league to all youth branches in the diaspora including the UK and Ireland Branches, United States of America, Canada (Ontario), Italy, and Germany.



A letter signed by Osei Kofi Acquah, the partys National Youth Organiser, congratulated Ms Asamoah and indicated the CPPs expectation of her full support in ensuring the proper and effective organisation of our party.



Ms Asamoah has assured the party of her readiness to help transform the youth league.



She stated that her topmost priority is to see a transformed CPP that is battle ready to wrest power from the governing NPP in 2024 and also win back some traditional CPP parliamentary seats.



About Akosua Asamoah

Born in Dunkwa On  Offin in 1986, Ms Asamoah had her primary school education in the Netherlands, Junior High School education in Ghana, and returned to the Netherlands for her Second cycle education. She later enrolled at the Casparus College in Weesp (Netherlands) and read her degree programme also in the Netherlands.

Ms Asamoah is currently reading a post-graduate programme at the Accra Business School.



Politically, Ms Asamoah has been involved in activities of the CPP at the National level for the past 12 years having worked closely with the partys former Acting Youth Organiser, Nabila Basiru; National Organiser, Yirimambo Moses; Former Vice-Chairman and acting chairman, Hamdatu Ibrahim and former chairman, Professor Edmund Delle.



Ms Asamoah is a private businesswoman and is the Chief Executive Officer of Afrigha limited, a company that deals in health essentials. Her company is also an agency that works closely with Ghanaians in the diaspora who have interest in investing in the country.



She is also the co- director of ELT- Technical sourcing, a company that deals in electrical and mechanical parts.





Source: Peacefmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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An organized crime agency police patch is seen on the shoulder of a member of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C during an RCMP news conference in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, May 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Apricus Health, a physician-led and-founded health system based in Scottsdale, is building new surgery centers in Avondale and Surprise. The centers are expected to open in mid-2022.
Michael Coard, Esq. can be followed on Twitter, Instagram, and his YouTube channel as well as at AvengingTheAncestors.com. His Radio Courtroom show can be heard on WURD 96.1 FM or 900 AM. And his TV Courtroom show can be seen on PhillyCAM/Verizon Fios/Comcast. The views expressed in this column are not necessarily those of The Philadelphia Tribune.
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Nyah Marshall is a reporter and regional bureau chief for HUNewsService.com.

Jotaka Eaddy, founder of #WinWithBlackWomen (WWBW), shared similar sentiments. With this nomination, President Biden and Vice President Harris will once again elevate a woman, and in this case, a Black woman, to a position that has long been covered by a cement ceiling, Eaddy said in a statement. Today that ceiling is shattered into a million pieces.

Nyah Marshall is a reporter and regional bureau chief for HUNewsService.com.
Hong Kong: Jab-interval time can be shortened

The scientific committees under the Centre for Health Protection recommended for children and adolescents aged five to 17 to shorten the interval between the first two doses of the BioNTech vaccine from 12 weeks to eight weeks.

The Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases, joined by the Chief Executives expert advisory panel, today updated the consensus interim recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in the city.

The experts strongly recommended a third dose of the BioNTech vaccine for adults three months after they had received two doses of the Sinovac or BioNTech vaccine, with priority being accorded to people aged 60 and above.

Adolescents aged 12 to 17 who have received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine are recommended to receive a third dose of either the Sinovac or BioNTech vaccine as soon as three months after the second dose.

Adolescents who had received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine can receive a third dose of the same vaccine five months from the second dose, while the Sinovac vaccine should be made available as an alternative based on personal preference, the experts added.

Click here for details of the recommendations.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chinese FM holds phone talks with top EU diplomat

Xinhua) 15:05, February 26, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Wang said that not long ago, President Xi Jinping and President Macron held their first telephone conversation this year and reached new consensus on cooperation.

In the Beijing Winter Olympics, which has come to a successful conclusion, both Chinese and French athletes have delivered fine performances, he said, noting that China welcomes France to actively participate in the upcoming Winter Paralympics.

France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a major country with a tradition of staying independent, Wang noted. China is willing to maintain close communication with the French side and jointly break new ground in bilateral relations so as to make new contributions to the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

For his part, Bonne said France has always attached great importance to the development of France-China relations and stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue and deepen cooperation with China so as to jointly promote the vigorous development of bilateral relations.

The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine issue, deeming it imperative to prompt the parties concerned to start diplomatic negotiations as soon as possible to ease tensions.

They also called for abandoning the mentality of bloc confrontation and seeking a solution that accommodates the concerns of all parties.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
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Horses, hoop skirts, cannons, black powder and wool  in both gray and blue  are part of the landscape this weekend on Powell Pond Road, with the annual Battle of Aiken festival underway.

Friday's activities, in keeping with tradition, were focused on kid-friendly presentations about life from 1860s America, including food, transportation, tools, customs and weaponry involved around the time of the military clash that took place in early February 1865. The primary leaders were (Union) Maj. Gen. Hugh Judson Kilpatrick and (Confederate) Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler.

The annual event, honored as one of the state's top tourist attractions, has "grown from a little backyard event to the biggest re-enactment in South Carolina," in the words of Trenton resident Danny Francis, the battle commander.

"The school kids just loved it," Francis said, recalling the artillery demonstrations from Friday's gathering.

Ed Mann, a re-enactor, was in character as one of "Lee's lieutenants," and said his traveling has included destinations spread from Maine to Florida. "I'm portraying James Longstreet, from the Edgefield District, and my sort of claim to fame was when I argued with Gen. Lee at Gettysburg on the attack on Little Round Top, but it's a great way of living history, to teach kids  what actually happened during that period of time, and how people lived and operated."

Black Confederates are the focal point for Conway resident Gregory Newson, an artist, writer and historian who was celebrating his first wedding anniversary (having been married in a ceremony at the 2021 event), and Friday's landscape also included a full-size Sioux teepee as well as a variety of merchant structures. Nearby displays also presented information on various chapters in U.S. military history.

Pete Peters, an event spokesman, gave an upbeat assessment of the weekend ahead. "This big news is that it's going to be bigger this year. We've had about a 30% increase in soldiers that have pre-registered to come, so people will see more soldiers in the field, and besides the soldiers, that will mean more cannons and more horses for the cavalry, so we're expecting a big turnout for that."

Cadets from The Citadel are part of this year's event, portraying infantrymen but not having been able to participate in 2020 or 2021 (due to COVID-19 concerns). Peters noted irony in the situation, pointing out that this year's Citadel seniors, a year from now, could be in actual combat, "and that's actually happened in the past, where one of the Citadel cadets who participated in the Battle of Aiken graduated and was killed, the following year, in combat in Iraq."

The gates are to open both Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Admission for adults (18 and older) is $15. Other options are students (13 to 18) for $10, kids (6-12) for $5 and free for anyone 5 or younger. Among the food and beverage options, as promoted on the event's website, are "authentic kettle corn, sarsaparilla, birch beer and Southern barbecue."

Francis estimated Friday's crowd as including about 2,000 students, with a packed parking lot, including at least four school buses.

Re-enactors are mostly from around the South, but also come from far beyond (with Canada represented). This year's re-enactors represent the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the state of Washington in the mix. Past events have also included re-enactors from New Zealand and Australia.

"We've got a great place for re-enactments," Francis said, noting an ample water supply and abundant, clear camping space with tree cover nearby to allow for privacy. "They're comfortable here."

He said the 2021 gathering included 300 re-enactors and the 2022 version has already exceeded that number, and Friday's school-oriented activities doubled the student count from 2021.

Focal points at this year's event include a traveling exhibition telling the story of the H.L. Hunley, sometimes remembered as "the world's first successful combat submarine." The display in Aiken this weekend has a version slightly larger than the original craft, which was almost 40 feet long and succeeded in its attack on a Union vessel Feb. 17, 1864, but sank in the immediate aftermath. The Hunley was not found until 1995.

Among Friday's re-enactors was Army retiree Paula Boone, who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and learned of the annual Battle of Aiken presentation during her time (2009-12) at Fort Gordon.

The former sergeant first class fielded questions about women's life from about 160 years ago. "What I say is, all of this happened. I don't care if you get rid of the statues. If you get rid of all that, it happened, and it is history, and that's all there is to it, and people need to know."

She added, "It kind of reminds me of people who say, 'Oh, the Holocaust never happened. Somebody just thought of that,' but it's not true. This is history, and we need to know our history."

Feedback from kids, she said, often focuses on the composition and function of hoop skirts. "One of the young girls asked me, 'How do you get through a narrow doorway?' Well, actually, back then, every doorway was wide, so that women could get through and not destroy their dresses. The only room that was narrow-doored was the men's smoking room, because women were not allowed in there," she explained, with a chuckle.

The 2005 event, Francis said, drew 2,000 re-enactors and was used for making a movie about the battle. Participation dropped over the next few years "and now we are building it back up again, and we're getting better every year."

He said the annual gathering, with ample young people arriving for the Friday events, has been described as "South Carolina's biggest school field trip."

Mann said, "Home-schoolers seem to be more interested in history and learning things. You can't learn that kind of history in a book. They can get out there and smell the smoke, smell the cannon fire, smell the horses."

The host site is off SC 19, just south of I-20 Exit 18. Saturday's activities include combat at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and Sunday has battle at 2:30 p.m. A 10 a.m. church service is also on Sunday's calendar, and the weekend has a variety of demonstrations, musical performances and other gatherings throughout the daylight hours, as well as a Victorian-style ball (free to the public) at 7 p.m. Saturday. Details are at battleofaiken.com.
Editor's note: This article has been updated from its original form to reflect Hotel Aiken does not need to be removed from the Aiken Historic Register in order to be demolished.

Project Pascalis has been the talk of the town in Aiken for the last few months, and decisions continue to be made in the name of revitalizing downtown Aiken.

An application requesting approval of demolition of 235 Richland Ave. W. and 106 Laurens St. S.W. "for future construction of hotel and retail" has been received by the Aiken Design Review Board to be discussed at its March 1 meeting.

The Richland Avenue address is Hotel Aiken, while the Laurens Street address houses Beyond Bijoux, Ginger Bee Boutique and Vampire Penguin Aiken. The applicants are RPM Development Partners LLC and Raines Development, two major players in Project Pascalis.

The two entities are interrelated, as RPM is the development team, which is led by Raines Development.

The Design Review Board's regular meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Aiken Municipal Building, at 214 Park Ave. S.W. Prior to the regular meeting, the board will have a work session at 5 p.m., where discussion around Project Pascalis is anticipated along with a development update.

As a quasi-judicial body, board decisions are final with the only appeal to court.

A conceptual master plan for Project Pascalis was shown to the Design Review Board during its Feb. 17 meeting. The plan shows proposed locations and layout of the hotel, apartments, parking structure, conference center and a reconfigured Newberry Street .

The locations and details in the proposed concept plan are in flux as discussion continues around the project, so nothing is currently set in stone, according to Tim O'Briant.

O'Briant is Aiken's economic development director and the executive director of the Aiken Municipal Development Commission, which is spearheading Project Pascalis.

"Its all fluid as we test different elements of it, both for reactions and for viability," said O'Briant. "Can we do what weve drawn?

Jay Ham, senior vice president of development for Raines Development, which is the lead developer for the project, was one of the representatives at the Design Review Board meeting. As lead developer, Raines is over everything that happens with the project.

"Ultimately, we are not going to build what we think is best for Aiken," said Ham. "We are going to build what Aiken wants and what Aiken needs. We cant stress that enough."

The seven parcels that make up the Project Pascalis footprint are bounded by Laurens Street, Richland Avenue and Newberry Street. The AMDC purchased these parcels for $9.5 million in early November 2021.

There are several cooks in the kitchen with Project Pascalis in addition to Raines. FMK Architects, out of Charlotte, North Carolina, is the lead architect on the apartments and parking garage.

Lat Purser & Associates, also out of Charlotte, is the developer for the apartments and parking garage. ODA Architecture, based in Charlotte, is the lead master architect, as well as the lead on the hotel and conference center.

Cranston Engineering, out of Augusta, comprises the civil engineers for the city of Aiken and development team. Terracon Consultants is providing the environmental and geotechnical engineers for the city of Aiken and development team.

Apartments, conference center and hotel

Under the proposed master plan, there would be between 100 to 107 multifamily units in the apartments, while the hotel would have approximately 100 keys.

The hotel would also feature a lobby bar and rooftop lounge, with a speakeasy below. There are no definitive plans yet for how many stories the hotel will be.

The conference center would be approximately 30,000 square feet, with banquet seating for 300 and lecture seating for 600. The first floor of the conference center could accommodate approximately 3,000 square feet of retail.

The conference center would wrap around an existing building in The Alley that currently houses local businesses including Gallery J Salon, Takosushi, the Alley Downtown Taproom, Art & Soul of Aiken and Woodchuckers Axe Throwing. None of the businesses fronting The Alley would be impacted by the redevelopment, O'Briant said.

The plan remains for the conference center to be owned by the city and operated by what is currently Newberry Hall, according to O'Briant.

The conference center would also feature a terrace that would overlook Newberry Street.

Several businesses on Richland Avenue, including Taj Aiken, Security Finance, Nationwide and On Board Realty, would be impacted by these plans. The city has said it will work with impacted businesses to assist them with finding new locations.

Parking garage

The proposed parking structure would be 5.5 levels with 74 spaces per level, leading to approximately 400 spaces.

The parking structure will be wrapped by the apartments, making it impossible to see the parking structure when standing on the surrounding streets, according to Stephen Overcash, managing principal of ODA Architecture.

The city has previously said that there is no current need for a parking garage, but the "creation of apartments, a hotel and a large event space will create parking demands that current on-street parking cannot accommodate."

To enter the parking structure, drivers would turn right off Richland Avenue onto one-way Bee Lane, before taking a left onto the new one-way Pascalis Alley. Drivers would then turn left to enter the parking structure.

The plan also calls for some parking under the conference center, the entrance of which would be across from the parking structure entrance on Pascalis Alley. At this early stage, the developers are thinking between 25 and 30 spaces.

To exit the parking structure, drivers would turn onto Pascalis Alley and cross over Newberry Street onto a new connector road leading to Chesterfield Street S.

Newberry Street

One of the biggest changes seen in the proposed plan involves Newberry Street. Currently, the street has a northbound lane and a southbound lane, separated by a walkway.

The vision is that the southbound lane, the side closest to The Alley, would be torn up and built on top of, including widened sidewalks. The existing sidewalks along the street have a 10-foot width, while the new ones would be around 22-24 feet.

Newberry Street would be reduced to one side, the northbound lane closest to the Amentum Center for the Performing Arts. It is yet to be decided if that street would continue to be a one-way, as it currently is, or if it would become a two-way.

There would still be street parking available on Newberry.

On the side of Newberry Street being repurposed, O'Briant mentioned creating a "festival center that is green and full of plantings and water features" near corner where Newberry Street intersects with Park Avenue.

Newberry Hall and Warneke Cleaners, two businesses on Newberry Street, would be impacted should these new structures arise.

Hotel Aiken demolished?

There have been discussions about what to do with Hotel Aiken, whether that's demolishing the existing structure and building a new one or renovating what's already there.

The application for approval for demolition the Design Review Board will consider Tuesday shows the route the developers have chosen.

A structural assessment was performed on the building in early January by Taylor and Viola Structural Engineers, out of Charlotte, North Carolina, to "assess the condition of the existing structure and evaluate the building for future occupancy."

Overall, the analysis concludes that "much of the building can be preserved if desired, but it should be expected that preservation measure would be extensive in nature."

"The issues (raised in the report) about the structural integrity of the building are very major issues, especially when we look at the viability of renovating, what we would get and how much money it would cost to get there," said Ham.

Likewise, McDonald Law, chair of the Aiken Design Review Board, has previously said there are a number of things that would have to be overcome if the decision was made to renovate the building rather than demolish and rebuild.

Keep in mind with all of this, everything that these guys have brought and have drawn, its all subject to change," said O'Briant.
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Sunday marks the beginning of a new dawn at the Savannah River Site.

That's the day Savannah River Mission Completion's contract starts, taking over the site's radioactive liquid waste work from Savannah River Remediation.

Dave Olson will be the president and program manager for SRMC. Olson is no stranger to the site, having previously served as the executive vice president, National Nuclear Security Administration Capital Projects at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

He also established the plutonium pit mission at SRS.

Growing up on a farm in Minnesota, Olson attended the University of Minnesota  Twin Cities, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. After college, he was hired by DuPont to work at the site in 1981.

"I was gonna stay for two years," Olson said with a smile. "Two became 32."

He left the area in 2013 to work in Washington, before going to Greenville and returning to the CSRA in 2018.

As the 90-day transition period from SRR to SRMC has twilighted, Olson said he and his team are ready to go. This is his seventh contract transition, and he described it as the most efficient and seamless one he's done.

"(I'm) most excited about taking a handoff from a well-running contract before us and continuing that momentum," Olson said. "Then, getting our hands on the ground, interacting with the folks that will be working with us."

As SRMC begins its work, Olson is committed to the continuation of doing "things safely and in a disciplined way." He also mentioned a new phrase, "power as one."

"Not power of one, but as one," he explained, before continuing, "One company, one contractor, one workforce, one vision, one mission, one way of doing business. So, now we'll just get all those parts integrated and running as efficiently as possible."

Outside his work at SRMC, Olson said he and his wife enjoy antiquing. He also enjoys visiting Hilton Head Island.

Olson will also be doing some adjunct teaching at Columbia International University in Columbia, as he earned a doctorate in business administration several years ago.

Overall, Olson said he and his team are invested in this area, both personally and professionally. SRMC plans to support the community through a few different avenues, including small business outreach, financial gifts and volunteering.

Olson specifically plans to develop a strong relationship with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the area, which he said he previously did when he worked at the site.

"We'll continue to do what the prior contractor did well, which was safely perform the mission," he said. "Our mission is to get it to the end, to build off of their momentum, stand on their shoulders and finish with the goal of in the next decade to 15 years to no longer be talking about this risk (of liquid waste) in South Carolina."
It's been one year since Boeing workers in Washington state assembled their last Dreamliner, leaving North Charleston as the sole manufacturing site for the 787 program.

The consolidation was held up as a big opportunity for the Palmetto State, but the pandemic and production issues have dampened that win, at least in the near-term.

At the time the last Everett, Wash.-made Dreamliner rolled off the production line on Feb. 26, 2021, deliveries of the widebody had been stopped for almost four months because of production problems.

And despite the fact that Boeing's South Carolina plant was taking over all 787 production, the plant would be slowing its assembly pace. Production rate cuts tied to the pandemic bled into slowdowns caused by quality problems, and, at the time, Boeing said it was going to be making five jets per month in North Charleston.

A year later, the 787 program is still grappling with issues and waiting for approval to resume deliveries, and it's making fewer aircraft.

During inspections of the jet, Boeing continued to find more nonconformities to fix in its undelivered fleet of planes, adding to the growing list of rework tasks.

Deliveries have been stopped for all but two of the last 16 months, and production has slowed to the point where Boeing described the rates as "very low," saying they'll return to five a month gradually.

The announcement

When Boeing announced in October 2020 that it would consolidate 787 work in South Carolina, the pandemic was still the dominant challenge facing the jet program, though it would quickly be usurped by the production problems that first halted deliveries of the jet later that fall.

But Boeing hadn't yet stopped 787 deliveries  it had warned of delays, though, in September 2020  and it wasn't clear at the time how widespread the manufacturing problems plaguing the program were.

The decision to shift all 787 assembly to South Carolina wasn't a surprise, since many analysts pointed to the potential cost-saving opportunities that came with that choice, but labor leaders and some state officials who had advocated up to the end for Boeing to keep its original line in Washington state quickly criticized the move.

In South Carolina, the news was praised by state and business leaders as a big win. Gov. Henry McMaster made reference to "perhaps thousands of jobs" the state could get because of it, though new jobs weren't likely at the time. Boeing had been making major employment cuts companywide because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

About a month before the consolidation was made official, the airframer released its annual employment counts showing it had shed 1,163 jobs in South Carolina over the course of 2020. Last year, employment was steadier but still dropped, and Boeing's workforce in South Carolina at the beginning of 2022 was down about 25 percent compared to January 2019, when Boeing rolled out its peak 14-per-month rate, then split between the two 787 sites.

Resolving 787 issues

North Charleston deliveries of the Dreamliner are typically tallied on South Carolina's annual report of exports, but the figure was left off this year, likely because it fell to single digits in 2021.

The timing of an eventual restart to 787 deliveries is still unknown.

Boeing has declined to give an estimate in deference to the Federal Aviation Administration, which has to sign off on it.

An executive at American Airlines had said the first of the carrier's delayed 787s should be arriving in the spring, but that estimate has since changed. The company said last weekend that the aircraft it had hoped would get to the company by April weren't likely to arrive by then, prompting it to make further cuts from its summer flight schedule.

Citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal recently reported 787 deliveries likely won't resume until early summer.

When they do, federal regulators will be the ones doing final flight checks on the 787s, a task that's typically handled by certain Boeing employees authorized to work on behalf of the FAA. Having that extra oversight will allow the agency to "confirm the effectiveness of measures Boeing has undertaken" to improve the 787 production line, the FAA said Feb. 15.

A couple days after that announcement, outgoing FAA administrator Steve Dickson said the safety agency needs to see a "systemic fix" from Boeing for its production process, according a recent report from Reuters.

He'd also added that he hasn't had any issues with Boeing's leadership in the last year and that it's "headed in the right direction."

Throughout the last 18 months of handling 787 production issues, Boeing leaders have often repeated the same refrain: that the negative impacts happening now  the delays in deliveries, billions of dollars in costs and disrupted production  are near-term challenges with long-term payoffs for the Dreamliner.

"While this hurts in the near term, we still believe it's the right thing to do because long term, we're going to sell a lot of these 787s for decades," Boeing finance chief Brian West said during the company's most recent quarterly earnings call. "So, we've just got to work our way through this."

On the same call CEO Dave Calhoun said he still feels "fantastic" about the future of the 787.

"This is a great product line and a competitive product, and as soon as we begin delivery, we feel very good about the ultimate recovery," he said.

The next jet

While much of 2022 is going to be about resolving issues for the 787 program and seeing through the return of the 737 Max, analysts have been saying the planemaker needs to look to the future.

Michel Merluzeau, an analyst for AIR, said at this month's Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance that he thinks Boeing will announce a new jet to compete with the Airbus A321neo by next year.

A big question is where that jet would be built.

The Palmetto State is definitely a contender, but "the competition is going to be significant," Merluzeau told The Post and Courier.

The Puget Sound area also is in the running, he said, given the company's long-established footprint in the Pacific Northwest, but it might make more sense to build new so-called greenfield factories rather than retrofit existing plants so they can handle the more automated production systems that a new aircraft would require.

The cost of labor in the Seattle area  a topic often brought up by analysts comparing Everett and North Charleston when the 787 consolidation plan was being considered  also works against that region.

Boeing would likely turn to Texas, Alabama or South Carolina for new factory development, Merluzeau said.

Texas, in particular, seems attractive, he said. Along with land availability and the fiscal environment, it probably has the best potential for workers.

Suppliers' top concern right now, Merluzeau said, is the ability to find and retain talent.

"South Carolina is not necessarily at a disadvantage," Merluzeau said, but no location seems to have it in the bag, so that question of where Boeing's next jet will be built is one that's likely to keep generating debate until the planemaker makes a decision.

But, for now, 2022 is going to be Boeing's "year of stabilization," he said: Fix the 787 issues, deliver 737 Max jets and get cash flow back on track.
A deteriorated Charleston single house  believed to have been built in the 1800s on the peninsula  is unsafe, unsalvageable and should be torn down, according to a consulting engineer.

A preservation group believes the structure deserves further study.

The property owner, through attorney Jonathan S. Altman, was poised to ask the city's Board of Architectural Review on Feb. 24 for permission to demolish the boarded-up and overgrown structure at 34 Percy St., but the applicant withdrew the request before the meeting. Altman did not respond to requests for comment on Feb. 25.

The weathered house is between Line and Bogard streets, not far from the Septima P. Clark Expressway.

Consulting engineer Russell Rosen of Rosen & Associates said in his report after inspecting the property, "Multiple sections of the floors and ceilings have collapsed. There are significant openings in the walls and roof."

He deemed the building unsafe. The city fire department has placed a safety marker on the structure to notify rescue personnel not to enter.

"Based on our observations, very little, if any original fabric can be salvaged or incorporated in a renovation," Rosen said. "Our opinion is that the building must be demolished."

"While the property has undergone insensitive alterations, the building still retains its characteristic single house form, as well as a significant amount of historic material," said Erin Minnigan of the Preservation Society of Charleston.

"This house is an early survivor along Percy Street and contributes to the historic character of the streetscape and neighborhood at large," she said. "Having seen many examples of buildings in similar or worse conditions successfully rehabilitated, we encourage further study of options for the buildings preservation."

Changing hands

Three self-storage units in the Charleston area recently sold for $25.5 million as part of a $55 million portfolio sale that included locations in Covington, Ga., and Cary, N.C.

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REIT Extra Space Storage of Utah bought the Space Shop Self Storage sites at 208 St. James Ave. in Goose Creek for $10 million, 3781 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston for $6 million and 434 Orangeburg Road in Summerville for $9.5 million. The sellers were affiliates of Stein Investment Group of Atlanta, according to land records in Berkeley and Dorchester counties.

Extra Space also bought four other Peach State locations in Atlanta, Chamblee and Cumming from Stein for $82 million, bringing the total sale of all nine facilities to $137 million.

On the Waterfront

A new collection of condominiums is slated for construction in a growing development on Daniel Island.

Colorado-based East West Partners plans to build 41 units ranging from 1,220 to 3,400 square feet in three buildings as part of the second phase in the mixed-use Waterfront community. One building will have 18 residences; the other two will have 11 and 12.

Prices will go from the $600,000s to $3.6 million. Sales contracts will be accepted in March.

"New construction waterfront properties are increasingly rare in the Charleston area," said Miller Harper, managing partner at East West.

The first phase of development, completed last summer, included 58 townhomes and condominiums. All but one two-bedroom unit has sold, according to East West.

The master plan calls for three more phases of construction.
The price for finding someone to run Santee Cooper has more than doubled in recent years, with a state oversight agency this week approving a $1.4 million annual salary for the incoming chief executive.

The S.C. Agency Head Salary Commission on Feb. 24 approved the pay for Jimmy Staton, a power and natural gas executive from Kentucky who'll occupy the corner office at the electric and water utility's Moncks Corner headquarters starting next week.

Santee Cooper's board of directors has proposed bonuses of up to $250,000 depending on Staton's performance, but that would need additional commission approval. Any other compensation, such as a car allowance, would also need to go before the salary agency.

A Santee Cooper spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Feb. 25.

The $1.4 million salary is more than the $1.1 million that Santee Cooper paid its previous CEO, Mark Bonsall, who took over the utility in 2019 after the failed expansion of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station saddled ratepayers with several billion dollars in debt. Bonsall handed off the reins when his contract expired in January to Charlie Duckworth, who is filling the role on an interim basis.

The V.C. Summer fallout cost longtime CEO Lonnie Carter his job, with the former Santee Cooper executive deciding to retire in August 2017, a few weeks after the project collapsed. During his final full year at Santee Cooper, Carter was paid an annual salary of $527,187  less than half the amount Staton will make.

Santee Cooper was a minority partner with South Carolina Electric & Gas in the expansion of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Fairfield County. Its abandonment in 2017  after nearly a decade of delays and cost overruns that raised the bill to more than $9 billion  led the former head of SCE&G's parent company SCANA Corp., Kevin Marsh, to plead guilty to fraud. Marsh was sentenced in October to two years in prison.

The nuclear debacle also brought Santee Cooper under greater scrutiny in the Legislature, with some lawmakers advocating selling off the agency that was created during the New Deal to deliver electricity to the South Carolina's rural areas. They ultimately adopted a reform package that became law last year that regulates some of Santee Cooper's day-to-day business operations, such as taking on new debt.

The utility's board hired Staton in December from a pool of 27 candidates that was whittled down to 19 and then a final three. He starts Tuesday.

"In addition to his deep experience in all aspects of electric utility operations, Jimmy brings specific successes in areas that are key for Santee Cooper, including rebuilding trust with our key stakeholders and continuing to keep operating costs down," Peter McCoy, Santee Cooper's board chairman, said in a statement when Staton was hired.

The salary commission was created in 1984 to compile salary ranges and provide oversight for the compensation paid to leaders of dozens of state agencies, technical colleges and public universities. The pay for Santee Cooper's CEO was added to the list in 2021 as part of the reform package.
GEORGETOWN  The mission statement of the YMCA reads, "To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all."

But to Executive Director Kait Johnson of the Georgetown County Family YMCA, her facility's hours were not living up to the Y's mission statement, especially the final two words.

In an effort to fix that, adult members of the Georgetown County Family YMCA will soon be able to apply for a key fob  for an extra $5 per month  allowing them 24/7 access to the building starting March 1, a step that Johnson said will make her YMCA the only one in South Carolina that runs all day, every day.

Johnson said the transition was about a year in the making.

"Our facility normally runs on a 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. schedule, essentially, during the week, and we have some operating hours on the weekends," Johnson told Georgetown Times. "But we understand the community in regards to the work environment. So we have a lot of shift work in this area. ... And one of the main things that we identified was, if they're working second or third shift, they can't utilize the Y's services or the Y's facilities."

Though most of the facility will be accessible for members afterhours, the pool, locker rooms and the second group exercise room will be closed when staff are not around for safety reasons, Johnson said.

"When we were coming up with this project for the 24/7, safety was the number one thing that we kept at the forefront, because we knew that was important," Johnson said. To that end, the parking lot's lighting has been upgraded and extra patrols by the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office are planned.

Jamie Harris serves as aquatics coordinator for the facility and oversees its wellness floor. Harris said many of his friends work odd hours that leave them with free time late at night, and added that the switch to 24/7 access will help him personally as a bodybuilder.

"I know it's going to be super convenient for me because a lot of times I'm left out of a place to train on Sundays because I only have a membership at the Y, so the fact that now it's going to be open on Sundays is a great opportunity for me to stick to the consistency of my splits and stuff like that," Harris said.
LORIS  A former North Carolina police chief thought dead after he resigned last year amid misconduct charges was arrested in Loris this week.

William Anthony Spivey, who led the Chadbourn Police Department for three years, is facing more than 70 felony charges, including evidence mishandling, drug trafficking and embezzlement after chase that started with an abandoned boat in a North Carolina river.

Spivey, 36, has been in trouble for close to a year.

He was forced to resign as police chief in the town of nearly 1,800 about an hours drive from Myrtle Beach in April after a misconduct investigation by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. He was indicted on the charges in May and released on a $500,000 bond in August.

While working as mechanic in Tabor City, he arrested again in January for allegedly stealing catalytic converters from an auto repair shop, according to reports by WECT-TV.

Spivey did not show up for a scheduled court date on Feb. 21. He was reported missing by relatives the same day after failing to return from a fishing trip in the Lumber River in Fair Bluff, authorities said.

His abandoned boat, still in the river, and a nearby truck were found that same day by authorities.

After collecting evidence from the scene, including handwritten letters and a rifle with a discharged round still inside, investigators determined that the incident was not a possible suicide despite claims from family members, authorities said.

As investigators collected video from surveillance systems and conducted interviews, it became even more apparent that the scene on the river was staged, a Facebook post from the Columbus County Sheriffs Office said.

While searching for Spivey with dive and tracking teams, criminal investigators were conducting a separate investigation.

An arrest warrant was issued on Feb. 23 and soon after, authorities received a tip that he was in South Carolina.

Nearly 25 miles south from where his boat was found, Spivey was spotted at an apartment complex on Watson Heritage Road in Loris by police officers around 12:45 a.m. on Feb. 24 and arrested in the nearby woods after attempting to run away, police said.

He was taken to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway and later released to Columbus County authorities on Feb. 25.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
If youre not frustrated with the federal government, youre not paying attention. And thats not a partisan statement. Its a statement that could have been made just as easily when Republicans were in charge.

Even if you agree with whichever party happens to be in power at a given moment, the fact is that the Congress has become largely dysfunctional, incapable of passing any but the most urgent measures  or the measures that the majority in its myopic view considers most urgent.

Conservatives long have complained that Washington usurps the rights of states, and during the Trump administration liberals joined in that complaint.

And although some liberals are perfectly comfortable with the bottomless borrowing, most Americans are horrified by the deficit spending that we keep thinking cant get any worse  until it does.

So we can understand why some people would turn up in tears at the Statehouse, pleading with our legislators to add South Carolina to the list of states working to implement what they have come to believe is the only possible solution: a convention of the states.

And maybe theyre right: Maybe if 34 state legislatures petition the Congress under Article V of the U.S. Constitution for a new constitutional convention, the resulting gathering would stick to the limitations spelled out by the states and propose only constitutional amendments to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.

Maybe the convention would stick to the rules in our current Constitution, which say those changes must be ratified by 38 states.

Maybe all that would happen just like the conservative supporters who testified last week in support of H.3205 envision, all of our problems would be solved, and wed all live happily ever after. Kumbaya.

But maybe it wouldnt work that way. Maybe wed discover that such constitutional scholars as the late Chief Justice Warren Burger and the late Associate Justice Antonin Scalia knew what they were talking about when they warned that once a constitutional convention convened, there would be no way to constrain it. (Although supporters say those warnings were uninformed, the U.S. Supreme Court is the only institution that might be able to stop a runaway convention, and the only people who have any certainty that it could are the people lobbying for a convention.)

Maybe, as equally sincere conservatives and a smattering of liberals who showed up at the Statehouse last week testified, the convention of the states would decide to throw out the entire Constitution and write something from scratch. Maybe something supported by the extremists on the left, who want to eliminate the Second Amendment right to bear arms, guarantee a universal basic income to everyone and abolish the Electoral College and state governments. Maybe something supported by the extremists on the right, who want to make Christianity the official religion of the United States, declare that life begins at conception and install Donald Trump as president for life.

And maybe, having adopted either of those extremist constitutions, the convention would also eliminate the 38-state requirement and declare that our current Constitution would be replaced once its approved by a simple majority of states.

There is, after all, precedent for that runaway convention: The last such gathering, in 1787, broke every legal restraint designed by the Continental Congress to limit the gathering's power and agenda. It was supposed to propose modest changes to the Articles of Confederation under which our young republic was operating; instead, it wrote our current Constitution (except for the amendments, which came over the years). The articles under which it was called required that all 13 states ratify any changes; the convention changed that to the current three-fourths requirement, and the new Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation when that lower threshold was passed.

To be clear, we dont think the doomsday scenario is particularly likely  mainly because, as divided as our nation is today, we doubt the delegates to a convention could agree to much of anything, much less that states would go along with their proposed changes.

But given how unlikely it is to accomplish the goals of its backers, we also dont believe its worth taking the chance. The Senate should reject H.3205, and the companion Senate measures that the upper chambers Judiciary Committee approved on Tuesday.

Then-Gov. Mark Sanford and the Republican-led Legislature were right in 2004, when they rescinded the Democratic Legislature's 1976 call for a constitutional convention, declaring that there is great danger in opening the Constitution to sweeping changes, the adoption of which would only create legal chaos in this nation as well as an imminent peril to the well-established rights of the citizens and the duties of various levels of government.
DHEC has been taking baby steps all year away from its Code Red COVID-19 guidance for schools, and the interval between those steps was getting so small that it was hard to keep up. But Tuesdays announcement wasnt a baby step. It was a pole vault, and were still trying to process all its implications.

Lets start with the on-its-face part: As soon as this week, close contact will cease being a thing in many and perhaps most of South Carolinas schools and day cares. So too, as a result, will quarantines, masking after quarantine and even last months test-to-stay policy that many school officials were still trying to wrap their minds around.

The new rules: If youre showing symptoms, stay home. If you think you have COVID but aren't visibly ill, please stay home. If youve been hanging out with somebody whos sick but youre not, it would be great for you to test, but its your call  and if you want to keep coming to school without testing, or masking, or warning anybody, well, thats your choice, too.

The requirements, the agency announced, will be similar, but not identical, to our pre-COVID-19 guidance for influenza, which requires students to stay out of school until they go 24 hours without a fever, but says nothing about other students who might be infected  in no small part because there are so few asymptomatic flu carriers.

Our states public health agency even described COVID-19 using the E-word: endemic. Which is what public health officials have been saying for the past year that COVID would become. Eventually.

DHEC didnt actually say it was downgrading COVID from pandemic to endemic  something it doesnt have the authority to do. It said the updated guidance recognizes that COVID-19 is an illness that we now need to treat and manage as endemic, and will help our schools, childcare centers, and ultimately all of us make that transition.

While there are standard definitions that distinguish epidemic, pandemic and endemic, theres no question that even people who take COVID seriously are reaching the point of endemic-think. Even the blue states that had mask requirements are dropping them. On Thursday, Great Britain dropped all of its COVID restrictions, including a smart one that required people who were infected to stay home and that covered the pay for the low-income infected during their mandatory isolation period.

These changes are fulfilling the prediction of a health economist who wrote in last months issue of the British-based medical journal The Lancet that the extraordinary societal efforts over the past two years to respond to a new pathogen that have changed how individuals live their lives and how policy responses have developed in governments around the world  his definition of pandemic  would come to an end as omicron subsided, although COVID-19 would remain with us.

The importance of that last part cant be overstated. It would be great if we could get the toll of COVID down to that of the flu. And to be clear, were nowhere near that in South Carolina, where so far this year six people have died from influenza  six, total, all year  compared to more than 1,800 from COVID. But even when we get to that point, it wont mean its time to burn our masks and retreat from social distancing and start going out in public again when we get some sort of virus.

As long as COVID is with us, we need to take the precautions that arent required: wearing masks when transmission is high and giving most other people their space and, yes, absolutely, if we havent done it, getting vaccinated.

And even when we get to the point where COVID turns into the common cold, like so many previous coronaviruses, we will need to take the precaution that so many of us didnt take in the pre-COVID world: staying home whenever were infected with any possibly transmissible disease and, if we absolutely have to be around other people, taking other precautions to protect them from our infection.

Just because the government or our employers dont require us to do something doesnt mean we don't need to do it. It just means they dont think the hospitals will collapse if we dont have sense enough to do it on our own.
A recent federal report says that the sea is rising three times as fast as the 1-foot rate of the past 100 years.

We are told that the next 30 years will bring an average of another foot worldwide.

Sea level is not the same everywhere, nor does the sea rise at the same rate everywhere.

Thus the Lowcountry may experience 14 or 15 inches of rising seas by 2050.

We are not helpless in the face of this challenge.

If one looks at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on its website, projections are in ranges, not fixed predictions.

In part, those ranges reflect unknowns in natural forces. Human are the big unknown.

What will we do?

If nothing, a lot of shoreline will be lost, our military bases could be compromised or moved and we would suffer 10 times as many damaging flood events, all because of rising temperatures that expand the water and melt the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.

We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the rate of temperature increase and sea level rise. Every degree of heat and inch of water counts.

Public policy can implement a market-based approach to deploy renewable energy and stimulate innovation. With action at the federal level and commitment from everyday citizens, the next 30 years will bring the energy transformation we need.

First, we should all be informed. Take a look at the report.

Then write the president and call or write your senators and congressional representatives.

Urge leaders at every level to take action. Dont wait to see what happens.

TIM JOY

Citizens Climate Lobby

Beaufort

Resolve port dispute

Amid all of the hand-waving and obfuscation about supply chain problems, the record number of ships waiting to unload in Charleston comes down to one basic fact: the South Carolina State Ports Authority has failed to resolve the labor dispute at the new Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston.

Consequently, as The Post and Courier reports, this billion-dollar investment is operating at less than 20% of its capacity.

Gov. Henry McMaster and local legislators have an obligation to step in and resolve the labor union issue now so the Leatherman Terminal can be fully utilized. It is important that citizens and taxpayers understand the Ports Authoritys intransigence on this issue is creating traffic congestion that could be avoidable.

Last year, the authority paid truckers $33.7 million to haul more than 320,000 containers from the Wando terminal across the Wando and Cooper rivers on I-526 to the North Charleston rail yards, an average of $104 per container.

Now the SPA is asking the state for $150 million to shift containers from trucks traveling over I-526 to barges crossing the two rivers.

The authority forecasts this barge program will lose $129 million by 2037. This type of operation has not been successful anywhere in the country. The obvious solution to this debacle is for the SPA to use the Leatherman Terminal as its primary container operation, allowing direct access to the rail lines in North Charleston.

FRANK HEINDEL

Mount Pleasant

Library asking for more

I was shocked to see Angela Craig, executive director of the Charleston County Public Library, on WCIV-TV's Lowcountry Live program recently where she called for community funds for Project: Main at the Main Library in downtown Charleston.

The project hopes to raise $12.4 million to supplement money provided by the 2014 referendum to help the Main Library keep pace with the systems new and renovated library spaces.

There is $9 million available in public funds for the Main Librarys renovation. And $108.5 million of taxpayer funds were already approved and allocated for the renovation and building of new libraries.

In a season of financial hardships and personal challenges for many, this call for public funding is egregious and without sensitivity at best. And at worst, it reveals a lack of leadership, long-term vision, fiscal responsibility and stewardship of the funds already earmarked for the library system.

Full accountability and deep gratitude for what was already given is what is in order here, not the librarys Board of Trustees brainstorming of Project: Main and a plea for additional funding.

We can do better. Charleston County deserves better.

JACKIE MORFESIS

Charleston
FLORENCE  Donald Trump is coming back to South Carolina.

The former president announced late on Feb. 25 that he would be holding a rally in Florence on March 12, a Saturday, likely in support of his endorsed candidates Katie Arrington and state Rep. Russell Fry in their bids against incumbent Republican members of Congress Nancy Mace and Tom Rice.

The event starts at 7 p.m. at the Florence airport.

"After a year of crises and failures from the Biden administration, it's no surprise folks are eager to rally behind a Republican, America First agenda," South Carolina GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said in a statement announcing the rally.

"That's why we're excited to welcome President Trump back to South Carolina," he added.

McKissick noted the Florence region has been turning red in recent times.

"Under President Trump's leadership, our party saw exponential growth everywhere, but particularly in rural, historically Democrat Pee Dee counties," he said.

The announcement comes just days after Arrington and Fry attended a fundraiser for Trumps Save America political action committee at Mar-a-Lago where the two candidates rubbed shoulders with other Republican candidates Trump has favored in various GOP primary races around the country.

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Arrington, a former state lawmaker, was endorsed by the former president after Mace made comments critical of Trump following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

The onetime Department of Defense official has since made comments echoing Trumps unproven statements that the 2020 election was stolen from him. She has also made the rounds of various county Republican groups in the Lowcountry pitching herself as a viable alternative to Mace in the June 14 primary.

Chris D'Anna, a spokesperson for the Arrington campaign, declined to comment on specific details of the rally or what Arrington's involvement would be.

Florence is also within Rice's 7th District. Rice has been targeted by Trump for being one of 10 Republicans to vote for his impeachment for sparking the riot at the Capitol Jan. 6.

"America First patriots, myself included, look forward to welcoming President Trump back to the 7th Congressional District," Fry said in a statement. "This is Trump Country and I'm honored to have his support in the fight to take back Congress from radical liberals and RINOs like Tom Rice."

The campaign in the 7th Congressional District has been drawn on similar lines to that in the 1st District. While Fry has claimed the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, Rice has said that he regretted voting not to certify the results of the 2020 election in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.

The March 12 rally will be Trump's first South Carolina appearance since a Feb. 28, 2020, rally at the North Charleston Coliseum.
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
This afternoon a Federal District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, handed down a summary judgment in favor of parents who sued Fairfax County Public Schools for the recent changes in the admissions process for Thomas Jefferson High School, the extremely selective public high school that emphasizes math and science.

The case, Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board, strikes a significant blow to race-conscious policies in education. The County Board had junked the admissions test system that had previously governed adopted a holistic admissions process in favor of a holistic system that is a euphemism for admission quotas. The opinion uses the traditional civil rights device of disparate impact against the race-mongers, which was eventually going to happen:

From the opinion by Judge Claude M. Hilton (a Reagan appointee):

Throughout this process, Board members and high-level FCPS officials expressed their desire to remake TJ admissions because they were dissatisfied with the racial composition of the school. A means to accomplish their goal of achieving racial balance was the decrease enrollment of the only racial group overrepresented at TJAsian-Americans. The Board employed proxies that disproportionately burden Asian-American students. Asian Americans received far fewer offers to TJ after the Boards admissions policy overhaul. . . This case presents substantial evidence of disparate impact. The undisputed evidence demonstrates precisely how the Boards actions caused, and will continue to cause, substantial racial impact. The Board instituted a system that does not treat all applicants to TJ equally. . . It is clear that Asian-American students are disproportionately harmed by the Boards decision to overhaul TJ admissions. Currently and in the future, Asian-American applicants are disproportionately deprived of a level playing field in competing for both allocated and unallocated seats. Placing the Boards actions in historical context leaves little doubt that its decision to overhaul the TJ admissions process was racially motivated.

Some of the opinion rests on the rushed and deceptive process by which the Fairfax County School Board planned and implemented the changes (this was done to demonstrate the Boards illegal racial motivation), but much of the opinion shows how the Boards new policy exceeded even the lenient provisions of past Supreme Court opinions in race in admissions.

This would seem like an omen for the Harvard and UNC admissions cases pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. It will be interesting to see whether FCPS appeals the case.

Kudos to our friends at the Pacific Legal Foundation who pursued the case in behalf of 200 Virginia families.
Do presidents matter? Why, yes, they do. War has broken out in Europe, but Joe Biden is too wearyor somethingto deal with it:

Joe Biden is now scheduled to LEAVE the White House TODAY at 5:30pm to spend the weekend in DELAWARE. War is brewing in Europe but Brandon has to take his naps and have his warm apple sauce away from every advisor possible.  Benny (@bennyjohnson) February 25, 2022



As pretty much everyone has pointed out, Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea when Barack Obama was president (and Joe Biden was Vice President), did nothing while Donald Trump was president, and then invaded Ukraine while Joe Biden is ostensibly at the wheel. Coincidence? Funny how the Biden administration is a cascading series of unhappy coincidences.

This story about Trump is making the rounds:

One has it that Trump  noting that Putin seized land from Georgia when George W. Bush was president and seized the Crimean peninsula when Barack Obama was president  warned Putin against a land grab on his watch. If you move against Ukraine while Im president, Trump is said to have told the Russian leader, I will hit Moscow.

Is it true? I doubt it, especially if Trump is the only source. But even if that anecdote is exaggerated or made up out of whole cloth, the broader point may be valid. Unpredictability is a good thing in a world leader. I think it is quite plausible that the Russians stayed their hand during the Trump administration because it was hard to tell what that unorthodox, aggressive and pro-American character might do.

Also, it is good when your chief executive is not senile, incompetent and corrupt.

There are a number of inspiring stories coming out of Ukraine. This is just one:

All Ukrainian border guards protecting a tiny island in the Black Sea from Russian invaders were killed yesterday after refusing to surrender to warmonger Vladimir Putins forces and defiantly telling a Kremlin warship: Go f**k yourselves!. The small contingent of soldiers, reportedly 13 in number, were posted on Snake Island in the Odessa region near NATO ally Romania and were defending the territory after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine early Thursday morning. In a radio message, the soldiers were told by a sailor on board the vessel: This is Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed. However, the Ukrainian troops defiantly refused to give up the territory, and instead replied: Go f**k yourselves!.

Lets stipulate that the U.S. and NATO are not going to intervene in Ukraine to oppose the Russian takeover. It nevertheless seems that a halfway-competent U.S. president could take stories of this kind and use them to encourage Ukrainian resistance and to bring condemnation and meaningful counter-measures down on Putin and his minions. But Joe Biden is too tired, apparently, to do any of that. And to be fair, he has never inspired anyone to do anything.

The Ukrainians, on the other hand, have a leader at the helm. He may be a former comedian, but Volodymyr Zelensky has stood tall for his country in circumstances that likely will cost him his life. He was offered transit out of Ukraine by the U.S. government, but declined:

"I need ammunition, not a ride."  Ukrainian President Zelensky Hero.  ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) February 26, 2022



Some people know how to lead in a moment of crisis, others dont. Unfortunately, our president is a pitiful failure who has no clue.
Heres an interesting Twitter thread from someone named Riho Terras, a member of the European Parliament, posted a few hours ago. Obviously were not in any position to vouch for the accuracy of this thread (and some of it seems dubious), but pass it along in the interest of broad coverage:

THREAD 1/7 Intel from a Ukrainian officer about a meeting in Putins lair in Urals. Oligarchs convened there so no one would flee. Putin is furious, he thought that the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days.

Russians didnt have a tactical plan. The war costs about $20 bln/day. There are rockets for 3-4 days at most, they use them sparingly. They lack weapons, the Tula and 2 Rotenberg plants cant physically fulfil the orders for weapons. Rifles and ammo are the most they can do.

The next Russian weapons can be produced in 3-4 months  if even that. They have no raw materials. What was previously supplied mainly from Slovenia, Finland and Germany is now cut off.

If Ukraine manages to hold the Russians off for 10 days, then the Russians will have to enter negotiations. Because they have no money, weapons, or resources. Nevertheless, they are indifferent about the sanctions.

Alpha Spec Ops have been near Kyiv since the 18th February. The goal was to take Kyiv and instal a puppet regime. They are preparing provocations against innocent civilians  women and children  to sow panic. This is their trump card.

Russias whole plan relies on panic  that the civilians and armed forces surrender and Zelensky flees. They expect Kharkiv to surrender first so the other cities would follow suit to avoid bloodshed. The Russians are in shock of the fierce resistance they have encountered.

The Ukrainians must avoid panic! The missile strikes are for intimidation, the Russians fire them at random to accidentally hit residential buildings to make the attack look larger than it really is. Ukraine must stay strong and we must provide assistance!

Spread this information so the world would realise how important it is to assist Ukraine right now and without hesitation! It is difficult for Russia, but it is difficult for Ukraine as well if the West does not provide meaningul support! @EPPGroup@MFAestonia @MoD_Estonia
I dont think there is a better place to follow breaking news than Twitter. I cant vouch for the authenticity or accuracy of the videos, but these six tweets show up on my feed directly or indirectly via sources I have chosen to follow. Marc Thiessen and Michael Doran are of interest, as always. Each of the four following theirs is worth a look.

UDPATE: The AP has just posted a scrupulous summary Sorting fact, disinformation after Russian attack on Ukraine. As I write, the APs most recent story is Emily Shultheiss round-up What to know as Russian forces target Kyiv.

We purchase 538,000 barrels of Russian oil a day. At $100/barrel thats $53,800,000 in hard currency a day-money that is directly subsidizing Putins war on Ukraine. Cut off Russia now.  Marc Thiessen  (@marcthiessen) February 26, 2022

The Ukrainian Army annihilated a Russian military column near Kherson this morning. Looks like the Ukrainian artillery and Javelins are still working hard. Looks like dozens of Russian fatalities just in this attack.  pic.twitter.com/8ZlGaLwnpm  Visegrad 24  (@visegrad24) February 26, 2022

Remember when Trudeau went into hiding because people were honking their horns? pic.twitter.com/A2anA9dkU7  Anna James Zeigler (@ajzeigler) February 26, 2022

A priceless exchange of a brave Ukrainian citizen with Russian army stuck out of fuel. ENGLISH SUBTITLES. [Thanks to my Ukrainian friend for transcription and translation] pic.twitter.com/Rar3WRXEwD  Ali  (@aliostad) February 26, 2022

If someone's documenting Russian war crimes, here's a video from a Ukrainian paramedic from outside Kherson. Russian troops hit the ambulance carrying wounded people. pic.twitter.com/pM3u1TDEvC  Tadeusz Giczan  (@TadeuszGiczan) February 26, 2022

A TWITTER/YOUTUBE UPDATE: Need I add that the usual caveats apply? Also showing up in my feed is this reminder.

A lot of people asked me why I posted about ignoring the Ukrainian/Russian war. I don't know war, but I do know media, and everything about how the war is being covered is sending up major red flags to me. Two quick examples:  Tucker Max (@TuckerMax) February 26, 2022

When former CIA dudes tell you things are weird, manshit is WEIRD: https://t.co/uVbBQcLMwp  Tucker Max (@TuckerMax) February 26, 2022

This is the most recent statement I can find by President Zelensky, from early this morning, via the YouTube channel of Professor Michael Rossi of Long Island University.

LAST WORD: I strongly commend the daily Institute for the Study of War February 26 update for a realistic assessment of where things stand now.
Things dont seem to be going as smoothly for the Russian army as Putin had anticipated. This article in the London Times sums up the situation on the ground and is consistent with other accounts I have seen:

Pentagon officials said that Russian forces had lost momentum and were not advancing as quickly as their intelligence estimates had predicted. They are not moving on Kyiv as fast as they anticipated it going, one said. Despite Russian forces assaulting air defence and missile systems, Ukraines air force was flying sorties. The countrys Ministry of Defence celebrated the reporting for duty of dozens of former pilots.

There are lots of stories of Ukrainian heroism; I wont try to itemize them here. But if Putin thought the Ukrainians would roll over, he must be surprised. Ukraines Foreign Minister is defiant:

After rejecting an offer from Zelensky to talk, the Kremlin proposed a meeting in Minsk, the capital of its client state, Belarus, before claiming Ukraine had waited too long. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines foreign minister, mocked Putin for making his offer only once Russias forces had run into heavy resistance. He responded to a call for Ukraine to surrender by telling the Russian president to go to hell. Putin said yesterday that there is nothing to talk about with Ukraine, Kuleba said. Today, the Kremlin counted the number of downed planes and helicopters, the number of burnt tanks and armoured personnel carriers, and saw how many Russian racists our soldiers disposed of per day.

This is from a Times editorial:

The president [Zelensky] knows that he and Kyiv are the targets for Russias decapitation strategy. As they did in Hungary in 1956 and in Czechoslovakia in 1968, the invading forces aim to seize the capital, capture Mr Zelensky and either execute him, as happened to the Hungarian Imre Nagy, or take him to Moscow, like the Czech leader Alexander Dubcek, to interrogate and torture him. The Kremlin has purported to offer Mr Zelensky direct negotiations in Belarus, with the precondition that he renounce any Ukrainian aspiration to join Nato. To trust any offer made by Mr Putin, exposed as an inveterate liar, would be foolish. Little wonder Mr Zelensky, knowing that his own people will fight to save their nation, has instead appealed for more weapons, more sanctions and a tougher Nato response to Russian aggression.

Zelensky is, as Scott has said, a brave man.

Meanwhile, protests have broken out in Russia and have quickly been suppressed. Ukrainian armed forces cant hold off the Russians for long, but resistance will continue. The government has armed private citizens and urged them to make Molotov cocktails:

Yes, maybe they will take the city in two or three days, a Kyiv resident told The Times. Oksana, who declined to give her full name as she searched in vain for a food market, added: But then they will face the fight of their lives. Russian soldiers will never sleep soundly in Kyiv  we will make them afraid every moment.

If Ukraine refuses to be pacified and if protests expand inside Russia, the invasion may come to be seen as not just a mistake but a fiasco. At the moment, that is the most optimistic scenario.
It may be charitable to infer that President Biden and the officials running the show in his administration dont have a clue. The question is implicit in Edward Wongs February 25 New York Times story U.S. Officials Repeatedly Urged China to Help Avert War in Ukraine. Subhead: Americans presented Chinese officials with intelligence on Russias troop buildup in hopes that President Xi Jinping would step in, but were repeatedly rebuffed.

Wongs story is is based on interviews with senior administration officials with knowledge of the conversations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the diplomacy. The Chinese Embassy spokesman, Liu Pengyu, answered an earlier request for comment a half-day after this article was posted online, saying, For some time, China has actively promoted the political settlement process of the Ukraine issue.

Wong reports:

Over three months, senior Biden administration officials held half a dozen urgent meetings with top Chinese officials in which the Americans presented intelligence showing Russias troop buildup around Ukraine and beseeched the Chinese to tell Russia not to invade, according to U.S. officials. Each time, the Chinese officials, including the foreign minister and the ambassador to the United States, rebuffed the Americans, saying they did not think an invasion was in the works. After one diplomatic exchange in December, U.S. officials got intelligence showing Beijing had shared the information with Moscow, telling the Russians that the United States was trying to sow discord  and that China would not try to impede Russian plans and actions, the officials said.

This may come as a shocker to complete fools:

The previously unreported talks between American and Chinese officials show how the Biden administration tried to use intelligence findings and diplomacy to persuade a superpower it views as a growing adversary to stop the invasion of Ukraine, and how that nation, led by President Xi Jinping, persistently sided with Russia even as the evidence of Moscows plans for a military offensive grew over the winter.

One doubts the percipience of American officials and fears that Chinese officials have taken its measure  or confirmed their estimate of it. Unlike the ladies and gentlemen of the Biden administration, the Chinese officials are not fools.

I take it that Chinese officials have taken the measure of American officials for some time. Deeper into this story Wong reports:

The Biden administrations diplomatic outreach to China to try to avert war began after President Biden and Mr. Xi held a video summit on Nov. 15. In the talk, the two leaders acknowledged challenges in the relationship between their nations, which is at its lowest point in decades, but agreed to try to cooperate on issues of common interest, including health security, climate change and nuclear weapons proliferation, White House officials said at the time.

The American officials followed up in short order with their Chinese counterparts regarding Putins plans for Ukraine. This is painful:

Days later, White House officials met with the ambassador, Qin Gang, at the Chinese Embassy. They told the ambassador what U.S. intelligence agencies had detected: a gradual encirclement of Ukraine by Russian forces, including armored units. William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, had flown to Moscow on Nov. 2 to confront the Russians with the same information, and on Nov. 17, American intelligence officials shared their findings with NATO. At the Chinese Embassy, Russias aggression was the first topic in a discussion that ran more than one and a half hours. In addition to laying out the intelligence, the White House officials told the ambassador that the United States would impose tough sanctions on Russian companies, officials and businesspeople in the event of an invasion, going far beyond those announced by the Obama administration after Russia seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. The U.S. officials said the sanctions would also hurt China over time because of its commercial ties. They also pointed out they knew how China had helped Russia evade some of the 2014 sanctions, and warned Beijing against any such future aid. And they argued that because China was widely seen as a partner of Russia, its global image could suffer if Mr. Putin invaded. The message was clear: It would be in Chinas interests to persuade Mr. Putin to stand down. But their entreaties went nowhere. Mr. Qin was skeptical and suspicious, an American official said.

This is not my favorite genre of journalism and the New York Times is not a trusted intermediary. However, the story aligns with our own public observations of American officials. Given the support of the Times for the words and deeds of the Biden administration, it cannot lightly be disregarded. NROs Jimmy Quinn draws on it for a good post here.

Today the Times adds this shocker: As Russia wreaks havoc in Ukraine, Moscow has a powerful economic ally to help it resist Western sanctions: China.
Almost-president and former Obama administration Secretary of State John Kerry remains in the employ of the United States as a special envoy of the Biden administration. How special can you get?

MEMRI tweeted out the video below in which Kerry applies his perspective to Russias rape of Ukraine earlier this week. The New York Post devotes an editorial to Kerrys deep thoughts and Daniel Turner piles on here. They administer justice to Kerrys idiocy, but do not take up the strain of idiocy it represents among the elites embedded in our ruling institutions. That remains a continuing task with a high degree of difficulty.
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Nigerian stocks rose 0.12 per cent on Friday, shooting the benchmark index to its peak since February 11, and marking a week of positive return during which equities yielded 0.40 per cent.

Disparate sectors including ICT, banking as well as consumer goods drove gain, with MTNN, FBNH Holdings and International Breweries specifically leading the march.

Seplat, Nigerias biggest quoted energy company, notified the bourse of its pact with Mobil Producing Nigerian Nigeria Limited, a local unit of Texas-headquartered ExxonMobil with a view to taking over its shallow water assets, a deal that could rise to $1.6 billion.

Seplat, simultaneously listed in Lagos and London, saw its shares jump 7.53 per cent in the British capital following the announcement.

Market breadth, a metric used by market watchers to measure investors sentiments towards trade, turned out positive as 21 gainers were recorded relative to 17 losers.

The all-share index inched up by 56.38 points to 47,38242, while market capitalisation closed higher at N25.5 trillion.

From the turn of the year till now, the index has been up 10.8 per cent.

TOP FIVE GAINERS

ETranzact appreciated by 9.92 per cent to N2.66. Royal Exchange went up by 9.65 per cent to N1.25. RT Briscoe rose to N0.94, notching up 9.30 per cent in the process. Cornerstone added 7.69 per cent to end trade at N0.70. Niger Insurance completed the top 5, climbing by 7.69 per cent to N0.28.

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TOP FIVE LOSERS

Cutix was the worst performing stock, declining by 8.47 per cent to close at N2.70. NEM shed 5 per cent to close at N3.80. Veritas Kapital fell to N0.22, losing 4.35 per cent. Wapic declined to N0.48, recording 4 per cent decline. UPDC closed at N1.04, going down by 3.70 per cent.

TOP FIVE TRADES

FCMB was the most active stock with 50.1 million shares worth N152.9 million traded in 41 deals. Transcorp traded 37 million shares priced at N45.6 million in 216 transactions. UBA had 19.3 million shares valued at N167.7 million traded in 155 deals.

FBN Holdings traded 17.7 million shares estimated at N205 million in 161 transactions. GTCO traded 10.1 million shares valued at N273.2 million in 259 deals.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. has again assured Nigerians that it has distributed petroleum products nationwide, to resolve the fuel scarcity that has lingered for weeks.

The NNPC said this in a late Friday statement by GarbaDeen Muhammad, the group general manager, group public affairs division of the NNPC Limited.

The corporation urged Nigerians to be patient, saying it has sufficient stock of petroleum products for distribution across the country.

It said it is engaging depot operators to load products round the clock to accelerate the restoration of normal distribution.

The federal government had said methanol, a chemical additive, found in recently imported fuel exceeded Nigerias specification.

The development has resulted in a shortage of petrol and queues reappearing in major cities including Abuja and Lagos.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the scarcity worsened last week across many cities, as many struggled to go to work or engage in other daily routines.

Traffic gridlocks appeared across major parts of Abuja as many service lanes were closed to traffic due to queues from petrol stations.

The NNPC had last week assured Nigerians that the company had placed significant orders of over 2.1 billion litres of methanol-free petroleum to ensure that the long queues of petroleum end in a few days.

The statement read, NNPC Ltd once again assures Nigerians that it has sufficient stock of Petroleum Products for distribution across the country and is working assiduously with partners to ensure the product reaches every part of the country.

NNPC is further intensifying efforts to resolve distribution hitches being experienced in some parts of the country due to logistics issues.

To this effect, NNPC is engaging depot operators to load products round the clock to accelerate the restoration of normal distribution.

NNPC has also engaged the services of Government Security Agencies to ensure that all products loaded get to the right destination.

We urge Nigerians to continue to be patient as we strive to return the situation to normalcy, it added.
If there is anything globally acknowledged as a necessity asides food and shelter, it is the need for proper clothing.

This need has grown from just being a means to protect the human skin from harmful exposure to a need to exude elegance and style. Because of this need, the beautiful concept of fashion was born.

As such, tailors, designers, and stylists have become a set of professionals found in every society today. We all need them if we want to look our best, after all.

Despite their creativity, Nigerian tailors, or better still fashion designers, as they would love to be addressed, face constant clashes with their clients who pose challenges in their line of work.

What could be wrong? Or better still, should the question be rephrased to people who annoy tailors?

A cross-section of tailors in Lagos State shared several categories of clients and their annoying habits with PREMIUM TIMES. It might interest you to know that you could belong to one or more of these categories:

Indecisive clients

Joseph Ebie, a 24-year-old fashion designer told our correspondent that some clients do not know what they want for themselves, they will just come and say sew any style, he said.

According to him, those who would not choose a style, at the end of the day, when the tailor makes any style, they would start saying, this is not what they want, and the tailors would be like, Okay, if you knew what you wanted, why did you not tell me that this is what you want. So I have to think hard, bring up a design, and then you would come to tell me that this is not what you want.

He also noted that some of these indecisive clients would spend lots of time on the fashion magazine, flipping from page to page, and picking various editions of the available magazines but would not settle for at least one style for themselves. They are as indecisive as much as they are insatiable.

The stingy clients

China Mirabel, a tailor specialising in only womenswear, also shared her fair share of experiences with her clients. For her, some clients are just stingy.

Somebody would want the tailor to sew a particular design stitch to stitch just exactly the way it is on the magazine or from the internet, yet they will not be willing to pay a reasonable amount of money for it.

They start pricing like they are buying crayfish. When they bring out a complex job, they should equally bring money worth the job, not peanuts. Most clients are not ready to pay for what they want; they forget that looking good costs good money. she said.

An angered Mirabel pointed out that it seems that the women are not in this alone in this category as many men are also part of this annoying group.

Okey James, another tailor, who specialises in mens suits alone for over two decades, told our correspondent that some clients do not appreciate hand workers. He said, when clients see a pair of suits online on a showroom, they will pay for it at exorbitant money for it, but when they come to us to make these same suits or even better ones, they will be pricing us down.

Mr James claimed that local tailors like himself produce some clothes displayed on the internet and showrooms.

Over-Sabi clients

Victor Emmanuel, a young tailor apprentice awaiting settlement after learning from his tutor for the past four years, described this category of clients as the most annoying. He cited an example, Some clients would choose a style, they would look at every detail in style, and they would be like, this is how I want you to sew it.

Sometimes, because the tailor has more knowledge and experience about cloth making, he could caution such client, that may be the material/textile would not work with the design, but the client often time chooses to remain adamant, insisting and instructing the tailor on how and what to do; and when the outcome isnt as pleasant as they envisioned it, they blame the tailor.

Hasty clients

According to Mr Emmanuel, some clients love to rush the tailor.

He said that cloth-making takes lots of processes, and making stylish cloth demands that the tailor understand the design and then plan how to execute the design before properly executing the design.

All these processes, he hinted, are time-consuming, and a tailor could have more than one or two deadlines to meet. However, some clients who need to attend a function over the weekend would wear a dress within that week and expect the tailor to perform a magic trick.

Procrastinating clients

While some clients are hasty in getting their jobs done, Mr Ebie told our correspondent that some clients would instead allow their cloth to stay with the tailor until he misplaces them.

He said, for instance, some clients would turn the tailors shop into a museum. After sewing their dress, they would abandon the dress in the shop for years, and most annoyingly, some of these clients live very close to the shop, but they would not come to collect the cloth.

But whenever the tailor loses track of where they kept the cloth. Thats when they would come to collect the cloth, after that accusing the tailor of using their materials for something else.

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Mr Ebie further added that he has even lost track of the owners of some clothes in his shop because they have stayed in the shop for a very long period.

Material-managing clients

For Mr Emmanuel, it is not enjoyable when a client brings not enough materials for them. He said that some family people are in the habit of managing materials for events involving the entire family.

Someone would bring a material that would not be enough to sew a particular design yet insist that the tailor should manage the material.

Its more difficult when it has to do with a family, but when the tailor manages the materials and sews the clothes with the available material, the clients begin to make several complaints.

Abstract fashion clients

Ms Mirabel told our correspondent that not all designs go with every shape or size. For example, a design could be better for a tall person, but the reverse might be the case with a short person. She also noted that not all materials match every design.

She explained: Some clients would go for a design that does not fit into the material they want or even a design that in most cases does not fit their body type or size, even when the tailor tries to caution them, they would insist, and when the dress is out, and it doesnt fit, they start complaining.
Kaycee Madu, a Nigerian-Canadian who was formerly Albertas justice minister, has now been moved to the ministry of labour and immigration following a traffic violation controversy that happened in 2021.

Mr Madu will now lead important reforms to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Programme as labour minister, but has been replaced as justice minister and solicitor general by Tyler Shandro, Albertas premier Jason Kenney announced Friday in a statement.

Despite being exonerated by a report from an investigation panel, Mr Kenney said it would be appropriate for Mr Madu to step aside from the justice ministry position.

The report concludes that Minister Madu did not interfere in the administration of justice but that the phone call could create a reasonable perception of interference, the premier said.

It is clear from the report that his motivation in making the call was not to reverse the ticket but to raise broader concerns, particularly related to racial profiling. Nevertheless, as Ms. Kent concludes, being angry, wanting assurances that he was not racially profiled are all understandable reactions, given the context of the phone call. It does not absolve the Minister from responsibility, but it is an explanation that deserves recognition.

Given her findings, and the unique role of the office of the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, I have concluded that it would be appropriate for Minister Madu to step aside from that position.

According to Mr Kenney, Mr Madus replacement is an experienced lawyer who has served on the National Parole Board, the Municipal Government Board, the Criminal Injuries Review Board, the University of Calgary Senate, the Calgary Parking Authority and the Calgary Police Commission.

I also look forward to Minister Madus continued contribution to important work of government as Minister of Labour and Immigration, where he will lead important reforms to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Programme and continued implementation of the Fairness for Newcomers Action Plan to help break down barriers to the economic success of immigrants. He will help to deliver on the Alberta Work Initiative, a key part of Budget 2022s plan to connect unemployed Albertans with available jobs through expanded training programmes, he added.

The report was received on February 15 by the clerk of the executive council.

Back Story

In March 2021, Mr Madu was pulled over and fined $300 for being on his cellphone in a school zone, CBC News reports.

Mr Madu phoned Dale McFee, the citys chief of police, and discussed the violation with him.

Minister Madu did contact me via the telephone concerned about a ticket. But just to be very, very clear, he never asked to get out of the ticket, Mr McFee told CBC News in December, adding that he did not know exactly what was on the ticket.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Madu was asked to step back from his ministerial duties until an investigation was completed.
News of arrest of kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (alias Evans) by the police on June 10, 2017, dominated Nigerias media space the following 12 hours and beyond.

His trial continued to hold the attention of the media and the general public.

Evans was arrested at his residence at No. 3, Fred Shogboyede Street, Magodo, Lagos.

He was accused by the then Abba Kyari-led Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of kidnapping high profile Nigerians and demanding huge ransoms in foreign currencies for their release.

His four and a half years trial before an Ikeja High Court was plagued by delays caused by applications filed by counsel as well as Evanss frequent change of counsel and the lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 64-day strike in 2021 by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) also contributed to the delay.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) presents a timeline of the trial which culminated in a judgment on Friday with the court convicting him and sentencing him to life imprisonment.

The trial is one of the five the kidnap kingpin and his accomplices are facing before High Courts in Lagos State.

AUGUST 30, 2017

Evans and five others: Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi and Victor Aduba were charged on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court.

Evans, Messrs Amadi and Nwachukwu pleaded guilty to the charges while Ms Uchechukwu, the only female defendant, Messrs Ifeanyi and Aduba pleaded not guilty.

According to prosecution team led by the then Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, Evans and his accomplices kidnapped the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maydon Pharmaceuticals, Donatus Dunu, on February 14, 2017, and received 223,000 euros as ransom for his release.

Five of the defendants were remanded at the then Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison while Ms Uchechukwu, the only female defendant, was remanded at the then Kirikiri Female Prison.

OCTOBER 19, 2017

Evans and his co-defendants were re-arraigned on an amended two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The defendants were earlier charged under Sections 271(3) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. On October 19, 2017, they were charged under Section 2(1) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law, No. 13, Laws of Lagos State, 2017, and Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

In a dramatic turn of events, Evans pleaded not guilty.

NOVEMBER 3, 2017

Anselem Dunu, Donatus Dunus brother, testified as the first prosecution witness in the trial. He narrated how he raised N100 million and converted it to 223,000 euros as ransom for his brothers release.

Mr Oshodi dismissed an application filed by Evanss counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje, seeking to quash the two-count charge brought against him by Lagos State Government.

NOVEMBER 17, 2017

Evans and his co-defendants complained about their living conditions at the Kirikiri Prisons, to Oshodi.

This is unfair, I have not been given food and change of clothes. I was not given the opportunity to bathe since Wednesday, he said.

Mr Oshodi ordered the then Director in Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Titilayo Shitta-Bey, to investigate the accusation. The judge also dismissed a bail application of Ms Uchechukwu, the only female defendant.

JANUARY 19, 2018

Anselems cross-examination could not commence because Ms Nwachukwu, a co-defendant, had yet to secure legal representation.

MARCH 2, 2018

One of Evans co-defendants, Victor Aduba, an ex-soldier, was refused bail.

Mr Oshodi had considered the gravity of the alleged offences and the possibility of interfering with trial, before arriving at the decision.

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Mr Oshodi, in a separate ruling, foreclosed Okwuchukwu Nwachukwus chance of cross-examining Anselem due to his unwillingness to cross-examine him by himself as he had no legal representation.

MARCH 16, 2018

Donatus Dunu, the CEO of Maydon Pharmaceuticals and the complainant in the case, testified in the trial as the second prosecution witness.

He narrated how he was abducted at 7.30 p.m. on Obokun Street, Ilupeju, Lagos, while heading home from work. He said that an initial ransom of $2 million was demanded, and his hands and feet were shackled during his 88-day stay in captivity.

He said that due to a fluctuation in dollar rate, the ransom was changed to one million euros which was negotiated down to 500,000 euros. He testified that his brother, Anselem, was able to raise 223,000 euros.

He said he escaped from captivity while his captors were asleep, and alerted the authorities. He was cross-examined by Evanss counsel.

MAY 11, 2018

The third prosecution witness and a Manager at Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Uchenna Okagwu, narrated how he paid 232,000 euros as ransom to Evans and his accomplices to secure the release of his boss. The money was dropped off at a location at Okota, Lagos.

As I walked to the back of my vehicle, I was three steps away, I was asked to drop the ransom, I did so and was told to move immediately after dropping the money.

As I looked around, I only saw a vehicle parked at the beginning of the street with full lights on, the vehicle looked like an SUV.

Under cross-examination by Mr Ogungbeje, Mr Okagwu said he didnt see anyone while dropping the ransom and that the money was not given directly to any person.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2018

The fourth prosecution witness, Idowu Haruna of the Intelligence Response Team, told the court that the defendants were arrested following Donatus Dunus escape from captivity.

Led in evidence by state counsel, Adebayo Haroun, the investigating police officer, said that the statements of the defendants were not obtained under duress but rather in a conducive environment.

Evanss new counsel, Chinonye Obiagwu, however, opposed the admissibility of the statements on the premise that they were obtained under duress. This prompted Mr Oshodi to order a trial-within-trial.

OCTOBER 26, 2018

Taking the stand at the trial-within-trial, Evans claimed that his confessional statement to the police was not obtained voluntarily.

He claimed that policemen tortured him and made him to witness executions in a bid to get him to admit to the alleged crimes.

FEBRUARY 1, 2019

In a ruling, Mr Oshodi admitted Evanss June 11, 2017, confessional statement in evidence, saying that there was no proof before the court that he was tortured by the police.

The judge noted that the 1999 Constitution did not require that statements to the police must be in a specific form, adding that based on Evanss videotaped confession played in court during the trial, there was no proof he was tortured to provide details of his misdeeds.

JANUARY 11, 2020

Concluding his evidence, Mr Haruna narrated how Evans spent the ransom he collected from his victims.

The ransoms collected by the first defendant were used for purchasing houses on Magodo Estate, Lagos, where he was arrested. He also bought a house on Emmanuel Keshi Street on Magodo Estate.

He bought a house located in Accra, Ghana. The first defendant also bought landed property in Anambra State from the ransom, he said.

After Mr Harunas testimony, the prosecution said it would be closing its case against the defendants.

AUGUST 14, 2020

Mr Oshodi gave a ruling on a no-case submission filed by Evanss co-defendants, Messrs Uchechukwu, Ifeanyi, Nwachukwu and Aduba.

He said the co-defendants had a case to answer due to substantial evidence before the court. He ordered them to open their defence.

After the ruling, the judge ordered Evanss new counsel, Oyekunle Falabi, from the law chambers of Victor Opara (SAN) to write an undertaking that the law chambers would conclude the case.

The judge said Evans had developed a habit of engaging services of lawyers who disappear halfway through trial, noting that it was causing delays in the case.

Since the trial began on August 30, 2017, Evans had been represented at different times by Olukoya Ogungbeje, Noel Brown, Chinonye Obiagwu and Olanrewaju Ajanaku, all of whom withdrew from the case.

JANUARY 22, 2021

Evans opened his defence. He denied allegations of conspiracy and kidnapping against him, insisting that he was a legitimate businessman.

Led in defence by his counsel, Mr Opara, he said: My lord, my name is not Evans, and I dont have a nickname. Im a legitimate businessman who deals in haulage and ornaments.

He said he was coerced into admitting being a kidnapper after the police, in a bid to make him to confess, extra-judicially killed four individuals in his presence.

He also testified that he had never met the other defendants, except on the day the police paraded them before the media at Area F, Police Command, Ikeja.

JUNE 29, 2021

Evanss sister, Ndubuisi Obiechina, testified as the second defence witness. Led in evidence by Mr Opara, she told the court that her brother was tortured by IRT operatives to confess to the crimes.

Evans co-defendants, Uche Amadi and Ogechi Uchechukwu, a married couple, also presented their defence.

Mr Amadi told the court that he was arrested alongside his wife in Port Harcourt, adding that he had never been to Lagos and that he did not know or have any relationship with Evans.

Ms Uchechukwu who married Amadi in 2004, in her defence, disputed her husbands claim.

If anyone comes to this court and says that Mr Amadi has never been to Lagos except in 2017 when he was arrested, then that person must be lying, she said.

AUGUST 3, 2021

Evanss co-defendants, Messrs Ifeanyi and Aduba, two ex soldiers of the Nigerian Army, denied being accomplices.

Responding to questions from Mr Opara, Mr Ifeanyi said, I have never taken part in any kidnap activities in my life. I have never attempted to kidnap anyone before or conspired with Evans to kidnap the victim (Dunu).

Mr Aduba, led in evidence by his counsel, Emmanuel Ochai, said he was forced to sign a confessional statement in police custody after three men  Felix Chinemeren, Paul Samyan and Chukwuma Nwosu  who were initially paraded to the media as kidnappers, were extra-judicially killed by an IRT team.

Following the evidence of the two former soldiers, defence closed its case.

DECEMBER 10, 2021

Mr Oshodi announced February 25, 2022, as judgment date, after listening to oral submissions of final written addresses by prosecution and defence counsel.

Mr Opara (SAN), in a final written address dated November 1, 2021, said there was no evidence directly linking Evans to the alleged crimes. He said that the kidnap victim, who was blindfolded throughout his 88-day ordeal, did not state in his testimony in court that he could physically identify Evans.

Mr Haroun, via a final written address dated November 30, 2021, asked the court to convict the defendants, saying that the kidnap victim had given direct evidence about how he was kidnapped, how he escaped and the roles of each defendant.

We have circumstantial evidence linking the first defendant (Evans) to the crime and we also have confessional statements and video recordings of him, Mr Haroun said.

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

Mr Oshodi, in a three-hour judgment, found Evans, Messrs Amadi and Nwachukwu guilty of the two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping brought against them by Lagos State Government.

He said that none of the convicts showed any remorse during the trial.

Despite the huge evidence stacked against them, they tried to lie their way out.

In this respect, the first, second and fourth defendants are each hereby sentenced to life imprisonment. This is the sentence of the court, he said.

Other defendants  Ms Uchechukwu and the two ex-soldiers  Messrs Ifeanyi and Aduba  were discharged and acquitted. The judge held that there was no evidence linking them to the crimes.(NAN)
A coalition of civil society groups has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law, the reworked Electoral Act Amendment bill.

The groups, 25 of them, described the signing of the bill as a huge milestone in Nigerias quest to consolidate electoral democracy.

They said the new Act which incorporates innovative provisions that will enhance credibility of Nigerias electoral process, signifies a new era in the history of elections in Nigeria.

Thry also said it also symbolises the commitment of Nigerians to remain consistent in the demand for credible, free, inclusive, transparent and fair elections.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, the CSOs commended the president for fulfilling his promise of assenting to the Electoral Bill and the National Assembly for their responsiveness in ensuring the legislation substantially reflects the will of Nigerians.

Nigerians, other CSOs and the media were also applauded for their active participation and vigilance in engaging the electoral reform process, their steadfastness, resilience and sustaining the pressure for successful completion of the electoral reform process.

While they noted that the new law reviews timeline for election activities, the groups urged the electoral umpire, INEC, to issue a notice of election.

Among other important provisions, this Electoral Act reviews timelines for election activities. For instance, the new Act requires INEC to issue a Notice of Election not later than 360 days to the next General Election. We call on INEC to as a matter of urgency issue a notice of election and announce new dates for the 2023 General Elections.

The undersigned CSOs call on the National Assembly to ensure gazetted copies of the Electoral Act 2022 are available to citizens and election stakeholders in a timely manner. We note that a delay in this will further reduce the opportunities for citizens and stakeholders to sufficiently familiarise with provisions in the new Act and support its implementation, part of the statement read.

The new law, they said, is a product of a consistent citizens actions and effective partnerships towards reforming Nigerias electoral process. And history will reckon with this dedication towards building our electoral democracy.

Some of the CSOs that signed the statement are ActionAid Nigeria, Yiaga Africa, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), International Press Centre, Institute for Media and Society and Nigerian Women Trust Fund.

Others are Albino Foundation, Centre for Citizens with Disability, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, Transition Monitoring Group and CLEEN Foundation.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) came under attack on Saturday in Lagos in the course of effecting the arrest of a suspected drug kingpin.

NDLEAs spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the attack in a statement.

NDLEA has arrested a drug kingpin and seized drugs in a notorious drug den on Lagos Island.

The drug kingpin mobilised members of his cartel to attack men of the NDLEA.

The operatives were on the Island to arrest the kingpin of the illicit trade before they were resisted and massively attacked, Mr Babafemi stated.

(NAN)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is working on plans to challenge the impeachment of Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu, by the state House of Assembly.

The party stated this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja.

Mr Ologunagba said the impeachment by the House was illegal and as such a nullity.

The PDP is reviewing the actions in Zamfara in this violent assault on the Rule of Law and will take appropriate actions necessary.

In any case, the PDP and the people of Zamfara will not allow the impunity being foisted on the state to stand and appropriate legal action is being taken in that regard.

Fortunately, our party has implicit confidence in the judiciary, which has in the past demonstrated its capacity and ability to defend the Constitution and the Rule of Law, he said.

The House had on February 22, impeached Mr Aliyu from office.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Majority Leader, Faruku Dosara (APC -Maradun 1), at plenary in Gusau.

The motion came shortly after the House adopted the report of Justice Haladu Tanko panel which investigated alleged cross misconduct and abuse of office against the deputy governor.

ALSO READ: Zamfara governor appoints senator as new deputy governor

Speaker Nasiru Muazu, who presided over the sitting, directed the Clerk, Saidu Anka, to conduct a voice vote on the impeachment and the 22 lawmakers present voted in favour and the deputy governor was pronounced impeached.

Governor Bello Matawalle and Mr Aliyu assumed office office under the platform of PDP, but the governor defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 28, 2021.

Their relationship became sour after Mr Aliyu decided to remain in PDP.

(NAN)
Russia has vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that condemns its invasion of Ukraine at the United Nation Security Council meeting on Friday Night, Al Jazeera reported.

China abstained from the vote  a move Western countries view as a win for showing Russias international isolation.

The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained from the vote on the US-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members voted in favour. The draft resolution is now expected to be taken up by the 193-member UN General Assembly.

The UN Security Council is made up of 15 countries. China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States are permanent members and have veto powers while Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, United Arab Emirates, are non-permanent members.

Russia is the leader of the security council for February.

Details later
Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyys spokesman said late Friday, Al Jazeera reported.

Ukraine was and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace, spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said on social media.

Earlier in the day, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation to Belarus for talks with Ukraine, as Russian forces closed in on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on the second day of Moscows invasion.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday the Russian leader is ready to send a high-level delegation for talks with a Ukrainian delegation at Belarusian capital Minsk, which has previously hosted rounds of peace talks over the Ukraine crisis.

He said Mr Putins ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, told him that he would create the conditions for such a summit.

Russia has thousands of troops stationed in Belarus, and Ukraine said it was being attacked from several sides  including from Belarus.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had repeatedly called for talks with the Russian leader during a weeks-long diplomatic push in which Western countries tried to deter Mr Putin from launching an attack.

Mr Xelenskyy had made an initial proposal of talks in a speech addressed to Mr Putin late on Wednesday, shortly before the Russian invasion.

He said at the time: Ukraines security is linked to the security of its neighbours. That is why today we have to talk about security in the whole of Europe. That is our main goal  peace in Ukraine and the security of our citizens. For this, we are ready to talk to everyone, including you. In different formats and in any place.

As Russian troops closed in on Kyiv on Friday, Mr Zelenskyy issued a new statement urging talks.

ALSO READ: Russia vetoes UN Security Council resolution condemning invasion of Ukraine

I would like to address the President of the Russian Federation once again. Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Lets sit down at the negotiating table to stop the deaths of people, he said.

Kyiv has floated the idea that Ukraine could promise to take a neutral status on NATO membership in order to end the violence.

However, Ned Price, U.S. State Department spokesman, said Russias offer of talks was an attempt to conduct diplomacy at the barrel of a gun, and that President Putins military must stop bombing Ukraine if it was serious about negotiations.
The White House said Friday that the U.S., in coordination with the European Union, will impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his decision to invade Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.

In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

Mr Psaki added that more details about the sanctions are expected to be released later in the day.

This is in addition to the severe and immediate economic sanctions imposed on Russia late Thursday.

With todays financial sanctions, we have now targeted all 10 of Russias largest financial institutions, including the imposition of full blocking and correspondent and payable-through account sanctions, and debt and equity restrictions, on institutions holding nearly 80 per cent of Russian banking sector assets, the statement said.

The sanctions are expected to not only impact Russias largest financial institutions but to also further isolate Russia from the global financial system.

Additionally, Russias largest bank will be cut off from the U.S. financial system, the official said.

Russias ability to access global markets, attract investment, and utilize the U.S. dollar will be devastated, the White House said.

In a televised briefing, U.S. President Joe Biden, on Thursday, said, Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences.

ALSO READ: What Putin said before invading Ukraine

According to the White House, the sanctions will inhibit Mr Putins ambition to exert the kind of influence he wishes to exert on the world.

The unprecedented export control measures will cut off more than half of Russias high-tech imports, restricting Russias access to vital technological inputs, atrophying its industrial base, and undercutting Russias strategic ambitions to exert influence on the world stage.

It added that the scale of Mr Putins aggression and the threat it poses to international order requires a resolute response, and we will continue imposing severe costs if he does not change course.

Al Jazeera reported that Russias stock market tumbled to its lowest level in four and a half years on Thursday, and its currency, the rouble, reached a record low versus the greenback.
A Nigerian air carrier, Air Peace, has said that it did not disrespect the Emir of Kano as alleged in a petition written against it.

Air Peace made this known Friday night in its response to a letter of complaint written by a cousin to the Emir, Isa Bayero.

The emirs cousin had asked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to take punitive actions against Air Peace over what he termed disrespect to the emir and people of Kano.

In the petition to the NCAA, Mr Bayero, popularly known as Isa Pilot, said the airline delayed their Banjul to Lagos flight by over one hour and refused to allow them board their connecting flight to Kano because they arrived in Lagos 30 minutes before departure time.

The petition claimed that Mr Bayero called the Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, to inform him of the need to delay the airlines morning flight to Kano because of the Banjul incident.

He flatly refused and avowed that he will not do that. I personally took this as an insult and a flagrant show of disrespect to his highness and the Kano people at large, Mr Bayero wrote of Mr Onyema in the petition.

But in its response Friday, Air Peace described the allegations as deliberate falsehood peddled against the airline.

The airlines Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, argued that Air Peace holds the Emir of Kano in the highest regards and contrary to the insinuation that the emir was disrespected, the airline indeed protected the image of the traditional ruler by not succumbing to what Isa Bayero wanted us to do.

The statement said: If we had agreed to stop and delay an aircraft, already set to take-off, for another one hour only for the doors to be opened and the Emir to walk in, there would have been a very serious uproar in the media nationwide against both the airline and the Emir. This we pleaded with Isa Bayero to understand but he refused to accept.

How could Isa Bayero want the Management of Air Peace to stop and delay a fully boarded plane with doors already shut and aircraft already moving while our respected Emir and eight others in his entourage, including Isa Bayero, were still at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos after arriving from Banjul?

Air Peace explained that from the telephone log evidence on the phone of Mr Onyema, its Chairman/CEO, Mr Bayero called at about 5.52am, a time the CEO was still sleeping.

From the log, the airline said, it could be seen that Mr Bayero called him again at 5.59am which obviously woke him up.

On seeing that it was Isa Bayero calling, he took the call. Isa told our Chairman that he and the Emir of Kano had just landed the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos from Banjul, Gambia and would be proceeding to Kano same morning, the airline said.

He told the Chairman to delay our first flight of the day, the 6:15 am Lagos-Kano flight for him and the Emir with another eight persons. It was not true that our Chairman refused flatly. He rather told Mr. Isa Bayero to give him a few minutes to call the airport to find out the status of the flight. I was the one he called. To show his desire to help, he called me immediately and intimated me with the request.

I am the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Air Peace. I quickly called the local airport from where we carry on our day to day domestic flight operations and was told that the aircraft had since finished boarding and was almost taxiing out.
Seplat Energy, Nigerias biggest quoted oil & gas company, agreed to purchase the shallow water business of Exxon Mobils Nigerian subsidiary known as Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) for about $1.3 billion.

It is the latest of similar transactions involving multinationals like Shell and Exxon offloading their onshore and shallow water assets in Nigeria to indigenous firms, in preference for deep water fields, after years of pollution and community issues, and in a bid to adopt cleaner energy.

Here are 12 quick things to know about the deal:

1. The deal could reach $1.6 billion on the expectation that $300 million could be added to the initial sum on certain conditions by the time the transaction is consummated.

2. The $300 million contingent consideration is payable between January 1 and December 31, 2026.

3. Exxon Mobil is not offloading its entire Nigerian assets but only its offshore operation in a joint venture held with NNPC, where it owns a 40 per cent stake.The company runs another unit in Nigeria called Esso Production Nigeria Limited with focus on deepwater activities.

4. The proposed acquisition marks the first of its kind since the Nigerian Government inked the Petroleum Industry Act into operation.

5. MPNU holds four oil mining leases comprising OMLs 67, 68, 70 and 104. It is the owner of the Qua Iboe Terminal, one of the largest export facilities in Africas biggest economy. It holds a 51 per cent stake in Bonny River Terminal and Natural Gas Liquids Recovery Plants at EAP and Oso. These will be taken over by Seplat.

6. MPNU will function as an independent subsidiary of Seplat. But the latter, after getting regulatory approvals, will align MPNU with its overall strategic objectives and ESG goals.

7. Seplats current cash resources and borrowings will partly fund the purchase, while a yet-to-be-sourced $550 million senior term loan facility and a $275 million junior offtake facility make up the balance.

8. A consortium of local and offshore lenders together with commodity trading firms will finance the transaction.

9. Seplat, listed in Lagos as it is in London, will be mandated to re-apply for admission to the official list of the London Stock Exchange when the transaction is consummated because of the nature of the deal as a reverse takeover, according to UK listing rules.

10 . Seplat will pay $128 million according to the terms which will be paid back to the company should the contract be terminated by Seplat in certain circumstances.

11. The transaction is effective January 1, 2021 and will reach closure in the second half of this year.

12. The deal will boost Seplats production to 146,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day from 51,000. It also includes significant undeveloped gas potential.
The police in Edo State on Friday confirmed that some cash suspected to have been carted away by robbers during Thursdays robbery attacks on some banks in Uromi, has been recovered.

Phillip Ogbadu, the commissioner of police confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr Ogbadu said about N37 million and five cars suspected to have been stolen by the robbers were recovered at a bush where they were abandoned.

He said the robbers might have abandoned the huge cash and the vehicles on realising that the police were on their trail.

The robbers had late Thursday evening carried out what looked like coordinated robbery attacks on some commercial banks in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo.

The operations, according to some witnesses, lasted for more than two hours, NAN reported.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has described the bank robbery as a well-organised crime.

The Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, who led other government officials to inspect the crime scene on Friday, said: This attack is a well-organised crime.

Mr Shaibu was accompanied by the heads of security agencies in Edo State.

We are here on behalf of the governor to find out what happened and know the extent of the damage. We are here on a fact-finding mission and have interacted with bank officials, eye witnesses, traders and people living in the area and seen the level of destruction and damage done, Mr Shaibu said.

He said the state government has increased surveillance and safety of the people of Uromi.

When the government delegation visited the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, Anslem Odaloighe Eidenojie Il, the traditional ruler said the robbery operation was like a war zone and it lasted for over two hours.

The robbers took control of the area and killed my subjects, he said.

(NAN)
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have continued to record successes as 466 terrorists surrendered while scores were killed in different operations within two weeks in the North-east , Defence Headquarters says.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko, said this while giving updates of military operations across the country from February 10 to 24 on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Onyeuko said the sustained land and air raids by the troops led to the surrendering of 466 Boko Haram and Islamic States West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists comprising 120 adult males, 137 adult females and 209 children.

He said the surrendered terrorists claimed that they had lost interest in the Boko Haram terrorists ideology.

He added that the air interdiction by the air component on February 11, around Marte area of Borno led to the killing of one of the leaders of ISWAP terrorists known as Mohammed Yusuf and his fighters.

Cumulatively, troops eliminated six terrorists, arrested 26 and recovered cache of different calibres of arms and ammunition and four gun trucks.

Also, 20 abducted civilian victims were rescued by the troops.

The surrendered terrorists and arrested criminals have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate security agencies for necessary action, he said.

In Operation Hadarin Daji, Mr Onyeuko said the troops recorded a major operational breakthrough when a notorious bandit known as Dogo Umaru, and scores of his fighters were eliminated in an air interdiction Zamfara forest.

He said the operation led to the killing of 10 bandits, recovery of several arms and ammunitions and motorcycles as well as stolen livestock and rescue of 10 kidnapped victims.

In Operation Safe Haven, the defence spokesperson said the troops had sustained both kinetic and non-kinetic operations across Plateau and parts of Kaduna States.

He said the non-kinetic effort led to the convening of a peace summit between Irigwe youths and Fulani youth on February 17 as a prelude to the implementation of peace plan to ensure lasting peace in the area.

He added that the kinetic operations led to the arrest of six criminals and rescue of 60 displaced persons to Internally Displaced Persons camp during the period.

Mr Onyeuko further said that troops of Operation Whirl Stroke also recorded operational successes through series of air interdictions on bandits enclaves in Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna state, killing over 75.

He added that troops also encountered bandits in Benue, killing five and rescued kidnapped victims during the period.

Mr Onyeuko commended the troops for the successes so far recorded in various theatres of operation, urging the public to continue to support the military in its effort to rid the nation of all forms of insecurity.

(NAN)
Texas-based major Exxon Mobil has given its reason for choosing to sell the entire shallow water assets of one of its Nigerian subsidiaries, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, to Seplat Energy, saying the sale will support the companys disciplined investment strategy, an effort to enhance industry participation.

The sale agreement includes Mobil Development Nigeria and Mobil Exploration Nigerias equity ownership of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, translating to a 40 per cent stake in four oil mining licenses.

It includes more than 90 shallow-water and onshore platforms and 300 producing wells, according to a statement by ExxonMobil seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

Both firms entered the contract, with Seplat buying out Exxon Mobils stake of $1.3 billion, a deal that could ultimately reach around $1.6 billion under certain conditions.

Liam Mallon, president, ExxonMobil Upstream Oil and Gas said this sale will allow us to prioritise competitively advantaged investments in our strategic assets, and it supports the Nigerian governments efforts to grow its oil and gas operations.

We value the relationships we have spent decades building with the government and people of Nigeria, which will continue as we maximize the value from our deepwater operations.

ExxonMobil said it will maintain a significant deepwater presence in Nigeria, with interests in the Erha, Usan and Bonga developments via Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited.

The sale, the company said, will not affect employment negatively and is hoped to be perfected later this year after on receipt of regulatory and other approvals.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new dates for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

The commission had earlier announced February 18, 2023 for the presidential election.

On Saturday, the commissions chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, told journalists that new dates have been fixed for the elections.

Presidential and National Assembly elections have been slated for February 25, 2023 while governorship and state assembly elections will now be held on March 11, 2023.

The INEC chairman said the new dates followed the signing of the amendments to the Electoral Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

He said the Commission was waiting for the presidents decision on the bill before releasing its schedule of activities for the 2023 poll.

The bill was signed into law on Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He had rejected the same bill five times, citing reasons such as drafting errors to proximity to the date of elections, insecurity, cost of executing of its provisions among others.

In his address to journalists at an emergency meeting held at the commissions headquarters, Mr Mahmood said the new dates are in conformity with the INECs aim of ensuring certainty in its electoral calendar.

Therefore, the Electoral Act 2022, together with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), form the legal basis for conducting all elections in Nigeria. In particular, the Electoral Act provides strict timelines for the implementation of electoral activities based on the date of the General Election. One of the significant timelines is the publication of Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding an election which has now lapsed for the 2023 General Election.

Consequently, the Commission has decided to adjust the dates of the 2023 General Election to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law. Accordingly, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023. With this adjustment, the 2023 General Election is now 363 days away, he said.

Before the new dates, both the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were slated for March 4, 2023.

New Timetable

With the new law, the INEC at the meeting, announced a new timetable and schedule of activities ahead of the polls.

In his address, Mr Mahmood said the commission will publish the notice of election across its offices in the country on February 28 while political parties have from April 4 to June 3, 2022 to conduct their primaries and ensure resolution of disputes from the exercise.

For the Presidential and National Assembly elections, political parties and candidates are to submit their nomination forms to the INEC via its online portal between 9.00am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 17th June 2022 while those contesting for Governorship and State Assembly elections should follow the same process between 9.00am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 15th July 2022.

Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election  Wednesday 28th September 2022.

Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections  Wednesday 12th October 2022.

Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections  midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.

Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections  midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023, the INEC chairman said.

Mr Yakubu threatened to take on any of the participating political parties who fail to adhere to the released schedule of activities and timetable.

In his response to the concerns raised by journalists at the event over the dysfunctional state of the BVAS as observed in the previously held elections, Mr Mahmood said the glitches had been worked upon.

He tasked the journalists in attendance to observe the performance of the machines in the ongoing bye-elections across four states on February 26 (today).

Residents of Ondo, Plateau, Imo And Cross-Rivers states are currently voting in bye-elections.

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In Ondo State, the bye-election is being held in Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency.

Plateau residents in Pankshin South State Constituency and Jos North/Bass Federal Constituency are also deciding who will represent them in the House of Representatives.

Elections are also ongoing in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency of Cross River State and Ngor Okpala State Constituency in Imo State.
The chief protocol officer of the Emir of Kano, Isah Bayero, has given Air Peace airline a 72-hour ultimatum to offer an apology for allegedly disrespecting the Emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and causing a delay to his flight.

Mr Bayero, who is the uncle to the emir, said this on Saturday while speaking in Kano with some journalists, including Premium Times reporter.

He said the airline must also accept its mistake for not flying on schedule, which he said caused the delay and left the emir stranded in Lagos.

Earlier, in a petition to the NCAA, Mr Bayero, popularly known as Isa Pilot, had said the airline delayed their Banjul to Lagos flight by over one hour and then refused to allow the entourage of the emir to board their connecting flight to Kano.

He said the entourage had arrived in Lagos 30 minutes before departure time.

The petition claimed that Mr Bayero called Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, to request him to delay the airlines morning flight to Kano because of the Banjul incident.

He flatly refused and avowed that he would not do that. I personally took this as an insult and a flagrant show of disrespect to His Highness and the Kano people at large, Mr Bayero wrote of Mr Onyema in the petition.

On Saturday, Mr Bayero told reporters that he would continue to speak against the alleged ill-treatment the liner caused to the emir and himself as private customers, until Mr Onyema offers the apology.

Mr Bayero also refuted the airlines statement that it offered the emir an alternative flight to Abuja for transiting to Kano, insisting the statement is not true.

I personally requested the offer from Air Peace to allow the emir to join their flight to Abuja; from there we would be transiting to Kano but they said that also was fully booked, Mr Bayero said.

Since we left Banjul an hour behind schedule, the airline should know they have 10 passengers transiting to Kano and should know the right thing is to reschedule the flight because the delay we had was never our fault.

I called severally, they refused to pick but later picked and told us it was not possible. Courtesy demands the management should make necessary arrangement for the VIP because I had called the airline while in Banjul to make provision for vehicle that would transit the emir from international wing to domestic.

That they disrespected the emir was the reason why they refused to delay the flight. It is totally wrong and unacceptable because, if they truly respect the emir, they should understand the aircraft was not complete without 10 passengers, including the VIP.

We booked our tickets on that aircraft and anybody that is familiar with international flight understands what is on-transit passengers and that passenger has priority more than any other passenger on board.

For delaying us from Banjul, which caused our arriving late to Lagos, Air Peace has the moral duty to accommodate or take care of us. Unfortunately, there was no option or offer to ease our situation, only for us to be left stranded.

It was pure falsehood for Air Peace to make that statement that they provided an alternative flight to Abuja for the emir. For that claim, I was the one that asked for Abuja flight and they said it was fully booked.

The Abuja flight was fully booked and if their aircraft to Abuja is full already how do we get to Abuja? Now, lets assume they had taken us to Abuja, how are we sure Kano flight was available from Abuja?

I am giving an ultimatum of 72 hours for Air Peace to tender an apology to the emir, first in a national daily and secondly to come down in person to the emir. We would not hesitate to go extra miles to correct the misnormal.

The action of Air Peace is sentimental and unprofessional and we can go any length to defend and protect any act of insensitivity against our prestigious traditional institution.

That insult is not heaped on the emir alone but on the good people of Kano and folding our hands on this could trigger something worse and more ridiculous.

I wrote to the DG NCAA, to complain but if someone claimed my statement is inciting, well, they are entitled to their opinion. But come to think of it, inciting who? Kano people not to fly Air Peace anymore because the airline insulted their emir and refused to apologise? That I have no regret if anybody claimed or interprets my complaint that way.

After all, Air Peace has been in business before coming to Kano and Kano people have been flying across the world without Air Peace. So if that is what he wanted, so be it, we will get there.

I am a professional pilot. I have flown five heads of state besides being a prince of Kano, and I am a personal friend to the Chairman of Air Peace, Mr Onyema, Mr Bayero said.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has turned down an evacuation offer from the United States, saying he needs ammunition and not a ride, the Ukraine embassy in Britain said Saturday on Twitter.

The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride, the embassy quoted the president as saying, adding that Ukrainians are proud of their President.

US intelligence officials are concerned that Kyiv could fall under Russian control within days. But President Zelenskyy remains undeterred despite Ukrainian forces being outnumbered and outgunned by Russias military.

In a video posted Saturday morning on Twitter, Mr Zelenskyy said, we are not putting down arms.

The Ukrainian leader remains a prime target for Russian aggression, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday evening amid Russias invasion of Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy also said that Russia had named him target number one, and my family is the number two target. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state. I will stay in the capital. My family is also in Ukraine.

He also voiced frustration with the outcome of discussions that he said he had with the heads of NATO member states.

We have been left alone to defend our state, Mr Zelenskiy said. Who is ready to fight alongside us? I dont see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.

However, in a tweet on Saturday, President Zelenskyy said, It is a crucial moment to close the long-standing discussion once and for all and decide on Ukraines membership in the #EU. Discussed with @eucopresident further effective assistance and the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future.

Internet Disruption

NetBlocks, an internet blockage observatory, Saturday said Internet connectivity in Ukraine has been badly affected by the Russian invasion, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the country where fighting has been heaviest, Al Jazeera reported.

Connectivity to GigaTrans, Ukraines main internet provider, dropped to below 20 per cent of normal levels before returning to higher levels in the early hours of Friday morning, NetBlocks said.

We currently observe national connectivity at 87 percent of ordinary levels, a figure that reflects service disruptions as well as population flight and the shuttering of homes and businesses since the morning of the 24th, Alp Toker, director of NetBlocks, told Reuters.

This is the third day of Russias invasion of Ukraine. UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements, told CNN that up to four million people could try to cross borders as the crisis in Ukraine continues. The ongoing attack on Ukraine left 850,000 people internally displaced while over 120,000 people had fled the country.

At least 137 deaths have been registered and over 300 injured in the ongoing attacks.

The invasion of Ukraine began early on Thursday with missile attacks on what Russia says were military bases and facilities, followed by a multi-pronged ground assault that rolled troops in from separatist-held areas in the east; from the southern region of Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, and from Belarus in the north.

Russia claims it is attacking Ukraine to denazify the country and protect its allies in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Donbass region after it recognised two breakaway regions there.

The invasion has been condemned by the U.S. and its allies, many of whom have sanctioned Russia.

On Friday, the UN Security Council voted to condemn Russias action. Eleven of the 15 members of the council voted in favour of the resolution.

The decision was, however, vetoed by Russia which is one of the five permanent members of the security council with a veto.
Suspected cultists in Anambra State, Nigerias South-east, on Saturday opened fire on mourners, while disrupting a funeral ceremony in the state.

The incident occurred at Ebenebe community in Awka North Local Government Area.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the 34-year-old man whose funeral was being held was killed in December, also by suspected cultists.

He was killed at Amansea Area in Awka North.

It was during the lying-in-state at the residence of the deceased that the suspected cultists arrived at the scene and started shooting at mourners, the source said.

He said some of the mourners hit by gunshots were taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital at Amaku, Awka.

My brother is among those injured and we have been at the hospital since 11 a.m. trying to ensure that they stabilise him, he said.

The police spokesperson in Anambra, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident.

Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, told reporters a burial was going on when some people suspected to be cultists invaded the area and started shooting.

I do not have details of casualties now, but I will keep you informed once the picture becomes clear, he said.

Mr Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Echeng Echeng, had dispatched a tactical squad to the area to maintain peace and order.

(NAN)
It is high time we salvaged the dwindling fortunes of our universities and higher education system. Establishing more universities is actually tantamount to expanding the problems, rather than solving them They should rather channel the nations scarce resources towards upgrading the existing ones. It is the quality of our tertiary institutions that will fast-track and accelerate national development. The quantity, indeed, cannot!

There is no prize for stating the obvious that universities in Nigeria are proliferating at a rate that appears to be abnormal. In recent times, as if they are involved in some sort of competition whose stake is very high, different federal lawmakers have taken turns to sponsor bills for the establishment of various tertiary institutions.

Under normal circumstances, establishing universities, polytechnics or even Colleges of Education (CoEs) across the country is not a misnomer, considering the army of students graduating yearly from secondary schools in the country. However, the issues of obsolete teaching methods, lack of quality teachers, poor infrastructure, very low standards and the poor standard of graduates churned out by these universities, are supposed to bother the lawmakers and other stakeholders more than the need to establish more higher institutions, which appear to be self-glorifying projects.

At the moment, universities in Nigeria are over 170, and still counting. But it is a common knowledge that most of them lack the requisite facilities to support qualitative teaching, learning and research.

This, perhaps, is why even some third and fourth generation Ivory Towers, and polytechnics in the country, have been labelled glorified secondary schools.

It should worry us as a nation that despite the huge number of universities, both public and private, technological advancement has eluded us, hence stunting national development and socio-economic growth.

It is also safe to assume that there is something fundamentally wrong with us if our almost 200 universities are not competing with the best, in the ranking of academic institutions globally.

Although many experts have made the case for the restructuring of our university education system, they surely did not contemplate the idea hovering in the mind of renowned educational test specialist, Dr Yusuf Lawal.

Kicking against the setting up of additional universities, Dr Lawal recently called on the executive arm of government to reject a proposed bill by the National Assembly for the establishment of more universities.

For quick implementation, the don urged public examination bodies in Nigeria, including JAMB, National Examinations Council (NECO), West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) to create a common electronic results platform by the second quarter of 2022.

He rather advised that existing ones should be upgraded, to make them world class, standard and functional.

The proposed bill was sponsored by legislators, demanding the establishment of more than 80 universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in their respective constituencies.

In a 98-page paper, recently presented at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Headquarters, in Abuja, the don called for the upgrade and expansion of existing higher institutions.

It would be recalled that in September, the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education and Services considered bills for the establishment of nine universities across the country.

A recipient of multiple awards, including Best Project at National Institute of Security Studies (NISS), Dr Lawal urged the government to expand the capacity of existing institutions and transform them to mega Institutions. He noted that, Private Universities should also be encouraged to collaborate and cooperate with one another to form partnerships in order to also have mega private universities.

For quick implementation, the don urged public examination bodies in Nigeria, including JAMB, National Examinations Council (NECO), West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) to create a common electronic results platform by the second quarter of 2022.

This is to ensure each body has access to one anothers results for the purpose of verification and confirmation. This is to be done by the second quarter of 2022.

The proposed public examinations common electronic results platform (is) to be made available to candidates to upload their results from one examination body to another seamlessly, the JAMB top management staff said.

In appreciation of the good work TETFund is doing, there is a need for the Federal Government to increase the intervention agencys yearly budgetary allocation. This is pertinent to allow TETFund to extend its intervention programme beyond public institutions.

He added that: The National Assembly should amend the Examination Malpractice Act to include any and all acts related to violations of the guidelines on admissions.

Aside Dr Lawals recommendations, efforts of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), one agency that has contributed significantly to the standardisation of Nigerian varsities and other institutions of higher learning, must be acknowledged and recognised.

Thanks to the infrastructural and research grants released by TETFund, the fortunes of many Nigerian universities and polytechnics have been turned around.

Ever since it was established, TETFund has ensured that education tax is utilised to improve quality of learning through the provision of educational facilities and infrastructural development, promoting creative and innovative approaches to learning, supporting and enhancing improvement of research activities in tertiary institutions.

In appreciation of the good work TETFund is doing, there is a need for the Federal Government to increase the intervention agencys yearly budgetary allocation. This is pertinent to allow TETFund to extend its intervention programme beyond public institutions.

It is high time we salvaged the dwindling fortunes of our universities and higher education system. Establishing more universities is actually tantamount to expanding the problems, rather than solving them.

They should rather channel the nations scarce resources towards upgrading the existing ones. It is the quality of our tertiary institutions that will fast-track and accelerate national development. The quantity, indeed, cannot!

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Rahma Olamide Oladosu writes from Abuja and can be reached through: oladosurahma@gmail.com.
Esteemed recognition only comes to a man who not only overcomes all odds, all the time, but also overwhelmingly exceeds expectations consistently. These are the attributes that come to mind anytime the name Inuwa Yahaya is mentioned in the media and the public.

When the bell for the governorship race began to ring in 2019, very few people gave Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya a raving review of a man capable of transforming the fortunes of the Jewel in the Savannah into an enviable one. Yet, within less than three years, the socio-economic pedestal of Gombe State, arguably the most peaceful, most welcoming and most thriving economy in North East Nigeria, has been transformed beyond pedestrianism.

To an avid reader, it is very glaring that no governor of Gombe State extraction has enjoyed the media attention, friendliness and commendation enjoyed so far by the Inuwa Yahayas administration.

He is always in the news for the right and commendable reasons. Even when political hiccups come up as it is always to be expected, the openness and maturity with which the governor and his team comport themselves would make the job of government handlers look like a tea party.

How has Inuwa been able to command such outstanding grace of glorious recognitions? He is known to be simply a superlative performer who tries to beat his own records and also likes to break records of performance of his predecessors in an attempt to raise the bars of governance and accomplishments.

So how do we measure his performance indices? Very simple! How do we calibrate his legacy, even simpler? We can check out the record of his innovations, put it beside the gross abandonment of projects he met on ground, the debilitating heaps of debt and x-ray the remarkable progress he has brought to the stage.

Our deductions cannot be far from the headline of this write up. So far incomparable, nonpareil, peerless, unequalled, unmatched, unparalleled, unsurpassed are a few descriptions. But Inuwa Yahaya is not a man who dwells on the accolades and encomiums of men. He is driven by performance. He believes in hardwork and drives his team along the line of dignity of labour.

When your governor works for 18 hours in a day what excuse do you have to be indolent? Inuwa is matchless in diligence and dedication to duty. He has little or no time for leisure and frivolities. He is a man fully committed to a mandate given by love from his people. In recompense, the people have not stopped demonstrating that they love their governor. The rousing reception accorded him recently when he returned from his first and only foreign trip since he became the Governor of Gombe State is a case in point.

Let me take you on a little ride about Inuwa Yahayas outstanding journey in Gombe State: Inimitability in Infrastructure Projects  No governor in the history of Gombe has demonstrated the rare courage of even development for all at once. Only Inuwa Yahaya decided to do an even distribution of road projects in a manner that no one can grumble. He called his cabinet and said You know what? This is novel, but possible. Lets give each local government a 100 kilometre of road.

Gombe State has 11 local government areas. So Network Eleven-100 came to stream.

This project has signalled a sporadic opening of economic growth in the state with road networks now fully integrated for movement of goods and personnel. He didnt stop there. The ultra modern mega motor park has been completed successfully and with it, ease of transportation will be greatly enhanced in the state.

Also in the mills is the multi billion naira Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa which is under construction. Inuwas economic recalibrations in Gombe State have been lauded nationally resulting in Gombe emerging as the best performing state in the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Just recently, Gombe clinched seventh position in the Fiscal Performance Index in Nigeria. BudgIT an economic barometer agency looked the way of Governor Inuwas rigorous economic policies and programmes and accorded him a pass mark. BudgIT is not an agency that plays to the gallery. Their parameters of economic growth are as consistent as the Northern Star. If BudgIT says Gombe is doing well, then the state is doing well indeed.

In its 2021 state-of-the-states report released recently which reflected on the states performance in the year 2020, Gombe State, the Jewel in the Savannah ranked seventh out of the 36 states of the federation by scoring higher points in the fiscal performance index owing to the sound economic policies and good governance of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

Gombe State beat all Northern states with the exception of Kebbi and Kaduna which came fifth and sixth respectively while Rivers, Ebonyi, Anambra and Lagos topped the list. BudgIT stated that in spite of the distortion of COVID-19 pandemic to local economies and government revenues worldwide, Gombe States Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) witnessed a +25.50% year-on-year increase from N6.80 billion in 2019 to N8.54 billion in 2020.

BudgIT noted that Gombe State pruned its operating expenses by -22.8% from N42.88 billion in 2019 to N32.62 billion in 2020, with its overhead cost component experiencing the greatest cut of -47.16% from N9.89 billion in 2019 to N18.72 billion in 2020. This, the report said, has contributed immensely to the states improvement in fiscal performance in the 2021 Report.

Although records have it that the Inuwa Yahaya administration came to power when Gombe State was overwhelmed with debt to the tune of about N119 billion comprising of bonds, external and internal debt which the state government services every month despite the meager allocation it gets from the federation. In spite of that, Inuwa Yahaya marches on like a courageous General who would not mind the odds but fixes his eyes on the prize of gallantry.

Despite the economic downturn and the debt burden, BudgIT expressed confidence in the economic policies of the incumbent administration in Gombe State under Governor Inuwa Yahaya, postulating that the state is moving in the right direction when it comes to blocking leakages of government revenues.

Other areas Inuwa is scoring high includes agriculture value chain, mineral exploitation, industrialisation and Public-Private Partnership. The astute business acumen of Governor Yahaya has been given a further green light as being capable of sustaining Gombe State on the right tract of economic development.

Inuwa Yahaya has the best records of awards for excellence as a Governor. With already five Man of the Year awards by reputable media organisations, including Vanguard and Leadership newspapers, Inuwa Yahaya in just about three years in office, still has more awards pouring in.

Recently, Gombe, the Jewel in the Savannah, recorded another first, as the state received two separate health awards in recognition of its exceptional performance and outstanding commitment to excellence as well as its contribution to the success of the implementation of the Pooled Fund project Window 2.

The two awards were presented by the National Secretariat of Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) through the Coordinator of the CS-SUNN coalition of Gombe State during the end of project meeting in Abuja.

Also last year, Governor Inuwa Yahaya received the Nutrition Champion for the Nigerian Child award by the International Society of Media in Public Health in recognition of his administrations disposition towards tackling the menace of malnutrition among children in the state.

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The two-year score sheet of Governor Inuwa Yahaya is a compendium of uncommon achievements. With a solid and unique 10- Year Development Plan put in place for Gombe State, the first of its kind by any government in the state, the administration of Inuwa Yahaya is clearly inimitable in policy formulation and clinical implementation of developmental projects.

* Saliu is a publisher/public affairs commentator
Ikponmwosa Omorodion, a former special adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the event took place on Saturday at Iguogun community, near Iguobazuwa in Ovia South-west Local Government Area of Edo.

Mr Omorodion, who described his defection as the return of the prodigal son, said he was inspired to return to the APC because of the good work of Dennis Idahosa, the representative of the Ovia Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.

The former special adviser, who defected along with some PDP bigwigs in the council area, said they would add value to the APC in Ovia South-west Local Government Area and the state in general.

Mr Omorodion described their homecoming as eventful, and said: We know where we are coming from and we know the stuff we are made of. The reason for our defection is that we have seen it and not what we heard.

We have had history as a people in the federal constituency. Some of us have come of age to know those that have represented us in the past.

Today, even to the blind, when you talk of constituency projects, Ovia has never had it this good, even in the entire state. No representative since 1999 that have given effective representation to their people like Dennis Idahosa.

History will not forgive us if we dont align with him (Idahosa) to continue in the same stead and we cannot be seen to be working with him from the other side.

We have come to work to support APC and most importantly, to support Dennis Idahosa, he said.

The Chairman of the APC in Ovia South West, Emmanuel Ogbomo, while receiving the decampees, said there was nothing like new or old members in APC, as everyone has equal rights in the party.

The chairman said he was confident of the ability of the defectors to add value to the party, having worked with them during the 21 years he was in the PDP.

We all have equal rights and must see ourselves as leaders of the party in the local government, he stated.

On his part, Mr Idahosa commended the defectors for their bold step and tasked them to immediately start working for the party.

(NAN)
The Ngor Okpala State Constituency bye-election conducted in Imo on Saturday witnessed low turnout of voters in many polling units.

Eleven candidates are contesting in the bye-election for the House of Assembly seat declared vacant following the long absence of the former occupant.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise reported that sensitive and non-sensitive election materials arrived at the polling units as early as 8:30 a.m.

Some of the areas visited were Logara/Umuohiagu, Ndiuhu Umuokoada Logara, Umuorisha Umuohiagu, Umuchoko Junction, Umuohiagu, and Community Primary School, Upe.

NAN reported that accreditation and voting started at 9:25 a.m. at Central School Umuoye 2 in Imerienwe, but witnessed low turnout of voters.

There was a noticeable presence of security operatives at the voting points and checkpoints on major roads in the areas including at Upe Autonomous Community.

The Presiding Officer at Ward 5, Central School Umuoye 2, polling unit 003, Qassim Usman, told NAN that accreditation and voting started at 8:30 a.m. without hitches.

Esther Ewuru, the Presiding Officer at Polling Unit 007, Ward 5, said about 25 voters had been accredited as at 10 a.m.

Appraising the process, a community leader and observer, Athan Agbakwuru, commended INEC for starting the exercise early.

Mr Agbakwuru expressed confidence that the process would be hitch-free.

NAN also observed that commercial activities were going on unhindered in many areas.

INECs Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, said 94,060 registered voters, the figure as at 2019, were expected to cast their votes in the bye-election.

(NAN)
FILE - A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, on Jan. 18, 2022. Russia's present demands are based on Putin's purported long sense of grievance and his rejection of Ukraine and Belarus as truly separate, sovereign countries but rather as part of a Russian linguistic and Orthodox motherland. (AP Photo, File)
DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Investment migration is a trendy subject among countries with a growing wealth bracket and a relatively low global mobility ability, which is why we keep seeing new residency and citizenship by investment (RCBI) markets pop up all over the world.

As the number of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) of a particular country grows, so does the need for a better standard of living, something which a second citizenship certainly addresses. This growing trend is apparent in many nations, but one of the places where we are seeing a flurry of RCBI activity is Kenya.

But for Kenya to be considered a large RCBI market, it has to meet three criteria:

The availability of wealth

The need for investment migration

The availability of RCBI services

A Growing Economy

The Kenyan economy is one of the fastest-growing ones in the African continent. Kenya's GDP has had an average growth rate of 4.62% in the past decade and a half and is primed to continue to grow.

This means that the number of HNWIs within Kenya is set to grow, a hypothesis which is mirrored by Knight Frank, who predict that the number of HNWIs in Kenya will grow a staggering 46% in the upcoming five years.

While the Kenyan Shilling, the official currency of the nation, has dropped about 30% in the last decade, the economy and GDP continue to grow. The currency fluctuation is partially affected by political instability and the relationship with foreign nations, but it remains a minor dent in the overall scheme of things.

Kenya's economy is largely focused on agriculture, which contributes to a third of the country's GDP, but other sectors, primarily construction and IT, are growing fast at rates of approximately 8% and 13%, respectively.

This economic diversity has opened the path for more Kenyans to take advantage of commercial opportunities and grow their wealth, creating a large client pool for RCBI.

The Need For A Second Passport

Kenya's living standard is not what one would hope, as the country's political stature is rocked by insurgent extremist groups, which also threaten the security of the nation, and its currency and economy are held back because of this political turbulence.

The population in Kenya also have to deal with lacklustre infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Over half a million Kenyans have chosen to look for a better life abroad, while those remaining are looking for solutions that RCBI can easily provide.

Another issue Kenyans have to deal with is the limited global mobility of their passports.

St. Kitts & Nevis, on the other hand, has a passport that provides visa-free travel to 157 destinations globally. The St. Kittian passport also provides visa-free travel to highly desirable locations like the United Kingdom and the EU, which require the Kenyan passport holder to apply for a visa.

Getting a Schengen visa can be a task for Kenyans; Greece's embassy in Nairobi rejected approximately 20% of all Schengen visa applications in 2020, while its Swedish counterpart rejected about 25% in the same year.

Getting a UK visa, although simpler, also has alarming rejection rates for Kenyans, as almost 15% of Kenyan applicants get rejected.

Obtaining a second passport can alleviate these issues, and more Kenyans are becoming aware of the solution and how they can transform their lives for the better with the use of a strong passport.

Access to RCBI Services

In terms of the last issue to becoming a large market, we at Savory & Partners help Kenya tick that box.

We have been offering Kenyan HNWIs our services for years now, and we have become extremely familiar with the Kenyan perspective, the obstacles that they face on a daily basis, and what solutions perfectly address their problems.

We work closely with our Kenyan clients to understand their needs and provide them with a tailor-made solution. Our presence in the Kenyan market has helped countless Kenyan HNWIs obtain second passports for themselves and their family members, allowing them to realize their full potential.

A very important thing to note is that Kenyans are eligible for all citizenship by investment programs worldwide, meaning they are lush for choice when it comes to getting a second passport.

However, one option may prove much more beneficial than the other depending on the person's circumstances and needs, and that is where we at Savory & Partners make the difference.

We analyze your situation and produce the optimal solution for you and your family, matching your needs and budget. If you would like to find the RCBI solution that is best suited for you, all you have to do is contact us today and book a free, comprehensive consultation with one of our second citizenship specialists.

Savory & Partners is an accredited agent for multiple governments where citizenship by investment is offered. Founded in 1797, the agency has evolved from pharmaceuticals to family assets and legacy protection through second citizenship and residency. The company's professional, multinational staff is made up of expert advisors who have guided thousands of clients, including many North African investors, on their journey to find the most suitable CBI program for them. The Savory & Partners team will be happy to answer your enquiries in English, Arabic and French.

For more information, please send an email to contact@savoryandpartners.com. You can also call +971 04 430 1717 or send a WhatsApp message to +971 54 440 2955.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738007/Savory_and_Partners_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Savory & Partners
This historic nomination brings us one step closer to a judiciary that reflects all of the citizens it serves. Tweet this

Judge Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Miami, FL. Her parents attended segregated schools in the South before enrolling at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Both started their careers as public school teachers and became leaders and administrators in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

When Judge Jackson expressed her desire to attend Harvard to her high school guidance counselor, the guidance counselor warned her not to set her sights "so high." Despite that admonition, Judge Jackson enrolled in and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and then Harvard Law School. At Harvard Law School, Judge Jackson graduated cum laude and was an editor on the Harvard Law Review.

After law school, Judge Jackson served as a law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer, who became her mentor. She later served as a federal public defender representing defendants who could not afford a lawyer. Judge Jackson then followed in the footsteps of her mentor, Justice Breyer, by working on the U.S. Sentencing Commission where her work focused on reducing sentencing disparities and ensuring that federal sentences were just and proportionate. Upon confirmation, Judge Jackson would become the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court.

Since Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement, President Biden has conducted a rigorous process to identify his replacement. The President sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and an unwavering dedication to the rule of law. He also sought a nominee  much like Justice Breyer  who is wise, pragmatic, and has a deep understanding of the Constitution as an enduring charter of liberty. The President sought an individual who is committed to equal justice under the law and who understands the profound impact that the Supreme Court's decisions have on the lives of ordinary people. Judge Jackson meets all of these criteria. She is an exceptionally qualified nominee who is regarded as one of the nation's brightest legal minds. We urge the Senate to move forward with a fair and timely confirmation.

This historic nomination brings us one step closer to achieving a judiciary that reflects all of the citizens it serves. Judge Jackson will undoubtedly make an indelible mark on the Supreme Court, and we applaud President Biden for honoring his promise.

# # #

About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American, college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of over 300,000 members in more than 1,000 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Liberia, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, Germany, South Korea, South Africa, and in the Middle East. Led by International President and Chief Executive Officer, Glenda Glover Ph.D., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is often hailed as "America's premier Greek-letter organization for African-American women." Visit www.aka1908.com for more information.

SOURCE Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO , Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avela has been selected to The Top 20, the acclaimed list of finalists in The GSV Cup  the world's largest pitch competition for EdTech startups. Companies selected to The Top 20 represent the top pre-seed and seed stage startups in digital learning across the "Pre-K to Gray" space. Avela will now compete for up to $1M in cash and prizes in San Diego this April at the ASU+GSV Summit, the 13th annual education technology event hosted by Arizona State University and GSV Ventures.

GSV Cup Top 20 Badge Avela Wins GSV Cup Top 20

Avela was selected from an initial applicant pool of 750+ global companies, which was further narrowed to The Elite 200 semifinalists. More than 175 judges from leading venture capital firms and strategic partners in digital learning like Accel, General Atlantic, Reach Capital, and Owl Ventures, among others, used rigorous criteria to determine the Top 20 most promising companies to compete on stage at ASU+GSV.

"We truly appreciate our school district partners for trusting us to support their enrollment reform and equity initiatives, and for endorsing us for this award," said Greg Bybee, Co-Founder and CEO of Avela. "It's an honor to work with these leading educators, and we look forward to showcasing their innovative work at the ASU+GSV Summit."

"GSV is so proud to recognize an epic group of global edtech founders as our final 20," said Deborah Quazzo, Managing Partner of GSV Ventures and Co-founder of ASU+GSV Summit. "These companies have been rigorously evaluated by a judging panel exceeding 90 top venture investors. Congratulations to all!"

The Top 20 companies include AdeptID, AdmitKard, Avela, Bodyswaps, Cerebry, Clayful, Cognitive ToyBox, Collective Academy, Crack The Code, Curious Cardinals, InfinityEDU, Kibo School, Learn In, Lynx Educate, PathMatch, Spark Studio, Terra.do Climate School, Ticmas, Tomorrow University, and uDocz.

The GSV Cup is powered by Google Cloud, HubSpot for Startups, HolonIQ, and GSV Ventures.

Learn more about Avela and the GSV Cup at https://avela.org/gsv .

ABOUT AVELA

Avela gives enrollment, admission, and award officers the tools to make equitable decisions and empower families. Avela's enrollment suite supports each stage of the admission journey with a focus on equity, accessibility, and ease of use. Avela is proud to work with leading education nonprofits, school districts, and universities to promote equity in access to education. https://avela.org.

ABOUT GSV VENTURES

GSV Ventures is a female-led, multi-stage venture capital firm focused on the $7+ trillion education sector. The fund is currently investing out of GSV Ventures Fund III and backs innovative entrepreneurs around the world in the "Pre-K to Gray" Arc of Learning. GSV manages over $675 million in global EdTech investments. Portfolio holdings include Andela, Class Technologies, ClassDojo, Coursera, Course Hero, Degreed, Guild, MasterClass, Outlier, Photomath, Quizizz, Lead School, Brightchamps, and ClassPlus, among others.

For Media Relations contact:

Greg Bybee

[email protected]

415-580-2613

SOURCE Avela, Inc.
SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biglari Holdings Inc.'s 2021 Annual Report to the shareholders has been posted on the Internet, where it can be accessed at www.biglariholdings.com. The report includes Sardar Biglari's annual letter to shareholders.

About Biglari Holdings Inc.

Biglari Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BH.A; BH) is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities, including property and casualty insurance, licensing and media, restaurants, and oil and gas. The Company's largest operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants.

Risks Associated with Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ markedly from those projected or discussed here. Biglari Holdings cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, for actual results may differ materially from expectations. Biglari Holdings does not update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Further information on the types of factors that could affect Biglari Holdings and its business can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC.

SOURCE Biglari Holdings Inc.
DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Investment migration is a trendy subject among countries with a growing wealth bracket and a relatively low global mobility ability, which is why we keep seeing new residency and citizenship by investment (RCBI) markets pop up all over the world.

As the number of high net worth individuals (HNWIs) of a particular country grows, so does the need for a better standard of living, something which a second citizenship certainly addresses. This growing trend is apparent in many nations, but one of the places where we are seeing a flurry of RCBI activity is Kenya.

But for Kenya to be considered a large RCBI market, it has to meet three criteria:

The availability of wealth

The need for investment migration

The availability of RCBI services

A Growing Economy

The Kenyan economy is one of the fastest-growing ones in the African continent. Kenya's GDP has had an average growth rate of 4.62% in the past decade and a half and is primed to continue to grow.

This means that the number of HNWIs within Kenya is set to grow, a hypothesis which is mirrored by Knight Frank, who predict that the number of HNWIs in Kenya will grow a staggering 46% in the upcoming five years.

While the Kenyan Shilling, the official currency of the nation, has dropped about 30% in the last decade, the economy and GDP continue to grow. The currency fluctuation is partially affected by political instability and the relationship with foreign nations, but it remains a minor dent in the overall scheme of things.

Kenya's economy is largely focused on agriculture, which contributes to a third of the country's GDP, but other sectors, primarily construction and IT, are growing fast at rates of approximately 8% and 13%, respectively.

This economic diversity has opened the path for more Kenyans to take advantage of commercial opportunities and grow their wealth, creating a large client pool for RCBI.

The Need For A Second Passport

Kenya's living standard is not what one would hope, as the country's political stature is rocked by insurgent extremist groups, which also threaten the security of the nation, and its currency and economy are held back because of this political turbulence.

The population in Kenya also have to deal with lacklustre infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Over half a million Kenyans have chosen to look for a better life abroad, while those remaining are looking for solutions that RCBI can easily provide.

Another issue Kenyans have to deal with is the limited global mobility of their passports.

St. Kitts & Nevis, on the other hand, has a passport that provides visa-free travel to 157 destinations globally. The St. Kittian passport also provides visa-free travel to highly desirable locations like the United Kingdom and the EU, which require the Kenyan passport holder to apply for a visa.

Getting a Schengen visa can be a task for Kenyans; Greece's embassy in Nairobi rejected approximately 20% of all Schengen visa applications in 2020, while its Swedish counterpart rejected about 25% in the same year.

Getting a UK visa, although simpler, also has alarming rejection rates for Kenyans, as almost 15% of Kenyan applicants get rejected.

Obtaining a second passport can alleviate these issues, and more Kenyans are becoming aware of the solution and how they can transform their lives for the better with the use of a strong passport.

Access to RCBI Services

In terms of the last issue to becoming a large market, we at Savory & Partners help Kenya tick that box.

We have been offering Kenyan HNWIs our services for years now, and we have become extremely familiar with the Kenyan perspective, the obstacles that they face on a daily basis, and what solutions perfectly address their problems.

We work closely with our Kenyan clients to understand their needs and provide them with a tailor-made solution. Our presence in the Kenyan market has helped countless Kenyan HNWIs obtain second passports for themselves and their family members, allowing them to realize their full potential.

A very important thing to note is that Kenyans are eligible for all citizenship by investment programs worldwide, meaning they are lush for choice when it comes to getting a second passport.

However, one option may prove much more beneficial than the other depending on the person's circumstances and needs, and that is where we at Savory & Partners make the difference.

We analyze your situation and produce the optimal solution for you and your family, matching your needs and budget. If you would like to find the RCBI solution that is best suited for you, all you have to do is contact us today and book a free, comprehensive consultation with one of our second citizenship specialists.

Savory & Partners is an accredited agent for multiple governments where citizenship by investment is offered. Founded in 1797, the agency has evolved from pharmaceuticals to family assets and legacy protection through second citizenship and residency. The company's professional, multinational staff is made up of expert advisors who have guided thousands of clients, including many North African investors, on their journey to find the most suitable CBI program for them. The Savory & Partners team will be happy to answer your enquiries in English, Arabic and French.

For more information, please send an email to [email protected]. You can also call +971 04 430 1717 or send a WhatsApp message to +971 54 440 2955.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738007/Savory_and_Partners_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Savory & Partners
NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2020 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating:

Tenneco Inc. ( TEN ), $20.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/tenneco-inc



relating to its proposed acquisition by funds affiliated with Apollo. Under the terms of the agreement, Tenneco shareholders are expected to receivein cash per share they own.

South Jersey Industries, Inc. ( SJI , relating to its proposed acquisition by Infrastructure Investments Fund. Under the terms of the agreement, SJI shareholders are expected to receive $36.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/south-jersey-industries-inc It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.





, relating to its proposed acquisition by Infrastructure Investments Fund. Under the terms of the agreement, SJI shareholders are expected to receive in cash per share they own. Universal Security Instruments, Inc. ( UUU ), relating to its proposed merger with Infinite Reality, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Infinite Reality shareholders will hold approximately 97% of USI's outstanding common stock, with current USI shareholders retaining ownership of the remaining 3%. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/universal-security-instruments-inc . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Origin Bancorp, Inc. ( OBNK ), Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/origin-bancorp-inc



relating to its proposed merger with BT Holdings, Inc.

Apria, Inc. ( APR ), relating to its proposed acquisition by Owens & Minor, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, APR shareholders will receive $37.50 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/apria-inc It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

Activision Blizzard, Inc. ( ATVI relating to its proposed acquisition by Microsoft Corporation. Under the terms of the agreement, ATVI shareholders will receive $95.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/activision-blizzard-inc . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.

About Monteverde & Associates PC

We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2020 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.

If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC
WATERLOO, ON, Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) today announced that it has granted an equity inducement award to John Giamatteo, President of BlackBerry's Cybersecurity business unit.

BlackBerry is issuing this announcement pursuant to, and in reliance on, the employment inducement exemption under the NYSE's Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08. Mr. Giamatteo's equity inducement award was granted outside of the Company's Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan.

Mr. Giamatteo received an award of 800,425 time-based and performance-based restricted share units (the "RSUs") as a material inducement to entering into employment with BlackBerry. Mr. Giamatteo's employment began on October 4, 2021.

The time-based RSUs will vest in equal installments on the first three anniversaries of January 3, 2022. Subject to the satisfaction of certain performance conditions, the performance-based RSUs will vest on January 3, 2025.

If Mr. Giamatteo's employment is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason absent a change of control, any unvested RSUs will continue to vest during the severance period provided under Mr. Giamatteo's employment agreement. If Mr. Giamatteo's employment is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason during the negotiation of or within 24 months following the completion of a change of control, or if Mr. Giamatteo dies, any unvested RSUs will vest immediately. Any unvested RSUs will be cancelled in the event of Mr. Giamatteo's resignation or termination for cause.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including over 195M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint management, endpoint security, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust.

BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere.

For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry.

Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and the exclusive rights to such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.

Media Contact:

BlackBerry Media Relations

+1 (519) 597-7273

[email protected]

SOURCE BlackBerry Limited
HOUSTON, Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. George J. Reul, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Lifetime Achiever for his work in the Medical field over four decades.

George J. Reul

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Dr. George J. Reul, MD, is a retired board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with 43 years of experience. Dr. Reul started his college education at Marquette University, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Chemistry, and Philosophy. He earned his MD degree at Marquette School of Medicine (which is now the Medical College of Wisconsin) in 1962. The doctor spent two summers researching the relation of enzymes succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase to thyroid function, sponsored by a Fellowship of the National Institute of Health. He was also a member of the AOA Medical Society, a National Representative of the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, and a CV Mosby Award winner for his academic excellence. He completed a one-year surgical internship at the University of Chicago Clinics from 1962-1963.

Dr. Reul then began the four-year General Surgery residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin but was interrupted by military service from 1966 to 1968. He served as a Captain in the US Army Medical Corp, where he was a Surgeon for the 93rd Evacuation Hospital and the 24th Evacuation Hospital in Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam, for his first year of service. His second year of military service was as a Surgical Consultant to the Wound Data and Munitions Effectiveness Team (WDMET), where he researched and developed munitions, ballistics, and body armor. Dr. Reul returned to the Medical College of Wisconsin to complete his General Surgery Training and earn a Master of Science degree in Surgical Science. He then completed a Thoracic Surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, working under the supervision of Dr. Michael E. DeBakey and Dr. Denton A. Cooley. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery (1971), the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (1971), and the American Board of Vascular Surgery (1984).

After completing his residency program in 1971, Dr. Reul joined the Baylor Faculty of Surgery, becoming the Deputy Chief of Surgery at Ben Taub General Hospital. He began a Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program there and supervised the Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular, General Surgery, Trauma, and Pediatric Congenital Surgery Programs. He trained surgical residents and medical students. Dr. Reul worked with the Pall Corporation to develop fine screen blood filters for blood transfusions, a device still in use today.

In 1973, Dr. Reul joined Dr. Denton A Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital. He began working as a Clinical Professor at the Division of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He became the Associate Chief of Surgery and Chief of Vascular Surgery at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Hospital in 1983. He was reappointed to the Baylor College of Medicine Department of Surgery as a Clinical Professor in 1994. Dr. Reul initiated the Peripheral Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory at St. Luke's Hospital in 1981 and was the Medical Director of the Laboratory until retirement in 2014.

Dr. Reul is a member of numerous medical societies and has received such honors as the Honorary Consulting Professor of Thoracic Surgery from the Shanghai Second Medical College (1985), Alumnus of the Year Award from the Medical College of Wisconsin (2002), the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Society International Recognition Award (2009), the Indian Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery Honorary Fellowship (2011), the Adriatic Vascular Summit Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), Ray C. Fish Award for Scientific Achievement in Cardiovascular Disease (2012), and has maintained the rating of one of America's Best Medical Doctors for several years.

Since its inception, Dr. Reul has been a Board Member of the Cardiovascular Care Providers and was also a Member of the Editorial Board of the Texas Heart Institute Journal. While serving as the Associate Chief of Surgery, the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Hospital was placed in the US News and World Report Top 10 Cardiovascular Hospitals for 15 consecutive years before his retirement.

The doctor is the author of over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has given presentations at more than 500 national and international meetings. He has given talks throughout the US and 35 countries. During his time as a visiting professor, he performed cardiac surgeries at 17 centers in 11 different countries and assisted in the development and maintenance of numerous International Cardiovascular Surgery Programs.

In 2007, after 36 years of treating a large volume of pediatric and adult cardiac surgical patients, Dr. Reul ended his clinical practice. He remained on St. Luke's Hospital staff as an Associate Chief of Surgery of the Texas Heart Institute, Medical Director of the Peripheral Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory, and Surgical Director of the Society of Thoracic Surgery Database at Texas Heart Institute - CHI St. Luke's Hospital until retirement in 2014.

Dr. Reul's greatest joy is his family. His wife, Susan, a registered nurse, has provided a source of inspiration, understanding, and support. They have six sons, one of whom completed a General Surgery Residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and a Cardiovascular Surgery residency at the Texas Heart Institute. He is presently on the Texas Heart Institute and the Methodist Hospital staff and is Director of the newly established Cardiovascular Residency Program at the Methodist Hospital. His son (Dr. Reul's grandson), Michael, will graduate from the Baylor College of Medicine in 2022 and pursue a Cardiovascular Surgery career.

For over 20 years, Susan and Dr. Reul have operated Hamoa Bay House and Bungalow, a vacation rental, in Hana and Olinda Country Farms in upcountry Olinda. Both are on the island of Maui in the Hawaiian Islands. They spend their time between there and in their home in Houston, Texas.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who
ATLANTA, Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Keneeshia N. Williams, MD, FACS, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Surgeon in the medical field and in acknowledgment of her work at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Keneeshia Williams

In addition to her duties as a Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Surgeon, Dr. Williams also serves as the Chief Quality Officer in the Department of Surgery as well as the Surgeon Champion for the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, at Grady Memorial Hospital. She has been practicing medicine for over 11 years.

After completing her Bachelor's degree in Biology and Chemistry, at Augsburg College, Dr. Williams went on earn her Medical degree at the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine at Peoria. She completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Illinois at Mount Sinai Hospital, and then received specialized, National Institute of Health-funded burn and trauma training at the Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute of Loyola University Medical Center. From there, Dr. Williams went on to complete a Surgical Critical Care/Acute Care Surgery Fellowship at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, from 2015-2017. Today, Dr. Williams is board certified in Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care Surgery through the American Board of Surgery.



In her day-to-day work as a specialized trauma surgeon, Dr. Williams provides urgently needed care to patients suffering from severe trauma, wounds, illness, or other potentially life-threatening medical conditions. In her role as the Chief Quality Officer, Dr. Williams works diligently to further enhance the quality of care and positive surgical outcomes for patients at Grady Memorial Hospital.



As a teacher for the next generation, Dr. Williams serves an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Trauma/Surgical Critical Care. She provides her knowledge to residents, medical students, and Fellows in ICU/Critical Care.

She maintains associations with the Eastern Association Society of Trauma, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Medical Association, the Association of Women Surgeons, the Society of Black Academic Surgeons, the Southeastern Surgical Congress, and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Dr. Williams is additionally a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.



Dr. Williams has been awarded and honored for her work in Medicine with the Urban Health Program Award for Academic Excellence at the University of Illinois College of Medicine (2006), the Merck Award for Excellence in Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine (2009), and the Performance Excellence Award for Physician Communication at Emory University/Grady Memorial Hospital (2019).



As a child, Dr. Williams grew up in a community that often experienced gun violence, a tragic situation that left her feeling helpless as a young girl, but provided the spark of determination in her to gain the knowledge she needed to one day make a difference.



In her spare time, Dr. Williams volunteers with outreach groups, including one whose mission is to reduce gun violence.

For more information, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFSxe82oE_A and https://www.gradyhealth.org/.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]



SOURCE Continental Who's Who
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus today announced a commitment of $1 million for immediate distribution to support Ukrainian refugees, including Ukrainian Knights and their families impacted by the recent Russian invasion of their country. The organization has also launched the Ukraine Solidarity Fund, an international fundraising campaign among its members that will match all funds raised up to an additional $500,000.

In a message to Knights around the world, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly encouraged the organization's more than 2 million members to respond with continued prayers and material support.

"The situation in Ukraine is dire and worsening. The people of Ukraine and our brother Knights in that nation need our help," the supreme knight wrote.

The relief funding will be used to provide shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and religious goods, as well as other humanitarian needs as identified, both directly in Ukraine and through refugee sites in Poland. The Knights will work with both the Latin and Greek Catholic Churches in Ukraine, with dioceses and K of C councils in Poland, and with international humanitarian aid agencies to address needs quickly and effectively. Should fundraising efforts exceed immediate needs, consideration will be given to assist widows and orphans of brother Knights killed as a result of military action, and for assistance in resettlement and rebuilding for communities displaced by conflict and war.

In a video message to the more than 1,800 Knights of Columbus in Ukraine, Supreme Knight Kelly said, "In this time of intense danger, know that your brother Knights of Columbus around the world are praying for you, your families and all the people of Ukraine. We ask that our Lord protect you and your loved ones and restore peace in your land. We ask that he give you strength and courage to persevere."

The supreme knight's entire video message can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/35pUxOo

For additional information about the Knights of Columbus Ukraine Solidarity Fund and how to donate, please click here: kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html

About the Knights of Columbus

In 1882, Blessed Michael McGivney, a young parish priest in New Haven, Conn., founded the Knights of Columbus to serve the needs of a largely immigrant Catholic community. What began as a small fraternal benefit society has since grown into one of the world's leading international charitable organizations, with 2 million members in more than 16,000 local councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 47 million service hours and $150 million for worthy causes in their communities. The Knights of Columbus also offers extensive life insurance products to members and their families. Knights of Columbus Insurance currently has more than $116 billion of life insurance policies in force and was named by Forbes as one of America's Best Insurance Companies 2022. In addition, the Knights provides investment services in accord with Catholic social teaching through Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors, which holds nearly $30 billion in assets under management. Based on the founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Order remains committed to strengthening Catholic families and parishes and to practicing faith in action through service to all in need. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit kofc.org/join.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. , Feb. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Registered nurses at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, voted on February 25 to ratify their first union contract, which will empower them to provide safe, high-quality patient care by securing enforceable standards and improvements.

"Our union contract will immediately benefit nurses, our patients and communities and make positive impacts for years to come," said Karen Corbett, FCU nurse and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee. "St. Luke's nurses are an incredible group of caregivers who have persevered through a global pandemic. This contract values our dedication to patient care and will help us hold Southcoast Health accountable for providing the conditions nurses need to thrive at St. Luke's."

Nurses reached a tentative agreement with Southcoast on February 17 and voted to ratify the agreement on February 25. The agreement followed almost three years of negotiations, interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and covers nearly 700 nurses at St. Luke's Hospital. During an informational picket in January, nurses called on Southcoast to quickly finish negotiating a fair contract to stem a significant exodus of nurses, which had created unsafe patient care conditions and left nurses exhausted and suffering from moral injury.

Contract Highlights

There are many different provisions of the contract in addition to those summarized below, creating a comprehensive document that will help support and protect St. Luke's nurses now and into the future.

Staffing: Enforceable staffing language that holds the hospital accountable for ensuring adequate RN staffing. The hospital has committed to maintaining the existing staff grids and making good faith efforts to recruit or otherwise bring in nurses to staff to the grids. The contract language draws from other MNA contracts where nurses fought strong campaigns to gain these same staffing protections.

Enforceable staffing language that holds the hospital accountable for ensuring adequate RN staffing. The hospital has committed to maintaining the existing staff grids and making good faith efforts to recruit or otherwise bring in nurses to staff to the grids. The contract language draws from other MNA contracts where nurses fought strong campaigns to gain these same staffing protections. Wages: Every nurse receives an increase every year through the establishment of a fair wage step scale that guarantees nurses advance annually. The wage scale goes a long way in correcting wage inequities that have existed for years. In addition to nurses advancing one step, every step on the scale improves every year. The average increase for nurses in 2022 will be 7.9%.

Every nurse receives an increase every year through the establishment of a fair wage step scale that guarantees nurses annually. The wage scale goes a long way in correcting that have existed for years. In addition to nurses advancing one step, every step on the scale improves every year. The average increase for nurses in 2022 will be 7.9%. Health Insurance: A contractually protected health insurance benefit that provides two plan options, maintains plan benefit levels, and ensures premium cost sharing percentages will not change during the life of the contract.

A contractually protected health insurance benefit that provides two plan options, maintains plan benefit levels, and ensures premium cost sharing percentages will not change during the life of the contract. Earned Time Off: Nurses with 19 or more years of service gain back the fifth week of vacation Southcoast took away several years ago.

Nurses with 19 or more years of service gain back the fifth week of vacation Southcoast took away several years ago. Scheduling: This contract language will give nurses more control of their schedule and work/life balance. Nurses will be less likely to be bumped off their requested schedule.

This contract language will give nurses more control of their schedule and work/life balance. Nurses will be less likely to be bumped off their requested schedule. Assault Pay: If a nurse is assaulted at work by a patient or visitor and requires time off, the hospital will restore all Earned Time used by the nurse within the first five calendar days of the assault.

If a nurse is assaulted at work by a patient or visitor and requires time off, the hospital will restore all Earned Time used by the nurse within the first five calendar days of the assault. Tuition Reimbursement: Full-time nurses will receive 75% of the cost of tuition for courses pre-approved by HR, up to $2,500 in one academic year.

Full-time nurses will receive 75% of the cost of tuition for courses pre-approved by HR, up to in one academic year. Just Cause: This is a well-established and universally recognized standard in labor law. This contract provision will provide nurses protection against arbitrary or unfair discipline. This helps ensure that nurses can advocate for patients and colleagues without fear of retaliation.

This is a well-established and universally recognized standard in labor law. This contract provision will provide nurses protection against arbitrary or unfair discipline. This helps ensure that nurses can advocate for patients and colleagues without fear of retaliation. Grievance and Arbitration: These clauses  part of all MNA contracts  are a crucial tool for addressing and rectifying violations of the contract.

These clauses  part of all MNA contracts  are a crucial tool for addressing and rectifying violations of the contract. Nurses Secure Labor Management Committee: Establishes a joint-labor management committee comprised of seven MNA RNs to meet regularly with management representatives. The contract also secures dedicated MNA seats on the workplace safety committee.

Negotiation Background

St. Luke's nurses voted in an NLRB election in November 2018 to join the MNA and began negotiating their contract in May 2019. They were making progress and ramping up a public campaign when the pandemic hit in March 2020. Negotiations were paused for several months while nurses cared for patients on the front lines of the pandemic. Nurses successfully pressured the hospital to make safety improvements during the pandemic, especially around safer personal protective equipment (PPE) and returned to bargaining in summer 2020.

Nurses waged a successful campaign in fall 2020 against a decertification attempt, winning in December 2020. Since that election result was finalized, nurses have built up a strong public campaign around standouts, lawn signs and digital ads, and an informational picket, supplementing their strength at the bargaining table.

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association
DALLAS, Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint Advisors, L.P., investment adviser to the NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (together "NexPoint"), today announced the extension of the offering period for its previously announced offer to purchase any and all Shares of Beneficial Interest (the "Shares") of United Development Funding IV ("UDFI" or the "Company") at a price of $1.10 per Share upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Assignment Form for the offer (which together constitute the "Offer" and the "Tender Offer Documents"). The Offer is now scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, at the end of the day on March 25, 2022, unless the Offer is extended or earlier terminated. The Tender Offer Documents are available at www.UDFITenderOffer.com, or from the information agent for the Offer, as discussed below.

As previously announced on December 14, 2020, the Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions: (i) there shall not have been threatened, instituted, or pending any action or proceeding before any court or any governmental or administrative agency (a) challenging the acquisition of shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise relating in any manner to the Offer, or (b) in the sole judgment of NexPoint, otherwise materially adversely affecting the Company; (ii) NexPoint shall have received all required governmental approvals, if any, for the Offer; (iii) NexPoint shall have had the opportunity to conduct sufficient due diligence to determine whether the offered price per share is reasonable given the current financial condition and results of operations of UDFI; (iv) the Board of Trustees of UDFI shall have waived in writing the ownership limitations set forth in Article VII of the Declaration of Trust of UDFI as such limitations would otherwise apply to the Offer; and (v) NexPoint shall have received satisfactory evidence that UDFI has continued to qualify as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under federal tax laws and thereby to avoid any entity-level federal income or excise tax.

On January 8, 2021, UDFI announced that it had reduced the percentage of outstanding Shares that a shareholder may own from 9.8% to 5.0%. The Company took such action in an effort to frustrate the Offer. It also announced it amended the Company's bylaws to require that certain legal actions could be brought on behalf of or against UDFI only in certain courts in Maryland. NexPoint is reviewing these actions and their legality under applicable law.

Shareholders should read the Offer to Purchase and the related materials carefully because they contain important information. Shareholders may obtain a free copy of the Offer to Purchase and the Assignment Form from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the Offer (the "Information Agent"), by calling toll-free at (800) 331-7543. THE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, EASTERN TIME, AT THE END OF THE DAY ON MARCH 25, 2022, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

About the NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (NXDT)

The NexPoint Diversified Real Estate Trust (NYSE: NXDT), formerly the NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund (NYSE: NHF), is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint Advisors, L.P. that is in the process of converting to a diversified REIT. The name change became effective on November 8, 2021. On August 28, 2020, shareholders approved the conversion proposal and amended NXDT's fundamental investment policies and restrictions to permit NXDT to pursue its new business. NXDT has completed the repositioning of its investment portfolio sufficient to achieve REIT tax status and is operating during its 2021 taxable year so that it may qualify for taxation as a REIT.NXDT has also realigned its portfolio so that it is no longer an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). On March 31, 2021, NXDT filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for an order under the 1940 Act declaring that NXDT no longer operates as an investment company (the "Deregistration Order"). During the SEC's review process, NXDT will continue to be structured as a closed-end investment fund.

For more information visit www.nexpoint.com/nexpoint-strategic-opportunities-fund

About NexPoint Advisors, L.P.

NexPoint Advisors, L.P. is an SEC-registered adviser on the NexPoint alternative investment platform. It serves as the adviser to a suite of funds and investment vehicles, including a closed-end fund, interval fund, business development company, and various real estate vehicles. For more information visit www.nexpoint.com



Risks and Disclosures

This document is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any common stock of UDFI or any other securities. The offer to purchase common stock of UDFI will only be made pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, the Assignment Form and related documents. THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE ASSIGNMENT FORM AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. STOCKHOLDERS OF UDFI ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT SUCH STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SHARES. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these statements (when available) by directing such requests to the Information Agent, by calling toll-free at (800) 331-7543.

###

Media Contact

Lucy Bannon

[email protected]

SOURCE NexPoint Advisors, L.P.
HOUSTON, Feb. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Bight, LLC, the bidding entity representing Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (Atlantic Shores), a 50-50 joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC (Shell) and EDF-RE Offshore Development, LLC (EDF), is the provisional winner of block OCS-0541 in the New York Bight offshore wind auction. This area, subject to a future investment decision, could support approximately 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of commercial wind generation, enough to power nearly 700,000 New York and New Jersey homes.

"This win considerably expands Shell's offshore wind renewable power generation capacity in the United States," said Wael Sawan, Integrated Gas and Renewables & Energy Solutions Director. "By growing our portfolio and deepening our power synergies in the New York and New Jersey markets, we will help scale our own low-carbon ambitions while providing cleaner energy options the world needs."

With today's announcement, along with a 2018 agreement to develop additional acreage in the New Jersey Wind Energy Area, Atlantic Shores could now potentially deliver more than 4.5 GW of clean energy in the northeastern United States, providing power to over 3.1 million homes across New York and New Jersey.

Shell's target is to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society. As part of the effort to meet its targets, Shell is progressing its wind business by building on decades of legacy offshore experience and leveraging operational excellence, including safety and cost-efficiency, with positive community and regulatory relationships.

Notes to editors

Atlantic Shores LLC and Mayflower Wind Energy LLC, are Shell's two separate offshore wind 50-50 joint ventures in partnership with EDF and OW North America LLC respectively.

Provisional winners will be known at the end of the auction. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process calls for several site assessment activities including lessee site characterization studies and a site assessment plan, followed by the agency's review and approval. Once approved, the lessee assesses the site before progressing to the construction and operation phase.

Shell aims to sell more than 560 terawatt-hours globally per year by 2030 as part of its Integrated Power business, twice as much electricity as the company sells today.

On February 11, 2021 , Shell set forth its Powering Progress strategy, including details of how it will achieve its target to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society's progress as it works towards the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the increase in the average global temperature to 1.5C. In October 2021 , Shell set a target to reduce absolute emissions by 50% by 2030, compared to 2016 levels, which includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

, Shell set forth its Powering Progress strategy, including details of how it will achieve its target to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society's progress as it works towards the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the increase in the average global temperature to 1.5C. In , Shell set a target to reduce absolute emissions by 50% by 2030, compared to 2016 levels, which includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions. For more details on Shell's Powering Progress strategy, please visit www.shell.com/poweringprogress. For more details on Shell's climate target, please visit www.shell.com/climatetarget.

Cautionary note

The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this press release "Shell", "Shell Group" and "Group" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this [report] refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition", ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', "milestones", ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this press release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, February 25th, 2022. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

The content of websites referred to in this press release does not form part of this press release.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

This press release contains data and analysis from Shell's Sky 1.5 scenario. Shell Scenarios are not intended to be projections or forecasts of the future. Shell scenarios including the scenarios contained in the [Report/Booklet/Video/Presentation] are not Shell's strategy or business plan. When developing Shell's strategy, our scenarios are one of many variables that we consider. Ultimately, whether society meets its goals to decarbonise is not within Shell's control. While we intend to travel this journey in step with society, only governments can create the framework for success. The Sky 1.5 scenario starts with data from Shell's Sky scenario, but there are important updates. First, the outlook uses the most recent modelling for the impact and recovery from COVID-19 consistent with a Sky 1.5 scenario narrative. Second, it blends this projection into existing Sky (2018) energy system data by around 2030. Third, the extensive scaleup of nature-based solutions is brought into the core scenario, which benefits from extensive new modelling of that scale-up. (In 2018, nature-based solutions required to achieve 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century were analysed as a sensitivity to Sky. This analysis was also reviewed and included in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C (SR15).) Fourth, our new oil and natural gas supply modelling, with an outlook consistent with the Sky 1.5 narrative and demand, is presented for the first time. Fifth, the Sky 1.5 scenario draws on the latest historical data and estimates to 2020 from various sources, particularly the extensive International Energy Agency energy statistics. As with Sky, this scenario assumes that society achieves the 1.5C stretch goal of the Paris Agreement. It is rooted in stretching but realistic development dynamics today but explores a goal-oriented way to achieve that ambition. We worked back in designing how this could occur, considering the realities of the situation today and taking into account realistic timescales for change. Of course, there is a range of possible paths in detail that society could take to achieve this goal. Although achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement and the future depicted in Sky 1.5 while maintaining a growing global economy will be extremely challenging, today it is still a technically possible path.

Shell's operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, Shell's operating plans, outlooks, budgets and pricing assumptions do not reflect our net-zero emissions target. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell's operating plans, outlooks, budgets and pricing assumptions to reflect this movement.

Also, in this press release we may refer to Shell's "Net Carbon Footprint", which includes Shell's carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers' carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers' carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the term Shell's "Net Carbon Footprint" is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

SOURCE Shell
In-Scope:

Cloud:

The sustainability management software market share growth by the cloud segment will be significant during the forecast period. The global sustainability management software market is undergoing a technological shift, driven by the advent of cloud computing. Users are moving toward cloud-based sustainability management software because it helps reduce the use of energy, and businesses can reduce their energy costs by 80%-85%. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are widely adopting cloud-based software solutions, as the shift to the cloud unlocks new opportunities such as clean energy transitions, which, in turn, is expected to contribute to the growth of the sustainability management software market during the forecast period.

Out-of-Scope:

On-premises

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Moreover, the report also provides Value Chain Analysis which helps companies gain a competitive advantage in the market. The Value Chain of the Sustainability Management Software Market includes the following core components:

Inputs

Software development

Marketing and distribution

Post-sales services

Market innovation

Highlights-

Segmentation- The report extensively covers market segmentation by Deployment (cloud and on-premises) and Geography ( North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and MEA)

The report extensively covers market segmentation by Deployment (cloud and on-premises) and Geography ( , , APAC, , and MEA) Key Companies- Accruent, Diligent Corp., ENGIE SA , Figbytes Inc., IBM Corp., SAP SE, Schneider Electric SE, Sphera Solutions Inc., Urjanet Inc., and Wolters Kluwer NV among others.

Accruent, Diligent Corp., , Figbytes Inc., IBM Corp., SAP SE, Schneider Electric SE, Sphera Solutions Inc., Urjanet Inc., and Wolters Kluwer NV among others. Driver- Shift toward green initiatives to drive the market.

Shift toward green initiatives to drive the market. Challenge- Integration issues with ERP solutions to hamper the market growth

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Vendor Insights-

The sustainability management software market is concentrated and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

Accruent- The company offers sustainability management software to decrease compliance risks, manage energy consumption and spend and monitor utilities and track refrigerant across many locations.

The company offers sustainability management software to decrease compliance risks, manage energy consumption and spend and monitor utilities and track refrigerant across many locations. Diligent Corp.- The company offers sustainability management software namely Accuvio Sustainability Reporting software.

The company offers sustainability management software namely Accuvio Sustainability Reporting software. ENGIE SA - The company offers sustainability management software namely Zero Carbon Platform through its brand ENGIE Impact.

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Learn More about Key Driver & Challenge of the Market-

Sustainability Management Software Market Driver:

Shift toward green initiatives:

The shift toward green initiatives will be one of the driving factors for the sustainability management software market growth. Green energy is considered to be the most effective method of countering the challenges of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Green energy generation involves the use of renewable resources as raw materials for energy generation. Sustainability management software provides a detailed report on the amount of CO2 generated per unit of productions. It helps reduce GHG emissions by allowing users to monitor, measure, plan, store, and report carbon emission data in organizations. Several industries are adopting sustainability management software, which is driving the growth of the market in focus.

Sustainability Management Software Market Challenge:

integration issues with ERP solutions:

Integration issues with ERP solutions are key challenges for the sustainability management software market growth. Carbon emissions are involved in nearly every operational activity of an enterprise, greater benefits of sustainability management software can be achieved by integrating the software with the enterprise resource planning system of the organization. However, this poses integration challenges, as the IT infrastructure of a company may not support the sustainability management software and, therefore, defeat its purpose. It can be difficult and costly to integrate sustainability management applications that have not been designed to integrate with other platforms. Hence, the integration issues with ERP solutions are a major impediment to the growth of the global sustainability management software market.

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Sustainability Management Software Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 11.93% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 842.76 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 11.11 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Accruent, Diligent Corp., ENGIE SA, Figbytes Inc., IBM Corp., SAP SE, Schneider Electric SE, Sphera Solutions Inc., Urjanet Inc., and Wolters Kluwer NV Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period, Customization preview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2021

Market outlook: Forecast for 2021 - 2026

Five Forces Analysis

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Deployment

Market segments

Comparison by Deployment

Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

On-premises - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Market opportunity by Deployment

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 MEA - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Accruent

Diligent Corp.

ENGIE SA

Figbytes Inc.

IBM Corp.

SAP SE

Schneider Electric SE

Sphera Solutions Inc.

Urjanet Inc.

Wolters Kluwer NV

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

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SOURCE Technavio
Judge Jackson's accomplishments build on the legacy of Black women who shattered barriers to make our society more just. Tweet this

"The Executive Leadership Council applauds the historic appointment of Judge Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. She is an extremely qualified jurist whose legal career, personal background and unflagging commitment to our Constitution and the principles of equality and fairness will bring critical insight and perspective to our nation's highest court," says Lloyd W. Brown, II, Chair of the Board of Directors at The Executive Leadership Council.

The nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson can be likened to the nomination of Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black man nominated to the Supreme Court in 1967, almost 55 years ago. The nomination of a Black woman to the high court represents progress for America and especially Black women in the legal profession.

Supreme Court decisions impact the life and liberty of nearly 300 million Americans, yet only two Black justices have ever served on the court.

According to a recent report by the American Bar Association, Black attorneys make up 4.7% of all attorneys, which is much lower than the 14% percent of Americans who identify as Black. And according to the latest data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Black U.S. residents are incarcerated 3.5 times more than white U.S. residents.

These numbers demonstrate the very disparate representation of Black Americans in the legal profession and the overwhelming ramifications of that lack of representation in the carceral system. The appointment of Judge Brown Jackson, who formerly served on the bipartisan US Sentencing Commission, at this time, is necessary and significant.

"On behalf of The ELC's nearly 800 members who represent Black excellence at the highest levels of business, we commend Judge Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court. Her pioneering accomplishments build on the rich legacy of Black women throughout history who shattered barriers in order to make our society more just. Research has consistently shown that diversity drives high performing teams, and we look forward to Judge Jackson's contributions to our highest court," says Michael C. Hyter, President & CEO of The Executive Leadership Council.

With this nomination, President Biden kept his promise to correct long-standing shortcomings regarding the makeup of the Supreme Court of the United States and brings the nation closer to keeping the promise of justice for all.

About The Executive Leadership Council:

The Executive Leadership Council opens channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities. An independent non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 1986, The ELC is the pre-eminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global Black executives in C-suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. Comprising nearly 800 current and former Black CEOs, senior executives and board directors at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies and entrepreneurs at top-tier firms, its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global Black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.elcinfo.com.

SOURCE The Executive Leadership Council
CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla., Feb. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to launch the GOES-T mission for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA. The launch, managed by NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) based at Kennedy Space Center, is on track for March 1 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Launch is planned for 4:38 p.m. EST. The live launch broadcast begins at 4:00 p.m. EST on March 1 at www.ulalaunch.com.

"We are excited to launch the GOES-T spacecraft for our NASA and NOAA mission partners. ULA, and our heritage vehicles, have launched all 17 operational GOES missions to date," said Gary Wentz, vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "GOES-T will be delivered to a geosynchronous transfer orbit, which will place the spacecraft closer to its final destination and conserve the satellite's fuel supply for a longer mission life."

GOES-T is the third satellite in NOAA's revolutionary GOES-R Series, GOES-T will provide NOAA and NASA with continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth's Western Hemisphere, lightning detection and mapping, solar imaging, and space weather monitoring.

The mission will launch on an Atlas V 541 configuration rocket, that includes a 17-ft (5-m) diameter short payload fairing and stands 196 ft. (59.7 meters) tall. The Atlas booster for this mission is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine. Aerojet Rocketdyne provided the RL10C-1 engine for the Centaur upper stage and Northrop Grumman provided the Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM) 63 solid rocket boosters.

This mission will be the 92nd launch of the Atlas V rocket, and the 22nd Atlas V launch in partnership with LSP. To date ULA has launched 148 times with 100 percent mission success.

Leveraging a legacy of 100 percent mission success over 145 plus missions to explore, protect and enhance our world, ULA is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider with world-leading reliability, schedule confidence, and mission optimization. We deliver value unmatched by any launch services company in the industry, a tireless drive to improve and commitment to the extraordinary. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321).

Join the conversation: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Photos available on the ULA Flickr page.

SOURCE United Launch Alliance
Morses Club PLC (AIM:MCL) sent out an S.O.S. - save our shares  this week after the doorstep lender issued a massive profit warning.

Controversially, however, Paul Smith, whose departure as chief executive was announced at the same time as the profit warning, sold 464,119 shares in the company at 42.65p just four days before the bad news hit the market.

Morses said it received no prior notification of Smiths intention to sell the shares.

The shares now trade at around 13.475p, after plummeting 68% this week.

Sadly, Morses was not even the worst performer of the week; that unwanted accolade went to Synairgen, which tanked 83% to 29.24p after it said its treatment for Covid failed to meet both its primary and secondary goals in a phase III clinical trial.

All is not necessarily lost, however, as Richard Marsden, Synairgens chief executive pointed out that the disappointing trial outcome may be the result of significant changes in the way patients are routinely treated in the period between the phase II and phase III evaluations.

This improvement in patient care may have compromised the potential of SNG001 to show a clinical benefit in respect of the endpoints for this study, which were not met, he explained.

Despite this, we have observed an encouraging trend in the prevention of progression to severe disease and death, which we strongly believe merits further investigation in a platform trial. We are now analysing the full dataset to better understand all the findings."

Also in the doghouse this week were Petroneft Resources PLC (AIM:PTR, OTC:PNFTF), down 44%, and Eurasia Mining, down 41%, as the market punished companies with Russian connections.

Eurasia reiterated on Friday that it expects no impact on its operations from western sanctions imposed on Russia.

The miner, which has operations in Russia producing palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium and gold, said no individual or entity identified in the sanctions is associated with the company in any way. Furthermore, it has no bank accounts with Russian state-owned banks or any relationship with any Russian state-owned banks.

Not all Russia-related stocks were hit hard this week. Ovoca Bio (AIM:OVB) PLC surged 29% to 14.5p after it said it had received marketing approval for Orenetide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in pre-menopausal women in the Russian Federation.

The nasal spray will be marketed in the Russian Federation under the trader name of Desirix.

Meanwhile, shareholders in Eve Sleep PLC can sleep a bit easier after the mattress seller clinched a retail partnership with DFS, the furniture retailer.

Initially, the partnership will cover the dfs.co.uk website, which receives an average 2.71mln unique visitors per month, Eve Sleep said.

There are also plans to extend the partnership to the DFS showroom estate later in the year, the company said.

Reabold Resources (AIM:RBD) PLC, the AIM investing company that focuses on investments in upstream oil and gas projects, said the longstop date of the equity exchange agreement with Daybreak Oil and Gas Inc, a US oil and gas operator with assets in California, has been extended by mutual consent to 29 April 2022.

It may not sound that exciting but the shares rose by 49% this week.

Settlement of a legal case is often a cause for celebration and so it proved for Arc Minerals Limited (AIM:ARCM), which rose 31% after announcing last Friday after the market had closed that the parties to the ongoing legal cases in Zambia and in the UK have come to an agreement to settle various disputed matters and for all legal proceedings to be permanently dropped.

The settlement is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders and allows us to focus on operations and also accelerate our discussions with interested major mining companies, said Arcs executive chairman, Nick von Schirnding.

Lastly, Invinity Energy Systems PLC (AIM:IES) climbed 26% to 97p after it was awarded 708,371 of funding from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) under Phase 1 of the Longer Duration Energy Storage (LODES) Demonstration competition.

This award will fund a comprehensive planning and feasibility study on what could become one of the UK's largest co-located solar and energy storage projects. If Phase 1 is deemed successful, the company then expects the project to progress through financial close and to the construction of a 40 MWh (megawatt hours) Invinity Vanadium Flow Battery funded in part by BEIS via Phase 2 of the LODES programme.
Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd (AIM:ECO, TSX-V:EOG) told investors it had US$5.8mln of cash and equivalents at the end of 2021, and, it has made a positive and busy start to 2022.

The AIM-quoted company this morning released results for the third quarter and nine-months ended December 31. It highlighted a business with around US$19mln of assets, and, a portfolio stacked with opportunity across oil and gas exploration in southern Africa and South America, as well as emerging renewable energy opportunities.

"I am excited about the positive and busy start to the year we have made, said chief executive Gil Holzman.

We announced a transformational deal with the purchase of Azinam's offshore acreage, which will add to our highly strategic acreage position in Namibia and allow us entry into Orange Basin, South Africa.

Two important large discoveries offshore Namibia has already been announced this year on trend with our new Orange basin blocks, and our team is working hard on the upcoming drilling campaign on Block 2B in H2 2022 and furthering their technical understanding on Block 3B4B which is geologically on same pathway with Graff-1 and Venus-1.

Holzman added: "Eco continues to assess both asset and corporate opportunities, as well as a number of meaningful catalysts that have the potential to deliver value for all stakeholders, and we look forward to updating the market further in due course."

In regard to corporate transactions, the period include two key highlights  a deal to increase Ecos interest in JHI, which is partnered with Exxon offshore Guyana, and a US$2mln divestment of a stake in the Kozani photovoltaic park project in Greece which resulted in 25% margin to Eco, which sees consideration funds paid to Eco before the end of this month.

Offshore Guyana, the company said it continues to work closely with its JV Partners on the Orinduik Block with regard to carrying out further drilling activity on the licence as soon as practically possible  at least one light oil cretaceous stacked targets are expected to be drilled  meanwhile through its stake in JHI it continues to be associated by Exxons prolific exploration in the region.

In Namibia, meanwhile, the company has some 28,593 square kilometres with estimates putting prospective resources at some 2.36bn barrels, in strategic locations, and in light of recent third-party discoveries in the region theres said to be considerable interest in Namibia, from multiple international oil companies.

Elsewhere, offshore South Africa, it has interests in acreage in the Orange Basin which is expected to include an exploration well in the second half of 2022.
Caledonia Mining Corporation PLC (AIM:CMCL, NYSE-A:CMCL) has reported that one of its employees at the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe was killed in an underground loading accident.

Andrew Clydon Phiri (aged 35), died in the incident on 21 February 2022 and that involved a LHD loader in one of Blanket's underground haulages.

Further details cannot be released pending the outcome of an ongoing enquiry into this incident by the relevant authorities, said the miner.

Caledonia expressed its condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased.
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Washington, Feb 26 : The administration of US President Joe Biden will sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, the White House has confirmed.

"In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the US will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing on Friday, adding more specifics will be announced later in the day.

The US move followed that of the European Union (EU) and Britain, which announced sanctions targeting the top Russian leadership earlier on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Biden on Thursday announced additional US sanctions against Russia targeting the country's major financial institutions and an additional number of Russian individuals and their family members with ties to the Kremlin, on top of the so-called "first tranche" of sanctions imposed on Russian state-owned banks, the Russian sovereign debt market as well as individual elites.

Asked about the possibility of his Russian counterpart, Biden didn't commit to that on Thursday, only saying it remained an option on the table.

Psaki on Friday said the reason Biden waited until after the EU and Britain announced their sanctions against the Russian President to decide on his own move is that his "strong principle ... has been to take actions and steps in alignment with our European partners." Also on Friday, a senior administration official said future US sanctions will not target Russian oil and gas industry.

"The sanctions will not target the oil flows as we go forward," Amos Hochstein, the State Department's senior Energy Security Adviser, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

Hochstein added that doing so won't necessarily reduce Russia's oil and gas revenue, and may instead lead to a scenario where "the US and our allies would suffer the consequences."
Kiev, Feb 26 : Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Maliar has said Russian troops were fast heading toward the centre of Kiev, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for negotiations with Russia over ending the military operation.

"The Russian military seized two vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, changed into the uniform of the Ukrainian military and are moving at high speed towards the centre of Kiev," Ukraine's government-run news agency Ukrinform quoted Maliar's post on Facebook as saying.

In a video message on Friday, Zelensky urged Russia to stop its military operation in his country and negotiate with Ukraine over how to end the conflict, according to a statement released by the Presidential Office of Ukraine.

"Did Thursday's sanctions convince Russia? We hear in our sky and see on our earth that this is not enough," he added, referring to the additional sanctions against Russia announced by the US and its allies.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 137 Ukrainians have been killed and more than 300 injured in the military operation, Zelensky said earlier on Friday.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Ottawa, Feb 26 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a new round of sanctions on Russia, calling for Russia's removal from the SWIFT payment system.

Trudeau on Friday said at a press conference that Canada will join other nations to impose sanctions directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle of advisers. The sanctions will also extend to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's Chief of Staff, he added.

In addition, Trudeau called for Russia's removal from SWIFT, the payment system used for most international financial transactions, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Canadian government is also prepared to match donations to Ukrainian relief efforts through the Canadian Red Cross to a maximum for 10 million Canadian dollars, he said.
Vienna, Feb 26 : The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said it was informed by Ukrainian authorities that the country's nuclear power reactors are continuing to "operate safely and securely".

Regarding reports of higher radiation levels at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the IAEA has assessed that the readings reported by Ukraine's regulatory authority are "low and remain within the operational range" and "do not pose any danger to the public," IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi on Friday said in a statement.

The IAEA was informed by the Ukrainian authorities that the higher radiation levels may have been caused by heavy military vehicles stirring up soil still contaminated from the 1986 Chernobyl accident, Xinhua news agency reported.

Ukraine told the IAEA on Thursday that "unidentified armed forces" had taken control of the Chernobyl plant, according to the statement.

Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday quoted Advisor to Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podoliak as saying that Russian forces had seized the Chernobyl plant.

Grossi on Friday reiterated his appeal for maximum restraint to avoid any action that could jeopardise the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
Kiev, Feb 26 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold talks to stop conflict.

"Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let's sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying on Friday.

Putin said Moscow is ready to negotiate with Ukraine at a high level, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency tweeted on Friday.

On Thursday, the Russian President authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 137 Ukrainians were killed and more than 300 injured in the military operation, Zelensky said earlier on Friday.
Jakarta, Feb 26 : Seven people were killed and 85 others wounded as a 6.1-magnitude quake destroyed more than 10,000 buildings, houses and infrastructure facilities in Indonesia's western province of west Sumatra, a senior official said.

The earthquake took place on Friday. Earlier the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a report saying the quake measured 6.2-magnitude before revising it to 6.1, the agency's Head Dwikorita Karnawati said.

Acting spokesperson of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, Abdul Muhari said three people were killed in Pasaman Barat district and four others in Pasaman district, adding that all the 85 wounded persons were recorded in both districts, which were the hardest hit by the disaster, Xinhua news agency reported.

The natural disaster has forced nearly 5,000 people to flee home and take shelter at 35 evacuation centres, he added.

The search and rescue operation for the missing persons and impacted ones is still underway, involving a joint task force comprising policemen, disaster agency personnel, soldiers, rescuers, volunteers and residents, the Spokesperson added.

"The joint task force still focuses on search, rescue and evacuation as well as services for the quake-affected persons," he said in a statement.

The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto has ordered that emergency relief needs should be immediately prepared after the quake, according to the Spokesperson.

The tremors have destroyed more than 10,000 houses and buildings in Pasaman district and Pasaman Barat district, the Head of the Operation Unit of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency of west Sumatra province, Jumaidi, told Xinhua.

The quake jolted at 8:39 a.m. Jakarta time (0139 GMT), with the epicentre at 17 km northeast of Pasaman Barat district and the shallow of 10 km under the earth, the BMKG said.
Moscow, Feb 26 : Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

The Russian team will consist of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential administration, Peskov added on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold negotiations with Russia over its military operation, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Kremlin Spokesman recalled the purpose of Russia's operation is to "help the 'Luhansk People's Republic' and the 'Donetsk People's Republic', including by the demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine, which is actually an integral part of the issue for Ukraine's neutral status." Also on Friday, Putin held a phone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who promised to create all the necessary conditions for the Russia-Ukraine talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a briefing that his country has no plan to occupy Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms." Russian forces have blockaded the Ukrainian capital of Kiev from the west, and they also continue to perform tasks in the areas of other cities, said Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman, Igor Konashenkov.
United Nations, Feb 26 : India, along with China and the United Arab Emirates, has abstained on a Security Council resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The resolution proposed by the US and Albania with the backing of nearly 60 countries received 11 votes in favour, giving it a majority in the 15-member Council, but was nullified by the Russian veto on Friday evening.

The resolution sought to declare that Russia has committed acts of aggression against Ukraine.and the situation is a breach of international peace and security.

It would also have demanded that Russia immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and completely withdraw its military forces from within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders.

Explaining the abstention, India's Permanent Representative, T.S. Tirumurti said, "It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it." "Dialogue is the only answer to the settling of differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment," he added.

Without naming Russia, Tirumurti, however, said, "India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine." But taking a neutral stance, he added, "We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities." India's abstention followed a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

But US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken called India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar to press the case for voting for the resolution.

India's abstention is a bump in the road to closer relations with the US and the West.

US Permanent Representative, Linda Thomas Greenfield made the voting on the resolution a litmus test for how countries stand with the US.

"There is no middle ground," she said before the vote.

And after the vote, she added, "This vote showed which countries truly believe in supporting the core principles of the UN and which ones deployed them as convenient catchphrases. This vote showed which Security Council members support the UN Charter and which ones do not." (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)
Moscow, Feb 26 : The Russian Defense Ministry has said the Russian Armed Forces have disabled 118 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.

Eleven military airfields, 13 command posts and communication centres of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 14 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, and 36 radar stations were among the facilities put out of order, the Ministry's Zvezda broadcaster reported, citing Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

Five combat aircraft, a helicopter and five drones of Ukraine have been shot down and dozens of vehicles have been destroyed so far, he added.

Konashenkov confirmed the Russian control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, noting that soldiers of both sides have agreed to jointly protect the power units and the sarcophagus.

The radioactive background in the area of the nuclear power plant is normal, he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has instructed Russia's armed forces to "treat Ukrainian troops with respect" and create safety corridors for those servicemen who "have laid down their arms," according to the Spokesman.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

Later on Friday, the Ministry reported 83 facilities were disabled during the operation.

--IANS int/khz/

-
New Delhi, Feb 26 : All the six accused Uttar Pradesh police officers involved in the sensational murder case of Kanpur businessman Manish Gupta will be produced before a Special CBI Court in New Delhi on Saturday.

The accused were shifted from Uttar Pradesh and lodged in Tihar jail three days ago, Tihar jail official had confirmed this to IANS.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on January 7 filed a charge sheet against six accused policemen in the murder case of Manish Gupta at a hotel in September 2021.

The charge sheet was filed against six persons, including former SHO or Inspector, three former Sub-Inspectors, a Head Constable and a Constable under sections 302, 323, 325, 506, 218, 201, 34, 120-B and 149 of the IPC before the Special Judicial Magistrate Court, Lucknow.

It has been alleged in the charge sheet that on September 27, Ramgarh Tal Inspector J.N. Singh, Phalmandi police Post In-Charge Sub-Inspectors Akshay Mishra and Vijay Yadav and three other policemen had allegedly barged into the hotel room where the deceased businessman was staying with his friends.

The policemen then thrashed them after an argument during which Gupta died. All the six policemen named in the FIR are currently in jail.

The CBI registered a case on November 2, 2021, on the request of the UP government and took over the investigation on November 29, 2021.

IANS on January 5 learnt from sources that the investigation found evidence of 'excessive use of power' by the policemen.

A CBI officer privy to the probe said the sequence of events was examined by forensic experts to know the pattern and nature of injuries, while call detail records of all the accused policemen were also checked to know if they had any prior connection with the victim but no such link was found.

The CBI team also took Gupta's friends -- Pradeep Chauhan and Hardeep Chauhan -- to the hotel and recreated the crime scene to match their statements to know what exactly happened inside the room on the day of the incident.
United Nations, Feb 26 : Affirming its nonaligned heritage, India has abstained on a Security Council resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and put a strain on its growing ties with the US and the West.

India joined China and the United Arab Emirates on Friday evening in staying on the sidelines on the resolution which received 11 votes in the 15-member Council, but was shot down by Russia which as a permanent member used its veto.

Explaining the abstention, India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said, "It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it." "Dialogue is the only answer to the settling of differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment", he said.

Without naming Russia, Tirumurti, however, said, "India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities." He added, "The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. all member states need to honor these principles and finding a constructive way forward".

The resolution sponsored by he US and Albania and by about 50 countries was taken up as reports came in that Russian troops were advancing on Kiev.

The resolution sought to declare that Russia has committed acts of aggression against Ukraine and the situation is a breach of international peace and security.

It also would have demanded that Russia immediately stop using force against Ukraine and completely withdraw its military forces from Ukraine, and rescind its recognition of the breakaway Ukrainian regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent nations.

The matter now goes to the 193-member General Assembly, which is expected to take up a similar resolution next week and the nonmembers of the Council who backed the failed resolution would be able to register their votes there.

Russia's isolation was apparent because the three abstentions did not amount to support for it either.

As symbolisms go, it was stark as China abstained even though Russia's President Vladimir and China's President Xi Jinping had signed a statement this month on ties with "no limits".

India was courted by both the US and Russia given the symbolic nature of the vote and the West's desire to isolate the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

And US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to press the case for voting for the resolution.

India's abstention will strain India's growing relationship with the US and the West as Washington had made the voting on the resolution a litmus test for how countries stand with Washington's position.

"There is no middle ground," US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said before the vote.

And after the vote, she said, "This vote showed which countries truly believe in supporting the core principles of the UN and which ones deployed them as convenient catchphrases. This vote showed which Security Council members support the UN Charter and which ones do not." Britain's Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward said, "History will record how we voted today. And which countries stood up to be counted in defense of the charter and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine." Tirumurti's remark that India "was deeply concerned about the welfare and security of the Indian community" in Ukraine drew a sharp response from Ukraine's Permanent Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya.

Turning towards Tirumurti and raising his voice he said, "It is exactly [for] the safety of your nationals right now in Ukraine that you should be the first to vote to stop the war to save your nationals in Ukraine." The vote was taken by a show of hands around the horseshoe-shaped desk of the Council against a mural symbolising UN's mission of bringing peace and freedom to a world ravaged by war.

Kyslytsya asked to observe a moment silence to "pray for the souls" of all victims of the war in Ukraine without mentioning any nationalities or to meditate for peace.

Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenza, who was presiding over the meeting as his country held the rotating chair this month, interrupted to add those he said were victims of Ukraine.

After the minute of silence, the chamber erupted in applause.

India's dilemma on the Russia vote has been underscored by its dependence on Moscow for weapons, although it has been trying to diversify.

After decades of an assertive nonaligned foreign policy with a tilt towards the Soviet Union, India has been developing closer strategic ties with the US and the West in the post-Cold War world.

New Delhi may now have to find ways of mending the ties with the West frayed by the abstention.

Its effect may be found in some aspects of the relations, especially in the defence area, if the US persists in a Cold War "you-are-with-us-or-against-us" attitude, and even otherwise it could lose goodwill in Congress and elsewhere.

For example, India faces some sanctions for buying the Russian-made Triumf S-400 anti-missile defence system and Washington has not yet decided to exempt it.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who is a hawk on Russia, introduced a bill last year to exempt India from the sanctions, and it will yet to be seen how he and others supporting the bill will react to the abstention.

The US, Britain and France have supported India's claims to a permanent seat in the Security Council and it may be question questioned by those not sympathetic to India, especially in the US and Britain.

A Soviet veto saved India during Bangladesh's War of Independence when its troops went into what was then East Pakistan in support of Bangladeshi freedom-fighters trying save the country from a genocide.

But in recent years it is the US, Britain and France that have come to aid of India when China tried to bring up the Kashmir issue in the Security Council, while Russia drawing closer to Beijing has been indifferent.

The West has also supported India whenever it faced Chinese agression.

In fact, drawn together by the shared threat of Beijing's agressiveness, India has joined the Quad made up the US, Japan and Australia as a bulwark against China in the Indo-Pacific.

India has been assigned a key role in the US Indo-Pacific strategy which says it would "support Indias continued rise and regional leadership".

Now, ironically India found itself alongside China in the Security Council balancing act.

India also shares some problems that Ukraine faces: Territorial incursions from a larger neighbour and foreign support for separatists.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Chennai, Feb 26 : The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a political party that is part of the DMK alliance, has come out against the HR&CE department of the state government conducting night long Shivaratri festival at Kapaleeswar temple.

VCK senior leader Vanniya Arasu in a statement on Friday night said it was dangerous on the part of the state government to conduct religious festival.

He said that the HR&CE department, though is a separate department for the purpose of temple management, should be confined to overseeing the system of management. He asked whether the DMK government that has come to power by projecting secular credentials was taking such a position to please the RSS and BJP.

The senior leader of the VCK said that the DMK government cannot organise events for religious propaganda and added that this would give a wrong message to the people of Tamil Nadu. He said that even the AIADMK government had shied away from celebrating whole night Shivaratri programme.

It may be noted that the HR&CE department of Tamil Nadu which is managing the Kapaleeswar temple has organised music, dance, and debates throughout the night and has advertised about the event.

The VCK is a political party that is working for the upliftment of the Dalit communities and has been vocal on several issues. The party founder leader Thol Thirumavalavan is a Member of Parliament.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : In a latest advisory by the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, Indian citizens in the war-torn country were on Saturday advised not to move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the Indian government.

"All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kyiv," the advisory read.

The armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensified in the early hours of Thursday after Russian forces launched a major assault on Ukraine, firing missiles on cities and military installations.

The Indian Embassy further said that the situation at various checkpoints is sensitive and the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is working continuously with embassies in other countries for evacuation of Indian citizens.

The advisory noted that the embassy is finding it very difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior intimation.

"Staying in western cities of Ukraine with excess of water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer and advisable, compared to reaching border checkpoints without being fully abreast of the situation," the advisory read.

It further requested the Indian citizens in the eastern sector of the country to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions.

"..stay in doors or in Shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient. Avoid unnecessary movement," it added.

As per latest reports, the situation is tense in the Ukrainian capital, with the country's media reporting that fighting has broken out on the streets of Kyiv.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The organisers of the 'Mobile World Congress 2022' (MWC 2022) have announced to ban some Russian companies from exhibiting at the conference in Barcelona, Spain, that is scheduled to kick off from February 28.

Russia's participation at the 'MWC 2022' is being restricted by the organisers GSMA following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

"The GSMA strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The situation is fast-moving, and we understand that various governments are considering broader sanctions against Russia," the organisers said in a statement late on Friday.

In light of this emerging situation and considering the tragic loss of life, "MWC seems immaterial under the circumstances".

"The GSMA follows all government sanctions and policies resulting from this situation. There will be no Russian Pavilion at MWC22. Security for the event is constantly reviewed and adjusted as information emerges," the organisers said.

With airspaces being shut over certain parts of Europe, especially eastern, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, MWC 2022 is in a tight spot and may barely sail through.

The 'MWC 2022' is scheduled to begin -- with a mix of in-person and virtual events -- in Barcelona on February 28 and will end on March 3.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has said Ukraine's skies and airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of borders with Ukraine could pose risks. UK flights to and over Russia have been banned by the country's civil aviation authority in retaliation for a British ban on Aeroflot in UK airports and airspace.

Experts said the event may go on but a cautious approach is the need of the hour.

The show is expected to have over 1,800 attendees and exhibitors from 183 different countries. Many of the industry's biggest names, like Google, Samsung, OPPO, Nokia, Ericsson and Meta (formerly Facebook), are expected to be present this year.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Shivamogga, : Feb 26 (IANS) After witnessing large-scale violence following the murder of 28-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha, the Shivamogga district is limping back to normalcy.

All curfew curbs have been lifted. The district administration, however, will keep prohibitory orders in place till Sunday with all schools and colleges remaining closed till Monday.

Meanwhile, the special teams formed to probe the case have made two more arrests taking the number of arrested persons to ten. The arrested have been identified as Abdul Roshan (24), a resident of Bhadravathi town and Jafar Sadiq (55) from Shivamogga city.

Shops and commercial establishments in Shivamogga are allowed to operate between 6 a.m and 4 p.m on Saturday. However, heavy police presence will continue in the city to ensure absolute restoration of peace.

Two cars and a bike used for the murder by the accused have been recovered. The police informed that the registration numbers of these vehicles do not belong to Karnataka.

The special teams have zeroed in on the girls who allegedly made last calls to Harsha seeking help to trap him. However, during the preliminary inquiries, the police could not find any connection between the girls and the murderers, sources said. A search is on for the deceased Harsha's mobile which has gone missing.

Youths who flashed weapons before the police have also been identified and will be taken into custody. Curfew was imposed from Monday, after murder of Harsha on Sunday night.

According to police, the killers had made new weapons, including machetes, to hack Harsha to death in a furnace located in Bhadravathi town.

The killers had followed Harsha in a car on last Sunday morning to night and observed all his movements. All the 10 accused have been taken into police custody for further investigation. The district administration has lodged cases against 500 persons, for taking the body in a procession violating prohibitory orders.

Harsha was hacked to death by a gang of miscreants last Sunday night.

Harsha, who was popularly known as Harsha Hindu, was in the forefront of 'Hindutva' activities and questioned illegal transportation of cows.

He was sharing fierce Hindutva messages on his social media accounts and also commented on the hijab issue. The murder has led to widespread violence across the state. Curfew was clamped orders since last Monday and as many as 2,000 policemen have been deputed to ensure no untoward incident happens.

The ruling BJP claims it to be more than a murder saying that a message has been conveyed through the murder by certain organisations. The opposition Congress maintained that as elections are nearing, the BJP wants to take political advantage of the murder. Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), whose role is suspected by BJP leaders behind the murder, has held a press conference and alleged that Sangh Parivar hand is there behind it.

The government has decided to block the Facebook page by the name "Managaluru Muslim", where the murder of Harsha was celebrated through a post. Information on the page has been sought.

An FIR has been lodged and investigation the matter is on.

Two policemen who liked the page, were taken into custody and later released in Dakshina Kannada district.
Los Angeles, Feb 26 : Ukrainian director Stanislav Kapralov, who most recently helmed the mystery thriller 'Egregor', premiered in 2021, was in the middle of pre-production for a new film -- a Hollywood project with U.S. actors and a U.S. distributor lined up -- when Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday.

In an email interview with 'Variety', the director-screenwriter said: "My family and I are in Ukraine. It was not possible to leave, but we moved from Kiev to western Ukraine. My father and grandmother are still in Kyiv. They are hiding in basements from bombings -- elderly people sitting in damp basements." Kapralov sounded hopeful when he said: "Everyone believes in the Ukrainian army, and no one loses heart. The Ukrainian army is putting up a heroic effort and is inflicting heavy losses on the Russians. Everyone is united in their hatred for Russia. My grandmother lived during the occupation of Ukraine in World War II. All Ukrainians compare Russia with fascist Germany." He was, however, critical of the international community's reluctance to do more than just condemn the Russian invasion.

Kapralov told 'Variety': "Ukraine is fighting for all of Europe to stop the 'Hitler' of the 21st century. But we get the feeling that we are fighting alone. NATO refused to close the airspace; Germany, Italy, and Hungary blocked a proposal to cut Russia off from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), and Turkey refused to help in the Black Sea." Ironically, Kapralov's ongoing film project was set to be shot in Chernobyl, which was seized by Russian military forces on the first day of battle.

"We made a decision to evacuate the project to Europe and shoot there," Kapralov said. "I hope our plans come true. To do this, my team and I will need to travel to Europe. Preferably alive. We are all still currently in Ukraine," he added.

Kapralov, who is also a screenwriter and producer, has worked with some of Ukraine's biggest names, including Ivanna Sakhno ('Pacific Rim: Uprising' and 'High Fidelity').

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Amid conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the government has stepped up the evacuation process of Indians stranded in the war-torn country, mostly students.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, "Visuals of Indian students in bunkers are disturbing. Many are stuck in eastern Ukraine which is under heavy attack. My thoughts are with their worried family members. Again, I appeal to GOI to execute urgent evacuation." Meanwhile, the MEA has issued advisory that, "All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kiev." The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that the first batch of evacuees from the war-hit nation has reached Romania via the Suceava border crossing.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Meta on Saturday criticised Russia's move to restrict Facebook in the country, saying that it reacted in response to either Facebook's fact-checking practices and its policy of labelling state-run media accounts.

The Russian government said on Friday that it will begin to "partially restrict" access to Facebook, after the social network put restrictions on four Russian state-linked media outlets -- the television network Zvezda, news agency RIA Novosti, and the websites Lenta.ru and Gazeta.ru.

Nick Clegg, Global Affairs VP at Meta, tweeted that ordinary Russians are using Meta's apps to express themselves and organize for action.

"We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share what's happening, and organise through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger," he posted.

Earlier, Russia's internet regulatory agency Roskomnadzor said that on February 24, Facebook social network (Meta Platforms) restricted the official accounts of four Russian media outlets.

"Roskomnadzor sent requests to the administration of Meta Platforms to remove the restrictions imposed by the social network on Russian media and explain the reason for their introduction. The owners of the social network ignored the requirements," the agency said in a statement.

Since October 2020, Roskomnadzor said it has recorded 23 cases of such censorship of Russian media and Internet resources by Facebook.

On February 25, the Prosecutor General's Office, in agreement with the Russian Foreign Ministry, decided to recognize the social network Facebook as involved in the violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens.

"In accordance with the decision of the Prosecutor General's Office regarding the social network Facebook, starting from February 25, Roskomnadzor, in accordance with the law, takes measures to partially restrict access in the form of slowing down traffic," it elaborated.
UN chief appoints Amin Awad of Sudan as UN crisis coordinator for Ukraine

Xinhua) 15:09, February 26, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Amin Awad of Sudan as assistant secretary-general to serve as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.

Guterres announced the appointment on Friday while meeting reporters at the UN headquarters in New York after the Security Council meeting on Ukraine concluded.

Awad has served in a range of senior roles with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which brought with him over 30 years of experience in the field of humanitarian affairs, strategic action, planning and development, according to a press note issued by the UN chief's office.

Awad's appointment came as Ukraine is faced with increasing humanitarian needs amid its growing tensions with Russia.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
Seoul, Feb 26 : The top diplomats of South Korea and the US on Saturday "strongly condemned" Russia's invasion of Ukraine and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, the foreign ministry here said.

During their phone talks, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated their "steadfast support" for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, and urged Moscow to cease its military actions on Ukraine immediately, the ministry said in a statement.

Blinken thanked South Korea for its outspoken support for Ukraine and pledge to join the international community's coordinated response against Russia, it added, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea has vowed to join economic sanctions, including export controls, against Russia and other efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

On Thursday, Washington announced sweeping export restrictions against Moscow, which could affect South Korea's exports of high-tech items, such as semiconductor and electronic parts, to Russia.

In their phone talks that came two weeks after their meeting in Hawaii, the top diplomats agreed to continue efforts for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula based on "fully coordinated" policy toward North Korea, according to the ministry.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Chechen strongman and leader Ramzan Kadyrov has "advised" Ukrainian President Zelensky "to call Vladimir Putin and apologize", RT reported.

In a speech he gave to the assembled servicemen in central Grozny in Chechnya, Kadyrov demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky apologize to Putin.

"Taking this opportunity, I want to give advice to the current President Zelensky so that he calls our President, Supreme Commander Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and apologizes for not doing so sooner. Do it in order to save Ukraine. Ask for forgiveness and agree to all the conditions that Russia puts forward. This will be the most correct and patriotic step for him," the leader declared, RT reported.

Thousands of men from Chechnya are willing to offer assistance to Russia's armed forces, the southern republic's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has pledged, as Moscow's military conducted the second day of its attack on Ukraine.

On Friday, 12,000 local volunteers amassed on the central square of the regional capital, Grozny. Kadyrov said the rally, which was organized in order to show their support for the Kremlin and their readiness to aid its objectives.

These are volunteers who are ready to leave for any special operation at any time in order to secure our state and our people," Kadyrov said that no troops would be deployed until the "Supreme Commander in Chief" Putin gave the go-ahead.

According to the Chechen minister of national policy, Akhmed Dudayev, the aim of the congregation was to demonstrate how prepared the troops were to follow orders and defend their homeland.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 : On the eve of Kerala's new State Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal preparing the text of his first full state budget on March 11, the biggest cause of concern is the state's mounting outstanding debts, which according to the budget for 2021-22 will be Rs 3.27 lakh crore by the end of this fiscal.

Outstanding debts is the sum total of public debt which consists of internal debt, loans and advances from centre besides loans from financial institutions such as LIC and special securities and not to mention of borrowings from deposits in state PF, treasury, pension funds and insurance.

Even when the overall picture of Kerala's finances was never rosy, it took a severe blow like the rest of the world with the Covid pandemic, leaving the cash crunched state in an even piquant position.

To get a clearer picture of the debt, it is best highlighted as a ratio of the size of the state economy/state gross state domestic product (GSDP).

A comparison of the national picture of states and union territories with the highest debt GSDP ratio in 2022 are Arunachal Pradesh 57.4 per cent, Kashmir 56.6, Punjab 53.3, Nagaland 44.2, Himachal Pradesh 43.4, Rajasthan 39.8, Meghalaya 39.2, West Bengal 38.8, Kerala 38.3 and Andhra Pradesh 37.6.

One thing what has to be noted is the present staggering figure of the outstanding debts of Kerala did not happen overnight and successive state governments to a certain extent can take credit for the achievements of the state in the fields of education and health, which leads the rest of the country and to reach here, investment is required, but looking deeper into it experts revealed the real situation.

K.J. Joseph, director of the capital city headquartered Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (GIFT) said in the aftermath of Covid pandemic the countries across the world could be divided into two categories. In the first category, there are countries that managed to record a V shaped recovery and in the other group are countries for whom the pre-pandemic position still remains a distant dream.

"The countries that managed to achieve the V shaped recovery are the ones that substantially invested through fiscal policy measures in saving the life and livelihood of the people on the one hand and made significant investment towards ensuring sustained economic growth inter alia through investment in infrastructure of all kinds, including health infrastructure, investment in new generation technologies including low carbon technologies, industry and in greening the economy," pointed out Joseph.

He goes on to say that as a result the global debt today stands at $224 trillion according to IMF and the debt GDP ratio is presently at the highest level in the last 50 years.

"In this context, if the public debt of a state like Kerala that managed to display a globally acclaimed performance in the pandemic period shall not be a matter of much surprise. Kerala social sector expenditure recorded and increase of 162 per cent when compared to 30 per cent at the national level. Thanks to the increased health expenditure mortality rate in Kerala, the geriatric state of the country, during the pandemic was the lowest among the states in India and lower compared to developed countries. Thus viewed, the high public debt is a price that the state had paid for saving the life and livelihood of the people during the pandemic," said Joseph whose institute is envisaged as a centre of excellence, specializing in research, training and consultancy, to provide fiscal and social policy inputs to the Government of Kerala in particular and the South Indian states in general He goes on to point out that at the same time, Kerala is not the highest indebted state in the country and there are at least four states having high the ratio of interest to the total revenue than our state.

"Analytically the pandemic like conditions are the situations where in the state needs to come forward as has happened in the developed countries during the pandemic and the fear of debt shall not be deterrent to borrowing so long as we ensure 'quality spending," added Joseph.

Senior economist Pyarelal Raghavan said that huge borrowings to balance the income and expenditure have been an important feature of both the union and state government budgets.

"The result has been a growing debt burden which has increased the payments for interest and repayment of principal. Recent estimates made by the RBI for 2021-22 show that the total debt or outstanding liabilities of the states and union territories is Rs 69.47 lakh crore which is 31.2 per cent of the GDP. In contrast the debt to GDP ratio of the union government was 59.3 per cent of GDP in 2020-21," said Raghavan.

He added that the interest burden is to be paid out of the revenue receipts of the states the burden of interest payment is usually estimated as a share of the revenue receipts of the states.

"The ratio of interest payment to revenue receipts for the states as a whole was only 14.1 per cent. The states and union territories that have the highest ratio of interest payment to revenue receipts in 2020-21 are Punjab 25.8 per cent, Haryana 23.2, West Bengal 23, Kerala 21.8, Tamil Nadu 20.2 and Andhra Pradesh 18.7," added the economist.

"The government budget for advertising is bound to go up when the media becomes highly prejudiced and presents a biased picture. In such a scenario the chief ministers have no alternative but to fund their publicity campaigns using paid advertisements. Social media advertisements of the government will increase substantially in the coming years. Poll promises are aspirational slogans unless the political parties give promises of achieving precise physical targets within a fixed time frame," said Raghavan.

G.Vijayaraghavan, Kerala's foremost technocrat who was the founder CEO of country's first IT park-Technopark, here spoke the common man's point of view when he said the state government funding on infrastructure should create more jobs and economic development and rework on areas to cut wasteful expenditure.

"The Niti Aayog rating for Kerala in health and education is in comparison with the rest of the country and successive governments here can take credit for it. But the thing what many keep asking is if the state's health sector is the best, then why are those in the political and other segments going abroad for treatment. Likewise, today more and more students from Kerala are flying out for studies and all these shows a lack of confidence," said Vijayaraghavan.

He goes on to point out that the need of the hour is quality spending so quality facilities are created and wasteful expenditure has to be culled.

"Look, there are lot of areas where the political leadership can take a bold step to see that the number of state run corporations be reworked. There are a few organisations doing the same job or almost the same job and such things should be stopped and expenditure be brought down. Another thing is there are a few Labour Boards and the expenditure to maintain it is in excess of what they actually give out," said Vijayaraghavan.

Taking a political position on the topic was Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan who said that the state's finances are in the doldrums, owing mostly to the previous LDF government's (first Pinarayi Vijayan government 2016-21) gross mismanagement and corruption, as well as the central government's unfriendly attitude towards Kerala in devolving central funds.

"The state's per capita debt is one lakh rupees, implying that each baby born in the state is born with a burden of one lakh rupees. Though the state was expected to benefit handsomely from the implementation of GST in terms of its own tax revenue collection, gross mismanagement and corruption have forced the state to rely on the Central Government for GST compensation year after year. Furthermore, the state is saddled with KIIFB's expensive interest-bearing debts," said Satheesan.

He went on to add that the acrimonious attitude of the Union government towards the state government in devolution has stressed the already depleted state finances. The central devolution to Kerala has been tapered considerably as part of the 15th finance commission recommendations. Devolution has plummeted from 3.5 per cent during the 10th Finance Commission to 1.94 per cent now.
Kolkata, Feb 26 : With only a few days to go before the state budget, it would be interesting to watch how state financial advisor Amit Mitra put brakes on the growing fiscal deficit in the state.

Experts are of the opinion that the state financial condition was showing signs of recovery despite the outstanding liabilities but the financial burden caused by the social schemes announced by the state is having a negative impact on the financial health of the state.

The revenue deficit has been pegged at Rs 26,755.25 crore which is more than three per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) limit. Going by the past trend, the figure is likely to increase further. The fiscal deficit shot up from Rs 52,350.01 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 60,863.96 crore in 2021-22. The upswing in deficit is expected, considering that both the state's tax and non-tax revenues have plummeted during the pandemic.

The state's own tax revenue dropped from Rs 60,669.37 crore in 2019-20 to Rs 59,886.59 crore in 2020-21 and its share in central taxes plunged from Rs 48,048.40 crore to Rs 44,737.01 crore during the same period. The period also witnessed a fall in non-tax revenue from Rs 3,212.90 crore to Rs 2,466.31 crore.

Given the pandemic-induced fall, the budget estimate of Rs 50,070.29 crore as state's share in central taxes, Rs 75,415.74 crore as its own tax revenue and Rs 4,611.72 as its non-tax revenue, appear unrealistic, which means the current fiscal may end with a higher revenue deficit as well as an increased fiscal deficit.

With an estimated fiscal deficit of 4.03 per cent of its GSDP, West Bengal is among those few states that have crossed the three per cent threshold limit. In 2020-21, the percentage was 3.86 as against 2.94 per cent in 2019-20. Not only that, the GSDP growth rate at 2011-12 constant prices went up from 4.17 per cent in 2012-13 to 6.13 per cent in 2015-16, 7.2 per cent in 2016-17, and 6.41 per cent in 2018-19 but again plunged to 5.6 per cent in 20-21. However, it still consistently remained below the national average.

Interestingly enough, Bengal's debt-GSDP ratio stood at its peak in 2010-11 at 41.9 per cent, according to a NITI Aayog-sponsored survey conducted by IIM Calcutta. This was the highest in the country. Since then, the ratio has gradually come down and stood at 34.75 per cent in 2018-19 but in the 2020-21 financial year it again shot upto 38.8 per cent indicating the pressure on the economy of the state.

A comparative study shows that the states with the highest debt-GSDP ratio in FY22 are Punjab (53.3 per cent), Rajasthan (39.8 per cent), West Bengal (38.8 per cent), Kerala (38.3 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (37.6 per cent). All these states receive revenue deficit grants from the Centre.

Former chief economic advisor to the central government and BJP MLA Ashoke Lahiri said: "What is worrying us more is a constant increase in the primary deficit (fiscal deficit minus interest payment). Figures from RBI show that GSDP to primary deficit was 0.4 per cent in 2019-20. In a year that shot up to 1.4 per cent and in 2021-22 that is 1.9 per cent. This points to the fact that even if the interest burden is removed, the state continues to borrow more".

The precarious financial condition of the state was evident from the sudden increase in market borrowing. The market borrowing of West Bengal so far in the fiscal year 2022 is 20 per cent higher on a year-on-year basis, according to a report by the CARE Ratings. Only Nagaland, up by 71 per cent, had a higher borrowing during the period than West Bengal.

Haryana (by 11 per cent), Sikkim (by 7 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra (by 4 per cent each) and Rajasthan (by 3 per cent) are the few other states that have higher borrowings so far in the current fiscal than the comparable period of a year ago. In the case of other remaining states, it is lower than last year.

According to the statement issued by the Reserve Bank of India, the state is likely to borrow 12 times raising around Rs 20,000 crore from the market between the period of January 1 and March 31 making it obvious that the state government is struggling hard to negotiate the expenses caused by the social schemes launched by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Interestingly enough, in the period between April 2020 and December 2020 when the state revenue plummeted to all time low because of the pandemic situation and the consequent lockdown, the state raised around Rs 35,000 crore from the market but during the current financial year between April 2021 to December 2021, it went for a market borrowing of Rs 52,500 crore. During the same period in 2019, the state borrowed Rs 28,000 crore via State Development Loan.

Incidentally, when the 34-year rule of the Left Front came to an end in 2011 and Mamata Banerjee became the chief minister, the accumulated debt of the state was Rs 1.93 lakh crore. But, according to the state government's budget figures, the accumulated debt is likely to go upto Rs 5.5 lakh crore by the end of the 2020-21 financial year.

The state government's dying effort to negotiate the huge cost of non-planned expenditure came to the fore when recently chief minister Mamata Banerjee directed all the departments to cut down on unnecessary expenditure beyond the approved budget and not to take any new project without the approval of the state Chief Secretary or the finance department. The announcement was an obvious indication that the government is trying to negotiate the financial burden caused by the non-planned expenditure of the dole politics announced by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee before the election.

After coming to power for the third time- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced two major schemes - 'Lakshmir Bhandar' and 'Swastha Sathi' for all - the schemes that demand a huge financial involvement. 'Lakhmir Bhandar' is a project where the state is supposed to give Rs 1,000 to the women belonging to SC/ST/OBC and Rs 500 to the women belonging to General caste. The government has allocated a budget of approximately budget of Rs 12,900 crore for around 1.8 crore women who have so far registered themselves for the scheme.

Initially the government had an estimate that nearly 2 crore beneficiaries will register for 'Lakshmir Bhandar' project but so far, the government has received an application of 1.63 crore of which 1.52 crore has been approved. Nearly 7 lakh applications have been cancelled. The government has spent more than Rs 800 crore for the project and going by the figure the finance department estimates that the state government will have to cough up another Rs 5,600 crore which might in turn lead to a staggering figure in a full financial year.

Countering the Centre's Ayushman Bharat, the state launched its own scheme - 'Sasthya Sathi Prokolpo' where some citizens of the state were given an annual health coverage of five lakh rupees. After coming to power in 2021, the chief minister opened 'Swastha Sathi' for all the citizens of the state leading to a quantum leap in the expenditure. Even a year back when the estimated budget for this project was around Rs 925 crore, this year the allocation touched an astronomical figure of Rs 2,000 crore annually.

According to experts, with the decline of the revenue generation, multiple market borrowings have now become the essential compulsion of the West Bengal government now to meet its recurring expenses.

They are of the opinion that the state is struggling with the non-plan expenditure mostly to meet the promises made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her election campaign.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police has arrested a 48-year-old woman for misappropriating the funds of the people and cheating them to the tune of over Rs 4 crore, an official said on Saturday.

The accused was identified as Sunita Saini, a resident of Surat, Gujarat.

Furnishing details, Joint Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) Chhaya Sharma said the complainant had levelled allegations against one Vashundhara Group, allegedly a financial institution functioning in Azadpur, Delhi for misappropriating their funds on false representation of doubling invested money in 4 years.

"The accused Sunita Saini is Director and share holder in the alleged company," the Jt CP said.

According to the senior official, the alleged group and its owner and directors Chandra Prakash Saini alias C.P. Saini, Sunita Saini & others, allured the general public to open daily saving account, fixed deposit account and other lucrative investment schemes and following the directions of the accused, the victims fell prey and opened the accounts (likewise banks).

They were issued certificates, pass books, etc against investments and the deposits.

"Around 700 victims have been cheated to the tune of more than Rs 4 crore as on date. The amount and victims are increasing on day basis. Thereafter, C.P. Saini and his wife Sunita Saini ran away with the invested funds of the victims," Sharma said.

Accordingly, the police registered an FIR under sections 409, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and took up the investigation.

During investigation it was revealed that Vasundhara Fintech Ltd & Anakaya Nidhi Ltd (the accused companies) and its directors collected funds from the victims on the promise of fixed returns and the accused companies acted as a NBFC. Whereas, alleged company was neither registered as NBFC with RBI, nor could it take deposit from general public. Further probe revealed that the accused person was absconding since last 6 months. "Technical surveillance was mounted on several suspect numbers and minutely analysis of targeted Facebook accounts enabled the team to locate the whereabouts of accused person at Surat, Gujrat," said the official.

Subsequently a raid was carried out in Surat, Gujarat from where the accused was apprehended and later arrested. Further investigation is on, the official added.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Amidst ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, the Indian Air Force has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in the United Kingdom.

Indian made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas was expected to participate in the military exercise, its debut in overseas war games.

In a statement, Indian Air Force said: "In light of the recent events, IAF has decided not to deploy its aircraft for Exercise Cobra Warrior 2022 in UK." The multi nation air exercise 'Ex Cobra Warrior 22' at Waddington, UK was planned from March 6 to March 22.

The exercise was aimed at providing operational exposure and to share best practices amongst the participating Air Forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship.

The exercise is one of the largest annual Royal Air Force exercises and aims to train both pilots and other air specialists in planning and executing complex airborne missions.

These exercises are, as per the RAF, "the most challenging training for aircrew and the final step for those seeking to qualify as Qualified Weapons Instructors (QWI), Qualified Multi-engine Tactics Instructors, QWI Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and [for the] Qualified Space Instructors Course".

On on February 23, IAF had said that five Tejas fighters would fly out to the United Kingdom. It was also a platform for LCA Tejas to demonstrate its manoeuvrability and operational capability.

Earlier this month, a 44 member contingent of Indian Air Force participated in the 'Singapore Air Show-2022' where the force showcased LCA Tejas capabilities.

The Air Show was held from February 15 to February 18. Singapore Air Show is a biennial event which provides a platform for the Global Aviation Industry to showcase their products.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 26 : India on Saturday reported a further decline in Covid-19 cases with 11,499 infections in the past 24 hours against 13,166 cases registered in the previous day, the Union Health Ministry said.

A total of 255 new Covid-related deaths have also been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 5,13,481.

Meanwhile, the active Covid cases have reduced to 1,21,881 which constitute 0.28 per cent of the country's total positive cases.

The recovery of 23,598 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 4,22,70,482. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.52 per cent, the Ministry said.

Also in the same period, a total of 11,36,133 tests were conducted across the country. India has, so far, conducted over 76.57 crore cumulative tests.

Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate currently stands at 1.36 per cent while daily positivity rate has risen to 1.01 per cent.

With the administration of over 28.29 lakhs vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage has reached 177.17 crore as of this morning. This has been achieved through 2,02,74,848 sessions.

More than 11.80 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs, according to the ministry.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi/Kiev, Feb 26 : Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, on Saturday urged Apple CEO Tim Cook to stop supplying products and services to Russian users as a response to its invasion of Ukraine.

In an open letter posted on Twitter, Fedorov said he has contacted Cook to block the App Store for people in Russia.

"I've contacted @tim_cook, Apple's CEO, to block the Apple Store for citizens of the Russian Federation, and to support the package of US government sanctions!," he said.

"I appeal to you to stop supplying Apple services and products to the Russian Federation, including blocking access to the App Store!a added Fedorov who is also the Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

The Joe Biden administration issued tough sanctions on Russia on Thursday, including measures that prevent Apple and other US companies from providing services to the Russian military or ministry of defense.

However, Fedorov asked Cook to stop App Store services for Russian users too.

"We are sure that such actions will motivate the youth and active population of Russia to proactively stop the disgraceful military aggression," Fedorov wrote to Cook.

The administration of US President Joe Biden will also sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, the White House has confirmed.

"In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the US will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing on Friday.
Kiev/New Delhi, Feb 26 : Belarusian state-sponsored hackers are targeting the private email addresses of Ukrainian military personnel amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) said in a Facebook post that a mass phishing campaign is targeting the private accounts belonging to Ukrainian military personnel.

"Mass phishing emails have recently been observed targeting private ai.ua' and ameta.ua' accounts of Ukrainian military personnel and related individuals," the CERT-UA said late on Friday.

"After the account is compromised, the attackers, by the IMAP protocol, get access to all the messages. Later, the attackers use contact details from the victim's address book to send the phishing emails," it added.

The Minsk-based group called 'UNC1151' has been found to be behind these activities. Its members are officers of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus.

Cyber-security firm Mandiant earlier linked the group to the Belarusian government in November last year.

The Kiev government said the 'UNC1151' group was behind the cyber-attack that brought down Ukrainian government websites last week.

Reports have surfaced that after attacking Ukrainian government websites and banks with massive cyber attacks, Russia-sponsored hackers were now hitting Internet infrastructure in the country to silence the locals amid a full-blown war.

The cyber invasion already cut Internet connectivity in some parts of the country after the invasion began on Thursday.

Outages also affected the Triolan Internet service provider, which services a number of cities and other areas across Ukraine, including Kharkiv.

Russia has previously been linked to DDoS attacks against Ukrainian government sites but a full blackout would mean to disable telecommunications infrastructure at the network level, and silencing Ukrainians in the process.
United Nations, Feb 26 : China's permanent representative to the UN Zhang Jun said that any action by the UN Security Council should be truly conducive to defusing Ukraine crisis.

"Any action should be truly conducive to defusing the crisis, rather than adding fuel to fire," Zhang made the remarks after the council failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine proposed by the US and some other countries.

"If not properly handled, or blindly exerting pressure and imposing sanctions, it may only lead to more casualties, more property loss, more complicated and chaotic situations, and more difficulties in bridging differences," the ambassador said.

Zhang said China is deeply concerned about the latest developments of the situation in Ukraine. Currently, it has come to a point which China does not want to see, he noted.

China always forms its own position based on the merits of the matter at hand, the envoy said, adding that China advocates that all countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld.

"We have always called upon all parties to seek reasonable solutions to address each others concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual respect. We welcome and encourage all efforts for a diplomatic solution, and support the Russian Federation and Ukraine in resolving the issue through negotiations," said Zhang.

Zhang pointed out that in the past week, the Security Council has held two emergency meetings, and parties have fully elaborated on their positions and concerns on the current situation.

"At present, faced with the very complex and sensitive situation, the Security Council should make a necessary response. At the same time, such a response should also be extremely cautious," the ambassador added.

If the Ukraine issue cannot be solved in a proper way, Zhang said, "it may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution, and eventually it is the vast number of innocent people that will be the victims." "We must draw profound lessons from the extremely painful experience in the past. For this reason, China abstained in the voting just now," he added.

Zhang stressed that the Ukraine issue is not something that only emerged today, nor did the current situation occur suddenly overnight. It is a result of the interplay of various factors over a long period of time.

"China advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security," he said, adding that one country's security cannot be at the expense of the security of others, and that regional security should not rely on muscling up or even expanding military blocs.

The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be respected. Against the backdrop of five successive rounds of the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Russia's legitimate security demands should be given attention to and properly addressed, Zhang said.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Nokia has announced a new laptop under the Purebook series. It will be available to select countries in the global market due to a new licensing agreement between Nokia and OFF Global.

OFF Global is a fast-rising French startup and it has just announced a licensing agreement with Nokia for the design and sale of Nokia-branded laptops, reports GizmoChina.

The Nokia PureBook Pro comes in two screen sizes: 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch. Both the variants have LED panels and support a Full HD.

The laptop is powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i3-1220P processor, coupled with Intel UHD Graphics. This is the same 12th-Gen Intel processor and supports 28W power.

There's support for 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

It comes with a 2MP web camera and inbuilt microphone.

The 15.6-inch variant has a 63Wh battery, whereas the 17.3-inch model is backed by a 57Wh battery.

The 15.6-inch variant comes with weight of 1.7 kg. Whereas the 17.3-inch variant weighs in at 2.5 kg.

The 15.6-inch Nokia PureBook Pro is priced at Euros 699 and Euros 799 for the 17.3-inch variant.
Chennai, Feb 26 : Tamil Nadu police have launched a hunt for a woman who scared the people with a cobra and extracted money from them.

After a video of the woman with cobra went viral, the police registered a suo motu case against her.

An officer with the Tambaram police station told IANS that the woman appeared to be a nomad and a snake charmer. She had told the residents that she belonged to Villupuram, he said.

The police said that the woman would go from house to house at Meppadu in Tambaram asking for money and clothes. If refused, she took out a snake from a basket and scared the residents.

Sukumaran Nair, a resident of Meppadu, told IANS: "One morning the woman came asking for money. At houses, when the people refused to give her money, she opened a basket and played an instrument at which a cobra slithered out. The horrified residents gave her money and clothes and sent her away. Someone filmed the incident which went viral and was noticed by police." He said that the woman told the people that her son lived in Tambaram and that she used to carry the cobra whenever she visited her son by train.

Forest officials have also joined the police in the hunt for the woman.
Moscow, Feb 26 : Moscow continued to exert hefty pressure on Kiev by striking more military targets in Ukraine, while the two sides have expressed intention to start direct dialogue.

The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing.

During the fighting, a large number of weapons supplied by Western countries to Ukraine over the past few months have been seized, including the Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the US, Konashenkov said, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Russian forces have blockaded Kiev after capturing the Gostomel airfield in a suburb of Kiev, killing more than 200 members of Ukraine's special units.

Russia has also taken full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and military units of the two sides there have reached agreement on the protection of the nuclear facilities and the sarcophagus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting with permanent members of the country's Security Council via video link on Friday, commending the performance of Russian soldiers and officers.

"The Russian army's main armed clashes are taking place not with regular Ukrainian armed forces' units but with nationalist groups," he said.

The president noted that Ukraine's nationalists are deploying heavy weapons, including multiple-rocket launchers, right in the central districts of large cities, including Kiev and Kharkov.

Putin urged the Ukrainian military to "take power into your own hands." Russia has no intention of occupying Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference on Friday.

Also on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a televised address that he wants to hold dialogue with Russia.

Putin agreed to send a Russian delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the presidential administration.

But Kiev later suggested holding talks in Poland's Warsaw and then stopped responding, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Ukraine and Russia are currently discussing a date and a place of possible negotiations, as the sooner dialogue begins, the more chances there will be to resume normal life, Zelensky's press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov said on Friday night.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Sanaa, Feb 26 : An Ethiopian migrant was killed and four others wounded in a crossfire on Friday when trying to illegally enter Saudi Arabia from Yemen, Yemeni medics said.

The migrants were caught in an exchange of heavy machine guns between the Yemeni Houthi militia and Saudi border guards in the border district of Monabih in Yemen's northern province of Saada, they said.

Such accidents have been frequently reported in this area, one of the busiest routes to enter Saudi Arabia among illegal immigrants, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the International Organization for Migration, Yemen remains a transit country for thousands of migrants travelling between the Horn of Africa and Saudi Arabia despite years of civil war in the country.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to Veer Savarkar on his death anniversary.

Taking to Twitter, the Vice- President said: "My humble tributes to the great nationalist, freedom fighter & social reformer #VeerSavarkar on his Punya Tithi today. He was a crusader against social evils like caste discrimination & untouchability. His sacrifices for the freedom of our motherland will always be remembered. (Sic)." "I pay my heartfelt respects to the great freedom fighter and an epitome of sacrifice and penance, Veer Savarkar on his death anniversary. His life, dedicated to the service of motherland will always be a inspiration to the people of our country," PM Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla too paid his tributes in Hindi as he said: "Paying my emotional tributes on the death anniversary of a great freedom fighter, an immortal soldier in the freedom struggle, 'Veer' Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He was a staunch nationalist, inspiring author, poet and a freedom fighter. His actions will always continue to guide the nation." Born in May 1928, Savarkar passed away in February 1966.

Several other BJP leaders paid tributes to Savarkar on twitter and other social media handles.
Shivratri is an age-old festival in Kashmir, which is celebrated with the same fervour and elaborate arrangements as was observed thousands of centuries ago. The ancietness regarding Shivratri adds to its mystique as also deepens the faith in the concepts of existence, sustenance and destruction.

In the Hindu lunar calendar the 14th day of the dark half of the month heads to the 15th day, i.e, the 'Amavasya' is an auspicious day for those seekers who are treading the path of spirituality.

Just as neither the sun nor the moon is visible on the Amavasya night, similarly when the subject and the object get absorbed into one reality that is called as Shivratri in philosophical terms. This very fact has been expressed by the great Kashmiri Shaivite Guru Acharya Utpal Deva of the 9th century AD in his devotional treatise 'Shivastotravali'.

Shivratri when the sun, moon and all other stars set at the same time there arises the radiant night of Shiva spreading a splendour of its own. Here the sun and the moon are symbols of inhaling and exhaling breath, i.e, 'pran' and 'apana' and the stars are the entire thought construction at the junction point known as the 'Madhya Dham'. 'Pran' and 'Apana' are to be set at the end to get the glimpse of Shivratri.

Shiva is the life force, he emanates from this creation and reabsorbs it within. He is the only reality of the universe. Shiva is infinite consciousness. He is independent, eternal, formless, second less, omnipresent . He is the subject and the object, the experiencer and the experienced being the 'Ashutosha'. He is propitiated easily as 'Ardhanarishvara', the union of Shiva and Shakti. We cannot think of one without the other. He is the remover of darkness being the eternal master.

'Master is Shiva' and 'Shiva is the Master'. There is no difference. Due to this very fact all philosophers and thinkers of India from time immemorial have laid stress on Shiva worship as only it can lead us to happy life in this world and in another world also.

'Shivaratri': There are two words: Shiva & Ratri in it.

What is Shiva? Who is Shiva? Etymologically Shiva means the one who releases one from worldly entanglements or in whom the whole universe resides and who does not accept any change. He is Shiva. He is auspicious, pleasant and changeless.

What is Ratri? The Ratri word 'Ra' means to give because when 'ratri' (night) comes it bestows pleasure and peace to all. So it is called 'Ratri' 'Shivratri' means that night which is blissful and is associated with Shiva. It illuminates everything and helps in recognizing reality. In Skanda Purana it is said that nothing exceeds Shivaratri. It is the highest of all. One who does not worship Rudra, who is the Lord of the three worlds, with devotion on Shivratri, he moves from one birth to another birth for thousands of years.

There is no doubt after worshipping Lord Shiva on the 14th day of dark half month of Phalguna without sleeping throughout the night. One does not come to the womb of the mother and is thus free from birth and Death.

Shri Madhavacharyam the author of 'Kalamadhava', enunciates that Shivaratri is the night dearer to Lord Shiva. Observing fast on that night is to bliss oneself with Lord Shiva's Grace. Manifestation of Ratri takes place almost simultaneously with Lord shiva, because unless there is consciousness of what is manifested. How can it be found to have manifested at all.

Shivaratri is blissful for all irrespective of caste, creed, colour and country. The observance of fast and other rituals on Shivratri helps one to tread the path of spirituality smoothly and get released from the worldly pangs.

As per Hindu Moon calendar there are 12 Shivaratris in a year, every 14th day of the dark half of the month is taken as Shivaratri. The 10th and 11th number of Shivaratris, i.e, 14th day of 'Magha' Month and 14th day of 'Phalguna' month are considered ominous because these two are related with the manifestation of 'Vatuka Bhariva' and with the union of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati.

Shivratri is not an ordinary night, but it is the night of receiving all desired objects and getting all coveted desires fully filled.

Why is Shivaratri called 'Hearth' in Kashmir? The 'Hearth' word 'Har- Ratri' means the night of Hara-Shiva. So Shivratri is that night in which this mundane world exists nowhere, only the pervasiveness of Lord Shiva-hood pervades from all sides.

This 'Hearth' word meant for Shivratri is not an old one. It is said that the last governor of Afghan rulers in Kashmir was Abdul Jabbar. He tortured the people of Kashmir by all means. It was during his rule that Kashmiri Pandits were directed to celebrate Shivratri in June instead of February to test their firm belief that on Shivaratri snowfall is a must.

It is said that in June when this festival was being celebrated it snowed heavily. The ruler was upset and shouted 'hai-rut (astonishment)'. Since then, this word came into prominence along with Shivratri. At this time also the people of Kashmir make reference to this event.

Our ancestors used to say that in 'Satya Yuga', the first period of four Yugas, this festival used to be celebrated from the first day of dark half of Phalguna month to the tenth day of bright half of the month of Phalguna and would culminate on 'Phalgun shakul Dashami'. This way for 25 days this festival was being celebrated.

Most of the Kashmiri Pandit families in Kashmir follow the tradition of 25 days of celebration of Shivaratri festival. Some Kashmiri Pandit families strictly observe vegetarian offerings and would not permit any outsiders to visit them or stay with them during these days.

Some Kashmiri Pandit families, who were Tantric Puja followers, would offer non-vegetarian offerings on the 4th day of worship and would permit all to visit them during these days.

Kalhana, the great historian of Kashmir, mentioned that a few Kashmiri Pandit families used to follow tradition for full one year & they were ordered by supreme force to act accordingly, i.e, worshipping 'Amriteshwar Bhairava' and 'Vatuka Bhairava' uninterruptedly for full one year.

Elaborate arrangements In the 'Kaliyuga', the span of worship period has been reduced to five days only, i.e, from the 11th day of the dark half of the month of Phalguna to Amavasya. The special worship of Shivratri is usually performed during the night hours from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.

One thing here is noteworthy that the starting day of this festival has always been the 'Haur Eak dhou', i.e, the first day of the dark half of the month Phalguna from Satya Yuga till date. The meaning of the 'Huar' is that from this day we have to clean the house. It actually signifies cleaning the consciousness before the puja.

In every house a separate small room is decorated with flowers, etc., . The puja essentially involves the 'Vatuk Puja', which is about the worship of 'Vatuk Bhariva' along with other deities, namely 'Ram Gadve', 'Rishya Duliz', 'Sanya Puttal', 'Vagur', 'Sanya Vaar', 'Kshetrapal' and 'Dhoope zoor'.

From the night of the 11th day, the ritual worship would start. This Day is named as 'Gaad -Kaha'. In Kashmir Gaad means fish. The spiritual meaning of this day is that we have to control our sense organs which are compared with fish because of their unstable and vacillating nature. Five sense organs of the action and five sense organs of cognition and their ruler mind and heart are eleven in number. 'Kaha' means eleven in Kashmiri language. So this first day of puja , namely 'Gaad Kaha' is meant to purify our senses and keep them ready for performing the ritual worship.

In Tantras, it is said that Kaha (eleven) of Kashmir is symbol of KA 'Kadi Vidya' that is 15 syllable mantra known as 'Panchdasheri' and 'Ha' 'Hadi Vidha' 16 syllable mantra known as 'shodashakshari' of 'Maha- Tripura Sundari'. So this first day known as 'Gaad Kah' is a very sacred day of Shivratri rituals because we have to surrender to Goddess Tripura Sundari wholeheartedly to get the entry ticket for performing the worship of Lord Shiva.

It is said that this Shivratri 'Yagya' used to be performed by the sage Vishvamitra. While performing it, the demons distributed him and he had to take refuge from Lord Rama who helped him by removing those evils and enabling him to complete the yagya. Since then the symbol of Lord Rama is kept as the 'Ram Gadve' so that evil forces may not disrupt the puja.

Reshya Duliz, as the name suggests is purely 'Sattvic vegetarian dishes -- milk, kheer, sugar candies -- are to be offered in this circular open mouthed earthen post having the cosmic shape of the divine.

'Sanya Puttal' is of pure Shaivite form in Kashmir Shaiva philosophy -- Shakti and Shiva are inseparable, They are one, so this Sanya Puttal is the union of Shakti and Shiva. Shivratri being the divine union day, those two aspects of the absolute reality are worshipped and meditated for the upliftment of devotees .

'Vagur' is a very important principle in this Shivaratri Puja. The 12th day of the dark half of the month of Phalguna is called 'Vagarayabaha'.

In 'Rudrayamala Tantra' 'Vagut' is said to be BanduRupa. So Vagur is (pash) or net which is woven by the specific mantras of 'Hamsavagishavari- Kubjika' and 'Navatma Mantra' and is worshipped according to the family tradition. The offerings are made in a clay model, which is attributed as binding as well as releasing force.

Spirituality speaking this is indicative of 'Anahat-Chakra of Kundalini Yoga. Etymologically Vagur means the feeling of sublime sound experienced by the yogi while meditating Kundalini Yoga.

Third day of the worship is attributed to (Herath Truvaha). This day 'Vatuk bhairava' with his 8 energies, namely somya, bhima , danpradha, etc., is worshipped in an elaborate way.

'Kshetrapal' literally means the protector of a particular place; these are worshipped by this specific name everywhere in various worships. In Kashmir nine kshetrapala known as 'Kshetranavk' are worshipped accordingly.

These 'Kshetrapal' or 'Bharivas' are known as Lord Vital Bhariva, Mangleshwar Bhariva, Tushakraj Bhariva, Anandashewar Bhariva, Barvat Keshvar Bhariva, Raj Rajeshwar Bhariva, Lokshatak Bhariva, Hatkeshwar Bhariva and Nandkeshwar Bhariva. These Nine 'Bharivas' are incharge of particular different regions in Kashmir valley and are worshipped on Shivratri.

Spirituality Kshetrapal is our own body and the protector of that body is 'ataman' as is said by Kashmiri Shaivite yogi scholar Abhinav Gupta in his little treatise known as wheel of deities residing in our body.

Among eight Bhariva attendants of Lord Shiva 'Heyruk Bhariva' being superior is worshipped by side of kshetrapal separately with special mantras on the Shivratri day. His presence is regarded as very essential (Sanyavaara) which is represented by a pot of clay and is to be filled with fresh water.

Dry walnuts are to be deposited in it up to the brim with vermilion to be painted on all sides of the Vatuka Bhariva along with red thread to be tied near the brim of the pot and then to be decorated with flower garlands.

Why walnuts? They are considered foremost among all dry fruits. Walnuts are the symbols of our four Vedas because they have four sides within. Walnut has two sides and represents Shiva and Shakti as per tantras. In a philosophical way, walnuts being oval shaped are considered the replica of the round shaped universe.

It is kept in mind that all these major or lesser deities are to be kept on grass pods and it is a custom of every family to tie the neck of every pot with 'Vasur'. It is made of a special weed usually found in the marshy lands . The significance of this is related to the earth element.

As per old tradition seven cereals (sat sos) are to be put in the Vatuka Bhariva vessel. Lord Shiva's Grace is showered on all devotees on this day irrespective of caste creed and colour By mere 'japa' on this day one is liberated.

Fifth day of the worship is called 'Doon Mavas'. On this day, this long festival of activities culminates with fervour .After performing special worship all walnuts are taken out of the main vessel and are distributed amongst the kiths and kins as special prasad. Thus, shivaratri is the state of transcendence cum immanence as per Kashmir Shaivism.

(Author Satish Mahaldar is Chairman of JK Peace Forum)
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video to social media on Saturday morning showing himself walking around the streets of Kiev after a night of artillery fire in different parts of the city, telling the nation "I'm here", Fox News reported.

Zelenskyy said in a short video address to Ukrainians, "We will defend our country," and said that there's a lot of false information online.

"Do not believe in fake information," Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media after the sun came up in Kiev on Saturday morning. "I am here. We will be defending our country, because our strength is in our truth." "We will be defending our country," he added.

Zelenskyy's post comes after loud explosions and intense gunfights broke out in Kiev overnight as Russian troops reportedly entered the capital, Fox News reported.

"A new day on the diplomatic frontline began with a conversation with @EmmanuelMacron," Zelenskyy added in a Twitter post. "Weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine. The anti-war coalition is working!" Street fighting broke out in Ukraine's capital city of Kiev overnight Friday as Russian troops closed in. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused an offer from the US to have him evacuated from the country, saying, 'the fight is here.'
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Russian assaults on the Ukrainian capital Kiev have been met with fierce resistance, as the Ukrainian military says it has fought off several attacks, BBC reported.

The military said in a Facebook post early on Saturday that an army unit managed to repel Russian forces near its base on a major city street, the report said.

In a new video, President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "We won't lay down our arms. We will defend our state." The city government confirmed ongoing fighting and urged people to stay home.

City officials put out a statement asking people to stay in shelters and to stay away from windows if they were at home.

But Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Oleksiy Danilov told Ukrainian news site Lb.ua that the army was "in control" of the situation.

"We are stopping the horde using all means available. The army servicemen and citizens are in control of Kyiv," said Danilov.

In his self-shot video, Zelensky could be seen walking around Kiev's government district in an apparent effort to combat rumours he had called on the army to surrender to Russian troops.

Earlier on Saturday, Ukraine's air force command also reported heavy fighting near the Vasylkiv air base, southwest of Kiev, adding that it was under attack by Russian paratroopers, BBC reported.

Separately it claimed one of its fighters had shot down a Russian transport plane.
Shiberghan, Feb 26 : An Afghan woman has helped construct a school for girls in the country's northern Jawzjan province, which has been welcomed by Afghans as an initiative towards developing education in the country.

In Aqcha, a far-flanged district of the Jawzjan province, Hajji Bibi Nazira has built a 12-classroom school on 650 square meters of land at a cost of $65,000, largely solving the school shortage for girls in the district, Xinhua news agency reported.

She has become the first woman who built a girls' school from her own wealth since the Taliban took over the power of Afghanistan in mid-August last year.

Local officials said local female students, who used to attend classes under tents, now have finally found a place to study with rooftops.

Provincial director of Education Department Mohammad Tahir Jawad told Xinhua recently that getting education is vital for everyone as well as for the whole society.

"The Islamic Emirate encourages education for girls and the new school has been built with the support of the government to promote education," Tahir Jawad said.

Provincial education authorities have named the school Hajji Bibi Nazira Girl School, calling upon more capable Afghans to follow the suit.

"Half of Afghanistan's population are women and girls are paving the ground for them to get education. It definitely would have a positive impact on our society," an elder of the area, Nematullah told Xinhua.

Although there are no official statistics on the number of literate and illiterate people among the war-torn country's some 35 million population, it is reported that the majority of Afghans, particularly the women, are illiterate.

Local businessman Abdullah Safi, inspired by Nazira's benevolence, has donated 250,000 U.S. dollars for building another school in Aqcha to accommodate more students.

"The children and pupils traveling tens of kilometers daily to attend classes and with building the new school, the problem in our area would be solved," Rohullah Habibzai, a close aide of Safi said.

Ahead of the new educational year beginning in late March, Habibzai said investment and donations to support education would encourage more people to send their children to schools.
Faridabad, Feb 26 : A class 10 student of Delhi Public School, Greater Faridabad, committed suicide by jumping off his residential building, police said on Saturday.

The deceased left behind a suicide note alleging mentally harassment by his classmates over his sexuality.

"You're powerful (mother), don't care what people say about my sexuality, kindly handle relative, Grand father and niana. The school has killed me. Higher authority is also responsible," read the suicide note.

Despite several complaints, no action was taken by the school administration, the family alleged.

A senior police official said that the boy's mother also teaches in the school.

"She gave us a complaint against the academic head of the school for harassing her son, a class X student. Based on her complaint, we have lodged an FIR under sections of abetment to suicide. A team has been formed and we are looking into the allegations," said the Faridabad police official.

The post-mortem was conducted at a nearby government hospital and the autopsy report is awaited.

Last year, two boys had commented on his sexuality. The boy then spoke to his mother who approached the principal. However, no action was taken.

Traumatised by the incident, the boy went in depression and was under medication. After the lockdown, the school reopened for the board exams.

The boy approached a teacher seeking clarification on a subject but was rebuffed. The student suffered from dyslexia and was unable to solve a few questions of science paper.

Police said that a female teacher had accused the boy and his mother of troubling her.

On Thursday night, the boy jumped off his house when his mother was home. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

A team of crime Branch of Faridabad visited the crime scene and collected a few evidence.

A probe was on.

The school authority is yet to issue a clarification.
Presidente @PedroCastilloTe: "El Acuerdo de Cooperacion suscrito entre el Gobierno y la OEA nos permitira contar con su acompanamiento y asistencia, para fortalecer las capacidades de nuestras instituciones en materia de prevencion, identificacion y sancion de este flagelo". pic.twitter.com/nlt1HAJYB9
Hyderabad, Feb 26 : A female trainee pilot has been confirmed dead in a trainer aircraft crash in Nalgonda district of Telangana. Police sources said that the aircraft belonging to a private aviation training company, had crashed into agricultural fields on Saturday morning.

According to police sources, the victim hails from Tamil Nadu. She was training at a Hyderabad-based training institute which also operates from Nagarjuna Sagar.

Telangana police rushed to the spot after being alerted by farmers working in the fields at Tungaturthi village of Peddavoora Mandal in Nalgonda district.

Eyewitnesses said that the aircraft was flying from Nagarjuna Sagar, when it crashed to the ground and erupted in flames around 11.30 am.

Further details are awaited.
Have a gut feeling that eventually, e-vehicles will be cheaper than petrol or diesel ones: Nitin Gadkari
San Francisco, Feb 26 : US chipmaker Nvidia has confirmed that it is investigating a cyber incident that has reportedly downed the company's developer tools and email systems.

Nvidia told 'TechCrunch' that the nature and scope of the incident are still being evaluated, adding that the company's commercial activities have not been impacted as a result.

"We are investigating an incident. Our business and commercial activities continue uninterrupted. We are still working to evaluate the nature and scope of the event and don't have any additional information to share at this time," the company was quoted as saying.

While Nvidia is not sharing any more details about the incident, The Telegraph reports that the company's email systems and developer tools have been suffering from outages over the last two days following a "malicious network intrusion", the report said.

Citing an insider, the report claimed that the company's systems had been offline for two days but that portions of its email systems had started working on Friday.

It is not yet clear whether hackers obtained data on Nvidia or its customers, nor whether any of its partners were affected. Nvidia has not yet identified the culprit, and customers say they had not been informed of any incident, according to The Telegraph's report.

News of a potential cyberattack at Nvidia comes just weeks after the Santa Clara-based company terminated its $40 billion bid to acquire British chip designer Arm.

The company said the decision was mutual, resulting from "significant regulatory challenges preventing the consummation of the transaction, despite good faith efforts by the parties".
New Delhi, Feb 26 : A high-rise apartment block in Kiev was hit by a devastating missile on Saturday morning as fighting continues to rage in the capital between Russian attackers and Ukrainian forces, Daily Mail reported.

Emergency services said the number of victims from the attack in the Zhuliany district was 'being specified' and that an evacuation was underway. Images show the tower block with a hole covering at least five floors blasted into the side and rubble strewn across the street below, the report said.

It comes as a barrage of cruise missiles have also been launched by Russian forces against Ukrainian military facilities, Daily Mail reported.

Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said the military struck a range of installations with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles.

He said that since the start of Russia's attack on Thursday, the military has hit 821 Ukrainian military facilities, including 14 air bases and 19 command facilities, and destroyed 24 air defence missile systems, 48 radars, seven warplanes, seven helicopters, nine drones, 87 tanks and eight military vessels.

Maj Gen Konashenkov claimed the Russian military has taken full control of the southern city of Melitopol, about 35 km inland from the Azov Sea coast, and said Russia-backed separatists have made significant gains in the eastern region of Donbas, Daily Mail reported.

Meanwhile, the mayor of a city south of the capital says the country's military has fended off a Russian attempt to take control of a military air base.

Natalia Balansynovych, mayor of Vasylkiv, about 25 miles south of Kiev, said Russian airborne forces landed near the city overnight and tried to seize the base. She added that fierce fighting also raged in Vasylkiv's central street, the report said.

She said Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian attacks, and the situation is now calm.
Chennai, Feb 26 : Tamil Nadu Power minister and DMK leader Senthil Balaji has said that Coimbatore is no longer a stronghold of AIADMK.

While interacting with the media in Coimbatore on Saturday, he said that the people voted for DMK in large numbers in the recent Urban local body polls as they had faith in Chief Minister M.K.Stalin.

The minister, who is also in charge of Excise and Prohibition, said that the people have trust in the Chief Minister hence they voted for the party. The people had great expectations from the Chief Minister when they met him to hand over petitions and memorandums and were extremely happy when the issues were addressed. This was a clear example of good governance which was reciprocated by the people in the Urban polls, minister Senthil Balaji said.

He also said that the victory in the Urban polls will be repeated in the general elections as well as the Assembly elections.

It was unprecedented in Coimbatore that a government had reached out to 25,000 people through various schemes during the Chief Minister's last visit to the city, he added.

Balaji, who was in charge of the DMK electioneering in Coimbatore, said that the elections were held in a free and transparent manner with CCTV cameras installed in all booths which could be verified.

The state minister called upon the councillors elect to work for the welfare of the people and to have a clean and transparent administration. He also interacted with the councillors regarding the selection of Mayor candidates.
Moscow, Feb 26 : The Russian armed forces have established full control over the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, Defence Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a briefing on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, the Defence Ministry said that the Russian military had entered Melitopol without meeting resistance, Xinhua news agency reported.

"On the evening of February 25, after an amphibious landing near the locality of Azovske (Ukraine), Russian units marched and, without meeting resistance, entered Melitopol," the ministry's Zvezda broadcaster reported.

The Russian troops were greeted by residents of Melitopol, and some older citizens took to the streets with red flags.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorised "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.
Kabul, Feb 26 : The security agencies of Afghanistan have launched clearance operations in the capital city of Kabul and the surrounding provinces as the latest preventive measures to ensure a high level of security, the government said on Saturday.

The clearance operations were launched on Friday by the ministries of the interior and defence as well as the national intelligence agency, the government said in a statement.

Under the command of Mullah Mohammad Fazil Mazlum, acting deputy defence minister, the operations aimed at arresting and eliminating the thieves, kidnappers and other culprits who had already been listed by the security forces, the statement said.

"During these operations, civilians and private properties would be safe and all cautionary measures had been put in place. Kabul residents and countrymen should not worry about these operations," the statement said.

The statement called on citizens to help the security forces during the operations.
Chennai, Feb 26 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Saturday spoke to Tamil students stranded in Ukraine and enquired about their well-being in the war-torn nation. He enquired about their safety and availibility of drinking water and food.

In a video call, lasting for a few minutes, the Chief Minister assured the students that the government is in coordination with the Centre and taking steps to bring them back.

Speaking to students from Tiruchi who are stranded in Ukraine, Stalin said that he was disturbed on seeing the ongoing developments in that country.

However, a student who interacted with the Chief Minister, said that at present he and his friends are "safe" and "the area where they live is not under shelling".

The Chief Minister, according to his office, told the student, "Be strong. The government is taking steps to bring you all back." The Chief Minister's office has already started a helpline for the students stranded in Ukraine as well as their parents and relatives to communicate. A similar helpline is set up at the Tamil Nadu Bhawan in New Delhi.

According to information, more than 1,500 people have reached out to the Tamil Nadu government through the helpline since the crisis unfolded in Ukraine. There are around 3,500 students from different parts of the state in Ukraine with a majority being students.

There were reports that for evacuation, Indians have to reach the borders of Romania and Hungary and the first batch of evacuation is taking place from the western Ukraine as other borders have already been sealed by the Russian forces.

Indian students are permitted to travel in vehicles up to borders by tying the national flag on their vehicles. On Saturday morning several Tamil students who were to catch a flight from Budapest complained that they were not allowed to cross the border.

Soumya Nathan, a third-year MBBS student in Ukraine, told IANS: "It is a tough situation and we are living in bunkers. Waiting to get back home and hope we will be supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of India to get evacuated from here."
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Russian claim that it has taken the southeastern city of Melitopol has been denied by the UK Armed Forces Minister, James Heappey, who said he did not recognise the reports and said the Russian invasion plan was running "nowhere near" to schedule, The Guardian reported.

The UK government armed forces junior minister said Russia has failed to achieve its initial objectives and fighting outside Kiev was limited to Russian special forces units, The Guardian reported.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, James Heappey said that aims to take key Ukrainian cities had not been successful.

He added that the UK did not believe Russian claims that it had taken the south eastern city of Melitopol.

"The Ukrainian resistance to the Russian advance appears extraordinary. All of Russia's Day One objectives of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol, Sumy and even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to have taken but we can't see anything on that, are still all in Ukrainian hands," The Guardian reported.

"The fighting on the outskirts of Kiev overnight, we understand to just be Russian spetsnaz special forces and pockets of paratroopers. The reality is the armoured columns coming down from Belarus and the north to encircle Kiev are still way off, because they have been held off by this incredible Ukrainian resistance", the report added.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : In the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Saturday said mere allocation of funds is not sufficient in improving the judicial infrastructure in the country.

Justice Ramana said he is hoping for a positive response, as he has been pursuing the government for setting up statutory authorities, both at Centre and states.

The Chief Justice was speaking at the national seminar on Adjudication of Intellectual Property Rights Disputes organised by the Delhi High Court. The Chief Justice said: "Judicial infrastructure needs to be improved. Unfortunately, we are not even meeting the basic minimum standards in this area. It has been my endeavour since assuming the office of Chief Justice of India, to put in place an institutional mechanism to co-ordinate and oversee the improvement of judicial infrastructure".

The event was also attended by the Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.N. Patel. The Chief Justice added: "Mere allocation of funds is not enough. The challenge is to put the available resources to optimum use. I have been pursuing the government for setting up of statutory authorities, both at the centre and at the states. I hoping for a positive response soon".

Justice Ramana said: "We have in our midst Nirmala Sitharaman, one of the most powerful ministers, by virtue of holding the purse strings of the country. I am given to understand that her area of research during her student days was Trade relations within the GATT framework. Her academic research coupled with practical experience in the ministries of Commerce and Finance, are a great help in formulating the policies".

He congratulated the Chief Justice Delhi High Court and all his companion judges on the setting up of the Intellectual Property Division. He emphasised while adjudicating the claims of intellectual property rights, judges must balance the contemporary claims with the sustainable interests of the future generations.

Justice Ramana said the vesting of the intellectual property rights jurisdiction back in the high court comes at a time when the judiciary is already overburdened with the backlog. He added, however, this would not deter us from rising to the occasion and putting in place systems which may be required to deal with the new regime. "It is an appropriate moment to build sufficient capacities in our High Courts, so that intellectual property litigation can be conducted efficiently and smoothly. It is in this context that the seminar organised today is of significant value", said Justice Ramana.

He added: "When I visited Japan in 2016 to attend a conference on IPR, I was repeatedly asked by the entrepreneurs as to how investor friendly the Indian judicial system is. In fact, whenever I travel abroad, from a cross section of hosts, I keep getting similar queries. My answer has always remained the same; that the Indian judiciary is absolutely independent and it always treats all the parties equally and equitably".
Bengaluru, Feb 26 : Opposition leader Siddaramaiah has sought immediate arrest of BJP leader in Dakshina Kannada district in connection with the murder case of a Dalit Congress worker.

"It is a shame that BJP leaders who talk every time about safety and security of Hindus are protecting murder accused of a Dalit youth," he posted on his social media handle.

Condemning the murder of Dalit youth Dinesh, Siddaramaiah said that murder accused is also a Bajrang Dal activist which has become a cause of worry for the deceased youth's family. The police should not buckle under pressure and immediately arrest the accused. The family should also be provided security.

Vasanth Bangera, former Congress MLA from Belthangadi constituency has warned that a case has been lodged against the murder of Dinesh, a Dalit youth residing in Kanyadi near Dharmasthala. The accused is a BJP leader and if he is not arrested, a protest will be organised in front of Dharmasthala police station on a large-scale.

Dinesh was attacked by accused Kitta a.k.a Krishna on February 23 over a petty issue. The accused had punched him on his abdomen and trampled him. Dinesh, not being able to get treatment, suffered in his house. On February 24, the victim's family asked accused Kitta to get him treated as he had assaulted him.

The accused had later got the victim youth admitted to a hospital and at the time of admission, he had told hospital authorities that Dinesh had fallen down from the stairs.

Dinesh succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on Friday. The family has lodged a complaint against the accused in this regard.

The deceased was a labourer and a Congress worker. The accused is a BJP leader and his brother Bhaskar Dharmasthala is affiliated to the Bajrang Dal and very close to BJP MLA Harish Poonja.

Former MLA Vasanth Bangera has urged the District in-charge minister V. Sunil Kumar to visit the deceased's home and provide compensation.

An investigation is on.
Mumbai, Feb 26 : Television star Kaaranvir Bohra is the fifth contestant in the upcoming captive reality show 'Lock Upp: Badass Jail Atyaachaari Khel' hosted by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut.

Earlier, the makers of the show had revealed four names, who would be competing for the title, TV actress and model Nisha Rawal, internet sensation Poonam Pandey, stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui and wrestling champion Babita Phogat.

Sharing his excitement on the announcement, Kaaranvir, who is known for his stint in 'Khatron ke Khiladi 5', 'Naagin 2' and 'Kasauti Zindagi Kay', says, "My excitement actually has no bounds. I had to contain myself not to tell people that I am doing this show, till it does not come out and the reason for my excitement to do this show was just one thing, that one energy, and that energy is none other than Ekta Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut and my wife, Teejay Sidhu." The thought behind the reality show and its title makes the show a clear winner for the actor as he says, "I think it is a stand-alone awesome show by itself. The name in itself is a winner. Since it's the first season, nobody knows what's going to happen inside." The show will involve 16 controversial celebrities locked in jail for months without the amenities that people usually take for granted.

Probe him about his game plan, and the actor doesn't reveal anything but gives a categorical answer, "So basically the idea of 'Lock Upp' in reality is to save yourself, there will be so many bullies, there will be so many things that won't be so conducive, but how you stand up and how you fight, should be the key. So that's all, wish me luck!" 'Lock Upp' will be available to stream on ALTBalaji and MX Player with the first episode dropping on Sunday, February 27 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Both the streaming platforms will live stream this show 24x7 on their respective platforms and allow the audiences to interact directly with the contestants.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), before a Special Kolkata Judge, against three persons in a case related to trafficking of protected wildlife.

After accepting the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Wasim Rahaman, Wajid Ali and Md Gulam Gaus, the court took cognisance of the matter and fixed it for the next date of hearing.

The ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of a case registered by the Wildlife Crime Control Cell and Data Management Unit, WB under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Wasim Rahaman, along with his accomplices, was arrested by the officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Cell, Kolkata, on June 1, 2019 for his involvement in illicit trafficking of protected wildlife.

The ED carried out a search operation at Wasim Rahaman's residential premises in Howrah on March 16, 2021. The search revealed that Rahaman was actively involved in the smuggling of animals which were protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The proceeds of the crime amounting to Rs 2.21 crore in the form of land, flats and bank balance were provisionally attached.
Panaji, Feb 26 : With the Russia-Ukraine military conflict casting a shadow on the prospects of the tourism industry in Goa, the state may have to tide over the testing times by hosting destination weddings and business conventions as a means of survival, president of the All Goa Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association Gaurish Dhond said on Saturday.

"Fifty per cent of Goa's GDP comes from the tourism industry. Foreign tourists and charter flights contribute a very large amount towards the GDP. It is a win-win situation when you have domestic and foreign tourists coming in Goa. With this war between Russia versus Ukraine, entire Europe is getting disturbed. Footfalls from the UK and other European countries to Goa is expected to drop by almost 50 per cent," Dhond said.

"We are trying to make it up through domestic tourists. There are many conventions, private, destination weddings happening in Goa, which is our survival at the moment. It will take some time before Russians and Europeans come to Goa. This season will be totally washed away," he also said.

Goa's tryst with Russian tourists started in 2003, when the first charter flight, special flights chartered by tour companies for short-duration tourists) flew in from Russia to the Western Indian state which is also known as one of best beach tourism destinations in the country.

Goa's conventional tourist season starts in October and winds up in March, when the mild winter sun works as a good break for travellers from Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, Ukraine and other European countries from the harsh winter. Russians topped the number of foreign tourists visiting Goa every year, before the advent of the Covid pandemic. Nearly eight million tourists arrived in Goa ahead of the pandemic, out of which half a million were foreigners.

State Tourism director Menino D'Souza also said that the tourism season in Goa would be affected by the ongoing conflict in Europe.

"Prior to this war also, charter flights had to be cancelled because of this disturbance. It will not only impact the tourism trade, but also the economy too. Russians are the main foreign tourists to come to Goa, if flights are cancelled, it will definitely impact us," he said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Budapest, Feb 26 : Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto offered Budapest as a venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine late on Friday night on his Facebook account "Due to a dispute on the possible location -- in Minsk, Warsaw -- of peace talks, I recommended Budapest to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and to Andriy Yermak, chief of cabinet of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky," Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page.

He added that neither party rejected the proposition during the telephone conversations, Xinhua news agency reported.

Budapest can serve as a safe place for both the Russian and Ukrainian negotiating delegations, the top Hungarian diplomat said.

"The sooner talks begin, the sooner there will be peace and the fewer people will have to die in the war," he said.

Szijjarto was speaking from the airport in Brussels, where he participated in an extraordinary meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

From Belgium he was travelling to New York to discuss the conflict with United Nations leaders.

The Ukrainian president on Friday reiterated his call for Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold talks to stop the conflict.

"Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let's sit down at the negotiating table," Zelensky was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying.

Putin said Moscow is ready to negotiate with Ukraine, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency tweeted on Friday.

On Thursday, Putin authorised "a special military operation" in Donbass.

At least 137 Ukrainians were killed and more than 300 injured in the military operation, Zelensky said earlier.
Moscow, Feb 26 : The Russian armed forces have struck Ukrainian military targets with air and sea-based cruise missiles, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"During the night, the Russian armed forces carried out a long-range precision strike with air and sea-based cruise missiles on Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities," Konashenkov said, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Russian Defence Ministry.

"I would like to emphasise once again that only military facilities are subject to attack, no damage is caused to residential and social infrastructure," he added.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized "a special military operation" in Donbass, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : United Colors of Benetton will transform its Corso Vittorio Emanuele store during Milan Fashion Week, aligning it with the brand's new shop in the metaverse, which will open at the same time with the same experiential look and feel.

The term metaverse denotes a new generation of virtual reality, in which new technologies will make online interaction increasingly like that experienced in the real world. Thanks to investments announced in this area by companies like Facebook, the metaverse has established itself in just a few months as the computing platform of the future, with incredible potential from a media and creative perspective.

"We want to turn the immersive experience on its head," states Massimo Renon, CEO of Benetton Group. "We will achieve this by creating the same emotional ecosystem in physical retail as will be available in the new virtual store in the metaverse, which will open in the next few weeks. Anyone visiting our Milan shop in Corso Vittorio Emanuele over the next few days will be able to immerse themselves in a world where physical reality and digital connection come together in an explosion of creativity, colour and sound." The United Colors of Benetton store in the metaverse will, however, take a fresh approach. 'Visitors' will not buy clothes but will instead participate in gaming experiences that will allow them to accumulate QR codes, which can then be used to make purchases in physical shops. In this manner, the brand creates an additional touchpoint with the consumer, enhancing its omnichannel strategy.

"We are one of the first brands to experiment with a distributed omnichannel model, one that creates a circular relationship between the physical world and the metaverse," explains Antonio Patrissi, Chief Digital Officer of Benetton Group. "The aim is to offer a dimensional link between the present and the future, the real and the virtual, through a brand experience that is increasingly immersive and, above all, in tune with the language of young people." The virtual store will offer an experience mirroring what shoppers can expect when they visit the Corso Vittorio Emanuele location in the coming weeks. To mark Fashion Week, the Milan flagship store has been redecorated in pink, covering all areas - from the windows to the store interior itself, from hangers to shelves - and naturally emphasising the shades of the Benetton garments.

This temporary set-up, which will feature in the store for four weeks, is accompanied by the #playchange project. From 21 to 23 February, five talented individuals will be sharing their personal stories of change with Benetton, recounting the moments in their lives when they have had to reinvent themselves and take a different approach to allow them to move forward.

The five talents are radio presenter Andrea Delogu, TV presenter Stefano di Martino and social media stars Giulia Paglianiti, Davide Vavala and Anna Ciati. The three TikTokers will also be in-store on 23 February from 5 pm, when they will offer dedicated styling sessions to shoppers eager to try out new looks.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Ramnagar, : Feb 26 (IANS) A couple of days after several pilgrims were feared washed away while crossing the river Cauvery near Elagalli in Kanakapura of Ramnagar district, the search operation continued on Saturday.

While the body of an elderly woman was fished out, operation is on to locate others. The identity of the woman is yet to be established.

The incident took place on Thursday evening when the pilgrims were crossing the river to reach the Male Mahadeshwara hills with the help of a rope which snapped due to overcrowding.

According to sources, though many were washed away in the river but the district authority is yet to be come up with an official statement regarding the tragedy.

Thousands of pilgrims from across the state and neighbouring Tamil Nadu arrive in Elagalalli one week before Maha Shivratri festival to reach the Male Mahadeshwara hills. From Elagalli village, they reach the temple atop Male Mahadeshwara hills on foot. On the way, they cross the River Cauvery. The pilgrims walk through Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary for about 30 kilometers to reach the destination.

There are no boats or bridge facility in the river. The forest department has connected the two ends of the river with a rope. The pilgrims cross the river holding the rope. According to sources, the tragedy occurred when the rope snapped owing to too much pressure.

The place where the tragedy took place falls between Chamarajanagar and Ramnagar districts. Since it falls under jurisdiction of the wildlife sanctuary, developmental activity to connect the places are prohibited. The pilgrimage is being carried out for hundreds of years and there is growing demand from devotees for temporary shelters which could be wound up after the Shivratri festival.

As per eyewitnesses, the rope snapped and due to the force of the water, many got washed away in the river, while several others were rescued," they said.

Following the tragedy, the authorities have decreased the proportion of water being released into the river. Though public entry is prohibited within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, the religious pilgrimage is allowed as it has been a tradition for many years.

The officers have been asked to take precautionary measures to ensure no such tragedy occurs. Both district administration and forest department have jointly ensured the safety of pilgrims. The identity of the elderly lady is yet to be established.
Ranchi, Feb 26 : Despite having 40 per cent of the country's mineral and forest reserves, arable land and historical and cultural diversity, the finances of Jharkhand are in a shambles.

In 2000, Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar. At that time, it was expected that Jharkhand's economy will witness rapid growth compared to Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as the state has all the factors which are needed for rapid growth and development.

Ironically, Jharkhand is one among the five most backward states of the country where the per capita income is the lowest.

The per capita income in Chhattisgarh is 20 per cent higher and 110 per cent more in Uttarakhand as compared to Jharkhand.

The year-on-year mounting debt on Jharkhand also testifies that state's finances are in a sorry state of affairs.

Right now, Jharkhand is having a debt of more than Rs one lakh crore which means that every person in the state is under a debt of more than Rs 26,000. The fiscal deficit is compelling the government to go for more borrowing.

However, Jharkhand Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon blames the Union government for the economic burden on the state.

Oraon is of the view that if the Centre provides compensation for harnessing Jharkhand's resources, the state will become financially stable.

Some 53,000 acres of land in Jharkhand was given to the Coal Ministry but compensation has not been granted. Over Rs 65,000 crore compensation is due from the Union government, he claimed.

On February 25, the government issued the state's statistical profile report, which clearly indicates the state's poor finances.

As per this report, in 2020-21, the state's provisional GDP was minus 1.27 per cent, while in 2019-20, it was 5.6 per cent and in 2018-19, 13.30 per cent.

If we look at the state budget, the budget size increased year after year but sources of revenue were not developed in that respect.

The state's maiden budget for 2001-02 was Rs 4,800.12 crore only. At that time, the state government had more than Rs 70 crore cash surplus.

For the financial year 2020-21, the state presented a Rs 73,854 crore budget while for 2021-22, the budget size increased to Rs 91,277 crore.

During the review of the Department of Planning and Development, it came to the fore that only 40.43 per cent of the sanctioned amount could be utilised till date.

Figures show that in the past five financial years, Jharkhand's share of tax submitted to the Centre has reduced by eight per cent.

In the state's 2016-17 budget, for Central taxes, its share was 32 per cent, in 2019-20, it reduced to 29 per cent and in 2021-22, it came down to 24 per cent. To bridge the fiscal deficit, the government has been taking loans.

In the past two decades, the government in 2015-16 took the biggest loan of Rs 5,333.4 crore through power bonds.

Economist and former vice chancellor of Vinoda Bhave University, Dr Ramesh Sharan told IANS that lack of financial management and skill are the main reasons for the state's ailing economy.

Developing infrastructure by taking loans and giving impetus to the development is not a bad idea but the state has not fully utilised the amount it has taken.

The money was spent on schemes which were not able to pay dividends. Money was spent on dead assets.

According to Sharan, by developing mineral based industries, establishing and developing MSME units, forest produce based processing units and a concrete plan for the tourism sector, Jharkhand can emerge as a strong economy.
Chennai, Feb 26 : Tamil actor Vijay, fondly referred to as 'Thalapathy' by his fans, on Saturday paid homage to late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar at his memorial in Bangalore.

Video clips of the actor paying homage to the Kannada superstar began doing the rounds on social media on Saturday.

In one of the clips, Vijay is seen wearing a mask and awaiting his turn to pay homage to the late actor. The Tamil star then goes on to place a garland at the memorial and then performs a 'harathi' before paying his respects.

Actor Puneeth, one of the top actors of the Kannada film industry, passed away on October 21, last year, after suffering a cardiac arrest. Puneeth, who enjoys a huge fan base, holds the distinction of being the first Indian actor whose first six films completed a 100-day run in theatres.
The diplomat conveyed greetings to the Cabinet chief and stressed that her country's cooperation with Peru is solid and develops largely within the country through projects linked to the Government's priorities in the areas of economic development, environment, governance, health, social inclusion, security, and disaster prevention.

Within this framework, a presentation was made on the support provided by the technical mission of the U.S. National Response Team (NRT) in cleaning up the oil spill in Lima's Ventanilla sea area, which took place for a period of four weeks.
BELGRADE, Oct. 20, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 19, 2019. Russia will continue to develop joint energy and infrastructure pr Image Source: IANS News

Moscow, Feb 26 : Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday that the current sanctions against Russia could be a reason to review relations with all states that have imposed them.

"Sanctions are a good reason to review all relations with those states that have imposed them, and to interrupt dialogue on strategic stability," Medvedev said in a post on his Vkontakte page, Xinhua news agency reported.

These restrictions will not change anything, including Moscow's decision to conduct a military operation and to protect Donbass, he wrote, adding that the operation would be carried out in full until the final results are achieved.

Medvedev said that the sanctions were imposed due to the "political impotence" of Western leaders and their "inability to change Russia's course," and were also used as a means to justify "their shameful decisions." The West is also threatening to seize the money of Russian citizens and Russian companies abroad, Medvedev wrote, noting that this will bring about a symmetrical response, namely seizing funds of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia.
Ottawa, Feb 26 : Crown liquor stores in several Canadian provinces have pulled Russian products, including Vodka, from their shelves, local media reported.

In Ontario, Peter Bethlenfalvy, finance minister of the biggest province in Canada, said he was directing the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to withdraw products produced in Russia, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We strongly support the federal government's efforts to sanction the Russian government," Bethlenfalvy was quoted as saying in a statement. "We will continue to be there for the Ukrainian people during this extremely difficult time." The reports said the LCBO carries around 25 Russian-produced products and that the stores could remove them within 24 hours.

Crown liquor stores in other four provinces, namely the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, New Brunswick liquor stores, Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, and Manitoba Liquor Mart made similar moves on Friday, according to the reports.
Hyderabad, Feb 26 : The makers of 'Bheemla Nayak' had organised an event to celebrate the blockbuster success of the movie, earlier on Saturday.

Talking at the event, director Sagar K Chandra thanked the entire team, as he showered praise on Trivikram Srinivas for his hard work. "We are overwhelmed with the kind of response for this movie. Hearing blockbuster reports along with mind-blowing collections," Sagar said.

Talking about the teamwork, Sagar K Chandra thanked Thaman, who scored thumping music for the Pawan & Rana- starrer. "His music added great value to the scenes," Sagar K Chandra added.

"We are all flowers of a garland, who were kept together by Trivikram, who acted as a thread. He's the one who held us together, coordinated with each team. We are forever thankful for his continuous efforts in keeping us all motivated despite the challenges." Thaman, who delivered good music for the 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum' remake, stated that the team was confident about the movie being a super hit, ever since.

"We knew it would be nothing less than a Tsunami", Thaman said.

Screenplay and dialogue writer Trivikram said, "I first need to thank the media. The media hyped the movie, as much as it was needed." "We need to shift the balance. We started the journey of Bheemla Nayak saluting forest, to take the character close to the jungle. We later imbibed Koshy's character." "The major change we made was to give both characters a common journey," the 'Ala Vaikunthapuramu Loo' director said. Actress Samyuktha Menon, Producer Naga Vamsi, Ganesh Master, and others were present at the success meet along with Sagar K Chandra, Thaman, and Trivikram Srinivas.
Chandigarh, Feb 26 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday described the Centre's decision to tweak the appointment norms for members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) as "a frighteningly grave development fraught with serious consequences for Punjab".

In a statement here, Badal said: "The fact of the matter is that as per the law, precedents and the prevailing practices, the control of Satluj Beas headwork belongs exclusively to Punjab as a Riparian state. But first, they unconstitutionally took that control away from us and now they are shutting Punjab completely out of the BBMB." "This is the height of injustice against us. This is also another instance of the federal principle being outraged repeatedly by the governments at the Centre. We will fight it with all the might at our disposal." The Akali Dal president appealed to every Punjabi, including the political parties, to close ranks to fight for justice for the state.

He said the decision was yet another link in the long and painful chain of political, economic and religious discrimination against Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular. "Like every Punjabi, I have been shocked by the development. What was needed was to address the river waters question on the nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle. But what the Centre is doing is to continue their systematic exploitation against the Riparian state -- Punjab, to favour the non-Riparian Haryana and Rajasthan." He said the decision was certain to rub salt into the already festering wounds of the Punjabis and the farmers in particular.

The former Deputy Chief Minister said former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had challenged Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 in the Supreme Court. "There is no compromise on Punjab's and Akali stand on this. The Centre has no right to adjudicate on the river waters issues."
Mumbai, Feb 26 : The reality show 'Lock Upp' hosted by Kangana Ranaut, which was set to be aired from Sunday, has been put on hold by the City Civil Court of Hyderabad.

As a result, the show will not air on any form of electronic or social media.

After taking note of a video clip of the trailer of the show, the court issued an ad-interim injunction on releasing the upcoming show, saying that it bears resemblance to petitioner Sanober Baig's story and the script of the concept 'The Jail'.

The concept, which is owned by Pride Media through its proprietor Sanober Baig, was written by Shaantanu Ray and Sheershak Anand and is registered under the Copyright Act on March 7, 2018 and was also registered at the Film Writers Association.

The petition explains how the concept was developed and also lists the details of the money invested by him at various stages of concept development.

Commenting on the situation, Sanober said, "When I saw the promo of the said show, I was in shock. I have been in touch with Abhishek Rege from Endemol Shine for a long time and had several meetings about the subject in Hyderabad. He had promised that once the market gets better, we will get going." He further mentioned that the show is outrightly plagiarised, saying: "The show is not only similar to our concept, but it is an absolute copy of the same. I could not believe that somebody could plagiarise the concept to such an extent. We have prayed to the court for infringement of copyright and have got a stay order." If the legal representatives of the petitioner are successful in proving infringement, the defendant production house (Ekta Kapoor's AltBalaji) will be liable for consequences under Sections 51 and 52 of the Copyright Act.

It's not that Sanober directly knocked the court's door. It was only after the production house refused to have a dialogue with him that Sanober reached out to the court.

"I connected with the respective companies and requested them not to go ahead with the concept. But they turned a deaf ear and challenged that they have every right to stream as per the schedule," he said.

"I had no option but to seek redressal from the judiciary. The notice has been served to all the parties involved and we have the acknowledgement of the same. If the show gets aired, it'll be a contempt of the court. I have full faith in the judiciary and I am sure that justice will be served," Sanober signed off.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, citing Ukraine's Parliament members, said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has left Kiev and is currently in Lviv, Interfax reported.

"Zelensky has left Kiev in a hurry. He wasn't in the Ukrainian capital yesterday. He and his entourage have fled to the city of Lviv where a place of residence was organized for him and his aides," Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday, the report said.

This information was provided by members of the Ukraine Parliament who tried to meet Zelensky in Kiev, Volodin claimed.

"They were invited to Lviv for the meeting," he said.

The video from Kiev on Zelensky's social networks were recorded in advance, and Zelensky himself "is guarded by neo-Nazis", he said, Interfax reported.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video to social media on Saturday morning showing himself walking around the streets of Kiev after a night of artillery fire in different parts of the city, telling the nation "I'm here", Fox News reported.

Zelensky said in a short video address to Ukrainians, "We will defend our country," and said that there's a lot of false information online.

"Do not believe in fake information," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media after the sun came up in Kyiv on Saturday morning. "I am here. We will be defending our country, because our strength is in our truth." "We will be defending our country," the Ukrainian President added.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : As fighting has reached the streets of Ukraine's capital Kiev, the next 24 hours will be crucial, states a US-based think-tank.

The Institute for the Study of War said in its report released on February 25 said Russian forces have adopted four axes -- Belarus/Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donbas and Crimea-Kherson, to seize the country.

It states that Russia's military operation that began on February 24 was well thought of and it adopted brilliant strategy and executed in a well-coordinated manner.

Initially, the Russians carried out attacks in the Donbas region that consists of Donetsk and Luhansk. These are the two regions that the Vladimir Putin administration recognised as independent regions few days ago.

The Russian forces' strategy would have been to pin Ukrainian fighting soldiers in the east only and further advance through four axes -- Belarus/Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donbas and Crimea-Kherson.

Belarus/Kyiv On February 25, the Russian soldiers entered the outskirts of Kiev on the west bank of the Dnipro. Russian sabotage groups in civilian clothes are reportedly active in downtown Kiev.

They have not entered the city of Kiev so far. Ukrainian forces have successfully slowed Russian troops, which have temporarily abandoned the failed attempt to take the city of Chernihiv and are instead bypassing it.

Elements of the Russian 76th VDV (Airborne) division have concentrated in southeastern Belarus likely for use along the Chernihiv-bypass axis toward Kiev in the next 24 hours, the report stated.

Kharkhiv Kharkhiv will be seized in next few hours as the Russian forces are stationed outside the city with heavy armour equipment and tanks.

Donbas The forces intended to engage the Ukrainian troops in the east only. As per the reports, the Ukrainian had invested most of the strength in securing the Donbas region in the east.

Crimea-Kherson North of Crimea, Russian forces completely seized Kherson city and would capture Melitopol within hours in the east.

As per the reports, the advancing troops have assembled Belarus' Stolin, Belarus, to open a new line of advance against Rivne in western Ukraine.

Further, the report stated that the Russian forces have only engaged its land forces and limited air strikes.

Its naval infantry has been kept on standby to carry out any amphibious landings in the Odessa and the Azov sea, the Institute for the Study of War.
Chennai, Feb 26 : The cyber crime wing of the Tamil Nadu police arrested the Indian National League leader 'Tada' Rahim for derogatory posts on social media calling for protest of 'severing the sacred thread' in response to the Hijab row in Karnataka.

In his post on Sunday, the INL leader warned the right-wing organisations that "if they continue to disrupt the peace among Muslims, his party would resort to severing sacred thread".

He also posted on his social media page calling on people to participate in protests.

Veer Vasanthakumar of Hindu Mahasabha Trust filed a complaint with the Cyber police which lodged case against Rahim under Sections 153 (provocation to riot), 505 (2) (conducting public mischief), 505 (1)(c) (causing communal disharmony) of the IPC.

He was produced before the CCB court and remanded to judicial custody for 15 days.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : As Russian troops continue to move deeper into the Ukrainian territory, the small Indian community threatened by the crossfire finds itself virtually pushed to the wall.

Besides other uncertainties, Indian nationals in Ukraine face scarcity of food and other issues even as bombings in cities escalate.

Kharkiv is in the northeast of Ukraine, around 500 km east from capital Kiev. Among others, it is inhabited by about 100 Indian businessmen. They have been living in the city for the past two to three decades. Most of them are engaged in trading or have big grocery shops in the embattled city.

Dinesh Singh, a native of Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh, is one of them. He has been living in Kharkiv for the last 25 years. He along with his wife and 12-year-old son has moved into a bunker near his house. Two other Indian families have also taken shelter into the bunker like him.

Talking to IANS, Singh said, "We woke up with the sound of bombing on February 24 and were forced to take shelter in the nearby bunker. It is just 8x7 feet in size. Two other Indian families are also with us." He also said that bombing is continuing on the outskirts of Kharkiv since Saturday morning.

"The bunker is small for nine people and we often have to go upstairs to get a whiff of fresh air. The tiny shelter has only one bulb connection to illuminate the makeshift facility. We can't lie on the floor, so we are taking a nap only while sitting," he added.

Singh said that all shopping malls and grocery shops are closed now and they are left with ration that will sustain for a week or so.

"We will see what happens after a week (about ration and other essential supplies). There was a big queue at ATMs and long traffic jams on highways because many people are fleeing to the Romanian border to get refuge in the neighbouring country, as the war seems to be unrelenting," Singh said.

A motor spare parts trader, Singh stays in Street Geroev Pratsi in Kharkiv. The small residential enclave houses around 100 homes. Their inhabitants are now forced to take shelter in safer zones and spend the nights in bunkers.

Singh's wife Anita told IANS that the electricity supply has not been disrupted so far despite the bombings. She thinks this to be a big relief since the temperature hovers around two to three-degree Celsius in Kharkiv.

She does not seem to be scared and says that she would stay there only. Yet, she urged the Indian authorities to evacuate the stranded Indian students at earliest.

Singh further said that around five to six thousand medical students are studying in the Kharkiv National Medical College and as of now they are taking shelter in the basements of their hostels, bunkers near their private accommodations or at underground metro stations along with other Ukrainians.

According to him, about 100 Indian businessmen are living in Kharkiv who own shops in local malls, big grocery stores, pharmaceutical shops and other trading outlets.

The Indian community staying there feels that the situation will be eased by March 5 or 6 as the Ukrainian forces are still resisting amid heavy bombing by the Russian forces.

Singh and his wife, however, evaded questions about the political future that awaits Ukraine.

Sharing his experience, Singh said that at least two to four feet-long unexploded rockets can be seen stuck at little distances through the main streets of the city.

Yet, the Indian community in Ukraine seems to have adopted a wait and watch policy as its members hope that the result of this war may not affect their lives and businesses.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The UK has said the majority of Russian forces are about 18 miles or 30 km from the centre of Kiev, The Guardian reported.

In an intelligence update by the Ministry of Defence posted on Saturday morning, it said Russia had yet to gain control of airspace over Ukraine, reducing the effectiveness of the Russian air force.

It added: "Russian casualties are likely to be heavy and greater than anticipated or acknowledged by the Kremlin." Russia claims it has taken the southeastern city of Melitopol which was denied by the UK armed forces minister, James Heappey, who said he did not recognise the reports and said the Russian invasion plan was running "nowhere near" to schedule, The Guardian reported.

The UK government armed forces junior minister said Russia has failed to achieve its initial objectives -- and fighting outside Kiev was limited to Russian special forces units, The Guardian reported.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, James Heappey said that aims to take key Ukrainian cities had not been successful.

He added that the UK did not believe Russian claims that it had taken the south eastern city of Melitopol.

"The Ukrainian resistance to the Russian advance appears extraordinary. All of Russia's Day One objectives of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol, Sumy and even Melitopol, which the Russians are claiming to taken but we can't see anything on that, are still all in Ukrainian hands," The Guardian reported.

"The fighting on the outskirts of Kiev overnight, we understand to just be Russian spetsnaz special forces and pockets of paratroopers. The reality is the armoured columns coming down from Belarus and the north to encircle Kiev are still way off, because they have been held off by this incredible Ukrainian resistance," the report added.
YEREVAN, 26 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. Russia is not going to occupy Ukraine. The Russian side is interested in having an independent, including independent from foreign governments, prosperous neighbor which will represent the interests of all segments of Ukrainian society, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin said in an exclusive interview with ARMENPRESS.

Touching upon the fear that given the situation around Ukraine, Azerbaijan may use the opportunity to escalate the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Ambassador reminded that Russia values the relations with Armenia. According to him, it is important that the Armenian people feel safe, and the guarantor of that is the Armenian-Russian allied relations.

You know very well that we value the relations between the two countries, we see them as an important factor for maintaining security and peace in the region. Particulraly because it allows Russia to play a mediating role in resolving existing and emerging issues.

We use this factor in our active efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the settlement of border issues and the creation of conditions for the peaceful and secure development of the region. Naturally, it is very important that these efforts be strengthened by the political will of both sides, by their willingness to seek mutually acceptable solutions and agreements. We are actively working with Yerevan and Baku on this.

And, of course, it is important for us that Armenia and the Armenian people feel safe. It is guaranteed by our allied relations, the tendency of our countries to deepen and strengthen them, the Russian Ambassador said.

Answering the question of what impact can the western sanctions and declining Russian currency have on bilateral economic relations, Ambassador Kopirkin said, I want to emphasize that Russia does not recognize unilateral sanctions. We consider them illegal, contrary to the spirit and letter of international law, according to which only the UN Security Council can take coercive measures.

At the same time, the leadership of the Russian economic and financial system, soberly assessing the "rage of sanctions" in which many Western politicians are, took timely counter-measures. Stable banks, commercial-financial information exchange systems, active import substitution program. Much has been done over the years since our Western partners first thought that they could force us to relinquish our sovereign right to defend our national interests through sanctions. Let me just remind you that the package of sanctions recently adopted by Washington has become the 101st "post-jubilee". And a lot will be done in this direction.

The developed toolkit is also about the protection of trade and economic relations with our foreign partners, especially with those with whom we are united by common integration mechanisms. By the way, it is symbolic that the new stage of "sanctions rage" coincided with the regular successful session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Kazakhstan, in which, in particular, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mishustin announced a new integration project, the Eurasian AgroExpress, which aims to simplify and speed up logistics processes in the trade of agricultural products between the member states, said the Russian Ambassador.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : A court here, in a case related to 2020 Delhi riots, has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on six accused persons for a false statement related to their acknowledgment of the supply of copies of pen drives along with the charge sheet.

Hearing the case, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arun Kumar Garg, observed, "Copy of acknowledgment regarding supply of a copy of CCTV footage along with a copy of charge sheet has been placed on record by the Investigating Officer (IO) qua all the accused. Besides, it is submitted by him that he had supplied the fresh pen drives to the accused on 17 February 2022 also against the proper acknowledgment also." However, noting the false statement of the accused, who had informed the court that the IO has not supplied them the copies, the judge asked the accused persons--Firoz Khan, Iqbal, Zakhir, Shakir, Sirajuddin, and Anas to deposit the fine by the next hearing.

The IO was asked to furnish the acknowledgment of the supply of copies within two days, failing which, he shall deposit an adjournment cost of Rs. 10,000 in the court.

As many as 1,356 persons accused in the infamous northeast Delhi riots are still in judicial custody and the investigation is still underway in several cases, according to Delhi police.

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," according to Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

The riots broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020 after clashes between anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and pro-CAA protesters took a violent turn. The mayhem, which coincided with then US President Donald Trump's maiden trip to India, saw over 50 people lose their lives.
Bengaluru, Feb 26 : Karnataka Congress has given a "clarion call" to the people of the state to participate in the Mekedatu padayatra commencing on Sunday from Ramnagar district.

"Participate in the historical movement launched for the purpose of providing drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas and become a part of history," D.K. Shivakumar, State Congress President urged the people in a statement on Saturday.

The padayatra is also taken up to "save" farmers of the Cauvery river bank area. It was organized till Ramnagar from Mekedatu in the first leg and was cut short to respect the court's direction during Covid third wave. "We are commencing Mekedatu padayatra from where it was stopped," he said.

"The agitation is not political or confined to a political party. Congress has taken leadership in this regard. Resident Welfare Associations, labor organisations, NGOs, industries, film industry personalities, religious leaders and common man are taking part in the agitation," Shivakumar elaborated.

The padayatra will begin after worshipping goddess Chamundeshwari at 9 a.m. on Sunday, he said.

The protest march would reach Basavanagudi National College Grounds on March 3 and a massive convention would be organised there. The padayatra has been cut down from 5 days to 3 days due to the budget session, he added.

"It is like the freedom movement. One must fight for his rights of drinking water. Those who participate in the agitation would be given certificates," the Congress leader asserted.

B.K. Hariprasad, Opposition leader in Legislative Council, said, "there will be severe shortage of water in Bengaluru by 2050. Bengaluru is one of the fastest growing cities of the south Asia region." "Even after 7th phase of the Cauvery project, it is not possible to provide water for 7,000 apartments. Congress is always with people and take up Mekedatu agitation for people," he added.

The padayatra is being organised demanding immediate implementation of the Mekedatu project by the ruling BJP. Neighboring Tamil Nadu is objecting to the project.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The cyber war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified, with Russia using a new destructive malware to permanently destroy data on systems belonging to Ukrainian organisations.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to hacking groups increasing their activities globally. While Russia-backed hackers have already hit several Ukrainian government websites and banks, a leading hacking group, Anonymous, has declared itself aligned with "Western allies", targeting operations in Russia.

"The Anonymous collective is officially in cyber war against the Russian government," the group tweeted.

According to the IBM Security X-Force team, they have obtained a sample of the new and destructive 'HermeticWiper' malware being deleted on Ukrainian systems.

"HermeticWIper is the second newly-seen destructive malware family observed in the past two months targeting organisations in Ukraine, and reportedly other countries in eastern Europe," they said in a statement.

"Destructive cyber-attacks will likely continue to be leveraged against civilian targets in support of hybrid operations. In addition, X-Force believes it is likely that cyber-attacks will continue to escalate and expand in parallel with the scope of the ongoing conflict," the IBM team noted.

Meanwhile, Anonymous claimed it has "leaked the database of the Russian Ministry of Defense website".

The hacker group tweeted on Friday that it has access to "all private data of the Russian MOD." (The tweet was subsequently taken down because it "violated the Twitter Rules") Conti, a state-sponsored group operating out of Russia, came out in support of Vladimir Putin's actions.

Conti posted a message on its site on the Dark Web, saying that "the Conti Team is officially announcing full support for Russian government".

"If anybody will decide to organise a cyberattack or any war activities against Russia, we are going to use our all possible resources to strike back at the critical infrastructures of an enemy," the message said, according to reports.

Belarusian state-sponsored hackers are also targeting the private email addresses of Ukrainian military personnel amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UA) said in a Facebook post that a mass phishing campaign is targeting the private accounts belonging to Ukrainian military personnel.

The Minsk-based group called 'UNC1151' has been found to be behind these activities. Its members are officers of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Belarus.

Reports surfaced that after attacking Ukrainian government websites and banks with massive cyber-attacks, Russia-sponsored hackers are now hitting the internet infrastructure in the country to silence the locals amid a full-blown war.

The cyber invasion already cut internet connectivity in some parts of the country after the invasion began on Thursday.

Russia had previously been linked to DDoS attacks against Ukrainian government sites but a full blackout would mean to disable telecommunications infrastructure at the network level, and silencing Ukrainians in the process.

At least two other hacker groups have announced that they are supporting Russia: The Red Bandits and CoomingProject.

With Russia going to war against Ukraine, hackers linked to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security called MuddyWater went active, exploiting bugs to conduct cyber espionage and other malicious attacks against organisations globally including in Asia, the US and the UK, cyber and law authorities warned.

"It is conducting cyber espionage and other malicious cyber operations targeting a range of government and private-sector organisations across sectors -- including telecommunication, defence, local government, and oil and natural gas -- in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America," the agencies said in a statement.

MuddyWater is a subordinate element within the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Bhubaneswar, Feb 26 : The Odisha government has issued guidelines for celebration of the Mahashivratri festival, falling on March 1, with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

Issuing an order for this purpose, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena said the devotees in these places must follow Covid-19 safety protocols such as wearing of face masks, physical distancing and hand washing/hand sanitizer.

There is a continuous decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state and the number of active cases has also decreased. However, a large number of devotees are likely to congregate at various Shiva temples on the festival of Mahasivaratri, which have large potential for spread of Covid-19 infections, Jena said.

Considering local conditions, the collectors, municipal commissioners and police commissioner (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack) can impose appropriate restrictions on entry of devotees into the temples, the SRC said.

Further, mela/congregations outside/ within the temple premises may be restricted so as to avoid mass gatherings/ crowding, the SRC said.

The local authorities have been authorized to decide the number of persons to attend any religious ritual in their respective jurisdictions with strict adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour and norms.

As per schedule fixed at a meeting between servitors and Lingaraj temple's executive officer, Mahadeep will be raised atop the Lord Lingaraj temple here at 10 p.m. on Maha Shivratri.

On Saturday, Odisha recorded 293 fresh Covid-19 cases, which is the lowest this year.

The state had registered 228 cases on December 31.

With the death of another four persons due to Covid-19 in Odisha, the total death cases rose to 9,056.

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New Delhi : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, ideal public administration must be competitive, efficient, cost effective and accountable to deliver good governance on Saturday. (Photo : PIB/ IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, ideal public administration must be competitive, efficient, cost effective and accountable to deliver good governance on Saturday. (Photo : PIB/ IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 26 : Stating that 'CSIR Jigyasa' has emerged as a flagship outreach programme of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with a large connects to the school students, Minster for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the programme has benefited 4 lakh students across the country.

"Not only have the students physically visited CSIR labs but also interacted with the scientists, even during the pandemic. Students could connect to scientists and engage scientifically through webinars. I am happy to note that CSIR Jigyasa programme being implemented from 2017 has benefitted more than 4 lakh students across the country," Singh said as he announced the CSIR awards.

Singh expressed satisfaction that CSIR Jigyasa Vigyan Mahotsav 2022, launched on January 3, had reached out to more than 20,000 students through Bootcamps across the country.

Seven Bootcamps with futuristic themes in areas like Energy, Health, Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Water Conservation, Disaster Mitigation and Agro-technology were organised, wherein science experts could communicate to students on some contemporary issues that need greater awareness and S&T based solutions.

Prizes of Rs one lakh each were awarded to three students for the CSIR National Level Scientific Creativity Competition conducted in Hindi and English Medium.

Apart from these three winners, Mohammed Hisam, Shruti Nimbali and Sanchi Bansal, there were 75 other winners from across the country chosen for other awards at the 'CSIR Jigyasa Vigyan Mahotsav 2022' to celebrate India's 75 years of Independence as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

Director General, CSIR, Shekhar C. Mande said the CSIR labs executed the event by developing strong partnership and engagement with IIT Bombay, My Gov, Kendriya Vidyalays, Navodaya Vidyalays and Atal Innovation Mission, Ministry of Human Resources (MHRD) and others.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Delhi Police on Saturday said it has nabbed three persons, including two minors, for stabbing a man in the national capital over personal enmity.

The accused, identified as Ankush, a resident of Delhi's Sultanpuri, was arrested while two other minors were apprehended.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Gaurav Sharma said a complaint was received on February 24 by a man that his brother was stabbed by three people while he was returning from his work.

"The complainant Mohd Zaka filed a complaint at Kishangarh police station stating that the incident took place at about 06:15 p.m. when his brother Mohd Rustam was coming back from his duty and reached Murge Wali Dukan near Outer Ring Jhuggi, Motilal Nehru Camp in Munirka," the DCP said.

After the incident, Zaka along with his friend Shahrukh immediately took his brother to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment.

The complainant told police the three people had previous enmity with his brother. "They intercepted him, quarrelled with him, stabbed him with a knife and fled away," the complainant told police.

Based on the complaint, the police registered an FIR under sections 341, 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at the Kishangarh police station and an investigation was taken up.

The police constituted a team which conducted local enquiries and obtained call detail records of the accused.

"Based on technical inputs, their location was ascertained at Sultanpuri in Delhi," said Sharma.

Accordingly, the police team conducted a raid at the specified location and apprehended all the three accused. The weapon used in commission of crime was also recovered from their possession, the official added.
Amaravati, Feb 26 : With India's moves to evacuate stranded Indians from Ukraine gaining pace, the Andhra Pradesh government is putting up facilities to help people from the state on their arrival to the country.

Principal Secretary and State Level Task Force Committee Chairperson M.T. Krishna Babu said Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed to set up reception centres at Mumbai and New Delhi airports to receive and assist the students returning from Ukraine and bring them back to their native places.

Speaking to media here on Saturday, Krishna Babu said the state government has created a master list with details of students in Ukraine gathered from various helpline numbers and APNRT data and shared it with Indian Embassy and Ministry of External Affairs.

He said two flights are coming from Bucharest, of which one would land in New Delhi and the other in Mumbai. He added that the Ministry of External Affairs has communicated that 22 Telugu students are being flown back in the two flights but of them three belong to the state.

He said the Mumbai flight will reach by 6 p.m. on Saturday and Delhi flight at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Separate teams have been formed to receive them, Krishna Babu said.

Rama Krishna, Inspector General, Registrations has been assigned to receive students in Mumbai airport and Principal Resident Commissioner Praveen Prakash and Addl. Resident Commissioner Himanshu Kaushik will receive the students at New Delhi.

Arrangements are made for the evacuees' accommodation and travel to their native places free of cost by the state government.

Krishna Babu said they have shared the Ministry of External Affairs' latest advisory to the people in Ukraine and advised to follow the same.
Escape from Ukraine: Ghar Wapsi' for 219 Indians by AI flight to Mumbai Image Source: IANS News

Escape from Ukraine: Ghar Wapsi' for 219 Indians by AI flight to Mumbai Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Feb 26 : Answering the prayers of hundreds of their anxious relatives, 219 Indians, mostly students and a majority of them girls, finally landed here by Air India's first evacuation flight from Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday evening, officials said.

The AI-194 special service with the passengers -- largely Indian students studying in various universities in Ukraine -- landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at around 8 pm, sending waves of relief among their near and dear ones keeping vigil outside the airport.

Expressions of joy, easing of intense stress, weary smiles or controlled tears of happiness were visible among the evacuees, some of whom managed to speak with their waiting kin outside on video-calls.

At the CSMIA, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and other officials received, welcomed and comforted the evacuees, as they trooped out of the arrival lounge.

In the past few days, many of them had sent desperate SOS for help through social media, seeking return to their parents and motherland.

This is the first batch of evacuees arriving from the war-hit Ukraine, and several more airlifting operations are expected in the next few days.

An estimated 1,200 students from Maharashtra, besides some who had gone for business or tourism purposes, are stranded in Ukraine, as their concerned families await news from them.

Goyal said that more flights will be operated over the next few days and will not stop till all Indians are airlifted from there safely.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minster of External Affairs S. Jaishankar and other officials are continuously monitoring the situation and will render all help to those stranded in the war-hit country.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the state officials to coordinate with the Centre for the evacuation process and extend all possible help to the evacuees.

State Congress President Nana Patole and Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar said the state government has managed to contact over 350 of the stranded persons from Maharashtra.

State minister Uday Samant wrote to the Centre three days ago seeking urgent assistance for evacuating the stranded people including those from Maharashtra.

Over two-dozen students are from Mumbai, plus others from Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur and different districts or cities.

The CSMIA was fully geared to handle the evacuees reaching here by AI-1944 with a special corridor and all necessary facilities.

As per Centre's guidelines, all the students shall undergo a mandatory temperature check and will be required to produce a Covid-19 vaccination certification or a negative RTPCR report on landing.

In case they are unable to show these documents, they will be made to undergo an RTPCR test, at the airport, free of cost, and permitted to leave only if they test negative.

For those testing positive, they shall be clinically managed as per the government protocols, including quarantine or treatment.

The CSMIA has also fenced a special area at the airport for them to sit, giving them free WiFi access, food, water and medical assistance if required.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Dharamsala, Feb 26 : A fighting knock from Pathum Nissanka (75 off 53) and an attacking cameo by Dasun Shanaka (47 not out off 19) propelled Sri Lanka to 183-5 against India in the second T20I of the three-match series, at the picturesque HPCA Stadium, here on Saturday.

Apart from Nissanka and Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilaka also played a vital knock (38 off 29) for the visitors.

Put in to bat first, openers Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka gave Sri Lanka a slow start. India's new-ball bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah got plenty of swing and with their disciplined length and line, they tested Sri Lanka's batters.

After bowling two overs each of Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah in tandem, skipper Rohit Sharma introduced Harshal Patel into the attack in the 5th over and both Gunathilaka and Nissanka picked boundaries while stepping out of the crease. Yuzvendra Chahal then conceded seven runs off his first over as Sri Lanka managed to post 32 runs in the powerplay without any wicket.

After the first six overs, the Sri Lanka batters grew in confidence, especially against the spinners and rotated the strike well. They also picked a few occasional boundaries as well and completed their 50-run opening partnership in the 8th over.

It was Ravindra Jadeja, who gave India their first wicket in the 9th over. After conceding 16 runs off the first three deliveries, Jadeja dismissed Gunathilaka in the fourth ball of the over. The left-hander attempted to loft a fullish delivery over mid-wicket but found a top-edge and Venkatesh Iyer took a good catch near long-on.

Charith Asalanka, who came to bat next, couldn't do much and was dismissed by Chahal for two runs. The batter was trapped in front of the wicket while trying to play a sweep. Harshal Patel with his slower one then got rid of Kamil Mishara (1), leaving Sri Lanka at 76-3 after 10.6 overs.

Despite the flurry of wickets at the other end, opener Nissanka remained undeterred and continued to play his shots, picking 12 runs in the 13th over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He had a brief partnership of 26 runs with Dinesh Chandimal for the fourth wicket, before the latter was dismissed by Bumrah, leaving the visitors at 102-4 after 14.4 overs.

With around five overs to go, Nissanka was running out of partners and needed support from his captain Dasun Shanaka, who came in to bat. Soon, Nissanka completed his fifty in style, hitting Chahal for a boundary towards cover. Thereafter, skipper Shanaka also showed his batting skills by smashing Harshal for two sixes in his over and overall taking 19 runs off the over along with Nissanka.

Bumrah who bowled the next over also conceded 14 runs as Nissanka cleverly capitalised on the full tosses bowled by the pacer and brought his 50 runs stand with Shanaka in merely 22 deliveries. In the last delivery of the 19th over, Bhuvneshwar finally dismissed Nissanka (75), who tried to play a reverse slap was trapped in front of the wicket.

However, it didn't affect Sri Lanka's run flow as Shanaka smashed Harshal for 23 runs in the last over. The Sri Lankan skipper overall slammed five sixes during his unbeaten 47 off 19 balls and took Sri Lanka to 183/5 in 20 overs.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 183-5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 75, Dasun Shanaka 47 not out; Jasprit Bumrah 1/24) vs India
Mumbai, Feb. Feb 26 : Closed for nearly two years owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) raised the curtains again to the public, with the Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, L. Murugan, paying a visit, here on Saturday.

Murugan went around the museum, spread across two buildings, the Gulshan Mahal and a new building at Pedder Road in south Mumbai, and was given an overview by the Director-General of Films Division, Ravindra Bhakar.

During the long closure, the NMIC also underwent comprehensive restoration work before it threw the doors open for the public from Saturday.

The development comes ahead of the 17th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) starting in May at the NMIC's state-of-the-art auditoriums.

The one of its kind in India, the NMIC was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2019.

The heritage Gulshan Mahal with more than eight exhibit halls trace the origins and history of Indian cinema, from the silent, black-and-white to the new era, while the new building houses interactive displays, including children's cinema, and Gandhi & Cinema sections.

Among the highlights on display are film properties, a hand-cranked camera used by the Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind alias Dadasaheb Phalke, vintage film equipment, posters, copies of major films, leaflets, sound tracks, trailers, film transparencies, old cinema literature, film making and distribution statistics, in a systematic chronological manner to trace the history of film-making in the country.

On display is the historic first film show by the Lumiere Brothers in Mumbai in 1896, a huge collection of artefacts including the armour donned by Sivaji Ganesan in the film "Veerapandiya Kattabomman" (1959) and the red coat worn by M.G. Ramachandran in "Adimai Penn" (1969), among many others.

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YEREVAN, 26 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The US State Department advises its citizens to leave Belarus immediately, ARMENPRESS reports the US Embassy in Minsk said in a statement.

"The State Department advises US citizens not to travel to Belarus and urges US citizens in Belarus to leave the country immediately," the embassy said.

It is noted that the country can be departed from the Minsk airport in certain international destinations, the land borders with Lithuania, Latvia, Poland are open, they work as usual.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Ukraine's Ministry of Defence is asking people to remove the names of streets, cities and villages from the road signs in their regions, Sky News reported.

They say this is to "confuse and disorient the enemy".

"In order to confuse and disorient the enemy who is illegally moving to Ukraine, we call: - to remove plaques with numbers and names of streets/cities/villages in their regions," the Ministry of Defence wrote on Twitter.

"We will do everything possible to clear Ukraine of the Russian occupier as soon as possible!" Russia has lost 14 planes, 8 helicopters, 102 tanks, 536 BBM, 15 heavy machine guns, and 1 BUK missile since February 24, according to Ukraine's military.

The Kremlin also lost over 3,500 soldiers, Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Saturday. Nearly 200 service members have been kept hostage, Kiev Independent reported.

Russia has begun redeploying reserve units in the areas bordering Ukraine and continues to carry out airstrikes on airfields, military depots, and civilians.

Airstrikes target Sumy, Poltava, Mariupol, and Kyiv which saw heavy fighting overnight. Russia launched naval-based cruise missiles across Ukraine from the Black Sea. Russia's aviation is launched from Belarus and occupied Crimea.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Russias military operation in Ukraine has resumed after the countrys leadership declined to negotiate, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, RT reported.

President Vladimir Putin previously ordered the Russian troops to halt their advance on Friday, awaiting a response from Kiev, Moscow said. It added that the offensive continued on Saturday, RT reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he was ready to sit down for talks with Russia in order to end hostilities between the countries.

The same day, Peskov told reporters that Moscow was ready to hold talks in Minsk, Belarus. He later claimed that the Ukrainian side first offered to move the meeting to Warsaw, Poland, and then stopped responding.

Russia began its military operation in Ukraine on early Thursday morning. Announcing the move, Putin rolled out a long list of grievances regarding the state of Russian-Ukrainian relations, which went downhill after the 2014 coup it Kiev. The Russian leader said Moscow aims to defend the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as to carry out "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine.

Putin previously said that Ukraine must never join NATO, whose military infrastructure Moscow sees as a threat.

There have been reports of shelling and firefights in Kiev and elsewhere in Ukraine on Saturday morning. Both sides have accused each other of killing civilians, RT reported.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The conflict between Russia and Ukraine "will last", so France is bracing for the economic impact -- thats the conclusion French President Emmanuel Macron made on Saturday, RT reported.

"War has returned to Europe," he said while speaking at an agricultural show. "In a certain way there will be consequences in our exports for the major sectors." Macron also said the French defence council will gather on Saturday afternoon to discuss the situation in Ukraine, RT reported.

After Russia began its operation to "demilitarise" Ukraine earlier this week, France was among the countries that condemned the move -- while saying that the path for dialogue with Moscow should be "left open." Macron called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday at the request of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, and according to the Kremlin, had a "serious and frank exchange of views" with his Russian counterpart.

Zelensky himself tweeted on Saturday that he had spoken to the French president and that "weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine."
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Russia has lost 14 planes, 8 helicopters, 102 tanks, 536 BBM, 15 heavy machine guns, and 1 BUK missile since February 24, according to Ukraines military.

The Kremlin also lost over 3,500 soldiers, Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Saturday. Nearly 200 service members have been kept hostage, Kyiv Independent reported.

Russia has begun redeploying reserve units in the areas bordering Ukraine and continues to carry out airstrikes on airfields, military depots, and civilians. Airstrikes target Sumy, Poltava, Mariupol, and Kyiv which saw heavy fighting overnight. Russia launched naval-based cruise missiles across Ukraine from the Black Sea. Russia's aviation is launched from Belarus and occupied Crimea.

Battalions of the 35th All-Military Army of the Eastern Military District are based in Mozyr, and can be used to strike targets on the territory of Ukraine. Dozens of tanks are located in the area of Shumske and BM-21 Grad rocket launchers were put up in the area of Kosivshchyna, Sumy Oblast, according to a report by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

With its aircraft, Russia targeted Yuzhna, Odesa Oblast, the Ozerne airfield and civil infrastructure near and in Kyiv. Russia also used tanks and military vehicles in a failed attempt to breach Kyiv's defences, the report said.

Ukrainian military stopped Russia's offensive in Kharkiv Oblast where fighting is ongoing. Urban warfare is still being fought in Okhtyrka, Sumy Oblast. On the coast, Ukraine's Naval Forces mined accessible landing sites.

Ukraine's air defence systems have successfully repelled air assaults by enemy jets, the military said. Aside from the Russian Il-76 military transport plane shot down south of Kyiv, Ukraine's air force continues to inflict fire damage on the enemy manpower and military equipment in Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Kherson oblasts, Kyiv Independent reported.

A combined force is conducting a defensive operation and holding positions along the entire line of demarcation.

"We will defend our country," said President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is leading Ukraine's defenses in Kyiv.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Saturday called for SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to "provide Ukraine with Starlink stations" and use his public platform to encourage "sane Russians" to oppose their government, RT reported.

"While you try to colonize Mars -- Russia try to occupy Ukraine!" Fedorov wrote in a tweet to Musk. "While your rockets successfully land from space -- Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people!" "We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand," Fedorov's message concluded, the report said.

Musk's Starlink project is an ambitious attempt to install a grid of satellites in the Earth's orbit to provide internet access across the globe. SpaceX has thus far put more than 1,700 Starlink satellites into orbit, and the company plans on launching more than 40,000 in total, RT reported.

However, while these satellites pass over Ukraine, there are no ground stations in the country to make use of the network. The nearest ground station is located in the Polish village of Wola Krobowska.

With Russia's offensive in Ukraine ongoing and fighting reaching the outskirts of Kiev, Fedorov has called on the tech industry to get involved in the conflict. In a post to Facebook earlier on Saturday, he revealed that he had "asked YouTube to block the Russian propaganda media," and asked Meta and Netflix to withhold their services from Russia.

Fedorov also called on Apple CEO Tim Cook to block access to the App Store from Russia, RT reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said that he has spoken to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Russia's aggression and sought "political support" at the United Nations Security Council (UNGC).

He revealed speaking to Modi soon after after Russia praised India's decision to abstain from a vote at the United Nations to condemn its invasion.

He said that he spoke with Prime Minister Modi and informed about Ukraine repulsing Russia's aggression.

Zelensky tweeted: "More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings." He urged India to provide political support in the UNSC, saying: "Stop the aggressor together!"

India's ministry of External Affairs tweeted: "President Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the ongoing conflict situation in Ukraine." Modi expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict. He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way possible towards peace efforts.

The Prime Minister also conveyed India's deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, who ae stranded in Ukraine. Modi sought facilitation by the Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate Indian citizens India had abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution that deplored in the strongest terms Russia's aggression against Ukraine, saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes.

The Russian Embassy in India said in a tweet on Saturday, "Highly appreciate India's independent and balanced position at the voting in the UNSC on February 25, 2022." It further stated, "In the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership Russia is committed to maintain close dialogue with India on the situation around Ukraine." The UNSC voted on the draft resolution presented by the US and Albania, and co-sponsored by several other nations, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

While Russia, which chaired the meeting of the UNSC since it holds the presidency for the month of February, vetoed the resolution, China and the UAE abstained along with India.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Russia on Saturday 'treasured India's independent position during voting on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine and committed to dialogue with Delhi over the crisis.

India had abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution that deplored in the strongest terms Russia's aggression against Ukraine, saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes.

The Russian Embassy in India said in a tweet on Saturday, "Highly appreciate India's independent and balanced position at the voting in the UNSC on February 25, 2022." It further stated, "In the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership Russia is committed to maintain close dialogue with India on the situation around Ukraine." The UNSC voted on the draft resolution presented by the US and Albania, and co-sponsored by several other nations, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

While Russia, which chaired the meeting of the UNSC since it holds the presidency for the month of February, vetoed the resolution, China and the UAE abstained along with India.

In a statement, T.S. Tirumurti, India's permanent representative to the UN, said: "Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment." He added, "It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this resolution."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 : As part of a cost-saving and eco-friendly project to support the fishing community, a scheme to convert fuel-run fishing boats into LPG-driven vessels has been launched as part of the inclusive socio-economic development project 'Parivarthanam, an initiative of Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC) and the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT).

Minister for Fisheries Saji Cheriyan reviewed the trial use of LPG in fishing boats at Vizhinjam near here.

The trials showed that fuel cost could be saved by 50 to 55 per cent by using LPG as an alternative fuel in fishing boats.

The trial was conducted in association with the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), which has developed a specially-designed cylinder customised for using in fishing boats.

Emphasising the need to introduce cost-effective and sustainable practices in the fishery sector, Cheriyan said the trial run of LPG-fuelled boats in traditional fishing would help the fisherfolk save fuel cost considerably.

"Fishermen face a host of issues like high fuel cost and lack of adequate catch due to depletion of marine resources. The shift from fuels like kerosene and petrol to LPG in traditional fishing boats will bring down the steadily increasing operational cost borne by the fishermen," said the minister.

After reviewing the trial, Cheriyan suggested to the HPCL officials that the speed of boats could be improved and more fishermen be included in the next round of trials.

M.P. Retheesh Kumar of HPCL Mumbai explained to the minister the salient features of the LPG kit.

The Research and Development (R&D) Centre of HPCL, in collaboration with Pune-based Vanaz Engineers Limited, has developed the customised LPG kit exclusively for LPG-powered outboard engines.

According to Roy Nagendran, CEO, Parivarthanam, who supervised the trial, apart from financial benefits, the use of LPG in boats will substantially reduce environmental pollution.

Nagendran said a boat powered by 10 HP engine normally requires six to 10 litres of kerosene for one-hour operation.

"The wastage of a fuel like kerosene is also high as around 20 per cent of it flows out into the sea. A 2.5 kg LPG kit is enough for one-hour operation of a boat. When compared to the cost of fossil fuels, fishermen will benefit substantially from the shift. Moreover, more than one engine can be connected to a single LPG kit," said Nagendran.

The Out-Board Motor (OBM) using kerosene/petrol can be easily converted into an eco-friendly and cost-effective fuel. The LPG conversion kit can be connected to the boat without making any major changes to it.

Fishermen can utilise the existing engines to attach the conversion kit without incurring any extra costs.

The Parivarthanam project also aims to promote green energy and technologies to sustain traditional fishery activities. The endeavours include promoting rooftop solar panels, electrification of engines and conversion to CNG mode.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Tata Group-led Air India's flight from Bucharest, Romania which is bringing back stranded Indians will arrive back to New Delhi on Sunday morning.

Accordingly, the flight from Bucharest took off with 250 Indian nationals. It is estimated to arrive at IGIA around 3 a.m., on Sunday morning.

Besides, Hungary's Budapest to Delhi flight is expected to land at IGIA around 8.30 a.m.

On Saturday, AI's Bucharest to Mumbai flight with 219 passengers landed back at 7.50 p.m.

The airline on late Friday night said it will mount direct flights to Romania and Hungary to bring back stranded Indians, who managed to find their way out of the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

Notably, Romania and Hungary share land border with Ukraine.

Many Indian nationals including students have made their way into these countries from Ukraine.

Accordingly, Air India operated two flights, one each from Delhi and Mumbai to Bucharest and Budapest as special government charter flights.

These flights have been mounted on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which have capacity of 254 passengers per plane.

"Air India has always been playing a pivotal role, standing by the nation during any crisis and now, inspired by the common mission shared by the Tata group and AI of serving the nation and its people first," the airline had said on Friday late night.

"Our employees are only too eager to respond to the call of our nation, driven by our values and conviction that if we do not do it then who will?" Earlier Air India was operating direct special flights to Kiev but it had to stop these operations due to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued over the closure of Ukrainian air space.

In fact, one of Air India's flight bound for Kiev from New Delhi returned to the national capital's IGI Airport after NOTAM was announced at Kiev airport on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the airline had carried out the first of its special flight operations 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 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.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The national capital on Saturday reported marginal decline in the number of new Covid cases as it recorded 440 fresh infections against 460 cases on the previous day.

The fresh Covid infection has pushed the tally to 18,59,054 in the city.

In the last 24 hours, two Covid deaths have also been reported, climbing the death toll at 26,119 in the city, said the Health bulletin on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, the Covid infection rate in the city stands at 0.83 per cent. The active Covid cases have also reduced to 2,063 as per the Delhi Health Department.

With Covid recovery rate continuing at 98.48 per cent, the Covid death rate in capital city stands at 1.41 per cent. The active Covid case rate has reduced to 0.11 per cent in the capital city.

With 460 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 18,30,872.

A total of 1,488 Covid patients are being treated in home isolation at present.

The number of Covid containment zones has also declined to 5,049 in the city.

Meanwhile, a total of 53,173 new tests -- 43,441 RT-PCR and 9,732 Rapid Antigen -- were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,62,92,600.

Out of 50,729 vaccines administered in the last 24 hours, 6,089 were first doses and 42,474 second doses.

Meanwhile, 2,166 precautions doses were also administered in last 24 hours.

The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,12,84,260 according to the health bulletin.
YEREVAN, 26 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia denies the information spread on social networks about the alleged participation of a serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces in Ukraine, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahan Hunanyan wrote on his Twitter page.

"The information about the alleged participation of a serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces in Ukraine is completely misinformation," Hunanyan wrote.

The Telegram channels reported that an Armenian soldier was allegedly taking part in operations against Ukraine in Kharkov.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has hit back at allegations that his government intends to detonate a dirty bomb on Russian territory, BBC reported.

Dirty bombs are devices that combine conventional explosives with radioactive material and are designed to kill thousands of people instantly.

Russian state TV has also been discussing the prospect in recent days and at Friday night's UN Security Council meeting Russia's ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told delegates: "We do not want Ukraine to develop a 'dirty bomb'," BBC reported.

In a tweet, Kuleba ridiculed the suggestion, saying: "Russian propaganda has gone off the rails." "Russian propaganda has gone off the rails and speculates Ukraine might be preparing to drop a 'dirty bomb' on the Russian territory. This is a sick fake. Ukraine doesn't have nuclear weapons, doesn't conduct any work to create/acquire them. We are a responsible member of the NPT," Kuleba said.

Ukraine remains the only country in history to voluntarily give up its nuclear weapons. It surrendered an arsenal of around 5,000 missiles and bombs in 1994 in exchange for security guarantees from Russia and the West, the report said.
New Delhi, Feb 26 : The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Saturday expressed deep concern at the continued police repression against farmers in Birbhum in West Bengal and Dhinkia in Odisha, who, they said were protesting the land acquisition for coal mining and industry, respectively, without due process.

The Morcha also expressed anguish as large number of farmers continued to languish in West Bengal jails.

When the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a consortium of farmers that had agitated for more than a year to successfully repeal the three farm laws last year, had come out in support of the farmers in West Bengal, condemning the police repression in Deocha-Panchami-Harinsingha-Dewanganj area of Birbhum district, it was followed by the West Bengal Chief Minister on February 23 announcing that the farmers and cattle & small ruminant keepers shall not be ousted from their farm and pasture lands and they will receive land-for-land.

"However, so far, details of the land-for-land announcement are not available in the public domain. If local farmers accept this proposal through a process clearly laid down in the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, it can pave the way for resolution," the SKM said in a statement.

"The SKM is deeply concerned that activists and local farmers arrested by the police on February 20-21 for holding democratic and peaceful protests continue to languish in jail due to non-production of documents in court by the district police," it said and condemned the high-handedness of the police and urged the West Bengal Chief Minister to personally direct the administration to set free the arrested persons and withdraw all cases against them.

The SKM also said it shall soon send a Fact Finding Team to West Bengal under the Chairmanship of Medha Patkar.

Meanwhile, the SKM said, it also condemns the continuous presence of the Odisha police in Dhinkia and its surrounding villages in the Jagatsinghpur district since December 4, 2021.

"The Odisha government has given a free hand to the district administration and the police are responsible for mindless police violence as witnessed in many incidents, the worst being the brutal lathi-charge of January 14. Over 200 people were injured, mostly women and girls. Many people have been arrested and many others remain in hiding as the police set up its camp inside the village," the SKM claimed.

"This continuing state of siege of the villages for the coercive acquisition of land for the state sponsored project of JSW Utkal Steel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel, is in violation of laws and due processes related to forest rights and land acquisition. The MoU between JSW and the Odisha government, if it has been signed, is not available to the general public," it alleged.

On February 16, the Odisha High Court had formed a five-member committee to visit the village of Dhinkia and assess the current situation, especially after the police crackdown of January 16. It visited the village on February 19 when the villagers that had gathered to give their deposition were attacked by miscreants and four people sustained serious injuries.

"This happened in front of the High Court Committee members. There was no protection provided by the police that only watched," the SKM statement claimed.
New Delhi, Feb 27 : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a three-member committee headed by the District Magistrate to inspect alleged violations by quarry operators in Thampuran Para mountains in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala.

The NGT bench headed by its chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel was dealing with a plea against VKL Infrastructure Facilities and VKL Projects, operating in violation of environmental norms, and an earlier order of District Collector which prohibited any type of mining and allied activities within a 200-metre radius of Thampuran Para and Thampuratty Para.

The plea contended that the quarry activities were done in government land. Though surveying is done, no final decision is seen taken on this by the Revenue Department, it alleged.

Further, the applicant, Benny Sebastian, pointed out that there are houses down the slope. The aerial distances to these houses were not considered while granting environmental clearance and allied permits. Fly rocks are a problem to these houses, the plea said.

There is no linkage of the project with the KOMPAS Portal of the Mining and Geology Department. It is also stated that the environmental clearance was erroneously granted by bifurcating one plot into two, the plea stated.

The petitioner stated that he had lodged a complaint that was directed by the Kerala High Court to be considered in an earlier order. District senior geologist vide order dated December 29, 2020, suspended the quarry temporarily but the said order was stayed by the appellate authority in the government.

Following the submissions, the bench in an order passed on February 24, said, "We consider it necessary to require a joint committee comprising SEIAA, Kerala, Kerala State PCB, and District Magistrate, Thiruvananthapuram, to undertake a visit to the site, verify the compliance status and file a factual and action taken report within two months." Further hearing in the matter will be held on July 8.
New Delhi, Feb 27 : India's spices industry should try to double the sector's exports to $10 billion in the next five years, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal said on Saturday.

India's spices exports have increased by 115 per cent in volume and 84 per cent in value (USD) between 2014-21, reaching a historic high of $4.2 billion in 2020-21.

Addressing an event to mark the 35th anniversary of the Spices Board through virtual mode, the Union Minister said, "We now aspire to meet our ambitious target for spices export of $10 billion not by 2030, but maybe even faster." "Can we aspire to reach it in the next five years? I think we can! Let us aspire to double our exports to $10 billion in the next five years by 2027 and then further double our exports by $10 billion in the next five years," Goyal added.

At present, India's spices and spices-based products are reaching more than 180 destinations all over the world, he said.

Besides, Goyal added that though India is a leader in global spices, the sector is facing challenges too.

"When it comes to export of spices in raw form, we do not currently enjoy cost advantage against many countries in Asia and Africa regions, which means we should focus on increasing the export of value-added spices products," he said.

"We also face challenges in preparing our production system and manufacturing systems to meet the stringent quality and food safety standards." Goyal urged the Spices Board to expand the reach of quality testing laboratory network to all regions in India.

"The Board's quality evaluation laboratory network provides analytical services to exporters and other stakeholders across the major ports of India." At present, state-of-the-art labs are functioning under the Board from eight locations such as Kochi in Kerala, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Tuticorin and Chennai in Tamil Nadu, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Kandla in Gujarat, Narela near New Delhi and Kolkata in West Bengal.

In addition, the Union Minister appealed to the spices industry to obtain the GI tag for their distinct products.

"Twenty-six Indian spices have received the GI tag like Coorg Green Cardamom, Mizo Ginger, Kanniyakumari Cloves etc. We should capture more such possibilities for traditional Indian produce," he said.
Beregsurany : , Feb 27 (IANS) Hungarian Prime Minister (PM) Viktor Orban checked a border station with Ukraine in east Hungary and consulted with local authorities and border guards in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"The war is next door, so we have to be very disciplined," Orban said on Saturday to journalists, a few hundred metres away from Ukraine on the side of the road.

At present, the flux of people leaving Ukraine was nothing like the migration wave of 2015, but the Hungarian PM warned this could change in the future: "For the moment, the war is further back in Ukraine, but if the worst case scenario is to happen, it could spread to our immediate vicinity, and we will have to be even more disciplined." He informed that he consulted with local mayors and officials, and promised the central government would provide them with everything they should need, Xinhua news agency reported.

A white tent was set up on the curb of the road to provide the arriving Ukrainian women and children with water, food and blankets.

Two mobile heaters were also being set up to give some warmth to those arriving on foot.

About a dozen people were entering Hungary following Russia's special military operation in eastern Ukraine, many of them have relatives in Hungary, and many just transit through the country. Those on their own were seated in vans of the local authority and driven to a shelter provided by the city council of Beregsurany, a village in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county in eastern Hungary.

By Saturday morning, local authorities estimated that 1,600 people have crossed the border from Ukraine.

"When on Hungarian soil, we treat them as anyone else, they are also to be helped," Orban added.

He also reaffirmed that Hungary's position was completely in line with the Europe Union's position about sanctions against Russia: "There is war: now is not the time to be 'smart', it is time to be united." "Our border with Ukraine is more than 130 kilometres long. In this situation Hungary's security must also be guaranteed, because for us that is the most important consideration. I made it clear that Hungary will not take part in this war, and it will not allow itself to be drawn into it," the PM said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Moscow, Feb 27 : The Kremlin has said Kiev has refused to hold talks with Moscow, causing Russian forces to resume operations in Ukraine.

"The Ukrainian side has refused to negotiate. This Saturday afternoon Russian forces have resumed their advance in accordance with the plan of the operation," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered a halt to military operations in light of the expected negotiations that were previously planned with Ukraine, local media reported citing Peskov.

Putin on Thursday authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, and Ukraine confirmed that military targets across the country were under attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Saturday, Oleksiy Arestovich, Advisor to the Head of Ukraine's presidential office, said Kiev refused to negotiate with Russia because the conditions Russia proposed are "unacceptable" for the country, calling those conditions as "an attempt to force us to surrender."
New Delhi, Feb 27 : Amid the ongoing war between Russia-Ukraine, the Air India (AI)-192 special flight service successfully airlifted 250 Indian students from Bucharest, Romania, under 'Operation Ganga' in New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport at 3 a.m on Sunday.

Nearly 15,000 Indian students studying in various universities are still stranded in the war-torn Ukraine.

Earlier, 219 Indians had arrived in New Delhi by the first Air India evacuation flight from Romania on Saturday evening.

The family members of the stranded Indian students in New Delhi heaved a sigh of relief as they came to know that their children reached the airport.

This is the third batch of Indian citizens arriving from Ukraine and several more airlifting operations are expected in the next few days.

Various help desks across different states have been set up for the Indian students outside the Indira Gandhi International airport so that the students from different states reach home, then state governments can provide the necessary help to the aggrieved students.
Ras Al Khaimah Airport, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates [ RKT / OMRK ]

If you are planning to travel to Ras Al Khaimah or any other city in United Arab Emirates, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Ras Al Khaimah Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Ras Al Khaimah Airport Map showing the location of this airport in United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided.

Ras Al Khaimah Airport Info:

Ras Al Khaimah Airport IATA Code: RKT Ras Al Khaimah Airport ICAO Code: OMRK Latitude : 25.6136 Longitude : 55.9388 City : Ras Al Khaimah Country : United Arab Emirates World Area Code : 678 Airport Type : Medium Ras Al Khaimah Airport Address / Contact Details :

Ras Al-Khaimah International Airport (RKT) - Airport Rd - Ras Al-Khaimah - United Arab Emirates, Phone: http://www.rakairport.com, Email: administration@rakairport.com, Fax: +971-7-2448199 Ras Al Khaimah Website : http://www.rakairport.com/ Airport Type : Public Operator : Department of Civil Aviation Timezone : Asia/Dubai Ras Al Khaimah Airport Timezone : GMT +04:00 hours Current time and date at Ras Al Khaimah Airport is 19:03:25 PM (+04) on Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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Ras Al Khaimah Airport Map - Location of Ras Al Khaimah Airport Load Map United Arab Emirates - General Information Country Formal Name United Arab Emirates Country Code AE Capital Abu Dhabi Currency Dirham (AED)

 1 AED = 0.272 USD

 1 USD = 3.673 AED

 1 AED = 0.258 EUR

 1 EUR = 3.876 AED

 More AED convertion rates Tel Code +971 Top Level Domain .ae

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RKT - Ras Al Khaimah Airport IATA Code and OMRK - Ras Al Khaimah Airport ICAO code
Buy a used Mercedes-Benz at Freeman Motor Company

Prospective buyers interested in a used Mercedes-Benz in and around Salem and Portland in Oregon can purchase their next luxury vehicle from Freeman Motor Company. The dealership hosts an eclectic range of used Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Interested shoppers can choose from convertibles, coupes, SUVs, sedans, vans and wagons of the Mercedes-Benz brand. Some popular models include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Freeman Motor Company prides itself on thoroughly inspecting the cars it includes in the inventory. Vehicles that boast high quality and promise safe functionality are included.

Out-of-station customers can also take advantage of their services. The dealerships sales representatives send close-up photos, shoot videos, and talk customers through every detail of the car, helping the buyer decide.

Apart from being a premium pre-owned car dealership, the Freeman Motor Company dealership has a full-service center, auto spa and body shop. Customers interested in purchasing a used Mercedes-Benz from Freeman Motor Company are encouraged to visit the dealership at 7524 S Macadam Ave, Portland, Oregon 97219, United States. Log on to the dealership's website to look at the used Mercedes-Benz models in the inventory. Questions can be directed to 503 310-5555.
New Venture Gear Industrial Campus "Our lease with Clintons Ditch enhances what is truly a showcase and cornerstone property that continues to bloom as a leading economic engine for the Centerstate New York Market. Were proud to have forged this relationship and look forward to a lengthy tenure of mutual success and growth."

Index Investment Group and OX Group have signed a 10-year, 75,000 SF (approx. 6,967 M2) warehouse space with Clintons Ditch Co-operative Company, INC. at their New Venture Gear Industrial Campus in Dewitt, NY with multiple renewal options. Clintons Ditch is a co-op founded in 1967 as a Pepsi bottling company rooted in Cicero, NY, and this new location will serve to support their logistical operations. They join PepsiCo on site alongside the new Rolling Frito-Lay Facility being built by the same property ownership.

New Venture Gear Industrial Campus is a 109+ acre large-scale industrial, manufacturing, distribution and logistics facility that features over 1,703,000 SF (approx. 158,000 m2), CSX Intermodal Rail access, 80+ loading docks, on-site wastewater treatment plant, electrical substation with dual transmission lines at below market costs, and immediate frontage to I-90 and major highways. The campus is in the heart of the I-90/I-81 logistical corridor in East Syracuse. The property has an additional 250,000 SF of contiguous developable space for future expansion. All combined leases in addition to the FedEx Ground development on the property have helped create and revive over 700 jobs to the local community.

Our lease with Clintons Ditch further enhances what is truly a showcase and cornerstone property that continues to bloom as a leading economic engine for the Centerstate New York Market. Clintons Ditch will be joining a campus that is rooted in high quality, industry leading companies that provide long-term opportunity, employment, and stability to this vital campus. Were incredibly proud to have forged this relationship and look forward to a lengthy tenure of mutual success and growth. Were very grateful for the efforts of the Town of Dewitt as well as all of the construction teams that have helped to make this possible in what has been such an amazing transformation. - Robert J. Trafford, OXG LLC.

Index has made numerous significant investments in industrial/logistics facilities and multi-family rental communities along the East Coast of the United States. The Jupiter-based real estate investment company has ongoing and completed twenty-four developments throughout North America since 2011, including nearly 3 million square feet of commercial-industrial opportunities in this Upstate New York market.

About Index Investment Group

Index Investment Group is a dynamic real estate investment group based in Jupiter, Florida that has major investment initiatives throughout North America including apartment communities, industrial/logistics and senior living communities. Index Investment develops intelligently designed properties throughout the East Coast of United States with a focus on Florida and contributes to the community through valuable and meaningful investments. For more information about Index Investment Group, visit http://www.indexinvest.com.
YEREVAN, 26 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The citizens of the Republic of Armenia who intend to return to Armenia in the light of the events in Ukraine, will not be required to obtain a visa in advance (Schengen visa in the case of Schengen countries) for crossing the borders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, ARMENPRESS reports the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia said.

"Other options for evacuating them from Ukraine are being considered.

At the same time, we inform that the Republic of Armenia is ready to receive our compatriots, their family members, as well as other refugees.

As previously reported, the Armenian Embassy in Kyiv, the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Odessa, as well as the Consulate General of the Republic of Armenia in Rostov-on-Don continue their work in full scale," reads the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Phone numbers:

Embassy in Kyiv

+380442349005:

+380671090506:

+380689602524:

+380685000782:

Consulate General in Odessa

+380487039176:

+380487039178:

Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don

+79614084423.
These philanthropic individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise and will be tremendous assets to the Foundation as we continue our mission to provide funds to worthy charitable organizations and individuals in NAILBA communities. - Jim Sorebo

The National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) Charitable Foundation, the Associations philanthropic arm, has elected new Board Members.

The Foundation announced the following additions to its directorate:



Douglas Allenbaugh is Executive Vice President of The Marketing Alliance (TMA), where he has led the insurance distribution business since 2010. Before joining TMA, Doug worked at the global reinsurance group, Munich Re, where he was responsible for leading and supporting executive-level initiatives including post-merger integration, strategic alliances, and operational efficiency-related projects. Doug also worked at the management consulting firm Accenture, where he specialized in enterprise system solutions. A graduate of Miami University, Doug holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business where he graduated with honors. He is based in St. Louis, MO.

Chuck Anderson is National Sales Director for Diversified Brokerage Services (DBS) in Minneapolis, MN. Chuck joined DBS in 2021 after 40 years with three major life carriers, including Prudential, where he worked for 34 years and was the first home-office employee for PruSelect Brokerage. During his time at Prudential, Chuck held roles including National Account Executive, National Sales Vice President and Senior Vice President. Chuck retired from Prudential in 2018 to serve as the National Sales Vice President of the Life Brokerage Division of Securian Insurance. He is based in Minneapolis, MN.

Jim Bowman is President of Life Insurance at Advisors Excel, where he leads over 90 professionals in both the sales and operations divisions. An industry veteran who has excelled at the corporate level and in the field, Jim has served in senior management roles in charge of independent distribution at AXA and Transamerica. He is based in Kansas City, MO.

Anthony Lancaster is Chief Information Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Highland Capital Brokerage. He is responsible for executing strategic enterprise roadmaps, managing information technology, and leading the companys project management team. Anthonys expertise includes process improvement, project management, and information technology integration strategies. Prior to joining Highland, Anthony was Director of Operations with New York Life in Chicago. He is based in Birmingham, AL.

Todd Villeneuve is Co-Owner and President of IFC National Marketing and Managing Partner at Integrity Marketing Group. Originally from Fairmont, Minnesota, Todd first entered the financial services industry in 1993. Todd is actively engaged in his community as a member of his local NAIFA organization, Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus. Todd is proud to consider many of his agents as his closest friends and he loves helping them successfully market and grow their agencies. He is based in Rochester, MN.

I am honored to welcome Doug, Chuck, Jim, Anthony and Todd as our newest NAILBA Charitable Foundation Board members, said Jim Sorebo, NAILBA Foundation Board President. These philanthropic individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise and will be tremendous assets to the Foundation as we continue our mission to provide funds to worthy charitable organizations and individuals in NAILBA communities.

Foundation Board Members continuing their service in 2022 include:

James J. Sorebo, Highland Capital Brokerage, Marlton, NJ (President)

Robin Landers, Landers-Stein & Associates, Inc., Miami, FL (Immediate Past President)

John Gilbert, The National Benefit Corp, West Des Moines, IA (NAILBA Chair, Ex-Officio Member)

James Wong, Partners Advantage, Irvine, CA (NAILBA Treasurer, Ex-Officio Member)

Dan LaBert, NAILBA, Fairfax, VA (NAILBA CEO, Ex-Officio)

Pete Chrisos, Protective Life Insurance Company, Hoffman Estates, IL

Philip Chuba, Prudential, Minneapolis, MN

Blair Farwell, Resource Brokerage, LLC, Schaumburg, IL

Andrew Hamill, Breeze, Charleston, SC

Sheryl J. Moore, Moore Market Intelligence/Wink, Inc., Des Moines, IA

Mark Pellicano, Pacific Life, Annapolis, MD

Michael Slades Sladek, Mutual of Omaha, Houston, TX

Victoria Van Dusen-Roos, Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc., Minneapolis, MN

NAILBA Charitable Foundation thanks the following Board Members whose terms ended in 2021:

Hope Howard, Broker World Magazine, Overland Park, KS

Craig Klenk, American National Insurance Company (ANICO), Houston, TX

Michael Smith, CPS Horizon Financial, Hales Corners, WI

Scott Weilage, Weilage Advisory Group, Mankato, MN

The NAILBA Charitable Foundation offers members and business partners a concrete way to help those most in need in their local community. In 2022, the Foundation was honored to raise more than $174,000, distributed to NAILBA community organizations nationwide, and has given over $3.5 million in grants since its creation in 2002.

###

About The NAILBA Charitable Foundation

The National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of NAILBA, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization that receives gifts mainly, but not exclusively, from the membership of NAILBA and its corporate supporters. The mission of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation is to encourage volunteerism among the NAILBA membership and provide grant funds to worthy charitable organizations with limited operating budgets in local communities served by member agencies, with a special emphasis on those that enhance the quality of life for children. For more information visit http://www.nailbacharitablefoundation.org
File photo of Makin' Music 44 in 2021. We are thrilled to once again welcome a full capacity, in-person audience to Loyd Auditorium this April

There will be No Going Back Friday and Saturday, April 8-9, 2022, when Freed-Hardeman University students take the Loyd Auditorium stage for the 45th annual production of Makin Music.

After COVID-19 forced Makin Music to go virtual with a limited in-person audience the last two years, in 2022 this time-honored rite of spring will be watched in person only. The three weekend performances will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at makinmusictickets.com.

Five student groups: Chi Beta Chi, Phi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Rho, Xi Chi Delta and an independent group will perform original songs and choreography at the three-weekend shows before awards are presented Saturday night. A team of hosts and hostesses, emcees and the Makin Music Show Band will entertain the audience between the competitive entries.

Hundreds of students will participate in the show as staff or cast members. The 2022 Makin Music hosts and hostesses are Brooks Jackson, a senior Bible major from Florence, Alabama; Josh Grooms, a junior Bible major from Duncan, South Carolina; Brooke Roberts, a junior biology major from Knoxville, Tennessee; Mallory Hollaway, a senior elementary education major from Muscle Shoals, Alabama; Kaitlyn Moore, a sophomore nursing major from Henderson, Tennessee, and Maggie Nash, a senior psychology major from Jackson, Tennessee.

The two emcees for the show are Bri Crosby, a senior child and family science major from Valdosta, Georgia, and Lincoln Shotts, a junior public relations major from Meridianville, Alabama. The voice of Makin Music is Lucy Johnson, a senior math major from Pinson, Tennessee. The student coordinator is Suzanna Grady, a senior biochemistry major from Murray, Kentucky.

Members of the FHU family  prospective and current students, alumni and friends  are invited to gather in Heritage Commons for the return of Party on the Green Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. While they catch up with friends, guests also can enjoy meals from food trucks, take photos with the FHU Mobile Information Center and more. Prospective students and their families are invited to attend FHUs Maroon & Gold Day Saturday, April 9; they may register at fhu.edu/maroonandgold. A full list of Makin Music weekend activities is available at fhu.edu/makinmusic.

We are thrilled to once again welcome a full capacity, in-person audience to Loyd Auditorium this April, Tony Allen, Makin Music producer, said. Having them present to cheer for these talented and hard-working students means a great deal. This is a treasured 45-year tradition, where students make incredible memories and gain teamwork and leadership skills that they will carry with them the rest of their lives.

The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson, Memphis and Dickson, FHU offers associates, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at http://www.fhu.edu.
James Beard Awardwinning Philadelphia chef Peter Serpico came to the foods of his native South Korea as an adult. I didnt grow up with Korean food at all, he says. My adoptive parents wanted me to be American, and my moms go-to dish was macaroni and cheese. When I was growing up, food was just fuel. His Korean wifes family introduced him to their cuisine, and now that the pair have a daughter, Serpico wants to make sure that their child has different associations with food. I want her to grow up with meals as a time to connect, he says.

Serpico brings this ethos and what he calls the kinda Korean spirit of his latest restaurant venture to his debut cookbook, Learning Korean (Norton, May), a collection of 100 recipes that celebrate Korean home cooking. PW spoke with Serpico about followingand not followingrecipes, and cooking for and eating with children.

What does home cooking mean to you?

Home cooking is about nourishmentthings that are easy to get on the table. The techniques are simple, and the grocery list is simple. I try to incorporate vegetables into every meal, being careful how much fat and salt I use. I cook for my six-year-old daughter; I make her breakfast and dinner, and I pack her school lunch. My wife is a med-surg nurse who works the overnight shift, and I make her meals as well. I never follow any recipes; Im just trying to make it happen every day.

What are your familys favorite dishes?

My daughter loves kimbap. Its got preserved vegetables in it and rice with sesame oil, wrapped in seaweed. Thats the one thing that she always asks for. Its perfect for a school lunch because theyre not allowed to heat anything up. Thats our go-to room temperature dish. I like cooking ssam for my family. Its quick and simple: cleaning lettuce, cooking meat from the freezer, opening the ssamjang, and cutting up vegetables. We usually have rice already cooked and warmed in our rice cooker. The whole family enjoys eating it, myself included.

Which recipes in your book are you most excited to share?

My favorites are the no-cook chili crunch and the countertop kimchi. The no-cook chili crunch is easily manipulated into whatever spice level your family likes. With the countertop kimchi, I want people to make it to their familys taste and be able to pass their recipe down to their kids.

How do you hope readers use your book?

The book aims to make Korean food way more accessible. I dont want readers to think that they need to drive to their local Asian supermarket and buy a specialty cut of meat. You dont need crosscut short ribs to make galbi: with skirt steak and the galbi marinade, it still eats like Korean food. I want this to be a cooking book and not just a cookbook. I developed a lot of the recipes when my daughter was younger. She didnt like ginger and she didnt like spice; we eased back on things. I want readers to make small changes in the book itself with a pen: Im going to use more gochugaru for my family because we like spice. Its a starting point for readers to feel comfortable with Korean food, and then make it their own.

Return to main feature.
What usually pushes me to write the book is I cant stop thinking about something, and I need other people to go there with me, Dolen Perkins-Valdez says via Zoom from her home in Washington, D.C. Im often looking at the stories that werent told, but that really, really need to be told.

In the case of her new novel, Take My Hand, out from Berkley in April, it was the true story of Mary Alice and Minnie Lee Relf who, in 1973 at ages 12 and 14, were surgically sterilized without their consent in Montgomery, Ala. With the help of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the family responded with a lawsuit that challenged the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, exposing a vast, federally funded campaign of sterilization of primarily impoverished people. The landmark case led to the requirement for informed consent prior to sterilization procedures.

Perkins-Valdez, an associate professor in the literature department at American University and the current chair of the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, considers herself somebody who excavates. Though she was well aware of Americas ugly history of sterilizing women without their consent (as written about in 1998s Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts, a book she has two copies of), there was something about the Relf sisters she kept coming back to. The thing that struck me about it was that, even though theyre only really mentioned in passing whenever we talk about this, it was a big deal at the time, she says. The sisters ordeal was heavily covered in the press, and they appeared before a Senate subcommittee led by Sen. Ted Kennedy. There were so many parts of it, to me, that felt absolutely remarkable. I think some people had heard a little bit about it, but they didnt know enough. I wanted people to know enough.

She dug into back issues of the Montgomery Advertiser, one of the local newspapers that had covered the story, and found further impetus to write about it. The original lawsuit was filed against the clinic, and it was filed against the head nurse who had authorized the sterilization, she says. In her defense, she said that it must have been okay to sterilize the girls because all eight nurses who work at the clinic are Black. And I thought, What? What is this all about?  Though Perkins-Valdez could never verify the claim or learn the names of the other nurses, thats when she knew she was onto something.

The story is in those little hidden spots, Perkins-Valdez says. Something that I see that I cant find anything else about, thats where I think the imagination comes in. One of the joys of writing about African American history as a fiction is the absence of archival material, she says. I think it can be very frustrating if youre a historian or if youre an academic, but for a novelist, to me, those silences in the archives and in the record are freeing and liberating.

Perkins-Valdezs debut novel, 2011s Wench, was a New York Times bestseller for which she won the First Novelist Award by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. It, too, was based in historical fact, inspired by an Ohio resort where white plantation owners vacationed with their enslaved mistresses. In her 2015 follow-up, Balm, for which she received a DC Commission on the Arts grant, she took on the aftermath of the Civil War, exploring what it means to be free through three charactersa Black man, a Black woman, and a white womanwho attempt to rebuild their lives in Chicago.

Take My Hand, her third novel, follows Civil Townsend, a young Black woman whos just graduated from nursing school and is living a comfortable, middle-class life with her doctor father and artist mother on Centennial Hill in Montgomery, Ala. What she wants most of all is to make a difference.

Through her job at the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, shes assigned to two young girls, India and Erica Williams, who are poor and Black. Though at 11 and 13 neither has even kissed a boy, theyre supposed to get Depo-Provera birth control shotsa means of controlling their reproductive freedom, veiled in the guise of healthcarebut Civil stops giving the injections when she learns they may not be safe. Shortly thereafter, she discovers the girls have been taken to the hospital and sterilized. Furious and heartbroken, Civil turns to her father and family friends; they connect her to the lawyer Lou Feldman, who eventually tries the case.

Set in alternating time periods from the perspective of Civil in 1973, when the events occur, and 2016, when she travels to see old colleagues and tries to make sense of what happened, the novel looks at what it means to be an advocate versus a savior. It considers the power we have as individuals to challenge racial inequality and the deep injustices that persist in society.

Though the actual lawsuit played out in D.C., Perkins-Valdez knew she had to set her book in Montgomery, a city with more sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail than any other in the country. In 2018, she visited the city.

I ended up at the parsonage on Centennial Hill, where Martin Luther King Jr. and his young family lived while he was a young pastor there, and when he led the bus boycott, Perkins-Valdez says. I just remember looking up the hill and the woman was telling us all about the storied history of Centennial Hill and its Black middle class, and the pride of the people in this neighborhood, and how Alabama State was right there. And I just felt that.

She also met two key players in the trial: the Relfs lawyer, Joseph Levin, and the social worker who reported the sterilization, Jessie Bly. Blys husband was in the military, and she actually went to his commanding officer when she found out about the sterilization because she didnt know who to turn to, Perkins-Valdez says. The commanding officer recommended this young civil rights lawyer in town. And she went to Joe Levins office and waited all day until he came back.

Growing up in Memphis, Tenn., with a dad who had a corporate job at Federal Express and a stay-at-home mom, Perkins-Valdez was always a reader, but didnt really think about becoming a writer. That wasnt anything in my community, she says. You became a doctor or lawyer. That was what the smart kids did, and that was what you aspired to.

After high school Perkins-Valdez went to Harvard, where, as a freshman, she wrote a story and submitted it to a romance magazine. It was my first time seeing my name, my first publication, she says. She went on to get an MFA at the University of Memphis, following it up with a PhD in English from George Washington University and then a postdoc at UCLA. All the while, she kept writing. The practical side of me got the PhD, decided to teach, decided to enter academia, she says. The creative side of me, which my parents also encouraged, was my writing.

Now in her late 40s, Perkins-Valdez has gotten comfortable with combining her practical and creative sides. I am a historian and a novelist, she says. And my goal as a writer is to literally unearth stories that normally people wouldnt know about. I feel like thats my calling. I feel like its what I do best.

With Take My Hand, she hopes readers will be encouraged to think carefully about the agency and decision-making of those we try to help. This is a story about a woman who tries to make right a really grave injustice, she says. Despite that graveness, she feels its a hopeful book: I believe that we are not the sum of our mistakes. I think we can make things right at any given moment in our lives.

Jen Doll is the author of the YA novel Unclaimed Baggage (FSG) and the memoir Save the Date: The Occasional Mortifications of a Serial Wedding Guest (Riverhead).
Most people dont think of Cincinnati as a book mecca, says Joseph-Beth Booksellers president and CEO Adam Miller, noting that besides a number of new and used bookstores, the Queen City (population 309,000) boasts five universities and an abundance of public and specialty libraries. It surprises people from elsewhere when they see the book culture here and how strong it really is.

Indie booksellers everywhere were disappointed when the American Booksellers Association canceled Winter Institute, which was set to take place February 1316 in Cincinnati, because of the surge in Covid cases. Local booksellers disappointment was intensified by the loss of an opportunity to show off their citys rich literary offerings. Oh, no, they were coming, and now theyre not, said Chris Weber, co-owner of the Bookshelf, located in a 1,400-square-foot building in the Madeira neighborhood. We were so looking forward to welcoming the visiting booksellers. The Bookshelf, founded by three women as a collective in 1975, is perhaps the citys oldest indie selling new books, and last year switched from operating as a collective to an employer-employee model. Weber, who has worked at the store for more than 20 years and serves as the stores buyer, owns it with Jacque Gentile.

We are an extremely well-curated bookstore, Weber said, comparing it to the fictional bar, Cheers: the staff knows the regulars by name, as well as their literary preferences. I am extremely picky. I dont bring in books that I dont want to read myself, and I tend to be pretty literary.

Farther west, Joseph-Beth is a local institution with a bistro, coffee shop, and large selection of gifts and sidelines, all attracting a different demographic than the Bookshelf. Founded in 1986, there were once five Joseph-Beth outlets in Ohio and Kentucky, but today two remain: the original flagship store in Lexington, Ky., and the 35,000-square-foot store in Cincinnati. Miller said sales have been good during the pandemic, something he attributes to Joseph-Beth booksellers being deeply embedded in the community, which has spurred customers to rally around it, even when it was closed to in-person shopping and events were canceled. Programming is the backbone of what we do, Miller said, explaining that, due to the resources at its disposal, Joseph-Beth not only attracts local and regional authors, but has also booked major national authors. We recognize that supporting local, regional, and national authors, as well as makers and creators, is part of what it means to be local, so we take it very seriously, Miller said, adding that it has had a halo effect on the smaller local indies.

A proliferation of indies

According to several local industry veterans PW spoke with, the city has seen a jump in new bookstore openings in recent years. Michael Link, who first worked at Joseph-Beth in 2007 and now works for Wordplay, a local literacy organization, said that the number of bookstores has doubled in the past 15 years and continues to grow with some really different and innovative models.

Weve been around for over two years, but as far as doing our day-to-day and making inroads into the community, I feel as if were fairly new, said Greg Kornbluh, the owner of Downbound Books, who moved back to his hometown three years ago after leaving his job in marketing and sales at Harvard University Press. Launched in October 2019, the 550-square-foot full-service general store closed to in-store traffic in March 2020 for 14 months. While he did not move back to Cincinnati with the express purpose of opening a bookstore, Kornbluh opened Downbound Books because, he said, there was no bookstore on my side of town.

As for the pandemic, Kornbluh said it actually accelerated the building of relationships that a neighborhood bookstore depends upon for survival. Since he lives above the store, he personally delivered books throughout the area. This helped people find us in some ways.

More recently, Haixia Joy Niu and Matt Stonecash opened Joy and Matts Books in the Over-the-Rhine area this past summer, just down the street from Smith & Hannon, a 19-year-old store owned by retired educator Joyce Smith. Smith & Hannon sells new and used books by Black authors, as well as sidelines and various other products targeting African American customers. The store moved to its current location two years ago after being housed inside the Underground Railroad Freedom Center for three years. The book business is a hard business, Smith said, acknowledging that the store is struggling to recover from the pandemic.

Stonecash, a former engineer, said that he and his wife, a former scientist, opened Joy and Matts because they enjoy browsing inside bookstores and their neighborhood lacked a full-service general bookstore. We wanted a general bookstore close by that we could walk to, he said. People have told us they feel the same way, so since were lovers of books and reading, we decided to connect people in our neighborhood to new books and ideas. Thus far, the 550-square-foot store, with its mix of 75% new/25% used books is making the rent, Stonecash said.

Emphasizing literacy

Several bookstores pay special attention to childrens books and literacy. The Blue Manatee, opened in 2011 as a childrens bookstore, was sold three years ago by its founder, John Hutton, to Amanda Kranias and Kevin Kushman, who renamed it the Blue Manatee Literacy Project. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization that sells both adult and childrens books, its mission, Kranias said, is to make a difference in Cincinnati by getting books into the hands of under-resourced children. For every book sold, a book is donated to one of the citys 35,000 students lacking a book at home. To date, 50,000 books have been donated.

An even more nontraditional approach to promoting literacy also launched three years ago: Cincy Book Bus, owned by Melanie Moore, a retired teacher. Moore sells primarily adult fiction in a 1962 VW truck; 100% of the profit is directed toward purchasing books for schools in low-income neighborhoods.

I always dreamed of opening a bookstore, Moore said, recalling that after reading Christopher Morleys Parnassus on Wheels, she noticed her husbands truck in the driveway. It all just clicked, she recalls. The truck could become my bookstore. After generating $3,000 in profits in 2019, Moore says profits rose to $76,000 in 2021.

Bookseller Dave Richardson, who worked at the Blue Marble in nearby Covington, Ky., for 19 years, left there two years ago to start his 451 Books. Richardson had intended to open a bricks-and-mortar childrens bookstore, but because of the pandemic, he switched to a pop-up model, sandwiched every weekend between a popular bakery and a wine shop. The bakery maintains a shelf of books during the week and sells them for Richardson, who focuses on school and library sales during the week.

Richardson intends to expand his pop-up business to include appearances at local farmers markets, where hell sell adult and childrens books by authors with Queen City ties or books set in the city. He also hopes to feature local authors and illustrators at the pop-ups. Were going along with the idea that at these markets, everything is local, Richardson said. Weve got a really strong group of people here whove been writing and doing some really wonderful things.

Editors Note: The ABA replaced Winter Institute with the online Snow Days retreat. See our supplement in this issue for the details of the new event.
Robert Stwalley, assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, shows a cooling pad designed to keep sows more comfortable during farrowing. The pads have been licensed to Innovative Heating Solutions of Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Tom Campbell)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., and WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- A patented Purdue University invention designed to cool sows and lower their respiration rate while farrowing has been licensed to Innovative Heating Technologies for further beta testing and commercialization.

Company President Chris Grant said Innovative Heating Technologies has more than 25 years of experience producing energy-efficient equipment for the agricultural industry. He said licensing the sow cooling pads is a perfect fit and the next logical step for the company.

"Our primary focus is working with pork producers in a very narrow application: We manufacture the most energy-efficient heat mat for farrowing and nursery applications," Grant said. "Introducing a cooling product specifically designed to reduce stress and improve animal welfare is a direct complement to our existing business."

The cooling pads, developed by Allan Schinckel, a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, and Robert Stwalley, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, are 2-foot-by-4-foot aluminum tread plates on top of copper pipes that circulate water. Since there is only room for the sow on the pad, piglets that need to stay warm are off the edge while they feed. Sensors in the pad can determine if the sow is getting too hot and circulate new water, cooling the pad again.

Schinckel, Stwalley and their students have published several peer-reviewed papers on sow lactation heat production, feed intake and the technology in journals including Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Journal of Animal Science, The Professional Animal Scientist and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

"These published papers show the sound science around our design for efficient, effective heat removal," Schinckel said. "We have recently published data that demonstrate how the cooling pads increase the piglet weaning weights during times of higher temperatures."

A selection of papers can be found at these links:

Grant said Innovative Heating Technologies will beta test the pads through partnered research trials at Purdue and select producers' test facilities.

"Conversations on heat stress and sow cooling have been prioritized by producers and veterinarians. They are eager to implement new technology related to animal welfare," Grant said. "We're looking forward to participating in continued research with Purdue and have set a goal to introduce a commercial-ready cooling pad into hog facilities as soon as possible."

Grant said the hog market is changing. Producers are driven to adopt and integrate new technologies related to improving sustainably and animal welfare.

"When the sow cooling pads are tested, our main goal will be to verify the efficiency and performance of the pads and the impact they have on the sows' welfare and performance over time," Grant said. "This is the data our customers will want to see."

Schinckel and Stwalley's research received funding from a Purdue AgSEED grant, Trask Innovation Fund grant, National Pork Board Student Research or Extension Experience grant and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office is housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in the Discovery Park District at Purdue, adjacent to the Purdue campus. In fiscal year 2020, the office reported 148 deals finalized with 225 technologies sighed, 408 disclosures received and 180 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information.

About Innovating Heating Technologies

Innovative Heating Technologies is committed to providing energy-efficient heating and lighting solutions for a wide range of agricultural and commercial applications. We care about animal health, welfare and offering reliable equipment manufactured to save our customers time on maintenance and money on their electric bills. With over 25 years of experience in manufacturing equipment for the agricultural industry, IHT is committed to researching new innovative technologies and providing reliable customer support.

Writer: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org

Sources: Chris Grant, chrisgrant@ihtech.ca

Allan Schinckel, aschinck@purdue.edu
Vladimir Putin has described his parents experiences in and around Leningrad during World War II in an article for Russky Pioner magazine. In the essay, titled Life is a simple but cruel thing, the Russian president reveals how his father narrowly escaped death on an NKVD sabotage mission, as well as the salvation of his mother and the loss of his brother during the Siege of Leningrad.

President Vladimir Putin recently wrote an article for Russky Pioner (Russian Pioneer) magazine, describing the hardships his parents went through during World War II. The Russian leader also recounted the fate of his brother and wrote about why neither his father nor his mother never felt any hatred towards German soldiers.

According to Putin, the outbreak of war found his father as a worker in one of the many Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) factories. Although Putin Senior had the so-called bron (reservation in Russian)  a document providing exemption from the draft, issued mostly to defense industry workers  he still volunteered to serve after joining the Communist Party.

He was eventually assigned to an NKVD (Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs, the secret police of the time) sabotage squad. During a mission, because of a betrayal by one of the servicemen, his squad was almost completely obliterated by the Germans, who killed 24 out of his 27 comrades. Putin Senior managed to survive after spending several hours in a swamp, hiding underwater, breathing through a reed while hearing German soldiers march by.

You are going to live, and I am going forth to die

Afterwards the presidents father was sent to the Nevsky Pyatachok, a small but critically important spot along the Neva River near Leningrad, which had been held by the Soviet troops at the cost of tens of thousands of lives. Mr. Putin was wounded in a skirmish, but was rescued by one of his comrades-in-arms who happened to be one of his neighbors from Leningrad.

The man first dragged him across the frozen and bullet-swept river, and then carried him on his back all the way to the hospital. As described in the article, the soldier made sure the wounded Mr. Putin received proper medical attention and then told him: Well, thats about it then  youre going to live, and Im going forth to die. Nevertheless, the soldier managed to survive the war  Mr. Putin came across his savior in Leningrad many years later.

She wont make it

As the president recounts, while in the hospital, his father gave his food rations to his wife, who in turn passed it all on to her younger son, Vladimir Putins brother. Unfortunately, doctors soon found out about this and forbade Mrs. Putin to visit her injured husband.

During the Siege of Leningrad, Putins brother succumbed to diphtheria, and his parents didnt even know where he was buried. It was only several years later that they learned the boy was interred at Piskarevskoye Cemetery, which became the final resting place for over 500,000 people in the years of the Siege  both soldiers fallen in battle and civilians who died of disease and starvation.

Putin also told the story of his mothers almost miraculous salvation. While returning home from the hospital, as he approached his apartment block, his father saw paramedics taking out corpses on stretchers, and recognized his wife among the perished. Convinced that she was still alive, he asked the paramedics to stop, but they replied she wouldnt make it and would pass over along the way.

He told me he lashed out at them with his crutches and made them lift her back to their apartment, wrote Putin, adding that his father had nursed her back to health and that she had lived to see 1999. His father passed away one year earlier.

How can anyone hate them?

Vladimir Putin relates that his father had six brothers and five of them died in the war. Some of his mothers relatives were also killed in the conflict. At the same time, he emphasized that his parents had no hatred for the German soldiers. How can anyone hate those soldiers? They were ordinary people and they also died in battle. (...) They are laborers, just like us. They were sent to the front too, his mother told him.

As Putin points out in his article, all the stories his parents told him about their lives during the war were later confirmed in one way or another.

The article is not the first contribution to Russkiy Pioner made by Vladimir Putin. Earlier, the Russian president wrote another column for the magazine, describing the sensations he lacks in his life as well as his way of managing subordinates.

Published since 2008, Russky Pioner is edited by journalist Andrei Kolesnikov, a columnist for the Kommersant newspaper who is known to be on friendly terms with the Russian president.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
The Supreme Court will soon hear oral argument in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency. The Court will examine the lawfulness of the Obama administrations October 2015 Clean Power Plan (CPP) and the Trump administrations June 2019 Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which repealed and replaced the CPP.

Both rules target power plant carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. However, ACE aimed to improve the environmental performance of coal power plants (measured in pounds CO 2 per megawatt hour), whereas the CPP aimed to squeeze coal power plants out the electricity marketplace.

Petitioners argue that the CPP not only exceeds the EPAs statutory authority but also implicates the Supreme Courts major rules doctrine. Under that doctrine, agency decisions of vast economic and political significance that lack a clear congressional authorization are unlawful. As Judge Brett Kavanaugh explained in his dissent in United States Telecom Assn v. FCC (2017), the major rules doctrine helps preserve the separation of powers and operates as a vital check on expansive and aggressive assertions of executive authority.

In the CPP, the EPA claimed authority to restructure the U.S. electric supply system by shifting generation from coal to gas power plants, and from fossil-fuel power plants to renewables. Such authority would empower the EPA to impose tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in costs on power producers and consumers, decimate the coal industry, and vitiate States congressionally-protected power to plan electricity resource development within their borders.

By implication, the EPA claimed authority to force a shift in production, even to the point of bankrupting disfavored companies, within any CO 2 -emitting economic sector and industry.

Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA), the CPPs purported statutory basis, contains nothing remotely resembling a clear statement authorizing the EPA to do any of those things.

CAA section 111 directs the EPA to establish emission performance standards for new (future) stationary sources, and a process whereby states can impose standards for existing (already built) sources. Performance standards are to reflect the best system of emission reduction (BSER) that the EPA determines to be adequately demonstrated (roughly meaning effective and affordable).

Since systems are designed for and apply to sources, the legal meaning of system depends on that of source. CAA 111 defines stationary source as any building, structure, facility, or installation which emits or may emit air pollutants. Consequently, a bona fide BSER must be based on measures that can be applied at and by the source.

Consistent with that reasoning, all previous BSERs, whether for new sources under CAA 111(b) or existing sources under 111(d), were based on reductions achievable at and by the individual sources.

The Obama administration refused to accept that limitation because there are no affordable technologies for substantially reducing CO 2 emissions from existing power plants.

The closest facsimile would be equipment upgrades that reduce emissions at the margins by enabling coal power plants to operate more efficiently. However, making coal generation more efficient would not advance and might even impede President Obamas goal to finally make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America.

So, the EPA came up with a scheme to impose unattainable performance standards on existing fossil-fuel power plants. For example, the CPP set a standard of 1,305 lbs. CO 2 /MWh for existing coal power plants (many of which are decades old) even though new highly-efficient supercritical pulverized coal units emit more 1,700 lbs. CO 2 /MWh.

How then could existing fossil-fuel facilities comply? The CPP gave owners and operators the option to purchase power from, invest in, or buy emission-reduction credits from lower- and zero-emission facilities elsewhere on the grid. Such generation shifting is the CPPs principal BSER.

How would States implement generation shifting? As the proposed and final CPP rules repeatedly advise, States should enact or join cap-and-trade programs. In short, the CPP was fundamentally a plan to herd States into regional versions of the greenhouse gas cap-and-trade schemes Congress considered and rejected during the 2000s.

To make it look legal, the CPP reimagined source to include power plant owners and operators in their capacity as market actors. More fundamentally, the CPP imagined the entire North American power sector to be a single sourcea vast machine in which individual power plants are mere cogs.

But owners and operators are not sources, and neither is an economic sector, which is a market process. The electricity sector, for example, includes numerous nuclear, wind, solar, and hydro-power facilities, which are not sources, and millions of ratepayers who do not produce power.

Petitioners in West Virginia are challenging a January 2021 ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Circuit Court denied that the CPP implicates the major rules doctrine. Congress, it argued, made a clear decision to authorize the EPA to determine what system of emission reduction is best, and rather than impose generation shifting on all sources, the CPP allows each State to decide for itself how to meet its CPP emission-reduction targets.

The Circuit Court overlooked two obvious facts. First, the CPPs best system was unprecedented in being based on emission reductions exceeding the technological capabilities of any existing source. Ceding market share thus became coal power plants only option to avoid even more drastic economic losses.

Second, unlike all previous best systems in CAA 111 rulemakings, generation shifting is designed to restrict the sources hours of operation, which does nothing to improve its environmental performance. The CPPs performance standards are actually non-performance mandates.

The Circuit Court also argued that the CPP does not trigger the major rules doctrine because, in BSER determinations, CAA 111 significantly reins in the EPAs judgment by requiring the agency to consider compliance costs, non-air environmental impacts, and energy requirements.

However, compliance costs can significantly constrain the EPAs discretion only if BSER is itself limited to measures that can be applied at and by the individual sources. For in that case industry data will indicate whether sources can or cannot afford the requisite technology investments. The compliance costs of generation shifting are more speculative and can always be made to look reasonable via dubious projections of green jobs growth and billions of dollars in climate benefits.

More fundamentally, the Circuit Court missed the big picture. The CPP was a blatant attempt to resolve an issue of major public controversy Congress was still debating. Indeed, even today, more than 30 years after Congress declined to include greenhouse gas regulatory authority in the 1990 CAA Amendments, President Biden and his congressional allies are unable to enact even non-regulatory measures to reduce power-sector CO 2 emissions.

We should thank the Circuit Court, though, for clarifying the CPPs legal theory: Congress imposed no limits on the types of measures the EPA may use.

Once the EPA determined that BSER is not limited to emission reductions individual sources can affordably implement, it effectively claimed the power to make the hard choices about the nations economic, environmental, and energy priorities.

Congress may not constitutionally delegate such power to an administrative agency. The Supreme Court should reject the CPPs legal theory, which entails a forbidden delegation of legislative power.

Marlo Lewis is a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. CEI filed an amicus brief in West Virginia v. EPA.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. A telephone conversation took place between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on February 26, ARMENPRESS was infomred from the Office of the Prime Minister.

The leaders of the two countries discussed issues related to the activities of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, touched upon the agenda of the upcoming official visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation expected in April.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on the implementation of trilateral statements signed by the President of the Russian Federation, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, January 11, 2021 and November 26, 2021.
The Eurovision Song Contest announced Friday that it is barring Russian musicians from competing in this year's event in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

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This year's competition is set to take place May 10-14 in Turin, Italy.

"The decision reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year's contest would bring the competition into disrepute," said the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the competition.

Eurovision is a televised songwriting competition in which primarily European countries submit and perform an original song.

The winner is selected by a combination of votes from a jury of music industry professionals and viewers at home.

The winning country hosts the next year's competition.

The board said it made its decision after consulting with membership.

"The EBU is an apolitical member organization of broadcasters committed to upholding the values of public service," the board's statement said.

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"We remain dedicated to protecting the values of a cultural competition which promotes international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage."

Italian rock band Maneskin won last year's competition with the song "Zitti e Buoni," or "Shut Up and Behave."

The band received 524 points above second-place Barbara Pravi of France (499 points) and third-place Gjon's Tears of Switzerland (432 points).

Ukraine's Go_A came in fifth place and Russia's Manizha came in ninth out of 26 competitors.
Janine Kwoh, the author of "Welcome to the Grief Club: Because You Don't Have to Go Through It Alone," speaks at a virtual event hosted by Avid Bookshop on Feb. 15, 2022. The book discusses the experience of grieving and the range of emotions felt through the process. (Photo/Alexis Derickson)
At noon on Sunday, Taylor Ooley set up the Love.Craft Athens space with clothes she brought from home and a few of her own sustainable products. This only being the second clothing swap she has ever hosted, she came in with few expectations, but many goals for the event.
The Uplift campaign made up of President Bryson Henriott, Vice President Oba Samaye and Treasurer Kate Lindgren won the Student Government Associations election on Feb. 23. Between now and Inauguration Day, Henriott, Samaye and Lindgren will be busy with preparations to make the most out of their time in office.
On Feb. 27, prolific journalist and University of Georgia alumna Charlayne Hunter-Gault will turn 80. To celebrate this birthday and honor the late UGA professor Valerie Boyd, Hunter-Gault announced she will donate to her Giving Voice to the Voiceless Fund at the university. A crowdfunding campaign was created for others to do the same, according to a UGA press release.
UN chief pledges solution to Russia-Ukraine conflict, urges protection of civilians

Xinhua) 15:13, February 26, 2022

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that the world body will not give up on finding a solution to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, while calling on conflicting parties to better protect civilians.

Speaking to journalists after the Security Council meeting on Ukraine, the top UN official said that "we must never give up."

"We must give peace another chance. Soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace," he said.

Despite growing operational challenges, he assured that the United Nations is expanding the delivery of life-saving assistance on both sides of the contact line.

"All concerned in this conflict must respect international humanitarian law and guarantee the safety and freedom of movement of UN staff and other humanitarians. Especially in a moment like this, it is important to remember that the UN ... is tens of thousands of women and men around the world," said Guterres.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
India, a time-tested friend of Russia for decades, has so far not condemned the Russian actions

New Delhi: In the wake of the Russian military offensive against Ukraine, Russia on Friday said it's President Vladimir Putin would give necessary instructions to ensure the security of Indian citizens in Ukraine in a response to a request by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This comes even as external affairs minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar spoke to both his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and American counterpart Antony J. Blinken to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

In a sign of mounting Western pressure on India, US secretary of state Blinken told EAM Jaishankar about the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russias invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire. Asked about whether India was in sync with the US on the Ukraine issue, US President Joe Biden had told reporters that the US would hold consultations with India and that the matter had not been fully resolved as yet.

India, a time-tested friend of Russia for decades, has so far not condemned the Russian actions but has emphasised that the issue can only be resolved through dialogue.

In a brief statement, the US state department said, Secretary of state Antony J. Blinken spoke with Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar today to discuss Russias premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russias invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire.

On the phone call between PM Modi and President Putin late on Thursday night, Russia, in its readout in the early hours of Friday morning, said, While discussing the situation around Ukraine, (Russian President) Vladimir Putin outlined the fundamental assessments of Kyivs aggressive actions against the civilian population of Donbass, as well as its long-lasting destructive policy aimed at scrapping the Minsk agreements. Given these circumstances, and also in connection with the unacceptable for Russia the US and its Nato allies military developments on the territory of Ukraine, it was decided to launch a special military operation. Moscow added, The Prime Minister of India thanked Vladimir Putin for the clarification and asked for assistance in ensuring the security of Indian citizens who currently stay in Ukraine. The President of Russia said that the necessary instructions would be given.

Interestingly, India in its statement posted on Thursday night had said that PM Modi had appealed for an immediate cessation of violence while also calling for concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue. But there was no mention of this appeal by New Delhi in the Russian statement, perhaps indicating that Moscow will not roll back on its move for now.

Meanwhile, EAM Jaishankar also spoke to his counterparts in Hungary, Romania and Slovakia which share land borders with Ukraine through which India intends to evacuate thousands of its citizens from the war-torn nation of Ukraine.

EAM Jaishankar tweeted, 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.

The EAM further tweeted, 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. The EAM added, Spoke to FM @IvanKorcok . Discussed the situation in Ukraine. Appreciate his willingness to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals through Slovakia.
People gathered in Harmony Parking lot in Brattleboro on Friday, April 22nd for a street festival and parade in celebration of Earth Day. According to Nancy Braus of 350 Brattleboro, the goal was to celebrate the ways in which the community is working towards climate justice and to empower 
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy with occasional showers. High 54F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
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Representative Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) represents Poultney and Ira in the Vermont House of Representatives, where she serves as House Minority Leader. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
A California man was sentenced this week to five years in prison for his role in trafficking crystal methamphetamine to Connecticut, according to federal prosecutors.

Alejandro Castillo, 42, was sentenced Thursday by Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Castillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 15, 2021.

Castillo, a citizen of Belize last living in Los Angeles, has been detained since his arrest on Nov. 16, 2020. After he completes his prison sentence, Castillo faces immigration proceedings.

In September 2020, the DEAs Hartford Task Force arrested an individual who had more than 400 grams of crystal methamphetamine at the time of the arrest. Prosecutors said investigators learned the individual got the meth from a tractor-trailer driver who regularly moved kilogram-quantities of meth and other drugs from California to locations in the eastern United States.

That October, the individual went to California and met with Jason Williams, identified by prosecutors as a supplier of large amounts of meth and marijuana. Williams traveled to Connecticut with Castillo. On Oct. 27, 2020, Williams and Castillo gave the individual a crate with about 2.2 kilograms  nearly five pounds  of meth.

Williams told the individual to use the crate to ship back $60,000 in proceeds from the sale of the drugs.

Law enforcement officers seized another five pounds of crystal meth on Nov. 11, 2020, that prosecutors said Williams shipped from California to Connecticut.

Williams, also a citizen of Belize, was sentenced to 60 months in prison on Oct. 27, 2021.
Two major interstate highways have been reopened after separate crashes involving wrong-way drivers resulted in six deaths shortly before 3 a.m., according to Connecticut State Police.

Interstate 91 northbound was closed between Exits 18 and 20 in Meriden, while Interstate 84 eastbound was closed between Exits 49 and 50 in Hartford. The two highways closed before 3 a.m. Saturday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The scenes were cleared and the highways reopened around 8:50 a.m., state police said.

The first crash took place around 2:25 a.m. State police were called about a wrong-way driver on I-91 near Exit 18 in Meriden, Trooper First Class Pedro Muniz said in an email statement. Moments later, troopers received reports that the vehicle collided with another vehicle, Muniz said.

The collision resulted in two fatalities, according to Muniz.

Those two women were identified by state police just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday. They are Charde Monet Spates, 21, of New Haven, and Judith Melvin-Levy, 50, of Windsor. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by EMS.

The wrong-way vehicle was a 2020 Toyota Camry driven by Spates, according to the accident report.

She was traveling southbound in the left of three lanes on I-91 northbound between exits 17 and 18 when she collided head on with another vehicle.

The other vehicle was a 2012 BMW X5 driven by Melvin-Levy.

Justin Levy, a 21-year-old passenger in that vehicle was transported by Hunter's Ambulance to Hartford Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the accident report.

Police are still investigating this incident. Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Connecticut State Police Troop I at 203-393-4200 or david.pelletier2@ct.gov.

About 15 minutes after that incident occurred, around 2:45 a.m., troopers received reports of a crash on I-84 East near Exit 51 in Hartford, Muniz said.

This crash also involved a wrong-way driver and resulted in four fatalities, according to Muniz.

State polices Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad, as well as the Department of Transportation, were on both scenes investigating and assisting with the road closures respectively. Local fire departments were also called to assist, Muniz said.

State police said there was no further information and it will release information as it becomes available.

Connecticut State Police Sgt. Dawn Pagan said wrong-way drivers are not an issue unique to the state.

It is a battle that is faced nationwide and unfortunately is not something new, Pagan said.

Wrong-way crashes caused about 500 deaths a year nationwide between 2015 and 2018, according to a study from AAA published in March 2021.

Fatal wrong-way crashes have increased across highways across the country in recent years. However, from 2015 to 2018, Connecticut saw a decline, according to an AAA analysis using data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Between 2010 to 2014, the state had 29 fatal wrong-way crashes, and 20 wrong-way crashes from 2015 to 2018, the analysis stated.

When police receive reports of wrong-way drivers, state police respond swiftly as we fully recognize the imminent danger involved, Pagan continued.

AAAs study found three factors as prime causes of fatalities in wrong-way crashes  alcohol impairment, advanced age and driving without a passenger.

Pagan said that impaired driving is not the only factor that could lead to wrong-way drivers. It can also involve those experiencing mental crisis, disoriented drivers who may be experiencing the effects of illness, and even severe weather conditions that can limit visibility, Pagan said.

Wrong-way drivers are often identified by troopers on patrol as well as through public reports.

We urge the public to continue to call 911 immediately when they witness these drivers on the roadway, Pagan said.

Drivers should also pull over and call 911 if they fall ill while on the road, avoid traveling in severe weather conditions and have a designated driver or use a rideshare service when needed. People can also help their loved ones manage their mental and physical health, as well as determine if it is appropriate for their loved one to keep their drivers license, Pagan said.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Judith Melvin-Levy was 50 years old.
Pottsville, PA (17901)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

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Some clouds. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Officials retreat from requiring the detained workers to pay a steep fine as a condition of their release.

NagaWorld Casino workers hold up placards during a protest outside the National Assembly building after several union members were arrested, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, January 5, 2022.

Authorities in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Friday released 73 striking employees of the NagaWorld Casino who were detained this week at a quarantine center on charges of violating COVID-19 protocols, RFA has learned.

Thousands of workers walked off their jobs in mid-December, demanding higher wages and the reinstatement of eight jailed union leaders and 365 workers they say were unjustly fired from the hotel and casino, which is owned by a Hong Kong-based company.

Cambodian authorities called the strike illegal and alleged that it is supported by foreign donors as a plot to topple the government, but the recent arrests were attributed to alleged violations of pandemic health protections. Activists said the charges were trumped up to break up the strike.

After the government arrested and released 62 strikers on Monday and ordered two others into treatment when they tested positive for COVID-19, authorities warned that they would issue steep fines of 1-5 million riel ($245-1,230) to any more strikers who gathered to protest in large groups.

More arrests, releases and orders for COVID-19 treatment were made over the past week, but the remaining 73 detained workers were let go Friday without having to pay any fines, they told RFA.

Authorities also said the workers must agree to stop gathering to protest as a condition of their release, but the 73 strikers refused to sign statements to that effect. As a result, they were not provided with transportation and had to arrange their own rides home from the quarantine center.

Several Cambodian civil society groups, community organizations, and trade unions on Thursday accused governmental officials of sexually harassing female strikers, including a report that a male officer grabbed and squeezed a female strikers breast while forcing her onto a bus.

The city government on Thursday denied mistreating the strikers in a statement.

Its obvious that we were sexually abused by the authorities, and we will continue to demand our labor rights, Siek Kanha, a woman among the group released on Friday, told RFAs Khmer Service.

She vowed to continue to protest until the courts release the union leaders who are still detained.

RFA was unable to reach any officials from the Phnom Penh City Hall.

The Cambodian authorities abuse of public health measures to stifle a peaceful strike is outrageous and unacceptable, Phil Roberston, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

This continued harassment against striking workers exercising their rights is a blatant attempt to silence these brave workers voices, and weaken Cambodias union movement, Robertson said.

He noted that many of the strikers were wearing masks, social distancing, and getting tested for COVID-19 in accordance with the governments health measures.

They have done nothing that justifies the authorities actions to detain them, shove them into overcrowded buses, and then hold them against their will for further COVID-19 testing at a quarantine site that lacks appropriate sanitation and health facilities due to inadequate access to water for washing and drinking, he said.

Government officials involved are not fooling anyone. Their claims that the workers violated COVID-19 measures is a fabricated cover story showing the lengths to which the authorities are prepared to go to stop the NagaWorld strike.

Authorities continue to hold in pre-trial detention 11 labor union members and leaders who were arrested in December 2021. Eight unionists are charged with incitement to commit a felony and face up to two years in prison if convicted. Three others are charged with obstruction of COVID-19 measures, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.

Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Observers say the military hopes to cut off support for anti-junta paramilitaries by terrorizing civilians.

The aftermath of an arson attack on Hna Ma Sar Yit village, in Sagaing region's Shwebo township, Feb. 25, 2022.

Military troops and pro-junta militia fighters shot at least three civilians and burned down more than 500 homes in an early morning raid on a village in Myanmars embattled Sagaing region Friday, forcing thousands to flee in what sources said was an act of revenge.

The arson attack in Hna Ma Sar Yit village was the third by a combined force of troops and members of the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia in Shwebo township in two days, residents of the area told RFAs Myanmar Service. Attacks on Thursday destroyed hundreds of structures in two nearby villages.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal, said that around 70 soldiers and Pyu Saw Htee fighters entered Hna Ma Sar Yit at around 4 a.m. from nearby Payan village.

They just fired at us with heavy weapons and when we ran away, they started burning houses  one after another, he said.

According to the villager, there had been no fighting between the military and prodemocracy Peoples Defense Force (PDF) paramilitaries in the past few days, but a PDF unit had attacked a military column recently.

More than 3,000 people from Hna Ma Sar Yit and nearby settlements were forced to flee the area, he said, adding that at least three people were injured by gunfire as the attackers fired indiscriminately into the village. The military is stationed in Thee Lone village, about one mile from the site of the burnings, he said.

A woman who also declined to be named for security reasons told RFA that she fled with only the clothes on her back and later learned she had lost her home and all her belongings.

We are having a lot of difficulties. We have no place to live. I couldnt save anything. I have nothing now but a [sarong] and a blanket. Even our rice stock has been burned, she said.

All these innocent people  including infants, children and the elderly  are suffering. Why cant they just fight the people who attacked them?

The woman said several people unable to flee had been left behind at the village and it was unknown what had become of them.

Fridays arson followed two similar incidents in Shwebo a day earlier, when junta troops set more than 200 homes alight in Nga Pi Oh and Gway Bin Kone villages, according to a member of the PDF in nearby Taze township.

The PDF fighter said those villages were targeted for allegedly supporting his paramilitary group, adding that the military is now attacking civilian areas and burning down homes in Sagaing on nearly a daily basis.

The people are the real victims now. They are making the weak suffer because they [are unwilling to] fight us, he said.

They are doing inhuman things, waging war on the villages. They kill people when they cannot get the information they want. They loot and set fire to homes built with the peoples sweat and tears. People in this region are suffering a lot.

In another recent incident, a 43-year-old man named Soe Moe was arrested and killed when troops entered Tazes Kangalay Kone village on Feb. 21, the PDF fighter said.

Troops are stationed in Tazes Ledi village and about 6,000 people from 10 area settlements have fled to safety, he added.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Data for Myanmar, a group that monitors the impact of armed conflict in the country, the military has torched at least 5,231 homes nationwide since seizing power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup  up from 4,571 a week earlier. The group said Sagaing region, where resistance to military rule has been particularly strong in the past year, topped the list with 3,126 razed homes.

Last week, junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee fighters burned hundreds of homes in Sagaings Pale township, about 60 miles southwest of Hna Ma Sar Yit village, following a Feb. 14 PDF attack on their joint training camp, sources told RFA.

Internet service has been shut down for nearly six months in Pale, but sources in the area say that pro-junta forces have burned at least 1,000 homes in the townships Hlaw Gar, Inn Ma Htee, Pan, and Mwe Tone villages, sending thousands of refugees scrambling for shelter in nearby forests.

Junta Deputy Information Minister Zaw Min Tun told RFA that the reports from Data for Myanmar and other sources were mere allegations.

We always hear the military has burned houses whenever there is a battle, he said, suggesting that the arson was instead carried out by members of the PDF, which the junta has designated a terrorist group.

We have no reason to do these kinds of things and get ourselves into more trouble. The people have formed militias to protect themselves from the PDF and these are the villages under attack.

The junta has dismissed reports of the Pyu Saw Htees existence, although it acknowledges that the military is forming native militia groups in response to internal insurgency movements in play since Myanmar gained its independence from Britain in 1948.

An aerial view of Pale township's Chaung Oo village following an arson attack by pro-junta forces, Feb. 18, 2022. RFA Acts of terror

But Myo Zaw Aung, a former lawmaker for the deposed National League for Democracy in Sagaings Kawlin township, told RFA that the military burns down villages, in addition to committing other crimes against humanity such as sexual assault and murder, to terrorize those who resist its rule.

The military often attacks innocent people when it loses a battle. They often fire heavy weapons at random before entering villages, he said.

Sagaing region has a strong presence of PDF units, and the people are strong. So, the junta sets fire to villages and rapes women when it wants to discourage the people from supporting the PDFs and stop their advance.

Myo Zaw Aung said that regardless of the atrocities the military commits, it will not be able to crush the peoples resistance.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Russias invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the sharp divide in Myanmar a year after a military coup sparked mass resistance and armed conflict, with the junta praising Moscow for trying to ensure world peace and the ousted civilian leadership decrying alarming and frightening bullying.

Moscow  which has continued to support and arm the junta led by Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing that crushed Myanmars decade-long democratic reform in a Feb. 1, 2021 coup  got immediate backing from the regime after Russian forces invaded and attacked Ukraine on Thursday.

Firstly, I see it as an effort to consolidate Russian sovereignty, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told RFAs Myanmar Service.

Secondly, it shows that Russia is a force to be reckoned with in the balance of power to ensure world peace.

Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) said that while last years military takeover was not a foreign invasion, similarities can be drawn between Russias actions and how the military imposed its will on the Southeast Asian nation of 54 million people.

The concept of bullying is similar, NUG Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung told RFA.

From an international point of view, they crossed the border and invaded a small country. It is more alarming and frightening for geographically related nations and for allies. We are watching to see how countries react to the shift in the balance of power.

Russia, a U.N. Security Council member, has continued to provide the junta with drones, fighter jets, and armored vehicles that have been used to attack its civilians a year after the coup, despite widespread atrocities and credible reports of crimes against humanity. Min Aung Hlaing visited Russia in June, 2021.

It should be incontrovertible that weapons used to kill civilians should no longer be transferred to Myanmar. These transfers truly shock the conscience, former U.S. Rep. Tom Andrews, who serves as U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, said in a report to the U.N. Security Council.

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 have burned hundreds of villages they accuse of supporting anti-junta militias.

As of Saturday, more than 1,580 people had been killed since the coup and some 12,300 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a human rights organization based in Thailand.

This screengrab provided via AFPTV and taken from a broadcast by Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) in Myanmar on March 26, 2021 shows Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin (L) being presented with a sword by Myanmar armed forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. AFP Imbalance of power

The war in Ukraine is also being monitored by the opposition-led paramilitary Peoples Defense Force (PDF), which was formed in the aftermath of the coup to protect the countrys civilian population and is fighting the military across a wide swathe of Myanmar.

Yebaw Wei Gyi, a PDF leader, said his group is particularly interested in how the rest of the world will react to the invasion and what the implications are for the junta, which has been targeted with sanctions and ostracized by the international community for its actions in Myanmar.

In the current scenario, NATO countries like the EU and the United States are in a difficult position to decide whether they should go in and Russia knows, he said.

Ukraine is not in a position to fight Russia alone. But will the U.S., EU and NATO, who are behind Ukraine, get involved? If they do  it could lead to a world war. But if they dont, Russia will crush Ukraine and do what it wants.

Youths protest ahead of the one-year anniversary of the military coup, Jan. 28, 2022. Citizen journalist Halting democratic progress

Other observers in Myanmar said that Russias actions had destabilized the world order and called for concerted pressure on Moscow to end the conflict.

Russias military incursion into Ukraine has led to turmoil for international relations, said political analyst Than Soe Naing.

If the world fails to put a stop to this, we will fall back into an era of empire building. Global democratization efforts will also suffer, and the clock will be turned back several centuries.

Than Soe Naing said that sanctions alone are not enough to rein in Russian President Vladimir Putins sense of adventurism and called for a paradigm shift in global military cooperation.

Nan Linn, a spokesman for the Yangon University Alumni Association, said that the people of Myanmar will stand with the Ukrainian people because they see parallels between the coup and how Russia used military aggression to violate their sovereign rights.

Russias invasion of Ukraine is a matter of grave concern for global security because it is part of a very worrying trend in which powerful nations and dictators are exerting influence in the world, he said.

We stand with the people of Ukraine in the Russian invasion because we cannot accept such a bullying act without respect for national sovereignty.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
KYIV -- Residents of the Ukrainian capital reported a massive explosion and other blasts early on February 27 as Russias war on its neighbor intensified and as Western powers announced a new, dramatic step in efforts to punish Moscow with sanctions for its aggression.

The explosion hit the southeastern part of Kyiv just after midnight and left a glowing red light over what media reported was likely a military fuel depot. There were no immediate reports on damage or injuries in what could be the start of the final battle for Kyiv and the Ukrainian nation.

Residents of the capital were warned to hunker down and take shelter ahead of an expected major air assault by Russian forces overnight. Thousands of men, women, and children sought cover in buildings and underground stations amid a day-and-night curfew set by authorities in the capital.

Up to 150,000 Ukrainians have fled for Poland, Moldova, and other neighboring countries, with the UN warning of a potential humanitarian crisis.



Meanwhile, the leaders of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Britain, Canada, and the United States agreed to block access for a number of Russian banks to the SWIFT banking system, as well as imposing "restrictive measures" against Russia's central bank for Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint statement on February 26, the leaders said the measures -- which will restrict the Russian central bank's international reserves and thus hinder its ability to support the ruble -- will be implemented in the coming days.

Experts have said blocking access to SWIFT would be a major step up in the intensity of Western sanctions against Moscow, and some countries had initially resisted the move following Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The latest moves came as Western experts were saying that Ukrainian forces had put up tougher-than-expected resistance in three days of pitched battles across the country as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged defiance in the face of overwhelming firepower.

U.S. officials noted on February 26 signs of "viable Ukrainian resistance" that was causing Russian commanders to adjust to cover shortages of fuel and logistical support, while the British Defense Ministry said Russias advance had slowed, also citing likely logistics problems and strong Ukrainian resistance.

In an address to the nation on February 26, Zelenskiy praised the courage of his nation and defiantly said the enemy has no chance in the face of the solidarity Ukrainians were showing.

"The world saw: Ukrainians are strong...Ukrainians are powerful. Ukrainians are brave. Ukrainians are in their homeland and will never give it to anyone," he said, stating that the capital remained in Ukrainian hands, while authorities handed out thousands of assault rifles to residents and told them to make petrol bombs as they await the Russian invaders.

An RFE/RL correspondent said barricades had been erected on some roads south of Kyiv, using sandbags, lumber, and wood from nearby trees.

More than two dozen men, some carrying decades-old hunting rifles and antique weapons, stopped passing cars and checked documents. Some had more sophisticated sniper rifles. Several appeared to be in their 60s.

Off to the side were dozens of plastic jugs and bottles -- many with rags sticking out of them -- indicating they were homemade gasoline bombs.

Residents of Kyiv described to Current Time, the Russian-language network operated by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, what they had experienced following a blast on an apartment building.

I was asleep when there was a huge explosion, Kyiv resident Oksana Gulenko told Current Time. I was thrown about 3 meters from the room into the corridor. There was glass everywhere and noise from the street.

After a while, I began rushing around the apartment, gathering my things and my documents, which Id prepared earlier, and I ran out into the street, she said. When I came back after two or three hours, the door had been broken in. Apparently, firefighters or police were opening the apartments and looking for victims.



Under the threat of Russian encirclement of Kyiv, thousands of people jammed trains, roads, and buses to flee the country before the invading troops' arrival.

Missile blasts continued to be heard in and around the city of some 2.6 million people, leaving burned-out vehicles on the streets and several buildings, including apartment blocks, damaged.

The Russian military pounded Kyiv and other cities with artillery and cruise missiles on the third day of the invasion that President Vladimir Putin said was designed to demilitarize Ukraine and to capture what the Kremlin calls dangerous individuals.

A U.S. defense official estimated that Russia has sent in more than half of the estimated 150,000 troops it had arrayed around Ukraine in the lead-up to the invasion.

"We know that they [the Russian forces] have not made the progress that they have wanted to make, particularly in the north. They have been frustrated by what they have seen is a very determined resistance," the official said.

The British Defense Ministry said in a statement that Russian forces appear as though they may bypass major Ukrainian population centers while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them.

The capture of Kyiv remains Russia's primary military objective," the statement said.

Moscows invasion of its neighbor has prompted worldwide condemnation and a slew of sanctions against Russia by Western powers.

Protests in cities around the world called on Russia to cease its aggression. In Tehran, Iranians gathered in front of the Ukrainian embassy in a show of support for Kyiv while chanting, Death to Putin!

In Russia, the independent OVD-Info monitor that keeps tracks of arrests during protests said that more than 3,000 people had been arrested in the country in protests related to the invasion, including 467 who were detained on February 26 in 34 cities.

Zelenskiy thanked several prominent Russians for the protests and also praised the "thousands" of Russian citizens who have called for an end to the war.

"[There are] thousands of dead [Russian] soldiers, hundreds of prisoners of war who dont understand why they sent them to Ukraine, sent them to Ukraine to die and kill others. The sooner you tell your leaders that the war needs to be immediately stopped, the more your soldiers will survive," he said.

On the diplomatic front, Washington and its allies announced new packages of additional military assistance in the face of Moscows actions, including moves to block Russia from the SWIFT system -- a move Ukraine has long called for.

In what appeared to be a major shift on February 26 prior to the late announcement on the SWIFT decision, Germany said it was considering U.S. and EU proposals to target Russia's involvement in the banking system, considered by many to be one of the toughest of possible sanctions.

Just days earlier, Berlin had appeared to be opposed to the move, which U.S. President Joe Biden has said Washington was considering.

Prime Minister Denys Shmygal welcomed the Western move on SWIFT, writing on Twitter: "Thanks to our friends...for the commitment to remove several Russian banks from SWIFT" and for "the paralysis of the assets of the central bank of Russia."

After criticism from several European leaders, Germany also said it had decided to send weapons and other military assistance to Ukraine.

International moves have also been made to slap Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov personally with sanctions, an unprecedented measure.

During the three-day Russian invasion, the Ukrainian military said it has so far destroyed 14 aircraft, eight helicopters, 102 tanks, 536 armored vehicles, as well as killing 3,000 military personnel, according to a social media posting early on February 26 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

The figures could not be confirmed. Russia has not released casualty figures.

Ukrainian officials said Russian forces fired cruise missiles from the Black Sea at the cities of Sumy, Poltava, and Mariupol and there was heavy fighting near the southern city of Mariupol.

Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said on February 26 that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive.

His statement was unclear as to whether the casualties included both military and civilians.

With reporting by RFE/RL Correspondent Mike Eckel, AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa
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
The union war on charter schools never ends, and the latest ruse in New York is to limit who can authorize a charter. A bill from Democratic state Sen. John Liu would give the state Board of Regents veto power over all charter applications  including those approved by the states biggest authorizer, the State University of New York.

The New York State Charter Schools Act of 1998 gave SUNY and the Board of Regents authority to approve charter applications. Some 60% of 358 charter schools across the state have been authorized by SUNY, including most belonging to high-performing Success Academy and KIPP. With trustees appointed by the Governor, SUNY is freer from teachers union influence than the Regents, whose members are appointed by the state Legislature and oversee the state Education Department.

The Board of Regents can oppose charter applications approved by SUNY, but Mr. Liu gripes that a loophole allows SUNY to let these charters open anyway. Thank heaven for that. Consider a recent case: SUNY approved two charters for struggling school districts in Long Island, but the Regents sought to block them under pressure from the Education Department and teachers union. Last month SUNY authorized them anyway. Mr. Lius bill would give the Regents final say to nix the charters.

What does SUNY know about primary and secondary education? They have their hands full running their colleges and universities, Mr. Liu said, according to the New York Post.

The evidence shows otherwise. SUNY reports that 88% of its charters outperform their districts schools in reading and writing, and 91% in math. Once authorized, charters are held to strict financial and academic standards by the city and state and must apply to renew their authorization every five years.

Mayor Eric Adams should call out the Legislatures ruse to limit the charters that have been so effective in his city. If the Liu legislation  currently making its way through both the Assembly and Senate  crosses Gov. Kathy Hochuls desk, it is ripe for a veto.

 Wall Street Journal

Legislation passed last year allowing citizens to force a public hearing needed no changes.

Citizens were empowered to force a public hearing from agencies, such as the state Education Department and the state Health Department, if they presented a petition with 125 signatures and be submitted by the 30th day after after comments on a policy had stopped being accepted.

Amendments to the bill were absolutely uncalled for by anyone but the powers that be, so sure enough last week the state Legislature approved a chapter amendment that increases the number of signatures on the petition from 125 to 450 in most circumstances, and from 125 to 750 for the Education and Health departments. Agencies will now be allowed to create the petition signature form. The amended proposal also amends the circumstances when an agency is not required to hold a public hearing to include when a rule is adopted on an emergency basis until a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is issued.

In other words, it will take 400% to 700% more signatures to hold a public hearing. Citizens have to go to the agencies to get the petitions and public hearings dont have to be held on rules adopted as emergencies  which applies to pretty much every COVID-19 rule and policy implemented over the past three years.

As Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Jamestown, said during his comments on the Assembly floor, this is a step in the wrong direction. Rather than empowering citizens to petition their government, the Legislature has neutered the public instead.

 Jamestown Post-Journal

Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett were caught between what you might call a shot and a hard place: Risk a staffing crisis in the health care industry by sidelining workers who havent gotten a COVID-19 booster vaccine, or risk those workers infecting patients and colleagues.

Their solution  not to enforce a mandate to get a booster shot by Monday  may be the most realistic solution anyone could have come up with. As of early February almost 240,000 health care workers had not reported getting a booster shot. That was simply too many people to suspend or fire all at once in a health care system thats already stressed from the pandemic.

But in saying they will reassess the situation in the spring, theyve effectively launched the state on a three-month experiment in which hundreds of thousands of workers and patients will be the guinea pigs.

Its baffling that workers in a health care system that was overwhelmed early in the pandemic because there was no vaccine against COVID-19 have either refused to be vaccinated at all, or for one reason or another wont get a booster shot.

People are free, of course, to gamble with their own health  but not when it could harm those around them. To those health care workers who could get a shot but wont out of some misplaced sense of personal choice, or freedom, or what have you, we suggest they consider the first principle of medicine: Do no harm. Its an oath that doctors and many nurses take explicitly when they enter their professions. And for everyone else in the field of caring for the health of other people, its surely an implicit promise. Being fully vaccinated is a promise kept.

 Albany Times Union
Ukrainian civilians in the Kyiv region made Molotov cocktails as they prepared to defend their homes from invading Russian forces. People filled bottles with polystyrene plastic and gasoline on February 25 and said they were ready to fight for their country and help the Ukrainian military.
Destroyed Russian military equipment and burned-out vehicles were seen smoldering on the streets of Kyiv on February 26 as Russian forces continued their attack on the Ukrainian capital. Residents in a western district of the city said they heard huge explosions in the early hours of the morning that shattered windows of local shops and residential buildings.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, speaking to Current Time on February 25, outlined that the United States wants to provide support to Ukraine "in whatever way is possible under the circumstances." We want to let the Ukrainian people know that we stand in solidarity with them, the high-ranking U.S. diplomat said.
Hundreds of anti-war protesters took to the streets of the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on February 26 to denounce their country's military invasion of Ukraine. Chanting, "No to war," many of the protesters said they were ashamed of their nation and several were detained by police.
Battery-making company Northvolt has planned to build its third production unit in Sweden.Earlier, Northvolt went into a partnership with Volvo Cars to make a battery factory in Gothenburg located in western Sweden.

Northvolt is planning to convert a closed paper mill in Sweden into a new battery-materials plant in Sweden. The site for the new unit is the Kvarnsveden paper mill located in Borlange. It has been closed by Stora Enso Oyj last year. This will be the company's third production plant to meet the increasing demand for growing electric vehicles.

Northvolt mentioned it will reuse and refurbish much of the existing facilities and infrastructure. The companies have signed a letter of intent on the transaction, with a final agreement seen concluded over the next few months, Stora Enso said in a separate statement.

The factory is expected to start the first phase of its operations in late 2024 and will it is going to recruit around 1,000 people. The factory will be powered by renewable energy, according to Bloomberg's report. When it will operate at full capacity, the plant will be able to produce more than 100 gigawatt-hours of cathode material a year along with cell production.

(Also read | Tesla planning another factory in Shanghai to meet increasing demands)

Chief Executive Officer Peter Carlsson shared there is a high demand for sustainable, high-quality lithium-ion battery cells and systems. With the blueprint developed at Northvolt Labs and Northvolt Ett, we will now put in another gear to scale up production even faster and larger than before," added Carlsson.

(Also read | New Volvo electric SUV to drive autonomously on highways: Details here)

The battery-making company stated it aims to shift battery manufacturing to Europe from Asia. It has currently secured more than $50 billion worth of contracts from electric-car manufacturers including BMW AG, Volkswagen AG, Volvo Car AB and Polestar. The company's investors include Volkswagen, BMW, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Tesla shareholder Baillie Gifford.

Earlier this month, a report informed about Northvolt's and Volvo Cars partnership to establish a battery factory in Gothenburg located in western Sweden.

First Published Date:
Written By

Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December 2020 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

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ATLANTA  Besharam, the leading sexual wellness brand in India, has teamed up with Pipedream Products to bring the manufacturers extensive catalog and 48 years of expertise in sexual wellness and intimate care to India.

Besharam aims to present one of the most expansive and best-selling product lines in the world to the hands of Indias ever-expanding consumer base, whose thirst for new designs is always increasing.

Besharam is Indias top one-stop shop for everything pleasure, kink, novelties and lingerie. It showcases more than 120 brands from most reputed companies worldwide, offering a premium platform for Indians to shop the worlds best. The name Besharam means Shameless, but in essence Besharam is about speaking up and expressing yourself, without any fear or stigma from society. The brand's purpose has evolved over the years of existence, from being an online safe place to access pleasure products, to now being the voice of millions of Indians who strive for equality and diversity, both in the bedroom and outside of it. In short, Besharam is about democratizing sex & pleasure.

Raj Armani, co-founder and COO of Besharam, expressed his excitement about bringing Pipedream to the masses.

We have been carrying the Pipedream brand for quite a long time, but it was only after my chance meeting with Matthew Matsudaira when we both were nominated for the Progressive Leadership award, did we get to form a better relationship and bring more of Pipedream in our catalog," Armani said. "Since then, we have expanded our offerings with Pipedream Products and continue to be the largest importer of the life size dolls in India as demand surges in recent years. We are extremely happy with our relationship, the timely and high-level support from Rob & Loris team and look forward to increased mutual business in the coming years.



Raj and the team over at Besharam are the leaders in the Indian adult market and we couldnt think of better partners to team up with, said Pipedreams Rob Phaneuf. Pipedream is the leader in innovation and creating unique, one-of-a-kind best-sellers, and we have the perfect portfolio of brands to cater to Besharams ever-expanding consumer base.
Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

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Rutland, VT (05701)

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FLAGSTAFF -- Clyde Tombaugh sat in the Orpheum Theater that fateful night in February 1930, waiting for clouds to pass before the 24-year-old astronomer could return to Lowell Observatory to confirm his discovery of a ninth planet in our solar system.

In that same theater 92 years later, during the I Heart Pluto Festival celebrating the discovery, Alden Tombaugh reflected on his fathers legacy of inspiration.

When he speaks about his father, it isnt the discovery of Pluto that he remembers most, its his dads love of sharing astronomy with others, particularly children.

It makes me enthusiastic about the future to think that people are still interested in that process and becoming involved in planetary science or any type of astronomy and the scientific method in and of itself, said Tombaugh, a former banker and contractor.

That same finding that brought astronomical fame to Flagstaff and the Tombaugh family has provided Lowell Observatory with a tradition they hope to continue for generations to come by celebrating one of the citys defining scientific moments.

Kevin Schindler, who has been the historian at Lowell Observatory since 2015, hopes young children who see what happened there will be inspired by the work of Clyde Tombaugh, who died in 1997.

Inspiring a new generation

Children like Cameron Dick, 11, whos interested in black holes and theoretical physics. He lives in a city where science is in the backyard and events like the I Heart Pluto Festival provide an outlet for new generations of Arizonans interested in science.

Aaron Dick, Camerons father, said he hopes his children take away an appreciation of science and learning about research and how to do research.

At Lowell, just a mile up the road from the theater, visitors follow a path of descriptive signs and busts, named the Pluto Walk, leading to the room where Clyde Tombaugh spent hours peering into the heavens.

Schindler said the discovery of Pluto -- even though Pluto now is designated a dwarf planet -- has shaped Flagstaff and northern Arizona.

Flagstaff and even Arizona, you could say, is the home of Pluto, and I think theres a lot of pride that goes with that, he said. If youre from Flagstaff, youre from the home of Pluto, and you know, its important both scientifically but also culturally, because the community does embrace that heritage.

When Schindler speaks of Tombaughs discovery, its with admiration and awe that it still moves young people nearly a century later.

He was 24 years old when he discovered this planet, Schindler said, and so when he was younger, he spent a lot of nights by himself on the farm, building his own telescopes. He just found it interesting, so I think its inspiring to think that anybody could achieve this.

He gave her the moon

James Christy, who was an astronomer at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, was among the I Heart Pluto celebrants at the Orpheum on Feb. 18.

In 1978, nearly a half century after Tombaughs discovery, Christy noticed a discrepancy on some of the slides picturing Pluto  a discrepancy that later would prove to be Plutos largest moon.

The astronomer emphasized the most important piece of his tale: how he chose the moons name.

Christy wanted to combine Char, the diminutive for Charlene, his wifes name, with on, an ending used for newly discovered particles. But because planets and their moons traditionally are named after figures in Greek and Roman mythology, Christy told his wife Charon wouldnt work. But a quick look in a dictionary saved the day: Charon was the ferryman of souls across the River Styx in Greek mythology.

Where Pluto stands today

In 2006, astronomers at the meeting of the International Astronomical Union voted to demote Pluto to dwarf status, arguing it didnt meet the unions criteria for being a full-size planet because it has not become gravitationally dominant  known in astronomy circles as clearing the neighborhood around its orbit.

That decision has been widely debated, particularly at Lowell Observatory.

The decision, Schindler said, was made on the final day of the unions meeting, when fewer members were present.

Thats just not how science is done, he said. Science is done by acclamation, not by voting, but based on the evidence.

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Danvers, MA (01923)

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Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. High 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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A veteran Oceanside police captain has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor spousal abuse and was briefly jailed this week in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Capt. Thomas Aguigui, a 29-year veteran of the department and one of its highest ranking officers, was arrested at his home in Fallbrook on Wednesday and has since been released, a spokeswoman for the Oceanside Police Department said.

Aguigui has been placed on restricted duty within the department, said Kathleen Vincent, the agencys acting public Information officer. She said the incident involved Aguiguis wife.

The San Diego Sheriffs Department is handling all criminal jurisdiction on this matter and (is) forwarding the case to the District Attorneys Office who will determine whether to file formal charges, Vincent said.

OPD views matters of domestic violence to be very serious, she said. Its our protocol that we conduct a parallel administrative investigation into the matter to determine if any policies have been violated. If so, we take the appropriate action.

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Vincent said the department will not comment further about the investigation because it is a personnel matter. The Sheriffs Department confirmed only that an arrest was made.

Aguigui could not be reached for comment Friday.

The 54-year-old has been a sworn member of the department since 1988. He is in charge of the Investigations Division and is one of three captains who answer only to Police Chief Frank McCoy. The chief was unavailable for comment Friday.

According to a profile on the departments website, Aguigui has worked in patrol, field operations support, crimes of violence, gangs, narcotics, community policing, defensive tactics, and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) during his career.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix and served in the Marine Corps before becoming a police officer.

No formal charges have yet been filed and no court date has been scheduled.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
Julie Vitale has been appointed the next superintendent of the Oceanside Unified School District.

The OUSD board of education announced the appointment last week. Vitale begins her tenure as superintendent July 1.

Vitale comes to the district from the Romoland School District, where she has been the superintendent. The district, about 20 miles south of Riverside, has nearly 4,000 students. While serving there, Vitale increased the achievement for English Language Learners and students living in poverty.

She succeeds Duane Coleman, whose retirement took effect Saturday. Reginald Reggie Thompkins, the OUSD deputy superintendent since 2016, has been serving as acting superintendent for the district since April, when Coleman took personal leave and announced his retirement.

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Dr. Vitales leadership and proven track record is a welcome addition to our district, said Ann Corwin, president of the OUSD board of education, in a statement. She will bring a new perspective to the district and is committed to seeing students flourish in our schools and in the community.

Vitale has more than 26 years of experience in education, and has been a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal and district administrator. Her service in education includes tenures as an assistant superintendent at Monrovia Unified, as well as school site and district leadership positions at the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

She is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University.

I look forward to working with the Board of Education, district and site leaders, teachers, staff, the community, and most importantly, students and their families, on moving the district in a positive direction, said Vitale in a statement. I believe everyone has something to offer and it is my personal mission to engage people in meaningful and rewarding work for the good of students.

Vitale was selected by the OUSD board in a 4-1 vote, with board member Ortiz Wichmann voting against, citing salary concerns. Vitales salary will be $250,000 with benefits amounting to $18,635 per year. She will also be eligible to receive a $7,090 stipend for earning a doctoral degree.

Visit https://www.oside.k12.ca.us.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
Sanford, NC (27330)

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A Ukrainian soldier on a tiny island in the Black Sea didn't hold back when threatened with bombing by a Russian warship as Moscow continued its assault on Ukrainian territory.

According to a purported audio exchange, as the Russians approached Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island, the Russian officer says: "This is a military warship. This is a Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed."

A Ukrainian soldier responds: "Russian warship, go f*** yourself."

Those were the final known words heard from the island.

All 13 Ukrainian defenders were killed in a Russian bombardment Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"All border guards died heroically but did not give up. They will be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously," Zelensky said.

Snake Island sits about 30 miles (48 kilometers) off the southern tip of the Ukrainian mainland in the northwestern Black Sea. It's about 185 miles (300 kilometers) west of Crimea, the Ukrainian territory that Russia annexed in 2014.

Though it is only about 46 acres (18 hectares) in size, a report last year from the non-partisan Atlantic Council think tank called it "key to Ukraine's maritime territorial claims" in the Black Sea.

Highlighting its strategic importance, Zelensky chose it last year as the spot for an interview with Ukrainian media in advance of a summit to try to reverse Russia's annexation of Crimea, the Atlantic Council report said.

Zelensky words to interviewers that day proved prophetic.

"This island, like the rest of our territory, is Ukrainian land, and we will defend it with all our might," he said.

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What Americans Should Do to Prepare for Russian Cyberattacks

The Russian government is not likely, for the moment, to target American digital infrastructure, Daniel told me. That would be a big escalation. But American computers could still be compromised in collateral damage from Russian attacks on Ukrainian systems, as they have been in the past.

In 2017, for example, Russian military-intelligence hackers sent malware known as NotPetya into Ukrainian computer networks. As the infection spread, a small U.S. hospital system lost the use of every Windows machine in its arsenal, and dozens, if not hundreds, of other hospitals were hamstrung when a widely used transcription service for electronic medical records went down. Any company that does business in Ukraineand any person or business doing business with that companycould be vulnerable to this sort of collateral damage, Daniel said. No one really fully understands how the internet interconnects and operates together at some sort of macro level, so being able to map out all the possible permutations of how something might have an impact is essentially impossible ahead of time.

Herbert Lin, a senior research scholar at Stanfords Center for International Security and Cooperation, told me that direct attacks are still on the table. When it comes to patriotic hacking, he said, the Russians have elevated it to an art form. If the U.S. continues to escalate sanctions and Russia decides to retaliate with cyberattacks, Putin might target the technology that supports U.S. infrastructure.

American banks have been shoring up their cyberdefenses , but theyve never had to withstand a full-on, all-in cyberattack by a nation as powerful in cyberspace as the Russians, Lin said. Municipal power and water authorities would likely be more vulnerable, he said, because many of them dont have extra money to spend on cybersecurity. And if Russia chooses to allow domestic cybercriminals to operate without consequences , as its done in the past, they could simply go after whatever foreign companies and systems seem like the easiest, most lucrative targets. None of these is a particularly likely scenario, Lin emphasized, but any of them are possible.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/02/ukraine-war-russian-hack-cybersecurity/622922/
The day I started my first job out of college, my boss offered to take me to lunch. He listed a bunch of restaurant options, none of which I  a 22-year-old barely clearing minimum wage  knew. But then he mentioned Dahlia Lounge, a name I recognized, a fancy place, the kind my parents maybe went to celebrate an anniversary.

I jumped on it excitedly. My seafood cobb salad, which cost the same as an hour and a half of my wages, was delightful. But even then, before I first put pen to paper about food, I remember thinking, Whats so special about this?

More than a decade and a half earlier, when Tom Douglas opened his first restaurant, Dahlia Lounge, he was doing something special  and changed the citys food culture.

It's hard to imagine a more adventuresome menu anywhere, wrote Jonathon Susskind of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, just under two months after Dahlia debuted. It echoed the sneak preview by his Seattle Times counterpart, John Hinterberger: It has an innovative menu too uncommon to ignore. But looking back at Dahlia Lounges early dishes, it becomes clear that while it once lifted all Seattle restaurants with its rising tide of culinary standards, its aging foundation wasnt built for 2021.

Tom Douglas Restaurants

Thirty-two years is practically a century in restaurant years, if not a millennium. Dahlia Lounges lifespan stretched over multiple recessions that raked the industry with closures, and it likely could have rested on its laurels for years to come. But the pandemic hastened a death knell for many restaurants, particularly those Downtown among the tourists and office workers, and a glance back at the restaurants beginnings, shows that Dahlia Lounge was of another era.

Other restaurants  including ones from Douglas himself  evolved and pushed forward, jumping off from Dahlias innovations, while it seemed happy to float along, not unlike an aging rock band that changed the genre and continues to tour with passion and skill, but no longer produces new hits.

Courtesy Tom Douglas Seattle Kitchen

The gushing reviews started almost before Dahlia served its first coconut cream pie, Douglass reputation from his time as chef at Cafe Sport preceding him. One after another, pieces praised the restaurant for how it wove local ingredients and styles together with dishes and techniques from other cuisines.

With a more deft, nuanced touch than the restaurants that flew the banner of Asian Fusion before him, Douglass menu created a blueprint for Seattles own cuisine, cherry-picking the best elements of dishes from local immigrant-run restaurants and European fine-dining traditions alike, expertly pairing them with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. From an enormous, red-walled space in the heart of Downtown, Dahlia Lounge wowed Seattle with its creative mashups.

But by the time I sat down for that lunch 15 years ago, the Seattle P-I preferred the crab cakes at Douglass newer Ettas to the ones at Dahlia Lounge and the chef was in full restaurateur mode with the launch of Serious Pie. It was still, as Nancy Leson of the Seattle Times described at the time, A fine example of what the region does best, but thats a far cry from the groundbreaking nature of the original effusive praise. The final Seattle Times review, in 2015, lauded it, but called the atmosphere retro and deemed the once-inventive dishes definitive.

Seattles current crop of restaurants that cross culinary cultures, in a city where most people are as likely to choose pho as French fries, it seems incredible that Douglass sun-dried tomato-studded menu was so shocking three decades ago. The global outlook, applauded for its incorporation of gnocchi and polenta, hoisin sauce, and chow mein, now seems muddled at best, and  when reading reflections on it  appropriative.

The 1992 Pike Place Market Cookbook describes a dish as an original Tom Douglas recipe, inspired by a meal he enjoyed at a local Chinese restaurant. In his own 2001 cookbook, Tom Douglas Seattle Kitchen, he attributes some of his access to his discovery of the cooking of Seattles Asian communities. I want food to taste good, above all, he explains, and Im happy to borrow from anybody or any tradition to achieve it.

Douglas evolved: he helped staff open restaurants featuring cuisines from their own background, including a Tibetan dumpling house and modern Japanese restaurant. But Dahlia stuck with what had made it so successful in the first place: seasoning its dishes liberally with the food of other cultures, often stripped of their context, gussied up with the then-novel use of fresh local seafood.

Andrew D. via Yelp

Dahlias legacy lives on in what are now table stakes for opening great local restaurants: that they show off the incredible local ingredients from wild mushrooms to just-caught salmon, and that they speak fluently the many culinary languages of the city. Douglas found success with these by combining them in new ways, along with his attention to detail and quality. But as he expanded, he used his creativity, acumen, and ideas to open new places, rather than keep Dahlia pushing forward.

By the time it closed, Dahlia Lounge no longer represented a flashy, exciting way to marry the citys best parts, but just the opposite: it served as a reminder of a time when we didnt have fresh fish and pho all over, catering to those who hadnt adjusted to that reality.

So as you mourn Dahlia Lounge, just dont forget to celebrate that we live in a city that made such a premise obsolete.
Washington uses foul play to secure tech supremacy

Xinhua) 15:14, February 26, 2022

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Instead of building a level playing field as it advocates, the United States is more willing to resort to foul play to keep its tech supremacy.

Chen Gang, a prestigious scientist at MIT, is the latest collateral damage. He had a grueling long year since being arrested in January 2021 for allegedly concealing China affiliations. Last month, U.S. prosecutors dropped Chen's case.

Chen's story is only part of the United States' terribly misguided initiative that brought the McCarthyist mania to the field of knowledge where exchange and sharing are dearly cherished.

This week, the U.S. Department of Justice scrapped the initiative that put Chen into custody, amid strong domestic objections.

"The failure of the China Initiative to produce any results shows the serious flaws in the reasoning behind it," H. Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science journals wrote in an editorial published on Thursday.

However, the country's impetus to contain China's tech, with the sleight of hand, has not lost steam.

With a slew of allegations, sanctions and blacklisting, Washington seems unwilling to win a tech battle with its close competitor through fair play. To "make you worse than me" rather than striving for excellence is its tactic.

For a time, trade secret theft was a frequently-used false allegation against China. But according to a cyber-security report published on Wednesday by Beijing-based Qi An Pangu lab, a hacking group affiliated with the U.S. National Security Agency has conducted cyber-attack against Chinese communications, scientific research departments and economic sectors for more than a decade.

On the other hand, China's patent applications ranked 2.5 times as many as that of the U.S. in 2020, as shown by WIPO data, making the espionage charges increasingly unconvincing.

There is no shortage of evidence making it clear that the U.S. tech policies toward China are often aiming to contain the latter's development.

On Feb. 8, one day after Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment Group rolled out China's first lithographic machine for chipset packaging, the U.S. government included the company into its Unverified List, citing its inability "to establish the bona fides" of the company.

The U.S. government also used a double standard when it came to supportive tech plans.

China's drive to bolster its advanced manufacturing has been ruthlessly flayed. However, the United States has also rolled out a barrage of its own frontier tech aid programs.

Those programs came down to a huge sum of subsidies, involving 6G, quantum tech, semiconductor, artificial intelligence and biotechnology. And most of them undisguisedly listed China as its top enemy.

To cover up its unsportsmanlike practices, Washington made use of fabricated national security concerns, poorly-grounded human rights abuses and even far-fetched ones like China's scheme to collect American people's gene data.

What made the United States a tech powerhouse after World War II was not the Cold War mentality, but an open, inclusive and collaborative system that fosters innovation -- an architecture China is keen to emulate but the U.S. is putting away.

Washington is good at imagining an enemy but weak in solving its own problems. While ringing a loud warning of China's 5G threat, the U.S. administration got bogged down in the spectrum allocation within its own country for the next-generation wireless technology.

The country's two political parties are divided over multiple issues to renovate its tech infrastructure, especially in the year of its mid-term elections. But seeing China as an enemy turned out to be one of the few things that they agree on.

It benefited none because they did this at a time when international scientific collaboration was urgently needed to address humanity's existential threats, such as COVID-19 and global warming.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
The Beatrice City Council will meet in a special session Monday, where it's expected to vote to place the Citys Economic Development Program (LB840) on the ballot in the primary election.

LB840, the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act, authorizes cities and villages to use local tax dollars for economic development purposes, if approved by local voters. The City first approved its plan in 1992 and then every decade after that.

It essentially allows a community to conduct economic development activities, Trevor Lee, executive director of NGage said. I believe theres around 75 communities in Nebraska that utilize LB840 There are a lot of similarities between them, but communities adjust and develop their economic development programs to meet the specific needs of their communities.

Unlike many other towns that rely on sales taxes for the program funds, City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said the money for Beatrices program doesnt come through taxes.

Today, we fund it out of the electric department, he said. It comes from electric revenues.

Tempelmeyer and Lee said, in the past, program funds have been used to purchase land and build infrastructure. Most recently, theyve been used for loans.

Its been used for low interest loans, gap financing if you will, Lee said. So the City is able to fill the void Its a way to finance projects that otherwise might not happen Its especially geared toward small to mid-size businesses. For start-ups. It helps bring businesses in.

Tempelmeyer said the program is important because it helps strengthen Beatrices industry and commerce.

Economic development is the lifeblood of the community, Tempelmeyer said. It gives us the chance to improve the community and keep it from falling behind. It helps us bring in new businesses. It helps us with infrastructure It even helped address housing issues.

Lee said the program can often get overshadowed by other issues on the ballot, but he encouraged voters to take interest in it and vote affirmatively.

Its one of those things that can really fly under the radar because it doesnt have those hot button issues that attract attention, he said. Theres not a fiscal note behind this. Its nothing new. They might make changes to the plan, but it wont change the spirit of the plan.

Phil Dittbrenner came to own Uhls Sporting Goods thanks to one of the programs low interest loans, given out in 2021. He said the program was a lifeline when the bank he was using stalled.

Its a great program, Dittbrenner said. Its good for keeping things local, for keeping it a community.

Dittbrenner said he felt the City cared about what he was doing, and the process took 45 days from when he applied to when he got approved.

To apply for program funds, follow the link on the City website. All applications go before the City Council for approval.

Since 2015, nearly $1.5 million has gone out in loans through the program. Recipients of the loans include Dempsters, Rare Earth Salts, Birchwood, LandMark Snacks, Lottman, Dawgs Hut, Hybrid Tukreys, Midwest Housing, Porter Houses, Warner Investments, Uhls and Envision Landscape.

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Electric customers in fire-prone areas could lose power more frequently in the coming years as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. undertakes the slow and expensive process of putting power lines underground.

PG&E has promised to bury more than 10,000 miles of power lines, starting with 175 miles this year and ramping up significantly over the next five years as construction methods and designs improve for a total of 3,600 miles by 2026.

PG&E plans to increase its fire prevention spending to $5.9 billion this year up from $4.8 billion last year. The utility said Friday the cost will be paid partly by its customers.

The utility now sees the undergrounding of wires, once viewed as prohibitively expensive, as more cost-effective than allowing its equipment to keep starting fires. But with urgently dire conditions across Californias drought-stricken landscapes, PG&E says cutting power during times of risk offers an immediate way of reducing the chance of power lines starting a fire.

The company outlined its two-part strategy for state regulators Friday in its annual plan detailing how it intends to prevent disastrous wildfires. PG&E said it will continue a controversial program it launched last year in dangerous fire areas that uses sensors to automatically turn off the power when a fault is detected  a blip in current that could indicate a tree has fallen on a line.

PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe said burying power lines and automated power shut-offs represent the best mix of long- and near-term solutions to make it safer every day for our hometowns, while keeping our customers energy costs and bills as low as possible, according to a statement from the company.

The company said it will cost about $3.75 million per mile to put power lines underground this year. That cost should drop to $2.5 million per mile by 2026.

To help pay for the improvements, PG&E asked state regulators for permission to boost customer bills for gas and electric service by about 21% by 2026, starting with a nearly 13% hike in 2023 and decreasing each year, an update of a proposal the company originally put forward last year.

The proposal is separate from a 9% rate hike for most residential electricity customers that goes into effect Tuesday.

Sumeet Singh, PG&Es chief safety and risk officer, told The Chronicle that power shut-offs are ideally a short-term solution that will be used less frequently over time as more of the grid is updated. That involves replacing old power poles with stronger ones, replacing bare power lines with insulated ones, burying lines and other hardening projects.

We can achieve that wildfire risk reduction today and not have to wait until three, four, five-plus years from now  because we know that risk is here and now, Singh said. We know there is a trade-off.

The company first deployed the automated shut-off settings last summer after the disastrous Dixie Fire broke out July 13 in a remote area of the Feather River Canyon. The fault was detected right away, but it took nine hours before a PG&E troubleman found a fire underneath a power line broken by a fallen tree. Attorneys for the company told a federal judge in court filings the fire might have been prevented had an automatic shut-off system already been in place.

Chris Kaufman/Special to The Chronicle

Unlike power shut-offs during windstorms, which are planned in advance, this kind of blackout comes without notice. New settings boost circuit sensitivity so the devices that cut power will act more quickly  within one-tenth of a second when sensors detect a problem.

The new settings, which PG&E has dubbed enhanced power line safety settings, triggered 627 unplanned blackouts affecting about 240,000 customers between July and October, according to PG&E.

The blackouts were widely criticized, drawing anger from lawmakers and regulators and leading to a series of town hall meetings in communities affected by the power outages, primarily in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the North Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Singh said the company has fine-tuned the settings to be less sensitive, but that the system has already likely prevented fires. PG&E said it reported 80% fewer fire starts in 2021 compared to the average for the last three years.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The enhanced settings were employed across about 45% of the utilitys service territory in high fire danger areas last year, and it will expand the program to cover all of its 25,500 miles of power lines in areas where the risk is high.

Thursday, several government officials implored PG&E during a meeting before the state utilities commission to put more emphasis on power grid upgrades and limit all blackouts  including automated ones, which put medically vulnerable customers at risk and can generate economic fallout for businesses and individuals relying on power.

Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director Daniel Berlant cautioned the company against losing sight of the core mission of making sure the grid is actually safe.

PG&Es plan included details about the other measures the company is taking across its service territory, primarily 25,500 miles of distribution power lines in areas where the risk for fire is high.

The company is installing more devices to divide its grids into smaller sections, so that it can turn the power off for smaller, more targeted areas when deemed necessary. Workers will be installing 98 high-definition wildfire cameras, adding to the 502 cameras installed since 2018. They will also be adding 100 more weather stations to the 1,330 already in use  amounting to one for every 20 miles of power lines.

Crews will continue to inspect for hazards like overhanging branches and sick trees and make upgrades like installing stronger power poles, covered lines and burying lines with a goal of making those improvement on 470 miles of the grid.

State regulators will review and approve the plan, a process that could last until June.

Julie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: julie.johnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter @juliejohnson
As a state legislator, Rob Bonta voted in 2019 for AB5, which set standards that classified Uber and Lyft drivers as employees, with the right to minimum wages, overtime and work expenses. As attorney general, he asked the National Labor Relations Board this month to define the drivers as employees with the right to form a union.

But Bonta still has a duty to defend state laws in court, and on Thursday he asked a state appeals court to reinstate Proposition 22, the 2020 ballot measure backed by Uber, Lyft and other app-based companies that declared their drivers to be independent contractors.

An Alameda County Superior Court judges ruling last August finding Prop. 22 unconstitutional failed to give the measure the deference due to the initiative power ... one of the most precious rights of our democratic process, Bontas office said in a filing with the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco.

The filing was praised by supporters of Prop. 22, who are also defending it in court.

We thank the attorney general for continuing to take a strong position and fighting to protect the will of the voters and the integrity of the ballot initiative process, said Jay King, CEO of the California Black Chamber of Commerce.

The attorney general, the states top legal officer, almost always argues in defense of state laws, even those he or she opposes. The most recent exception had dramatic consequences.

After the states voters in 2008 approved Prop. 8, an initiative banning same-sex marriage in California, then-Attorney General Jerry Brown refused to defend it, saying it was clearly unconstitutional. His successor, Kamala Harris, took the same position, leaving the legal defense to a group of Prop. 8 supporters.

But after a federal judge and an appeals court found Prop. 8 unconstitutional, the Supreme Court dismissed the supporters appeal in 2013, saying private citizens have no right to represent a states voters in federal court. The ruling restored marital rights for gays and lesbians in the state, two years before the court declared a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide.

Similar events occurred in 1964, when California voters overwhelmingly approved Prop. 14, repealing a state law that had banned racial discrimination in housing. State Attorney General Thomas Lynch refused to defend it and filed arguments with the U.S. Supreme Court saying it was unconstitutional. The court allowed private sponsors to defend the measure but struck it down in 1967, a year after the California Supreme Court had also ruled Prop. 14 unconstitutional.

Prop. 22 was approved by nearly 59% of the voters in November 2020 after a $200 million campaign by Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other companies. It exempted their drivers from standards of AB5 that classified them as employees unless they ran an independent business in a different field than the company that paid them.

Bonta was appointed attorney general by Gov. Gavin Newsom in April 2021 after Harris took office as vice president. Soon afterward, he defended Prop. 22, which he opposed on the ballot, in a suit by individual drivers and unions.

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.

In overturning the measure and rejecting Bontas first round of arguments, Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch said the state Constitution authorized the Legislature to regulate workers compensation, which Prop. 22 denied to the drivers. He also said the measure covered multiple subjects, barring union rights as well as employee status, violating Californias single-subject limit for ballot measures.

The measures sponsors and Bonta both challenged Roeschs ruling in the appeals court. In the first round of written arguments, Bontas office said Thursday that voters have the same right as lawmakers to define eligibility for workers compensation. The filing also said all of Prop. 22s provisions promote its main purpose ... the right of Californians to choose to work and operate as independent contractors.

The court has not yet scheduled a hearing in the case.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
If Ketanji Brown Jackson is confirmed to the Supreme Court, she will make history as its first Black female justice, as well as its first former public defender and only the fourth Democratic appointee since 1967.

But some things are unlikely to change  in particular, a rock-solid 6-3 majority, probably the courts most conservative lineup since the 1930s, which remains in position to thwart Democrats agenda on issues ranging from voting rights, health care and immigration to federal versus state authority.

So while the American Constitution Center, like other liberal groups, praised President Bidens historic nomination of Jackson on Friday to succeed the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, its president, Russ Feingold, a former Democratic senator from Wisconsin, said her confirmation will not remedy the rights packing of the Supreme Court.

He was referring to Senate Republicans refusal to let President Barack Obama appoint a successor to the late Justice Antonin Scalia in the year before the 2016 election, while rushing to confirm President Donald Trumps nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the final weeks of Trumps presidency, his third appointment to the court.

To restore legitimacy to this institution, we must reform the court through structural reforms such as adding seats, Feingold said  a change that Biden and swing-vote Democrats in the Senate have refused to endorse.

Although Jackson, now a Biden-appointed federal appeals court judge, appears somewhat more liberal than Breyer  for whom she worked as a court clerk in 1999  and, at 51, is 32 years younger, subbing one Democratic appointee for another doesnt change the fundamental dynamics on the court, said Michael Dorf, a constitutional law professor at Cornell University.

Those dynamics are much more partisan than they were in 1973, for example, when the court issued its Roe vs. Wade ruling declaring a constitutional right to abortion. Six of the nine justices had been appointed by Republican presidents, and five Republican appointees  including the opinions author, Justice Harry Blackmun, and Chief Justice Warren Burger  were part of the 7-2 majority.

Breyer will remain on the court during the current term, scheduled through the end of June, and is likely to be in the minority on its most important cases. During oral arguments, conservative justices indicated they will limit  and perhaps overrule  Roe vs. Wade. The majority also signaled a likely decision to authorize adults to carry concealed firearms in public, overturning laws in California and other states.

Less prominent, but also significant, is a pending case that could allow conservatives led by Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas to attain their longtime goal of overruling the courts 1984 Chevron decision, which requires courts to defer to decisions of federal agencies when the law is unclear.

The current majority, Dorf said, seems intent on throwing sand in the gears of the administrative state.

Last month, in an unsigned ruling with only a brief explanation, a 6-3 majority blocked Bidens order requiring large employers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or wear masks and undergo weekly testing. Another terse, unsigned 6-3 decision last August ended the administrations moratorium on housing evictions during the pandemic.

Health concerns took a back seat to religious freedom last February when the court, without holding a hearing, issued a late-night 5-4 ruling striking down Gov. Gavin Newsoms ban on indoor worship services in California counties hard hit by the coronavirus, saying it treated houses of worship more harshly than retail businesses.

That ruling showed that the conservative majority no longer needs the support of Chief Justice John Roberts, who seeks to preserve the courts public neutrality and occasionally sides with his liberal colleagues  most notably, in a 5-4 ruling in 2012 that upheld most of Obamas Affordable Care Act.

The court also cited religious liberty in rejecting Philadelphias attempt to deny funding to a Catholic foster care agency that refused to place children with same-sex couples, and seems likely to rule that Maine must include religious institutions in its program of state funding for private schools.

In a case scheduled for next term, the court may ban colleges from using affirmative action programs to increase minority enrollment by considering applicants race, after upholding such programs in 2003 and again in 2016. California voters banned affirmative action at state institutions in a 1996 ballot initiative.

On immigration, the court refused last August to let Biden overturn a Trump administration policy requiring asylum-seekers at the southern border to remain in Mexico, in dangerous conditions, while their applications were pending, though the justices have now agreed to hear arguments in the case.

And on political issues, although the court rejected a barrage of Trump-related lawsuits seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, the majority has left intact state Republican restrictions on voting access, such as an Arizona law that limited absentee voting and banned collection of ballots cast in the wrong precinct.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

What difference would Jackson make?

One hopeful voice came from the libertarian Cato Institute, which noted that Jackson would be the first former criminal defense lawyer on the court since Thurgood Marshall, who served from 1967 to 1991.

The governments perspective is already well represented among the justices in those cases, Catos Clark Neily said. A Justice Jackson would provide a new and refreshing point of view.

In the long term, Cornells Dorf said, a younger Democratic appointee should increase the likelihood of a future majority that is more liberal.

Eventually there will be future openings, he said. In the meantime, the answer for Democrats, if you control Congress, when you pass legislation, be as clear and spell out as many details as you possibly can, because the current court is going to use any ambiguity to deny authority to the executive branch.

Jackson, Bidens first Supreme Court nominee, might also be his last one, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond.

Its hard to see that any justice will step down before 2024, when Biden may or may not seek a second term, Tobias said. And if Republicans gain control of the Senate this November, he said  recalling the final years of Obamas presidency  there will be no more Supreme Court (appointments) and very few lower court ones.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
As Russia continued its brutal attack on Ukraine, inching closer to the capital city, Russians in the Bay Area watched the news with confusion and fear.

Many wondered how their families would be affected and whether they would be able to return to their home country as the U.S. announced sanctions. Those who spoke to The Chronicle said the conflict unfolding in Ukraine is deeply personal and sensitive  as some have family members or friends there.

Others said they felt conflicted, and a few declined to discuss the conflict.

The histories of Ukraine and Russia are intertwined, and many people have families and friends in both countries.

In many ways, this feels like a civil war, said the Rev. Edward Henderson of the St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church in Berkeley, which counts parishioners from both countries. The whole thing is very painful.

Nina Bogdan is a Russian American whose father was born in Ukraine. She grew up in San Franciscos Richmond District, where many from both countries have settled, and now lives in Arizona.

The relatives that I have left are in Ukraine, they are now refugees, Bogdan said. For me, I am personally devastated by it. I cant believe its happening.

The conflict has sparked fears of a backlash against Russian immigrants in the U.S. East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell on Thursday suggested a controversial idea to kick Russian students out of the U.S., among other potential sanctions against Russia. The notion was quickly assailed by conservative critics of the Democratic politician, as well as by immigration experts.

The Bay Area is home to relatively large Russian and Ukrainian communities  representing a greater proportion of residents with ties to both countries than California and the U.S., census data shows. Data shows that 24,000 Bay Area residents were born in Russia, and nearly 98,000 say they have Russian ancestry. Nearly 14,000 people in the Bay Area were born in Ukraine.

Millions of people left Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution and the Civil War. Tens of thousands came to the U.S. and thousands came to San Francisco, said Bogdan, a historian whose dissertation focused on the Russian community in San Francisco from 1918 to 1957.

Initially, the community settled in San Franciscos Fillmore before moving to the Richmond District in the 1930s to new development there. In the 1960s, after World War II, more Russians came to San Francisco and moved into the Richmond.

Geary Boulevard is home to the Holy Virgin Cathedral, one of the largest Russian orthodox churches outside of Russia, and several Russian grocery stores, including Europa Plus grocery store. On Thursday, Alex Miretsky, the owner, said he spent most of the day watching the news and talking to the community who came in for groceries.

Depending on who he talks to, he said they either think Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing the right thing or Putin is a crazy fascist. Miretsky said he was conflicted and didnt know what to believe. Miretsky is Jewish and of Ukrainian descent but was born and raised in St. Petersburg.

The truth is somewhere, and what is it? he said. Who would be the independent objective source of the truth? I dont even know. Its a whole bloody mess.

Many people said they were surprised by the attack and were still absorbing the news and what it meant for their families.

Gala Gol, a barista at Cinderella Bakery and Cafe in the Richmond District, took down peoples orders for piroshki and pastries. She smiled at customers, but she said she couldnt stop thinking about her family in Kazakhstan.

Gol is Russian but was raised in Kazakhstan. She moved to San Francisco 17 years ago. Her 83-year-old mother, daughter, three grandsons and granddaughter remained in Kazakhstan.

Gol wondered whether Kazakhstan would get involved in the unfolding invasion. If that happens, she said, her 20-year-old grandson would be forced to join the army.

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.

I worry about Kazakhstan, Gol said. I dont know whats going on.

Nearby at Globus Books, which sells Russian books, a worker said, We are not ready to talk about it.

Ilya Rumyantsev, a 47-year-old engineer in San Francisco, said he was shocked by Russias actions. He and his wife have had sleepless nights watching the news worrying about their friends in Ukraine and his brother in Russia.

It didnt hit me that (Putin) is actually going to do it, Rumyantsev said. I cant quite believe what we are seeing.

On Thursday, Rumyantsev stood outside a San Francisco elementary school with his Ukrainian friend, Alex Berzhanskiy, 51. The two discussed the chances of being able to return to their home countries to see family or friends  agreeing it was unlikely that they would be able to anytime soon.

The Ukrainian and Russian community, Berzhanskiy said, we are not used to dividing ourselves.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Susie Neilson contributed to this story.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday announced its latest change in mask guidelines, saying most of the country is now in a stable enough position vis-a-vis the coronavirus to no longer require indoor masks.

Constantly changing mask mandates and recommendations at the federal, state and local level have been one of the hallmarks of the pandemic, leaving many feeling confused for the last two years. Heres a look back at where weve come from and where were heading.

March 30 - April 3, 2020: Most Bay Area jurisdictions start recommending, but not requiring, that people wear masks. On April 3, the CDC issues its first national advisory to don face coverings.

April 17, 2020: Most Bay Area jurisdictions issue health orders requiring people to wear masks in most indoor public places.

June 18, 2020: California orders residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces.

Jan. 21, 2021: The Biden administration enacts a federal requirement to wear masks while on public transportation, including in airports and on planes, trains and buses.

May 13, 2021: The CDC eases mask recommendations, saying fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in most indoor settings.

June 15, 2021: With vaccines widely available in the U.S. by now, California lifts its indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated people as the state embarks on a highly anticipated reopening.

July 27, 2021: The rise of the delta variant and growing awareness that even fully vaccinated people can still spread the virus spurs the CDC to bring back its recommendation to mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status, in areas of high transmission. The agency stops short of requiring masks. A day later, California also urges residents to resume masking, even if fully vaccinated.

Aug. 2, 2021: All Bay Area jurisdictions except Napa and Solano bring back indoor mask mandates, regardless of vaccination status, as the delta variant continues driving up cases and hospitalizations.

Oct. 15, 2021: In a targeted loosening of masking, a few Bay Area jurisdictions with high vaccination rates  led by San Francisco and Marin  allow fully vaccinated people to go maskless in stable cohorts, such as gyms, offices and other settings where fewer than 100 people gather regularly.

Dec. 15, 2021: California reimposes its indoor mask mandate for one month, regardless of vaccination status, as the fast-spreading omicron variant begins taking off in the U.S. Bay Area jurisdictions that had briefly allowed vaccinated people to go maskless in offices and gyms reinstate masks in those settings.

Jan. 15, 2022: California extends its indoor mask mandate by another month, citing the ongoing omicron surge.

Feb. 1, 2022: In another limited easing of masking, San Francisco becomes the first Bay Area jurisdiction to allow people who are up to date with their vaccines  which means fully vaccinated and boosted  to go maskless in stable cohorts like gyms and offices.

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.

Feb. 16, 2022: California lifts its indoor mask mandate. All but one Bay Area county, Santa Clara, end their indoor mask mandates. But local health officials continue to strongly urge people to wear masks.

Feb. 24, 2022: The last remaining Bay Area jurisdiction to have an indoor mask mandate, Santa Clara County, says its on track to end the requirement March 2.

Feb. 25, 2022: The CDC lifts indoor mask recommendations for 70% of the country, based on new metrics that redefine those areas as lower risk.

Feb. 28, 2022: California is expected to announce next steps for the current mask mandate in K-12 schools. It could announce a date for when masking for students and staff will be lifted. The decision will be based on vaccination rates among children, case rates in the community and hospital capacity.

March 18, 2022: The federal requirement to wear masks on planes, buses, trains and other modes of transportation is slated to expire. Its unclear if it will be renewed.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
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.

Almost all Bay Area counties on Friday suddenly dropped out of the federally defined high transmission category for COVID-19, after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its mask guidelines and announced new criteria for assessing local risk.

Under the new guidelines, more than 70% of U.S. residents live in an area defined as having low to medium levels of disease and are no longer advised to wear masks indoors. Six of the nine Bay Area counties are now in that lowest tier, and only two  Napa and Solano  remain in the high-risk category. Santa Clara County is defined as medium risk.

The change in guidance likely will not have an immediate effect in the Bay Area, where eight counties already dropped indoor mask mandates for vaccinated people on Feb. 15, and the ninth  Santa Clara County  expects to lifts its next week . All Bay Area counties still strongly recommend that everyone wear masks indoors.

The CDC also revised its guidance for masks in schools, recommending them only in places now defined as having high levels of disease. California still requires masking in all K-12 schools, but is scheduled on Monday to announce a date for lifting the mandate . It was not immediately clear if the CDCs new guidance would factor into the states school masking decision.

Were in a stronger place as a nation, with more tools, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said in a news briefing Friday. As the virus continues to circulate, we want to focus our metrics beyond just cases in the community. This updated approach focuses on directing prevention efforts at protecting people at high risk of severe illness and preventing hospitals from being overwhelmed.

The CDCs move underscores a shift in the national and local pandemic responses in recent weeks as the omicron surge winds down. Community immunity to the coronavirus  due to vaccination, infection or a combination of both  is vastly higher in the U.S. now than two years ago, when the CDC first issued its mask guidance and county-level risk assessment criteria. The country is also dealing with a variant that generally causes less severe illness.

Many states, including California, already had started to transition away from treating COVID as a public health crisis and had developed new criteria for assessing risk and determining when mitigation measures like mask-wearing might be applied. Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled Californias endemic plan last week, a few days after lifting the state mask mandate.

The updated guidance does not set mandates: Even in counties that remain in the federally defined high-risk category, people do not have to wear masks indoors if there is no local or state rule requiring it. Throughout the pandemic, Bay Area counties have largely developed their own metrics  sometimes consistent with the CDC but often divergent  for requiring masks and other mitigation measures.

The new CDC guidelines divide local levels of disease into three categories  low (green), medium (yellow) and high (orange)  and take into account metrics besides just case rates and positive test rates, which were the two criteria previously used. Other metrics now include local COVID hospitalizations and hospital capacity.

These are all reasonable, Dr. George Rutherford, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, said of the new metrics. Though the updated guidance may seem disconcerting to people in counties that moved overnight from high to low risk, he noted that state and federal officials have been moving toward the new metrics for months.

Before Friday, more than 80% of counties in the U.S. fell into the high-risk category as previously defined by the CDC, which meant everyone, regardless of vaccination status, was recommended to wear masks in public indoor spaces. Under the new definitions, just 37% of U.S. counties scattered all over the country and California are now in that high-level category.

Residents in low and medium areas are no longer recommended to wear masks indoors, though the CDC acknowledged many people would continue to use them out of concern for their own health or others.

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.

I would err still on the side of some degree of caution. I would keep a mask handy, said Stephen Shortell, former dean of the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.

Individuals increasingly will need to decide for themselves when it feels appropriate to wear a mask, he added.

I would ask what personal risk category am I in  never mind if Im in a county thats blue or green or orange or yellow. Am I immune suppressed, or am I 70 or 80 or 90 years old? he said. And then ask what is your personal stomach for risk.

Masks are still required on public transit under a federal order thats in place until at least March. The CDC said it will revisit that order in the coming weeks. Walensky, along with other health experts, noted that given the ever-shifting nature of this pandemic, its likely masks will remain a key tool in confronting COVID.

None of us knows what the future may hold for us and for this virus. We need to be prepared and ready for whatever comes next, Walensky said. We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing, when levels are low, and then have the ability to reach for them again, should things get worse in the future.

Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday
It was impossible to watch Russian tanks rolling through Ukraines capital city of Kyiv this week and not be overwhelmed by the geopolitical ramifications of the terrifying violence. Threats of direct nuclear confrontation with the West made by Russian President Vladimir Putin piled an additional menace onto our already COVID- and climate-ravaged psyches.

While the implications of Putins machinations in Ukraine may seem all-consuming, its important not to lose track of the latest escalation in the burgeoning anti-democratic movement here in the United States. The post-Cold War global stasis is spinning out of control, but America is not a united front. And our extremist politics at home continue to escalate.

On Tuesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a letter to his states Department of Family and Protective Services demanding that it investigate anyone giving or materially supporting gender-affirming care for transgender minors  including parents  for child abuse. Doctors, nurses and teachers who are aware of or suspect kids are receiving reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone treatments can also face criminal penalties if they dont report that information to authorities.

Abbotts directive came only a day after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion stating that gender-affirming care for minors constitutes child abuse under state law.

Many have already pointed out the seemingly transparent political motivations of these actions. Abbott is facing a tough re-election challenge from former presidential contender Beto ORourke and stands accused of using his office to inflate energy prices on Texans in the wake of last years winter storm that decimated the states power grid and led to the deaths of at least 246 people. Paxton, meanwhile, is also facing re-election amid criminal charges of securities fraud and an FBI investigation into allegations of bribery.

And yet lumping an anti-transgender escalation of this magnitude under the banner of electoral headline-grabbing minimizes its danger and the mendacity of its intent.

One parent of a transgender child in Texas we spoke with  who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons  rightly refused to view Abbotts letter as a tool of electoral expediency.

What Abbott is doing here is terrorism, plain and simple.

Indeed, criminalizing parents for seeking medically approved care for their children isnt a campaign contrivance, its a human rights crisis. And if realpolitik is in play, its endgame is far more nefarious than the political fate of two Texas reactionaries.

Weve already seen the damage Texas seemingly unconstitutional abortion law could do to the nation. Legal scholars say the states transgender guidance wont stand up in court. But how certain can we be, given that justices like Amy Coney Barrett  who was shaped by the reactionary Christian legal movement  could have the final say?

In a widely shared tweet thread, journalist and Dartmouth professor Jeff Sharlet  who for decades has studied the anti-LGBTQ Christian nationalists who form a powerful base of Abbotts support in Texas and among the Jan. 6 insurrectionists  framed the Texas trans guidance in the context of a much broader anti-democratic march.

Maybe youre not trans, dont know any trans folks, maybe you think this isnt your fight. Christian Nationalists are counting on you thinking that. (They) are counting on liberals tsk-tsking ... without doing anything because (this) provides room for the rights expansion of power over everything, including those tsk-tsking liberals.

We agree. And there is no shortage of precedent for anti-LGBTQ repression being used as a temperature check for broader anti-democratic violence. Putins 2014 invasion of Crimea was preceded by a brutal nationwide anti-LGBTQ crackdown. Hitler, of course, furthered his early political fortunes by leveraging anti-LGBTQ sentiment to jail and murder his political rivals.

Putting Texas guidance in a similar realm may sound extreme, but the Texas parent we spoke with who faces criminal charges for providing medical care to their child certainly doesnt think so.

If you have ever wondered what you would have done if you had lived in Germany when Hitler came to power, what you do now in Texas is the answer to that question.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
The Homestead Act of 1862 brought significant change to the United States of America, and Homestead National Historical Park continues to bring visitors to Beatrice and Gage County who impact the local economy.

Homesteading has had an impact on the very fabric of the community and we try to help every visitor connect to the park in their own way, said Tim Colyer, Interim Park Superintendent. We try to be sure that we are sharing the story of homesteading with a very diverse population and there are a number of important stories to tell from the white men, the black men, the women and the American Indian.

All the outreach efforts and trying to help people realize that this is a much bigger story than it may seem at first, it helps draw interest to the community that may not otherwise exist.

Over 30 states participated in the Homestead Act and over 30 countries had immigrants that came here to take advantage of the free land. It had a world-wide impact with approximately 270 million acres of free land.

That catapulted the agriculture community with the need for tools, tractors, and other implements," Colyer said. "There was a ripple effect into the industrial society and created jobs. The more homesteaders in the area meant a need for more services like stores, blacksmiths, leather workers and banks.

Its a nice way to step back into history if you take the time to look at it. The staff can often be heard greeting visitors with questions like 'Do you know if your family is a homesteading family?' Thats a story that we try to tell. Whether or not your family were homesteaders, the Homestead Act has impacted how we live today."

Computers at the Heritage Center allow people to research family history with access to Bureau of Land Management records, National Archive Records and genealogy subscriptions.

Its more in depth than Google searches, Colyer said.

The Homestead National Historical Park recently changed its name from The Homestead National Monument.

Colyer said that there had been a visitors study a number of years prior that showed that a lot of visitors, especially first-time visitors, were confused by the monument in the name.

There are 19 different naming categories.

The significance of the name change is that once we became a National Historical Park it recognizes that we are about more than one resource. We have a number of different resources for the public, said Colyer. Theres something for everyone at the park. If youre interested in farming history or if youre an educator, the Freeman School is a fascinating piece of history with the Court case that came out of the school."

Colyer shared that there are a number of people who like the Citizen Science projects that allow for involvement in the outdoors and interaction with the tall grass prairie. Participants gather seeds from the grasses to help restore other prairies.

There are also opportunities to be involved in bioblitzes that allow for people to observe and record the different species of wildlife and birds at the park.

School groups have participated in the Fresh Water Mussel project in Cub Creek.

There are also opportunities for distance learning which allows us to have a broader reach and a lot of times it leads them to visit the park, said Colyer. If you think about it, we have the bookends of the Homestead Act. The park is located on land that was first homesteaded by Daniel Freeman. The tractor we brought from the Alaska was from the very last homestead that was proved up on. Its a neat story.

The park hosts annual events such as the Homestead Days and The Fiddle Fest. There are Ranger Walks and Campfire Programs throughout the year.

In April the Park will host a Naturalization Ceremony for new citizens in the United States.

Its a nice way to connect to the immigrant story, said Colyer. We have great partners with the Friends of the Homestead, the Youth Conservation Corp that allows students to volunteer at the park, the community of Beatrice and Gage County. Its nice to have that connection. We also have a great team of employees."

Colyer said that he believes Betty Boyko, the new Park Superintendent arriving in March, will be an asset to the park.

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WASHINGTON  East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell floated an idea on Thursday to kick Russian students out of the U.S. as punishment for the invasion of Ukraine, a controversial suggestion that quickly faced pushback.

The Livermore Democrat mentioned the proposal as one of a range of options to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing attack on Ukraine on CNN on Thursday, comments that were seized on by conservative media outlets that make Swalwell a frequent target.

On the table should be sanctioning Putin personally, completely taking them out of the European and international banking system which is known as SWIFT, Swalwell told the anchors of Newsroom on CNN. Frankly, I think closing their embassy in the United States, kicking every Russian student out of the United States, those should all be on the table. And Vladimir Putin needs to know every day that he is in Ukraine, there are more severe options that could come.

The White House on Friday afternoon confirmed the U.S. would sanction Putin personally, following European countries doing the same.

But while some of Swalwells suggestions are widely embraced, the idea to kick out Russian students is controversial, and not just among the conservative media sphere that relishes picking fights with the outspoken Democrat. 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 that could fuel anti-Asian bias. The Justice Department this week ended that program.

Immigration experts were also critical.

History has proven that our immigration system is one of our strongest assets in the fight against authoritarianism, said Ali Noorani, president of the National Immigration Forum, a centrist immigration advocacy group. We should be extending a welcoming hand to Russian students who want to contribute their talent to the United States. It is to the benefit of our economy and our democracy, and to Putins loss.

That view was shared by Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the American Immigration Council, a group that advocates for immigrants and a fair immigration system.

Our universities are one of the best assets we have to show the value of an open society, diverse perspectives and the free flow of ideas, Robbins said. Its neither fair nor wise to penalize Russian students whom we want to expose to the very ideas and experiences wed be shutting them out of.

But Swalwell stood behind the idea Friday as scrutiny of his remarks grew.

Ive laid out a number of options we should consider if Putin doesnt back off, Swalwell told The Chronicle in a text message. That is just one of them. So is closing their embassy. Reducing their role at UN in NY. Cut their visas for UN employees. The goal is to isolate Russia. Make it clear they are a pariah state.

He said the idea, which has not been prominently floated elsewhere, came from current and former intelligence community members who suggested it as a way to increase unrest in Russia, with destabilizing Putin as the goal.

If their people feel isolated from the world, the opposition inside the country will grow, Swalwell said.

He also tweeted a link to the Fox News story on his remarks and claimed those commenting on the article support the idea.

When Fox News thinks theyre owning me but the comments section agrees with me. Looks like they miscalculated America. We dont root for Russia. You bet wrong, he wrote.

The White House did not immediately comment on Swalwells idea or say whether it was on the table.

On Thursday, President Biden announced a new round of punishing sanctions on Russia but held off on some options, including kicking Russia out of SWIFT, the finance messaging system Swalwell referenced on CNN, saying European allies were not on board with that idea yet. Support seemed to be building on Friday, however. Biden also spoke to a desire to tailor punishments to the Russian government and to minimize the impact on the U.S. and other allies.

Swalwell acknowledged in his interview with CNN that the U.S. should act in concert with other partners and said the U.S. should be united in standing against Russian aggression.

Everything we do has to be aligned with our allies, Swalwell said. This is the largest invasion in Europe since World War II, and these are the harshest sanctions that any country has experienced since World War II as far as financial, travel, you know, energy and resources, but there will be more to come.

Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan
One person died after a residential building caught fire in San Franciscos Fillmore Districts, according to the citys Fire Department.

Fire personnel responded to the one-alarm fire at 7:13 a.m. at 1212 Turk Street. It was placed under control a little over two hours later, according to an incident report.

Four people were rescued during the fire, one of whom later succumbed to their injuries, the fire department said.

The other three, including a child, were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Of the four rescued, two were rescued from the second-floor window, and the other two were rescued from the inside, the Fire Department said.

It was not immediately clear what started the fire.

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.

District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston said he went to the scene to offer help for victims and neighbors.

This is devastating and tragic, and traumatizing for the survivors, he said. We are coordinating with the Fire Department and EAH which manages the affordable housing complex to support the victims in every way possible, and we are informed that the Red Cross is providing direct emergency assistance. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims family and loved ones.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com
Mayor London Breed on Friday reiterated her desire to have law enforcement play a role in addressing the Tenderloins drug crisis after one of the citys top officials warned that some users could be arrested in certain circumstances.

But the stated shift in strategy has not yet translated into much visible change on the ground.

Mary Ellen Carroll, who is leading Breeds Tenderloin emergency initiative, told The Chronicle on Thursday that police would play a more active role in trying to get people who use drugs on the neighborhoods streets connected with services. Carroll said the goal was not arrest, but that enforcement could be used as a last resort if people refused services and continued harmful behaviors, although she said there would be no roundup.

Over the course of several hours on Friday, The Chronicle did not see police arrest any drug users or increase their intervention in the neighborhood as crews cleaned and conducted outreach.

Interviews with San Francisco officials, police and people on the streets also did not suggest an imminent police crackdown on drug users, and city leaders said their top priority remained trying to get more people into treatment.

Still, city officials have not denied that they are willing to have police arrest users in certain circumstances, and Carrolls Thursday comments marked an escalation in the Tenderloin initiative that the mayor launched in December.

If you are in the Tenderloin and you are breaking the law, and unfortunately if you have a drug problem, our goal is to first provide services, Breed told The Chronicle on Friday. We want to get you into treatment, but we will be enforcing the law, and whatever that means on the ground will be determined by the officers who are out there. But our first approach is to try and get people help and support.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

The city has offered voluntary services, including housing and drug treatment, through a new linkage center at U.N. Plaza over the past month, but data shows that only a fraction of visitors were connected to resources. Carroll said city leaders are now looking to a firmer approach, hoping to see concrete results on the Tenderloins streets and curb the overdose crisis that has cost 1,300 lives over the past two years. Critics pushed back Friday on her announcement, saying the city was criminalizing addiction, which wouldnt solve the root causes for people being on the streets.

For years, everyone has been saying that we cant arrest our way out of homelessness, and yet that always becomes the default, said Kelley Cutler, an organizer with the Coalition on Homelessness. What theyre doing now is nothing new. Its the same cycle that we see over and over again.

Cutler and other homeless advocates oppose the policing of drug use in the Tenderloin. They say the city does not have nearly enough treatment and shelter for drug users who want help, and that bolstering those and other services should be the citys main focus.

Im on a daily basis talking to people who are looking for resources, and its just so difficult these days, Cutler said.

Emergency management department spokesperson Francis Zamora said Friday the city is working on long-term solutions  creating shelter spots, permanent supportive housing and behavioral health treatment beds  and taking immediate action to address whats in front of us.

Carrolls announcement came almost one week after a 16-year-old girl died of a possible overdose in the citys South of Market neighborhood, but mayors spokesperson Jeff Cretan said he did not think the tragedy was behind the move to have law enforcement more involved on the ground.

What the mayor heard from the community was, when they dont feel safe, theres a lot of drug dealers, but theres also people who are committing violent acts, and it could be driven by their drug use or their behavioral health challenges, Cretan said. Those violent acts are not OK. You have to manage those as well, sometimes with law enforcement.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

San Francisco police Officer Robert Rueca told The Chronicle in an email that he was barred from sharing details on any planned operations in the Tenderloin, but we are committed to collaborating with our City partners to create a safer Tenderloin neighborhood.

He said the city had the responsibility to intervene when harmful behaviors are hurting people.

Police data from before and after the Tenderloin emergency shows arrests for drug-related crimes in the neighborhood are largely unchanged. Police logged 15 arrests for drug sales or possession with intent to sell this past week in the Tenderloin, compared with a normal average of 10 to 15 people arrested a week before Dec. 10.

Some Tenderloin community members have told The Chronicle they want more police, but specifically to deter drug dealing. Zamora said police will be involved in outreach as well as regular patrols, which include actions such as arresting dealers and seizing drugs.

For the past few weeks, police officers have joined emergency management staff, Public Works cleaners, homeless outreach workers and paramedics for a morning operation to clean and clear specific blocks identified as problematic by community members. On Friday, it was the 300 block of Hyde Street, where crews have visited before.

Just after 10 a.m., Destin Tianero, emergency medical services captain in the Fire Department and Tenderloin incident commander, called a city staffer to close down the block as an EMS van, Public Works truck and cop car pulled up along the curb. Tianero started walking down the block and talking to people sitting on the concrete, telling them they were about to clean the sidewalks. He carried pieces of paper with information about available shelters to hand out.

People were sitting on camping chairs, smoking drugs or hovering over blankets covered with purses and other wares for sale. Homeless outreach workers dressed in neon green wove through the two dozen or so people clustered along the sidewalk, offering to connect them to shelter or treatment. Some sought help  Jessica DiDia, who was featured last year in a Chronicle story, said she got an appointment to sign up for cash assistance, necessary since shes trying to get permanent supportive housing. Others simply gathered their belongings and shuffled away.

A police officer stood by a patrol car in the middle of the street, observing but not involved in outreach.

As Public Works employees turned on power washers on the emptied sidewalk, Darryl Peoples ambled over to the other side of Hyde Street. Every morning, he said he wakes up in his single room occupancy hotel on Sutter Street and then heads to this block before the sun rises to hang out. Over the past few weeks, hes seen the systematic cleansing of the block, after which people quickly return.

The 46-year-old Hunters Point native is a heroin user but said he doesnt use in the open as others on the block do.

Peoples said more police intervention wouldnt make a difference to him  he would just move to another block. He scoffed at the idea of the possible threat of arrest.

What are you going to do  flood the justice system with a bunch of drug users? he said. That dont work. They tried that.

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.

He suggested the city open up a designated area for drug use  which officials are considering  and if people use outside of those facilities, they should be forced to go inside. He also said the city should create more career opportunities to get people off the streets. He wants to work with a nonprofit, but no leads have panned out yet.

Rene Colorado, executive director of the Tenderloin Merchants and Property Owners Association, stopped by the operation Friday, taking photos of the cleaned block to post on social media.

He said law enforcement was sometimes a necessary step. With overdoses killing nearly two people a day in San Francisco, the crisis demanded an all hands on deck approach including medics, social workers, homeless outreach workers and police.

Colorado, who lives in the Tenderloin, was a formerly undocumented immigrant from Mexico, homeless in San Francisco and spent nearly a year in jail in South Dakota for possession of marijuana.

Just because youre homeless or doing drugs doesnt mean you get to do whatever you want, he said. You shouldnt just blindly advocate for someone to break the law.

Colorado said he believed the daily operations were effective, but said the city should arrest and prosecute more drug dealers to curb crime and deploy more community ambassadors. His organization employs ambassadors who offer services to people on the streets and whose presence keeps people from returning to deal or do drugs on a certain block.

Unless drug dealing is addressed, all of this is unfortunately abandoned, he said, sweeping his arm along the power-washed block.

Less than an hour after the operation moved on to the next block, some of the same people filled the sidewalk, smoking drugs and selling goods. A cluster of men with backpacks on the corner, who community members said were drug dealers, reappeared when police went around the corner. They later scattered once again when a cop car drove by.

One police officer watching the operation on the next block, whom The Chronicle isnt naming in accordance with its anonymous source policy, said despite Carrolls announcement about more police involvement, his role hadnt changed. Because of staffing shortages, Tenderloin enforcement is like whack-a-mole.

You need real enforcement for dealers, and not the revolving door, and real treatment for users, said the officer, who isnt authorized to speak to the press. Theres so many people that need help with so few resources, it bottlenecks.

He said he persuaded a woman on the streets in November to seek treatment, but she couldnt get in a spot until January. He saw her in the same location in February  shed never made it to that treatment bed.

I want users to get help, he said. I dont want to send you to jail. That will solve nothing.

J.D. Morris and Mallory Moench are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com, mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris @mallorymoench
A choice comment from television business-news personality Jim Cramer about public safety in San Francisco prompted derision  and in some cases, confusion, among social media users in recent days.

During a segment on CNBC, Cramer said he has found San Francisco to be dangerous and added he didnt let his team walk around the city, even during the day.

Cramer added that on a trip to San Francisco, he and his wife saw a man hitting another man with a claw hammer  and that the man stopped when his wife intervened.

I said, My wifes going to get killed!, Cramer said. But she didnt. She got it stopped, and I thought that was great. She also lectured (the man with the hammer), Cramer said.

The segment was swiftly met with comments from San Francisco residents, many of whom claimed to live and work in the Embarcadero  and contested the accusation.

I walk to work everyday on the Embaracdero, and you are beyond wrong, tweeted @mceliceo.

Crime? At the Embarcadero? The only crimes happening there are people double parked in the bike lane, responded @byJoshuaDavis.

San Franciscos myriad social problems have attracted a national and often harsh spotlight, though attempts to paint the city as a hellish, chaotic place can border on caricature, some said.

Embarcadero? Please. Not dangerous at all. What a joke. Lifelong Bay Area resident over here. This is nonsense, tweeted .@RobeloDaniel.

Across the city, fatal and nonfatal shootings jumped by 33%  from 167 to 222  from 2020 to last year, while homicides rose from 48 to 56.

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.

But crime in San Franciscos Financial District, which includes the Embarcadero  including reported assaults, burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft and robberies  all fell from 2019 to 2021.

I work on the Embarcadero, it's not dangerous. What reality does this guy live in? tweeted @AlexSayde.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
On a recent afternoon, Emmanuel Duverneau set about making a Chipotle bowl for dinner in his bright and airy Walnut Creek home. He chopped tomato and avocado, sauteed corn, seared chicken, cooked rice, and then assembled it all neatly in a bowl before topping it with cheese and sauce. He also took a moment to dance to End of Time, a Beyonce hit circa 2011.

There was nothing particularly fancy about the preparation or the meal  no special kitchen gadgets (well, except a precision sous vide cooker that he used for the chicken), no special knife techniques. It was just Duverneau, 25, in his kitchen cooking and dancing.

Throughout it all, though, his wife, Lisa Duverneau, was using his iPhone to capture small clips of each step, and as he ate, Emmanuel edited them together into a 53-second video and posted it for his 1.9 million followers  or supporters, as he calls them  on TikTok.

Two days later, the video had racked up more than 200,000 views and hundreds of comments.

Your energy is UNMATCHED (clap emoji, fire emoji)

Omg I just made this for dinner!

Im trying to be a sous chef in this house.

Five months ago, one of his videos might have gotten a few thousand views. Now Emmanuel is one of TikToks Black Trailblazers, a group of trendsetting Black creators that the app has spent February highlighting. Such is the life of a freshly minted TikTok star in the year 2022.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

While Facebook is still the worlds largest social media platform by far with more than 2.9 billion users, Chinese-owned TikTok saw explosive growth during the pandemic. In the first quarter of 2020, just as government shutdowns rolled across the globe, TikTok generated the most downloads of any app ever in a quarter, according to Sensor Tower. And last fall, the app passed 1 billion monthly users.

But more than the numbers, the app has become the place for creating content  and culture. And thanks in part to its For You Page, and the proprietary algorithm that powers it, that content can quickly take off, turning a home cook into a micro-celebrity almost literally overnight.

For Emmanuel, the attention of millions has been life-changing. Hes debating now whether he should go all in on TikTok and leave the renewable energy field, which is where he has been making his money. He already has a manager who helps him negotiate brand deals, and TikTok has assigned him a rep who helps him understand his audience and current trends  though, he says, hes not big on chasing after the meme or song of the moment.

For the most part, he doesnt dwell on the size of his audience. I dont really think about it too much. Yeah, I know I have a huge following, but we dont sit down and think, Wow, like 1.8 million supporters, he says. If he does, it can get disorienting. I will tell you this much: I kind of dont like leaving the house anymore because of it, because I know more people know me than I know them.

He and Lisa get recognized at Safeway  where they shop about five times a week  somewhat regularly.

Still, he loves making the videos; in the kitchen, he doesnt take himself too seriously. Lisa will tease him about adding too much lemon to everything he makes. Hell geek out over a new method for chopping vegetables that he saw someone doing at a kitchenware store.

Emmanuels rise to a certain sort of social media fame began with loss. Early in the pandemic, his father, Dama Duverneau, caught the coronavirus, was hospitalized and eventually died from COVID-19. At the time, Emmanuel and Lisa were living with her parents. I felt like I needed something to cope with, and I just started cooking out of nowhere, he says. I would tell her mom, OK, Im going to cook dinner tonight.  And I would just zone out and cook food, and they would enjoy it.

By the time he was done, he was planning his next meal.

Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle

He and Lisa had played around with TikTok earlier in the pandemic, shooting dance videos in the backyard. (One video on Lisas account, during which she shows off her engagement ring, has more than 350,000 views.) But it wasnt until last October, after friends and family kept asking him about recipes, that he started sharing cooking videos regularly.

One night, he put together a video of him making steak, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, posted it around 10 p.m. and went to bed. By the next morning, 200,000 people had watched it. By the next day, 1 million and 2 million the next. I was like, What is going on? Because I didnt know people were that interested. And the comments were, like, all positive as well. His next videos got the same sort of viewership, and before long TikTok was reaching out and connecting him with a management agency.

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His success has been truly extraordinary, says Megan Frantz, a talent manager with Whalar, who helps him negotiate brand deals. TikTok has just seen insane consumption numbers in the last few years due to the pandemic.

And the most interesting thing about TikTok, that I think has benefited Emmanuel, is this idea of getting a glimpse into basically what feels like average-day people. Its not like Instagram, where you are looking at these beautiful models and celebrities glamorizing their life. You feel like Emmanuel is your friend, and youre in his kitchen and hes making you a meal.

If you scroll back far enough, you can see him play with structure and form, finally settling on the unique hybrid of cooking, ASMR (soothing sounds) and dance.

Theres a precise rhythm to one of his TikTok videos. He usually starts with opening a fridge, tossing the ingredients onto a countertop. Then theres chopping and searing and whisking, all done in silence, to help the sounds of cooking stand out. A couple times hell interrupt the cooking to do a quick dance (hes a good dancer), and finally, hell take a bite of whatever hes prepared, look into the camera, and say, Excellent.

His followers, fans, supporters  whatever you want to call them  love it and make sure to let him know in the comments.

But Emmanuel is also keenly aware that social media (both the fans and the algorithms) can be fickle. Hes been trying to make smart investments with the money hes bringing in, and hes trying to figure out how to build on what he has now.

I dont only want to be on TikTok. I dont only want to be considered, like, a TikTok chef, he says. I think theres more to me than, you know, just the guy in the kitchen.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @RyanKost
It's just before noon in the middle of the week at the Big Sur Restaurant in San Simeon. Owner Maura Valencia is standing across an empty lunch counter from me as I ask her the obvious question, the one she probably doesn't want to hear, "Where is everyone?"

She makes a sweeping gesture with her arms around the cozy, but empty, cafe and then gives me a smile and a shrug. "What do you see?" she says. "Where are they? You tell me."

San Simeon is a town of 658 residents, located along California's oceanfront state Route 1. It's the exact midway point on the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco  approximately 240 miles away from the state's two most populous metropolitan areas.

Photo By Andrew Pridgen

Driving through, it's a get-distracted-and-youll-miss-it-entirely single row of hotels, motels, restaurants and a liquor store. The local economy is reliant upon Hearst San Simeon State Park and Hearst Castle, which has been closed by California State Parks since March 2020  first for COVID and then for road work.

While California State Parks San Luis Obispo Coast District Superintendent Dan Falat said the castle  which hosts an average of 750,000 visitors a year  is set to open by mid-April, local businesses in San Simeon don't know how much longer they can hold out, even with the 165-room Julia Morgan-designed, Gatsby-esque monument to the Roaring Twenties in full operation.

Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

Life without Hearst Castle

"Weve got the castle and we've got a beach," says Miguel Sandoval, front desk manager at the San Simeon Lodge. "It's been a double whammy. First COVID, then the [castle remained] closed. It's been like this for almost two years."

"Like this," in this case, also means empty.

Photo By Andrew Pridgen

Besides a lone server in the San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill, the hotels adjoining restaurant and lounge, Sandoval is the only sign of human life in the building. His voice echoes down the lobby corridor when he answers the phone.

The San Simeon local says that while the time leading up to spring break and summer is usually quiet, he's never seen it this dead for this long.

"We hope the crowds come back," he says. "That's all we can do."

San Simeon is missing visitors

Theres one key missing component: foreign tourists, according to Bob Matchett, a resident of nearby Cambria.

Photo By Andrew Pridgen

"I used to run [tour] buses," he says. "The castle has been in decline for years with locals and California residents. But for people coming from abroad  Europeans and visitors from Japan and China especially  it was a big draw."

He says after the tour groups stopped in March 2020, visitors have come around "less and less often."

"There's not much else to do besides look at the ocean," Matchett says as he straps his surfboard to the roof of his car. "I have to admit, it's nice for the locals. Imagine all this to yourself. Nobody was here at the height of the pandemic  it was amazing. It's quiet. But quiet like this really hurts."

Photo By Andrew Pridgen

Reality has set in in San Simeon: the community will need to be self-sustaining or pull from local and regional markets in order to stay afloat. "Sometimes people move on from a thing," says Cambria resident Casimir Pulaski, out for a morning walk along the state beach. "Everything's stopped because of COVID and then the [castle] closure. The way things are going now, it doesnt look like the world can come here anytime soon.

California visitors are finding paradise

One visiting California couple says they've "found paradise" in a "forgotten" San Simeon. Fresno residents Linda and Mike Walsh stayed at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort this week, with friends, to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

George Rose/Getty Images

"We discovered this four and a half years ago," Linda says. "We stay right on the beach. We've been back three times. We keep looking forward to coming back. When we do, like right now, it's empty. It's glorious. It's all ours."

Back at the Big Sur Restaurant, a handful of lunch patrons wander into the cafe, and Valencia is busy getting drinks and taking orders. She pauses for a moment and says two years with no steady business is about the limit of what she can endure. "It's not enough."

"But," she adds, "we're expecting a good summer. We hope people haven't forgotten about us. We'll see."
A New Mexico man was sentenced to prison Friday for the promotion of prostitution of a minor in Billings.

Lavondrick Terrele Hogues, 35, received 15 years in Montana State Prison with three suspended. The case against Hogues spanned six years, with developments captured in hundreds of pages of court records. Members of Hogues family were present in court as Yellowstone County District Court Judge Donald L. Harris issued the sentence.

I think you can change your life. I believe that you have a close relationship with your family and you support your family. I believe that, and I dont believe that youre a bad man. I do believe, howeverthat you committed a very, very serious offense, Harris said.

In December 2015, an undercover agent with the Montana Department of Justice based out of Billings responded to an ad posted to the now defunct classified ad website Backpage.com. The agent called the number listed in the ad, which said two women were available as escorts, according to court documents. A woman answered and told him it would be $400 for an hour or $300 for half an hour. The agent met with the woman in person on the first floor of a Billings hotel that same day, and she led him to a room. Inside the room was a 17-year-old girl.

After identifying himself as a police officer, the agent spoke with the two. The woman, later identified as Phylicia Zubia, told him that she and the girl met three weeks prior in New Mexico, court documents say. The two then traveled to towns in Texas, North Dakota and eventually Billings to work as prostitutes. Zubia was charged in Yellowstone County District Court with promotion of prostitution, while the 17-year-old went back to New Mexico.

The agent then obtained recordings of Zubia making several calls to a New Mexico number while incarcerated at Yellowstone County Detention Facility. She talked with a man later identified by investigators as Hogues.

Prosecutors alleged that Hogues acted as the pimp for both Zubia and the 17-year-old, according to information gathered from those recordings and from two of Zubias cell phones. Texts between the two showed Hogues receiving updates on money earned and clients seen, as well as making demands for the wire transfer of money. Zubia and Hogues remained in contact for weeks after her arrest, according to charging documents. Charges were filed against Hogues in January 2016.

Zubia was convicted and sentenced for promotion of prostitution in September 2016, denying that she was a human trafficking victim or that Hogues was her pimp. She received a deferred sentence of three years to the Montana Department of Corrections, with the nearly six months that she spent in YCDF credited to her sentence.

Hogues posted a $25,000 bond in August 2016 after pleading not guilty to one felony charge of aggravated promotion of prostitution, the Gazette previously reported. When he failed to show up for a hearing in July 2017, then-District Judge Russell Fagg issued a $20,000 bench warrant for his arrest. He did not appear in court in Billings again until March 2020.

Following a series of motions to continue, the case went to trial over a year later. Both the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the Billings Police Department contributed to the investigation. Attorneys with the Montana DOJ prosecuted the case.

[Hogues]was controlling, managing, and supervising the prostitution business, alone or in association with Phylicia Zubia, through text messages, phone calls, and other communications and evidence, wrote Assistant Attorney General Chris McConnell in a brief submitted before Hogues' trial in June 2021.

Joshua Kotter, then the defense attorney for Hogues, argued in court that the backbone of the evidence used against Hogues, the conversations collected from the cell phones, were hearsay. Prosecutors could not prove, he wrote in a trial brief, that it was in fact Hogues speaking with Zubia during those conversations.

Prior to the trial, Kotter attempted to have the case dismissed partially on the grounds that the state lacked the jurisdiction to charge Hogues as he was living in New Mexico at the time of the allegation. Judge Harris denied the motion.

Hogues was convicted of aggravated promotion of prostitution June 16, 2021 by a unanimous jury. Harris presided over the four-day trial, and denied Hogues bond request before his sentencing.

Attorney Penelope Strong, who represented Hogues for his sentencing, asked the court for a 10-year sentence in the Montana Department of Corrections, with all of those years suspended. Speaking in court Friday, she argued that although she and Hogues respected the gravity of the offense, he and his family would be better served with time outside of prison or limited to the DoC and with counseling.

Unlike sex trafficking, Strong wrote in a sentencing memorandum before that hearing, there was no fraud, coercion or violence involved in the case, and Hogues apparently did not know the victims age. Zubia, who appeared via teleconference to testify at the sentencing, said it was she who posted the online ads and traveled with the victim. She also said that she handled all of the monetary transactions between the men who paid for sex with her and the 17-year-old, and the transfers to Hogues. The victim testified at Hoguess trial in 2021, while Zubia, despite the court issuing a subpoena for her to appear, did not.

Strong asked Judge Harris to consider letters submitted to the court by Hogues family describing him as a good son, sibling and father, along with the victim being very close to an adult as mitigating factors in his sentencing.

Assistant District Attorney Melissa Broch rebuked both points, recommending a 20-year sentence in MSP. She said it was ironic that Hogues would ask the court for leniency in his sentence for the sake of his children when the victim of his crime was, in fact, a child. Evidence brought forward at trial showed that she was vulnerable through neglect from her family and drug abuse. He exploited that vulnerability through Zubia, she said, and in no case is it appropriate to exploit a child for financial gain.

Hogues presented himself well at his trial and at Fridays hearing, Judge Harris said before the sentencing. He said he saw in Hogues attitude a Jekyll and Hyde, with Hyde appearing in the transcripts of the conversations between Hogues and Zubia while she was in jail. Harris described those calls as abusive, controlling and intimidating, revealing that he was willing to profit off a child repeatedly having sex with adult men.

I can find no reason to say that prostituting a 17-year-old is less serious than prostituting a 16-year-old, a 15-year-old or any other child, Harris said.

Hogues had previously been sentenced in New Mexico for drug trafficking and battery charges. Harris set several conditions of his parole that will limit his contact with minors upon his release from prison.

"Everything happens for a reason, including this situation, and I would like to think that this matter that's happening is a course corrective for everybody that was involved... I'm pleased with whatever the outcome is going to be. I'm just mainly pleased to get this matter behind me," Hogues said when given the chance to speak at his sentencing.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen released a statement Saturday lauding the DCI and state DOJ for their work on the case.

"Human and sex trafficking are happening in Montana, and we will continue our work to eliminate these crimes. It is one of my top priorities as attorney general to fight human trafficking in Montana, which includes finding these predators and holding them accountable," he wrote.

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On Friday, attorneys in the case of a Plentywood man accused of raping two developmentally disabled women discussed shifting the timeline of trial as the defense has requested a mental evaluation of the alleged victims to determine their mental competency, as the two will likely be witnesses during the proceedings.

Judge Brenda R. Gilbert of the 6th Judicial District in Livingston did not make any rulings on the motion, but instead said there would be a March 24 status hearing on that issue.

Timothy Ray Marsh pleaded not guilty Aug. 25 to three counts of sexual intercourse without consent with two women. Marsh, who was 62 at the time of his August arraignment, had been held on $150,000 bond and was out of jail since Aug. 19. He has also been on an ankle bracelet since September, his attorney, Sandra Howard said. She asked Friday for the bracelet to be removed, saying the monitoring was costing her client $350 a month, and he had a fixed income.

The alleged incidents occurred in 2015 and in 2018, according to court documents filed Aug. 16. Marsh at one time worked as a maintenance worker at Glenwood Inc., a facility for adults with disabilities. He is no longer employed there.

Although the criminal filing does not mention a location, at least one of the alleged assaults took place in an apartment run by Glenwood, according to a civil suit filed in 2019 by the family of one of the women.

Each count is a felony. The first count can bring imprisonment of two to no more than 100 years, a maximum fine of $50,000 or both.

The trial was set to start April 11, however, that may be moved to July 18. On Feb. 17, the defense filed for mental evaluations to be conducted on the two alleged victims.

Michael Gee, an assistant attorney general with the Montana Department of Justice, which is prosecuting the case, objected, saying that it would be too much of a time crunch for the state to effectively review the evidence, rebut the report if necessary and prepare for a trial.

All of those things will take time, he said, later adding I simply dont see how we can proceed on this schedule.

Gee said the state does not have to prove the women are competent.

They are presumed to be competent, he said.

Howard said both of the women live in the same town and her expert could evaluate them both in the same day. She also wanted to keep the trial moving forward, saying he had a right to a speedy trial and that further delays could prejudice the accused.

She said Marsh has been put on blood pressure medicine and antidepressants, adding the trial has taken a toll on him mentally and physically.

Gilbert, who is filling in after a Sheridan County judge recused himself, said a hearing on their competency will be held March 24. She said the April 11 trial date would likely have to be moved in order to give attorneys time to review any evaluations, and all sides agreed to July 18. However, the judge did not make an official ruling.

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

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Montanas U.S. senators gave a mixed response Friday to news of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jacksons selection.

U.S. Sen Jon Tester, a Democrat, said he looked forward to meeting with Jackson, a judge of the United States D.C. Circuit Court, while Republican Sen. Steve Daines branded Jackson as a pick for the far left.

Jackson is the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. She would replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who in January announced his retirement. Breyer was nominated by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, in 1994.

As a presidential candidate, Biden promised to nominate a Black woman to the court.

I look forward to meeting with Judge Jackson to discuss her experience and qualifications. Vetting nominees to the Supreme Court is one of the most important responsibilities I have as a Senator, and in order to earn my vote, any nominee will need to demonstrate that they will serve on the Court impartially, uphold the rule of law, and defend Montanans constitutional rights, Tester said in a press release.

Jackson is the fifth nominee during Testers tenure. He voted to confirm justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, both nominees of President Barack Obama, but opposed confirmation of Trump nominees Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Senators usually do have an opportunity to visit with Supreme Court nominees. Tester met with Trump nominee Gorsuch and had asked to meet with Kavanaugh and Barrett. The senator voted against Barrett and Kavanaugh.

Daines, first elected in 2014, voted to confirm all three Trump picks and also met with all three. The senator's staff said they are working on meeting with Jackson.

Ill be closely examining Judge Jacksons record and interpretation of the Constitution, Daines said. Any Supreme Court Justice must understand the importance of not legislating from the bench and upholding the Constitution. With that said, Im disappointed that President Biden chose to appeal to his far-left base with this nomination, rather than listen to voices on both sides of the aisle calling for a Supreme Court nominee who would enjoy strong bipartisan support and consensus.

Jackson was confirmed to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit by a 53-44 vote on June 14, 2021. Daines opposed the confirmation, while Tester supported Jackson.

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JACKSON, Wyo.  Contractors hired by Grand Teton National Park have killed 50 invasive mountain goats this week in a campaign to protect the park's herd of native bighorn sheep.

Jeremy Barnum, the park's chief of staff, told The Jackson Hole News&Guide late Thursday that an "overwhelming majority" of the goats have been removed from the Teton Range. The helicopter shooting operation will continue for several more days.

The goats migrated from Idaho into the Tetons. They are considered a risk to a small herd of native, isolated sheep in the range because they compete for limited high-altitude habitat and carry disease that can threaten the bighorns. The park estimates the bighorn population at about 125.

"The potential risk to the bighorn sheep herd has been dramatically reduced," Barnum said. "And that's the end goal."

Park officials have posted signs at trailheads to alert backcountry skiers about the operation. Helicopter crews are instructed to avoid areas used by skiers or after spotting ski tracks.

Grand Teton park first used helicopter crews in 2020 to shoot the goats but stopped after Gov. Mark Gordon and others asked park officials to let hunters do the job. The mountain goat population was estimated at 100 before removal operations started in 2020.

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A lackluster Wyoming trip by a famous British hunter and the resulting fallout will be discussed by Buffalo Bill Museum Curator Jeremy Johnston at the next Draper Natural History Museum Lunchtime Expedition in Cody, Wyoming.

The title of the March 3 talk is "The Wildlife Wastelands of Wyoming: Renowned African Hunter Courteney Selous Mediocre Safari through the Absaroka Mountains." Johnston's talk will begin at noon and can be attended virtually at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ajIf1XsHQziBCdn90qa5sA.

In 1897, famed British sport hunter Frederic Courteney Selous, accompanied by his wife and Sheridan rancher William Moncreiffe, hunted the headwaters of the South Fork of the Shoshone River. Despite the dismal hunting trek on the South Fork, he returned the following year to the North Fork.

Selous was no ordinary hunter. Many British citizens considered him the perfect model of a British explorer and hunter, one who expanded the imperialistic claims of the British Empire in Southern Africa. After years of hunting in Africa, Selous wished to experience the rugged wild West he read about as a boy.

While Selous enjoyed fishing the South Fork of the Shoshone, the lack of big game stemming from the great slaughter by market hunters and local settlers ignoring the states game regulations disheartened him. He expressed his disappointment in his book "Sport and Travel East and West" and to Theodore Roosevelt.

Selouss negative review of the regions hunting motivated George W. T. Beck, William F. Buffalo Bill Cody, and others to advocate for more protection of big game animals through the stricter enforcement of game laws. Also, in response to Selouss critical review, Buffalo Bill took steps to promote the regions hunting opportunities through his writings and the staging of celebrity hunting trips, rebranding the headwaters of the Shoshone River as prime wildlife habitat.

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North Dakotans will get a break on their 2021 state income taxes through a credit voted in by the Legislature last fall.

Claiming the credit of $350 for individuals or $700 for those filing jointly is very straightforward, state Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus said. It appears as a line item on the form used by most North Dakotans.

Its going to significantly reduce the number of North Dakota taxpayers who are going to have to make a payment, Kroshus said.

The legislation will create an estimated $211 million in income tax relief over the next two years. Some 300,000 North Dakotans will have no state income tax bill, and another 200,000 will see a reduction. The income tax relief was pushed hard by Gov. Doug Burgum, who recommended using a portion of the states ending fund balance of $1.1 billion in the last two-year budget cycle to provide tax relief to residents.

The credit cant create a negative tax liability. For example, if a person owes $450, the credit will reduce that to $100. If he or she owes $250, it will take away their payment obligation but would not give them a $100 refund.

The states income tax rate is one of the lowest in the country, Kroshus said. While it can create a payment situation for some taxpayers, thats less likely with the credit passed during last November's special session.

Early electronic filing is the best way to speed up a refund and avoid fraud schemes, the commissioner said. Just more than 85,000 state income tax returns had been filed as of Feb. 18, putting the state just ahead of last years pace. Almost all were filed electronically. Last year, 90% of the 480,000 returns filed in the state were completed electronically. The filing deadline this year is April 18.

The most common mistakes made on state returns arent related to math or tax laws, Kroshus said. Typographical errors in an address, name, or Social Security number are more often the cause of delays.

Income tax in the states fiscal year 2021 generated more than $465 million, which is about 14.5% of the total general fund revenues of $3.2 billion. Kroshus expects the number of returns filed in 2022 could be close to 500,000, as the states population has increased.

Most people filing a federal income tax return are due a refund, according to IRS spokesman Anthony Burke.

Electronic filing enables the preparer -- whether its a professional doing it for a client or a person doing his or her own -- to concentrate on entering accurate information, as the tax software does all the math.

We find electronic filing inherently more accurate than trying to do it yourself, Burke said.

A taxpayer who cant file a return by the deadline should file for an extension, even if a refund is due. If the taxpayer has a balance due, its safest to submit an estimated payment with the extension.

An extension only extends the time to file, not the time to pay, Burke said.

The taxpayer would avoid paying a penalty on the full amount due by submitting an estimated amount. If the estimate is off, any penalty would apply only to the difference.

Separate applications must be made for state and federal extensions.

At the state level, Kroshus advises estimating on the high side to avoid any penalty. The taxpayer wont lose any money by doing so. Any difference would be refunded or could be applied as a prepayment for the next tax year.

Its not money that they wont see back. Its just how its applied going forward, he said.

The preparation of an accurate return starts with the collection of all documents, according to the IRS website. In addition to income-related documents such as W2s and Form 1099s, Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payment letters -- 6419 and 6475, respectively -- include important information for a 2021 tax return.

As of Feb. 11, the IRS had processed more than 23 million returns and issued more than $20 billion in refunds. The average refund is about $2,300, according to the services website.

Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com

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WASHINGTON  Over three months, senior Biden administration officials held half a dozen urgent meetings with top Chinese officials in which the Americans presented intelligence showing Russias troop buildup around Ukraine and beseeched the Chinese to tell Russia not to invade, according to U.S. officials.

Each time, the Chinese officials, including the foreign minister and the ambassador to the United States, rebuffed the Americans, saying they did not think an invasion was in the works. After one diplomatic exchange in December, U.S. officials got intelligence showing Beijing had shared the information with Moscow, telling the Russians that the United States was trying to sow discord  and that China would not try to impede Russian plans and actions, the officials said.

The previously unreported talks between American and Chinese officials show how the Biden administration tried to use intelligence findings and diplomacy to persuade a superpower it views as a growing adversary to stop the invasion of Ukraine, and how that nation, led by President Xi Jinping, persistently sided with Russia even as the evidence of Moscows plans for a military offensive grew over the winter.

This account is based on interviews with senior administration officials with knowledge of the conversations who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the diplomacy. The Chinese Embassy spokesman, Liu Pengyu, answered an earlier request for comment a half-day after this article was posted online, saying, For some time, China has actively promoted the political settlement process of the Ukraine issue.

China is Russias most powerful partner, and the two nations have been strengthening their bond for many years across diplomatic, economic and military realms. Xi and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, two autocrats with some shared ideas about global power, had met 37 times as national leaders before this year. If any world leader could make Putin think twice about invading Ukraine, it was Xi, went the thinking of some U.S. officials.

But the diplomatic efforts failed, and Putin began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning after recognizing two Russia-backed insurgent enclaves in the countrys east as independent states.

In a call Friday, Putin told Xi that the United States and NATO had ignored Russias reasonable security concerns and had reneged on their commitments, according to a readout of the call released by the Chinese state news media. Xi reiterated Chinas public position that it was important to respect the legitimate security concerns as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Putin told Xi that Russia was willing to negotiate with Ukraine, and Xi said China supported any such move.

Some American officials say the ties between China and Russia appear stronger than at any time since the Cold War. The two now present themselves as an ideological front against the United States and its European and Asian allies, even as Putin carries out the invasion of Ukraine, whose sovereignty China has recognized for decades.

The growing alarm among American and European officials at the alignment between China and Russia has reached a new peak with the Ukraine crisis, exactly 50 years to the week after President Richard Nixon made a historic trip to China to restart diplomatic relations to make common cause in counterbalancing the Soviet Union. For 40 years after that, the relationship between the United States and China grew stronger, especially as lucrative trade ties developed, but then frayed due to mutual suspicions, intensifying strategic competition and antithetical ideas about power and governance.

In the recent private talks on Ukraine, American officials heard language from their Chinese counterparts that was consistent with harder lines the Chinese had been voicing in public, which showed that a more hostile attitude had become entrenched, according to the American accounts.

On Wednesday, after Putin ordered troops into eastern Ukraine but before its full invasion, Hua Chunying, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said at a news conference in Beijing that the United States was the culprit of current tensions surrounding Ukraine.

On the Ukraine issue, lately the U.S. has been sending weapons to Ukraine, heightening tensions, creating panic and even hyping up the possibility of warfare, she said. 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.

She added: When the U.S. drove five waves of NATO expansion eastward all the way to Russias doorstep and deployed advanced offensive strategic weapons in breach of its assurances to Russia, did it ever think about the consequences of pushing a big country to the wall? She has refused to call Russias assault an invasion when pressed by foreign journalists.

Huas fiery anti-U.S. remarks as Russia was moving to attack its neighbor stunned some current and former U.S. officials and China analysts in the United States. But the verbal grenades echo major points in the 5,000-word joint statement that China and Russia issued Feb. 4 when Xi and Putin met at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. In that document, the two countries declared their partnership had no limits and that they intended to stand together against U.S.-led democratic nations. China also explicitly sided with Russia in the text to denounce enlargement of the NATO alliance.

Last Saturday, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, criticized NATO in a video talk at the Munich Security Conference. European leaders in turn accused China of working with Russia to overturn what they and the Americans say is a rules-based international order. Wang did say that Ukraines sovereignty should be respected and safeguarded  a reference to a foreign policy principle that Beijing often cites  but no Chinese officials have mentioned Ukraine in those terms since Russias full invasion began.

They claim neutrality, they claim they stand on principle, but everything they say about the causes is anti-U.S., blaming NATO and adopting the Russian line, said Evan Medeiros, a Georgetown University professor who was senior Asia director at the White House National Security Council in the Obama administration. The question is: How sustainable is that as a posture? How much damage does it do to their ties with the U.S. and their ties with Europe?

The Biden administrations diplomatic outreach to China to try to avert war began after President Joe Biden and Xi held a video summit Nov. 15. In the talk, the two leaders acknowledged challenges in the relationship between their nations, which is at its lowest point in decades, but agreed to try to cooperate on issues of common interest, including health security, climate change and nuclear weapons proliferation, White House officials said at the time.

After the meeting, American officials decided that the Russian troop buildup around Ukraine presented the most immediate problem that China and the United States could try to defuse together. Some officials thought the outcome of the video summit indicated there was potential for an improvement in U.S.-China relations. Others were more skeptical but thought it was important to leave no stone unturned in efforts to prevent Russia from attacking, one official said.

Days later, White House officials met with the ambassador, Qin Gang, at the Chinese Embassy. They told the ambassador what U.S. intelligence agencies had detected: a gradual encirclement of Ukraine by Russian forces, including armored units. William J. Burns, the CIA director, had flown to Moscow on Nov. 2 to confront the Russians with the same information, and Nov. 17, American intelligence officials shared their findings with NATO.

At the Chinese Embassy, Russias aggression was the first topic in a discussion that ran more than 1 1/2 hours. In addition to laying out the intelligence, the White House officials told the ambassador that the United States would impose tough sanctions on Russian companies, officials and businesspeople in the event of an invasion, going far beyond those announced by the Obama administration after Russia seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

The American officials said the sanctions would also hurt China over time because of its commercial ties.

They also pointed out they knew how China had helped Russia evade some of the 2014 sanctions and warned Beijing against any such future aid. And they argued that because China was widely seen as a partner of Russia, its global image could suffer if Putin invaded.

The message was clear: It would be in Chinas interests to persuade Putin to stand down. But their entreaties went nowhere. Qin was skeptical and suspicious, an American official said.

American officials spoke with the ambassador about Russia at least three more times, both in the embassy and on the phone. Wendy R. Sherman, the deputy secretary of state, had a call with him. Qin continued to express skepticism and said Russia had legitimate security concerns in Europe.

The Americans also went higher on the diplomatic ladder: Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Wang about the problem in late January and again Monday, the same day Putin ordered the new troops into Russia-backed enclaves of Ukraine.

The secretary underscored the need to preserve Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, said a State Department summary of the call that used the phrase that Chinese diplomats like to employ in signaling to other nations not to get involved in matters involving Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, all considered separatist problems by Beijing.

American officials met with Qin in Washington again Wednesday and heard the same rebuttals. Hours later, Putin declared war on Ukraine on television, and his military began pummeling the country with ballistic missiles as tanks rolled across the border.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
KYIV, Ukraine - The United States and key Western allies on Saturday announced severe new sanctions on Russian banks as the Ukrainian capital came under bombardment with some of the fiercest shelling since the start of the Russian invasion.

The Biden administration, Canada and European allies will impose major restrictions on Russia's central bank, freezing its ability to use its $640 billion in foreign reserves. They also announced that they would remove certain Russian financial institutions from the SWIFT messaging network that connects banks worldwide, a move that to date has been taken against only Iran and North Korea.

The latest steps to economically choke Moscow and its ruling class come as Kyiv is under attack from Russian forces encroaching on Ukraine's largest city. A massive fireball was visible to the southwest of Kyiv following a pounding explosion that rocked the city in the early-morning hours local time on Sunday. At least one high-rise apartment building had been struck directly earlier Saturday, fueling skepticism of Russia's claim that it was targeting only military facilities.

Meanwhile, civilians have been fleeing westward in droves to escape the worsening fighting. The United Nations said more than 150,000 Ukrainians have fled the country already, while U.S. officials noted that the lines of those trying to cross into Poland and other nations were extremely long.

As the humanitarian crisis worsened, volunteers in Poland and other countries neighboring Ukraine to the West scrambled to organize food, shelter, transportation and other resources to meet the needs of the incoming waves of refugees.

Leaders across Europe stepped up on Saturday promising more concrete action to help Ukraine, even though the United States and its NATO allies have pledged not to send any troops into Ukraine. The United States announced that it would send Ukraine an additional $350 million worth of small arms, protective gear and anti-armor missiles - including antitank Javelins - to help defend the country from the slowed but steadily encroaching Russian onslaught. Germany, meanwhile, announced plans to send 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine to help it beat back Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the contributions as he tried to buoy his country's spirits, posting several video messages on the messaging app Telegram throughout Saturday.

He vowed to fight "for as long as it takes to liberate the country." Although Western officials have noted that Ukraine's resistance to the invasion was stronger than Russian President Vladimir Putin had anticipated, Russian troops continued to press into the country and threaten its biggest population centers.

Before the worst strikes began, Russian reconnaissance forces had entered Kyiv, a senior U.S. defense official said, though this person would not say whether those were Russian special operations troops, known as Spetsnaz. There had also been reports of street fights in the capital.

Though the bulk of Russian troops remained about 20 kilometers outside the capital to the north on Saturday, the city was increasingly bombarded with shelling from Russian positions outside the city, fueling skepticism that Russia is targeting military facilities.

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For days, Russian troops have been moving steadily into Ukraine from the north, east and south, launching air, land and amphibious assaults. The Pentagon believes that over 50 percent of the troops Russia dispatched to the theater around Ukraine are now operating inside the country, according to the senior defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the unfolding situation on the ground.

"The Russians are increasingly frustrated by their lack of momentum, particularly in the north part of Ukraine," the senior defense official said, noting that a "viable" and "very determined Ukrainian resistance" had "slowed them down."

Still, Russian missiles struck a cargo ship and an oil tanker that a Ukrainian shipping company claimed was bringing fuel supplies to Ukrainian forces, in what the company said was a targeted attack. Russian forces also destroyed a dam in a water reservoir near Kyiv, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States said Saturday, creating a flood risk in the already-beleaguered capital.

As the intensity of attacks increased, casualties on both sides have been rising, but accurately counting the dead has proved difficult to verify. On Saturday, Ukrainian leaders claimed that fewer than 200 civilians had died, but that forces had killed or injured around 3,500 Russian troops - numbers that a senior U.S. defense official said the Pentagon could not, and probably would not ever be able, to verify. The United Nations reported late Saturday that there had been at least 240 casualties, including at least 64 dead.

The Ukrainian government also announced a hotline for Russian mothers to call to see if their sons were among those killed in the fighting - apparently a move to wins hearts and minds in Russia, where nearly all of the media is state-controlled and the government has been downplaying the severity of the fighting in Ukraine. There were reports Saturday of Twitter and Facebook being blocked.

Ukraine has banned men ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country in case they need to be called upon to join the national defense. Cities have been enlisting civilian volunteers to join territorial defense forces across the country. Even people in Lviv, a city in western Ukraine that has been treated as a safe haven, were preparing for the war to arrive on their doorstep.

In Kyiv, citizens lined up at a police station for weapons they could use in defense of the capital. Others made molotov cocktails to use against Russian forces if they reached the city.

The city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, also imposed a 5 p.m. curfew on Saturday, warning that anyone found on the streets after that would be treated as "members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups."

Ukrainian authorities have encouraged civilians to rip down street signs in an effort to confuse Russian troops, and called for technology experts to volunteer for the "IT army" to "fight on the cyber front." Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, has also seen heavy fighting and has long championed itself as a tech hub.

As Ukraine's cities came under bombardment and citizens prepared for potential hand-to-hand combat with Russian troops in the streets, NATO countries made additional gestures of solidarity. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic all shuttered their airspace to Russian aircraft, encouraging the rest of Europe to do the same. Meanwhile, Sweden and Finland denied a top Russian official flying to Moscow permission to have his plane cross their airspace, as a rebuke over the war being promulgated in Ukraine.

"War has returned to Europe," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video address Saturday, predicting that "this crisis will last. This war will last," and that the Ukraine war will "have lasting consequences."

It is not clear how Russia will respond to the West's latest financially punitive measures. Earlier on Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had shrugged at the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other nations, calling them "quite serious" but "predictable."

Going after Russia's central bank, and barring its financial institutions from SWIFT - a move administration officials intimated would not include any waivers for energy transactions - may surprise the Kremlin.

Targeting the central bank could have a particularly devastating effect on Russia's economy: If Moscow is barred from using its foreign reserves to stabilize its currency, it could cause a dramatic slide in the value of the Russian ruble. The administration is coupling those actions with additional sanctions on oligarchs as well, that will "go after their yachts, their luxury apartments, their money and their ability to send their kids to fancy colleges in the West," a senior administration official said. "Russia has become a global economic and financial pariah."

The strategy is not without risks - and experts note they could be viewed in Moscow as an escalation. It is possible that the Kremlin could react by escalating hostilities against Ukraine. Or it is possible that the Kremlin could attempt to take measures aimed directly at the West.

"There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations," former president Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, wrote Saturday on his official page on the Russia social media site VKontakte.

"Padlock the embassies," he continued. "We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights."

Even before the sanctions were announced, the potential for a diplomatic off-ramp to bring an end to the fighting on the ground in Ukraine appeared grim. The Kremlin announced Saturday that Putin reversed a Friday decision to schedule a strategic pause in attacks, to lure Kyiv to negotiations about a "neutral status" for Ukraine - a posture that would require its government to abandon NATO aspirations.

But Ukrainian officials bristled at what they viewed as an effort to strong-arm them, criticizing Russia for not being willing to have "full-fledged negotiations." By Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had received the green light to "advance in all sectors," resuming its assault "along key axes."

The Pentagon has tracked the Russian invasion along three main pathways: from Belarus in the northwest, the Belgorod region of Russia in the northeast, and by land and sea in the south, via the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea and Russia's positions in Crimea.

- - -

The Washington Post's Robyn Dixon in Moscow; David L. Stern and Loveday Morris in Lviv, Ukraine; Sudarsan Raghavan in Kyiv, Ukraine; Rick Noack in Paris; Adela Suliman in London; and Shane Harris, John Hudson, Jeff Stein, Tyler Pager, Michael Birnbaum, Cate Cadell, Kimberly Kindy, Dan Lamothe, Chico Harlan, Tory Newmyer, Kim Bellware, Timothy Bella, Joseph Menn, Miles Long, Marisa Iati, Atthar Mirza and Elyse Samuels in Washington contributed to this report.
The U.S. government has offered/is prepared to help Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leave the capital city of Kyiv to avoid being captured or killed by advancing Russian forces, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. But so far, the president has refused to leave.

As Russian forces ratcheted up their attacks on Friday, a defiant Zelensky pledged to remain in place. "Acording to the information we have, the enemy has marked me as target No. 1, my family as target No. 2," he told Ukrainians in an early-morning address. "They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state."

U.S. officials have spoken to Zelensky about a range of security issues, including the safest places for the president to situate himself in the hopes of ensuring continuity of government as Ukraine fends of a Russian invasion, said a senior U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

"We have been making him aware not only of the threat of Russian invasion, now a reality, but also the threat to him personally," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

"We stand ready to assist him in any way," Schiff said.

Perhaps the swiftest way for Russia to end the war in Ukraine, several current and former national security officials said, would be to kill Zelensky or capture him. Russian President Vladimir Putin might avoid a costly, protracted occupation of Ukraine by forcing Zelensky out and installing a compliant leader in his place.

Zelensky has known for weeks about U.S. concerns for his safety.

When CIA Director William J. Burns flew to Ukraine in January to meet with the Ukrainian president about the growing Russian threat to his country, Zelensky asked whether he or his family were personally in danger, according to an aide, who said that the leader was skeptical the Russians would try to kill him.

Burns didn't share any specific information but made clear that Zelensky needed to take his personal security seriously, the aide said.

At the time, intelligence suggested that Russian hit teams might already have infiltrated Kyiv, weeks before the first Russian forces ever crossed the border, according to officials familiar with the information.

Zelensky publicly downplayed the threat of a Russian invasion. He and his aides acknowledged that Putin might order the forces massing in huge numbers on Ukraine's borders to strike, but they said U.S. and other European leaders also risked igniting a public panic and economic catastrophe with their constant warnings of an imminent attack.

Now that Russia has attacked, U.S. officials warned this week that Putin's goal was to decapitate the Ukrainian government. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki indicated to reporters on Thursday that the U.S. had plans to assist Zelensky if he were personally threatened.

"We're not going to get into security - security questions, but we are in touch with President Zelensky, and we are working to provide him a range of support," Psaki said.

So far, Zelensky hasn't taken Washington up on its offer. And according to a Ukrainian official, Zelensky has not directed his own security services to remove him to a safe city, such as Lviv, although they stand ready to do so.

Fending off rumors that he had fled, Zelensky posted a video on Telegram on Friday surrounded by his top advisers and prime minister in front of Bankova, Ukraine's equivalent to the White House.

"We are all here. Defending our independence. Our country. And so it will continue," Zelensky said.

Zelensky noted in his earlier remarks that his family remained in Ukraine, as well, but he declined to say where.

Some officials praised the Ukrainian leader for staying in place despite the risk to himself and his government and the warnings he has received.

"The U.S. has been very forward-leaning both in sharing threat information with the government of Ukraine, including President Zelensky, as well as declassifying a significant amount of intelligence to ensure that the world knew about Russia's plans for this unprovoked aggression," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the chair of the Senate Intelligence Commitee. "President Zelensky has courageously decided to stay and lead from Kyiv."

In his address, Zelenksy said that "sabotage groups" had infiltrated Kyiv. Later, his government released an update warning that "enemy reconnaissance and sabotage groups operate insidiously, disguising themselves in civilian clothes and infiltrating cities in order to destabilize the situation by carrying out sabotage operations."

- - -

The Washington Post's Paul Sonne and John Hudson in Washington and David L. Stern in Lviv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.
By Kristen Hwang

CalMatters

Deondray Moore sat in a plastic folding chair, rolled up his sleeve and got his first COVID-19 shot in the parking lot of Center of Hope Community Church in Oakland a week ago. He was the last in his family to get vaccinated after putting it off for more than a year, and only acquiesced because he wants to be in the delivery room when his son is born this summer.

"My mom has been trying to get me vaccinated forever, since the (vaccines) came out," Moore said. "My partner got it quick, and her kids got it as fast as they could. She wasn't playing around. She was like 'Don't miss out on the baby.'"

The 35-year-old Oakland native, an African American, knows multiple people who have contracted COVID-19 and died. Moore wears a mask and doesn't go out much. But he's suspicious of the vaccine and the way it was developed. "I just don't trust the government," he said.

African Americans, who have a litany of historical reasons to mistrust public health officials and doctors, have the lowest vaccination rate in the state, at 55%.

COVID-19 has become deadlier for Black Californians since the widespread availability of vaccinations, and vaccine hesitancy could be among the reasons why. Other races, which have higher vaccination rates, have seen death rates rise, but not as dramatically.

A CalMatters analysis shows since last summer, the rate of Black Californians dying from COVID-19 has increased tenfold -- from one death per 100,000 people last July to 10.4 deaths this week. That surpasses Latinos and all races except Pacific Islanders, who are dying at the rate of 14.7 per 100,000, according to state data.

And while statewide deaths from COVID have declined in the past week, they have continued to rise for African Americans.

So far, 5,544 Black people have died from the virus in California.

Dr. Kim Rhoads, an associate professor of epidemiology at University of California, San Francisco, said she isn't surprised by the growing death rate among African Americans. "Disparities aren't new. They aren't new to COVID," said Rhoads, who helped organize the community clinic where Moore got his shot.

For some Black residents, the disparity grew worse after vaccines became widely available last summer, according to a study from UC Santa Cruz and UC San Francisco researchers.

Middle-aged Blacks make up a growing, disproportionate share of the Californians who died, while the proportion shrank for Latinos and others: In March 2021, Black people aged 40-64, who make up roughly 5% of all middle-aged Californians, accounted for 6% of COVID-19 deaths in that age group. But a few months later, their numbers skyrocketed, accounting for 21% by last July, according to the study.

In contrast, middle-aged Latinos accounted for 66% of all COVID-19 deaths at the beginning of March 2021, but then last July shrank to 30%, mirroring their proportion of all middle-aged Californians.

Lead researcher Alicia Riley said preliminary data through November shows continuing disparities.

So why did the vaccines apparently help Latinos but not Black Californians? It's possible that those who are most at risk of dying from the disease aren't getting vaccinated. Younger African Americans also may not have been included in early vaccination campaigns or may have felt they weren't at risk of severe illness or death.

"What's puzzling to me is that they have a really different story in terms of who's dying," said Riley, a UCSC assistant professor of global and community health. "Are the people who were at risk of dying in the Latino community actually being reached with vaccination, whereas somehow that's not happening for Black Californians as effectively?"

Experts say myriad other factors could also be driving the trend, including poverty, lack of insurance, distrust of the health care system and higher rates of health complications like diabetes or heart disease.

The increased share of deaths for Black Californians is a powerful sign of "who was left behind when everyone else was kind of moving on out of the pandemic," Riley said.

The study did not find significant differences for other age groups, although state data suggests Black children fare worse than other races, too.

Black children in California are the second most likely to die from the virus among Californians younger than 18, with 1.2 deaths per 100,000 Black children. Pacific Islanders are twice as likely to die from COVID as Black children, while all other races have less than one COVID-19 death per 100,000 children.

The drivers for African American deaths are likely deeper than vaccination disparities.

Rhoads, who studies death disparities in Black cancer patients, said pre-existing health complications also aren't entirely to blame. Structural factors like poor quality health care also likely contribute to higher death rates, she said. For instance, medical devices like the pulse oximeter, which is used to determine whether a patient needs supplemental oxygen, don't work well on dark skin.

"If we just say comorbidities, then we're blaming the victim number one and we're washing our hands of any responsibility," Rhoads said.

Vaccine campaigns successful for some

Substantial gains have been made among Latinos, according to Riley's study. After bearing the brunt in the early stages, Latinos' death rate dropped from nearly 25 deaths per 100,000 people in January 2021 to 1 death per 100,000 in July. Over the last month, the California Department of Public Health estimates 7.2 Latinos died of COVID per 100,000 people, lower than the statewide rate of 8 per 100,000.

Around June 2021 the percentage of fully vaccinated Latinos outstripped Blacks and Native Americans, leaving Blacks in last place. Only 57% of Latinos are fully vaccinated, but some hard hit agricultural areas like Imperial County were quick to accept the vaccine -- and it has made a difference.

Eduardo Garcia, senior policy manager for the Latino Community Foundation, said high death rates among Latinos early in the pandemic galvanized local groups and clinics to dole out vaccines and combat misinformation.

"Over 34,000 California Latinos have died since the beginning of the pandemic," Garcia said. "It touched people close to home. I think that also created an impulse for people to get information from reliable sources and get the vaccine."

Rhoads said refocusing COVID-19 vaccination messaging on preventing deaths rather than infections is important for equity, particularly since getting her community to trust the vaccine has been harder.

"It's about a historical relationship between Black people and public health and health care," Rhoads said. "Instead of saying lack of trust, I'm saying there's no relationship there, so there should be no expectation of trust."

That trust was further shaken last spring when the Food and Drug Administration warned of rare but severe side effects associated with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Rhoads said the number of people seeking vaccinations at her clinic dropped precipitously.

To help bridge the gap, Rhoads founded Umoja Health, a collective of community and faith-based organizations in the Bay Area, to make COVID-19 testing and vaccination easy and accessible for African Americans. They bring pop-up clinic supplies to churches, schools and neighborhoods where they know vaccination rates are low. It takes patience and continued effort, Rhoads said.

At Castlemont High School in Oakland, where the clinic frequently sets up shop, it was several weeks before many Black students trusted them enough to get the vaccine.

"The Latino students came immediately," she said. "But as we've been there over time, we're starting to see more and more of the African American students come through, and then we started to see people bringing their parents."

'Back to normal' threatens Blacks and Pacific Islanders

Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent announcement that California would be moving into a new phase of the pandemic worries advocates and community health organizers like Rhoads.

The new state action plan acknowledges continuing disparities when it comes to COVID-19 deaths and highlights money in Newsom's budget that includes $819 million to expand Medi-Cal to undocumented individuals next year, $1.7 billion to invest in a more diverse health care workforce over five years and $65 million to fund the creation of an office of community partnerships and strategic communication.

But the plan offers little in terms of immediate action to fix disparities, and includes no specific programs to help Black communities.

The state health department on Thursday announced new $27 million contracts would be awarded to more than 100 community-based health organizations to shore up vaccination efforts in underserved communities, including African American ones.

However, community advocates worry that rhetoric used by Newsom like "turning the page" on the pandemic will ultimately prevent groups that have never caught up from moving forward.

"We still have growing death rates and case rates. How can we move forward in the pandemic when we're still suffering?" said Karla Thomas, policy director for the UCLA Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander COVID-19 Data Policy Lab.

Throughout the pandemic, Pacific Islanders have been hit the hardest by COVID-19. Their mortality rate is nearly twice that of the statewide rate and nearly six times higher than the lowest rate of 2.5 deaths per 100,000 people among those who identify as multi-racial.

While data suggests that Pacific Islanders are nearly 100% vaccinated, Thomas said there is reason to believe that the state's numbers are inaccurate. At times that number has creeped above 100%. From a personal experience, Thomas said she is one of only two people in her 50-person Samoan church in San Bernardino that she knows is vaccinated. It's not uncommon for there to be more than two funerals a month in her community.

"I'm really concerned that we're not taking an equitable approach to mitigate the pandemic among (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) communities and other communities of color," Thomas said. She criticized the lifting of the state's mask mandate on Feb. 15 and the governor's endemic plan.

Rhoads echoed Thomas' sentiments.

The pandemic "is not over. It's not for people who aren't vaccinated, who don't have regular health care," she said.

Last week Rhoads and more than 35 organizations sent a letter to the state health department in part criticizing the state's inconsistent and confusing messaging on masking. The health department's initial criteria for lifting the indoor mask mandate included vaccination and infection rates that were unmet when the mandate expired.

Rhoads said instances like this erode public trust in government and scientific organizations, particularly among groups that placed little faith in the institutions to begin with.

In response, the department agreed to schedule a meeting between Rhoads and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon.

In a separate response to CalMatters, the state health department said vaccine equity was the "north star" of its efforts to reach marginalized communities, and that it would continue to partner with community organizations, ethnic media, translators and faith-based groups.

"This work is ongoing, and closing the equity gap across all California communities remains a priority to the state's vaccination efforts," the department said in a statement.

'Nothing to be afraid of'

In Oakland at the Umoja clinic last week, George Dowell, a 40-year-old African American, said he was getting his second vaccination dose because he didn't "want to be left behind" as more and more businesses require proof of vaccination for entry.

Dowell is among the age group experiencing higher death rates in Riley's study. He spent the past year watching vaccinated friends and family carefully for side effects before deciding to get the shot himself.

Social media and misinformation played a role in Dowell's hesitation. "I was listening to certain people, social media, instead of listening to myself and doing what's right," Dowell said.

Three weeks ago, he decided it was time. He found the Umoja clinic while driving around the neighborhood and got his first Pfizer shot. Dowell wanted to show his school-aged nieces and nephews that "there was nothing to be afraid of" as they became eligible for the vaccine.

Dowell's 27-year-old son is also unvaccinated, and Dowell said he promised he would call to let him know how he feels after this second shot.

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In the latest air travel news, the U.S. government must decide soon whether to extend its mask mandate for passengers; debate heats up again about putting unruly travelers onto a federal no-fly list; the war on Ukraine could complicate international travel if Russia bans overflights of its territory; entry rules change for trips to Israel, Iceland, Italy and Belgium; international route news from American, Virgin Atlantic, United and Air Canada; Delta enhances its FlyReady digital tool for customers; and San Francisco International adds another COVID testing facility.

As a sharp decline in COVID cases leads more U.S. cities, counties and states to lift their mask mandates, the federal government is facing a big decision in the next couple of weeks: What should it do about its mask mandate for air travelers, who are currently required to wear face coverings on planes and in airports? That mandate is currently in force through March 18, and it is the subject of an increasingly vocal debate. Two months ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an ABC-TV interview that ending the mask mandate for air travel is really not something we should even be considering after a couple of airline CEOs argued that it probably wasnt necessary. He also suggested that a vaccine mandate for domestic flights might be appropriate. But that was before the omicron surge peaked and declined, and mask mandates started to disappear right and left. Last summer, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced a bill that would force the Biden administration to drop the airline mask mandate, and last week he said in a TV interview he hopes to force a vote on the stalled legislation. In another development last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and a Texas member of the U.S. House of Representatives filed a lawsuit seeking to force an end to the federal mask requirement for air travel. The federal mandate was imposed by the Transportation Security Administration in early 2021 and has been extended three times.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing cabin crews at 20 airlines  expects there will be an extension of the rule. The union told the New York Times this week that allowing all passengers to fly unmasked could present health risks to individuals who are at high risk of infection and to children under 5 who are thus far too young for COVID vaccinations.

On the other hand, flight attendants might derive one major benefit from ending the mask mandate: It could eliminate the single greatest factor in the huge increase in unruly passenger incidents. Most of those cases have been attributed to passenger outrage over having to wear a mask.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian, who has emerged as a leading supporter of adding seriously disruptive passengers to the government no-fly list, doubled down on that stance this week in a Washington Post op-ed. He said that anyone convicted of a crime because of an onboard disruption should be put on a national no-fly list. While individual airlines are already putting such customers on their own internal no-fly lists, weve seen cases in which unruly passengers have simply switched airlines and continued to fly even after endangering flight safety. While each airline can take initiative and do its part, only a comprehensive list overseen by the federal government can close the loopholes and prevent disrupters from flying, Bastian wrote. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA also wants out-of-control fliers put on a national no-fly list. The union said in a statement last week that it wants to see a centralized list of passengers who may not fly for a period of time after being fined or convicted of a serious incident. Late last year, TSA said it would refer the most egregious unruly passengers to the Justice Department for federal criminal prosecution, and so far it has done that with 80 individuals.

That statement from the flight attendants union was issued in response to a letter on the issue sent to the Justice Department by eight Republican senators, including Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. They told that DOJ creating a no-fly list that includes passengers who are skeptical of the mask mandate would seemingly equate them to terrorists who seek to actively take the lives of Americans and perpetrate attacks on the homeland. They noted that TSA was created after 9/11 to protect Americans from future horrific attacks, not to regulate human behavior onboard flights.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Russias invasion of Ukraine this week and the retaliatory sanctions by Western governments could lead to disruption of airline service on some routes  especially if Russia decides to ban overflights of its air space. Its no surprise that the war has led civil aviation authorities to ban flights over and close to Ukraine, but actions of individual governments against Russia could lead to retaliation affecting flights. For example, the United Kingdom this week banned Russias Aeroflot from flying to the U.K., leading Russia to ban British carriers from flying to or over its territory  creating routing problems for the latters services from London to India and eastern Asia. In the U.S., Delta said Friday that it has withdrawn its code-share services operated with Aeroflot. We have removed our code from Aeroflot-operated services beyond Moscows Sheremetyevo Airport and removed Aeroflots code from Delta-operated services from Los Angeles and New York-JFK. Accommodations will be made for customers affected by these changes, Delta said. Delta does not fly to Russia but some of its partner airlines do.

Last October, the U.S. State Department secured additional Russia overflight rights for United, Delta and American for their long-haul networks (e.g., United uses them on routes to India, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan). An article last month in Defense One noted that in 2019, more than 300,000 flights went through Russias airspace. What if Russia cut them off? Longer routes resulting in longer flights, stopovers for refueling, and loss of historic slot rights: this is precisely what would happen if Russia were to revoke Western airlines overflight rights, the analysis concluded. Imagine hundreds of thousands of flights every year forced to fly longer routes, which would result in even longer travel times as some longer routes would have to include stopovers. Reuters reported this week that Anchorage Airport has been fielding inquiries from airlines about whether it could handle more aircraft making stops to and from Asia if Russia bans overflights.

Israel plans to reopen to all foreign visitors effective March 1  including unvaccinated visitors. The country is currently accepting vaccinated travelers and those who have recovered from COVID. But starting next week, unvaccinated people will be allowed in as well. The nations new rules require all visitors  vaccinated or not  to show a negative result on a PCR test before departure from their home countries, and to take a second one after arrival. Then theyll have to self-isolate for 24 hours to wait for a negative result on the second test.

The European Commission this week suggested member nations should consider ending temporary entry restrictions on non-essential travel for persons who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID in the past three months. Some countries have already done that, as weve been reporting, and more are stepping up as well. This week, Iceland went even further and dropped all its COVID restrictions, both internally and at the border. No disease prevention measures will be in place at the border, regardless of whether individuals are vaccinated or unvaccinated, Icelands Ministry of Health said.

Italy said that as of March 1, arriving travelers from non-E.U. nations will be subject to the same requirements as European citizens, as it removes its ban on non-essential travel and its mandate for a pre-entry COVID test. Instead, visitors must meet only one of three conditions: a vaccination certificate, recovery certificate, or a negative test. Belgium has adopted the same rule, requiring just one of those three standards for entry.

Even though the COVID omicron variant was still raging in January, it looks like U.S. travelers were already anticipating its end as they started to book airline trips in greater numbers. According to the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), which serves as a clearinghouse for tickets sold through travel agencies, total airline sales through agencies during January jumped 17% over December  and were up 187% over January of 2021, to $3.6 billion. The January growth in international trips outpaced that of domestic trips, 33% vs. 21%. Januarys air travel data is encouraging, said ARC VP of global sales Steve Solomon. We expect continued recovery as more governments drop mandates and travel restrictions due to the omicron variant receding as well as a bounce in corporate ticketing. As we look ahead to spring travel, some of the historically popular destinations are showing booking numbers closer to pre-pandemic years, and in some cases, exceeding those levels.

Two months ago, American Airlines announced plans to cut back on some international services this year due to delays in the delivery of new 787-8 aircraft that were attributed to production problems at Boeing. Now the airline is conceding that those aircraft delays are still weaking havoc with its summer 2022 schedules, as it announced even more international cutbacks. American said in an SEC filing that it now expects to receive only 10 787-8s from Boeing this year instead of the 13 it had been counting on. As a result, the airline plans to temporarily suspend service from Seattle to London; Dallas/Fort Worth to Santiago, Chile; and Los Angeles to Sydney. American said it will also delay the introduction of DFW-Tel Aviv flights, previously scheduled for June; and cut capacity between Miami and Sao Paulo to one daily flight.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic, citing a 50% increase in bookings over last year, said this week it will reinstate its full portfolio of U.S. destinations for the first time since the pandemic started. The carrier plans to start flying from London Heathrow to Seattle and Washington Dulles next week, operating five flights a week on both routes, and to increase frequencies to San Francisco, Atlanta and New York. Virgin also plans to add a third daily Los Angeles-London flight in April. The carrier previously announced it will add a London-Austin route on May 25 with four weekly flights. In other international news, United has started Washington Dulles-Dublin service and expects to boost its Newark-Dublin schedule from one flight a day to two beginning April 24. Uniteds Ireland operations are also slated to get Chicago-Dublin flights beginning March 27 and Newark-Shannon service as of March 28.

Air Canada

Air Canada plans to resume some California routes this spring as part of a big increase in its international operations. The airline said it will start daily flights between San Francisco International and Edmonton on May 1, daily service between Sacramento and Vancouver on June 1, and three flights a week between San Diego and Montreal beginning May 20. Other cities in the western U.S. gaining Air Canada service include Seattle, with daily Montreal flights starting May 31; Portland, with four weekly flights to Toronto as of June 27; and Phoenix, with two flights a week to Montreal beginning May 3. Air Canada also plans to begin a new route to Salt Lake City from Toronto starting June 2, with three weekly flights. Other new U.S. routes beginning June 1 include Vancouver-Austin, Montreal-Detroit and Montreal-Atlanta. The airline also said it will resume service on 34 trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes for the summer season. From Vancouver, that will include service to Frankfurt starting May 1, Dublin beginning June 1, and Zurich effective June 17.

In other California route news, American Airlines latest plans for expanding its fast-growing operation at Austin Bergstrom Airport in Texas include the introduction of a new route to Orange County Airport in Santa Ana starting June 3. The airline said it will also start Austin-Bozeman, Montana flights on June 4 and will reintroduce seasonal service from AUS to Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on the same date.

Delta said it has enhanced its FlyReady digital tool for international passengers to ease their way through constantly changing entry requirements at various destinations. Immediately after booking, Delta said, customers will be able to see both outbound and inbound requirements for entry to their destination. It will also use links to personal passenger information in the travelers Delta SkyMiles profile and passport data to pre-fill required documentation for international trips, and will let them save, exit and resume work on their documents. The new FlyReady also has a new user interface with a more responsive and enhanced experience for mobile, Delta said. FlyReady is available through My Trips on Delta.com and within the Fly Delta mobile app.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

In airport news, travelers at San Francisco International have access to another COVID testing site at the airport, this one in the Reflection Room located pre-security in the International Terminal near the BART station entrance. Run by Worksite Labs, its open daily from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., providing rapid PCR tests with results guaranteed within 90 minutes. Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis, but appointments are strongly recommended at www.flysfo.com/travel-well/covid-19-testing, the airport said. Worksite Labs also operates drive-through testing facilities near the long-term parking lot and cellphone waiting lot. It charges $250 for a test with 90-minute results, or $90 for results in 24 hours. Standard 24-hour test results are no-cost under most major medical plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, the airport said.
Thursday at 9:41 p.m. marked the end of an era for Heskett Station, as workers there described it. It was the last time North Dakotas oldest coal-fired power plant would ever burn lignite.

Operations Supervisor Lonnie Moody anticipated a somber mood inside the control room that evening. He started working at the plant 30 years ago unloading lignite coal that arrived by rail, and he planned to be there as it shut down, he told the Tribune in an interview the day before.

I want to see it go off, he said.

The retirement of Hesketts two coal-fired units did not come about suddenly. Montana-Dakota Utilities announced in 2019 that it planned to stop operating Units 1 and 2 north of Mandan, as well as another coal-fired power plant, Lewis & Clark Station near Sidney, Montana.

Moody knew Hesketts coal units were aging -- one is nearly 70 years old -- and that the economics no longer favored coal-fired power at the site. Still, the plant ran well. He was on vacation the day the news came down that the units would retire in a couple of years.

My phone was blowing up, he said.

Joe Geiger remembers that day, too. He also was a supervisor at the plant, and has since moved on to a new job within MDU that includes implementing the retirements.

I think everyone was understanding of the decision, he said. As an employee of the facility, it was still a difficult message to receive.

MDU had planned to stop running the coal units by the end of March, but recent developments sped the timeline up several weeks. A mechanical failure caused Unit 2 to come offline Jan. 30. That factored into the companys decision to shut down Unit 1 on Thursday to comply with federal air regulations, spokesperson Mark Hanson said.

History

Hesketts Unit 1 fired up for the first time in 1954 with a 25-megawatt capacity. It was the largest coal plant in the state in those days.

MDU took out a full-page ad in The Bismarck Tribune ahead of the facilitys dedication the following year, inviting the public to an open house for tours, doughnuts and coffee. Attendees could enter a drawing that promised a DeLuxe Hotpoint Electric Range for a grand prize. MDU named the $6.5 million power plant for company founder R.M. Heskett.

The plant was meant to complement electricity produced at hydropower dams going in up and down the Missouri River, the Tribune reported in articles about the plants construction during the 1950s. When water levels were low and the dams output lacking, Heskett was meant to fill the gap.

The Bismarck-Mandan area was growing for a number of reasons, including the discovery of oil in Tioga in 1951. The oil boom brought a number of energy-related businesses to the state, many of which chose the capital city and its neighbor for their headquarters.

The expansion of agriculture, industry, distribution services and small businesses of all kinds resulted in greatly accelerated demand for electric power in western North Dakota, the Tribune reported ahead of Hesketts dedication.

MDU installed a larger unit with a 75-megawatt capacity at the site in 1963. Heskett made up the oldest still-operating coal-fired power plant in North Dakota until this week. Basin Electric Power Cooperatives Leland Olds Station has that distinction now. It began operating in 1966.

Utilities built a number of larger coal plants in the decades after Heskett came online, primarily further north alongside the mines that feed them. Lignite coal has a high moisture content, making it inefficient to transport long distances by train.

Coal traveled only a short distance by rail to Heskett from the Beulah Mine, operated by Westmoreland Beulah Mining. Coal production is stopping at the mine while a multiyear reclamation process begins, Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann said.

An executive of Westmoreland Mining Holdings told the Tribune that "while coal extraction may be winding down, our full-scale operation to restore the land to pristine condition will be ramping up significantly."

Chief Operating Officer Joe Micheletti added that the mine has employed 26 people who, in recent years, have supplied Heskett with about 400,000 tons of coal annually.

About 50 people worked at Heskett before its coal retirements were announced.

You spend so much time in there, Moody said. It gets to be like family.

Whats next

Heskett Station will no longer burn coal, but it will continue to send power into the grid via an existing gas-fired unit and another one planned for the site. Both are peaking units. They will sit at the ready much of the time, waiting for a spike in electricity demand before firing up.

Already, construction workers have begun moving dirt for the new unit west of the coal facilities, Hanson said. The unit is slated to come online by the end of the first quarter of 2023, doubling the gas plants 88-megawatt capacity.

MDU installed the first gas unit in 2014, with fuel transported by a pipeline that taps into a larger line at St. Anthony in southern Morton County. The gas comes from the Northern Border Pipeline, which starts in Canada and picks up a significant amount of gas produced in western North Dakotas Bakken oil fields.

MDU has cited low-cost natural gas, the low price of power on the market and rising coal costs as factors in retiring Hesketts coal units.

The decision to retire these units was made in the customers best interest, said Geiger, who now works as MDUs director of generation.

MDU recently entered into an agreement with Minnkota Power Cooperative to purchase power from the coal-fired Milton R. Young Station to help bridge the gap between Hesketts coal retirements and its new gas unit.

Hesketts retirements come as the coal industry has struggled amid an influx of natural gas and renewable energy across the United States. Heskett marks the second coal plant to shutter in recent memory in North Dakota. Great River Energys Stanton Station stopped operating in 2017.

Seven workers will stay on at Heskett to support its gas units. Five employees have accepted other positions within MDU, and seven have short-term assignments, Hanson said. Nearly 30 more will continue to work the next few months to prepare the site for dismantling.

Moody said a number of Heskett workers have left in the years since MDU announced the plants closure. Both he and Geiger said the company has tried hard to help employees find other jobs.

Ultimately, finding gainful employment was one of my higher priorities. Staying with MDU was also a very high priority, Geiger said. The fact that I was able to accomplish both of those goals by moving into that position was hugely beneficial to my family.

He said workers in the coming months will remove hazardous materials and any environmental contaminants, then dismantle just about everything at the site, including the two tall smokestacks. The process is known as decommissioning.

All the structures will come down with the end result being a newly graded site, Geiger said.

Moody expects he will retire around the time decommissioning starts. He said the closure of the coal units will be life-altering for a lot of people.

Its going to be weird to spend 30 years of your life at a place thats going to get erased, he said.

Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.

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The Jan. 10, 1934, edition of the Ludington Daily News was published in the midst of the Great Depression. The front page of that newspaper featured numerous articles about the economic challenges the country and the local community was facing and the efforts that the federal and local governments were undertaking to address these challenges.

Another article on the front page that day with the headline, Long Service Record Ended as Misses Mendelsohn Resign, was likely seen by local residents as even more important than the numerous articles about the work of the various alphabet agencies that the Roosevelt administration created. Anna Mendelsohn (1872-1964) and her sister Ella Mendelsohn (1874-1952) resigned their teaching positions at Longfellow Elementary School.

Family

Peter Mendelsohn (1843-1896), a native of Eastern Europe, arrived in Ludington in 1872. (The family surname was also frequently spelled Mendelson.) After working as a clerk in various shops he opened his own clothing store on west Ludington Avenue. He and his family, wife Paulina (1849-1933), daughters Anna and Ella, and sons Harold and Samuel lived in an apartment above the store. Harold Mendelsohn (1875-1944) would become a successful attorney in New York City. Peters daughters would graduate from Ludington High School and what is now Western Michigan University. They returned to Ludington soon after to begin their teaching careers.

After Peters death in 1896, his wife continued to operate the family clothing business until 1901. At that time, remaining inventories were sold to H.C. Hansen of the Fourth Ward.

Paulina and her daughters then moved to 308 N. Rath Ave. (still named Charles Street at that time) where the three women would live out their lives.

Longfellow School

Other than a short period of time that Anna taught at Ludington High School, the entire teaching career of the Mendelsohn sisters occurred at Longfellow Elementary School. That school was located on the current site of Longfellow Towers. Anna taught second grade while Ella taught first grade. Hundreds of students over the years referred to them as big Miss Mendelsohn and little Miss Mendelsohn respectively.

For over 30 years the sisters would walk from the home they shared throughout their lives to Longfellow School.

Like all teachers, they received a modest salary for their work (in 1909 their compensation was $50 per month.) In addition to their teaching responsibilities, the sisters were very active in social activities in the school and community.

One of the first performances at Oriole Hall after its completion in 1925 was a skit titled, Ladybug, directed by the Mendelsohn sisters. More than 1,000 people were in attendance. When Santa visited Longfellow school at Christmas in 1932, the Ludington Daily News reported, In Miss Ella Mendelsohns room Santa had a wonderful time. Miss Mendelsohn met him half way and they danced across the room. Then they all sang

Travel

Neither of the Mendelsohn sisters married, and they did not live an extravagant life style. They made their home with their mother Paulina Mendelsohn until her death in 1933.

Paulinas obituary contained this description of their relationship, It was her pride and joy to look after the details of the home, leaving her daughters free for their school and social work and this she insisted on doing within a few months of her death.

Anna and Ella did travel for enjoyment and to gather material to enhance their teaching. At Christmas 1902, they visited Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington in Virginia. In the summer of 1907, they toured Europe. In the 1930s, they attended A Century of Progress, the worlds fair, in Chicago.

Retirement

A few months after their mothers death, the sisters offered their joint letter of retirement to the Ludington school board. That letter was published on Jan. 10, 1934, by the Ludington Daily News. It contained these words of gratitude, May we be permitted the liberty here of a word to the many parents whose children it has been our privilege to serve as teachers in their schools? For their co-operation, their efforts, their counsel and their loyalty, which at all times have been genuine, unstinted and helpful, we wish to express our deepest appreciation.

The next day that same newspaper ran an editorial than began with this sentence: If the right to be part of any community is measured by the degree of service rendered, then Ludington belongs to Misses Anna and Ella Mendelsohn probably more than any two residents within our borders.

The sisters remained a significant part of the Ludington community through membership in Order of the Eastern Star, Womens Literary Club and Mason County Retired Public School Employees. Late in her life, Anna was well known for her annual dramatic performances, frequently in association with Mason County Historical Society.

After retirement, the sisters spent their winters in Florida where Ella died in 1952. Anna would live on, without her life-long companion, for another 12 years before dying in Pentwater. The sisters were buried alongside their parents in Springhill Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The graveside services were officiated by Rabbi Clyde Sells of Emanuel Bnai Jeshurum Congregation in recognition of the Jewish faith of the Mendelsohn family.
Venture capitalists (VCs) helped UAE-based startups raise $1.20 billion last year across 155 transactions, confirms Magnitt. According to Philip Bahoshy  CEO of the leading startup data platform for emerging venture markets:

2021 was more than just a record-breaking year for VCs, rather its been a defining year. While the global pandemic posed great pressures on governments, private sectors, and startup ecosystems alike, the year 2021 marked the resurgence of VC activity tenfold.

Faisal Alhamer founded MECC Ventures: heres why

Whats more exciting is that the growth trajectory for startups in the United Arab Emirates looks promising for 2022 as well. Part of this growth will be driven by a veteran VC, Faisal Alhamer, who recently pledged to invest $1.0 billion in the UAE-based startups in 2022.

Earlier in February, Alhamer founded MECC Ventures, a private equity company based in the UAE, for the UAE. The sole purpose of the venture capitalist firm is to execute the announced investment in companies throughout the Emirates.

Alhamers commitment to UAE-based startups is in line with the regions broader target to home at least 20 startups worth over $1.0 billion by the start of the next decade.

Being a tech hub thats home to experts from around the world, Emirates enjoys a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting business investments. Government incentives, including lower taxes, global connections, and a world-class lifestyle, are among other reasons why entrepreneurs pick UAE to set up a business.

Alhamer is a name broadly known and revered in the UAE, particularly in the business landscape. With over twenty years of experience in venture capitalism, he has a history of investing in more than 150 startups across the Emirates.

The Columbia Business School graduate believes in helping businesses with more than just money. His leadership and expert advice on corporate strategy serves to put startups on an accelerated growth trajectory. On his watch, dozens of companies have turned into substantial enterprises, building his name as a successful, profitable angel investor.

Credentials to his name are virtually never-ending. Alhamer also serves as the CEO of ABA Group  a diversified investment company headquartered in the UAE with operations spanning all over the GCC region. Under his leadership, the group has made high-return investments across several industries over the past two decades. Alhamer believes in building long-term strategic partnerships that maximize stakeholder value and increase employment opportunities in the Emirates.

The entrepreneur hasnt yet disclosed the companies or sectors that are on his watchlist for the planned $1.0 billion investment. Historically, however, hes known to fund the hospitality industry, finance, real estate, technology, travel and tourism, automotive, and human resources sectors. It is, therefore, a fair assumption that startups in these sectors are likely to receive sizable financing from the billionaire investor in 2022.

UAE closed one mega-deal last year

In 2021, the Emerging Venture Markets (EVMs) saw $6.8 billion in funding, up 228% year-over-year. 44% of investments in this region went to companies in UAE and Turkey. The Emirates closed one mega-deal last year out of the total of 12 in EVMs, defined as over $100 million in financing. As per Global Ventures Basil Moftah:

2021 has been an extraordinary year for the regions venture capital industry. Between fundraising and deal-making, Menas ecosystem was in hyperdrive this year. Whether it is record-breaking amounts of funding, growing appetites for later-stage transactions, the rising occurrence of diversified deal types (from M&A to venture debt) or the increasing number of mega-rounds, the region is signalling maturity. Underpinning these quantitative metrics is a pool of increasingly sophisticated entrepreneurs building world-class tech solutions and proving, year in and year out, that some of the most exciting opportunities of tomorrow will originate from emerging markets.
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Two lawsuits are challenging legislative subdistricts created on two reservations under the Legislatures redistricting plan. The most recent lawsuit alleges the subdistricts are racial gerrymandering in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Tribune editorial board supported the creation of the subdistricts and hopes the courts uphold the redistricting plan. The subdistricts afford the reservations a better opportunity to elect Native American candidates to the Legislature. At present there are three legislators who are enrolled members of tribal nations.

American Indians and Alaska Natives are the states largest minority at 5.6% of the population. The subdistricts dont guarantee a Native American will be elected, but it improves the chances it will happen.

The redistricting plan approved during the special session last year created subdistricts on the Fort Berthold and Turtle Mountain Indian reservations. The subdistricts are in Districts 4 and 9.

North Dakota Republican Party District 4 Chairman Charles Walen, of New Town, and District 9 Republican chairman candidate Paul Henderson, of Calvin, filed a federal lawsuit contesting the subdistricts.

Earlier this month, the Spirit Lake and Turtle Mountain tribes filed suit challenging the subdistricts. Turtle Mountain believes the redistricting plan packs tribal members into one subdistrict on the reservation while diluting their vote in the non-reservation subdistrict. Spirit Lake argues the redistricting plan dilutes American Indian voters on and near its reservation.

The Tribune believes the Legislature made a good faith effort to redraw the boundaries to reflect the population shifts. The creation of the subdistricts was an attempt to follow the population criteria of the federal Voting Rights Act.

There was opposition to the subdistricts and other changes created under the redistricting plan. A number of legislators lost their seats or were moved into new districts, so some disappointment was expected.

Republicans dominate the Legislature, with the GOP in control of the House, 80-14, and the Senate, 40-7. It would be difficult to accuse Republicans of trying to gerrymander during redistricting since they have such a large advantage. This year there will be 98 legislative seats on the ballot largely because of redistricting.

The two subdistricts were created on the reservations when it was decided they would fall within the population guidelines established for all districts. Some districts cover wider areas so they have enough population.

Overall, the Tribune believes legislators came up with a fair redistricting plan. No plan will satisfy everyone. Ideally, the makeup of the Legislature reflects the population of the state. That hasnt been the case. In the past it was top heavy with older white men. Women have made gains in the Legislature, but more can be done.

Native Americans are underrepresented, and subdistricts might improve the situation. Hopefully, the courts agree.

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As Russia circled Ukraine earlier this week, amid growing fears it would invade, the organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest took a leaf out of Switzerlands book with what they thought was a safe diplomatic approach: they declared the annual competition to be neutral soil.

The contest, famous for its sequins, fireworks and sometimes absurd musical acts, was a non-political cultural event which unites nations and celebrates diversity through music, organisers said. We are currently planning to welcome artists from both countries to perform.

Ukraines Jamala after winning the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Credit:Maja Suslin

But by the weekend, Russia was out, and Eurovisions geopolitical demilitarised zone was buckling under the weight of other European broadcasters threatening to boycott the May event if Russia, after its aggressive move against Ukraine, was welcomed with open arms.

Participating broadcasters from Iceland, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands have formally protested to the EBU. And Finlands delegation has said that if Russia was permitted to participate, they would withdraw. Faced with what was no doubt a growing chorus of protest, the EBU capitulated.
Wanita, Australias self-crowned Queen of Honky Tonk, might not be as famous as Kasey Chambers but her fans are obsessive, lining the steps of her Tamworth house, Honkytonkville, with flowers when director Matthew Walkers award-winning documentary Im Wanita premiered in cinemas last year. On stage, she emanates the free spirit and extreme generosity for which she is known in her home town, the latter sometimes to her detriment. Her story, told in the film that follows her maiden trip to Nashville at the age of 46, edited for broadcast on the ABC, is more interesting than that of a road to stardom. Its an inspiring tale of a life lived on the edge.

Ive never had any false aspirations that I would suddenly make it big or have a big comeback. I am not a f---wit, says Wanita with trademark bluntness. I could have gone to America at any given time. I was distracted. This movie was filmed during the most vulnerable years of my life, when I was trying to get out of the vocation that I hated. Good luck to sex workers, but I hated that job.

Im Wanita: Tamworths Queen of Honky Tonk heads to Nashville. Credit:

It was through sex work (that she has since quit), that the trip to record an album was funded. Realising a dream she had harboured since she was a Loretta Lynn-worshipping child, Wanita packed her cowboy boots and guitar, fellow musicians Gleny Rae Virus and Archer the Old Time Singsong Man, and, leaving behind a complicated home life with her beloved Turkish husband Baba (who has since died suddenly), hit the States. Influenced by The Beatles: Get Back, Walker was intent on simply observing whatever was to unfold.

Wanita believed in herself so much, but she was saying that no one understood her, says Walker. So I said, Well, Ill listen and see if I can understand who you are. Lots of elements of the story fascinated me.
This is the point. This is the point of objectification. These men arent interested in the fullness of me as a woman, or human being. They are not interested in who I am or what I am or how I am. I have been diminished and silenced, reduced to a single body part that exists only for the viewing and consumption of the male gaze. The Insta post that prompted a deluge of unwanted comments, mostly from complete stranger. Credit:Courtesy of Kathy Parker Its 2022 and we have journeyed through the #MeToo movement and the Times Up movement and call-out culture and Grace Tame as Australian of the Year and I find myself wondering if it has all been inefficacious. I have shared my own story; the trauma of being objectified as a child for the sexual gratification of men. Once again, anyone who knows me knows my advocacy against the objectification of women. Yet my inbox is filled with the exact thing I have spent the last decade writing and speaking words in opposition to  all for nothing, it would seem. There are, of course, the voices that seek to tell me that Im taking this too seriously. That I should be flattered, if anything. That its no big deal. That if Im going to post a photo of myself in a bikini, I should expect this kind of response. The voices use the words we use to understate the lack of respect, compassion and dignity that comes with objectification; with placing more value on our bodies than on our humanity. They are the words that come with the ongoing dehumanisation and commodification of women. To be clear, objectification is not the same as admiring someones appearance. There is no issue with expressing appreciation or admiration for another persons body in a relationship where love and respect are present. The issue arises when we view another person primarily as a passive object for our own gratification or consumption  when we comment only on a persons appearance or sex appeal; when we no longer consider them with equal respect and value but prioritise how they look over their complete and whole humanity.

Despite the work that feminist movements have done, and continue to do, objectification remains prevalent in our society. We are still being taught through advertising, media, sport, celebrities and the porn industry that women are objects to be looked at, judged, used and discarded. Young girls are being raised in a culture where the subliminal message being reinforced is that their bodies, their looks and their sexuality are valued above all else. They are growing up believing that they exist only to be viewed and therefore must be pleasing to the male gaze at all times. This leaves them caught in perpetual enslavement to self-objectification  the need to evaluate and control themselves based on their appeal to others rather than in terms of their own health, happiness and wellbeing. Change comes from identifying the ways our society continues to objectify and dehumanise women and then refusing to exist within this framework of oppression. It comes from placing value on things outside and beyond our physical bodies. Then there is the glamorisation of objectification; the illusion that it grants women power over men. The danger with such thinking is that it continues to uphold the belief that women remain sexual objects above all else. And it is far easier to justify sexual violence against someone if we view them as an object, not a person. This is especially true of the porn industry and its normalising of female bodies as commodities to be viewed, purchased, mistreated, abused and trafficked for profit. I go to bed that night, lie awake and wonder if I should write this article. I am tired of having this conversation. Tired of trying to raise awareness and shift a culture so steeped in misogyny that change feels impossible. But, as Martin Luther King jnr says, our lives begin to end the moment we become silent about things that matter. Though tired, I am not yet silent.

Conversations such as these matter. They matter to women, to men, and to the next generation, who are being groomed by social media and its underlying portrayal of the female worth in a way that shapes and distorts their belief system. Loading We need to communicate the message that women are more than just their bodies. That their bodies are not of more value and worth than women themselves. This is where the cultural shift lies  not in messages of body positivity, or removing the shame around our bodies, or in self-acceptance, but in recognising that our bodies are not the most important thing about us. Change comes from identifying the ways our society continues to objectify and dehumanise women and then refusing to exist within this framework of oppression. It comes from placing value on things outside and beyond our physical bodies  learning to see more in ourselves in order to be more; to oppose the culture of self-objectification and to know that our worth and power lies beyond how we look. What Ive learnt from this experience is this: as one solitary person, I cannot change the culture of objectification. If I could, I wouldnt have spent my day deleting messages without reply, nor another day writing this piece. But as one solitary person, I do have the power to not participate in the culture of objectification. And, in doing so, maybe I can help another to do the same.
Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest says Russias invasion of Ukraine must add greater urgency to Australias push to reduce its exposure to international fossil fuel markets and become energy independent by shifting to green power

We must be able to produce all our own electrons, our own energy molecules, make them right here in Australia ... reliant therefore on no one, the Fortescue Metals Group founder and chairman said on Sunday. The Middle East has taught us this before and [Russian president Vladimir] Putin is teaching us this now.

Andrew Twiggy Forrest, the chairman and biggest shareholder of iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group, is embarking on a major push into clean energy. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer.

Because Russia is a key supplier of coal, oil and natural gas, the impact of Russias military invasion of Ukraine has rattled global commodities markets.

The worlds dependence on Russia for certain commodities cannot be overstated, analysts at natural resources consultancy Wood Mackenzie said. There will be lasting implications.

Click here to read the story.
Major corporate sponsors of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras have been accused of exploiting the event for profit, amid fears big business is dominating at the expense of community groups.

Activist group Pride in Protest has also raised concerns about the parade, which will be held at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 5, becoming an extension of the corporations it has a relationship with and pink washing the reputations of its corporate sponsors.

Corporate sponsors make up 10 per cent of entries in the Mardi Gras parade. Credit:Steven Saphore

Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger rejected criticism of corporate involvement in the event, saying sponsors enable us to hold more events, make our events more accessible and ensure we can pay our staff, artists, and creatives.

However, Mr Kruger said the organisation represented an incredibly diverse community, with a wide range of opinions. Sometimes it can be difficult to be all things to all people, but each year we try to get that balance right.
The sudden end of working-from-home arrangements and an emphasis on reviving the central business district could come at the expense of the gains made by suburban businesses during the pandemic, local mayors and business leaders warn.

Major employers, from the NSW government to the Commonwealth Bank, have told staff to prepare for a return to the office, after the COVID-19 public health order that required them to allow working from home where possible was lifted a week ago, and the mask mandate ended on Friday.

Cafes in suburbs from Bondi to Bankstown have benefited from having residents work from home. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone

The Business Council of Australia, which is among a number of groups calling for the revival of the Sydney CBD, lobbied for the relaxation of restrictions at the NSW governments CBD Summit earlier this month. Premier Dominic Perrottet told the summit the government was looking at bringing life back to the CBD, which meant relaxing restrictions and red tape in the short term, but also coming up with a longer-term plan.

But mayors and chambers of commerce in other parts of Sydney, from both sides of the political fence, warn that the suburbs need to be a central part of any economic recovery plans, and not just the areas that were designated local government areas of concern during the Delta lockdown last year.
Parnell Palme McGuinness must have had memory loss while writing her opinion piece (Times up: misogyny must end, February 20). She rightly opines about leaders on the left not calling out misogyny, but totally fails to address the disgraceful and disgusting attacks on Julia Gillard by Tony Abbott and his fellow right-wing conservatives. These attacks were inexcusable and continued unabated during her tenure. I dont recall McGuinness, or her fellow conservatives, giving any support to Gillard. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

As for crumb maidens, does she not recall what happened to Julie Bishop? She did everything her fellow MPs asked of her, always toeing the party line. When the biggest crumb fell her way her fellow party members refused to vote for her as PM and instead installed a Prime Minister who appears to be presiding over one of the most incompetent governments Australia has ever had.

Poor behaviour needs to be called out but both sides of politics are guilty. It is not a left or right issue. It is an issue created by men who are enabled, in many instances, by women who want the crumbs powerful men have to offer. Jill Phillips, Newstead (QLD)

Few of us would admit to misogyny, but most of us condone it in one form or other, and all suffer from its effects in a society that deems one half of its population less worthy than the other. The sad reality is that we are conditioned from birth to regard femininity as weaker and less desirable than masculinity.

Culture, religion, politics, education and economics all perpetuate misogyny to a degree. But seldom are our choices and actions the result of one factor alone. What McGuinness describes is an obnoxious mix of misogyny, tribalism, ambition, insecurity and plain foul behaviour. Its easy to assign labels, appropriate trends and mimic vocabulary; much harder to conduct oneself with decency and respect for others. Meredith Williams, Northmead
Premier Dominic Perrottet has offered to resettle displaced Ukrainians, telling the Prime Minister his state will welcome refugees with open arms.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday, Mr Perrottet said after the abhorrent and unacceptable military action taken by Russia in Ukraine NSW was ready to assist the federal government in whatever way necessary to resettle people fleeing the eastern European state.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has offered to re-settle Ukrainian arrivals. Credit:James Alcock

UN officials estimate up to 4 million people could leave Ukraine if the situation deteriorates. Tens of thousands have already fled into neighbouring countries including Poland, Hungary and Romania.

We have a strong Ukrainian community here in Sydney, and I am confident any new arrivals will be welcomed with open arms, Mr Perrottet told the Prime Minister.
Despite the fact his research with 200 experts was done mainly before COVID-19, so many people can relate to symptoms of what Hari dubs the attention crisis that the book quickly became a hit after its late-January release. Flipping between screens and being interrupted by various alerts and notifications had already permeated our work and home lives. But pandemic stress dealt another blow to our concentration. The choice of the term stolen focus ... is appropriate because a deliberate set of acts, for financial reasons are attacking our focus. Dr Jon Juerdini, University of Adelaide I remember at the very start of COVID, lots of people I know saying to me Oh, Im going to finally read Tolstoy, Im going to learn French on Duolingo, no [one] learned French  people Googling how do I get my brain to work went up 300 per cent, says Hari. University of Adelaide psychiatrist and researcher, Dr Jon Jureidini, and Californias surgeon-general, Dr Nadine Burke-Harris, an expert in treating toxic stress, explained how stress undermines attention.

Dr Burke-Harris said, imagine one day you were walking down the street and out of the blue you were attacked by a bear, and you survived ... Something completely involuntary would happen to your attention: you would find it harder to read a book or do things that required deep focus, your mind would start scanning the horizon for risk and danger, he says. Imagine you were attacked by a bear again: you would likely slip into a state called hypervigilance [making it hard to concentrate on deeper things] ... in COVID, the bear came back two times. Adelaides Dr Jureidini says deep focus is a good strategy in safe situations, but when in danger your mind scans for risk. He supports Haris proposition that we have been robbed of focus, rather than caused it to happen by our lack of will. The choice of the term stolen focus, rather than lost is highly appropriate because it is a kind of deliberate set of acts, for financial reasons, that are attacking our focus, says Dr Jureidini. COVID, through its isolation, does exacerbate those problems.

Lives are diminished as a result: if youre spending 10 hours a day doing what you might do in four hours a day [because of distraction], that comes at a cost. Loading Neuroscientists such as Massachusetts Institute of Technologys professor Earl Miller told Hari that contrary to the idea a good worker is one who does lots of things at the same time and who works themselves to the point of exhaustion, the human brain has not evolved beyond being able to do one or two things at a time. The average American teen believes they can follow six or seven forms of media at the same time, says Hari. Weve fallen for a massive delusion. Being chronically interrupted and distracted during a task lowers IQ scores more than being stoned, he says, and the switch-cost effect of chopping and changing focus means it takes 23 minutes to return to a similar level of concentration.

This has been observed by Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, of the Monash University psychiatry department, who says being constantly distracted by the need to flick between tabs, screens, platforms and notifications contributes to burnout because everything takes longer and is more cognitively draining. Johann Haris book, Stolen Focus, Why You Cant Pay Attention. Were putting this huge demand on ourselves to multitask and have trained ourselves to do that in the last two years; we all got used to flicking between everything, it hasnt been great for our ability to focus our attention, she says. Hari suggests that while using a mobile phone lock-box and downloading an app that can cut internet access to your laptop, as he does, can help, collective push-back against tech companies focus-sucking business model is required. I interviewed a huge number of people in Silicone Valley, who designed parts of the way we live now, and it was interesting to see how much they are haunted by aspects of their own creation, he says.
One in three renters lost all or part of their bond last year, with legal and tenants groups warning that the situation is leaving many Victorians struggling to pay rent and basic living expenses at their next home.

The Residential Tenancies Bond Authoritys latest annual report reveals that 8 per cent of Victorian renters lost all their bond last year, while 24 per cent farewelled part of it.

Almost one in three Victorian renters lost all or some of their bond last year. Credit:Peter Rae

As tenants wait more than eight months to resolve bond disputes at tribunal hearings, one online community legal service has launched a free service to help renters claw back their bond at the end of a tenancy.

Noel Lim, co-founder and chief executive of Anika Legal, said his new initiative hoped to tackle the power imbalance between tenants and property managers.
Anthony Albanese has been a no-sudden-moves Opposition Leader and there is every indication he would bring the same energy to the prime ministership.

Labors big miscalculation in 2019 was to think the years of Coalition turmoil  Abbott to Turnbull to Morrison  would rebound negatively on the Coalition. Instead, voters, hating the instability, opted to make no sudden moves themselves.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon did an at-home-style interview with The Australian Womens Weekly. Credit:Alana Landsberry (nowtolove.com.au), Australian Womens Weekly

Besides, voters remembered well how Labor had started the trend for necking leaders. It was Julia Gillard who kicked off the cycle in 2010 when she led a coup against Kevin Rudd, the last person to win an outright (and triumphant) victory for Labor. Given how rarely Labor wins elections, it is astounding, in hindsight, how quickly and easily it turfed a man who won them a 23-seat swing.

Albanese waited out the leadership of his rival Bill Shorten, and now hopes to pull off his own outright victory, if not a triumphant one. The times are too sober for triumphalism, and Labor is hopefully humbled by its last ignoble stint in power.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Arifa Hakimi sat down for her exam knowing the Taliban were coming. She was finishing her third year at the Marshal Fahim National Defence University, and before setting pen to paper at 9am had been told the resurgent Islamist forces were attacking the western part of Kabul where she trained with the Afghan National Army and were targeting the Hazara community to which she belonged. She struggled to focus on the questions in front of her. I was just thinking about the Taliban, that they were coming, Arifa says. What would be next? My family was not there. Most of the students, their families were not there, and they didnt have any place to go. The one teacher who stayed behind was blunt: the students should finish only five of the 10 questions, return to their barracks, change out of their uniforms and leave. There was no time for anything else. By 11 oclock they took the whole city. Arifa Hakimi made a daring escape from Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover. Credit:Janie Barrett Arifa and a classmate walked for 90 minutes through the capital before reaching a basement in a safe house. It was August 15, 2021. The fall of Kabul was swift, but not entirely unopposed. Pockets of resistance kept the Taliban from ransacking the defence academy until the following day. The insurgents tore through on the hunt for information about army staff and students and, in the economic collapse that followed, would pay desperate people to inform on their enemies. Arifa counted among the wanted: a modern woman who at nearly 24 had been given an education in Pakistan, competed at national level in taekwondo and joined the army on her return to Afghanistan. She had earned threats from the Pakistani Taliban for tutoring girls in English and training them in martial arts. Afghanistan was no longer safe, but the Taliban never found her.

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Arifa regretted leaving photographs of her family in the barracks: her mother and sister in exile, a father missing and likely dead since the civil war, one brother killed by the Taliban, another in Melbourne after making a difficult journey to Australia as a teenager. It was to him she turned as the Taliban circled on the streets above. In Melbourne, Bis Hakimi called everyone he thought might help his sister. A Deakin University masters student and refugee advocate, he had found a mentor in former foreign minister Bob Carr. They had crossed paths because of Carrs role as chair of the Crescent Foundation, an Islamic-based charity for refugee education and employment, and struck up a rapport. Carr answered the call in Sydney and promised to help. Neither of them knew at the time, but rescuing Arifa from Afghanistan would turn into a three-month mission in which she narrowly avoided a deadly bombing at Kabul airport, resorted to disguising herself and hiding in safe houses, and faced a perilous border crossing. Top politicians, bureaucrats and diplomats would all be involved, along with a small band of advocates and friends of the Hakimi family in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Arifa Hakimi in uniform as a member of the Afghan National Army before the fall of Kabul. Carr turned to Kristina Keneally in Canberra. Both former NSW premiers, Carr and Keneally lobbied Immigration Minister Alex Hawke about Arifas case. It was quite clear she was in considerable danger ... if the Taliban had been able to locate her she was very clearly at risk, Keneally says. Given that her brother is here in Australia, it seemed natural that the Australian government should do what it could to protect her as it was doing to protect hundreds if not thousands of others in those frantic days. Keneallys office put Arifas name among the top of the pile. She spoke repeatedly with Hawke and Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo about the case, along with others her office had received.

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The message very clearly to me was Kristina if youve got an urgent situation just let me know and we will get going. That kind of clear, quick, non-partisan, weve got an emergency lets pull together and get the best outcome we can response truly is a very Australian response, Keneally says. This was at a level of urgency and danger that we dont normally have to respond to in Federal Parliament. Arifa was among those granted a short-term temporary protection visa, the kind issued on the ground to get Afghans out of the country in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. That was our overwhelming concern, that she had the paperwork, Keneally says. The visa was one problem, but getting a passport into Arifas hands was an international operation. The Afghan embassy in Canberra issued one for her, and it was sent to her brother in Melbourne. Bis sent it to Lahore in Pakistan, and used trusted contacts to have it transported from there to Quetta, then across the border to Kandahar and on to the safe house in Kabul. Arifa says she did not expect this level of help, but was aware of her brothers efforts. I was in contact with Bis, he was saying I will do something for you, she says. I was trying not to lose my hope. It was very difficult for me. On August 25, Arifa was ready to make her move to the airport. She took hours to reach a US checkpoint at the Abbey Gate. A US soldier told her there were no Australians to be found. She was unsure what to do. The message filtered through to Carr, who was stunned. He felt he had to call the Prime Minister to tell him we have got refugees desperate to get out of Kabul and names on a list who could not get on a flight. The Immigration Minister answered Carrs call.

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Hawkes advice was clear: She must leave the airport, Carr says. There were credible reports of an imminent attack. Telephone connections to Arifa were patchy at the airport, but she received the warning and left. Shortly after she reached the safety of the basement, suicide bombers from the terrorist offshoot Islamic State-Khorasan Province struck the Abbey Gate, killing 13 US troops and more than 100 civilians. A US Air Force image of the evacuation at evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, in the days before the bombing. Credit:AP Carr says there was a lot of nail biting and tension until Bis confirmed Arifa was safe. Alex Hawke couldnt have been more helpful, Carr says. He took my call and he gave the warning about Arifa needing to leave that airport. Hawkes office passed questions to the Department of Home Affairs, which declined to discuss Arifas case. While the arrivals and settlement of those who have departed Afghanistan is progressing, the welfare, privacy, safety and security of this cohort is our priority, a departmental spokesperson said. Between August 18 and 26, Australia evacuated about 4100 people on 32 flights from Kabul. A Home Affairs spokesperson said: Australias military air evacuation operation in Afghanistan was one of the largest humanitarian airlift operations in our history.

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But Arifa Hakimi was not among them. Her flight would come three months later. While hiding in Kabul, Arifa saw women suffer from the changes wrought by Taliban rule. Theyre not letting women out, they say you should go with a man. Theyre not letting girls get education, she says. Theyre saying its not allowed in Islam that you can get an education, theyre saying you should sit at home and do the housework. Of those who staged protests in the early days of Taliban rule, Arifa knows of four prominent women who were made to disappear: Even now its not mentioned [whether] they killed them or theyre alive or not. The Taliban have plunged Afghanistan into a human rights and humanitarian crisis, and an economic quagmire that has resulted in high unemployment and food shortages. David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Program, said in October: We are on a countdown to catastrophe. Arifa Hakimi in 2016 with the three gold, two silver and one bronze medals she won at the National Games 2014-2015 and 2016.

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Russian forces faced fierce resistance on the streets of Kyiv and across Ukraine as the ferocity of Vladimir Putins bloody invasion entered a third day on Saturday, with coordinated missile and artillery strikes and gunfights in the centre of the capital, Kyiv.

Just after midnight on Saturday, local time, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky - Russias number one target for assassination - warned his citizens of the hardest night ahead as Moscows forces prepared to storm the capital.

Natali Sevriukova outside her Kyiv apartment block following a rocket attack on Friday. Credit:AP

In a show of defiance the Ukrainian president released a video of himself on the streets of Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday morning, local time, reassuring his countrys citizens that the military would stand up to the Russian invasion and not lay down its weapons.

We will protect the country, he said. Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that its our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.
What is being fought in the cities of Ukraine is not just a war for that countrys freedom and future, it is a conflict that will determine Russias, too. Win, lose or draw, Putin has guaranteed that the Cold War - a war that arguably he never stopped fighting - is back. His regime will likely decay into isolation, economic stagnation and political repression as a result.

The ambition of Putins gamble is becoming clear. Credit:AP

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While intelligence services and the military analyst community were warning of an imminent, full-scale war in Ukraine, Western Putin-watchers and Russians alike had their doubts. It just seemed too dangerous, disproportionate and self-destructive.

On Sunday, just before the fateful meeting of Russias Security Council that showed the world how isolated Putin was, and how out of touch, a Moscow-based financial analyst messaged me that he was feeling more comfortable now - Putins about to pull off the biggest bluff in history.
Edith (Edi) Marie Smith, daughter of the late Glen Lester and Dorothy Jane Allison, was born in Youngstown, OH on Friday, October 11th, 1963, and she departed this life on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, having attained the age of 59 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death b
Nearly 200 miles separate U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney's Utica-area home from the legendary Texas Hot diner in Wellsville, but there she was last week, visiting with regulars and chowing down on a hot dog drenched with chili.

And that's not all.

Over the course of eight days, Tenney traveled from one end to the other of the district she wants to represent, the Southern Tier's 23rd district, now that Democratic gerrymanderers in Albany have chopped up and parceled off the Central New York district she currently represents. She came away from the trip not only with a taste for the local cuisine, but with a number of endorsements that make her the prohibitive Republican favorite in the district that stretches from the shores of Lake Erie to a chunk of Chenango County north of Binghamton.

The Erie County Republican Committee voted unanimously to endorse Tenney Thursday night.

"Claudia is a small business owner, Marine mom and conservative fighter for upstate New York," Erie County Republican Chairman Karl Simmeth said. "She will be a tenacious advocate for Erie County in Washington."

Claudia Tenney: a complicated conservative congresswoman-in-waiting for WNY The woman who would be the Southtowns' congresswoman lives near Utica, but she wants you to know that will soon change, and that she knows Buffalo and points south and a thing or two about being a hometown Republican representative in the Trump era.

Tenney  who would represent the Southtowns under the redistricting plan passed by the State Legislature earlier this month  also quickly won the backing of the county Republican committees in Cortland, Schuyler and Wyoming counties, along with Conservative Party backing in Chemung County.

She's done it with more than $1 million in her campaign account and with quick work to meet and greet GOP leaders across the district.

"I think Claudia is doing exactly what she needs to be doing, and that is introducing herself to the communities throughout the district," said U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, the Corning Republican who is retiring from the Southern Tier congressional seat. "I think that by doing that, she is going to show she is up to the task of representing the district."

Analysis: The rough politics of redistricting "You can mark it on your calendar. Every four years  Olympics. Every 17 years  locusts. And every 10 years  politicians incensed over reapportionment mandated by the Constitution," writes Bob McCarthy.

At this point, Tenney seems unlikely to face a strong Republican challenger in the redrawn 23rd District. Joe Sempolinski, the Steuben County Republican chairman, has announced his run for the seat but he has already said he would drop out of the race rather than challenge Tenney in a primary.

Sempolinski said he is staying in the race for now, though, just because a court challenge may result in a radical revision of the congressional map that could conceivably preserve something similar to Tenney's current seat  leaving her and Sempolinski running in separate districts.

For now, though, Tenney is running hard in the Southern Tier. In her recent trip, she had lunch at Beef 'n' Barrel in Olean and Three Girls Cafe in Boston. She visited Cuba Cheese and held a town hall session in Tioga County. And she mingled with gun rights advocates at the 1791 Society in Hamburg and with Erie County Republicans at two separate gatherings.

Tenney said she was struck by how similar the redrawn district is to her current one, and by how warmly welcomed she was everywhere.

"People were so nice ... much friendlier than I'm used to," she said.

Tenney has been something of a lightning rod in her current district, beloved by conservative Republicans for her feisty Twitter presence and support of Donald Trump yet reviled by Democrats for the same reasons.

Not surprisingly, then, Oneida County Democratic Chairman Mitch Ford was less than impressed with Tenney's recent Southern Tier foray.

"It is disappointing, but not surprising, that Claudia Tenney is more focused on retaining her position as a representative to Congress by suddenly spending the bulk of her time in the counties that comprise the new NY-23 Congressional District, while continuing to barely spend time serving her existing constituency in the current NY-22 District," Ford said.

But Tenney said she still plans on spending plenty of time in her current district while also making sure that people in the Southern Tier get to know her.

"I'm a grassroots person," she said. "I spend a lot of time in my district now. So I'm just going to be just trying to figure out how to get everywhere."

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London, 25 February 2022 (SPS) - The Polisario Front representative in Europe and to the European Union (EU), Oubi Bouchraya Bachir, discussed with members of the British organization of solidarity with the Saharawi people "Western Sahara Campaign" developments on the ground in Western Sahara during a working visit to the UK.



During this meeting, the two parties reviewed the evolution of the situation on the ground in Western Sahara, in particular the ongoing state of war since November 13, 2020 and the negative role of the UN Security Council which contributed to the failure of the UN-AU settlement plan and the intransigence of the Moroccan occupier.



The meeting also discussed the visit of the new Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to the region and the complex conditions he faces in light of the approach that the UN Security Council continues to adopt and which encourages the Moroccan occupation to undermine the decolonization plan and break the ceasefire, this in addition to the threat to peace, security and stability in the region of North Africa and Sahel.



After revealing the situation in the occupied territories and the serious human rights crisis, the two parties discussed at length the issue of natural resources and the legal battle that the Polisario Front is waging before the European courts to stop the illegal exploitation by the Moroccan occupation and its European partners.



Finally, the two parties emphasized "the continuation of efforts and coordination of work to adapt with the European action program, specifically that of the European Coordination for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO) to defend the Sahrawi people and raise awareness of international opinion on its struggle for freedom and independence.



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STAMFORD  On the opening day of the General Assemblys new legislative session, state Sen. Patricia Billie Miller made an impromptu speech recognizing Black History Month.

She recently saw a T-shirt emblazoned with the words I am Black history, she said at the start of the speech.

As an African American, there were doors closed to me, telling me that I could not go through them and that (made) me feel that I was not entitled to go through them, Miller said on the floor of the state Senate. But I stand on the shoulders of men and women who showed me that I was entitled, and if I had to kick the door in, then thats what I had to do.

I stand here today because I want young Black men and women to see me, to let them know that they can stand on my shoulders, she continued. So I want to say thank you to my ancestry. Thank you for letting me be your wildest dreams because Im sure my ancestors didnt think that there would be African Americans in the General Assembly.

For the first time in recent history, Stamfords eight-person delegation to Hartford looks more like the city itself. Miller, who made history herself as the first Black person to represent the city in the Connecticut legislature, was joined this session by two other Black legislators: Corey Paris and Hubert Delany.

When I first started, I was the first and only. And it wasnt easy for me to get here, Miller told Hearst Connecticut Media. I think having three people of color is more representative of Stamford, which is known for its diversity.

According to the 2020 census, only about half of the citys population is white. Hispanic residents make up 28 percent of the population; Black residents make up 12 percent; Asian residents make up 8.5. The Stamford delegation also has one Asian-American member: Republican Rep. Kimberly Fiorello.

Miller, a Democrat, was first elected to the state House in 2008 representing the 145th District. Last year, she made history again when she won a special election to become the state senator for the 27th District, which includes portions of Stamford and Darien and had never been represented by a person of color before.

Paris won a special election to Millers former House seat; Delany won last months special election in the 144th District, replacing now-Mayor Caroline Simmons. Both Democrats have followed Terry Adams, who represented the 146th District from 2015 to 2019, as Black men elected to represent Stamford in the General Assembly.

Miller said Paris and Delanys victories over the past year are particularly meaningful to her in light of George Floyds death and the national conversations about race it ignited.

After George Floyd, to see that we were willing to send two black men to Hartford, I tell you, it just means to me that we have grown  and weve come a long way, Miller said.

Before Paris and Delany were elected, it could be lonely at times to be the only Black member of the Stamford delegation, she said.

There were times that I had to be silent about things that I was passionate about because I didnt think anyone would understand, Miller said. Its no reflection on them because my delegation has always accepted me  with open arms. So its more of what I was feeling.

Of the 185 current members of the General Assembly, only 35 are members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus.

Theres not a part of me in this role that does not at least wear the lens of understanding that I am a Black man in an overwhelmingly white-dominated field of work, and that, I think, brings on many added pressures and expectations that I think not a lot of people understand or acknowledge, Paris said.

Paris described Black History Month as a powerful commemoration of our cultural resilience. Still, he said he would like to see more emphasis on expanding representation of people of color and recognizing the pressures politicians of color face.

At 30 years old, Paris is also one of the youngest members of the General Assembly, which adds more challenges.

You have to really educate yourself on the issues  and work to get people to understand and trust that you do have the maturity level and the knowledge in order to represent them in the best light, said Paris, who graduated from Western Connecticut State University in 2014 and now works at the Childrens Learning Centers of Fairfield County as director of development.

Because of his familys history  from his ancestors who escaped slavery in Arkansas and settled in Kansas to his great-grandfather who struggled with his identity as the son of a white woman and a Black man  and his own personal life experiences, Paris said he identifies with his diverse constituency.

Having had a lot of privilege and a lot of opportunities that many people who I represent will never be able to experience for themselves, but also understanding hardships, understanding issues around financial stagnation, around institutional and professional injustices, understanding that this is as good as its going to get for a lot of these people  I do resonate with those who I represent in this district, Paris said.

Delany said that when he was growing up, he looked up to his great grandfather, who was an attorney to Martin Luther King Jr., as well as trailblazers outside his family, from national figures like former President Barack Obama and the late Colin Powell to community leaders like the late Elaine Mitchell, who supported him when he helped organize a diversity festival in Stamford as a teenager.

I would see these men and women of substance, and I would see myself, Delany said. During Black History Month, especially, its important for our community, our Black community, the people of color within our community, to try to see themselves reflected in us  so that way they can feel closer to change and the process of government, he said.

Representative democracy is only real if you put it into practice by being there, he added, and he said he aims to serve as an example to make people feel like they can do it themselves and that they can ask the hard questions.

Delany, a U.S. Army reservist and public affairs adviser, recalled Miller once telling him that its important to be able to pay it forward.

Thats one of the reasons why Im doing this, Delany said. I was blessed to have an opportunity to see myself reflected in the leadership in my community. And I believe that our community still deserves to have that.

Millers own journey to the legislature was filled with road blocks she overcame.

She recalled how a guidance counselor once told her that she wasnt smart enough to take certain courses in middle school, how her classmates at the private high school she attended told her she was only a student there because of a scholarship and how professors in college asked her to refrain from participating in class because she intimidated her fellow students.

Running to become Stamfords first Black state legislator was no different than the rest of my journey, Miller said. It was just another page in my journey.

After working for the Stamford Housing Authority for more than two decades, Miller was appointed to fill a vacancy on the citys Board of Representatives in 2007. The following year, the longtime representative of the 145th District at the time, Christel Truglia, announced that she wouldnt run for reelection.

Miller said that her Black colleagues on the Board of Representatives, including Annie Summerville, Gloria DePina and Mitchell, as well as Hispanic member Anabel Figueroa, encouraged her to run.

They felt that I could do it, which was encouraging to me because they had been in politics for so long, Miller said. So for them to see something in me that reassured them that I could  run for the seat and win  that was reassuring to me.

Miller was reelected in the 145th District six times.

Paris said it was leaders like Miller who cleared the way for him and others.

Miller had to carry the torch in order to get people comfortable with seeing a Black person in office, he said. Now, Paris said his goal is to make it just a little bit easier for the next generation of leaders of color.

He said that Delany, who is 28, is a welcome addition to the Stamford delegation and joins a group of young people of color in Connecticut rising to positions of power.

Paris said that young Black people have approached him to tell him that such successes give them hope.

They have hope on the various issues that they care about and hope for the future of our state because they see someone like me  young, someone whos drowning in  student loan debt, someone who is just like them, who has the same interests that they have, Paris said. I think they feel like it is a tangible example of what could be.

brianna.gurciullo@hearstmediact.com
SEYMOUR  A wrong-way driver was charged with driving while intoxicated on Route 8 in Seymour early Saturday morning, according to state police.

The arrest came around the same time that two separate fatal crashes involving wrong-way drivers on Interstate 84 in Hartford and Interstate 91 in Meriden killed six people.

State police were dispatched about 3 a.m. Saturday to Route 8 on reports of a wrong-way driver on the southbound lanes near Exit 20. When they arrived, Seymour Police had stopped the car on the Exit 22 entrance ramp, state police said in a press release Saturday morning.

Police noticed the driver, identified as 54-year-old Manchester resident Michael Brown, appeared to have glassy and bloodshot eyes. Police also said they could smell alcohol on his breath as he spoke, according to state police.

Troopers administered field sobriety tests which Brown failed to perform to standard, police said.

Brown was charged with operating under the influence, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and failure to carry a license.

He was released on a $1,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Derby on March 18.

Fatal wrong-way crashes have increased across highways nationwide in recent years. However, from 2015 to 2018, Connecticut saw a decline, according to an AAA analysis using data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administrations Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

Between 2010 to 2014, the state had 29 fatal wrong-way crashes, and 20 wrong-way crashes from 2015 to 2018, the analysis stated.

AAAs study found that alcohol impairment was the single most significant factor in the majority of wrong-way driving crashes, according to Fran Mayko, a spokeswoman for AAA Northeast. The study said alcohol played a role in 60 percent of the crashes where drivers had a blood alcohol concentration over the .08 legal limit.

The study also identified advanced age and driving without a passenger as prime causes of fatalities in wrong-way crashes.
HAZLE TWP.  Amazons Oak Ridge Road Fulfillment Center buzzed with activity, even as some of its 3,000 employees took their lunch break while college students performed in honor of Black History Month.

In another part of the site on a day in mid-February, Stan Weitoish, general manager, said one of the companys more tenured centers is undergoing a retrofit that will allow the plant to double the number of cartons that go out.

We do about 90,000 cartons a day now, and post-retrofit, we will double that to about 180,000 a day, which is roughly 1.25 million a week, he said, adding that number will climb higher around the holidays.

The facility, which opened in 2008, serves as a hub for other fulfillment centers, Weitoish explained. Products come to the facility and then go out to about 17 other fulfillment centers that process packages for customers, he said.

Once the company completes the retrofit, which has been a year-long process, in late March, Weitoish said, the center will supply 40-plus fulfillment centers.

I cant wait, he said. Its like youre a kid with a new toy, and you cant use it. You want to get out and use it.

Affinity groups

He also expects to welcome more employees as the retooling will create more jobs, and the company is focusing on providing them with a better work experience  from expanded break rooms to some 13 affinity groups, such as the Women, Warriors and Latinos @Amazon.

The Black Employee Network is one of the affinity groups that embraced the Black History Month celebration at the facility, explained 25-year-old Malik Thornton, an area manager.

The company brought in snacks and meals from Black-owned restaurants for employees, highlighted historical Black leaders, musicians, artists, business people and athletes throughout the facility, and even brought in a DJ for karaoke featuring black artists, he said.

The company also celebrates the cultural diversity of its employees and hopes to raise awareness to all groups and cultures, he said.

Amazon is one of the largest employers in Luzerne County and we have a very diverse workforce, Thornton said. So, the first thing we want is everybody to feel welcomed and be able to share their culture.

The company even partnered with the Hazleton Area Public Library to allow employees to do readings that feature Black authors for this months observation, he said.

Michele Kushmeder, library executive director, said they were happy to partner with Amazon to bring the readings to its patrons through its social media presence.

I think its a great benefit to both organizations and the community, she said. It reinforces a valuable message.

The library is also highlighting books throughout Black History Month in its facilities, which are returning to regular programming following COVID-19 precautions, she said.

So are other companies and schools in the area.

49 countries represented

Penn State Hazleton Campus is inviting its students to submit artwork, videos and other creative formats on what Black History Month means to them for a showcase on campus, featuring guest speaker Dan Kimbrough, said Susan Bartal, strategic communications director.

The Keystone Job Corps Center in Drums supported myriad activities and events, exploring both creative and culinary experiences, said Kelly King, center director. Some activities also challenged both students and employees with readings, journals and even crosswords and trivia, she said.

Celebrations of diversity continued throughout the month at Amazon as well, said Thornton, who spent at least two months helping to coordinate the employee-driven celebration.

For us to do something like this, shows that Amazon cares about its associates, he said. They want to people to come here and be happy  be able to express your culture freely.

Amazon associates at the Hazle Twp. Fulfillment Center identify with 49 countries and the company displays those flags across one wall, visible throughout the facility.

As Thornton talked, a step group from a historic Black fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, at East Stroudsburg University performed for employees in a break area while they ate their lunch.

And the conveyors kept buzzing along.
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Cloudy early, then off and on rain showers for the afternoon. High around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said on Saturday that it regrets the UN Security Council's failure to adopt a draft resolution on the situation in Ukraine.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the failure of the UN Security Council (UNSC), meeting on February 25, 2022, to adopt the draft resolution on the situation in Ukraine. The draft was voted on by a majority of eleven members of the UNSC, but was rejected because of the veto of the Russian Federation, a permanent member of this UN body. Three other states abstained," reads a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to AGERPRES.According to the source, Romania co-sponsored, together with a group of over 80 states, the draft resolution initiated by the United States of America and Albania, as members of the Security Council."The draft strongly condemns the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine and calls for the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Russian military forces from the territory of Ukraine, as well as the annulment, by the Russian Federation, of the decision on the status of certain areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Also, the text includes references to the Minsk Agreements and to the activity of the international working formats (Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group), as well as to the need for unhindered access to international humanitarian assistance, against the background of the flagrant violation of the international humanitarian law and the human rights abuses caused by the aggression against Ukraine," the MAE release reads.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies that Romania will continue to promote this draft resolution and will plead for its adoption by the UN General Assembly in the next period.
The Romanian Civil Aviation Authority has closed, starting with 15:00, the Romanian air space for all regular flights of operators registered in the Russian Federation, informs AACR through a press release.

"In the context of the conflict in Ukraine, the Romanian Government has decided to suspend the "Agreement between the Government of RS Romania and the Government of the USSR on civil air transports, signed in Bucharest on 22.12.1976". Consequently, the Romanian Civil Aviation Authority issued the NOTAM by which, starting with 15:00, the Romanian air space was closed for all regular flights, with or without landing at the airports in the country, for the aircrafts of the operators registered in the Russian Federation. Exceptions to this measure are humanitarian and emergency flights," it said.Government spokesman Dan Carbunaru had announced around 14:00 that Romania had begun the procedure of suspending the right of overflight over its territory, as well as the right to land in Romania for aircraft belonging to companies from the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs that, in the context of the latest security developments in Ukraine, on Saturday, the repatriation to Romania of the staff of the Embassy of our country in Kiev was successfully completed, following a sustained interinstitutional effort, Agerpres reports.

"Consequently, the activity of the Romanian Embassy in Kiev was suspended," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows that the activity of the Consulate General in Odessa continues to be suspended, the staff of this consular office being also safely repatriated at a previous date.The Ministry informs that, at this moment, at the consular offices in Chernivtsi and Solotvino, the activity is still carried out in normal parameters, with all the staff.The representatives of the consular offices are in touch with the Romanian citizens, being prepared to provide consular assistance, according to the legal competence, according to the requests. They are in constant contact with the representatives of the Romanian community in Ukraine.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs resumes the request of all Romanian citizens who are in Ukraine to notify, as a matter of urgency, the coordinates of their presence in this country through the www.econsulat.ro platform (https://www.econsulat.ro/CetateniRomaniInregistrati/Inregistreaza) or by contacting the MFA at the telephone number 0040751084537, a telephone line for protection requests and consular assistance.
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For Immediate Release

Contact: Kathryn Moraczewski

202-617-7406 (m)

St. Louis Based Firm, NMBL Strategies, Helps Americas Black Holocaust Museum

Usher in its next chapter with Grand Reopening on February 25, 2022

St. Louis, MO February 25, 2022  By partnering with St. Louis based consulting firm, NMBL Strategies, Americas Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) is proud to reopen its doors today and looks forward to continuing to welcome guests for generations to come. NMBL Strategies (NMBL) is gratified to have helped with strategic planning and grand reopening plans for this celebrated Milwaukee institution, known for realizing Dr. James Camerons vision of creating a space for reconciliation and healing in order to promote a more united community.

Todays Grand Reopening activities include opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. In addition, entrance is free to the public today courtesy of Herb Kohl Philanthropies. The new galleries will take visitors on a chronological journey through the over 400 years of history of African Americans from pre-captivity to the present, uniquely displaying the under-told stories as an integral part of American history. ABHM, an integrated physical and virtual experience, will continue to serve as a catalyst to educate and create space for critical conversation, reconciliation and healing, in order to promote a more equitable world without racism.

Our organization has been blessed by the opportunity to work with NMBL on our strategic framework and process at a very critical time in our re-emergence, said Dr. Robert Bert Davis, President & CEO of Americas Black Holocaust Museum. They have the perspective on productivity and advancement of a museum or non-profit that is profound. This is because of their experience and leadership in the museum and non-profit world, their inclusion of data collection and research in their findings and finally because of the natural talent and intellect that they possess.

After successfully developing and sharing the strategic plan with Americas Black Holocaust Museum, NMBL Strategies was engaged to operationalize the plan. NMBL targeted five, key areas of focus for the organization including grand re-opening plans, communications, fundraising, advisory board and operations/staffing. Through these efforts, NMBL has helped lay the foundation for a more sustainable future for ABHM.

NMBL has been privileged to work with ABHM at such an important time in history. After engaging with the community, it was clear how desperately they wanted it to reopen after closing its doors in 2008, said Eric Moraczewski, CEO of NMBL Strategies. It has been an honor to work alongside the ABHM team to help create a clear path forward for this important institution.

With Americas Black Holocaust Museum reopening today, it marks a highly anticipated day for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To date NMBLs efforts have helped yield great success for the museum including national recognition and media coverage. It also helped secure a $10 million gift from an anonymous donor and a new membership and sponsorship programs that have already brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars prior to the museum reopening. In addition, NMBL is helping in the hiring of new staff members. The museum is poised to continue to serve as a national model for how public history, arts, culture and commerce can work in unison to spur economic growth and cultural vitality.

About NMBL Strategies

NMBL Strategies seeks to empower small businesses, nonprofits and public-private enterprises through trusted consulting partnerships. Our consultants have real world experience and significant tenure within their fields and are able to deliver the best and most strategic return on investment. We strive to grow our business with the same dedication and decisiveness we offer to our broad range of clients. For more information, please contact info@nmblstrategies.com or www.nmblstategies.com.

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WENTZVILLE  A banned book again will be available to high school students here after the Wentzville School Board reversed its decision in the face of criticism and a class-action lawsuit.

The board voted 5-2 on Friday to rescind its earlier decision to ban Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye. The board then voted 5-1, with one member abstaining, to accept a review committees recommendation to retain the book, which had been challenged by a parent.

The Bluest Eye doesnt offer anything to our children, argued board member Sandy Garber. She had been a leading critic of the Morrison book, despite a review committees recommendation to retain it.

The board vice president, Daniel Brice, said the district should tighten its policies regarding some books, but he pointed out that parents already had the right to request certain titles not be available to their children. Brice said the meeting Friday was only to reconsider the decision on the ban. No specific details were given for the reconsideration.

The district made national news last month when the board voted 4-3 to removed The Bluest Eye from its high school libraries. Its action was part of a recent wave of book challenges and bans across the United States.

On Friday, three state lawmakers encouraged the School Board to stand fast by its decision to ban the book, including going to court if necessary.

We strongly urge you to stand strong in your advocacy and care for our children, and to defend your decision by any means necessary, including legal means, says the letter dated Feb. 25. It is signed by state legislators Sen. Bob Onder, Lake Saint Louis; Rep. Nick Schroer, St. Charles County; and Rep. Richard West, Wentzville.

Last month, the local backlash against the Wentzville ban was swift, with critics saying book bans violate First Amendment rights. Most professional library associations say that parents of minors may control their own childrens reading material but that they should not make specific books unavailable to other families.

The Missouri Library Association emailed a letter critical of the ban to the president of the Wentzville School Board. It said, in part: We encourage you to reexamine the depth of your commitment to education in the truest sense, and to find your courage in the face of baseless political grandstanding at the expense of educators and students in your district.

Two students, represented by lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, filed a class-action lawsuit Feb. 15 against the district. The students are identified as C.K.-W. and D.L. in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit says removing books threatens the students abilities to learn and engage with a diversity of ideas and information, including seeing their own experiences reflected in the books and developing greater understanding of the experiences of others.

On Friday, the ACLU said the suit was still active, and reacted to the ban reversal in a news release:

This is welcome news, but the fact remains that six books are still banned. And Wentzvilles policies still make it easy for any community member to force any book from the shelves even when they shamelessly target books by and about communities of color, LGBTQ people and other marginalized groups, stated Anthony Rothert, director of integrated advocacy of ACLU of Missouri. Access to The Bluest Eye was taken from students for three months just because a community member did not think they should have access to Toni Morrisons story.

The Wentzville School District has received challenges against at least four other titles: All Boys Arent Blue by George M. Johnson, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, Heavy by Kiese Laymon and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison.

The titles have been removed from school libraries. Challenges against two other books, Invisible Girl and Modern Romance, have been withdrawn, said district spokeswoman Brynne Cramer. Those two also were mentioned in the ACLU lawsuit.

After the lawsuit was filed, the School Board unanimously approved the recommendation of the districts book challenge committee to retain Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero. The book, a coming-of-age story of a Mexican-American teenager, had been challenged for foul language and depiction of rape.

Recent book challenges primarily target books written by Black and/or LGBTQ authors. The challenges often object to content about sex or sexual abuse or claim the book is obscene.

Since the Wentzville ban, local booksellers have seen increased orders for The Bluest Eye, a 51-year-old title by one of just three U.S. women to win the Nobel Prize in literature.

The Left Bank Books Foundation, the nonprofit connected to Left Bank Books bookstore in the Central West End, began its Literacy & Justice Project in response to the Wentzville ban. Within a month it had raised more than $10,000 in donations to provide free banned books to anyone who sought one through the projects website.

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ST. LOUIS  The bailiff stood fast before a crowd pressing the courtroom door. "Unless you have a pass, or are under indictment for whiskey frauds, you can't see the show," he shouted.

Reporters from around the country jammed the U.S. Post Office and Custom House, 218 North Third Street, for a trial that began Feb. 8, 1876, and ran for 18 sensational days. The defendant was Orville E. Babcock, President Ulysses S. Grant's private secretary, who was accused of being a ringleader in the infamous "whiskey ring."

Babcock had been Grant's aide in the closing months of the Civil War. He was in the room when Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865.

With Grant's election to the presidency three years later, Babcock joined him in the White House and handled his correspondence. Prosecutors said Babcock also secretly ran interference for a multicity scheme of payoffs to let liquor distillers avoid taxes. No evidence suggests Grant took part. His error was misplaced loyalty.

The national scandal broke here in 1875. Four prominent local men already had been convicted when Babcock went on trial. Every day, crowds gathered on Third Street as Babcock, often attired in silk hat, light jacket and sky-blue pants, sauntered to and from his lodging at the Lindell Hotel, Sixth Street and Washington Avenue.

Prosecutors pieced together a case of incriminating coded telegrams for the jury of seven farmers, three blacksmiths, a wagonmaker and a bricklayer. Defense lawyers had something no one has enjoyed before or since - a deposition by a sitting president, taken in the White House, on behalf of a criminal defendant. They presented Grant's transcript Feb. 17. That same day, William T. Sherman, then a St. Louis resident and Grant's wartime brother in arms, took the stand and said of Babcock, "His character has been very good."

Babcock's lawyers painted the prosecution as attacking Grant himself, a man who once had been a farmer in south St. Louis County. On Feb. 24, the jury needed only two hours to acquit Babcock of conspiracy to defraud the government.

The jubilation began on Third Street and moved to the Lindell, where Babcock and friends, including Sherman in uniform, held forth from the balcony over Washington. Babcock told the crowd, "I can only thank you most heartily for your kindness."

He was the only major figure in the scandal to win acquittal, but soon was forced from the White House. Grant made him a lighthouse inspector, and Babcock drowned on duty eight years later.

The Old Custom House, at Third and Olive, was demolished in 1941 to make way for the Gateway Arch grounds.

Read more stories from Tim O'Neil's Look Back series.
Bill McClellan Bill McClellan is a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Bill McClellan 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

One thing you can say about former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, he means well.

That is no small thing. The world would be a better place if everybody meant well. Then again, good intentions dont always work out.

Josh Hawley, for instance. Danforth regrets that one. He was early and loud in his support for Hawley, who must have seemed, at that point, ambitious but not obscenely so. Danforth is an old-school conservative, a pre-Trump Republican who has not converted. He is not only an elite  that used to be a good thing  he is just this side of noblesse oblige. He is a dignified conservative who believes in the system.

And yet he gave us Hawley. He regrets that.

He does not regret Clarence Thomas. Danforth is proud of Thomas, who was, like Hawley and Danforth, a graduate of Yale Law. That is how the the Ivy League keeps its edge. Its grads mentor.

So that is the Danforth legacy  Thomas and Hawley.

In Danforths mind, thats a split decision. He has now decided to break the tie. He will make a third protege. This one will be a center-right independent, who will run for the U.S. Senate in 2022. Danforth said he is 100 percent certain that this campaign will be very, very well-funded.

I wish I could get behind the romantic myth of a handsome stranger riding to our rescue, but the Danforth Plan relies on a poll claiming that Missourians are no longer driven by partisanship. Party labels dont mean so much anymore. Really? Run for office in the city as a Republican or out-state as a Democrat.

Frankly, we are more partisan than ever.

The real operative theory to the Danforth Plan seems to be that an establishment Republican  a pre-Trump conservative  can no longer win a Republican primary in this state, but maybe, if the Old Guard were to sneak one into the race as an independent, hed have a chance. It is touching how the Old Guard always feel that somehow, despite all the evidence to the contrary, the people who have rejected them still like them. In this instance, though, there might be some truth to it. I have long heard rumors that some Republicans secretly yearn for the relative peace, quiet and sanity of pre-Trump times.

Maybe theyre out there for the plucking.

Plus, there is the Eric Greitens factor. Polls show the former governor with a small lead. A substantial number of Republicans, especially women, are said to regard Greitens with distaste. U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, one of his rivals in the primary, has gone so far as to say that she will not vote for him if he gets the nomination.

Thats another bunch of prospective voters. Could the Danforth Plan actually work?

Unlikelier things have happened. Nobody predicted a meteor would take out the dinosaurs.

But aside from some very unlikely occurrence, the plan will achieve the opposite of its intent.

Lets consider the most likely scenario. Greitens wins the Republican primary. Lucas Kunce wins the Democratic primary.

Kunce is a rough-talking son of Jefferson City. That beats being from St. Louis. Naturally, he went to Yale. Everybody who hates elites went to Yale except Greitens. He went to Duke and then Oxford.

The Dems figure they have a slim, but real, chance with Kunce. He might be able to connect with out-staters. He does not sound like he went Yale. Truth is, nobody who went to Yale sound like they went to Yale. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers who is currently in jail charged with sedition, is a Yale Law grad. So is J.D. Vance, the tough-talking populist candidate for Senate in Ohio.

Whats going on at Yale? Thats what we should be asking ourselves.

At any rate, the Democratic dream is that Kunce connects just well enough with out-staters to peel away 10% of the normal Republican vote. After all, the Dems start with 40% of the total vote. Joe Biden got 41% in 2020. Kunce only has to do 10% better than Biden, and Kunce isnt running against Trump. Hes running against Greitens. Its doable, the Dems think. Unlikely, but doable.

But if Danforth is able to get a center-right independent into the general election, Kunce and the Dems are doomed. No matter what polls say, that D behind your name on the ballot is a real liability in Missourah. If you give the anti-Greitens people a third choice, they will grab it.

Same thing with the anti-Trump people  if there are any, that is. Im not so sure they exist.

Just because somebody has reservations about Trump or doesnt like Greitens does not mean theyre going to vote for a Dem. Not if the Danforth Plan gives them an alternative.

Already, the plan has shaken the Dems. The first entrant into the Danforth Sweepstakes is Tom Schneider, the former Democratic mayor of Florissant. Im a centrist, he said.

Well, he might say he is a zebra, but out-staters will look at him and decide somebody painted stripes on a horse. His candidacy has no chance. Maybe hell get the labor vote from North County. Any votes he gets will come from Kunces stash.

This is a Trump state. I dont like that. Apparently, Danforth doesnt like that. But the next senator is going to be a Trump Republican. That is a little less of a certainty if Greitens gets the nomination. Then its possible, barely, that Kunce could win.

Except for the Danforth Plan. That would guarantee a Greitens victory.

Clarence Thomas, Josh Hawley and Eric Greitens.

Danforths gifts to the country. With an asterisk, of course. He meant well.

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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

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Social Services knew it had a problem.

People needing to fill out an application, and have an interview, to obtain food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could no longer go to a local office to see somebody in person. So, they waited on hold at the overwhelmed call center, which had technological problems long before the pandemic.

Officials at the state agency turned to Facebook to try to calm people who were hungry. Hungry and angry Missourians, some of them seeking food aid for the first time, flooded the Facebook page with complaints.

Ive been on the phone for 6 days.

I cant get through.

I have probably called 200 times.

Mary Holmes was one of those people. The St. Louis resident is 55. Her children are grown. She helps take care of some of her 14 grandchildren. She lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Holmes only source of income is federal disability checks because she has cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Late in 2021, Holmes moved. She filed change of address forms with the various state agencies that provide her services. She knows they went through because she started receiving mail from the state at her new home. But the SNAP program sent mail to an old address. By the time she received it, and tried to get a state official on the phone, they had canceled her federally funded food assistance.

They said I had to reapply, Holmes told me.

This alone is one of the fundamental problems with how Missouris state government treats its most vulnerable residents. Before the pandemic, the state let more than 100,000 people drop off Medicaid health coverage because of similar snafus, most of them children, disabled people or senior citizens. Thousands of people like Holmes, who clearly qualify for food aid, were dropped even while being approved in other departments of state government.

Its a moral choice. The state has failed its poor for decades, and refuses to update antiquated computer systems or hire employees at a decent wage.

Holmes waited on hold for four hours one day. The recorded voice told her there were 692 people in front of her. Day after day she called back and had the same experience.

It was really depressing and frustrating.

She was not alone. Katherine Holley, a lawyer with the nonprofit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, has been working on the problem for years. My clients are suffering, Holley said. If youre a low-income person trying to navigate these unnavigable systems, youre incredibly beaten down.

This week, Holley and a group of lawyers from the National Center for Law and Economic Justice and the Stinson law firm filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Holmes and others like her, alleging that the state of Missouri has systematically failed to serve people who qualify for the federally funded food programs.

The SNAP application process in Missouri is built around the use of a dysfunctional, centralized call center. The call center was overloaded and ineffective even before the pandemic, and it has continued to be so even since DSS offices reopened to the public. Wait times are extraordinarily long, and the call center frequently deflects calls, the lawsuit alleges. Thousands of Missourians, including the individual Plaintiffs in this action, cannot meaningfully access SNAP as a result of Defendants policies.

The state has yet to respond to the lawsuit. A spokeswoman for DSS declined to comment.

Holmes did what most people in a similar situation would do, if they had the capability, when her food stamps got dropped: She got help from friends and family, and local food pantries. But thats not a sustainable public policy.

Holley said she hopes the lawsuit forces the state to speed up the process by which it is trying to update its antiquated computer systems, and design a system that is effective in getting needed aid, whether it is food or health care, to people who need it.

So many low-income Missourians are falling through the cracks, Holley says. If this was an issue that affected middle-class or affluent people, it would not be endured.

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.
MADISON COUNTY  A 43-year-old Alabama man found guilty in January of murdering three people in Bethalto was sentenced to two life sentences Friday.

Brady Witcher was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed robbery by a Madison County jury in connection to the December 2019 murders of Shari Yates, 59, her son Andrew Brooks, 30, and John McMillian, 32, in Bethalto.

A co-defendant, Brittany McMillan, pleaded guilty in December and received a life sentence.

The hearing today was truly moving, Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine wrote in a statement. Several family members of Shari, AJ and John spoke directly to the unrepentant murderer of their loved ones with profound grace and strength, forgave him, and prayed for his redemption. Their extraordinary words moved everyone in the courtroom. They will continue to be in our prayers as they continue to heal.

Investigators said Witcher and McMillan were on the run from authorities who accused them of murdering a woman in Alabama when they offered drugs and money to Brooks in exchange for his pickup truck.

Authorities said Witcher shot and killed Brooks and then the two others.

The couple also was charged in the kidnapping and murder of Kellie Ann Hughes, 31, in Alabama, and armed robbery and kidnapping in Birmingham, Alabama, and Clarksville, Tennessee.

Madison County Circuit Judge Kyle Napp presided over the case.

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CLAYTON  A man pleaded guilty Friday to stabbing his Affton housemate during a dispute in 2020, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Quentin Jackson, 40, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, armed criminal action and stealing a motor vehicle in the fatal stabbing of Justin Leeman, 41.

Jackson originally told police that he stabbed Leeman in the neck Jan. 13, 2020, during an argument over money at the home where they both lived in the 7900 block of Hildesheim Avenue, according to charging documents.

He also told investigators he then stole Leeman's car, police said.

An investigation found Jackson's DNA on the knife used in the stabbing and blood on his clothing and in the stolen car, according to court documents.

Prosecutor Wesley Bell said that at the request of Leeman's family to resolve the case quickly, his office agreed to recommend a 20-year sentence for Jackson.

A sentencing hearing is set for June 3.

A friend of Leeman, Maria Terry, told the Post-Dispatch in 2020 that he regularly rented out a room in his home to those with nowhere to stay. She added that she'll remember Leeman for his kindness and generosity.

"He was always trying to save the lost," she said. "He would befriend people on the fringes of society  the addicts who were derelicts, those who had nothing to offer."

Man found dead near Affton was stabbed, police say Authorities said Wednesday that 41-year-old Justin Leeman was the victim of a stabbing at his South County home a day earlier.

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Authorities arrested a 31-year-old man in Morgantown, West Virginia, on a charge that he threatened to shoot whoever he needed to at Christian Brothers College High School in Town and Country.

According to Town and Country investigators, Malcolm A. Johnson made several phone calls to the school between June 2021 and Tuesday. He often identified himself and expressed his for desire for the school to close during those calls.

On Tuesday, police said he called the school around 8 a.m. and told staff members he was allowed to have a gun and that he was going to come and shoot whoever he needed to at CBC for his CBC situation. Johnson reportedly told them that if police came for him, he would use the gun in self-defense.

He also stated he had a gun and was not afraid to use it, a probable cause statement read.

At the time of the call, approximately 150 people were inside the school.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Johnson with making a terrorist threat, a first-degree Class D Felony. He was arrested Wednesday, and being held without bail.

"I thank the sheriffs in Morgantown for making sure that this defendant faces this serious charge," said St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. "Above all, I am grateful that the students and staff at Christian Brothers are unharmed and safe today."

Christian Brothers College High Schools website describes the institution as a Catholic, Lasallian high school committed to the academic, spiritual and moral development of young men.

The school teaches grade 9-12 and has about 845 students enrolled. Tuition is around $18,000 a year.

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CLARKSON VALLEY  A former Rockwood School District administrator is facing a felony charge after being accused of stealing a familys dog, prosecutors said Saturday.

Alexandra Krinski, 39, an assistant principal at Crestview Middle School, was charged in St. Louis County Circuit Court Feb. 9 with one count of stealing an animal, prosecutors said Saturday.

A district spokeswoman on Sunday said Krinski resigned last week. Krinski declined to comment on the case. Her lawyer, Jason Korner, said it was just a mix up.

My clients never been in trouble a day in her life, Korner said. She was just trying to take care of a dog that she thought was not being cared for.

The trouble began when Lexi, an 8-year-old German shepherd, started escaping from her home on Fox Chapel Lane. Her owners, Brittany and Tim Davis, say Lexi has gotten out a handful of times. Their yard has an invisible electric fence, but sometimes, Lexi decides freedom beats a shock from the collar.

And the Davises yard abuts the middle school, at 16025 Clayton Road, accessible through an opening in the fence at the rear of the school.

At least twice, once in December and again last month, Lexi ended up there, in Krinskis hands.

The first time, Krinski took her to a veterinarian. Korner said Krinski thought Lexi didnt look healthy. The vet said the dog was OK but wasnt getting the care it needed, Korner said. Charging documents say the vet checked the dogs microchip and gave Krinski the Davises contact information.

But when the Davises came to pick up Lexi, charges say, Krinski said she liked the shepherd. Krinski told Brittany Davis she would have kept Lexi had the dog not been microchipped, Brittany recalled in an interview with the Post-Dispatch on Saturday.

Korner said Krinski just meant she wouldnt have had a choice: Lexi wasnt wearing a collar with identification.

And Korner said it was Krinskis intention, again, to take Lexi to a vet, when the shepherd got out on Jan. 3.

She was concerned about the welfare of this dog, Korner said.

That day, Tim Davis got a text saying Lexi was at the school again, and he replied that his wife would be there in five minutes to pick her up.

But Brittany Davis couldnt find the dog at the school. Administrators told her Lexi had been let go, according to the Davises and charging documents.

Brittany was suspicious. She hunted through online records to find Krinskis name, address and even the make of her car.

This is going to make me sound a little crazy, she told a reporter Saturday as she recounted the tale.

She then drove to the school, and waited. When she had to go to pick up her kids from elementary school, she called her husband to take her spot.

Tim Davis said as soon as he arrived he saw a car matching Krinskis drive to the front of the school and he saw Lexi being loaded into the back seat. He shot video.

Then Brittany Davis took over again. She figured out Krinskis likely route to her home in Eureka, caught up, and followed her.

I see my dog sitting in the backseat, she said on Saturday. It was like something out of a movie.

She also called police as she drove. Officers told her to back off, and she did. Still, she kept heading to Krinskis home. When she arrived, police were already there.

She said Krinski told officers she didnt know who owned the dog, now missing both her ID collar and her shock collar.

Officers made Davis verify her ownership by calling Lexi, Brittany Davis said, and let her take Lexi home (which she shares with Karma, a 3-year-old pomsky, and Winnie, a 1-year-old Australian shepherd).

The Davises now allow Lexi outside the fenced part of their property only when someone is with her, they said.

And they were torn about pressing charges. An apology would have solved it, Brittany Davis said.

A lapse of judgment, she said, we all have them.

But there was no apology, and the couple said they also thought an educator should be held to a higher standard.

If youre willing to steal a dog, what else are you going to do? Tim Davis asked.

Korner said he reached out without success to a prosecutor to try and resolve the case, perhaps with diversion, a form of probation.

My client feels terrible that any of this happened, he said.

But he said to prove theft, prosecutors will have to show that Krinski intended to permanently deprive the Davises of their dog.

I can tell you this case will be resolved, either through diversion or a jury trial, Korner vowed.

Still, it seems unlikely St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell will drop the charge.

While this fortunately is not a case involving violence against a person or an animal, a dog is a family member for most people, so we take these matters seriously, he said in a statement.

Krinski has been summoned to appear in court March 23.

UPDATED Feb. 27 with Krinski's current status. A school spokeswoman said Krinski had resigned last week.

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ST. LOUIS  St. Louis police said Saturday that they arrested two men in the shooting death of a Florissant woman this month.

Prosecutors have charged Thomas Shelton, 22, of the 12000 block of James Patrick Lane, and Douglas Shelton-Herron, 24, of the 5500 block of Page Avenue, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Police found Lekeshia Stokes, 39, of the 2000 block of Carefree Lane in Florissant, shot in a vehicle Feb. 11 in the 8500 block of Church Drive in north St. Louis' Baden neighborhood.

Emergency workers took Stokes to a hospital, but were unable to save her.

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For transgender Catholics across the United States, retaining their faith can entail complex calculations. They face rebukes from some fellow Catholics, including many bishops, yet find full acceptance in some premises of the church.

A small but growing number of parishes have formed LGBTQ ministries or support groups and warmly welcome transgender people on their own terms. Yet within the past two years, at least six Catholic dioceses have issued guidelines targeting trans people with restrictions and refusing to recognize their gender identity.

"Many of our bishops are anti-science. ... They are cold and cruel," said Sister Luisa Derouen, a retired nun who has ministered to transgender people. "You can't respect people and deny their existence at the same time."

The latest policy targeting trans Catholics was issued by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in January. It bars church personnel from using trans people's preferred pronouns that reflect their gender identity.

Objecting to trans-supportive "gender theory," the policy stipulates that "all interactions and policies, parishes, organizations, and institutions are to recognize only a person's biological sex."

Among other measures, it says parishes, schools and other Catholic organizations in the archdiocese must require people to use bathrooms associated with their birth gender and adhere to dress codes on the same basis.

And a broader policy issued in July by the Diocese of Marquette, which encompasses Michigan's Upper Peninsula, said pastors should deny trans, gay and nonbinary Catholics the sacraments  such as baptism and Communion  "unless the person has repented." It was signed by Bishop John Doerfler.

But in some other parishes around the country, a different, more welcoming face of the church is on display.

Just a few weeks before the Marquette policy was issued, the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken, New Jersey, celebrated its annual Pride Mass in support of the LGBTQ community. Delivering part of the homily at the invitation of the priest, Alexander Santora, was Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey.

"We are not disordered, confused or a fad," Zuba said, sharing with other worshippers the decades-long journey that led her to come out six years earlier at age 58. "We are not trying to defy God, nor to play God."

"By staying visible, not only outside these walls but inside our churches, we change hearts and minds, one person at a time," she concluded. "Once in a while we may get thrown out, but if that happens, we're not going away. We're coming right back in."

Santora, a priest for 40 years, said the other worshippers rose and applauded.

"Our church was opened in 1878," Santora said. "I wanted Christine to be on that pulpit."

A lifelong Catholic, Zuba said she knew from age 4 that she was different. When she finally decided to come out five decades later, she was grateful that a nearby parish, Saints Peter and Paul in Turnersville, New Jersey, welcomed her. She serves there as a eucharistic minister.

Yet she knows that much of the Catholic hierarchy, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, rejects the concept of gender transition.

"These bishops and priests don't understand that when they turn someone away, they're losing parents, children, groups of friends who say this is not the church we want to belong to," Zuba said.

Lynn Discenza, a 64-year-old transgender woman, grew up in a churchgoing Italian American family in West Hartford, Connecticut, and gave seminary a try before pursuing a career in aerospace design.

She considers herself fortunate, after transitioning two years ago, to be part of a welcoming Catholic church in the area  Saint Patrick-Saint Anthony Church in Hartford. She is a co-leader of its LGBTQ ministry.

Particularly moving, Discenza said, was a Nov. 21 observance marking the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which commemorates people killed due to anti-trans violence. She thanked the other worshippers for their support, and they responded with applause.

The pastor, Timothy Shreenan, highlighted the commemoration in the church bulletin.

"We must always stand up against hatred in all its forms, and not allow others' fears (or phobias) to be a reason for hatred," he wrote. "Rather, we must continue to learn more about the experience of others and to become more tolerant and accepting of one another."

Discenza hopes that grassroots activism on behalf of greater inclusivity will accelerate as more parishes add LGBTQ ministries.

"The change is going to come from the ground up, and some of the old bishops will die away," she said.

For young transgender Catholics, the conflicting approaches of individual churches and clergy can pose challenges to both them and their parents.

Eli Musselman of Philadelphia, who turns 19 in March and came out as transgender almost four years ago, said he felt a strong connection with his faith as a boy and many of his friends supported him.

But the pastor of the family's longtime parish declined to refer to him with masculine pronouns and he had anxiety attacks in church due to some parishioners' "nasty looks," prompting the family to switch to a parish that made them feel at home.

"A place that had once been a safe haven for me had become a place of dangers," said Musselman, now a freshman at the Jesuit-run St. Josephs University, where students and most professors, with one hurtful exception, have been supportive.

"But since coming out," he added, "my spirituality has grown. ... I feel whole for the first time in my life."

"I lost some really good friends," said his mother, JoEllen Musselman. "I felt I was constantly making apologies to people, and I got tired of that."

After embracing Catholicism as a convert after her marriage, she now has mixed feelings. Though determined to remain active in the church and advocate for greater inclusivity, she remains skeptical about the topmost Catholic leaders.

"They're flawed," she said. "If it wasn't for Christ, the church would collapse, because we humans screw everything up."

At the highest level of Catholic leadership, Pope Francis' position can best be described as two-sided.

On one hand, he has personally ministered to trans Catholics, receiving them in the Vatican and encountering them as an archbishop in Argentina, and he has said the Catholic Church must accompany them. However, he has repeatedly denounced "gender theory" and what he calls the "ideological colonization" in some schools that teaches children they can change their biological sex at will.

Francis spoke at length on the issue during a 2016 press conference, stressing the need to avoid "gender ideology" but reasserting the need to minister to trans Catholics. "But please don't say 'The pope sanctifies trans!' Please!"

Luisa Derouen, the retired nun who has ministered to more than 250 transgender people since 1999, received permission from her superiors in 2014 to write about that work. But that was on condition she not identify herself or her congregation, the Dominican Sisters of Peace. She did so under a pseudonym, which she ultimately abandoned in 2018 to publicly speak out on behalf of trans people and "give witness to their dignity and worth as human beings."

In a recent interview, Derouen said friction over transgender inclusion is likely to intensify.

"There has never been a time in the American church when Catholic hierarchy has had less moral credibility," she said. "The people in the pews are taking responsibility for doing their own homework and recognizing that we are all God's people."

Michael Sennett, a 26-year-old transgender man, sees that happening at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where he is communications director.

The unwelcoming attitude of some bishops discourages him, but he's heartened by advances, including the formation of a support group called LGBTQ+ Catholics.

"Overall I marvel at the progress," Sennett said. "People are speaking up as never before, joining forces.  The laity is finding more power."

***

Associated Press correspondent Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
ST. LOUIS  The region prepared this week for a wave of Ukrainian immigrants as refugees, including friends and family of residents here, fled the Eastern European country.

A church called a prayer vigil. A family raced across borders. And the regions immigration hub braced for newcomers.

We will make sure they find St. Louis a welcoming place to call home, said Arrey Obenson, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis.

By Friday, tens of thousands of Ukrainians had fled the country to escape the Russian invasion that had already killed scores, shelled cities and sent tanks rolling toward the capital of Kyiv. United Nations officials said the war could displace millions of Ukrainians.

The International Institute last fielded an influx of Ukrainian refugees here eight years ago, after Russia invaded and annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Since then, the institute has resettled a few dozen in St. Louis and in the Springfield, Missouri, area. A couple hundred refugees have landed in Missouri over the past decade, according to federal data.

The institute said it could, if necessary, settle hundreds more this year.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian-Americans in St. Louis grieved, prayed, and, in some cases, fought to get family home from the war-torn country.

Eugene Logusch, a deacon at St. Marys Assumption Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in south St. Louis County, said it hurt to watch his parents homeland invaded. They immigrated after World War II, he said.

Its extremely upsetting, Logusch said. But Im not surprised at all.

The turmoil hit close to home for St. Marys parishioner Tetiana Mouzi, who was frantically trying to set up arrangements to get her husband and son out of Ukraine.

Mouzi, 52, and her husband, Yuriy Safronov, 54, met and began dating in Ukraine, and immigrated to the states in the early 1990s.

Safronov had taken their son to visit his grandmother this week in western Ukraine for her 80th birthday. She lives near Lviv, where they thought the family would be safe from war. Many Ukrainians thought Putin would not advance this quickly into western Ukraine, Mouzi said.

Safronov planned to stay in Ukraine until Saturday. But Wednesday night, Mouzi, still in St. Louis, saw the beginnings of the bombing on TV and called Safronov in Ukraine to wake him.

The sun hadnt come up. She told them to gather family and get out of the country as soon as possible.

It was a long, sleepless night for Mouzi.

She began making arrangements for her husband, their son, her sister-in-law, Natalia Balandyuk, 43, and niece, Veronika Balandyuk, 9. Safronov could not convince his mother to leave her home in a 12-story apartment building, Mouzi said. The couple hopes she will at least opt to stay with a friend in a house.

The group of four caught a ride toward Poland. After two-and-a-half hours, they were dropped off more than 4 miles from the border, Mouzi said. They walked through the snow to the crossing.

There, they waited 10 hours in a line of others fleeing the country, then took a six-hour train ride to Warsaw, where Mouzi said United Airlines helped her secure a flight to Chicago.

The minute I said they were crossing the border with Ukraine, they were very, very accommodating, Mouzi said of the airline representatives who helped her.

Her family is set to arrive in Chicago on Saturday evening.

Mouzi cant wait to see them back in St. Louis. Its so nice and peaceful, she said. Its a gorgeous city. We love it. We love it.

For those who remain in Ukraine, the prayers flowed at Mouzis church on Friday night. Logusch led more than 50 people  some who belonged to the church, and some who did not  in a service held in the brightly lit worship hall that was lined with photos of saints and ornate tapestries. The air smelled of incense and sage.

In the pews, people bowed their heads, clasped their hands and followed Loguschs lead in singsong Ukrainian prayer.

Zoia Kostenko, 37, walked out of the service comforting a friend who was crying. Kostenko, who moved to the U.S. from Ukraine five years ago, checked her phone for messages from family in Kyiv.

Kostenko felt strongly that she needed to be at a church service. She sometimes attends orthodox services with Russians and Ukrainians, but didn't feel comfortable on Friday, she said  she just didn't want to hear people casting blame about the conflict. So Kostenko and her daughter, Viktoria Goncharenko, 13, attended the services at the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church instead.

I think in this situation, only God can help, Kostenko said.

Editor's note: This story has been edited to clarify testimony at Friday's prayer vigil.

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A truck convoy scheduled to roll through Kansas and Missouri on Sunday and Monday on its way to the nations capital to protest vaccine mandates pulled the plug early Saturday.

In a post on their Facebook page at 1:53 a.m., organizers of Freedom Convoy USA 2022 said there werent enough participants to continue.

The launch in California had a good turn out of supporters, but only 5 trucks were with us on arrival in Vegas, the post said. There are 2 other convoys that have massive turnouts, and are in progress to the DC area as we speak. They are The Peoples Convoy (which was the first convoy to launch out of Cali) which is in New Mexico now and the Texas Convoy which departs soon.

The post said truckers who planned to meet their convoy along the way should start heading to D.C. or join the other convoys, which were about to merge into one. They said the $6,500 that had been raised for the trip will be dispersed to these truckers when they arrive to Maryland and DC.

The action infuriated many supporters, who immediately began posting angry comments.

They hope a simple apology post will get people off their backs but you and I cant let this one go, wrote one. This is no small candy bar stolen from the store this is a very elaborate panzi scheme.

Said another: We The People demand answers. Answer the questions.

Freedom Convoy USA 2022, one of several convoys to hit the highways in recent days, left California on Friday and headed east, with plans to travel across Interstate 70 in Kansas on Sunday.

The convoy was scheduled to go through Kansas City around 6-7 p.m. Sunday, ending up in Oak Grove, Missouri, for the night, then continue on I-70 to St. Louis on Monday and stop in Indiana that night. The goal was to reach the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to protest during President Joe Bidens State of the Union address.

Other convoys heading toward Washington, D.C., however, have been gaining momentum. The biggest appears to be The Peoples Convoy, which left southern California Wednesday. Its route goes through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma on Interstate 40, then heads northeast on I-44 at Oklahoma City and into Missouri on Monday, where it runs through Joplin and Springfield and stops in Sullivan  about 65 miles from downtown St. Louis  for the night.

The group then plans to head east on I-70 out of St. Louis, and arrive in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Friday. The convoy will end in the D.C. area on Saturday, March 5, but will NOT be going into DC proper, it says on its website.

Videos taken along the route so far show long lines of tractor-trailer rigs, pickups, cars and RVs snaking down the interstate. Many vehicles are displaying American flags, and others are decorated with bright yellow flags that say Dont Tread on Me. Some signs have anti-vaccine messages, pro-Trump slogans and comments such as F-  - Biden and We Will Not Comply.

Supporters are gathering on overpasses along the route, waving signs and blaring their horns to cheer the drivers on. In Arizona, some waited for hours to greet them, and firefighters on one overpass erected a gigantic American flag. Organizers said Friday that the convoy spanned eight miles.

Mike Landis with The Peoples Convoy said the goal is to end a presidents ability to use emergency executive power for implementing orders such as vaccine mandates.

Its about freedom  your freedom to choose what you feel is best for your life, within the morals and the guidelines of our Constitution, he said in a video posted on the groups Facebook page. We want this government to bring back the Constitution by ending the Emergency Powers Act. And then those that were a part of this whole scheme to be held accountable, per the way of the Constitution, for their actions and the people that died as a result of it.

We the People want our country back, the one that we love, Old Glory, the America the Beautiful and the brave. Because thats who we are and what we are and what we want to continue to be. We do not want to be under a dictatorship. Communism style is where we are right now.

The convoys are inspired by and modeled after recent Canadian truckers protests of a mandate requiring those crossing the U.S.-Canada border to be vaccinated for COVID-19. The protests shut down the busiest border crossing between Canada and the United States and jammed the streets of Ottawa, the capital, for weeks. They were broken up last week after authorities arrested more than 100 participants and began towing away vehicles.

Supporters of the U.S. convoys have been collecting money and supplies for the truckers, and The Peoples Convoy alone showed more than $855,000 in donations on its website Friday. A group in Wisconsin says supporters can adopt a trucker with a $500 donation that will provide a tank of diesel, a $75 fuel card, hot meal, shower, case of water and a Patriot Pack.

This week, the Department of Defense approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard personnel after receiving requests from the District of Columbia and the U.S. Capitol Police for assistance. The National Guard will help with traffic control from Saturday through March 7, the Pentagon said, but will not take part in law enforcement or domestic-surveillance activities.

Organizers call that overkill, saying the convoys will be peaceful and patriotic. But those who monitor far-right extremist groups say people should be paying close attention.

Its important to remember that theyve already mobilized a couple million COVID deniers who have been radicalized and are engaging in increasingly militant activity, including sovereign citizen style tactics, said Devin Burghart, executive director of the Kansas City-based Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights. So its definitely something worth watching.

Anti-vaccine activists were already scheduling rallies for March 5, Burghart said. This might add to the crowds.

Authorities in Kansas and Missouri said they are aware of the convoys and are keeping track of them. Another Midwest convoy is scheduled to roll across I-70 in Kansas and Missouri on March 3 and 4, passing through Topeka and around Kansas City, then traveling to St. Louis.

We will continue to monitor information regarding the convoy and work with other law enforcement agencies, said Lt. Candice Breshears, spokeswoman for the Kansas Highway Patrol. As always, our goal is to keep our citizens and those traveling through our state as safe as possible.

Capt. John Hotz, Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman, said the agency was working with federal, state and local partners to monitor them for situational awareness and will address any issues if they arise.

Some of the convoys have made their Facebook accounts private in the past week and others have moved to sites that are encrypted and more secure. Still other groups have fizzled because of infighting among members.

A planned Freedom Convoy in Jefferson City fell flat earlier this month when only a small group of mostly pickups and cars showed up to go to the Capitol. Two days later, the organizer wrote on Facebook that I have separated myself from particular groups and I no longer feel as if my efforts to support a cause thats literally going to starve everyone out and cause nothing but a nightmare for everyone, is worth it to me!

And a group called Convoy to D.C. 2022 Restart Original posted on its Facebook page Tuesday that it was pausing until March 8.

We do not support The Peoples Convoy movement to DC, it said. We dont want the American people involved in something that could end up getting them into trouble. Our original message got muddy after bringing on an Admin that got the original group shut-down.
Every time that this column  or my colleagues columns, or the Post-Dispatch Editorial Board  mentions Donald Trumps name, theres a segment of readers out there who demand to know why. Hes been out of office more than a year. Why this fixation on a former president?

Most allege sinister motives: Were deflecting attention from the failures of the Biden administration. Or were trying to embarrass Republicans. Or were trying to sell papers. (Ive worked at multiple newspapers over 30 years, and Ive yet to find that elusive one I keep hearing about that evidently pays its writers extra for days when more papers sell.)

If those arent the reasons (and they arent), then why is it that we and the rest of the mainstream media cant seem to stop talking about His Royal Orangeness?

Its a fair question. Here are five answers:

Trump still leads a populist movement thats transforming America. Thats not a compliment. The MAGA movement is putrid and dangerous in a 1930s-Germany kind of way. So much of whats happening in the U.S. now  growing anti-immigrant xenophobia, widespread distrust of scientists and other elites, the embrace of conspiracy nonsense, threats of violence against school boards, book-banning, attacks on the very concept of democracy  is both unfathomable and historically familiar. And the man who ushered in so much of that poison is still packing rallies.

Hes the favorite of most Republican voters for the presidency in 2024. As disturbing as it is for me to type that sentence, its at least as disturbing for genuine conservatives to read it. They are the source of most of the Why are you still talking about Trump? frustration out there.

Oh, they didnt mind it when Trump was there to help Republicans cut taxes for the rich  which, as we all know, is a panacea to everything from pimples to bad breath. But they always cringed, if discreetly, at Trumps outrageous lies and transparent demagoguery. He was (is) embarrassing to the country-club set. They may have voted for him, but at some level, they were relieved to see him go. They want him to be irrelevant now.

Unfortunately, hes not. Every national poll shows Trump with majority support among Republicans for a 2024 presidential run. No other GOP candidate is anywhere near him. Thats unlikely to change as long as other prominent Republicans remain terrified of crossing him because of his hold on the base.

He has stopped bothering to pretend hes anything other than an aspiring dictator. Maya Angelous often-quoted advice  When someone shows you who they are, believe them  has never been more relevant. Last week, Trump praised Vladimir Putin as a genius and wonderful for Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, even as the U.S. and NATO struggled to prevent it. It was consistent with Trumps long history of admiring autocrats in general, and Putin in particular. Also last week, the man who, as discussed above, has a genuine chance of being sworn in again as president in January 2025 mused, as he has before, about executing his political enemies. Generalissimo Trump doesnt just say the quiet part out loud; he bellows it.

Jan. 6 was a practice-run. Trump and the rioters and congressional accomplices like Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley failed in their efforts to overturn a valid election last year  but they learned from it. Republican legislatures around the country are now passing laws to make it easier for them to overrule election authorities and send bogus electoral slates to Congress. Trump himself is systematically attacking election officials who refused to go along with his attempted coup, and endorsing challengers for those offices who can be expected to do his bidding next time.

Democrats have no bench. Normally, we could assume that an incumbent first-term president will run for a second term. But can we really assume that of a president who will be almost 82 years old on Election Day 2024? And who is, undeniably, already showing his age? This most predictable of Joe Bidens problems is exacerbated by his unpredicted banishment of Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House basement, or wherever it is that he has sent her. (Strange treatment of a veep by a man who, when he held that position, was elevated at every opportunity by President Barack Obama.)

If it turns out Biden wont or cant run, Harris backers would expect her to be next up  but, fairly or not, her current job approval rating is below 40%. So will some other Democrat challenge the first woman of color (of any color, in fact) to have ever held national office? How will that work out in an already-factionalized party? You dont have to be a chess grandmaster to look a few moves ahead and see that Democrats have a real chance of losing the White House in 2024 no matter who the Republicans run.

And to reiterate: The Republican favorite right now is a man who tried to overturn a valid election, who daydreams about executing his rivals, who praises a U.S. adversary for invading a U.S. ally, and whose rhetorical jackhammer is still pounding away at our deepest socio-political stress points.

Seriously  what else should anyone be talking about?

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Missouri voters may soon be able to fundamentally change how their politicians are elected with a new process that could increase voters options and decrease partisan extremism. Organizers seek a referendum creating ranked-choice voting. Its not as complicated as it sounds, and it would give candidates incentive to appeal to a broader swath of the electorate.

The Better Elections Amendment, which organizers hope to get on the November ballot, would work like this: In Missouris primaries, all congressional, statewide and legislative primary candidates from all parties would appear on one ballot. The voter would choose one candidate for each office, with no requirement that the choices all be from the same party. If a voter liked a specific Republican candidate for the U.S. House but preferred a Democrat in a local legislative race, that voter could choose both in the primary.

The top four vote-getters for each office, regardless of party, would go to an instant runoff in the general election. Instead of being limited to one choice for each office, the voter could choose up to four, ranking them in order of preference.

If any one candidate gets ranked first by more than 50% of votes cast, that candidate wins. If no one gets 50%, then the bottom vote-getter of the four candidates gets dropped, and the votes of those who ranked that candidate first would go to whichever candidate those voters ranked second  then the votes would be tabulated again. The process would repeat until one candidate is left with more than half the votes.

Importantly, voters wouldnt be required to rank all four candidates  they could just leave off any candidates they view as unacceptable  and no voters ballot would count toward a candidate that voter didnt rank. That means no candidate could win unless at least 50% of the voters express enough support to include that candidate somewhere in their rankings. This could dramatically change how candidates campaign, providing strong incentives for them to reach out to a broader base, even to those voters who wouldnt be likely to rank them as their first choice.

To sweeten the pot, organizers are including ballot-security reforms like mandatory paper trails and mandating that representatives of all political parties be allowed to monitor the process.

If organizers can gather the necessary signatures by May 8 to get the referendum on the November ballot  then win  the new system would start with the 2024 election cycle. If history is a guide, state officials who flourish under the current system can be expected to try to thwart the petition approval or force the referendum onto the lower-turnout August elections instead of November in hopes of defeating it. Those are exactly the kinds of hyper-partisan games that a change like this could make a thing of the past.

Petition information is available at betterelectionsmo.org.
Republican politicians may think they have a winning issue in banning controversial books from schools, but new polling says otherwise. It indicates that more than 80% of Americans oppose removing books from school shelves due to content involving race or other controversial issues. It means that Democrats (and Republicans, for that matter) who oppose such bans will not only be doing the right thing but will also be doing the politically savvy thing.

The trend toward book bans in schools is one of the GOPs more disturbing culture-war assaults of late. While activists have targeted some materials based on obscenity or violence, far more of what theyre trying to remove are books they fear will make students (or their parents) uncomfortable by accurately recounting historical facts about slavery, or discussing race in the context of current events.

They dont want students learning facts about history or society that may not line up with hard-right ideology, in other words. The fact that this wide net has captured such serious and important works as Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, recently pulled from the shelves in Wentzville, says all thats necessary about the illegitimacy of the whole endeavor. The school board rescinded that decision on Friday.

Some Republican politicians clearly think they have a winning issue with middle America. And it appears many Democrats agree with them, judging by how skittish they have been in directly confronting the book-banning efforts. But a new CBS News/YouGov poll indicates Democrats should perhaps be talking more about this issue, rather than just trying to duck the subject.

The poll asked whether adult respondents believe books should ever be banned from schools based on specific types of content like racial discussion, depictions of slavery, criticism of U.S. history or political ideas you disagree with. Between 83% and 87% of respondents said they would oppose the yanking of books from schools based on those types of content.

In an important rebuke to the conservative claim that learning about race in America would make white students feel guilty, just 23% of the polls respondents agreed. Similarly, just 16% agreed with the conservative trope that learning about race would diminish racial tolerance. Meanwhile, 68% said teaching about race would make students understand what others went through.

Numbers like those are far more lopsided than the usual Democrat-Republican split among voters  meaning even many Republicans recognize that the GOPs book-banning rationales dont hold water.

The strategy of Republican book-banning efforts counts on Democrats being cowed by fears they will look radical or woke if they oppose such bans. But numbers like these indicate that, in fact, its these ideologically driven book bans that are unpopular among average Americans  as they should be. What could be more American, after all, than ensuring future generations can assess the nations sometimes-troubling past and face the often-controversial present with facts on their side and eyes wide open?
In discussing race and society, it has become common for scholars and pundits to declare that race is a social construct that has no biological basis. This claim is not correct. DNA analyzed from a cheek swab can determine a persons racial background with high accuracy in the absence of any other supporting information.

Susceptibility to numerous genetic diseases is linked to race or ethnicity. Black and white, two of the five races recognized on the 2020 U.S. census, are each identified solely on heritable biological traits.

Presumably, race construed as having biological meaning raises fears that it can explain racial disparities in society and therefore justify racism. Although these fears are understandable, it is the misrepresentation of human biology and genetics that have been used to promote race-based social hierarchies, eugenics and genocide. Scientific literacy helps protect us from anti-social behavior and attitudes.

Humans are 99.9% identical in our genetic (DNA) make up, which can be explained by the fact that we are all descended from a common ancestor that originated in Africa. Some Africans left the continent about 70,000 years ago and colonized the world, establishing geographically distinct populations on different continents.

These populations remained largely separated from each other for thousands of years, which gave each group time to develop genetic distinctions, some of which are manifest as physical characteristics associated with race. The importance that we choose to ascribe to race is socially constructed, but heritable traits linked to their geographic origin are not.

Misusing genetics to justify racism should disappear by understanding that race is a poor proxy for a persons overall biological and genetic makeup. This is because most genes in our cells have nothing to do with race. Two people may share race-related genes, but have less overall genetic identity than two people from different races.

This knowledge counters arguments that attempt to use race to prejudge groups of people or stereotype individuals. Genetics properly understood disallows racism, and renders offensive the idea of segregation on the bus or in the classroom.

A 2021 Gallup poll reports that 94% of Americans approve of interracial marriage, up dramatically from 4% in 1958. Marriage, too, is a social construction based on biology, and genetic profiles of future generations will continue to change as society evolves. Some view assimilation of minority groups as subjugation by the dominant culture. I disagree. American history shows that the so-called dominant culture constantly changes as a result of sharing culture and DNA.

Finally, if we are to use genetics as a tool for social construction, one cannot overlook the 99.9% that we have in common. We are all related. Our genes reinforce the Enlightenment ideal that simply being human confers on each person the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Mark R. OBrian, Ph.D., is a professor of biochemistry at the University at Buffalo.
Two years ago, the Post-Dispatch reported that at least three boys made abuse accusations against Father Alex Anderson (Lawsuit says St. Louis priest abused boy in 1980s, Aug. 28, 2020). Then, earlier this month, along comes a fourth accuser (Lawsuit accuses De Soto priest of sexual abuse at boys home, Feb. 15).

Still, Anderson remains pastor of a local Catholic parish. And worse, the St. Louis archdiocese has already deemed this latest allegation false, refusing to even suspend the cleric and perform an investigation.

Is Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski really suggesting that all four of these men, who say they were assaulted by Anderson over decades at a south St. Louis orphanage, are lying or confused?

Douglas Lay  Florissant
Regarding Trump praises Putins Ukraine invasion: Genius and savvy (Feb 23): It was not long ago that the Republican Party stood in opposition to the incursions of the Soviet Union, the very empire that Russian President Vladimir Putin is now working to restore by the invasions of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and Ukraine proper on Thursday.
Iraq is again expanding the list of countries it buys weapons from. Currently Iraq is negotiating with France to buy armed UAVs and fourteen Rafale jet fighters. Iraq is also seeking UAVs from Pakistan. Iraq is ordering more T-90S tanks from Russia. Iraq already has 73 T90S tanks purchased in 2016. Iraq is buying some Super Mushshak trainer aircraft from Pakistan. These can also be armed as used for ground attack.

Iraq regularly buys military equipment from a large number of countries. Since 2003 Iraq has purchased armored vehicles from the United States, Russia, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Poland, Turkey, Germany, Ukraine, France, South Africa and Britain. Artillery has been purchased from the United States, and Brazil. Aircraft have been purchased from the United States, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Canada, South Korea, Serbia, Germany and China. Anti-aircraft systems have been bought from Russia, the United States and Sweden. Portable anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles have been bought from the United States, Sweden, Germany and Russia.

The obvious reason for obtaining weapons from numerous nations is diplomatic. Trade in general does this but weapons acquisition establishes a better relationship with other nations, making it possible to obtain some diplomatic or other assistance when needed

Unofficially, buying from so many different countries is often an opportunity for corruption. These is a lot of corruption in Iraq, so much so that it has become a source of much popular unrest. Many countries will increase their usual price to account for additional fees that go to the Iraqi officials who arrange the purchase.

Having so many versions of the same equipment from different nations also complicates and increases the cost of supporting all those different systems. That provides more money for corrupt officials to steal. The impact of that is often not felt until Iraq is called on to use those systems in wartime and they are not operational.

Some weapons systems are used heavily and frequently reordered. For example, in 2014 Iraq ordered another 500 AGM-114K/R Hellfire II missiles. The K model is for use against armored vehicles while the R model has a warhead that is effective against personnel and structures, as well as lightly armored vehicles. Iraq has some helicopters, trainers and recon aircraft that can be equipped with Hellfire and a growing number of these helicopters and airplanes have been so equipped.

For the 2014 shipment Iraq paid about $160,000 per missile. This includes training, spare parts and technical assistance installing Hellfire in some types of Iraqi aircraft.
FILE PHOTO: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at a press conference during a Special meeting of the European Council in light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium, 24 February 2022. Olivier Hoslet/Pool via REUTERS

(Reuters) - The European Union could exclude Russia from the SWIFT global interbank payments system in a fresh round of sanctions, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on Friday.

"Putin wants war. But people want peace, freedom and the right to make their choices," she said on Twitter.

"Further, massive, sanctions, with nothing off the table, are important - we can do more. Including the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT system."

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Just over a year ago, international oil markets dismissed Venezuela as a catastrophe too beaten down and too mismanaged ever to regain relevance. Turns out, the death notice was quite premature.

With crude prices spiking to over $100 per barrel and traders scrutinizing far-flung corners of the globe for signs of future production, Venezuela's oil industry is mounting an unexpected recovery at the most opportune time. The founding OPEC member-home to the world's largest oil reserves-has more than doubled production since late 2020, and there's even more room for output to grow. Global economies are bouncing back from the worst of the pandemic and the market is on edge over the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and so hungry buyers are gladly purchasing all the fuel they can get.

It's a comeback that until recently seemed almost unthinkable. The state-run driller, Petroleos de Venezuela, already in dire straits after decades of mismanagement, has absorbed one blow after another: financial sanctions from the U.S. in 2017; another round two years later that disrupted trading of its oil and forced contractors on the ground to pull back; an electricity blackout that took production offline for a week; the loss of oil storage in the Caribbean; and a global pandemic that sent prices for its heavy crude tumbling. The petrostate's foreign currency revenues shrank a whopping 99% in the six years ending in early 2021 in a massive hit for the economy.

But Venezuela has recently worked out a new formula: importing light-oil from Iran to help it thin out its thick crude, working with local contractors to keep the oil flowing and selling it to China through middlemen. As a result, PDVSA is now producing about 800,000 barrels a day, around 60% of what it pumped before the U.S. oil sanctions went into effect in January 2019.

It's not the 3 million barrels a day that made Venezuela a global energy force in the 1990s, but neither is it the 374,000 barrels a day it hit when the country was at rock bottom in June 2020. With prices surging in recent weeks and some local contractors perceiving the Biden administration as less stringent when it comes to enforcing economic sanctions, many analysts believe it's a production level that the country can sustain.

To be sure, 800,000 barrels a day is less than 10% of Saudi Arabia's output and wouldn't even make Venezuela a top producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. But while it will barely make a ripple internationally, it's an important lifeline for President Nicolas Maduro, providing oxygen to an economy that just grew for the first time in seven years.

PDVSA does not publish financial data, but Asdrubal Oliveros, from Caracas-based consultancy Ecoanalitica, estimates the government received $11 billion in oil revenue last year, a 38% increase from the previous year. He forecasts revenue will grow to around $15 billion this year. The company did not reply to messages seeking comment.

Venezuela's supply is not "going to move markets, but with oil prices rising, they represent a windfall revenue for Maduro," David Voght, managing director of IPD Latin America, said in an interview.

One key factor fueling the turnaround is the help of powerful allies. China buys the majority of Venezuela's production and Iran provides the condensate the country needs to mix with its heavy crude. The diluent is key to the Orinoco Belt. The tar-like crude drilled in the wide open plains in eastern Venezuela makes up around 70% of the country's output; without condensate to mix with it, it can't be pumped to PDVSA's exporting port 300 kilometers away, as it clogs pipelines.

"Access to Iranian diluents is key for production to continue to ramp up," said Jacques Rousseau, managing director at Clearview Energy Partners. "With oil prices so high and dwindling supplies of the type of heavy oil Venezuela produces, it's certainly worth it to pay more attention to what they are doing." Just this week, Caracas and Tehran broadened their oil cooperation with a new deal in Doha, during the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, without detailing its content.

PDVSA has also overcome the exodus of big international service and maintenance companies, such as Halliburton Co., Schlumberger and Baker Hughes Co., that pulled from the country as U.S. sanctions prohibited them from drilling wells or selling, buying or transporting oil.

In their place, local contractors are increasingly filling the void, quietly stepping in to do repairs and maintenance. The willingness of such companies to take on contracts has come about due, in part, to the hands-off approach of the Biden administration to sanctions, contractors operating in the country say. Under the softer approach, they say the U.S. is not closing down their access to financial institutions with the same voracity as the Trump administration. The Treasury Department didn't respond to a request for comment.

For now, production is holding, even as many facilities are in ruin, Voght said. PDVSA has so much excess capacity that it can focus on plants that are in better shape to keep pumping near current levels. At the same time, many of the fields that have been shut down can quickly be reopened, meaning possibly there's room for it to grow.

Despite the sanctions and the quality of Venezuela's crude, "it is operating as best it can and with great effort to sustain production in the worst conditions," said economist Tamara Herrera, managing director of consulting firm Sintesis Financiera.

Still, that doesn't mean Maduro's ambitious 1.5 million-barrel-a-day goal is within reach. "After years of lack of investments," Clearview Energy's Rousseau said, "it's unlikely that output will go back to once it was."

Herrera agreed. "Touching it and sustaining it are two different things," she said of the elevated output levels. "The main challenge for the industry is to make the levels achieved sustainable."

___

Bloomberg's Lucia Kassai and Daniel Flatley contributed to this report.
TOKYO - The Russian invasion of Ukraine has effectively shunted negotiations on a formal Japan-Russia peace treaty and issues related to the northern territories back to square one.

The Japanese government is working with the other Group of Seven major nations to take a unified stance against Russia, making it inevitable that Moscow will take a harder line in negotiations with Japan.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida acknowledged Friday that it would be difficult to proceed with negotiations on a peace treaty and issues related to the northern territories, islands off Hokkaido that were seized by the now-defunct Soviet Union after Japan's surrender in World War II.

"For the time being, I have to refrain from talking about territorial issues. Now, it's important to implement sanctions and make it clear that there will be a high cost for Russia's violations of international law," Kishida said at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on Friday.

During summit meetings between then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the leaders appeared to be on good terms, providing brief glimpses of progress in the negotiations over the islands.

After Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the United States and Europe slapped economic sanctions on Moscow. However, Japan initially refrained from following suit due to concerns about a possible negative impact on negotiations with Russia. Following demands from the United States and other nations to implement tougher measures, Japan later imposed some economic sanctions.

Because Russia's economy stagnated under Western sanctions, it continued negotiations over the northern territories, aiming to draw investment from Japan.

In December 2016 summit talks in Abe's home city of Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and other locations, Abe and Putin agreed to start discussions toward joint economic activities on the northern isles.

In Singapore in November 2018, both leaders agreed to accelerate negotiations on concluding a peace treaty, based on the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration that stipulated the Habomai and Shikotan islands would be handed over to Japan after such a treaty was concluded.

However, little progress was made in subsequent negotiations because public sentiment in Russia was increasingly opposed to returning the islands, among other factors.

Since Abe stepped down in September 2020, there have been no signs of progress made by Abe's successor, Yoshihide Suga, or Kishida, who came to power in October 2021.

Kishida spoke with Putin by telephone on Feb. 17, mainly about the Ukraine situation. Although the northern territories issue was also on the agenda, both leaders merely confirmed talks on the matter would continue.

Abe, who devoted considerable time and effort to improving diplomatic ties with Russia while he was prime minister, has been scathing of Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

"This is a serious challenge to the international order we have built up since the end of World War II," Abe said at a Liberal Democratic Party meeting Thursday. "It is absolutely unacceptable."

Some members of the ruling LDP said that the territorial issue should no longer deter Japan from criticizing Russia.

"The possibility of progress on the islands issue is low, so there's no need to hesitate in imposing tough sanctions on Russia," an LDP lawmaker said.
A Japanese-owned cargo ship has been hit by a Russian missile in the Black Sea off Ukraine's coast, according to media reports.

The Panamanian-registered Namura Queen was damaged on Friday and one of its 20 Filipino crew members "sustained a nonlife threatening injury to his shoulder," the Japan Times reported on Saturday.

The newspaper cited the marine transportation firm in western Japan that owns the vessel.

"Ukraine authorities said the missile was fired by Russian forces, following their military invasion of Ukraine earlier this week," the report said.

The missile hit the ship's stern, causing the cargo ship to catch fire, according to the Reuters news agency.

The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism was verifying the attacks details on Saturday, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.
A U.S. Senate bill backed by Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer would provide financial relief for thousands of New Yorkers suffering from sticker shock when they pay for insulin.

The bill would not provide much help to those who can least afford the drug  the uninsured  but perfect policy solutions seldom exist. The Affordable Insulin Now Act deserves passage.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., would cap insulin co-pays at $35 per month, for those who have private or government insurance.

According to the Health Care Costs Institute, the average price of insulin nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016 and has risen more since. More than 7 million Americans with diabetes depend on the drug to keep their bodies functioning, but the spiraling cost affects them in varied ways if they have insurance. There is a wide range of co-pay plans for people with medical coverage, whether through personal policies, employer-sponsored plans or federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

Schumer appeared at a news conference last Monday with an insulin patient, University at Buffalo freshman Emily Dickey, and her father, Edward. Edward Dickey said his insurance is a high-deductible plan in which he pays $900 for a one-month supply of his daughters insulin, the cost until he meets his deductible.

Schumer calls for cap on 'outrageous' cost of insulin for diabetes The Affordable Insulin Now Act would reduce "the outrageously high price of a monthly dose of insulin for diabetes patients, Sen. Charles E. Schumer said at the University at Buffalos Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences on Monday.

As Emily gets older, she will age out of her parents policy and will need to acquire her own medical insurance. The high cost of medical insurance looms large for young adults who depend on drugs to maintain health and may be just starting their working careers.

Though diabetics with low co-pay plans are more insulated from the rising price of insulin, the cost increases affect millions. Dr. Jing Luo, a professor at the University of Pittsburghs Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, told the Washington Post that about one in four patients with diabetes underuses insulin due to financial pressure.

That effectively means that they are trying to make their insulin stretch, or having difficulty buying groceries or paying utility bills, Luo said.

Politicians seeking solutions cite the case of Alec Smith, a 26-year-old Minnesota man who died after rationing his insulin. Smiths average monthly expenses, including insulin and testing supplies, totaled $1,300.

The state of Minnesota passed Alecs Law, which requires insulin makers to provide the drug at lower costs for emergencies or for people on low incomes. Other states have passed similar measures and President Bidens Build Back Better bill, which is stalled in the Senate, has a provision to cap insulin co-pays at $35 for insured Americans.

Analysis: Why Biden's 'Build Back Better' could benefit Buffalo's poor  and the wealthy "Build Back Better," as it currently stands, includes not only safety net provisions but also a big tax break: an expansion of the state and local tax deduction that would, ironically, benefit both metro Buffalo and America's billionaires.

Build Back Better would go further than the Warnock Senate bill by letting the federal government negotiate with pharmaceutical companies on the price of insulin and some other drugs. It would also expand coverage for uninsured Americans, allowing millions to enroll in Medicaid or purchase plans through the Affordable Care Act exchanges.

Advocates for lowering the price of insulin point to the fact that the drug is available at much lower cost in other countries, one of which is Canada, where buying insulin does not even require a prescription.

The good news for diabetics in the U.S. is that the price problem is attracting attention.

The Food and Drug Administration last summer gave approval to Semglee, a biosimilar that can substitute for Lantus. Semglee sells for less than Lantus, a frequently prescribed insulin. A biosimilar is a near-copy of a biologic medicine thats manufactured inside living cells.

Walmart partnered with drugmaker Novo Nordisk on an analog insulin called ReliOn NovoLog, which costs between 58% and 75% less than the current cash price of insulin products for uninsured patients, the retail company says.

The three companies that dominate the market, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Sanofi, offer programs to make insulin more affordable for low-income individuals, whether or not they are insured.

And billionaire investor Mark Cuban is seeking to disrupt the prescription business with his Cost Plus Drug company, which sells generic drugs for 15% over cost. Cubans goal is to eliminate pharmacy benefits managers, the middle men who negotiate drug prices with health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. His company does not yet offer insulin.

Schumer is right that people with diabetes should not have to make the impossible decision of putting food on the table or paying for insulin.

The Affordable Insulin Now Act is a good start.

  

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WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  Russias invasion of Ukraine will trigger a revision of U.S. defense strategy and budgets, experts say.

Russian President Vladimir Putins attack is still underway, and its duration and dynamics remain in flux. The United States and its allies say they have no plans to get directly involved militarily in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO.

Even if NATO stays out of the combat in Ukraine, if Putin has his eyes set on taking back any or all of the other former Soviet states, then the world changed even more dramatically this week than most people realize. No one knows for sure if Putin has such plans. But his track record makes it imperative that America and NATO assume the worst, a growing chorus of expert observers said this week.

The upshot is that U.S. defense budgets and Americas military posture will change, the analysts said. Pentagon spending in fiscal 2022, fiscal 2023 and beyond will probably grow more than it otherwise would, an uptick that could become apparent in the next couple of weeks. Within the higher topline, more money will go toward Eastern Europe: more weapons and training for NATO allies there, and more of a U.S. military presence. Whether that means slightly less of a U.S. military focus on the Indo-Pacific region is yet to be determined. This weeks events may also precipitate a greater role for the U.S. Army in future Pentagon plans and programs.

Biden administration officials were getting close this month to finalizing a new National Defense Strategy and National Security Strategy. Then Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. As a result, those documents  and the budgets that are supposed to follow from them  may be undergoing last-second changes.

Putins attack definitely raises the importance of countering and deterring Russia in overall U.S. national security strategy, said Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in an email. I imagine there is some rewriting going on for the NSS and NDS right now to reflect that reality.

Does Ukraine portend more war?

Putin in 2005 called the dissolution of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. In a speech this week, he suggested Ukraine exists on historically Russian land. In between, he has seized at least part of country after country that was formerly part of the Soviet empire.

President Joe Biden and members of Congress from both parties said this week that Putin, in fact, wants to recreate the Soviet Union by force. If thats true, then the invasion of Ukraine is not Putins last move toward that end. In his crosshairs going forward, then, could be an arc of nations to Russias west  from the Baltic states down to Georgia.

Putin has much larger ambitions than Ukraine, Biden said on Feb. 24. He wants to, in fact, reestablish the former Soviet Union. Thats what this is about.

Likewise, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Michael R. Turner of Ohio, told a think tank audience last week that the remainder of the nations that used to be part of the Soviet Union, those in the Warsaw Pact, are now at risk.

And Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters on Friday that Putins aggression will not stop with Ukraine and there are other former Soviet republics that he will consider next, whether Moldova, Armenia or Georgia.

Coons, who just returned from Eastern Europe, said Putins stated goal is to reassemble as much of the Soviet Union as he can.

An unmistakable trend

Barry Pavel, a former top official in the Pentagon and National Security Council, said in an interview that the world entered a more dangerous period of history several years ago, and this weeks events cast it in bold relief.

Pavel, now a top analyst with the Atlantic Council, cited Putins military and political incursions over more than a decade in all or part of Georgia, Crimea, Ukraines Donbass region, Moldova, Belarus and now the entirety of Ukraine.

Is there a trend here we should step back and take a look at? he asked sarcastically. I do not have any confidence that we understand the limits of Putins ambitions.

Andrea Kendall-Taylor, a former top Russia expert at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, believes Putin is focused for now on Ukraine, not other countries, but she said there is still a risk that his position could change  depending on how much the West pushes back.

If this response is not sufficiently strong, that could in time lead Putin to overestimate his capabilities, and the cycle could continue if we dont put an end to the cycle now, Kendall-Taylor said Friday at an online forum by the Center for a New American Security, where she is now a senior fellow.

Even if Ukraine is the only country Russia invades for years to come and even if NATO takes pains to avoid combat in Ukraine, there is still a risk that nearby NATO allies, if not the United States, could soon be ensnared in the fight, some experts say.

If, for example, a country such as Poland were to harbor those supplying anti-Russian insurgents in Ukraine, then Poland, a NATO member, could become a Russian target and draw in other NATO nations, Kendall-Taylor said. And the effects of Russian cyberattacks in Ukraine could be felt in neighboring NATO nations, she added.

The spillover question is a real one, she said.

More NATO on Russias border

The Pentagon and allied militaries had already started to prepare in recent years for this growing threat. The United States has, for example, appropriated nearly $27 billion since fiscal 2015 on the European Deterrence Initiative, helping to arm and train European allies and strengthening U.S. forces in the region. The Pentagon has sought another $3.7 billion for fiscal 2022. American military construction funds have been spent upgrading runways and other facilities in countries such as Estonia.

And this week, the Pentagon moved thousands of troops who had been in the United States or Western Europe to the territory of Eastern European NATO allies such as Poland. Alongside the personnel have come American armored vehicles, fighter jets, attack helicopters and other weapons. Supplies of so-called lethal defensive weaponry to Ukraine have also grown in recent years.

More such support is coming, experts predict. Lawmakers are still negotiating the fiscal 2022 defense spending bill and Bidens fiscal 2023 request is in the final stages of development. Like the strategy documents, revisions are no doubt being made in the budgets, at least on the margins.

While before the strategy seemed to be focused squarely on China, China, China, it is now going to read something more like China, Russia, China,' Harrison said.

The forthcoming budgets will include more weapons and training for NATO allies in Eastern Europe and might include more U.S. forces stationed either permanently or, more likely, on a rotational basis in the region.

The training will focus on Russian operational tactics displayed in Ukraine, Harrison predicted.

The weapons will also flow, experts said.

I think we will see accelerated efforts to sell and transfer higher-end equipment to our NATO allies on the eastern front, particularly when it comes to advanced missiles and munitions, Harrison said. I would expect to see more anti-tank, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as air and missile defense systems.

Pavel, for his part, predicted more of an offensive bent to the weapons that NATO stations on Russias periphery, such as bombers and long-range strike assets.

Putin is going to get a lot more NATO close to his borders than hes ever seen before, Pavel said.

Many experts have predicted that a growing focus in the last few years on U.S. defense planning for possible conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific region spelled budget trouble for the Army, which is less likely to be a player in such a contest than the Air Force and Navy. The Army was also seen as bound to shrink in size so that money that would have paid the salaries and benefits of soldiers could go instead to developing cutting edge weapons for a high-end China fight.

That will change somewhat now, Harrison and Pavel said, and the only question appears to be: how much?

Europe is a very Army-heavy requirement, and there is nowhere else on Earth the Army is required in such a significant way, Pavel said. The U.S. Army needs to be focused on Europe as priority number one, two and three.

More for the Pentagon

Perhaps the most lasting effect on Pentagon budgets will be political, Harrison predicts. As a result of what is shaping up as the biggest war in Europe since World War II, support in Congress will grow for a higher Pentagon budget, he said. That may be seen in the coming weeks as the fiscal 2022 appropriations are enacted and the fiscal 2023 request is submitted.

The increased costs of arms transfers to Ukraine and the increased presence in Eastern Europe is relatively small at this point, compared to the overall DOD budget, Harrison said. But, politically, this is likely to reinvigorate defense hawks in Congress to plus-up the defense budget so that the U.S. military can focus on countering both Russia and China simultaneously.

That effect was in evidence on Feb. 24, when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., released a statement on the Ukraine crisis.

As Ive said before, the United States and NATO must redouble our material support for Ukraines resistance, further shore up our allies, get serious about energy independence, and invest in the capabilities needed for long-term military competition with Russia and China, McConnell said. Here in Congress, upcoming defense spending measures will provide an opportunity to lead by example.

___

2022 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
PARIS  As U.S. and European leaders pondered how far to go in sanctioning Russia for its attack on Ukraine, their attention shifted to the most divisive  and potentially most severe  weapon at their disposal on Friday. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called it a "financial nuclear weapon."

He was talking about SWIFT  short for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication  a messaging network connecting banks around the world. The Belgian-based consortium links more than 11,000 financial institutions operating in more than 200 countries and territories, acting as a critical hub enabling international payments. Last year, the system averaged 42 million messages a day.

Whether to cut Russia off from SWIFT has become one of the first points of serious Western division in this crisis, after the European Union, a block of 27 nations, had for weeks demonstrated unity.

Before the invasion, Western nations promised a punishing regime of sanctions that President Joe Biden said would be "swift and severe." In Europe, it remained difficult Friday to gauge the swiftness or the severity or to determine exactly which countries were doing more or less because the punitive actions are a work-in-progress. European Council President Charles Michel said a "further package" was under "urgent preparation."

European Union foreign ministers agreed Friday to freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the first time the two men have been targeted personally by such measures, but details on other measures were still unclear.

Eastern European countries and France have backed cutting off Russia from SWIFT, which would make it more difficult for Russian entities to process transactions and could hobble the Russian economy's ability to do business beyond its borders.

But the idea has encountered resistance from some corners of Europe that remain concerned about the fallout on their own economies. Biden cited those European hesitations as the reason on Thursday that SWIFT was not part of the sanctions plan.

Josep Borrell, the E.U.'s foreign policy chief, acknowledged Friday that the bloc's member states have so far reached no agreement on SWIFT. "Maybe it can be adopted in the following days, it will depend. We are exploring all possibilities," said Borrell.

Three European officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said Italy and Germany are among the countries that have so far resisted the move. Both countries have strong trade ties to Russia, with Germany being particularly dependent on Russian gas.

But by Saturday, Italy's government said it was open to cutting Russia off. After a call between Italy's prime minister Mario Draghi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Italian government said it "will fully support the European Union's line on sanctions against Russia, including those within the SWIFT framework."

Speaking on Friday evening, Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner said "we're open" to the idea of cutting off Russia from SWIFT. "But one has to know what one is doing," he cautioned, saying Europe needed to pose the question to itself whether the step may "prompt Russia to stop its gas deliveries, because they can't be paid anymore."

"And if those gas deliveries end, what will be the impact on our supplies?" he said.

Russia would not be the first nation to be disconnected from the international network. Iranian financial institutions lost their access to it in 2012, after the European Union imposed sanctions on the nation over its nuclear program. But Iran was also a far less significant trading partner for E.U. nations than Russia is.

Iranian banks regained access after the country signed onto a 2015 agreement to limit its nuclear activities but were cut off again in 2018 after the Trump administration scuttled the deal and pressured SWIFT to follow suit.

Russia has been bracing for the possibility it could be cut off since it invaded Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 and some called for such a reprisal. In response, Russia launched an alternative network, dubbed the System for Transfer of Financial Messages. But experts say it remains an inadequate replacement. By the end of 2020, the system included only 400 participants from 23 countries, according to the Russian state-owned Tass news agency.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Friday he had pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken "to use all US influence on some hesitant European countries to ban Russia from SWIFT."

Pressure also appeared to mount from within Europe. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been among the biggest supporters of such a move, the Financial Times reported Thursday. France has also become increasingly vocal in its support.

Standing next to his German counterpart, French Finance Minister Le Maire initially said Friday morning that cutting off Russia from the global payment system would be an option of "last resort." But by the afternoon, he clarified that "France is not among those countries" that have "expressed reservations" about the move. He cited the diplomatic obligations of France, which holds the presidency of the Council of the E.U., as the reason for the country's initially vague position.

"When you have a financial nuclear weapon in your hands, you must think before using it," he said.

On Thursday, Biden had sought to portray a SWIFT cut off as a limited sanctions step, saying "the sanctions we've imposed exceed SWIFT."

Those penalties targeted Russia's tech and financial sectors, including barring the nation's 10 largest banks financial institutions from processing payments through the United States. And the Biden administration is zeroing in on Russian oligarchs as well, with Biden saying more sanctions were probably on the way. The president said it would take time for the sanctions to work, indicating their impact should be evaluated in "another month or so."

But Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, predicated Western powers will move within days to banish Russia from SWIFT. "The domestic political pressure on these leaders is building rapidly, because it becomes a symbol of standing with Ukraine," he said. "The governments can't afford to be seen as being on the wrong side of history for very long."

The economic cudgel alone has rarely succeeded in convincing rogue nations to alter course, said Charlie Steele, a former chief counsel for the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "Russia is so embedded in the world economy," he said, "we're going to have to see how effective the economic power of the U.S., which gives the sanctions their force, will be and how much pain Russia can tolerate."

Aries reported from Brussels.
(Tribune News Service)  Senior Italian and Russian officials met to discuss potential business investments worth hundreds of millions of euros just over a week before Moscow invaded Ukraine, people familiar with the matter said.

Talks in Moscow included a possible partnership between Genoa-based Ansaldo Energia and Russia's NordEnergoGroup, according to the people, who asked not to be named disclosing private negotiations.

Rome-based energy firm Enel SpA's plan to invest in Slovenske Elektrarne with Russia's Sberbank, which has been financing the Slovak utility for decades, was also discussed, the people said. Other topics included a 200 million euro ($225 million) investment from aluminum group Rusal in a plant it owns in Sardinia and a recent accord between mining-technology companies.

Company representatives didn't personally attend the Moscow event, the people said. Ansaldo Energia, Enel and Rusal declined to comment, while a spokesperson said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi had no knowledge of the meeting.

When the talks took place Russia was repeatedly denying that it would invade Ukraine, but now that it has done so they appear unlikely to proceed.

Italy, which had been cautious on the toughest measures in response to the attacks, already has significant Russian commercial ties, with trade between the countries worth more than 21 billion euros last year, according to Italy's trade agency. The country also imports about 45% of its gas consumption from Russia, one of the highest shares in the European Union.

The talks in the week beginning Feb. 14 came after a group of Italian business leaders attended a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of January, despite a request from Draghi's office that it be canceled due to the geopolitical situation. Among attendees was Enel Chief Executive Officer Francesco Starace, who is also the brother of Italy's ambassador to Moscow.

Bloomberg News has previously reported on documents showing European nations have sought exemptions for energy-related deals from financial sanctions over Ukraine, and raised concerns about targeting sectors sensitive to their economies, though Italy denies seeking exemptions.

While positions have changed since the invasion, measures introduced so far by the U.S. and the EU remain limited. Momentum appeared to be shifting toward stronger steps over the weekend, however, with the Italian government saying Saturday it would back any EU decision to eject Russia from the SWIFT international payments system.

Ansaldo has been seeking for months to sell large gas turbines to Moscow, which has limited production capability of its own, in return for favorable commercial conditions, one person said, but previous talks failed because Russian law requires some parts to be made locally. Another person said that negotiations remain slow.

Ansaldo is controlled by Italy's state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA, with China's Shanghai Electric holding a stake.

Proposed partner NordenergoGroup, which also declined to comment, is owned by billionaire Alexei Mordashov, whose business Power Machines was sanctioned by the U.S. for supplying turbines to Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.

Participants at the Moscow meeting also discussed the potential for Italian businesses in Russia more broadly, the people said. Italy is currently Russia's seventh-biggest market and the 14th biggest for imports, according to the latest foreign ministry data.

___

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RZESZOW, Poland  A new NATO multinational battlegroup that includes the Patriot missile air defense system will be set up in Slovakia, officials announced Saturday.

The 1,200 troop-strong unit will include forces from several countries, including the U.S. and Germany, Peter Bator, Slovakias representative to NATO, said in a statement.

Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands also will join the battlegroup in Slovakia. Germany and the Netherlands will contribute troops and the Patriot air defense system, Bator said.

The move comes as NATO takes new steps the strengthen its position in central and southeastern Europe, where other battlegroups are also expected to be rolled out in the near future. France already has volunteered to lead a battlegroup in Romania.

The plans will resemble similar NATO military units that were set up in the Baltic states and Poland after Russias 2014 miltary intervention in Ukraine.

Moscows more recent buildup around Ukraine, and subsequent attack on the country launched earlier this week, has prompted NATO to take a wide range of steps in recent days to shore up defenses in Russias periphery.

On Friday, the alliance, for the first time in its history, activated elements of the NATO Response Force to reinforce member states in the east.
The latest on the Russias invasion of Ukraine:

BERLIN  Germany officials said Saturday that the country is preparing to close its airspace to Russian planes.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing backs such a measure and has ordered all preparations for this to be undertaken, his ministry said on Twitter.

Hours earlier, a German-registered DHL cargo plane made a sharp turn back out of Russian airspace, according to air traffic monitoring website FlightAware.com.

Report: Ukraine leader asked Swiss to mediate

GENEVA  A respected Swiss newspaper is reporting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked his Swiss counterpart on Saturday to act as a neutral mediator between Ukraine and Russia, and help work toward a ceasefire between the two countries.

Daily Tages Angeizer said the request of Swiss President Ignazio Cassis came in the context of the upcoming Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva starting on Monday, at which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to attend on Tuesday.

The report, which was not immediately confirmed by the Swiss Foreign Ministry that Cassis also leads, cited Swiss experience with such issues  notably a mediation effort carried out by Switzerland after Russian forces seized control of Crimea in 2014.

Ministry spokesman Andreas Heller told The Associated Press late Saturday that he could not immediately confirm whether any such communication had taken place between the two presidents, but said Switzerland was ready to offer its good offices for any such initiative.

EU ministers to weigh more sanctions on Russia

BRUSSELS  The European Unions top diplomat says hes calling an urgent meeting of the blocs foreign ministers on Sunday to weigh yet more measures against Russia as it wages its military campaign in Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted Saturday that I am convening a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers (Sunday) at 18.00 (Central European Time, 1700 GMT) to adopt further measures in support of Ukraine, against aggression by Russia.

Borrell says he will propose to the ministers that they endorse a package of emergency assistance for the Ukrainian armed forces, to support them in their heroic fight.

It will be third time the ministers have met in a week. Previously they have endorsed two packages of sanctions; one raft targeting Russians involved in the recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, and another hitting Russias economy, and freezing the assets of the president and foreign minister.

Russia space agency ends cooperation

BERLIN  Russias space agency said Saturday that it is suspending cooperation with its European partners in response to EU sanctions.

In a Twitter post, Roscosmos said it would withdraw its personnel from the European space port in Kourou, French Guiana.

Several European satellites have been launched with Soyuz rockets from Kourou, and more were scheduled over the coming year.

Thierry Breton, a senior EU official who oversees the 27-nation blocs space policy, said Roscosmos decision would have no consequence on the continuity and quality of its flagship Galileo global positioning system or the Copernicus program of Earth observation satellites.

Breton said the EU would strive to develop the Ariane 6 and VegaC launchers to ensure Europes strategic autonomy.

Baltic nations seek to shut airspace to Russia

HELSINKI  The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have decided to close their airspace to Russian airlines, transport officials in the three countries say.

The legal formulation for the measure is underway and it wasnt immediately clear when precisely the ban would take effect.

Lithuanian Transport Marius Skuodis told media outlets that the goal of the Baltic countries is to issue the ban at the same time.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted on Saturday that Western nations should isolate Russia both economically and politically after its invasion on Ukraine, saying there is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies.

Latvian Transport Minister Talis Linkaits told local news agency LETA that the countrys decision to close its airspace to Russian airlines will be made in coordination with Estonia, Lithuania and the EU.

Curfew in Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine  The authorities in the Ukrainian capital say a curfew in the city will last through early Monday as Russian troops are pressing the offensive into Kyiv.

The city authorities previously announced the curfew to last from 5 pm to 8 am, but then clarified the order and specified that it will last from Friday afternoon until Mondays morning to keep people indoors through the day Sunday.

The measure comes as the Ukrainian authorities reported fighting with small groups of Russian troops that infiltrated the city. More Russian troops are closing in on Kyiv.

Some grocery stores were open until the curfew went into effect. The array of goods was thin. The concern for now is how long stockpiles will last. Some pharmacies were similarly open, but there were reports that new shipments from distributors had halted.

In addition, the Interfax news agency reported that Ukraines three major cellphone service providers have blocked access for Russian SIM cards.

Germany sends additional ship

VIENNA  Germany has sent an additional ship to NATOs eastern front, the German army announced Saturday.

In addition to deployments of additional soldiers, armored fighting vehicles, anti-missile systems and two ships, which Germanys Defense Ministry confirmed Friday, Germany has dispatched the Alster reconnaissance ship.

The ship left Eckernforde on Germanys Baltic Coast on Saturday and will contribute to electronic intelligence-gathering in the Baltic Sea and along the coast.

The German Navy, the Bundeswehr and the entire alliance now need a reliable picture of the situation, Vice Admiral Jan C. Kaack, Commander of the Fleet, said in a statement. In addition to other activities, the Navy also contributes to this with the Alster.

Miles-long lines of cars clog Ukraine borders

MEDYKA, POLAND  Lines of vehicles miles long are clogging border crossings out of Ukraine, as tens of thousands rush to neighboring countries to escape danger from invading Russian troops.

Nearly 120,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighboring countries in the wake of Russian invasion, the U.N. refugee agency said Saturday. The largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where 2 million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years. Polands government said Saturday that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the past 48 hours alone.

One family from Chernivtsi in western Ukraine waited 20 hours before being able to cross the border into Siret in northern Romania.

At the border town of Medyka, the line of vehicles waiting to enter Poland stretched many miles into Ukraine. A woman from Lviv, who was bringing her four children to safety in Poland, described toys and bags along the way that were so heavy that people abandoned them.

US official: Russians about 30km outside Kiev

WASHINGTON, D.C.  A senior U.S. defense official says the United States estimates that more than 50% of Russian combat power arrayed along Ukraines borders has entered Ukraine. That is up from a U.S. estimate Friday that one-third of the Russian force had been committed to the fight.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments, would not say how many Russian troops that amounts to inside Ukraine, but the U.S. had estimated the total Russian force arrayed near Ukraine at more than 150,000.

The official said advancing Russian forces were roughly 30 kilometers outside Kiev as of Saturday, and that an unspecified number of Russian military reconnaissance elements had entered the capital.

Meanwhile, Britains Defense Ministry said Saturday that the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.

Russian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centres while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them, the ministry said.

Hungary will accept Ukraine citizens

BEREGSURANY, Hungary  Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has told a news conference in the border town of Beregsurany that Hungary is accepting all citizens and legal residents of Ukraine, regardless of whether they are subject to military conscription into the Ukrainian armed forces.

Were letting everyone in, Orban said. Ive seen people who have no travel documents, but were providing them too with travel documents. And were also allowing in those who have arrived from third countries after the proper screening.

Several thousand refugees fleeing Ukraine have crossed into Hungary in recent days, entering through five border crossings along Hungarys 85-mile border with Ukraine.

Hungary under Orban has in recent years firmly opposed all forms of immigration.

Regarded as Russian President Vladimir Putins closest ally in the European Union, Orban has pursued close economic and diplomatic ties with the Kremlin. But he said that Russias invasion of Hungarys neighbor would likely cause changes in his relationship with Putin, and that Hungary was supporting all proposed sanctions against Moscow at the European level.

Lithuanian president urges Germany to help more

VIENNA  Ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Berlin on Saturday afternoon, Polands prime minister has urged Germany to put aside selfishness and egoism and offer substantive support to the people of Ukraine.

Nothing is going to stop Putin if we are not decisive enough, Mateusz Morawiecki said in Berlin. This is a very historic moment we have no time to lose.

Morawiecki said Germanys aid thus far  of military helmets, not weapons -- is a far cry from whats necessary to help Ukraine defend itself.

What kind of help was delivered to Ukraine? Five thousand helmets? This must be a joke, Morawiecki said.

He added that the sanctions on Russia need to be crushing, calling for the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT global financial system and for measures targeting Putin himself, oligarchs who back him, and Russian business more broadly.

Cargo ship intercepted

French officials say marines patrolling the English Channel area have intercepted a cargo ship sailing under the Russian flag and escorted it to the port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer for an investigation.

The interception of the ship, carrying cars, early Saturday was triggered by financial sanctions levied days ago against Russia for its invasion of the Ukraine. Maritime spokesperson Veronique Magnin said it appeared to be the first such action in the English Channel.

The approximately 427-foot ship was headed from Rouen, in Normandy, to Saint Petersburg, and was stopped near Honfleur, Magnin said.

Customs officials carrying out the investigation were verifying if the vessel is indeed linked to Russian financial interests, the spokesperson said. The process could take up to 48 hours.

The French government has given maritime officials the power to intercept vessels suspected of contravening the sanctions, she said.

Ukraine health minister: 198 killed, 1,000 wounded in Russian offensive

The Ukrainian health minister says that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive.

Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Saturday that there were three children among those killed. His statement made it unclear whether the casualties included both military and civilians.

He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday with massive air and missile strikes and troops forging into Ukraine from the north, east and south.

120,000 Ukrainian refugees have left the country

The UN refugee agency says that over 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have left the country since Russia began its attack on its neighboring country this week.

Speaking as Russian troops were engaging in battle with Ukrainian forces in the capital Kyiv on Saturday, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements, said in an interview on CNN the situation was expected to get worse.

"We now see over 120,000 people that have gone to all of the neighboring countries," she said. "The reception that they are receiving from local communities, from local authorities, is tremendous. But it's a dynamic situation. We are really quite devastated, obviously, with what's to come."

Most are heading to Poland and Moldova, but also to Romania, Slovakia and Hungary.

Macron: This war will last

French President Emmanuel Macron says he is convinced that "this war will last" and warned that Russia's invasion of Ukraine will have tough consequences for Europeans.

Macron told farmers at France's Agricultural Fair in Paris on Saturday that sectors from wine to cereals to exports and energy prices will be affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"War has returned to Europe. This war was unilaterally chosen by Putin," he said of the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin. "This war will last and all the crises that go with it will have durable consequences," Macron said. "We must prepare ourselves with lots of determination and also lots of solidarity."

He said a "plan of resilience" was being put in place, but did not elaborate.

The European Union, along with the U.S. and numerous other countries, has announced sanctions against Russia.

Dutch government moves embassy staff out of Ukraine

The Dutch government has shifted its embassy staff out of Ukraine amid Russia's military onslaught on its neighbor.

The foreign ministry announced early Saturday that ambassador Jennes de Mol and his staff, who had already moved from Kyiv to Lviv before Russia's invasion, will relocate to Jaroslaw, Poland.

The ministry said the diplomatic post that is helping Dutch citizens who want to leave Ukraine has been moved out of the country because of the deteriorating security situation in Lviv.

Protests around the world

From Tokyo to London to Taipei, Ukrainians living abroad and hundreds of protesters have turned out on the streets to join anti-war rallies spreading around the world as Russias troops pressed toward Ukraines capital.

Several hundred Ukrainians living in Japan gathered outside of Tokyos main train stations Saturday, chanting Stop war! and Peace for Ukraine. They held up signs including No war, Stop Putin, Stop Russia, while others waved Ukrainian flags. At a separate rally reportedly organized by Russian residents in Japan, several dozen people chanted Hands off Ukraine!

In Taiwan, more than 100 demonstrators chanting Stand with Ukraine and Glory to Ukraine protested outside the Russian representative office in Taiwan on Saturday.

My family, my friends are now sheltered in their basements because of the air attacks, said Yulia Kolorova, a 49-year-old Ukrainian living in Taiwan. I just want them to be strong. I just cant imagine how scary it is to see the missiles over your head. Its surreal.
Outmanned Ukrainian forces held on to their capital, Kyiv, after resisting an overnight onslaught that included explosions and bursts of gunfire. As fighting receded during daylight hours, the city remained in government hands. Authorities imposed a 5 p.m. curfew and air raid sirens could be heard as night fell Saturday evening.

Ukrainians who ventured outside in the afternoon found a city transformed by war. There were sandbags in the streets, burned-out cars, and lines at sites distributing guns. The metro had stopped running, its stations now used solely as underground bunkers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video of himself at daybreak Saturday, unshaven, on the capital's streets, appearing resolved to remain in Kyiv even as Western officials warned that Russia plans to capture or kill him.

Ukraine's health minister said that a total of 198 Ukrainians have been killed in the fighting, up from 137 a day earlier, with more than 1,000 wounded. There were already signs of a mass exodus - the United Nations said Saturday that more than 150,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled the country.

A cargo ship and an oil tanker off the southern tip of Ukraine in the Black Sea were struck by missiles Friday, sparking fires, a Ukrainian shipping company said.

At about 12:10 p.m. local time, missiles hit the bunker of the Moldovan-registered vessel Millennium Spirit, according to a statement from Vladimir Ivantsov, manager of Stark Shipping Ukraine.

The ship was targeted, Ivantsov said, because it was carrying about 600 metric tons of fuel for Ukrainian forces.

Two members of the 10-person crew were seriously injured, Ivantsov said.

Less than an hour later, Ivantsov said, a rocket hit the stern of the Panamanian-registered vessel Namura Queen. The ship had been on its way to load grain at a port near Odessa when the missile struck, he said.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova confirmed to reporters Saturday that Ukraine attributes the attacks on both ships to Russia. She called it "a flagrant violation of the international law of the sea."

In a message meant to bolster strength and solidarity in the face of Russian invasion, Zelensky on Saturday praised his fellow citizens for being willing to defend their nation and vowed to fight "for as long as it takes to liberate the country."

"The world has seen that Ukrainians are powerful. Ukrainians are brave. Ukrainians are on their native land and will never surrender it," Zelensky said in a video shared on the messaging app Telegram. "If babies are already being born in shelters, even as shelling continues, then the enemy has no chance in this, undeniably, people's war."

The onetime comedian turned president, Zeleksny has thus far remained in the capital of Kyiv despite telling Ukrainians he is Russia's "Target No. 1," refusing U.S. efforts to evacuate him and his family to safety.

On Saturday, Zelensky says that he spoke "every hour" with world leaders - those he called "friends" of Ukraine, including Italy and India, the latter which he said gives its "full support."

He also voiced support for the prospect that European allies could cut Russia off from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the bank messaging network known as SWIFT. The sanction would be a severe blow to Russia, but it remains a controversial move because of the effects it could have on other European economies.

On Saturday, German officials who had long been holdouts of using SWIFT to sanction Russia signaled openness to the move if done in a "targeted" manner.

"Our diplomats fought days-long and inspiringly, so that all European countries agreed to this very strong and just decision, to cut off Russia from the international interbank network," Zelensky said, who underscored SWIFT's importance to Russia. "We have this very important victory - this is billions and billions of losses for the Russia, a concrete price for this despicable invasion into our country."

Cranes moved huge concrete blocks into roads leading into Lviv on Saturday, as volunteers filled and stacked sandbags in an attempt to fortify the western city against Russian attack.

As fears of an invasion built in recent weeks, Lviv, 50 miles from the border with the European Union, was considered a safe haven, with some embassies initially evacuating their staff to the city. But now it is bracing for an assault.

Air-raid sirens sounded across the city throughout the day, though no strikes followed. On Saturday morning, a few hundred people gathered at the gates of a military compound to sign up to fight with the city's territorial defense force. They were told to form units of 10 people.

"Get together in tens, exchange phone numbers and organize," an officer announced over a loudspeaker. While in other cities volunteers were handed guns, here they were told to wait.

"Enroll, go home, pack, get your documents ready and wait for the call," the officer said.

Orest Gaworsky, 70, had gathered a group, writing down their names and numbers to submit. He said he was happy with his new comrades.

"There are no losers here," he said.

Gaworsky served as a civil volunteer in Donbas in 2015, where his vehicle was hit in an explosion.

"I'm too old to run with a gun, but I can sit and shoot," he said. "We will shoot, we will make molotov cocktails, we will do everything. We'll fight them with pitchforks!"

In other developments, British lawmakers Saturday urged the government to do more to offer safe passage for people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Unlike some other countries, Britain has not offered to waive its current rules to take in Ukrainian refugees.

Julian Smith, a senior member of the ruling Conservative Party, urged the government to "rip up" the bureaucracy. "Let's just say they are welcome & we will make it as easy as possible to be here," he said on Twitter.

Yvette Cooper, a politician for the opposition Labour Party also tweeted that even though Ukraine is "under fire," Britain's Home Office "still applies normal visa restrictions inc salaries, language, close relatives."

"This isn't solidarity w Ukraine, it's immoral," she said.

Yasmin Qureshi, a Labour politician whose constituency has an active Ukrainian community, told the Washington Post that "Ukraine nationals don't need a visa to come to Ireland and I think we should do the same."

"We say, 'we need to help people.' Well, this is a practical way of helping people," Qureshi said.

Polls show that a majority of Brits believe that their country should take in Ukrainian refugees.

Many on social media criticized the Home Office office for "gesture politics" after it tweeted a video of the Ukrainian flag flying above its building along with the hashtag #StandWithUkraine.

Germany on Saturday announced plans to send 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine, a major shift in post-World War II German defense policy that marked a significant escalation in Europe's military support for Kyiv.

"The Russian invasion marks the turning of an era. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin's invading army," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement.

The decision was a significant reversal after months of foot-dragging from Berlin about military support for Ukraine. Until Saturday, German leaders had refused to send lethal weaponry and had also blocked other countries from doing so with German-made armaments. Under pressure, they earlier agreed to send helmets and a field hospital, a decision for which they were mocked.

Germany has rarely sent weapons into conflicts, a long-standing political taboo that is related to its guilt over World War II. (Detractors note that the German defense industry has nevertheless sold extensive armaments to authoritarian leaders around the world.) The country has been especially cautious about sending weapons that would be used against Russia, one of the Nazi regime's World War II-era opponents and a country that many Germans partly credit for their liberation.

That meant that Saturday's move was especially notable. It could open a flood of German-made armaments from other countries to Ukraine as well. Earlier in the day, the country had already signed off on the Netherlands sending 400 German-made rocket-propelled grenade launchers to Kyiv.

The 400 RPG launchers are currently owned by the Dutch government but were manufactured in Germany; when Germany sells or transfers its weaponry to other countries, it retains control over whether those arms get moved elsewhere.

The German government said Saturday that it supports cutting off Russia from a key financial transactions mechanism in a "targeted and functional" way, marking a possible breakthrough for governments that had urged Berlin to back more decisive action against Moscow.

In a statement, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy and Climate Minister Minister Robert Habeck said they were working to determine how "the collateral damage of a SWIFT decoupling can be limited in a way that it hits the right targets."

It remained unclear on Saturday how such a targeted decoupling would look - and whether Germany would back less-targeted measures if the plans cannot be implemented in the way it is hoping for.

Germany, the European Union's biggest economy, has strong trade ties with Russia and heavily depends on its supply of natural gas. It had been a key skeptic of cutting Russia off from SWIFT - a move French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called a "financial nuclear weapon" on Friday.

SWIFT - short for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication - is a messaging network connecting banks around the world. The Belgian-based consortium links more than 11,000 financial institutions operating in more than 200 countries and territories, acting as a critical hub enabling international payments.

Italy, which had also been reluctant to back a SWIFT cutoff, appeared to change course earlier on Saturday, saying that it is now also open to such a move.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been among the biggest supporters of such a measure, the Financial Times reported Thursday. France has also become increasingly vocal in its support.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Friday he had pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken "to use all US influence on some hesitant European countries to ban Russia from SWIFT."

In Russia, where spontaneous mass protests are illegal, people across the country got creative Saturday, pouring out their opposition to a war that has shocked liberals and unsettled its comfortable urban class.

Some mounted individual pickets, holding antiwar posters while standing alone on a street outside Russia's lower house of parliament in Moscow and in city squares around Russia - the only form of protest that was legal until March 2020 when authorities ruled even that out because of the pandemic.

Others adopted the strength-in-numbers philosophy: Hundreds marched in Yekaterinburg chanting "No to war!" according to the Telegram channel Avtozak Live.

And others played a game of cat and mouse with police. Instead of massing in one place - difficult in Moscow or St. Petersburg, given the massive deployments of riot police - many protests were smaller, some just a few dozen people, moving from place to place to avoid arrest.

Even so, more than 325 protesters were arrested in 30 cities and towns across Russia on Saturday, almost half of them in Moscow, according to the rights group OVD-Info. In the three days since the invasion of Ukraine began, more than 2,776 people have been arrested in protests across the country.

One group of anonymous St. Petersburg protesters donned skull masks and hoodies to mount a demonstration in a cemetery, carrying placards with slogans, "Don't they have enough bodies" and "There are no patriots among the dead," the Vot Tak news website reported.

Instead of holding a poster, artist Anzhela Aganina wore a traditional Ukrainian shirt and stood in a Moscow street, severed blonde braids and flowers arranged at her feet, according to online news site SotaVision.

In St. Petersburg, police led away one young woman carrying a black tote bag with the words "No war," the site reported.

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The Washington Post's Michael Birnbaum, Robyn Dixon and Karla Adam contributed to this report.
(Tribune News Service)  Chris Licht, a veteran TV news executive and current showrunner for CBS' "Late Show With Stephen Colbert," is expected to be named president of CNN, filling the role of its ousted leader, Jeff Zucker.

Two people familiar with the matter said that Discovery Inc. Chief Executive David Zaslav has tapped Licht for the role, which is one of the highest-profile jobs in the television news business.

His appointment, first reported in the newsletter Puck, is expected to be announced next week before the scheduled close of Discovery's merger with CNN parent WarnerMedia.

It comes during a period of upheaval at CNN, which was shaken by the exit of Zucker, who was forced to resign last month after failing to report a romantic relationship with Allison Gollust, his longtime aide and the network's head of communications and marketing. Gollust also resigned from the network.

A representative for Discovery Inc. declined comment.

Licht had a long run as a producer at NBC News, where he was credited for the creation of the MSNBC franchise "Morning Joe," the influential Beltway-focused morning program with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.

Licht moved in 2011 to CBS News, where he oversaw the launch of "CBS This Morning." The program with co-hosts Charlie Rose, Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King had five straight years of ratings growth and gained a reputation as the smartest network morning show.

The program's momentum ended once Rose was fired from the network over sexual harassment allegations in November 2017. It has since been renamed "CBS Mornings."

Licht moved from CBS News to late night in 2016 to take over "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," which had been struggling after its launch a year earlier. Licht brought more of a current affairs focus to the program, which rose in the ratings and has been the top rated late-night offering for several years.

According to friends, Licht had been in negotiations for a new deal with Colbert, as his current contract comes up in April.

But the turmoil at CNN altered those plans.

Licht had made it clear to friends that he would return to the TV news business if he could get the top CNN job.

Producers who have worked with Licht say he is similar to Zucker in his decisiveness, self-confidence and a hands-on management style as a producer  characteristics that made Zucker popular with CNN's staff and on-air talent.

Zucker's sudden departure was largely met with dismay by CNN staffers. The appointment of a leader with a similar approach as Zucker and a familiarity with the operation  Licht's wife, Jenny, has worked as a producer at CNN  is likely to be welcomed.

The new job will be a major leap for Licht, who has never run an operation as large as CNN. The news organization has 4,000 employees worldwide. Zucker ran NBC before he moved to CNN.

"He's going to find it's a tough nut to crack," said one CNN insider who was not authorized to comment publicly. "This is not like turning around 'Colbert' where it was around one show with a single talent."

But Licht will have the strong support of Zaslav, a former NBC executive and a longtime friend.

Licht also likely got the seal of approval from Oprah Winfrey, who is in business with Zaslav through OWN, which is part of the Discovery family of channels. Licht hired Winfrey's close pal King for "CBS This Morning."

The TV executive will not be able to start in his role until April, when the merger with WarnerMedia is scheduled to close.

The challenges he faces upon arrival will be daunting. CNN's share of the cable news audience has contracted dramatically in the past year. While all cable news viewing has declined since Donald Trump exited the White House in January 2021, CNN has dropped the most.

Audience levels have risen this week as the network's global resources have it well positioned to cover the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But CNN no longer dominates when an international crisis breaks out. On the first full day of coverage of Ukraine, Nielsen data showed Fox News averaging 2.6 million viewers compared with 1.4 million viewers for CNN and 1.2 million viewers for MSNBC.

Licht will also have to decide on what CNN's identity is going forward.

CNN, once criticized for being too bland, has given more air time to opinionated hosts such as Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, whose firing for advising his brother Andrew, the former New York governor, led to the downfall of Zucker and Gollust.

The approach created more appointment viewing for CNN, which often saw its audience evaporate when the news flow ebbed. But Trump and his acolytes at Fox News portrayed CNN as having a left-wing slant, a sentiment recently echoed by Discovery Inc. board member John Malone.

Licht will likely now become a target of right-wing media for his association with Colbert, whose comeback in late night was largely driven by his biting comedy bits and monologues about Trump. Licht and Colbert turned it into an industry, producing an animated series about the former White House occupant for Showtime called "Our Cartoon President."

Another challenge will be to find a new host to replace Chris Cuomo at 9 p.m. Eastern, the tentpole hour for prime time in cable news. Licht will also have to assess CNN+, the direct-to-consumer streaming service set to launch next month. CNN+ is essential to the news organization's future as younger viewers turn to online streaming for video, and pay TV subscriptions  which provide the bulk of CNN's revenues  are in a slow but steady decline.

___

Los Angeles Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Visit at latimes.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden authorized a $350 million defense aid package for Ukraine, the White House announced late Friday, as Washington rushes to send more assistance to the pro-Western government.

The package includes anti-armor missiles, including antitank Javelin missiles; small arms; body armor; and various other munitions "in support of Ukraine's front-line defenders who are facing down Russia's brutal attack," a senior defense official told reporters Saturday. The Biden administration intends to provide support as long as there is a viable Ukrainian government fighting off Russian forces, The Washington Post previously reported.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Saturday statement that it was the third drawdown of money from the United States to Ukraine in the past year, totaling more than $1 billion. The secretary of state described the third drawdown as "unprecedented."

"Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic, and peace-loving nation," Blinken said. "The United States and Ukraine have been partners since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago."

He added, "It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation."

Biden directed that the funding designated for Ukraine's defense be allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act, according to a memorandum published by the White House.

The move comes as outmanned Ukrainian forces are holding on to control of the capital of Kyiv, after resisting an overnight onslaught from the Russians that included explosions and bursts of gunfire. As fighting receded during daylight hours, Kyiv was still in Ukrainian government hands.

With a curfew imposed on Kyiv starting at 5 p.m. local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the fate of the nation is "being decided right now." He said in a video posted at midday that Ukraine was "successfully repelling" the Russian attacks.

But in an invasion with the apparent goal of regime change, Russia has a substantial advantage in military power. Ukraine's health minister said Saturday that a total of 198 Ukrainians have been killed in the fighting, up from 137 a day earlier, with more than 1,000 wounded.

Western leaders have said repeatedly that U.S. and NATO troops will not be deployed to Ukraine. But members of the defense alliance, including the United States, have been continuously sending military assistance to Ukraine, including by utilizing ground routes to keep the weapons flowing in, the defense official said.

The United States had already provided about $650 million in defense aid to Ukraine in the past year, including Javelin missiles that were used to destroy Russian tanks this week, according to the Ukrainian government. The United States had drawn from American weapons stocks last fall and again in December.

On Friday, the White House asked Congress to approve $6.4 billion in new emergency aid for Ukraine, hoping to boost humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country and shore up other allies in the region against any further Russian aggression. Lawmakers are expected to formally debate the proposal when they return to Washington next week.

In addition to sanctions already announced by the United States, the Treasury Department is also considering imposing sanctions against Russia's central bank, a move that would seek to dramatically ramp up the financial isolation of Russia, according to two people briefed on the discussions. While a final decision has not been made, White House officials are looking to take actions in coordination with their international partners.

Biden recently said one of his goals was to put so much financial pain on the Kremlin that Russia would rethink its actions based on the growing domestic fallout.

The U.S. has been joined by several other nations that have pledged to give equipment and funding to the Ukrainian military. The Netherlands is planning to supply 200 Stinger air defense rockets, while Belgium has pledged 3,800 tons of fuel and 2,000 machine guns. Countries such as France and Canada have also given military equipment in support of Ukraine against the Russian forces.
Even as Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine and threatens the stability of the world, some Republicans are having trouble getting their minds right. Among them is the partys No. 3 House leader, Elise Stefanik of New Yorks North Country. A disciple of Donald Trump, she issued a statement that blamed President Biden for what Putin has done.

Perhaps she forgot that, as president, Trump all but salivated for Putins approval and tried to blackmail Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into manufacturing false claims against then-candidate Biden.

At least she didnt follow Trumps reprehensible lead by calling Putin a very savvy genius for his murderous attack, a description as awful as applying those same words to Hitler. Still, in a time of emergency, Stefanik ought to be capable of better than this.



Yet another reason not to live in the West: Residents of Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada, have been complaining about a 500-pound bear that has been breaking into houses and having a grand time of it. But it turns out that Hank the Tank isnt a bear  hes three bears that, together, are responsible for more than 150 incident reports in the region. Plans are to trap, tag and take DNA from the invaders before releasing them anywhere but Western New York.



Follow up: We noted recently that Hudson, Ohio, Mayor Craig Shubert was worried that allowing ice-fishing shanties on a nearby lake could lead to prostitution. He was misunderstood, he said. Then he resigned.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Stillwater, OK (74074)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 67F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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.
Be it sugar, alcohol or even couch-potato-ing, Kiwis across the country are once again being asked to give up their favourite vice for one month to help raise awareness and funding for the countrys most deadly group of cancers.

The inaugural GIVE IT UP campaign was held last March to raise funds to find better ways to detect, diagnose and treat the seven deadly gut cancers  a group which includes bowel, pancreatic and stomach cancers and leads to the deaths of eight Kiwis every day.

The campaign also helped raise awareness that cutting alcohol intake, losing excess weight and increasing exercise can all help to reduce the risk of developing a gut cancer.

With more than 630 participants, and over $100,000 raised, the campaign was such a success that the Gut Cancer Foundation (GCF) decided to renew the call for Kiwis to give up an unhealthy habit for their own health and the greater good.

Taking part for the second year in a row will be Ana Waters, whose 42-year-old sister was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year.

Id never taken part in any type of fundraising campaign in my life, but GIVE IT UP gave me a way to support my sister while also helping raise money and awareness for the Gut Cancer Foundation, and by extension anyone who suffers from one of these terrible cancers.

I gave up all added sugar for the month of March and managed to raise almost $3,000, but one of the most important outcomes has been the ongoing positive effect on my health.

By the time the campaign finished at the end of March I had broken my sugar habit and created new, more healthy eating routines which Ive managed to sustain. Not only have I helped my sister and the GCF, Ive also helped myself in the most important way possible.

For Gut Cancer Foundation (GCF) Executive Officer Liam Willis, the lasting change seen by so many participants was one of the most pleasing aspect of last years GIVE IT UP campaign.

Many people started out just making a small adjustment to their eating or exercise habits. But by the end of the month, they had fully embraced their new healthy lifestyle, with many saying the campaign had resulted in enduring change and real health benefits.

With eight Kiwis dying from a gut cancer every single day, the funds raised and the healthy living habits created by this campaign are making a real difference to the lives of thousands of New Zealanders across the country.

Cancers of the digestive system are the most common form of cancer in New Zealand, and theyre among the most deadly. People who are diagnosed will only have a 50/50 chance of living for more than five years. Thats why were asking all Kiwis to give up the sugar, booze or sofa this March and help beat these devastating cancers.

Mr Willis says participants of this years GIVE IT UP campaign will be supported with tips and advice from the team at 4 Wheels of Health, the science based 4-week health education course created by acclaimed Kiwi chef Simon Gault and metabolic nutritionist Sean Robertson.

Mr Gault explained why he had chosen to back the campaign this year:

Yet again New Zealanders are faced with a difficult outlook for 2022. It really is time to embrace any new science and the Gut Cancer Foundation are on the leading edge of supporting such work.

On the importance of the campaigns message Mr Gault explained:

Given we get one body to live in, and we cant trade it in, it really is time we take note of what organisations like the Gut Cancer Foundation have got to say. We just cant go and buy new parts for our body, so let 2022 be the year we really focus on looking after the one body weve got to live in

4 Wheels of Health co-founder, nutritionist Sean Robertson, sees the campaign as addressing a key issue:

Gut health is the most fascinating area in science right now and an area where too many suffer with health issues with not enough help. The Gut Cancer Foundation are taking an active role in addressing this vital area of wellbeing and in the process, greatly assisting the people of New Zealand.

If youre interested in signing up to GIVE IT UP for gut cancer, all the information you need is on www.giveitup.nz/
Wellington anti-mandate protesters have been seen wearing tin foil hats, as some baselessly claim they are being targeted by tech weapons directed at them.

A video posted on Facebook on Thursday under the name Carlene Louise has attracted attention on social media.

In the video, the protester said people at the occupation site in Wellington are getting ill and claims without any evidence that the cause is EMF machines, radiation machines and technological weapons being directed at the occupation.

The occupiers at Parliament are dealing with a wave of illness they believe to be caused by EMF weapons. One says they are now making literal tin foil hats to protect themselves. pic.twitter.com/QdAiSI9Tec  Charlie Mitchell (@comingupcharlie) February 25, 2022

She said protesters had devised an unusual way to protect themselves.

This is so funny, people are actually making tin foil hats. Now isnt that funny. But they work, apparently, she said. Im going to have a day where I actually wear it, and Im looking forward to that. I hope we can inspire everyone to wear tin foil hats."

She said a fellow protester was going to buy a massive roll of tinfoil so they could make the hats.

I think its a fantastic idea. We want to lighten the mood a little bit."

Another Twitter account posted a picture of protesters wearing tin foils hats, although it was unclear whether their headwear was serious or tongue-in-cheek.

We ran out of foil this evening. You'll need it tomorrow before the government EMR (Electro-Magentic Radiation) attacks that the MSM is not reporting. If you donate to @NzFubar we will distribute more foil from the First Aid tent #EndTheMandatesNow #convoynz2022 #Convoy2022NZ pic.twitter.com/2wq3Ow9gao  DefendFreedomInNZ (@defend_nz) February 25, 2022

While the mood around tin foil hats has been light-hearted from some protesters, others have turned on the Anglican Cathedral of St Paul.

Jae Ratana delivered a letter to the church after police installed surveillance cameras on the building overlooking the protestors.

Addressed to Bishop Justin Duckworth, the letter repeated debunked claims about how the land that both the cathedral and Parliament sit on was contested, and that its rightful owner was Tuffy Churton; a claim debunked by Te Raukura Wharewaka o Poneke chairperson Liz Mellish.

#Convoy2022nz #convoynz2022 Jae Ratana serving a notice letting Wellington cathedral know he and his mates intend to search the place for LRAD and radiation weapons they believe are causing covid like symptoms and bad moods. #Heahea pic.twitter.com/waECj8r7ql  Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara (@Te_Taipo) February 25, 2022

The letter went on to baselessly accuse the cathedral of allowing police to covertly install long range acoustic devices (LRADs) in the cathedral building, and claimed that the devices were giving protestors mental and physical issues.

They also believed electro-magnetic frequency weaponry was stationed in the cathedral building. The letter threatened an invasion and search of the building if the equipment wasnt removed.

Anglican officials said they were aware of the letter, but declined to comment.

The occupation camp was deemed a location of interest for Covid-19 by health officials on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Health said there have been at least two Covid-19 cases related to the protest.

Police and protesters face off on Thursday. Photo: David White/Stuff.

Police said earlier in the occupation that officers working at the protest had tested positive for Covid-19.

On Friday, an officer working on the frontline told Stuff he was concerned about wellbeing and sanitation at the protest site.

Protesters claimed on Saturday morning that they expected their numbers to swell over the weekend. Police have warned people not to attend the occupation.

Charlie Gates/Stuff
There are 13606 new community cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, 690 in the Bay of Plenty and 185 in the Lakes DHB region.

Five people are in ICU, and 263 in hospital. More than 31,000 boosters were administered in the last day.

There have been six new cases identified at the border. Of the 13606 new community cases, 10993 were tested using Rapid Antigen Testing  RAT, and 2613 by PCR.

Northland DHB has 281 new community cases, and there are 9262 new community cases in Auckland, 1154 in Waikato, 690 in Bay of Plenty, 185 in Lakes, 106 in Hawkes Bay, 123 in MidCentral, 28 in Whanganui, 52 in Taranaki, 48 in Tairawhiti, 18 in Wairarapa, 413 in Capital and Coast, 130 in Hutt Valley, 176 in Nelson Marlborough, 469 in Canterbury, 20 in South Canterbury, 505 in Southern, three in West Coast, and six unknown.

Of the 263 cases in hospital, one is in Northland, 44 in North Shore, 89 in Middlemore, 92 in Auckland, eight in Tauranga, three in Taranaki and 26 in Waikato. The average age of current hospitalisations is 54.

There are now 52808 active community cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered.

The growth in hospitalisations and patients in ICU is not unexpected, has been planned for and is another reminder that vaccination is our best defence against Covid-19, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

With cases escalating in the community the Ministry of Health is urging all New Zealanders who are due their booster to get it as soon as possible in order to reduce your chance of serious illness and hospitalisation.

This means a highly boosted New Zealand will help ensure there is capacity in our health system for anyone who needs care.

There were 31,217 booster doses administered yesterday, but 30.5 per cent of people who are currently due their booster have not yet had it.

We urge those people to make a plan to get boosted as soon as they can, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

We are also beginning to see people who have attended the protest at Parliament, a location of interest and potential super spreader event, showing up in hospitals around the country after returning home.

We advise all those currently at the protest, or who have been at the protest, who are displaying cold and flu symptoms to get a test and isolate until they receive their result, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Rapid Antigen Testing - RAT

As the Omicron outbreak grows, RATs are now used as the primary test at all community testing centres and by GPs for diagnostic purposes.

They will make the decision on which test is most appropriate for you. PCR testing is being reserved for those people who most need it.

The Ministry of Health advises people to only get tested if they have symptoms or have been directed to do so by a health professional.

Please do not seek testing if you are well as this delays testing for people who are unwell, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Please be patient with staff at testing centres, and GP clinics. They are doing their best to cope with high demand for testing.

People who use 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 operating.

It is very important to the overall response that people self-report positive results for RATs through My Covid Record, so we understand the size of the outbreak, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

Wed like to thank the thousands of people who have been tested and already self-reported positive RAT results.

Care

For most people, including children, they will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home, with their family or others they live with, like they normally would with a cold or flu.

If you or your child start to feel worse, please stay at home and call your GP or Healthline on 0800 358 5453. All GP and urgent care clinic appointments for COVID-19 are free, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

If you or a family member becomes very unwell, such as like having difficulty breathing or chest pains, call 111 immediately. The ambulance will be free.

Hospital emergency departments are very busy, so please only go if its an emergency.

Business

Under Phase 3 of the Omicron response there is no requirement for non-critical workers to have a COVID-19 test before they come to work, whether a RAT or PCR. Employers who are not part of the Close Contact Exemption Scheme, are reminded that they should not be requesting this of their non-critical workers.

Covid-19 vaccine update

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

Vaccines administered to date: 4,018,841 first doses; 3,958,058 second doses; 33,324 third primary doses; 2,305,104 booster doses: 236,285 paediatric first doses and 2,702 paediatric second doses

Vaccines administered yesterday: 445 first doses; 1,167 second doses; 146 third primary doses; 31,217 booster doses; 2,263 paediatric first doses and 285 paediatric second doses

People vaccinated (including those vaccinated overseas)*

All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,062,314 first dose (96.5%); 3,999,932 second dose (95%), 2,306,762 boosted (69.5% of those eligible)

Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 518,899 first dose (90.9%); 498,008 second dose (87.2%), 194,470 boosted (58.5% of those eligible)

Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 280,531 first dose (97.9%); 274,384 second dose (95.7%), 116,338 boosted (56.3% of those eligible)

5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 236,202 first dose (49.6%); 2,712 second dose (0.6%)

5 to 11-year-olds - Maori: 34,530 first dose (29.9%); 441 second dose (0.4%)

5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 20,520 first dose (41.5%); 371 second dose (0.8%)

*Note, that the number for people vaccinated differs slightly from vaccines administered as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.

Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +)**

Northland DHB: first dose (90.3%); second dose (87.8%); boosted (68.2%)

Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.3%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (66.4%)

Waikato DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (65.9%)

Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (66.7%)

Lakes DHB: first dose (93.6%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (67.3%)

MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (72.1%)

Tairawhiti DHB: first dose (93.4%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (67.9%)

Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.4%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (72.7%)

Hawkes Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.1%); boosted (70.4%)

Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.1%); boosted (67%)

Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.7%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.2%)

Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.7%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (77.2%)

Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (73.9%)

Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (75.6%)

West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (73.3%)

Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (98.6%); boosted (71.5%)

South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.4%); second dose (94.1%); boosted (74.5%)

Southern DHB: first dose (97.9%); second dose (96.6%); boosted (73.9%)

**First and second dose percentages are for those 12+. Booster dose percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible three months after having their second dose.

Hospitalisations

Cases in hospital: total number 263: Northland: 1; North Shore: 44; Middlemore: 89; Auckland: 92; Tauranga: 8; Taranaki: 3; Waikato: 26

Average age of current hospitalisations: 54

Cases in ICU or HDU: 5

Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (23 cases / 11.8%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (3 cases / 1.5%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (82 cases / 42.1%); unknown (55 cases / 28.2%)

Cases

Seven day rolling average of community cases (PCR): 5,078

Number of new community cases: 13,606

Number of new community cases (PCR): 2,613

Number of new community cases (RAT): 10,993

Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (218), Auckland (9,262), Waikato (1,154), Bay of Plenty (690), Lakes (185), Hawkes Bay (106), MidCentral (123), Whanganui (28), Taranaki (52), Tairawhiti (48), Wairarapa (18), Capital and Coast (413), Hutt Valley (130), Nelson Marlborough (176), Canterbury (469), South Canterbury (20), Southern (505), West Coast (3); Unknown (6)

Number of new cases identified at the border: 6

Location of origin of border cases: Full travel history not obtained (6)

Number of active community cases (total): 52,808 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)

Confirmed cases (total): 70,652

* Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.

Tests
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Jerry Zremskis article VA Cemetery planners warnings went unheeded before crash killed two vets. Published on Feb. 13 was a very well written article that was thorough and brought to light a very dangerous intersection near the Western New York National Cemetery in Pembroke.

I am writing as a I am a concerned/alarmed citizen from Western New York. I read this article over and over. I dont know whether my concern and state of shock is a result of the tragedy that this family suffered, or the arrogance, incompetence, and utter failure of the government to take reasonable steps to protect the public. I am sure it is a mix of both.

A few months back, after meeting with a friend in Batavia for dinner, I was on my way back to Buffalo. I made a wrong turn and I found myself at this intersection. Cars barreling down each way, I made a turn and was almost wiped out by 18-wheeler.

I never thought much of it though until I read Zremskis article, I was in shock. Not only for what happened to the vets, but the arrogance of the VA. Why dont we listen to our best and brightest when there are problems and reasonable solutions to fix these problems? Why does the federal government feel the need to harass and intimidate those who speak out and want to fix the problems that the public may face? Isnt this the function of government?

Abraham Nasser

Lackawanna
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Tahlequah, OK (74464)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. High 67F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.
Go Bills! For a few glorious weeks, everyone was beginning and ending their interactions with these simple words. Bills fans across all social media platforms were filling their news feed with positive stories, motivational quotes and hopeful tales about the Buffalo Bills.

How wonderful it was to have dialogues about anything other than devastating Covid-19. More importantly, we were all agreeing on something. People were smiling, cheering and supporting one another. We were focused on what connected us, rather than what divided us. Given the state of world events over the last two years, it felt pretty darn good. Does this experience have to end there? Can we take some time to find ideas that link us together, rather than drive a wedge between us?

Can we agree that Buffalo is a fabulous place to live? Although price tags have gone up with almost everything during the pandemic, our cost of living is still more reasonable than many places in the United States. We have affordable housing, job opportunities and a thriving cultural scene. We have a diverse population with varied religious, political and cultural views in this City of Good Neighbors.

Can we agree that fantastic improvements and additions have been made to our picturesque waterfront? From kids to adults to four-legged friends, there truly is something for everyone.

Can we agree that Buffalo has the best food anywhere in the U.S.? Raise your hand if you have ever had to pick up a relative from the airport, and their first words arent, How nice to see you but Can we stop and pick up some wings on the way to your house?

No matter how long the visit, everyone has a must-eat checklist. Beef on weck, check. Teds hot dogs, check. Andersons ice cream, check. The list goes on and on. Travel to see any Queen City native and you need to save some room in your luggage for a stash of Webers mustard and Franks hot sauce.

Can we agree that natives show a desire to connect with other Buffalonians that is second to none? Travel anywhere in the world wearing a Buffalo-themed T-shirt and you are guaranteed to have someone come up to you to have a conversation. Chances are great that you have some mutual Buffalo connection. Soon, you will both be on your way with a Go Bills or Go Sabres, depending on the time of year.

Can we agree that Buffalo has produced some fabulous musicians? Whether your musical tastes align with rock (Goo Goo Dolls), R&B (Brian McKnight) or jazz (Spyro Gyra), we clearly support and encourage Buffalonians to explore their musical talents. Our own Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is world class and appreciated by all music-loving citizens.

Can we agree that overall Buffalo has a wonderful climate? Yes, some may not like the snow and cold during our winter months, but Im sure everyone would agree that that is much easier to take than devastating flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and fires. Ill take a beautiful summer afternoon in Buffalo over an oppressive humid day in Florida.

Can we agree that once a Buffalonian, always a Buffalonian? All you have to do is look up Bills Backers Clubs and you will see a plethora of tried and true fans who live all over the world. We see countless examples of famous Buffalonians, from actors to musicians to news reporters, who proudly claim their heritage on a national stage.

Given the chance to live anywhere in the world, I would always choose Buffalo. Do you agree?
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A House to Live and Pay for Care: Nursing Home Policy Change in Ireland



Visiting Scholar, Stephan Koppe will be giving a talk on a paper he co-wrote with Dorota Szelewa, University College Dublin, on Tuesday 22 March, 1 - 2pm at the TRiSS Seminar Room.

The paper analyses the politics of long-term care in Ireland with a unique focus on intergenerational obligations. Ireland is among very few countries that had introduced inheritance clawback clauses in their long-term care funding schemes. With the Fair Deal scheme of 2009, the State covers long-term care costs for those in need up front and would claim the costs back from the estate after the elderly person deceases. We address two main questions:



First, which inequalities are emerging around income and wealth redistribution? We estimate micro simulations to show the distributional effects based on income and housing wealth. Overall, nursing home residents with above average pension income and housing wealth benefit from the reform and can pass on more relative wealth to their kin.



Second, who are the main political actors and ideas shaping the reforms and intergenerational obligations? Based on in-depth document analysis we trace the policy process and ideational battles. In relation to advocacy, we show that in Ireland intensive lobbying by the private long-term care providers facilitated the introduction of deferred payments from the estate. Moreover, the partisan cleavages follow a left-right pattern. Yet, most interestingly the Christian democratic Fine Gael struggles to position themselves on the issue, between more state support, protecting the family home and individual responsibility.
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OTTAWA  Shortly before his president announced new sanctions against Russia, and a short walk from the aftermath of the antigovernment protests that paralyzed Ottawa and key border crossings, the American ambassador to Canada saw a connection.

U.S. Ambassador David Cohen said Tuesday the evolving Russia-Ukraine crisis and the so-called trucker protests also share a common trait  both are examples of how Canada and the United States are determined to fight the threats of authoritarianism and hate speech.

Cohen said that commitment is a crosscutting pillar in the road map for relations between the two countries to which President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed one year ago at their first meeting after the American president assumed power.

"If there's a lesson that comes out of the trucker blockade, it is how do we continue to engage in and enhance the dialogue that we're having around the importance of democracy, as compared to authoritarian regimes like Russia," Cohen said in an interview on Tuesday.

"We have a predisposed platform to be able to take on the hateful speech that we saw in the demonstration, as two countries working together and as leading the world to tell the story about why hate speech is not the way out," he added.

"Working together and respecting each other and respecting all peoples is the best way to proceed, and to build alliances, commercial alliances and defence alliances."

Cohen was speaking in Ottawa hours before Biden's announcement that the U.S. had ordered heavy sanctions against Russian banks and business leaders, some of the so-called oligarchs close to President Vladimir Putin.

Canada and the United States are fully aligned on a set of sanctions that will inflict pain on Putin and other high-level Russians if he further invades Ukraine, said Cohen.

As he signed a new executive order, Biden said "the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine" had begun after Russian troops had crossed into rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.

Story continues

"They will be incredibly painful. We continue to emphasize that there is a diplomatic route to avoid this crisis, and that we're giving Russia every opportunity to accept diplomacy and conversation instead of conflict and sanctions," said Cohen.

"And I think Canada is fully aligned in designing a set of sanctions that will have the same impact."

Later Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada was sending hundreds more troops to eastern Europe and imposing new sanctions on Russia.

Cohen also was speaking from a U.S. embassy boardroom that was less than a city block from where empty Ottawa streets remained barricaded under police guard after being cleared in a major law enforcement sweep on the weekend.

The so-called "freedom convoy" exposed Canada's vulnerability to foreign influence as internet fundraising accounts showed massive amounts of money pouring in from foreign jurisdictions to finance the protests, led by U.S. donors.

The Trudeau government has targeted that financing as part of its invocation of the Emergencies Act, which has given it the power to freeze bank and credit card accounts of organizers.

The federal New Democrats called for Cohen to testify before the House of Commons foreign affairs committee to discuss the American funds but the request was defeated by the governing Liberal members on the committee, as well as the Conservative opposition.

Asked whether the two countries needed to co-operate more on dealing with the flow of money across each other's borders, Cohen said: "I'm not prepared to say that that is a priority for the United States."

Cohen said the demonstrations that occurred in Canada were typical of the populist uprisings on display across the world.

"These are uprisings by people who are angry at government, who don't like government, who don't like large institutions, and who come together to try and achieve usually very broad objectives, up to and including changing control of the government, which is really exactly what the convoy demonstrations appeared to be about," said Cohen.

"Along the way, this particular demonstration had a short term, but very negative, impact on trade between the United States and Canada."

The Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit, was blocked for about a week by protesters, before police cleared them away. The bridge is one of the busiest land trade routes in the world, and its shutdown raised alarm bells in Washington.

Cohen said that in his short time in Canada  he was confirmed for the post by the U.S. Congress late in 2021  he has seen a far more pervasive sentiment that supports people from diverse backgrounds, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples than some of the vitriol that was on display in the Ottawa protest.

"I have some personal experience in this space. And I'm a big believer in the principle that the best way to fight speech that you find offensive, and that you don't agree with, is with more speech on the other side of that speech," he said.

"I take the lesson from the trucker demonstration, the importance of raising our voices in favour of the democratic principles of our two countries."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.

Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press
In a nutshell: Following other digital platforms like Reddit and YouTube, Discord has updated its community guidelines with new rules on dangerous medical misinformation. The instant messaging service will prohibit users from posting "misleading health information that is likely to cause physical or societal harm."

The policy change was announced on Friday in a blog post by Discord's senior platform policy specialist Alex Anderson. The rules are explicitly targeted at Covid-19 misinformation, which has become increasingly prevalent across the web.

"Ensuring the accuracy of online health information has never been as important as during the Covid-19 pandemic," it reads.

In the blog, Discord cited specific types of content that would fall under the new rules, including anti-vaccination rhetoric, dangerous cures for diseases, and anything that "could hinder the resolution of a public health emergency." They stated that health information is misleading if it "directly and unequivocally contradicts the most recent consensus by the medical community."

The company intends to crack down on Covid-19 conspiracy theories, with these guidelines restricting unsubstantiated rumors and widely-debunked health claims. However, the post also clarified that they do not intend to be "punitive of polarizing or controversial viewpoints," with non-misleading personal health experiences, commentary, and satire being excluded from the rules.

These guidelines apply to both individual accounts and organized servers. Discord specified that enforcement actions would be doled out based on the severity and potential harm of the misinformation, with punishments ranging from warnings to permanent suspensions of an account or server.

In an interview with The Verge, Discord's chief legal officer Clint Smith explained that "if someone posts on Discord drink four ounces of bleach and your body will be rid of coronavirus, that's actionable." He also cited that low-risk misinformation will likely not be actionable.

"If someone posts about holding crystals against your chest for 5 minutes and your lung capacity will improve, that's not something Discord is going to take action against," Smith said

The community messaging platform is the latest in a line of technology companies that have attempted to combat health-related misinformation. After massive public pressure, YouTube, Reddit, and Facebook have all made policy changes intended to dampen growing anti-vax rhetoric on their platforms. Conversely, streaming giant Spotify has refused to remove prominent creators such as Joe Rogan over accusations of misleading Covid-19 claims.

This isn't the first time the company has made significant moves to curb the spread of harmful content, with operations in place that combat exploitative content, violent extremism, and illegal activity. In its transparency report covering the first half of 2021, Discord stated that it removed over 43,000 servers and banned 470,000 accounts for violating guidelines.

Only time will tell if Discord can effectively enforce this new policy across its over 150 million active users and nearly 6 million servers. In the meantime, the company has posted instructions on reporting harmful misinformation to their team.

Image credit: Alexander Shatov
Solar panels can be quite a competitive business due to Chinese competition and how they can offer what looks to be the same product at lower prices. Due to this, the South Korean company LG has decided to pull out of the solar panel business.

LG Electronics to Close Down Its Solar Panel Business

According to the story by Electrek, LG Electronics Inc., the Seoul-headquartered company, is now closing its global solar panel business. The decision's approval happened very recently in South Korea by the board of directors of the company.

Per the publication, one of the reasons why LG is closing down is because of how hard it has become to compete with their Chinese rivals. This is because the Chinese competitors offer much lower prices.

SVP Says Company is Looking to Concentrate on High Volume Products and Services

An explanation was given by LG Electronics USA Inc.'s Senior Vice President, John I. Taylor, regarding the matter.

In an email to Electrek sent by Taylor, it was stated that the decision was actually because of multiple factors instead of just one. Some of these factors include increasing costs of logistics, increasing costs of materials, and constraints when it comes to the supply chain.

According to Taylor's email, the announcement "looks ahead" as the company is concentrating on other high-volume products. LG is said to also be focusing on services just like energy storage systems or even energy management solutions.

What Does LG Want to Focus on Instead?

The technologies at hand, according to the report, complement the energy-efficient product offerings of the company.

This ranges from heat pump dryers and water heaters all the way to the more technologically advanced "HVAC solutions to industry-leading Energy Star certified home appliances to name a few."

LG to Support Current Customers with Limited Warranties

Per LG, panel production is expected to wind down some time in the spring. The South Korean company will also continue to support its solar consumers in the US by honoring all the limited warranties available.

According to a tweet by LG, it was announced that they are closing their solar panel business in order for them to better "focus on other businesses that will provide new experiences and value for customers."

Official Announcement: LG has decided to close its solar panel business to focus on other businesses that will provide new experiences and value for customers. We are grateful for your support of LG Solar products. For more information visit: https://t.co/0aiN1fe6sy pic.twitter.com/fb2VPXbnFX  LG Solar USA (@lgsolarusa) February 23, 2022

Read Also: Tesla to Add Steam Video Games to EVs: Elon Musk Says 'Entertainment Will be Critical When Cars Drive Themselves'

What Will Happen to the 160 Employees and 60 Contract Workers?

The decision of LG to close its solar manufacturing arm will be impacting a whopping 160 employees as well as 60 contract workers. These workers have been working at LG's corporate campus, which is located in Huntsville, Alabama.

It should be noted that the production and the assembly of the LG solar panels started there ever since 2018.

LG Electronics North America President and CEO, Thomas Yoon, gave a statement regarding the matter. According to the CEO, the company is hoping that they will be able to retain "many" of the company's talented and dedicated employees.

Related Article: Razer Mechanical Keyboard BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 TKL Price Drops Extremely Low From $140 to $60

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Russia's space agency warned that its cooperation in the International Space Station could be "destroyed" by the sanctions of the United States against the largest country in the world.

Russia's Space Agency Warns Against US Sanctions

As per a news story by CNN, the International Space Station or the ISS currently houses astronauts from various space agencies across the globe, including four astronauts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA, one from Europe, and two Russian cosmonauts.

However, with the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the director-general of the space agency of Russia, the Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, tweets against the recent sanctions announced by the United States president Joe Biden.

The Twitter post of the Roscosmos head said that the US sanctions "will degrade" both the space program and the aerospace industry of the Russian nation.

Russia's Space Agency and ISS Engines

The director of the Russian space agency reminded them that they control the engines of the orbiting space station.

CNN noted in the same report that the ISS has two sections, namely the US Orbital Segment and the Russian Orbital Segment.

A former astronaut of NASA, Garrett Reisman, told the news outlet that the Russian part of the space station could not function without the side of the US.

It turns out that although the propulsion engine systems are on the side of Russia, the electricity is on the segment of the US.

As such, Reisman added that both parties "can't do an amicable divorce," noting that a "conscious uncoupling" is impossible.

Read Also: Russia Sandworm Hackers Built a Firewall Called 'Cyclops Blink' and it Raises Alarms on Cybersecurity

Russia's Cooperation on ISS

That said, the director-general of Roscosmos warned the US that "if you block cooperation with us, who will save the International Space Station from an uncontrolled deorbit".

Rogozin further claimed that the ISS could fall into the US or Europe. What's more, he added that "there is also a possibility of a 500-ton structure falling on India and China."

Therefore, the Roscosmos head warned that the recent US sanctions could "destroy" the cooperation of the Russian space agency on the ISS.

However, according to a report by CTV News, the operations in the space station remain unaffected by the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, says the director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, Scott Pace.

A spokesperson from NASA said that the US agency is currently working with its international space partners, such as the Roscosmos, for the continued safe operation of the ISS.

Aside from the US and Russia, the collaboration on the ISS also includes other territories, such as Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine Invasion Map Uses Twitter Post Updates! Here's How CIR's Tech Works and How To Use It

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TikTok is filled with challenges and viral videos. Some are done alone, while others are done with a partner or a group of friends.

Most of these challenges are easy to follow and hit pop songs from famous artists accompany them.

These viral challenges are also responsible for the fame of TikTok stars such as Charli D'Amelio, Michael Le, Anna Sitar, and Keara Wilson.

TikTok Challenges You Can Do With Your Friends

If you want to be in on the fun, you can check out these viral TikTok challenges and create one with your mates. Who knows, you may also make it big on the platform.

Also Read: Top 5 TikTok Influencers to Follow for Mental Health Advice, Tips, and Peace of Mind

Savage Dance Challenge

One of the most famous dance challenges on the platform is #savagedance. The dance is easy and fun, and it will leave you and your friends feeling like you just finished a workout session.

The dance challenge was first posted by Keara Wilson, a 19-year-old teenager from Ohio. She choreographed the dance to Megan The Stallion's "Savage," and it immediately became a hit on TikTok, according to Elite Daily.

A few days after posting a short clip of her dancing to the song, Wilson's dance went viral and became the hottest dance of 2020.

Even celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Megan Thee Stallion, and Justin Bieber posted their own versions of the challenge.

Treasure Challenge

Another viral dance challenge that brought best friends together on the platform is the Treasure challenge. According to Cosmopolitan, the short challenge features the song "Treasure" by Bruno Mars.

The song was first released in 2012, but TikTok users found a way to bring the hype back. The song is catchy, and the dance is easy to learn, so you and your friend can complete the challenge in just minutes.

Intensions Challenge

Justine Bieber fans, also known as Beliebers, used one of his latest hits into a viral TikTok dance challenge that is perfect for best friends to dance to.

Released in 2020, Justin Bieber's "Intentions" became a massive hit both on the Billboard 100 and on TikTok, according to Complex. Matt Steffanina and Kaycee Rice created the choreography and took the song to the next level.

The Opposite Best Friends Check

This challenge is different from the rest of the challenges on the list. The Opposite Best Friends Check shows the difference between you and your best friend, proving that opposites attract.

You can watch a few videos online to get the gist of the challenge, and you and your friend can record your own version.

The Fridge Challenge

The Fridge challenge lets you put your creativity to the test. The challenge requires you and your friends to record short clips of you pulling items out of your refrigerators, mostly weird items.

Once you have submitted your clips, you can compile them and post the entire video on TikTok.

Celeb Look-Alike Challenge

Do you and your friend have a celebrity look-alike? You can do the #celeblookalike challenge on TikTok and post it if you do. This viral challenge shows how ordinary people can be the spitting image of Hollywood stars.

Related Article: TikTok Blackout Challenge: What is This Latest Video Craze that Took the Life of a 10-Year-Old Girl

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Roscosmos believes that the current U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia can affect the current cooperation between the two countries in the International Space Station.

In the worst-case scenario, Russia's space agency said that the sanctions could end the collaboration of the U.S. and Russian astronauts in space.

Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin shared their option if the sanctions against Russia become worse.

Roscosmos on US Sanctions' Effects

Rogozin posted a tweet explaining what might happen if the current U.S. sanctions continue to affect their country.

Also Read: The International Space Station's Future Resting Place: Point Nemo At A Glance

"There is also the option of dropping a 500-ton structure to India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect?" said Roscosmos' director general via his official Twitter account.

?     500-     .      ?     ,    - .     ?

,    ,  ,   ,      (@Rogozin) February 24, 2022

He added that the International Space Station does not cover Russia's area as it orbits the planet. Dmitry even said that all the risks would be against U.S. and other countries.

He further explained that if the American nation doesn't want ISS to have an uncontrolled deorbit, the U.S. should not behave irresponsibly.

Sanctions Against Russia

Russia is currently facing various sanctions from the United States and NATO. These include blocking the export of technology.

U.S. President Joe Biden said that this sanction would prevent or limit the Russian government from operating its military and aerospace sector.

But, NASA said that sanctions would not really endanger the space cooperation between the United States and Russia.

The international space union added that the technology export blockage would not interrupt the current US-Russia civil space cooperation. Right now, the Russian space agency is still working with NASA as they further study the universe.

However, this ongoing cooperation will still depend if the U.S. government and NATO will further impose new sanctions that might prevent Roscosmos from conducting their space activities properly.

In other news, ISS' ultrasonic tweezers were recently tested. Meanwhile, European astronauts previously announced independence in the International Space Station.

For more news updates about ISS and other space topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: ISS Uses Microgravity Environment To Better Understand Cancer Tumors, Aging Skin Cells

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Electron Bot malware is currently posing as an app in the Microsoft Store. This computer virus can actually take over your Facebook and Google accounts.

Check Point Research, a security firm, first discovered this new malicious campaign. CPR said that it is active in some popular apps, including games.

These include "Subway Surfer," "Temple Run," and other applications.

Security experts at Check Point Research explained that if malicious hackers behind the malware knew that your device was infected, they could easily gain access to your Google and Facebook accounts.

Electron Bot Malware's Severity

According to News 18's latest report, the new malware has already infected more than 5,000 devices. Another thing that makes this alarming is that cybercriminals can use the computer virus to register new accounts.

Also Read: Microsoft Teams Meetings Now Targeted by Hackers to Spread Trojan Malware

Once they gain access to their victims' Facebook accounts, they can like and comment on various posts. CPR explained that Electron Bot malware is currently hiding in Microsoft Store's "Album by Google" application.

Security experts said this computer virus is dynamic and smart, allowing hackers to adjust it when people install an infected app.

But, CPR announced that it had already informed Microsoft regarding the new malware. While waiting for Microsoft's official announcements regarding the new malware, the security agency provided some tips on how you can protect your Google and Facebook accounts.

How To Protect Your FB, Google Accounts?

Beta News provided CPR's suggestions. If you want to prevent the malware from taking over your Facebook and Google accounts, then you need to follow these methods:

Check if the name of the application is identical to another app or if it is suspicious. If the application's name is misspelled, then there's a high chance it is fake.

Avoid installing applications that have small reviews or fewer downloads.

If you accidentally install an unknown app, the best thing you can do is uninstall it. You can do this by visiting your Settings. After that, click the app management and uninstall the unknown application.

In other news, some hackers attacked 500-eCommerce sites. They used credit card skimmers to target their victims. Meanwhile, the new MyloBot malware version demands its victims to pay $2,732 worth of Bitcoin.

For more news updates about malware and other cybersecurity topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Android Users Beware! New Banking Trojan Xenomorph Spread Malware via Google Play Store

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.




Nissan's supplier, Envision AESC, announced that it would soon offer better EV batteries capable of allowing consumers' zero-emission cars to have a 1,000 km range.

The Chinese tech manufacturer is currently creating advanced electric car batteries that are usually used (around 90%) for Nissan EV models.

But, Envision AESC announced that it plans to include new automaker partners, especially those in Japan, China, and Europe.

When it comes to the United States, the EV battery maker hasn't confirmed if it will add American car developers as well.

Nissan Supplier To Offer EV Batteries With 1000KM Range

According to TechWire Asia's latest report, the 1000KM batteries of Envision AESC are expected to be mass-produced by 2024.

Also Read: NHTSA Received Hundreds of Complaints Regarding Honda's Automatic Emergency Brake

'On the other hand, Envision AESC also said that they expect customers across the globe to cover more than 50% of its yearly EV battery transaction.

The EV battery maker plans to build a new manufacturing plant in Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo, hoping that the establishment will be operational starting in 2024.

This means that the Chinese EV maker plans to expand its products to other consumers aside from Nissan.

EV Batteries Now Being Recycled

While Envision AESC focuses on offering new batteries that offer a longer road range, Redwood Materials Inc. launched a new EV battery program in California.

This new project is expected to recycle electric car cells to not go to waste. Ford and Volvo are the first automakers to join the new EV battery project, as reported by Protocol.

"This is critical to enable both the state of California and broader U.S. electrification goals," said J.B. Straubel, the former Tesla CTO, who also founded Redwood Materials Inc.

In other news, Tesla owners can soon choose between a yoke or around the steering wheel. Meanwhile, USPS rejects U.S. President Joe Biden's plea. Instead of purchasing electric trucks, the agency decided to buy gas trucks.

For more news updates about EV batteries and other car tech topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: New Tesla Shanghai Manufacturing Plant To Begin Construction in March | Learn More About The Location and Other Details

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tesla Model Y is now being adopted by another police department since this popular EV offers better benefits compared to gas-based police cars.

The Sykesville Police Department decided to replace its gas-based vehicles with advanced electric cars. Police authorities have already estimated the costs of the transition.

The Maryland-based police department added that they also studied how reliable, as well as the benefits that the upcoming Tesla Model Y vehicles are.

Tesla Model Y as Police Cars

According to InsideEVS' latest report, The Sykesville Police Department has already compared the traditional police cars and Tesla Model Y vehicles.

Also Read: Tesla: Elon Musk admits 'Building a Case' against the SEC, Says He Intends to 'Finish It'

Police authorities explained that Tesla Model Ys have a longer lifespan compared to the gas-based cars they are using, specifically Dodge Durango vehicles.

They said that electric vehicles could last between 10 to 12 years. Meanwhile, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) police cars only last between five to six years.

However, the police department added that they would definitely cost more. Right now, a Dodge Durango car costs around $39,000. Meanwhile, a Tesla Model Y will cost $52,290.

This is a massive difference since the EV is more expensive compared to the usual police patrol cars.

Canada's First Tesla Police Car To Arrive

Aside from Maryland, Canada is also adopting the advanced Tesla Model Y vehicles as their police cars. This was confirmed by the mayor of Bridgwater, Mayor David Mitchell.

"I'm pretty excited that @TownBridgewater council agreed last night to purchase a @Tesla police car, one of the first in Atlantic Canada!" said the official via his Twitter post.

He added that the Tesla Model Y police cars would be less expensive compared to the conventional ones. This just shows that more and more police departments are further adopting the rising EV tech.

There's a high chance that other police departments in different parts of the United States will also do the same, which can further help decrease the rising carbon emissions across their areas.

Im pretty excited that @TownBridgewater council agreed last night to purchase a @Tesla police car, one of the first in Atlantic Canada! Our data shows that this will cost less over its life than a conventional one. The future is green! Note:Photo is not our car but a stock photo pic.twitter.com/fizQRzM9rO  Mayor David Mitchell (@MayorMitchellNS) February 15, 2022

In other news, the new Tesla Steam video game integration will soon arrive. Meanwhile, Tesla Car Colorizer has been launched in the United States.

For more news updates about Tesla and other giant automakers, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Tesla to Allow Users to Choose Between Yoke or Round Steering Wheel, Leak Says

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NVIDIA might've just been hit with a cyberattack that's causing a few outages within the company.

According to a report by Windows Central, the purported cybersecurity breach has targeted internal email systems and developer tools. However, top management still didn't confirm whether the issues were caused by an actual cyberattack or not.

For now, all that NVIDIA said is that it is investigating a certain incident. A spokesperson claimed in an original report from the Telegraph that the company has no additional information to share for now.

As per the report, an insider says that the intrusion "completely compromised" internal systems. Despite this, some email services within the company were working just fine last February 25th. It is also still unclear whether the breach led to data being stolen or deleted from NVIDIA or its customers. They've also not identified a potential suspect yet.

WCCFTech shared more details about the potential intrusion in another report. Apparently, one of the biggest concerns for Team Green right now is that someone might have put "something" in one of the software updates that they push out. They didn't indicate which updates these are, but it could be safe to assume that this includes graphics card drivers.

The company has also apparently stated how this could be like the devastating SolarWinds hack, which involved the hackers slipping malicious code into a software called "Orion." This software, in turn, was being used by over 33,000 SolarWinds customers, as reported by Business Insider.

Team Green has assured through a spokesperson that they're doing what they can to mitigate the situation. Among their efforts include trying to see if anything has been changed to software that they ship to clients and customers, as per the original Telegraph report.

Read Also: Chinese Spies Believed to be Responsible Behind News Corp Cyberattack | Dozens of Journalists Affected

The Effects Of A Potential NVIDIA Cyberattack

As previously mentioned, Team Green is likening the intrusion to what happened during the SolarWinds breach. The software that SolarWinds customers use was allegedly altered by the hackers unbeknownst to its users, granting them unfettered access to systems.

If and when NVIDIA does confirm the cybersecurity breach, the ones who are in obvious danger are those who own the company's products-specifically their graphics cards. There could be a chance that the drivers people download straight from NVIDIA's website could be infected with malware designed to do almost anything at this point.

So if you own an NVIDIA graphics card, whether it's an old or new one, be wary. Maybe you can hold off on downloading that new Game Ready driver for now-specifically now that "Elden Ring" is out-to ensure that your computer is as safe as it can be from a potential intrusion.

However, do not take this information as definitive confirmation of an attack on Team Green. They indicated that they're still investigating the matter, so nothing is confirmed as of this writing.

This is a developing story.

Related Article: These are the Different Types of Trojan Malware You Should Know About

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Written by RJ Pierce

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Editors note: The names of the missionary leaders and specific location of Arise! Ukraine have been omitted from the story due to safety and privacy concerns.

Amid the recent invasion of Ukraine, a Ukraine-based ministry has ties to a Columbus church.

Arise! Ukraine is a nonprofit ministry established in 1997. There are several programs in the ministry, including ones focused on youth, refugees, orphans and drug/alcohol rehabilitation. There are also a variety of camps and prayer summits, and they help purchase wood, coal and food for poor individuals.

The Columbus First Baptist Church supports Arise! Ukraine, according to Jill Fremarek. Fremarek serves on the churchs missionary board. Each board member represents a different mission, with Fremarek representing the Ukraine mission. The founder of the missionary is also a family friend of Fremareks.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. Airstrikes were unleashed on cities and military bases. On Friday, The Associated Press reported, Russian troops attacked Ukraines capital with explosions and gunfire being heard throughout the city. According to a Feb. 25 report from the AP, its unclear how much of Ukraine is still under control and how much Russian forces have seized. The United States has announced sanctions against Russia, as have other nations.

Arise! Ukraine missionary leaders told the Columbus First Baptist Church that they woke up to bombs going off nearby.

They said thousands are leaving the country, Fremarek said. Fuel for cars is disappearing quickly and long lines are at the stores. Local residents stand in line at the pharmacies, cars are leaving cities by the hour, and (they are) told to be out of buildings from 7 to 10 p.m. since bombings can occur. And they are praying and fasting.

Columbus First Baptist Church Pastor Bucky Erwin said that the missionary leaders have decided to stay in the Ukraine.

There are certainly many, many physical needs and spiritual needs, so they just feel compelled to stay for both, Erwin said. They're helping with anything from groceries, medicines, hygiene. Any kind of physical need, whether that be food, clothing, shelter, drink, warmth, heat. They're trying to have supplies as much as they can, so that they can not only help the people, but also prevent the long lines. They are committed to diligently praying day by day, as a church. They're meeting daily at different times for prayer.

Erwin noted that in the midst of the fear, uncertainty and unrest, the missionary leaders are serving as faithful witnesses of the gospel.

As their worlds fallen apart over there, we have a message of hope and life in the gospel of Christ, Erwin said. We're praying, particularly for our missionaries, as they provide physical needs. Also, having that opportunity and the courage and the compassion to tell them of the hope of eternal life.

Theres an eight hour time difference between Columbus and the Ukraine, so updates are delayed and communication is uncertain there. Fremarek said on Friday morning that she had not received further news from the missionary.

Those wanting to give monetary donations to Arise! Ukraine can do so through their website, ariseukr.com/giving.

The Columbus First Baptist Church will also being accepting donations in the form of checks written out to the church but designated for Arise! Ukraine.

The next two Sundays we will take up some special offerings for them. And then we'll be able to send that shortly to them to help with some of their needs, Erwin said.

Fremarek and Erwin indicated that church members have been praying for the Ukraine and missionary leaders, and Columbus community members can as well.

Obviously my heart breaks for the country and the people there, Fremarek said. God is sovereign and we just keep praying.

Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net.

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Meta's Facebook got a partial ban from Russia's state media, and it is because the company allegedly violated the rights to free speech by its citizens on the platform. Facebook also focused on "fact-checking" posts and information by the country's users, and they aim to publish those that came from real person accounts by the citizens.

Meta Facebook Faces Partial Ban from Russian State Media

According to Russia's Roskomnadzor, Facebook allegedly banned several media and state media outlets on the platform for the information they bring online.

The restrictions affected the Russian citizen's freedom to express themselves online, and Facebook gatekeeps what is meant to roll out into the public News Feed.

According to The Verge, the next step made by the government of Russia is to partially ban or restrict Facebook's access and usage to urge Facebook into their request to remove the restrictions on its media platforms.

Roskomnadzor's statement also accused Facebook of an alleged "censorship" in the country since October 2020.

Read Also: Cybersecurity Experts Advice US Businesses, Organizations to Brace for Cyberattacks Amidst Russia's Attack on Ukraine

Meta: Facebook Continues Fact-Checking Info in Russia

Facebook's President for Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, tweeted the official statement by the company in response to this issue with the East Asian country. Clegg said that the company only reflects the citizen's cry for help using the Facebook and Messenger applications to convey their message online, something which Russia restricts now.

Ordinary Russians are using @Meta's apps to express themselves and organize for action. We want them to continue to make their voices heard, share whats happening, and organize through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. pic.twitter.com/FjTovgslCe  Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) February 25, 2022

Meta and Facebook's Focus on Information

Facebook prides itself on privacy and data ownership for those using social media, particularly leaving it to online users, according to its updated Privacy Center. However, the company still faces many disputes regarding this as it is something that they battled for a long time. It remains known that there are several issues regarding data and information in the platform.

Facebook and Instagram will soon be unavailable in the European region, and this is because there are policies which that social media cannot follow or adhere to from the countries. The company always has a problem with data and information sharing and collecting, saying that the company needs it for its processes.

Meta's focus on data and information was for verifying information and focusing on bringing the public a legitimate experience on the app, says the company. Their data collection in Russia and "publishing" only what is right and told by the real people in the country only show that it devotes itself to truth and equality as a social media platform.

Related Article: Russia's Space Agency Warns International Space Station Cooperation Could Be 'Destroyed' by US Sanctions

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk praises the US Securities and Exchange Commission for its new policy that focuses on short position disclosure and CAT reporting of buy-to-close orders. The CEO's affirmation is amidst their battle against the regulatory agency about their legal altercations regarding the 2018 issue that revolved around Musk's tweet.

Elon Musk Praises the SEC for its New Policy

It may not be something that the public would hear from Elon Musk regarding the SEC, but the Tesla CEO said that the company's latest rule or policy is a "good move." The new policy of the SEC focuses on short position disclosure and CAT report of buy-to-close orders, which fellow CEO Dave Lauer of Urvin Terminal mentioned earlier.

The thread made by Lauer talked about the new rule of the SEC that it imposes for the public and private companies that affect its business as it has more requirements for their transactions. The Urvin CEO said that it would fully disclose what the new rule brings to the public for their businesses in the coming weeks.

Read Also: Elon Musk Says He'll Visit IRS in DC, Claims Paying Largest Tax in History-Sen. Warren Insists He Paid 'Zero'

Would be a good move. Needs to include put options & synthetic shorts.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2022

SEC's New Policy Focuses on Transparency

SEC's Exchange Act of 1934 gets a new rule that would focus on the disclosure of aggregate short positions of these entities by the SEC on a per security basis. The new policy focuses on transparency to the public and would bring several information regarding what it would entail when the time comes, focusing on the business.

Elon Musk and the SEC

The Tesla CEO became controversial in the past week, and it is because of his statement made regarding the SEC and its current case that it faces. Here, Musk said that he is not backing down the legal altercation against the SEC and have been building a case that he will bring to court against the regulatory agency.

The world's top billionaire also unveiled several claims that the SEC is harassing him and Tesla over the case from 2018 and that the settlement was not yet fulfilled by the agency. The company's lawyers sent a formal complaint against the SEC to the court, and it focuses on the ongoing battle of the company against them.

Elon Musk and the SEC have a long history together, and while it is mostly against each other for both doing their jobs and fulfilling their existence, there are also agreements in between. Take for example, the recent agreement by the tech CEO about the new policy that affects businesses and their operations in the country.

Related Article: Elon Musk vs. SEC: Judge Denies Court Request by CEO, Commission to Investigate 'Insider Trading'

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The U.S. government has stepped in to prevent Russia from gaining access to low and high-tech goods overseas.

The U.S. Commerce Department imposed export restrictions against the country and has posted a list of licensing policies and requirements implemented.

The harsh export restrictions are the U.S. government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Government Sanctions Russia

According to Reuters, U.S. suppliers that will ship to Russia will have to get licenses for goods that did not need one in the past. This is included in the expanded sanctions released by the Commerce Department.

The goods include telecommunications items, microelectronics, navigation equipment, sensors, marine equipment, avionics, and aircraft components.

Aside from this, the U.S. government is adding companies labeled as military end-users to their entity list because of their ties to the Russian military.

Also Read: Russia Requires Apple, U.S. Tech Giants to Open Local Offices by 2022-Here's Why

Any company that wants to ship products made overseas to those military end-users will need to get licenses from the United States if they are going to use US-made tools, technology, and software for their products, according to Engadget.

The U.S. government stated that these sanctions should impact Russia's ability to acquire items that it can't produce itself.

The new rules state that license requests will be reviewed under a policy of denial, which means that the U.S. Commerce Department will deny the majority of them.

The U.S. administration will only approve licenses in rare exceptions, like applications related to aviation and maritime safety, as well as humanitarian needs.

As for smartphones, they can still be exported to Russia, as long as they won't be shipped to the Russian government employees and state-owned enterprises.

Kevin Wolf, the former Commerce Department official, told Reuters that the rules are very complex. Many companies might stop dealing with Russia completely to avoid mistakes despite the carveouts.

However, another former official, Cordell Hull, predicted that the rules would be difficult to enforce.

During a speech announcing the sanctions, U.S. President Joe Biden said partner countries adopt similar sanctions. The others have expressed their intent to adopt the same sanctions.

The list of partner countries includes 27 members of the European Union, like France, Germany, and Italy.

The countries that are part of the list but are not members of the E.U. are Canada, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

President Biden said they estimate that they will cut off more than half of Russia's high-tech imports between their actions and those of their partners and allies.

U.S. Government's Sweeping Sanctions

On Feb. 24, the Biden administration announced sweeping sanctions targeting Russia, enacting penalties across several industries, including asset freezes for banks, debt and equity restrictions on critical mining, logistics, and transportation firms, and a large-scale effort to shut down access to critical technology for Russian military and industrial sectors.

The U.S. targeted the main members of Vladimir Putin's inner circle as part of its first two rounds of sanctions. The U.S. government also expanded the sanctions to the adult children of Putin's officials, according to CNN.

The move was a calculated effort to cut off what U.S. officials say has been a pathway used by Russian officials to shield their wealth by transferring it to their family members.

Related Article: US and Russia's Investigation Captured Hackers Likely Responsible for Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack | First Cooperation in 8 Years

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA will fund new futuristic space technologies. Some of them are like the machines and other innovations you see in sci-fi movies.

The NIAC (NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts) is the program of the international space union.

This project supports the innovations presented by various institutions, universities, and agencies to help NASA's astronauts further explore the universe.

"As in years past, our new group of NIAC fellows showcases the creativity and vision of the space community at large," said Michael LaPointe, the current NIAC Program Executive.

NASA To Fund Futuristic Space Techs

According to Forbes' latest report, the NIAC is willing to provide $5.1 million to 17 researchers across the nine states.

Also Read: NASA: Air Travel is the Future, Collaborations Are Open Now; eVTOL, Other Vehicles Coming Soon?

Specifically, these futuristic space technologies include 12 innovations for Phase I study and five new space techs for Phase II study.

Researchers listed in the Phase I study will receive $175,000 each, which they need to use for their nine-month studies.

Meanwhile, the Phase II space technology innovators will have more funds, each receiving $600,000. But, this budget will specifically be used for their two-year studies.

Phase I, Phase II NIAC Funded Space Techs

NASA Gov provided the complete lists for the futuristic space technologies included in Phase I and Phase II funds of NIAC. These include the following:

Phase I

Darmindra Arumugam, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California: Cryospheric Rydberg Radar

John Mather, NASA Goddard: Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE)

Marcin Pilinski, University of Colorado, Boulder: In-situ Neutral-Optics Velocity Analyzer for Thermospheric Exploration (INOVATE)

Jonathan Sauder, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California: Starburst: A Revolutionary Under-Constrained Adaptable Deployable Structure Architecture

Bonnie Dunbar, Texas A&M University in College Station: The Spacesuit Digital Thread: 4.0 Manufacture of Custom High Performance Spacesuits for the Exploration of Mars

Ivan Ermanoski, Arizona State University in Tempe: Breathing Mars Air: Stationary and Portable O2 Generation

Philip Lubin, University of California, Santa Barbara: Pi - Terminal Defense for Humanity

Sara Seager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge: Venus Atmosphere and Cloud Particle Sample Return for Astrobiology

Mahmooda Sultana, NASA Goddard: SCOPE: ScienceCraft for Outer Planet Exploration

Steven Barrett, Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge: Silent, Solid-State Propulsion for Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles

Jason Benkoski, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore: Combined Heat Shield and Solar Thermal Propulsion System for an Oberth Maneuver

Elena D'Onghia, University of Wisconsin-Madison: CREW HaT: Cosmic Radiation Extended Warding using the Halbach Torus

Phase II

Marco Pavone, Stanford University in California: ReachBot: Small Robot for Large Mobile Manipulation Tasks in Martian Cave Environments

Ethan Schaler, NASA JPL: SWIM: Sensing with Independent Micro-swimmers

Javid Bayandor, State University of New York at Buffalo: BREEZE: Bioinspired Ray for Extreme Environments and Zonal Exploration

Zac Manchester, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Kilometer-Scale Space Structures from a Single Launch

E. Joseph Nemanick, The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California: Atomic Planar Power for Lightweight Exploration (APPLE)

In other news, NASA NOAA GOES-T is expected to reach space this coming March. Meanwhile, NASA Hubble Space Telescope captured the so-called Space Triangle.

For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: The International Space Station's Future Resting Place: Point Nemo At A Glance

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
TV and internet video advertising in the Nebraska gubernatorial race -- if you've read letters to the editor in the last month in Lee newspapers -- have certainly made an impression.

Some have been very impressed by the candidates' messages. And some have been very depressed. But for all the shotgun-brandishing and border-walking, the candidates for governor have been doing the agenda-setting.

Their campaigns define the images and issues -- probably not entirely without polling data. But they are trying to tell us what they think we think matters (if you can follow that).

We want to try something a little different. We want to find out what issues in the gubernatorial race matter most to you. So we're launching a statewide, unscientific poll to see what's on the minds of Nebraskans.

We're not trying to figure out what Nebraskans think is the answer to tax reform, but rather, how important is it. Same with immigration, rural-urban tension, climate change and a number of other things.

We want to know what Nebraskans care about, and then we want to help Nebraskans get answers to how, specifically, candidates prioritize and would solve issues.

We hope to see how different issues matter differently depending on where and how folks live.

If you're reading this in print, you can snap a photo of the QR code at the end of this column on your smartphone, and you'll be linked to the survey. If you're reading online, you can click here.

Either way we hope to hear from you. The survey will be open through March 15. Your responses will help us have a more substantive discussion about what we need as we elect the top executive in this state in November.

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The Russian Federation announced that they plan to reciprocate and evaluate bilateral relations with culpable countries imposing sanctions on them.

18:30 EST Update:

Russia To Reciprocate Sanctions Imposed by West

The Russian Federation announced that they plan to reciprocate and evaluate bilateral relations with those countries imposing measures on them.

17:30 EST Update:

West to Disconnect Russian Banks From S.W.I.F.T. System

Western Leaders of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada held discussions to issue the of Russia from S.W.I.F.T. interbank system. The decison to disconnect was agreed upon later this Saturday.

The German government announced that all Russian banks already subjected to Western sanctions will be excluded from S.W.I.F.T. Other Russian banks are expected to have this new sanction imposed.

"This is intended to cut off these institutions from international financial flows, which will massively restrict their global operations," the German government spokesperson stated.

Western nations "stressed their willingness to take further measures should Russia not end its attack on Ukraine and thus on the European peace order."

16:45 EST Update:

Russian Armed Forces Disable 821 Military Targets

Russian Armed Forces have disable 821 military targets in Ukraine since the beginning of the special operation. This includes fourteen air bases, nineteen command centres, twenty-four anti-aircraft missile systems and forty-eight radar stations were destroyed, reported Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense .

14:30 EST Update:

Ukrainian Soldiers Voluntarily Laid Down Arms in DPR

Daria Morozova, the DPR's human rights envoy, reported that more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers voluntarily laid down their arms and joined the Donetsk People's Republic.

"We are talking about more than 40 people who took part in the hostilities in the south and were abandoned by their commanders in positions without communication and support. Including women and those wounded. While talking to them, I became convinced that their decision to surrender was voluntary," Morozova said in a statement.

Morozova said that those wounded were provided with full medical assistance and confirmed that all Ukrainian soldiers who had voluntarily surrendered can return.

13:45 EST Update:

Russia Captures Weapons Delivered by West to Ukraine

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman major general Igor Konashenkov announced that the weapons came from the United States and the United Kingdom.

13:30 EST Update:

Ukrainian Nationalists Carry Out Attacks on Lugansk

The Russian Defence Ministry reported that Ukrainian nationalists carried out an attack with multiple Grad rocket launching systems against populated neighbourhoods in the town of Starobilsk in the Lugansk region on Saturday.

"As a result, a fire broke out in the town, there is destruction of residential buildings and deaths among the civilian population," a ministry statement said.

In this context, the Russian military noted that they have information that Ukrainian nationalists are planning to carry out similar acts in Kramatorsk and Slaviansk.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation do not attack cities and localities, they take all measures to preserve the lives of civilians," they reiterated.

11:30 EST Update:

Ukrainian Gunboats Attack Ships with Captive Servicemen

Russia's Defence Ministry reported that on Friday night 16 Ukrainian navy gunboats attacked Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels as they were transporting 82 Ukrainian servicemen who surrendered on Snake Island off the northern Black Sea coast.

The Ukrainian boats reportedly "used swarming tactics" and "the aim of this attack was to take revenge on the surrendered Ukrainian troops and to be able to accuse the Russian army of the massacre of the prisoners".

"As a result of the naval clash, 6 boats were destroyed. None of the 82 Ukrainian servicemen on Snake Island were injured," reported Russia's Defence Ministry.

In addition, the ministry reported that the area was overflown by U.S. strategic reconnaissance drones RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9A Ripper. "It is very likely that it was the US drones that directed the Ukrainian vessels against the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships," said the ministry.

11:00 EST Update:

Ukraine Rejects Talks With Russia

On Saturday, Kiev has rejected to hold talks with Moscow in Minsk, Belarus, the designated neutral grounds where it was agreed negotiations would take place. Kiev's refusal to hold talks is connected to the conditions proposed by the Russian side described as being "unacceptable".

Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhail Podolyak said, "Any war ends with a negotiation process, but I think that the positions in this negotiations process will be different. These will be positions that Ukraine will dictate. It will set the conditions for what will happen next, including in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions."

As a result, Russia has called off the ceasefire to hold talks, causing Russian forces to resume operations in Ukraine. "The Ukrainian side has refused to negotiate. This afternoon Russian forces have resumed their advance in accordance with the plan of the operation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

6:00 EST Update:

Dmitry Medvedev calls for a review of diplomatic ties with some western countries: Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned of the possibility of a final review of relations with countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia.

"There is good news. Sanctions can be an excellent occasion for a final review of all relations with those states that have imposed them. Including interrupting the dialogue on strategic stability," he wrote on his VKontakte page.

The politician did not rule out the possibility of a break in the dialogue on strategic stability and the rejection of international agreements related to this process.

5:30 EST Update:

Russian troops take the towns of Stanitsa Luhanska, Krymske and Markovka: The Russian military has occupied Stanitsa Luhanska, Krymske and Markovka. This was announced by the chairman of the Lugansk regional state administration Sergei Gaidai. "Unfortunately, Stanitsa Luganskaya, Krymskoye, Markovka are temporarily occupied by the Russians," he said. Gaidai also added that the authorities are in place in all settlements

State Duma President Volodin claims that Zelensky has left Kiev: On his Telegram account, the State Duma speaker wrote that the Ukrainian president with his closest entourage left for Lviv. Volodin refers to the Rada deputies, who were invited to Lviv to meet with Zelensky.

DPR Colonel Eduard Basurin: The retreating Armed Forces of Ukraine want to carry out bloody provocations in order to accuse the forces of the special military operation. Ukrainian militants are already destroying bridges and other vital infrastructure, said DPR Colonel Eduard Basurin.

5:15 EST Update:

Poland: Poland estimates that 100,000 refugees from Ukraine are already on its territory.

Some 100,000 Ukrainians crossed the border into Poland in recent days fleeing the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker said.

"Since the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine and to date, 100,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland along the entire Ukrainian border," Szefernaker told reporters.

5:00 EST Update:

President Sadyr Zhaparov: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov said in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Kiev was responsible for the failure of the Minsk Agreements and supported the decisive action taken by Moscow to protect civilians in Donbas.

4:45 EST Update:

The Czech Republic sends weapons to Ukraine: The Czech Republic will supply Ukraine with weapons worth a total of 188 million Czech crowns (about $8.7 million), Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said.

"The Czech Republic will send assault rifles, machine guns, pistols, sniper rifles and ammunition to Ukraine worth a total of 188 million crowns," Cernochova said.

Kulomety, samopaly, odstrelovaci pusky, pistole a odpovidajici munice v hodnote 188 milionu. Vlada v sobotu schvalila dalsi pomoc Ukrajine, ktera celi ruskemu utoku. MO bezprostredne zajistuje i dopravu na misto, ktere urci ukrajinska strana. Nase pomoc nekonci.#StandWithUkraine  Jana Cernochova (@jana_cernochova) February 26, 2022

"Machine guns, submachine guns, sniper rifles, pistols and equivalent ammunition worth 188 million. The government on Saturday approved further aid to Ukraine, which is facing a Russian attack. The Ministry of Defense also provides immediate transport to a place designated by the Ukrainian side. Our help does not end."

4:15 EST Update:

President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that "partners" are sending weapons to help Kiev, adding that he had spoken by phone with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. "A new day on the diplomatic frontline began with a conversation with Emmanuel Macron. Weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine. The anti-coalition is working," Zelensky said on Twitter.

A new day on the diplomatic frontline began with a conversation with @EmmanuelMacron. Weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine. The anti-war coalition is working!    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022

3:55 EST Update:

Roscosmos Website: Russian space corporation Roscosmos website suffers cyber-attack from abroad

The website of the Russian space corporation Roscosmos is suffering a DDoS attack from abroad, which began on Friday night, the company's press service reported.

"The Roscosmos website has been under DDoS attack from foreign servers since last night. Technicians are taking the necessary measures to neutralize the attack," a representative of the press service said.

     DDoS-   .        .



           . pic.twitter.com/T1748sCpqO   (@roscosmos) February 26, 2022

"The Roscosmos website is subjected to a DDoS attack from foreign servers at night. Technical experts carry out the necessary measures to neutralize the attack. Due to the current situation, the loading time of the site pages may be increased."

3:35 AM EST Update:

Macron: "The war will last, this crisis will last." It will have "consequences on the agricultural world." Emmanuel Macron issued this warning on Saturday, February 26, when he inaugurated the Agricultural Show in Paris, repeating twice that "war is back in Europe." Macron has also convened a meeting of France's defence and security council on the situation in Ukraine according to media sources

Ukraine embassy in Moscow: Will be evacuating to Latvia according to Reuters.

Kiev Metro: In Kiev subway service has been stopped. This information was confirmed by the capital's mayor Vitali Klitschko in his Telegram channel." The metro has switched to shelter mode. Transportation will not be carried out," he said. Klitschko also urged the people of Kiev to stay at home or in shelters, not to go out or go to the city.

3:30 AM EST Update:

Russian space corporation Roscosmos has suspended cooperation with Europe on launches from the Kourou cosmodrome and withdrawn its employees from French Guiana in response to European Union (EU) sanctions, the company's director general, Dmitry Rogozin, said.

"In response to EU sanctions against our enterprises, Roscosmos is suspending cooperation with European partners in the organization of space launches from the Kourou Cosmodrome and withdrawing its technical staff (...) from French Guiana," Rogozin posted on his Telegram channel.

                          ,    ,   . pic.twitter.com/w05KACb9nI   (@Rogozin) February 26, 2022

"In response to EU sanctions against our enterprises, Roskosmos is suspending cooperation with European partners in organizing space launches from the Kourou cosmodrome and withdrawing its technical personnel, including the consolidated launch crew, from French Guiana."

3:15 AM EST Update:

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland notified Russian airlines of the closure of their airspace, a source close to one of the Russian airlines told Sputnik.

"Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland sent a NOTAM (notice to skippers) about the airspace closure," the source said.

The three countries previously announced plans to close their airspace for Russian airlines from February 26 due to Russia's special operation in Ukraine.

3 AM EST Update:

Fighting occurred on Saturday in Kiev near the military unit of the 101st separate guard brigade of the General Staff of Ukraine, Sputnik cited local media as reporting. Explosions were heard and fire was observed in the area, according to the video footage published by Ukrainian news agencies UNIAN and strana.ua.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Armed Forces destroyed 821 military targets in Ukraine since the start of the special operation.

"In total, the Russian Armed Forces have disabled 821 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine," Konashenkov told reporters.

The spokesman said that 14 air bases, 19 command centers, 24 anti-aircraft missile systems and 48 radar stations were destroyed.

According to Konashenkov, seven fighter planes, seven helicopters, nine drones, 87 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 28 multiple rocket launchers, 118 special military vehicles and eight combat boats were destroyed.

In the early hours of 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a "special military operation" on Ukrainian territory, claiming that the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, already recognized by Russia as sovereign states, had requested assistance in the face of aggression by Kiev.

In response, the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed that Russian troop losses "have increased significantly".
On Friday, the European Union and the United Kingdom confirmed they would establish personal sanctions on Russian President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov.

On Friday, the Russian Senate President Valentina Matviyenko confirmed that her country has "reciprocal sanctions" ready to respond to the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union (EU).

We are well aware of the West's weak spots and we have drafted an entire package a series of potential sanctions to be used against those nations that announced sanctions against Russia the West has many soft spots, said Matviyenko, as reported by RT.

The lawmaker pointed out that Russia is taking the necessary preventive measures to prevent the sanctions of the United States and its allies from affecting her country's economic development.

These statements were made after US President Joe Biden announced the imposition of "long-term impact" sanctions against Russia.

In Grozny, preparations are underway for the transfer of yet more Chechen military from the Kadyrov brigade to Ukraine. #Donbass pic.twitter.com/cdUljux4sm  Dean O'Brien (@DeanoBeano1) February 25, 2022

On Friday, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell and the United Kingdom confirmed that they would establish personal sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

For his part, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic assured that he supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine but he is against imposing sanctions against Russia.

"Serbia respects the norms of international law, and that is the best way to protect itself and its interests, but it also respects traditional friendships," he said.
Youth in their 20s who have fallen into the swamp of preventing the return of Corona and poverty
North Dakota

How one native American tribe is battling for control over flaring

By Isaac Stone Simonelli, Maya Leachman and Andrew Onodera

Howard Center for Investigative Journalism

NEW TOWN, North Dakota  Powerful flames of burning natural gas shine brightly a few miles in any direction from Mark Foxs office on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. But when he looks out his window, Fox sees a different future.

Next door is the construction site of the Three Affiliated Tribes new administration building  a multimillion-dollar project funded by oil and gas revenue.

Oil and gas production on the 988,000-acre reservation has also helped finance new schools, health insurance for tribal members, a law enforcement center and litigation for the economic sovereignty that Fox seeks for his people.

The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation sits atop the Bakken Formation, one of the largest oil reserves in the United States and the second most-productive horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing play in the nation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Its also home to a massive amount of flaring  the burnoff of natural gas associated with oil production.

Natural gas is mostly methane, which is one of the most potent heat-trapping greenhouse gases. Flaring can release large amounts of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, harming the Earth and its inhabitants. But only in recent years has it been possible to independently check the accuracy of state reported flaring volumes.

A sign points toward a fracking operation in McKenzie County, N.D. on Oct. 29, 2021. A combination of fracking and horizontal drilling technology opened up the Bakken Formation for increased oil and gas drilling. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Satellite data analyzed by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism revealed that nearly 20% of all flaring from 2012 to 2020 in North Dakota  which flares more gas than any other state besides Texas  occurred on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Oil and gas companies flared three times as much natural gas on Fort Berthold than on all other Native American lands combined during that time, the data showed.

The analysis also revealed significant discrepancies between flaring volumes recorded by satellites and the amounts that companies reported to state regulators. Without an accurate measure of the volume of natural gas being flared, its impossible to know the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere, or how much royalty revenue the tribe and its members may be losing.

You cant solve a problem if you dont know what the problem is, said Jennifer Miskimins, head of the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines. And you dont know how big or how small the problem is until you get data to work with.

Oil and gas development on tribal lands is primarily managed by federal agencies, which require companies to pay royalties on any gas flared beyond federally approved exceptions. But companies operating the approximately 2,600 wells on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation must also adhere to North Dakotas flare mitigation policy.

Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Chairman Mark Fox talks in his office on Oct. 25, 2021. Fox explained how money from oil and gas is paying for schools, a law enforcement center and other new facilities on the reservation  but that development comes at an environmental cost. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

A motto of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation  which makes up the Three Affiliated Tribes  is sovereignty by the barrel. It has been seeking to clear out the regulatory thicket of federal and state regulations in order to manage the practice of burning this valuable resource on its own land.

The nation pushed for the right to regulate flaring in 2013, when the tribal government passed an ultimately unsuccessful resolution stating that it would regulate flaring because the federal government was failing to do so. Despite the setback, Fox is continuing his fight to wrest control over flaring on tribal lands from the federal government.

If it's been flared and it's being burned  it's being wasted, Fox said.

Fox is keenly aware of the tightrope hes walking between allowing flaring from oil and gas development to risk damaging tribal lands and causing health problems for those living near flares, and the risk of his nation backsliding into poverty if it fails to develop its natural resources.

Theres a lot of promise in what were doing here, Fox said. But that relates to us capturing a very valuable resource that today is being wasted.

Companies report, satellites observe

Policymakers, mineral rights leaseholders and government regulators all depend on oil and gas companies to accurately self-report the amount of natural gas they flare. A variety of regulatory exemptions allow flaring for safety, maintenance and economic reasons.

Until 2012, however, there was no independent data that could be used to fact-check the companies reported flare volumes.

Thats when Christopher Elvidge, then a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist, pioneered using satellites equipped with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments to detect flares associated with oil and gas production. Though satellite observation comes with some limitations, it can be an effective, independent tool for measuring flaring volumes  although one that oil and gas regulators have yet to adopt.

A flare burns natural gas in North Dakota on Oct. 30, 2021. More than 1.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas was burned in North Dakota from 2012 to 2020, according to a Howard Center analysis of satellite data. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

The Howard Center analyzed satellite data for North Dakota, including the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and then compared it to company-reported data. The data was obtained from monthly production reports that companies, both on state and tribal lands, file with the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.

The analysis revealed that oil and gas operators on reservation land reported flaring more than 199 billion cubic feet of natural gas from 2012 to 2020, valued at more than $600 million. However, satellite observations of flaring on the reservation over the same time period showed an additional 42 billion cubic feet of natural gas being burned off.

Such drastic differences between satellite data and company reports remain despite North Dakota implementing a system for measuring flared gas in 2014, as part of a gas capture policy requiring companies to utilize a set amount of the gas.

Following the adoption of the gas capture policy, the regulations set out how everybody was going to measure, and then calculate, flared volumes, said Lynn Helms, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, noting the state had previously been uncertain as to how companies did their calculations.

When the Bakken fracking boom began around 2008, flaring across the state increased from less than 5% to over 35%, according to Helms.

Three flare stacks produce a merged flare on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 24, 2021. Black smoke is often associated with inefficient flaring, which releases harmful pollutants such as black carbon and methane. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

He said this was caused by a lack of pipelines from new wells to processing facilities and existing pipelines being too small to handle the volume of gas produced by connected wells.

The efficiencies in drilling and completion just amazingly outran the infrastructure, said Helms.

To reduce flaring, the gas capture policy required companies to use natural gas on-site or bring it to market. It set the volume of gas that must be captured by companies on a monthly basis, starting at 74% in 2014. The capture goal has remained at 91% since November 2020.

Since the gas capture policy went into effect, wells on the reservation have missed gas capture goals over half the time. In fact, gas capture targets are more consistently and frequently missed on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation than anywhere else in the state, according to an analysis of records from the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.

Despite the percent increase in gas captured as a result of the gas capture policy, North Dakota has seen a steady rise in volumes of gas flared since 2016, peaking in 2019 before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy, according to a Howard Center data analysis.

Scott Skokos, the executive director of the Dakota Resource Council, a statewide conservation and family farm advocacy organization, argues that percentages are the wrong metric.

Percentage doesnt matter, its volume that matters, said Skokos. Thats a greenhouse gas that youre venting or flaring  either as carbon or as raw methane. So its just bad overall.

Hacking through the regulatory thicket

Three federal agencies regulate aspects of the oil and gas industry on the Fort Berthold reservation: the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Land Management. The North Dakota gas capture policy and tribal government rules also impact oil and gas production on the reservation.

Everyone  tribal leaders, environmentalists, even those working in the oil and gas industry  agrees this regulatory tangle explains much of the excessive flaring on the reservation.

An aerial view of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation Interpretive Center along Lake Sakakawea on Nov. 1, 2021. Construction on the center finished early that year. The significant influx of revenue from oil and gas has allowed the tribe to invest in such large-scale projects. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

The tribes 2013 proposed rules would have allowed the tribe to manage the waste of these resources and their impact on the environment. Fox, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with a law degree from the University of North Dakota, explained that the tribe wants to be the sole regulator on the reservation.

Were going to do for our people what the United States government has never done, Fox said.

But the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the use of federal natural resources, could not legally defer to tribal authority, said Loren Wickstrom, field manager of the bureaus North Dakota Field Office.

He acknowledged the more than 40-year-old law governing how flaring is managed on federal territory  including tribal lands  is dated. Attempts to overhaul the federal flaring and venting regulations were caught up in yearslong litigation, leaving the North Dakota office in limbo.

As a result, the Bureau is now working through a backlog of around 2,000 company flaring notifications, some dating to 2014. Bureau engineers must determine if a companys plan to flare meets one of the permitted exceptions, Wickstrom said. Companies dont need this determination before they can begin flaring, but they do in order to determine if royalties are owed to landowners and the government.

As of October 2021, a team of six petroleum engineers had processed just over 300 notices, Wickstrom said.

A bulldozer clears a path for a new natural gas pipeline on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 27, 2021. Dakota Resource Council Executive Director Scott Skokos explained that jurisdictional hurdles for building such pipelines on the reservation have caused development to lag behind the rest of the state. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Most of the company flaring notices cite a lack of pipeline capacity as the need to burn off natural gas, according to Wickstrom. The North Dakota Pipeline Authoritys monthly reports from December 2013 to October 2021 show there is consistently more gas flared from wells connected to pipelines than from those that are not, as being attached to a pipeline doesnt necessarily mean sufficient capacity.

Lack of natural gas infrastructure is a common topic among industry experts, regulators, the tribal government and environmentalists. The economic motivation for building infrastructure to move oil from production sites to market is significantly higher than natural gas because it can be cheaper to build and oil prices are magnitudes higher. From 2016 to 2020, oil was almost 20 times more expensive than gas on average, according to a Howard Center analysis of data from the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources.

Flares burn natural gas as a service team works past sunset at an oil well on Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 27, 2021. Maintenance activities can lead to flaring when natural gas is diverted away from compression and processing equipment to keep service teams safe while conducting repairs. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

While natural gas infrastructure is an issue throughout the state, it is the crux of increased flaring on the reservation due to a lack of natural gas gathering pipelines.

Because of the jurisdictional issues, the oil industry has decided to build out the majority of their pipelines outside of the reservation first, said Skokos. So theres more flaring and venting thats going on on the reservation.

Both state and federal regulations allow exemptions for flaring when capturing gas is not financially viable.

Theres also economic incentive for companies to start drilling on leases before pipeline infrastructure is in place, which often results in significant amounts of flaring. When leaseholders sign contracts with oil companies, there is a clause that requires companies to bring a well into production within a certain time frame. Failure to do so could result in the company losing access to the mineral rights and being forced to renegotiate its lease, likely at a higher dollar amount.

Donny Nelson, a third-generation rancher in North Dakota and a member of the Dakota Resource Council, poses for a photo on his property a few miles west of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 29, 2021. Nelson says that the money from oil and gas production has helped revitalize the western part of the state. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

You want to produce that oil and you want to get the money, right? said Donny Nelson, a third-generation rancher whose family homesteaded the rolling hills just west of Fort Berthold.

Many of todays problems could have been avoided had the energy industry developed the Bakken more slowly, said Nelson, whose parents helped found the Dakota Resource Council of which he is now a member.

But that's just not the way, Nelson said. It's a boom, bust  always has been. And, I think, always will be.

Life among the flares

Driving through western North Dakota, its not hard to find flares.

You go up the hill at night. Its like a city, Nelson said, adding that at the height of the fracking boom he counted over 100 flares one night.

Its a huge waste, he added. I dont want to tell the next generation what we did.

Though flaring releases a significant amount of carbon dioxide into the air, burning natural gas at a low efficiency is more damaging to the environment. Its incomplete combustion during flaring that can lead to the production of black carbon and the release of methane into the atmosphere.

Methane is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the Earths atmosphere in the first 20 years after its release, despite its relatively short atmospheric life span  10 to 12 years compared to centuries for carbon dioxide.

Eric Kort, a professor at the University of Michigans Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Department, studied inefficient flaring in North Dakota in 2014. He found the flares were less efficient than assumed, which would suggest that, actually, flares are a larger contributor to methane emissions than presently represented.

Flares burn at different efficiencies on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 27, 2021. The lighter colored flame on the right generally indicates proper combustion, while the darker flame on the left may be a sign that maintenance is needed. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Even worse, however, is venting, which releases uncombusted natural gas  mostly methane  directly into the atmosphere. Strong winds or equipment malfunctions can extinguish a flare while continuing to release natural gas, and the problem may go unnoticed for months on the remote, rugged reservation, said Skokos, head of the Dakota Resource Council.

Fox said the tribe has identified excessive venting using infrared cameras, which can capture images of uncombusted gas plumes not otherwise visible. It has notified companies directly or informed the EPA, which is responsible for monitoring air quality on federal and tribal lands. The Three Affiliated Tribes has a scientist who is a standing committee member of the EPAs Science Advisory Board.

But the EPAs ability to respond is limited. Its regional headquarters in Denver, a roughly 750-mile drive away, must enforce the Clean Air Act in six states and 28 tribal nations, including Fort Berthold. Just eight full-time employees inspect oil and gas well pads.

Were greatly concerned about it, Fox said of the environmental impact from oil and gas development. We should be, because this is where we intend to live for the next 10,000 years.

Lisa DeVille, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes, has been raising the alarm about the negative environmental and health impacts of the oil boom since 2010. She is the co-founder of the Fort Berthold Protectors of Water and Earth Rights, a grassroots environmentalist group that partners with the Dakota Resource Council.

Riding shotgun as her husband, Walter, drives down a dirt road past the reservation community of Mandaree, DeVille narrates her toxic tour. It includes what she says are the remnants of a saltwater fracking pipeline leak a few hundred yards from a flare stack overlooking Lake Sakakawea.

DeVille remembers visiting the area as a child with her grandmother to collect juneberries and plums, and hearing stories about oil locked in the rocks. Like many tribal members with mineral rights, her grandmother later allowed drilling on her property.

Lisa DeVille, vice president and co-founder of the Fort Berthold Protectors of Water and Earth Rights, a grassroots environmentalist group, is photographed on Oct. 28, 2021 in Mandaree. DeVille voices her concerns about the oil and gas industrys effect on the environment and human health on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

If they do decide to get that oil out, DeVille recalled her grandmother saying, I dont think that youre going to have any more juneberries or plums to pick.

Walter DeVille feels strongly about those impacted by oil and gas development. They prey on people of color in their communities, he said.

A 2021 study on the demographics of flaring in and around the Bakken shale found that Native Americans and Hispanic populations were the most likely to live near flares.

Flaring is particularly intense in the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota, which accounted for 70% of the Native American population exposed to more than 100 flares, according to the study, led by Lara Cushing, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Cushing has shown a correlation between health concerns, such as higher odds of preterm births, and living near flares based on a different study she conducted in Texas Eagle Ford Shale, another top flaring region in the U.S.

Pronghorn stand outside an oil drilling site on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation on Oct. 27, 2021. Tribal member and environmentalist Lisa DeVille worries about the environmental impacts the oil and gas industry has had on the reservation. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Theres a lot of people who are potentially exposed. And our findings do suggest there may be some community health impacts that should be investigated, Cushing told the Howard Center.

The most significant challenge researchers face in determining the health impacts of flaring is a lack of good data on where and when flaring is occurring.

Theres some pretty significant reserves associated with a lot of these tribal lands, said Miskimins of the Colorado School of Mines, noting that geological processes that create oil and gas resources happen to overlap with them.

Revenue from oil and gas production on the reservation has provided the Three Affiliated Tribes resources to fight for economic and environmental sovereignty.

The Tribe is now in a position to vigorously defend its sovereignty  both in government to government consultation and cooperation with the federal and state governments, but also through litigation when necessary, said Timothy Purdon, a former U.S. attorney in North Dakota who now handles some of the tribes litigation. And 10, 15 years ago, they didnt always have the resources to do that.

A multi-well oil pad burns natural gas on 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 analysis of satellite data. (Isaac Stone Simonelli / Howard Center for Investigative Journalism)

Meanwhile, flare mitigation both off and on the reservation remains the focus.

A law to incentivize companies to invest in flare mitigation technology took effect July 1, 2021. It provides a tax credit of up to $6,000 per well per month to help companies cover the cost of flare mitigation technologies, such as converting natural gas to liquid fuels.

The nation is pushing forward with its own flare mitigation plans, in hopes of also tackling food sovereignty.

The tribe broke ground in 2021 on a climate-controlled greenhouse project that will be powered primarily by natural gas that would otherwise be flared, as part of its Green Grow Initiative. Though the project has been delayed by the pandemic and supply chain issues, Fox remains confident in its potential.

The project offers a chance for tribal members to have access to healthy food, Fox said, and provides another revenue stream for the tribe by exporting produce, all while reducing the amount of natural gas being wasted on the reservation.

Were gonna grow our own food, generate our own power, export our own goods, Fox said.

He called flaring one of the most important items on his agenda, adding, You got to account for it, monitor it  and you gotta pay for it.

Reporter Michael McDaniel contributed to this story.
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HARRISBURG  Pennsylvanias highest court on Friday rejected a bid by a top state Republican lawmaker to use the existing boundaries of legislative districts in this years election, instead of new boundaries redrawn as part of a once-a-decade adjustment for demographic shifts.

The state Supreme Court denied the request by House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, in a one-sentence unsigned order.

The next legislative election after this year is in 2024.

A 30-day timeline remains ongoing for the court to receive challenges to new district boundaries approved for this years election by the five-member Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

Those objecting to the commissions approved boundaries have until March 7 to file an appeal and briefs. So far Benninghoff and a group of Butler County residents have filed such appeals.

Officials in Gov. Tom Wolfs administration had argued that it is premature for the court to order the use of the old boundaries in this years elections, in part because the court has not even ruled on challenges to the boundaries approved by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

Wolf administration officials argued that new district boundaries can still be approved by the court in time to avoid delaying the May 17 primary election.

Benninghoff was the lone no vote in the commissions 4-1 vote on Feb. 4 to adopt new district boundaries for both the state House and Senate.
Eleven undoubtedly nervous but thoroughly pumped acts took to the stage at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on a soaking Saturday night and, as the event title put it, Australia Decided: Sheldon Riley, the local favourite in every sense, will represent the nation at this years 66th Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, in May.

Speaking moments after a triumphant final encore, an emotional Riley said representing Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest means my entire life.

I come from a very religious and reserved family, and Eurovision was kind of my guilty pleasure, he said. Its like the little world  its the family that I kind of created for myself that would understand who I was, and it means the world.

Australias Eurovision representative Sheldon Riley. Credit:Getty Images

The 11 artists in competition at Eurovision  Australia Decides honed their performances over the course of three shows in a 24-hour period: on Friday night to an audience featuring a five-strong jury comprising artists and industry experts (including Australian pop superstar Darren Hayes and Alexandra Rotan from Norways 2019 entrants Keiino); on Saturday afternoon at a family friendly matinee show that served as a dress rehearsal; and finally at the main event on Saturday night, the only show to be televised.
Australia will look to impose direct sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while Australias top diplomat Marise Payne has left the door open to the possible expulsion of Canberra-based Russian diplomats.

Senator Payne said Putin was being targeted because he was personally responsible for the deaths and the suffering of innocent Ukrainians.

Marise Payne, Foreign Affairs Minister, speaks about Australias personal sanctions against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Credit:Steven Siewert

We have seen overnight announcements by the UK, the EU and this morning by Canada that they will sanction Vladimir Putin himself and Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov given the gravity of what they are doing and their key roles, Senator Payne said on Saturday.

There is determination to ensure that Russia faces a high cost for what is an unprovoked and unjustified attack on its neighbour.
The Morrison government has been urged to ban Russian citizens from visiting Australia, while pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian demonstrators clashed outside Sydneys Russian consulate on Saturday.

Hundreds of people also attended the Stop War in Ukraine rally at Martin Place in the Sydney CBD, as the Ukrainian Council of NSW called for NATO to put boots on the ground to repel the Russian military and an expansion of financial sanctions against Russian politicians and businesspeople.

Hundreds of people gathered in the Sydney CBD on Saturday in support of Ukraine. Credit:Steven Siewert

Heavy rain did not deter the people gathered at Martin Place, who brandished the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag and carried placards that read Stop Putin, Help us stop this war and Australians stand with Ukraine.

A series of speakers denounced Russias leader Vladimir Putin as an evil dictator and led a chant of slogans such as Ukraine will prevail, Help Ukraine Now and Russia will fall.
NIMBY residents have been accused of questionably using heritage to block developments, as the owners of the Robin Hood Hotel make a third attempt to transform the land behind the eastern suburbs pub into apartments and a retail precinct.

A laneway linking Bronte and Carrington roads, an open plaza and a three-storey apartment block with ground-floor shops would be built as part of the Charing Square development next to the heritage-listed pub in Waverley.

An artists impression of the Charing Square planning proposal for apartments and a retail precinct behind the Robin Hood Hotel in Waverley. Credit:Charing Square

The plans are opposed by residents groups and local politicians including Labor member for Coogee Marjorie ONeill, who have raised concerns about building heights and the impact on local heritage.

The planning proposal, which seeks to amend local planning rules, includes an infill development of a drive-through bottle shop and an adjacent site owned by the Whitten family, who own the Robin Hood Hotel.
Why should we care about poverty, human rights atrocities, health epidemics, environmental catastrophes, weapons proliferation or any other problems afflicting people in faraway countries when they do not, as is often the case, have any direct or immediate impact on our own security or prosperity?

Afghanistan evacuees arrive at Australias main operating base in the Middle East on August 21. Credit:ADF

Should Australians care about terrorist atrocities in the Middle East only because extreme jihadist movements seek to recruit deluded young men who may return to threaten our homeland security? Should we care about Ebola outbreaks in West Africa only because the disease might turn up here? Should we care about refugees from Afghanistan and Iran and Sri Lanka only because they might become queue-jumping asylum seekers threatening our territorial integrity by arriving by boat? Should we care about the catastrophic humanitarian risks of any nuclear weapons exchange only if radiation-cloud or nuclear-winter impacts are likely to reach Australian shores?

Isnt all this just boy-scout stuff, not the real business of national government? What has it got to do with what any country should really care aboutadvancing and protecting its national interests? My answer is that we have both a moral and a national interest imperative to be, and be seen to be, a good international citizen.

At the heart of the case for good international citizenship is simply that this is the right thing to do that states, like individuals, have a moral obligation to do the least harm, and the most good, they can do. Answers will vary, depending on ones philosophical or spiritual bent, as to what is the source of that obligation. But the striking thing is just how much convergence there is around basic principles, whether ones approach to ethics is religiously or humanistically based, and whatever the cultural tradition in which one has been brought up.
The blasts came immediately after European and US leaders agreed to cut some Russian banks out of the SWIFT global payment system, in a third sanctions package aimed at halting Russias invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions, agreed with the United States, France, Canada, Italy, Great Britain and the European Commission also include limiting the ability of Russias central bank to support the rouble. European Union President Ursula von der Leyen, in a public address, said this will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally. Vowing the bloc will stop Putin from using his war chest, von der Leyen said: Putin embarked on a path aiming to destroy Ukraine but what he is also doing, in fact, is destroying the future of his own country. A Ukrainian soldier takes a break while on patrol outside Kharkiv. Credit:AP

As she announced the latest raft of financial punishments, reports from Kyiv indicated that Russia was launching another wave of early morning air attacks on Ukraines capital. As air raid sirens blared after curfew, Russian troops closed in on Kyiv and skirmishes flared on its outskirts. Earlier, Ukraine leader Zelensky vowed to continue battling an invasion that had the countrys people seeking safety underground. We will fight for as long as needed to liberate our country, Zelensky promised on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), as he continued to press for additional international help. Fighting on the citys outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Small groups of Russian troops were reported inside Kyiv, but Britain and the US said the bulk of Russian forces were 30 kilometres from the citys centre as of Saturday afternoon (Sunday morning AEDT).

At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed and 1115 people wounded so far in Russias invasion, Interfax quoted Ukraines Health Ministry as saying. It was unclear whether the numbers comprised only civilian casualties. Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighbourhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south. Its a campaign that has so far sent hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing westwards towards the safety of the European Union, clogging major highways and railway lines. Top Russian security official and former president Dmitry Medvedev said military operations would be waged relentlessly until Putins goals were achieved, ratcheting up Moscows rhetoric. The Russian President launched what he called a special military operation on Thursday, ignoring Western warnings that any attack on Ukraine would be a breach of international law. The assault has upended Europes post-Cold War order.

Medvedev said new sanctions on Russia were a sign of the Wests impotence in the conflict and he hinted at a severing of diplomatic ties, saying it was time to padlock the embassies. Firefighters tend to a damaged residential building following Russian missile strikes in Kyiv. Credit:Bloomberg Battle lines The United States has observed more than 250 launches of Russian missiles, mostly short-range, at Ukrainian targets, a US defence official said. We know that [Russian forces] have not made the progress that they wanted to make, particularly in the north. They have been frustrated by what they have seen is a very determined resistance, the official said, without providing evidence and speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Putin has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine, but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraines government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscows Cold War-era influence. It was unclear in the fog of war how much territory Russian forces have seized. Britains Ministry of Defence said the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance. A senior US defence official said on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) that more than half of the Russian combat power that was massed along Ukraines borders had entered Ukraine, and that Russia has had to commit more fuel supply and other support units inside Ukraine than originally anticipated. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal US assessments, did not provide further details. Ukraines Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv, and Ukraine said a Russian military convoy was destroyed near the city early on Saturday. Footage showed soldiers inspecting burned-out vehicles after Ukraines 101st brigade reported destroying a column of two light vehicles, two trucks and a tank. The claim could not be verified.

Highways into Kyiv from the east were dotted with checkpoints manned by uniformed Ukrainian troops and young men in civilian clothes carrying automatic rifles. Low-flying planes patrolled the skies, though it was unclear if they were Russian or Ukrainian. In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraines coastline, which stretches from near the Black Sea port of Odesa in the west to beyond the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east. If the Russian troops succeed, Ukraine would be cut off from access to all of its sea ports, which are vital for its economy. In Mariupol, Ukrainian soldiers guarded bridges and blocked people from the shoreline amid concerns the Russian navy could launch an assault from the sea. Fighting also raged in two territories in eastern Ukraine that are controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Authorities in the city of Donetsk said hot water supplies to the city of about 900,000 were suspended because of damage to the system by Ukrainian shelling. The Kremlin said Putin had ordered troops to stop advancing on Friday, but they were moving forwards again on Saturday after Kyiv refused to negotiate.

An adviser to Zelensky denied that Kyiv had refused negotiations, but said Russia had attached unacceptable conditions. He also said it was untrue that Russia had paused troop movements on Friday. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has fostered good ties with both Russia and Ukraine, told Zelensky by phone on Saturday that Ankara was making efforts for an immediate ceasefire. We have got to have the courage Kyivs mayor Vitali Klitschko said there was currently no major Russian military presence in the capital, but that saboteur groups were active. Firefights were reported in the city on Saturday and Russian missiles were also pounding the city and its surrounds.

Loading The metro system serves now only as a shelter for citizens; trains had stopped running, Klitschko said. He said 35 people, including two children, had been wounded overnight on Friday and that he was extending an overnight curfew that kicked in at 5pm local time. We have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks. The fighting goes on, Zelensky said in a video message posted on his social media. We have the courage to defend our homeland, to defend Europe.

Ukrainians faced lengthy queues for money at cash machines and for fuel at petrol stations, where individual sales are mostly limited to 20 litres. Many shops in the city centre were closed and the streets were largely empty on Saturday afternoon. A man travels to a refreshment point run by local volunteers after crossing the border from Ukraine into Hungary, near Beregsurany. The Hungarian government has extended legal protection to those fleeing the Russian invasion. Credit:AP I was smart enough to stock up food for at least a month, said Serhiy, out for a walk before the curfew. I did not trust the politicians that this would end peacefully. Ukraine, a democratic nation of 44 million people, won independence from Moscow in 1991 and wants to join NATO and the EU, goals Russia opposes. Putin says Ukraine is an illegitimate state carved out of Russia, a view Ukrainians see as aimed at erasing their distinctive history and identity. Volunteers receive weapons and training at a Ukraine Territorial Defence depot in Kyiv. Credit:Bloomberg

Ukraine said more than 1000 Russian soldiers had been killed. Russia did not release casualty figures. Russias Defence Ministry said its forces had captured Melitopol, a city of 150,000 in south-eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials were not immediately available to comment and Britain cast doubt on the report. If confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre the Russians have seized. The city of Mariupol, a key port on the Sea of Azov in south-east Ukraine, remained under relentless shelling on Saturday, its mayor Vadim Boychenko said in a televised address. They are shelling schools, apartment blocks, he said. Moscow says it was taking care not to hit civilian sites.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close Putin ally, said on Saturday his fighters were also deployed in Ukraine. Refugees and protests About 100,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine since Thursday, Polands Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker said. Loading The most important thing is that people survive, said Katharina Asselborn, wiping away tears while waiting at the Polish border for her sister, aunt and her three children to arrive from their home in Ukraines Black Sea port of Odessa.

The last 30 kilometres to the border they went on foot. Ukrainians were also crossing the borders into Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova. Protests against the war took place from Berlin and Berne to London, Tokyo, Sydney and other cities worldwide. Im here because Im extremely ashamed for my country of birth, Valery Bragar, a Russian who is now a Swiss citizen, said at a rally in Geneva. Loading

Germany on Saturday approved the delivery of 400 anti-tank weapons from the Netherlands to Ukraine, the defence ministry in Berlin said, confirming a shift in policy after Berlin faced criticism for refusing to send weapons to Kyiv. Western nations have announced new sanctions on Russia, including blacklisting its banks and banning technology exports. They have stopped short of forcing Russia out of the SWIFT system for international bank payments, but the governor of a central bank in the euro zone said on Saturday such a decision was just a matter of time, very short time, days. In one of the first visible signs of sanctions being enforced, France seized a car cargo ship  linked to the son of a former Russian spy chief  in the English Channel. The invasion is also affecting Russias sports and cultural scene. On Saturday, Polands Football Association and its equivalent in Sweden both announced they would refuse to allow their national teams to play Russia in upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Edinburgh: Hackers are coming to Ukraines aid in an effort to target Russian government websites and officials with disruptive counter-attacks, according to six people involved in the activity.

On Ukrainian internet forums on Friday, groups of Ukrainians who worked in the countrys technology sector shared information on how to launch distributed denial of service attacks, known as DDoS, and deploy malicious software targeted at Russian military officers and government officials. Some hackers from outside Ukraine have signed up to help, too.

With cyber attacks on, and physical invasion of, their country by Russia this week, some Ukrainians are hitting back in cyber space. Credit:Getty Images

In interviews with Bloomberg News, several Ukrainians with computer expertise said they had joined a group of cyber volunteers who plan to use cyber attacks to fight back against the Russian militarys invasion of the country.

The makeshift hacker organisation was responding to a call from Ukraines government, which on Thursday asked for their help protecting the country from Russian troops, according to several of the organisers. Reuters previously reported the governments request for cyber-security assistance.
Earlier Moscow offered to hold talks with Ukraine in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, which US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said was an attempt to conduct diplomacy at the barrel of a gun. He said Russia must stop its bombing if it is serious about diplomacy. Russia had attempted to engage in a pretence of diplomacy even as it prepared to invade Ukraine this week, Price said. Members of the Ukrainian territorial defence battalion set up a machine gun in Kyiv on Friday. Credit:Getty Images Despite disagreements about where talks could take place, Ukraine authorities said they were still open to negotiating with Russia. Both sides of the conflict were in ongoing discussions, according to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian presidents office. Responding to claims from the Kremlin that Ukraine had stopped engaging in the discussions, President Volodymyr Zelenskys spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said the country remained ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace.

Russian missiles pounded Kyiv on Friday, families cowered in shelters and authorities told residents to prepare Molotov cocktails to defend Ukraines capital from an assault that the mayor said had already begun with saboteurs in the city. Ukraines presidential adviser said the country had kept control of territory attacked by Russian forces. Russias idea is to create chaos and form a temporary administration, Mykhailo Podolyak said. The most severe situation was in the cities of Kharkiv, Sumy and Yug, he added. People rest in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter in Kyiv. Credit:Emilio Morenatti/AP Junior Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said Ukraine has successfully attacked invading Russian forces, saying Russia has sustained casualties of 2800.

Loading However, Interfax news agency reported Russian forces cut off two cities - Sumy and Konotop - in north-eastern Ukraine, quoting Russias Defence Ministry. The forces have taken out 211 Ukrainian military targets, Interfax reported, citing the ministry. Some media reports say Russia also suffered losses. In Poland, which has the regions largest Ukrainian community of about 1 million people, authorities said wait times to cross the border ranged from six to 12 hours in some places. At Medyka in the south of Poland, some 85 kilometres from Lviv in western Ukraine, roads were packed with cars, police directing traffic, and people hugging loved ones after they arrived on the Polish side. An internet map site showed a third of the way congested with heavy traffic.

It is only women and children [coming through] because for men it is forbidden. We leave all our fathers, men, husbands at home and it feels like shit, said Ludmila, 30. When asked if she was worried about her husband, Ludmila broke down in tears. Loading Ukrainian rules now restrict men aged 18 to 60, who could be conscripted, from leaving. UN aid agencies say the war could drive up to 5 million people to flee abroad. They said fuel, cash and medical supplies were running low in parts of Ukraine. At least 100,000 people were already uprooted in Ukraine since Russia launched its attacks, the UN refugee agency said.

Loading Russias central bank said it was increasing the amount of cash given to banks to replenish ATMs, the regulators latest measure to try to maintain financial stability since the invasion. Demand for cash in Russia on Thursday stood at 111.3 billion roubles ($1.86 billion) and was the highest since March 2020, central bank data showed. Top European Union finance officials said the conflict would slow European economic growth this year through higher energy prices and lower business confidence to some extent trade, but the EU was ready for it. We know there will be economic costs. These costs will emerge over the coming weeks and months, the chairman of euro zone finance ministers Paschal Donohoe said, adding that finance ministers will review fiscal plans in coming weeks to make sure they can support the economy if necessary.

NATO leaders said they were deploying more troops to Eastern Europe to reinforce borders and support allies. No one should be fooled by the Russian governments barrage of lies, the 30 leaders said in a joint statement after a virtual summit chaired by Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. We are now making significant additional defensive deployments of forces to the eastern part of the alliance. NATO will deploy thousands of land, air and sea troops from its rapid-response force for the first time in defence of alliance members, Stoltenberg said.

Some of the 40,000-strong force, which has previously only been used for humanitarian missions, will be sent to NATOs eastern members to protect all allies and every inch of NATO territory, he said. Loading Stoltenberg also said the alliance would provide more military suppor, including for air defence systems to Ukraine, but that its hard to predict what are our possibilities in the future. Separately, Germany announced it would be deploying a company of troops to Slovakia, where the soldiers would build part of a new NATO battle group. Reuters, Bloomberg, AP
BYD Hits the Australian Passenger Vehicle Market With With $34K (US) ATTO 3 EV +VIDEO

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.

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.

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
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Conway, AR (72032)

Today

Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 75F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 63F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
School busses at Pinnacle High School which is located in north Phoenix, Arizona. PHS opened in 2000, and is a part of the Paradise Valley Unified School District.
Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew, of the Department of Health and Human Services, visits a new community COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Portland Expo, Monday, March 1, 2021, in Portland, Maine.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and volunteers began releasing more than 3 million trout into Pennsylvania streams this week, including a stop Friday at Opossum Lake in Lower Frankford Township.

The commissions stocking trucks will deliver about 3.2 million trout from its eight trout hatcheries to 696 streams and 128 lakes across the state in preparation for the upcoming opening of the 2022 trout fishing season. That includes 2.2 million rainbow trout, 686,000 brown trout and 293,000 brook trout.

Trout produced for stocking will again average 11 inches in length with an average weight of 0.58 pounds.

The statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day will be March 26 and the statewide Opening Day will be April 2.

Anglers must keep in mind that it is illegal to fish in lakes and streams designated as stocked trout waters from the day stocking starts, Feb. 21, until the opening minute of the regular season, unless the waters are included in the stocked trout waters open to year-round fishing program.

According to the Fish and Boat Commission, the effort put into stocking is easily returned to local economies.

Fire halls have breakfast that morning of the opening day, waterways conservation officer Mark Sweppenhiser told Fox 43 News. You have the tackle sales, you have the fuel sales, you have the hotel sales, you have the license sales. So, you have the economic boost that goes along with the opening day of trout season, and then you have the family, social aspect of trout fishing where people get together [and] share lifes events [or] share their lives in a meaningful, outdoor way.

Anglers ages 16 and older are required to have a Pennsylvania fishing license and trout permit to fish for trout. Anglers under age 16 are not required to have a fishing license. However, they must have either a Voluntary Youth Fishing License or free Mentored Youth Permit and be accompanied by a licensed adult angler to participate in mentored youth fishing opportunities.

The preseason stocking schedule below lists the waterway, date of stocking and time and meeting place. All fish to Cumberland County are coming from the Huntsdale State Fish Hatchery in Carlisle, the meeting place for many of the stockings.

Big Spring Creek: March 18, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 12, 9:30 a.m., Newville Post Office; May 12, 9:30 a.m., Newville Post Office.

Childrens Lake: March 24, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office; April 8, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

Doubling Gap Lake: March 22, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 8, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

Fuller Lake: March 23, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 8, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale.

Laurel Lake: March 23, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 8, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; May 9 and Nov. 2, 9:30 a.m., Laurel Lake.

Middle Spring Creek: March 18, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 12, 9:30 a.m., Huntsdale.

Mountain Creek: March 21, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 7, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; May 9, 9:30 a.m., Laurel Lake.

Yellow Breeches Creek: March 2, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office; March 12, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office; March 25, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; April 25, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office, April 29, 9:15 a.m., Huntsdale; May 6, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office; May 11, 9:30 a.m., Boiling Springs Post Office.

You can check out the entire Pennsylvania stocking schedule on the FishBoatPA mobile app and website www.fishandboat.com.

Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt.

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Staff Reporter

Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times.
Gov. Glenn Youngkins new education department has scrapped dozens of resources for schools aimed at promoting diversity and equity, calling them divisive and at times discriminatory.

The administration took aim at virtually every equity and diversity resource the Virginia Department of Education handed down to schools as part of its educational equity initiative, called EdEquityVA. That included an entire website dedicated to increasing cultural competency among Virginia teachers, and a suggested readings list that includes historian and MacArthur Fellow Ibram X. Kendi.

News of the decision renewed opponents criticism that the Youngkin administration is targeting efforts to address the legacy of racism in education, not simply opposing certain school lessons.

The actions of his Department of Education are cruelly tearing away every attempt at promoting equity and healing division, instead replacing those initiatives with whitewashed history and fake news, said Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, a powerful Black lawmaker.

The changes the administration announced Friday are the product of an executive order the governor signed on Jan. 15, the day he took office. It directed state education officials to audit initiatives and resources for signs of inherently divisive concepts and Critical Race Theory, an academic concept that conservatives broadly use to refer to the idea that racism is ongoing and systemic in the U.S.

Exactly what the administration classifies as a divisive concept has so far remained murky. A memo from state schools Superintendent Jillian Balow resulting from the audit issued Friday offered the clearest look at what exactly the Youngkin administration is taking aim at.

The memo describes affirmative action policies as discriminatory, suggests that historic discrimination in education may not be to blame for disparate outcomes among students of color, and rejects the idea that white people might unwittingly benefit from systemic racism and discrimination.

Numerous resources within EdEquityVA employ the concept that current discrimination is needed to address past discrimination. (Treating people differently based on skin color to remedy old/previous discrimination.), Balow wrote to defend the mothballing of the departments EdEquityVA website.

Balow said that the approach to equity from previous Gov. Ralph Northams administration did not allow room for differences or disproportionality among students of different races, and she rejected the idea that any difference in what students have or what they achieve is due to systemic racism.

Another reason for scrapping the initiative, Balow wrote, was that it was underpinned by the idea that white people benefit from racism, regardless of intentions. She said the now-defunct initiative sought to shift school culture from excellence and opportunity to equitable outcomes for all students.

Balow said the department has convened a task force to explore alternatives to the departments work on training teachers and school administrators to better serve diverse groups of students. She said the resources the previous administration issued may be divisive and need to be reviewed.

Among the divisive concepts included in the training for teachers and administrators, Balow said, was the need to redress bias in the education system, and to include culturally responsive as a metric in teacher evaluations.

Youngkin on Friday said he was encouraged by Balows work.

This is the first step in improving Virginias education system, restoring high academic expectations, equipping our future generation to be career or college ready, and providing equal opportunities for all Virginia students, he said in a statement.

Balow said in her Friday memo that the concepts the administration is hoping to extricate have become widespread.

We will need to proactively review policies, practices, and pedagogies around the state to uphold the Civil Rights Act [of 1964] and comport with Executive Order One, wrote Balow, referencing the federal law enacted to protect Black people from discrimination.

A second report from Balow on the topic is due to Youngkin in 60 days.

Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said Youngkin and Balow are engaged in a war to erase any history that might be perceived by white students or parents as forcing them to feel inferior.

But after decades of being told that I was inferior for my race, for my gender, for the way I look  and children in my community facing that same treatment  I am sincerely appalled at and fearful of what these reforms will mean for the next generation, Locke said.

House Minority Leader Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, said: What parents really want are fully funded schools and affordable child care, not race-based witch hunts designed to intimidate educators and censor our history.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, said the memo offers a look at what inherently divisive means to Youngkin: eliminating state programs aimed at promoting equity, tools that school divisions can use to ensure fair treatment and education of all students.
Batavia, NY (14020)

Today

Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High around 55F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Some passing clouds. Low 39F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
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Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Showers this morning becoming a steady light rain during the afternoon hours. High 54F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A shower or two possible this evening with partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Virginias superintendent of public instruction, doing the bidding of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, has rescinded eight racial education programs from the states public schools for being too divisive. Among the exclusions is a memo from the prior state superintendent of instruction that recommends resources for parents and teacher including an Anti-Defamation League series titled After Charlottesville: Teaching About Racism, Anti-Semitism, and White Supremacy.

Let the censorship begin.

An interim report on Youngkins first executive order that banned discussions of inherently divisive concepts including Critical Race Theory reeks of the thought police. Jillian Balow, Youngkins recently appointed superintendent of public instruction, proudly announced rescinding all the resources on a state Department of Education website called EdEquityVA. She also lowered the boom on a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Audit Tool.

If this is not creepily totalitarian enough for you, the eager-to-please Ms. Balow assures her governor that the witch hunt is far from over. The notion of trying to address racism has become widespread in the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and in Virginia school divisions, Ms. Balow warns, and we will need to proactively review policies, practices, and pedagogies around the state to uphold the Civil Rights Act and comport with Executive Order One. We must continue to ensure that no student in Virginia is taught to judge or treat others differently solely on the basis of their race, skin color, ethnicity, sex or faith.

Lets cut through the misinformation. Youngkins executive order will never comport with the Civil Rights Act. The executive order is a sop to a white political base terrified of losing its grip on power. To equate Youngkins pandering to Caucasians with landmark legislation meant to establish justice for all races insults the intelligence of Virginians. Its like calling colored schools separate but equal. We tried that once in the Old Dominion. It didnt work. Thats one big reason we have the Civil Rights Act.

Ms. Balows interim report will be updated, but it already measures the depth of Youngkins abandonment of the message of moderation voters trusted in November. Remember Youngkins campaign ad about marching to a different drummer? Who knew he was headed toward the 1950s? This left the loyal Ms. Balow, rescinding the education departments Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Audit Tool for its intolerable attempt to implement a guiding mission statement that reads Education Equity is achieved when we eliminate the predictability of student outcomes based on gender, ZIP code, ability, socioeconomic status or language spoken at home.

To understand how out of step this whole lets-not-hurt-white-folks thing is, look back to Monday. Thats when Christopher Newport Universitys Wason Center for Civic Leadership released results of a poll of registered Virginia voters. It showed that those responding supported teaching how racism continues to impact American society today. The margin was 63% to 33%30 points. In a separate answer, voters opposed a ban on teaching Critical Race Theory by a margin of 57% to 35%.

Youngkins departure from the mainstream is clear. On the other hand, the governor cant succeed himself. Now, hes widely rumored to be interested in being the Republican candidate for president in 2024. Like many of his GOP brethren with similar aspirations, he seems comfortable as a shameless ideologue.

The servile Ms. Balow helps him along, rescinding a memo by James Lane, her predecessor as superintendent of public instruction. One of the reasons is that Lane suggested reading lists [that] advance the use of [Critical Race Theory] in education.

Here is the list of books Lane recommended: White Fragility, Between the World and Me, For White Folks That Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Yall Too, No BS (Bad Stats): Black People Need People Who Believe in Black People Enough Not to Believe Every Bad Thing They Hear about Black People, and Foundations of Critical Race Theory in Education.

Now that theyre banned as teaching tools, perhaps Glenn Youngkin can burn them to heat the governors mansion.
UNION SPRINGS - Leonard L. Beers, 90, formerly of Norwich and Otego, passed away Jan. 18, 2022. A memorial graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 6, in Evergreen Cemetery in Otego. Arrangements are with Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Forest City, NC (28043)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 56F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
High School Student Stabbed, Another Detained in Mission Viejo

MISSION VIEJO, Calif.High School students were ordered to shelter in place in Mission Viejo on Feb. 25 following a stabbing that left one student hospitalized and another student in custody, authorities said.

Deputies responded to Trabuco Hills High School at 1:00 p.m. where they located the unidentified male victim involved in the stabbing, Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) spokesman Ryan Anderson told The Epoch Times.

Two male students got into a fight that escalated into a stabbing, Anderson said. After rendering medical aid, the victim was transported to a local area hospital.

The injuries are not life-threatening, Principal Alicia Foulk said in a statement sent to The Epoch Times by Saddleback Unified Valley School District, which oversees the high school.

One male suspect was taken into custody, Anderson said.

The school was initially placed on lockdown, and shifted to a shelter-in-place, where instruction continued to occur, the district said. The shelter-in-place was lifted at 3:35 p.m.

Deputies do not believe there are any more outstanding suspects, Anderson said.

The safety of our students is always our first priority. We thank our community for being patient as we worked with the OCSD to investigate the matter so that we could inform you accurately and as information became available, the district said in a statement.

An investigation by the sheriffs department is still ongoing, though the school confirmed the incident was not related to the mask mandate.
Coffino was referring to the caution that has come to define his life during the COVID-19 pandemic. After two years of mostly staying at home and avoiding people, his patience is frayed and his distress is growing.

Theres a terrible fear that Ill never get back my normal life, Coffino said, describing the feelings he tries to keep at bay. And theres an awful sense of purposelessness.

Despite recent signals that COVID-19s grip on the country may be easing, many older adults are struggling with persistent malaise, heightened by the spread of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant. Even those who adapted well initially are saying that their fortitude is waning or wearing thin.

Like younger people, theyre beset by uncertainty about what the future may bring. But added to that is an especially painful feeling that opportunities that will never come again are being squandered. Time is running out, and death is drawing ever nearer.

Folks are becoming more anxious and angry and stressed and agitated because this has gone on for so long, said Katherine Cook, chief operating officer of Monadnock Family Services in Keene, New Hampshire, which operates a community mental health center that serves older adults.

Henry Kimmel, a clinical psychologist in Sherman Oaks, California, who focuses on older adults, said, Ive never seen so many people who say theyre hopeless and have nothing to look forward to.

To be sure, older adults have cause for concern. Throughout the pandemic, theyve been at much higher risk of becoming seriously ill and dying than other age groups. Even seniors who are fully vaccinated and boosted remain vulnerable: More than two-thirds of vaccinated people hospitalized from June 2021 through September 2021 with breakthrough infections were 65 or older.

The constant stress of wondering, Am I going to be OK? and Whats the future going to look like? has been hard for Kathleen Tate, 74, a retired nurse in Mount Vernon, Washington. She has late-onset post-polio syndrome and severe osteoarthritis.

I guess I had the expectation that once we were vaccinated the world would open up again, said Tate, who lives alone. Although that happened for a while this past summer, she largely stopped going out as first the Delta and Omicron variants swept through her area. Now she said she feels a quiet desperation.

This isnt something that Tate talks about with friends, although shes hungry for human connection.

I see everybody dealing with extraordinary stresses in their lives, and I dont want to add to that by complaining or asking to be comforted, she said.

Tate described a feeling of being worn out and flatness that saps her motivation.

Its almost too much effort to reach out to people and try to pull myself out of that place, she said, admitting that shes watching too much TV and drinking too much alcohol. Its just like I want to mellow out and go numb, instead of bucking up and trying to pull myself together.

Beth Spencer, 73, a recently retired social worker who lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her 90-year-old husband, is grappling with similar feelings during this typically challenging Midwestern winter.

The weather here is gray, the sky is gray, and my psyche is gray, Spencer said. I typically am an upbeat person, but Im struggling to stay motivated.

Spencer said her husband was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure as well.

I cant sort out whether what Im going through is due to retirement or caregiver stress or COVID, she said. I find myself asking Whats the meaning of my life right now? and I dont have an answer.

Bonnie Olsen, a clinical psychologist at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine, works extensively with older adults.

At the beginning of the pandemic, many older adults hunkered down and used a lifetime of coping skills to get through this, Olsen said. Now, as people face this current surge, its as if their well of emotional reserves is being depleted.

Most at risk are older adults who are isolated and frail, who were vulnerable to depression and anxiety even before the pandemic, or who have suffered serious losses and acute grief. Watch for signs that theyre withdrawing from social contact or shutting down emotionally, according to Olsen.

When people start to avoid being in touch, then I become more worried, she said.

Fred Axelrod, 66, of Los Angeles, whos disabled because of ankylosing spondylitis, a serious form of arthritis, lost three close friends during the pandemic: Two died of cancer and one died of complications related to diabetes.

You cant go out and replace friends like that at my age, Axelrod said.

Now, the only person he talks to on a regular basis is Kimmel, his therapist.

I dont do anything. Theres nothing to do, nowhere to go, Axelrod said. Theres a lot of times I feel Im just letting the clock run out. You start thinking, How much more time do I have left?

Older adults are thinking about mortality more than ever and asking, How will we ever get out of this nightmare, Kimmel said. I tell them we all have to stay in the present moment and do our best to keep ourselves occupied and connect with other people.

Loss has been a defining feature of the pandemic for Bud Carraway, 79, of Midvale, Utah, whose wife, Virginia, died a year ago. She was a stroke survivor who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat. The couple, who met in the Marines, had been married for 55 years.

I became depressed. Anxiety kept me awake at night. I couldnt turn my mind off, Carraway said.

Those feelings and a sense of being trapped throughout the pandemic brought me pretty far down, he said.

Help came from an eight-week grief support program offered online through the University of Utah. One of the assignments was to come up with a list of strategies for cultivating well-being, which Carraway now keeps on his front door. Among the items listed: Walk the mall. Eat with friends. Do some volunteer work. Join a bowling league. Go to a movie. Check out senior centers.

Id circle them as I accomplished each one of them. I knew I had to get up and get out and live again, Carraway said. This program, it just made a world of difference.

Kathie Supiano, an associate professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing who oversees the COVID-19 grief groups, said older adults ability to bounce back from setbacks shouldnt be discounted.

This isnt their first rodeo. Many people remember polio and the AIDs epidemic, Supiano said. Theyve been through a lot and know how to put things in perspective.

Alissa Ballot, 66, realized recently that she can trust herself to find a way forward. After becoming extremely isolated early in the pandemic, Ballot moved in November 2021 from Chicago to New York. There, she found a community of new friends online at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, and her loneliness evaporated as she began attending events in person.

With Omicrons rise in December 2021, Ballot briefly became fearful that she would end up alone again. But this time, something clicked as she pondered some of her rabbis spiritual teachings.

I felt paused on a precipice looking into the unknown and suddenly I thought, So, we dont know whats going to happen next, stop worrying,' she said. And I relaxed. Now Im like, this is a blip, and Ill get through it.

Were eager to hear from readers about questions youd like answered, problems youve been having with your care and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit khn.org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.

This article was originally published on KaiserHealthNews.org
Scanning the skies from Down Under, a team of astronomers detected an enigmatic burst of radio energy unlike anything that has been seen before.

Thousands of light-years away, a distant object smaller than our sun was observed emitting pulsating radio light, which was not strange itself; what was unique about these intermittent flashes was the the unusually slow intervals between them.

Stars that Turn On and Off

Astronomers have known for a long time about objects that appear and then disappear in outer space; such phenomena are called transients.

The slow, gradual appearance of gamma ray afterglows or the events of supernovae come and then go over the course of days or monthsthese are slow transients.

An artists rendering of what the object might look like if its a magnetar. (Courtesy of ICRAR)

Other objects may flash on and off at a quick, steady clip measured in seconds or millisecondsthese fast transients include pulsars and white dwarfs.

However, this new curiosity spotted in Australia flicked off and on at previously unheard-of rhythms: emitting in regular periods one intense burst of radio energy a minute long, then turning off for around 18 minutes, and repeating.

Astrophysicist Dr. Natasha Hurley-Walker, from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, said the phenomenon is unlike anything in the known cosmos.

This object was appearing and disappearing over a few hours during our observations, she told ICRAR. That was completely unexpected. It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because theres nothing known in the sky that does that.

And its really quite close to usabout 4,000 light-years away. Its in our galactic backyard.

The Milky Way as viewed from Earth. The star icon shows the position of the mysterious repeating transient. (Courtesy of Dr. Natasha Hurley-Walker (ICRAR/Curtin)

A new view of the Milky Way from the Murchison Widefield Array, with the lowest frequencies in red, middle frequencies in green, and the highest frequencies in blue. The star icon shows the position of the mysterious repeating transient. (Courtesy of Dr. Natasha Hurley-Walker (ICRAR/Curtin) and the GLEAM Team)

It was speculated that the object was a pulsar or a white dwarf, both of which exist in the aftermath of collapsed supermassive stars. Pulsars are the smashed remnants of supermassive stars cores after going supernova. The super dense remains, composed of tightly packed neutrons, is called a neutron star and may emit light or radio waves while spinning, appearing in our sky as blinking points of lightthese are called pulsars.

White dwarfs, meanwhile, are the less dense detritus of less massive stars after they die.

The First Sighted Magnetar?

However, this new, ultra-slow interval transient, Dr. Hurley-Walker surmised, fits the profile of what astrophysicists have only posited might exist in theory: called magnetarsessentially, pulsars powered by twisted magnetic fields.

Its a type of slowly spinning neutron star that has been predicted to exist theoretically, said Dr. Hurley-Walker. But nobody expected to directly detect one like this because we didnt expect them to be so bright.

The location of the source in the sky in January 2022, marked with a large white star marker. At this time of year, it is above the horizon during the day. (Courtesy of Stellarium via ICRAR)

The new radio transient as it would have been seen at the MWA during the night in March 2018, when it was active. The source is shown with a large white star marker, but would be invisible to the naked eye. (Courtesy of Stellarium via ICRAR)

Somehow its converting magnetic energy to radio waves much more effectively than anything weve seen before.

Led by Dr. Hurley-Walker, the team came across the strange object while scanning the sky with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope in outback Western Australia.

Team member Tyrone ODoherty, an honors student at Curtin University, located the object with MWA using a new technique he developed. Its exciting that the source I identified last year has turned out to be such a peculiar object, ODoherty said.

The MWAs wide field of view and extreme sensitivity are perfect for surveying the entire sky and detecting the unexpected.

Now, Dr. Hurley-Walker and her team are waiting to see if the light switches back on. If it does, there are telescopes across the southern hemisphere and even in orbit that can point straight to it, she said.

One of 256 tiles of the MWA, located 1.5 km from the core of the telescope. The MWA is a precursor instrument to the SKA. (Courtesy of Pete Wheeler/ICRAR)

The discovery opens the door to hunt for populations of magnetars, which Dr. Hurley-Walker believes must exist. The development of an even more powerful radio telescope array, called the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), about a thousand times more powerful than the MWA, could yield many more magnetars.

More detections will tell astronomers whether this was a rare one-off event or a vast new population wed never noticed before, said Dr. Hurley-Walker.

An advantage of using such arrays, which observe with a huge field of view, is their ability to collect and store data, as the MWA has done for nearly a decade.

Being able to look back through such a massive dataset when you find an object is pretty unique in astronomy, said MWA director Professor Steven Tingay. There are, no doubt, many more gems to be discovered by the MWA and the SKA in coming years.

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
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine intensifies, local officials are asking the community to help stave off a humanitarian crisis.

The Corvallis City Council on Thursday, Feb. 24, approved a resolution supporting Ukrainian people and the city of Uzhhorod, which was chosen as Corvallis sister city in 1989, becoming official in 1992. Uzhhorod was reportedly chosen as the best possibility for such a relationship in the Soviet Union.

I thought it appropriate with the events of the last 24 hours, that the city of Corvallis stand with our sister city all the way across the world, Councilor Gabe Shepherd said, and encourage our residents to support verified charities to help with what will inevitably be a humanitarian crisis as this armed conflict escalates.

Shepherd submitted the resolution and read it before the council. There was discussion about contacting officials in Uzhhorod to see if some assistance could be offered by Corvallis, though there was some concern that such a move could draw repercussions on the Ukrainian people. The resolution was passed unanimously.

Pete Bober, a past president of the Corvallis Sister Cities Association, traveled to Ukraine yearly until the pandemic hit and is working to build a connection between Uzhhorod National University and Oregon State University, looking at opportunities for the two to collaborate. He applauded the resolution of support from Corvallis.

Weve had this relationship for almost 30 years, and its really important to let our many, many colleagues over there know that we are in support and understand how difficult the situation is for them, Bober said. Its pretty dire.

A rally to support Ukraine is planned for noon Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Benton County Courthouse.

In 1990, Corvallis Mayor Charles Vars led the first delegation to the sister city, where Vars and Uzhhorod Mayor Emil Popovich signed a Protocol of Intent to Establish Relations, according to the Corvallis Sister Cities Association.

Two years later, an Uzhhorod delegation visited Corvallis and signed a sister city agreement. A modem was delivered to Uzhhorod to facilitate communications. In the following years, the Corvallis Sister Cities Association sent delegations focused on the medical field, agriculture and the internet as well as tons of medical equipment.

The relationship blossomed with medical and official visits, youth exchanges, health program grants, and programs at Oregon State University helping Uzhhorod women study leadership and prepare for emergencies.

In 2018, Corvallis hosted Ukrainian bicyclists traveling the U.S. to raise awareness of the Russo-Ukrainian War. And in 2019, the first social entrepreneurship delegation came from Uzhhorod.

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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President Joe Biden waves as he prepares to leave Washington for Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 25, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Biden Approves $350 Million in Military Assistance for Ukraine

President Joe Biden has approved $350 million for military aid to Ukraine as Ukrainian forces battle against a Russian invasion.

Biden in a memorandum published late Feb. 25 instructed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to release the aid to Ukraine, citing the Foreign Assistance Act.

Blinken said Saturday that he was acting on the instructions.

Today, as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russias brutal and unprovoked assault, I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the president, an unprecedented third presidential drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate support to Ukraines defense, Blinken said in a statement.

The new chunk brings the total security assistance the United States has committed in the past year to Ukraine to over $1 billion.

According to the U.S. military, the assistance will include body armor and anti-tank missiles called Javelins. Were going to do everything we can to get that into the hands of the Ukrainians, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters on a call.

It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation, Blinken said.

Other countries are also sending weapons to Ukraine, including Belgium, but all have refused to send troops to help Ukraine battle against an estimated 100,000 Russian forces that have entered the neighboring country.

A soldier walks near Ukrainian vehicles blocking a street in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo)

Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict in Ukraine, Biden said in a recent speech about the situation, during which he outlined another layer of sanctions against Russian assets.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that Biden wont send U.S. troops to fight in Ukraine because he is not going to put the American public, the American people, or the United States in a position of fighting a war with Russia.

The thousands of U.S. personnel that have been deployed to Europe are going to defend our NATO Allies and reassure those allies in the east, Biden added.

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) include countries that share borders with Ukraine, including Poland and Romania. Ukraine is not a member.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Biden Friday, after which he said they discussed strengthening sanctions and concrete defense assistance. Zelensky said he was grateful for Americas strong support to Ukraine.

That was a turnaround from earlier in the day, when Zelensky said Ukraine had been left alone to defend itself against Russia.

Biden said after the call that the United States would defend every inch of NATO territory. He said he commended the brave actions of the Ukrainian people who were fighting to defend their country during the call and conveyed the various support the United States is providing.
California Bill Would Restrict Some With Criminal Records from Possessing a Gun

SAN DIEGOAssemblyman Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) Friday announced legislation intended to prevent people convicted of specified crimes from possessing a firearm in California.

State law prohibits a person convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm. It also prohibits people convicted of specified misdemeanors from possessing a firearm for 10 years after their conviction. Maienscheins Assembly Bill (AB) 2239 would expand the list of convictions that prompt a 10-year ban to include crimes such as child endangerment and elder abuse.

Allowing firearms to be placed in the hands of the wrong individuals can have disastrous effects, Maienschein said. This bill is not a permanent fix to this issue, but I am confident that AB 2239 will help California take the necessary steps in advancing protections for vulnerable individuals from violent offenders.

Maienschein announced the legislation in partnership with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliott.

I will always stand for efforts to keep San Diegans safe from gun violence, Gloria said. AB 2239 is one of many actions our partners in the legislature are considering to protect our communities. This bill will help ensure these dangerous weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.

In September, San Diego banned firearms without individual serial numbersso-called ghost gunsin the city in an attempt to address increasing gun violence. In 2020, San Diego saw a 169 percent increase in the number of ghost guns retrieved and impounded compared to the previous year.

A similar measure was passed by the county in January, as well as requiring firearms have either a trigger lock or be locked in a secure container when not in possession of a lawful gun owner. AB-2239 would continue gun regulations driven by local elected leaders.

This bill closes a significant loophole in California laws, which prohibit individuals from having guns when they are guilty of assaulting a stranger, but not when they abuse children or seniors, Elliott said. By removing guns from these households, we can protect our most vulnerable citizens from the escalating violence that occurs when abusers have unfettered access to firearms.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) 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)

CCP Has Spread Its Tentacles Throughout American Society: Lawmakers

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has urged Washington to strategically decouple from China to counter the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) vast points of pressure and influence in the U.S. political system.

Unfortunately, China and its growing economy have spread its tentacles throughout American society, to the extent that they have a vast and influential lobby in the corridors of power in Washington, Cotton said on Feb. 16.

In the interview with The Heritage Foundation think tank, the senator gave an example of the CCPs actions amid tense negotiations with the Trump administration during the U.S.China trade war. Chinas lead negotiator Liu He demanded a meeting with all major Wall Street banks before attending trade negotiations at the White House. The ask was for Wall Street to press the White House and U.S. Congress on favorable trade terms for China.

Such activities need to be called out for what they are, Cotton said.

For a Wall Street bank, a Hollywood studio, a manufacturing company whose production locates in China, or a university president who relies on tuition income from Chinese students, we need to state publicly that you [they] are, in effect, becoming a lobbyist for the Chinese Communist Party, he said.

Peter Schweizer, author of Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win, previously told The Epoch Times that people should keep in mind that the CCP has many powerful interests in the United States that would lobby on its behalf. Chinese intelligence calls the strategy elite capture, he said.

What they [CCP] have done is essentially adopted a strategy which says, Were going to co-opt the elites. If you can co-opt the elites and the decision-makers in the United States, you are effectively cutting off the head of the person youre fighting, he said.

In Schweizers view, the CCP has been very successful in Washington, Silicon Valley, and Wall Street.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence told The Epoch Times in a written statement, The CCP has effectively identified the Five Spheres of American influence: academia, professional sports, Hollywood, media, and big tech platforms, which they continuously exploit and prey on in an attempt to influence American thinking from within.

According to Fitzpatrick, other means include overt and covert manipulation of media, economic coercion, and disinformation campaigns in the United States.

Flanked by Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks about the COMPETES Act at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 4, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

China-Free Supply Chain

The passing of the America COMPETES Act of 2022, the House counterpart of the Senate U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), on Feb. 4 was an event that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) didnt want to see. In fact, it was an outcome opposite to what its letter campaign advocated.

Promoting a China-free supply chain will inevitably result in a decline in Chinas demand for U.S. products and American companies loss of market share and revenue in China, said the letter from the Chinese Embassy in Washington to U.S. companies, executives, and business groups. According to Reuters, some American businessmen also met with Chinese embassy staff who conveyed a similar message.

In addition, the letter asked the recipients to urge members of Congress to alter or drop negative China-related bills. Two of the bills named in the lettersUSICA and EAGLE Act in the House (which later got subsumed into the America COMPETES Act)share a common purpose of enhancing Americas competitiveness over China.

Albeit with differences, both the USICA and America COMPETES Act authorize $24 billion to incentive programs for semiconductor production in the United States and $1.5 billion for wireless supply chain innovation in the fiscal year 2022. The next step is for both chambers of Congress to negotiate a converged version for President Joe Biden to sign into law.

Both of the bills also authorize funding for combating Chinas information operations and provide assistance to U.S. companies diversifying their supply chains outside of China.

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it is that it is important to diversify production of goods away from China, and where possible, back to the United States, so we have a reliable industrial base, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, told The Epoch Times in a written statement.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) agreed. We have to root Communist China out of our supply chains and bring manufacturing back to the U.S., he said at the American First Policy Institutes summit on communist China on Feb. 10.
A gate of what is officially known as a vocational skills education center under construction in Dabancheng, in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Reuters/Thomas Peter/File Photo)

CCPs High-Tech Repression in Xinjiang Calls for Tougher Sanctions: Advocates

The Chinese regimes aggressive rollout of new technologies to step up its repression of Uyghurs in western China calls for new responses on the part of allied nations outraged at the human rights abuses, said panelists at a recent virtual event hosted by The Brookings Institution think tank.

Laura Rosenberger, senior director for China and Taiwan in the White House National Security Council, who visited Xinjiang in 2010, said in her introductory remarks at the Feb. 24 event that the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang cannot be ignored and must face serious consequences, and called grappling with this crisis a priority of the Biden administration.

Ive seen the extraordinary resilience of the Uyghur community in the face of repression, Rosenberger said before going on to enumerate a number of steps that the administration has taken.

President Biden has made clear that human rights and democracy are at the core of this administrations foreign policy. Specifically in Xinjiang, were working to raise the econ and reputational costs of the PRCs actions, to hold the PRC accountable and to go after its modern arsenal of repression, she said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

Rosenberger said the goal is to put sustained pressure on the CCP to end its abusive practices.

The administration has put to use an array of diplomatic and economic tools including sanctions, investment restrictions, export controls, and visa bans on CCP officials and entities, in addition to throwing its support behind the strong statements against the Uyghur genocide made recently by allies such as France.

While some of the panelists praised recent measures taken by U.S. lawmakers to counter the repression, notably the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act which became law in December banning all imports from Xinjiang, they agreed that this and other actions fall short in the face of the growing technological sophistication of Beijings repressive tactics.

New measures, they said, are needed to convey to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that such persecution is unacceptable and to ensure global supply chains do not play into the CCPs hands by rewarding firms complicit in the abuses.

The Scale of the Repression

Jewehr Ilham, an activist, writer, and project coordinator at the Worker Rights Consortium, described the Chinese regimes mass persecution of the Uyghurs as having gone on for more than a decade under the official pretext of countering terrorism, combating religious extremism, and providing vocational training and work to poor people in western China.

One of the major abuses is systematic forced labor on a massive scale targeting not only the Uyghur population but also the other Turkic and majority-Muslin peoples on the basis of religion and ethnicity, Ilham said. Theres a substantive body of evidence that the Chinese government is subjecting these peoples to state-imposed labor as part of its program of so-called poverty alleviation and vocational training.

Ilham said that at this time, between a million and 1.8 million members of the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples are subject to mass detention in internment camps, the forced sterilization of women, the separation of families, and torture, and the programs of surveillance play a critical role in all the above.

Public awareness of the extent and severity of abuses committed against the Uyghurs has grown with recent developments such as findings of an independent peoples tribunal that the CCPs treatment of the Uyghurs crosses the line into a full-blown genocide.

As a member of a family from Xinjiang, Ilham said she has direct personal experience of the reality faced by many in the region. Her father is serving a life sentence for public statements he made criticizing the CCP, and her cousin was arrested at a checkpoint on the street and forced to hand over her cell phone, on which the police found an article critical of the regime and a photo of her father, resulting in a ten-year prison sentence. Ilham said she has not seen any members of her family in person since 2017.

Ilham noted a few positive recent developments such as a reported reduction of the number of students in so-called vocational schools in Xinjiang, and the passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which she said gives cause for hope of more action on this issue in the near future. But much more needs to be done, especially in light of the growing technological savvy put to use in the campaign of repression and genocide, she said.

The Role of Technology

Digital surveillance of Uyghurs and other minorities in western China is not a totally new phenomenon, but has been increasingly common. Jessica Brandt, policy director at Brookings Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, described a mobile hacking operation that commenced in 2013.

Hackers connected to the Chinese government conducted a broad campaign to target the cell phones of Uyghur individuals, and they began using novel techniques like hiding malware in special keyboards used by the Uyghur population or embedding the malware in apps hosting Uyghur language news, Brandt said.

Having installed such components, officials were able to turn on a phones microphone remotely in order to record conversations, export photos, and obtain the locations and chat records of phones, according to Brandt. Launched in 2013, this methodology of repression has grown more widespread and sophisticated.

Today, the regime collects biometric data of Xinjiang residents through obtaining blood samples, voice prints, and iris scans, and uses DNA samples to generate face maps, Brandt said. She described growing concerns that Chinese officials will be able to feed the images generated through such new technologies into their facial recognition systems, giving them an enhanced ability to identify Uyghurs and to monitor and control the moves, actions, and words of members of this minority.

The states goals have not changed, but the methods are evolving as the technology evolves, and I think we should anticipate that thats going to continue, Brandt commented.

The Wests Response

In response, the United States has imposed trade and sometimes investment bans on a spate of Chinese AI and tech companies that aid Beijings surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

But the panelists stressed that such measures do not go far enough, and are inadequate to counter the flow and implementation of technology used to persecute Uyghurs.

Brandt pointed out that artificial intelligence firm SenseTime, the largest facial recognition startup in China which has been on a U.S. trade blacklist since October 2019, recently debuted on the Hong Kong stock market without much trouble from those who might object to how CCP officials make use of its technology.

In fact, Brandt noted, the company even assured investors in its IPO prospectus that it faced no material consequences from its December addition onto a U.S. investment ban list. This delayed the IPO for only a few days, and the company went on to draw half a billion dollars from non-U.S. investors, Brandt said. Some firms have supply chains that are simply not dependent on U.S. exports.

Even with the passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, only nine brands have come forward to announce that they are shifting manufacturing facilities from Xinjiang to other locations, and the nine firms in question do not have much staff or large sales in China, said Cathy Feingold, director of the international department at the AFL-CIO. Moreover, firms such as Nike and H&M have faced severe blowback in China when they dared to take a stand the use against forced labor in Xinjiang.

No more PR, no more empty pledges. We need a plan and we need some new tools, said Feingold.

Some panelists called for the criminalizing of behavior that facilitates repression that is currently not subject to any severe legal sanctions. This could mean taking the kind of approach instituted in response to genocides elsewhere in the world in modern times.

Feingold called for fines under the Tariff Act and sanctions under the Trafficking Victims and Protection Act for companies that abet repression and genocide. We need to be serious about having real consequences for violating the law. What we need are tools that will create real guardrails, Feingold said.

We would like to see a very aggressive strategy, a push for actual legal accountability, said Sophie Richardson, China director at advocacy group Human Rights Watch.

I want to make a distinction between the [economic] costs imposed, and actually holding Chinese government officials credibly alleged to have committed crimes against humanity legally responsible. This is what the world does in response to atrocity crimes, Richardson said.
Welcome to a special episode of China Insider!

I had the chance to speak with Tiffany Meier, host of China in Focus on NTD. We discussed two important issues in recent days in China. First, we dove into how Russia and Chinas recent summit just before the Olympic Games is bringing two powers together against the United States, and why China needs Russia. Plus, we break down what exactly is being said in the statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Then we dove into Chinas law warfareone of the three types of warfare used by Chinese military generals and taught as a doctrine of war against the West, namely the United States. This warfare involves strangling yourself with your own systembreaking down boundaries of international law and moral limits and bringing total draconian measures into action. We discuss how this is becoming a tool the Chinese regime uses to defend against sanctions and legislation that would otherwise be devastating to the Chinese Communist Party.

Join us today!

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A man and woman in front of handbags displayed at a store of luxury handbag maker Longchamp in Shanghai on Aug. 27, 2010. (Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese Companies Struggling With Their Shady Reverse-Merger Business

On Jan. 14, 2022, the French fashion company SMCP Group held a general meeting of shareholders and voted to dissolve the five-member board of directors, kicking Qiu Yafu, chairman of the board of directors of Chinas Shandong Ruyi Technology Group Co., and his daughter Qiu Chenran, off the board, and shattering Qiu Yafus dream of establishing a Chinese version of Louis Vuitton.

Qiu Yafu tried to prevent this from happening. On Oct. 28, 2021, when bond trustee Global Loan Agency Services Ltd. (GLAS) initiated the first SMCP Group shareholders meeting request, it was rejected by the board headed by Qiu.

On Nov. 30, 2021, GLAS applied for an executive order at the Paris Commercial Court in France on the grounds that Shandong Ruyi had illegally transferred the remaining SMCP shares held by Shandong Ruyi, and obtained approval to convene a general meeting of shareholders to vote on the dissolution of the board of directors. Ruyi Group tried to oppose it but was rejected by the Commercial Court of Paris, France.

In 2016, Shandong Ruyi acquired a majority stake in SMCP Group for 1.3 billion, with a shareholding ratio of up to 53 percent. However, in September 2021, Ruyi Group defaulted on its 250 million debt offered by way of equity pledge, resulting in the transfer of SMCP Groups debt to GLAS.

As recently as 2018, Qiu ambitiously told the U.S. media that Shandong Ruyi would build a Chinese version of LVMH (Louis Vitton) through acquisitions. In February of that year, he announced that he would spend 600 million to acquire a 70 percent stake in the Swiss luxury brand Bally.

However, as of December 2021, the market value of Ruyi Group had fallen to one billion yuan (about $200 million), the company owed tens of billions of dollars, and has been designated a defaulter many times.

Davy Jun Huang, an economist who now lives in the United States, told The Epoch Times: After 2012 and 2013, there was so-called overseas fever. Some Chinese businesspeople or enterprises began to go overseas one after another to acquire certain brand names. Some were buying luxury brands, and some were buying properties, airport hotels, etc.

Huang is the Chief Economist of the China Enterprise Capital Alliance (CECU) and a Trustee and Executive Director of the Research Committee of the Asian Real Estate Association (ASEA).

Raising Capital

Fueling this wave of overseas acquisitions was the so-called rise of great powers. Huang said that between 2012 and 2015, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) promoted high-profile propaganda about the rise of great powers, advocating the Chinese model goes global and encouraging enterprises to go overseas.

So, where do Chinese companies get so much capital for the acquisitions?

Their strategy is to buy shares of overseas brands at low prices, and either issue secondary bonds as collateral to obtain cash flow or repackage them and list them through capital operations and use the money raised for the next round of acquisitions.

For example, Ruyi sent the three acquired companies, Libang, Japans Rena, and Frances SMCP, to the capital market.

Another example is Ruyi staging a drastic reverse merger (a smaller, private company acquires a larger, publicly listed company) relying on short-term borrowing of 2 billion yuan ($316 million) from banks and issuing 2.5 billion yuan ($395 million) in corporate bonds and using Ruyi Group, with net assets of only 2.6 billion yuan ($411 million), to buy the LYCRA Company with a valuation of 17.9 billion yuan ($2.827 billion).

Changing Fortunes

But balloons always pop. In March 2020, more than two years after Shandong Ruyi announced the acquisition of Swiss luxury brand Bally, its promised 600 million financings were still pending, and payment for a transaction with Israeli menswear manufacturer Bagir was delayed. In April 2020, Bagir filed for bankruptcy after running out of cash.

In May 2020, Japans Rena announced its bankruptcy and delisting. In April 2021, Libang shares were suspended.

On July 3, 2020, due to the non-payment of debts owed by Shandong Ruyi Technology Group, the Wanzhou District Court of Chongqing municipality issued a consumption restriction order against Qiu Chenran, the actual controller of the group, whereby she was not allowed to carry out high consumption behaviors or consumption that was not necessary for life and work, including taking the G-head high-speed railway. Such rulings are imposed to compel debtors to maintain funds so they can pay back loans.

In September 2021, Gieves & Hawkes, a 250-year-old British luxury menswear brand owned by Ruyi Group, faced bankruptcy liquidation.

On Nov. 16, 2021, Ruyi Group was listed as a defaulter by the Taiyuan Intermediate Court, with an enforcement target of 85.996 million yuan ($13.57 million). On Oct. 28, Ruyi Group released a third-quarter performance announcement showing that from January to September of 2021, there was a net loss of 43.3 million yuan ($6.83 million).

Between 2016 and 2018, closed-loop became the mantra of some Chinese entrepreneurs. Huang said they felt good about themselves at the time, feeling that China was the main consumer of many brands. They wanted to take control of upper level brands and make money from the Chinese consumers, while also making some money from foreign consumers.

However, Their business philosophy, management ability, strategic deployment, personal standards, and management level are not up to the requirements. They just rely on constantly increasing financial leverage, constant storytelling, and constantly fooling investors. They also underestimate the time and energy required to run the brand, as well as all aspects of the level of operation [requirements], and the funds, Huang said.

Going Overseas

Ruyi Group is just one of many Chinese companies that were keen to go overseas but ultimately landed in defeat.

In 2012, Wanda Group spent $2.6 billion to acquire AMC, the worlds largest cinema chain and then successively acquired Starplex Cinemas, Carmike, Oudian Cinema Line, and other large cinema giants, which expanded the scope of AMCs operations to 15 countries.

In 2014, Ampang Insurance bought the Waldorf Astoria, a famous landmark in New York, and acquired Belgian banks, insurance companies, South Koreas Toyo Life, Allianz Insurance, and the Dutch insurance company VIVAT.

In 2016, HNA bought a 25 percent stake in Hilton Hotels Group, increasing its stake in Deutsche Bank to nearly ten percent. From 2015 to 2017, HNA Groups overseas mergers and acquisitions amounted to $50 billion.

However, at the end of 2016, the situation changed abruptly. Chinas foreign exchange reserves plummeted, falling below the $3 trillion mark, and Beijing demanded that the floor limit of $3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves be enforced, making it difficult to send funds out of China.

Huang said another reason Chinese companies have been struggling with overseas mergers and acquisitions is that the CCP has cracked down on capital flight. Since the Chinese economic crisis in 2015, it has been found that Chinas foreign exchange reserves are getting smaller and smallerand a lot of capital fled.

Government Intervention

In June 2017, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) asked major banks to begin investigating the risk level of overseas mergers and acquisitions by several companies, including HNA, Wanda Group, Anbang Insurance Group, Fosun International, and Zhejiang Rosenelli. The CCP regulatory authorities sent a message that they no longer support the irrational investment of Chinese enterprises overseas, criticizing Chinese enterprises for taking advantage of the opportunity to transfer assets, consume the countrys foreign exchange reserves, trigger panic in capital outflows, and accelerate the expectation of RMB depreciation.

In such a political environment, Wu Xiaohui, founder of Anbang, was arrested in 2017. In February 2018, Anbang was taken over by the regime and renamed Dajia Insurance Group. In September 2020, Anbang Group and Anbang Property & Casualty Insurance announced their dissolution and liquidation.

On Jan. 29, 2021, HNA Group issued a statement saying that because they could not pay off their debts on time, the relevant creditors applied to the court for a bankruptcy reorganization of HNA Group. The Chinese conglomerate eventually confirmed its debt of 1.1 trillion yuan ($173.8 billion).

On May 23, 2021, Wanda Group announced a complete withdrawal from the board of directors of AMC Corporation in the United States.

Are overseas mergers and acquisitions just a technique used by Chinas richest people to secretly transfer capital abroad?

Huang said: In fact, there are deep secrets and complicated risks in the overseas mergers and acquisitions itself, such as, should the price be this high? If one buys an airline, as in the case of Chinas HNA Group, that airline may cost $2 billion, while HNA probably paid about $1 billion. Where did all that money in the middle go? They put some of those assets into a private fund called cihang.

In July 2017, The New York Times revealed that a Chinese person named Guan Jun had transferred more than 29 percent of Chinas HNA group stake ($18 billion) to the New York-based Hainan Cihang Charity Foundation, almost equal to the sum of all U.S. companies contributions in 2016. No one knows how this young person in their 30s holds such a large stake in a private company.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Court Denies Bail For Freedom Convoy Protester Pat King

Convoy organizers have no affiliation with King, confirms lawyer

An Ontario court has denied bail for Pat King, a vocal protester who took part in the large-scale protest dubbed Freedom Convoy in downtown Ottawa in recent weeks in opposition to federal COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.

King, who was arrested in Ottawa on Feb. 18, is facing charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order, and counselling to obstruct police.

He is often referred to in the media as one of the organizers of the Freedom Convoy protest and has over 350,000 followers on his Facebook page.

However, Keith Wilson, a lawyer from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms representing the organizers, made it clear at a press conference on Feb. 6 that King is not one of the organizers.

These folks [the protest organizers] and Freedom Convoy have no affiliation with Mr. King whatsoever, Wilson stated, acknowledging that we have many people in the forums claiming to be spokespeople and representatives.

On Feb. 25, Justice of the Peace Andrew Seymour said he wasnt satisfied that King, if released, wouldnt commit offences similar to those hes accused of.

In delivering his ruling, Seymour said the evidence submitted by the Crown paints a portrait of an individual who has clear intention to continue his protest and is indifferent to the consequences.

Seymour added that King need not be in Ottawa to commit further offences as he may continue to communicate with other protesters or his vast Facebook followers.

Seymour also said he lacked confidence in Kings proposed surety, Kerry Komix, an Alberta woman who has known King for about four weeks and had come to Ottawa to be part of the convoy protest.

The justice of peace said there was some evidence that Komix may have held an organizer role in the convoy, noting her link to a convoy crypto token aimed at raising funds for protesters who stayed in the capitals core.

King was ordered not to have contact with certain other individuals associated with the convoy, including Chris Barber, Tamara Lich, and Daniel Bulford.

At the time of this writing, the Contacts page of the Freedom Convoy website provides a Statement on the Arrests of Organizers, dated Feb. 18, which lists Barber, Lich, and Bulford as three of our organizers [who] have been arrested.

Lich, who was arrested in Ottawa on Feb. 17, was denied bail on Feb. 22.

Barber, arrested on the same day as Lich, was granted bail on Feb. 19 after being charged for his role in the protest in downtown Ottawa.

Bulford, a former RCMP member working on logistics, security, and safety issues on the ground in Ottawa in support of the Freedom Convoy, was arrested on Feb. 18 and released 12 hours later with no charges.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Armed police officers deploy to remove demonstrators protesting against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2022. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images)

Doesnt Really Add Up: MPs Grill Public Safety Minister on Use of Emergencies Act

MPs grilled Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on Feb. 25 at a House committee hearing to examine the public order emergency declared by the government, with some focusing on whether the threshold had been met to call a national emergency, and others looking to find out why the Ottawa occupation lasted so long.

Addressing whether the threshold was met to invoke the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, Conservative MP and public safety critic Raquel Dancho asked Mendicino if our safety was in jeopardy with the protests in Ottawa?

Well certainly the size, scope, and scale of the illegal blockades at a number of borders and ports of entry, as well as the illegal occupation in Ottawa, met the threshold under the Emergencies Act, replied Mendicino as he testified before the House of Commons public safety committee.

Large-scale protests in Ottawa, dubbed the Freedom Convoy, along with Canada-U.S. border blockades had occurred across the country in recent weeks to demand the lifting of COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Most of the blockades were cleared before the government invoked the act, and the one in Emerson, Manitoba, dispersed on its own on Feb. 16, so Dancho focused on the Ottawa protest.

I walked to West Block for two weeks past these protests. If there was such a threat to public safety, how could you have allowed members of Parliament to walk by that protest every day?, asked Dancho.

Families join the Freedom Convoy protest in downtown Ottawa after police distributed arrest notices to truckers and their supporters occupying Wellington St. and the Parliament Hill area on Feb. 16, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times)

Insinuations

Dancho also said Mendicino had previously insinuated there were links between the protest organizers in Ottawa and several protesters arrested at the Coutts, Alberta, border who have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

So again, do you believe that there was a threat to public safety in Ottawa? asked Dancho.

Without directly addressing his own allegation about the links, Mendicino responded that those arent just my insinuations. Hundreds of charges and arrests have been carried out by law enforcement throughout the course of the illegal blockadesnot only in Ottawa, but as well as in Alberta and British Columbia.

Pressed again about the evidence of links, Mendicino said those comments related to a number of public reports.

Mendicino said organizers and leaders of the movement have publicly made statements calling for the overthrow of the government with violence and through the use of bullets.

The minister was likely referring to Pat King, who in a video posted online and supposedly dated Dec. 16, 2021, said the only way this is going to be solved is with bullets. Its unclear what this refers to in the video.

The main organizers of the Freedom Convoy had distanced themselves from King and said their movement is peaceful.

King, who was active in the Ottawa protest, was arrested on Feb. 18 and charged with mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order, and counselling to obstruct police. He was denied bail on Feb. 25.

I just dont understand how you could be saying, on one hand, theres all these strong ties and this is a national emergency for public safety, and I walked every day by these protests. It just doesnt really add up at all, repeated Dancho.

While King has expressed extreme views, the Ottawa protest was peaceful throughout, with multiple dance parties and a childrens area with bouncy castles. But Ottawa residents have also complained about noise due to constant honking and also of harassment.

Crowds of protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Existing Powers, Additional Powers

Liberal MP Taleeb Noormohamed asked Mendicino why it took so long for the federal government to intervene, and Mendicino defended his governments efforts by saying it had sent three batches of RMCP reinforcements.

Noormohamed also asked RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki why her organization did not go in there and clear everything out on the first day in Ottawa.

Lucki responded that the Ottawa Police Service is responsible for the jurisdiction and that if it needs assistance, then under Ontarios Police Services Act the first request should go to the Ontario Provincial Police.

NDP MP Alistair MacGregor pressed Mendicino on whether Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson or Ontario Premier Doug Ford had expressly requested that the federal government invoke the Emergencies Act, with both leaders having themselves declared emergencies a few days apart in their respective jurisdictions.

As Mendicino continued to avoid answering directly, MacGregor told him, With respect, Minister, I just need a yes or no please.

Mendicino never provided an answer in the end, only saying that Ottawa and Ontario had expressed challenges dealing with the existing authorities on the issue.

Police confront demonstrators protesting against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2022. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Dancho also questioned department officials on whether the existing powers would have been sufficient to handle the issue without resorting to declaration of a public order emergency.

Samantha Maislin Dickson, assistant deputy minister at Justice Canada, said the question is not whether existing laws are available but whether they are effective.

And so the determination as I understand that was made, was that the effectiveness of any statute that may have been on the books to potentially deal with it was not available at the time the declaration was issued, said Dickson.

Talal Dakalbab, assistant deputy minister at Public Safety Canada, said law enforcement was very satisfied with the additional powers granted by the act.

These included making it illegal for people to participate in a designated assembly, being able to compel the provision of services (in this case this power was used to force reluctant towing companies to remove the trucks), as well as imposing financial measures, which were used to freeze bank accounts without a court order.

The next steps in reviewing the use of the Emergencies Act will include forming a dedicated parliamentary committee and launching an inquiry into the acts declaration and the events leading up to its use.
Protesters in a truck convoy leave the Canada-U.S. border crossing after demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates for over two weeks, in Coutts, Alberta, on Feb. 15, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Edmonton Police Officers Who Joined Trucker Protest Relieved of Duty Without Pay

Two Edmonton Police Service (EPS) officers who made public statements supporting the trucker protest opposing COVID-19 mandates and restrictions have been suspended without pay.

As of Feb. 23, Constable Elena Golysheva and Staff Sergeant Rick Abbott have both been relieved of duty without pay following a preliminary internal review, said EPS spokesperson Cheryl Sheppard in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on Feb. 26.

The EPS Professional Standards Branch is continuing with an investigation under the Police Service Regulation. As such, I am not able to provide any additional information.

On Feb. 12, both Golysheva and Abbott spoke at a convoy rally near the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta., commending the truckers and their supporters for their efforts, and a video of their speeches was posted on Facebook.

Were on a little bit of thin ice, up here doing this, but so are you out there, Abbott told the crowd.

I believe that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms still stands.

Abbott, who has served with the EPS Tactical Section for over 25 years dealing with high risk incidents, said the trucks are lawfully placed.

This is my personal take. This is not my companys take, he said, before introducing Golysheva to the rally attendees.

Elena is probably going to get in a little bit of trouble for a little bit of video that she did. But I think everybody across the nation knows that the risk that she took was well worth the effort.

Golysheva posted an emotional video on Feb. 8, expressing her support for the Freedom Convoy, while also addressing the Ottawa police officers who were being put in a tight spot during the protest.

Wearing her uniform, she said in the video that it saddened her to see the freedom of Canadians eroding by the day.

My heart was being broken every day when I saw that the very freedom that I moved to Canada for has been taken away, and people, Canadians who lived here, who were born here, they were not recognizing that, she said.

She also stressed that if she is asked to follow an unlawful order, she will decide what to do based on her own discretion.

Im for freedom of choice, for freedom of conscience, for freedom of speech, for freedom of expression, for freedom of communication, she said.

Speaking at the convoy rally, Golysheva commended the protesters and how the movement inspired her.

Im here because you guys have given me so much strength, she said.

The position taken by both officers didnt sit well with EPS Chief Dale McFee, who criticized them for not following the protocol.

Thats not something we support or condone, he said at a virtual media briefing on Feb. 16.

Thats just not something thats allowed in how we actually do our police work, and we have a discipline process for that.
Florida House Approves Parental Rights in Education Bill

Restricts classroom discussion on sexual orientation, gender identity

Floridas House of Representatives on Feb. 24 approved a proposal related to parental rights in education, which, among various measures, would ban discussions in classrooms about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels or in a specified manner.

The Republican-backed measure, HB 1557 (pdf), passed with a 6947 vote, with mostly Republican support. It now moves to the state Senate for consideration. A companion bill also must be approved by the state SenateSB 1834 (pdf)before the legislation goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature.

If approved and signed into law, it will take effect in July, ahead of the 20222023 school year.

While the proposed legislation has several provisions, one that has been condemned by left-leaning entities and public figures has been the measures ban on discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in certain contexts.

The Florida bill 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 in accordance with state standards.

Little children do not have a fully developed prefrontal cortex. They dont have that ability to understand things at a certain level, Republican state Rep. Tom Fabricio said during debate ahead of the House vote.

However, state Rep. Mike Grieco, a Democrat, said the bill is an attack on LGBTQ people. He called it an anti-gay bill and told fellow lawmakers that a vote for the bill means they can never ever claim to be an ally of the LGBTQ community because they are voting to be an opponent.

The House and Senate bills have been informally referred to by some media outlets as the Dont Say Gay bills, which House Republicans say is an inaccurate term.

A lot has been written and said about HB 1557, and most of it is wrong. Here is a fact check on the inaccurate tag line Dont Say Gay,' Florida House Republicans said in a post on Twitter.

Fiction: The bill bans the word gay in classrooms. Fact: Absolutely false; this bill bans classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through 3rd grade and requires age and developmentally appropriate instruction in accordance with state standards for other grades, the fact check reads.

The White House and President Joe Biden in early February issued statements on Twitter criticizing the bill, calling it hateful.

Today, conservative politicians in Florida advanced legislation designed to attack LGBTQI+ kids. Instead of making growing up harder for young people, [POTUS] is focused on keeping schools open and supporting students mental health, the White House said on Feb. 8.

I want every member of the LGBTQI+ communityespecially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful billto know that you are loved and accepted just as you are, Biden said on Twitter on the same day. I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve.

The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Joe Harding, a Republican, told the Tampa Bay Times on Feb. 18, I want folks that oppose the bill to be really clear on what theyre actually opposing. I want them to go on record to say its OK for a 6-year-old to have one identity in school and one at home because the school encourages that kind of behavior.

Harding told Fox News prior to the House vote that the bill doesnt target LGBTQ people.

Besides barring discussions on gender and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade, the bill also creates a course of action for the parent who is dealing with a school district that has decided [it is] going to become the parent, Harding said.

The latter point is elaborated by another provision in the bill, which states that school districts may not adopt procedures or student support forms that block school district staff from notifying a parent about his or her students mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.

In addition, school district staff may not discourage or prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a students mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.

Harding noted that 13 school districts in Florida currently promote curricula that dissuade teachers from sharing with the parents of students matters related to sexual orientation or changing gender identity, and instead defer such matters to the school district.

Thats just wrong, he said.

If enacted, the bill would also allow parents to sue school districts in violation.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Majority Democrats in the Oregon Legislature have unveiled their plan to spend $400 million to ease homelessness and promote lower-cost housing, on top of a record $700 million that lawmakers approved last year.

The amount is in line with what Gov. Kate Brown proposed at the start of the session. It is split between $165 million for shelter operations, referrals and other emergency housing programs; $215 million for repairs and construction of lower-cost housing, manufactured-home parks and land acquisition, and $20 million for help for first-time home buyers.

The legislative session is scheduled to end by March 7.

Lawmakers told reporters on Thursday, Feb. 24 they are under no illusions the plan will drastically reduce the number of homeless people or dramatically increase the supply of lower-cost housing  affordable by low-income families  in the short term.

But they also said those issues are statewide, not limited to the Portland metro area.

Rep. Jason Kropf of Bend said it saddens him "to know there are people in my community going through this. But I know it is a top priority for me and this community to tackle this crisis.

Record state tax collections, plus federal support from the American Rescue Plan Act, have boosted the amount of money that lawmakers have on hand to spend.

Most of the money will come through an end-of-session budget bill  and most will go to existing programs run by local governments and community groups.

House Majority Leader Julie Fahey of Eugene, who leads the House panel, said lawmakers have to fund both emergency and long-term programs.

Our north star has to be making investments in housing programs that actually work to get people on the path out of homelessness, not just move them from one place to another or warehouse them somewhere out of sight, she said. These are local safety-net services that catch people before they become homeless and that reach out to help get people off the street and into shelter or housing.

I want to make clear these investments will not solve every problem overnight. But Oregonians have immediate needs right now.

Stable Homes for Oregon Families, a coalition that has advocated help for low-income renters and homeowners, urged lawmakers to approve the plan.

We urge swift passage of this immediate state response, the coalition said in a statement. All children deserve a roof over their head and a safe place to live. Like air to breathe and food to eat, safe shelter is a basic human need and this package will help Oregon ensure that safe shelter for more people in our community.

Immediate needs

Among proposed homelessness spending is $25 million for Oregons largest cities and counties  among them the three Portland metro counties, plus Hillsboro, Beaverton and Bend  and $50 million more for Project Turnkey. Under that program, which is run by the Oregon Community Foundation, 19 former motels have been converted into 867 units with total spending of about $75 million in the past 18 months or so. Some were created in areas hit hard, such as Southern Oregon, by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires.

We can go back and say that program was a success, Fahey said. We have prioritized investing these funds into proven programs that have shown results in getting people on that path out of homelessness.

Another $8 million will go to task forces, one for each of eight regions largely outside the Portland metro area, that will bring together local governments and community agencies to help people without permanent shelter. It is loosely based on the Joint Office of Homeless Services run by Multnomah County and the city of Portland.

Kropf is the chief sponsor of House Bill 4123, which would set up the framework for the task forces, one of which will be in Central Oregon.

The bulk of the money ($80 million) is for shelter operations, referrals, housing stability and other emergency measures.

Increasing supply

Fahey said during a recent interview that lawmakers will have more work to do in the 2023 session to help figure out ways to boost the supply of housing, which Josh Lehner, a state economist, has estimated is 111,000 units short of what Oregon needs and has not kept pace with population growth. Of that total, Lehner told lawmakers on Feb. 9, about half (54,000) is needed by families who earn half or less of the areas median income, roughly $40,000.

But Fahey said much of the $215 million proposed in the plan will go toward such housing. Among the items: $65 million to repair and preserve existing lower-cost housing so that it stays on the market; $55 million for new construction, both rentals and owner-occupied housing; $35 million for manufactured home parks; $10 million for land acquisition, and $50 million to complete unfinished projects facing difficulties.

Oregon needs to build more housing, Rep. Mark Meek of Oregon City said. As a Realtor, I know too many families struggle to make ends meet with rising rents and home prices. Its time to stop making excuses. Oregon needs to build pathways toward home ownership. Expanding home ownership means helping people of all backgrounds generate inter-generational wealth.

Based on a housing analysis yet to come from two state agencies, Fahey said, lawmakers in 2023 will confront how Oregon can increase its amount of housing.

The final $20 million in the plan is intended to boost agencies that help first-time home buyers.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive to hold a joint press conference in Kyiv, on Feb. 14, 2022. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Germany to Send Anti-Tank Weapons, Missiles to Ukraine in Major Policy Reversal

Germany will provide anti-tank weapons and surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Saturday.

The Russian attack marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to help Ukraine defend against the invading army of Putin. Thats why were supplying 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to our friends in Ukraine, he wrote in a Twitter post.

This is a major reversal of Berlins longstanding policy of banning weapon exports to battle zones.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Germanys change of stance: Keep it up, Chancellor Olaf Scholz! Anti-war coalition in action!

Berlin Saturday authorized NATO partners the Netherlands and Estonia to deliver German-made weapons to Ukraine.

The batch of weapons included 400 RPGs from the Netherlands and old GDR howitzers from Estonia.

Germany has a long-standing policy of not exporting weapons to war zones, rooted partly in its bloody 20th-century history and resulting pacifism. Countries aiming to pass on German weapons exports need to apply for approval in Berlin first.

Scholz had repeatedly referred to this policy in recent weeks when refusing to deliver weapons to Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen ride on tanks towards the front line with Russian forces in the Lugansk region of Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine is entering the third day, fighting broke out at the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv, which is regarded as the primary goal of the Russian forces.

U.S. and UK officials said the Russian forces were about 18 miles, or 30 kilometers, from the city center.

The speed of the advance has been slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance, the UKs Ministry of Defense said.

However, a Pentagon official warned the situation may change rapidly.

Its a battlefield and events on the battlefield are dynamic and they can change very, very quickly, the official said.

Smoke rises from a Russian tank destroyed by the Ukrainian forces on the side of a road in Lugansk region on Feb. 26, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images)

President Joe Biden authorized an additional $350 million in military assistance from Pentagon inventories, including anti-armor, small arms, various munitions, body armor, and related equipment. The White House also reportedly asked Congress to provide $6.4 billion in extra funds to assist Ukraine.

The UK is sending defensive military aid to Ukraine and said it trained 22,000 Ukrainian troops.

More than 100,000 Russian troops have entered Ukraine, Zelensky said in a Twitter post.

He refused to leave Kyiv, rebuffing a U.S. offer of evacuation and urging Ukrainians to fight.

We will not lay down our weapons. We will defend our country. Our weapons are our strength. This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them, Zelensky said in a video posted to social media.

A Polish border guard assists refugees from Ukraine as they arrive in Poland at the Korczowa border crossing, Poland, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo)

Ukraines Ministry of Defense urged the citizens to do whatever they can to slow down the Russians, including removing signs with numbers and names of the streets, cities, and villages in their regions.

Lets do everything possible to get rid of Russian occupiers from Ukraine as soon as possible, the ministry wrote in a Twitter post.

Reuters contributed to the report.
Russia has launched a full scale military invasion of Ukraine. The United States is sanctioning the two separatist regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, as well as Russia for their actions. Meanwhile, the Chinese communist regime is threatening to forcefully take Taiwan, and has signed a No Limits pact with Russia that declared no areas of cooperation between the two countries will be off the table. Questions now rest on how the United States and other nations will respond. According to Gordon Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China, the situation could easily spiral into a third world war, with the Chinese regime already projecting its military ambitions over Taiwan and beyond.

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A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong on Feb. 11, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Hong Kong Families Despair as COVID-19 Rules May Separate Them From Children

HONG KONGGuada, a mother of two young children and pregnant with twins, cries herself to sleep at night, worried that Hong Kongs severe COVID-19 rules will separate her from her kids or force her to give birth alone.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 in Hong Kong, including infants and children, are put into isolation facilities with no family contact allowed, as authorities enforce their dynamic zero COVID policy.

As coronavirus cases hit record daily highs, the government plans to roll out compulsory mass testing for the citys 7.4 million people in March, exacerbating separation fears among many local and expatriate families.

Imagine the stress Im having right now  scared of having to give birth alone, scared of them taking my daughters away, taking my babies away, scared that if Im positive, they are going to take me away, said Guada, an Argentinian who has lived in Hong Kong for 3.5 years and has two girls aged 3 and 5. She declined to give her last name due to the sensitivity of the situation.

Parents worries have been heightened after authorities made an infected 11-month-old isolate by herself in hospital.

In the past two weeks, authorities have reported the deaths of several children who were infected with coronavirus, the youngest another 11-month-old.

Diplomats in the global financial hub say they have repeatedly raised concerns with the government over the issue of parents being separated from children in a city with some of the worlds most stringent coronavirus measures.

In response to media questions, Hong Kongs Hospital Authority said it understands the concern of parents and carers but noted that child isolation facilities in public hospitals are seriously overloaded.

Where parents or carers were also COVID-19-positive, a hospital would try to ensure they could stay in the same ward as their infected child.

Pedestrians cross a street at Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2022. (Joyce Zhou/Reuters)

Authorities have said they are overwhelmed and cannot accommodate parents staying with infected infants as hospitals operate at maximum or over capacity with close to 10,000 new daily infections from nearly zero at the start of the year.

Parents can arrange video calls three times a day to stay in contact with their young ones, health authorities said.

For me, its very inhumane. Im very afraid. I have a daughter aged 14 months, she doesnt speak, she doesnt know how our phone works, said a university lecturer who declined to be identified.

Medical clinic Central Health said isolating infants presented a significant risk of child fatalities as parents may delay taking their children to hospital during critical periods when intervention could save lives.

Some families, particularly in the expatriate community, have decided to leave ahead of the mandatory coronavirus testing in March.

While details of the testing remain vague, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said people will not be able to isolate at home if they test positive and must go to government centers. Isolation and quarantine centers are currently at their maximum capacity with around 60,000 residents waiting at home to be admitted.

Related Coverage China Isolates Children to Control New COVID-19 Outbreak

The government is building tens of thousands of new isolation units, with the help of the Chinese regime, compounding worries families will be separated.

Hong Kong has recorded over 80,000 infections and over 400 deaths since 2020, fewer than other major cities.

Spanish expatriate Veronica, who has lived in Hong Kong for nine years and also declined to give her last name, said she was distressed about the prospect of being separated from her 3-month-old.

Im worried about leaving him alone, Im not worried about the virus, I have the vaccine. Im just worried about the situation, she said.

By Farah Master
Story at-a-Glance

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Smallpox, a highly infectious and disfiguring illness with a fatality rate around 30 percent, 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.

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.

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 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.

The Anti-Vaccination Rebellion of 1885

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.

As reported by the BBC, December 28, 2019, mere weeks before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic:

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.

A Substack user going by the moniker A Midwestern Doctor details this part of history, explaining why it matters to us today. He writes:

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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Now, we have to fight to regain that right yet again, all around the world.

Dissolving Illusions

A Midwestern Doctor 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.

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.

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.

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.

Smallpox Opposition

As it turns out, many doctors have spoken out against smallpox vaccination and published data demonstrating its dangers. For example:

In 1799, Dr. Woodville, after having administered the vaccination to many children, stated that in several instances, the cowpox has proved a very severe disease. In three or four cases out of 500, the patient has been in considerable danger, and one child actually died.

In 1809, the medical observer reported more than a dozen cases of often fatal smallpox, contracted as long as a year post-vaccination. The 1810 medical observer contained 535 cases of smallpox after vaccination (97 of which were fatal), and 150 cases of severe vaccine injuries.

An 1817 London Medical Repository Monthly Journal and Review reported that many who received the smallpox vaccination were still getting sick with smallpox.

In 1818, Thomas Brown, a surgeon of 30 years and ardent proponent of vaccination, after vaccinating 1,200 people stated: The accounts from all quarters of the world, wherever vaccination has been introduced  the cases of failures are now increased to an alarming proportion.

In 1829, The Lancet described a recent smallpox outbreak, stating: It attacked many who had had small-pox before, and often severely; almost to death; and of those who had been vaccinated, it left some alone, but fell upon great numbers.

In 1845 George Gregory M.D. reported: In the 1844 smallpox epidemic, about one-third of the vaccinated contracted a mild form of smallpox, but roughly 8 percent of those vaccinated still died, and nearly two-thirds had severe disease.

In 1829, William Cobbett, a farmer, journalist and English pamphleteer, wrote: Why, that in hundreds of instances, persons cow-poxed by JENNER HIMSELF have taken the real small-pox afterwards, and have either died from the disorder, or narrowly escaped with their lives!

An 1850 letter to the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle claimed there were more admissions to the London Small-Pox Hospital in 1844 than during the smallpox epidemic of 1781, before vaccination began, and that one-third of the deaths from smallpox were in people who had previously been vaccinated.

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. As noted by A Midwestern Doctor:

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:

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:

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, so a protest with 100,000 was just under 0.3 percent of the entire population. As of February 16, 2022, todays U.K. population is 68,471,390, 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. 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 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.

References
People wear masks as they walk in a shopping district in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on July 1, 2021. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo)

LA City Relaxes Indoor Mask Rules; County Still at High Risk: CDC

LOS ANGELESTo align with the countys mask policy, the City of Los Angeles relaxed its mask policy on Friday, Feb. 25, for businesses that require proof of vaccination to enter, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced on the same day.

This moment gives us a renewed sense of optimism about the direction of this pandemic, Garcetti said. We are able to take these steps today because of our collective determination and sacrifice, and we should take pride in that.

Taking effect immediately, the citys new health order applies to a wide variety of places, including offices, manufacturing facilities, and warehouses.

Los Angeles County allows businesses to give customers and employees an option to take off their masks indoors if everyone is fully vaccinated or can provide a recent negative COVID-19 test result.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will still be required to wear a mask in spite of a negative test result.

However, masks are still mandatory on public transportation, indoor settings at K12 schools, and in homeless shelters.

While many are celebrating this as an advance on mask freedom, it doesnt necessarily change that much because it still gives opportunities to force masking in any business setting, Dr. Houman David Hemmati told The Epoch Times.

Hemmati is a board-certified biomedical research scientist in Santa Monica who has been actively speaking out about the COVID-19 policies implemented by health officials.

His concern regarding the decisions made that have impacted the livelihood of millions is mainly the lack of science, literature, and facts, that are being citedalong with changing COVID-19 masking mandates and infection numbers.

Its a bit disheartening because they dont have any justifications for the measures theyre using to justify their policies, he said.

CDC Updates Masking Guidelines

The CDC announced its new indoor mask guidelines on Feb. 25, saying that over 70 percent of the U.S. population are ready to take off their masks.

The CDC determines whether a local county is at a low, medium, or high level of COVID-19 risk based on three criteria: hospitalization, new COVID-19 cases, and hospital capacity.

According to the CDC, only 28 percent of the U.S. population live in a county with a high level of risk and should continue to mask up indoors. In counties at the medium risk level, immunocompromised individuals should consult with their healthcare providers about whether to mask up or not, the agency suggested. For low-risk regions, the agency only recommends people to get vaccinated andwhen having symptomsget tested.

Los Angeles and San Diego counties remain at high risk while Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties stay at the medium level, according to CDCs risk level checker.

Hemmati cited the inconvenience of the entire LA County being meshed together as a high COVID-19 transmittable area when cities on the western side have lower numbers than other areas.

According to Hemmati, there have been efforts in the State Assembly pushing for local counties to apply public health policies based on different areas within a county rather than lump the entire county together as a whole.

However, the related proposals have been largely opposed, and Hemmati doesnt believe they will be heard.

When can the mask mandate be lifted in LA County?

When the state indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals expired on Feb. 15, many Southern California counties followed suit, including Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Riversidebut not Los Angeles.

LA Countys indoor mask mandate can only be removed when the transmission rate is at or below moderate levelno more than 730 new cases per day for 7 consecutive days as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

California is reassessing K12 school masking requirements, and more information will be announced on Monday, Feb. 28, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the countys public health department, said at a Feb. 24 media briefing.

Los Angeles Unified School Districtthe second-largest school district in the United Statesdropped its outdoor mask mandate for K12 students and staff on Feb. 22, almost a week after LA County ended its mask mandate outdoor K12 schools and child care centers.

On Feb. 25, Los Angeles County reported 1,105 people hospitalized with COVID-19, 2,406 new COVID-19 cases, and 68 additional deaths. The average number of new cases reported in the past seven days has dropped to 2,400 from approximately 3,800 cases the previous week, according to the county Public Health Department.
Russia-Ukraine (Feb. 26): Russia Might Confiscate Assets of US Citizens in Sanctions Escalation Threat

The latest on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Feb. 26. Click here for updates from Feb. 25.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev struck a sharply hawkish tone on Saturday in response to Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, suggesting Moscow might not just freeze, but possibly even confiscate, the assets of Americans, Europeans, and people from other unfriendly jurisdictions.

Medvedev, who served a term as Russias president and is now deputy chairman of its Security Council, said in a social media post that Western sanctions and asset freezes targeting Russia and its leaders demand a response.

Read the full story here



US and Western Allies to Remove Selected Russian Banks From SWIFT

The United States, European Union, and other Western allies announced Saturday they will cut off certain Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system, and put restrictions on the Russian Central Bank, in retaliation for Russias attack on Ukraine.

Thousands of banks as well as financial institutions around the world use the SWIFT system to settle cross-border payments. SWIFT, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is used by more than 11,000 financial institutions in over 200 countries and is regarded as crucial for financing international trade.

Read the full story here



Video Shows Ukrainian Tank Man Trying to Block Russian Military Convoy

A Ukrainian man apparently tried to block a Russian convoy of armored vehicles by stepping in front of the trucks, according to footage of the incident that has since gone viral.

The 28-second video, shared by Ukraine news agency HB, shows an unarmed man running in front of several armed vehicles advancing down a road. The encounter has drawn comparisons to the iconic tank man of Tiananmen Square.

Ukrainian rushes under enemy equipment so that the occupiers do not pass, the outlet wrote on Twitter along with the video of an unidentified man attempting to obstruct the convoy.

Read the full story here



Hungary Offers to Host Negotiations Between Ukraine and Russia

Hungarys foreign minister has offered Budapest as a possible location for negotiations between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine as Russias invasion intensifies.

Budapest can serve as a safe venue for both the Russian and Ukrainian negotiation delegations, Peter Szijjarto said in a video on Facebook late Friday, adding that he had made the proposal to both Russias and Ukraines governments, neither of which dismissed it.

I sincerely hope that an agreement can be reached within a few hours or days to start discussions; the sooner the talks begin, the sooner there will be peace and the fewer people will have to die in the war, Szijjarto said.



Russian Troops Attack Kyiv Military Base, Are Repelled: Ukraine Military

Russian troops attacked an army base in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv but the assault was repelled, the Ukrainian military said in a Facebook posting early on Saturday.

Separately, the Interfax Ukraine agency said Russian soldiers were trying to capture one of the citys electricity generating stations.



Ukrainian President Says Russian Forces Will Assault Kyiv at Night

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he believes Russian forces will attack the countrys capital of Kyiv overnight.

I have to say frankly that this night will be harder than the day, he said in a pre-recorded video from an undisclosed location.

This night, they are going to storm. All of us should understand what is awaiting us this night. We have to hold out. Ukraines destiny is being decided right now, he added.

Earlier, Kyiv residents were told by the defense ministry to make petrol bombs to repel the invaders, and on Friday evening witnesses reported hearing artillery rounds and intense gunfire from the western part of the city.

Zelensky filmed himself with aides on the streets of the capital, vowing to defend Ukraines independence.



US Imposes Sanctions on Putin, Other Russian Leaders

The United States imposed sanctions Friday on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury Department said.

We are united with our international allies and partners to ensure Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its further invasion of Ukraine, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in statement.

If necessary, we are prepared to impose further costs on Russia for its appalling behavior on the world stage, she said.

The Treasury Department also will impose full blocking sanctions on state-owned Russian Direct Investment Fund, a White House spokesperson said in a tweet on Friday.

The fund is a financial entity functioning as a sovereign wealth fund and designed to attract capital into high-growth sectors.

Read the full story here



Ukrainians Flee War, Seeking Safety Across Western Borders

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have crossed into neighboring countries to the west in search of safety. Those arriving were mostly women, children, and the elderly.

Germanys foreign minister said Friday that the European Union will take in all people fleeing Ukraine due to the current conflict.

We need to do everything to immediately take in the people who are now fleeing bombs, fleeing tanks, thats also what weve been preparing for in recent weeks, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Brussels. We will bring the people from Ukraine to safety.



Russia Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Condemning Its Attack on Ukraine

Russia vetoed a draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and to oust it from the organization on Feb. 25. Three other nations abstained from voting, while 11 voted in favor.

Russia is allowed to veto any vote at the United Nations (U.N.) as it is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. The other permanent members are the United States, UK, France, and China.

China, whose ruling communist regime was accused by the United States in recent days of giving tacit support to the invasion, abstained. The regime has likewise refused to characterize the invasion as an invasion. The move continues Beijings efforts to cultivate a public image that it is walking a middle line between the desires of Washington and Moscow.

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also abstained from the vote.

Read the full story here

Lorenz Duchamps, Tom Ozimek, Mimi Nguyen Ly, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority workers join the Los angeles Sheriff's Department in assisting homeless individuals in Malibu, Calif., on Sept. 24, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Los Angeles Concludes Homeless Count for 2022

LOS ANGELESThe annual Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count has concluded following a year-long hiatus, after officials suspended the count during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Datawhich is expected in May or Juneon how many homeless individuals are counted translates into funding from the federal government for more services and programs.

The 2022 point-in-time count, which took place Feb. 22 through Feb. 24 was a visual count, according to Los Angeles Housing Services Authority (LAHSA) spokesperson Christopher Yee.

Individuals were counted on sidewalks, tents, and cars.

A combination of LAHSA staff and volunteers participated in the count.

The way that we use volunteers is that they count the number of people they see, first and foremost, then the number of tents and the number of vehicles that look like theyre inhabited, Yee told The Epoch Times.

A woman walks past a homeless encampment in Venice, Calif., on Feb. 18, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

According to the last point-in-time count, there was about a 13 percent increase in homelessness from 2019 to 2020, with more than 66,000 homeless individuals living on the streets countywide and 41,000 in the city.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires each local homeless authority homeless hubthe central provider for each countyto conduct annual counts, which then determines funding for programs.

In 2020, HUD gave just over $150 million to the so-called Los Angeles Continuum of Care, which was $17.3 million more compared to 2019.

The continuum thats overseen by LAHSA includes all cities in LA County except Glendale, Long Beach, and Pasadena.

The data from this years count will help us understand who our unhoused neighbors are, their needs, and the programs we need to continue to build to support them getting rehoused, LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston said in a statement on Feb. 22.

Homeless encampments have become a major point of contention among residents and activists alike, especially during the pandemic as local officials rolled back city codes to permit tents to allow homeless people to shelter in place as COVID-19 spread.

Now, many are holding their breath waiting to see the numbers after the past two years, along with the virus, an economic downturn, and reports of rising crime and encampment fires.

A team with the Los Angeles Fire Department extinguishes multiple small fires set in homeless camps in Los Angeles on Jan. 20, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villaneuvawho took matters into his own hands last summer and deployed a team of deputies to clean up the Venice Boardwalk and provide services to the homelesssaid he believes this years count will reveal up to 80,000 homeless in the county.

And a forecast by the Economic Roundtable, an LA-based nonprofit research center, estimates that the countywide number could reach nearly 90,000 by the year 2023.

Over the next four years the current Pandemic Recession is projected to cause chronic homelessness to increase 49 percent in the United States, 68 percent in California and 86 percent in Los Angeles County, the report found.

The city earmarked $1 billion from its budget to address homelessness this fiscal yearfrom July 2021 through June 2022.

This comes after LA voters passed Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion bond to create 10,000 supportive housing units for the homeless within a decade.

LAs City Controller Ron Galperin released an audit on the program this week that, since its passage five years ago, the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles has grown in magnitude and severity.

Galperins report found that the cost to build housing for the homeless continues to climb, with the city spending over $800,000 in one instance of a single housing unit.

Roughly 1,200 units have been built since 2016, and over 4,000, according to Galperins audit, are in the pipeline, which Galperin called wholly inadequate.

In a December 2021 poll conducted by the Los Angeles Business Council, 94 percent of residents said that homelessness is a very serious issue, with 39 percent reporting that homelessness contributes to them feeling unsafe in their community.
A woman from Nebraska born with two uteruses due to an extremely rare condition fell pregnant with twins, one in each uterus. Complications later led to early labor at 22 weeks, and both babies were delivered.

However, tragically, one twin did not survive, but the other fought hard for life, becoming the hospitals youngest surviving baby. Now, mom Megan Phipps, 24, wants others to know that they should never give up hope that miracles do happen.

Phipps suffers from a condition called uterine didelphys, which means she was born with two uteruses and two cervixes. Only 0.1 to 0.5 percent of women are reported to share this condition.

Riley was born at 22 weeks and 4 days gestation. (Courtesy of Megan Phipps)

With my two older children I had perfect pregnancies, Phipps, of Lincoln, explained to The Epoch Times, claiming that both her children, Mia, 6, and Xander, 5, were conceived in her right uterus.

Carried almost to full term, they were both born healthy. However, with her last twin pregnancy, Phipps knew something was wrong even before she learned that she was going to have two babies.

She recalled: I was always in pain, I was always sick, I had a lot of cramping  I had a sciatic nerve that messed with my back and down my leg; if we went anywhere, I would have to be in a wheelchair.

Additionally, Phipps also needed help out of her bed since she couldnt use her back or legs until she moved them physically herself.

Reece was born at 22 weeks and 5 days gestation. (Courtesy of Megan Phipps)

Phipps, who is a stay-at-home mom, learned that she was pregnant in both her left and right uteruses after her regular OB-GYN referred her to Bryan Medical Center maternal-fetal specialist Dr. Kenny.

However, at 22 weeks, Dr. Kennys role in her life got larger.

For Phipps, June 9, 2021, started out as just a normal day until she was waylaid by cramping, fatigue, and spotting while she was out for lunch with her mother. She called her fiance, 21-year-old Dillon Martin, who drove her to Bryan Easts labor and delivery unit.

However, Phipps was sent home on bed rest. Feeling uncomfortable for the next three hours laying on the couch, she decided to try a hot bath but panicked when she passed her mucus plug. She and Martin then drove back to the hospital.

I was put into a delivery room and admitted, said Phipps. The nurse called Dr. Kenny  [and] by ultrasound, he stated the girls looked good, but my left cervix was shortening. He wasnt too worried about it, but with my condition, anything could happen.

Concerned, Phipps stayed overnight at the hospital, receiving medication on the morning of June 11 to slow the shortening of her cervix. Meanwhile, the monitor didnt pick up Phippss contractions and thus no one wanted to touch her in order to avoid making the situation worse. However, when a nurse came to check on Phipps, who told the nurse that the cramping was making her sick, the nurse checked and then told Phipps that she could feel Rileys legs basically kicking her.

At 22 weeks and 4 days, Phipps was in active labor. Neonatologist Dr. Sitzman paid her and Martin a visit to share the reality of their situation, claiming the twins had less than 20 percent chance at survival.

Megan Phipps with her daughter Reece. (Courtesy of Megan Phipps)

The parents were given their options. I told him if he could get the girls intubated, then I wanted them to have the chance of surviving, said Megan.

Within five minutes of her transfer to the NICUs delivery table, Phippss water had broken. Baby Riley was born on June 11 at 11.45 p.m. and Reece followed hot on her heels, at 1.04 a.m. on June 12. Both babies weighed under 1 pound.

After their birth, both babies were intubated, as per Phippss wish, and were placed on an oscillator to help them breathe through the crucial first 48 hours. Tragically, Riley lost her fight for life on day 12.

The hospital staff presented the grieving parents with a pink bear with Rileys exact weight when she died. (Courtesy of Megan Phipps)

The grief-stricken parents then channeled everything they had left into fighting for their surviving daughter.

I tried to not get attached, Phipps recalled. If anything happened to her, I wanted to be prepared for it, and for it to hurt less. But it didnt work  I was by her side and too scared to leave the hospital, that something would happen if I did.

Watching her grow was something words couldnt even describe. Its unheard of; most 22-weekers dont survive. The doctors and nurses who worked with Reece were just as amazed as I was.

Neonatologist Dr. Mark Brisso told Good Morning America that Reece, the youngest baby born at Bryan East to survive, signified another step forward for our NICU to know that we can care for and successfully discharge even the smallest and most immature infant.

After 144 days in the NICU, baby Reece was finally discharged on Nov. 2, weighing a healthy 8 pounds. However, she had a setback 21 days later; refusing to eat, she was admitted to the NICU at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha to be fitted with an NG feeding tube.

At 7 months old by her birth date, and 3 months old by her due date, Reece is acting and developing as if shes a 3-month-old baby, said Phipps, but is expected to catch up to her peers by the age of 2.

Megan Phipps and her fiance, Dillon Martin, with Reece. (Courtesy of Megan Phipps)

Reece still uses oxygen, but her care team expects she will grow out of her chronic lung disease, which owes to premature lungs. A semi-permanent feeding tube known as a G-button now helps her receive food directly into her stomach.

She has oral aversion, Phipps told The Epoch Times; too many bad experiences with tubes being down her throat that she doesnt like anything in her mouth. We are currently working on getting her feeding therapy to help when she starts eating baby food.

Im proud of Reece, she reflected. I went there with two babies, and ended up leaving with one. Its unfair; I cry all the time about Riley, but Im so happy that I have this beautiful little miracle that I got to bring home with me.

Reece with her older siblings. (Courtesy of Megan Phipps)

She added: I fought for my girls, and mothers should do anything they can to fight for their babies  it may be a long road, but theres always light at the end of the tunnel.

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NATO Secretary General Warns Russia of Article 5 Counter Attack

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, has warned Russia that if Moscows attack against Ukraine spills over into other European nations who are member states of NATO, it will force the intergovernmental military alliance to take counteraction.

For NATO Allies, we provide the absolute security guarantees under the Washington Treaty Article 5. An attack on one will be regarded as an attack on all, Stoltenberg said in a Feb. 25 press conference.

And we are clear on this distinction because it is important to make sure that we dont have an even bigger crisis in Europe where Russia challenge, or is threatening, or attacking any NATO allied country.

Cyber attacks on NATO nations can also trigger Article 5, Stoltenberg stated. NATO is presently focused on strengthening our cyber defenses and providing support to Ukraine, he added.

In addition to military attacks, Ukraine has also been hit with cyberattacks from Russia. On Feb. 23, the websites of several government departments and Ukrainian banks became inaccessible. Multiple Ukrainian organizations were hit with a new wiper attack that deleted data on infected machines.

One of the primary aims of NATO, when it was founded in 1949, was to create a pact of mutual assistance to counter the potential risk posed by the Soviet Union. According to Article 5, if any NATO ally becomes a victim of an armed attack, every member state of the alliance will combine and engage in actions to assist the victim against the aggressor.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security, according to Article 5.

Article 5 can only be invoked if Russia directly attacks any NATO member. As Ukraine is not a NATO member, the organization cannot take action. Ukraine has applied for NATO membership but is yet to be approved. Russia has vehemently opposed Ukraine joining NATO and had made it a condition for withdrawing troops from the Ukrainian border before the war.

At present, NATO has decided to make significant additional defensive deployment of its troops to Europes eastern nations who are part of the organization, a joint statement by 30 leaders of NATO said on Feb. 25. They blamed Moscow for its barrage of lies, insisting that their commitment to Article 5 is iron-clad.

In the UK, James Heappey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, said that the country plans to deploy armed forces to Estonia earlier than planned. The UK has put 1,000 troop members on standby to support countries like Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania as they deal with refugees from Ukraine. Heappey also warned against any meeting between NATO and Russian troops.

We must all in this house be clear that British and NATO troops should not, must not, play an active role in Ukraine, Heappey said in the British parliament. We must all be clear what the risk of miscalculation could be and how existential that could very quickly become if people miscalculate and things escalate unnecessarily.
New Hampshire Family Courts Likened to the Mafia

New Hampshire, the Live Free or Die state where residents from surrounding states flock to take advantage of tax-free shopping, has long lived in the national spotlight as the first state in the presidential primaries.

But court reform advocates here say the New England state is deserving of another spotlight, one that casts a negative light on a family court system they say is plagued with a chronic and disturbing lack of priorities when it comes to domestic abuse.

Wendy Murphy, a Boston attorney and former prosecutor who has been involved in domestic violence reform around the country, told The Epoch Times that she would rank New Hampshire as having one of the worst track records on the treatment of domestic violence and child abuse cases.

In my experience it certainly tops the list, Murphy, also a law professor at New England Law and author of the book And Justice For Some, told The Epoch Times.

The Alabama of New England

Murphy likened some of its operations to the mafia, noting that she has seen a high volume of cases in which New Hampshire judges were operating outside the law and threatened non-abusive parents with loss of custody of their children if they challenged their rulings.

Others like Anna Carrigan, a recent whistleblower of the Department of Health and Human Services, called New Hampshire the Alabama of New England and said that in state cases she has seen a rampant problem of predetermined outcomes by judges in child and abuse neglect cases.

She added that very often the outcome is either against the protective parent or puts an already abused child at further risk.

Carrigan is a licensed social worker who founded New Road Project, a nonprofit advocacy organization for court reform in New Hampshire, after her 2020 whistleblowing case involving an allegation she made against the agencys child protection armNH Children Youth and Family Services (DCYF).

According to Carrigan, New Hampshire has the lowest substantiation rate of child abuse and neglect cases than any state child protection agency in the United States.

Kathy Jones, a court advocate for victims of domestic abuse in New Hampshire for the past 24 years, told The Epoch Times she had come to the conclusion the family courts were more dangerous than the very crimes they were supposed to be protecting against.

Heavy Workload

In also likening the NH family courts to the mafia, Republican lawmaker and former gubernatorial candidate Max Abramson told The Epoch Times that he tried for more than a decade to get reform measures in place.

But said he had been unable to get past the gates of an old boy networkmade up of lawyers, therapists, and even nonprofit groups he said were drawing fat paychecks from court appointments handed out by family court judges.

Keeping it corrupt, Abramson said, keeps the money flowing.

The DCYF did not respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment. The New Hampshire judicial court administration acknowledged requests for comments from The Epoch Times but never responded further.

In February, Richard Head, Director of Government Affairs for the NH Judicial Branch, testified against all of them, telling the House Child and Family Law Committee that compared to the family courts heavy caseload, judges most of the time get it right.

Head told the committee there are only 47 full-time judges in New Hampshire tasked with handling 125,000 cases.

There are currently several pending bipartisan court reform bills in New Hampshire.

One of them calls for an amendment to the state constitution that allows NH residents to recall a bad judge. Another targets a court rule adopted only for the New Hampshire Family Division that allows family judges to exempt themselves from all of court rules including rules of evidence.

I dont even see how thats constitutional, House Republican Betty Gay, the bills main sponsor, told The Epoch Times.

Stabbed Repeatedly

On March 1 a review committee made up of judges and others who work in the states court system, is slated to release a report on ways to improve how a family court judge handles domestic violence and custody cases.

Gov. Chris Sununu ordered the committee formed following a series of recent national headline stories born out of the states family court systemincluding the case of family court Judge Julie Introcaso who was allowed to avoid jail time for tampering with documents in a private custody matter.

Introcaso admitted in the case that she took actions that financially benefited her best friend who she appointed as the childs guardian ad litem in the case. When her case became public, many parents came forward with their own experiences of corruption by Introcaso.

Instead of settling the case, Abramson told The Epoch Times that the state should have begun an investigation into all of Introcasos cases.

I think it says a lot about the states attitude towards claims of corruption by its family court judges, he said.

Soon after the Introcaso case became public, a Bow woman was stabbed repeatedly by her ex-boyfriend in November 2021, after a family court judge released him on personal recognizance following a previous violent attack on the woman.

Two weeks earlier, Lindsay Smith was shot multiple times in the head by her ex-boyfriend less than a month after Judge Polly Hall denied her petition for a restraining order against him.

On her request for protection, 33-year old Lindsay Smith alleged her boyfriend Richard Lorman made violent sexual threats against her and made statements including Im going to [expletive] you up and I will make you pay.

In Immediate Danger

Hall denied the petition concluding Lorman didnt pose a clear and present danger to Smith.

Murphy said she was outraged by the committees finding and wrote an op-ed piece blasting Judge Hall that ran in the Boston Herald.

What would possess any judge, much less a woman, to deny a victim of domestic violence a restraining order, especially when the abuser doesnt even come to court? Murphy wrote.

Destinie Berard was also outraged by Halls decision, but for different reasons.

In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, Berard shared court records that showed Hall, the same judge in Smiths case, granted Berards ex-boyfriend a five-year restraining order against her, for non-threatening text messages and social media posts on her own Facebook page.

Records from the case show that Berards ex, a Massachusetts cop, wrote on his initial application for a restraining order against her that he wasnt not in physical fear of Berard, but rather that he was annoyed.

Unlike Smith who wrote Lorman had recently arranged his guns in front of her, and that she felt she was in immediate danger and worried he would soon resort to violence against her.

Its discriminatory, unrighteous, dishonorable, and unforgivable that [Lindsay] had to show explicit and degrading photos of her abused bodyonly to be told the state of New Hampshire would not protect her safety, Berard told The Epoch Times.

Seems like judges are making it up as they go along.

What caused such a fateful decision?

There is also the tragic case of 7-year-old Harmony Montgomery, who was supposed to be under the watchful eye of the DCYF.

Instead in December 2021, New Hampshire police announced they had learned the agency had no record of her whereabouts for the past two years and that she was still missing.

Before she disappeared from New Hampshires radar, Montgomery was the subject of a custody dispute in Massachusetts where a family court judge granted full custody to her father despite his long criminal history and ties to drug dealing.

When the information surfaced, Gov. Sununu issued a two-page letter blasting the Massachusetts judge asking, Why would a Massachusetts court choose to place custody of Harmony with this horrible individual? and What caused such a fateful decision?

When Annemarie Weisman read Sununus letter, she told The Epoch Times her first reaction was you have got to be kidding me.

Weisman, now a business owner in South Carolina, said about six years ago she found herself asking the very same questions when a New Hampshire family court judge issued a secret order granting full custody of her then 12-year-old daughter to her father, despite documented evidence he had violently abused her.

Court records from the case show that a police officer in the private custody case told the judge it was the worst case of child abuse he had ever seen.

New Hampshires officials are in denial of the real problem, said Weisman, corrupt judges.

Immunity for Judges

Weisman was never found to be an unfit parent. Instead, the judge decided that she was alienating her daughter from her father because she had brought up his history of abuse.

Jones, a former trainer with the DCYF who recently founded a witness support group called Mother Jones Network, told The Epoch Time, she has been involved in hundreds of cases like Weismans in New Hampshire in which judges have made similar untried claims against parents with favorable outcomes for parents accused of domestic violence or child abuse.

The issue even prompted one mother, now a professor at Southern New Hampshire University, to write a 246-page dissertation entitled Structural Violence in the New Hampshire Family Court System: An Autoethnographic Exploration by Ann Marie Moynihan.

In it, Moynihan described judges as more interested in control than the law and creating more conflict than closing cases.

The current family law system sets the stage for more conflict that emerges as additional disputes in need of resolution, Moynihan wrote in her 2018 dissertation.

Carrigan, Gay, Jones, Murphy, Abramson, and others told The Epoch Times that the ultimate problem is that judges have absolute immunity and are, therefore, free to ignore the law.

Abramson has in the past proposed an amendment to the NH constitution to eliminate immunity for family court judges.

He would also like to see an inspector general established in each of the states executive council districts that would conduct independent reviews of questionable family court decisions.

Carrigan would like to see an ethics board put in place for social workersmuch like the state conduct committee for judgesnot just to increase better protection for domestic abuse victims, she said, but also to stop the agency from abusing its authority.

Shot Six Times in Back of Head

The agency recently issued an ex-parte order to take a teenage son after his father, a leader of a popular conservative organization in New Hampshire, gave him Ivermectin. The Epoch Times did a story on the case last month. Since that time, a family court judge has placed the father J. R. Hoell under a gag order.

Murphy, however, says history in New Hampshire shows that all the recommendations in the world are not making much difference in how judges conduct themselves.

In 2013, following the tragic shooting of 9-year-old Joshua Savyon by his father Muni Savyon during a supervised visit ordered by a family court judge, a review committeemuch like the current task forcewas established to review safety procedures at parent visitation centers.

Court documents show Savyon had threatened his son multiple times before he shot him six times in the back of the head at the YWCA in Manchester.

After reviewing the circumstances surrounding Savyons death the committee issued a series of recommended changes. Topping its list was a mandate that judges would only order supervised visits at facilities with metal detectors in any cases involving alleged abuse or threats.

Despite the mandates, court records show, family court judges continued to order supervised visitations at a fee-based privately-run visitation center in Dover, New Hampshire, that admits it has no metal detector.

The judges order supervised visits at the center even though there is a free county-run parenting center with a metal detector and staffed by law enforcement located within the same building as the family court.

The facility is owned by a divorce attorney and a woman who receives frequent court appointments by the family court judge as guardian ad litem in private custody cases.

In a recent Google review of the center, parent Krystle Humphreys wrote that staff told her they do not have to follow the states Supervised Visitation Policies and Procedures, the policy that was set by the committee following Joshuas death.

It made me uncomfortable leaving my child with them, Humphreys wrote.
The Google logo is seen outside the Google Germany offices in Berlin on Aug. 31, 2021. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Online Publishers Are Ditching Google

Multiple leading online publishers look to ditch Alphabet Inc.s Googles Accelerated Mobile Pages program to optimize readers mobile-browsing experience, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Media executives admitted that dropping AMP would give them more control over their page designs and ad formats, and make it easier to sell ad space in auctions, ultimately boosting competition and prices for their ad space.

Companies including Vox Media LLC., BuzzFeed Inc.s Complex Networks, and Bustle parent BDG have started testing or are considering using their versions of mobile-optimized article pages instead of building them using the Accelerated Mobile Pages framework.

The Washington Post abandoned AMP in 2021 summer.

Multiple state attorneys filed an antitrust lawsuit against Googles AMP pages, making it more difficult for ad space auction on platforms other than Googles ad exchange.

By Anusuya Lahiri

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Difficult starts in life only brought one pair of South African orphan animalsof two different speciescloser together.

A newborn baby rhino, named Daisy, was rescued in early December from a known poaching area at Kruger National Park and brought to Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary. She was found close to death, with her umbilical cord still attached.

Daisy was brought to intensive care at the sanctuary upon her arrival on Dec. 9, 2021. After a few weeks of receiving care from sanctuary staff, she regained her health and was able to walk again.

It took two solid months of extreme dedication and commitment to pull this little one through, one carer told The Epoch Times. December and Christmas certainly did not happen for the team at Care for Wild but we got the best gift! Daisy is doing well!

A few weeks prior to Daisys arrival, a baby zebra named Modjadji was brought in from a terrible storm to the sanctuary and nursed back to health. By the time the zebra foal became accustomed to the rhino orphanage, she was happy to welcome Daisy to come out and play with her.

As they both gain in strength, they are becoming increasingly more mischievous! shared a staff member at the rhino sanctuary.

One of the creatures favorite ways to play is to go looking for food together. Since they are still so young, they drink a lot of milk. They can be found heading to the kitchen when staff are preparing their meal.

The rhino sanctuary posted on their Instagram page some videos and photos of the two iconic African creatures spending time together as friends. The green pastures and soft straw beds in the happy pictures show that they are in good hands.

Their caretakers noted that Daisy and Modjadji are gentle creatures at heart.

They are both incredibly sweet and kind animals with so much empathy towards one another, a staff member told The Epoch Times. Modjadji is protective of Daisy. She is playful and cheeky. Modjadji is definitely the one to plan mischief and Daisy follows!

(Courtesy of Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary)

They both survived devastating circumstances early in life. The goodwill at the Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary helped nurture them back to health, while the friendship between the unlikely pair definitely aided in their recovery journey.

Daisy and Modjadji are happy, safe, and on their way to living a good life, free from poachers and predators, thanks to the caring staff at the sanctuary.

Rhino poaching is big business in South Africa, and its predicted that in less than 10 years, rhinos could become extinct. The Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary is educating the world about this, raising awareness on the importance of preserving this endangered species.

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Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, speaks during a panel discussion at the 2022 Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2022. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)

Pandemic Lessons Learned: Omicron Versus Bill Gates

Commentary

At the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 18, Bill Gates was asked to assess where we are at in beating the pandemic. He replied: Sadly, the virus itself, particularly the variant called Omicron, is a type of vaccine. That is, it creates both B-cell and T-cell immunity.

Maybe Mr. Gates read my Jan. 5 opinion piece, Omicron May Help End the Pandemic This Winter? Im glad he agrees with me that Omicron is like an effective vaccine that is helping end the pandemic.

As a veteran vaccine scientist who spearheaded a vaccine project in 2003 against the original SARS, I was quite confident projecting where Omicron would lead the pandemic, given its characteristics after it emerged late last year. But knowing that the worlds most famous influencer looks at it the same way is quite satisfying.

But why did Mr. Gates say sadly?

I have to admit that I wrote my article with mixed emotions. On one hand, I was delighted because I knew that after two long years, Omicron could provide a way out of the pandemic. On the other, it was still relatively virulent and many people could die as it swept through the world.

Maybe Mr. Gates, whose foundation funded the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world, was sad because of any deaths that occurred?

It doesnt appear so, as he continued, [Omicron] has done a better job getting out to the world population than we have with vaccines.  That means the chance of severe diseasewhich is mainly associated with being elderly and having obesity or diabetesthose risks are now dramatically reduced because of that infection exposure.

Since reduced risk is good for humanity and something to be desired, what is there to be sad about? Was Gates sad because Omicron beat the vaccines in generating protective immunity, thereby preventing the ability of COVID to spreadmeaning there would be no need for any future COVID vaccines?

If vaccines achieve sterilizing immunity, great. If not, and instead naturally occurring Omicron brings an end to the pandemic, equally great.

Its not a competition, its whatever gets the job donethat is, unless you value the success of vaccines more than ending the pandemic.

Vaccines, Vaccines, and More Vaccines

I shouldnt be surprised, however, as I have been hearing the same song for the past two years.

Syringes used for COVID-19 vaccination are seen at a vaccination centre in Rome, Italy, on Jan. 10, 2022. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

Almost from the beginning of the pandemic, we were told that the only way out was via vaccination. Vaccines were rapidly developed and the emergency use of them was pushed out. There were vaccine drives and clinics, and before long boosters became part of the scenario. Then came vaccine mandates, even for people who had acquired natural immunity, followed by vaccination of children.

Meanwhile, the silencing of any negative information about vaccines, including vaccine safety, continued.

Now Gates is looking ahead to the next pandemic and even faster vaccine development and rollout: Next time, we should try and make itinstead of two years we should make it more like six months.  It took us a lot a longer this time than it should have, he said at the Munich conference.

All along it has been all about vaccines, and less about the disease. As a former vaccine scientist, I should be happy that vaccines have taken the center stage in the world. But I am not, as I am clear that vaccines are not the goalthey are merely the means to help humanity overcome the pandemic.

The means should never become the goal.

When it turned out that vaccination failed to defeat COVID and it was instead conquered by Omicron, Mr. Gates found it sad. Humans missed a great opportunity to show that we are the true masters of the world.

Human Struggles Against Nature

Human history is a history of survival in harsh, natural conditions. Some in their efforts to survive discovered how to live in peace and harmony with nature, while others who fought and won regarded themselves as triumphant against nature. Mao Zedong famously said, It is so rewarding (with endless joy) to fight against heaven, against earth, and against people.

According to Mao and his comrades, when dealing with natural disasters, humans must win, and win decisively, through cleverness and persistence. It would not be a complete win if humans got help from nature, which would instead bring shame to all involved.

When I grew up in communist China I believed that, guided by Maos teachings, science and technological advancement could provide solutions for all the problems humanity could possibly face.

From a young age I idolized scientists, so I studied very hard and scored third in my province among some 100,000 high school graduates in Chinas brutally competitive National College Entrance Examinations. I was then accepted in 1983 by the inaugural Department of Genetics and Genetic Engineering at Fudan University, freshly established by the geneticist Dr. C.C. Tan, a protege of Nobel Prize laureate Thomas Morgan who discovered the role chromosomes play in heredity.

A group of male and female coal miners recite paragraphs of Mao Zedongs Little Red Book as they mark Maos Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in Li Se Yuan mine on Sept. 6, 1968. (Xinhua/AFP via Getty Images)

As a young man brainwashed by the doctrine of communism, I dreamt of engineering genes to solve all the worlds problems, such as diseases, food shortages, environmental disasters, etc. I thought that since nature caused so much trouble for humans, it was up to geneticists like myself to change nature by engineering the genes of all creatures to be exactly what we humans would like them to be.

Call it arrogance, naivete, or stupidity, that was what I believed, as did millions of other young people in communist China at that time.

Engineered Babies

In November 2018, when Chinese scientist He Jiankui announced he had created the worlds first genetically edited babies Lulu and Nana, I realized that this crazy scientist could have been me if Id stayed in China. Now Lulu and Nana are 5 years old and have their whole lives ahead of them. I cant imagine how they will cope knowing that they were engineered.

Communism coupled with advanced technology has created types of human beings that have never existed on Earth before. Besides us regular humans who have existed for thousands of years, there are now people like He Jiankui, with his God-like powers to engineer human beings, and there are the engineered people like Lulu and Nana.

Chaos will be the new norm if things like genetic engineering or nuclear technology are not tightly regulated.

Gain-of-Function Research

There was debate in the United States in 2014 about lab research that increases the virulence, ease of spread, or host range of dangerous pathogenswhat is known as gain-of-function (GOF) research. The debate was triggered by the creation of a chimeric coronavirus, providing a bat coronavirus with an additional function of infecting humans (sounds familiar, but this is different from SARS-CoV-2 as we know it). Many scientists argued that GOF research was too risky. As a result, it was banned in the United States in October 2014.

However, such research continued in other countries, especially in China. If you can engineer babies, you can engineer viruses.

Did GOF research have anything to do with the origin of SARS-CoV-2, which claimed 5 million lives worldwide? We do not yet have a definite answer. If it did, it might just have reached a new height of scientific achievement. I am sure Mr. Gates would be sad again if this were proven true, despite the scientific achievement.

Scientific research must be guided by the highest moral principles and with enough scrutiny to avoid human-wrought catastrophes, such as from nuclear technology or genetic engineering.

Man and Nature as One Body

Living in Canada, free of any governmental pressure, I was able to reflect on my personal world view and make changes based on my own conscience. It was actually after I came to Canada that I found my roots in traditional Chinese culture. The idea that man and nature are one harmonious body, as ancient Chinese believed, makes more sense than the fighting mentality the communist system taught me. I have learned to appreciate nature and accept whatever it has in store for me.

When outbreaks of infectious diseases occur, we should find ways to cope with them, as humans have done for thousands of years. Today, we have advanced technologies to better navigate the situation, as well as vaccines and therapeutics. But we should also try meditation and other holistic approaches to improve our immune system and seek harmony with our surroundings.

It seems that Mr. Gates and many others of his ilk have not yet found peace with nature. Using their money and power, they want to achieve a complete win in a war against nature.

My advice to Mr. Gates, for a better approach, is that humans work in tandem with nature and find harmony with nature. Do not pick fights with nature. We may win a fight here and there, but we will never win in a war against nature. Omicron has played a decisive part in assisting human efforts to end the pandemic, so be grateful, thank Mother Nature for the gift, and happily move on.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Parents Sue City, LAPD for Sons Fatal Stabbing by Homeless Man

LOS ANGELESThe parents of a man stabbed to death in 2021 by a homeless man in Beverly Grove sued the city and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on Feb. 24, alleging the city and the department were already aware of a growing homeless problem in the area and downplayed the concerns of multiple neighbors who called 911 to report the disturbing behavior of the victims killer.

Gabriel Donnay, 31, was stabbed to death about 4:35 p.m. in the back yard of his home in the 6600 block of Maryland Drive on March 29. The coroners office identified the suspect as Enoch Conners, 33, and reported that he himself was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted knife wound to the neck in the 5500 block of West Fifth Street, about a block from the crime scene.

Mr. Conners was one of many homeless people in the area exhibiting signs of mental illness, seemingly living in squalor out of his car and regularly burglarizing properties in the neighborhood, the suit states.

Instead of addressing the concerns of neighbors who called 911 about Conners, the LAPD not only failed to protect residents, but in fact exacerbated the situation and contributed to the danger itself, according to the suit, which further alleges that officers contacted Conners twice during earlier encounters that day and released him.

The plaintiffs in the Los Angeles Superior Court suit are Donnays 63-year-old father, Albert Donnay, and mother, 65-year-old Yvonne Lynn Ottaviano, both of Maryland. They allege wrongful death and civil rights violations and seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

A representative for the City Attorneys Office could not be immediately reached for comment.

The day of Donnays death, LAPD officers responded to four separate 911 emergency calls, all from residents who said Conners was causing terrifying disturbances throughout the neighborhood by trespassing and looking completely disheveled, the suit states.

The LAPD conducted a superficial search of one property only in response to the 911 calls and told residents their neighborhood was secured, the suit states.

But about five minutes later, Conners, who had broken into Donnays home, chased the victim down the stairs and into the back yard, where Conners stabbed Donnay to death, the suit states.

The chase and killing of Donnay was witnessed by the victims roommate, Aaron Kirkbride, according to the suit.

Mr. Kirkbride yelled at Mr. Conners to leave the residence, whereupon Mr. Conners leaped over a fence and out of their yard, the suit states.

Kirkbride called for paramedics and tried to revive Donnay with CPR, the suit states.

To Mr. Kirkbrides dismay, it was already too late, the suit states. Mr. Kirkbride cradled Mr. Donnay as he died from his wounds.

In addition to the numerous 911 emergency calls, several neighbors emailed City Councilman Paul Koretz about the problems with homeless people in the area, the suit states.

Mr. Karetz assured the Beverly Grove residents he would send out Los Angeles Housing Services Authority to improve the life-threatening conditions [but] no improvements took place, the suit alleges.
Food and other necessities donated to truckers are left beside trucks parked in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 6, 2022. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times)

Real Concern of Emergencies Act Is Governments Control Over Canadians Life Savings: Legal Expert

A law professor says the real concern with the Emergencies Act lies not only in the measures used during the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, but also in the financial measures that give the government control over peoples life savings.

What you have now is a government that has deputized financial institutions to essentially go into their customers accounts and make their own judgments, in their discretion, about whether or not those accounts should be frozen, without a court order and with a free hand, Bruce Pardy from Queens University told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program on Feb. 22.

Bruce Pardy, law professor (Courtesy of Bruce Pardy)

Thats not the way banking should work in a free and democratic country.

Pardys comment was made a day before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revoked the Emergencies Act, and a day after a majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted along party lines on the use of the act, with the Liberals and NDP voting to pass the motion to confirm the declaration of emergency.

Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 in response to the protests in recent weeks against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions by truckers and their supporters in Ottawa and across the country.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks during a news conference announcing that the Emergencies Act will be invoked to deal with protests, in Ottawa on Feb. 14, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Joining Trudeau at a press conference that day, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that the financial measures under the act will give banks and other financial service providers the power to freeze the accounts of individuals and corporations involved in the Freedom Convoy movement without a court order.

In doing so, [the financial institutions] will be protected against civil liability for actions taken in good faith, Freeland said.

Pardy said the federal governments actions undermine the rule of law and civil liberties.

This is the suspension of certain liberties in the country, including control over your bank account, said the law professor, who is also executive director of Rights Probe, an organization that seeks to defend individual rights and the rule of law and inform and assist people to resist government coercion and mob rule.

Pardy added that uncertainty remains around the overreach by the Liberal government. This is particularly so after the RCMP stated on Feb. 21 that only influencers in the protest and vehicle owners and drivers who had refused to leave the protest area had their relevant information provided to financial institutions, while also noting that it remains the responsibility of the financial institutions to make the decision of freezing accounts.

However, there are lots of reports of people who say exactly that they did give 100 bucks and that their bank account is frozen, he said.

Police face off with demonstrators in Ottawa on Feb. 19, 2022. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Martial Law

Pardy noted that the use of the Emergencies Act against protesters and their supporters was similar to the application of martial law.

On the ground, its been used as an excuse, basically, to prohibit people entering into an area of downtown Ottawa, or if youre already there, to check and see why youre there, and where you live, and where youre going and so on, he said.

So if youre in that territory, it must seem very much like martial law.

Pardy added that the proclamation issued by the government on Feb. 15 declaring a public order emergency suggested that the authority given to law enforcement to secure and block off an area was not limited to downtown Ottawa.

In fact, theyve gone out of their way to suggest it applies to the whole country with respect to this kind of activity, he said.

The proclamation states that the emergency measures can be taken to regulate or prohibit any public assemblyother than lawful advocacy, protest or dissentthat may reasonably be expected to lead to a breach of the peace, or the travel to, from or within any specified area.

So the question remains, to what extent are you now allowed to protest? Pardy asked.

He said the Ottawa protests did impact residents in terms of noise nuisance and parking, for example, but pointed to already existing rules and laws covering those situations.

If you park your rig on a street and dont move it, and the effect is that you are double-parked and you block the street, then you are probably violating parking laws, and maybe [Ontarios] Highway Traffic Act rules, no doubt, he said.

There was also an application for an injunction to stop the coordinated honking taking place, and after it was granted by the courts, the honking came to an end, Pardy noted.

The question still remains though, is the protesting unlawful? he added.

Crowds of protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in downtown Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)

Lets say you come to Ottawa and youre standing on the sidewalk, youre waving a Canadian flag, and youre protesting for that position [of repealing the vaccine mandates]. Is that an illegal protest? Surely not, he said.

Strict Criteria

As to whether invocation of the Emergencies Act was warranted, Pardy said the federal government didnt meet the strict criteria required by the act to deem the movement a national emergency.

He said there was no violence at all by the protesters, and so there was actually no danger to lives, health, or safety.

The act defines a national emergency as an urgent and critical situation of a temporary nature that (a) 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, or (b) seriously threatens the ability of the Government of Canada to preserve the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Canada, and that cannot be effectively dealt with under any other law of Canada.

Pardy pointed out that the protest actions outside Ottawa, such as blockades at several CanadaU.S. borders, were resolved by the provinces and regular police forces. So it suggests that the provinces did have the capacity to deal with these problems, he said.

And these problems were also resolved before the invocation of the Emergencies Act, and therefore it looked like they could have been resolved under other laws of Canada that existed.

On Feb. 23, Trudeau revoked the act, saying it is no longer required because the situation is no longer an emergency.

Pardy likened the COVID-19 phenomenon to a progressive phenomenon in which the ideology dictates that the collective comes first and the government is the one that shall lead us through.

We have a premise that experts and officials and politicians are there to tell us what to do and how to keep ourselves safe and how to keep our neighbours safe. And they are the ones who are knowledgeable and have the expertise, and to challenge them is to challenge science itself, he said.

In other words, How dare you challenge vaccine mandates. We have told you theyre necessary.

Pardy said though Canadians are known for doing what theyre told, pushing them too far will reap different outcomes.

If you push some Canadians far enough, they will eventually say No, youve gone too far now. We actually dont agree with this, and we dont want this anymore, he said.

In my opinion, thats the real threat to the established powers.

Isaac Teo Follow Isaac Teo is an Epoch Times reporter based in Toronto.
Not long before the pandemic hit, someone reported me to the police. I wasnt selling drugs or stealing a car or making too much noise in the middle of the night. I wasnt even breaking the law. My only crime was to stroll through an American neighborhood where walking is not the done thing.

People here drive everywhere, the policeman told me. Walking sets off alarm bells.

A joke, right? Wrong. In a world in thrall to cars, walking is often seen as deviant behavior.

I grew up in a Canadian city where people would drive rather than walk 10 minutes. My earliest memory of walking to high school was hearing some guy hanging out the passenger side of his friends ride, hollering at me, Get a car, loser!

In many cultures, landing your first set of wheels is a rite of passage, a passport to adulthood. Driving can certainly boost your dating odds. Remember that famous line from Grease: Tell me more, tell me more, like does he have a car?

Small wonder the World Health Organization described walking as a forgotten art.

To make matters worse, when we do walk, its often with a very modern blend of impatience, distraction, and goal-hunting. We use apps to count our steps. We curse anyone daring to dawdle in our path. We spend much of the time staring down at our smartphones. All over the world, distracted pedestrians get hurt walking into lamp-posts, fire hydrants, or other distracted pedestrians.

Brick Lane, a hipster haven in London, came up with a novel way to curb walk-and-text injuries: wrap local lampposts in foam padding.

The truth is, we need to walk morefor our health and for the sake of the planet. But we also need to walk better.

The French have a wonderful word: flanerie. It means strolling without any goal in mind beyond exploring, observing, and savoring. Its the opposite of power walking.

When you channel your inner flaneur (or flaneuse), you notice flowers and trees, clouds in the sky and hills on the horizon, how the light dances on water or across the windows of a building. You hear birdsong and the laughter of strangers. You take pleasure in what others are wearing and doing. Walking like a flaneur is a balm for the mind and the spirit.

In the 19th century, Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, used his daily constitutional to silence the chatter in his head. I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it, he once said.

Shakespeare was on the same page. In The Tempest, Prospero says, A turn or two Ill walk, to still my beating mind.

Walking can even be part of a path to enlightenment. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master, says that a mindful stroll can bring spiritual clarity and heal both the walker and the world.

Ambling also fires up the imagination. Thats why big thinkers, from Aristotle to Virginia Woolf, have hailed the creative power of a good walk. William Wordsworth composed much of his poetry while wandering lonely as a cloud through the English countryside.

All truly great thoughts, said Nietzsche, are conceived while walking.

Nikola Tesla agreed. The inventor of the induction motor had his eureka moment while perambulating in Budapest. The idea came like a flash of lightning, he later recalled. In an instant, the truth was revealed.

A silver lining of the pandemic is that walking is making a comeback. With normal life on pause, people everywhere have embraced it as a way to exercise, unwind, or just get out of the house. I now take a long stroll every day in my corner of London. My route winds along Victorian streets and through three parks.

And I walk it in full flaneur mode. No rush. No Fitbit. No music. No phone. Just meandering for the sheer joy of it.

The other day, as I sauntered past a pond in the park, a question popped into my head: Has the pandemic finally made flanerie permissible in that neighborhood where someone dialed 911 after seeing me on foot? I emailed a local to find out.

Youd fit right in here now, came the reply. Im looking out my window, and everybodys out there strolling around like they have all the time in the world.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping walk as they attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State in Bishkek on June 14, 2019. (Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia, China Plotting Behind the Scenes Ahead of Ukraine Invasion: Congressman

Moscow and Beijing have been keeping each other abreast of their plans in the leadup to the Ukraine attack, according to two lawmakers.

I think they have coordinated and I think that China is in a better position letting Russia go first, to evaluate, Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) told EpochTVs China Insider program at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 25.

By watching the worlds reaction on Ukraine, China is trying to gauge its next steps on Taiwan, the self-ruled island that the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own territory and long planned to bring under its control, by force if necessary.

China has designs on Taiwan, said the lawmaker during an interview in Orlando, Florida. And they want to see if the world imposes real sanctions on Russia, and how much it hurts Russian, and what really the willpower is to stop an aggressive nation from gaining further territory.

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) held a similar view.

He made a particular note of Russian leader Vladimir Putins meeting with Chinas Xi Jinping at the Beijing Olympics opening day three weeks ago, which ended with the two countries forming a no limits partnership.

Theyve been plotting behind the scenes, he told NTD, an affiliate of The Epoch Times, at the CPAC event.

Ukraine was one subject discussed during in-depth discussions between the two nations foreign ministers, which took place a day prior to the Xi-Putin meeting. From the Kremlin readout, Moscow also reaffirms its support for Beijings claim that Taiwan is part of China.

Related Coverage Chinese State Media Accidentally Releases Censorship Rules on RussiaUkraine Coverage

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese foreign ministry has been peppered with questions about whether Xi had prior knowledge about the plan and even gave Putin his blessing, but its officials had avoided making a direct answer.

Russia is an independent major country, spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters on Thursday.

She accused the reporter of having rich imagination when asked if the timing of the assault, only days after the Beijing Olympics concluded, was coincidental.

Distraction

The intensifying Ukraine crisis is a boon for Beijing, Buck said. A military conflict would shift the U.S. attention away from its rivalry with China, handing Beijing an opportunity to exploit.

If the United States starts pouring troops into Europe to defend Europe and do our part as a NATO partner, we are not going to be able to do what we want to do or need to do in the Pacific, said Buck.

It serves as a distraction, he added.

In Chinas view, it serves as a way of siphoning off resources that can be used in other areas, the congressman said. China is most interested in making sure that this is prolonged, and that Russia continues to maintain a threat to the Baltics, Poland, to Hungary, to other countries in Europe.

A group of Slavic people living in Taiwan display placards to protest against Russias military invasion of Ukraine, in Taipei on Feb. 25, 2022. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing has so far refrained from directly labeling Russias attack on Ukraine as an invasion, but at the same time has maintained that it respects all countries sovereignty and territorial integrity, an oblique reference to its insistence that Taiwan is part of China.

While the United States is not ready to engage in a ground war with Russia over Ukraine, the stakes are different when it comes to Taiwan, said Buck.

The will to defend Taiwan is greater than the will to defend Ukraine, he said.

The idea that China and the way they have cheated trade relationships, the way they have stolen intellectual property, the way they have made themselves a military power in recent years, and have tried to affect shipping lanes that are necessary for trade, is different, he said.

Taiwan sits in a position that could impact our ability to trade with Japan, with Korea and other neighbors, he added. And to really embolden China to interfere with strategic trading partners  I dont think the United States wants that to happen.

According to a January poll by the Trafalgar Group, an overwhelming majority of Americans are against sending troops or military equipment to Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion. Only 15 percent of those polled believed that the United States should provide troops, while 30 percent believed it should provide weapons and other supplies only.

Taiwan soldiers stand next to the domestically produced corvette class vessel Tuo Chiang (R) during a drill at the northern city of Keelung, Taiwan on Jan. 7, 2022. (SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)

By contrast, 58 percent of those polled believed that U.S. military assets should be used to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by mainland China.

To deter China from following Russias steps requires stronger action by the United States, both lawmakers said.

Its absolutely critical that they [Beijing] realize if they attack [Taiwan] that will end up in serious military confrontation with the United States, Chabot said, in calling Washington to change its long standing policy of strategic ambiguity, in which the United States remains deliberate vague on whether itd come to Taiwans defense in the event of a Chinese invasion.

China is not being at all helpful, Chabot added. But thats not unexpected because the two chief rivals on the globe right now  the worst of the bad actors are Putin and XiRussia and China.

David Zhang contributed to this report.
Former Russian President and current Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev speaks at a meeting in Moscow, Russia, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Yekaterina Shtukina/Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP)

Russia Might Confiscate Assets of US Citizens in Sanctions Escalation Threat

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev struck a sharply hawkish tone on Saturday in response to Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, suggesting Moscow might not just freeze, but possibly even confiscate, the assets of Americans, Europeans, and people from other unfriendly jurisdictions.

Medvedev, who served a term as Russias president and is now deputy chairman of its Security Council, struck a defiant tone in a post on social media, saying that Western sanctions and asset freezes targeting Russia and its leaders demand a response.

But while he said Western sanctions and asset freezes must be answered quite symmetrically, his remarks suggest Russian authorities might be mulling an escalation. Medvedev called for an asset freeze and maybe an outright confiscation by the Russian state of property of individuals in Russia who are registered in what he described as unfriendly jurisdictions.

Medvedev explicitly pointed the finger at the United States, European Union member states, and a number of sing-along states of the Anglo-Saxon world.

Russias state-controlled Tass news agency signal-boosted Medvedevs remarks, framing them as an explicit warning that Russia might nationalize the assets of U.S. and EU citizens in response to sanctions.

Asset freezes under international sanctions regimens are measures that prevent the use, movement, or transfer of these assets, but not their confiscation, or transfer of ownership. Medvedevs remarks suggest Moscow is mulling an outright confiscation by the Russian state, or nationalization, of the target assets.

Spurred to action by Russias large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western leaders have pressed ahead with a raft of tough sanctions this week, including targeting Russian banks and restricting the countrys ability to raise capital in international markets.

While debate continues on further punishing Russia for its assault on Ukraine by ejecting it from the SWIFT global interbank payments system, a number of countries and jurisdictions, including the United States, have imposed asset freezes on Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of Russias Security Council.

In his remarks, Medvedev also said that the sanctions offer the Kremlin an opportunity to completely review its ties with the West, suggesting that Russia could opt out of the New START nuclear arms control treaty that caps U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals.

Medvedev also raised the prospect of severing diplomatic ties with Western countries, arguing that there is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations and suggesting a reversion to a Cold War type of standoff.

We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights, he warned.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 25, 2019. (Sergei Chirikov/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia Pursued Deeper Military Relations in Latin America Days Before Ukraine Invasion

SANTA CRUZ, BoliviaDuring recent official visits to Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov spoke of deepening economic and military ties with the respective socialist and communist governments of its allies in the Americas.

Russias chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, also visited Cuba on Feb. 23and Nicaragua on Feb. 24making it Russias second official diplomatic meeting with anti-U.S. regimes in Latin America in a week.

Volodins state visit occurred within hours of Russias attack on Ukraine.

Some experts believe a new Cold War-era stage has been set in the Western Hemisphere, and Latin America political analyst Fernando Menendez said, Thats exactly what they want us to think.

He noted that it makes sense to get Russias allies in the U.S.s backyard on the same page diplomatically and militarily, especially given the full-scale invasion Russia launched on Ukraine.

Chairman of Russias State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin (C) in Moscow on Dec. 1, 2016. (Dmitry Astakhov/Sputnik via AP)

After the Feb. 23 meeting in Cuba, Volodin said the island nations communist regime supports Russias position on Ukraine.

He also mentioned that Cuba emphasized that no state should ensure its own security at the expense of the security of other states. Cuba is ready to defend this point of view together with Russia in the international arena.

Borisovs visit to Venezuela on Feb. 16 focused on military and economic objectives. After the meeting, President Nicolas Maduro said Russia and Venezuela were on the path of powerful military cooperation.

The Russian deputy prime minister reinforced the message during a visit with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega in Managua, Nicaragua, on Feb. 17.

For more than 40 years, we have been providing technological and military support to your army and we are going to continue offering our support, Borisov told Ortega.

Ortega quickly voiced support for Russia in Ukraine during the audience with Borisov, saying the [2014 Revolution of Dignity] coup in Ukraine shouldnt be forgotten, comparing it to the widespread protests against his government in Nicaragua over changes to the national pension system in 2018.

Borisov also visited the Cuban communist regimes president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, on Feb. 18. to reaffirm ties between their nations. Officials in the former Castro regime were quick to condemn what they called unfair sanctions imposed on Russia and affirmed their support for Moscow in Ukraine.

This isnt the first time in recent years that Russia discussed or even executed a military build-up with sympathetic regimes in the region, which sits on the periphery of the United States.

During the clash over Russian-backed separatists in Georgia in 2008, the administration of President Vladimir Putin sent Tu-160 nuclear-capable bombers to Venezuela, followed by four warships.

In 2013, Russia sent Tu-160 bombers back to the region as tensions mounted with the United States and the European Union over Russias support of separatist movements in Ukraine. Putins administration shipped over bombers again in 2018.

While the stockpiling of Russian military assets in Venezuela has caught the eye of Washington, a similar initiative has been underway in Nicaragua. In 2015, the Nicaraguan National Assembly voted to allow Russian warships to dock in the nations ports.

Its a signal. Russia wants the United States to know theyre in the neighborhood, Menendez said.

He also explained that, unlike China, there are limits as to how far Russia can extend its military presence in the Western Hemisphere because of limited economic resources. This has become even more prevalent now that Putin has committed to invading Ukraine.

Just how much they can devote to these regimes remains to be seen, Menendez said.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment to The Epoch Times.
Russia Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution Condemning Its Attack on Ukraine; 3 Nations, Including China, Abstain

Russia vetoed a draft resolution of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and to oust it from the organization on Feb. 25. Three other nations abstained from voting, while 11 voted in favor.

Russia is allowed to veto any vote at the United Nations (U.N.) as it is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. The other permanent members are the United States, UK, France, and China.

China, whose ruling communist regime was accused by the United States in recent days of giving tacit support to the invasion, abstained. The regime has likewise refused to characterize the invasion as an invasion. The move continues Beijings efforts to cultivate a public image that it is walking a middle line between the desires of Washington and Moscow.

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also abstained from the vote.

Indias abstention was contentious as the nation has been cultivating a security partnership with the United States, but also has close ties with Russia including a long history of arms deals, the most recent of which was in December.

Indian media reported shortly before the vote that Russia expected India to vote against the measure.

The UAE, likewise, is considering a deal to jointly produce stealth fighter aircraft with Russia after a similar deal with the United States fell through.

The resolutions veto means that its proponents may call for a vote on a similar measure before the entire U.N. General Assembly, where no vetoes exist.

There is currently no timetable for when such a vote will take place.

Article 23 of the U.N. Charter prohibits permanent security council members from being ejected from the organization. The resolution condemning Russia called for the article to be amended so that Russia could be removed from the council.

The next vote, while unlikely to succeed, is likely to be seen as something of a litmus test for political support of future actions against Russia, including sanctions.
Hunter Biden attends his father Joe Biden's inauguration as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters)

Secret Service Unable to Locate Multiple Years of Hunter Biden Travel Records

The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) says it cant locate years of records on communications regarding agents guarding Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden.

Hunter Biden was a Secret Service protectee from Jan. 29, 2009, to July 8, 2014, and traveled extensively during that time, including to Russia, China, and India, a congressional investigation found.

As part of the probe, which is ongoing, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) have sought records from the Secret Service in the lawmakers roles as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, respectively.

The Secret Service provided 261 heavily redacted pages (pdf) concerning Hunter Bidens travel, but didnt provide any records from 2010, 2011, or 2013.

The USSSs lack of communications during these years raises questions given that USSS travel records show that Hunter Biden made trips to China and other destinations around the world, including, Russia, Italy, Spain, and Mexico, Grassley and Johnson wrote in a letter to USSS Director James Murray in January.

Murray responded in a letter dated Feb. 14 that was obtained by The Epoch Times.

He said a search for the records did not yield communications for the years 2010, 2011, or 2013.

The USSS and an attorney for Hunter Biden didnt respond to requests for comment.

Murray said the Secret Service and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, remain committed to working with Congress to meet its oversight responsibilities and be responsive to requests for information.

Chris Farrell, director of investigations and research for Judicial Watch, told The Epoch Times that its highly improbable that the USSS lost the records in question.

I would not be surprised if there was political pressure on the service to withhold the records because it would be politically damaging to President Biden, Farrell said.

Judicial Watch, one of the most prolific record-seeking nonprofits, has also sought Hunter Bidens travel records from the Secret Service and obtained some of them through a Freedom of Information Act request. Those records showed the countries and territories that he visited while under the agencys protection.

The records the senators and Judicial Watch are now seeking would likely shed more light on the younger Bidens actions during that period of time, according to Farrell.

Both Judicial Watch and Sens. Grassley and Johnson say that Hunter Biden leveraged his fathers position as vice president to benefit himself personally, even conducting business while on trips with his father.

Past performance doesnt always guarantee exact reproduction or the same details, but I think its reasonable, given the pattern and practice, that we would see more of the samelots of instances where Hunter was traveling with his father and essentially leveraging his fathers position as vice president for his own personal business benefit, Farrell said.

Judicial Watch could file a lawsuit over the records.

Hunter Biden, whos currently being investigated by a U.S. prosecutor, and Joe Biden have denied any wrongdoing.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters in late 2021 that she wouldnt answer questions about Hunter Biden because hes not an employee of the federal government.
L-R: Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, Ahn Cheol-soo, presidential candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, Sim Sang-jung, presidential candidate of the Justice Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol, presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, pose for a photo before a televised debate for the upcoming March 9 presidential election in Seoul on Feb. 21, 2022. (Heo Ran/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

South Koreas Conservative Presidential Candidate Widens Lead Over Ruling Party Candidate in Popularity Polls

Recent poll numbers favor candidate seeking closer ties with the US over China

With South Koreas presidential election just a week away, the countrys approach toward the U.S.-China rivalry has become the center topic for debate. Poll numbers in the final days appear to favor the conservative candidate seeking to enhance ties with the United States.

The 2022 South Korean presidential election is scheduled for Mar. 9. The four candidates are Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition Peoples Party, and Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party.

The two leading candidates are Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-youl, as the two other candidates do not have enough support at this time to clinch the top role.

L  Yoon Seok-yeol of the main opposition conservative People Power Party, delivers a speech on Nov. 5, 2021, in Seoul after winning the party nomination.

R  Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party speaks during the final race to choose their presidential candidate on Oct. 10, 2021, in Seoul. (The Epoch Times edited image via Getty Images)

On the issue of foreign policy, Lee underlined that South Korea should continue to develop a strategic cooperative partnership with China due to the countrys high-level dependence on trade, while Yoon committed to further strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

A recent poll put Yoon at 42.4 percent, ahead of Lees 36.9 percent, widening the once narrow gap between the two leading candidates, The Korea Times reported on Feb. 21, citing South Korean pollster Hankook Research. However, the 5.5 percentage gap still falls within the surveys margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points for each candidate.

The other two candidates, Ahn Cheol-soo and Sim Sang-jung, received 7.1 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

Another survey by South Korean pollster Realmeter put Yoons approval rating at 42.9 percent, and Lees at 38.7 percent, a 4.2 percent difference, Yonhap News Agency reported on Feb. 20.

In terms of party support, the conservative People Power Party (PPP) received 38.8 percent approval, and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) received 37.1 percent. Meanwhile, the minor opposition Peoples Party and the progressive Justice Party received 7.5 percent and 3.6 percent support respectively.

A recent Gallup Korea poll showed that Yoon and Lee receive relatively evenly support among those in their 30s, 40s, and those over 60. Yet, in the age group 18-29, Yoon received 32 percent support while Lee received 20 percent, according to a Yonhap report on Feb. 18.

Only a week ago, the approval ratings of the leading candidates, Lee and Yoon, were at a stalemate, with only 0.5 to 2.5 percent differences in various polls and within the margins of error, Yonhap reported. However, recent polls have shown the widening gap in favor of Yoon, likely due to his U.S.-friendly policy stance and growing anti-Beijing sentiment among South Koreans.

Projected Turnout at Historic High

More than 80 percent of voters said they would vote on March 9, potentially the highest turnout in a decade, according to South Koreas National Election Commission.

In a recent survey conducted by Gallup Korea at the request of the National Election Commission, 83 percent of respondentsamong 1,510 voters aged 18 and above across the countrysaid they will definitely vote, the highest expected level of turnout since South Koreas 18th presidential election in 2012.

Among those over the age of 70, 90.7 percent said they would definitely vote; for those in their 60s, 89.8 percent said would definitely vote; for those in their 50s, 87.2 percent said would definitely vote; for those in their 40s, 81.7 percent said would definitely vote; for those in their 30s, 84.1 percent said would definitely vote; and for those aged 18 to 29, 66.4 percent they would definitely vote.

A Hankyoreh report on Feb. 16 analyzed the core constituents of the two major parties, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP).

According to the report, the PPP placed its decisive bid on voters in their 20s and 30s and even set up a youth lobby to encourage youth to vote.

Meanwhile, the DP is also actively developing strategies to boost turnout among its core constituentsvoters in their 40s and 50s.

A core member of the DPs Election Policy Committee told Hankyoreh that voters between ages 35 and 60 are its target constituents while the party is also working on canvassing voters in their 20s and 30s.

Scandals and Controversies

Despite the fierce campaigning, Lee and Yoons popularity have generally hovered around 30 to 40 percent since winning their party candidacy in late 2021, remaining at a stalemate. Their stagnant approvals are likely due to family scandals and controversies.

In December 2021, both candidates were busy fighting off scandals and accusations from at each other instead of focusing on policy debates and plans for the future.

On Dec. 16, Lee admitted that his 29-year-old son had engaged in illegal gambling through a press release. And later that day, more allegations pointed to Lees son visiting a massage parlor suspected of sex trafficking, which Lee denied.

Ruling Democratic Party presidential candidate for the 2022 election Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press briefing in Seoul on November 10, 2021. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

Prior to the scandals, Lee faced heavy criticism for defending a nephew who brutally killed two women and later downplayed his case. Lee, who held a law license, apologized after the Supreme Court of South Korea upheld a life sentence for his nephew in 2007.

Amid the scandals and accusations against his political rival, Yoon, the conservative candidate, had to apologize for the controversy surrounding his wifes inaccurate resume. Yoons wife was accused of falsifying parts of her resume when applying for jobs at top Korean universities in 2007 and 2013.

Yoon Seok-Youl, the presidential candidate of People Power Party, speaks during a press briefing in Seoul on November 12, 2021. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

At the time, neither of the candidates seemed to be offering South Koreans a clear vision for the countrys future, resulting in their stagnant popularity throughout the election.
The Clinton Campaigns 2-Pronged Plan to Create the TrumpRussia Collusion Narrative

News analysis

In October 2016, Wikileaks released a little-noticed email exchange involving Jennifer Palmieri, the communications director for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, and Democratic strategist Joel Johnson. The exchange, which was dated Feb. 26, 2016, revealed the existence of a Clinton campaign swift boat projecta political term used for smear campaignsaimed at then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

At the time, the email was largely ignored, but it has recently gained new relevance through disclosures in court filings by special counsel John Durham.

It appears the Clinton campaigns plans revolved around two primary prongs directed at Trump. The first and better-known element of that project involved Fusion GPS and Trump-dossier author and former MI6 spy Christopher Steele. The other element involves the efforts of Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann and his use of data exploited by technology executive Rodney Joffe and a team of IT operatives.

Last year, Sussmann came to prominence when he was indicted by Durham for lying to the FBI in connection with his role in passing Joffes data to the FBI.

The two-pronged strategy began to take shape in the spring of 2016, and those parallel plans would ultimately merge at the end of July 2016, just two days before the FBI opened its investigation into the Trump campaign.

Trump Swift Boat Project

On Feb. 26, 2016, Palmieri was asked in an email by former Bill Clinton adviser Joel Johnson, Who was in charge of the Trump swift boat project? Palmieri sarcastically replied: Gee. Thanks, Joel. We thought we could half-ass it. Lets discuss.

It isnt known what steps were taken by the Clinton campaign in the two months that followed the email exchange. At the time, Trump hadnt yet won the Republican nomination. However, by mid-April 2016, it had become increasingly clear that Trump would be Clintons opponent in the general election.

On April 19, 2016, Trump hired Paul Manafort as his convention manager. Manafort, who was known to be a former adviser to Ukraines deposed president Viktor Yanukovich, would become Trumps campaign manager two months later.

Trumps primary victories and the hiring of Manafort coincided with a decision in late April by the Clinton campaign to hire Fusion GPS, a firm of political operatives run by former Wall Street Journal staffer Glenn Simpson.

Around the same time, on April 28, 2016, Amy Dacey, CEO of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), alerted Sussmann, who is also a cyber-security specialist, to the possible hack of the DNCs computer network. In turn, Sussmann contacted Shawn Henry of CrowdStrike, an IT firm specializing in cybersecurity. It isnt known why Daceys first point of contact was Sussmann and not an IT firm.

On May 3, 2016, Trump won the Indiana primary to become the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party.

That day, Ukrainian American Democratic operative Alexandra Chalupa emailed the DNC and claimed that she intended to share sensitive info about Paul Manafort offline, including a big Trump component  that will hit in [sic] next few weeks. Manafort would leave the Trump campaign a few months later after The New York Times claimed that Manaforts name had appeared on a handwritten ledger in Ukraine in connection with secret cash payments. The ledger was later said to have been fabricated.

Plan Set in Motion After Trump Became Presumptive Nominee

According to court filings from Durham, on May 4, 2016, the day after Trump became the Republican Partys presumptive nominee, a cyber group working through Sussmann and Joffe began compiling and curating data that would later be used to create the false appearance of a link between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank in Russia. That alleged link would later be used by the Clinton campaign to push the narrative that Trump had ties to the Kremlin.

Notably, the data compilation was completed on July 29, 2016, the same day that Clinton operatives from both prongs of her planned attack on Trump met in Washington.

In mid-May 2016, shortly after Sussmanns cyber group started mining data on Trump, Fusion GPS hired Steele to write what became known as the Steele dossier. As Simpson later recounted in his book Crime in Progress, he told Steele that Fusion had been investigating Trump for about eight months on behalf of an unnamed client. That work had ended, but a new client had come along that had deep pockets.

That client was the Clinton campaign.

Steele tasked his primary sub-source, Igor Danchenko, to compile derogatory stories about Trump that could be used in the dossier. Danchenko was dispatched to Moscow in mid-June, where he spent time gossiping with old friends over drinks. Those friends were then made into unwitting sources for the dossier. These same individuals have since come forward as part of Alfa Banks ongoing defamation lawsuit against Simpson and Fusion GPS to testify under oath that they didnt have any information on Trump and never spoke to Danchenko about Trump.

As Durham has disclosed in court filings, the true source for several of the dossiers stories, including a story about Manafort, was Clinton operative Charles Dolan. Danchenko concealed this fact from the FBI, according to Durham. In Nov. 2021, Durham indicted Danchenko for lying to the FBI about his sources.

While Dolan, according to Durham, gave stories to Danchenko that appeared in the dossier and helped Danchenko obtain a visa (presumably to remain in the United States), not much is known about his wider role in Clintons swift boat project. Dolan and the Clintons go back many decades, with Dolan having served on Bill Clintons presidential exploratory committee, as well as Clintons Virginia state chairman during his 1992 and 1996 campaigns. Dolan also served as an adviser to Hillary Clintons first presidential run in 2008. Notably, Dolan was a senior consultant for the Russian government from 2006 to 2014.

Steeles first dossier reportwhich not only contained the notorious pee tape allegation but also seeded the collusion narrativewas issued on June 20, 2016.

After Steele had compiled his initial reports, he began to reach out to the FBI through Michael Gaeta, an FBI agent and assistant legal attache at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Gaeta, who was Steeles FBI handler, had known Steele since 2010. At Steeles request, the two men met in London on July 5, 2016. In order to make this trip, Gaeta sought permission from then-Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. At some point in early July, either Steele or Gaeta passed Steeles early dossier reports to Nuland. Nuland later said these documents were passed on to both the leadership of the FBI and then-Secretary of State John Kerry.

Gaeta, who would receive additional reports from Steele in mid-July and August 2016, emailed an FBI supervisor on July 28, 2016, noting that Steele had personally informed him that Steeles reports may already be circulating at a high level in Washington, D.C.

Clinton Campaign Invokes Russian Interference

On July 24, 2016, Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook publicly suggested for the first time that Russia was somehow helping Trump. Mook claimed in an interview with CNNs Jake Tapper that the Russian government was behind the release of a trove of DNC emails. Those emails showed, in part, that senior DNC officials had been undermining Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Mook refused to address the Sanders allegations, instead telling Tapper that experts are now saying the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump. Mook claimed that this isnt my assertion. There are a number of experts that are asserting this.  That is what experts are telling us. But Mook failed to address who these so-called experts might be, nor did he explain the source of his supposed information.

Two days after Mook had invoked Russia, on July 26, 2016, Clinton won the Democratic presidential nomination. According to documents released by Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe on Oct. 6, 2020, on the same day as her nomination victory, Clinton allegedly approved a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisors to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by Russian security forcesthe TrumpRussia collusion smear.

That foreign policy adviser is rumored to be current national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who at the time held the title of senior foreign policy adviser to the Clinton campaign.

Immediately following the alleged approval from Clinton, Steele hastily produced his undated memo 95written on or about July 27, 2016which alleged a well-developed conspiracy of cooperation between Trump associates and the Kremlin. Steeles memo, which echoed the basis of the Clinton campaigns plan, also claimed that an unknown Trump associate had acknowledged that the Kremlin was behind the release of the DNC emails.

On July 28, 2016, then-CIA Director John Brennan briefed President Barack Obama on Clintons July 26 planincluding her campaigns intention to tie Trump to Russian election interference as a means of distracting the public from her use of a private email server. FBI Director James Comey may also have been at that meeting, since Brennans now declassified handwritten notes state that JC was at this meeting.

The Two Prongs Converge

The day after Brennan briefed Obama, the twin prongs of the Clinton campaigns smear campaignSussmanns work with Joffe and Fusions work with Steelemerged. In a meeting that took place in the Perkins Coie law firms offices on July 29, 2016, Sussmann and fellow Perkins attorney Marc Elias met with Fusion GPS principals, including owner Glenn Simpson and Steele, according to the Durham indictment.

According to Durhams indictment of Sussmann, the timing of the meeting at Perkins coincides perfectly with the completion of Sussmanns and Joffes data compilation on July 29, 2016.

Steele had previously told a British court that Sussmann informed him at this meeting of the Alfa Bank allegations, stating, Im very clear is [sic] that the first person that ever mentioned the Trump server issue, Alfa server issue, was Mr. Sussman [sic].

Steele also testified that he was instructed by Fusion GPS co-founder Simpson to include this information in one of his own dossier reports. Steele, who repeatedly wrote tailor-made reports for Fusion GPS, mentioned Alfa Bank in a report on Sept. 14, 2016.

Following the meeting at Perkins Coies offices, Steele prepared a new memo the next day for his dossier, which falsely alleged an eight-year Russian effort to cultivate Trump.

The close timing of these events, particularly Brennans briefing to Obama, are significant because they came only days before the FBI officially opened its Crossfire Hurricane investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

That FBI investigation was allegedly opened on July 31, 2016, after the Australian ambassador in London, Alexander Downer, gave the U.S. embassy a tip about Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos.

According to Downer, he and Papadopolous had met in May 2016, when Papadopoulos supposedly made a suggestion of a suggestion that Russia might have derogatory information on Hillary Clinton that might help Trump. That rumor was already known at the time and had been shared by Judge Andrew Napolitano on Fox News on May 9, 2016, the day before Downer met Papadopoulos.

Downer later confirmed in a 2019 interview on Australian TV that Papadopoulos said nothing out of the ordinary. But despite the flimsiness of Papadopouloss statements, the FBI used Downers info as a pretext to open a formal investigation into the Trump campaign.

In the weeks that followed the FBIs opening of its Crossfire Hurricane investigation, CIA Director Brennan would take a number of actions that appear to have been intended to actively reinforce the basic premise behind Clintons planthat Russia was interfering in the election to help Trump.

Brennan Pushes TrumpRussia Collusion Despite Knowledge of Clintons Plans to Smear Trump

The twin prongs of the attack against Trump had now been merged by the heads of the Intelligence Community into a single, unified spear that incorporated government agencies and government action.

One of the first actions from Brennan took place on Aug. 4, 2016, when he suddenly warned Russias FSB head Alexander Bortnikov not to engage in U.S. election interference. Bortnikov reportedly strongly denied any Russian involvement, but said he would take Brennans concern to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Brennan later claimed that he was the first U.S. official to brace Russia on this issue.

According to Brennans May 23, 2017, congressional testimony, he then began a series of briefings to the Congressional Gang of Eightthe majority and minority leaders of each chamber of Congress as well as the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Intelligence Committees. Brennan testified that in consultation with the White House, I personally briefed the full details of our understanding of Russian attempts to interfere in the election to congressional leadership.

He said these briefings, which were done individually, rather than in a group setting, took place between Aug. 11 and Sept. 6, 2016.

The message that Brennan delivered to these members of Congress was remarkably similar to the details outlined in the Clinton campaigns alleged plan to smear Trump. According to Brennans testimony, he told each member of the Gang of Eight that Russias goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. Democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton and harm her electability and potential presidency. And to help President Trumps election chances.

At no point during Brennans testimony did he raise the Clinton campaigns plan to denigrate candidate Trump and no evidence has been presented to indicate that he informed Gang of Eight members of the alleged plan.

Convergence of RussiaCollusion Claims

After receiving his briefing from Brennan, then-Democratic House leader Harry Reid sent a letter on Aug. 27, 2016, to FBI Director James Comey claiming that the evidence of a direct connection between the Russian government and Donald Trumps campaign continues to mount, calling for a public investigation into the matter and asking that the investigation be completed before the November presidential election.

Three days later, on Aug. 30, House Democrats wrote to Comey asking him to investigate TrumpRussia collusion in the context of the purported DNC hacking. Their letter asked Comey to investigate if connections between Trump campaign officials and Russian interests may have contributed to these attacks in order to interfere with the U.S. presidential election.

As Democrats moved forward with the publicization of Brennans claims, Hillary Clinton publicly accused Russia of interfering in the U.S. election on Sept. 5, 2016, implying that Putin viewed a victory by Donald J. Trump as a destabilizing event that would weaken the United States and buttress Russian interests.

On Sept. 7, 2016, two days after Clintons public claims of Russian interference, Brennans CIA sent a memo regarding the Clinton campaigns plan to vilify Trump to FBI Director Comey and the deputy assistant director of the counterintelligence division, Peter Strzok. By the time the CIA memo was sent, the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane probe was well underway. Rather than open an investigation into the Clinton campaign, the FBI continued undeterred with its investigation of the Trump campaign.

Brennans briefing to Obama and his memo tipping the FBI off to Clintons plans appear to be the only times that Brennan raised the issue of Clintons plan. As noted earlier, Brennans handwritten notes also demonstrate the possibility that Comey was present during Brennans July 28 briefing to Obama, but this isnt known with certainty.

Sussmanns Alfa Bank Allegations

One week after Brennans memo to the FBI, Steele prepared a sequence of three memos all dated Sept. 14, 2016. One of the three memos referenced Alfa Bank, misspelled as Alpha in his memo. On this same day, according to Durhams indictment, Sussmann met personally with Joffe in the offices of Perkins Coie.

The following day, Marc Elias exchanged emails with three Clinton adviserscommunications director Palmieri, campaign manager Mook, and foreign policy adviser Sullivanregarding the Alfa Bank allegations. According to Durhams indictment of Sussmann, this information had also been recently shared by Sussmann with The New York Times.

Four days later, on Sept. 19, 2016, Sussmann held a private meeting with James Baker, the FBIs general counsel. Sussmann provided Baker with a large amount of data, including a white paper and several USB sticks, telling Baker that he had been approached by multiple cyber experts concerning the Alfa Bank allegations.

The FBI dismissed the data within a few days. According to emails among Sussmanns group that were cited by Durham, Joffe was fully aware that anyone with the requisite technical knowledge would dismiss the data as meaningless. One of the tech staffers in Sussmanns group privately called the secret communications channel allegation a red herring. Another participant said, The only thing that drive[s] us at this point is that we just do not like [Trump].

While it isnt known why Sussmann and Joffe proceeded with handing over such flimsy data to the FBI, their objective may not have been to start a comprehensive FBI investigation. Instead, they may have simply wanted to give the media a hook by being able to claim that the data was being looked at by the FBI. That would align with the fact that by August 2016, Sussmann and Joffe were liaising with Fusion GPS, which appears to have been the operational means for coordinating the media strategy for the Clinton campaigns two-pronged attack.

Sussmann is charged with having lied to the FBI about who his client actually was. He claimed to not represent any client when, in fact, Sussmann was working for the Clinton campaign, a point that Durham was able to prove through billing records.

Brennans ICA Becomes Cornerstone of Medias Russia Collusion Narrative

At the same time Sussmann was meeting with the FBI, Steele was being directed by Fusion GPS to meet with the mediaincluding The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Yahoo News, which were all verbally briefed by Steele on his dossier.

It was during this period, at Brennans urging, that the Intelligence Community began its efforts to build a narrative that Russia was interfering in the 2016 election. On Oct. 7, 2016, the Intelligence Community issued a joint statement that claimed the group of organizations was confident that Russia directed the recent compromises of emails  including from US political organizations.

Brennans actions to firmly establish a narrative of Russian interference would become even more significant as Brennan was about to embark on his creation of the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA).

The ICA would become the cornerstone of the false allegation that Trump colluded with Russia.

The assessment, which was officially commissioned by Obama after the 2016 election but appears to have begun earlier, was completed by early January 2017. Crucially, a two-page summary of the Steele dossier was attached to the final version of the ICA.

As soon as the ICA was published, the entire focus of the medias attention centered on the Steele dossier, which was published by Buzzfeed on the very same day that the media started reporting about the ICA, Jan. 10, 2017.

The fact that the dossier was included in Brennans ICA effectively gave the dossier the credibility it needed for the media to publish stories based on it, including the infamous pee tape story.

The media had been in possession of the dossier or its stories since at least September 2016 when Steele began briefing reporters. However, aside from a few notable exceptions, the media didnt report on Steeles dossier because they werent able to corroborate any of his stories.

By legitimizing the dossier, the Intelligence Community effectively ensured that Trump would be saddled with claims of Russia collusion throughout his presidency.

Within 14 days of the ICAs publication, on Jan. 24, 2017, Danchenko was interviewed by the FBI and disavowed many of the dossiers stories. It was at this point that the Intelligence Community factually knew that the dossier had been made up by Steele and his associates. They already knew that Sussmanns Alfa Bank claims were false. Yet they kept this information to themselves.

Its through Durham, as well as the efforts of online researchers, that the truth about the Clinton campaigns two-pronged swift boat project is finally emerging.

Jeff Carlson Follow Jeff Carlson is a co-host of Truth Over News on Epoch TV. Twitter: @themarketswork.
An visit wear protective face masks to against the spread of the coronavirus as she experience VR glasses during the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at Beijing Olympic Park, in Beijing, China, on Sept. 6, 2020. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

The Metaverse, With Chinese Characteristics

Commentary

Chinas technology giants are beginning to invest in the metaverse, and Beijing is readying its state-controlled censorship and regulatory gatekeepers.

Theres no definitive description of the metaverse (sometimes referred to as Web3), but its a term loosely used to describe computer-generated virtual worlds where people can live, play, and interact with others. A more interactive, 3-D version of the internet.

Software giants such as Facebook parent Meta Platforms and Microsoft as well as hardware developers such as Nvidia have been investing in the sector believing the metaverse as the next frontier in internet and gaming.

In China, the arms race is just beginning. Morgan Stanley analysts believe the Chinese metaverse total addressable market to be $8 trillion, in a Feb. note to clients. Thats roughly the size of the same market in the United States.

Mobile game maker NetEase, social app maker ByteDance, and social-media and payments conglomerate Tencent are some of the early leaders in Chinese metaverse development. Internet giant Baidu has also been developing its own metaverse virtual platform.

But the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s tight-fisted grip over media, free speech, and politics is unlikely to loosen in the virtual world. And this makes Chinas metaverse a bit of a different animal. After the regulatory reset in 2021, the governments increasing focus on minors addiction, personal information protection, data security, openness of ecosystem, and so on suggests higher regulatory hurdles in China, Morgan Stanley analysts say.

Last year, the CCP formed the so-called Metaverse Industry Committee chaired by state-owned telecom giant China Mobile, to establish rules and regulations for the nascent sector. There are various other committees and working groups at the national and provincial levels. Some Chinese cities including the Southern technology hub of Shenzhen have even included elements of the metaverse in city planning and development.

The CCPs enthusiasm for the metaverse shouldnt be confused as state support of this technology. The metaverses association with the gaming and cryptocurrency sectortwo areas that Beijing has recently cracked downmeans its a ripe area for the CCP to get involved in early and dictate what is and isnt allowed within the virtual worlds.

In many ways, those technology firms currently investing in the metaverse have already been neutered.

During the last several months, various rules and regulations were introduced to curtail and control Chinas technology giants. Those include anti-monopoly rules for internet platforms, a comprehensive personal data protection law, and in January new regulations governing the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology algorithms were enacted.

The last piece of legislation governing algorithms will tie into the CCPs intention to censor content and speech on its metaverse platforms. The diversity and scale of the metaverse could make human monitoring of content impractical. Much of the content in the metaverse in the future could be generated and monitored by AI algorithms.

Another sensitive subject overlapping with the metaverse is cryptocurrencies. Many metaverse applications being developed outside of China plan to use forms of cryptocurrency tokens in transactions, serving as a form of virtual currency for exchange.

This is likely an issue for China as the CCP has practically banned usage, trading, and development of cryptocurrency tokens. Beijing has introduced its own digital currency, an electronic version of its yuan. Will the Party force metaverse builders to utilize the digital yuan as legal tender? Its plausible.

Meanwhile, the CCP has already sounded the alarm on aspects of the metaverse. A Feb. 18 memo from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory CommissionChinas top financial industry watchdogwarned participants of certain entities marketing scams masquerading as legitimate Metaverse investment projects. The CBIRC singled out two specific projects: Metaverse Investment Project and Metaverse Chain Tour.

Theres also a broader opportunity for the CCP to continue censorship, monitor, and control of its population through the metaverse. The metaverse, being enclosed systems, is easier to monitor using technology tools than the real world given Chinas large swaths of land outside of cities where street cameras are sparse and cell receptions could be spotty.

And given the metaverses somewhat loose definition, the Party can entangle virtually any scientific or technology venture into the metaverses sphere of regulation.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A protester sings O Canada as they are arrested after trying to push through a line of police officers during police action to end the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Trudeaus Suspension of Civil Rights for a Non-Existent Emergency an Embarrassing Chapter in Canadian History

Commentary

The invocation of the Emergencies Acta modern-day version of the War Measures Actwas the action of a federal government in total disarray and panic. There was no pressing emergency facing the population of Canada. The only person experiencing an emergency was Prime Minister Trudeau as he watched his credibility and support as a national leader swirling down the drain in the face of peaceful but growing Freedom Convoy protests.

The blockades at border crossings were certainly becoming a problem. The costs due to restricted trade were rising quickly and pressure was mounting from businesses and leaders on both sides of the border to address the issue. Police intervened and reopened all of the border crossings without violent confrontations and without the use of the Emergencies Act.

Body armour, firearms, and ammunition were seized from a group near the border crossing in Coutts, Alberta, and 13 people were arrested. This was of concern as we dont know what the intentions of this group were but again, police addressed that issue without the need for any extra powers granted through the Emergencies Act. While a handful of people with malintent and firearms could certainly cause a lot of harm, it was hardly an insurrection threatening the sovereignty of the nation.

By the time Trudeau and his cabinet invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, the only outstanding issue was the ongoing protests settled into downtown Ottawa. The occupation was becoming problematic. While the protesters were remarkably peaceful considering the number of them and the length of time they had been entrenched, the lack of an end-game plan on their part made the situation untenable. The government couldnt simply accept that they had taken over a part of the city and leave them there indefinitely. Again though, the government didnt need the extraordinary powers provided by the Emergencies Act to remove the protesters.

The protesters had proven themselves surprisingly reasonable when approached. The mayor of Ottawa even negotiated to move some of them out of residential areas despite his clear opposition to them in general. All it took was some respectful dialogue with themsomething the Trudeau government never even entertained, much less attempted.

There was no indication of intent or an ability to carry out an insurrection, though some claimed this is what justified the suspension of civil rights through the Emergencies Act. Neither heated tweets from anonymous people calling for the resignation of the prime minister, nor naive calls for intervention on the part of the Governor General, constitute any sort of budding revolution that needs to be quelled.

Prime Minister Trudeau strong-armed parliamentary support for the invocation of the Emergencies Act through vitriolic, hyperbolic statements and threats of calling an election if he didnt get his way. If indeed the safety of the nation was at risk, he could have made the case for that in the House of Commons without threatening to turn the vote on the act into a confidence motion.

While Trudeau managed to bully his act through the House of Commons, it became quickly evident that it might not make it through the Senate. Even Liberal-appointed senators were questioning the need to bring in such heavy action against peaceful Canadians.

Rather than face a humiliating defeat in the Senate, Trudeau took the slightly less humiliating approach and repealed the act less than 48 hours after it passed in the House. Trudeaus credibility was in tatters, along with NDP leader Jagmeet Singhs.

The question that killed the full invocation of the Emergencies Act was simple: Where is the emergency?

While the act is gone, we still need to be asking that question as the damage from it is still ongoing. Many Canadians still have their bank accounts seized for daring to have contributed to a peaceful protest, trucking companies have been driven out of business, and protest organizers languish in jail without bail. All for an emergency that never was.

The Trudeau government surely wants to quickly turn the page on this embarrassing chapter of Canadian history. Their hopes will likely be dashed as legal challenges make their way to the courts and parliamentarians ask questions.

We have only seen civil rights suspended for emergencies four times in Canadian history. It was done in World War I, World War II, and during the October Crisis in 1970. The fourth time was for an emergency that never happened and that Trudeau cant even define.

History will not look kindly on Justin Trudeaus tenure as Prime Minister of Canada.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The booth of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) during the 2020 World Semiconductor Conference in Jiangsu province, Nanjing, China, on Aug. 26, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

TSMC Will Follow Export Control Rules on Russia

Chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. expressed its commitment to Taiwans new export control rules, Reuters reports. Taiwans government said it would join international sanctions on Russia.

The company also has a rigorous export control system in place, including a robust assessment and review process to ensure export control restrictions are followed.

Taiwan has joined Japan and Singapore in backing U.S. President Joe Bidens plan to impose extreme export controls on technology to Russia.

By Anusuya Lahiri

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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 to Target Putin and Foreign Minister Imminently With Personal Sanctions: Johnson

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced Britain will imminently target Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister with personal sanctions, following the invasion of Ukraine.

The prime minister told NATO leaders in a virtual meeting on Friday that the UK would echo measures announced by the EU and later the United States to target the Russian leader.

Johnson said Russia was engaging in a revanchist mission to overturn the post-Cold War order.

Johnson told allies the UK would introduce sanctions against President Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov imminently, on top of the sanctions package the UK announced yesterday, according to a No 10 spokesman.

Johnson also called for allies to ban Russia from the SWIFT payment systema move which so far has been resisted by President Joe Biden and some other western allies.

The UK also announced the ban on Aeroflot flights landing in the UK would be extended to cover Russian private jets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said sanctions had so far done nothing to deter the Russian onslaught.

Fighting took place overnight on the streets of the suburbs in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Explosions have been reported in some parts of the city.

Zelensky posted a video from the capital on Saturday, declaring that his countrymen would not lay down arms.

British armed forces minister James Heappey said Saturday morning that Russians troops were not making the progress they had hoped for, with the main armoured columns still some way from the city.

He told BBC Breakfast that the defenders faced days, weeks, months more of heavy fighting.

Heappey disclosed that the Ministry of Defence was working on plans to support a resistance movement and a government in exile if Ukraine was finally overrun.

That is a decision for the National Security Council to take but it is something that the Prime Minister has asked us in the Ministry of Defence to look at and plan for, he told Sky News.

Britain has already sent 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers and Heappey said they were looking to get more weaponry to the country.

We know what the Ukrainians want. We are doing our best to get it to them, he said.

So far the fighting in the capital had been confined to very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers with the main armoured columns still some way off he added.

Echoing statements from NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, Heappey was clear that the UK and NATO would not engage in any military action.

Stoltenberg said on Friday that it was clear the Kremlins objectives were not limited to Ukraine.

He said the alliance was deploying thousands more troops to the eastern member stateswho fear they could be the next target of Russiaand would do what it takes to protect and defend every ally and every inch of NATO territory.

NATO has rejected calls to help mount a no-fly zone over Ukraine, citing fears that enforcement could result in engagement with Russian jets and trigger a Europe-wide war.

PA contributed to this report
A Polish border guard assists refugees from Ukraine as they arrive to Poland at the Korczowa border crossing, Poland, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo)

Ukraines European Neighbors Ramp Up Support in Face of Russian Aggression

WARSAW, PolandUkraines neighbors in Eastern Europe have ramped up their support for the beleaguered nation in the face of the Kremlin onslaughtclosing their airspace to Russian overflights, providing refuge to people fleeing the war, and shipping ammunition.

Poland on Friday delivered to Ukraine the first publicly acknowledged military aid since the invasion began, according to the countrys Minister of Defense Mariusz Blaszczak.

A convoy of ammunition we are donating to Ukraine has already reached our neighbors. We stand by the Ukrainians, and show solidarity against Russian aggression, he said in a tweet.

Konwoj z amunicja, ktora przekazujemy Ukrainie dotar juz do naszych sasiadow. Wspieramy Ukraincow, jestesmy solidarni i stanowczo sprzeciwiamy sie rosyjskiej agresji. pic.twitter.com/Wx5zoXBnBe  Mariusz Baszczak (@mblaszczak) February 25, 2022

Blaszczak didnt provide details on the quantity or type of ammunition, but its clearly a commodity in dwindling supply in Ukraine, whose forces have mounted staunch resistance and slowed the advance of the Russian war machine.

In what some analysts have called his Spartacus moment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned down an offer from the United States of evacuation from the capital city Kyiv, instead asking for more ammo.

The fight is here: I need ammunition, not a ride, Zelensky told the United States, according to Ukraines embassy in Britain.

Zelensky said in a video posted online on Saturday morning that he remains in Kyiv and has no plans to surrender.

I am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation via his smartphone in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Poland, long a staunch ally to Ukraine, is preparing for an influx of refugees fleeing the violence, setting up nine reception centers along the border.

Between the outbreak of hostilities and Saturday, around 115,000 people have come across the border into Poland, Interior Ministry deputy chief Pawel Szefernaker told a press briefing held in the border village of Dorohusk, eastern Poland.

Around 75,000 of them are refugees fleeing the conflict zone, according to Filippo Grandi, the UNs high commissioner for refugees.

More than 150,000 Ukrainian refugees have now crossed into neighbouring countries, half of them to Poland, and many to Hungary, Moldova, Romania and beyond, Grandi wrote in a tweet.

Refugees fleeing the conflict from neighboring Ukraine are transported by bus in the border town of Przemysl, Poland, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Petr David Josek/AP Photo)

As the conflict roils on, the number of internally displaced Ukrainians is also growing but the military situation makes it hard to estimate numbers and provide help, Grandi added.

Refugee flows are likely to intensify as the Russian army has been given orders to broaden its offensive in Ukraine after Kyiv refused to hold talks in Belarus, a Kremlin-aligned staging ground for invading Russian forces.

Ukrainian troops inspect a site following a Russian airstrike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo)

Poland on Friday also closed its airspace to Russian airlines, a move matched by regional neighbors Bulgaria and the Czech Republic and prompting Moscow to retaliate with tit-for-tat flight restrictions.

Following in their footsteps, Estonia, Latvia, and Slovenia on Saturday also announced they would ban Russian flights.

We invite all EU countries to do the same, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in a tweet, adding, There is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies.

Some are calling for more decisive steps to help Ukraine. Michal Orzechowski, a Polish author and documentary filmmaker, told The Epoch Times in an interview that sanctions wont stop tanks, the Ukrainians need concrete actions, like shipments of arms.

Also worth considering is air support for the Ukrainians bravely resisting Russian militarism and imperialism, Orzechowski said, suggesting NATO could impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine to reduce the threat coming from the skies.

The idea of a no-fly zone has been fielded by some British lawmakers but rejected by the countrys top leadership as tantamount to a declaration of war against Russia.

NATO will have to effectively declare war on Russia, because thats what you would do, UK defence secretary Ben Wallace said, according to the Independent. He added that if we were to directly attack Russian aircraft, we would have a war across Europe.

The UK, too, has banned Russian airplanes from its airspace and territorial waters, with Moscow responding with a retaliatory measure.

Commenting on the sanctions that have been rolled out by Ukraines Western allies thus far, including halting the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Orzechowski said they should be tougher.

Only a physical disassembly of Nord Stream 1 and 2 will have a meaningful impact, otherwise in a little while therell be another reset and Berlin and Moscow will fire the project back up, he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to the nation via his smartphone in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Ukrainian President Rejects US Offer of Evacuation: I Need Ammunition, Not a Ride

Street fighting breaks out in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected an evacuation offer from the United States and is remaining in his country as Russian forces capture more ground, Ukrainian officials said on Feb. 26.

The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride, Zelensky said in a statement.

A State Department spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email, We are aware of President Zelenskyys location and are in close contact with him and his team.

We continue to provide support to him and the democratically-elected government of Ukraine, but Im not going to go into security matters, the spokesperson added.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday he spoke with Zelensky following an emergency North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. Biden said he commended the brave actions of the Ukrainian people who were fighting to defend their country and conveyed ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security support being provided by the United States as well as our continued efforts to rally other countries to provide similar assistance.

The Biden administration has also reportedly asked Congress for $6.4 billion to provide support to Ukraine.

Zelensky spoke to Ukrainians while standing in Kyiv, the capital of the country, on Saturday as fighting broke out in the streets there.

Good morning Ukrainians. Do not believe fake news. I am here. We will not lay down our weapons. We will defend our country. Our weapons are our strength. This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them, Zelensky said in the video, which he posted on social media.

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and fighting in multiple parts of the country has unfolded since then.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Ukrainians disarm and overthrow Zelensky.

Kyiv remains under Ukrainian control, Zelensky said in a separate video released by his administration early Saturday.

But in addition to ground fights, airstrikes dealt damage to portions of the city and left soldiers and civilians dead and wounded.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba shared a picture of an apartment building damaged by a strike, writing that Kyiv, our splendid, peaceful city, survived another night under attacks by Russian ground forces, missiles.

Ukrainian service members in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

One of them has hit a residential apartment in Kyiv. I demand the world: fully isolate Russia, expel ambassadors, oil embargo, ruin its economy. Stop Russian war criminals! he added.

No outside troops are helping Ukrainian forces but some countries, including the United States, have provided weapons and other forms of assistance.

We continue to provide for support for Ukraine to defend itself, John Kirby, the Pentagons press secretary, told reporters in Washington. Ill be very clear here, we are going to provide additional security assistance for Ukraine. We will. How that is going to be done is still being worked out.

Zelensky has been pressing NATO on whether Ukraine can join but no one answers he said in a recent video. But we are not afraid , we are not afraid of anything. We are not afraid to defend our country, we are not afraid of Russia, he said.

NATO on Friday activated its response force for the first time in history.

We have deployed defensive land and air forces in the eastern part of the alliance, and maritime assets across the NATO area, the alliance, which includes members that neighbor Ukraine, said in a press release.

Under NATO rules, an attack against one of the members is considered an attack against all members.

Russian officials have said they invaded Ukraine in part because its potential joining of NATO wasnt ruled out by Ukrainian leaders or NATO officials.

Finlands prime minister said following the invasion that the move changed the debate on whether Finland should join, prompting Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russias foreign minister, to say Finland or Sweden joining NATO would trigger serious military and political consequences.
Ukrainian service members look for unexploded shells after fighting with Russian forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainians Battle Russian Forces in Kyiv

Ukrainian military personnel battled Feb. 26 to repel Russian forces from the capital of Kyiv as talks stalled between leaders of the warring countries.

Ukrainian interior ministry warned residents of active fighting in the streets of Kyiv, urging them to stay home or take cover elsewhere.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces said it destroyed a Russian military convoy, including two tanks, during the fighting.

Video footage from Fox News showed the aftermath of some of the battles. A vehicle was pockmarked with bullet holes while blood was seen on the ground.

The exact locations of many of the skirmishes were unclear as the war that started on Feb. 24 raged.

Britains Ministry of Defense said Russian forces were advancing on Kyiv and the bulk of them were about 19 miles from the city center. But in an update around 3:30 p.m. GMT, the ministry said the Russian advance was temporarily slowed, which it attributed to likely being from acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.

The battles in Kyiv, British officials said, likely involved pre-positioned Russian forces.

A senior U.S. defense official told reporters on a call Saturday that Russian troops have met with stiff resistance as they advance towards Kyiv.

To help protect the capital and in a bid to keep residents safe, a curfew was imposed with no breaks from Saturday evening through Monday morning, Kyivs mayor announced. Any residents outside during the curfew will be considered an enemy, officials said.

The military, the police, the National Guard, the territorial defense, volunteer battalions are defending our city, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a video posted to Instagram, urging residents who spotted suspected Russian saboteurs to report them to law enforcement.

Ukrainians were urged to help by damaging road signs, using their bodies to block the movement of Russian military vehicles, and ripping down any Russian symbols put up by Russian forces.

People walk towards a damaged vehicle, at the site of fighting with Russian troops after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 26, 2022. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

People take shelter from bombings in an underground station in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images)

Klitschko said 35 people were wounded, including two children, as of 6 a.m. Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko reportedly pegged the casualties nationwide at 198 people, including 3 children, while over 1,100 others have been wounded.

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to surround Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian military.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has refused to leave the country, and said in a video posted on social media Saturday that we have withstood and are successfully repelling enemy attacks.

In our streets, in Kyiv, in Vasylkiv, in Vyshhorod, even in rural fields the real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing. The enemy has used everything against us: missiles, fighter jets, drones, artillery, armored vehicles, sabotage groups, airborne troops, Zelensky said in a separate message.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian forces were ordered to halt their advance because of expected negotiations but Ukrainian officials essentially refused the talks so the main Russian contingent resumed this afternoon according to the plan of conducting the operation.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, told Reuters that Ukraine was open to negotiating a ceasefire but would not accept an unreasonable deal.

It was yesterday that the aggressive actions of the armed forces of the Russian Federation escalated, up to evening and night mass air and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, Podolyak said. We consider such actions only an attempt to break Ukraine and force it to accept categorically unacceptable conditions.
A Polish border guard assists refugees from Ukraine as they arrive to Poland at the Korczowa border crossing, Poland, on Feb. 26, 2022. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP Photo)

UN Refugee Agency: Nearly 120,000 Ukrainians Have Fled

WARSAW, PolandNearly 120,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighboring countries in the wake of Russian invasion, the U.N. refugee agency said on Saturday.

Poland has declared its border open to fleeing Ukrainians, even for those without official documents.

On Saturday a government official also said that the country sent a hospital train that will pick up those wounded in the war in Mostyska, in western Ukraine, and bring them to Warsaw for treatment.

The hospital train departed the border town of Przemysl and has five carriages adapted to transport the wounded and four stocked with humanitarian aid for Ukraines Lviv district.

Almost 116,000 have crossed international borders as of right now. This may go up, its changing every minute, said Shabia Mantoo, the spokeswoman of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Its very fluid and changing by the hour.

The agency expects up to 4 million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further.

Those arriving were mostly women, children, and the elderly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday banned men of military age from leaving the country.

Mantoo said most were heading to neighboring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, and even some into Belarusfrom which some Russian forces entered Ukraine.

She did not immediately have details on numbers by country, but by far the largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where some 2 million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years, driven away by Russias first incursions into Ukraine in 2014 and seeking opportunities in the booming economy of the European Union neighbor.

Polands government said Saturday morning that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the past 48 hours.

At the Medyka border crossing, a line of vehicles waiting to enter Poland stretched 15 kilometers (9 miles) into Ukraine, according to people crossing the border, Polish broadcaster TVN24 reported.

By Vanessa Gera
US Sanctions Putin, Lavrov, Other Russian Officials

The United States on late Feb. 25 imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, and other members of Russias Security Council, marking the latest U.S. actions against Russia following previous rounds of sanctions announced earlier this week since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada have also announced sanctions on Putin and Lavrov.

In addition to designating Putin and Lavrov, the U.S. State Department designated more individuals it deems directly responsible for the further invasion of Ukraine: Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense, and General of the Army Valery Gerasimov.

The Treasury Department noted that it is exceedingly rare for it to designate a head of state, and that Putin now joins a very small group that includes despots such as Kim Jong Un, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and Bashar al-Assad.

Treasury separately designated 11 members of the Russia Security Council in previous actions.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement the United States seeks to ensure Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its further invasion of Ukraine, and is prepared to impose further costs on Russia if necessary.

The sanctions mean that all property and interests in property of the individuals above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to [the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)].

In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked, it announced.

All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The White House announced other sanctions on Russia on Feb. 24, which targeted various Russian financial institutions, Russian individuals and their family members, and a number of Russian energy firms. The sanctions dont directly block Russian oil and gas imports.

President Joe Biden also said on Feb. 24 that the United States and allies decided not to bar Russia from SWIFT international payments system, which banks use to settle cross-border payments. The system is regarded as crucial for financing international trade.
People stand at the border with Venezuela, seen from the Brazilian city of Pacaraima, Roraima state, Brazil, on Nov. 16, 2017. (Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Venezuela Reopens Border With Brazil After 2 Years

PUERTO ORDAZVenezuela reopened its land border with Brazil on Thursday, nearly two years after the regime of Nicolas Maduro shuttered crossings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, local Venezuelan authorities said on Friday.

Maduro closed crossings in March 2020 amid a nationwide quarantine, allowing only cargo transport.

The closure stopped dozens of students from attending classes in Pacaraima, on the Brazilian side, and forced Venezuelans seeking scarce food and gasoline to use illegal crossings, local human rights activists say.
Here is how Geoffrey Hammerson describes the states bobcat population in his 2004 book Connecticut Wildlife as sparsely distributed in the vicinity of thickets and patch woods in less-developed regions of the state, especially in the Northwest Highlands.

Here is how we could describe them today: Everywhere.

Theyre still in the Northwest Highlands.

Bethany Sheffer, naturalist and volunteer coordinator at the Sharon Audubon Center, said photographer Jonathan Doster has gotten good shots of bobcats in a meadow at the center near its bluebird boxes. And once, driving to Torrington, she said, she spotted one, backed up and watched.

I saw it stationary, just standing there, Sheffer said.

Theyre farther south.

Ken Elkins, community conservation manager for Audubon Connecticut, said that in his 13 years working at the Bent of the River Nature Center in Southbury, weve had multiple sightings.

Often, he said, people see them at the edge of the centers woods. Once, he said, he saw one on the side of a meadow, not far from the Bents visitor center.

After fresh snow, well see their tracks, he said.

But increasingly, bobcats are making those tracks through suburban backyards and downtown back alleys.

Weve had them in Hartford, in Bridgeport, said Jason Hawley, wildlife biologist with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

And their population is growing.

A few years ago, we would have said there were 800 to 1,000 bobcats in the state, Hawley said. Today, Id say double that.

If you see a bobcat, DEEP would like to know. It has a reporting site at ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Learn-Abount-Wildlife/Bobcats-in-Connecticut.

Its a remarkable comeback for the states only wild cat and its top predator.

We have ourselves to thank.

Weve created perfect bobcat habitat in the state, Hawley said.

The DEEP is now finishing a three-year project to study the states bobcats. In its first two years. Hawley said, the state caught about 100 bobcats, fitted them with radio collars, and released them.

What the research found, Hawley said, is that Connecticut bobcats favor the suburbs and the cities, where the pickings are good.

In the suburbs, there are bird feeders that attract squirrels, both gray and red. There are rabbits. There are also patches of woods to escape into, stone walls and decks to perch on to watch the world.

Hawley said that while it pains him to say it, thickets of non-native, invasive shrubs like multi-flora rose and barberry provide perfect cover for bobcats. They can hide in those tangles on the edge of yards, waiting to pounce when prey come within range.

In both suburbs and cities, there are mice and rats to eat.

There are also raccoons and opossums for the taking. In the suburbs, another comeback species  wild turkeys  make a good bobcat meal

And bobcats are now thinning out the states too-abundant white-tailed deer herd.

A bobcat can take down a deer, especially the males, Hawley said.

They are also reducing the herd by preying on newborn fawns.

These fawns are hard-wired to sit still, their spotted coats providing camouflage. They have no scent, Hawley said, so other predators may pass them by.

But bobcats, which hunt by sight, spot and nail the fawns.

In Litchfield County, bobcats are the animal most responsible for deer mortality, Hawley said.

Bobcats are sizeable. Males can weigh 18 to 35 pounds, females, 15 to 30 pounds. Theyre faintly spotted, with fur thats browner in summer, more gray in winter. They have tufted ears and a short tail that looks, well, bobbed.

Theyre generally solitary. Theyre also polygamous  they mate with multiple partners. Females do all the child-rearing, while the male bobcats tomcat around.

They were once a species that nearly disappeared from the state.

In the 19th century, when the state was almost completely deforested for agriculture, there were no woods for bobcats to shelter in. Until 1971, the state also paid a bounty to hunters who shot bobcats, believing they were a menace to livestock and game species.

But in 1972, the state reversed course, and classified bobcats as protected fur-bearing mammals, eliminating any bobcat hunting. Theyve returned.

Hawley said in the 1970s, wildlife biologists believed bobcats were strictly forest creatures, a wild animal that preferred a wooded domain.

The DEEPs study shows theyve become suburbanized. Theyre Connecticut residents.

We tracked their territory, Hawley said. If they had any forest, they avoided it like the plague.

Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com
NORWALK  Some parents rejoiced while others agonized over the decision by the Board of Education on Thursday to drop the mask mandate in schools starting Tuesday.

Its been a long time coming, said Russ Miller, whose daughter is a high school junior. I am happy those five board members listened to their constituents  thankful they did.

The board voted 5-3 to approve a resolution to give students and teachers a choice whether to wear a mask in schools.

However, the decision went against the recommendation of the school districts medical adviser, Dr. Norman Weinberger, who expressed concerns about the number of children hospitalized with COVID, the long-term effects the disease has on children, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) as well as new variants.

So, this is a danger and if we could find a way to protect them, I would, Weinberger said. If I had all the power in the world, Id keep the mask mandate.

The latest COVID data released by Mayor Harry Rilling on Friday also shows only about 45 percent of Norwalk children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 35 percent are fully vaccinated.

However, 95 percent of Norwalk children between the ages of 12 and 17 have started the vaccination process and 85 percent of them are fully vaccinated, the data shows. While children ages 5 to 11 are not yet eligible to receive booster shots, 22 percent of those 12 to 17 have received the extra dose, according to the data.

A survey administered by Norwalk Public Schools showed 42 percent of the nearly 2,500 who responded wanted mask choice and 42 percent preferred to extend the mask mandate. Another 16 percent said they wanted no one to wear masks in schools. It was not clear whether those parents misunderstood the survey or if they wanted a mask ban in Norwalk schools.

Board chair Colin Hosten agreed with Weinbergers concerns and felt the school mask mandate should be extended. However, Hosten said he didnt feel it was fair to require students to wear masks when the mandate was being lifted elsewhere, including in Norwalk where the citywide indoor requirement was lifted Thursday.

I think Colin had the best line when he said, Were trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon, said Drew Todd, father of a Norwalk High senior and eighth-grader at Nathan Hale Middle School. I think the Board of Ed made the absolute right decision. They followed the city.

The new mask policy will take effect Tuesday, giving teachers and staff one day to establish protocols and speak to students about the change.

Teachers are all committed to modeling acceptance and kindness for our children as this transition takes place, said Mary Yordan, president of the Norwalk Federation of Teachers.

Connecticut has required everyone who enters a school building to wear a mask since students returned to in-person learning in fall 2020 regardless of vaccination status. Earlier this month, Gov. Ned Lamont recommended lifting the statewide school mask mandate and leaving the decision up to local school districts.

This has been a really tough two years for both (students and teachers), and now is the time to start moving on from this. While some parents do not agree with the decision, the beauty of this is that we all get a choice, said Amanda Trimboli, who has a daughter in first grade.

Trimboli, who led the Mask Choice Norwalk movement, encouraged parents to speak with their children about respecting their classmates and teachers who choose to continue masking.

Its still OK for kids to wear one based on their comfort level and possible medical issue they have or have within their families, she said. Its not right to treat anyone any differently because of this. We need to treat all kids with respect for the decision they make themselves, and their families make for them.

Ana Tabachneck, the mother of a kindergarten student, has long advocated for COVID mitigation protocols in schools and was impressed with the level of thoughtful questioning of the medical professionals from the BOE members. However, she was disheartened when the board chose to lift the mandate.

The medical team was very clear that there is no evidence to support problems with masking, every reason to continue masking for now, and lots of evidence that removing masks at this time, particularly in elementary schools, will be dangerous, Tabachneck said.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its mask policies across the country on Friday.

According to CDCs COVID-19 Community Levels, Madison County is listed as low. For the low and medium areas, the CDC has no recommendation for masks in an indoor setting, unless you are at an increased risk for COVID.

Since July, the CDC has called for the use of masks in schools regardless of COVID cases in counties. But now, only counties labeled as high are recommended to wear masks every day.

Levels are low, medium and high, and are determined by hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and total number of new COVID cases in the area.

With these new community levels, 70 percent of the U.S. population is listed as low or medium.

Low community levels are counties with fewer than 200 new COVID cases per 100,000 people in the past week, fewer than 10 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people or less than 10 percent of staffed hospital beds occupied by COVID patients in the past week.

The cases by day have been on a steady decrease in Madison County. According to the Madison County Health Department, on Jan. 6, there was a peak of 1,300 new cases, and more recently on Thursday, there was a reported 80 new cases. In the past week, the MCHD has reported 195 new cases.

This comes as the Illinois indoor mask requirement is set to end Monday, Feb. 28, at 12:01 a.m., as directed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

State officials on Friday said that since Pritzker announced his plan to lift the indoor mask requirement, the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 has been cut in half and the number of ICU beds available increased by 24%. Illinois weekly COVID-19 case rate has also decreased by 70%.

No matter the community level, the CDC recommends that people get vaccinated and boosted.

According to Johns Hopkins University, new COVID cases across the country were at 800,000 per day on Jan. 15 and are now at less than 75,000.

About 60,000 people nationwide are hospitalized with COVID, a decrease of 44 percent in the past two weeks.
Salida, CO (81201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 54F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 35F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
New York, February 25, 2022  South Sudanese authorities should cease harassing and threatening journalists for their work covering the countrys parliament, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.

At about 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, officers with the countrys National Security Service intelligence agency arrested eight journalists on the grounds of the parliament in Juba, the capital, according to news reports, CPJ interviews with several of those journalists, and Patrick Oyet, president of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, a local trade group, who spoke to CPJ over the phone.

The reporters were covering a press conference that included members of opposition parties when a group of NSS officers halted the briefing on the grounds that it was illegal, seized the journalists recording devices, and took them to the parliaments security office, according to those sources.

The detained journalists included reporters for the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Voice of America, The City Review newspaper, Radio Bakhita, Eye Radio, The Insider South Sudan news website, No. 1 Citizen newspaper, and Radio Miraya, according to Oyet and the journalists who spoke with CPJ, who said they were held for about three hours and then released without charge.

Authorities in South Sudan should focus on ensuring that journalists can effectively cover their nations politics, instead of detaining them for doing their jobs, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Security forces harassment and threats toward journalists who sought to cover an event at the countrys legislature show how far authorities are willing to go to control the public discourse.

Voice of America reporter Winnie Cirino told CPJ that the NSS officers detained her and the other journalists minutes after the press conference began. The Insider South Sudan managing editor David Mono Danga, who also works as a reporter for Voice of America, told CPJ that he believed they were detained because they were covering an event held by opposition politicians.

The press conference sought to address the intimidation of journalists and opposition lawmakers, as well as alleged government mismanagement, according to a press release by the members of parliament who held the conference, which CPJ reviewed.

The NSS officers decided to put the whole thing on us, the journalists, The City Review reporter Keji Janefer told CPJ. They insisted it was our fault.

At the parliaments security office, NSS officers attempted to question each journalist individually, but the reporters refused and said they should remain as a group; the officers then accused them of violating the rules concerning coverage of the legislature, The City Review reporter Sheila Ponnie told CPJ.

After about an hour, the officers took the journalists by bus to an NSS office on Bilpam Road, also in Juba, Ponnie said.

Cirino told CPJ that agents held the journalists in a group at that office, seized their phones, and then locked them in a room inside the building, where an officer lectured them on how they should conduct their work.

After an hour, the NSS officers released the journalists without charge and returned their recorders and phones, but told them to delete any recordings of the press conference and threatened that, if the journalists outlets published stories covering the conference, the officers would hold them personally responsible, Cirino and Ponnie said.

That was a serious threat to our lives, Danga said. That is a threat to my life and my family.

Keji said it was very bad when security personnel start marking you, given the environment we are operating in.

South Sudan ranked fourth on CPJs 2021 Impunity Index, which calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of a countrys population.

Cirino, Danga, and Keji added that they were concerned about the security of information on their phones, as NSS officers had taken them out of their sight during their detention. CPJ has documented how digital forensics technology can be used to extract contacts and other information from journalists devices.

Cirino told CPJ that, while they were at the parliament security office, the reporters communicated with Oyet and other journalists, who raised public awareness about the detentions on social media. Cirino and Keji said she believed that awareness and Oyets intervention at the Bilpam Road office helped secure their release without charge.

Separately, Ponnie told CPJ that NSS officers at the parliament stopped her while she was working last week, ordered her to hand over her phone and, after she refused, forced her to delete recordings she had made.

When CPJ called NSS Internal Security Bureau Director of Public Relations David John Kumuri for comment, he said he would call back after 30 minutes, but failed to do so. CPJ repeatedly called him back but he did not answer.

Parliamentary spokesperson John Agany Deng told CPJ in a phone interview that the February 22 press conference was basically illegal and denied that the journalists had been arrested, before the call quality became too poor to understand him; he did not answer subsequent calls from CPJ.

In broadcast media interviews this week, he defended NSS officers actions and alleged that the press conference was illegal and proper media procedures were not followed.

CPJ also called Elijah Alier, the managing director of South Sudans media authority, and Sapana Abuyi, the authoritys director-general for information and media compliance, but the calls did not go through.
With President Muhammadu Buhari signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will meet, today, to decide on new dates for the 2023 general polls.

Last week, the electoral umpire said the February 18, 2023 date for the presidential poll would be postponed, if the President did not sign the electoral bill into law by last Tuesday, which was exactly 360 days to February 18, 2023 as required by law.

Following President Buharis assent to the electoral law, yesterday, an elated INEC said it would hold an extraordinary meeting, today, to deliberate on the way forward for the 2023 polls.

Instead of declining assent as he did, last December, President Buhari appended his signature, this time around despite misgivings over a section of the bill. At exactly 2.25 pm, he signed the bill.

President, Buhari however, rejected Section 84 (12) of the signed Electoral law, saying it runs contrary to the nations constitution.

Section 84 of the Electoral Act (Amended) stipulates that anyone holding a political office  ministers, commissioners, special advisers, and others  must relinquish the position before they can be eligible to participate in the electoral process either as a candidate or delegate.

President said that the Electoral Act (Amendment) law 2022 holds a lot of promise for improving the election processes in the country, with introduction of new technology, and efforts to engender clarity and transparency.

At a signing ceremony held at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari, told the National Assembly to immediately commence the process of amending Section 84 (12) of the law in order to delete it, noting that it disqualifies political office holders from voting or being voted for at conventions or congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

He said that he received inputs from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government after careful and thorough reviews of the Bill and its implications for democratic processes in our country.

His words: The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2022, passed by the National Assembly forwarded for Presidential Assent, via a letter dated 31st January, 2022. In line with established tradition, I received inputs from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government after careful and thorough reviews of the Bill and its implications to democratic processes in our country.

It is gratifying to note that the current Bill comes with a great deal of improvement from the previous Electoral Bill 2021. There are salient and praiseworthy provisions that could positively revolutionize elections in Nigeria through the introduction of new technological innovations. These innovations would guarantee the constitutional rights of citizens to vote and to do so effectively.

Itll engender transparency of elections

The Bill would also improve and engender clarity, effectiveness and transparency of the election process, as well as reduce to the barest minimum incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties.

These commendable efforts are in line with our policy to bequeath posterity and landmark legal framework that paves the way for credible and sound electoral process that we would all be proud of.

Why I rejected Section 84

Expressing his rejection of Section 84 (12) of the new law, President Buhari said, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly, from the review it is my perspective that the substance of the Bill is both reformative and progressive. I am making this bold declaration because I foresee the great potentials of the Bill.

The President said: Worthy of note include the democratic efficacy of the Bill with particular reference to sections 3, 9(2), 34, 41, 47, 84(9), (10) and (11) among others.

This, however, cannot be said about one provision as contained in the proposed Bill, which provision constitutes fundamental defect, as it is in conflict with extant constitutional provisions.

Section 84 (12) constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at Conventions or Congresses of any political party, for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the National Election,

Quoting the section, 84(12) No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election, the President noted it had introduced qualification and disqualification criteria that are ultra vires the Constitution by way of importing blanket restriction and disqualification to serving political office holders of which they are constitutionally accorded protection.

Besides he said: The practical application of section 84(12) of the Electoral Bill, 2022 will, if assented to, by operation of law, subject serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under section 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

It is imperative to note that the only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension as public officers within the context of the constitution is resignation, withdrawal or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election.

Hence, it will be stretching things beyond the constitutional limit to import extraneous restriction into the constitution on account of practical application of section 84(12) of the bill where political parties conventions and congresses were to hold earlier than 30 days to the election.

Arising from the foregoing, with particular regards to the benefits of the Bill, industry, time, resources and energy committed in its passage, I hereby assent to the Bill and request the Nationally Assembly consider immediate amendments that will bring the Bill in tune with constitutionality by way of deleting section 84 (12) accordingly.

President Buhari commended the National Assembly for their commitment and dedication to improving the previous Electoral Bill 2021.

NASS ll consider Buharis request to amend Section 84 (12)Lawan

President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, gave an assurance that the National Assembly will look into President Buharis request for the amendment of Section 84 (12) in the electoral act which bars political appointees from participating in their parties primaries.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the signing of the amended electoral act by President Buhari, the Senate President said the National Assembly will be willing to consider the Presidents request as soon as a Bill to that effect is brought before them.

His words: You know, this is a legitimate request. And that is why I commend the president. I will commend him for so many things, but let me also qualify it that even though he had a disagreement with the section, especially clause 84(12), that talks about public political office holders, he still went ahead to sign the bill into law and that is to show his commitment and desire to have an electoral law that will ensure that we have better outcomes when we do election.

So we will look at what he is asking for, I hope that they will send the request for the amendment in good time. Because time is of essence, INEC is waiting. And because we dont want to spill over some of these dates, unnecessarily. We will be expecting a communication from Mr. President with respect to this. And then the National Assembly in both chambers will look into the request for amendment but on the whole I think this is a wonderful development for this administration, for Nigeria, for the evolution and development and growth of democracy in Nigeria.

Dr. Lawan said with the Electoral Act in place, INEC should hit the ground running and ensure that successful elections are conducted in Osun and Ekiti elections this year and the general elections nationwide in 2023.

He said: And for INEC, now you have what you need. INEC, you have to produce the best possible electoral exercise, right from probably the Ekiti and Osun off-season elections. And of course, in the 2013 general elections.

Similarly, Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, stressed that if the provisions of the Act are properly managed by INEC it will mark a watershed in the nations election history.

Gbajabiamila said: I believe its a landmark piece of legislation, and has far reaching and I mean, far reaching implications. Of the provisions contained therein, I can count off head at least 10 to 15 provisions in that electoral law, that if properly executed by INEC, and the people who the laws are made for, it will be a turning point in electoral history of Nigeria. And we will witness, not just by mouthing free, fair and credible elections, but we will actually witness free, fair and credible elections moving forward.

Well decide today  INEC

In a statement by Dr. Festus Okoye, national commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, the INEC said:

Today Friday 25th February 2022, the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria signed the Electoral Bill 2022 into law. This is historic being the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 that the Electoral Act is repealed and re-enacted. It contains many progressive provisions that will facilitate the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

The nation now has the Electoral Act 2022 which replaces the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Together with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the new Act constitutes the principal law to govern the conduct of future elections, including the 2023 General Election.

Given the tight timelines contained in the new law, the Commission fully appreciates the importance of proceeding with their implementation in earnest.

Consequently, an extraordinary meeting of the Commission is scheduled for tomorrow Saturday 26th February 2022. Thereafter, a statement will be issued on the way forward.

According to him, the journey to the 2023 general election will be challenging and the Commission will deploy creative, innovative and scientific strategies and initiatives in the discharge of its responsibilities.

The Commission has commenced preparations for the election. Early, strategic and conscious planning and the deployment of technology are part of the Commissions strategic plan and election project plan. It requires the deployment of technology to obviate human interference in the electoral process.

Based on the importance and progressive impact of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission has scheduled an extraordinary meeting for Saturday February 26, 2022 to deliberate on issues around the signing of the Electoral Act, 2022, the tight timelines imbedded in the Act, the issuance of Notice for the election as well as the date for the release of the timetable and schedule of activities and other issues ancillary to the release of the Act, Okoye stated.

New Regulations, Guidelines

INEC added that it is committed to begin immediate implementation of the law and that it will come up with new sets of regulations and guidelines for next years general election.

Okoye said; The Commission will plan and plan well. The 2023 election will be challenging and the Commission is determined to get its processes and procedures in place ahead of the elections.

The Commission must design new Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals for the 2023 general elections. These must be based on the new Electoral Act. We must train our staff across board on the fundamental provisions of the Act.

The Act is not futuristic. It has come into force and it is for immediate implementation. We are confident that some of the progressive provisions will aid the work of the Commission. We as a Commission are determined to reconfigure our electoral system and institutionalize a new template for credible elections.

Alteration of Election Timetable

He said Saturdays meeting will determine actions to be taken on the issuance of 2023 electoral timelines.

The alteration, release and issuance of Timetable and Schedule of Activities are the prerogative of the Commission. The Commission has scheduled an extraordinary meeting for Saturday February 26, 2022 to deliberate on issues around the timelines imbedded in the Act.

The Commission will also deliberate on the issue of issuance of Notice for the Election as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities. The new Law is fundamental and the Commission is convoking an extraordinary meeting to deliberate on its provisions, Okoye stated.

Buhari kept his promiseFayemi, NGF chairman

Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi commended the President for keeping to his promise to sign the amendment bill into law.

Asked on what impact the new law would bring, Fayemi said: I think its a huge relief that this piece of legislation has been finally signed 12 years after the last one.

The last Electoral Act operating is a 2010 Act. And we must commend the National Assembly, particularly the committees on INEC both in the Senate and the House of Representatives for doing such a yeomans job of putting this together, and ensuring that we have a law, that can accord with global standards, and also with the yearnings of the ordinary Nigerians.

Itll make conduct of 2023 polls less challenging Atiku

Similarly, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, said the law would make conduct of the 2023 general elections less challenging.

Atiku, who wrote on his verified twitter handle said: Now that the legal framework for the 2023 elections is in place following President Buharis assent to the Electoral Bill, the Independent National Electoral Commission needs to roll-out the election guidelines in earnest so that the political parties and Nigerians can fully commence the journey to choose their leaders in 2023.

I wish to acknowledge the work of the legislature in bringing this law with new innovations into fruition. I also pay tribute to the nudge of the civil society and patriotic Nigerians in making this brand new Electoral Act a reality.

Saraki lauds Buhari, NASS, CSOs, Nigerians for working for free polls

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, commended President Buhari for finally signing the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2022 into law while also hailing the National Assembly, Civil Society Organisations and other Nigerians who remained persistent insisting that Nigeria deserves a new law that will guarantee free, fair and peaceful poll in 2023 and beyond.

Saraki in a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, Head of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, said: The new Electoral Act brings us closer to having free, fair, and peaceful elections in which peoples votes count, where the majority will have their way and the minority will have their say. For too long, the old electoral law had been part of the problem. We can now seek to elect our leaders having in mind the current challenges facing our country.

With a new Electoral Act, we can move on to debating real solutions to the problems of insecurity, creation of jobs, strengthening of the economy, cementing national unity and building a better future for all Nigerians.

Were not yet there but its a quantum leap Ekweremadu

Also, former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, described it as a quantum leap for the nations democracy.

Ekweremadu, who described the journey to the new electoral law as quite frustrating, however poured encomiums on the civil society, media, and Nigerians for standing up for the nations democracy.

In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Uche Anichukwu, the former Deputy Senate President said: I have been part of the nations electoral reform for over the 10 years, but I must confess that the journey to the new Electoral Act was by far the most frustrating.

After the major electoral reform of 2010 that also involved amendments to the 1999 Constitution to, among others, open the doors to technology in our electoral system, check some executive excesses, manipulations by political parties, and straighten the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through financial and administrative autonomy, our expectation after amendments to the Electoral Act in 2015 was that the new administration would support the National Assembly to further straighten our electoral laws and system.

Unfortunately, four times, the amendments were turned down in the 8th National Assembly, apparently thwarted by narrow, partisan interests and ambitions.

The efforts in the current National Assembly also faced similar challenges, but it is heartwarming that it has finally materialised with the presidential assent.

Certainly, we didnt get all we pushed for in the new law, but it is nevertheless a quantum leap for our electoral system and I congratulate all, who played a part in it.

Its a departure from PDPs era of electoral fraud  APC

Commenting on the law, the All Progressives Congress, APC, described the development as a departure from the era of electoral fraud institutionalized by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

National Secretary of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe said: This is a big win for our electioneering processes and our democracy.

As a party and government, we will continue to champion needed reforms. We hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians to join us to completely stamp out past practices of electoral fraud weaponised by past administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

Buhari, APC bowed to pressure  PDP

On its part, the PDP congratulated Nigerians, particularly civil society organizations for fighting on the side of the PDP in putting pressure

The party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba saluted the courage of PDP and other opposition members in the National Assembly for standing their ground on the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which among other things principally provided for the electronic transmission of election results directly from the polling units.

The statement read: The newly signed Electoral Act is a death knell for the All Progressives Congress, APC, which thrives in manipulations, ballot box snatching, ballot box stuffing and alteration of election results at the collation centers against the expressed Will of the people.

It is clear that President Buhari and the deflated APC had come to their wits end and bowed to the sustained pressure by the PDP and Nigerians for the entrenchment of processes that can guarantee free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2023.

The victory by Nigerians in resisting the APC and compelling President Buhari to sign the new Electoral Act clearly signposts the inevitable triumph of the Will and aspiration of the people to kick out the APC through a process that ensures that votes cast at the polling units count.

The PDP calls on Nigerians not to rest on their oars but to further strengthen their resolve by rallying themselves to take charge of their polling units and ensure that their votes are transparently counted and transmitted in the 2023 general elections.

Nigerians must note that the APC in its desperation will not give up easily but attempt to device other means to frustrate credible elections in the country.

Our Party therefore charges Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be at alert and resist all shenanigans of the APC ahead of the 2023 elections.

While commending the international community for standing on the side of democracy in Nigeria, the PDP counsels President Buhari to further redeem his image by reining in his party members who are reportedly seeking to deploy the instrumentality of violence to frustrate the efforts for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

Itll strengthen our democratic process PANDEF

On its part, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF said the law would further strengthen the nations democratic process.

PANDEF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ken Robinson, said: It is a welcome development after all the dilly-dally. This is perhaps the best thing President Buhari has done in terms of strengthening the nations democratic process.

President Buhari and the National Assembly both deserve commendation. The ball is now in the court of the Electoral Commission to ensure that the Act is implemented to the letter in the entire electoral process, with adherence to every detail, in all parts of the country.

Its a right step in the right direction  Bode George

In his remarks, former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, said the passage of the law is a step in the right direction.

George said: The much debated , much discussed and much delayed Electoral Bill has finally been signed into law on Friday morning by President Muhammodu Buhari. This is a triumph for all Nigerians and for all advocates of genuine representative governance.

I congratulate President Buhari for being courageous and forward looking enough to append his signature to this very significant Bill which has now become part of our law.

This Electoral law is quite significant in many ways. It will forever remove the democratic process from the shackles of god-fatherism and money bags who continue to sabotage the will of the people. It will equally reduce a great deal of electoral malpractices through the brazen forging of figures and other manipulative processes that hinder the democratic growth.

YCE reacts

Reacting to Section 84 of the Electoral Act, Secretary-General, Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide said: This is ambiguous, the section must stipulate the time, there must be specific time stipulation, it must stipulate time, whether one year or 6 months to vacate your present office to be eligible for another.

There must be specific time period that one is required to resign from office before the election of the new office is held but as it stands now, it is not specific, it can be twisted here or there. It is going to be challenged in the court of law, there must be specific time, if you are holding a political office and you intend to contest a coming election, you must resign 60 days before the next election, 180 days, 90 days, be specific, you dont leave it open.

Vanguard


Body of actress Tangmo found in Chao Phraya

BANGKOK: Rescuers found the body of TV actress Nida Tangmo Patcharaveerapong floating in the Chao Phraya River near the Pibul Songkhram 1 pier in Nonthaburi on Saturday (fEB 26), two days after she fell from a speedboat.

accidentsdeathtransportmarineSafety

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 26 February 2022, 05:02PM

The body of actress Nida Tangmo Patcharaveerapong is taken to a Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescue van on Saturday afternoon. Screengrab: Post Today

The body of actress Nida Tangmo Patcharaveerapong, 37, is found floating in the Chao Phraya River at 1.10pm on Saturday. Photo: Facebook / Ruamkatanyu Foundation

Dayos Detjob, 44, the actressS brother who joined the search operation, confirmed the body was that of his younger sister. He thanked everyone involved for their work during the 38-hour-long search, reports the Bangkok Post.

Rescuers from the Ruamkanyu Foundation reported that the body was found floating in the river around 1:10pm, about one kilometre from where she had fallen from a speedboat on Thursday night. The body was taken to the pier, where Tangmos mother, Panida Sirayootyotin, 67, was waiting, along with the actresss boyfriend and friends.

Eakpan Bunluerit, a well-known volunteer rescue worker and actor, also confirmed that the body was that of Tangmo.

Police cordoned off the area around the pier to give family and friends some privacy and keep back a huge media horde before taking the body for a post-mortem examination at the Central Institute of Forensic Science of Thammasat University Hospital to determine the cause of death.

The 37-year-old actress was among six people on the speedboat, which was travelling from the Krung Thon Bridge in Bangkok to the Rama VII Bridge in Nonthaburi. She fell off the boat at about 10pm near the Pibul Songkhram 1 pier.

Media reports said Tangmo had been sitting on the back of the boat before she slipped into the river around 10:40pm. She was not wearing a life jacket.

Thai media reported that the toilet on the boat was not working properly and that the actress had gone to the back of the boat to relieve herself. Her manager witnessed the fall and shouted for help.

Rescuers and divers arrived at the scene around midnight Thursday to begin their search. They said the search was difficult as the current was strong and there was very little light at the time.
CCSAs daily case count briefing set to wind down

BANGKOK: Critics have voiced concerns over reports that the Ministry of Public Health will cease providing daily bulletins containing the number of new COVID-19 infections over the preceding 24-hour period, saying members of the public have the right to be kept abreast of the situation without having to seek the information themselves online.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthSafety

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 26 February 2022, 09:45AM

Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health. Photo: Bangkok Post

Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, has said the daily update on the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases would possibly end soon as health authorities change the focus of their briefings to the emergence of new clusters of what is thought will soon be classified an endemic disease, reports the Bangkok Post.

Currently, about 60% of all people infected with the virus are receiving care under the governments Home and Community Isolation programme, he said.

The figures are already out of date when we announce them. So whats the point? We previously gave the number of [daily] infections because we were afraid they would overwhelm hospitals capacity, but now they dont. Every patient is well taken care of, he said.

The ministry will now report only new infections in provinces with serious outbreaks for the sake of containment and efficiency, he said.

The figures, however, will remain posted on the ddc.moph.go.th website as all countries are required to collect daily tallies and report them to the World Health Organization in a transparent manner.

Dr Thira Woratanarat, associate professor of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, pointed to the need for the government to continue publicising the infection rate as he said it should be considered of major interest to the public under Section 59 of the charter.

On the other hand, Dr Thirawat Hemachudha, the chief of Chulalongkorn Universitys Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, reiterated that the daily infection rate doesnt reflect the true number, largely because of a lack of RT-PCR test kits.

I think the ministry wants people to panic less and trust in its ability to manage the situation, he said.
Neeson shines in Blacklight

Over the past decade actor Liam Neeson has established himself as an action hero in sleek thrillers that you can normally guarantee are better than the stock standard films in the genre. Even his films that take a more indie approach, like The Ice Road, always seem to have something about them that makes them an enjoyable watch from beginning to end. That tradition continues with Neesons latest film  Blacklight from director Mark Williams (Honest Thief).

World-Entertainment

By David Griffiths

Saturday 26 February 2022, 11:00AM

Liam Neeson in Blacklight (2022). Image: IMDB

Set amongst the current political turmoil of the United States, Blacklight follows the events that occur when a political candidate is killed in what appears to be a hit-and-run accident. Intrepid journalist Mira Jones (Emmy Raver-Lampman  The Umbrella Academy) finds herself doubting that the incident was an accident, especially after wanted man Dusty Crane (Taylor John Smith  Hunter Killer) tries to contact her about it.

This puts Mira onto the radar of the FBIs Mr Fix-It, Travis Block (Neeson  Schindlers List), who is asked to pull Dusty off the street and put him into rehab. This is a job that Block has done 100s of times previously but it is also a job that has ruined him mentally and causes friction between himself and his daughter, Amanda (Claire van der Boom  Red Hill).

Blacklight may not exactly be a cinematic masterpiece but it is certainly an enjoyable film to watch. First time feature film screenwriter Nick May fills the story with intrigue and suspense while also remembering to make the characters likable for the audience. Neesons character, Block, is the kind of the character that would normally be the bad guy in these types of films. Instead, here May makes him a likeable character by showing him in tender moments with not only his daughter but also his granddaughter (Gabriella Sengos).

The plot allows for Blocks character arc to become just as much as a learning curve as Miras investigation. May is also a smart enough screenwriter to know that a film like this works better with a mix of action and dramatic moments. Often throughout this film scenes between Mira sitting down and talking to her colleagues or speaking with Block are just as suspenseful as the moments when people are fighting for their lives.

Mays screenplay is further enhanced by the work of director Mark Williams. Williams delivers some pretty spectacular car and foot chases all with the city of Melbourne providing a perfect and picturesque back-drop. Williams seems to bring the same intensity to Blacklight that is created on the show that he produces  Ozark, and the result is a film that is guaranteed to bring the big cinematic suspenseful moments all while revealing more about characters that the audience is drawn closer to. The result is a film where the viewers are often on the edge of their seats as they actually care about what is going to happen when a characters life is put in danger.

If you need any further proof that Williams is a sensational director when it comes to the action-thriller genre, look no further than the brilliant scenes here as Block is cornered inside a house by a team of men sent to kill him. The inventive way and shot selection that Williams and his cinematographer, Shelly Johnson (Captain America: The First Avenger), use make this something pretty special.

Once again Neeson seems to enjoy the thrill of being in such a film  he is a master of this genre now and it once again shows in his performance here. He is also well supported by Emmy Raver-Lampman, who reveals herself as somebody that Hollywood needs to consider for bigger roles, while Aussie Claire van der Boom is her usual brilliant self.

At the end of the day what you get here is what we have come to expect from Liam Neeson recently  a slick crime-thriller that draws its audience in with just the right mix of action and drama. If you are a fan of the thriller genre then certainly take a trip to the cinema to check this one out.

Blacklight is currently screening in Phuket and is classified 15

3/5 Stars

David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus
Russian Grand Prix cancelled in wake of Ukraine crisis

FORMULA ONE: The Russian Grand Prix scheduled for Sept 25 has been cancelled in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the sports owners Formula One announced yesterday (Feb 25).

Formula-One

By AFP

Saturday 26 February 2022, 10:16AM

The Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled. Photo: AFP / file

F1 were reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin defying Western warnings to unleash a full-scale invasion on Thursday that quickly claimed dozens of lives and displaced at least 100,000 people.

Fighting has gone into a second day with Ukrainian forces fighting off Russian invaders in the streets of the capital Kyiv.

On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances, read the Formula One statement.

We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.

Their rapid action over the race comes after defending world champion Max Verstappen and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel had publicly declared at testing in Barcelona their opposition to driving in the race.

Red Bull driver Verstappen said: When a country is at war, its not right to run there, whilst Vettel was more forthright.

For myself, my own opinion is I should not go, I will not go. I think its wrong to race in the country, said the 34-year-old German Aston Martin driver.

Im sorry for the people, innocent people that are losing their lives, that are getting killed for stupid reasons and a very, very strange and mad leadership.

Haas dilemma

American Formula 1 team Haas, which have a Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, showed their distaste for the invasion by announcing their cars would not sport the Russian colours of its title sponsor Uralkali during the last day of pre-season testing yesterday.

Haas whose cars usually sport the blue, white and red colours of the Russian flag, will present its VF-22 in a plain white livery, without the Uralkali branding, for the third and final day of testing in Catalonia, the team said in a statement.

Team principal Guenther Steiner, who maintained that the team was financially OK, said a decision would be announced next week on the future of Haass long-term collaboration with Uralkali.

The future of Mazepin, whose father Dmitry Mazepin is the non-executive director of Uralkali and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is also in question.

Steiner acknowledges that the 22-year-olds career with the team must be resolved but said its not all up to us.

There are governments involved and I have no power over that, said Steiner. We have to see how the situation develops.

Mazepin, who was due to drive during yesterdays morning session, made no comment on the war in Ukraine in a tweet he made to his fans and followers on Friday.

Its a difficult time and I am not in control over a lot of what is being said and done, he tweeted. Im choosing to focus on what I CAN control by working hard and doing my best for my @HaasF1Team. My deepest thanks for your understanding and support.

This was due to be the last Russian Grand Prix in Sochi which has hosted the race since 2014. Next year it is due to move to Saint Petersburg.
Shift to endemic forecast within 4 months

BANGKOK: The Public Health Ministry is setting its sights on declaring the spread of the coronavirus disease as endemic within the next four months, said its top official.

COVID-19healthtourism

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 26 February 2022, 08:30AM

Officials at Government House undergo a nasal swab as preparations are under way to welcome Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who arrived in the kingdom on Thursday for a three-day official visit. Photo: Chanat Katanyu / Bangkok Post

Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said the fatality rate in the current Omicron wave is significantly lower than during the previous outbreak, reports the Bangkok Post.

Even though lung infections are on the rise, these numbers are also proportionally lower relative to previous caseloads, he added.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Rungruang Kitpati said the fatalities were 10 times lower and studies suggested they will be slashed in half again if 60%-70% of elderly people get a third jab.

Dr Kiattiphum said the ministry will hold a press conference soon to outline its management plan for transitioning to managing an endemic disease.

In early January, the ministry said it intended to downgrade COVID-19 to an endemic disease this year as the current wave showed mild symptoms and more people receive vaccines.

Dr Kiattiphum also defended the ministrys plan to remove COVID-19 treatments for patients with no or mild symptoms from the list of conditions covered by the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme.

He said budget planning would have to be reviewed for financial sustainability, noting that about B100 billion of the Ucep fund has been spent treating COVID-19 patients at both state-run and private hospitals, while another B100bn had financed the vaccination rollout.

He insisted this group of patients would still be entitled to free treatment under the state welfare schemes they registered with, while moderate and severe cases remain covered by the Ucep scheme.

According to Dr Kiattiphum, patients with mild symptoms are being urged to enter home or community isolation programmes to free up hospital beds for moderate and severe cases and non-COVID patients.

It isnt just about budget planning. Its about changing peoples attitude to prepare for an endemic disease. When patients have very mild symptoms, they take medicine and rest. If the symptoms worsen, it is time to see a doctor, he said.

He said the ministry is prepared to adjust the duration of medical treatment for COVID-19 patients and the quarantine period for high-risk contacts.

Officials said lockdown measures are very unlikely to be reimposed despite the surge in infections.
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

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A few showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 64F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

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Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
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RIDGEFIELD  The first phase of a $55 million project to upgrade the towns sewer infrastructure is nearly 60 percent complete, but additional manpower is needed to bring it to fruition by April 1.

On that date, stricter guidelines relative to municipal phosphorus removal systems  as mandated by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection  are set to take effect.

Although the town is behind schedule in meeting this deadline, according to First Selectman Rudy Marconi, officials are working to get the project back on track.

Ridgefields Water Pollution Control Authority, which oversees the towns sewer operations, has held several meetings with the contractor, Spectraserve Inc., to ensure additional crews and subcontracting work are pursued to complete the project in a timely manner, Selectwoman Maureen Kozlark said. Kozlark is the Board of Selectmens liaison to the WPCA.

The project includes a top-to-bottom renovation of the District I treatment plant on South Street, the closure of the District II plant on Route 7, and the construction of a new pump station and force-main sewer line.

Voters approved an estimated $48 million for the projects in 2018, but the actual costs came in at more than $55 million, according to calculations from the WPCA

Last fall, voters approved $2.9 million of federal American Rescue Plan monies for the second phase of the project. The WPCA allocated $500,000 to further narrow the funding gap, and additional grant funding from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Clean Water Fund will shave off more than $1 million from the total.

Marconi said much of the progress on the projects completion was lost due to COVID, and that increased labor and material costs contributed to higher than normal bid prices.

Installing the new pump line and decommissioning the District II sewage treatment plant, for example, was estimated to cost $5.8 million in 2018. The bids for that project, however, came in substantially over what the estimate was, Marconi said in an earlier interview.

This week, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) visited Ridgefield to tour the District I treatment plant. Marconi conveyed to the congressman that the project would further be stalled were it not for the federal stimulus.

Were entirely grateful to the American government and the Connecticut delegation for getting Ridgefield its share (of ARPA funds), which will be very helpful in achieving this sewer project, Marconi said. The decommissioning of the District II plant will help improve the water quality there by pumping (it) into the new facility in the center of town. The quality of that effluent being discharged is extremely important in terms of the quality of the water in the Norwalk River, and the elimination of that plant will only improve the quality of that water.

Ridgefield was one of four towns recently sued by the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound, which alleged that it failed to file required paperwork regarding stormwater systems with state regulators over the past three years.

The towns contacted by the group, in part, were chosen because their stormwater systems affected rivers and streams on the states list of impaired bodies of water. The lawsuits mention nearly a dozen bodies of water affected by the towns stormwater systems, including the Norwalk River, which runs through Ridgefield and eventually into the Long Island Sound.

The town has enlisted the attorneys of Pullman & Comely, LLC, to represent it in federal court.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
Moscow, ID (83843)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 68F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low around 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
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.
Before proceeding with the I list of 1960s top-10 hits, here's an evaluation of three music streaming services. While I subscribe to two of them, and am trying out a third, I agree with musicians like David Crosby and Roger McGuinn (who were both in the Byrds) that artists are paid far too little by these platforms.

And, of course, because of the discontent surrounding Spotify podcaster Joe Rogan and the COVID vaccine-related positions of both him and some of his guests, several artists  including Neil Young, Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and others removed their music from that streaming service. Young, in particular, encouraged his fans to try out Apple Music, saying it has higher fidelity  a key point for Young, who was not happy with the sound of early CDs and has lobbied for better sound for years.

Leaving aside the Rogan issue, I am currently subscribed to YouTube Music and Spotify, and am trying out Apple Music for a month. Here is my impression of the three:

YouTube Music: The pros: The music, whether on playlists or albums, plays without hiccups here, and users have access to a huge collection of songs, as subscribers can listen to what's on the streaming platform, which lacks some key music; and YouTube itself, which has a great deal more music, but sometimes at lesser fidelity. The cons: The lesser fidelity  YouTube Music has a very irritating hiss, at least on my Audio-Technica headphones, and somewhat less so on my Sennheiser phones. I am no longer able to use my wired Sony headphone on my phone because of some technical defects, but the platform sounded fine that way. Also, last time I checked, YouTube Music lacked albums from Jimi Hendrix and, until recently, the Eagles.

Spotify: Pros: This service has the aforementioned Jimi Hendrix albums, and has somewhat better sound. They also have great playlists, covering genres of music and years, and albums that never existed on CD. There are also many interesting music-related podcasts, including a multi-part series on the Beach Boys and Mixology, a comparison of the mono and stereo mixes of notable 1960s albums. Cons: Sometimes I have to open the service several times before the song choices materialize, sometimes it gets stuck when I play songs and, worst of all, sometimes one, two, or four songs on a playlist are skipped, and I have to "circle back " to play them.

Apple Music: Pros: Superior sound, including Dolby Atmos (height, width and depth-based surround) on many songs (which sounds like they have extra instruments that are not on the stereo mixes), Dolby Audio on many 1970s albums, which play as original quadraphonic on surround systems; as well as higher-fidelity lossless. They also uniquely have (at least for Canada) the Beach Boys' Sunflower and Surf's Up albums as individual entities. (In Canada, they are now available as part of the Feel Flows box set) Apple also has several greatest hits from artists on the 1970s Hot Wax/Invictus labels. Interestingly, I bought a Freda Payne album on iTunes years ago, lost track of it because of my inability to navigate that service, and to my pleasant surprise, the album was in my new Apple Music library. Cons: So far, not much, except that their playlists are not as interesting as Spotify's, and you need particular headphones and an iPhone (I use a Samsung phone) to take full advantage of the surround option on headphones, and a pricey Dolby Atmos system to hear it on speakers.

And after all that, here's the I list:

Frank Ifield -I Remember You: Another of the few pre-British Invasion UK hits, this one with a bit of a yodel and a harmonica part similar to a song that was being recorded twice the week this song charted  the Beatles' Love Me Do.

The Impressions- It's All Right, Keep On Pushing, Amen: One of the best groups of the 1960s, combining soul and spirituality.

Jorgen Ingmann- Apache: A nicely atmospheric and much covered early 1960s instrumental.

The Intruders- Cowboys to Girls: A great late 1960s soul hit with a very effective, lagging horn part and a nicely ragged vocal.

The Irish Rovers- The Unicorn: A lilting Irish story song with a very cuddly vocal.

The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing: One of the greatest funk hits of the 1960s, and they deserved many more  their musical legacy is massive.

Burl Ives- A Little Bitty Tear, Funny Way of Laughing: One of the artists from the 1940s and 1950s who had hits in the 1960s, with a comforting, grandfatherly vocal style.

The Ivy Three-Yogi: An extremely goofy novelty song based on the cartoon character Yogi Bear.

Next time: The J list.
While index included multiple factors, from cost and culture to night lighting and COVID measures, Singapore achieved the highest percentage of women feeling safe when walking alone after dark, with a staggering 88% of women saying that they do.
A road in the community of Cayce shows some of the tree debris after a tornado reportedly touched down in the community for the second time in two months Tuesday morning.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 58F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Homeowners whose properties were damaged in the recent storms are being warned to vet tradesmen before employing them to do any repair work  and not to rely on the mere fact that they appear on a find-a-trader website.

Mike Edwards, founder of home improvement website DIY Doctor, says: 'It's madness to hand over responsibility for someone to do repairs who you simply found on a website without doing your own checks first.'

He adds: 'Although a majority of these tradesmen are reputable, you must remember the websites are funded by membership fees  and are effectively a marketing tool.'

Damage limitation: Vet tradesmen before employing them to do any repair work

Research by The Mail on Sunday has discovered that although find-a-trader websites screen members, cowboys can slip through the net.

Users should also be aware that the websites such as TrustATrader, Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People and Which? Trusted Trader charge tradesmen as much as 800 a year to be on their lists.

Such websites are not to be confused with trade organisations or the only Government-approved scheme TrustMark, where members must pass a range of quality checks made by independent assessors before being allowed to use a TrustMark logo to promote their firm.

Its checks are far more rigorous than those done by find-a-trader websites, where membership fees are a priority and the vetting process is often little more than checking at least half the positive reviews a company receives are genuine  and not fakes. Edwards says: 'Rather than using a website whose job is to promote its members, you might first consider having a go at repairs yourself. A broken fence can look a big job but websites such as ours offer practical help on how to plant posts and put up panels.'

For those not able to tackle the job themselves, Edwards suggests asking a neighbour or friend for someone they might recommend  and to then personally check on the quality of their work. He also says you should ask a tradesman for three references whom you can call to ask about the quality of work done. You should also seek out local tradesmen with the TrustMark accreditation  which hopefully means you are guaranteed not to be ripped off. It covers trades such as builders, plumbers, roofers, electricians and plasterers. Those who pass its tests pay 114 a year to use the logo.

Sue Beeson, of TrustMark, says: 'We not only have strict standards of work members must abide by, but we are also signed up to the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman that provides an independent arbitration service if there is any disagreement over quality of work done.'

Membership of a trade organisation is also a signal that a firm offers a decent quality of service. Electrician-approved groups to look out for include the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting. For gas fitters, seek out a Gas Safe Register accredited worker and for builders a Federation of Master Builders member.

Anna Alexander, from London, hired a builder through a personal recommendation to pave her driveway, render the house and do electrical work in her bathroom. But once the job was completed, slabs on the drive cracked, rendering fell off the house, and the bathroom fan was not connected so that air could flow to outside the house.

Anna says: 'The builder said he would repay me  but never did. So I took him to county court and won.' She was awarded the maximum 7,100 including costs in November 2018. But in September 2020 she found his business on

MyBuilder, even using photos of her bathroom as an example of the builder's 'great' work. She told the website  which has since removed the trader  but it was unable to explain how he passed its vetting process. MyBuilder said it makes robust background checks and skills-based assessments that up to a third of applicants fail. It said: 'When an issue is brought to our attention we take appropriate action.'

Gary McEwen, chief executive of TrustATrader, says websites such as his are doing 'everything we can' to vet tradesmen and deal with complaints. Out of 200,000 jobs completed a month, he says complaints number no more than a hundred.
BP has benefited from a staggering 27billion cash haul from its operations in Russia over two decades, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The FTSE 100 oil giant's ventures in the former Soviet Union have been highly profitable, but the firm and its boss Bernard Looney now face huge pressure to sever those ties, which date back 20 years.

Chris Bryant, an influential MP who sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, accused BP of being 'complicit' in the invasion of Ukraine.

'The tanks that are rolling into Ukraine are paid for by the profits of oil and gas companies in Russia  including BP,' said Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda.

Under pressure: BP boss Bernard Looney is facing calls to quit the board of Rosneft

The FTSE 100 firm's large-scale involvement in Russia took off in 2003, when it set up a joint venture, TNK-BP, with four billionaire oligarchs.

When that partnership was dismantled in 2013, BP received $12billion in cash and acquired a near-20 per cent stake in Kremlin-backed oil company Rosneft, which is one of Russia's largest producers of crude oil and a major supplier of its military.

The company still has that holding in Rosneft. Looney sits on the board alongside former BP chief Bob Dudley and chairman Igor Sechin, who is a close ally of President Putin.

Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng summoned Looney for a crisis meeting on Friday, leaving him 'with no doubt' about the strength of concern in government over its business interests in Russia. MPs and campaigners want Looney to resign from the board of Rosneft.

But this presents him with thorny moral, financial and practical dilemmas.

Ending BP's relationship with Rosneft would burnish his ethical credentials, which have already been under attack from environmental activists.

But it would also choke off a valuable stream of income for the company. In addition, there is the pragmatic issue of finding a buyer for what has become a toxic investment.

Financially, BP's foray into Russia has been one of the most rewarding in its 113 year history, yielding it 27billion in cash payments, after an $8billion investment.

The company received $19billion (14.25billion) in dividends from TNK along with $12billion (9billion) in cash from Rosneft when the joint venture was sold.

On top of that, a total of $5billion (3.75billion) of dividends have flowed into its coffers from Rosneft over its nine years of owning a hunky stake.

Rosneft accounted for around $2.4billion (1.8billion) of BP's profits last year, a fifth of the $12.8billion total. Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine last week has unleashed a barrage of economic sanctions from the West.

When quizzed on BP's Russia links earlier this month, Looney said BP sought to 'avoid the politics', but vowed that his firm would comply with Ukraine-related sanctions.

The MoS reported a fortnight ago that BP was expected to be handed another $1billion dividend from its stake in Rosneft.

Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee, said all firms 'connected to funding Putin's war machine should think very hard given that they are in scope of UK sanctions and those of our allies'.

Bill Browder, chief executive of Hermitage Capital and head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign  which seeks to impose visa bans and asset freezes on human rights abusers and corrupt officials  also questioned Looney's position on the Rosneft board.

'It's unseemly that a major British company CEO would be sitting in the same room as some of these now war criminals,' he said.

However, Browder said exiting the stake altogether could be problematic. He compared BP's stake in Rosneft to 'nuclear waste'. He said: 'No one is going to buy it. It's worthless at the moment.'

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Teverson has warned that BP could find itself on 'the wrong side of history' due to events in Ukraine.

In a meeting between BP and Putin in 2019, former CEO Bob Dudley, who also sits on Rosneft's board, said it was a 'proud claim' that BP accounted for more than half of the UK's capital flows to Russia.

BP said on Friday: 'We are closely watching the concerning developments in Ukraine and Russia. We are doing all we can to monitor the fast-changing situation.

'Our priority is the safety and security of our people. We are accounting for all our team.'

The company reiterated that it would 'of course, comply with all relevant sanctions'.

The invasion of Ukraine has raised questions about peers Lord Goldsmith and Lord Barker, both of whom have strong links with Russia and are taking leaves of absence from the House of Lords.

By taking leave, peers are not required to disclose how much they are paid by foreign clients, while keeping their honorary titles.

Goldsmith, who served as Tony Blair's Attorney General until 2007, has represented the Russian Federation as a partner at law firm Debevoise & Plimpton. Barker runs London-listed aluminium producer En+, whose biggest shareholder is sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Conservative MP Bob Seely said: 'I think it is wrong for members of the House of Lords to be able to take leave of absence so they do not have to give information out about their clients.

'When those clients are the Russian state or its proxies, it is even more indefensible. This is yet more evidence that we need a Foreign Lobbying Act.'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons on Thursday that Europe must seek to end its 'collective dependence on Russian oil and gas' which has served to 'empower Putin for too long'.

Among further sanctions proposed by Johnson is a ban on Russia being able to access the SWIFT network, a payment system that allows banks, companies and individuals to make fast money transfers overseas.

However, a total ban has been met with resistance from other European countries.

Last week, senior City figures met with Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Glen and the Prime Minister.

An attendee told The Mail on Sunday that one of the options discussed was to block certain Russian companies and individuals from using the Swift network  rather than enforcing an all-out ban.

The source said: 'That could be a blunt instrument and you could just find the Russians working their way around that if you have a blanket ban.

'So what you might want to do is target individual institutions and individuals. The risk is the Russians pull out of Swift completely and create their own payments system.

'So rather than shut out the Russians completely, you focus it on individual institutions, which appears to be the route the Government is taking.'
AstraZeneca has moved to placate shareholders over its chief executive's 14million pay by promising to freeze his bonus package for three years.

The pharmaceutical giant suffered a shareholder rebellion last year over the rewards lavished on its boss, Pascal Soriot.

Even though AstraZeneca had under his leadership played a key role in the global Covid vaccine effort, investors were angry the firm had significantly increased his potential bonus for the second year in a row.

Taking the lead: : AstraZeneca, under Pascal Soriot's leadership, played a key role in the global Covid vaccine effort.

Outgoing chairman Leif Johansson said that, since last May's annual meeting, he had met 16 major investors representing 40 per cent of the share register.

He admitted the decision to ask shareholders to vote on a new pay policy for two consecutive years was an 'unusual step'.

These policies, which set share and bonus awards to executives, are typically voted on every three to five years.

Johansson last year promised investors the company would not present a new pay policy for three years.

Last week he confirmed in its annual report that the 2021 policy would remain in place until 2024 'in response to concerns raised by some shareholders'.

Despite the controversy, the Frenchman's pay lagged his peers in the global pharma industry. His pay last year was also below his total 15.9million for 2020.

In total, he owns stock in the business worth 26million.

The only change to Soriot's salary this year will be a rise of 3 per cent, in line with the rest of its workforce, taking his pay to 1.37million. His maximum bonus will be 250 per cent of his salary and long-term incentives will be 650 per cent of base pay until 2024.

The company's annual report last week praised him for continuing 'to work tirelessly with multiple Government policy makers, ministers of health and heads of state around the world to secure production and delivery of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine'.

Soriot took charge in 2012 and saw off a 70billion hostile bid from US firm Pfizer two years later. Shareholder returns have risen 345 per cent under his leadership.

Astra pledged to produce the Covid jab at cost price during the pandemic. It has now signed new deals to deliver it at a 'modest' profit.

Andrew Speke of the High Pay Centre think-tank said: 'Credit to the shareholders who challenged the scale of remuneration paid to Pascal Soriot, but his package is still more than 400 times that of the average UK worker.

'Greater restraint needs to be seen in future years if AstraZeneca really wants to show it takes fair and proportionate reward seriously.'
Aviva will this week reveal plans for a dividend rise for thousands of shareholders after a sweeping overhaul of the business.

Amanda Blanc, chief executive of the FTSE100 insurer, will map out a growth plan that will see the dividend jump next year for its 540,000 shareholders.

Cash flow: Analysts reckon Aviva could generate 1.3billion of free cash flow in 2023

Analysts reckon Aviva could generate 1.3billion of free cash flow in 2023, which could mean a dividend per share of as much as 45p  up from the 21p paid for 2020, and the anticipated 22.5p for 2021.

However, companies rarely pay out all of their cash, as they tend to invest a chunk in the business and keep some in reserve in case the economy takes a knock.

The Mail on Sunday revealed last month that Aviva was also preparing to return more than 5billion to shareholders in the form of a special dividend and share buyback.

Investors will be watching the dividend closely as most hold Aviva as an income-generating stock.

Blanc, 55, has shrunk Aviva's sprawling empire by selling off overseas businesses to focus on the UK, Ireland and Canada.

One analyst said: 'There is significant room to grow the dividend. There's a disconnect between its cash generation and dividend policy. Of course that's the capacity, but companies like to hoard cash'.

Aviva has come under pressure to return more capital to shareholders after Cevian, the largest activist investor in Europe, took a stake last year.

The insurer is also set to reduce the number of shares in the market, which should support the price and the dividends per share.
The best money decision that artist Maurice Blik ever made was to take advantage of Margaret Thatcher's Right to Buy policy in the early 1980s  and buy a home at a big discount.

Blik, 82, a sculptor and a Holocaust survivor whose huge bronze sculptures now sell for substantial six-figure sums, snapped up his two-bedroom flat in the centre of London for just 45,000 in 1981.

He spoke to Donna Ferguson. His book, The Art Of Survival, is out now.

Astute: Maurice Blik bought a flat in the Barbican for 45,000 under the Right to Buy scheme

What did your parents teach you about money?

That there are more important things in life. I am Jewish and was born in Amsterdam in 1939.

At the age of four, I was carted off to Camp Westerbork and then to Belsen concentration camp with my mother and my older sister. We were lucky to survive.

My father, a salesman who travelled around Holland selling car parts to garages, was taken from us and we never saw him again.

We can only assume he died somewhere, possibly Auschwitz. So did my uncles, my aunt, my cousins. I lost half my family in the Holocaust.

So it wasn't so much that my parents taught me about money. More about life. It wasn't means-tested whether you went into the camps, or not.

As a result, I think I probably have a view of life which has certain priorities: being alive is one of them. So is having your health, having love and people around you that matter.

Was money tight when you were growing up?

It was. I didn't find it stressful. Money was less important to me than freedom. I was six when a train I had been put on, to take me off somewhere, was liberated by Cossacks.

My mother, who was British and had come to Holland with her parents as a girl of 11, spoke perfect English.

She didn't have any papers, but somehow she persuaded people after the war that she was British.

She came here with me and my sister and I grew up in North Harrow, Middlesex. My mother worked at the local Kodak factory.

Eventually, she married my stepfather who was a diamond polisher. We weren't poor. We had enough to eat, we had a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. But we weren't wealthy either. We were a working-class family. And it was fine.

Have you ever struggled to make ends meet?

Yes. When I was 16, we moved to the United States. For complicated reasons, I didn't want to stay there so a year later I came back to England and started art school.

I rented a bedsit in a house and got a job in a pub in the evenings to feed and clothe myself.

I also did odd jobs fixing cars and working in coffee shops. I had to manage on my own. It was a struggle at times. I didn't have any family to turn to when I needed a good feed. But I do remember the pub landlady giving me free sandwiches.

Have you ever been paid silly money?

No. Quite the contrary. I've spent endless hours making a sculpture and then selling it for the equivalent of ten pence an hour.

It's unpredictable how long it can take to make something and sometimes you don't get paid at all.

I've spent weeks on pieces that don't work out and get thrown back in the claybin.

What was the best financial year of your life?

It was 2018. That year, as well as selling several pieces, I got commissioned to make a huge bronze sculpture, For Love Of Cyprus, for the outside of an office block in Cyprus.

It is 6.5 metres high. In total, my fee and the casting and the transport costs probably came to around 500,000. That was brilliant and I felt well-rewarded.

What's the most expensive thing you bought just for fun?

I recently bought a three-year-old Range Rover Autobiography for 60,000. It was a stupid money decision really, but you can't always be sensible and logical.

What is your biggest money mistake?

I foolishly invested 50,000 in a gold mine in Costa Rica about ten years ago. It went bankrupt, I think there was a political coup and my money disappeared.

That taught me not to speculate. So I don't invest in stocks and shares. Whenever I get spare cash, I invest in myself by casting a couple more limited edition bronzes.

I make all my sculptures from clay and then cast them in bronze in a small edition  six or nine. They can sell for anything up to 300,000.

It doesn't provide me with much security though, because I can't tell in advance if a sculpture is a saleable piece or not.

Obviously, if it's one of an edition that's sold in the past, then there's a good chance the next one will sell. But until something sells from an edition, you have no idea.

Vast: Maurice Blik's For Love Of Cyprus,right, and on the office wall, left

The best money decision you have made?

To take advantage of Maggie Thatcher's Right to Buy policy in 1981. I'd been renting my two-bedroom flat in the Barbican, London, for five years at that point, so I qualified for a discount when I bought it.

It cost me about 45,000. It was a stretch for me to buy it at the time and I had to rent a bedroom to lodgers. But it was a good financial decision.

I sold it ten years ago for about 600,000 and bought my current home, a converted stables in Essex with five bedrooms, for 700,000.

I imagine that my home has also gone up in value since I bought it, but I haven't checked.

Do you save into a pension?

No. I get the state pension and a small works pension because I used to teach at Middlesex University.

Theoretically, I could live on bread and cheese on the pension I receive. But I don't want to just exist. I want to live.

I'm 82 and I have no ambition to retire. I will work until the day I'm not going to be here.

Do you work because you rely on your income from sculptures?

No. If I didn't make sculpture, emotionally I don't know what I'd do. I've got to do something with my time after all.

I don't have a dog to take for a walk and if I did I'd find that infinitely boring. I have never made sculptures to make a living. I do it because it gives meaning to my life.

I honestly believe I'm making a contribution to life. My book, The Art Of Survival, goes into my reasons for making sculpture and it's related to my background, my not very happy early years.

It's a way of taking a positive view of life. It's not about money. It's my way of saying something about what life's about. That's my motive for working.

What is the one little luxury you treat yourself to?

It's a glass of single malt whisky. I like Laphroaig. It costs about 35 a bottle.

If you were Chancellor, what is the first thing you'd do?

I would get rid of inheritance tax. It's an invidious tax. I inherited nothing. Everything was taken from my family. Their house and everything of value was stolen from them.

I think it'd be lovely to come from that sort of background and be able to leave as much as possible that I've managed to accumulate in my lifetime to my two kids and my wife, free of tax.

What is your number one financial priority?

To stay solvent and make sure that my family, my kids and my wife are comfortable when I'm gone.
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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Ukrainian defenders of a steel plant in Mariupol say Russian forces have started to storm the the last pocket of resistance. The latest from Ukraine.
A three-judge federal panel on Friday ruled against Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman in his plea to appear on the upcoming Republican primary election ballot to seek Alabamas second congressional seat, according to a Yellowhammer News story.

The case featured the question as to whether Coleman would be allowed to appear on the ballot given that the Alabama Republican Partys Jan. 28 qualifying deadline had already passed.

In Fridays ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama found that Coleman could not establish that he suffered injury in the matter.

Coleman attempted to launch a last-second bid after a federal panel on Jan. 25 ruled that Alabamas redistricted congressional map had to be redrawn. The ruling also ordered the qualifying deadline to be extended until Feb. 11. Coleman attempted to file his candidacy with ALGOP on Feb. 10.

However, the U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 7 halted the lower courts ruling.

Coleman on Feb. 13 asked the court to intervene to allow him to become certified as a candidate.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, a defendant in the case, had indicated to Coleman that he would certify the list of candidates names that were provided to him by ALGOP. Given Merrills intentions, Coleman could not establish that he would be affected by the secretary of states actions.

Further, the court determined that it did not have the power to order the Alabama Republican Party to certify Mr. Colemans name to Secretary Merrill.

Due to the courts ruling, incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) will run unopposed in the GOP primary in his bid to seek a second term as a member of Congress.

When asked for comment by Yellowhammer News, Moore expressed that he was pleased with the courts decision and said he remained focused on serving his constituents.

Im pleased with the decision as it protects the autonomy of our Party in deciding who is on our ballot, but whatever the court had decided, it wouldnt change my focus on continuing to serve the people of the 2nd Congressional District, stated Moore.
Kingsport, TN (37660)

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SCHENECTADY - Discover Schenectady has relaunched its Schenectady Ale Trail Passport program to include a cheaper, $20 option.

The Schenectady Ale Trail Passport is designed to get people to visit and taste beers made by Schenectady County breweries. Under the original program launched in 2018, the passports cost $40 and entitled the holder to a beer "flight" or a pint of beer at each of six local breweries. Now there is a $20 option, too, which will allow visits to three breweries.

A beer flight is a selection of several beers in small glasses, typically held in a tray and designed to allow customers to try a variety of brews at the same time.

Discover Schenectady, a nonprofit that markets the local tourism and hospitality sector, found that while those who bought the $40 passport could easily spread their visits to the six breweries out over time, it wasn't as easy for someone in town for a short stay.

"By launching the $20 (pass), our hope is to attract visitors coming to town for weddings, conferences or just for a weekend," said Discover Schenectady Executive Director Todd Garofano.

Garofano said visitors can be targeted on social media, through local hotels and through meeting and event planners.

The passport is purchased from the Discover Schenectady website and then it is sent to the buyer's phone via email and text so that it can be shown at each brewery visited. Holders of the $20 passport can choose which three breweries they visit.

Discover Schenectady urges people who participate in the program to arrange for safe travel, with either a designated driver or a ride-sharing service or brewery tour shuttle.

The six breweries in the passport program are Back Barn Brewing Co. in Delanson, Druthers Brewing Co. at Mohawk Harbor, Frog Alley Brewing Co. on State Street in downtown Schenectady, Great Flats Brewing on Lafayette Street in Schenectady, Mad Jack Brewing Co., which is at The Van Dyck in the Stockade district of Schenectady, and Wolf Hollow Brewing Co., located on Route 5/Amsterdam Road.

Pete Bednarek, who owns Wolf Hollow Brewing said he is looking forward to the $20 passports since it will attract "visitors from all over this region and beyond" looking to get a taste of local products.

"The breweries of this county are all comfortable, unique places where people can truly experience the flavor of this community," Bednarek said.
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ALBANY  The Blake Annex is a coworking consortium of nonprofit agencies trying to uplift the Capital Region in homage to 19th-century Albany entrepreneur Adam Blake Jr.

The space, run by the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, is adjacent to the Kenmore Hotel  Blakes brainchild and dream  and shares some common spaces with it.

The annex offers memberships and private offices for regular users and those just seeking a place to work for the day. Members have 24-hour access to the facility, which is equipped with mail services, printing, snacks, all-day coffee, Internet and access to other nonprofits. While the Blake Annex is looking to predominantly attract nonprofits, it is open to other ventures.

It had a soft opening in June and is slated for a grand opening on April 6  Blakes birthday. The annex currently houses 16 organizations, about 100 people, but can accommodate up to 200 people at full capacity in its 25,000-square foot facility.

Blake Jr., born in 1830, was the adopted son of Adam Blake Sr., a man formerly enslaved by Stephen Van Rensselaer III who went on to become his trusted confidante, according to Julie OConnor, a former librarian and member of Friends of Albany History, a group of bloggers interested in local history.

Local historian Tricia Barbagallo noted that this is a story passed on via oral history. While there may be some truth to it, she has not been able to verify some of the details in her own research of records at the Albany Institute of History & Art.

After Blake Sr. was freed in 1811, he continued working for the Van Rensselaer family and enjoyed a position of esteem throughout the Albany community, among both whites and Blacks, an essay by OConnor noted.

His adopted son didnt fall too far behind either. Blake Jr. was adopted and raised at the Van Rensselaer Manor. Nothing is confirmed about his biological parents, but Barbagallo pointed to census records documenting the Blakes as being of multi-racial descent. Other records, however, listed the Blakes as a Black family, Barbagallo noted.

Blake Jr. grew up alongside the Van Rensselaer children and was given a similar education and afforded some privilege that later made him one of the citys most successful businessmen in the 1800s, OConnor detailed in her writing.

As a young man, Blake Jr. worked in the hospitality industry, initially as a waiter until he climbed the ranks to restaurant proprietorship. In time, Blake owned several establishments, including the Congress Hall Hotel, which drew politicians, legislators and even Charles Dickens, her essay suggested.

OConnor said he became known as the prince of caterers as his locations became the go-to spot for events offering the finest of wines and sumptuous decor.

When the hall wasnt catering to notable people, it was a training center teaching young Black men about the industry. Blake helped as many as he could and never turned a person away, O'Connor's research showed.

They came from a disenfranchised community and they used all of the privileges that were afforded them, whether it be (a) light-skinned privilege, parentage privilege or education to pour back into their community and be a resource for their community, said Angelique Powell, the annexs community manager.

But in 1878, the hotel was demolished to make room for the states new Capitol building. Blake Jr. was given $190,000 from the state, which he used to open the Kenmore Hotel on North Pearl Street that year. And as he grew in stature, so did his contributions to the community, O'Connor found.

He went on to become the New York State Equal Rights Leagues treasurer, working toward desegregating Albany schools and pouring money into local causes, historical records demonstrate. Census records also showed that several Black people took up residence in the Kenmore Hotel and worked there.

Blake Jr. wasnt able to revel in the Kenmores success for long before he died in 1881, but his wife, Catharine Blake, was there to lead the prosperity.

Catharine refused to sell when wealthy entrepreneurs hurled offers at her or tried forcing her out, O'Connor said. The hotel flourished under her control, creating the Rain-bo Room where prominent talent such as Duke Ellington and Frank Sinatra as well as gangsters like Legs Diamond spent some evenings.

Barbagallo's grandfather recounted his memory of the Kenmore to her when she was younger. He dubbed it a "proper" place where there was always a doorman and very neat trimmings.

"They ran a really expert hotel there," she said of her grandfather's recollection.

According to O'Connor, not many knew this grand hotel was run by a wealthy Black woman and not even Catharine could escape racial discrimination. OConnor found an 1884 letter in which Catharine noted many white Americans thought of their Black counterparts as lazy, stupid and thriftless.

Still, in the midst of racial discrimination, Catherine and the Blake legacy thrived.

Reflecting on the annexs history, Powell said she hopes the United Way will be able to follow in the Blakes footsteps to help BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) and women-led organizations. Shes already seen evidence of the annexs progress in connecting local partners with resources and other organizations with similar missions.

Some have even had to take up more space in the facility as their work has taken off.

We feel that the Blake Annex is a way to not only take the baton that's been passed to us by the Blakes and carry on their legacy, but also utilize it as a resource ... to share services ... break down the silos amongst the nonprofit sector and create opportunity (and) really serve as an amplifier of the voices that are inside of this building, Powell said.
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ALBANY  I'll get to the bad news in a minute, but I'll start with the good.

The region's biggest eyesore will soon be owned by two local companies possessing the wherewithal and experience needed to transform a building that has long been a blight on its city.

In fact, Columbia Development and Redburn Development have presented a tentative proposal for the Central Warehouse that involves converting the bottom floor of the former cold storage facility into a retail space  for Huck Finn's Warehouse, perhaps  while turning at least some of the upper floors into apartments.

And as I reported last summer, the plan also floats moving the Huck Finn's Playland to a parking lot near the Montgomery Street building, as part of an effort to turn a moribund neighborhood north of downtown Albany into an attraction.

If it all seems a bit pie-in-the-sky to you, well, you might be right. But it's worth remembering that Columbia and Redburn, the only bidders after the building was seized by Albany County for unpaid taxes, are different than the starry-eyed dreamers who have tended to own the massive, 11-story building in recent decades.

Remaking the Central Warehouse is a tricky proposition but is similar in some respects to the redevelopment of Wellington Row, a lovely collection of buildings on State Street near the Capitol that were once vacant, blighted and seemingly irredeemable. Knock them down and start from scratch, said the skeptics. They'll never be anything useful.

Nevertheless, Columbia Development bought the buildings in 2006 and subsequently remade the block, saving facades once considered among the state's most endangered historic properties. The transformation was no small feat  and there's no reason the company can't similarly rescue the Central Warehouse.

But you're probably wondering about the bad news. OK, here goes: Taxpayers will be asked to pony up.

"We're not going to be shy in our requests for funding," Redburn's Jeff Buell told me, adding that the developers will want state economic development grants and big breaks on the property taxes, along with historic preservation tax credits. (Specifics haven't been determined.)

The question to consider, then, is whether saving the building justifies the cost. To put it another way, is this a project worthy of significant public support?

Buell makes the affirmative case, arguing that transforming the Central Warehouse would be a significant step toward elevating the region's withered self-esteem. It would convince the region's many skeptics that big things are possible  that Albany can fulfill its potential.

A remade Central Warehouse, Buell says, would also connect the city's downtown to the bars, restaurants and housing of the warehouse district of North Albany, while also linking both areas to the soon-to-open Albany Skyway ramp over Interstate 787 to the riverfront. The idea, he said, is that the warehouse could be key to broader changes.

Few would call the Central Warehouse charming, but Buell says the bottom-floor space is magnificent with its soaring ceilings, and he'd like to incorporate graffiti on its walls into the final design. The view from the roof  an acre of space  is likewise stunning, he added.

Buell stressed that this is early-stage stuff and that Redburn and Columbia are proposing nothing firm, at this point. Given the long history of failures at the warehouse, he's wary of raising hopes and expectations too high too fast. Plus, the county Legislature still needs to approve a transaction that includes forgiving $550,000 in back taxes in exchange for $50,000.

Still, the prospect of something good at last happening at the big eyesore is intriguing, at least, if not exciting. But there are also reasons to be wary when for-profit companies ask for taxpayer support among talk of a "public-private partnership."

Columbia, you may remember, was linked to the scandal that led to the conviction of SUNY Polytechnic Institute founder Alain Kaloyeros on federal bid-rigging charges. Notably, Columbia was awarded major SUNY Poly construction contracts after making large contributions to the campaign fund of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Bid-rigging charges against Columbia head Joe Nicolla were dismissed in 2018 as part of an agreement that called for his potential cooperation in the investigation.

The suggestion here isn't that the history should tarnish Columbia's involvement in the Central Warehouse project or dull enthusiasm about the potential transformation. Columbia can help accomplish big things, as the remake of Wellington Row shows. (That project also received taxpayer support.)

But if taxpayers are going to be asked to help, the Central Warehouse project will need scrutiny and deserves some skepticism. The understandable desire to see an eyesore erased and the building transformed shouldn't lead to an overly generous giveaway.

New hope for the site is indeed good news. But the details are yet to come.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
I was vacationing in Wilmington, N. Carolina earlier this year when I heard that Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were censured by the Republican National Committee for participating in the House investigation of the January 6th Insurrection. The NRC described the violent attack on the US Capitol as "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse." That same day, former Vice President Mike Pence told the Federalist Society that Donald Trump is wrong when he claims Pence could have overturned the 2020 Presidential election and prevented Joe Biden from taking office.

On the very same day all that was happening, I toured the Cape Fear Museum in Wilmington, and learned about the Massacre of 1898. White supremacists tired of living with Black politicians and Black school leaders decided they had had enough. In the days leading up to the city elections that November, they threatened violence and intimidated voters. Right after the election, they forced city officials to resign and ran the editor of the Black newspaper out of town. They took over City Hall and armed mobs burned down the newspaper building and other Black businesses. From there, violence spread to other parts of the city.
Democrats have been harshly criticizing Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for blocking crucial bills on voting rights, social policy and filibuster reform. But the people they should really be blaming are the Founding Fathers who gave us the Senate in the first place.

If we didnt have a Senate, we wouldnt have a government plagued by dysfunction and inaction, and the Democratic policy agenda would have been passed easily.

Questioning the existence of the Senate probably seems strange to most Americans, who believe that a bicameral system with a Senate is absolutely essential for any democratic system. But the rest of the world largely disagrees. Most of the advanced democratic countries have rejected bicameralism in favor of unicameralism.

Of the 20 leading democracies, eight are unicameral, where only one house is needed to pass legislation. Eight others are effectively unicameral. They have two houses, but one has little power to block legislation. In Great Britain, for example, the House of Lords can slow down bills, but it cant shoot them down. Only four of the 20 have true bicameral systems, the U.S., Australia, Italy and Switzerland.

So most other advanced democracies have seen what Americans have not: that bicameralism is a recipe for a government mired in gridlock and unresponsive to the majority of its citizens. In these other countries, it takes only one house to pass legislation. And because they are parliamentary systems, the chief executive  the prime minister  is elected by that house and so is unlikely to veto its bills. The result is a streamlined government capable of responding to the demands of its citizens and able to pass crucial legislation in a timely fashion.

Making matters worse in the U.S. is the fact that the Founding Fathers created a particularly pernicious and undemocratic form of bicameralism. They mandated that every state, no matter the size of its population, gets two senators. This gives small, rural states the ability to routinely block legislation favored by a majority of Americans.

The degree of this misrepresentation in the Senate is egregious. Consider the following: the 40 million Americans living in the 22 smallest  and largely white and Republican  states get 44 senators to represent them. The 40 million people living in more multicultural and liberal California get just two senators. So there is a large and built-in underrepresentation of Democrats in this body.

Before 1964, many state senates were also grossly misrepresentative in this way - giving sparsely populated rural districts the same representation as densely populated urban districts. But that year, the Supreme Court declared that arrangement unconstitutional. The justices ruled that it clearly violated the rights of citizens to equal representation and equally weighted votes. Interestingly, most constitutional scholars agree that if the two-senator clause was not in the Constitution, it would have been declared unconstitutional decades ago for the very same reasons it was ruled unacceptable in the states.

Some worry that without a bicameral government with equal representation in the Senate, large states with more representatives would pass some policies not favored by small states. Of course. That is how majority rule works. Should we be aware that this can sometimes become a tyranny of the majority? Again, of course. But having a Senate that greatly overrepresents small states is a cure much worse than the disease. In trying to stop a potential tyranny of the majority, this arrangement succeeds in enshrining a tyranny of the minority. Majority rule is far from perfect, but minority rule is clearly worse.

Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter.

Besides, the experiences of unicameral, parliamentary democracies in Western Europe show that majority rule rarely actually rises to the level of an oppressive tyranny. For example, these countries are not plagued by widespread violations of the political and civil rights of political minorities. An annual study by the Freedom House shows that 17 Western European parliamentary democracies actually score higher in protecting freedoms than the United States. This helps to explain why few people in Western Europe are clamoring for asylum in the United States claiming that they are being abused by oppressive majorities.

So it seems that a bicameral system with an unrepresentative senate is not at all necessary to protect the rights of minorities.

Unfortunately, there is little public awareness of the democratic dysfunctions of bicameralism in the United States and no discussion of getting rid of the Senate or at least drastically limiting its powers. Thus the chances for fixing this serious flaw in our government are slim.

So go ahead, Democrats, and heap abuse on Manchin and Sinema  for they are the immediate cause of the widespread failure of the Democratic agenda. But also keep in mind the more fundamental problem the Democratic Party faces: for the foreseeable future, we are saddled with a bicameral arrangement that systematically handicaps Democratic legislators and makes it an uphill battle to pass vital legislation supported by most Americans.

Douglas J. Amy is professor emeritus of politics at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass.
Will Waldron/Times Union

WASHINGTON  Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., is leading a congressional charge for an equal rights amendment to enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution as lawmakers in New York push for a broader measure on the same issue in the state Constitution.



The "inclusive Equal Rights Amendment" is "actually very, very different than the 45-year-old federal effort," said state Sen. Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, the lead sponsor. The state-level amendment would expand on the federal ERA language to include protections for race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and pregnancy.



The broad reach "would make New York state, I believe, the first in the nation to recognize that all of our populations should have nondiscrimination protections within our Constitution ... (for) a broader universe of categories of humans and for a broader range of issues than gender," Krueger said.



The proposal passed the state Senate last year but failed in the state Assembly. Krueger said both chambers have shown interest in passing the bill, "but we have not come to an agreement amongst ourselves on the language."



She said the proposed amendment is a response to constituent demand and problems upholding equal rights legislation in the courts. "When you attempt to go to court to protect your rights, (thats) when the metal meets the road about a Constitution."



The state Senate has legislated on discrimination before but in practice, "theres nothing in the Constitution that backs you up on that," she said.



Latino populations, Krueger gave as an example, arent a race, but rather "people who have a common original language"  and so they fall out of constitutional protections against racial discrimination. "But we all know theres discrimination based on being Black and brown in this country and the state," Krueger said.



"Thats where it was clear that our very outdated New York state Constitution really didnt have the language even to back up the individual laws that we had been passing."



In order for the proposed amendment to succeed, identical bills must pass in the Senate and the Assembly in separate two-year sessions. She hopes to get passage in both chambers this year, at the end of this session, and again in the 2023-24 session.



If that works, it would go before New York voters on the November 2024 ballot.



Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright, D-Manhattan, the lead sponsor of the bill in the Assembly, said, "were very close to getting an agreement with the state Senate," but Krueger raised concerns about the ongoing debates over the amendments specific language.



The inclusion of and language related to certain protections  like religion  are still under debate, Krueger said.



Although "everyone agrees we must have protection from religious discrimination," religion is a chosen practice in a way that race is not, Krueger said. She added those kinds of details are important when writing an actionable amendment; getting the language correct is key to creating strong legal footing for future legislation or any challenge in the courts.



"There's all kinds of precedent that we need to make sure we have the language correctly on, that we are not impeding one right by protecting another right. So I have found that attempting a complex change in a Constitution is a much more difficult assignment than I had originally hoped for," Krueger said.



"If we're going to update the constitution on sex, then we needed to include these other classes that are overdue," Seawright said.



Seawright, the former state director of the National Womens Political Caucus in Texas, has worked with legal scholars and lawmakers pushing similar initiatives in other states, including Nevada, as well as with Maloney at the federal level.



Seawrights 2019 resolution in the Assembly called on Congress to pass the ERA at the federal level.



"Weve introduced that resolution again this session and will continue to until the federal government does pass an ERA," Seawright said.



The federal effort to add an equal rights amendment for women to the U.S. Constitution has been in the works since the 1920s, explained Wilfred Codrington, an assistant professor at Brooklyn Law School and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice.



It passed the House and Senate in 1972 and was sent to the states for ratification  but it didnt meet the ratification requirements of approval by three-fourths of the states until after a seven-year deadline had expired. New York ratified the amendment in 1972  and Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA in 2020.



Now, congressional lawmakers are pushing for the national archivist to acknowledge the ERAs passage regardless of the deadline. Maloneys office did not respond to requests for comment.



The reason for the urgency at the federal level is similar to that at the state level  women are protected by various laws, but "actually, none of that is permanent," Codrington said.



Courts dont need to stand by precedent "if theres nothing permanent and enshrined in the Constitution protecting those values," he said. "A number of statutes were seeing being contested in the courts and eviscerated or struck down that also were meant to be enduring," including the Voting Rights Act that was challenged in Shelby County, Ala.



As it stands, "the Constitution doesn't require women be treated equally," Codrington said.



Seawright hopes New Yorks efforts toward a state ERA "will serve as continued momentum for the Congress and the federal level to pass an equal rights amendment and that its potential presence on the 2024 ballot will be "a chance to educate" the public about the issues it addresses.



"And so here I am attempting to be a founding father/founding mother for our Constitution, Krueger said. She believes New Yorks efforts should be "a model and a target to get to at the federal level."



On Monday, the New York State Bar Association is scheduled to host a webinar discussion on the push to include ERA language in the state Constitution. Krueger is one of the panelists.

Julia Mueller is a reporter for Medill News Service.
In this quick post we roundup some of the most captivating local stories from this week. Here's our compilation of ALLEGED misdeeds, court cases and police action.

As always, we try to offer a bit of hope in the conclusion.



Here's TKC news gathering . . .



Graphic video: Police need help to identify Northland shooting, crime spree suspects WARNING: The video attached may be considered graphic to some.Police in Kansas City, Missouri, are asking for help to identify suspects wanted in connection with a Northland crime spree. Part of that incident, a shooting, was caught on camera.

KCK police cruiser hit while officers investigate fatal crash Hide Transcript Show Transcript THE WAY WE HAVE AN UPDATE TO THE BREAKING NEWS. WE TOLD YOU ABOUT HERET A THE TOP OF THE HOUR AT CASEY K POLICE CAR WASIT H WELL OFFICERS WERE RESPONDING TO A DEADLY CRASH. OKAY, FRIGHTENING VIDEO HERE. THAT IS OUR PHOTOJOURNALIST DANIEL LESTERHOLD.

Kansas business selling Delta 8 plans to stand its ground despite warning from prosecutors OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Johnson County law enforcement is putting businesses that sell products containing Delta 8 THC on notice. On Monday, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe ordered businesses selling the product to stop by March, 20, 2022. Delta 8 will make a person feel high , but its side effects are milder.

Woman facing charges in death of baby following Shawnee house fire SHAWNEE, Kan. - A Johnson County, Kansas woman is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge in the death of a child inside a burning Shawnee home earlier this month. Police arrested Karlie Phelps Friday afternoon. The case involves the death of an infant who died inside a home on West 69th Terrace in Shawnee on Feb.

Man who killed 4 family members sentenced to life plus 115 years A man convicted of killing his grandfather, grandmother, sister, and a 3-month old baby and burning their bodies has been sentenced to four terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 115 years. Grayden Denham, 30, was sentenced Friday.

Half-dozen accuse Raytown pastor of defrauding them out of hundreds RAYTOWN, Mo. - FOX4 Problem Solvers is still on the hunt for a Raytown pastor after hearing from more than a half dozen people who accused him of defrauding them. Some were even members of his own flock. Marquita Ryan said she's out $1,000.

Kansas City police asking for help to find 33-year-old man last heard from more than a month ago The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is asking for help to find a man who hasn't been heard from in more than a month.Authorities are searching for 33-year-old Keith Henderson.Henderson was last spoken to on January 17 via text message.Henderson lives in Kansas City but his last location is unknown.

Uncomfortable conversations follow gruesome murder of child KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The gruesome murder of a child this week has the parent of one of the victim's classmates struggling with how to talk to her child about it. She's likely not the only one. A warning that some details are graphic and may be disturbing to you.

Investigation leads to Independence man's arrest for allegedly possessing child pornography KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Independence, Missouri, man was arrested on Thursday for possession of child pornography. The arrest of Andrew Blackmon, 26, came after an investigation by several agencies. On Thursday, investigators conducted a search warrant at Blackmon's home located near east 6th Terrace South but weren't able to contact him.

Owner and police are searching for last of ten stolen classic and collector cars KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) --- Nine of ten classic and collector cars stolen from a Kansas City storage garage are recovered. The owner of one of the stolen vehicles and police are still searching for the final stolen car that is described as a white 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 fastback with bright red interior.

'Grief-stricken': GoFundMe seeks help to bury 16-year-old shot and killed in Kansas City An online fundraiser created to assist the family of a 16-year-old fatally shot in Kansas City earlier this week describes him as the eldest son in a family that is now overwhelmed with grief in the wake of his killing.

'She's a fighter.' Bald eagle rescued by Bonner Springs police showing improvements She's not out of the woods yet, so to speak, but wildlife officials said the bald eagle rescued by Bonner Springs, Kansas, police this week is showing improvement. Officers rescued a downed bald eagle early Monday - fitting since Monday was Presidents Day.The officers said the eagle's name was Kendra.

KC Police Academy: physical training and defensive tactics KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Being a police officer is a lot of mental and physical work, which is why entrant officers at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy go through a lot of physical training. KSHB 41 News is following the 174th Entrant Officer Class through the entire seven-month training.

Developing . . .
Today Kansas City shares a gesture of solidarity and protest against invaders from the relative safety of the Country Club Plaza.



The gathering is scheduled for around 1 in the PM. Here are more deets . . .



Here in Kansas City, a local rally in support of Ukraine is scheduled for Saturday at Mill Creek Park.



Organizers expect at least 100 people to gather. Members of the Ukrainian Club of Kansas City said they hope this rally and others result in action to stop Russian forces.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Kansas City group planning rally in support of Ukraine amid invasion KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Biden administration is preparing to assist Ukraine, and those in the Kansas City area are offering their support, as well. The Pentagon said Friday the U.S. will provide "security assistance," and President Joe Biden held a call with Ukranian President Volodomir Zelensky, offering support.

Developing . . .
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  After giving birth, most new moms can't wait to see their child.

For Macenzee Keller, it would take more than two months, as she fought for her life against COVID-19 while under sedation and breathing with the help of machines.

Mother and child were reunited earlier this month when Keller's mom brought the healthy baby boy, named Zachery, to her hospital bedside.

"It was very emotional because I was like, 'Oh, I got to finally see my baby that I was waiting for so long to see,'" said Keller, who has since returned home to Manchester, New Hampshire.

Keep scrolling to see how the availability of COVID-19 treatments has changed throughout the pandemic

Two weeks before her Dec. 7 due date, Keller was diagnosed with COVID-19. She remembers leaving her apartment for the hospital in late November, suffering from shortness of breath  and that's it. She didn't see her son until Feb. 3.

"He was big!" she said at the time.

Zachery was born via emergency cesarean section at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. During the birth, Keller was sedated and intubated. She was later transferred to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in the city of Lebanon.

Keller  still sedated, still very sick  was put on a specialized blood oxygenation treatment. Blood was pumped out of her body into an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine, ECMO for short, which removes carbon dioxide, then pumps the blood back into the body.

"People like Macenzee who are younger and have a really good chance of getting better  she's kind of the perfect candidate for us to offer it," said Ciaran Moloney, a nurse who was part of her care team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

There have been other cases of expectant mothers who were so sick with COVID-19 that they had to deliver quickly. In Wisconsin, a mother was in a medically-induced coma with the virus when she gave birth to her daughter via cesarean section in November 2020. She ended up spending 75 days on life and lung support. She met her daughter over two months later, when she was discharged from the hospital.

Keller was on the ECMO circuit for 47 days. Patients usually get the treatment for closer to a month or less, Moloney said. One of the physicians handling her treatment had read research saying recent post-partum patients benefit from extended time on ECMO, he said.

It was touch and go at times. Keller was still hooked up to a ventilator.

"I would come in some days and she would be taking larger breaths, and then she would have setbacks," Moloney said. "She had a number of setbacks while she was on the ECMO circuit. ... There were times where we were very scared of how she was doing."

Keller's mother, Brandi Milliner, got phone updates from Moloney. She and family members participated in Zoom calls with her daughter during the holidays "just so she could hopefully still hear us and know that she was loved, and we were still there."

She finally got to visit Keller on Jan. 7.

"They were starting to wean off some of the sedation. So I could go in and I could say her name and she'd open her eyes a little bit, small commands that she was following," Milliner said. "By the end of my visit, she had actually kind of squeezed my hand a couple of times. So that was an amazing feeling."

Keller continued to improve over the next few weeks, eventually being taken off of the equipment. It took her a little while to realize where she was when she came to.

"Do you know like when you fall asleep somewhere and then you wake up somewhere new? And you're like, 'Whoa!' That's kind of what I felt," Keller said.

It wasn't too long after that she was able to move around with a walker, continuing to improve.

Keller was not vaccinated against COVID-19, and says she planned to wait until after she delivered to get the shot. She'd heard that some people feel sick for a day after getting the vaccine, "and I was just nervous that if I did get it, it would cause complications to Zachery."

Doctors told her she has to wait a couple more weeks before she can be vaccinated now.

In hindsight, when asked if she would have made the same choice, she said, "I don't know. Part of me says I would have got the vaccine, but then another part of me still says that I didn't want to risk anything."

Keller, who is engaged to be married, still uses a pulse oximeter to measure her blood oxygen levels and has additional therapy appointments to help with her walking. But her recovery is considered amazing, Moloney said.

"She went from being completely reliant on the ECMO pump to being fully interactive within just a span of a couple of weeks," he said.

He added, "My wife, we found out she was pregnant roughly around the same time, and that just made it very emotional for me to see everything that Macenzee was going through."

***
Right now pr0n hottie Katie inspires us to grab hold of more than a handful of pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Here's a quick peek at carefully selected TKC news links . . .



Sneak Peek At Old & Busted Kansas City Springtime

Rollercoaster temperatures don't help aging water mains in Kansas City, Missouri KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A cafe in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, spent Friday cleaning up after a water main break made a mess a day earlier. The tremendous force caused by the break Thursday sent ankle-deep water rushing into Spokes Cafe and Cyclery at Walnut Street and east 10th Street.

Progressives Celebrate Newbie City Manager And His Victory Over Snowfall

From snow removal to housing, Kansas City Manager Brian Platt wants to focus on the basics Kansas City Manager Brian Platt says some of the biggest challenges facing Kansas City include the shortage of affordable housing, homelessness, public safety and basic city services. "That's anything from filling potholes to snow removal, to making sure trash is picked up, preparing streetlights," he told Up to Date on Friday.

Show-Me Quick Fix For Worsening Infrastructure Crisis

Emergency repair will impact rush hour northbound on Bond Bridge The Missouri Department of Transportation will close the two inside lanes of northbound I-35/Christopher Bond Bridge over the Missouri River this afternoon (2/25) for expansion joint repair work. The closure will take place before the evening rush and will substantially impact traffic. Please plan ahead and take an alternate route.

Everybody Rolling Toward Pr0n Payday Eventually . . .

Gracie quit motorsport to star in porn, and now earns six figures-per-month RENEE GRACIE was at a crossroads in her life. Struggling with her dream of becoming a success and raising enough money to survive in motorsport, she suffered depression and hated her existence. But in 2019, she made a decision that would change her life forever.

Supreme Decision Postscript

Analysis: The difference Ketanji Brown Jackson may make on the conservative-dominated Supreme Court The Supreme Court is transforming the law in America, rolling back a half century of constitutional rights, from abortion to voter protections. It would seem the six-justice conservative engine could not be daunted by a single change in the three-justice liberal wing.

Another Reason To Give Up On Movie Theaters . . .

Retired SWAT commander who killed man after fight over phone in movie is acquitted A Florida jury on Friday acquitted a retired police SWAT commander of murder for fatally shooting a fellow moviegoer during an argument over cellphone use. Deliberations in the trial began Friday, and the six-person jury returned its verdict late that night, news outlets reported. Retired Tampa police Capt.

Check Suicide Mission

Ukrainian leaders vow to arm themselves as Russian troops close in on Kyiv As Russian troops closed in on Ukraine's capital Friday and thousands of refugees continued to flee the country, several Ukrainian officials vowed to remain in Kyiv and fight against the aggression. A defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, surrounded by his advisers and wearing combat fatigues, addressed the country while standing outside his office on the streets of central Kyiv.

Meet The New Axis

China is Russia's best hope to blunt sanctions, but wary BEIJING (AP) - China is the only friend that might help Russia blunt the impact of economic sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine , but President Xi Jinping's government is giving no sign it might be willing to risk its own access to U.S.

Like It Or Not, We're On The SAME TEAM . . .

Pompeo says he is 'rooting' for the Biden administration, despite 'very different worldview' Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News on Friday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has consulted with him, and while the two have "very different worldview," they have a "shared desire" to make the United States "strong and great."

Local Housewives Still Passing Around This "News" Link . . .

Need Help Decluttering? Amy Poehler, Creators of Queer Eye Put Out Call to KC - In Kansas City Have you been avoiding spring cleaning because you don't know where to start? If that's the case, you might just get the chance to appear on Amy Poehler's new show, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Poehler, along with the creators of Queer Eye, have put out a casting call to the Kansas City...

Old School Rap Coming Soon

Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Warren G to perform in Bonner Springs BONNER SPRINGS, MO (KCTV) --- Major recording artists Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube will be performing at Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs in April. The concert was announced on Friday. It will be held on April 22, 2022. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Talented Hipsters Spruce Up Kansas City Front Porch

Professional artisans retouch the Grand Hall ceiling at Union Station Renovations at Union Station's Grand Hall ceiling. // Photo Courtesy of Union Station Kansas City's Union Station will host a team of professional artisans from In and Out Painting to restore bumps and blotches on the extraordinary Grand Hall ceiling. The week-long project is being funded by the Sunderland Foundation via their generous $5 million grant, which will directly support...

Weekend Rise . . .

Warming trend begins this weekend Hide Transcript Show Transcript TOWARD ST. JOSEPH, 16. HERE IS THE FORECAST. ZERO CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW ANYTIME SOON. WE ARE GOING THROUGHHE T 20'S AND DROPPING ONE DEGREE PER HOUR. WE HAVE SOME CLOUDS TT HAARE HIGH-LEVEL BUT IT WILL NOT GIVE US ANY PROBLEM WITH REGARD TO EXTRA PRECIPITATION.

ROSALIA - CHICKEN TERIYAKI is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now . . . .


Because TKC doesn't know any Ukrainian, we'll keep it simple . . .

BIENVENIDOS!!!

This is America after all, speaking Spanish comes with the territory.

As with all military conflicts around the world . . . No matter who wins, EVERYBODY comes to the US in the end.



And while there might not be enough low-end jobs to go around . . . We're sure our new friends and white immigrants won't find very much opposition in their pursuit of the American dream.

Odds are . . . Americans are probably welcoming the future employers of their grand-kids.

Accordingly, share this TKC roundup of more than a few relevant news items on the topic . . .



Nonprofit RefugeKC preparing to serve Ukrainian evacuees KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On Friday, missiles fell upon the Ukranian capital city Kyiv, driving thousands of Ukranians and foreigners out of the country in an attempt to flee from the Russian invasion. Richard Casebolt, founder and president of RefugeKC, a nonprofit ministry devoted to welcoming refugees in the area, said the organization is already preparing for the arrival of Ukrainian evacuees.

'Refugee Crisis' Is Emerging That Could Displace Millions in Russia's Attack on Ukraine, Officials Warn "More than 50,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled their country in less than 48 hours - a majority to Poland and Moldova - and many more are moving towards its borders," the U.N.'s high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, wrote on Twitter on Friday

Resources to offer support to Ukraine KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As Russia continues to invade Ukraine, there are ways for Kansas Citians to get involved and offer support to Ukraine. Suggestions from a William Jewell professor, Russian expert "There's a charity called Caritas Ukraine that is connected with Catholic Relief Services.

Heart to Heart International to send medical supplies, hygiene kits to Ukrainian refugees Support for Ukraine continues to grow in Kansas City. Like so many, Heart to Heart International is reaching out for ways to help during this invasion.Supplies in a Lenexa warehouse will help refugees from Ukraine.

Kansas City metro refugee aid groups ready to help possible Ukrainian refugees KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Organizations that help refugees in the Kansas City area are preparing to offer aid to Ukrainian refugees as Russia continues to invade the country.

Fears of a growing refugee crisis in Europe loom amid Russia's attack on Ukraine The Russian invasion of Ukraine is forcing many Ukrainians to leave their homes to seek shelter, with long lines already forming at the border and the potential for severe humanitarian consequences looming. More than 50,000 Ukrainians left the country within less than 48 hours, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Friday.

Women on Weibo call out men who said they wanted to take in attractive Russia-Ukraine war refugee girls Chinese female Weibo users expressed outrage online after several men "jokingly" said they were willing to accept female Ukrainian refugees amid the Ukraine crisis in eastern Europe. Comments expressed viewpoints ranging from support for Russia's attack on Ukraine to outrage and disbelief.

The Ukrainian refugee crisis has already begun The United Nations has estimated that about 100,000 Ukrainians have already been displaced as a result of the Russian invasion, and that number could ultimately grow to 1 to 5 million. The international community is making preparations to meet their humanitarian needs - though perhaps not quickly enough.

Developing . . .
The sordid deets of this police controversy have already cost one politico her job and served to erode a great deal of trust.

Moreover . . .

QUESTIONS OVER THIS EPIC METH TOWN CONSTRUCTION DEAL CONTINUE PLAGUE THE DEPARTMENT!!!



Here's a passage that should spark more concern . . .



The expenses match certain vendors on overtime slips filled out by the officer who made more than $169,000 in overtime in 2021. In total, he made more than $263,000 becoming the city's highest paid employee in 2021. Four other officers also certified they did construction work at police headquarters last year. All are now under scrutiny from a special investigator looking at the use of overtime for police projects.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Credit card used for police headquarters renovation projects had more than $42,000 in expenses The main officer at the center of an investigation into overtime misuse in Independence had access to a credit card with more than $42,000 in purchases from January 2021 to January 2022, KMBC 9 Investigates has uncovered through public records.The credit card records are the first real clue at supply costs for a year-long renovation project at police headquarters now under scrutiny from a special investigator hired by Independence city manager Zach Walker.

Independence Police Department credit card statements shed light on cost of jail remodel INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - The KSHB 41 I-Team continues to follow the ongoing investigation into an Independence police officer's use of overtime. Previous reporting by the I-Team found 2,800 hours of overtime and more than $160,000 in overtime pay went towards the remodeling of the city's detention center.

Call to fire Independence city manager in police overtime misuse investigation INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Emotions from a police scandal involving excessive overtime pay spilling over at an Independence City Council meeting with calls to fire the city manager. Obvious anger and concerns raised Tuesday night by the taxpayers in Missouri's fifth largest city, and strong words from elected officials who say the entire city needs an audit.

Independence performs building inspection for police headquarters after overtime construction work The lead building official for the city of Independence has double-checked police officers' construction work at the city's police headquarters, KMBC 9 Investigates has confirmed.The inspection, earlier this month, came after Independence City Manager Zach Walker ordered an outside investigation into a master police officer's 2,800 hours of overtime to perform construction-related projects at the city's central police building at 223 N.

Developing . . .
Here's something we want to note for blog readers . . .

It's simply not a mainstream American political view to support Vlad and his army of Russian attackers. Both American progressives and conservatives are united in their condemnation of the Ukraine invasion.



We shouldn't have to emphasize this but right now the Internets is awash with sketchy info.

Accordingly, here's a Missouri politico attempting to set the record straight . . .



Missouri Senator Hawley's recent statement on sanctions . . .



"Russias brutal assault on Ukraine and invasion of its territory must be met with strong American resolve. 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. 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."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Chip Minemyer is the editor and general manager of The Tribune-Democrat and TribDem.com, GM of The Times-News of Cumberland, Md., and CNHI regional editor for Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina. He can be reached at 814-532-5091. Follow him on Twitter @MinemyerChip.
Keppel Group and Sovico Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Feb. 25 to develop and roll-out sustainable energy and smart, sustainable township management services in Vietnam.

Through their subsidiaries, the two parties will coordinate to explore the development and roll-out of energy and environmental solutions, as well as identify, develop, operate and manage smart and sustainable projects in Vietnams key cities, starting with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The MOU was signed in the presence of Vietnams President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is on a state visit to Singapore.

This collaboration marks a milestone in the strategic partnership between two corporations, leveraging the strengths of Keppel and Sovico Groups proven track record and presence across a wide range of businesses including banking and finance, real estate, aviation and energy.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Sovico Chairwoman, hands over a Memorandum of Understanding to Loh Chin Hua, General Director of Keppel, on developing energy solutions and sustainable urbanization in Vietnam. Photo by Sovico

Keppel is one of the leading powerhouses of solutions for sustainable urbanization that has been investing in Vietnam for over three decades.

Loh Chin Hua, CEO of Keppel Corporation, said it is pleased to extend its collaboration with Sovico Group to provide sustainable energy and urbanization solutions for Vietnam.

"We are glad to contribute further to Vietnams development. The signing of the MOU is very much in line with Keppels Vision 2030, where we seek to provide solutions for sustainable urbanization, including energy and environmental solutions, as well as master planning and the development of smart and sustainable cities," said Hua.

Pham Khac Dung, vice president of Sovico Group, affirmed it supports the efforts of the United Nations towards sustainable development. The unit is committed to cooperating with like-minded partners across the globe. The partnership with Keppel further strengthens Sovico's development strategy.

"We are pleased and honored to join Keppel in growing the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership to new heights; and expanding cooperation into new growth areas on the basis of promoting solutions for people and people-centered developments, as well as creating environmentally friendly developments that contribute to the prosperity and sustainable development of the two economies," said Dung.

Sustainable energy, decarbonization solutions

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Keppel Energy Ventures Pte Ltd, Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd will collaborate with Sovico Group to harness sustainability-related technologies and develop end-to-end sustainable energy solutions, including renewables, electrification, energy efficiency and the treatment of domestic solid waste, in support of Vietnams transition to a green and carbon-neutral economy.

The collaboration will focus on scalable decarbonization solutions like the electrification of vehicles and charging infrastructure, smart microgrids, sustainable energy-from-waste and energy-as-a-service (EaaS), aimed at achieving large-scale greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

The two parties will also collaborate on harnessing the vast renewable energy potential in Vietnam for the development of sustainable fuel for sectors like power, industry, maritime transportation and aviation, where carbon emissions may be harder to abate.

For the aviation sector, the sustainable fuel can be supplied to Sovicos VietJet Air and subsequently rolled out to other airlines.

This synergistic development comes on the back of Keppel Infrastructures work to explore the feasibility of producing green ammonia in Australia for export to meet the rapidly growing demand for carbon-free energy.

Green ammonia can be used as a direct feedstock in green energy generation, or as a hydrogen carrier to provide green hydrogen solutions.

Keppel Infrastructures EaaS is a long-term subscription service with zero or minimal upfront capital investment, which includes power, energy storage and the installation and operation of photovoltaic solar panels, super-efficient chiller systems as well as smart electric vehicle charging stations.

The initial roll-out in Vietnam will leverage Sovico Groups large-scale commercial centers, office buildings, resorts, retail and urban residential areas across the country as well as extend to their eco-system of customers and partners.

Urban development

In addition to cooperating in urban development, which covers collaboration on smart and sustainable projects across Vietnam and the provision of related urban solutions and services, another MOU has been signed between Keppel Land Limited (Keppel Land), Keppel Urban Solutions, Sovico Group and Phu Long Real Estates Joint Stock Company (Phu Long), a member of Sovico Group.

The cooperation includes master planning and infrastructure planning, placemaking and township management services to create highly livable, vibrant spaces and digitally connected communities, starting with Mailand Hanoi City.

This strategic collaboration comes on the back of the binding heads of agreement entered by Keppel Land Vietnam Properties Pte. Ltd., Keppel Vietnam Fund and its co-investor through jointly held special purpose vehicles.

Together with Phu Long and its subsidiary, the companies are in relation to the acquisition of a 49 percent interest in three residential land plots, totaling 14.2 hectares, in Mailand Hanoi City, which was announced in January 2022.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Singapore has become the largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 402 newly licensed projects and newly registered capital of $11.4 billion since early 2020 to-date.

Notwithstanding the impact of Covid-19, the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership is expanding with increased partnerships and cooperation in many fields yielding positive results.

The abovementioned transactions are not expected to have any material impact on the earnings per share and net tangible asset per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the financial year ending Dec. 31, 2021, and the current financial year.
Officials and project leaders speak Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at Jim Hite Farms near Chest Springs about the completion of a $1.1 million broadband internet expansion project. Pictured left to right, are Art Martynuska, Cambria County Emergency Management Agency coordinator; Katie Kinka, senior planner for the Cambria County Planning Commission; Brian Subich, field representative for U.S. Rep. Glenn G.T. Thompson, R-Centre; Cambria County Commissioner B.J. Smith; Cambria County President Commissioner Thomas Chernisky; Nick Weakland, co-owner of In the Stix Broadband; and Cambria County Commissioner Scott Hunt.
In the first days of early voting ahead of the March 1 primary election, officials in Texas' most populous county said they flagged nearly 38% of completed primary ballots as noncompliant with the state's new, more restrictive, election laws.
When it comes to ballot access and election security, lawmakers in neighboring states Indiana and Illinois diverge drastically on their priorities, with each states supermajorities mirroring the wishes of their national party counterparts.
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Projects to build five expressway routes in southern Vietnam will be implemented this year to boost regional connectivity.

Ho Chi Minh Citys Transport Department has proposed the city administration allocates funding for the work of preparing, appraising, and deciding the investment policy for the HCMC  Moc Bai Expressway within this year.

The first phase of the expressway, estimated to cost VND15.9 trillion ($587 million), is set to begin in 2023 and be completed in 2025.

The entire route will run about 50 kilometers (31 miles), linking HCMC with the neighboring province of Tay Ninh that borders Cambodia, help complete the traffic network of Vietnams Southern Key Economic Zone, reduce overload on National Highway 22, and increase the capacity of the road connecting the city with Cambodia.

Also in the southeastern region, work on Bien Hoa  Vung Tau Expressway, which was approved 10 years ago, will soon start now the Ministry of Transport has sorted out its funding issue.

Stretching 53 kilometers, the route will connect the southern provinces of Dong Nai, an industrial hub, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, home to several seaport logistics complexes.

Costing VND17.84 trillion, the project is set to be completed within 2025 to ease overload on National Highway 51.

Traffic jam on National Highway 51 in Dong Nai Province, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

The Transport Ministry early this month proposed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approves Dau Giay  Tan Phu Expressway that stretches around 60 kilometers under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) format.

Its first phase is expected to cost more than VND8.3 trillion to build four lanes stretching 17 meters wide for vehicles to move at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour.

As planned by the ministry, the process of choosing the investor and clearing the site for the project will last from now until 2023 and construction will be carried out between 2023 and 2025.

The expressway, which runs through Dong Nai Province, is part of Dau Giay  Lien Khuong Expressway that connects Dong Nai with Lam Dong, a Central Highlands province that is home to Da Lat resort town.

In the Mekong Delta, which is home to some 20 million people and contributes 18 percent to the nations economic growth, two projects will be executed.

Work on Cao Lanh  An Huu Expressway that stretches more than 27 kilometers to connect Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces will be started within this year for basic completion in 2025.

Costing more than VND6 trillion of the state budget, the route will have four lanes spanning 17 meters in its first phase before its width is expanded to 25 meters later.

The other project is Chau Doc  Can Tho  Soc Trang Expressway, which will run along the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong River, from Chau Doc Town in An Giang near the Cambodian border to coastal Soc Trang Town, passing through Can Tho and the provinces of Hau Giang and Soc Trang.

In the first phase, the expressway will be 17 meters wide before being widened to over 24 meters and allowing speed limits of up to 120 kilometers per hour.

Estimated to cost around VND30 trillion, it is set to break ground in 2023 and be completed in three years.

The project is considered a key piece to complete the transport network in the area and boost connectivity with Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.
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MILFORD  A Trumbull man accused of raping a Milford woman and later apologizing for the assault in text messages has pleaded not guilty.

Daniel Marazita, 25, was charged with first-degree sexual assault and third-degree assault after police obtained a warrant for his arrest last month.

Marazitas lawyer, Timothy Aspinwall, declined to comment on the case Friday.

According to an arrest warrant, a woman went to the Milford police station June 22, where she told detectives she spoke to Marazita June 5 and she agreed to have him stop by her home.

Marazita stopped by the home about 10 p.m., she said, and was very intoxicated to the point where he was stumbling while walking. The woman told police she had also been drinking throughout the day, and that after hanging out for about an hour, she and Marazita went to her bedroom and began to have consensual sex.

However, the woman said Marazita became more forceful and sexually assaulted her even though she said no.

The woman told police she confronted Marazita via text message more than a week later, and that he apologized for the alleged assault.

Marazita allegedly told cops he wanted to speak to an attorney before speaking with them. Soon after, his lawyer called police and told them his client would not speak with detectives.

The warrant says the womans phone contained text messages which showed Marazita apologizing for the assault despite saying he did not remember what happened.

You are saying I sexually assaulted you, which means that is what happened, he allegedly wrote. I sexually assaulted you and I will not lie to anyone about it. It doesnt matter that I was drunk...

In another message quoted in the warrant, police say Marazita told the woman that he wants to get treatment so that I do not hurt someone in the way Ive hurt you ever again.

I have to live with this remorse for the rest of my life, but that does not compare to the fact that you will have to live with the consequences of my actions for the rest of yours, he allegedly wrote. I am not the victim here, I wont act like I am, and I dont want you to read this and think that I am trying to garner sympathy. I am fully, 100% aware of the fact that my actions have consequences, and these are the consequences that I will face.

Marazita was released after posting a $175,000 bond following his arrest. He pleaded not guilty in the case at a Feb. 14 court appearance.

He is scheduled to return to court March 24.
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Dang Van Nhan (2nd, L) is held at a police station in Hanoi for brokering sex services. Photo by Hanoi police

Hanoi police have detained a man that hired Vietnamese, Filipino and Brazilian women to run a prostitution ring serving both local and foreign customers.

Dang Van Nhan, 33, a native of northern Thai Binh Province, is under investigation for "prostitution brokerage."

According to investigators, in early 2020, Nhan started to connect young Vietnamese women with foreign men for sex.

He set up websites to post photos and information of those aside from running a Facebook group with more than 5,000 customers.

Later, he also recruited foreign women, most of them from the Philippines and Brazil.

Nhan charged his clients VND2.5-10 million ($110-440) each time, VND4-20 million for overnight services, and VND15 million per day for a "sex tour" that normally lasted three-five days.

He would get 30 percent of the payment and the women the rest.

His ring was busted on Jan. 14 as Hanoi police and officers from the Ministry of Public Security conducted a joint raid at a house in Thach That District and a condo in Cau Giay District, discovering couples having sex.

To run his business, Nhan had been using various unregistered sim cards to contact clients.

He also changed his residence frequently and used intermediary bank accounts to receive payments.

In Vietnam, sex work is considered social evil and brokering the service is a crime.
Cyprus will not block Russia's disconnection from the SWIFT payment system.

According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this on Twitter.

"We did it. Cyprus confirmed it will not block the decision to ban Russia from SWIFT. Ukrainian diplomacy keeps working 24/7 to achieve important decisions and protect Ukraine from Russian invaders," the Ukrainian foreign minister wrote.

Ukrinform reported earlier that Ukraine is making every effort to ensure that international partners cut Russia off from the SWIFT international payment system.

On February 25, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio assured Kuleba that Italy would support Russia's disconnection from SWIFT.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Missile strikes were launched on a number of Ukrainian cities, and military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine came under attack.

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced general mobilization.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the European Union member states almost unanimously support Russia's cutoff from SWIFT system and expressed hope that Hungary and Germany would support this decision.

"We already have almost full support from EU countries to cut Russia off from SWIFT. I hope that Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelensky said in a video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

At the same time, the President stressed that Ukrainians had the courage to defend their homeland and Europe.

As reported, on February 24, the head of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, announced the launch of a special operation in Ukraine. After that, Russian missiles struck a number of Ukrainian cities, and the military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were attacked.

On the morning of February 24, the Verkhovna Rada approved a decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky on the imposition of martial law throughout Ukraine.

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Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has proposed holding talks between Russian and Ukrainian leaders in Budapest.

He said this before leaving for New York for talks with UN leadership on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports citing Daily News Hungary.

"With this proposal, Hungary hopes to contribute to the restoration of peace in which it is interested," Szijjarto said.

He reported on Facebook late Friday night that he had consulted with both Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the head of the Ukrainian Presidents office, Andriy Yermak, to offer them Budapest as a safe place to negotiate. According to him, neither side rules out such a possibility.

"War is the worst-case scenario that takes human lives," the Hungarian minister said, adding that his country wants to end hostilities as soon as possible and achieve peace.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion. Missile strikes hit a number of Ukrainian cities and military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Martial law has been imposed in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced general mobilization.

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Turkey has banned the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi broke the news on Instagram, Ukrinform reports.

The president thanked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people for their strong support of Ukraine.

"The ban on the passage of Russia's warships to the Black Sea and significant military and humanitarian support for Ukraine today, and it's very important. We will never forget that," Zelensky said.

As reported earlier, on February 24, Ukraine made an official appeal to Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits for Russian ships.

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Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban is ready to support tough sanctions on Moscow over aggression against Ukraine, including Russia's disconnection from SWIFT system.

"I spoke again today with Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban. He once again assured me of his support for tough sanctions on Russia. In particular, it is an issue of Russia's disconnection from SWIFT system," Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki posted on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

On Saturday in Berlin, Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki and President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda will persuade German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to impose tough sanctions on Putin's regime, including Russia's disconnection from SWIFT system.

The day before, Morawiecki wrote in a letter to the EU leadership that Russia must be disconnected from SWIFT international network, close EUs airspace to Russia, freeze assets and confiscate property of Russian elites in the West, cut off Russian companies from financial markets, and stop purchasing fuel from Russia.

As reported, on February 24, the head of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, announced the launch of a special operation in Ukraine. After that, Russian missiles struck a number of Ukrainian cities, and military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were attacked.

On the morning of February 24, the Verkhovna Rada approved a decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky on the imposition of martial law throughout Ukraine.

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Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic have closed their airspace to Russian airlines.

"Ukrainian sky is, of course, closed. But we have already managed to close skies to Russia thanks to agreements with European counterparts. According to already issued NOTAM, Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic already closed their airspace to flights (including transit ones) through their countries. We are waiting for them [Russians] to fly only from Domodedovo to Sheremetyevo [Moscow airports]," Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov posted on Facebook.

As reported, the Parliament of Ukraine called on the EU and NATO countries to immediately close the sky over Ukraine in order to stop the terrorist attacks of the Russian-occupation forces.

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The Ukrainian government has approved a decision to temporarily close checkpoints across the state border with Russia and Belarus.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"The government decided to temporarily close the checkpoints across the state border with Russia and Belarus," Shmyhal said.

According to him, citizens who are currently in these countries and want to return home will be able to return to Ukraine safely and unhindered.

"Of course, we urge you to return home. Prove that you are on the side of the light," Shmyhal said.

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion of the country. Missile strikes were carried out on a number of Ukrainian cities, military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were attacked.

Martial law was introduced in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree introducing general mobilization.

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Latvia and Lithuania decided to close their airspace to Russian air carriers.

"Latvian airspace will be closed to flights of Russian planes," the heads of Latvias Justice Ministry and Ministry for Transport confirmed on Saturday.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Lithuania approved the same decision, banning Russian air carriers from using its airspace.

As reported, Estonia also decided to close its airspace for Russian airlines. The official, who announced that, called on his Baltic counterparts to "do the same to cut Russia off from European airspace."

As reported, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine and launched a large-scale invasion of the country. Missile strikes were carried out on a number of Ukrainian cities, military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were attacked.

Martial law was introduced in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree introducing general mobilization.

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A Vietnamese saleswoman stands next to an American and a Vietnamese flag on sale in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters

A strong desire to foster cooperation with Vietnam is apparent as the U.S. sets out key issues for post-Covid recovery in its new Indo Pacific strategy, experts say.

"The U.S. new Indo-Pacific strategy is not new in recognizing the importance of allies and partners, and Vietnam is considered in it again as one of the more consequential partners in the region," Le Thu Huong, senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), told VnExpress International. Huong was referring to the Indo-Pacific strategy announced by the U.S. Feb 11. She noted that the new strategy of the U.S. seems to be taking into consideration the priorities, urgency and needs of the region. It underlines the connectivity, resilience and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region, which are aspects that Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, are most interested in. These focal points are particularly important in the context of post-pandemic recovery, Huong said. In terms of the strategic and security environment, which the Indo-Pacific Strategy also emphasizes this time, the U.S. and Vietnam share concerns about the rapidly changing, if not deteriorating environment. Both share similar outlooks on the commitment to sustain stability and prevent further escalation of tensions.

According to Gregory Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the new U.S. strategy has a major focus on working more closely with allies and partners to provide public goods and counter negative Chinese behavior. Vietnam is among the major non-ally partners on that front, alongside India, Indonesia and Singapore.

Poling anticipated that Washington would continue to deepen political and security cooperation with Hanoi, provide more support for vaccine distribution, clean energy and supply chain resiliency. It will also pressurize China to maintain good behavior on the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea.

Charles Dunst, an associate at strategic advisory firm The Asia Group and a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S., said it seems that top U.S. officials believe the U.S. can count on Vietnam as a strategic partner on all five focus points raised in the strategy.

The five focus points are the pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific, expanding cooperation, promoting prosperity, enhancing security, and strengthening the region's resilience.

Dunst predicted that the U.S. will seek to expand security cooperation with Vietnam, possibly by facilitating more arms sales and joint military exercises. Two U.S. aircraft carriers visited Vietnam during the Trump administration's tenure.

"None have gone during the Biden administration so far, but Washington may seek to change that if Vietnam is amenable."

Dr. Satoru Nagao, non-resident fellow, Hudson Institute, the U.S., said Washington will continue to expect Hanoi to play the role of defending a rule-based order.

Alongside naming Vietnam in the document, the U.S. has emphasized that it will work closely with like-minded partners to ensure that the region remains open and accessible, the region's seas and skies are governed and used according to international law.

In particular, the U.S. will build support for rules-based approaches to the maritime domain, including the South China Sea and the East China Sea, he added.

John Bradford, Senior Fellow at the, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said the public could expect to see increased diplomatic and economic outreach to Vietnam from the U.S. Visits by senior American leaders will become more common. Washington will also expand the maritime security capacity building opportunities it offers to Vietnam.

'Vietnam setting the pace'

Bradford said that while the U.S. would like to see expanded cooperation with Vietnam, it understands that the relationship will have to grow slowly with Vietnam setting the pace.

In the near term, Washington will rely on Hanoi more heavily for supply chain diversification and bilateral trade opportunities. Vietnam's diplomatic partnership as a Southeast Asian nation committed to support a rules-based order will also be highly valued, he stressed.

Dunst said at a time domestic American politics has made a bilateral free trade deal unlikely, Washington will work more informally to facilitate U.S. private sector investment in Vietnam, which remains a market of huge interest to American business.

Nagao said the U.S. has emphasized economic cooperation in the strategy, saying it will launch, in early 2022, a new partnership that will promote and facilitate high-standards trade, govern the digital economy, improve supply-chain resiliency and security, catalyze investment in transparent, high-standards infrastructure, and build digital connectivity. It would double down on economic ties to the region while contributing to broadly shared Indo-Pacific opportunity.

In this respect, Vietnam can play an important role as a major destination of factories owned by the U.S. and partners in the supply chain diversification process, he added.

However, Poling noted that the biggest question in the new Indo-Pacific strategy was the overall economic strategy, which the public still has not seen.

"Will the Biden administration be able to put together an economic framework that will provide tangible benefits for Vietnam and other partners? This is unclear," he said.

Bonnie Glaser, Director, Asia Program in the U.S.-based German Marshall Fund, said Vietnam has a strong interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

"It is not just up to the U.S., but also up to Vietnam, to define Vietnam's role and seek ways to collaborate."
The Government of the Czech Republic has approved the supply of additional military assistance to Ukraine to combat the Russian aggression.

The relevant statement was made by Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova on Twitter, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Machine guns, submachine guns, sniper rifles, pistols and ammunition worth CZK 188 million. On Saturday, the Government approved providing further assistance to Ukraine, which is under the threat of Russian attack. The Ministry of Defense will transport the delivery immediately to a place designated by the Ukrainian side. Our assistance does not end, Cernochova wrote.

A reminder that, in late January 2022, the Government of the Czech Republic endorsed a decision to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine free of cost.

mk
Masked up, Julie Aichele, left, rings up a customer at Book & Game Co., in downtown Walla Walla earlier this month. County health officials hope to encourage community members to wear masks in public when not eating or drinking.
Vietnam can be leader in transition to clean energy: US climate envoy

Vietnam can set an example for clean energy adoption thanks to its natural advantages, the U.S.'s special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry, said.

"Greenhouse gases kill 10 million people per year around the world and we should not be willing to accept that," he told reporters in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday at the end of a four-day visit to Vietnam.

Effects of greenhouse gases include storms, flooding, desertification and air pollution.

"No one country can solve this problem by itself, we must have all countries come together. Vietnam can be one of the leaders that can set an example for how we make a transition to an energy base that does not burn coal."

At the 2021 U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland last November Vietnam had promised to target net zero emissions by 2050.

Net zero emissions mean the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere is the same as the amount emitted or more.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had said Vietnam would actively develop sustainable energy and work toward reducing coal-fired power in a video message to the Russian Energy Week International Forum last October.

The country would diversify its energy sources, focusing on clean and renewable energy from wind, the sun, biomass, and waste, and increase the share of clean energy to at least 20 percent by 2030 and 30 percent by 2045, he said.

To achieve the net-zero goal, Vietnam has to transition away from coal and change what the country has been doing to provide power as there are other alternatives that could be used for energy, Kerry said.

"We believe there are possibilities for huge transition here [Vietnam] that will create jobs [in the field of clean energy].

"Vietnam has great wind, incredible sun and hydropower. That mixture can help Vietnam have a great clean energy base."

Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces on the south-central coast could provide solar power, he said.

U.S.s special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry, in Ho Chi Minh City, February 25, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Nga

Vietnam needs to put in place rules and regulations that help get the investments needed to make it happen as "the biggest challenge now is to do this fast enough.

"Science tells us in simple mathematics and physics that the world has to reduce emissions by 45 percent between now and 2030. If we don't do enough between 2020 and 2030, forget about 2050. It will not be achievable unless you do what you have to do now."

At COP26, Vietnam was among a 190 countries and organizations pledging to phase out coal-fueled power and stop building new plants.

Before traveling to HCMC Kerry had met with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and promised that the U.S. stood ready to assist Vietnam in reviewing and adjusting its strategies and planning for the goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shake hands at their meeting in Singapore, February 25, 2022. Photo by Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have agreed to promote defense and security cooperation at a meeting in Singapore.

The two leaders said Friday Vietnam and Singapore should soon restore high-level visits and contact and effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms now the pandemic is basically under control, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Phuc is having a state visit to Singapore from Feb. 24-26.

He and PM Lee are on the same page about expanding cooperation in the fields of innovation, digital transformation, digital economy, green and sustainable development, thereby encouraging "a new level of connecting the two economies on a digital platform."

They welcomed the fact that the two countries have reached an agreement on mutual recognition of vaccine certificates to facilitate travel and trade, which would make positive contributions to the efforts of socio-economic recovery after the pandemic.

They also witnessed the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of defense, economy and trade, intellectual property, digital economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, at Istana Presidential Palace in Singapore.

Vietnam and Singapore will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2023.

Singapore is the largest investor in Vietnam in Southeast Asia and ranks second out of 140 countries and territories that have investments in Vietnam with a total registered capital of $66 billion. Bilateral trade turnover reached $8.3 billion last year, up 23.3 percent compared to 2020.

Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in southern Binh Duong Province has a total registered investment capital of about $19 billion, generating export value of about $35 billion per year, and creating jobs for nearly 300,000 workers in Vietnam.

Singapore is one of the first Southeast Asian countries to support Vietnam to fight Covid-19, with medical equipment and supplies that cost more than $5 million.
Jennifer Ann Hancock was born Nov. 20, 1956, in Atlanta, to William Roy and Martha Jones Hancock. She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Gray. She was preceded in death by her father, William Roy Hancock, and her brother, Timothy Roy Hancock, as well as grandparents
February 26 2022

Dundee City Council has opened an exhibition detailing its proposals to build a 19,000sq/m community campus at Drumgeith Road.

The East End Community Campus will replace the current Braeview Academy and Craigie High School with a single campus hosting up to 1,879 pupils on an 11.5-hectare site.

A future learning vision undertaken by Holmes Miller and Robertson calls for full height glazing to Drumgeith Road with teaching spaces arranged north to south around an open plan 'learning plaza' and 'collaboration spine'.

Top lit practical teaching spaces will be provided on the top floor including art rooms opening to a south-facing gallery and science labs that combine practical and theory-based learning.

In their exhibition notes the architects wrote: "The campus accommodation has been designed to wrap around a central village square, which would create a navigation point for users as they move around the building. This would form an important civic space for community events, graduations, break out and relaxation.

"The ground floor plan readily splits into three distinct zones, with a community reception as the central point of arrival."

The consultation will run until Tuesday.
Warsaw, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2022 ) :Polish Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker on Saturday said 100,000 people have crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia's invasion this week.

"From the onset of warfare in Ukraine through today, along the entire border with Ukraine, 100,000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Poland," Szefernaker told reporters in the border village of Medyka, southeastern Poland.

The head of the Polish border guard, Tomasz Praga, added at the press conference that on Friday alone nearly 50,000 people had crossed into Poland from Ukraine.

Poland, which was already home to an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainians before Russia's invasion and which has expressed steadfast support for Ukraine, has so far seen the bulk of those fleeing Ukraine cross into its territory.

"Latest update is that almost 116,000 have fled to neighbouring countries since 24 Feb -- mainly Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania," the UN refugee agency UNHCR tweeted on Saturday.

"Numbers are rising," it added.

Szefernaker said 90 percent of the refugees have concrete places to go in Poland, such as the homes of friends or family, but that the remainder are seeking help at nine reception centres set up along the border.

The centres offer meals and medical care, a place to rest as well as any necessary information. Those refugees with nowhere to go are then taken by bus to various accommodation options prepared in advance by Poland.

Separately, its Infrastructure Minister Andrzej Adamczyk announced Saturday that "for the next four weeks, Ukrainian citizens will be able to ride trains operated by (Polish rail service) PKP Intercity free of charge." The EU member of 38 million people has also readied an ambulance train in the border city of Przemysl.

Polish government official Michal Dworczyk said that if and when necessary the train will travel to the Ukrainian border city of Mostyska, pick up the wounded and transport them to Warsaw for hospital treatment.

"I hope that we won't have to use these railroad cars," he told reporters.

He added that Poland is doing everything it can to help its neighbour under attack.

"Over the last few days we've seen an incredible burst of solidarity among Poles," he said.

"I have yet to come across someone who didn't want to somehow help."amj/spm
(@FahadShabbir)

Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2022 ) :As Russia presses ahead with its invasion of Ukraine, concerns are growing that neighbouring Belarus is also at risk of gradually losing its sovereignty without being the direct target of a military operation by Moscow.

Autocratic leader Alexander Lukashenko, in power for almost three decades, allowed Russian troops to use Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine from the north.

Russia had grouped some 30,000 troops in Belarus ostensibly for exercises in the last weeks. They had been due to leave earlier this month but their presence was then extended indefinitely.

Furthermore, Belarus will on Sunday hold a referendum, denounced as illegitimate by the opposition and seen as a bid for Lukashenko to further extend his stay in power and arrange an eventual transition.

The amendments proposed by the regime include a change to the post-Soviet status of neutrality of Belarus which would allow the country to host Russian nuclear weapons and Russian forces on a permanent basis.

This has come amid an already suffocating political atmosphere in the country after the August 2020 elections that the West believes were rigged to ensure Lukashenko's re-election.

Over 1,000 opponents of his regime languish in jail, according to activists, while the candidate seen by the West as the true winner of the elections, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, now lives in exile.
Los Angeles, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2022 ) :Tents, makeshift shelters and dilapidated campervans line the streets of Skid Row as Mike Murase and his team tally the exploding population of homeless people in Los Angeles.

In the United States' second biggest city, the unhoused huddle by small fires, trying to keep warm on one of the coldest nights of the year.

Homelessness is "an intractable, stubborn issue that the politicians and agency leaders have not had the will to try to solve," 75-year-old Murase tells AFP.

Murase and his colleagues criss-cross the dozen-or-so roads they have been assigned as part of a three-day effort to count the number of people living on the streets.

Figures from 2020 -- the last time the survey was carried out -- showed Los Angeles city alone had more than 66,000 homeless people, up more than 13 percent from the year before.

Everyone expects this year's number to be much higher.

"During Covid there were so many jobs that were lost, you know, restaurant workers or laborers," says Murase.

"A lot of these people were unable to pay rent for maybe two, three months. They get kicked out and they have no family or other relatives to go to and they end up on the street.

"I think there is a misconception that they're mostly criminals, or addicts, or mentally ill people.

"There's a large number of people with those conditions, but there are (also) families, children." - Tourists shocked - Visitors to Los Angeles often express shock at the sheer number of people living on the streets of one of the wealthiest cities in the wealthiest state of the wealthiest nation on the planet.

Tents and tarpaulin shelters clump next to Hollywood tourist spots, or string out along embankments next to the city's freeways.

Rusting mobile homes with broken windows line the roads of Venice Beach, where multi-million Dollar houses glower down at them.

Obviously ill people wander through traffic, railing at unseen demons, or picking at their grimy clothes as they mutter into greasy beards.

Others rummage through trash cans, or lie dazed on thoroughfares, the smell of urine a fug that pedestrians pick their way distastefully around.

Some of the unhoused are new to the streets, victims of the pandemic economic crush, but others have been there for years.

"I've lived downtown for about like seven, eight years. And it's always been an issue seeing people on the street," says Kimberly Briggs, who is volunteering alongside Murase.

"I just want to participate in something that helps bring resolution to this problem, because there is suffering on the streets and housing is a human right." The count is a Federal government requirement that will help to determine grants to the local organizations trying to fix the unfixable.

Volunteers are instructed not to interact with people; rather they must simply document what they see.

The survey Murase and Briggs are doing takes them between warehouses ripe with spices whose heady scents mingle with the smell of cannabis.

Many of the streets appear deserted, though there is evidence of people: here, the carapace of a campervan; there, plastic sheets stretched between shopping carts to form a rudimentary tent.

A closer look at a darkened area reveals a human form lying against a brick wall, almost camouflaged by the head-to-toe blanket that covers him or her.

Briggs carefully logs their presence in a special app on her phone, and the team walks on.

An occasional "good evening" comes from some of those trying to settle in for the night, but most -- like the man who sits blankly in his wheelchair -- ignore the census-takers.

- Trash and rats - Homelessness comes easy in the United States, where the welfare safety nets of other developed countries are largely absent, and the uninsured or under-insured can be a hospital bill away from a missing rent check and the resulting eviction.

In California that problem is exacerbated by skyrocketing real estate prices that have pushed the average purchase price of a home to around $700,000 -- twice the national figure.

Before the pandemic, experts calculated that a person earning minimum wage would have to work 80 hours a week just to afford the rent on a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles.

To be able to pay for food and bills, they would have to work even longer.

On Skid Row, the flickering campfires fueled by scraps of trash cast shadows on the walls, revealing the occasional rat scurrying from one hiding place to another.

Less than a mile away, ritzy apartment buildings and office towers gleam silently into the night sky.

"Look at all the private developers that are building all these tall buildings in Downtown LA," splutters Murase.

"What we need in the city is more affordable housing, and more services. That's what we should be spending our Dollars on.

"Let's treat people as human beings."
(@FahadShabbir)

Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Feb, 2022 ) :The NATO alliance is deploying its rapid response force for the first time ever to bolster its eastern flank in the face of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Here are some facts and figures on what is considered NATO's most response-ready element.

The 40,000 troop strong NATO Response Force is designed to be ready 365 days-a-year to respond within two or three days when a security crisis emerges.

All 30 members of NATO must agree to activate the force, which they did on Thursday, though it will not be deployed to Ukraine, which is not a member of the alliance.

Member states contribute forces annually on a rotating basis, with overall command held by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, currently US General Tod D. Wolters.

Wolters called the force's activation a "historic moment".

Created in 2002 to accelerate NATO's response capability, the force consists of land, air, sea and special operation forces and is intended to respond to a wide gamut of challenges, including disaster relief and evacuations.

In addition to exercises, the Response Force has so far carried out security missions, such as to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, and contributed to disaster relief, including after Hurricane Katrina in the United States and a devastating earthquake in Pakistan.

In August 2021, elements of the force also supported the evacuation and relocation of Afghans who worked alongside NATO and their families.

In 2014, in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea and conflicts in the middle East, a special "spearhead" force was attached to the detachment and is considered NATO's highest-readiness element.

Known as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, leadership of these 20,000 strong forces rotates annually and is currently held by France, to be followed by Germany in 2023.

It's main brigade of about 5,000 troops now consists of a joint Franco-German unit based in Lille, France with contributions from Spain, Portugal, and Poland.

The Allied Joint Force Command based in Brunssum, the Netherlands, currently commands the entire NATO Response Force.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday did not give any details on where the response forces were being sent, saying it was up to NATO's top military commander.

arp-jug/bp
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 
Many foreigners have booked flights to return to Vietnam after more than two years of border closure, yet are still waiting to hear about new visa rules.

Foreign tourists fill in medical declaration forms upon arriving in Hoi An in March 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Tan

"I have booked flights to HCMC for March 21 to attend a wedding but visitor visa applications are still suspended. They should be open for visas for travel after March 15. Also hard to get the required Covid insurance. One should be able to buy the insurance on arrival."

Cuttancej

"I'm packed, ticket in hand for April 1. I hope they work out the visa issue ASAP, or I cancel and go to Thailand again. Hurry up and wait may be a VN thing, but there's plenty of travel options now."

brianc9988

"I booked a one way flight from LAX into SGN on June 23 and hope to be granted a 1-year, multiple entry, visa. Vietnam tourism agency, please return to this visa program."

Esabadin

"It's finally time to publish the new visa rules. We had two years to prepare for the opening day. We have booked flights to HCMC for March 24 despite the uncertainty because we have faith in the Vietnamese government. Nevertheless, we must finally get the opportunity to apply for visas for 3 months. Decisions and transparency are now absolutely necessary."

peter.w.zimmermann

"Recognize people working remotely and let us be in the country on some sensible kind of visas. I will gladly spend 30k USD yearly on rent, restaurants, services. Happy to move some money into Vietnamese bank."

Daniel Nguyen

"If they just give 15 day exemptions it won't be enough, people aren't going to travel now for short trips. Give 90 days exemption like Malaysia does then people won't have to worry about visas or extensions."

Neel Kolhatkar
Lincoln, RI (02865)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. High 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Lithuanian Archbishop Gintaras Grusas, President of the Council of European Bishop's Conferences, describes the Bishops response to the military activity in Ukraine, as well as the positive response from the people of Lithuania who prepare to welcome thousands of refugees.

By Francesca Merlo

Archbishop Gintaras Grusas, President of the Council of European Bishop's Conferences describes how disheartened he and his fellow bishops were when they heard of the beginning of the military actions in Ukraine. We are joining in prayers for the people of Ukraine, for the Church in Urkaine, and we are calling for the cessation of military action, he says.

Read also 23/02/2022 Pope announces 2 March as day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine Pope Francis says his heart aches over the situation in Ukraine and announces a Day of Fasting for Peace on Ash Wednesday.

Prayers for peace

Speaking to Vatican News Antonella Palermo, Archbishop Grusas of the Lithuanian Capital, Vilnius, stresses that the Bishops, and the people of Lithuania, are joining the Holy Father in the call to prayer and fasting, and are asking all Catholics, Christians, and people of good will to join, too, in this prayer for peace. The Holy Father has called for Wednesday 2 March to be a day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine who has been under military attack from Russia since Thursday.

Listen to our interview with Archbishop Grusas

Welcoming refugees

Archbishop Grusas went on to note that in Lithuaia, we have already begun to receive refugees and adds that this lands nicely with the theme of our meeting here in Florence, Italy. Archbishop Grusas is in Florence, Italy, where he is currently attending a meeting of Bishops and Mayors of some of the cities most affected by the migratory crisis of the Mediterranean Sea. With that in mind, Archbishop Grusas continued noting that like in the Tuscan capital, the Church and the mayors of various cities in Lithuania are working together to accommodate the influx of refugees.

Possible numbers

He noted that although the greates number of refugees are likely to reach Poland, which sits at the border with Ukraine, many of the Ukrainin nationals already living in Lithuania have started accommodating friends and relatives who have begun to flee from Ukraine.

Just before leaving Lithuania for the meeting in Italy, the anticipated numbers of possible refugees arriving in Lithuania were low, aound 20, 25, 50, says Archbishop Grusas. Now theyre talking about 100,00 people. So we are trying to prepare for this as best we can, he added, noting that the people of Lithuania have already organised various actions for support, including a demonstration that saw the participation of around 10,000 people. Like them, concluded the Archbishop, we are calling for an end to the war, and the reestablishment of peace.
Churches in Europe unanimously condemn the attack on Ukraine, while calling for prayers and solidarity.

By Vatican news staff reporter

Churches of all denominations across Europe have joined in firmly condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine, while praying for peace to prevail and expressing heartfelt solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

CCEE

We must act together and with determination to immediately put an end to the Russian aggression and do everything possible to protect innocent women, men and children: in the name of God stop now!", wrote the president of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), Archbishop Gintaras Grusas of Vilnius in a message issued on Thursday, while attending the ongoing meeting of Bishops and Mayors of major cities of the Mediterranean in Floremce.

The prelate expressed the Councils closeness to the victims and to all those suffering in the conflict, while confirming that the European bishops will join the global day of fasting and prayer Pope Francis has called for on Ash Wednesday, March 2.

COMECE

For his part, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), urged the international community, including the EU, not to stop seeking a peaceful solution to the crisis through diplomatic dialogue, reminding that "war is a serious affront to human dignity and has no place in Europe.

Cardinal Hollerich also appealed on European governments to "welcome refugees fleeing Ukraine and seeking international protection: It is our vocation, our responsibility and our duty to welcome and protect them as brothers and sisters", he said.

CEC, Lutherans, Methodists and Reformed

Other Christian Churches in Europe have also condemned the assault and are supporting the global day of prayer for Ukraine on March 2. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), and the World Methodist Council (WMC) have issued a joint invitation to an online prayer service at 17.00 CET that day. In the call to prayer for the people of Ukraine and the region, the four Christian communions note the military assault threatens the lives of Ukrainians, as well as peace throughout Europe and beyond. The crisis is urgent and requires the attention and solidarity of the global Christian community, they say.

The Anglican Church

The Church of England too has condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine and is calling on the faithful to join in prayer. In a joint statement Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said the horrific and unprovoked attack is an act of great evil and urged Christians to make this Sunday a special day of prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace, while supporting the global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday.
Victoria County may skew red overall, but Tuesdays election is still an important one for local Republican and Democratic voters alike.

Its really important because we have so many candidates, said Victoria County Republican Chairman Bill Pozzi on Friday, adding that more competition among Republicans is simply healthy for democracy.

It is important, said Pozzis counterpart, Victoria County Democratic Chairman Woodrow Wilson Wagner II. Although we dont have (many) candidates in county offices, we still have candidates at the state level ... theres still a reason to get out there Tuesday.

Tuesday, Crossroads voters will have one more day to make their voices heard in this years joint primary election. Voters will receive primary ballots for the party of their choice and will decide who will continue to the general election on Nov. 8.

In Victoria County, 32 polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters may want to vote in the morning, said Kristen Gonzales, deputy elections clerk, because polls tend to get more crowded as the day goes on.

Those who wish to submit vote-by mail ballots must do so at the county elections office, 2805 N. Navarro St. Suite 500, inside the Dr. Pattie Dodson Public Health Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

The elections office is having problems with some vote-by-mail ballots because not everyone is putting their identification on the ballots when they re- turn them. Under the new SB1 law the voters ID is re- quired in a designated place on the envelope..

The affected voters have been sent a notice asking them to correct the problems by March 1. As of Friday, 287 ballots are being rejected if they are not corrected by Tuesday, according to a news release from the elections administrators office.

Voters are required to bring a form of photo identification, which could be a drivers license, Texas ID or passport.

Although photo ID is the only requirement, registered voters are also encouraged to do a little research before showing up.

Ballots will do little more than inform voters who is running and on what party. To learn who the candidates are and what they stand for, voters are encouraged to read the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Texas guide, which is available in English and Spanish.

Sample ballots and the voter guides are available with the online version of this story or on the county elections office website, www.vctxelections.org.

With only one Democratic candidate running in the Victoria County primary, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace MaryAnn Rivera, some Democratic voters may wish to opt for a Republican ballot. Wagner said he supports doing so because many Democrats may support Republican candidates in good faith. Switching parties for the primary doesnt make a voter a traitor, he said.

There are lot of good people running for county offices, he said.

With so many Republicans vying for office in the primary, this election will be especially important for those who vote on the Republican ballot, Pozzi said. The votes cast Tuesday will be a deciding factor in how the November election shapes out.

Luckily, Pozzi said he is expecting a decent turnout come Tuesday.

And despite concerns nationally about the security and fairness of elections, both Wagner and Pozzi said they have the utmost trust for the election process in Victoria County.

Whatever youre reading, thats not happening here in Victoria County, Wagner said. We have a fair, safe and very transparent election where we can take a lot of confidence  whether the person is a Republican or Democrat.

Pozzi agreed saying that he has witnessed firsthand how elections work in Victoria County as an official within the countys Republican Party.

I was so surprised by how fair and transparent and helpful the people here in Victoria are, Pozzi said, adding, I cannot find fault with them.
Victoria, TX (77901)

Today

Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. High 89F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 75F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph.
A tourist sunbathes on an air mattress with her phone on the Amadores beach in the south of the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, August 3, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Borja Suarez

The European Union (EU) will lift its non-essential travel ban and allow entry to all fully vaccinated travelers from outside the bloc, including Vietnam, from March 1.

All travelers must have been inoculated with one of the vaccines that have received the green light from European Medicines Agency (EMA) or World Health Organization (WHO) at least 14 days before their trip to the EU.

Those whose vaccination date is older than nine months must receive a booster dose in order to be permitted entry.

The EU has so far authorized vaccines produced by Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. In addition to these shots, the WHO has also approved the vaccines produced by Chinese makers Sinopharm and Sinovac and Indian company Bharat Biotech.

For people inoculated with shots not approved in EU, its member states could also require a negative PCR test done 72 hours before departure and could apply additional measures like quarantine or isolation.

Until now, most EU countries have not admitted people from outside the bloc travelling for non-essential reasons, including tourism.

Vietnam has resumed commercial flights to 20 of 28 countries and territories that it operated direct flights to before the pandemic, including Frankfurt, London and Paris.

From March 15, Vietnam will fully reopen inbound and outbound tourism.
SEAN MORRISON is a News and Features Editor for The Vidette. He can be contacted at sgmorr1@ilstu.edu. Follow Morrison on Twitter at @ seanmorr122

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.
Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music.
This week marks the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon's historic 1972 visit to China, which opened relations between the United States and Chinas communist government after more than two decades of mutual distrust. As VOAs Mike O'Sullivan reports, the anniversary comes at a fraught time in U.S.-China relations.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine could force as many as 4 million Ukrainians to flee their country, the United Nations said this week, spawning one of the worst refugee crises in Europe in more than 70 years.

According to the U.N. refugee agency Sunday, 368,000 Ukrainians have crossed into neighboring countries and that number is expected to rise.

Poland  along with Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary  have relaxed COVID-19 border controls to allow in Ukrainians fleeing Russian violence. The Polish government declared open borders and said it would not require official documents.

We will help everyone. We will not leave anyone without help, the Polish border agency said.

According to the AP, the line of cars at the Medyka, Poland-Ukraine border crossing stretched back 15 kilometers.

Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova, tweeted Thursday, The govt has deployed temporary placement centers near Palanca and Ocnita. Our borders are open for Ukrainian citizens who need safe transit or stay.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Russian President Vladimir Putins chief European allies, said in a press conference this week, Hungary would allow in refugees even if they did not have paperwork. Thousands of refugees have already crossed Hungarys 137-kilometer border with Ukraine. Hungary also said Saturday it would not block any sanctions against Russia.

The refugees are primarily women, children and the elderly because Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy banned earlier this week men of military age from leaving the country.

In the U.S., the Biden administration has asked Congress to provide $6.4 billion to Ukraine, some of which will go toward humanitarian aid.

U.S. Senator Chris Coons, the chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Committee, which overseas humanitarian aid, told reporters Friday he supported emergency spending of at least $10 billion to support the Ukrainian military and refugees.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, told VOA he expects Ukrainian refugees to receive similar treatment to those fleeing Afghanistan who received Temporary Protected Status.

I will lead the charge with that. Me and Marcy Kaptur, the Republican and Democrat co-chairs of the Ukraine caucus, were both in agreement on this, Fitzpatrick said. We are going to welcome freedom-loving Ukrainians to the United States or any other country that they want to go to. But more importantly we got to defend Ukraine itself so they can stay in Ukraine.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
South Africas labor ministry says Chinese tech firm Huawei is non-compliant with the countrys employment policies.

Huawei is in talks with the ministry over infringements of the countrys employment policies that require 60% of staff to be local hires. Its still unclear what a settlement could mean for Huawei and other foreign businesses operating in the country.

The ministrys employment equity act sets requirements for the number of local hires, including those of disadvantaged backgrounds, at various levels within a corporate structure. And it does regular checks across industries for compliance.

There is room to employ foreign nationals, especially on companies or employers that come to the country to invest and also to transfer skills to South Africans. We do allow them to bring 40% of their employees. We realized that 90% of its workforce, that Huawai is foreign nationals, which is against our employment policies, says Fikiswa Mncanca-Bede, a lawyer for South Africas Department of Employment and Labor.

The labor department launched legal proceedings against Huawei earlier this month.

On Friday, the ministry confirmed it was in settlement negotiations with the tech firm on how to correct the discrepancies.

Huawei did not respond to requests for comment.

Mncanca-Bede says the governments action should send a signal to all companies that non-compliance will not be tolerated.

We're not targeting Huawei, but we're also coming for the big companies in South Africa,  because we want to ensure that transformation does not just become a talk, but it must be seen as a reality. Transformation means even if you employ South Africans, who are the South Africans that were employing? Are they addressing the imbalances of the past? Mncanca-Bede asked.

The employment equity act aims to correct historic inequalities in the country, including racial preferences from the apartheid era that benefited white workers.

But those regulations are still not playing out as planned in the workforce.

There's rampant violation of regulations by big companies and small company, and South African companies, not just, you know, these international companies. I would definitely say in relation to all of our labor laws, theres enforcement problems. I think that the Department of Labor is under resourced, said Kgomotso Musanabi, a law lecturer at the University of Johannesburg.

In addition to inequities, South Africa is experiencing rampant unemployment, with upwards of 35% of people being jobless.

Musanabi says its even worse among the countrys youth.

I think that government is trying to make an attempt to ensure that all South Africans are employed. But not only that South Africans are employed, but that they acquire sort of globally relevant skills that they need to compete in international markets, particularly tech skills, Musanabi said.

Companies that are non-compliant face fines.

But labor lawyer Johanette Rheeder says for companies as big as Huawei, those fines are a drop in the bucket and unlikely to have a broader chilling effect.

In South Africa theres in many businesses also an attitude of well fix it when were caught out. Bigger businesses that's got a better a better social conscience, if I can call it that, do comply. The middle size and the smaller businesses who just can't afford to comply with all of these legislations, so they basically fix it when they offered when they caught out, Rheeder said.

Instead, she says bridging education and skills gaps in the country  rather than going after foreign workers  is the best way to address unemployment and inequity.

The biggest, biggest thing that we can do in my view in this country is to upskill people... there are some strategies that [are] in place, but it's always the struggle between upskilling our local people and not giving jobs to foreigners, Rheeder said.

The labor department said talks with Huawei are expected to conclude Friday.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.



The latest developments of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, all times EST:

11:33 p.m.: Agence France-Presse has a graphic explaining the SWIFT international payments network:

11 p.m.: In Virginia, a show of support.

10:29 p.m.: The United Nations Security Council is due to vote Sunday to call for a rare emergency special session of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which would be held on Monday, diplomats said. Reuters has the story.

10:09 p.m.: Estimates put Putin's wealth at over $100 billion, The New York Times says.

9:40 a.m.: Breaking news from The Associated Press:

9:05 p.m.: Protests continue around the world.

8:55 p.m.: The crisis leaks into football:

8:43 p.m.: YouTube is taking steps against Russian channels. Reuters has the story.

8:34 p.m.: VOA's Cindy Saine says Ukraine will get more aid from the United States.

8:18 p.m.: Agence France-Presse offers a look at Chernobyl's giant arch.

8:14 p.m.: Ukrainians flee to neighboring countries.

8:11 p.m.: Worries mount about Chernobyl. ABC News has the story.

5:30 p.m.: The United States and Europe are slapping more official sanctions on Russian banks and tech companies.

But bars and liquor stores across America and Canada have found another way to punish Russia for invading Ukraine: Theyre pulling Russian vodka off their shelves and promoting Ukrainian brands instead, The Associated Press said.

I woke up yesterday morning, and I saw that Russia had invaded Ukraine. You wonder what you can do, said Bob Quay, owner of Bobs Bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The U.S. obviously is putting on sanctions. I thought I would put on sanctions as well.

5:15 p.m.: Where is Zelenskyy?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been posting video and other messages of himself and other national leaders in Kyiv since the invasion began on Thursday but his exact whereabouts were not publicly known, the AP says.

Do not believe the fakes, he says, above this video.

Zelenskyy was urged early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the U.S. government but turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official. The official quoted the president as saying the fight is here and that he needed anti-tank ammunition but not a ride.

Zelenskyy said Saturday that Russian attempts to forge into Kyiv have been repelled and Moscows plan to quickly seize the capital and install a puppet government had been thwarted.

The real fighting for Kyiv is ongoing, Zelenskyy said, accusing Russia in a video message of hitting infrastructure and civilian targets. We will win.

5 p.m.: European Union foreign ministers will come together for a virtual meeting on Sunday to adopt further measures in support of Ukraine and against "aggression by Russia," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said late on Saturday.

"I will propose a package of emergency assistance for the Ukrainian armed forces, to support them in their heroic fight," he said on Twitter, adding that the meeting would start on Sunday at 1700 GMT, or noon EST.

3:19 p.m.: VOA's Jeff Seldin reports the Pentagon is refuting claims by Russian state media outlet Sputnik that U.S. drones were present during recent Ukrainian naval operations near Zmiiny Island (Snake Island) in the Black Sea.

12:36 p.m.: According to VOA's Myroslava Gongadze, the Ukrainian army has established a hotline for families of Russian soldiers involved in the invasion of Ukraine. An ad for the hotline claims that more than 3,000 Russian soldiers already perished since the start of the incursion and that over 200 have been taken prisoner. VOA is unable to independently confirm these numbers.

10:38 a.m.: Citing British intelligence assessments, VOA's Jeff Seldin reports that Ukraine has managed to slow Russia's advance.

10:31 a.m.: Citing Russian state-run media, VOA's Jeff Seldin reports the Kremlin has given its military orders to advance in all directions in Ukraine.

9:24 a.m.: According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, more than 150,000 Ukrainians have now crossed into neighboring countries.

8:27 a.m.: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy takes to Twitter to thank his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayip Erdogan, and the Turkish people for their support.



8:10 a.m.: Kyiv mayor and boxing legend Vitali Klitschko issues an impassioned plea to the international community on Twitter:

8:07 a.m.: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba vehemently denies "Russian propaganda" that claims Ukraine is preparing a "dirty bomb" attack on Russian territory.

8:07 a.m.: VOA's Myroslava Gongadze reports that Kyiv authorities have toughened curfew orders in the city, saying violators would be considered "enemy" saboteurs as Russian forces press to capture Ukraine's capital. Starting Feb. 26, Kyiv imposes updated curfew times from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

7:42 p.m.: The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, has stated that the Russian Armed Forces are starting to actively use saboteurs and paratroopers in a change of tactics dictated by their unsuccessful initial push to strike quickly with long columns of military vehicles and equipment.

"More than 55 hours of resistance. Our defenders have completely ruined the enemys plan. As of this morning, we are aware of more than 3,000 Russian occupiers killed in action. More than 200 of them have been taken prisoners, and their number continues to increase. They did not expect us to fight back and are surrendering."

7:25 a.m.: ABC News reports that officials are concerned about possible cyberattacks against the U.S.

7:07 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he's getting support from the international community.

7:01 a.m.: VOA's Jamie Dettmer, in central Ukraine, reports that Kyiv has imposed a curfew from 5 p.m.-8a.m. and that air raid sirens are sounding in Lviv.

6:54 a.m.: Slovakia's Ambassador to the UK and former Defense Minister Robert Ondrejcsak announces establishment of NATO battle group in Slovakia.

6:31 a.m.: Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba takes to Twitter in Russian, appealing to relatives of Russian soldiers in Ukraine to take them home.

"Mothers, wives, daughters of Russian soldiers! Take your men home. They came to a foreign land to kill innocent people, to destroy our homes. Your government is lying. The Ukrainian people are meeting them with weapons, not flowers. Demand from [your] authorities to stop this war of conquest, save your loved ones!"

6 a.m.: Al Jazeera has video of a missile hitting in Kyiv:

5:25 a.m.: Refugees from Ukraine are fleeing to neighboring countries:

5:24 a.m.: Breaking news from VOA's Jamie Dettmer, on the ground in central Ukraine: Lviv mayor says Russian paratroopers are near Brody and Zolochiv in Western Ukraine. Ukrainian security service contradicting Lviv mayor and saying people are mistaking Ukrainian military activity.

5:21 a.m.: "The third day of the war, started by the Russian invaders, under shelling and explosions, also lives and it appears the cry of newborn Ukrainians," Ukraine's health minister wrote in a Facebook post.

"Yesterday in Kherson, under the shelling, two boys were born in one of the maternity homes oblastovanomu in the bomboshovi i, Two new lives that already have War in their genetic code. We and they will never forget, and never forgive!

"Life goes on, we give birth to children and no one can defeat us!"

5:01 a.m.: NBC News reports that two babies were born in a bomb shelter:

4:49 a.m.: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry tweets an appeal by Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk calling on the Red Cross to assist with the transfer of bodies of dead Russian soldiers from Ukraine to Russia, asserting that there are "thousands" of them, a claim VOA is unable to independently confirm.

4:22 a.m.: VOA's Jamie Dettmer, in central Ukraine, reports on what the country faced Friday night: Russian forces attacked on many fronts during night: in Ukraines north, east and south. Ukrainian military say Russian paratroopers tried to seize Vasylkiv but were repulsed. Air raid sirens sounded across country as far west as Lviv on Polish border and central Ukraines Cherkasy and Vinnytsia, Kharkiv in east and southern Kherson.

4:09 a.m.: VOA's Jamie Dettmer is on the ground near Kyiv. Here's what he's seeing Saturday morning:

Talked with woman 5 kilometers from a Kyiv high-rise struck this morning near international airport: she, neighbors huddled in underground car park, sharing tea, coffee, staples, warm clothing; all very stressed, want to leave but think safer where they are.

Kyiv train station packed with people trying get free trains West, eye-witnesses tell me; intense rocket and missile impact northern part of capital; further strikes near where high-rise residential block hit earlier today near international airport

Authorities expect even more Ukrainians to take to already snarled roads to head to neighboring borders; journeys becoming harder, many on roads for days facing severe challenges getting gas. I saw many families sleeping in their cars by the side of roads last night as the weather turned colder.

Ukrainians filling social media forums offering temporary places to stay while they try to flee.

4 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to his people from Kyiv. CNN has the video translated into English.

3:32 a.m.: Ukraine's president tweets about joining the EU.

3:05 a.m.: Ukraine's president says France is sending weapons to his country.

2:33 a.m.: Kazakhstan denies Russia's request for troops, NBC News reports.

1:57 a.m.: Kyiv requires special attention, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday. We cannot lose the capital.

1:33 a.m.: Syrian president praises Russian actions, Al Jazeera reports.

1 a.m.: Protests against Russia continue in Australia.

12:39 a.m.: The BBC reports that missiles are being launched at Ukraine from the Black Sea.

12:26 a.m.: The Associated Press reports that street fighting is under way.

12:05 a.m.: Russia blocked a move Friday in the U.N. Security Council to condemn and halt its invasion of Ukraine, but several nations said they would seek accountability from the full U.N. membership in the General Assembly. VOA's Margaret Besheer has the story.

12:01 a.m.: Agence France-Presse has a timeline of major events in the conflict:

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
The U.S. is revisiting cutting Russia from the global bank-to-bank payment system known as SWIFT, as the next step in a series of escalating sanctions punishing Moscow for the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden initially held back on this crucial step that would isolate Russia on the world stage and have a serious impact on its economy, due to the concerns of European allies. But those concerns appeared to be eroding Saturday as Russian forces moved to encircle the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Ukraine has lobbied for a SWIFT ban on Russia, urging Europe to act more forcefully in imposing sanctions against Moscow. However, some European nations, including Germany, are hesitant to take that step.



British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Friday for nations to cut off Russia from the SWIFT international bank transfer system "to inflict maximum pain."

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said "the debate about SWIFT is not off the table, it will continue."

Putin, Lavrov sanctioned

The United States announced Friday that it would freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following similar steps taken by the European Union and Britain, as nations around the world sought to tighten sanctions against Russia's government over its invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced the action Friday after EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels unanimously agreed to freeze the property and bank accounts of the top Russian officials.

Britain's government took the same action Friday, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss writing on Twitter, "We will not stop inflicting economic pain on the Kremlin until Ukrainian sovereignty is restored."

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the move by the U.S., the European Union and Britain sends "a clear message about the strength of the opposition to the actions" by Putin.

Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Council Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, told VOA, the sanctions were designed to apply global pressure on Russia.

"If you see the sanctions on 13 financial institutions, among the largest in Russia, that will have an impact with any government or business that has agreements with these institutions. But also, a lot of this money laundering and governments that operate outside the financial system international will feel the squeeze, Gonzalez said.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the sanctions against Putin and Lavrov reflect the West's "absolute impotence" when it comes to foreign policy, according to the RIA news agency.

World leaders are rarely the target of direct sanctions. The only other leaders currently under EU sanctions are Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Agence France-Presse.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said the move is "a unique step in history" toward a country that has a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council but said it shows how united EU countries are in countering Russia's actions.

The EU sanctions against Putin and Lavrov are part of a broader sanctions package that targets Russian banks, oil refineries and Russia's defense industry.

EU leaders agreed, however, it was premature to impose a travel ban on Putin and Lavrov because negotiating channels need to be kept open.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Friday the package of banking sanctions the EU has passed would hit Putin's government harder than excluding Russia from the SWIFT payments system.

"The sword that looks hardest isn't always the cleverest one," she said, adding, "the sharper sword at the moment is listing [the] banks."

In response to the sanctions, Russia has taken its own measures, including banning British flights over its territory, after Britain imposed a similar ban on Aeroflot flights.

The United States and several allies had imposed a first tranche of sanctions Tuesday, after Putin declared the disputed eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states, much as he appropriated Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

President Biden added another round of sanctions on Russia Thursday, hours after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, declaring at the White House after meeting virtually with leaders of the G-7 nations and NATO that "Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences."

Biden said the new U.S. sanctions, which target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors and include export controls, will "squeeze Russia's access to finance and technology for strategic sectors of its economy and degrade its industrial capacity for years to come."

NATO allies, including Britain and the European Union, also imposed more sanctions Thursday, and the effects were felt almost immediately when global security prices plunged and commodity prices surged. Biden acknowledged that Americans would see higher gasoline prices.

Also Friday, an International Criminal Court prosecutor warned that the court may investigate whether Russia has committed any possible war crimes, following its invasion of Ukraine.

"I remind all sides conducting hostilities on the territory of Ukraine that my office may exercise its jurisdiction and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within Ukraine," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said Friday in a statement.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Following an emergency meeting Friday, NATO triggered its Response Force for the first time to defend the eastern flank of the alliance as Russian forces continue their invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has again urged its Western allies to provide military help. More from Henry Ridgwell.
Vision Media Services Limited reads the inscription on a metal gate leading to a compound on a dusty road in Jabi, a district in Nigerias capital, Abuja.

A communication mast tapers into the sky next to a golden-yellow one-story building that houses a media conglomerate comprising seven radio outlets and one television station.

Vision FM is the company's mainstay. Shuaibu Mungadi, its chief operating officer, runs the station with four other senior broadcasters who pride themselves on each having at least 30 years experience in journalism.

But the once bustling corridors are quieter than usual. Voices of top company executives who are gathered in a meeting room to discuss the stations future can be heard from the reception area.

They're reviewing the unexpected sanctions on the station's popular Idon Mikiya or Truth to Power show.

The one-hour current affairs program airs at 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and is the station's most successful. At least 30 million listeners tune in every week from across northern Nigeria, station managers say.

But on Jan. 28, all that changed. Nigerian media regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission, ordered Vision FM to suspend the show for six months and fined the station about $12,500.

At a recent meeting on the suspension, Mungadi sat at a table flipping through documents as management discussed a way forward. Weeks of dialogue have yet to pay off, he told VOA.

"The constitutional role of the media is being trampled by the government, that is the position of things. The government is vehement, the government is indifferent," Mungadi said.

VOAs requests for a comment from the media regulator were declined.

But in its letter to the broadcaster, the regulator cited a Jan. 5 show that discussed controversies over Rufai Abubakar, head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). Nigerian media and critics have questioned Abubakars suitability to lead the agency.

The regulator alleged that Vision FM broadcast trade secrets and other issues regarding the national security agency, and that its commentaries lacked fairness and balance.

The content, including information about agency appointments, constituted a breach of the provision of section 39(3)(b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which imposes restrictions on matters concerning government security services or agencies established by law, the letter read.

But Mungadi said authorities are twisting the law to stifle views and said the show was just raising important issues.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other rights groups criticized the suspension.

The regulators actions come amid an increase in media repression that critics say has worsened under President Muhammadu Buhari.

In January, NIA agents demanded that Peoples Gazette reveal the identity of a source use in the newspapers reporting about the agency director. In an unrelated incident, unidentified men beat a journalist and damaged equipment at Thunder Blowers, a news website in Zamfara state.

Media rights groups say journalists risk arbitrary detentions or charges under a 2015 cybercrime law. They note that last year, the president suspended Twitter for seven months.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders says Nigeria is one of the most difficult places in West Africa to report from, with journalists spied on, arrested, attacked or even killed. The country registered a five-point decline on the World Press Freedom Index last year, ranking 120 out of 180 where 1 is freest.

Authorities deny they are suppressing press freedom. The media regulator has previously said it is not restricting the media but warned news outlets to be conscious of their reporting and said that defaulters will be called to order.

Vision FM feels loss

Back at the radio station, things have not been the same. Every week the station loses about $25,000 usually generated from advertisements and sponsorships, Mungadi said.

The suspension is taking a toll.

"We lost our marketing because there's so much sponsorship on this program, those sponsorships were withdrawn," Mungadi said.

Without that revenue, Mungadi said, he is unsure how long the station can keep up with salaries.

Listeners are also calling to ask why the show is no longer broadcast.

"Once it is five o'clock you'll see a lot of people calling, I am on your station now but I am not hearing Idon Mikiya, what is happening? Even if the program comes back we're going to lose a lot of listeners," said station manager Abdul Alugbere.

Supporters in the northern Nigerian states of Kano, Sokoto, and Bauchi attempted to protest the suspension but, Alugbere said, they were stopped by the police.

The suspension shows authorities are not open to criticism, said Kolawole Oluwadare, director of SERAP.

The Nigerian nonprofit focuses on fighting corruption and economic and social rights. When the regulator suspended Vision FMs show, SERAP issued a statement urging authorities to lift the ban.

"(The suspension) again shows the government's intolerance for whatever is perceived as critical views of government action. We have also approached the station because we're willing to take this up in the public's interest," said Oluwadare.

For now, Mungadi and his team at Vision Media continue to make efforts to reverse the suspension. But he said they'd never renege on journalistic standards, no matter the cost.

"We are journalists, we cannot be intimidated into discarding issues of public interest. We shall rather remain sanctioned than compromised, said Mungadi.
Nigeria's president, Muhammadu Buhari, has signed an election reform law that activists hope will improve transparency and promote inclusion.

Buhari signed the 2022 electoral amendment bill in his village Friday, with cabinet members and lawmakers in attendance.

During the signing, the president said the bill contained salient and praiseworthy provisions that could positively revolutionize elections in Nigeria through the introduction of new technological innovations."

The signing followed a campaign by electoral reform activists urging the president to approve the bill, which lawmakers passed in January.

New law has support of civic groups

Activists applauded the president's signing of the bill. Godbless Otubure is the founder of Ready to Lead Africa, one of the civic groups that supports the new law.

"A lot of people told us we were joking that this is Nigeria, nobody is going to give you good electoral reforms," Otubure said. "But we sustained the campaign and today, the president of Nigeria signed the electoral bill into law. We're excited. It's not a perfect legislation but it's an incredible improvement of what we currently have."

Notable innovations in the law include electronic transmission of election results, electronic voter accreditation and greater accommodations for people with disabilities.

The president said the law will improve the efficiency, clarity and transparency of Nigeria's elections, and address disputes often arising from dissatisfied candidates and political parties.

Youth program manager encouraged

Ibrahim Faruq is a program manager of the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement. He is encouraged by the new law.

"In the roll-up to the 2023 general elections, we're going to continue these engagements and find ways that we can actually turn up our democracy so that citizens can enjoy the dividends of our democracy," Faruq said.

Lawmakers had passed similar bills five times in the past but the president refused to sign them, saying they needed more work.

Now, as Nigeria heads to the polls in one year, many will be watching to see how - and if - the new bill changes the status quo.
The Thacker Pass lithium mine project north of Winnemucca came closer to becoming a reality Friday when the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection issued three permits for the project: the Water Pollution Control Permit, Mine Reclamation Permit and Class II Air Quality Operating Permit.

Lithium Americas Corp. said in a press release that these are the final key state-level permits for the Thacker Pass lithium project.

The comment periods on these three permits closed in November and December. With some permit requests, NDEP may issue a decision on the permits within a couple weeks of the close of the comment period, but the Thacker Pass project inspired a lot of comments, and NDEP added a couple extra weeks to allow for additional public input and spent some extra time doing their review.

NDEP conducted extensive reviews of the mine site plan, verified the air models and calculations for the Class II Air Quality Operating Permit, assessed required bonding for land disturbance and reclamation as part of the Mining Reclamation Permit, and authorized mine operations and ore processing for the Water Pollution Control Permit, including setting monitoring and reporting requirements, the Lithium Americas press release said.

More information can be found on NDEPs Thacker Pass webpage.

The deadline to request appeals to the permits is March 7.

There continues to be ongoing litigation over the Thacker Pass project.

The Bureau of Land Management issued a Record of Decision on Jan. 15, 2021. In February 2021, claims were filed against the BLM. In the third quarter of 2021, injunction requests over Lithium Americas plan to begin cultural assessment and pre-construction work were denied, and a motion to reconsider was also denied in late 2021.

Recently, the federal court partially approved a request for the inclusion of additional documents from the BLM. As a result of the additional documentation requests, the ROD appeal process is expected to be complete in the third quarter of 2022, according to Lithium Americas.

Tim Crowley, Lithium Nevada Corp. vice president of government and community relations, said the company still needs a ruling from the state water engineer on water rights, and an incidental eagle take permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These are both expected fairly soon.

Crowley said they hope to begin cultural treatment work at the site this spring, and they are on track to begin pre-construction work at the end of this year.

With the final key state environmental permits in hand, Lithium Americas can begin to advance Thacker Pass towards construction, said Jonathan Evans, Lithium Americas president and CEO. Thacker Pass provides an opportunity to enable a U.S.-based battery supply chain for the growing electric vehicle market. Our commitment to developing Thacker Pass in the most environmentally responsible way is demonstrated from over a decade of conducting the necessary planning, design and engagement.

Thacker Pass is the largest known lithium deposit in the United States, and it is expected to have about 300 full-time employees and produce about 60,000 tons of lithium a year when it reaches full production.

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Russia blocked a move Friday in the U.N. Security Council to condemn and halt its invasion of Ukraine, but several nations said they would seek accountability from the full U.N. membership in the General Assembly.

"Let me put it plainly: Vote yes if you believe in upholding the U.N. Charter. Vote yes if you support Ukraine's  or any state's  right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you believe Russia should be held to account for its actions," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council. "Vote no, or abstain, if you do not uphold the charter, and align yourselves with the aggressive and unprovoked actions of Russia. Just as Russia had a choice, so do you."

The text, drafted by the United States and Albania, was supported by 11 of the 15 council members. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes to pass.

The Norwegian ambassador questioned whether the Russian ambassador should have even been allowed to vote.

"A veto cast by the aggressor undermines the purpose of the council. It's a violation of the very foundation of the U.N. Charter," Mona Juul said. "Furthermore, in the spirit of the charter, Russia, as a party, should have abstained from voting on this resolution."

Russian dismissal

Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia, who happens to be president of the council this month, presided over the meeting in which his government was widely condemned. He also had the task of reading out the names of dozens of countries that co-sponsored the measure that sought to reprimand Moscow.

By the end of the meeting, more than 80 countries had joined that list.

Nebenzia dismissed the draft resolution not only as "anti-Russian" but also as anti-Ukrainian, because, he said, it ran counter to the interests of the Ukrainian people.

"Today's draft resolution  your draft resolution  is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard," he said.

He denied that Moscow was waging a war on the Ukrainian people, but rather said it was carrying out a "special operation" against nationalists to protect residents of eastern Ukraine.

"These objectives will soon be achieved, and the Ukrainian people will gain an opportunity to once again independently determine their future," he said.

'Russia is isolated'

The British ambassador called him out on claims that Russia's aggression is in self-defense, to protect people living in the Russian-backed separatist areas.

"This is absurd. Russia's only act of self-defense is the vote they have cast against this resolution today," British Ambassador Barbara Woodward said. "Make no mistake: Russia is isolated. It has no support for the invasion of Ukraine."

Ukraine's envoy said his country is under siege from nearly every direction.

"Last night was the most horrific for Kyiv since, just imagine, 1941, when it was attacked by Nazis," Sergiy Kyslytsya said.

He told the council that his country faces a difficult night ahead, and he took the unusual step of asking the diplomats in the room to have a moment of silence to pray or meditate for peace.

"To pray for souls of those who have already been killed, for souls of those who may be killed," he said. "And I invite the Russian ambassador to pray for salvation."

The Russian ambassador interjected to say the people who have died in eastern Ukraine in the past eight years should also be included. The U.N. says 14,000 people have died in the conflict.

"All human lives are valuable," Nebenzia said.

A round of applause broke out in the chamber after the silence.

"The United Nations was born out of war to end war," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters after the vote. "Today, that objective was not achieved. But we must never give up. We must give peace another chance."

He said soldiers need to return to their barracks and leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace.

Next steps

"It was inevitable that Russia would block the Security Council from taking meaningful action over Ukraine," said Comfort Ero, president of the International Crisis Group. "But it is important that all U.N. member states, from all regions, use the U.N. to communicate to Moscow how badly this war will damage its global image."

Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth said that Russia's veto shows its indifference to international law. He urged the General Assembly to step up to fill the void left by the Security Council.

"International scrutiny is needed to spare civilians from possible large-scale violations of international humanitarian law," he said.

"We will be taking this matter to the General Assembly, where the Russian veto does not apply and the nations of the world will continue to hold Russia accountable," Thomas-Greenfield confirmed to reporters.

The draft is likely to be adopted in the coming days with a large majority of the 193 members, sending a strong symbolic message to Moscow that it is largely isolated in the international community because of its aggression.
Human rights activists and experts are calling on Moscow to provide safe passage for Choe Kum Chol, an elite North Korean cyberwarrior stationed in Vladivostok whose attempt to defect was foiled by Russian police.

We need to call attention to the abuse of North Korean escapees, call on Russia to allow Mr. Choe to seek asylum, said Robert King, who served as the U.S. special envoy for North Koreas human rights under the Obama administration.

Choe, 33, a major in Pyongyangs elite military cyberwarfare unit, escaped his North Korean minders in Vladivostok in July 2021 and fled to what was believed to be a safe location in the nearby town of Razdolnoe.

While in hiding, Choe was preparing to seek asylum from the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Moscow but Russian police arrested him in September 2021 and handed him over to the North Korean consulate in Vladivostok. Russian police have a history of arresting North Korean defectors at the request of Pyongyang.

Born and raised in Pyongyang, Choe first came to Vladivostok in May 2019 to work in North Koreas overseas cyberwarfare unit after years of education and training, and a similar cyberwarfare posting in China.

Fate remains unknown

Choe remains in the custody of North Korean officials in Vladivostok as of February 12, according to Svetlana Gannushkina, who heads the Civic Assistance Committee (CAC) based in Moscow, an organization that assists refugees and migrants in Russia.

After learning about Choes attempt to defect, from VOAs Korea Service earlier this month, the CAC sought Choe to confirm that he was still held by North Korean authorities.

Gannushkina told VOAs Korean Service on February 12 that a CAC-affiliated attorney learned Choe is under detention in [the] DPRK consulate in Vladivostok. She also said North Korean authorities could not move him across the borders of Russia, which shares land and maritime borders with North Korea.

DPRK stands for North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Suzanne Scholte, president of the Defense Forum Foundation and a longtime North Korean human rights activist, said, As long as he is in Russia, there is hope, even if Choe is being held by North Korean authorities.

She continued, In order to be forcefully repatriated to North Korea, Russia must allow him to leave the country with DPRK agents, so whether he lives or dies depends on the action of the Russian authorities.

Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director at the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, said it is very unlikely that Russia will grant a safe passage of Choe to a third country where he could seek asylum as tensions between Russia and Western democracies are practically at an all-time high.

The U.S., along the G-7 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the U.K., condemned Russia for launching an invasion of Ukraine on Thursday after weeks of military buildup.

King said, The only way that Mr. Choe can have an opportunity to request asylum is if Russian government officials give him permission.

King continued, It would require senior Russian government officials to make such a decision, and I think it is highly unlikely that that would happen.

VOAs Korean Service contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry as well as North Koreas U.N. mission for comment on Choes case but did not get a reply from either of them.

Calls for protection

Shortly after VOAs initial report on Choe, Lina Yoon, a senior researcher for the Asia division of Human Rights Watch, released a statement appealing to the Russian government to permit Choes asylum.

The Russian government should publicly uphold the right of North Koreans to seek asylum in accordance with the 1951 Refugee Convention, which Russia has ratified, said the statement. It needs to protect asylum-seekers from enforced disappearance and prevent their forced return. Choe Kum [Chol] and other North Koreans in Russia should be provided safe passage to a third country, continued Yoon.

The 1951 Refugee Convention is a U.N. treaty, which builds on the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognizes the rights of people to seek asylum from oppression in other countries and sets out the rights of refugees.

Yoon told VOAs Korean Service last week that Human Rights Watch has been in contact with different rights organizations and several governments, urging them to come to Choes aid.

We are seriously concerned about the fate of Choe Kum Chol, and we really hope that the Russian government [will] take responsibility and protects the refugees who will suffer horrific fates if they were sent back to North Korea, said Yoon.

North Korean defectors caught and sent back to the country are known to face severe torture, imprisonment and even executions.

VOAs Korean Service contacted the UNHCR in Moscow this week but did not get a reply. When VOA's Korean Service contacted the UNHCR in Moscow earlier in February, a representative for the office said, "Please note that UNHCR does not provide comments on individual cases."

Journalist William Kim contributed to this report which originated in VOAs Korean Service.
China's failure to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine is undermining its own long-standing defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity on the world stage, according to U.S. officials and experts.

Its not in Chinas interest to endorse a devastating conflict in Europe and defy the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity it claims to hold dear, a senior U.S. administration official told reporters Thursday.

Were obviously clear-eyed about how China operates," the official said, "but the fact is that Russias aggressive actions here carry risks for China along with everyone else.

The U.S. State Department also dismissed a new Russian offer  endorsed by China  to negotiate a solution to the crisis with Ukraine. Diplomacy cannot take place "at the barrel of a gun, a spokesperson said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping in a Friday phone call that Moscow was ready to send a delegation to Minsk for negotiations with representatives of Ukraine.

In Beijing, a Chinese statement said, China supports Russia in resolving the issue through negotiation with Ukraine.

'Not real diplomacy'

But State Department spokesperson Ned Price pointed out that the offer came on the second day of a massive invasion, with Russian troops and tanks closing in on the Ukrainian capital.

This is not real diplomacy. Those are not the conditions for real diplomacy, Price said at a regular briefing. Moscow's rockets, mortars, artillery target the Ukrainian people.

Analysts, including Seth Jones, director of the International Security Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, are skeptical that any China-brokered diplomacy can halt Putin's military offensive in Ukraine.

I don't actually think China has the power to back Putin off, Jones told VOA.

"Does the Biden administration realistically expect diplomacy, including bringing Beijing into discussions or additional sanctions, is going to deter, further deter or even coerce Moscow in Ukraine? The answer is no, he said.

Some observers said Chinas support for Russia in the Ukraine crisis could muddy its historic insistence that Taiwan is part of China and its fierce rejection of any suggestion it could become independent from the mainland.

That argument is hard to reconcile with what is happening in Ukraine, where Putin set the stage for his invasion by decreeing that the eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk are independent states.

Abstention at UNSC

In apparent recognition of its intellectual dilemma, China abstained Friday from a vote at the U.N. Security Council condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, rather than join Moscow in a veto.

Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was asked Friday whether his government would recognize the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics.

We hope relevant parties, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, are committed to resolving differences through negotiation, addressing the legitimate concerns of all parties and avoiding further escalation of the situation, Wang said without directly answering the question.

Wang also refrained from calling Russias military actions in Ukraine an invasion, saying China understands Russias legitimate concerns on security issues.

The Rand Corporations senior defense analyst, Derek Grossman, said China was not looking at Putins declaration that Luhansk and Donetsk are independent as some kind of precedent for Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy.

Beijing is likely to simply ignore inconvenient precedents and world events in order to maintain maximum flexibility in dealing with Taiwan, Grossman told VOA. Beijing almost certainly wouldn't acknowledge its contradictory message to Taiwan.

'Awkward position'

China is actually in a somewhat awkward position, said professor Yeh-chung Lu, who chairs the Department of Diplomacy at Taiwan's National Cheng-chi University. Beijing should reconsider and limit its support of Moscow, if it is serious in seeking improved ties with Washington and the West, Lu told VOA.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of former U.S. President Richard Nixons visit to China, a move seen as driving a wedge between the two most significant communist powers at that time, Russia and China. Nixons visit also opened the door for the United States to switch its diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Peoples Republic of China.

The State Department has no plans to issue a statement to commemorate that anniversary, at least for now.

The State Department's Price was asked Wednesday if President Joe Bidens administration was embarrassed by it [the Nixon visit] now and think that it should never have happened.

"Certainly not, said Price. Im not sure that I would equate not putting out a formal statement with ignoring it, he added.

Some experts said the Biden administration was downplaying the significance of Nixons visit five decades ago because of the Ukraine crisis, the growing partnership between China and Russia, and its own strained U.S.-China relations.

It certainly sends the message to Beijing that Washington sees no need to highlight the cooperative history of U.S.-China relations, said Grossman, adding that extreme competition is the main feature of current bilateral relationship.

We're in a very different place today, CSISs Jones told VOA. The more you highlight that [Nixons visit to China], the more it potentially shows diplomatic failures today.
Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch.

UN chief appeals to Putin to cease war on Ukraine

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made multiple appeals to Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to stop his military invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, Guterres said, "I repeat my appeal from last night to President Putin: Stop the military operation; bring the troops back to Russia." The U.N. chief has been especially outspoken in recent days, raising Moscow's ire.

Ukraine's foreign minister appeals to UN General Assembly

On Wednesday, Ukraine's foreign minister appealed to the international community to "take swift, concrete and resolute actions" to help preserve his country from Russian military aggression, warning that "Russia will not stop at Ukraine."

UN Security Council convenes 2 late-night emergency sessions

The U.N. Security Council held two rare late-night emergency sessions this week. One on Monday night, as fears of a Russian invasion grew, and again on Wednesday night. At the second meeting, diplomats' hopes to avert bloodshed were dashed when word came that Putin had ordered the invasion.

Kyiv Envoy Tells UN: Ukraine's Borders Unchangeable

In brief

Several Western nations put a draft resolution to a vote at the U.N. Security Council late Friday that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a violation of international law and called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all its forces. As expected, Russia vetoed the measure. Eleven of the 15 council members supported it. China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstained. Diplomats say they will move to the General Assembly in the coming days to put the measure before all 193 member states. While there is no veto in the UNGA, its resolutions do not carry the weight of international law. However, if it is adopted by an overwhelming majority of the international community, it will send a strong symbolic message and could further isolate Russia.

The U.N. announced Thursday that it is releasing $20 million from its central emergency relief fund for humanitarian needs in and around Ukraine. Before this week's Russian invasion, the U.N. was assisting 1.8 million vulnerable people on both sides of the line of contact in the country's east. That number is likely to rise nationwide. Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths told reporters Friday that the U.N. is scaling up its response in Ukraine and will launch an appeal in Geneva next week for "north of $1 billion" for a three-month period for Ukraine.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed grave concern Friday about growing civilian casualties in Ukraine. She said the Russian military offensive is a clear violation of international law and must be immediately halted. She also said she is "disturbed" by the arrests of more than 1,800 anti-war protesters in Russia and called for their immediate release.

Quote of note

"There is no purgatory for war criminals. They go straight to hell, ambassador."

 Ukrainian U.N. envoy, Sergiy Kyslytsya, to his Russian counterpart, Vassily Nebenzia, during an emergency Security Council meeting Wednesday night.

What we are watching next week:

Ukraine has asked the U.N. General Assembly to hold an emergency session. The sponsors of the Security Council resolution that Russia vetoed will also likely move to have the measure put to a vote among the entire U.N. membership. Stay tuned 

In memoriam

This week's edition of the U.N. roundup has been devoted to the crisis in Ukraine, but we cannot ignore the passing of an individual who dedicated his life's work to helping humanity. Dr. Paul Farmer, 62, died in his sleep Monday from heart complications in Rwanda, where he was teaching at a university he co-founded. For more than 30 years, Farmer worked tirelessly through his nonprofit Partners in Health to improve access to health care for the rural poor in Rwanda, Haiti and countries throughout Latin America and Africa. He was a friend of the United Nations, and the deputy secretary-general expressed her condolences to his wife, children and global family.

More on his life's work, click here.
UNICEF, the U.N. Childrens Fund, is scaling up programs for millions of children in Ukraine threatened by Russias invasion.

Ukraines capital, Kyiv, is under attack. Russian forces have entered the country from multiple directions. Deaths and injuries reportedly are growing. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his invasion of the country Thursday, the dangers to civilians have risen exponentially.

UNICEF regional director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan warns the war is posing an immediate threat to Ukraines 7.5 million children.

As we speak, there have been major attacks in Kyiv that have created great fear and panic among the population, with families really scared, moving alongside their children into subways and shelters. And this is clearly a terrifying moment for children across the country, Khan said.

UNICEF has been providing humanitarian assistance to millions of children and families in Ukraine for eight years.

The agency has been particularly active in the Russian-backed searatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, where it has been trucking safe water to areas affected by conflict.

UNICEF has placed health, hygiene, and emergency education supplies in areas near the contact line. That is the 500-kilometer zone separating Russian-backed territories from the rest of Ukraine. The agency also has provided psychosocial support for traumatized children living in the volatile area.

Khan says needs are increasing with the escalating crisis. She says fuel is in short supply, as is the cash needed to buy emergency supplies of medicines, hygiene kits and other essential relief for people in the Donbas region and across the country.

Obviously, Kyiv and the West have not suffered the same consequences. And now, as a result of the critical situation families and children are finding themselves in, we see an increased risk of fear, trauma, the need for shelter, the need for cash. And we will see an increasing need for additional supplies, Khan said.

UNICEF says the needs of children and families are escalating in line with the conflict. The agency is seeking $66.4 million to increase access to basic services for up to 7.5 million children inside Ukraine.

It says the appeal will provide water and sanitation, immunization and health care, schooling, and learning. The agency says it aims to expand the number of mobile teams currently moving around the country providing psychosocial support to traumatized children. Boosting this service, it says, will allow it to keep pace with a fast-rising number of requests for psychological support, and care for children.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Refugee Agency warns that up to 4 million people may flee to other countries in Europe if the crisis escalates. Given this reality, Khan says UNICEF, with the refugee agency, and other U.N. agencies will issue a flash appeal in the coming days to support an influx of refugees in surrounding countries.

According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, more than 150,000 Ukrainians have already crossed into neighboring countries.
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The United States is joining the European Union in sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin and his top officials. The move came after NATO agreed to activate its Response Force, deploying additional forces to its eastern flank. VOA's White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports.
The United States barred on Friday travel by Somali officials and other individuals to the United States, accusing them of "undermining the democratic process" in Somalia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States imposed the visa ban after Somalia pushed back to March 15 parliamentary elections due to have been completed Friday.

"We are now imposing visa restrictions under this policy against a number of Somali officials and other individuals to promote accountability for their obstructionist actions," Blinken said in a statement issued by the State Department.

No central government has held broad authority for 30 years in Somalia, which is caught in a lengthy election process repeatedly held up in a power struggle between President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble.

The parliamentary election, which started in November, is an indirect process that involves clan elders picking the 275 members of the lower house, who then choose a new president on a date yet to be fixed.

Data from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs shows 4.3 million people in Somalia are affected by drought, with 271,000 displaced as a result.

The al Qaida-linked al Shabab group, which frequently carries out gun and bomb attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and elsewhere in Somalia, has also been an impediment to the election.

In mid-February, a suicide bomber targeted a minibus full of election delegates, killing at least six people in Mogadishu.

The delegates were unharmed.
The U.S. Treasury on Friday issued a new general license authorizing all commercial transactions with Afghanistan's governing institutions, expanding recently announced exemptions from sanctions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

The new license, the seventh issued by Treasury in recent months, allows "all transactions involving Afghanistan and its governing institutions that would otherwise be prohibited by U.S. sanctions," the Treasury Department said.

However, it still prohibits financial transfers to the Taliban, the Haqqani network, associated entities and individuals blocked by the Treasury Department.

The action came after talks between the Treasury Department and private sector executives doing business in Afghanistan and is similar to a series of sanctions exemptions granted in recent months to nongovernmental organizations.

"Our action today recognizes that in light of this dire crisis, it is essential that we address concerns that sanctions inhibit commercial and financial activity while we continue to deny financial resources to the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, and other malign actors, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement.

Wide-ranging U.S. economic sanctions against the Taliban date to their first time in power in the 1990s. Both the Taliban and the Haqqani network are labeled Specially Designated Global Terrorists by the Treasury Department.

'Too many Afghans starving'

However, in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August, the Treasury Department has issued a series of sanctions exemptions to allow Afghanistan to cope with a teetering economy and a humanitarian crisis.

"There are too many Afghans starving today, too many Afghans who are cold; we all need to act faster," a senior administration official told reporters during a press call announcing the general license.

There is also a growing recognition that Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis is interlinked to an economic crisis exacerbated by a U.S. decision in August to freeze more than $7 billion in Afghan reserves held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

"One of the things we know that is critical is ensuring that the economy is able to function," the senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

U.S. President Joe Biden recently issued an executive order that would split the frozen Afghan assets, freeing up $3.5 billion for the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, while allocating the remainder for a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan.

The move was condemned by the Taliban and other Afghans who say the money belongs to Afghanistan. But administration officials have since said any decision to transfer the funds to the 9/11 victims will be subject to court proceedings.

"No decisions have been made regarding specific uses of this $3.5 billion," the senior administration official said.

Since October, the Biden administration has announced more than $780 million in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan and Afghan refugees in the region.

In January, the United Nations launched an appeal for more than $5 billion in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, saying half of the country's population of 35 million faces acute hunger.
Prolonged fighting with Russia puts at risk billions of dollars in economic ties between the target country, Ukraine, and its top trading partner, China, experts say.

If the Russian invasion endures, a 3-year-old deal by Chinese networking giant Huawei to install 4G wireless services in the Kyiv metro system will go on hold, and massive agricultural shipments will slow, said Dexter Roberts, U.S.-based author of "The Myth of Chinese Capitalism."

Russia and Ukraine also do a brisk aerospace and defense trade that began with the delivery of China's first aircraft carrier in the late 1990s.

"If the war goes on, then construction on the metro in Kyiv is going to stop, opportunities for Huawei and putting in the telecoms will stop. Even getting grains and things like iron ore out of the Ukraine will become a problem. So that's just sort of on the physical challenge of trying to run an economy and do trade in a war situation," Roberts said.

Russia began a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on Thursday. A day later, Chinese media outlets reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping suggested to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia and Ukraine solve their dispute through negotiation.

Billions in annual trade

The Ukraine-China trade turnover grew in 2017 to $7.69 billion and reached $8.82 billion in the first 11 months of 2018, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Economic Affairs website. The two sides set a goal in 2019 of $10 billion per year, the ministry says.

China became Ukraine's biggest trading partner in 2019, according to data gathered by the Ukrainian law firm Crane IP. Analysts estimate today's two-way trade between $10 billion and $20 billion annually.

Chinese investments in Ukraine total about $150 million per year, said Yan Liang, professor and endowed chair of economics at Willamette University in the U.S. state of Oregon. She said the investments include a wind power plant, agricultural projects and transport infrastructure.

A Chinese consortium agreed in 2017 to build a fourth line for the same metro system where Huawei is installing 4G.

China sells machinery and consumer goods to Ukraine and has an overall trade surplus, Roberts said. He called Chinese trade "very important for Ukraine."

Ukraine also exports commodities to China, such as corn, barley and sunflower oil. About one-third of China's corn comes from Ukraine. China orders nuclear reactor parts from Ukraine too, said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington.

China has also been eyeing Ukraine's aerospace industry. Beijing Skyrizon Aviation, part of a Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer, had tried to acquire a controlling stake in Motor Sich, a Ukrainian producer of plane and helicopter engines. However, a court in Kyiv stopped the deal last year. Ukrainian state security service Chairman Ivan Bakanov described Motor Sich in a statement as "a matter of national security."

The case is now in an international tribunal, where Beijing Skyrizon Aviation is seeking $4.5 billion in compensation from the Ukrainian government for the failed deal.

Impacts of warfare

China may become an even more significant trading partner of Ukraine if Russia takes over and installs a pro-Moscow government, Yun said, because Ukraine would then fall under Western sanctions that have emerged this week. U.S. President Joe Biden already announced a cut in Western financing to Russia on Thursday.

"China will be one of the few options left," Yun said.

Ukrainian officials will hope to keep the trade doors open if they stay independent of Russian rule after the invasion, she added. "If the question is, will Ukraine stop selling things to China because of China's unwillingness to punish Russia, I think the answer is going to be no because China is such a large client and these are economic transactions," Yun said.

After the war ends, China will still see Ukraine as a "strategic location" for its economic interests regardless of who runs the government in Kyiv, Liang said. Long-term Chinese investments such as power plants will pick up again after peace is restored, she predicted.

"I think just from an economic point of view, China and Ukraine's trade (to) a great extent is supplementary, so China will be more than willing to trade with this big European food producer," Liang added. "On the other hand, Ukraine needs China's manufactured goods."
The World Food Program warns Madagascar will continue to suffer severe food shortages and acute hunger if it does not tackle the climate crisis.

Madagascar has been buffeted by four powerful tropical storms in as many weeks. The toll from the recurrent cyclones has been huge. The full impact of the last storm, Tropical Cyclone Emnati, which made landfall Wednesday, is not yet known. However, the United Nations says Cyclone Batsirai, which hit Madagascar on February 5, killed 120 people, and displaced 143,000.

The WFP says years of severe drought, recurrent storms and other extreme weather events have pushed vulnerable communities to a breaking point.

WFP spokesman Tomson Phiri says many thousands of people are facing extreme hunger because of widespread storm damage to agricultural land. This includes the rice crop that was just weeks away from harvest.

Now cash crops like cloves, coffee and pepper have also been severely affected. And this is a country where the majority of people make a living from agriculture. An estimated 90% of crops could be destroyed in some areas of affected regions, Phiri said.

Additionally, he notes a resulting shortage of food in the marketplace is likely to result in soaring prices in the coming months.

The WFP warns weather extremes will trigger runaway humanitarian needs if Madagascar does not address the climate crisis. Phiri says WFP staff is in a race against time to assist those affected.

Our longer-term climate adaptation work helps communities to prepare for, respond to, as well as to recover from climate shocks and stresses. For example, WFPs integrated risk management in the districts of Ambovombe and Amboasary last year reached 3,500 smallholder farmers with insurance, savings, and climate-adapted agriculture practices training, he said.



Phiri says such programs need to be scaled up, especially for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. He notes there is little time to lose as forecasts predict another tropical system already is forming in the southwest Indian Ocean.
SPRING CREEK  Spring Creek has received a $7 million federal grant to expand broadband in the area.

The Department of Commerces National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced Friday it had awarded $7.3 million to fund the project that will serve 5,568 homes, 169 businesses and 21 anchor institutions.

The award fulfills an increasing need for broadband infrastructure in rural areas, said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo.

More than 30 million Americans lack access to reliable broadband, and the problem is worse in our rural counties. In Nevada, 14% of households dont have an internet subscription and over 120,000 Nevadans live in areas where there is zero broadband infrastructure, she said. This is an incredible injustice, and today, the Biden-Harris Administration reaffirms our commitment to reversing it.

These awards will help us close the digital divide in Nevada and across the country, and we will not stop our work until all Americans can access the internet and participate in our modern economy, Raimondo continued.

The grant comes five years after the Spring Creek Association took residents billing and slow internet speed issues with Frontier Communications to the Nevada Attorney Generals Bureau of Consumer Protection. The association also solicited interest from three broadband companies to bring faster and reliable internet speeds to the area.

CC Communications begins Spring Creek internet phase SPRING CREEK  Fiber internet is on its way to Spring Creek, fulfilling a promise made to the residents two years ago.

Last year, CC Communications and Anthem Broadband began installing fiber optic cable to service residential and business customers in Spring Creek.

Jessie Bahr, SCA president and general manager, explained that the grant will support the homeowner associations long-term growth.

Spring Creek is excited to see the expansion of fiber internet services in the Spring Creek area, she said. With our continued growth, companies like Anthem Broadband and CC Communications are vital for a sustainable future.

Spring Creek looks ahead to 2022 "Our goal is to continue to make Spring Creek an even better place to live"

The Spring Creek grant is among 13 others that total more than $277 million and will be used to connect more than 133,000 underserved households, according to NTIAs statement.

County to partner with CC Communications for broadband grant ELKO  CC Communications will be partnering with Elko County to apply for a federal fixed broadband service grant to provide high-speed intern

Twelve states and one territory received grants from NTIA, including Nevada, Georgia, Guam, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Alan Davidson called the award a great first step in our march toward connecting every American to affordable, high-speed broadband service.

Elko Countys Spring Creek Area project will bring reliable broadband infrastructure to over 5,000 households and hundreds of businesses in the region. This access is what Nevadans deserve, and we look forward to working closely with the grant recipients on these projects, Davidson said.

Elko County Manager Amanda Osborne congratulated all parties involved and called the award great news for Spring Creek, adding that the County sponsored the application to NTIA.

[We] will be involved in the administration of the grant, Osborne said. We look forward to continuing our work with Mark [Feest, CEO] and the CC Communications team.

WATCH NOW: Anthem Broadband groundbreaking ceremony We are extremely excited to see this project get underway, said Anthem Broadband CEO Jacob Larsen.

Senators Catharine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen hailed the award as win for residents and business owners who have struggled with their internet services over the years.

Every Nevada community deserves fast and reliable internet services, Masto said. Ive spoken to many Spring Creek residents about the problems unreliable internet connectivity creates, and Im glad we came together to secure this investment for the businesses, schools, and families of Spring Creek. Providing funding opportunities like this is part of my mission to bridge the digital divide for all Nevadans.

CC Communications begins Spring Creek internet phase SPRING CREEK  Fiber internet is on its way to Spring Creek, fulfilling a promise made to the residents two years ago.

Rosen agreed, adding that expanded access to broadband is critical for the success of communities across Nevada, particularly in rural areas of our state.

Im pleased to announce that the federal government will be making an investment of more than $7 million to expand broadband in Elko County  helping connect thousands of households and over a hundred businesses via high-speed internet service. I will continue working to see that Nevada has the resources to improve broadband access, she continued.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said Nevada is committed to universal access to broadband that is affordable and reliable. I am pleased the NTIA has awarded funding to bring high-speed connectivity to the residents of Elko County.

Todays announcement will build on recent successful projects in rural Nevada connecting schools and libraries and will provide residents of Spring Creek with access to digital education, remote working, telehealth, and other modern services.

Together with upcoming historic infrastructure investments my administration is making, this project will help ensure all Nevadans have access to affordable, reliable connectivity, while also accelerating our economic recovery, he said.

Satview planning high-speed internet service to Spring Creek ELKO  Satview Broadband is planning to offer high-speed internet service to Spring Creek in the near future, after negotiating an agreement w

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $65 billion investment to expand broadband in communities across the U.S.

Broadband comes full circle in Spring Creek It's been four years since Spring Creek embarked on a quest to find reliable internet service.

The Broadband Infrastructure Program, which was funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, was designed to support broadband infrastructure deployment in unserved areas, especially rural areas. NTIA thoroughly and objectively reviewed applications using a three-stage process: Initial Administrative and Eligibility Review of Complete Application Packets, Merit Review and Programmatic Review. Reviewers evaluated applications according to the criteria provided in Section V of the Notice of Funding Opportunity, available under Related Documents.

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On Saturday, people in the United States will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Black youth who was shot to death in Sanford, Florida, in 2012. Martin's death, and the subsequent exoneration of his killer at trial the following year, created a firestorm of public anger that many consider a seminal moment in the development of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Among them is civil rights attorney Ben Crump. In the foreword to an essay published this month by Sybrina Fulton, Martin's mother, he wrote, "The not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case was the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement, for the resounding call for justice when the people cried out: 'Justice for Michael Brown,' 'Justice for Breonna Taylor,' and 'Justice for George Floyd.'"

Brown, Taylor and Floyd were all Black Americans killed by police officers. Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in 2020, documented in video footage that showed him dying in the street with a police officer's knee on his neck, ignited global protests that drew attention to the fact that individual Black Americans, particularly men and boys, are statistically far more likely to be killed by police officers than white Americans.

According to a study published in the Lancet, Black Americans were killed by police at more than three times the rate of non-Hispanic white people, between 1980 and 2018.

Though Martin's death did not come at the hands of a police officer, his killer's exoneration prompted calls for the reform of a legal system that, according to advocates for change, systematically undervalues the lives of Black Americans.

Martin's death

Martin, who had recently turned 17 at the time of his death, had left home to buy candy and a drink at a nearby convenience store. On his way back, he encountered George Zimmerman, a volunteer for the local neighborhood watch. Zimmerman phoned police to report Martin as a "suspicious" individual.

Despite being told by a police dispatcher that he should not pursue Martin, who ran from him and was unarmed, Zimmerman gave chase. After a struggle, Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest, killing him.

Zimmerman was eventually charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. In July 2013, a jury found Zimmerman innocent of both charges. The case hinged, in part, on the state of Florida's "stand your ground" law, which holds that individuals who believe themselves to be in danger from another person have no duty to retreat before responding with force, including lethal force.

Martin's family, including his father, Tracy Martin, and Fulton, his mother, helped lead an unsuccessful campaign to have Florida change its stand-your-ground law.

Signs of change

In the days leading up to the 10-year anniversary of Martin's death, there have been signs suggesting the Black Lives Matter movement may have helped shift public attitudes on race, policing, and the use of force.

In Minneapolis last week, three police officers on the scene at George Floyd's death were convicted on federal charges for their failure to intervene. Months earlier a jury found Derek Chauvin, the police officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck, guilty of murder. The jury found all three officers had violated Floyd's civil rights by willfully refusing to provide medical assistance. Two were found guilty on an additional charge stemming from their failure to intervene during the nine minutes Chauvin spent kneeling on Floyd.

Also last week, three Georgia men were found guilty of federal hate crimes for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a young unarmed Black man who was gunned down while jogging in a rural part of the state. The culprits, Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan, had chased Arbery down in pickup trucks, and the McMichaels, who were both armed, confronted him with guns while attempting to make what they described as a citizen's arrest.

A state court had already convicted all three men of murdering Arbery and sentenced them to life in prison. Georgia subsequently passed a hate crimes law, and repealed and replaced its law governing citizen's arrests.

The case, with its obvious parallels to the Martin case, was particularly fraught because the three culprits were not arrested until two months after the murder even though their identities were known, and then only after the case was taken out of the hands of a local prosecutor.

Frustration and hope

In an essay published this month marking the 10th anniversary of her son's death, Fulton wrote, "Even now, a decade later, when I see the continual acts of racial violence  against George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery  I don't tell people that justice is coming, because we did not receive justice."

However, Fulton also struck a hopeful note, writing, "We are at a turning point now. Things are changing. If the protests during the summer of 2020 showed us anything, it's that we cannot afford to be silent."

She added, "While one generation is getting older, we need the next generation to step up to the plate and use their voice on behalf of our people. The youth have the spirit and enthusiasm, we just need to show them how and then get out of their way. The very future of our people is at stake, and there's no room for nonsense or playing games."
The United States announced Friday that it would freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following similar steps taken by the European Union and Britain, as nations around the world sought to tighten sanctions against Russias government over its invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced the action after EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels unanimously agreed to freeze the property and bank accounts of the top Russian officials.

Britains government took the same action Friday, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss writing on Twitter, We will not stop inflicting economic pain on the Kremlin until Ukrainian sovereignty is restored.

A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said the sanctions against Putin and Lavrov reflected the West's "absolute impotence" in foreign policy, according to the RIA news agency.

World leaders are rarely the target of direct sanctions. The only other leaders currently under EU sanctions are Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Agence France-Presse.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said the move was a unique step in history toward a country that has a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, but said it showed how united EU countries were in countering Russias actions.

The EU sanctions against Putin and Lavrov are part of a broader sanctions package that targets Russian banks, oil refineries and the Russian defense industry.

EU leaders agreed, however, it was premature to impose a travel ban on Putin and Lavrov because negotiating channels need to be kept open.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Friday for nations to cut Russia off from the SWIFT international bank transfer system "to inflict maximum pain."

Ukraine has lobbied for a SWIFT ban on Russia, urging Europe to act more forcefully in imposing sanctions against Moscow. However, some European nations, including Germany, are hesitant to take that step.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Friday that the package of banking sanctions the EU has passed would hit Putin's government harder than excluding Russia from the SWIFT payments system.

"The sword that looks hardest isn't always the cleverest one," she said, adding, the sharper sword at the moment is listing banks.

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said, The debate about SWIFT is not off the table. It will continue.

In response to the sanctions, Russia has taken its own measures, including banning British flights over its territory, after Britain imposed a similar ban on Aeroflot flights.

The United States and several allies had imposed a first tranche of sanctions Tuesday, after Putin declared the disputed eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states, much as he appropriated Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Biden added another round of sanctions on Russia on Thursday, hours after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, declaring at the White House after meeting virtually with leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations and NATO that "Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences."

Biden said those U.S. sanctions, which target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors and include export controls, would "squeeze Russia's access to finance and technology for strategic sectors of its economy and degrade its industrial capacity for years to come."

Effects on markets

NATO allies, including Britain and the European Union, also imposed more sanctions Thursday, and the effects were felt almost immediately when global security prices plunged and commodity prices surged. Biden acknowledged that Americans would see higher gasoline prices.

More than half of all Americans, 52%, viewed the Russia-Ukraine conflict before Russias invasion as a critical threat to U.S. vital interests, a significant increase from 2015, when 44% thought it was a threat after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, according to a poll released Friday by Gallup.

The poll was conducted from February 1-17 before the Russian government recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and deployed troops to those areas.

As in 2015, roughly half of Democrats and Republicans said they were likely to see the conflict as a critical threat to U.S. vital interests.

Also Friday, an International Criminal Court prosecutor warned that the court might investigate whether Russia has committed any war crimes in its invasion of Ukraine.

"I remind all sides conducting hostilities on the territory of Ukraine that my office may exercise its jurisdiction and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within Ukraine," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said Friday in a statement.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Russian forces advancing on Kyiv and other key cities as part of a plan to decapitate Ukraines government appear to have lost some momentum, U.S. and Western officials warned Friday, as they and Moscow ramped up information operations to keep up with fighting on the ground.

Explosions and gunfire continued to rock parts of the Ukrainian capital Friday, along with areas near Kharkhiv in the north and Kherson in the south, as Russian forces continued a slow march farther into Ukraine.

A senior U.S. defense official, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence, said the Russian assault had unleashed a barrage of more than 200 ballistic and cruise missiles since the invasion began, most of them targeting the Ukrainian military.

But the official said intelligence indicated the operation was not going as smoothly as Russian commanders had hoped.

"The Russians have lost a little bit of their momentum, the official said. "They are not advancing as far or as fast as we believe they expected they would."

The Russian advance on Kyiv, in particular, seems to have gotten bogged down.

They're meeting more resistance than they expected, the U.S. official said, adding that Russian forces had yet to establish air superiority despite a numerical advantage and efforts to eliminate Ukrainian air defenses.

Ukraines command and control is intact, the official, added.

In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to rally his nation, rejecting rumors that he had fled the city, and insisting he and other government officials are all here, defending our independence, our state.
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More familiar faces may be visible when students return from winter break after the board of the Lamoille South Unified Union school district decided in a 5-2 vote to make masking at schools in Stowe, Morristown and Elmore optional.

The board voted for this course of action Feb. 15, the same day the Vermont Agency of Education and Gov. Phil Scott announced the states universal masking recommendation would expire after Feb. 28.

The first step toward full mask removal, the agency is advising schools to meet a threshold of 80 percent vaccination rate for students before making masking optional.

Preliminary data suggests that the Lamoille South student body is approximately 80 percent vaccinated, according to Superintendent Ryan Heraty, though some of the elementary schools may not have reached that threshold.

Heraty declined to provide specific numbers about the districts vaccination rate as the agency will publicly provide this data soon for all the states school districts and he didnt want to contradict final results.

Board members Tiffany Donza and Erica Loomis of Stowe, Penny Jones of Elmore and Dave McAllister and Alan Ouellette of Morristown all voted to make masking optional. Board chair David Bickford and Richard Shanley, both of Morristown, dissented.

Those voting to do away with required masking were buoyed by a supportive public; Sara Farley, Susan Connerty, Betsy Rich, Stephanie Clymer, Tim Bettencourt, Julie Bomengen and Tim Bryan all spoke in favor of the optional masking. No one spoke in favor of continuing universal masking.

Masking will still be required on buses, per federal regulations, and the district sent home rapid antigen tests with families so they can test students for COVID-19 before returning from the break.

Students, teachers and staff members are able to decide how much risk theyre ready to take on, Heraty said. We rely on the advice and expertise of the department of health, and that data right now is indicating that were in a situation where its safe for us to reduce mitigation measures. So, were taking all that into our current context, and the board made a decision that they felt was right for our particular environment based on our high vaccination rates and low community transmission at this time.

This change in guidance now has the potential to create a highly visible set of groups, the masked and the unmasked, in a social milieu where anyone differing from the crowd may be subject to bullying or peer pressure.

Prior to the break, teachers held class-wide conversations to discuss the new guidance change and to prepare students practically and emotionally for the changes, emphasizing that students not yet ready to remove their masks would not be required to do so.

Heraty sat in on one of the sessions at the middle school level.

I felt like there was a high level of understanding with the students, he said. I think theyre going to be OK with the shift. This is one of the biggest shifts in health and safety guidance that weve seen this year. This transition is going to take a little bit of time for everyone to become comfortable with, but I think were ready for it.

The decision

Though most of the school board voted to change the masking policy, it was not unanimous.

Shanley, board member and retired school principal, believed following state guidelines to be the best way forward, but voted against optional masking. He wanted to err on the side of caution and was not as enthusiastic about diving into a mask-optional world as his peers.

He disagreed that the district truly had the requisite 80 percent of fully vaccinated students to qualify for the change, particularly in elementary and middle schools where vaccination rates are lower than the high schools or among the adult population.

I think its too soon to just let everybody unmask. If this happens again, then people will say, Well, we did that too soon, Shanley said.

Like Bickford, the fellow dissenter on the board, Shanley is also concerned about those still particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 with pre-existing conditions, the immunocompromised and older teachers or staff.

Erica Loomis, a board member who works for health care supply manufacturer Medline, voted to make masks optional.

I am always thinking of what is best for the kids, Loomis said. I work in health care, so I take into account our community vaccination rates, I take into account positivity rates and I am thinking that its just time. Its been two years. Its all about whats best for our kids and our community.

Loomis pointed out that while older people were more likely to die of the virus, kids were not and that the only children at risk of hospitalization suffered from other complicating conditions.

If you look at any child that has been hospitalized with COVID-19 as one of the conditions, they have other comorbidities. An example would be they have diabetes or theyre obese, she said.

Loomis said that children were mostly contracting COVID-19 outside of schools, and students could still wear a mask if they wanted to.

When asked if the board might reconsider its decision should a new wave as contagious as the Omicron variant emerge, Loomis said variants will continue to come and go, but communities cant wear masks for the next 100 years, though she did say she will always do whats in the best interest of the kids.

Its going to be a choice. A parents choice, a childs choice: Everyones going to do whats right for their family, she said. I think were going to have a very safe environment, and I think its going to be successful.

No changes north

There will be no changes to the Lamoille North Supervisory District upon return from winter break, according to superintendent Catherine Gallagher.

Mark Nielsen, chair of the districts school board, said there has been some discussion about the policy change from the agency and his phone has been ringing off the hook, but for now the board wont address the issue until its next meeting March 14 and the board generally adheres to agency guidance.

Despite a vocal contingent of parents that have advocated for a mask-optional learning environment from the beginning of the school year, Lamoille North faces a more complicated path to policy change than its neighbor district to the south.

Like Heraty, Gallagher is awaiting firm data from the agency to reveal how vaccinated the school district really is, but in general the towns that comprise the Lamoille North school district have a lower vaccination rate than Stowe and Morristown, which have an over 90 percent community vaccination rate.

While Cambridge has comparable rates, Waterville and Hyde Park are at less than 90 percent, Eden is at less than 80 percent and Johnsons vaccination rate is less than 70 percent.

Regardless of how the data shakes out, it will ultimately be the boards decision to shift to a mask optional environment. But more towns in the Lamoille North district means more members. A successful vote to change the masking policy would require a quorum of 10 of the 18 board members.

Its always good to take a gradual approach to what is a significant change, Gallagher said. I just want to make sure that everyone is comfortable with whatever decision is made. I know that the board is very cognizant of the anxieties that people have felt  teaching staff and community  and they will be mindful of any decision making around masking.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a U.S. Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, poses for a portrait, Friday, February 18, in her office at the court in Washington. President Joe Biden has selected her as his nominee to the Supreme Court, according to a source who has been notified about the decision, setting in motion a historic confirmation process for the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the nation.
The Ghost of Kyiv has become a Ukrainian hero across social media, as stories spread of a fighter pilot who had allegedly downed six Russian planes in the first day of the invasion of Putin's forces. While the stories of the Ghost remain unconfirmed and the facts coming from the conflict would suggest it is unlikely to be true, former Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko, posted a photo of a pilot on Twitter saying this was none other than the Ghost of Kyiv.

In the tweet the former president says: "In the photo - the MiG-29 pilot. None other than the Ghost of Kyiv. He causes terror in enemies and pride in Ukrainians. He has six victories over Russian pilots! With such powerful defenders, Ukraine will definitely win"!

Photo of Ghost of Kyiv

The photo was identified as an old photo of a fighter pilot, on Sina.cn, a Chinese website, with the legend, Ukrainian MiG-29 pilots switching to French MSA Gallet - LA100 helmet. (MSA being a helmet manufacturer and the LA100 being a lightweight flight helmet for jet aircraft pilots performing combat missions or aerobatics flights on jet fighters using oxygen supply and ejection seat.)

Of course that doesn't mean this isn't the pilot who is known as the Ghost of Kyiv, just that this particular photo wasn't taken during the conflict. Former President Poroshenko does not name the pilot or give any details about them.

It may be that the Ghost of Kyiv is real and Poroshenko has posted an old photo of them, or it may be that the former President is boosting an urban legend that is giving hope to his beleaguered fellow Ukrainian citizens as they face a massive invasion of their lands.

Ukraine claim to have downed two Russian Ilushyn II-76s

Earlier today, Ukraine claimed to have downed two Russian Ilushyn II-76s, at least one of which was apparently carrying tens of paratroopers.

However, according to a senior Western intelligence official, talking on condition of anonymity to AFP, Russia has almost entirely eliminated Ukraine's air defences and "they no longer have an air force to fly and protect themselves. Essentially the Russians now have complete air superiority over Ukraine."

Note: the photo that accompanies this article is a file photo of a MiG-29. Specifically a Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 performing during the joint tasks on enhanced airspace protection Air Policing by the Bulgarian and Spanish Air Forces on February 17, 2022 in Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria.


A local gun shop said there's really a number of ways to lock up your guns, from safes to lock boxes. If you can't afford those options, Project ChildSafe gives gun shops cable locks for free. Cable locks stop the gun from firing.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Cloudy. High around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Russia will not be allowed to participate in the final of this year's Eurovision song contest, the organiser said on Friday, after Ukraine and several other European public broadcasters had called for Russia to be expelled.

"The decision reflects concern that, in the light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year's contest would bring the competition into disrepute," the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said in a statement.

Finland said on Friday it would not send contestants to the final if Russia was allowed to participate. Public broadcasters in Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Norway had all urged the EBU to expel Russia.

Russian military forces on Thursday began an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, prompting the imposition of economic sanctions by Western powers, as well as the withdrawal of major international sporting events from Russia.

The Eurovision final, one of the world's largest televised events, takes place in Turin, Italy, on May 14.

Russia, which had yet to put forward a contestant this year, has participated 23 times since its first appearance in 1994 and won the contest in 2008.

The chairman of Ukraine's public broadcasting company Suspilne, Mykola Chernotytsky, wrote to the EBU saying that "Russia's participation, as an aggressor and violator of international law, in this year's Eurovision undermines the very idea of the competition".

Full screen EUROVISION/Norway's Alexander Rybak celebrates after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow May 16, 2009. REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov (RUSSIA ENTERTAINMENT) DENIS SINYAKOV (REUTERS)

He said Russia's state broadcaster was a "leading element of the Russian government's information war against Ukraine".

Russia was one of the favourites for the competition in 2016, when Crimean Tatar Susana Jamaladinova of Ukraine, known as Jamala, unexpectedly won with a song about Soviet leader Joseph Stalin's deportation of hundreds of thousands of people from her Black Sea homeland, two years after Russia annexed the territory.

The following year, as host of the finals, Ukraine barred Russia's entry from entering.
Ukraine president says Italy supports ejecting Russia from SWIFT global payments system.

Italian premier Mario Draghi has told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Italy "fully supports the EUs line on sanctions against Russia, including those regarding SWIFT", in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The prime minister's office said that Draghi called Zelenskyy on Saturday to reiterate Italy's solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people "in the face of the attack by the Russian Federation."

Draghi also said that Italy will provide Ukraine with "assistance to defend itself".

#Ukraine  PM Draghi reaffirmed to President @ZelenskyyUa that Italy fully supports the EUs line on sanctions against Russia, including those regarding SWIFT, and shall continue to do so  Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) February 26, 2022

In a tweet on Saturday, Zelenskyy said that Draghi "supported Russia's disconnection from SWIFT, the provision of defense assistance", describing it as "the beginning of a new page in the history of our states."

Italy is the latest EU country to back a proposal to cut Russian banks out of SWIFT, the global payments network, as part of a plan to intensify sanctions on Moscow and heap pressure on its financial system.

#Ukraine  PM Draghi said that Italy will provide Ukraine with assistance to defend itself. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the immediate future  Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) February 26, 2022

The plan has been the subject of much debate among EU countries in recent days, amid fears about the impact on their own economies, with Italy among those most exposed to Russian sanctions, the Financial Times reports.

In response to speculation in international media that Rome was seeking exemptions, Palazzo Chigi tweeted on Friday night: "Italy has made no requests for carve-outs on sanctions. Italy's position is fully aligned with the rest of the EU."
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The Covid-19 epidemic was one great test of democratic resilience. Putins invasion of Ukraine poses another. Do Western societies have the moral fiber to stand up to aggressively authoritarian regimes abroad? What about at home? Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight From the World Economic Forum in Davos to Londons glittering business and party scene, Moscows gold has bought soft-power influence. Where the Russians have led, the Chinese have followed more discreetly. It is high time this sticky embrace came to an end.

Now comes the reckoning. A predictable debate about sanctions on Russian interests has begun in earnest. Will they work? Do they hit the right targets? The threat of sanctions failed to deter Putins military adventurism before, but they have again been rightly triggered across the West to punish him. However, they only scratch the surface.

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In London, the U.K. governments first feeble efforts  sanctioning a few Putin cronies already targeted by the U.S. government  were likened to bringing a pea-shooter to a knife fight. On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced another tranche. One aim is to hit the interests of Russian oligarchs who use British financial advisers to hide their dubiously acquired gains.

Yet there are gaping holes in the governments net of retributive measures. The true ownership of much property in London is hidden from view. Companies House, which registers all corporate entities in the U.K., allows owners to disguise their assets behind shell companies. As Labour opposition leader Keir Starmer put it last week, We cannot go on being the worlds laundromat for illicit finance.

A long-delayed Economic Crime Bill will now be brought forward before Easter this year, following pressure from Washington. Last week, the government also withdrew its so-called Golden Visa scheme offering foreign residents fast-track residency in the U.K. to those willing to pay 2 million pounds ($2.7 million). Home Secretary Priti Patel promised a renewed crackdown on illicit finance and fraud.

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Some argue, however, that the oligarchs have become politically toothless  and so better to hit the 2,000-strong Moscow political class of Duma and Senate members, security-service bosses and state television propagandists who slavishly carry out Putins orders. Those who have watched a recent video of Putin berating his foreign intelligence chief will wonder whether the real threat to Russias strongman will emerge from within his own apparatus, not from billionaire exiles on yachts berthed on the Cote dAzur.

Of more importance than the sanctions, however, has been the U.K.s willingness to call out the Kremlins aggressive intentions and send defensive weaponry to democratic Ukraine. Britain still has the muscle memory and the will to defy dictators  it is proud of meeting NATOs target of committing 2% of GDP to defense, though its armys size has been drastically reduced.

It is also encouraging that in Germany, the new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has turned his back on his political partys cooperation with Moscow to suspend the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. But Germanys military commitment to NATO is less robust. The head of the German army, Alfons Mais, said on Thursday that he was pissed off the armed services had been left in such a dilapidated state that they were unable to fulfill our commitments to our allies.

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Yet Putin, Xi Jinping and the clerical regime in Iran fear the contagion of democracy more than the Western sanctions for which they have long prepared. They see free elections and popular demonstrations on the streets of Kyiv, Hong Kong and Tehran as existential threats. Russia and China have long wanted to turn the tables  they aim to divide Western democracies and weaken the will to resist from within.

In the so-called golden era of good relations with Russia and China, Western democracies let their enemies operate on their home soil with impunity. Controls on technology were abandoned, intellectual property was stolen and foreign spies ran riot. At the 11th hour, most NATO governments have woken up to these threats and are taking active measures to counter them.

More insidious has been the activity of hostile state actors in what General Nick Carter, the recent British Chief of the Defence Staff, has called the grey zone between peace and war. Russia and China use social media bots and trolls to spread misinformation and chaos. They also pay for lobbying contacts and academic networks to penetrate western societies and subvert them from within. The television station Russia Today, a propaganda arm of the state, pays fat fees to mischievous British populists on the political fringes to make sympathetic appearances.

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In the grey zone, the distinction between lobbying and subversion collapses. As prime minister, David Cameron warned that lobbying was the next big scandal waiting to happen (only later to be involved in a murky lobbying campaign for a financier after he left office). He enacted watered-down regulations for lobbying that allow public-relations consultancies to take foreign money without declaring its source.

The Tories are now in the firing line for taking money from rich, naturalized Russians. As the party in power for more than a decade they should be responsible for cleaning up the stables. But greed and stupidity are cross-party phenomena.

Last month, MI5, the U.K.s domestic-intelligence agency, took the unusual step of publicly accusing Christine Lee, a lawyer and Westminster lobbyist, of engaging in political interference activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. Lee had allegedly funded the political office of Barry Gardiner, a Labour shadow minister, with the extraordinary sum of 600,000 pounds and also rubbed shoulders at many social functions with Conservative ministers. Yet Lee has committed no crime and her umbrella group, the United Front Work Department, can continue to operate.

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Sunlight is the best disinfectant. The Conservative MP Robert Seely has long advocated that Britain copy the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, which forces lobbyists representing foreign powers to register and declare their work as agents. In 2018, Australia adopted its own transparency scheme, following revelations that businesses with close ties to China donated more than $5.5 million to the major political parties from 2013 to 2015.

The best  indeed, the only  way to defend your own democracy is to take a more curious interest in those who desire to destroy it.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Martin Ivens was editor of the Sunday Times from 2013 to 2020 and was formerly its chief political commentator. He is a director of the Times Newspapers board.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Much has been written about the need to revive civics education after years in which standardized-testing requirements emphasized math and English language arts at the expense of instruction in history and government. High school journalism builds on the same logic for promoting civics. It also provides a cost-effective way to strengthen students writing and research skills, while giving them early lessons in how to report and edit responsibly and assess the quality of the information they are bombarded with.

Nationwide, school newspapers have weighed in on local conflicts like classroom mask mandates and school-board wars; reported on hot-button issues for students like the redesign of the SAT; and even investigated allegations of sexual misconduct by teachers.

Yet student journalism needs to be strengthened and expanded. As of 2011, 64% of U.S. high schools had student news publications  the vast majority produced in conjunction with a class, according to a national survey by Kent States Center for Scholastic Journalism (an updated survey has been delayed by the pandemic). On average, the schools that do not have newspapers have a majority of students who are low income and Black or Latino.

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Schools and districts should support campus news outlets, whether as an extracurricular activity or for academic credit. For one thing, student newspapers  especially those published online  are cheap. The biggest cost is supplemental pay for teachers who act as advisers. The most popular web platforms for producing online publications cost just a few hundred dollars annually.

Supporting news outlets at schools in low-income and minority communities would have the added benefit of creating a pipeline for minority journalists who have long been underrepresented in the media. Although there has been an uptick in Black journalists in recent years, Latinos still make up a disproportionately low percentage of the total number.

The Scripps Howard Foundation recently awarded $600,000 to Elon University in North Carolina and the University of North Texas to train and mentor high-school journalists, specifically targeting young people from underrepresented communities. Similarly, Google just awarded a grant to Baruch College (where I teach) to support the training of faculty advisers for high school newspapers in New York City, among other things.

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While faculty advisers are important for providing guidance on journalistic standards and ethics, schools should leave the publication responsibility to students.

More state legislatures should enact freedom laws for such press outlets.

New Jersey just became the 15th state to protect the First Amendment rights of students publishing on high school and college news sites. These laws are written to counteract the impact of a 1988 Supreme Court decision that gave schools discretion to censor student speech for any legitimate pedagogical concern. Some administrators have seized on that overly vague standard to guard their schools reputations, according to Hadar Harris, executive director of the Student Press Law Center.

So far, 31 state legislatures have passed or are still considering such censorship laws. The role of high school newspapers in pushing back against censorship is just one of many reasons these outlets should be promoted by schools and districts.

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There is something special about journalism, said Kira Zizzo, a senior at Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and editor-in-chief of the Rock, which is produced as part of a class for which she gets credit. It truly amplifies student voices.

The school papers reporting on a recent county school-board controversy is a textbook case for how journalism works. Soon after four candidates who were funded by conservative groups were elected to the Douglas County board, Zizzo began attending the meetings and conducting research on issues like the school districts new equity policy and the superintendents support for the teachers union.

When the new members were accused of meeting secretly, in violation of open-meeting laws, to discuss firing the superintendent, Zizzo knew she had a story. She and other student staffers covered the ensuing protests and posted updates on social media.

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Zizzo also interviewed parents, students and teachers and sought out the conservative board members for comment  though they all refused to speak with her  before writing her story. Related articles about the protests followed, as did national media coverage of the school newspapers reporting.

Meanwhile, from Grosse Pointe South High School in Michigan to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the site of the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, student newspapers have been covering everything from the new SAT format  which will be shorter and digital  to the future of mask mandates.

The Grosse Pointe paper also published a guide to assessing misinformation and the validity of news sources after local demonstrators who opposed Covid mandates falsely claimed, among other things, that the vaccines would infect them with H.I.V.

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In New York City, investigations by the Classic, the student paper at Townsend Harris High School in Queens, have been lauded for, among other things, reporting on allegations of sexual misconduct by teachers.

Today there are more public high school news outlets than commercial and weekly newspapers combined, and some play an important role in reporting on local news. While principals and teachers find themselves in the crosshairs of the culture wars, and parents battle over what should be taught in the schools, the young people who are most affected by these debates have the best chance of cutting through the acrimony and having their voices heard.

More at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Do Americans Even Know What Free Speech Is?: Stephen L. Carter

 Wokeism Has Peaked: Tyler Cowen

 Misinformation About Misinformation: Tyler Cowen

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 Extend the School Year to Prevent Learning Loss: The Editors

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andrea Gabor, a former editor at Business Week and U.S. News & World Report, is the Bloomberg chair of business journalism at Baruch College of the City University of New York and the author of After the Education Wars: How Smart Schools Upend the Business of Reform.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Just on Day One of Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to the European Commission, about 120,000 people fled their homes  becoming internally displaced, in the bureaucratic jargon. Roads and highways out of Kyiv and other cities were clogged. Again, that was just the first day. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight How many Ukrainians will try to escape their country in the coming weeks and months depends on how brutally Russian President Vladimir Putin will subjugate it. And brutal itll be, by the looks of it. Between one million and five million civilians could flee westward and into the European Union. The refugee crisis of 2022 is likely to make its 2015 antecedent look orderly, and rival that of 1945.

The Ukrainians first destinations will be the four EU countries that are direct neighbors: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Of these, the first three belong to the Schengen area, which will allow Ukrainians to enter and stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Unlike the million or so Syrians, Afghans and others who came in 2015-16, this years tired, poor and huddled masses will be able to walk, drive or ride across the borders legally.

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Right now, theyre likely to be embraced with compassion and hospitality  the first refugee trains arriving in Munich in 2015 were met by Germans holding bottled water and teddy bears. Poland and the other countries, supported by the European Union, are preparing special medical trains and logistics to temporarily house multitudes.

But how will the EUs societies react in the medium and longer term? In 2015, an anti-migrant backlash formed even in liberal countries from Sweden to Germany. The eastern member states formerly behind the Iron Curtain closed their doors to migrants almost completely. Poland and Hungary, both led by populist far-right governments then as now, became the leaders of an anti-refugee EU resistance often laced with xenophobia.

In that obstructionist spirit, Warsaw and Budapest have since knee-capped all attempts by the EU to reform its migration regime. Called the Dublin system, it requires migrants to ask for asylum only in the member state they physically enter first. In 2015, this left the countries along the migration routes from Syria  above all Greece  exposed. Overwhelmed, they ignored Dublin and waved the refugees onwards to Austria, Germany and beyond.

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Germany and others suggested a new regime, with joint policing around Europes external borders and a mechanism to resettle asylum seekers internally in proportion to member states size and wealth. But Poland, Hungary and others balked at all entreaties to show solidarity.

It didnt help that both Warsaw and Budapest have simultaneously waged a rhetorical and bureaucratic guerrilla war against Brussels and the EU. Theyve undermined the rule of law, press and other freedoms, and the rights of LGBTQ+ people. The EU has disciplinary proceedings underway against both. Theres even been talk of finding a way to kick them out of the club.

This time, though, everything could be different. Poland and Hungary will be on the front line, not the periphery. The refugees, who were mostly Muslims in 2015, are Slavic kin, at least for Poles and Slovakians. Poland is already home to about 2 million Ukrainians. And the cause of the migrants despair will not be the distant Syrian villain Bashar al-Assad but Europes  and especially Polands  arch-bogeyman. Thats the one in the Kremlin.

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Until recently, an inability to manage migration looked like one way the EU could fail as an entity and idea. Thats what its enemies  like Putin and his bestie, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko  try to exploit, by herding refugees toward the bloc whenever they can.

But in 2022, the penny may finally drop in all 27 member states. The EU, an idealistic peace project based on soft power and democratic values, must realize that it has real, nuclear-armed enemies, which it must stare down as one. That may mean finally forming a European Army, and syncing it with NATO. But most immediately, it means burying internal hatchets, and reforming migration.

Poland and Hungary should immediately drop all their other sniping against Brussels and ask for its help in accommodating the Ukrainian refugees. The EU should give that help graciously and then find new systems to deal with refugees and other problems.

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Putin just launched a vicious assault on Ukraine, the post-Cold War order, and indeed truth itself. If anything good is ever to come from this disaster, let it be that he accidentally unites Europe.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 Why the Ukraine Crisis Will Not Stay in Ukraine: Hal Brands

 Shock-and-Awe Sanctions Could Still Stop Putin: Javier Blas

 Russia Needs Cash More Than Europe Needs Its Gas: David Fickling

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andreas Kluth is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist. Hes the author of Hannibal and Me.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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I share the worlds outrage at Russias aggression in Ukraine. Yet as the West promises to ramp up economic sanctions, the wordsmith in me is moved to wonder how we came to call them sanctions. The answer to that question might in turn suggest a reason to temper our expectations of what they can achieve.

The word sanction has twin meanings that share a common root but tug in different directions. As a verb, to sanction is to approve or permit. (The board sanctioned the spin-off.) But as a noun a sanction is a penalty imposed for breaking the law or other rule. And when used in international affairs  as in the debate over Ukraine policy  the word signifies, in the dry language of the Oxford English Dictionary, economic or military action taken by a state or alliance of states against another as a coercive measure.

That now-common use of the word sanction is recent, but economic sanctions as a tool are ancient. During the Peloponnesian War, Athens declared an embargo against those Greek city-states that refused to take its side. One scholar traces the notion back to Eden, applying the term to Gods punishment of Adam and Eve for their disobedience.

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At a more formal level, what we now think of as sanctions evolved from what used to be known in international law as the pacific blockade  the use of ships to curtail the target countrys trade without quite going to war. Most scholars date this practice to 1827, when major European powers sent their fleets to prevent Turkey and Egypt from reinforcing their forces in Greece.

Although we nowadays think of sanctions and blockades as different tools, the distinction is relatively new. In our interconnected era, one nation can freeze anothers commerce without sending a single member of its armed forces into harms way. Thats the modern way; and its more or less how the Biden administration hopes to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

But now imagine a world in which the only way money or goods can move any distance is by water  a world in which communication over long distances is difficult and slow. In that world, if one country wants to punish another without going to war, few mechanisms are available apart from sending armed ships.

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Without the fleet, economic pressure was meaningless. In 1851, the abolitionist Henry Bibb proposed to end slavery by boycotting all produce from the South. But his vision wasnt realized until the Civil War, when the Union outlawed the purchase of most Southern goods without special permission ... and enforced the rule by instituting a blockade.

Yet nobody at the time used the term sanction to describe this interference with commerce. Despite the availability of the word as a synonym for punishment, it was applied if at all only in the other sense  the sense of permission. In 1888, for example, the ruler of Zanzibar said publicly that the blockade of his nation by Germany and Britain was done with his sanction. That he had little choice shouldnt distract from his choice of word.

In fact, although sanction in reference to punishment can be traced to the 16th century, sanction in reference to an act of one or more states to force another to change its behavior without going to war is a 20th-century coinage. The OEDs earliest citation is 1919, but the term was already in formal usage by 1912, when the sociologist Andre de Maday delivered a lecture in Geneva on Economic Sanctions in Case of Violation of International Law. De Maday was probably inspired by the international lawyer Albert E. Hogans 1908 book, Pacific Blockades. Despite the title, Hogans book also provides the precursor of our modern use of the term sanction:

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The only sanction known to International Law is force, and if states will not conduct their affairs in accordance with ordinary usage and courtesy, forcible means of compulsion must be adopted.

These forcible means, Hogan writes, should generally involve [s]ome method less severe than war. But Hogan cautioned that what he termed a sanction should be considered pacific only if the targeted state didnt deem it an act of war.

Then as now, some argued that sanctions could never really be peaceful. In December 1902, British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour warned the House of Commons that any attack on a countrys economy does involve a state of war. And George Bernard Shaw, in the 1919 book on international relations that the OED wrongly cites as the earliest use of economic sanctions, was blistering in his criticism. Shaw labeled the economic boycott of a recalcitrant nation an act of outlawry. In his view, a country concerned about anothers behavior faced a hard choice: either go to war (call a policeman) or leave the matter alone. The only effective sanctions, he wrote, are force and conscience.

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Whats striking about these century-old criticisms of sanctions is how contemporary they feel. Social scientists have long questioned the utility of economic sanctions, unless everyones on board and the measures last a long while. Hogan, the founder of our modern usage, warned over a hundred years ago that economic pressure worked only when applied by a larger power against a smaller one. The crisis in Ukraine may test his thesis.

More From Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



Which Sanctions Would Hurt Putin the Most?: Timothy L. OBrien



Putins Gamble in Ukraine Risks Xis Friendship: Clara Ferreira Marques



Why Are We Surprised That Sanctions Keep Failing?: Jenny Paris

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Stephen L. Carter is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a professor of law at Yale University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. His novels include The Emperor of Ocean Park, and his latest nonfiction book is Invisible: The Forgotten Story of the Black Woman Lawyer Who Took Down Americas Most Powerful Mobster.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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BALTIMORE - Following the death of three Baltimore firefighters this year in the collapse of a vacant home, a Baltimore City Council member has proposed a bill creating restrictions on when firefighters can enter vacant buildings and requiring firefighters to wear body cameras. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The bill, introduced this week by Councilwoman Danielle McCray, would bar city firefighters from entering vacant buildings if 25 percent or more of the structure has been consumed by fire. Additionally, firefighters could only enter a vacant building if the department confirmed an occupant was inside and structural and hazardous conditions permit a safe entry.

Firefighters would be barred from entering a collapsed structure unless someones life was in immediate danger, according to the proposed legislation. The bill also requires firefighters to be equipped with a recording device that collects audio and video to be used only at the scene of fires.

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The proposal comes in the wake of last months deadly fire in the New Southwest/Mount Clare neighborhood, which claimed the lives of fire Lts. Paul Butrim and Kelsey Sadler and paramedic/firefighter Kenny Lacayo. The trio were trapped in a vacant home at 205 S. Stricker St. when it collapsed. A fourth firefighter was also seriously injured. The blaze in Southwest Baltimore is one of the deadliest for firefighters in the citys history.

During Tuesdays City Council meeting, McCray applauded the firefighters for their bravery and said their deaths have brought pain and grief not just to their families but also to the residents of Baltimore.

Although we cannot bring back those we have lost, as a council we are in a position to abate the great consequences of future eras, McCray said. And we can see to it that safety measures and equipment are in place to ensure Baltimore City does not incur such great loss again on our watch.

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McCray said her legislation was based on best practices from both the National Fire Protection Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The proposal does not, however, have the immediate blessing of city firefighters.

Rich Langford, president of the Baltimore Firefighters Local 734, said neither he nor leadership from the citys other fire union was consulted on the legislation.

Langford strongly objected to the idea of body cameras on firefighters, arguing they regularly handle medical calls where sensitive information is shared.

We go into a house with a camera, people will no longer trust us with whats going on, he said.

Langford, whose union represents the departments rank-and-file members, said he also has concerns about City Council legislating policy for the department.

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McCrays proposal also states that department personnel cannot exceed 15 mph over the speed limit on their way to an emergency.

I think thats an internal operational issue the department should be looking to address and not the City Council, Langford said.

Blair Adams, spokeswoman for the fire department, said Fire Chief Niles Ford was not consulted on the legislation in advance.

We do however look forward to a robust conversation with the Council, she said.

In the aftermath of the Stricker Street fire, questions have been raised about whether the firefighters should have entered the building, which was also the site of a 2015 fire that injured three firefighters.

On the day of the fire, Ford cited an occupied home next to the Stricker Street property as a potential reason for the firefighters going inside. Battalion Chief Josh Fannon, president of the Baltimore Fire Officers Association, later said first responders were told there may be a person trapped inside the dwelling.

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Mayor Brandon Scott has ordered a citywide review of Baltimores operations related to vacant properties following the deadly fire. During an announcement of that review, Ford said the city has a computer system aboard emergency vehicles to provide details about the condition of a property before firefighters enter.

Within that program, certain structures are marked unsafe, Ford said. Asked whether the system has been updated regularly, Ford replied: It should be.

Were trying to evaluate how recently its been updated, he said at the time.

The citywide review is due to be completed by the end of this month.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the Stricker Street fire and has not yet determined a cause. Investigators are seeking a person of interest related to the blaze, and a $100,000 reward has been offered for information about the person.

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-Child poverty rates increased to 17 percent in January from 12.1 percent in December, after Congress fails to extend the child tax credit.

- Enrollment in Medicaid has increased 15 percent during the pandemic.

-Initial unemployment claims drop further to 232,000, down 17,000 from the week prior.

Helpful links and Information

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The University of Maryland Baltimore County has received a record $21 million donation to expand educational research, teacher preparation and partnerships with Baltimore city schools, the university announced Thursday. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight 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.

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 the 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.

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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-largest gifts to UMBC were two donations of $10 million for scholarship programs in STEM and the arts, said a spokeswoman for UMBC.

 Baltimore Sun

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Three plead guilty in plot to hit power grid Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Three men have pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges for plotting to attack the U.S. power grid, hoping that the ensuing electricity outages would stir civil and economic unrest that could lead to a race war, the Justice Department said. Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of Katy, Tex., and West Lafayette, Ind.; and Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wis., sought to assault power grids with powerful rifles, federal officials said. The three have pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and face up to 15 years in prison.

The defendants believed their plan would cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region, the Justice Department said in a news release Wednesday. 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.

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In the fall of 2019, Frost and Cook met in an online chat group, and Frost raised the idea of attacking a power grid, according to the Justice Department. Within weeks, the two started recruiting others. Cook circulated a list of readings that promoted neo-Nazism and white-supremacist ideology as part of the recruitment process, the agency said, and Sawall, already a friend of Cook, quickly joined.

A few months later, in February 2020, the trio gathered in Columbus, Ohio. There, Frost supplied Cook with a rifle, which the two took to a shooting range for training, the Justice Department said in the news release. It said Frost also gave out suicide necklaces filled with fentanyl, which depresses the central nervous system and can cause death. The three agreed to take the drug should they be caught by law enforcement, the release said.

 Andrew Jeong

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Sailor facing court-martial in ship fire

A sailor accused of starting the fire that destroyed the USS Bonhomme Richard will face a court-martial for arson, the Navy said Friday.

Seaman Recruit Ryan Mays, 20, faces two counts in military court for the July 2020 blaze that injured dozens of personnel aboard the amphibious assault ship as the fire burned for five days and sent acrid smoke wafting over San Diego.

It marked one of the worst noncombat warship disasters in recent memory, and the vessel had to be scrapped. It would cost an estimated $4 billion to replace.

Mays set the fire because he was disgruntled after dropping out of Navy SEAL training, prosecutors said. His defense lawyers said there was no physical evidence connecting him to the blaze.

Mays was charged with aggravated arson and the willful hazarding of a vessel.

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Defense lawyer Gary Barthel said the decision to proceed to trial came despite a hearing officers recommendation that there wasnt enough evidence to win a conviction after a preliminary hearing in December.

Mays maintains his innocence and looks forward to proving it at trial, Barthel said.

Mays is no longer being detained. He was demoted after the December hearing, though the Navy has declined to say why.

The lead federal fire investigator for the government determined the fire was started July 12, 2020, by someone who ignited cardboard boxes in a vehicle storage area below deck. The defense presented evidence from experts that the blaze may have been sparked by an electrical malfunction.

About 160 sailors and officers were on board as strong winds whipped flames into an inferno that sparked explosions. More than 60 sailors and civilians were treated for minor injuries, heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation.

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The 840-foot vessel had been docked at Naval Base San Diego while undergoing a two-year, $250 million upgrade.

 Associated Press

Teen charged in slayings of boy, 2 adults

A 16-year-old boy has been charged as an adult in the fatal shootings of three people, including a mother and her 5-year-old son, in a Detroit home.

The teen is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Detroits 36th District Court on three counts of felony murder, three counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery and gun charges, the Wayne County prosecutors office said Friday.

The bodies of Aaron Benson, 32, LaShon Marshall, 28, and her son, Caleb Harris, were discovered Feb. 18 by Bensons cousin, who went to the home to check on him after not hearing from him for days.

The back door was open or had been kicked in. The bodies of the adults were in one room. The boys body was in a bedroom, police said. Each had been shot multiple times.

Detroit police later arrested two teens in the slayings. A warrant for charges against the second teen was denied due to insufficient evidence, the prosecutors office said.

 Associated Press

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Russian invasion of Ukraine: headlines

- Evacuation of Mariupol postponed over accusations of Russia breaking a partial ceasefire that was meant to allow humanitarian corridors out of Mariupol and Volnovakha.

- Ukraine President Zelenskyy condemns decision not to implement no-fly zone

- Russia ready to "bomb cities into submission", intelligence official tells CNN

- Ukraine can "absolutely" prevail over Russia - US secretary of state

- Gas prices in US soar, however 80% of Americas says US should stop importing Russian oil even if that means higher prices at the pump

What you need to know about the conflict

- How can I support the refugees fleeing war in Ukraine?

- China and Russia said their relationship had "no limits." Is the statement still true?

- What would happen if Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant exploded?

- Prolonged attack threatens the global supply of crops

- Zelenskyy, Zelensky or Zelenskiy? Why spelling is important to Ukrainians

- How long can Russia fight in Ukraine?

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As Russian troops invade Ukraine, seeking to overrun the capital Kyiv and depose the government, the imbalance between the armed forces of the two countries is a major factor in the conflict.

On almost every single metric the Russian forces overwhelm their Ukrainian counterparts in terms of size, strength and the technological level of equipment. There are however a couple of areas where the Ukrainian forces have an advantage. Firstly, the Ukrainian troops are defending their homeland, while the Russian forces are invading their neighbours, who for most Russians are not seen as deadly enemies, but a closely-related people. Secondly, the Russians need to put in place logistics and supply chains to invade, with some footage emerging from Ukraine suggest they are already struggling to do.

Armies march on their stomachs, and in the modern era, on the fuel supplies for their vehicles. Fail to get the logistics right and any invasion of a country will fall to pieces. Just ask Napoleon about the invasion of Russia back in 1812.

How the Ukrainian and Russian forces compare

Here's an overview of how the two fighting forces stack up:

Troop numbers

Russia has a vast standing army (the world's fifth biggest), with some 900,000 active personnel and a further two million reservists, compared to Ukraines 196,000 active troops and 900,000 reservists. However, Russia has only put in place some 200,000 troops around Ukraine for the invasion, meaning the forces are fairly evenly balanced in terms of boots on the ground, and Ukraine has called up all men from 18 to 60 who are able to fight, meaning they may actually have the advantage in terms of sheer number of personnel.

That said, this is a huge Russian force and is far bigger than the forces Russia sent for the first and second Chechen wars and is equivalent in size to the very biggest peacetime operations of the Soviet Union or NATO during the Cold War.

Vehicles, equipment and weapons

Troop numbers however are nothing without firepower to back it up. And here Russia has an overwhelming advantage, having vastly more kit and far better kit than their Ukrainian opponents.

In total Russias army boasts around 12,500 tanks, compared to Ukraines 2,500, although, once again, Russia havent deployed all their tanks for this invasion, so the imbalance in this conflict will be lower than suggested by the overall numbers.

In terms of total vehicles, Russia has around 60,000 military vehicles according to Global Firepower, with Ukraine having some 12,000. However given the Ukrainian army is defending its homeland the actual need for vehicles is far lower than for the Russian forces.

In terms of aircraft, Russia has 1,391 planes compared to Ukraines paltry 128 and 821 helicopters to Ukraines 55. Worse for Ukraine is the fact that the Russian bombardment of the first days of the war has knocked out much of their ability to actually get planes into the air, with sources on the ground suggesting that Russia has almost complete air superiority. While the stories of the Ghost of Kyiv, a supposed ace Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter pilot who allegedly shot down six Russian planes on the first day of the war may raise spirits of the Ukrainians defending their country, the reality is that Russia controls the skies over Ukraine.

Military budgets

The Russian military budget, at some 45 billion dollars, is ten-times that of Ukraines 4.7 billion. Furthermore, the Russian military has had a focus on modernisation since 2008. Ukraine has attempted to upgrade its equipment since the Crimean annexation by Russia in 2014, but despite tripling its defence budget much of their armour and equipment remains old and likely ineffective against modern Russian weaponry.

Other weapons

Ukraine has received an estimated 2,000 NLAW missiles (Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) which have been supplied to the Ukrainian forces by the UK, who developed the armament in conjunction with Sweden.

And these appear to have had some impact, with footage of several destroyed Russian tanks circulating on social media.

Ukraine is also deploying Turkish-made TB2 Bayraktars drones, which have had proven anti-tank success in conflicts in Syria and the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 where it was successfully used by Azerbaijan against Armenian air defense and tanks. How successful they will be against the latest Russian tech is another question, and Russian military sources have said they've already shot down four TB2s. Ukraine bought six of the drones back in 2019.

Ukraine pleading for more military material

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has made it quite clear how much Ukraine needs military support from its supporters in the West. A senior American intelligence official said the president had said he needed "ammunition" and "not a ride" when the US urged him to get to safety and offered help to do so. At present he is staying put in Kyiv, although has made it clear he expects to be targeted and killed by the Russians.

Defending the homeland

As is being shown in the early days of this war, simply having more material resources does not guarantee instant military success. Reports suggest Putin and the Russian top commanders expected to take Kyiv extremely rapidly with little opposition. That is not proving to be the case, as the Ukrainians put up spirited resistance to the invading forces.

In addition to the weaponry available to an army, of equal importance is the moral of a fighting force (including the cohesion and motivation of the troops) and the conceptual approach of a fighting force (strategy, innovation and military thinking). Whilst Russian forces have both experience and a long history of fighting, there are doubts over the motivation of many of the troops for this Putin-inspired military adventure.

The Ukrainian forces on the other hand are defending their homeland against an aggressor. Ukraine has a strong tradition of territorial defence, relying on small insurgent groups fighting local battles against more powerful forces. The Ukrainian insurgent army battled both Nazi forces and then the Soviets, carrying on till 1953, causing tens of thousands of casualties.

Putin's worst fear is that despite the superiority of the Russian forces in terms of manpower and weapons, his troops get bogged down in an interminable war, where despite holding much of Ukraine they are unable to eradicate an insurgency that continues to send Russian troops home in bodybags.
Anthony Albanese is looking very prime ministerial. With a makeover, new glasses and the discipline of Sophrosyne, he was succeeding  until Putin intervened  in making the Prime Minister look like a campaign manager instead of a leader. Increasingly friendless within his own party, Morrison had fallen into the trap of being the face of his own scare campaigns, reinforcing the impression that he was Scotty from Marketing.

Sophrosyne, Greek spirit of moderation and self-control, has administered political victories since John Hewsons dreams hit the garbage shute. She stands in for the Australian people, who like their politics the way they like their democracy sausage: modest, well done and not overly greasy.

Anthony Albaneses discipline has wrong-footed the Prime Minister. Credit:Louie Douvis

The trouble with these Sophrosynean elections, though, is that eventually a politician gets to govern. Regardless how centrist the candidate has managed to seem during the election, there is a party machine full of passionate idealists waiting in the wings. Indeed, behind the chorus mask the leader dons for electioneering purposes, they themselves almost invariably harbour Ideas. (I could spend another whole column on the pickle we find ourselves in when they dont, but that will have to wait for another day.)

This disconnect between before and after the election has been a particular problem for Labor. As many analysts have observed, in 2007 the majority of voters were not so much sick of Liberal policies after 11 years of John Howard, as ready to put a fresh face on them. Kevin Rudd campaigned as Liberal-lite and the Coalition helpfully accused Rudd of me-too politics, reinforcing the continuity that voters could expect. Rudd implied hed be more Liberal than even the Liberals: he famously promised to be a fiscal conservative and responded to what The Age then called a startling $9 billion in commitments from Howard by labelling them an irresponsible spending spree adding that this reckless spending must stop.
Labor closed the gap to four points after Morrison returned from the climate change summit in Glasgow in November. It took a narrow one-point lead in January (34 to 33 per cent) in the middle of the Omicron outbreak. And it expanded it to 11 points in February despite the scattergun of national security scares that Morrison and his team have been firing at Labor. Loading Clearly, the China card that the Prime Minister played against the Opposition Leader in the most recent sitting of Parliament did not work the way he might have hoped. Morrison should be grateful for this particular setback. The alternative  a sugar hit in the polls  would have encouraged him to persist with his claim that Albanese was Beijings preferred candidate despite the warnings from ASIO boss Mike Burgess that the argument wasnt helping him do his job to fight foreign interference in Australias political system. It must be said that the accusations against Albanese never really made sense, even at a cynical political level, because they risked being seen by Chinese Australians as a challenge to their own loyalty. And it misread the national mood. Australians want their leaders to unite them in uncertain times, and show their best selves on the world stage, not salami-slice the electorate in pursuit of another narrow victory. Morrison should have known better. Remember how he stuck up for the Chinese community in September 2019 after Labor questioned whether Liberal MP Gladys Liu, the member for Chisholm in Melbournes east, was fit to serve in the House of Representatives because of her apparent connections to Beijing? Liu had given what Morrison conceded was a clumsy interview to Skys Andrew Bolt in which she could not recall her membership of an organisation linked to Chinas foreign interference operations, and dodged the simple question on whether Chinese President Xi Jinping was a dictator.

This has a very grubby undertone in terms of the smear that is being placed on Gladys Liu, Morrison roared. I think people should reflect very carefully in the way they have sought to attack Gladys over this matter and the broader smear that I think is implied in that over more than one million [Chinese Australians]. We all remember the last NSW state election, Morrison added. What did they [the then NSW Labor leader Michael Daley] say? Asians will take your jobs. The Labor Party have to take a good, hard look at themselves as to why they are pursuing this matter. If Morrison could draw the connection then, why did he overlook it when he played the China card against Albanese? Perhaps he got caught up in a competition of macho hyperbole with Defence Minister Peter Dutton, and forgot the electoral implications in his home state. These lines might work in regional Queensland, where Asian voters are underrepresented at the ballot box compared with the national average, but not in Sydney where almost half of all the Chinese in Australia live. The Liberal Party learnt the hard way in opposition in the 1980s and 1990s that anti-Asian cards are political poison. Howard lost the Liberal leadership in 1989, in part, because of the row he started over Asian migration. The Asian-born population was relatively small then, representing 4 per cent of the Australian population. Today it is 12.9 per cent, more than double the British and Irish-born (4.9per cent), and more than three times the European-born population (4 per cent).

As we reopen the international borders after two years of isolation, we will need to look again to Asia for even more migrants to fill the skill gaps in the labour market, and to help slow the ageing of the population. Loading Morrison might think he could still thread the electoral needle and offset the loss of one or two cosmopolitan seats in Sydney with an extra seat or two in the regions. But that would leave the country even more divided than it was in 2019. The face we would be showing the region would be unmistakably parochial. Our diversity should be a diplomatic asset, not something our leaders trash for short-term domestic political gain. When Morrison looks at the polls, he would see that national security and the economy remain the governments key electoral assets. That was the case in 2007, when Crosby Textor advised Howard to emphasise the Coalitions strengths  economic management, international relations and defence, and risks posed by Labor.
South-east Queensland is bracing for another day of damaging rains compounded by storms, high tides and dam releases, with fears thousands of properties could be inundated in Greater Brisbane.

Six people have now died due to the flooding, with the body of a 34-year-old Moorooka man discovered in Indooroopilly after his car became submerged in floodwaters at 2.30am on Sunday.

Fears are held for another man who disappeared after falling into the Brisbane River, and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll on Sunday urged people to stay home where possible to avoid the dangerous and life-threatening situation.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk chaired a meeting of the Queensland Disaster Management Committee on Sunday and said the heaviest rain to the north of Brisbane was headed for the city.
Head of Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia visits doctors and nurses at Thong Nhat Hospital



The head of the central propaganda department recognized and praised the achievements of the medical staff and the staff of the 175 Military Hospital and Thong Nhat Hospital in preventing, controlling and treating diseases.

In the coming period, Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia suggested that the medical team should continue the medical mission on the advice of President Ho Chi Minh.



The delegation led by Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia visited Military Hospital 175  Photo: NN



The first is the spirit of solidarity that promotes the glorious tradition of the medical industry. The second is to cultivate love for people, the spirit of a doctor as a mother, taking the patients pain as his own, in order to strive for healing.



Actively studying and following Ho Chi Minhs moral example and style to serve the people and bring peoples satisfaction as the basis for evaluating the success of medical career.



Third, the medical team must unite to build scientific, national and popular Vietnamese medicine. The healthcare system of Vietnam needs to stretch out its hand to integrate deeply with the world and make the most of the worlds achievements. At the same time, it promotes national identity and independence in health issues.



Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia also emphasized medical ethics education, the medical team must make peoples health and happiness their joy.

The delegation presented flowers to Prof. Dr. Congratulations to Pham Manh Hung  Photo: NN



On the same day, the delegation also visited and congratulated Prof. Dr. Pham Manh Hung  Former Deputy Minister of Health, Former Deputy Head of Central Propaganda Department.



The delegation presented flowers to congratulate Assoc.Prof.Dr.Tran Thi Trung Chien  Photo: NN



The delegation then visited Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Trung Chien, Former Minister of Health./.
Salisbury, MD (21801)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. High 81F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Estonia has decided to close its airspace to Russian airlines.

"Estonia joins the Polish initiative and prohibits all Russian airlines from using our airspace," Taavi Aas, Minister of Economy and Infrastructure, told the ERR broadcasting portal on Saturday through his spokesman.

"We are preparing a proposal for an appropriate decision, according to which it is planned to close Estonian airspace for Russian airlines. I urge our Baltic colleagues to do the same in order to cut Russia off from European airspace," Aas added in his comment.
EAST HARTFORD  A man authorities said was a member of a large-scale fentanyl trafficking ring was sentenced Thursday to more than 11 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.

Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven sentenced 42-year-old Daniel Estremera, who last lived in East Hartford, to 138 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence stems from his role in the trafficking ring and violation of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.

In July 2019, the DEAs Hartford Task Force started investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing fentanyl and heroin in Connecticut, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said investigators learned that members of the trafficking ring were getting kilogram-quantities of narcotics  mostly fentanyl  from a supplier, and then selling the drug to various narcotics traffickers, including Estremera

Prosecutors said Estremera and others sold the drug to street-level distributors.

Cash produced from these sales was delivered to a money broker in Brooklyn, N.Y., who helped the members of the ring launder the proceeds before they were transferred to leaders of the trafficking organization, prosecutors said. On Aug. 14, 2019, investigators stopped Estremeras car after he met with a drug associate and seized almost $15,000 in cash, prosecutors said.

Two weeks later, prosecutors said, investigators stopped an individuals car after they saw Estremera transfer a shopping bag to another person before they drove away. Prosecutors said $72,570 in cash was found in the bag.

Between August and October 2019, law enforcement officers seized more than $100,000 in cash from other members of the trafficking organization.

The drug ring members used several locations to store, process and package fentanyl from street sales, including office space on Pratt Street in Hartford, an apartment in Hartfords Asylum Hill neighborhood and an apartment in New Britain, prosecutors said.

Estremera used a South Street apartment in West Hartford to process, package and store narcotics, prosecutors said. Investigators searched the apartment on March 13, 2020, and seized about 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl and about 500 wax folds of it, prosecutors said.

Investigators arrested Estremera and several co-defendants on April 28, 2020. Estremera has been detained since his arrest.

On the day of their arrests, prosecutors said, investigators seized about $100,000 in cash, a gun, several thousand wax folds of suspected fentanyl and several items used in the processing and packaging of the drug.

A grand jury returned an indictment on June 3, 2020, that charged Estremera and nine others with narcotics distribution and money laundering offenses.

Estremera pleaded guilty on July 20, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

Hall on Thursday sentenced Estremera to 120 months for trafficking fentanyl, and a consecutive 18 months for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

His criminal history includes serving 42 months in prison for a state drug conviction and a federal conviction for his role in a Hartford-area heroin trafficking ring, prosecutors said. He was sentenced in federal court in February 2009 to 120 months in prison, followed by eight years of supervised release. He was released from prison in March 2018 and was on supervised release at the time of his arrest in this case.
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WESTPORT  A new bakery will soon be coming to town.

Max Londons parents built the famed Mrs. Londons Bakery in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in 1977. Now as the owner of the family business, London plans to expand the family name even further and make Westport its second location.

London said that while he and his team searched for a viable location for the business, they fell in love with Westport. He said the Westport location at 44 Church Lane will be set to open in the next couple weeks.

The downtown area really drew us to Westport, London said. The community seems great and its just a beautiful area.

He said they were trying to keep the bakerys second location within a three-hour drive of the original spot.

Westport is kind of right on the edge of that, he said. We landed here because we love it here. It just seems right.

Londons parents, Wendy and Michael, met at a New York City bakery before moving upstate to began their original location on Phila Street in 1977. London said there were many perks to essentially being raised in that shop.

I literally grew up in that bakery, London said. I got to see everything first hand and I got to taste everything first hand.

Londons parents closed the bakery around 1985 to focus on consulting and making bread at their Rock Hill Bakehouse, which they started in their farmhouse kitchen.

He said his parents supplied bread to all of the best restaurants in New York City and consulted for Whole Foods. During the late 1990s, the Londons made their return to the bakery and reopened Mrs. Londons Bakery on Broadway in Saratoga, where it has stayed since.

London said they decided to expand because they want to share their baked goods with even more people.

We take a lot of pride in what we do still with making everything from scratch and by hand still, London said. Thats not really being done a lot any more.

He said hes seen a lot of businesses outsource their baked goods.

I think that differentiates us, he said. Were still making things from scratch. Our team does a great job at believing that and taking it serious and we have a passion for that. We want to spread the love of baking and good food and expand.

London said the Westport location is slightly smaller than their New York location, but that makes the business more efficient. He said they will be able to make more menu items because they have two sites. Theyll also be able to make items like specialty cakes in Saratoga and deliver them to Westport.

Some of the go-to favorites on the sweet side of the menu include the almond croissants, chocolate croissants, pecan danishes, cheese danishes and the chocolate chip cookies. On the savory side, the bacon, ham and cheese quiche and the tuna salad on a croissant sandwich top the list of customer favorites.

Another one is Moms creamy tomato soup, London said. Everyone cant get enough of that.

London said it has taken nearly a year to find and open the Westport location, however, as they sit on the cusp of their grand opening, he is more than excited.

It means a lot having my family name on a business, my moms name, he said. They were the face of the business for a long time and Im carrying that on. I take a lot of pride in doing that and its really important to me.

serenity.bishop@hearstmediact.com
National Nurses Week is May 6 to May 12, an annual celebration that recognizes the critical role nurses perform in our hospitals and for our community. This year, we recognize our nurses for their continued commitment and unfailing dedication to our patients and their families, and for alway
DTEK Energy enterprises continue to support the uninterrupted operation of the Ukrainian energy system in the conditions of the war with Russia, the company said in a press release on Saturday.

"All the company's mines are operating normally. The miners continue to extract coal to support the Ukrainian energy system," DTEK said.

Currently, 15 power units of DTEK Energy TPP are in operation, 21 are in reserve. The total load of operating units is 2,727 MW.

All of the company's power plants are in operation, except for Luhansk TPP. Luhansk TPP was stopped due to hostilities in the city of Schastia.

The work of Corum Group's machine-building enterprises has been suspended, as it is not critically necessary to ensure the production cycle.

"The warehouses of the company's thermal power plants are supplied with sufficient reserves of coal. Today it is 510,000 tonnes. The supply and maintenance of warehouses with coal is also provided, given the situation," DTEK Energy said.
Today

Rain ending this morning. Remaining cloudy through the afternoon with some late day peeks of sunshine.

Tonight

Turning out partly cloudy.

Tomorrow

Pleasant with times of clouds and sun.
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Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal thanked the Czech Republic for providing military assistance worth UAH 250 million.

"I thank the government of the Czech Republic and personally Prime Minister Petr Fiala for the military assistance provided, in particular, for machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols and ammunition worth UAH 250 million. This is the help of real friends, which will help the Ukrainian army protect Ukraine and Europe from the aggressor," Shmyhal wrote on Twitter.
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The United States is considering sanctions against the Central Bank of Russia because of the situation around Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

A final decision has not yet been made, and it is not clear how the discussions are progressing, the message reads.

The question of possible sanctions against the Central Bank of Russia arose at the end of January, one of the sources told the agency.
International Operations Specialist, Apia, Samoa

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Country: Samoa

City: Apia

Office: FAO Apia, Samoa

Closing date: Thursday, 17 March 2022

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT : 2200500

International Operations Specialist

Job Posting: 24/Feb/2022

Closure Date: 17/Mar/2022, 10:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : SAP

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level : N/A

Primary Location: Samoa-Apia

Duration : 11 months

Post Number : N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.

Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;

Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAOs values

FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Subregional Office for the Pacific (SAP) covers Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. FAO SAP is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional agriculture, food, nutrition and rural development priorities. FAO SAP develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAOs Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok.

Reporting Lines

The International Operations Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional representative for the Pacific (SRC), and in close cooperation with SAP Lead Technical Officer (LTOs), projects and FAO staff.

Technical Focus

Act as a focal point for all project operational matters, organize and handles the day-to-day operational activities and takes action in consultation with supervisors on any issues which arise during the execution period;

Monitor the project work plan, budget, procurement plan and milestones to ensure best use of project resources, recommend actions to avoid projects slippage and proposes mid-term corrective action as the case necessitates;

Prepare project task force meetings and provides secretariat support;

Ensure the timely provision of project inputs (personnel, technical support services, subcontracts, training, equipment and supplies) directly by the Organization or, when appropriate, through contractors and in liaison with other support units;

Participate in the preparation of project work plans, monitors progress and identify corrective measures to overcome operational constraints;

Review and monitor the project budget, prepare requests and revisions as required, maintain and monitor budget expenditures and resources, review project transaction listings with a view to identify errors in accounting against budget lines;

Prepare and submit the project implementation reports and any other reports required by the Organization;

Ensure the completeness and quality of data and documentation in the FAO corporate systems (e.g. GRMS, FPMIS);

Prepare analytical reports on project performances as required;

Tasks and responsibilities

Ability to undertake the following activities:

Provide operational support for other related fisheries projects;

Participate in meetings, supports information sharing, planning/coordination of activities and supports day-to-day operations of the projects;

Prepare supporting documents for meetings, as per project needs;

Monitor the project budgets and oversee budget preparation, budget revisions, and closing of projects;

Prepare regular financial reports;

Maintain up-to-date and accurate financial records of the projects and use these records as the basis for informing any expenses and preparing timely reports as per project needs;

Assist in the preparation of documents for the Invitation To Bid (ITB), Request For Quotation (RFQ), Request For Proposal (RFP), and Letter of Agreement (LoA) in collaboration with the technical teams and lead technical officers (LTOs);

Participate in the local purchase committees and advise on procurement related procedures;

Monitor the project indicators and alert in view of minimizing the occurrence of Management Issues;

Support project review and monitoring to assess progress at regular intervals and communicate with relevant stakeholders to address project implementation bottlenecks;

Provide support to project task force, steering committee meetings, project workshops as required; c8YDfFj Dh7qKS

Carry out operational backstopping visits when necessary;

Contribute to and or prepare reference documents, periodical and final narrative and financial reports as required for the management of the project and the donors as described in related specific agreement.

In close consultation with project LTO/CTA/Team Leader, support inthe recruitment of project staff/consultants

Provide operational support and guidance to the project staff/consultants, as and when needed.

Establish electronic workflow system for tracking of admin and procurement requests.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

University Degree in Business Administration, Commerce, or equivalent discipline and strong understanding of administration, finance, and budgeting system.

At least five years of relevant experience in project support, operations and / or finance;

Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) for Consultants. Working knowledge of English will be sufficient for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus

Teamwork

Communication

Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

Ability to use computer and good knowledge of MS Office packages (excel and word) and other office software.

Initiative and sound judgement, and capacity to work independently.

Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)

Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list

Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

For more information, visit the FAO employment website

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile

Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications

Incomplete applications will not be considered

Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAOs behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application

Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered

Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile

We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1645730032829
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 60F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Overcast. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable.
Members of the Ukrainian Film Academy, on behalf of the community of Ukrainian film professionals and cultural figures, are calling for a boycott of Russian cinematography.

In particular, according to the press service of the State Film Agency, Ukrainian cinematographers are calling on the Council of Europe to exclude the Russian Federation from Eurimages and from the member states of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production.

They also urge international festivals not to allow films produced by the Russian Federation or in co-production with it into competitive and out-of-competition programs.

The Ukrainian side calls on the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) to deprive the Moscow International Film Festival of its FIAPF accreditation.

All producers are asked to stop any business with Russian business entities.

In addition, distributors are asked to pay attention to the fact that under the contracts they conclude on the territory of the Russian Federation, films are illegally distributed to the legal territory of Ukraine, namely: to the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea, so-called "DPR" and "LPR". By issuing such licenses, they also actually violate Ukrainian sovereignty.

"[Ukraine asks] the European Audiovisual Production association (CEPI) and the Commercial Film Producers of Europe (CFP-e) to call on the members of the association to stop any cooperation with audiovisual producers that support aggression against Ukraine, in particular, distribution of audiovisual products of actors and public figures supporting the criminal actions of the Russian Federation in the member countries of the association," the Ukrainian Film Academy said in their appeal.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wild Hare Cider is remodeling the former Smalley Packaging Co. property at 324 First St. in Berryville. The building is to become a craft beverage manufacturing facility. Also, customers will be able to sample and buy Wild Hare products there.
Ukrzaliznytsia has destroyed all railway crossings with Russia.

Ukrzaliznytsia has terminated any relations and interaction with JSC Russian Railways.

"Railway crossings between countries that previously provided transportation of thousands of goods and brought millions of dollars to the economies of both countries have been destroyed. Dispatch communications with the Russian Federation have also been terminated. The request by RZD to restore communication with JSC Ukrzaliznytsia had nothing to do with a humanitarian mission, it was a useless attempt resume deliveries of military equipment," a source in the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine told Interfax-Ukraine.

Ukrzaliznytsia will completely reorient freight traffic to Europe and continue to develop the Silk Road bypassing Russia. The company is ready to become a full-fledged member of the European Union logistics chain.

Also, Ukrzaliznytsia will continue to develop transportation with Asian countries, in particular China, and will provide high-quality and fast logistics between Asia and the EU, but without the participation of Russia.
The music has ended, the house lights have risen, but Peter Tonge isnt ready to leave. Its not because he wants to meet the band or watch the musicians load out their gear. He would rather head out with the post-concert crush, but his accessible taxi hasnt arrived yet.

The music has ended, the house lights have risen, but Peter Tonge isnt ready to leave. Its not because he wants to meet the band or watch the musicians load out their gear. He would rather head out with the post-concert crush, but his accessible taxi hasnt arrived yet.

"Theres nothing worse than everybody in the venue standing around wanting to go home and your ride isnt coming for another hour," says Tonge, a community consultant, wheelchair user and an avid concertgoer.

Its an anxiety-inducing experience that could easily be remedied with a little more information from the concert venue.

"One of the small things that really helps is, for example, publishing ahead of time how long the show is, because people with disabilities often have to pre-arrange transportation," he says. "It seems like a small thing, but it can really impact your experience."

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Peter Tonge is the project lead for a new audit of arts venue accessibility released this month by Art AccessAbility Network Manitoba.

Tonge is the project lead for a new audit of arts venue accessibility released this month by Art AccessAbility Network Manitoba  a non-profit advocacy organization for artists and art patrons with disabilities. The goal of the audit is to encourage concert halls, theatres, galleries and arts groups to expand their idea of accessibility and look for new  often small  ways to accommodate a wider swath of audience members and creatives.

"The venue itself might be physically accessible, but typically, thats sort of where it ends," Tonge says, adding that while ramps and expensive renovations are one aspect, a more inclusive environment can be achieved through simple, low-cost fixes, such as an informative website, closed captioning and Braille signage.

"(Accessibility) is a very broad scope, considering all the various disabilities you might encounter," he says.

The audit has been a year in the making and was created in consultation with Manitobas disability community  something that sets the 175-item document apart.

Traditionally, when audits are created, theyre created by doctors, architects or socalled experts. The real experts of disability are those with lived experience; we know what we need to properly access the arts and different spaces.  Jenel Shaw, executive director of the AccessAbility Network

"Traditionally, when audits are created, theyre created by doctors, architects or so-called experts," says Jenel Shaw, executive director of the AccessAbility Network. "The real experts of disability are those with lived experience; we know what we need to properly access the arts and different spaces."

Consultations took place over Zoom last summer with more than 40 artists and members of the public who identify as disabled, deaf, blind or neurodiverse. What emerged was a range of perspectives and some common themes.

"The one thing that we heard over and over and over again is that theres a real lack of training of staff," Shaw says.

Many people shared anecdotes about venue employees being unable to answer basic questions about a locations accessibility features. "It doesnt really create a very welcoming environment if people dont expect you to be there."

We dont want to go to venues and tell them all the things theyre doing wrong. Were hoping to create relationships and open communication. No one is going to be fully accessible; its a work in progress.  Jenel Shaw

While Manitoba has legislated customer service accessibility standards, the audit goes deeper  looking at both the front- and back-of-house operations  and offers an industry-specific resource for arts organizations. The purpose is to educate, not dictate.

"We dont want to go to venues and tell them all the things theyre doing wrong," she says. "Were hoping to create relationships and open communication. No one is going to be fully accessible; its a work in progress."

While operators can download the audit online (aanm.ca), the AccessAbility Network is also planning an independent review of 50 venues across Winnipeg. The findings  which will look at everything from the accessibility of auditoriums to tech booths to administration offices  will be posted as a database on the organizations website.

Download Arts AccessAbility Network Manitoba Audit

Ted Howorth, a Winnipeg printmaker and wheelchair user, is looking forward to the database. Before heading somewhere new, Howorth travels virtually, using Google street view to ensure he can navigate the neighbourhood.

And thats only part of the routine.

If he has tickets to a play, for example, the mental checklist is significant, "Whats it going to be like in the theatre? How am I going to access it? Am I going to be delivered by taxi or am I going to drive on my own? And if Im driving, can I find a spot where I can park my car?" he says.

A one-stop online directory would do a lot to ease the logistical burden.

It will be fantastic," he says. "Anybody who wants to interact with the arts will know they can look things up and find out whats possible and whats not possible."

Howorth is a retired University of Manitoba art teacher who has been renting space at Martha Street Studio for years. Somewhat serendipitously, the East Exchange District studio and gallery has become more accessible as his mobility has declined over the last two decades.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Ted Howorth is a printmaker and wheelchair user who was involved in the consultation process.

The entrance to Martha Street is at ground level and there is a lift connecting the first and second floor; transcription and ASL services are also available for events and artist talks.

Its an outlier in the historic neighbourhood, which is home to many of Winnipegs galleries and art institutions.

"Theres some spaces I just cant get into," Howorth says. On occasion, hes asked friends to carry him and his wheelchair up flights of stairs to attend exhibits. "But thats not what you want, you want to travel through life in the city as much as anyone else."

Like Howorth, Fred Dugdale has also had to modify his art practice in recent years. A motor vehicle accident left him with a traumatic brain injury that has affected his ability to play stringed instruments and memorize lyrics. As a part-time musician who performs in several local bands, Dugdale has found ways to adapt. Hes taken up the harmonica, brings lyric sheets on stage and often wears sunglasses to mitigate the light sensitivity hes developed owing to his injury.

"Im not trying to be a rock star," he says with a laugh. "For me, its a necessity, not a fashion statement."

DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Fred Dugdale had to modify his performances after an accident.

When booking a gig, Dugdale explains what accommodations he needs  such as stage-lighting adjustments  ahead of time. While venues are usually quick to comply, he recognizes that barriers still exist for others.

Dugdale has sat on many boards and committees with different disability organizations. Hes well-versed on the Accessibility for Manitobans Act, which became law in 2013, and says that while legislation is an important starting place, organizations should be looking at inclusion as a core part of their business model.

Within the local arts scene, Dugdale has been impressed with the accessibility features offered at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and the rise of relaxed performances  shows designed for audience members who may find the noise or lights of standard performances overwhelming  at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre for Young People and elsewhere.

"You cant serve every need," Dugdale says. "But you can do what is within your capabilities, both financially and in terms of making policy changes."

Inclusion also makes financial sense, says Jenel Shaw of the AccessAbility Network. According to Statistics Canada, 22 per cent of Canadians have at least one disability.

Setting the scene For Vivi Dabee, running commentary during a theatre performance isnt distracting  its illuminating. It just makes the performance more vivid, says the playwright and consultant for Sick + Twisted Theatres new live audio description service for audience members with sight loss. I dont have to wonder whats happening onstage, because Im getting that information in real time along with the rest of the audience. The goal of Vocal Image Ensemble Winnipeg, or VIEW, is to make theatre more accessible to blind or low-vision patrons. Its a service Debbie Patterson, artistic director of Sick + Twisted, has wanted to bring to the city for a long time after encountering the concept in Vancouver. click to read more There probably isnt a culture of theatre-going among a lot of vision-impaired people, I mean, why would you go? Its a visual medium and its been excluding you, Patterson says. I think that audience will build as we go. Live audio description explains the visual elements of a play not usually included in dialogue. Costumes, set dressing, props and physical action  a pratfall or fight scene  fall into that category. Previously, Dabee had to recruit friends or family members for the role. Its an empowering experience to know that I can go to the theatre and that service is already in place, she says. And its going to be done well and by skilled practitioners. The VIEW team is made up of nine audio describers specially trained for the task. During performances, they sit in a discreet location and talk into a microphone fitted with a rubber mask to muffle their voice. Those sitting nearby wont be disturbed, while clients can hear descriptions clearly through an earpiece. To prepare for a show, the describers join in on rehearsals to learn the timing and blocking of a performance and create a script. The goal is to deliver succinct information without stepping on the dialogue. As a consultant, Dabees role is to take in described performances and offer notes on things that need more or different explanation. The commentary should also match the style of the play and accurately describe actors  the latter requiring some input from the actors themselves. The politics of how you describe people is a fascinating aspect of it, says Patterson, who took part in the local training sessions. The service is currently available to theatres and performing arts groups and Patterson hopes to expand VIEWs reach in the future. Id love it if we were describing every show that happens in the city, she says. Id also love it if we were describing things like Pride or the Santa Claus Parade or dance shows or doing museum tours. Shes also interested in offering pre-performance touch tours, where audience members can come onto the set and get a sense of the space. VIEW has been describing some virtual shows amid the pandemic and is scheduled to accompany a live performance of Outside Joke: The Improvised Musical at Prairie Theatre Exchange in May. Visit sickandtwisted.ca/describers for more information. Close

"If youre not being welcoming to that portion (of the population), youre losing out on a fifth of your potential sales or patrons or artists," Shaw says. "I dont think people realize how many artists with disabilities there are."

Her organization represents about 400 members across Manitoba working in visual arts, theatre, music, dance, poetry and writing.

Yvette Cenerini is one of those members and has enjoyed the opportunity to mentor and be mentored by other artists in the group. Accessible professional development can be hard to come by.

"Artists get to go to (residencies) and meet people from all over the country and have time to work and explore ideas and try new things," says Cenerini, a digital collage artist and wheelchair user. "I would have to bring someone to help me take care of my basic needs and travelling would be more complicated and all those things are also costly."

At the moment, shes content to stick closer to home and has been engaging with online artist workshops and exhibitions amid the pandemic. Its a format she hopes sticks around for good.

"Its so nice to be able to access that information without having to put in all the effort to leave my house," she says. "When you make things accessible for someone who needs it, it will automatically help someone else."

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Yvette Cenerini (with Jasper) is a digital collage maker and a wheelchair user who is a member of the AccessAbility Network.

As an artist who shows her work in galleries, Cenerini has to relinquish a lot of control to curators, since she isnt able to install her own exhibits. Relying on help from strangers is a challenge made easier by good communication and an understanding of disability protocols  such as asking for consent before touching someones mobility aid or speaking directly to an individual with an attendant.

"The more we talk about it, the more both sides will get used to asking for help and helping just the right amount," she says, adding that the AccessAbility audit is a positive way to raise awareness about the different kinds of barriers that still exist in the art world.

The audit is intended as a jumping-off point and the network will be offering training opportunities for venues and organizations interested in learning more. Shaw is hopeful that the ideas presented in the document will create more opportunities for artists and art lovers with disabilities to participate in the local scene.

"Often, people with disabilities are not looking to be fixed," she says. "Were looking to embrace ourselves and show how these creative ways that were thinking and moving in the world can really create more access and discussion around what it means to be human."

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One of the more interesting developments in the last two years has been the rise in popularity of boxed wine, oft-disparaged as cardboardeaux or caber-nyet by oenophiles from Nice to Napa Valley.

One of the more interesting developments in the last two years has been the rise in popularity of boxed wine, oft-disparaged as cardboardeaux or caber-nyet by oenophiles from Nice to Napa Valley.

Uncorked Designs wine cabinets (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

On the one hand, the majority of consumers knew boxed wine, some call it bag-in-box wine, offers more bang for their buck, stays fresh longer after being opened and is more environmentally friendly than its glass-bottled counterpart. Still, many couldnt get past the stigma that its third-rate plonk, despite multiple reviews to the contrary in such respected publications as Wine Enthusiast ("Still think you cant have quality wine without the bottle? Think again.") and Food and Wine ("Dont fear boxed wine.")

"Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, enabling boxed wine to step into the spotlight as an affordable and convenient way to sip wine at home that required fewer trips to the store," read a recent article in Wine Business Monthly. The report detailed how sales of certain brands increased a whopping 74 per cent at the height of the pandemic, and show no signs of slowing down now that more people have accepted the fact boxed wine also measures up favourably when it comes to taste.

Carmen Konzelman, founder of Uncorked Designs, and her dad, Gord Konzelman, pose for a portrait with the wine cabinets that they make and sell out of their garage in Narol. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

That brings us to Carmen Konzelman, founder of Uncorked Designs, a Narol-based venture that has been thinking inside the box since the spring of 2020.

Three Christmases ago, Konzelman, 28, was trying to decide what to get for her Aunt Candy, whom she laughingly describes as the proverbial person who has everything. She knew her aunt loved to entertain, and that when she did, she would invariably put out a three-litre box of wine, equivalent to four bottles, for the sake of convenience. She also knew if there is one negative associated with boxed wine, its that the packaging isnt overly attractive.

Cut panels for wine cabinets. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

She did a bit of digging, and became excited when she learned of a company in California that markets eye-catching wooden cabinets expressly made for boxed wine. Simply remove the vacuum-sealed, plastic pouch from the box, the instructions read, place it inside the unit and presto change-o, youre left with something far more visually appealing than a cardboard container parked on a kitchen counter.

Perfect, she thought; who wouldnt want to put that out for guests? Problem was, the so-called wine nooks were expensive, as much as US$595 each. Also, shipping north of the border wasnt an option. Undeterred, she showed a picture to her father Gord, an experienced carpenter who built their family home from the ground up.

His response: why not make one themselves?

Uncorked Designs wine cabinets in various stages of completion. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

The first thing they did was head to the LC to pick up a few boxes of wine, which come in a variety of sizes. Once Gord settled on dimensions that would comfortably accommodate either a three- or four-litre bag, it only took him a matter of hours to craft a model both felt was superior to what theyd seen online, one that included a slide-out front panel, with a hole for an existing spigot to fit through, to make it easy to set a full bag inside and take an empty one out.

"The toughest part was figuring out how high the bag had to sit so that the wine would pour out freely," Konzelman says, agreeing with our assertion that the trial-and-error period, which involved dispensing glass after glass of vino until they got things right, definitely falls under the category, "Its a tough job but somebodys gotta do it."

Uncorked Designs wine cabinets in various stages of completion. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Not only did her aunt adore the finished product, which they stained to match her living room decor, so did everybody else who spotted it. That gave Konzelman, who at the time was enrolled in the final year of a master of physician assistants program at the University of Manitoba, an idea: given her dad was retired and forever on the look-out for projects to keep him occupied, why not start a small, hobby business, and see if there was any outside interest in what theyd come up with?

Konzelman launched Uncorked Designs on Instagram just ahead of Mothers Day, 2020. In addition to stained cabinets similar to what theyd made for her aunt, they also unveiled a "summer collection" painted bright shades of pink, yellow or lavender that came with stenciled labels marked, for example, Pinot Noir or Sauv Blanc, priced at around $75 each.

Uncorked Designs wine cabinets. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"We werent too sure what the demand would be like, so my dad only made 30 or so initially. After they were all gone within a matter of days we were, like, Hmm, we might be onto something here," she says, adding even those who arent sure what they are staring at  passersby at farmers markets shes attended have openly wondered if they are glorified birdhouses or oversized jewelry boxes - comment, "Perfect! Why didnt I think of that?" when she lets them in on the true purpose.

Free Press drinks writer Ben Sigurdson wasnt previously familiar with Uncorked Designs, or anything similar in nature, but after learning of the father-and-daughter teams endeavor, he, too, was all for the idea.

"Boxed wine certainly aint pretty, but it is handy. The box-for-your-boxed-wine is a new one to me, but its definitely clever (and) makes sense, particularly if you want to keep it on your kitchen (or) dining room counter and can get a colour to match paint, walls or what have you," he says.

Sigurdson would be interested to know if owning one of the Konzelmans smart-looking repositories might be just the excuse a person needed to purchase boxed wine, if theyd previously been on the fence concerning the product.

"I think thatd be an interesting story; I honestly am not sure," he says, jokingly adding another advantage he sees is that one would be able to serve "really bad boxed wine" with guests being none the wiser.

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Going forward, Konzelman, who also sells wine charms, crewneck sweaters reading "You had me at Merlot" and reusable bladders for those who would prefer to serve homemade mocktails or batches of sangria, looks forward to establishing a retail presence at some point, through a platform such as Good Local or at a bricks-and-mortar, made-in-Manitoba type shop. Except because she currently works full-time in an emergency ward in Selkirk, it will undoubtedly be "baby steps" for the foreseeable future, she says.

Carmen Konzelman, founder of Uncorked Designs, with her wine cabinets in Narol. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

In the meantime, she and her dad continue to come up with new designs  they recently enlisted Cloverdale Forge, an old-world blacksmith shop in the Interlake, to fashion metal legs for their rustic series of cabinets  while also accepting custom orders from parties that inquire about a specific colour or type of wood. Theres also the option to personalize a piece, she points out, by having them stamp a name or names onto the wooden panels.

"I never saw myself as an entrepreneur before all this started, but its definitely been a blast working so closely with my dad these last two years," Konzelman says, mentioning she has already placed a personal order with him for a half-dozen new boxes that shell be putting to good use, in a little over six months time.

"My fiancee and I are getting married in September and  100 per cent  well have a few boxes each of red and white at the bar."

david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca
The Russian owners of Winnipeg-based Buhler Industries have not been affected by Canadian sanctions against Russian individuals and business entities in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian owners of Winnipeg-based Buhler Industries have not been affected by Canadian sanctions against Russian individuals and business entities in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But according to at least one Canadian-based Russian pro-democracy activist, that does not mean they wont be affected in the future.

In 2007, Combine Factory Rostselmash Ltd. acquired 80 per cent of Buhler Industries, makers of Versatile tractors, and late last year acquired another 16.7 per cent.

Any Russian entity operating in this country or anywhere else in the western world right now has to be pretty nervous about what is happening."  Marcus Kolga

The Russian company is based in Rostov-on-Don, which just happens to be very close to the border with the eastern Ukraine province of Donetsk, one of the regions that Russia recognized as independent prior to the invasion. It is one of the largest combine manufacturers in the world.

Some of the Russian-based directors of Buhler Industries, which is listed on the TSX Exchange, have been connected to a political party that has encouraged the Putin regime to take action against Ukraine in the past.

Documentary filmmaker and journalist Marcus Kolga.

None of the Russian directors or executives of Buhler were included in the government of Canadas list of 382 Russian individuals on whom the country recently placed sanctions.

But Marcus Kolga, a documentary filmmaker, journalist, digital communications strategist, and a leading Canadian expert on Russian and Central and Eastern European issues and who is a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, believes that Canada is likely not done with sanctions yet.

"Any Russian entity operating in this country or anywhere else in the western world right now has to be pretty nervous about what is happening," Kolga said. "They may not have a problem now, but things could change of course."

Earlier this week, Canadas Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said, "Canada condemns in the strongest possible terms Russias egregious attack on Ukraine. Canada is taking strong action to stand up for what is right and protect the rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian people. Let me be clear: there will be serious consequences for Russias actions."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS In 2007, Combine Factory Rostselmash Ltd. acquired 80 per cent of Buhler Industries, and late last year acquired another 16.7 per cent.

Kolga said he was not aware of any direct connection between those Buhler officials to Putin or his inner circle.

But he said, "They are probably keeping a very close eye on what is going on."

On Thursday, the company issued a statement saying, "The Russian Federation has invaded Ukraine. Buhler Industries Inc. is strongly opposed to this action and does not condone this attack. The executive team of Buhler Industries is united in the condemnation of the actions taken by the Russian Federation. We are deeply disappointed by the current events and are in support of a quick and peaceful resolution and offer our condolences to those affected and share in their grief."

The company statement goes on to say that while it is owned by a Russian company it is a Canadian company and, "Our values are rooted in North America where the company has been in operation since 1932."

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Adam Reid is the sales and marketing vice president for Buhler/Versatile.

Adam Reid, an official at Buhler Industries, would not comment on any suggestion of concern the company has about possible sanctions in the future.

"Buhler Industries has not exported products to Russia since 2019 and no longer does business in the region," he said. "These sanctions announced yesterday will not impact current business strategy."

The Canadian government has halted all export permits to Russia as part of the current sanctions package.

Reid said, "The company will continue operations as usual, maintain production targets and continue to build tractors and implements to support farmers in North America."

Buhler Industries has not exported products to Russia since 2019 and no longer does business in the region."  Adam Reid

James Bezan, the Conservative MP who has represented the riding of SelkirkInterlakeEastman since 2004, is vice-chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Although not specifically targeting the Rostselmash executives, he said, "These Russian oligarchs who are supporting the despot Vladimir Putin and his barbaric attack on Ukraine will pay a price. Their business interests and other assets here in Canada could easily be frozen, and they could be banned and sanctioned from entering Canada."

Kolga said he was surprised that Canada was only targeting exports at this time.

"There have been calls for a complete embargo of the Russian economy and that would include any sort of export out of Russia," he said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca

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A Manitoba man sentenced to life in prison for the shocking killing of a vulnerable senior has lost a second bid to have his conviction tossed out of court.

A Manitoba man sentenced to life in prison for the shocking killing of a vulnerable senior has lost a second bid to have his conviction tossed out of court.

In 2017, a jury convicted Martin Sutherland of second-degree murder in the killing of 96-year-old MacGregor resident Niels Nielsen in 2014.

In an appeal rejected this week by Manitobas highest court, Sutherland, 62, argued the trial judge erred by admitting the evidence of a police officer regarding the absence of DNA at the crime scene.

Sutherland also argued the trial judge did not properly instruct jurors about a defence argument that the testimony of co-accused Jason Conway may have been tainted because he believed he was getting a deal to plead guilty to second-degree murder instead of first-degree murder.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal rejected both arguments and upheld Sutherlands murder conviction.

The Crowns case against Sutherland hinged largely on the testimony of Conway, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in June 2018 to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.

Conway testified he and Sutherland had been drinking and wanted money for more alcohol, so they decided to rob someone and picked Nielsen's house at random.

The men, each of whom had knives, knocked on Nielsen's door and asked to use his phone. Once inside, they threatened Nielsen with a knife and demanded money. Nielson handed over about $800 in cash, at which point Sutherland and Conway stabbed him several times.

The men left Nielsen to die and walked to a nearby bar.

Sutherland denied any involvement in the killing, claiming Conway provided him with several hundred dollars before they headed to the bar together.

Court heard there was no DNA evidence at the murder scene that implicated either accused.

Sutherland argued a police officer who testified an absence of DNA evidence at homicide scenes was not uncommon was not a DNA expert. Sutherland said the judges decision to accept his testimony suggested to jurors there was no basis to accept the absence of Sutherlands DNA pointed to a different suspect.

While some of the police officers "opinion evidence" should not have been accepted, the effect on the trial was "harmless or inconsequential," Court of Appeal Justice Karen Simonsen wrote in a 31-page decision.

"In my view, the absence of DNA of the accused or Conway at the scene was not significant to the jurys determination of the accuseds guilt because there was no DNA found there other than that of the victim, despite the fact that the victim had clearly been killed by someone," Simonsen said.

"As a matter of logic and common sense, the absence of DNA of the accused or Conway at the scene could not have impacted the jurys determination regarding the accuseds culpability."

As to the second ground of appeal, Sutherland conceded there was no evidence Conway had been offered a deal in return for his testimony, but argued he may have believed that was so and then lied when testifying.

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Even if Conway did believe he had been offered a deal, jurors were warned by the judge to take great care in assessing his evidence, Simonsen said.

"The jury was properly and fairly instructed," she said.

Following his 2017 conviction, but prior to sentencing, Sutherland argued his case should be tossed out due to delay, claiming the 49 months it took to prosecute him violated his charter right to be tried within a reasonable time.

In July 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada took aim at delays in the court system and imposed a 30-month limit to bring superior court matters, including murders, to a resolution and an 18-month limit for provincial court matters.

Manitoba Queens Bench Justice Robert Cummings rejected Sutherlands delay motion, ruling his case was in the system by the time the new deadlines took effect.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
Its nyet to the sale of a Russian vodka and beer at Manitoba Liquor Marts.

Its nyet to the sale of a Russian vodka and beer at Manitoba Liquor Marts.

Liquor Marts pulled two brands of Russian alcohol off its shelves on Friday, after Russian forces invaded Ukraine.

The products were Russian Standard Vodka and Baltika 7, a single-serve beer.

"We recognize the deep connection that Manitobans feel with Ukraine," said Manny Atwal, MLL president and CEO.

"We are proud to say that as of (Friday), and on the Government of Manitobas request, we have removed the two Russian liquor products carried in Manitoba Liquor Marts. We had also received public feedback requesting, and in support of, the removal of Russian products from our shelves."

Atwal said while it might appear to consumers there are other Russian products, especially vodka, on their shelves, the others only look that way because of their brand name, artwork on the bottle, or type of liquor. He noted, as examples, Smirnoff Vodka is made in Canada, as is Russian Prince Vodka.

Atwal said MLL would not reveal how well each product sells, but said "we do not have a large volume of inventory and, for now, it will be held in storage."

And, for those who want to support Ukraine when they buy booze, Atwal confirmed they do sell one product from that country: Khor Platinum Vodka.

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
ALEXEI OUKLEINE says its a painful time to be Russian.

For me, to be Russian nowadays its a big shame, says Oukleine, who feared Vladimir Putin when he immigrated to Winnipeg 19 years ago.

Its difficult to make any comments about this, yes, but I would like to be somebody else.

He is among Manitobans of Russian heritage who are grappling with the impact of Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Oukleine left Russia with his wife and children shortly after Putin became president, and they arrived in Winnipeg in 2003. He sponsored his mother to come to Canada, and still has many family members and friends in both Russia and Ukraine.

When he became president of Russia, I immediately organized papers and applied for immigration to Canada. Without Putin, probably I would still live in Russia, Oukleine said.

I predicted some terrible things, but I cannot imagine that Russia (would) fight with Ukraine.

The Winnipegger says its important for him to speak out against Russian attacks in Ukraine, which he described as a step to the Third World War.

He said he knows some Russians who support Putin, but believes the majority is against this war. Hes in favour of sanctions against Russia and has donated money to help Ukraine.

I cannot stay and do nothing. I cannot stand aside (and say) I dont know nothing, its not my business, its not my war, I immigrated to Canada, everything is fine. No, no. We should be involved.

Politics tends to sow division, and not everyone has the same perspective, he said, but he spoke about seeing Russian-speaking Winnipeggers for their commonalities  he said he doesnt differentiate between who is from Ukraine and who is from Russia. The bottom line, Oukleine said, is the war needs to stop.

People who will be killed, they are artists, they are poets, they are writers its not just soldiers or unknown strangers, he said.

The Association of Russian-Speaking Manitobans (formerly known as the Russian Cultural Association) issued a statement condemning war and military aggression but said it will not weigh in to political discussions.

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It wont help for local Ukrainian and Russian communities to be in conflict with each other, suggested Roman Pavlov, priest at the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral on Manitoba Avenue. His parishioners come from a variety of ethnic groups, united by the Russian language and their faith, he said.

He hasnt seen any such division, and said he cant speak for the whole community.

No one can support any kind of war, he said, urging religious people to pray for peace.

We need to understand that hate is not the way for us. Our way is peace, our way is love, said Pavlov, who has lived in Winnipeg for 11 years. Half of his family lives in Russia, half in Ukraine.

I spoke to them, theyre trying to be calm, theyre trying to pray. So theyre trying to do as good as they can there, he said. Theyre trying to do as much as they can from their side for the peace nobody wants the war, 100 per cent.

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com
The Stefanson governments decision to drop COVID-19 vaccine requirements for health-care workers and others who work with vulnerable populations is the most glaring example yet that it has abandoned science in favour of politics when making pandemic-management decisions.

Opinion

The Stefanson governments decision to drop COVID-19 vaccine requirements for health-care workers and others who work with vulnerable populations is the most glaring example yet that it has abandoned science in favour of politics when making pandemic-management decisions.

Even the governments own health experts say COVID-19 vaccines not only help reduce severe illness, but also reduce the risk of infection, including against the Omicron variant.

If the science shows that vaccines help reduce transmission, why is the province scrapping its vaccine mandate for health-care workers and others who are in contact with vulnerable populations?

Dr. Joss Reimer, the medical lead for the provinces vaccine task force, provides regular updates on vaccine information on her Twitter account, including insight into studies from around the world. One of her jobs is to stay current on the most recent analysis published in medical journals.

Last month she cited a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that showed COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of infection against the Delta and Omicron variants (more effective against Delta, but still some protection against Omicron).

Whats more, the study showed, a third shot provided more protection against both variants than two doses.

"This study from the USA didnt look at severe outcomes but did find that the booster was significantly better than two doses or zero doses at preventing infection with Omicron," she wrote.

The lower the risk of infection, the less chance people have of spreading the virus to others.

Theres more: while vaccinated people can still get infected and spread the virus, the study found, the unvaccinated had a lot more virus in them than infected people who were triple-vaxxed.

"This adds to the existing body of evidence that even though vaccinated (or, in this case, boosted) people can still catch COVID, they are less likely to spread it to other people compared to unvaccinated infected people," wrote Reimer.

She said the study corroborates earlier findings.

"You might wonder why studies like this are important, especially if the findings are something weve already seen in other research," wrote Reimer. "But thats how science works  and how the ongoing evaluation of these vaccines happens  in real-world conditions where we want to see multiple studies all showing the same results."

Knowing this, and assuming Reimer and her team are feeding this science up the chain of command, why would the province end the vaccine mandate for health-care workers? Doctors, nurses and others are in close contact with some of the most vulnerable people in society, including sick patients whose immune systems may be compromised.

Most health-care workers in Manitoba already have to be vaccinated against infectious diseases such as rubella, measles and hepatitis B. Its been a condition of employment at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority since 2006. The concept of vaccine mandates for health-care workers (many of whom have, for years, been required to disclose their vaccination status for a variety of diseases during formal training in school) is not new.

So why is it different for COVID-19?

Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Health Minister Audrey Gordon provided some insight into that question during a news conference Thursday. She said lifting the vaccine mandates will help bring back some "normalcy" and assist in "bridging some divides that have been created throughout this pandemic."

Instead of taking a clinical approach to mitigating the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in hospitals and other health-care settings through the use of vaccine mandates, the government wants to bridge some abstract "divide" that may or may not exist. Thats not science-based decision making, thats small "p" politics.

"We want to do it in an empathetic way, we want to be compassionate and kind and to remember that everyone has had an experience with this COVID pandemic," she said.

In other words, the government is willing to put vulnerable patients and others at risk by eliminating a proven pharmaceutical measure to reduce COVID-19 infections because its worried about hurting the feelings of a small minority of health-care staff who refuse to get vaccinated.

Thats a preposterous and spectacularly reckless position.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
Mary Krawchenko was a pioneering businesswoman  and a lot more.

Krawchenko, a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, left a legacy of kindness and strength for everyone who knew her.

Mary at age 15. (Supplied)

At a time when women-owned businesses were rare in Winnipeg, Krawchenko established Mrs. Ks Food Products in 1970.

With pizzas first, and then perogies and a range of deli items from salads to cabbage rolls and signature cheesecake, Mrs. Ks products were as popular as the well-loved woman behind them.

However, the era didnt make it easy for women like Krawchenko to do business. Her daughter, Sandi Altner, remembers her mothers experiences.

Carl and Mary married in 1953. (Supplied)

"She was absolutely furious when she went to the bank to set up a business account and was told she needed her husband to come in with her to open the account," Sandi says.

"But he is not part of my business, she told the banker. The name of the company is Mrs. Ks. Not Mr. And Mrs. Ks. My husband has his own business to run."

Years later, Krawchenkos son, Chris, told his mother: "You were a pioneering feminist, Mom." She sat back and scowled, then asked, "Whats a feminist?"

Krawchenko, seen here with her husband, Carl (left), and son Chris at the Centrex in 1981, established Mrs. Ks Food Products in 1970. (Supplied)

"Mom was an extraordinary woman, filled with love and compassion and driven by true grit," Sandi says. "She embraced life and met all of her challenges head on.

"She lived by the credo that, with hard work and determination, you could achieve just about anything, and you didnt have to be a man to be a success."

Surrounded by family, Krawchenko died peacefully on Oct. 22, 2021 at 90. She was known for her love of people, music, and living life to the fullest. Stories of Krawchenkos home-cooked food abound.

Mary Krawchenko, seen here in 1935, was born and raised on a farm near Vita. (Supplied)

Born April 2, 1931, on a farm near Vita, Krawchenko was proud of her Ukrainian heritage  her first home had a mud floor and a thatched roof.

Canada was in a deep depression in the 1930s. There were no luxuries, but there were many good times and the family never went hungry, Sandi recalls from her mothers stories.

At nine, Krawchenko contracted polio and was told she would never walk again.

Mary Krawchenko taking a coffee break while baking. (Supplied)

"Mom was determined, and sure enough, a year or so later, she started getting the feeling back in her legs," Sandi says. "Once she got up on her feet again, she was unstoppable and enjoyed daily walks for the rest of her life."

Krawchenko attended Isaac Newton High School in Winnipeg and had hopes of continuing on to medical school. However, as was common in those days, she left school after Grade 10 to get a job to help her mother support their family.

While working at Schneiders Meats she met Carl Krawchenko, a Second World War veteran.

Mary Krawchenio and her brother Bill Bachynsky were the best of friends. (Supplied)

"He adored her from the first moment he saw her," Sandi says. "They were married for 53 years, raised the five of us children, and had a major impact on all of their grandchildren.

"They were tough, loving, determined, and noisy at times. Sometimes, really noisy, but always loving and generous," she says.

"We are a close family. Mom insisted on it and was a firm believer that, as long as you have family support, it doesnt matter how crazy life gets."

Mary Krawchenko, an extraordinary womanwho was filledwith love and compassion, died in October at the age of 90. (Supplied)

While raising children and running a busy household, Krawchenko joined her husband in the family business, Frontier Packing Company Ltd., before establishing Mrs. Ks Food Products. She eventually directed the building of her manufacturing plant in Stonewall.

"She worked diligently to design the layout she wanted and to learn about every requirement that needed to be met," Sandi says.

"It was a very proud day when she learned her plant was qualified as a federally inspected food production facility, allowing her to ship her products across Canada. She also adored the fact she employed so many women and found joy in teaching them how to pinch perogies and clean up a kitchen properly."

Marys younger brother, Bill Bachynsky (centre), and his wife, Irene, were her dearest friends. (Supplied)

Family friend Murdoch MacKay says Krawchenko was a person who despite the challenges of the time saw a future for women in business.

"Her venture into fresh unfrozen pizzas was a good start for her, although she was probably ahead of her time," says MacKay. "She had a little plant and hired several women employees. She was very fortunate to have a brilliant husband, but so was he lucky to have had her."

"For so many people. the most enduring memory of Mom will be of her in the kitchen in her white apron and hair net, pulling pans of baking out of the oven and singing along to Marty Robbins," Sandi says.

Moms departure for her final journey was everything she had wanted. She never had to go to a nursing home or use a walker or worst of all, in her mind, have someone she loved face having to care for her most personal needs. She held her head high and left with dignity, grace and comfort because thats what Mom truly wanted."

Bill Bachynsky, Krawchenkos younger brother, and his wife Irene were her dearest friends.

"I couldnt have asked for a better sister. I dont think anybody ever had a bad word to say about her," says Bachynsky. "She treated her employees like family. She had a good sense of humour; right to the end, we joked around.

"Shed bake pies and give them to the neighbour for cleaning her driveway. I think he came just to get the pies," he adds with a laugh.

Bachynsky also affectionately remembers the frequent calls with his sister. "At the end of each call shed always say, may the good forces be with you.

"I talked to her on Sunday; she was making apple pies for Thanksgiving. She went to the hospital on Tuesday and passed on Friday. I teared up for about a month after that," he says.

"I got two of her pies in the freezer that Im saving. I will eat one in her memory, maybe at Easter."

passages@freepress.mb.ca
Every winter, Eugene Waskiw enjoys reading Christmas cards from his family in Ukraine.

Every winter, Eugene Waskiw enjoys reading Christmas cards from his family in Ukraine.

He sits at the dining room table, light pooling on the greetings, and absorbs the messages from what he calls "the homeland."

When Russia invaded Ukraine Thursday, or late Wednesday local time, Waskiw was glued to his TV.

"I need to know whats happening with (my family): how they are doing, where (they) are," he said.

Relatives on both his father and mothers side live in west Ukraine, roughly 63 kilometres from the Polish border, Waskiw said. Hes been calling them frequently since the conflict began.

"Theres an escape plan, if need be," he said. "Generally, overall, theyre safe for now."

He stayed at the back of Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church Thursday evening. More than 70 people joined him in the North End cathedral for a moleben, a service of intercession. Attendees punctuated the vigils hour-long stream of prayers and hymns by crossing themselves, joining together in solidarity for Ukraine.

One person wore the Ukrainian flag like a cape. Another sported a blue and yellow ribbon armband.

Deacon Antin Sloboda stood in his black garment at the front.

Eugene Waskiw's relatives on both his father and mothers side live in west Ukraine. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

"I did not sleep (last night)," he said in an interview after the service.

Instead, he read the news of Russias invasion on his home country.

On Thursday, he called his 72-year-old mother at least four times, while on work breaks and in his silver Mitsubishi.

Slobodas mom doesnt plan to flee from her home in Lviv, Ukraine, Sloboda said.

"She just stays and hopes things will calm down," he said, adding shes lived there a long time and has chronic illnesses.

Leaving is a logistical nightmare, Sloboda said. His mother doesnt have a game plan for staying in Poland, should she cross the border in a car.

For now, shes near some of her children  Slobodas older brother and sister  and their young families. Russias offensive has reached outside the western city of Lviv, the Washington Post reported Friday.

Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church was open Thursday for prayer drop-ins. A steady flow of people took to their knees throughout the day, said Rev. Ihor Shved.

"We always had somebody," said the priest, whos from Ukraine.

The service he held Thursday was unfamiliar to parishioners  its used in times of war, said Waskiw, whos part of the church executive.

A steady flow of people took to their knees throughout the day to pray for Ukraine, said Rev. Ihor Shved. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"All of a sudden we have this catastrophe happening in our homeland," Waskiw said. "Ive had calls all day from people who I thought were just lukewarm Ukrainians, that were slowly losing (their culture)."

"They were impacted by the news, even though theyre long since removed from their homeland. The images on TV are shocking."

Waskiw, whos on several boards in Winnipegs Ukrainian community, said he wants to see United Nations troops intervene.

"I learned this in the schoolyard in Grade 3: the only thing a bully understands is force. And Putin is a bully," Waskiw said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened he will use weapons on nations that interfere with his armys invasion. Many believe hes referring to nuclear warfare.

Waskiw said a United Nations campaign would mean its the world against Russia. Hes disappointed with the wests reaction to the war and said things could escalate without pushback.

"If Ukraine now, who next?" he said. "Did we not learn anything in 1918 or 1939? Its almost as if we didnt."

Standing amid the church pews Thursday was Myroslav Shkandrij, a professor emeritus of German and Slavic studies for the University of Manitoba.

He taught students about Ukraines many revolutions and attempts to establish an independent state. He didnt think hed be alive to see such a conflict happen in real-time.

"This has been a shock," Shkandrij, 71, said. "Were living in the 21st century. To have somebody blatantly move the borders and then state that you as a country, as a state, as a people do not exist (Russia is) quite prepared to use the most horrific methods."

Thursday's service was unfamiliar to parishioners since its used in times of war, says Eugene Waskiw. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Putin has called Ukraine an illegitimate state and said its land should belong to Russia.

Ukraine has been under the rule of empires, such as the Soviet Union, for much of the past 120 years, Shkandrij said.

Ukraine voted for independence in a referendum amid the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"One of the things you learn from history is how these cycles recur and how people rise up and try and win an independent statehood, (and) also create a democratic state," Shkandrij said.

The intellectual and cultural elite are decimated when war happens, but eventually, new groups emerge, Shkandrij said.

"This is another attempt to remove that thinking class," he said. "But Ukrainians are used to this. Theyve seen this before, and theyre asking for help."

Putin doesnt want democracy so close to his territory, others at the vigil said.

Shkandrij said he attended the service for solidarity and prayer. He reflected upon hearing stories of David and Goliath, and God guiding Moses to lead the Israelites from Egypt.

"It makes you see the big picture and understand that war has been going on for many, many generations," Shkandrij said.

His daughter Alexandra is helping to organize a rally outside the Manitoba Legislative Building on Saturday. The 5 p.m. gathering is to express support for Ukrainians rights.

People lit candles as they prayed for the people in Ukraine. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

"(Were) really kept apart in a lot of ways, and theres a lot of challenges to being united," Alexandra said after Thursdays vigil.

Its important people gather together, she said.

"I think a lot of people thought this would be diplomatically resolved."

Her father said hes heartened by the Russians who are protesting against Putin.

Thousands of Russians decried the war, and hundreds have been arrested for speaking out.

"Theyre very brave, theyre very courageous," Shkandrij said.

Winnipegger Wolodymyr Dlugosh wants his cousin to escape from Ukraine.

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"I dont think theres a future there, the way this is playing out," he said, adding Canada, and the rest of the world, has been slow to react.

"We continue to do things like this, (not) pay attention to it, because, well, its not in my backyard."

Ukraine hasnt had the chance to mature into a democratic society, he said.

"They want to live in peace (and) want to be a democratic country and whats happening is just unbelievable."

 With files from The Associated Press

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Georgia will give one million lari ($320,000) to provide aid to the people of Ukraine, the Georgian governmental press service said on Saturday.

"Pharmaceutical products and medical goods for the suffering people of Ukraine will be bought at money allotted from the country's Reserve Fund," the press service said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Georgia has not joined anti-Russian sanctions. When asked about Georgia's joining the West's sanctions, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said, "anti-people and not thought out policies have ended in the country." He said that the policy pursued by radical opposition parties that demand that the Georgian authorities join anti-Russian sanctions are "irresponsible and damaging."
My birthday is Jan. 7  the same day Ukrainians traditionally celebrate Christmas, according to the Julian calendar.

My birthday is Jan. 7  the same day Ukrainians traditionally celebrate Christmas, according to the Julian calendar.

I know this because my best friends family, the Kowalchuks, every year invited me for dinner at their home in Lockport. They would combine their most important day with mine  sharing perogies, cabbage rolls, and gifts alongside singing happy birthday.

In many ways, I was their fourth son  something I value to this day.

This is why I couldnt look away Thursday when Russian forces invaded Ukraine, for Ukrainians are my people, too.

I spent the day contacting every single Ukrainian-Canadian I knew, expressing my love and asking if there was anything I could do.

CP Russia's attack on Ukraine has drawn condemnation from citizens and government officials around the world. (Chiang Ying-ying / The Associated Press)

What can one say to another person when a persons culture, society, and homeland is under attack?

"Im sorry" doesnt begin to cut it. How does one talk about murder when its happening on the evening news? What can one say when lands are being stolen before our very eyes? Which words do you use that show sensitivity and recognize devastation at the same time?

Turns out there arent many words that can describe whats happening. (Words that can be published here, anyways.)

I was on the phone for a long time. My best friend and his family are only one of about two dozen Ukrainian Canadians I am close to.

My sister-in-law is another. Her family left Ukraine a long time ago, but she broke down in tears talking about the invasion.

My colleague. My ex-girlfriend from high school. My old teacher.

Ukrainians have been coming to Manitoba since the 1890s.

From the first moments they arrived here  just like what happened with Icelanders and other immigrants  Ukrainians relied on the knowledge of Indigenous communities to survive.

Indigenous peoples taught Ukrainians where to find fish, what berries to eat, and how to find food in this place.

The Sts. Vladimir & Olga Ukrainian Cathedral is an important landmark in Winnipeg. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

In an amazing 2011 study by Maryna Hrymych (published at the University of Manitoba), she documents how "Indians" taught Ukrainians in Manitoba "how to trap, to hunt, and how to make your own moccasins How to survive."

By the early 20th century  when my community of Peguis was thriving on its original homelands near whats now East Selkirk  Ukrainians were neighbours, running farms and businesses all along the Red River to Winnipeg.

Contact between our two cultures resulted in amazing collaborations. Besides a deep love for the land, our peoples share a love for feasting, dancing, beading, braiding, and intricate designs.

For instance, Cree and Anishinaabe people credit Ukrainians for gifting our communities the colourful hustka, which many Indigenous grandmothers wear on their heads today.

Powwow fancy dancers regularly "borrow" moves from Ukrainian dance  repeating similar patterns of rhythm repetition and even moves squat kicks.

Ive had borscht and bannock more than once You get the point.

Some Ukrainians also participated in racist acts, too, like advocating for the theft of Peguis land in 1907.

By 1914, more than 170,000 Ukrainians had settled in Canada, with the majority settling throughout the Prairies.

The reason this is so accurately known is because Ukrainians were persecuted during the First World War, feared because they were thought to be sympathizers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Ukrainians share experiences of racism and oppression with Indigenous peoples, too.

The connections between Ukrainians and Indigenous peoples is so wide and deep, Id never be able to do it justice here, so Ill just say its a big part of todays Manitoba.

CP Ukrainians have a strong tradition in Manitoba. (Andrew Harnik / The Associated Press)

When I walk with the Mama Bear Clan volunteer patrol, I see Ukrainian Orthodox churches throughout the North End and North Point Douglas  the original communities that built this city. Most are as old as the city itself.

I meet dozens of people who have a Ukrainian and Indigenous parent.

I patrol past Ukrainian book shops. A co-op. A bakery You get the point.

Winnipeg is not the only place where Ukrainian and Indigenous cultures have fused and found a home together.

In 2018, Edmontons Shumka dance company performed with local Indigenous troupe Running Thunder on a series of collaborative displays featuring more than 100 knowledge keepers and artists showcasing the shared history between Indigenous and Ukrainian peoples in their city.

In Calgary, there is an Indigenous Ukrainian Relationship Building Initiative intended to advance knowledge about, explore, and on Ukrainian Canadian history and shared Indigenous-Ukrainian pasts.

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Ukrainian people are my people.

This is why I cant look away when my relations are being bombed, attacked, and removed from their homes.

This is a pain, a trauma, a genocide I know all too well.

A destruction we all must stand up against. Together. In this place.

As we have before. As we will again.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

QUICK quiz: name three living scientists.

Sorry contestants, no points will be given for naming the stars of the Oscar-nominated movie Dont Look Up. Theyre not real scientists. Theyre actors portraying fictional scientists.

Admittedly, the quiz would be easier to answer if it asked for the names of actors, musicians, politicians or authors. And the Winnipeg Jets are so well-known that even children can name their favourite players, as well as the players positions and the numbers on their backs.

But scientists? Most of us are hard-pressed to identify any of the innovative giants who work tirelessly to discover ways to improve our heath and the health of our planet.

Perhaps during this current convergence of bleak events  Russia waging war, a pandemic that is dragging on and a particularly harsh Manitoba winter  we need purveyors of optimism. And recent achievements by scientists certainly offer encouraging alternatives to doom and gloom.

A timely example are the masterminds who worked together to create and evaluate COVID-19 vaccines with unprecedented speed. Global urgency was the taskmaster that drove them to find a safe way to develop and authorize vaccines in about a year, a process that usually takes eight to 10 years.

Heres an unnerving question: where would we be today if these COVID-19 scientists hadnt found a way to speed things up? Wed be without effective vaccines. In other words, wed be in big trouble. We would be entering the third year of a pandemic without the shield of vaccines, and death rates and social disruption would be unimaginably higher.

Beyond the genuises who found a way to accelerate the testing of COVID-19 vaccines, there are plenty of scientists in other areas whose work also has the potential to help many people. They include surgeons in Baltimore, Md., who transplanted a pigs heart into a human last month, the first time its been done successfully.

Its taken genetic engineers and medical specialists more than two decades to reach the point at which a humans body doesnt reject a pigs heart. Last months breakthrough meant eliminating three pig genes that are rejected by the human immune system, and adding six human genes that helped the human accept the organ.

Scientists continue to strive to make it more feasible to transplant animal organs, including kidneys, into people. The implications are huge for the many people who in the future might appreciate an animal-donor alternative when the other choice is getting sicker and possibly dying while waiting in a lengthy queue for human organs that are in short supply.

Meanwhile, on Christmas Day space scientists launched the James Webb Space Telescope, which will eventually be stationed about 1.6 million kilometres from Earth. It succeeds the Hubble Space Telescope, and is expected to be about 100 times as powerful, transmitting images of objects that were hidden to the Hubble.

U.S. scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) hope that because of Webbs unprecedented sensitivity, it will be able to see back to a time when the first galaxies were forming after the Big Bang, which took place about 13.8 billion years ago. It stretches the mind to ponder what they will discover.

In other research news thats considerably more down-to-earth, scientists from Germany have found a bacterium that eats away at polyurethanes, a particularly troubling type of plastic that is often molded into foam and used in items such as car seats, thermal insulation, running shoes and floor covering.

The discovery, as outlined in the publication Frontiers in Microbiology, was part of a European Union program to find microorganisms that can help turn oil-based plastics into substances that can be broken down biologically.

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It would be a big deal if the bacterium leads to a safe way to break down polyurethanes, which are difficult to recycle or destroy, and which release toxic chemical in landfills.

Discoveries such as the four listed above garner excitement when they are finally confirmed in peer-reviewed journals and emerge into the public realm as credible innovations. What the public doesnt see is the exhaustive behind-the-scenes work that precedes the shout of Eureka!

Diligence is an essential attribute for the researchers and inventors who study deeply in their disciplines and work together in a pursuit of knowledge, who build off each others insights, who have the doggedness to keep at it even when it takes endless experimentation to forge the path to discovery.

Science is a high calling that aspires to nothing less than solving the worlds problems. When they cant eliminate the problem, as with the pandemic, they find new ways to help us cope. They are heroes in lab coats, and they deserve our gratitude.

carl.degurse@freepress.mb.ca

Carl DeGurse is a member of the Free Press editorial board.
Cotter Schools senior Sajida Mirzada wont let the Taliban stop her from becoming a doctor, even as they threaten her and her familys safety and success in life.

Mirzadas dreams for her future took shape during her childhood in Afghanistan, where she grew up in a small village with her family, which includes five brothers and one sister.

I learned a lot from my family, especially from my parents, said Mirzada, who is the Winona Daily News Cotter Schools Above & Beyond scholarship recipient.

She said that she learned how to stay positive no matter what from her mother.

As for her father, Mirzada learned from him how to look forward to and plan her future.

She has already taken one big step in the plans she made as a child.

It was my dream to come to the United States to study, Mirzada said.

Her goal was to study to become a doctor here in the United States, as she had witnessed a lack of medical staff in her hometown area.

She wanted to be able to help people, especially women and children in Afghanistan who lacked access to proper, timely medical services.

Mirzadas path in life and education hasnt been easy, though.

The Taliban attacked her home area in 2015, she recalled.

Her rights were taken away, as classes like English and biology soon stopped at her all-female school, and the curriculum was replaced with only Islamic books.

Mirzada remembers how the Taliban treated the women in her school. They were punished and threatened, which led to her coming home crying after school.

Mirzada recalled the Taliban telling her, Were going to kill you.

Eventually, her school was shut down. Mirzada, along with other women and girls, was forced to stay at home and couldnt go outside unless they had someone to protect them.

Although Mirzada was stuck in her home the vast majority of the time for almost three years, she didnt let the laws stop her from learning.

Im not going to accept it, Mirzada recalls thinking during this time. (The Taliban is) not going to stop my dreams.

She learned English and other topics using her brothers books.

Additionally, she was able to learn English at a local class in the village that was separate from her school.

Eventually, Mirzada wanted more than just staying in her home all of the time. She ended up moving to a city with one of her brothers, where she was able to resume her English studies.

She soon learned about Cotter Schools through one of her brothers friends.

After connecting with the school, she received a scholarship in 2019 that enabled her to finally move to the United States and live in the Cotter dorms as she studied there.

Mirzada has thoroughly enjoyed the community and winter in Winona.

She said shell miss the Cotter community, which has given her a support system that includes staff and fellow students, when she graduates in a few months.

She plans to attend college in the area to continue on her path to becoming a doctor. So far, she has been accepted into Saint Marys University, but is still considering other colleges.

Most of Mirzadas family remains behind in Afghanistan, but she does have one brother in Zumbrota, Minn., who now serves as her guardian.

Hes my biggest, biggest supporter, and Im so grateful to have him in my life, Mirzada said about her brother in the area.

Its not easy for her family members that are still back in her home country. They are hiding in Kabul from the Taliban, Mirzada shared earlier this month, and they face the choice of either leaving the country or dying.

The Taliban has already harmed her family in the past.

Mirzada shared that in 1990 the Taliban hung her father from a tree and shot him three times.

Im so glad that he is still alive, Mirzada said.

One of her brothers also experience violence at the hands of the Taliban, who nailed his ear to a wall.

While her brother and father survived, her uncle died in another attack.

Her uncle, after trying to protect a villages people and their education and freedom, had his hands tied to a water wheel and was killed.

Mirzadas family, whom she hasnt seen since she originally traveled to the United States three years ago, continues to be a focus of the Taliban, as one of her brothers worked for American troops for a few years before becoming a medic for the Afghan National Army.

The Taliban is attempting to track him down because of this.

Mirzada knows that if the Taliban finds her brother, they will likely kill him.

Because of this hunt for Mirzadas brother and the rest of her family, the family is no longer able to live their normal lives, like working at their jobs.

The rest of Mirzadas family is currently working toward moving to the United States safely, with a GoFundMe titled They Left Everything Behind in Afghanistan now set up to help support their journey.

Mirzada said she has been able to power through the struggles shes faced and the challenges for her family by continuing to stay strong and do whatever is best for other girls.

She says talking to people back in her home country, especially her female classmates, gives me so much power to use this opportunity to improve and in the future help them.

She pushes herself along in hard moments by remembering that she does not want to go back to a life in Afghanistan, where she has no rights and is at the mercy of the Taliban.

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Winona, MN (55987)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 42F. Winds light and variable.
During its annual awards banquet Thursday, members of the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the newly-formed relationship with the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce in addition to honoring those who contributed in various ways to the community last year.

One of the highlights this year has been a great partnership that the Baraboo Area Chamber has formed, said past president Shawn Marquardt. As of tonight, we have officially signed a memorandum of understanding.

Latino Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jessica Cavazos credited Las Milpas Restaurant and Store owner Ana Torres for facilitating the partnership.

It is wonderful to see, when we look at these numbers and we see the workforce and we see that our state is creating this robust economy with very diverse people, Cavazos said. Its just beautiful what theyre doing here. If anything, think about this partnership as the Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce being your ambassadors, wherever we go.

Torres was not only credited for bringing the two entities together as the Latino Chamber aims to expand throughout the state, but she was also surprised as Marquardt announced her as the recipient of the 2021 Presidents Award.

As she fought back tears, Torres told everyone about immigrating to Baraboo in 2006.

I never wanted to be anywhere else, Torres said. ...Thank you for letting me be part of this great, great, great community. I feel welcome everywhere. Thank you for letting me be part of the chamber and do my part to give back.

The Baraboo Boys and Girls Club was honored as the 2021 Community Service Award winner. Executive Director Karen DeSanto remarked on the difficult last two years for adults and children and said they are glad to be a part of young peoples lives in an effort to ensure their future success.

Our most important resources are kids, theyre going to do it for us, DeSanto said. We need them to be strong. We want them sitting in these seats in five, 10, 15 years from now.

President Raegen Trimmer announced that Jake Franzen of Ski-Hi Fruit Farm as the recipient of the 2021 Rising Star award as they stepped up to the challenge and shifted their business model to adapt to new times, they supported other local business through strategic partnerships and product creation, offered new events and remained a steadfast supporter of the Chamber, Trimmer said. The answer was always a resounding Yes any time something was asked of them.

Baraboo State Bank, which stakes its claim as the oldest in the country, was the recipient of the 2021 Business of the Year Award. Tumbled Rock Brewery & Kitchen was honored as the recipient of the tourism award, which focuses on a member that made an outstanding contribution to tourism within the community.

Co-owner Michelle Koehler wiped away tears as she commended her staff for their hard work at the business, now in its third year of operation.

Tumbled Rock just doesnt happen without all of the people behind us, Koehler said. Its just a crew of characters and I love all of them. And again, we built a nice facility, but these people make it happen.

Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513.

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Dodge County law enforcement honored local law enforcement and community members who stepped up to make a difference in peoples lives over the last year. Those honored included a four-year-old boy who was not in attendance.

Armani Lopez, Juneau, assisted in saving his grandmothers life on Feb. 16, 2021, and was honored as youth of the year by the Dodge County Executive Law Enforcement Or

Watertown Police Chief Robert Kaminski read the award comments while Juneau Police Chief Dave Beal handed out the awards.

I believe a 4-year-old named Armani L. Lopez would qualify for recognition, Kaminski read from Dodge County Sheriff Deputy David Trevarthans submission. I responded to an elderly unresponsive subject barricaded in her house in Juneau.

Lopez had been staying with his grandmother and had called his mother Stephanie Lopez after fearing for his grandmothers life.

We found her unable to move and nonverbal on the floor of her kitchen. He did an amazing job assisting me in gaining entry to the residence and is quite frankly a brave little man. I believe she may have died if he had not taken action, Trevarthan wrote.

Law Enforcement Officers of the Year are Dodge County Sheriffs Office deputy Jeremy McCarty, and Watertown Police Officers Kathy Riedl and Chris Karnatz.

On Oct. 9. McCarty responded to a suicidal woman on the Highway 16 bypass over Highway 26 in the town of Emmett. McCarty was able to approach the woman and pull her to safety. Riedl and Karnatz were able to spot that a 12-year-old boy who was reported to be wielding a knife in an apartment building on Aug. 12 was an autistic youth and were able to calm the boy.

Correctional Officers of the Year are Kevin Kluck from the Dodge County Jail and Kenneth Buresh from the Dodge Correctional Institution.

Kluck was working on May 19 when an inmate attacked a nurse and held her hostage. Kluck worked with his fellow correctional officers to gain compliance of the inmate and his hand was injured during the incident.

Buresh was honored for going out of his way including working an additional 1,000 hours in 2021 without one sick day. Buresh said people are aware of staffing issues, but he felt there are many more people deserving of the award.

Denise Deibert, from the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, and Amber Haumschild, from the Watertown Police Department, were named Support Persons of the Year. Both have went out of their way to help out in their departments this last year.

Citizens of the Year are Steven Smits and Benjamin Strieff. Strieff helped to locate a 14-year-old boy who was missing from Crystal Lake Beach Park July 25. Smits quarry, west of Waupun, was searched during the summer while law enforcement attempted to find information that could help them while investigating the disappearance of a Waupun man in October 2002. Jerrold Strege was reported missing by his father after his father went to Streges Waupun apartment to find him. Strieff assisted in draining the quarry. Law enforcement did not find the remains of the missing man.

Shepys Auto Body was recognized for volunteering time to work on the fleet of Dodge County Sheriffs Office vehicles.

David Beal of the Juneau Police Department received the Presidents Award. Beal takes on many roles throughout Dodge County and is an active supporter of the Dodge County Executive Law Enforcement Association.

Nothing I do is work, Beal said. I enjoy it all.

Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760.

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Gov. Tony Evers has signaled support for a bill that passed the Assembly late Thursday to fund a new juvenile prison to replace the states embattled Lincoln Hills facility.

After initially indicating that the bill, which unanimously passed the Senate earlier this week, was unlikely to come before the Assembly before it adjourned for the session, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, announced Thursday that a vote would be held after former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who is running for governor, urged him to take it up.

The amended version of the bill, which now includes language to allow for local site approval and to convert the Irma facility to an adult prison, passed the Assembly unanimously and heads back to the Senate for final approval.

For years, Republicans playing politics have stood in the way of our work to close Lincoln Hills and get our kids closer to home safely and responsibly, Evers, a Democrat, tweeted Friday. This bipartisan bill is a step in the right direction  lets find common ground and do whats right. Lets get this done.

The bill would authorize nearly $42 million in borrowing to build a juvenile correctional facility to replace the Lincoln Hills facility, which in the last decade has faced reports of child neglect, violent outbursts from inmates, use of pepper spray to cause bodily harm and intimidation of witnesses.

Bill author Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said the bill represents years of work and the amendments allowing for local input on the next facility, as well as using Lincoln Hills as an adult prison, make the final measure stronger. He said the Senate is likely to take up the bill in early March, before the chamber adjourns for the year.

I see no reason why it wouldnt come back to us and we wouldnt concur with the amendments, he said.

Vos said earlier this week the bill was unlikely to get a vote because it does not specify where the new Milwaukee County facility would be located, but changed his mind Thursday after Kleefisch, who served under former Gov. Scott Walker, sent Vos a letter asking him to hold a vote on the bill.

The bipartisan bill comes nearly four years after Walker signed a measure authorizing the state to shut Lincoln Hills by January 2021 and replace it with smaller, more regional facilities. Evers in 2019 signed into law a bill extending the closure date to July 2021, a deadline he later said was unrealistic.

We must finish the job that we started, Kleefisch wrote in the letter.

Passing this bill to create an additional facility for juvenile offenders, along with the assurance that we keep the existing facility operational to house more adult offenders, is a step in the direction toward safer communities, she wrote. We need to lock up violent criminals. This is a good first step in doing that.

Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, has pledged to close Lincoln Hills School for Boys and the Copper Lake School for Girls in northern Wisconsin. He included in his two budget proposals plans to create replacement sites for Lincoln Hills, but each was rejected by legislative Republicans.

Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake became the states primary prisons for juvenile offenders after Walker and the Republican Legislature in 2011 closed two other facilities in southeastern Wisconsin as a cost-saving measure. Several incidents of abuse have resulted in the state paying out millions of dollars in settlements.
UW-Madison junior Jessica Melnik is unsettled by sexual assault victims waiting weeks or months for counseling services. Last October, for example, several students told her that a campus counselor wouldnt be able to see them until the spring semester.

Melnik and others in a student group promoting sexual assault prevention are pushing for more of UW-Madisons resources to go toward counseling services that will reduce wait times and better serve victims. They argue in a letter delivered to administrators last month that the universitys victim services are underfunded and understaffed compared with other Big Ten schools.

The student group known as PAVE, which stands for Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, points to Michigan State University as an example of what UW-Madison could aspire to in serving victims. MSUs Center for Survivors includes 23 employees, a 24-hour hotline and an online crisis chat function.

At UW-Madison, victims may turn to Survivor Services, a unit within University Health Services, or UHS, that is staffed by roughly a dozen employees, according to UHS mental health director Sarah Nolan. Some of the staff split their work responsibilities between Survivor Services and other areas of UHS.

Its not enough, Melnik said.

More than a quarter of UW-Madisons roughly 15,000 undergraduate women who participated in national surveys in 2015 and 2019 said they had experienced some form of nonconsensual sexual contact since entering college, though most of them dont report it or seek out campus resources.

PAVEs campaign comes a year after UW-Madison saw fewer reports of sexual misconduct last year, likely because there were fewer students on campus in 2020-21 due to COVID-19, according to a first-of-its-kind UW-Madison report intended to increase awareness and transparency about how the university responds to complaints.

At the same time, campus counseling services have been in much higher demand. On top of that, universities were forced to pivot in the way they provided mental health services.

More staff

UHS recently beefed up staffing based on clinical demand, Nolan said. Two of Survivor Services four full-time counselors started in December.

UW-Madison also hired its first victims advocates last year. The advocates, one of whom is full time and another who is part time, assisted 44 students last semester in securing academic or workplace accommodations, accompanying them to legal appointments and connecting them to resources. Advocacy appointments are available on a same-day or next-day basis.

Students reaching out for a mental health appointment with Survivor Services typically have had an initial appointment, where someone assesses their needs and refers them for specific services, within a week, Nolan said. Students are set up with individual counseling within a week or two after the first meeting.

A victims account

UW-Madisons timeline for counseling services doesnt square with what Melnik hears, or what one victim contacted independently of Melnik said she experienced last year.

The students struggle began in December 2020, the same month the student testified in court for a restraining order against her abuser. She learned the UHS therapist she had been seeing had left the university.

The student  whom the Wisconsin State Journal is not identifying because it does not name victims of sexual assault without their consent  had a couple of sessions last spring semester with someone enrolled in the universitys counseling psychology training clinic. It was better than nothing, she said, but the psychologist-in-training wasnt too helpful.

A few weeks before the fall 2021 semester started, the student tried Survivor Services again. It took about a month but the student landed a September appointment where the employee, according to the students account, suggested she seek care outside of the campus setting.

I think her reasoning was that by seeing someone in the community, I could have access to someone even after I graduated, the student recalled, noting she had several semesters left so post-graduation care was not a pressing concern for her. But I also got the sense that UHS was just overwhelmed and they were trying to encourage as many people as they could to seek care outside the university.

The employee offered to help find a provider who would accept the students health insurance. But the student said her subsequent calls and emails to the employee went unanswered.

PAVE has sometimes filled the gap by connecting victims to a community provider that would accept their insurance, Melnik said.

The victim said she called Survivor Services four more times in October to schedule an appointment and finally landed a date. But then she got a cancellation call. The counselor wasnt available and UHS rescheduled, she said. Then it was canceled again and rescheduled for a second time.

In November, when the appointment assessing the students needs took place, the student said she was told Survivor Services was full and UHS would reach out when a spot opens up.

The barriers survivors face in accessing mental health care are unacceptable, she said. Survivors who need services are pushed from person to person only to be told months later they cannot receive services.

Highest priority

Nolan said providing mental health for all students, especially victims, is among the highest of priorities for UHS.

It is, of course, troubling to hear about any student not getting their needs met, especially when a student is reaching out for support in a time of distress, she said in a statement.

Additional staff hired last semester has led to reduced wait times and increased availability of providers, Nolan said. She encouraged students to continue reaching out to UHS for support.

The student said she finally saw a counselor in the last week of January 2022. She has been attending appointments every two weeks since then.

Need help? For individual counseling appointments through University Health Services, email survivorservices@uhs.wisc.edu or call 608-265-5600 (select option 2) to book an appointment. For help, call the Rape Crisis Center: 608-265-5600 extension 3, or 608-251-7273 after hours.
The way Americans often label other Americans doesnt make sense. People living in the U.S. who have Latin American roots are often called Latinos or Hispanics instead of Americans. They and their ancestors came from Central and South America, so theyre more American than those whose ancestors came from Europe. My ancestors immigrated here from Wales and Germany, yet Ive never been called Welsh, German or European.

Native, or indigenous Americans, whose families are the original inhabitants of whats now the U.S., are often called Indians, although their family history has nothing to do with India or the West Indies. According to Britannica.com, The word Indian came to be used because Christopher Columbus repeatedly expressed the mistaken belief that he had reached the shores of South Asia. Convinced he was correct, Columbus fostered the use of the term Indios (originally, person from the Indus valley) to refer to the peoples of the so-called New World.

And, although I dont recall ever learning this in school, many scholars have discovered and revealed that Columbus was a murderer, torturer and tyrant, so its a mystery why we still honor him with a federal holiday. Numerous articles about his cruelties can be found online.

Since modern day Americans honor the man who apparently originated and encouraged immigration to the New World, why are so many Americans whose families immigrated here years ago now against immigration? Many of their ancestors fled poverty and persecution in Europe, yet theyre against others doing the same today. Is it the old, I got mine and I dont care about anyone else selfishness? What else could it be?

Those white Americans with roots from places other than England must not be aware that most of their ancestors also faced prejudice, hatred and hurtful labels by those whod been here longer. Wikipedia lists pages of ethnic slurs that were flung at immigrants from all over the world. But, no matter when it happens, the name-callers obviously lack dignity, self-esteem and compassion.

Most new arrivals have been considered low-class and hired to do only the dirtiest, hardest, lowest paying jobs. Its still the same unless the immigrant has an advanced degree and/or experience in a highly technical, specialized profession.

But, weve seen its easier for white-skinned immigrants to blend in with other, white-skinned European immigrants. We know there are still many Americans who look down on African Americans and still call them hateful, derogatory names. They ignore the fact that the ancestors of most African Americans were kidnapped, beaten, and brought here on slave ships to be auctioned off like animals to the highest bidders. Their buyers were almost all rich white men who owned large, southern plantations. Once on plantations the slaves were forced to work the fields and were denied freedom, an education and everything else except what was necessary to keep them alive and working. Thats just part of the history many of todays Republicans want erased from our schools history books.

Also, they most likely dont want todays children to learn that most of the southwestern United States once belonged to Mexico. After the bloody Mexican-American War, when Americans overpowered Mexican forces, and after an 1848 treaty, Americans took over almost all of what is now New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Texas, and parts of western Colorado. So, any Mexicans who come here now are just returning to land that once belonged to their ancestors. That fact, along with the history of slavery, is just another thing many Republicans dont want our children to know.

According to the Nov. 10, 2021, issue of Business Insider, More than four-in-10 Republicans (43%) are opposed to public schools teaching the history of racism, according to a new Monmouth University poll, while a slim majority approved (54%).

Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislators in Florida are advancing bills that would allow parents to sue a school if any instruction caused students discomfort, guilt or anguish. Hey, homework causes a lot of kids to feel that way, so I guess theyll have to ban that, too. Meanwhile, they rant about cancel culture and accuse Democrats of being woke and Karens. Do they realize how ridiculous they sound?

For decades, Black, Latino and Asian children and adults have felt true discomfort and anguish while theyve been bullied, physically attacked, and sometimes killed because theyre not white. What have Republican lawmakers done about that?

Knowledge doesnt cause discomfort; it results in understanding and compassion. Ignorance is what causes pain to innocent people. Its time Republican lawmakers learned that.

Pat Nash has lived in the Baraboo area, off and on, for more than 35 years. Contact her at patnash5149@gmail.com.
RTHK: Fighting in Kyiv as Ukraine says 198 civilians killed

Ukrainian forces repulsed a Russian attack on Kyiv but "sabotage groups" infiltrated the capital, officials said on Saturday, as Ukraine reported 198 civilian deaths, including children, following Russia's attack.

A defiant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed his pro-Western country would never give in to the Kremlin even as Russia said it had fired cruise missiles at military targets.

With explosions echoing around Kyiv on the third day of Russia's assault, Zelensky spoke in a video message, wearing olive green military-style clothing and looking tired but determined.

"I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth," the 44-year-old said.

"Our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect all of this."

Ignoring warnings from the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed a full-scale attack that the UN refugee agency said has forced almost 116,000 people to flee to neighbouring countries.

Tens of thousands more are estimated to be displaced within Ukraine, with many on the move to less affected western areas of the country.

Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said 198 civilians, including three children, had been killed in the conflict and 1,115 wounded.

In Kyiv, residents took shelter in the subway system and in cellars and basements.

"We thought something like this might happen, but we were hoping until the end that it wouldn't," Irina Butyak told AFP in one shelter.

"We were hoping that common sense and common decency would prevail. Well, it didn't," the 38-year-old teacher said. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Russia has vetoed a draft resolution in the UN Security Council denouncing a military operation in Ukraine.

Eleven countries, including the United States and France, voted for the draft resolution. Three countries, including China and India, abstained. Russia, which has the right of veto, voted against.

The U.S. and several other countries drew up the draft resolution. It condemns "Russia's aggression against Ukraine," demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and the recognition of the independence of the so-called Donbas republics be repealed.

Russia has a veto power in the UN Security Council along with the U.S., China, France, and the United Kingdom.
Sean Penn attended a press briefing at the Presidential Office in Kyiv, Ukraine on February 24. He's in the country making a documentary, according to Variety.
Woodward, OK (73801)

Today

Cloudy this morning with thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 61F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Greenville is a city and seat of Washington County situated in the west-central part of the US State of Mississippi. The Old Greenville city was named for the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. The city was incorporated on June 24, 1870, and is home to a population of 26,685 people.

An old blue clapboard house in Greenville, Mississippi. Editorial credit: Sabrina Janelle Gordon / Shutterstock.com

Geography Of Greenville

The city of Greenville is located in the area of historic cotton plantation and culture known as the Mississippi Delta. The city is a port on the Mississippi-Yazoo River plain, about 185 km northwest of Jackson. It is situated on the eastern bank of Lake Ferguson, an oxbow lake left from an old channel of the Mississippi River. According to the United States Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of 72.1 sq. km, of which 70 sq. km is occupied by land, and 2.1 sq. km is covered by water.

Sunny day at the levee in Greenville, Mississippi.

The Population Of Greenville

In 2020, Greenville is home to a population of 26,685 people with a median age of 36.9 and a population density of 417 per sq. km. The citys population has decreased by almost 30% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 34,000 in 2010. The majority of the people in Greenville are Black or African Americans. In fact, there were five times more Black or African American residents than any other race or ethnicity in 2019. The largest ethnic groups in the city are Black or African Americans making up 81% of the citys population, followed by White, most of whom are non-Hispanic at 16.09%. The minor ethnic groups are Two or more races at 0.86%, Asian at 0.79%, Hispanic White at 0.38%, and Native American at 0.15%. Nearly all residents in Greenville are U.S. citizens, and all households speak English at home as their primary language.

The Economy Of Greenville

A double-decker paddleboat that serves as a visitor center for Greenville, Mississippi.

The median household income in Greenville is $27,025, which is much less than the median annual income of $65,712 across the entire United States, and the city has a poverty rate of 37%. The city of Greenville is declining at a rate of 2.68% annually. The economy of Greenville employs less than half of the population in different industries such as Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Educational Services. However, the highest paying industries in Greenville are Professional & Technical Services, Real Estate & Rental & Leasing, and Wholesale Trade.

Brief History Of Greenville

Levee at Greenville, Mississippi, where African Americans sit by tents on uneven ground.

Greenville is a name given to three different towns in the state of Mississippi. The first one was located near Natchez and died aborning after the American Revolution. The second one is the parent city to the present Greenville. The founders of Greenville named the city for General Nathanael Greene, a beloved friend of George Washington, for whom the county was named. The second Greenville city was around three miles from the present site, where Greenvilles Industrial fill stands today.

The second town of Greenville was a thriving community in the days before the Civil War. It had the business and cultural center for the large cotton plantations surrounding it. The town was burned down during the siege of Vicksburg when troops from a Yankee gunboat landed and destroyed all buildings in the town. When the war was over, veterans of Mississippi regiments found their homes on the ground and their families scattered in the region. They decided to build the town again. The men chose the highest point on the Mississippi River between the towns of Memphis and Vicksburg to construct the new Greenville. The new location was on lands that belonged to the Roach and Blanton families, but a significant part of the desired area belonged to Mrs. Harriet Blanton Theobald, who welcomed the idea of building a new Greenville. She gave land for churches, schools, and public buildings and was named the Mother of Greenville.

In August of 1877, yellow fever broke out in Greenville. The deadly fever paralyzed the business, and not a single-family escaped the tragedy. However, in 1886, the city petitioned and received its first charter. Two years later, a group of cotton factors, merchants, buyers, and planters organized the cotton exchange marking the first step toward economic entrenchment in the city after the yellow fever tragedy. In 1890, the city suffered its first flood. One half of Greenville was covered, and the fight with Old Man River broke out. It lasted four decades and only ended when the Federal Government rescued the river towns. Greenville started recovering, and the citys old business district, which was demolished by the caving banks of the Mississippi River, was replaced by paved streets lined with trendy shops. New schools, churches, parks, and theaters were built. In 1927, the growth and prosperity of Greenville were once again halted as the river rose again and broke through its levee, covering the town for almost three months, but the city also recovered from the flood and kept growing.

Tourist Attractions In Greenville

The city of Greenville is full of places for everyone to visit. The city has a wide range of museums, shops, and galleries. One of the historic homes and buildings visitors visit is the Belmont Plantation. Established in 1857, it is the last antebellum mansion along the river of the Mississippi Delta. The house and its grounds stand over almost 900 sq. m, and rooms are used for weddings, events, tours, B&B accommodations, and corporate retreats.

The 1927 Flood Museum is also one of the city's top attractions. It is located in downtown Greenville and presents the history of one of the greatest natural disasters this country has ever known. Visitors can learn about the events through a 12-minute documentary film, actual flood artifacts, and photographs which illustrate the flood's impact on life and death during the three months Greenville and the Mississippi Delta were inundated.
Zaporizhzhia, or Zaporizhia, or even Zaporozhye, is a city in Eastern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Zaporizhia Oblast region. Zaporizhzhia is a key river port for the country, a longstanding industrial center and energy supplier, and a cultural hub. In addition to the many names of the city, it is also known as the "Cossacks' Motherland" - a designation that captures the history and ideals of freedom that spans the Dnieper riverbank and Khortytsia Island. With a population of around 780,011, Zaporizhzhia is the 6th most populated city in Ukraine.

Geography And Climate Of Zaporizhzhia

The Dneiper River flowing past Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia spans both sides of the Dnieper River, which is a vital waterway spanning South to the Black Sea and North to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. The city is about 340 miles southeast of Kyiv and a similar distance journey northeast from the seaport city of Odessa.

The region of Zaporizhzhia experiences an average annual temperature of 51 degrees Fahrenheit, which ranges from a low of 19 degrees, typically in January, to a high of 87 degrees, usually reached in July and August. The average humidity rating is 71%, and the average annual precipitation is 18.7 inches.

History Of Zaporizhzhia

Soborny Avenue and Shevchenko Square in center in Zaporozhye, Ukraine.

In the 16th century, the Cossacks settled near present-day Zaporizhzhia. It was initially named Zaporizhian Sich but was later changed to the Free Cossack Republic. In 1775, Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great, ordered the settlement's destruction and for the lower banks of the Dnieper river to be assimilated with Russia. The conquered town was renamed Alexandrovsk but later changed to Zaporizhia, which means "beyond the rapids."

Though the 1770s is generally recognized as the city's founding date, the city council of Zaporizhzhia recently recognized the year 952 as the earliest founding date due to historical mention of a settlement on the Dnieper river and Khortytsia Island. It remains a matter of ongoing dispute.

Throughout the early 20th century, Zaporizhzhia built ironworks factories and a hydroelectric power station that is still the second largest in Ukraine. These developments made Zaporizhzhia a vital industrial and power center for the Soviet Union.

Today, Zaporizhia is an energy center, largely owing to its six-reactor nuclear power plants. It is the 2nd largest nuclear plant in Europe, the 10th largest globally, and supplies roughly one-quarter of Ukraine's electricity.

On February 24, 2022, Russian forces invaded Ukraine from all angles. In the time since, a missile struck a post in Zaporizhzhia, and armed clashes occurred in Dnipro, which is also on the Dnieper river, roughly 50 miles North.

Visiting Zaporizhzhia

Though the current situation in Ukraine is unstable, Zaporizhzhia has a lot to offer in tourism during normal circumstances. Here are some highlights to take stock off.

A museum inside the Khortytsia National Reserve. Editorial credit: Multipedia / Shutterstock.com

Spend a day at the beautiful Khortytsia National Reserve, deemed one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. The river island is the largest in Europe, stretching for nearly 7.5 miles along the Dnieper river. The Reserve is complete with beaches, museums, educational walking paths, and of course, protected wildlife.

Visit the Dnieper hydroelectric station. See what catalyzed the city's growth as you marvel at one of many renowned architectural projects of the former Soviet Union.

Cruise down Soborny Avenue (also known as Lenin Avenue) in the heart of the city. At almost 7 miles, this is one of the longest streets in Europe.

Tour one of the many Museums, most notably, the History of Weapons Museum and The Retro Car Museum.

Cross the double-decker Preobrazhensky Bridge - the highest in Ukraine and another masterful feat of engineering.

The Preobrazhensky Bridge. Editorial credit: LeManilo / Shutterstock.com

Current Events And The Russian Invasion

Early in the morning of February 24th, 2022, Russia's military invaded Ukraine, launching assaults by land, sea, air, and with disruptive cyber attacks. Ukraine declared a state of emergency and President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for all citizens who are willing to defend the country to step forward. Since then, heavy fighting has ensued around the country, particularly in Kyiv. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled to the neighboring countries of Poland and Romania.

One missile strike was reported in Prymorskyi Posad in Zaporizhzhia. It resulted in an unconfirmed number of casualties. It is believed that Zaporizhzhia could become a target because of its sizable nuclear power plant on which much of Ukraine relies for electricity. The station is particularly vulnerable as it operates only 120 miles from the separatist-controlled area of Donbass, which is composed of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Battle for Ukrainian capital underway as explosions seen and heard in Kyiv
Ukraine counts on the adoption of effective measures to influence the country of the aggressor, the Russian Federation, by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and other international organizations due to the seizure of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) and the exclusion zone, head of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine, Oleh Korikov said.

"Ukraine is counting on effective support from the IAEA and other international organizations and the adoption of measures to influence the country of the aggressor," Korikov stressed during a telephone conversation with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, which was reported on the Facebook of the inspectorate on Saturday night.

According to the message, the military seizure of the Chornobyl NPP and the territory of the exclusion zone by Russian troops makes it impossible to fully fulfill Ukraine's obligations under the Convention on Nuclear Safety, the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management, and the Agreement between Ukraine and the IAEA on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.

"This situation calls into question the observance of international security regimes," the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine emphasized, calling it an unprecedented challenge that Ukraine faced, in particular, in terms of ensuring control over nuclear installations and other facilities for the use of nuclear energy on its territory.
NATO flag flying at NATO Headquarters Brussels. For the first time ever, the NATO Response Force has been activated as a defensive measure in response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
This photo shows an explosion in Kyiv, Ukraine, in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022.
Wrexham organisations and charities invited to apply for Hafren Dyfrdwy community funding

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Feb 26th, 2022

Community groups and charities across Wrexham are being invited to apply for grant funding aimed at making a difference in the local area.

Water Company Hafren Dyfrdwy will soon be launching a second round of its community fund for organisations across the region.

The company that supplies water across mid Wales covering Powys, Wrexham and Flintshire created the fund to specifically support new projects that aim to make a difference within its community, with groups able to apply for a grant of between 2,000 and 10,000.

The Fund will support projects that aim to improve community wellbeing across three core themes:

People: Projects that help people to lead a healthier life and gain new skills;

Place: Ideas that help create better places to live in and use; and

Environment: Schemes that will help look after the natural environment, and give people greater access to that environment or help look after water.

Applications for the second round will open on March 4. During the first funding round, the Fund awarded 28,000 to four projects in Powys and Wrexham.

Previous recipients of the companys community fund, include:

The Wrexham Warehouse Project  a charity that offers a variety of training courses and support for young people. The group received a 10,000 grant to install kitchen facilities for those they support day to day as well as other members of the community.

Agri-cation CIC is a project that gives children from disadvantaged backgrounds and disabled children the opportunity to visit their family farm and experience outdoor learning  the group was awarded 9,408.

Dolydd Gobaith were awarded 7,474  they are a community interest company that focuses on increasing biodiversity by managing a variety of wildlife areas and habitats, offering opportunities for volunteers to learn wildlife survey techniques and involving local schools and groups in transforming the land into community woodland and meadows.

Clywedog Sailing Club were awarded 2,000 to install a public access defibrillator outside the clubhouse because of its remote location.

James Jesic, Hafren Dyfrdwy Managing Director said: After the first round of funding weve seen how much these grants mean to the selected community groups, and its evident what a difference this will make to our communities.

Weve awarded grants to four wonderful projects so far and were excited to see what applications we get for our second round.

We know there are plenty of local groups still out there that could benefit from a grant from our Community Fund so wed encourage prospective groups to get in touch as soon as possible.

The projects will be assessed by a local panel made up of Hafren Dyfrdwy employees, that will meet up to review the strongest applications and have the final decision on which projects are funded.

Organisations can register their interest and find more information on eligibility at hdcymru.co.uk/communityfund
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed with head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen the provision of effective assistance from the EU in the fight against Russian troops.

"Ukraine is fighting the invader with weapons in hands, defending its freedom and European future. Discussed with von der Leyen effective assistance to our country from EU in this heroic struggle. I believe that the EU also chooses Ukraine," Zelensky said on Twitter Saturday evening.
IL COVID hospitalizations at lowest point since Aug. 2 as state is set to lose indoor mask mandate
For the final victory over the aggressor - the Russian Federation - Ukraine lacks a tougher reaction from the West, said David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People faction.

"The only thing Ukraine lacks for a complete victory is a tougher reaction from the West. We are grateful for the sanctions, but Russia should be hurt for its actions today, not months from now. We see that every act of the Russian aggression on our territory reduces the base support for Putin in Europe. But we need real action - closed skies, cutting Russia off from SWIFT, an oil embargo and a ban on exports. We alone contained the aggressor and thwarted the blitzkrieg. We are strong, but one nation cannot defend all of Europe if others stay out of the way," Arakhamia said in a statement released by Yulia Paliychuk, spokesperson of the Servant of the People faction, on Saturday.

According to the leader of the faction, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin "did not expect such a rebuff in Ukraine on all fronts."

"One of the most powerful armies in the world definitely did not expect that their tanks would burn on every street, and their special forces would hide from our guys through forests and sewers," Arakhamia said.

He stressed that in just two days the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted many more losses on the aggressor than he suffered during the entire war in Georgia in 2008.

"Putin expected that with the advent of the first tanks, the Ukrainians would begin to ask for surrender, but they stood in line at the military registration and enlistment offices. And today we have almost 20,000 armed volunteers in Kyiv alone. This is more than the number of armies of such states as Mali and Tajikistan. All of them are ready to meet the enemy in Kyiv and fight for their district, their city and their state," the deputy said.

Arakhamia also believes that Putin hoped for a completely different situation in the Ukrainian parliament.

"But this time the Verkhovna Rada has shown unprecedented political maturity. We do not quarrel, we do not criticize each other, but we fight the enemy side by side," Arakhamia said.
This is the fourth part of a series on films available online from the recent Berlin International Film Festival. The first part was posted February 16, the second February 20 and the third February 22.

Noteworthy at this years Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) were a handful of films that deal directly with the current struggles of workers, and a few others dealing with important stages in the development of the working class as a political movement. Part of the soundtrack of Milos Pusics Working Class Heroes is the traditional song of the socialist workers movement, the Internationale.

The opening of Paolo Tavianis new film Leonora Addio, screened at the festival, includes documentary footage of the abominable crimes committed by Italian and German fascists in World War II. We then see Italian workers rounding up fascists on the streets toward the end of the war and subjecting them to summary justice. The Italian partisans return to their homes by train to the strains of the Internationale.

Unrest (Unrueh) by Swiss filmmaker Cyril Schaublin features a flag bearing the name of the first ever international organisation of the working class, the International Workingmens Association (IWA). The silent film, Brothers (1929), centres on a key strike in the history of the German workers movementdepicting the irreconcilable conflict between workers, on one side, and capitalist bosses and the state, on the other. Finally, the film Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush focuses on the ferocious struggle of one working class woman to obtain justice for her falsely imprisoned son.

Unrest

The workers in these films are not merely passive victims of exploitation, ready to strike a deal at the earliest opportunity and doff their caps to their masters as expected on the morrow. They are figures who take the initiative, organise among themselves and are not prepared to accept crumbs from the table. This is a development to be welcomed and encouraged. These films were in a small minority at the festival and stand in sharp contrast toin the words of the director of Working Class Heroesa lot of movies dealing with social themes that are too polished and fake.

Equally striking was the hostile reaction by a number of media critics to the depiction of the working class as an active, conscious and creative factor in the class struggle. This was especially evident in the case of the film Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush, which landed very low down on the lists drawn up by critics of their preferred films.

According to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, the critics of Der Spiegel and Tagespiegel rated Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush as sehr schlecht (very bad), while the FAZ critic declared the movie to be schlecht (bad). The most scurrilous review was penned by the Guardians chief film critic, Peter Bradshaw, who headlined his piece Rabiye Kurnaz vs George W. Bush reviewGuantanamo drama played for laughs.

Writing in the British newspaper dedicated to the advancement of identity politics, Bradshaw absurdly claims the film is sucrose and shallow, and accuses the films director, Andreas Dresen, of selling out to the bland commercial mainstream. A polarisation is taking place, including within layers of the middle class, under conditions in which workers are increasingly striving to break free from the straitjacket of trade union reformist and pseudo-left politics and assert their own independent interests.

Unrest

Schaublins Unrest (Unrueh)was an intriguing contribution at this years Berlinale. The films main characters are the Russian Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin, who was to become a key figure in the development of anarchism, and the young worker Josephine Grablialthough each appears only occasionally in the film.

Unrest (Unrueh)

After conducting extensive scientific research in Siberia, Kropotkin, a member of the Russian Geographical Society, travelled to Switzerland in 1872 where he came into contact with the Jura Federation, a libertarian, anti-authoritarian movement comprised primarily of workers engaged in the local watchmaking industry. Grabli is one of the watchmakers.

The Jura Federation, named after the mountainous region on the Swiss-French border, was to become a centre of anarchist opposition to the General Council of the First International (IWA) led by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. At the Hague Congress of the First International in 1872, resolutions were passed to expel the anarchist leaders Michael Bakunin and James Guillaume and commit the International to building political parties, aimed at capturing state power. In response, the Jura Federation organised an alternative gathering of disaffected sections of the First International at the St. Imier Congress in 1872. Schaublins film is located in this same region and around this period, but the director chooses to sidestep this conflict.

Unrest opens with the route barred to the photographer and cartographer Kropotkin as he attempts to enter the town of St. Imier in the Jura region. Two policemen check his papers and inform him that a photo is to be taken in the square in front of the main entrance to the watch factory, which dominates the town. The photo is to be used as part of a campaign to launch the factorys watches onto the world market.

For his film, Schaublin has recreated a factory workshop fabricating high quality watches at the end of the 19th century. We witness a number of the predominately female workers at the factory assembling watches with extraordinary precision. Unrest is the delicate mechanism at the heart of a traditionally made watch. At the same time, the entire social situation is characterised by unrest. New technologies and forms of communication, including the telegraph and camera, and of course mass-produced watches, are challenging the old established order.

The town, we are informed, has four different time zonescity, factory, church and train time. Now, however, the mass production of watches and the telegraph not only break down the barriers between different ways of measuring time, they also overcome and render increasingly obsolete regional and even national borders.

The force corresponding to the demands of the new era is the emerging working class. We witness a group of women workers gathered around a red flag and a placard with the insignia of the International. They are discussing politics and how to win support for struggles conducted by workers in other countries.

For his part, the local watch factory manager admits to the Italian ambassador that he reads the anarchist newspaper because it is a better source of information than the local press. Meanwhile, in his factory, a representative of management calls out the name of two female workers who have been identified as anarchists. She presents the two women with their outstanding wages and informs them they have been sacked due to their political affiliation. With Swiss precision the two women are summarily escorted from the factory premises by police.

At the pub across the road, the barkeeper proposes putting up an anarchist map of the region which is more accurate than the existing one. Someone objects that you just cant put up an anarchist map. The barkeeper calls for a vote on the issue. Most hands among the locals raise in favour of the new map, which is promptly hung on the wall.

Schaublin, whose own grandmother was a watchmaker in the same region, has employed amateurs, in many cases, ordinary workers, to play the characters who frequently feature off to the side, often dwarfed by a huge tree or depicted in the distance at the factory entrance. His shots of workers are of ensembles rather than individuals. In his notes, Schaublin observes that the very forms of production involved in watchmaking, i.e., highly skilled assembly work carried out in a single factory, help explain why anarchist ideas aimed at the rejection of any form of centralised authority could flourish in the Swiss mountains.

The clash between old and new, between antagonistic social classes, is summed up by the two choir pieces played in the filmthe old Swiss national anthem, and the popular anarchist song Louvrier na pas de patrie (Workers have no country).

The film deals with the gestation period of Kropotkins anarchist beliefs. As noted above, Schaublin chooses not to deal with the fundamental political differences, which eventually led to the breakup of the First International. Instead, what remains from his very calmly-paced film is a gripping portrait of a group of workers who, based on their key role in the chain of capitalist production, grow in self confidence and pitch themselves into the struggle for a socialist future.

Leonora Addio

Leonora Addio is the first solo film by Paolo Taviani following the death of his brother Vittorio, aged 88, in 2018. Paolo dedicates Leonora Addio to his brother, and one has the sense that Paolo, aged 90, anticipates this may be his last film.

Paolo Taviani during filming of Leonora Addio

The work centres on a central figure of Italian literature in the 20th century, Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936), who joined Mussolinis fascist party in 1924, but whose novels and short stories failed to live up to the moral and patriotic nostrums laid down by Il Duce. The Taviani brothers have used the famous Sicilian playwright and author for inspiration in earlier works, for example, in their film Tu Ridi (You Laugh).

In the introductory section of Leonora Addio,we witness documentary footage of Pirandello receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934. He died two years later and we observe him (now played by an actor) on his death bed. His children surround him, only to age in rapid fashion, first appearing as young children, then young adults and finally with their greying hair. The message is clearno one can evade the ravages of timeour stay on the planet is finite.

We see Pirandellos coffin as it disappears into the flames of an oven. The literary master had opted for cremationan affront to the powerful Italian Catholic church. The main strand of the film then deals with the comic adventures of the official, who 10 years after Pirandellos death, has the task of returning his ashes to Sicily where he asked to be buried.

The train journey to the coast is replete with incidents evoking the humanism, sharp critical stance and mocking humour directed against the hypocrisy of the Church, which characterises the film work of the Taviani brothers. Allusions to Italian classic neo-realist films are also on hand. The film changes tack towards the end and shifts to telling a complete storyThe Nail, the last short story penned by Pirandello before his death.

Leonora Addioattempts to cram in too many elements and storiesas if the director realised he was running out of time. Nevertheless, for all those familiar with the Tavianis film catalogue, Leonora Addio providesmany pleasurable moments.

To be continued
A new record was set for daily COVID-19 infections in Indonesia, with 64,718 confirmed cases Wednesday last week. The Omicron variant, now the dominant strain in the archipelago nation, has fuelled a precipitous rise in infection rates over the past five weeks, rapidly surpassing the peak of last years catastrophic Delta wave.

After reaching its summit of 56,757 cases last July, the Delta outbreak gradually subsided until daily case numbers remained below 200 through November and December. With the eventual introduction and transmission of Omicron, which the Indonesian government openly refused to prevent, official cases began climbing in mid-January. Numbers leapt to the hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands in a matter of days, in one instance more than doubling after just one day.

A further 61,488 cases were recorded on Wednesday, bringing the total to 5.3 million infections, the highest in Southeast Asia and 17th highest in the world.

UNICEF aid workers in Indonesia (Credit: UNICEF)

As Indonesias testing rate remains among the worst worldwide (around 286,000 tests per million people), the official tally can only provide a limited picture of the diseases spread. The capital city Jakarta accounts for almost half the new cases, partly due to its relatively higher testing capacity compared with rural or remote regions. Other areas reporting numerous Omicron victims include provinces West Java, Banten, East Java, and Bali, although the infectious variant is suspected to have already spread far beyond the major island of Java.

Less than a week after the Omicron surge began, nearly 20,000 hospital beds out of a national capacity of 120,000 beds dedicated for COVID-19 handling had been filled. Occupancy rates at 140 coronavirus referral hospitals in Jakarta are currently at 60 percent, up from just 5 percent in early January. Over 50 percent of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Bali were occupied as of Monday.

The death toll is also climbing fast, increasing to 257 deaths on Tuesday from single figures three weeks ago. Over 100 people died every day for the past two weeks, mostly in the capital.

The previous Delta surge last July made Indonesia the global epicentre for coronavirus deaths, peaking at over 2,000 deaths a day. This was the result of a complete collapse of the countrys healthcare system. People seeking medical treatment at overcrowded hospitals in both major cities and provinces were turned away at the doors, causing thousands to die at home without proper care. Government statistics were therefore a serious underestimate of the real toll on lives.

Health workers were compelled to erect plastic tents as makeshift intensive care units to cope with demand, but patients had to wait days before being admitted. Spare supplies of oxygen tanks quickly ran out as they were handed out to crowds of people outside hospitals needing urgent treatment.

Facing the prospect of a similar disaster, the national government continues to avoid lockdown measures and promotes a COVID normal policy.

On February 7, Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, coordinator of the COVID-19 response in Java and Bali, finally announced minimal social restrictions to address the Omicron surge. By this time, daily cases had already skyrocketed from approximately 1,000 to 36,000 in three weeks. Viral transmission rates in Java and Bali, moreover, had already exceeded the highs of the Delta wave.

The restrictions include attendance caps of 50 percent on places of worship, and 60 percent on supermarkets, malls, and restaurants, which will also see a reduction in operation hours. These measures are confined to Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Bali. Reviews are held each week by a special committee to assess whether any restrictions can be eased.

However, government officials have admitted that they expect an explosion of cases and deaths due to Omicron in coming weeks. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has estimated that cases during this wave may rise as high as 285,000 per day, five times the Delta peak, while deaths would not exceed 500, according to Associated Press.

Please do not panic if you see the number of cases are [sic] increasing significantly, he said at an online briefing. The most important thing is the hospitalisation and fatality rates are lower [than the Delta wave] and remain under control. He urged the government to adopt calm and confidence that Omicron will not overload the healthcare system due to its milder character.

The extreme reluctance of the Indonesian ruling elite to impose any hindrances on economic activity stems from its growing anxiety to resume profitmaking as soon as possible.

It is particularly eager to restart the tourist operations on which a substantial portion of Indonesian business depends. Preparations are being made to lift all quarantine requirements for international travellers as early as April, in a bid to draw visitors back to the resort island Bali and other popular destinations.

In Bali, where a full-scale reopening is already underway, international flights resumed earlier this month, while the quarantine period was shortened further from seven to five days. Interviewed by the South China Morning Post, Nia Niscaya, deputy of marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, described Balis reopening as a kind of pilot scheme, or a trial run for the governments plan to live with the virus.

While the government is keen to follow other countries and transition from pandemic to endemic status, only 51 percent of Indonesias 278 million population has been double vaccinated, according to Our World in Data. The countrys exceptionally slow vaccine campaign commenced on January 13 last year. Despite an announcement in December that Indonesia would start vaccinating children, the campaign has largely consisted of ineffectual public appeals to get vaccinated, undermined by the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 and the promotion of quack cures by politicians.

Medical studies have concluded that the Omicron variant, highly mutated and potentially vaccine-resistant, significantly reduces the efficacy of Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines, the two most commonly distributed across Indonesia. The country only started rolling out its booster program in mid-January, days before the recent surge erupted.

Initially, the government proposed that Indonesians should pay for their booster dose, a decision which was revoked amid widespread outrage from scientists and the public at large. Only 3.4 percent of the population has received a booster, rendering the vast majority of the Indonesian people virtually unprotected against Omicron.

Additionally, vaccine distribution has been largely concentrated in Jakarta and Bali, where almost the entire populations have received two doses. Areas such as Aceh and West Papua, on the other hand, have managed to vaccinate only 20 percent of residents, according to Health Ministry data.

As throughout the pandemic, epidemiologists are warning that the Indonesian governments reckless pro-business actions will end in public health crisis. Dr Dicky Budiman, from Australias Griffith University, has expressed concern for the consequences of both the low vaccination rate and the concentration of vaccines in certain areas.

During the Delta-driven second wave, 20 percent of patients were hospitalised, with five percent put into intensive care units. For Omicron, 10 percent of the patients are likely to be hospitalised, while the rest are likely to be asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms, Dr Budiman said. But 10 percent of Indonesians [in hospitals] is a lot. Due to a low patient-to-doctor ratio, even five percent of the population [being in hospital] could make our health system collapse.
The geo-politics of South Asia are increasingly being roiled by the all-sided US-NATO diplomatic, economic, and military-strategic offensive against Russia.

Following the Putin regimes invasion of Ukraine this week, the Biden administration has ratcheted up pressure on India, which Washington has successfully harnessed to its drive to strategically isolate and encircle China, to line up full-square behind its war drive against Moscow.

Indias Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and the Indian bourgeoisie view New Delhis burgeoning ties with Washington as their most important strategic partnership, and pivotal to realizing their great-power ambitions. However, India also has a much longer and in some important respects, including military ties, closer relationship with Russia.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking in Houston in 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

As the confrontation between the US, its NATO allies and Russia has intensified in recent months, the Modi government has tried to maintain a precarious balancing act. To the chagrin and increasing anger of Washington, New Delhi has thus far resisted US demands it condemn Russias actions, including at the UN Security Council where India currently holds one of the rotating seats.

At the press conference Thursday where US President Joe Biden announced stringent sanctions against Russia, he was asked whether India was fully in sync with the US stance against Moscow. Biden responded, Were in consultation with India today. We havent resolved that completely.

According to a US State Department statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on the same day to stress the importance of a strong collective response to condemn Russias invasion and call for an immediate withdrawal and ceasefire.

The US pressed India to support a resolution, presented to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting Friday, condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine. But New Delhi abstained, whilst Russia exercised its veto.

In a clear warning that the US would not be satisfied with anything other than India fully lining up with it against Russia, Biden added at his Thursday press briefing, Any nation that countenances Russias naked aggression against Ukraine will be stained by association. A State Department spokesperson added, We are continuing to consult with our Indian counterparts on a collective response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Washington calculates that bringing India to heel over Russia will further weaken and isolate Moscow economically, politically and strategically. Breaking Indias decades-long close ties with Russia will also further reduce New Delhi to little more than a US client state, and effectively drive the nail into the casket of its much-vaunted strategic autonomy.

At an earlier UNSC debate on Tuesday, India did not join the US, UK, Germany and other members in denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to recognize the independence declarations of the Peoples Republics of Donetsk and Lugansktwo pro-Russian, separatist-held areas in the Donbas region of Ukraine. At the same time, India refrained from offering any endorsement of Putins actions. Without specifically mentioning who has been involved in the escalation of tensions, Indias UN representative, T.S. Tirumurti, called for all sides  to ensure  a mutually amicable solution  at the earliest.

Knowing full well that India will be compelled to take sides if the war tensions being whipped up by the US and its NATO allies lead to a military conflict between the US and Russia, New Delhi is desperately hoping to avoid such a situation.

As part of Indias efforts to prevent an open military conflict involving the US and Russia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday to call for a dialogue and ceasefire. His External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar, also said he had spoken to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to underline that dialogue and diplomacy are the best way forward.

Irrespective of Indias hopes for a mutually amicable solution, US imperialism will be satisfied with nothing short of the complete subjugation of Russia under its dominance. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist bureaucracy three decades ago, Washington has been working systematically towards bringing the entire Eurasian region under its hegemony by aggressively expanding its military might into Eastern Europe. A key part of this strategy involves the carve-up of Russia into a series of smaller statelets that will prove easier to subjugate.

The US has increased its pressure on India to line up with it against Russia over recent years, as India has been transformed into a veritable frontline state in the US military-strategic offensive against China. Building on the Indo-US global strategic partnership forged by the Congress Party-led government that preceded it, the Modi regime has developed an ever-expanding web of bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral military-security ties with the US, and its closest Asia Pacific allies, Japan and Australia. This includes the Quad, an informal US-led anti-China military-security bloc.

Prior to the current crisis, US pressure on India to downgrade its ties with Russia focused on its purchase of Russias S-400 missile defence system. Despite US protests and threats that India could face US sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), India has recently received and deployed the first of several Russian-made S-400 batteries.

Some US officials previously hinted that India could get an exemption from CAATSA sanctions over the S-400 deal, because of the staunch support it is lending to US efforts to counter China, including by working with Washington to counter Beijings influence in South Asia and beyond. But that now is all in question. Indeed, American officials have begun to raise the possibility of sanctioning India over the S-400 as a way of punishing it for its refusal to do Washingtons bidding in the conflict over Ukraine.

The Indian ruling elite sees its close ties with Russia as vital to maintaining its military capabilities. While India has been promised access to US-made high-tech military equipment with its designation as a major defence partner of Washington, it still largely depends on military supplies from Russia. Moreover, Moscow has a proven record of jointly developing and sharing high-tech weaponry with India. According to a study by the Stimson Center, Russia remains the origin of around 86 percent of Indias military equipment. Indias civil nuclear program also relies heavily on supplies of technology from Russia.

Fearing that sanctions by the US and its allies could disrupt crucial fertilizer imports from Russia, Indian officials are reportedly exploring the establishment of a rupee payment mechanism to maintain trade with Russia.

Some sections of the Indian ruling elite, although still a minority, argue that India must more directly take the side of the US against Russia so as to better advance its geopolitical interests.

C. Raja Mohan, a leading Indian commentator on geopolitical issues, wrote in the Indian Express on Tuesday, As diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine continue, the time has come for Delhi to devote greater attention to Central Europe, which is at the heart of the contestation between Russia and the West. Delhi cant forever view this critical region through the prism of Russias conflict with the West. It must come to terms with its growing strategic significance.

In an earlier opinion article published in The Print on February 7, Rajesh Rajagopalan stated, The argument that Indias strategic autonomy requires high level of defence relations with Russia is stupid. Its time to reduce arms dependence [on Russia]. Insisting that India must coordinate its policies more closely with Washington, he added, Indian policy has to be based on what the US is likely to do, not what it would like them to do.

Indias archrival in South Asia, Pakistan, is also desperately trying to avoid openly taking sides in the growing conflict between US and Russia. While still maintaining its military-intelligence ties with the US, Pakistan, partially as a response to the India-US alliance, is increasingly turning towards Moscow. For its part, Russia justifies its closer ties with Pakistan, despite Indias objections, by citing Indias alliance with US imperialism.

Beijing, which has a decades-long all weather partnership with Islamabad and is increasingly working with Russia to counter the common threat they face from the US, has helped facilitate the recent Russo-Pakistani rapprochement.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a two-day visit, the first such trip by a Pakistani premier in two decades. Although the visit had been planned well in advance of the Russia-Ukraine war, it assumed special significance in light of the conflict.

On the eve of the visit, Khan dismissed the current crisis over Ukraine. He said in an interview given to Zee News, This doesnt concern us, we have a bilateral relation with Russia and we really want to strengthen it. In another interview with Russias state-owned RT television network, he said, I am hoping that this Ukrainian crisis is resolved peacefully.

On Thursday, Khan had his first-ever summit with Putin, and discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia, according to a statement issued by Moscow.

A Pakistani government statement on the visit noted that Khan regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine. The Prime Minister stressed that conflict was not in anyones interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict. He underlined Pakistans belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, the statement continued.

While India and Pakistan are attempting to avoid taking sides as the threat of war mounts between the US-NATO and Russia, US imperialisms reckless drive to war threatens to drag the entire globe, including South Asia, into a military conflagration fought with nuclear weapons.

Positioned adjacent to China, South Asia is a crucial region for Washington in its drive to diplomatically, economically and militarily isolate Beijing. American imperialist pre-eminence in South Asia would give Washington the ability to control critical sea lanes in the Indian Ocean that serve as lifelines for Chinese imports from, and exports to, the world market. Its proximity to Russia also makes the region a well-placed vantage point from which to dominate the entire Eurasian landmass.
The White House announced Friday morning that President Biden was nominating federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the US Supreme Court, citing a 2020 campaign promise that he would select the first-ever black woman to sit on the high court.

Ketanji Brown Jackson (Wikimedia Commons/Lloyd DeGrane)

The race and gender identity of Bidens nominee has been almost the sole subject of media discussion of the court vacancy since Justice Breyer announced on January 27 that he would be retiring at the end of this years term.

This is in part because there will be no change in the political balance of the court, which will remain divided 63 between reactionary judges appointed by Republican presidents and moderate liberals appointed by Democrats. Breyer was appointed by Democrat Bill Clinton.

The emphasis on the first black woman is a desperate attempt by Biden and the Democrats to use race and gender to attract political support in the November midterm elections. The Democrats political support among working people is plummeting, under conditions where the administration has failed to enact promised social reforms or block attacks on democratic rights, such as the ongoing attack on voting rights by Republican-controlled state governments. Millions of working people who voted for Biden in 2020, hoping to deal a blow to the vicious right-wing policies of Trump and the Republicans, have seen these illusions exploded.

During an afternoon press conference, where Biden introduced Jackson, the president said, For too long, our government, our courts havent looked like America. However, a review of Jacksons background and experience shows that she is a very much a conventional representative of the capitalist legal establishment.

Far from her presence on the Supreme Court, assuming she is confirmed, counteracting the right-wing trajectory of the court over many decades, the remarks of both Biden and Jackson Friday indicate the continued shift of the Democrats to the right and their orientation to appeasing and winning over a section, however small, of Senate Republicans.

Biden emphasized Jacksons connections with the police. He said, She comes from a family of law enforcement, with her brother and uncles having served as police officers. Biden highlighted the preliminary endorsement she has received from the national Fraternal Order of Police, quoting their statement which said they are confident she will approach her future cases with an open mind and treat issues related to law enforcement fairly and justly.

Biden also emphasized that Jackson had been confirmed by the US Senate with bipartisan support three times: as a member of the US Sentencing Commission, as a federal district court judge and as a federal appeals court judge. Biden quoted the comments of a Republican-appointed retired judge who he said backed her enthusiastically.

Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, was raised in an upper-middle class family in Miami. Her father, Johnny Brown, was chief attorney for the Miami-Dade County School Board and her mother was principal at New World School of Arts, a public magnet school in downtown Miami.

She attended Harvard University and then Harvard Law School where she was supervising editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated with Juris Doctor in 1996. She served as law clerk for the US District Court of Massachusetts and for the US First Circuit Court of Appeals from 1996 to 1999. She worked one year in private law practice for a firm in Washington D.C. and then clerked for Justice Breyer at the Supreme Court from 1999 to 2000.

Jackson returned to private practice from 2000 to 2003 and then worked as an assistant special counsel for the US Sentencing Commission, the US government agency that sets federal court sentencing guidelines, from 2003 to 2005. She became an assistant public defender in Washington D.C. before the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit between 2005 and 2007.

In an apparent reference to her role as a public defender, the official White House statement said Jackson, has an unusual breadth of experience in our legal system. If confirmed, she would be the first former public defender to become a Supreme Court justice, and the only justice in the past three decades to have conducted a defense case in court (the last was Thurgood Marshall). This fact exposes the distance of the Supreme Court from the experiences of working class Americans with the judicial system, where the poor are regularly incarcerated due to lack of resources and inadequate representation.

After three years at the multinational law firm Morrison & Foerster, Jackson returned to the US Sentencing Commission as its vice chair, nominated for the position by Barack Obama, from 2010 to 2014. During her time on the commission, the body reduced the guideline range of penalties for crack cocaine offenses.

Obama nominated her for the US District Court for the District of Columbia in 2012 and she appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 22, 2013, where she was introduced by Republican Representative Paul Ryan (fresh off his run for vice president), who is related to Jackson by marriage.

Among the decisions Jackson wrote was a ruling in November 2019 that ordered Donald Trumps White House counsel Donald McGahn to comply with a legislative subpoena, where she wrote that presidents are not kings. This ruling was then overturned by the Court of Appeals. Other decisions reported in the press were those of a typical moderate liberal, siding with victims of racial, gender or other forms of discrimination based on identity, but otherwise not challenging the more fundamental divisions in American society based on class and wealth.

In March 2021, Biden nominated Jackson to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, to fill the seat vacated by Merrick Garland, whom Biden appointed as attorney general. She was confirmed by the US Senate on June 14, 2021, in a 5344 vote, with the support of three Republicans and all 50 Democrats. According to legal commentators, her time on the court of appeals has been too short to make any evaluation of her decisions there.

Whatever her past rulings, the comments she made after being introduced by the president were significant as to her political positions and the orientation of the Democratic Party more generally. First of all, her remarks could have been madeapart from her references to the first black female federal judge, Constance Baker Motleyby any Republican law-and-order figure.

She started by thanking God for delivering me to this point in my professional journey. My life has been blessed beyond measure, and I do know that one can only come this far by faith. While Jackson is entitled to her religious beliefs, they have no bearing on her fitness for a lifetime appointment to the highest federal court.

Invoking religious belief as, in effect, a requirement for the job is especially discreditable at a time when democratic rights are under attack in the US by far-right and fascistic political forces which regularly employ Christian fundamentalism as a battering ram against the secular foundations of the Constitution.

Jackson went on the promote her family police and military connections: her brother became an officer and a detective for the Baltimore police department and then enlisted in the US Army and served two tours of duty in the Middle East. Here identity politics is employed to justify American militarism and police violence.

Her remarks contained so many olive branches to the Republican right that there was little time for anything else. Meanwhile, there were no such signals to the so-called left and progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She avoided any reference to abortion rights, which are likely to be further gutted in the current Supreme Court term, nor did she refer to the massive assault on voting rights, which Biden just a few months ago compared to the slaveowners rebellion in the Civil War.
Canadas Liberal government announced a package of severe sanctions against Russia Thursday in cooperation with the members of the G7: the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Lining up full-square behind the Biden administrations aggressive war-mongering against Russia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Anita Anand also announced that 3,400 Canadian army, navy and air force personnel have been placed on stand-by for possible rapid deployment to Europe.

Canadas second tranche of anti-Russia sanctions this week will impose penalties on 58 financial institutions and other entities, including banks, the paramilitary Wagner Group, and leading oligarchs. Targeted measures were also introduced against the Defence Minister, Justice Minister and Finance Minister, who are members of the Russian Security Council. Ottawa has also banned the issuing of new export permits to Russia, and will cancel all the existing permits for the export of high-tech and possible dual-use products, said to be worth $700 million.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

At a press conference held only hours after Russias Thursday Morning invasion of Ukraine, Trudeau was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and other ministers. He attacked Russia for its violation of the UN Charter, the principles of the rule of law internationally, and added, (W)e will respond forcefully to make sure that Russia fails. Freeland, a fervent Ukrainian nationalist and anti-Russia hawk, implicitly compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Hitler, declaring, Today, he cements his place in the ranks of the reviled European dictators who caused such carnage in the 20th century. Putin had invaded a sovereign democracy, Freeland stated, while Trudeau appealed for Ukrainians to have the right to decide their future in a free and democratic state.

This moral posturing, coming from the ruthless representatives of Canadian imperialism, is grotesque. Trudeau, Freeland and their pro-war lackeys in the media seem to think the population has forgotten that during the past three decades Washington has waged an almost uninterrupted series of wars of conquest and plunder, violating international law and the sovereignty of nations at will. And that it has done this with Ottawas full support and active participation.

The actions of Putins reactionary oligarchic regime, whose response to imperialist aggression and provocation is military violence and Great Russian chauvinism, only increase the threat of a disastrous global conflagration and assist the predatory ambitions of the imperialist powers to dominate the Eurasian landmass by splitting workers throughout the region along nationalist lines.

The savage 1999 bombardment of Serbia, which killed thousands and destroyed the countrys infrastructure, was conducted by the NATO powers, Canada included, in flagrant breach of the UN Charter. For a decade beginning in 2001, Canadian troops played a leading role in the neo-colonial war that the US and its allies waged in Afghanistan, devastating that poverty-stricken Central Asian country. A Canadian general headed the western powers 2011 regime-change war in Libya, which laid waste to one of Africas most advanced societies, slaughtered tens of thousands of civilians, and triggered a bloody civil war that continues to this day. The Libya war was justified with lying propaganda about protecting human rights. Yet even a Canadian commander, in a moment of candour, acknowledged that the western powers had allied with reactionary Islamists and Canadas military had served as al-Qaidas air force.

As for Ukraine itself, Canadian imperialism has played a significant role in providing political, military and financial support to far-right nationalist groups that are the descendants of Nazi collaborators during World War II. In 2014, Ottawa was a major player in the US-orchestrated and fascist-spearheaded Maidan coup, which toppled the democratically elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, and replaced his government with a pro-Western puppet regime under President Petro Poroshenko. The openly discriminatory measures the new government took against Russian speakers and the brutal acts of violence conducted by far-right nationalists against political opponents contributed to the support of the population in Crimea for Russias annexation of the peninsula and the growth of pro-Moscow separatist movements in Donetsk and Luhansk.

Canada has also joined the US and Britain as one of the leading states in NATOs massive military build-up on Russias western border, which has seen the supposedly defensive military alliance expand its territory 800 miles to the east over the past 30 years. Since 2017, Ottawa has had 540 troops in Latvia where they lead one of NATOs Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups. It has also sent a squadron of fighter jets to Romania to help NATOs air policing of Russias borders, and routinely deployed warships to the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea region.

For the past five years, the Trudeau government has also deployed 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel directly to Ukraine, where they have trained military and National Guard units known to be riddled with members of the Azov Battalion and other fascist groups. In recent weeks, as part of the NATO campaign of escalating military pressure on Moscow, the Trudeau government extended the training mission to 2025, increased the number of CAF trainers to as many as 400, and began shipments of lethal aid, including sniper rifles and other guns, to Kyiv.

Responding to Putins recognition Monday of the breakaway peoples republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, Trudeau announced Canada would be sending an additional 460 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to Eastern Europe. 120 artillery gunners will join the Canadian-led Latvia battlegroup. Canada will also send a second frigate, HMCS Halifax, to participate in NATOs naval patrols against Russia, and a long-range CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft.

The Trudeau governments rapid escalation of military operations against Russia has come amid and in the immediate aftermath of the far-right Freedom Convoy occupation of Ottawa, which was systematically built up and incited by the opposition Conservatives and right-wing media outlets to shift official politics sharply to the right. While the first target of the Convoys threats of political violence was all remaining COVID-19 restrictions, the very same politicians who cheered and emboldened the far-right mob have led the calls for Trudeau and his Liberal government to take an even more belligerent stance against Moscow.

The extent to which this campaign has succeeded was underscored by a tweet Thursday from Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, one of the Convoys most vocal backers. Deliver weapons Ukraine needs, wrote Poilievre, sanction Russian officials and entities, sanction Russian energy and natural resource sectors, fast-track Canadian LNG (liquified natural gas) to replace Russian gas in Europe, welcome Ukrainian refugees. By the time Poilievre had posted his tweet, virtually all of these demands had already been realized or promised by the Liberal government.

Trudeau and other government officials have pledged to assist European governments to find alternatives to Russian gas, including by encouraging various proposals to build LNG export terminals on Canadas Atlantic coast. Business circles are also urging Canada, the worlds fourth-largest producer of natural gas, develop such capabilities, noting Canadian east coast LNG export terminals would have a competitive advantage over those on the US Gulf Coast because of their closer proximity to Europe.

In pursuing escalation and confrontation with Russia, the Trudeau government has the full support of the cabal of hard-right premiers, including Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who championed the far-right Convoy. Kenney released a statement Thursday urging the democratic world to stand united with Ukraine. His main demand, an immediate embargo on Russian oil and gas exports, underscored the economic interests behind his bogus democratic posturing. Alberta is the main source of Canadas natural gas production and hopes to take advantage of the European market that would open up if Russian gas is excluded.

The establishment consensus on the need to prepare for war with Russia includes not just the Liberal government and the Conservatives official opposition, but also the ostensibly left-wing New Democrats (NDP) and Quebec Solidaire (QS).

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh released a statement Thursday that denounced Russias flagrant aggression against Ukraine. He urged Canada and its allies, i.e., the very NATO powers that have incited the current conflict with their ever-escalating campaign, to militarily encircle and threaten Russia, use all tools to deter Putins aggressive actions. Singh went on to call for the Liberal government to go even further with its sanctions and exclude Moscow from the SWIFT payment systeman act of economic war meant to strangle Russia economically.

As for the pro-independence QS, it tabled a motion in the Quebec legislature, based on the western imperialist powers lying narrative about the Russia-Ukraine conflict that declared solidarity with Ukraine and denounced Russian aggression. The motion won unanimous support from the governing Quebec chauvinist CAQ and all the other parties in the Quebec National Assembly.

Unsurprisingly, the chorus of war-mongering politicians has been accompanied by pro-war propaganda from the corporate-controlled media. The Globe and Mail demanded in a Friday editorial that Canada provide Ukraine with as much material support in the form of money, military advisers, weapons, and intelligence as possible. Columnist John Ibbitson seized on the occasion to demand a major increase in military spending. He complained that Canadas fighter aircraft have become more obsolete and our Arctic border even more unguarded, while politicians have been debating the shape of  our health care and education systems. For years, Canadian imperialist strategists have demanded Ottawa expand its military operations in the far north to more aggressively assert claim to the natural resource wealth of the Arctic and Arctic Ocean, where Russia is a direct geostrategic and economic competitor.

The Liberal-aligned Toronto Star echoed Singhs call for Russia to be excluded from the SWIFT banking system. The refusal to take this step raises a question mark about how much the West is willing to sacrifice, the Star asserted.
The Labour Party, in de facto alliance with the Conservative right-wing, is setting the pace for the UKs militarist aggression towards Russia.

It has positioned itself to the right of Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government, insisting it take ever-more inflammatory measures.

The UK and its imperialist allies led by the US are using the Russian invasion of Ukraine to conduct a multi-pronged destabilisation campaign targeting the Putin regime. They are escalating the danger of a Third World War.

John Healey, Labours Shadow Defence Secretary, tells the RUSI thinktank last March, Labours support for nuclear deterrence is non-negotiable. The matter is settled. From Kinnock to Corbyn  with Blair, Brown and Miliband in between  this has been, and will remain, Labour policy. (Credit: John Healey-Facebook)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has emerged as the leading British advocate of this warmongering policy, joining forces with those on the Tory backbenches accusing Johnson of being too soft. On the main morning news show, he cheered the cross-party unity in place since the pandemic and which has reached the stage of total unanimity during a war crisis. All political parties spoke with one voice in our support for Ukraine and our support for NATO, he gushed.

The Labour leader wants to go further faster against Russia than Johnson. He told Good Morning Britain, in terms of sanctions, I support what the government put forward yesterday. I want them to go further than that.

By going further, Starmer meant that sanctions must not only isolate Russia but must be capable of crippling its ability to function. Not only the Russian but the British and international working class will be expected to pay the price for this policy. Obviously, said Starmer, there will be an impact, an economic cost here to the action that is being taken.

Refusing to endorse a policy of de-escalation he insisted, The time for talks is over. Asked, do you ever envisage an opportunity or situation whereby our military, the NATO military will actually go into Ukraine and help support their battle with the Russians?, the Labour leader gave the evasive reply that the collective decision of NATO is against that. But he insisted on the importance of reinforcing our support for the surrounding countries and states.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that day that the alliance has over 100 fighter jets, more than 120 ships and three carrier strike groups deployed in the region, as well as thousands of troops.

Labours Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey spelled out Labours demands in more detail with an op-ed piece in the governments house paper, the Times, Why Labour supports action on the Ukraine crisis.

Asserting Putin wont stop with Ukraine, Healey denounced the actions of an imperialist and dictator and claimed, Britain has a long history of standing up to such tyrants.

Identifying three fronts on which Britain and its allies must fight Russia, he listed First, further military help for Ukraine to defend itself and Second, the toughest set of economic sanctions, accusing the Johnson government of dragging its feet.

Healeys third front was the reinforcement and reassurance of Nato allies, by which he meant the rapid stepping up of military deployments and troop movements on Russias border. Labour strongly back deployment of further forces to frontline Nato members, he said, including longer-term deployments, more advanced technologies, better spending to match threats and closer co-ordination with the EU, the Joint Expeditionary Force and democratic nations beyond the alliance.

Several hundred British soldiers from the 1st Royal Welsh regiment arrived in Estonia ahead of schedule yesterday, with tanks and other military equipment, doubling the UKs deployment in the country where it leads a NATO battlegroup. The Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond set sail for the Eastern Mediterranean, after the deployment of additional fighter jets announced on Thursday.

Healey repeated his points in the House of Commons, praising the governments further package of military support to Ukraine and telling Defence Minister James Heappey he has Labours full support for this. Healey went on to insist that the Ukrainians need more anti-tank missiles and asked if the Tory government is willing to go that bit further.

Heappey thanked him for the way that he and his front bench Labour colleagues have engaged with government at this time of national emergency. He commented later on the spirit of bipartisan bonhomie in the chamber.

Regarding anti-tank missiles, Heappey indicated NATOs longer-term strategy of turning Ukraine into an Afghanistan-style quagmire for Russia, saying he was very aware of their utility both in open battle during the initial phase of the conflict but also in the urban domain in any resistance or insurgency that might follow. It would not surprise the Labour Party that weapons with such dual utility are high on our list of things that we are looking to supply.

Outside parliament, Labour is proving its militarist credentials with a crackdown on the mildest expressions of dissent within its own ranks, putting into practice within the party the policy of criminalising anti-war protestors as traitors advocated by Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat for the whole country.

On Thursday, 11 Labour MPs in the rump Socialist Campaign Group who had signed a February 16 Stop the War Coalition statement were told to withdraw their support. The statement criticised the relentless expansion of NATO, while tamely suggesting, Britain should be advancing serious diplomatic proposals to defuse the tension and seek a solution to the crisis rather than ratcheting it up. Within an hour, all 11 had obeyed.

The Stop the War Coalition February 16 statement now only lists the names of two MPs in support, both of whom sit as Independents in Parliament. These are former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was booted out of the Parliamentary Labour Party over a year ago by Sir Keir Starmer, and Claudia Webbe, another former Labour MP.

Momentum, the Corbynite campaign group, responded by dismissing the statement as a week old and stressing the signatories loyalty to the agenda of British imperialism. Its co-chairman Andrew Scattergood told the Guardian, These MPs steadfast commitment to the Ukrainian people and against Russias invasion is beyond question. Indeed, many of them have led the criticism of Putins act of aggression today, forcefully and without reservation.

Starmer pressed on yesterday, denying the partys youth movement Young Labour access to its own social media channels, cutting funding to the organisation and cancelling its annual conference. Their crime was criticising the partys macho posturing & trying to 'out do' the Tories on hawkish foreign policy and Starmer himself for his attacks on the Stop the War Coalition. The last tweet posted on its account announces it has been restricted until further notice because the account has recently become actively detrimental to the Partys core objectives: to promote Labour candidates and policies, and to win elections.

Leading Young Labour figures were summoned to a meeting with General Secretary David Evans, according to the Daily Mirror. They have put up as little resistance as the SCG, presenting the partys attack as an unfortunate misunderstanding. Chair Jess Barnard tweeted that the group was deeply disappointed We have tried to work with the Party at every stage  We hope to resolve this issue immediately and are seeking dialogue with the party.

John McDonnell is one of the 11 Labour MPs to withdraw their signatures from the STWC open letter. Jeremy Corbyns right-hand man when he was Labour leader announced the same day that he would be speaking at a protest Saturday alongside Paul Mason.

An ex-radical, Masons lurch to the right has been perhaps the most extreme in modern British politics. He is an open advocate for war with Russia, waged by a popular front including the imperialist powers. He spent the past week in discussions with Ukraines fascist-infested volunteer militias, calling for the suppression of Russia Today, and attacking the Stop the War Coalition for pushing Kremlin talking point[s].

Challenged by Sky News about Corbyns claimed opposition to NATO, Starmer said yesterday, the Labour Party has never wavered in its support of NATO the Labour Party policy never shifted under his leadership.

He is right. Corbyn and company surrendered to the Blairite right-wing and demobilised the mass anti-war sentiment which put him in the leadership. In the face of the current crisis, they have speeded up their retreat.

A real anti-imperialist, anti-war movement must be built in opposition to these political scoundrels.
While New South Wales (NSW) Premier Dominic Perrottet and Transport Minister David Elliott continue to deny any role in the shutdown of the Sydney rail network on Monday, documents have been released revealing that plans to cancel all trains for two weeks were finalised on February 16.

Sydney Trains guard (Credit: Facebook/RTBUNSW)

The attempted provocation by the NSW government, with the backing of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, was a marked escalation of the assault on the working class. The extraordinary episode, clearly in part a retaliation for the February 15 NSW nurses strike, made clear that the ruling elite will not tolerate even the most limited industrial action.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Unions immediate return to backroom negotiations with the transport minister, days after he accused workers of carrying out terrorist-like activity, is a warning to workers. The union is engaged in secret collaboration with a government that sought to fit rail staff up less than a week ago, and no doubt has plans for further attacks.

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) leadership is not only suppressing a fightback against the rail shutdown provocation. It is preparing the way for a further management onslaught and is clearly seeking to shut down the dispute and force through yet another sell-out.

To combat this operation, and fight for pay improvements, job security and against privatisation, workers must examine the lessons of the experiences through which they have passed. This includes the RTBUs betrayal of workers in the negotiations of the last enterprise agreement (EA).

In 2018, the RTBU rammed through a regressive deal for Sydney Trains and NSW Trains workers in the face of substantial opposition. In exchange for a meagre 3 percent per annum wage rise, workers were forced to accept numerous attacks on their conditions, including increased scrutiny of sick leave, reduced notice periods for redundancies, and consolidation (I.e., job cuts) of signalling operations.

This was carried out through by a campaign of isolation and suppression engineered to wear workers down in a drawn-out series of toothless sporadic work bans until they begrudgingly accepted a rotten union-management deal.

In January 2018, 84 percent of Sydney Trains and 73 percent of NSW Trains voted in favour of protected industrial action. The workers called for a 6 percent pay rise and the urgent hiring of additional workers to combat constant demands for overtime. Drivers told the World Socialist Web Site they were regularly working shifts of ten hours or longer, up to 12 days in a row.

Liberal-National Transport Minister Andrew Constance declared he would stare down the workers, insisting the government would not budge from the Labour Expenses cap, which limits annual public sector wage increases to 2.5 percent unless other spending cuts are made. The RTBU was the first union to enforce the punitive cap after it was introduced by the Labor government in 2008.

In 2018, the RTBU prevented a fight against the wage cap, despite the demands of workers. The unions NSW Secretary Alex Claassens described the 6 percent figure as a bit out there. NSW Labor Party opposition leader Luke Foley agreed, saying it was too much.

Workers were also concerned about job security, under conditions of ongoing restructuring and preparations for privatisation, begun under the state Labor government in the 1990s and sharpened in the 2014 EA rammed through by the RTBU.

Since 2014, the number of people employed by Sydney Trains, including a growing number of casual and part-time workers, has grown by just 14 percent, while passenger volume has increased by 34 percent. Over the same period the number of senior executives has almost doubled, from 81 to 156.

In response to the massive vote for industrial action, in mid-January the union announced an indefinite overtime ban starting January 25 and a 24-hour strike on January 29. It was clear from the outset that the union would do everything it could to prevent these actions from going ahead, and would instead attempt to ram through a sellout deal based on a few token concessions.

By announcing the strike two weeks in advance, the union knowingly invited a flurry of denunciation from government and the corporate press, stepping up pressure on workers to sign on to the rotten deal. The timing of the proposed strike, on the first day of the school year, was a calculated move to create the conditions for it to be called off, on the grounds that it would inconvenience passengers.

In the week before the proposed industrial action, the union held further backroom talks with management and the transport minister, aimed at shutting down the strike. Claassens hailed Constance for his respectful attitude and said he was committed to try to resolve this mess, as we all are.

On January 24, the union sent workers a text message asking if they would abandon the stoppage on the basis of a revised EA offer from Sydney Trains. Workers were not sent the proposed agreement but were asked to vote on the basis of six dot points, deliberately crafted to promote a meagre wage rise and sign-on bonus and conceal the details of attacks on conditions. In an indication of workers hostility and suspicion toward the deal and the union, just 5.9 percent of workers who responded to the text message voted to call off the strike.

The following day, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) banned the January 29 strike and all other industrial action, including the overtime ban and the wearing of union badges. Claassens made clear the RTBU would enforce the anti-worker tribunals decision, stating the union would always abide by Fair Work Commission rulings.

The RTBU, along with all Australian unions, consistently falls back on the anti-democratic rulings of the FWC as the basis to shut down strikes even when they have been overwhelmingly endorsed by its members. The reality is, the unions backed the Rudd Labor governments introduction of Fair Work in 2009 and have enforced it ever since. The draconian legislation bans strikes outside of bargaining periods and includes sweeping provisions for even protected industrial action to be banned on the pretext that it would harm the economy or public welfare. It was on this basis that the 2018 rail workers strike was banned.

In the weeks following the cancelled strike, the RTBU repeatedly put essentially unchanged union-management offers in front of workers. No mass meetings were held and the proposed EAs were never given to workers to examine and discuss.

The RTBU claimed it was not endorsing either a yes or no vote, but members were warned a no vote would prolong the wage freeze. Claassens and other union officials publicly claimed the deal was outstanding and the best they were going to get.

By the end of March, the union was able to push through the sell-out deal with the narrowest of margins. Of those who returned ballots, just 52.8 percent of Sydney Trains workers, and 50.8 percent of NSW Trains workers, voted yes. As many as 3,000 workers across the state did not vote.

Workers anger and hostility toward the RTBU was such that the union shut down comments on its Facebook page in January. Many stated that they would resign.

But the experience in 2018, like many before and since, demonstrates that anger and opposition to the union treachery is not enough. Absent alternative organisations and a new perspective, the union is able to wear workers down and impose the dictates of management.

The lesson is that a new strategy is required. The RTBU plays the role it does, not simply because of the proclivities of individual leaders.

Rather, the unions have been transformed over the past forty years and are no longer workers organisations in any sense of the term. Taking their pro-capitalist and nationalist program to its logical conclusion, they no longer fight for even minor gains for workers. Instead, they fight to impose the dictates of management and finance capital for endless cuts to wages and continuous pro-business restructuring.

New organisations of struggle are required, including independent rank-and-file committees, uniting all rail staff. These are the only means by which workers can democratically discuss the issues they face, free from the censorship of the RTBU bureaucrats, and plan a genuine industrial and political struggle against the government and transport management.

The angry popular reaction to the rail shutdown demonstrates that there is widespread support for train workers among working people. Rail staff can make a powerful appeal to other public sector workers, including nurses and teachers, who have faced decades of funding cuts at the hands and Labor and Liberal-National governments and have recently carried out mass strikes for the first time in years.

An organised mobilisation of these sections of worker could begin a serious counter-offensive against the pay cap, the continuing assault on permanent jobs and the drive to privatisation in these sectors and more broadly.

Above all, an alternative perspective is required. The endless restructuring and attacks can only be ended through the establishment of a workers government. It would institute socialist policies, including placing all mass transport under genuine public ownership and democratic workers control, along with the major banks and corporations. The train system must be run to meet the needs of rail staff and the working class as a whole, not the austerity demands of management and big business.

Contact the Socialist Equality Party to discuss this perspective.
Thirty-six years ago today, after a decade and half of dictatorial rule over the Philippines, Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos and their children were ousted from power by the combined force of a democratic mass movement, known as People Power, and a coup attempt by a breakaway faction of the military.

Ferdinand Marcos

The anniversary is distinguished above all by the fact that Ferdinand Marcos Jr is the front-runner in the countrys presidential elections, which will be held in May, and is currently polling to win with nearly 60 percent of the vote.

Known as Bongbong, Ferdinand Jr rides upon a wave of mass disillusionment provoked by the failure of the post-People Power administrations over the course of three decades. This wave has been unleashed by social crisisthe pandemic, mass inequality and povertythat is driving the re-emergence of authoritarian forms of rule around the globe.

Ferdinand Jrs campaign for the presidency is, to its core, based on the rehabilitation of the martial law era as a golden age in Philippine history. As his campaign song, he has adopted the anthem of the dictatorship, Bagong Lipunan (New Society). One has a feeling of intense horror watching thousands dance at his rallies to the song that, to those who remember, was a paean to regimented thought and repression.

The Marcos dictatorship, imposed in 1972, was based on systematic repression of the population. Seventy thousand people were arrested on political grounds and nearly 4,000 killed by the regime. A new verb entered Philippine English, salvage, which described the brutal torture and murder of political dissidents by military and paramilitary forces.

The suppression of social unrest by military means during the explosive decade of the 1970s was the fundamental function of the martial law regime. The overwhelming majority of the countrys elite, including the political opponents of Marcos, acquiesced to the dictatorshipeven supported it. While disgruntled at the personal excesses of Ferdinand and Imelda, martial law played a necessary social role in defense of their class interests.

Critical to the regime was the financial, military, and political support provided to the Marcoses by Washington. Each successive US administrationRepublican and Democrat alikebacked Marcos to the hilt. The words are Richard Nixons, taken from a secret memorandum endorsing Marcos proposal to declare martial law.

Ferdinand Jr was no political innocent during the regime of his parents. He was an adult and was instrumental in the apparatus of dictatorship, serving as governor of the province of Ilocos Norte in the early 1980s.

Former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. speaks to reporters after filing his certificate of candidacy for next year's presidential elections in Manila, Philippines Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2021 [Credit: Rouelle Umali/Pool Photo via AP]

Corazon Aquino took officeas the Marcoses took up exile in Hawaiiin February 1986, the recipient of unprecedented levels of mass hope. After a decade and half of repression, everything would be different now. Little changed.

The people power government of Aquino, which spoke incessantly of democracy, proved to be the rule of a rival set of oligarchs.

Looking to stabilize her hold over the military, she incorporated leading figures of the Marcos regime into her cabinet and responded to a series of military coup attempts by adapting to these layers. In 1987, police forces outside the presidential palace opened fire on a peaceful march of farmers asking for land reform, killing over a dozen.

It was this political climate, in which everything changed but nothing was different, that shaped education about the martial law regime. To detail the crimes of the dictatorship would have exposed many of the allies and policies of the Aquino government. Textbooks spoke of the corruption and personal excesses of Ferdinand Sr and Imelda, reaching almost mythical levels of theft, but not of the repressive apparatus of military rule. Imelda was remembered not for her brutality but for her thousands of shoes.

The injunction Never Again was widely repeated, but the predicate to which it was attached became hazy and ill-remembered.

The cronies of the Marcoses were rehabilitated and then the Marcoses themselves. They played a useful role in elite politics, able to mobilize a significant geographic and linguistic constituency.

Her husband now dead, Imelda Marcos returned from exile with her family. She ran for president in 1992 with the promise that she would Make the Philippines Great Again. Ferdinand Sr returned as well, his waxy, embalmed corpse on display in an Ilocos Norte mausoleum awaiting the day he could be given burial with national honors.

Political rot spread beneath the paraffin of post-Marcos illusions. Each successive administration inherited diminishing popular hopes that the hard-won forms of democracy would produce meaningful reforms.

The conditions of living for the majority of the population worsened. The working people of the country became dependent on a vast labor diaspora to sustain their families. Fully 10 percent of the countrys population sought work overseas. Families were rivenmothers, fathers, sons and sisters abroad, domestic workers, construction workers, healthcare workers, home for two weeks every two years.

It is the longing of this diaspora to remain connected that fuels social media use in the Philippines at one of the highest rates in the world. The propaganda of a Marcosian golden age has found wide circulation through social media. It is through these networks that Ferdinand Jr mounts a campaign of anti-intellectualism and conspiracy theories.

No political force has been as instrumental in producing the noxious political atmosphere that hangs over the Philippines today than the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The party, and the various national democratic organizations that follow its political line, cultivated and sustained the illusions of the working population that one or another section of the elite would at long last use the forms of democracy to carry out substantive reforms.

In each election cycle the party mustered the support of the oppressed masses behind yet another faction of the elite. The last 30 years are a cemetery of political illusions, littered with headstones bearing the names of those the party endorsed as progressive representatives of the capitalist class: Arroyo, Estrada, Villar, Duterte. Preaching that reactionary, and even racist, nationalism was the solution to the poverty and oppression of the Filipino masses, the CPP repeatedly squandered the moral energy and independent initiative of the working class, disorienting and misleading them.

Under conditions of global capitalist crisis, the bourgeoisie moved further to the right and their supporters in the CPP followed suit. When the national democratic organizations backed real-estate billionaire Manny Villar for president in 2010, they campaigned on a shared platform with Bongbong Marcos, who launched his national political career by running for Senate on Villars slate. Satur Ocampo, who as a leading member of the CPP was a victim of martial law torture, ran for Senate alongside Ferdinand Jr and posed for photos with him.

The foundations of post-Marcos democracy shook with the election of Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. A vulgar, authoritarian populist, he oversaw mass murder by the police and paramilitary death squads in the name of a war on drugs that killed tens of thousands of impoverished Filipinos. The CPP, which had longstanding ties to Duterte, declared that he would be the countrys first socialist president. They appointed representatives to his cabinet and announced their support for his drug war. Among Dutertes first presidential acts was to arrange the burial of Ferdinand Sr, with state honors, in the National Heroes Cemetery. Within a year, Duterte had an acrimonious falling out with the party.

The Corazon Aquino government and several subsequent administrations cultivated in popular consciousness a dichotomy: Marcos, corrupt and rapacious, responsible for the countrys economic destitution; and Liberal Democracy, the solution to the countrys ills. The passage of time weakened the content but the formal dichotomy remained, waiting for the day its polarity was reversed.

This is the thrust of Ferdinand Jrs campaign: martial law was a golden age, all that came after was a fall from grace. He is standing the People Power dichotomy on its head.

His leading rival, Leni Robredo, is chair of the Liberal Party, long associated with the Aquino family. Her decision to run as an independent, to bury her ties with the Liberal Party like incriminating evidence, expresses just how much the political landscape has changed over the past three decades. It was the Liberal Party that restored the Marcoses to the Philippines and it was as a member of the Liberal Party that Duterte rose to national prominence three years before becoming president.

Robredo is running a right-wing campaign, looking to secure the support of conservative layers and the military. She has announced her support for the continuation of the war on drugs and the McCarthyite anti-communist witchhunting organization, the NTF-ELCAC. Despite this, the national democratic organizations have thrown themselves into an all-out campaign for Robredo.

Marcos has the backing of substantial layers of the elite who see in his campaign two key reasons for support. First, Marcos represents the promise of using dictatorial forms of rule as a means of dealing with the countrys intensifying social unrest. Second, Marcos has declared his intention of continuing Dutertes friendly policies toward China and the elites backing Marcos hope that Chinese investment, particularly in infrastructure, will boost economic growth outside the national capital region.

There is an enthusiasm of despair, and it is this that fuels popular support for the Bongbong Marcos campaign. The thousands dancing to the anthem of martial law move with the frenzied desperation of imperiled members of the lower middle class and remittance-dependent poor. It is the pageantry of nihilism.

It remains plausible that Marcos poll numbers will fall. He is an unimpressive man, unlike his father, whose long historic coattails he rides. He is possessed, at best, of an artful stupidity.

Senior was articulate, even brilliant. A lawyer who rose to power by dint of labor, calculation, and lies, he prided himself on his ability to deliver entire speeches from memory. Junior, the child of unfathomable privilege, cannot complete a coherent sentence, and avoids public debates to cover this up. If he is compelled to articulate himself in an objective forum before the nation, it is possible the outcome will be devastating.

Ferdinand Jr.s prominence expresses the advanced preparations in the ruling class to impose dictatorship. They are gripped with fear that a mass movement of the working class will emerge in opposition to grinding conditions of exploitation and inequality. Despite all of the betrayals of Stalinism, the Filipino working class has a long and heroic tradition of struggle, one that goes all the way back to the revolutionary overthrow of Spanish colonialism and protracted fight against American empire at the turn of the 20th century.

The Filipino elite is highly attuned, with a sensitivity honed over a century, to the tremors of working class unrest. Their sprawling mansions are but kilometers from vast shantytowns and the proximity invests their politics with a nervous and jealous energy.

Marcos Jr rises on an objective social basis: historically cultivated mass despair at the possibility of a democratic solution to the countrys immense social ills. None of the basic problems confronting Philippine society have been resolved. Peasant farmers labor bent double beneath loads of cane on vast sugar estates. Millions live in shantytowns that crowd the interstices of Metro Manila. Poverty wages and inhuman conditions confront the working class. Families are torn apart by the global diaspora of labor.

Democracy can only be defended by a movement that is dedicated to curing these social cancers. That which is now constrained in despair, can turn to hope if it is given revolutionary orientation.Talk of clean government, of national unity, of ending corruptionthis is the political hot air of the ruling elite. Preventing the re-emergence of open dictatorship in the Philippines requires a political program that articulates the independent interests of the working masses. The fight for democracy must become the fight for socialism.
Assured of bipartisan backing from the opposition Labor Party, the Liberal-National government is intervening in the Ukraine crisis by sending military equipment to the country via the NATO alliance, while also denouncing China for allegedly aiding the Russian invasion.

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison [Credit: AP/Kiyoshi Ota]

On both fronts, the Australian political establishment is doing everything it can to assist the Biden administration in exploiting Moscows reactionary military operation to escalate the underlying US-led offensive against Russia and China.

On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised non-lethal military equipment, together with medical supplies, sharply elevating the governments alignment behind the build-up of NATO forces across Eastern Europe. Non-lethal military equipment is a contradiction in terms. In conditions of conflict, all military equipment supports the war effort.

In addition, the government is ramping up its existing cyber-warfare training for Ukrainian personnel, yet has ruled out sending troops, consistent with the denials issued by the US.

Morrison also declared support for a decision, being pushed by the White House, to cut Russia out of the SWIFT financial network, which would exclude it from the global banking system. This stance backs the US and UK governments, which are demanding the SWIFT ban, against European governments, particularly Germany, which have baulked at the move because of their economic ties to Russia.

Morrison provocatively accused Beijing of undermining Western sanctions over Ukraine. He condemned a trade agreement struck earlier this month between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. You dont go and throw a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period when they are invading another country, he said. That is simply unacceptable.

Under the Russian-Chinese agreement, as part of a broader compact to strengthen relations, China agreed to lift restrictions on Russian wheat and barley. Accordingly, Chinas customs agency reportedly cleared the way for Russian wheat imports this week.

In a media conference, Morrison went further. First, he declared that the events in the Ukraine heralded a change in the world order, which now consisted of a global battle against authoritarian and autocratic regimes.

In that context, Morrison proclaimed the historic significance of the Quad, a quasi-military anti-China alliance strengthened last year between the US, Japan, India and Australia, and the AUKUS pact signed by Australia with the US and UK in September, also directed against China. AUKUS featured the supply of nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia.

Second, Morrison rejected this weeks call by Chinas incoming ambassador to Australia for talks to meet half way on the disputes that Canberra has fomented against Beijing over the past five years. Belligerently, Morrison ruled out any negotiation on 14 complaints against Australia that the embassy issued in November 2020, which included a ban on the Chinese telco company Huawei supplying 5G technology, and far-reaching bans on Chinese investment in Australia.

Morrison repeated accusations that Chinas 14 points amount to coercion of Australia and bragged of his record in helping the US and other imperialist powers to depict China in the same way. I was the one who went to the G7 and threw the 14 points down on the table about how Australia was being coerced by China, by the Chinese government, he insisted.

In his own media remarks yesterday, Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese quickly backed Morrison in bracketing China with Russia, saying: China is doing the opposite of what it should be doing. He told reporters that Chinas refusal to denounce Russia showed it is also not a democratic country [and] doesnt respect international law.

The Labor leader effectively gave the Morrison government a blank cheque to ramp up its intervention into the Ukraine crisis. Asked if he expected Australia to send troops, Albanese made no objection and emphasized his close collaboration with the government.

Referring to briefings he had received from the government, the military and the intelligence agencies, Albanese declared: Look, well continue to be briefed, as I was just a short time ago, a couple of days ago. Well get ongoing briefings about this.

To underscore Labors unconditional commitment to the US military alliance and the increasingly aggressive confrontation with Russia and China, Albanese gave an extended interview to Greg Sheridan, the foreign editor of the Australian, the Murdoch medias national flagship.

In the interview, Albanese boasted that the AUKUS pact could not have gone ahead without Labors support. He backed Morrisons denunciation of Chinas 14 points.Albanese vowed that a Labor government would be absolutely serious about increasing military spending and bragged of Labors record of leading the country during World War II and signing the 2011 pact to base US Marines in the strategic northern city of Darwin.

As he prepares for an election due by May, Albanese is seeking to burnish Labors credentials as Australian imperialisms main party of war. It has either joined or given essential bipartisan backing to every barbaric US-led war of conquest since the Stalinist dissolution of the Soviet Union began, from the first Gulf War to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and the military interventions in Libya and Syria.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who is positioning himself to replace Morrison as the government continues to be wracked by collapsing approval ratings and internal factional warfare, sought to outdo both the prime minister and the Labor leader.

Dutton described as really deeply disturbing Chinas failure to condemn Russias Ukraine invasion. As he has done repeatedly, he again raised the spectre of a Chinese move to forcibly reunite Taiwan, which is still internationally recognised as part of China. Dutton said Beijing was probably watching to see what the world reaction is so that they can make their own calculations down the track in relation to Taiwan.

That was in line with todays editorial in the Australian, which asserted: There are clear parallels between Mr Putins ambitions in Eastern Europe and Xi Jinpings visions for China. Both want to end US hegemony and assert their claims to being great powers.

That assertion is part of the wall of anti-Russia and anti-China allegations being churned out by the corporate media in Australia, seeking to create public support for Australian participation in US-led wars against these two perceived obstacles to American global dominance.

Initial polls in Australia show no widespread support for war, and deep distrust in Morrison government and the political elite as a whole, intensified by the COVID-19 disaster. But this propaganda barrage is designed to create confusion and cover up the decades-long drive by the US and its allies to encircle and subjugate Russia and China.

As yesterdays statement by 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! explained, the invasion of Ukraine, whatever the justifications offered by the Putin regime, will serve only to divide the Russian and Ukrainian working class and, moreover, serve the interests of US and European imperialism.

The statement warned: The Biden administration, by refusing to discuss Russias objections to Ukraines integration into NATO, used Ukraine as bait. It incited the invasion, which will now be used as a pretext for escalating confrontation with Russia.

The Australian government and its Labor partners, supported by the media, are fuelling that confrontation.

To further clarify the critical historical issues at stake, 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 build a global working-class movement against war and the pandemic. We urge our readers to register and attend.
Students across the United States have expressed opposition to the frenzied war drive of US imperialism against Russia, a reflection of the deep anti-war sentiments that exist in the broader population. This comes amid the outbreak of armed conflict in Ukraine after Russian forces initiated a large-scale military strike involving extensive aerial and artillery bombardment along with a ground invasion by troops and tanks.

The Putin regimes assault on Ukraine, which is deeply reactionary and serves only to inflame the crisis while dividing Russian and Ukrainian workers, must be opposed by the international working class. However, this opposition must be conducted on a class basis, without adapting to the criminal designs of US imperialism, which has done everything in its power to provoke war.

Reporters from the World Socialist Web Site interviewed students from universities across the country on their attitude to the Ukraine crisis, the threat of war and the social conditions in the United States.

Ukrainian servicemen sit atop armored personnel carriers driving on a road in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Cassidy, a student at a charter school in Oakland, California, told the WSWS, I would describe the situation as a setup to get American citizens riled up and to get more power against Russia. She continued, Overall, its a war for the benefit of the US. The way its been shown in the media is that Russia is trying to invade, and the US is trying to save everyone. In reality, the US is trying to stir things up to gain more power.

Cassidy continued, Something you dont see anywhere is how far-right the US-backed coup in Ukraine was, completely far-right, and nobody talks about that.

The outbreak of war in Ukraine has been seized upon by the US government and media to divert public attention from the pandemic, even as the official death toll in the US approaches 1 million. Asked about the parallels between the US governments handling of the war drive and the pandemic, Cassidy commented, Both of them involve the US using large amounts of hurt or death and pushing aside the lives of regular people to advance their own power. They are going for what is going to make them more powerful and richer rather than what will help any of their citizens.

Speaking of the role of the Democrats and Republicans, Cassidy asserted, In general, theyre not very different  in both situations, it seems like the Republicans might be more outright about some things, the Democrats end up arguing with them but end up going the same way.

Concerns about the threat of war were expressed by an anonymous high school senior from Massachusetts, I think its pretty horrifying. Historically, the Cold War was called the Cold War because we didnt actually physically fight Russia. We fought Russia politically and also through proxies using other countries. Now were back to the threat of nuclear war; it seems like its almost unprecedented, the way that were aggravating Russia now.

When asked about the prevailing views among her fellow students, she stated, I think it is much more likely that there is a lack of understanding with the majority of people. There are certainly some people that take a pessimistic view, but the majority of students that I know at least I feel are most likely not serious about the situation because of a lack of understanding about the severity of it and the consequences of it

The majority of the media that we watch is just so void of anything, any serious conversations. You see talk shows, and they are not really saying anything political. This is what the majority of people watch, and they are not becoming aware of the real imminent dangers that were facing.

Seth, a student at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, said, When I see Biden and other Western elites saying that Americans must defend Ukraine from Russia, I see the capitalist class desperately grasping at straws to do anything that will distract Americans from reality.

The elite ruling class of America, and the Democratic and Republican parties that represent them, will do anything in their power to prevent the working masses from realizing who the true enemy is. They want Americans to believe that it isnt the capitalist class whos the enemy, but rather that its the Russians.

We cannot ignore the reality that American imperialism has devastated the peoples of this world. We cannot ignore that it is the representatives of the capitalist class who vote for these wars. American elites want to keep workers afraid of each other and reliant on them. A divided working class can be controlled, but a united working class is unstoppable.

The revulsion of broad layers of the population towards the prospect of war is due in no small part to the fact that the US has been involved in an unending series of wars for decades. The youth now coming of age cannot remember a time when the US was not at war. These predatory wars have not only devastated entire societies abroad (in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, to name just a handful), they have also poisoned the fabric of society within the US.

David, a student at San Diego State University (SDSU) and a member of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), spoke about the profound impact of permanent war on youth. The US has been at war the entirety of our lives. Young people must start thinking about that fact. The US has started war after war, subjugated nation after nation. All while the youth have no opportunities and the ruling class is starting global war  the US is the aggressor, it is the source of all backwardness and reaction across the globe.

While the US is provoking this conflict that threatens the world, its up to the working class to stop it. I cant help but think back to history. In World War II, there was a mass movement of the working class, the masses were moving very rapidly to the left, around the US and around the world.  The reason why World War II happened the way it did, it was not the fault of the working class, it was the capitalists fault, but it did not have to end that way if the working class had a principled leadership.

Max, another member of the IYSSE at SDSU, spoke about the immense dangers of the conflict being stoked by the imperialist powers: Coming from a military family, war is chaotic; it cannot be overemphasized how dangerous the situation is. A war doesnt serve any working persons interests. Considering these are nuclear-armed powers, it could not be any more important for the working class to orient itself against war and fight for its interests.

He continued, If the working class doesnt fight for its interests, they will be forced to fight for the capitalist interests The youth must turn to the working class for the coming struggles. We need to educate ourselves for a clear perspective to make a future for the next generation.

IYSSE SDSU member David concluded his statement with the following, We have to fight for a future, fight to end war and rid ourselves of the capitalist system that is destroying our lives before they really begin. War is not inevitable; no outcome is inevitable without struggle. Take up the struggle for the working class. A better future is possible, and it must be fought for.
State Bureau of Investigation reveals signs of information-psychological special operations carried out by Russian intelligence services among high-ranking officials

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has revealed signs of Russian intelligence services carrying out information and psychological special operations among high-ranking officials.

"Russia is actively conducting information and psychological special operations (IPSO) aimed at undermining the morale and psychological state of the personnel and misleading the fighters," the SBI press service said.

In particular, on the eve of the start of the war, Ukrainian fighters in the JFO zone received SMS that the officers had allegedly left the units and there was no point in resisting.

"After the Russian blitzkrieg in Ukraine failed, the Russian intelligence services changed their tactics and moved to a new level of IPSO. Now MPs, top-level officials, heads of law enforcement agencies have begun to receive calls and SMS with threats and proposals for cooperation," the SBI said.

According to the bureau, the occupiers are trying to force Ukrainian officials to act in favor of Russia, threatening to kill family members and close relatives.

"We urge officials not to react to such provocations, to be true to their oath and to believe in the strength of the spirit of the Ukrainian people," the SBI said.
The two lead prosecutors in the long-running investigation into criminal business practices at the Trump Organization have resigned, imperiling the future of the investigation and any criminal charges against former president Donald Trump and other family members who have led the organization.

Donald J. Trump [Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian]

The New York Times reported that the two prosecutors, Carey R. Dunne and Mark F. Pomerantz, tendered their resignation after recently elected Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicated to them that he had doubts about moving forward with a case. According to the Times, prior to tendering their resignations, the two prosecutors had ceased presenting evidence to a grand jury late last month, apparently after Bragg expressed his reservations.

In the context of the ongoing internecine conflict within the US ruling class, which has only intensified following Trumps failed coup of January 6, 2021, the resignation of the two prosecutors is politically significant.

While it is impossible at this time to determine the exact reasons why Bragg decided to pull back on the investigation against the Trump Organization, the fact it is not moving forward seems an obvious win for the Trump family. A criminal indictment would impose considerable financial costs on the ex-president for the legal fight, to say nothing of the political impact.

Last June, as part of the same investigation, the Trump Organization, Trump Payroll Corporation and the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, Allen Weisselberg, were charged with 15 felony counts as part of a 16-year alleged grand larceny and tax fraud scheme. This appeared to be part of a standard prosecutorial approach, directed by then Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., to squeeze Weisselberg and induce him to become a state witness against Trump.

Over eight months later, Weisselberg has refused to spill the beans on the family that employed him for nearly four decades. Vance, who started the investigation in 2019, decided not to seek re-election and instead passed the case along to his successor, Bragg. Both men are Democratic Party politicians, although Bragg was not the favorite candidate of the Democratic Party establishment in New York City to succeed Vance.

The reasons for his decision remain murky, but it is possible that upon seeing all the evidence gathered so far, Bragg felt that without a high-level insider as a witness, even a jury in Manhattan might have one or more holdouts who would not be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump personally directed the criminal activity. Trump won about 15 percent of the vote in Manhattan in 2020, or about one voter in six.

At the time the charges were filed against Weisselberg, Trump released a statement defending the fraudulent practices at the heart of his business empire. Trump justified the over-inflating of assets and tax-avoidance practices of the Trump Organization as standard practice in the US business community, and in no way a crime.

Trumps admission confirms the pervasiveness of financial parasitism, fraud and illegality that permeates the ruling elite in all capitalist countries, but especially the United States.

While the criminal investigation appears to be winding down, a parallel investigation by the New York state attorney generals office into possible civil charges against the Trump Organization seemed to gain significant momentum two weeks ago. Trumps former accounting firm Mazars announced they would cease to represent the Trump Organization and could no longer stand behind decades worth of financial statements, known as statements of financial condition, they had created on behalf of the company.

In their February 9 letter, addressed to the general counsel of Trumps businesses, Alan Garten, Mazars said that they could not conclude with certainty that the documents they created for Trump, and which were relied upon by him to obtain loans, contained material discrepancies. Yet they also said that based upon the totality of circumstances, we believe our advice to you [is] to no longer rely upon those financial statements as appropriate.

The letter was made public by New York state attorney general Leticia James five days later. James, a Democrat, released the letter as part of a bid to obtain a court order compelling Trump and his children Ivanka and Donald Jr. to provide testimony to her civil investigation.

Last Thursday, Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Trump, Ivanka and Donald Jr. had to testify in the civil case. In rejecting the Trumps bid to quash the subpoenas, Engoron wrote that Trumps argument that James investigation was a politically motivated witch-hunt completely misses the mark.

Neither [the Office of Attorney General] nor the Manhattan District Attorneys office has subpoenaed the new Trump respondents to appear before a grand jury, Engoron wrote. The judge noted that the defenses argument overlooks the salient fact that they have an absolute right to refuse to answer questions that they claim may incriminate them.

Engoron noted that Trumps son Eric, who sat for a deposition two years ago as part of the same investigation, invoked the right against self-incrimination more than 500 times during his one-day deposition.

Despite the judges ruling, which compels Trump and his children to provide testimony within 21 days, Business Insider reported Friday a statement from Ron Fischetti, a Trump lawyer, that none of them will be testifying. He said the Trumps are in the process of appealing the judges order, which could take months to file.

In a prepared statement, Attorney General James said, While they have the right to seek a delay, they cannot deter us from following the facts and the law wherever they may lead. Make no mistake: My office will continue to pursue this case without fear or favor because no one is above the law.

While these cases relating to old and well-known issues of financial flimflam drag on, Trump remains free and uncharged of far more important crimes in the January 6, 2021 coup attempt in which his supporters stormed the US Capitol and sought to halt the certification of electoral votes by Congress. Attorney General Merrick Garland has claimed that no one is above the law, but in capitalist America a president can seek to overthrow the government with impunity.
Three days into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict is showing dangerous signs of spiraling into a much wider war.

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army prepare for deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg, N.C. on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. They are among soldiers the Department of Defense is sending to Eastern Europe. (AP Photo/Nathan Posner)

As Russian forces entered the capital city of Kiev, Ukraine, the Ukrainian defense minister estimated that hundreds of Russian soldiers had died in the conflict so far. Ukraine has reported over 137 casualties, including civilians. A first attempt at holding talks between Kiev and Moscow failed on Friday. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has since appealed to Israels Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to mediate in the conflict.

On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced the deployment, for the first time, of NATOs 40,000-troop-strong rapid response force, created in 2003.

Yesterday, NATO Allies activated our defense plans, Stoltenberg said on Friday, adding that the alliances forces would be positioned on land, at sea, and in the air.

The United States, Canada and European Allies have deployed thousands more troops to the eastern part of the Alliance, Stoltenberg continued. We have over 100 jets at high alert operating in over 30 different locations. And over 120 ships from the High North to the Mediterranean. Including three strike carrier groups.

Stoltenberg added, We speak about thousands of troops. We speak about air and maritime capabilities. They are only actually part of the standing naval groups. We have many planes operating in the eastern part of the Alliance. And then, several Allies have partly already assigned troops and forces to the NATO Response Force.

Stoltenberg called Russias actions the gravest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades, declaring, We will do whatever it takes to defend every ally and every inch of NATO territory.

The announcement was hailed by advocates of confrontation with Russia. Hearing now that NATOs Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) has been activated. Excellent news, tweeted former US Ambassador to Russia and arch-warmonger Michael McFaul.

UK Defense Minister James Heappey announced that the UK would send armed forces to Estonia earlier than planned, with the Royal Welsh battle group arriving in the country shortly. A further 1,000 UK troops will be on standby to support Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Poland, Heappey said.

But the defense minister warned of the dangers of an open engagement between NATO and Russia, observing that the conflict could quickly become existential.

Both in the UK and the US, significant forces within the political establishment are advocating for just such an existential conflict.

Heappeys warnings were directed to MPs advocating for an establishment of a no-fly zone over Ukraine, meaning that NATO surface-to-air missiles and aircraft would engage and attempt to shoot down Russian combat planes.

The imposition of a no-fly zone would be a significant and real help for the people of Ukraine, said Tory MP Peter Bone.

In the United States, Congressman Adam Kinzinger demanded that the United States take this measure. Declare a #NoFlyZone over Ukraine, Kinzinger tweeted. History teaches that taking a stand is inevitable and gets more costly with time. We own the skies, Russia cannot hold a candle to our Air power. Do this. Putin is too dangerous to hope he is satisfied with just Ukraine.

The claim that the United States own(s) the skies in Eastern Europe is false. Russia operates what is arguably the worlds most advanced Anti-Access and Area Denial (A2/AD) system, which would inflict significant losses on NATO aircraft that sought to engage Russian air forces. If Moscows aircraft were to come under attack from sites within NATO territory, Russia could respond with cruise missile strikes on the batteries, triggering NATO Article 5 and starting a world war.

This insane demand won support on both sides of the aisle, with Democratic Party operative Jon Cooper demanding, The U.S. must declare a no-fly zone in UkraineNOW!!

In an exchange on BBCs Radio 4 Today, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that the imposition of a no-fly zone would be an act of war against Russia.

To do a no-fly zone I would have to put British fighter jets against Russian; NATO would have to declare war on Russia. This would trigger a European war, he said.

Any such war threatens the use of nuclear weapons. As CNN military analyst James Spider Marks said on live television Thursday, I would hate to think that [Vladimir Putin] might think that he can get away with a tactical nuke, and that there wouldnt be a concomitant response. That then begins the cascading effect of the end of times.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said that 7,000 US troops would deploy to Germany. But the Pentagon clarified that some of them could be forward deployed to Russias borders as part of a NATO rapid response force.

Military.com reported, The U.S. has already deployed about 12,000 troops and equipment such as F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters to Germany, Poland, Romania and the Baltic states. The Pentagon has said more than 11,000 troops have been put on heightened alert for deployment since January, but it could not provide exact figures on Friday of those who remain on alert or have been deployed.

These developments come as further measures have been taken to shut the Russian population off from the world economy. On Friday, Poland closed its airspace to Russian airlines, while British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have stopped using Russian airspace, Kommersant reported. S&P just downgraded the credit ratings of both Ukraine and Russia.

On Friday, California Democrat Eric Swalwell said that kicking every Russian student out of the United States  should  be on the table.

While the United States and NATO governments hope to benefit, for both domestic and geopolitical reasons, from a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the war threatens to have massive and incalculable consequences not only for the populations of that region but for all of humanity.

As the International Committee of the Fourth International said in its statement yesterday, the opposition among the people of Ukraine, Russia, and the whole world must be developed as a conscious political movement for socialism. This means the building of the International Committee of the Fourth International and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties in every country.
Elizabeth Donaghy with two of her sons in the 1980s

My name is Christopher Donaghy, and I am from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Im 32 years old. I am submitting this testimony to the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic because my mum recently passed away from Covid. I lost my mum on the 29th of October 2021, and I think about her every day.

Here in Northern Ireland, 4,236 people have died from COVID-19. These arent just numbers. They are families who have lost mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, brothers and sisters to this horrible illness. My own family has been personally devastated by it.

My mums name was Elizabeth Mary Donaghy. She caught COVID in the third week of September last year. It started as a bad cough, fatigue, loss of appetite and body aches. As the days went on, she found it hard to breathe and had terrible pain in her left leg, which antibiotics didnt help.

Mum was admitted to the Mater Hospital in Belfast and was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital where they found a blood clot. The doctor called us at 1am to explain she needed emergency surgery to amputate her left leg, or the clot would spread. We were heartbroken and couldnt believe it. I still cant believe it.

Elizabeth Donaghy with her second youngest son

My third eldest brother, who is 37, also developed severe COVID and was given a 50/50 chance of survival. He caught COVID in early September and as the days wore on, his symptoms worsened. It was a Saturday when we called for an ambulance. He started to become delirious and could barely breathe. Later that day, the doctor said if we hadnt called an ambulance, or if it hadnt arrived in time, he would have passed away. They told us that every hour was critical and there was a chance he could pass away. I had never felt fear like that ever in my entire life, it was a horrible experience. He was on a ventilator for 18 days. The nurses called my brother a miracle.

My brother was discharged from the Royal Vic on Thursday the 28th of October, a day before my mum passed away. They wanted to keep him in for a while longer but the doctor in charge let him go home because our mum was going to pass away.

My eldest sister, who is 49, caught COVID not long after mum and my brother. Her symptoms were mild at first, but she got worse. She said later she was taking a bath and couldnt breathe. My nephew called an out-of-hours doctor who immediately called an ambulance. When they arrived, they gave her oxygen. My sister thought she was going to pass away in the bath. It was very frightening, and I cant imagine what she was feeling. She was admitted to the Mater Hospital and placed on oxygen. They discovered she had multiple blood clots in her chest, and she was given steroids and blood thinning tablets.

My mum, my father, all three brothers, my sister, her son (my nephew) and myself all caught COVID-19 around the same time. How did this nightmare happen? Stormont [Northern Irelands parliament] laid the ground for this by lifting lockdown measures. By last June 14th-27th, there were no deaths from COVID-19 being recorded in Northern Ireland. But the Northern Ireland Executive ignored the clear and ongoing threat from the pandemic and pushed ahead with its Pathway out of Restrictions.

Northern Ireland governments Pathway out of Restrictions

By the end of May, pubs, bars and hotels were reopened. Schools were sent back on September 1st. The governments own Chief Scientist Professor Ian Young warned, We are concerned that there will be an increase in case numbers and, in turn, hospital admissions, ICU pressures, and deaths as we move into the autumn.

All the scientists warnings were ignored. A surge of infections began, placing huge strain on hospitals and ICUs. The moneymen in government dont care how many families suffer, as long as profits keep rolling and the economy is booming. Their policy was herd immunity, which basically means they wanted everyone infected so they wouldnt get infected again. This is total nonsense as people can get COVID-19 more than once. All they are interested in is money and profits. It is disgusting.

Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland (Source: Department of Health, Northern Ireland)

I caught COVID, but I was double vaccinated. My other two brothers and my father caught it as well, but they were vaccinated too. My nephew who is 22 also caught the illness but thankfully his symptoms were mild.

My mum was born in London on the 24th of September 1948. She has a brother, sister and two half-sisters. Mum worked in a few factories when she was much younger and met my dad here in Belfast in 1971. They got married not long after and had six children together, four sons and two daughters. My mum was the sort of person who would have done anything for you. She put her children ahead of herself always.

Mum loved to read and was a huge Stephen King fan--she had all of his books and I have kept them. Every time I look at them, I cry as I miss her dearly. I blame myself for what happened because I don't think I did enough to convince her to be vaccinated and I will always have that guilt inside me.

Anti-vaccination movement

When the pandemic began, mum didnt believe it was true. I didn't either because I was also duped by anti-vax lies. But over the last two years I have realised what an idiot I was. She was watching people like David Icke and others on YouTube. This guy is a total screwball, a leader of a cult (like Jim Jones or Aleister Crowley) and a 100 percent whack job.

Far-right anti-vax propaganda

This is the type of people my mum, brother and sister were duped by at the start of all this. This is a man who believes the Royal family and Kris Kristofferson are reptilians and that he is the Son of Godhead. But what isnt funny is the nonsense he dupes people with, about how bad COVID vaccines are, how they are taking peoples DNA and how scientists are mass murderers. Icke promotes anti-Semitism, claiming a clique of Jews started World War I, the Russian Revolution and World War II. He is a Holocaust denier who attacked Stephen Spielbergs film Schindlers List for indoctrinating children. People like this nutball are the real mass murderers as they have blood on their hands from duping countless people with misinformation.

Mum was reading stuff like they put microchips in the vaccines, they take your DNA and watch your every movement amongst other rubbish, which is just insane. My mum was never against vaccines though, and deep down she knew that she made a horrendous mistake even listening to these people, but by then it was too late. If she hadnt listened, she would have gotten the COVID vaccine. To this day I havent forgiven myself and dont think I ever will as I didnt do enough to convince her to get it.

Far-right anti-mask propaganda

Hopefully more and more people wake up and realise the anti-vax movement is being driven by far-right fascists. They talk about freedom and liberty but are the exact opposite of both. It is laughable actually. So I beg you, dont make the same mistake my family made, dont listen to whack jobs like David Icke or any of his kind. My family has been torn apart because of it. I lost my mum because of them and nearly lost my brother who is also my best friend. I pray that people stop listening to them and just go and get vaccinated. Dont go through what my family has gone through and will always go through.

Northern Ireland: Poverty and COVID-19 mortality

My mum never liked the Tories. She was always Labour, but she didn't like the current Labour Party. She always called [Prime Minister] Boris Johnson a buffoon. We only found out leading up to her passing that she had COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease], but by then it was too late. I think that played a part in her passing as it made her more susceptible.

Since then, I have learned that Northern Ireland has the highest death rate from COVID-19 in the whole of the UK. In August 2021, the BMJ [British Medical Journal] published an article called, Covid-19: Why is Northern Irelands death rate so high? It showed the rate of infections was nearly 80 percent higher than the UK as a whole. Mark Tully, a professor of public health at Ulster University, explained that Northern Ireland had higher levels of chronic disease and social deprivation than other parts of the UK, which could also be influencing its death rate.

Covid-19 Hospital Admissions By Deprivation Quintile (Source: Department of Health, Northern Ireland)

The COVID-19 hospital admission rate was highest in the 10 percent most deprived areas (275 admissions per 100,000 population) which was more than double the rate in the 10 percent least deprived areas (126 admissions per 100,000 population) and 64 percent higher than the Northern Ireland average (168 admissions per 100,000 population).

The link between COVID deaths and poverty is clear. NISRA [the Northern Ireland Statistical and Research Agency] found that during the first wave of the pandemic, COVID-19 deaths were highest in the 20 percent most deprived areas and lowest in the 20 percent least deprived areas. The worst hit places were Antrim and Newtonabbey, Causeway Coast and Glens, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, and Mid and East Antrim. These are Catholic, Protestant or mixed areas, and this shows the virus pays no heed to sectarian divisions.

NISRAs study of deaths during the first wave of the pandemic in Northern Ireland found that After accounting for differences in age, sex and area of residence, there was no significant difference in risk of Covid-19 death, for the time period March to September 2020, for those who identified as Protestant at the time of the 2011 Census, compared to Catholics.

People are dying because of poverty and this cuts across religious lines. For example, NISRA found 67.6 percent of COVID-19 deaths were among people with no educational qualifications. And 90.2 percent of COVID-19 deaths occurred among the economically inactive/unemployed. For those with a disability, such as COPD in my mums case, there was a 48 percent higher risk of death from COVID-19.

The pandemic is not over

The pandemic is still affecting my family. My brother suffers from Long COVID now, as does my sister. My brother has breathing problems, he still gets pain and has rashes. He can't walk much anymore. My sister has long-term lung damage, constant pains in her body and legs, and it has given her rashes too. They are fatigued a lot of the time and will never be the same again. Both have now been vaccinated.

On February 15, Northern Ireland became the first place in the UK to lift all remaining COVID restrictions. Mandatory masks on public transport have been ended and social distancing is replaced with guidance only, which I find incredible as the pandemic is far from over. They are even calling it endemic which is not true. The virus has not been confined to localised outbreaks, it is out of control globally, which means its still a pandemic.

The only way to eradicate COVID-19 for good is for everyone to get vaccinated and that means vaccines need to be freely available to the poorest countries. Schools and other public buildings need to have proper ventilation, masks need to be kept, workplaces made safe, and contact tracing, self-isolation and PCR testing kept in place free of charge. I find it incredible they have lifted self-isolation so if anyone becomes infected, they can just walk around freely and infect everyone with COVID. It is just criminal but does not surprise me as the Tory party are heartless money grabbers who look after their mates and have a screw everyone else attitude. They are criminals themselves and there is no opposition from the other partieseither in Stormont or Westminster.

A tribute In Ardoyne, Northern Ireland to the NHS (Credit: Twitter @Extramuralactiv)

I would also like to take this time to praise the nurses and doctors in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast who looked after my mum and brother. They were fantastic. I wish that I could repay them somehow. I would like to praise the nurses and doctors who looked after my sister in the Mater Hospital. They are all fabulous and are under-appreciated as is the whole NHS, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks for taking the time to read my testimony and keep safe, take care and look out for one another.
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 &&
An imitation air battle is taking place over the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Ukraine is not conducting combat operations in this area, the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management has reported.

"We have information about the preparation of fake provocative news for the world media that Ukraine is shelling the invaders in Chornobyl over dangerous objects. There are no our troops in Chornobyl. The state of Ukraine is not conducting military operations in Chornobyl," the agency said on Facebook on Saturday.

The agency said that the employees of the enterprises of the exclusion zone continue to perform security functions, despite the circumstances. The radiation background has been increased as a result of the movement of Russian military equipment.
Ukraine is asking the International Red Cross (ICRC) to help take the bodies of dead Russian soldiers to the Russian Federation, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereschuk has said.

"We appeal to the International Red Cross. We ask the International Red Cross to help take the bodies of dead Russian soldiers to the Russian Federation. These are thousands of bodies of invaders. This is a humanitarian need, and we ask that the bodies of Russian invaders leave the territory of Ukraine and go to Russian Federation," Vereschuk said at a briefing on Saturday.

She noted the importance of knowing in Russia about the number of soldiers killed in Ukraine.

"We appeal to the Russians: make sure that there are fewer bodies of your sons and husbands, otherwise there will be thousands of them," Vereschuk added.
On the morning of February 26, a Russian landing took place in Lviv region near Brody, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy said.

"At 9:00, in Brody area, Russian troops landed on three helicopters. About 60 people. Our troops fought back. Now they are retreating towards the forest in Leviatyn area," he said on the telegram channel.

"The armed forces are giving a worthy rebuff to the invader! We keep the situation under control," Sadovyi added.
Alexis Floyd as Neffatari "Neff" Davis on "Inventing Anna." David Giesbrecht/Netflix

The real-life Neffatari "Neff" Davis spoke out about her friendship with Anna Sorokin.

"I have to set boundaries. Sometimes I won't answer the phone," Davis told Vulture.

But the filmmaker said she still tries to give Sorokin "some type of stamina to keep going."

The real-life Neffatari "Neff" Davis opened up about her friendship with convicted scammer Anna Sorokin in a new interview with Vulture.

"It's almost like a seesaw. I have to set boundaries. Sometimes I won't answer the phone because I had to let her know I have my freedom," Davis said of her friendship with Sorokin.

"I'm not going to be able to answer every single phone call from jail. But if you need some panties or some coconut milk for Thanksgiving, I'll send it," Davis added.

According to the filmmaker, she had to "set boundaries" with Sorokin during Sorokin's 2019 trial, since the fake heiress, born in Russia, "started losing her mind a little bit when it came to being famous in jail and by herself without family here in America."

Now that Davis lives in Los Angeles, and Sorokin remains in ICE custody in Orange County, New York, Davis said their communication style has changed.

"We speak as much as we can, which is like once a month right now. I spoke to her yesterday, actually," Davis told Vulture. "It's like, if I'm bored, I'll pick up."

Anna Sorokin at her criminal trial in 2019. Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

"I try to give her some type of stamina to keep going because she literally has no one out here in America," the filmmaker added.

Both Davis and Sorokin are portrayed in the new Shonda Rhimes show "Inventing Anna," currently streaming on Netflix. Davis is played by Alexis Floyd, and "Ozark" star Julia Garner portrays Sorokin.

Also featured on the Netflix show is Sorokin's former friend Rachel Williams, played by Katie Lowes. The real-life Williams, who previously worked at Vanity Fair, recently condemned "Inventing Anna" for "glorifying" a "sociopathic" criminal. Sorokin later responded on Instagram in a lengthy statement, accusing Williams of "shamelessly" exploiting their former friendship.

Story continues

Sorokin first rose to fame in 2018, after articles were published by New York Magazine, Vanity Fair, and the New York Post about her attempts to con financial institutions out of money by pretending to be a wealthy German heiress.

A jury convicted Sorokin on charges of theft, larceny, and attempted theft and larceny in May 2019, though the jury acquitted Sorokin of the prosecutors' charge alleging she stole from Williams.

The so-called "SoHo scammer" was released from a New York jail in February 2021 after serving about three-and-a-half years in prison. Sorokin is now in ICE custody due to immigration issues. She shared her thoughts about the Netflix show as well as her experience behind bars in a recent essay for Insider.

"Inventing Anna" is available to stream now on Netflix.

Read the original article on Insider
Canada has imposed economic sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine while offering assistance of those fleeing the war and wanting to escape  even to come to Canada.

They can feel right at home as Canada is home to1.4 million people of Ukrainian origin and every large Canadian city has groups supporting them.

In a message to Canadians and permanent residents in Ukraine, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at midweek: Your safety and security are now our top priority, and we want to make sure you can get to safety."

Canada has also arranged for safe passage for you and your families at the land borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.

For those wanting to come to Canada, immigration applications for Ukrainians are prioritized and are being issued urgently, Trudeau said.

In 1991, Canada became the first western country to recognize Ukraines independence and continues to have a close bilateral relationship that spans cooperation on security and defense, trade and advancing Ukraines democratic and economic reform efforts.

A phone line and website are available for questions at 1-613-996-8885, or www.international.gc.ca and search Ukraine.

Trucker rally comes to an end. Bail hearings begin

The trucker rally that resulted in an encampment that clogged Ottawa, Canadas capital, with hundreds of parked big rigs and thousands of protesters for four weeks has ended as bail hearings have begun against those arrested.

Police forces from across Canada were able to finally end the protest with the arrests of almost 200 people and the towing of hundreds of cars and trucks.

Trudeau gave the police special powers to clear the streets and end the protest that started as an anti-vaccine mandate rally.

The government decided to withdraw a motion to enact the controversial Emergencies Act after a weekend of all-night debates by Parliament as the crisis was winding down.

A similar protest closed the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit that lasted six days, and other smaller protests were held across the country.

Story continues

News in brief

 Canadians having a snack attack might have some trouble finding their favorites because of a price dispute between Frito-Lay and Loblaws Canada, one of the countrys largest grocers with 2,400 stores nationally. Loblaws refused its latest shipment because of a higher price, which Frito-Lay said is needed to cover higher costs of expenses such as shipping, ingredients and packaging. For now, the chip maker has stopped shipping to Loblaws, which said higher prices from suppliers will lead to difficult conversations on offering some products.

Facts and figures

 Canadas dollar is steady at 78 cents U.S. while the U.S. dollar returns $1.28 in Canadian funds, before exchange fees.

 The Bank of Canadas key interest rate is unchanged at 0.25% while the prime lending rate is 2.45%.

 Canadian stock markets are lower, with the Toronto index at 20,761 while the TSX Venture index is 826 points.

 The average price for gas in Canada is still at a record high at $1.56 a liter (Canadian) or $5.92 for a U.S. gallon.

 Lotto Max: (Feb. 22) 3, 13, 26, 27, 28, 36 and 45; bonus 50. (Feb. 18) 2, 3, 8, 11, 12, 37 and 49; bonus 36.

 Lotto 6/49: (Feb.23) 4, 10, 28, 31, 33 and 43; bonus18. (Feb. 19) 4, 16, 30, 32, 37 and 44; bonus 35.

Regional briefs

 Three months before an Ontario election, Premier Doug Ford said he has found a way to inject more money into the economy  by eliminating license plate renewal fees. In the case of cars and pickup trucks, it amounts to $120 per vehicle. Gone is the requirement to have a license plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, effective March 13. All license plate sticker fees paid between March 1, 2020, and March 12, 2022, for vehicles owned by individuals will be refunded.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Canada Report: Government imposes sanctions on Russia, offers Ukraine aid
Kids got the opportunity to play Connect Four, try their hand at curling and meet some "Star Wars" characters during the first Winter Games hosted by Downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday.

The Games took place at the plaza on Phillips Avenue and West 12th Street.

"We just wanted to get a time for people to come out in February because it's so cold," said Abbie Coffey, who was part of the Winter Games committee.

A little boy looks through the spaces of a large game of Connect Four during the Winter Games in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

Coffey said the Winter Games, intended to become an annual event, were inspired by the Beijing Winter Olympics. Next year, they hope to have even more activities throughout the month.

"Hopefully for next year, the plan is that we will either have a week-long of activities or we'll do a month long with Saturdays here and there," she said.

Families were able to enjoy hot chocolate from Coffea Roasterie as well as cookies from Queen City Bakery.

Members of the 501st Central Garrison, an all-volunteer "Star Wars" costuming club, were also at the Winter Games to help promote the South Dakota Symphony's Saturday night show featuring the music of John Williams.

More: South Dakota Symphony Orchestra's 2022-23 season to feature everything from 'Messiah' to 'Star Trek'

Kids got to take pictures with Garrison members dressed as Kylo Ren, a dark-side Jedi; Boba Fett, the popular Mandalorian bounty hunter; and a Storm Trooper.

Members of the 501st Central Garrison play corn hole at the Winter Games in downtown Sioux Falls on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Winter Games hosted in downtown Sioux Falls
Slovenia to give Ukraine helmets, rifles and ammunition  media

Slovenia will hand over helmets, rifles and ammunition to Ukraine, Slovenian Defense Minister Matei Tonin has said.

"We will send them helmets, rifles and appropriate ammunition," Tonin told 24UR ZVECER, 24ur.com reports.
Ann Felton Gilliland, chairman and CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, hugs new Habitat homeowner Ana Villalobos at the dedication of her home in the Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition.

For 30 years, Ann Felton Gilliland was the dynamo driving Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, in public appeals for support and behind the scenes at work.

She grew it from a small charity with a borrowed office the size of a closet into one of Oklahoma City's top homebuilders, with its own office campus, cabinet shop and equipment yard.

She'd led Habitat into land development years before, and the nonprofit was closing in on finishing its most recent neighborhood, one propelled by the largest single donation it has ever received.

How hot is the real estate market in Oklahoma City? Home prices rose year over year

A litany is recited during the dedication of the final home in Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity's Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition in northwest Oklahoma City.

Along the way, Habitat built its 1,000th house, an accomplishment saluted by friends, supporters and local and state dignitaries with all appropriate pomp and circumstance.

People buy Habitat houses with zero-interest home loans, but contribute "sweat equity"  working on their own house or somewhere for Habitat  for the down payment. She helped make that happen 1,000 times.

She could retire and no one would blame her. She'd done plenty.

Besides, on the heels of that last accomplishment, that 1,000th Habitat house, the coronavirus hit. Everything was harder.

Central Oklahoma Habitat Chairman and CEO Ann Felton Gilliland and her late husband, Robert "Bob" Gilliland Jr.

Ann Felton Gilliland, still chairman and CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat

So she and her husband, attorney Robert "Bob" Gilliland Jr., made their retirement plans: She would close out 2020 and be done with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.

But there she was the other day at that most recent Habitat neighborhood, Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates, the one bolstered by that biggest-ever donation, $2.25 million unexpectedly bequeathed by its namesake.

She, friends and supporters were there at 8105 NW 74 to dedicate another Habitat home not far from the 1,000th one, along with the homebuyer, a single mother, like many Habitat homebuyers.

It was Habitat business as usual for Ann Felton Gilliland, 78, still chairman and still CEO of the ecumenical Christian Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.

Story continues

"My husband died," she said, and with him their plans to retire.

More: As mortgage rates rise in OKC, are the good times nearly over for sellers?

Ann Felton Gilliland, chairman and CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, hugs new Habitat homeowner Ana Villalobos at the dedication of her home in the Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition.

Bob Gilliland, 69, a litigation attorney with the McAfee & Taft law firm, died at home in Nichols Hills on Feb. 24, 2021. He had contracted COVID-19, but she said he had other health issues, as well. She got the virus, too, and was not expected to survive.

"My plan was I would retire and we would do some traveling." When he died, she said, it changed everything.

The Central Oklahoma Habitat Board of Directors got a second shocking letter.

"I love what I do, anyway. It's never been work to me," Felton Gilliland said. "I had actually sent the board a letter of resignation. Then I sent another one, and at the top it said, 'Change of Heart!'"

Change of heart. Change of plans. Change of everything. Now, rather than traveling the country, perhaps reflecting on 30-plus years of changing lives, she's looking forward to Habitat developing another addition.

Ann Felton Gilliland, chairman and CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, right, leads the dedication ceremony for Ana Villalobos's home, the final one in Habitat's Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition.

Nonprofit Habitat for Humanity faced additional COVID pandemic obstacles

Cornerstone Creek eventually will have 450 Habitat homes on the southwest corner of NW 150 and Morgan Road. She wants to see the first phase of 45 homes complete, then maybe retire.

"I don't like to look backwards," she said.

But a look back at the past two years of the coronavirus pandemic, and building supply disruptions, and related challenges to homebuilding, shows how Habitat could be in position now to take on a new, large, long-term project.

The past two years, skyrocketing prices for lumber and other materials, broken supply chains, and tight labor hit everybody in construction. But Habitat, as a nonprofit, faced obstacles commercial builders didn't.

Habitat's labor pool dried up almost completely when businesses and other organizations stopped sending volunteers  it was something like 7,000 volunteers a year. The Department of Corrections stopped sending inmates to work.

Big donations disappeared as well.

'This state can do so much better': Nonprofit's top priorities for Oklahoma's mental health focus on wellness in children

The last house in Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity's Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition, dedicated in memory of Robert "Bob" Gilliland, Chairman and CEO Ann Felton Gilliland 's late husband.

PPP loans helped Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity proceed

The federal Paycheck Protection Program helped. Habitat took two PPP loans, one for $465,800, and one for $459,600, Felton Gilliland said.

Habitat kept building houses, though somewhat fewer than before the pandemic  35 in 2020, and 35 in 2021, down from 45-50 per year.

With no volunteers and no inmates, Habitat's construction staff did most of the work.

"We just built them ourselves, with our subs. We did a lot of infill building. We just went out and bought lots where we could in older neighborhoods, where we're just welcomed with open arms," she said.

With new neighborhoods started from scratch that's not always the case. She said sometimes neighbors "with $350,000 homes, they're not too welcoming until they get to know Habitat  then they come volunteer with us."

The Habitat ReStores stayed open, selling donated building materials and used home furnishings at 1800 N Broadway Ave. downtown and at 4900 S High Ave.

PPP "saved us, really," she said. "I'd have had to lay people off and stop building houses."

More: Thoughts of tornadoes, tornadoes, tornadoes and the '60s, thanks to Housing Hall of Famers

The last house in Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity's Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition, dedicated in memory of Robert "Bob" Gilliland, Chairman and CEO Ann Felton Gilliland 's late husband.

Central Oklahoma Habitat board is happy that chairman/CEO is staying on

Central Oklahoma Habitat's directors are so glad Felton Gilliland has been at the helm through the pandemic and that she is staying, board member Kevyn Colburn said in an email. Her on-and-off retirement was rattling, she said.

"My initial reaction was shock, sadness, and then the realization set in that replacing Ann Felton wasnt going to be possible and that things would be different going forward," wrote Colburn, vice president of leasing for Tom Morris Enterprises and its Shoppes at Northpark and Quail Plaza. "How would we even begin to find her replacement??"

Then, when the chairman and CEO decided to stay on, Colburn wrote, "We were absolutely elated and relieved. I believe with certainty that I speak for everyone on the board!! Not only is Habitat lucky to have Ann, but our city and state are as well!!! She is an amazing woman!"

'Do unto others': Habitat leader inspired by biblical admonition

What drives Felton Gilliland? She explained her philosophy of life for The Oklahoman in April 2020. It is perfect for a charity organization that lets work, more than words, demonstrate its Christian orientation.

"My lifes philosophy really relates back to the biblical principle of 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,' as is written in Luke and Matthew," she said. "Although this may seem like an antiquated idea in our current social climate, I believe it is even more relevant today.

"Following the 'Golden Rule,' in my view, encompasses more than just how we relate to individuals. It includes how we choose to support the communities in which we live. To me, though, it seems the most important thing to remember about this philosophy is that it is not a promise of reciprocity but rather a call to action."

Senior Business Writer Richard Mize has covered housing, construction, commercial real estate, and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com since 1999. Contact him at rmize@oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity builds through loss, pandemic
This Is Us standout Lyric Ross has signed on to a role in Ironheart, the upcoming series from Marvel and Disney+, sources have confirmed to Deadline.

Starring Dominique Thorne (Judas and the Black Messiah), the show centers on the teenage Riri Williams (Thorne), a genius inventor, who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Anthony Ramos also stars. Ross is believed to be playing Williams best friend.

More from Deadline

The character, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato, was first introduced into Marvel comics in 2016.

Chinaka Hodge was previously announced as head writer for the series. Development on the Ironheart series was first announced during Disneys investor day presentation in 2020.

Ross joined This is Us as a recurring in season 2 in the role of Deja Pearson, and was promoted to series regular Season 3. She was nominated for a 2018 Teen Choice Award in the category of Choice Breakout TV Star for her portrayal of the character in Season 2. Her previous TV credits include USAs Sirens and NBCs Chicago Fire. Feature credits include the indie film Rogers Park and Canal Street.

The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the casting.

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Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Florida Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is distancing herself from white supremacist Nick Fuentes  the morning after she spoke at his event.



At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, CBS News Robert Costa questioned Greene about her surprise appearance at Fuentes America First Political Action Conference the previous night alongside Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar. Fuentes has been identified by the Anti-Defamation League as an online personality who has regularly spread racist and anti-Semitic theories, including Great Replacement Theory, which claims that white communities are being replaced by people of color.

A video leaked from Fuentes event Friday also showed him leading the crowd in cheering on Vladimir Putin and Russias invasion of Ukraine.

News: @CBSNews pressed @RepMTG on her appearance last night at a white nationalist conference



Full video: pic.twitter.com/omoKffnnvF  Robert Costa (@costareports) February 26, 2022

Greene said she appeared at the event to talk to them about America First Policies and whats important for our country going forward.

I do not know Nick Fuentes, Greene told CBS News. Ive never heard him speak. Ive never seen a video. I dont know what his views are, so Im not aligned with anything that may be controversial. What I can tell you is I went to his event last night to address his very large following because (it is) young. Its a very young following and its a generation Im extremely concerned about.

Republican National Committee chairman Ronna McDaniel declined to provide comment to Costa about Greenes appearance at the event. Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney denounced Greenes appearance, continuing her stance against alt-right members of her own party.

As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep.Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, antisemitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican party leaders is deafening and enabling, Cheney tweeted. All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now.
An anti-mandate protest group of truckers calling themselves "The People's Convoy" are traveling from California to the District of Columbia and passing through Oklahoma on Saturday and Sunday.

The trucker convoy, embarking on a 2,500-mile cross-country trip, were expected to stop in Elk City for an overnight stay Saturday, and then head to Vinita for another stay Sunday, according to the group's website.

A map of the route, also available on the website, suggests the convoy will travel east on Interstate 40, pass through the Oklahoma City metro area, and then continue via Interstate 44.

What is the U.S. trucker protest about?

Statements on The People's Convoy's website quote the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution almost verbatim, but also "demand the national emergency concerning the COVID-19 pandemic be lifted immediately."

The national state of emergency was declared by former President Donald Trump in March 2020, and President Joe Biden has said he's extending it "beyond March 1, 2022."

"To our elected officials that believe they rule us: YOU work for US," the convoy's statement reads. "Our constitution was written to provide enough power to act on a national level, but not enough to deprive the people of fundamental rights. The people are prepared to see this challenge through  as we have seen through all challenges to our Freedom in the past. And we will prevail and prosper."

Truckers involved with the convoy said they do not doubt the reality of the pandemic, but they cast doubt on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, despite numerous studies demonstrating their general safety and effectiveness. The truckers also dispute the constitutionality of vaccination mandates.

"Me, personally? It's up to you," said organizer Mike Landis in a video. "You want a vaccine? Take it. That's the whole point of this: It's about freedom, your freedom to choose what you feel is best for your life, within the morals and guidelines of our Constitution."

Story continues

More: As some Oklahoma churches push vaccines, others sow misinformation, doubt

The U.S. trucker movement is inspired by a similar group called the "Freedom Convoy," which began protesting vaccine requirements and travel restrictions in the Canadian capital of Ottawa during late January.

By mid-February the protests in Canada had grown so large, they had effectively blockaded major border highways, with the Ottawa government declaring a state of emergency and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declaring a national emergency soon after. Police cleared them out by late February.

Trucks line up on Wednesday, Feb. 23 to leave Adelanto Stadium to start the cross-country Peoples Convoy toward Washington, D.C.

The Freedom Convoy protests in Canada involved upwards of 1,000 trucks and smaller vehicles, while U.S. authorities estimated 100 big rigs and more than 500 cars were participating in The People's Convoy when the group first departed California Wednesday.

While the convoy hopes to attract supporters along the way, it's unclear how many truckers are actually coming along for the ride.

After Canada, US truckers decided to start their own 'convoys'. What are they protesting?

Where is the trucker convoy now?

Convoy_map

By Friday, the convoy had passed through Arizona and was expected to stay in Glenrio, Texas overnight.

After traveling through central Oklahoma Saturday and Sunday, the truckers plan to head east to Sullivan, Missouri, by Monday night, before continuing to Indiana through Tuesday and then moving on.

The total trip across the country will take an estimated 11 days, and the People's Convoy is not expected to arrive in the D.C. Beltway area until the evening of March 5.

The truckers from California will arrive too late for Biden's State of the Union address, planned for Tuesday. But officials in D.C. are anticipating potential gridlock from similar convoys that started elsewhere.

Truckers involved with the People's Convoy say the protests will be peaceful. Experts have expressed concern, however, that large-scale demonstrations of anti-vaccine sentiment could turn violent at the capital.

More: Oklahoma legislature fights the feds as questions come from both sides of the aisle

D.C. government and federal law enforcement have requested National Guard assistance in dealing with truck conveys at the capital. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved deployment of 700 guardsmen to aid with D.C. traffic control beginning Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Anti-vaccine mandate 'People's Convoy' protest to make OKC stop
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to undertake an official overseas visit together.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will visit Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, on a week-long tour in late March.

This will be their first official visit to the Caribbean.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to undertake an official overseas visit together. Prince William and Kate Middleton will visit Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, on a week-long tour in late March. This will be their first official visit to the Caribbean.

The tour will begin in Belize on March 19 and end in Jamaica on March 26. Per Kensington Palace, in Belize, the Cambridges "will visit historic Mayan sites and celebrate the rich culture of the Garifuna community as well as exploring the countrys biodiversity." In Jamaica, they will meet with the Jamaica Defence Force and celebrate Jamaican musicians, and in the Bahamas, they will travel across numerous islands are experience a "famous junkanoo parade," a street parade celebrating Bahamian culture.

Photo credit: Samir Hussein - Getty Images

The Caribbean visit will focus on causes that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge care about, including mental health and early childhood education. According to Kensington Palace, "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."

In April, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, will undertake a visit to other commonwealth countries in the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. This is part of a larger plan of royal tours in honor of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee yearincluding a visit of Prince Charles and Camilla to Ireland and Princess Anne to Papua New Guinea.

The Cambridges' Caribbean tour is ostensibly in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, but also is a "charm offensive," per The Telegraph. The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Belize are all Commonwealth realmsnations where Queen Elizabeth serves as monarch and head of state. There are currently 15 Commonwealth realms, after Barbados became the most recent realm to become a republic.

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Photo credit: RANDY BROOKS - Getty Images

Barbados severed ties with the British monarchy in November 2021, becoming a republic after almost 400 years of various forms of British rulePrince Charles attended the ceremony. In the wake of that decision, the debate over whether or not to remove the Queen as head of state has reignited across many Commonwealth realms. And it's not just Caribbean nationspolling in Australia and Canada shows removing the Queen as head of state is popular.



Calls for Jamaica to become a republic especially intensified after Barbados left the Commonwealth. Jamaica's prime minister Andrew Holness declared in December 2021 that "Jamaica has to become a republic." Holness added, "We have put together a plan to move towards that in a way that is meaningful and substantial in function and form. That is what we are going to do."

Photo credit: William Lovelace - Getty Images

Belize's leader, too, has spoken about the need for a change in government structure. Prime Minister John Briceno said in July 2021: "Probably one of the things we will be talking about in the near future [is] whether we want to stay with the parliamentary system, or do we want to go to a republican system, or find a hybrid between a parliamentary system and a republican system?"

The last senior royal to visit the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Belize was Prince Harry in 2012 as part of a Diamond Jubilee Tour. In addition, Princess Anne visited Jamaica and the Bahamas in 2015 and Prince Edward and Sophie visited the Bahamas in 2016.

Photo credit: Chris Jackson - Getty Images

Last summer, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle acknowledged the "uncomfortable" history of the Commonwealth in conversation with youth leaders involved in the Queens Commonwealth Trust.

"When you look across the Commonwealth, there is no way that we can move forward unless we acknowledge the past," Prince Harry said, urging the United Kingdom to work to "right the wrongs" of its colonial history.

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Friends and family of Robert F Kennedy Jr say they are dismayed at his descent into fear-mongering through the spread of anti-vaccine conspiracies.

In interviews with the the New York Times, two of his surviving siblings said Mr Kennedys emergence as one of the most prominent anti-vax activists in the United States was causing anguish among the family.

Mr Kennedy, who public health officials describe as a longtime spreader of vaccine misinformation, triggered fresh outrage last month when he suggested attempts to impose vaccine mandates in the US were worse than what happened in Nazi Germany.

Even in Hitlers Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland, you could hide in an attic like Anne Frank did, he said at a rally in Washington DC.

He later apologised, after being publicly criticised by his wife Cheryl Hines.

His sister Kerry Kennedy tweeted at the time: Bobbys lies and fear-mongering yesterday were both sickening and repulsive.

Ms Kennedy told the Times he had been an extraordinary older brother, describing him as well-read, charismatic and possessing a childlike buoyancy and lightness.

Hes a beautiful person in a million different ways. And then he has this, she said.

Another brother, Christopher G Kennedy, told the Times he had been stunned by the Nazi comparison.

I love my brother but could not disagree with him more.

In recent years five of his eight surviving siblings have publicly criticised Mr Kennedy for his anti-vaccine views.

Longtime friend Blake Fleetwood toldthe Times he was perplexed at why Mr Kennedy was blowing his whole lifes work by taking on the anti-vaccine crusade.

Cheryl Hines, star of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr (Getty Images for Waterkeeper All)

For more than a decade, Mr Kennedy has spread vaccine conspiracy theories to his vast social media following and in bestselling books.

His views became more prominent during the Covid pandemic, as the US lagged behind other developed nations in vaccination rates.

Among Mr Kennedys controversial views are that the President Joe Bidens leading Covid adviser Anthony Fauci and Microsoft founder Bill Gates are working with Big Pharma to profit from the vaccine rollout.

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He has claimed that 5G towers are being installed across the nation to harvest our data and control our behavior.

Mr Kennedy has also cast doubt on whether Sirhan Sirhan murdered his father, the former Attorney General and Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968.

In an interview with The Independent in January, Mr Kennedy denied he had compared vaccine mandates to Nazi Germany.

I was making a point that modern technology leads to totalitarian regimes, and gave several examples. Which is a totally different point, he said.
Bill Pugliano/Getty

Former Democratic House Representative and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard on Friday night said she finally found where she belongedat the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference.

Gabbard spoke at the conferences Ronald Reagan Dinner, walking out to thunderous applause. As she took the podium, she greeted the crowd with an Aloha and thanked everyone for a warm welcome, which came four days after she was announced as a CPAC speaker.

Youre making me feel right at home, she said with a smile.

In her 20-minute speech, Gabbard attempted to balance two opposing viewpoints: the idea of a common foundation in the American public, and the idea of a powerful elite aimed at canceling and silencing those who speak out against the government.

She touched on multiple themes prevalent throughout the 2022 gatheringfree speech, an authoritarian Canada, and the idea that President Joe Biden views those who push back on him as domestic terrorists.

What theyre telling us is you are an enemy of the state, she said. If you dare to oppose or even question the president, his administration, or his policies, shut up, step back fall in line, or were coming after you. This isnt some theory. This is reality.

American Conservatives Union Chairman Matt Schlapp told The Daily Beast he first spoke to Gabbard about attending the conference a few weeks ago. The two were set up by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who he said was a friend of Gabbard, and that speaking at the conference wasnt the purpose of the call.

We started talking and had good conversations and seemed to be on the same page, he said. I didnt request her speech, so I listened like everybody and I thought it was really well done.

Gabbard also reinforced some of the conspiracies and cultural movements nearly all CPAC speakers have shared from the stage without ever using the word conservative to describe herself.

She praised special counsel John Durhams probe of the investigation into Russias involvement in the 2016 election (which she portrayed as one into Clinton corruption, another conservative talking point about one of Gabbards political enemies). She hailed parents who have fought back against school boards who she said threatened how they were raising their kids. She also propped up the idea of cancel culture for those who tried to criticize the current administration.

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But she said the CPAC attendeesstill without using the word conservativewill lead the battle to fight back against Democrats.

We have decided that we belong to no one but God, she said. We are not subjects or slaves of those who govern and by Gods grace, we are free and we will fight to remain free.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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I'm a budget traveler who flew first class using airline miles. It was amazing but I wouldn't spend money on it.

I used points from credit-card bonuses to travel first class on Emirates and had a luxurious flight.

I drank champagne and ate salmon in a spacious suite with a full-fledged entertainment center.

This experience was awesome, but I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars on it.

After years of low-budget traveling, my fiance and I decided to use airline points and flew in Emirates first class from the Maldives to Dubai.

Without miles, this first-class flight is usually about $3,000.

As a traveler who frequents economy and has never flown first class, the seat upgrade was a highlight of the entire trip.

I used to think flying first class was reserved for the wealthy

Flying in Emirates first class was a luxurious experience for me. Lauren Poffenbarger

Though we used to think that only frequent fliers who are loyal to an airline can accumulate loads of miles, we earned the bulk of our points through sign-on bonuses with credits we patiently accumulated points with over the years.

We used a combination of Citi ThankYou and American Express points, both of which offer partnered programs with Emirates Skywards at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Originally, we purchased our multi-city return flights in business class for 127,000 miles combined. At first, only one of our seats could be upgraded for 24,000 miles. However, the day before our flight, thanks to a bit of luck and persistence, another upgrade opened up for the same amount.

The luxury I experienced during the 4 hours on the plane was completely foreign to me

Our suite had a mini table. Lauren Poffenbarger

Upon boarding, we were greeted by our assigned flight attendant, guided to our seats, and offered water and a hot towel to freshen up.

The flight attendant soon returned with Arabic dates and coffee poured from a traditional pot called a dallah.

We were even served coffee. Lauren Poffenbarger

The first-class cabin held eight seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement and was not fully booked during our flight.

The suite had plenty of storage and outlets, and though I'm only 5-foot-3, I'm confident someone tall would have enough legroom and find it comfortable.

The seats were comfortable and fully adjustable. Lauren Poffenbarger

Each suite contains a large, fully-adjustable leather seat, added privacy from a sliding door, and a small closet that opens from the aisle and contains hangers for your coat.

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Once the plane doors closed for boarding, we were served 2003 Dom Perignon champagne  and the flight attendant ensured my glass remained full.

The amenities within the personal suite oozed with opulence

I enjoyed all the legroom and seemingly endless refills of champagne that came with first class. Lauren Poffenbarger

Each suite features a 32-inch screen for the entertainment system that can be controlled either by a remote in the armrest or a tablet next to the seat.

With so much leg space, it was physically impossible for me to touch the screen while seated like you can in economy.

The Emirates first-class entertainment center felt very fancy. Lauren Poffenbarger

From the tablet, you can also control your seat settings, the blinds for the windows within your suite, or request service from the flight attendants.

We were also given Byredo skin-care products and an Emirates-embossed leather notebook and pen, which were placed in a pop-up vanity mirror.

Bulgari cologne and perfume, dental kits, and even hand cream were also available to passengers.

I was excited to see that we'd been provided with products from luxury skin-care brand Byredo. Lauren Poffenbarger

Emirates made sure no space was wasted in the suite and paid attention to the little details  there was even a fresh orchid in a vase and a small table lamp in the corner.

First-class passengers receive complimentary WiFi for the entire flight, which I found to work quite well. We were also given Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones, though I wasn't impressed with their sound quality.

We also had our own personal mini-bar, which lifted with a click of a button.

We could control the TV with a tablet and open our mini bar with the click of a button. Lauren Poffenbarger

The first-class bathroom wasn't anything special, though it was cleaner than the ones I've usually seen in economy or business because it had less foot traffic.

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I was excited to indulge in fine dining in the sky

The first-class food felt so fancy. Lauren Poffenbarger

During meals, each suite is set with a white table cloth, glassware, and silverware. Unlike in economy, travelers are not locked into an in-flight meal schedule and get to decide when and how much they want to eat or drink from the menu.

The extensive menu contained a variety of upscale dishes and spirits, including a bottle of Hennessy Paradis that retails for over $1,000.

Our Arabic mezze came with bread, vegetables, and assorted dips. Lauren Poffenbarger

For my first course, I ordered the traditional Arabic mezze. The portion was so generous I felt like I could have shared with other people.

For my main course, I ordered the pan-fried salmon, which was cooked perfectly with a pesto sauce and paired wonderfully with the champagne.

The salmon entree was cooked perfectly. Lauren Poffenbarger

I'm still baffled by how they managed to prepare fish so well on a plane.

I managed to make room for dessert, which was light and refreshing coconut panna cotta.

The coconut panna cotta with fruit was a refreshing way to end the meal. Lauren Poffenbarger

Before landing, the flight attendant came back for any last-minute requests and to gift us a small box of chocolates.

The first-class treatment continued after we got off the plane

We took advantage of Emirates' complimentary chauffeur service. Lauren Poffenbarger

Emirates also provides transportation to and from the airport for business or first-class passengers.

After saying our goodbyes to the in-flight service team, we took advantage of the complimentary chauffeur service.

We easily found the chauffeur pick-up location at the Dubai International Airport. There was no wait time at the desk and a seamless check-in process.

We rode to our hotel in Dubai in a BMW. Lauren Poffenbarger

From the desk, were quickly escorted to our driver and the BMW we'd ride in to our Dubai hotel.

After all this luxury, I wish that I could fly first class again

Though I wouldn't pay for the first-class experience with real money, I thought that we used our points wisely. Lauren Poffenbarger

Four hours on the plane didn't feel long enough  I wanted more time to enjoy the full range of food and amenities.

From the amazing service to the added benefits that come with flying first class, the experience set itself apart from economy.

I wouldn't spend actual money on it, but redeeming our miles for this luxurious first-class experience felt like the best use of our points.

Read the original article on Insider
2020 Vanity Fair Oscar After Party

Source: David Crotty / Getty

Kanye West devoted a lot of his now-deleted social media posts to antagonizing Kim Kardashian. From threatening her boyfriend Pete Davidson to bashing her parenting, the Chicago spitter gladly took his marital drama to Instagram. He now doesnt want those posts used in their divorce case.

According to TMZ, West has filed legal documents to make his Instagram posts inadmissible at their next hearing where a judge will determine whether Kardashians single status will be declared. West and his lawyers argument is that Kardashian cant prove that he was the one writing those defamatory posts.

Kim claims she read something online allegedly by Kanye and characterizes the posts in her declaration as misinformation  Kim needed to offer the social media posts into evidence, and show that the posts were written by Kanye, Wests lawyer wrote in legal documents.

The lawyer is also saying that their prenuptial could be invalid because prenups filed after 2001 are only valid if both of them agree to its conditions of if it is validated through trial in California.

His previous social media posts were like rallying cries to his fans to support him in badmouthing Kardashian and Davidson. In one of his initial posts, he claimed he was being kept away his Chicago Wests fourth birthday party.

Yall, I was just wishing my daughter a public happy birthday. I wasnt allowed to know where her party was, theres nothing legal thats saying that this is the kind of game thats being played, he said in an Instagram video. Its the kind of thing that really has affected my health for the longest and Im just not playing. Im taking control of my narrative this yearIm being the best fatherthe Ye version of a fatherand Im not finna let this happenChicago, happy birthday. I love you and Im just putting this online because I need yalls support.

When he didnt agree with North West, 8, being on TikTok, he asked Instagram, SINCE THIS IS MY FIRST DIVORCE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO ABOUT MY DAUGHTER BEING PUT ON TIK TOK AGAINST MY WILL ?

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The Donda rapper also slammed Kardashian after she responded to his constant social media attacks but only responded to her statement about her being the main provider.

What do you mean by main provider? America saw you try to kidnap my daughter on her birthday by not providing the address, he said. You put security on me inside of the house to play with my son then accused me of stealing.. I had to take a drug test after Chicagos party because you accused me of being on drugs. Tracy Romulus stop manipulating Kim to be this way.

He most recently took credit for being the reason why Davidson deactivated his Instagram account.

Ran Skete off the gram Tell your mother I changed your name for life, he wrote.
As of 09:00, the number of wounded in hospitals in Kyiv region is 71, the situation in the region is completely under control, Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Oleksiy Kuleba has said.

"As of 9:00, the number of wounded in hospitals in Kyiv region is 71 people. Among them are military and civilians. In general, the situation in Kyiv region is completely under control today," he wrote on Facebook.

Kuleba said that it is tense in Kyiv region now, fierce battles continued all night.

"But we have everything completely under control. The Ukrainian military repulsed the attack on the city of Vasylkiv. The difficult directions of Irpin and Vyshgorod remain. There is also a tense situation in the city of Brovary," he said.

Also, the head of the Regional State Administration said that the buildup of troops on the border with Ukraine in Kyiv region is seen. The humanitarian situation, he said, is stable.
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community School has continued remote learning even as most New Mexico schools reopened their doors to students and staff.

The tribal school is located 26 miles south of Bloomfield, New Mexico near Huerfano Mountain  one of the sacred mountains on the Navajo Reservation. Each year between 150 to 180 students - by far a majority Navajo enroll in Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle, according to the school's website.

A truck drives northbound, Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, on U.S. Highway 550 by the turnoff to the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle community school and health center.

The school's principal Chrystal Martinez-Tom told the Carlsbad Current-Argus she only expected to conduct remote learning for a short period of time, but the virus continued to rage in their community as students and their families contracted COVID-19.

"We do not know when things will return to normal, or what the new normal will look like," Martinez-Tom said.

The Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community School has conducted remote learning since March 2020 when the Navajo Nation Board of Education passed a resolution that required all of its schools to conduct classes remotely.

Most schools in the state returned to face-to-face learning in August 2021 only switching to online classes when cases began to rise.

More: NM health officials battling misinformation on masks, vaccines as COVID-19 resurges

Carlsbad Municipal Schools in Carlsbad, New Mexico returned to remote learning just a week after the first day of school. And as the virus continues to impact the state, school districts continue to react, including Santa Fe Public Schools which closed in January as the Omicron variant lead to a surge in cases.

The struggles of remote learning

Students and staff who test positive for the virus are required quarantine for at least five days under the New Mexico Public Education Department's guidelines. These students are usually able to continue taking classes online.

Administrators say this has put additional pressure on teachers, forcing some to juggle in-person classes and remote learning for their quarantined students.

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In southeast New Mexico, Carlsbad Municipal Schools and Loving Municipal Schools pushed to avoid school closures even when COVID-19 cases began to rise.

By late January Hillcrest Preschool in Carlsbad and Loving Elementary school were forced to moved to remote learning after a large number of staff members tested positive for the virus.

More: New Mexico schools prepare to implement new social studies curriculum

Early in the pandemic families throughout the state struggled to adapt to remote learning. Internet connectivity became a concern for students living in rural areas.

New Mexico ranked 49th for households with internet access  just behind Mississippi  according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) report published in 2021. The survey was initially conducted in 2018.

According to the report, 23.1% of households in New Mexico do not have a broadband internet subscription. That number rises to 30.9% in rural areas.

Prairie land on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation in New Mexico on Sept. 18, 2020.

"At the beginning of the pandemic, many of our students and staff did not have internet connections or laptops," said Martinez-Tom.

She said the school tried different internet providers and by August 2020, most students had an internet connection or mobile hotspot.

"However, the reliability depends on the weather and remote areas each student resides," Martinez-Tom said.

Data shows that the switch to remote learning and internet connection issues may have led to a rise in chronic absenteeism in New Mexico schools.

More: Carlsbad Municipal Schools' students protest statewide mask requirements during class

Truancy rose from 9% during the 2019-2020 school year, to 27% during the 2020-2021 school year, according to the 2021 New Mexico KIDS COUNT Data Book.

Martinez-Tom said school is a place where students can have social interactions and build relationships.

"The structure that was once created and upheld by school administration in campus buildings had been turned over to the students and their families when the pandemic began," Martinez-Tom said. "Students have faced a multitude of challenges, not only from the concerns about COVID-19 but it had affected their physical & mental wellbeing, the impact of the economic stress due to parental job loss, loss of loved ones and the daily uncertainty of attending virtual school."

Martinez-Tom said the school has not been able to adequately provide counseling to address these concerns.

In this April 2020 photo, an area student participates in an online class after schools moved to remote learning due to the pandemic.

Solutions

Efforts have been made throughout the state to address some of the challenges schools have faced throughout the pandemic.

In early February the PED launched a hotline to provide New Mexico students with technical support and homework help to students who are missing school due to the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the PED said the hotline will not turn away any students needing help, even those going to schools under the Bureau of Indian Affairs like Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle.

Most schools have taken full advantage of federal relief funds provided through the American Rescue Plan and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. Schools typically used these funds to provide students and staffwith electronic devices, internet access and personal protective equipment.

Martinez-Tom said the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle used relief funds to establish a bus route to deliver supplies and daily meals to students.

"Our school is very grateful the federal government provided extra funding to ensure that schools continued to provide the educational services to students," Martinez-Tom said.

CMS has used relief funds to open a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site for students and staff and is conducting an assessment to find out ways the district can improve mental health services.

Martinez-Tom said the Dzilth-Na-O-Dith-Hle Community School implemented a parent and guardian tutoring program. The program allows parents to assist the school with maintaining daily attendance, submitting schoolwork, keeping electronic devices charged and class participation.

She said the school also hosts online activities for parents and students such as a Navajo culture night and movie nights; have offered tutoring, a STEAM (science technology, engineering, art and math) program, a summer program and reading and math training for parents.

"We are extremely proud of all of our staff and school board members for the dedication and continuous support for the benefit of our children," said Martinez-Tom.

Claudia Silva is a reporter from the UNM Local Reporting Fellowship. She can be reached at csilva2@currentargus.com, by phone at 575-628-5506 or on Twitter @thewatchpup.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Why some New Mexico students continue going to school remotely
Netflix's newest limited series, Inventing Anna, follows in the footsteps of other shows about the mega-rich like Succession and Billions, with one key difference: it's not only satirizing real-lifeit's based on an actual true story. Well, for the most part; as text at the beginning of every Inventing Anna episode says, "This whole story is completely true. Except for all of the parts that are totally made up."

That's probably the safest way to preface a story that was pieced together after-the-fact, with reporters, attorneys, and different people out of a whole lot of money all trying to figure out what exactly went down. Anna Sorokin, who claimed to be a German-born heiress with a trust fund named Anna Delvey, eventually used this (not true) status to defraud banks and acquaintances of large sums of money. She was first arrested in 2017, before sitting trial in 2019, when she was found guilty of defrauding hotels, restaurants, banks, and more out of more than $200,000. And now, she's been paid $320,000 by Netflix for the rights to tell her story in the form of the Shonda Rhimes-produced limited series Inventing Anna.

Sorokin was sentenced by Judge Diane Kiesel to four to 12 years in prison, counting the two years she spent at Rikers Island awaiting that 2019 trial. She was released early for good behavior in February 2021, though she was once again detainedthis time by ICEfor "overstaying her visa" not long after that, where she currently remains.

Photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY - Getty Images

But as you're watching Inventing Anna, you may naturally wonder if the character the show largely chooses to paint as an eccentric, enterprising anti-hero, is the same way in real life, and further, you may be wondering how Netflix payed their way into it.



Was Anna Delvey (or, well, Anna Sorokin) paid for Inventing Anna?

Yes. While Inventing Anna is based on a New York Magazine article by writer Jessica Pressler (characterized in the series as "Vivian Kent" and played by Anna Chlumsky), the streamer also doled out a reported $320,000 to Anna Sorokin (played in the series by Ozark star Julia Garner) for the rights to tell her story.

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However, that money has had to go elsewhere; Sorokin still owed quite a bit. In 2019, New York state invoked the "Son of Sam" law, which froze her funds; it's named after the serial killer of the same name, who was getting offers from publishers in 1977 to write memoirs about his crimes.

Insider reported that she's given $199,000 of that Netflix money to pay restitution to the banks, plus another $24,000 to settle state fines. She's also paid $75,000 in attorney fees, and will have more to pay once her legal matter has resolved/concluded. With her fees being paid, her funds were unfrozen in 2021, but she won't have much, if anything, left over from that payday.



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As the Ukraine death toll continues to rise and Russian assault intensifies, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have released a statement condemning Russian president Vladimir Putin for his war on Ukraine.

In a message posted to their nonprofit Archewells website, the couple and their foundation team urged world leaders to make their stance clear on the war between the two European nations, stating that they stand with the people of Ukraine.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same, the statement read.

From the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their team at the Archewell Foundation: pic.twitter.com/kd9vs9suJS  Omid Scobie (@scobie) February 24, 2022

Since stepping back from their senior royal roles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have freely expressed views on issues British royals usually consider political matters that require neutrality (and silence). The pair were outspoken advocates during the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, have campaigned for the Stop Hate for Profit movement, and rallied action to alleviate suffering and prove our humanity in the context of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and humanitarian disaster in Haiti.



Their philanthropic and advocacy efforts will be acknowledged tomorrow, February 26, at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards, where the Sussexes will receive the prestigious Presidents Award for their public service. The couple will also attend the ceremony to launch the first NAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award, which recognizes leaders creating transformational change. The inaugural recipient is author and UCLA professor Safiya Noble, PhD, who has pioneered the study of how digital technologies intersect with culture, race, and gender.



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Although other members of the British royal family continue to remain silent on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are royals across Europe who have quickly responded after Putins troops bombarded airports and seized areas such as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wrote that their hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and everyone affected by the violence. And Spains King Felipe called the attacks a totally unjustified aggression of unprecedented seriousness and a flagrant violation of international law that risks global security and stability.

Response by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to the situation in Ukraine: https://t.co/xRAPl5AoED pic.twitter.com/rqhL8z8P6u  Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) February 24, 2022

Last night, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that 137 people had been killed and 316 wounded as Russia launched a full-scale invasion on the country.

This morning, February 25, heavy exchanges of fire and heavy Russian shelling continue to take place across a number of Ukrainian regions, including Kharkiv, Odessa, and Donetsk.

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The history of Vikings is long and complicated. Originally living peacefully in their ancestral home, a changing landscape forced them to adapt, and spin off into new territories.

Now, I am not talking about the long history of the Viking people, but the distribution saga of the 2013 drama series.

More from TVLine

Originally airing on the History channel, Vikings eventually found a streaming home on Prime Video, releasing the second half of its sixth season ahead of its cable premiere. Now, nearly nine years after the original sagas debut, it has spawned a spinoff  Vikings: Valhalla, on Netflix. And it stands as the latest victim in the war for IP that has left parent shows and their spinoffs separated between streamers by complicated licensing agreements (looking at you, Yellowstone and 1883).

And yet, despite its new home, Vikings: Valhalla has plenty of callbacks to the original series that will please the old gods. Kattegat still plays a central role in the drama, and names such as Ragnar Lothbrok, Lagertha, Bjorn Ironside and Ivar the Boneless are referenced with the reverence and respect they deserve. But much has changed in the 100 years since Ragnars rule, with new kings, warriors and gods now filling Kattegats halls.

A NEW KING AROSE OVER ENGLAND WHO KNEW NOT RAGNOR | But Vikings: Valhalla actually begins in England, in the Viking settlement of the Danelaw, with the pagans-turned-Christians celebrating St. Brices Day and sending Harald Sigurdsson (played by Leo Suter) back to Norway, the ancestral home of the Vikings. As he departs, his older brother Sten is called to the palace of King thelred II (The Borgias Bosco Hogan) on an urgent matter. This, however, turns out to be a trap, as the king  fearful over the Vikings growing numbers and facing pressure from his nobles  exterminates all the Vikings living in the Danelaw, Sten included.

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One year later, King Canute of Denmark (Bradley Freegard) calls upon all Vikings from across Norway and its settlements to form a great army and seek revenge on the English. However, a great storm off the coast of Kattegat weakens the numbers of the great army by destroying all of that days incoming ships  that is, all except one.

Vikings stars @alexanderludwig @KatherynWinnick and @alex_h_andersen send their love  plus a bit of advice  to the cast of Vikings: Valhalla, now on Netflix pic.twitter.com/VbhxUxCJEH  Netflix (@netflix) February 25, 2022

THE GREENLANDERS | Thanks to his quick thinking and captaining skills, Leif Erikson (Chilling Adventures of Sabrinas Sam Corlett) is able to steer his ship through the great storm from his home in Greenland, saving the lives of his comrades and his sister, Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson).

Leif goes off to explore Kattegat, which has grown exponentially since the days of Ragnar and Bjorn, including the addition of a new sea gate. Also new to Kattegat: Christian Vikings, who now match if not surpass the population of those who worship Odin and the old gods.

Frida Gustavsson as Freydis - Credit: Netflix

Netflix

Meanwhile, Freydis runs into and sleeps with Harald, who reveals himself as the great-grandson of Harald Finehair Halfdansson. (I dont know who that is, Freydis uncaringly responds when Harald gives her the big news, in a line reading that would undoubtedly make poor, old Finehair roll in his grave.) Freydis, in turn, reveals to him that she and her brother are not there to help the great army but are seeking revenge against the Christian Viking who raped and branded her with a cross.

Back on the docks, Leif and Freydis spot the ship of Jarl Olaf Haraldsson (Johannes Haukur Johannesson), the Christian half-brother of Harald, and seemingly identify him as her rapist. They follow him to the main armys camp but discover that getting to him will be more difficult than initially anticipated. Olaf built the defenses around London back when the Vikings and English were allies, making him indispensable to the Viking army and heavily protected.

CHRISTIAN VS. PAGANS | Olaf is well aware of his value to the Viking army, hoping to use it to further his religious agenda. Refusing to fight with pagans, he declares that he will only assist the great army if a mass conversion of all the worshippers of the old gods takes place. However, King Canute is quick to shut that proposal down, understanding that, were he to allow it, it would cause a massive civil war among his own ranks.

Leo Suter as Harald - Credit: Netflix

Netflix

But Olaf is not the only valuable member of the new army. Harald, too, proves his worth by convincing his half-brother to join the fight by reminding him of all the gold and riches he can earn while in England. And later that evening, as King Canute rallies his troops, the young warrior stops a duel between leaders of the Christian and pagan factions, reminding them that they all bleed the same Viking blood.

SINS OF THE FATHER | Leif infiltrates the army camp to try and get close to Olaf but is interrupted when some men seeking revenge against his father for killing their brother attack him. He, however, proves to be a formidable warrior, defeating several Vikings without killing them. Harald witnesses this great feat and tries to recruit Leif for his cause, but Leif is uninterested in the glory Harald promises.

While waiting for Leif to return, Freydis runs into Jarl Hakkon (Caroline Henderson), the new ruler of Kattegat and friend of Freydis and Leifs father, while praying to the old gods. The jarl warns Freydis that the old ways are no longer tolerated much in Norway and that Kattegat is one of the few safe refuges for people like them.

The great army departs for Kattegat to rest and replenish before leaving for England. Freydis and Leif reconnect in the Great Hall as the army feasts and readies to exact their revenge against the Christian rapist. However, the culprit turns out not to be Olaf but his lieutenant, Gunnar. As Leif distracts Harald, Freydis stabs Gunnar and carves a cross in his chest. Furious, Olaf leaps to kill Freydis but is quickly disarmed by Jarl Hakkon, who reminds him whose house he is in. Freydis claims that she was in her right to kill him for the crimes he committed against her, with Harald coming to her defense and begging her to show everyone her scars. Freydis does so, shocking even Olaf, and Jarl Hakkon announces that she will render judgment in the morning.

In the meantime, its your turn to render judgment. What did you think of the premiere? Grade it via the poll below, then hit the comments!

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Click here to read the full article.
Feb. 25A decade ago, Yevgeniy Pavlovich Savinskiy threatened two police officers at an Astoria motel, led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit, and tried while in jail to arrange for adversaries in his criminal case to be killed or crippled.

The case, which saw multiple appeals and a lengthy sentence reversed as Oregon law changed, arrived at a resolution on Thursday.

Savinskiy, 47, was convicted on two counts of attempted first-degree murder, attempt to elude police, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault.

He was sentenced by Judge Henry Kantor to more than 11 years in prison. With credit for time served, Savinskiy will be out in less than two years.

As part of a plea deal that includes no contact with the victims, Savinskiy, formerly of Washougal, Washington, agreed to renounce his U.S. citizenship and return to his home country of Ukraine. If he violates his probation, such as by trying to reenter the U.S. illegally, he will serve more than 10 years in prison.

On Feb. 12, 2012, Astoria police officers Joe Symonds, Christopher McNeary and a third officer were called to the Lamplighter Motel  now the Atomic Motel  on Marine Drive to detain a guest that police suspected of illegally possessing a silencer and using false identification. Symonds approached the door, while McNeary and the other officer went around the back.

When Savinskiy answered, his suspicious behavior  opening the door a few inches, putting weight on it to keep the officers out, seeming to stall  alarmed Symonds, according to District Attorney Ron Brown, who recounted the events at the sentencing.

Symonds saw Savinskiy's eyes dilate. "He thought something was going to happen," Brown said, "and it did."

Savinskiy withdrew into the room and raised a handgun as Symonds pushed the door open. Symonds and McNeary opened fire. Savinskiy, who was shot through the left wrist and in his right shoulder, managed to exit the room, climb into his rented van with the gun, speed over the New Youngs Bay Bridge, turn into the Premarq Center, then drive over concrete barriers to get back onto U.S. Highway 101 southbound.

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The midday car chase continued through Warrenton, Gearhart and Seaside. In the Cannon Beach area, Savinskiy reversed course to get on to U.S. Highway 26, where the van was spike-stripped. He drove another few miles on the rims, Brown said, before he spun onto the roadside.

"We're lucky somebody wasn't killed just by virtue of that chase," Brown said.

Even as officers surrounded him, Savinskiy was seen going for his gun before he surrendered.

An AR-15 was found in his suitcase. He also had a bizarre cache that included a hard hat, hair dye, new clothes, a reflective vest and a breathing mask, The Astorian reported. What Savinskiy intended to do with all of those items remains a mystery, Brown said.

Once in jail, Savinskiy tried to put out a contract to kill Symonds and Savinskiy's ex-wife, Olga  two witnesses against him  and to permanently disable then-deputy district attorney Brown with a baseball bat. Savinskiy's cellmate, James Russell, who informed police of the plot, wore a wire and recorded Savinskiy admitting to it.

Symonds spoke at Thursday's sentencing, asking the court to consider how Savinskiy's actions  both the shootout and the plan to have him murdered  affected him.

"They were detrimental to my career with the Astoria Police Department," Symonds said, "and I have suffered a great deal of loss of sleep and physical illnesses as a result of the stress that I was placed under for the extended period of time, post the incident and especially post the threats and the attempt to have a contract on my life and my family's life."

In 2013, Judge Philip Nelson sentenced Savinskiy to more than 34 years in prison. The Oregon Supreme Court reversed the sentence, ruling in light of the Oregon v. Prieto-Rubio decision that the evidence collected by body wire was only admissible in the conspiracy charges, not in the Lamplighter charges.

The Circuit Court would have needed to split the trial in two: one for the Lamplighter incident, the other for Savinskiy's attempt to hire a hitman.

Kantor commended the Circuit Court and Savinskiy's Portland-based defense attorney, Alex Hamalian, for coming to an agreement and bringing the case to an end 10 years after it began.

"This case could have gone on for another 10 years without an effort to resolve it practically, sensibly and thoughtfully," Kantor said.
Courtesy of Brett Gibson

After a bout of COVID-19 and the required quarantine, 13-year-old Kensey Dishman arrived back at Wayne County Middle School in rural Kentucky on Tuesday morning.

Her mother, Kim Gibson, had driven her there, as they had an appointment to see a counselor. Kensey had still been experiencing occasional difficulty breathing, but that was deemed common after COVID, and her oxygen levels had been good.

Kensey seemed fine as Kim dropped her off at the front, where she joined the crowd of classmates returning from a holiday weekend. The students were no longer required to wear masks, as the Wayne County School Board had voted unanimously the previous Thursday to permanently lift a mandate that had been keyed to the number of cases. The message was one that similar relaxations have been spreading across the country: the danger of the pandemic is receding.

Kim parked and had just gone into the school office when her cellphone rang. The school was calling to inform her that Kensey had passed out in a bathroom.

Well, Im here, Im here, Kim replied.

Kim rushed to the restroom, where the school nurse had already responded.

Her mom had got to her and she was slumped against the wall, Kenseys stepfather, Brett Gibson, later told The Daily Beast. She was responsive at that time. It seemed like she just kinda fell and braced herself against the wall.

Kensey then had a seizure, but came out of it. She reported having intense pain in her side.

She was asking her mom for help, Brett later said.

When EMTs arrived, Kensey had begun to lose consciousness.

They couldnt get her intubated, Brett later said. Her airway was filling with blood, which is one reason why they seem to think she might have had a blood clot.

Kim remained with Kensey in the ambulance and at the hospital.

She got to hold her, Brett told The Daily Beast. She was with her the whole time.

Brett arrived as the doctors and nurses fought to save Kenseys life. Their best efforts were not enough.

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They said, Theres nothing else we could do, Brett recalled. They couldnt get her heart rate up. They couldnt get her pulse. She had no brain activity.

Brett is a reporter/photographer at the local newspaper his family owns. But The Clinton County News is a weekly and he reported Kenseys death with a Facebook post. The Lexington Herald-Ledger quoted his account in a story that noted the school had declined to comment.

Wayne County Coroner Gordon Hicks told The Daily Beast that the state medical examiner would have to do more testing in Louisville before he could give an official cause of death. Brett said that he and Kim had been given every impression by the medical professionals that the death was COVID-related. And that raised the question of whether Kensey had been vaccinated.

The COVID Story That Made This Doctor Break His No-Hug Rule

She was not, Brett told The Daily Beast. We wanted her to get vaccinated and we had been [vaccinated], but when you have a split household, you have to have both parties. And we didnt have that.

Kim and Kenseys father, Adam Dishman, had divorced more than a decade ago. Adam told The Daily Beast that several members of his family had suffered some health issues as a result of the vaccine and he had decided not to get it.

Her mother and stepfather had the vaccine, Adam said. I have chosen not to.

He said he had let 13-year-old Kensey make her own decisions.

She did not want to take it, Adam said. She was scared of it. I wasnt going to force her to. I asked her if she wanted to and she said, No, and thats just the way she was. She was very pro-choice about everything.

He added, Theres gonna be people thats going to say bad things no matter what you do. But, you know, I want it to be very clear that some may make us out to be evil or the bad guys, but she believed it was everybodys personal choice.

That might have been fine if we were not in a pandemic that had killed nearly 1 million other Americans and if the vaccine had not been universally accepted by all credible medical experts as safe and effective. Add to that the fact that Kensey had been asthmatic and therefore particularly vulnerable.

Adam said he figured Kensey had caught COVID at school in early February.

I believe she got it at school and she brought it home and of course, naturally I got sick and then my wife and then the other kids, he said.

They had suffered typical symptoms.

The sore throat and everything like that, he said. It all kinda went away, but she was still having issues with the breathing. She had asthma and it didnt help.

He and Kenseys mother had both taken her to the doctor.

We have several medications here, you know, and nothing seemed to help, he said.

However they differed when it came to the vaccine, Adam and Kim both recall feeling she would be ready to resume classes when the week-long quarantine ended.

She loved going to school, Adam said.

First came the holiday weekend. They divided it up and Kensey spent Sunday with Adam. He sounded like the most loving of fathers as he later spoke of an idyllic day with her at the farm where he lives with her step mother, Michaela Dishman, and their four daughters.

It was so beautiful outside here; 65, sunshine, he said. It was just a perfect day here.

Kensey hung out with her siblings and a collection of animals, which goes beyond the usual cows and chickens and rabbits.

Shes got a hermit crab here, Adam reported. She called it My Grandcrab. She set this hermit crab in front of the TV and she said, Im gonna give it a front row seat.

These Twins Were Inseparable Until COVID Killed the Tough Guy

At the end of the day, everybody went out to a Japanese restaurant that was one of her favorites.

She loved Japanese cuisine, Adam said. She had a big plate of rice.

They then went to a multiplex movie theater. Kensey and her oldest sister asked if just the two of them could see Death on the Nile.

They wanted to watch a movie together by themselves, Adam said. That made them feel like big girls.

Kensey then spent Monday with Kim and Brett. The couple had caught COVID in October of 2020, before vaccine was even a choice. Kim had quickly recovered, but Brett had had a harder time, having suffered a fungal lung infection years before. He also developed cardiac complications and had to undergo major surgery.

They needed no persuading to get the shot when it was available.

We got vaccines as soon as we were allowed to and we got our boosters, Brett said.

Some 60 percent of Clinton County, where Brett lives, and of adjoining Wayne County, where Adam has a farm, have remained unvaccinated.

People I think are afraid of it, Brett said. And theres a lot of people in this area, they kind of think that [if] the government says that you need to do it, then we aint gonna do it.

His family newspaper has been seeking to encourage vaccination by publishing a photo each week of a business where everyone has gotten the jab.

Its been hard to find businesses that are fully vaccinated, Brett said. A lot of times the ones that Ive found that are fully vaccinated are like the barber shop where theres only one person that works.

Brett only wishes that Kensey had been vaccinated when he took a family photo of her after a big storm on Jan. 17.

She really wanted to do a photoshoot in snow, Brett recalled.

He did not have his camera, but he made do with his cellphone. She posed against the pristine white background, a teen who was at once outgoing and shy, a social butterfly and a homebody.

On Friday, her school said it still had no statement, other than a word to describe an all encompassing feeling.

Sadness, a spokesman said.

The coroner said that there was still no official cause of death, but the body had been released Friday morning. The photo of her on the snow remains a measure of all that was lost.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Pocket Change Thrift & Antiques owner Ed Albert talks about the revitalization of downtown Alliance at his downtown shop.

ALLIANCE  Downtown serves as the heart of many cities and their business sectors.

The same cannot be said for Alliance.

"A lot of people around here don't even know this downtown exists," said Ed Albert, co-owner of Pocket Change Thrift & Antiques. "I don't know how many people I've talked to over the years that I've said 'Hey downtown' and they've said 'What downtown?' They think that State Street is downtown."

The Alliance native is one of several downtown business owners striving to bring activity back to Main Street. Amid the redevelopment effort at Carnation City Mall, a movement to revive the downtown area has been in the works. The area has struggled for the last several decades, but many hope to see it once again become a thriving business and arts district.

More: What's next for Carnation City Mall amid decline of traditional shopping centers

A view looking at Main Street in Alliance.

Early days of Main Street

Even those with limited knowledge of Alliance would probably not be surprised to hear that railroads play a crucial role in the city's founding in the mid-19th century.

Two major railroad lines  Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad, and Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad  intersected in Alliance at a spot known as "The Crossing."

Developers platted Main Street so it would lead people to the train station, the city's center for transportation. Consequently, Alliance became known as the city where Main Street is a dead-end.

In the early 1900s, population growth and commercial development steered Alliance toward a period of success, especially downtown. Companies such as McCaskey Register, Alliance Machine Co. and Buckeye Jack opened their doors. Shops, restaurants and entertainment venues drew customers to Main Street.

But things changed when business started migrating to State Street. Carnation City Mall opened in 1983, prompting many other retailers to pop up around it. State Street continued to develop over the years, leaving downtown in a difficult position.

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Father and son Ed and Steve Albert in their antiques shop Pocket Change Antiques in downtown Alliance.

'Put life back into it'

Many downtown store owners want to see Main Street revitalized.

Albert said it saddened him to see the area decline over the years.

"I grew up in this town, and it's just an area that's gone to waste (...) everything has moved to State Street, and this downtown has kind of fallen apart," he said.

Albert and his father have run Pocket Change for more than a decade. The antique shop occupied a space in College Plaza until a couple of years ago, when they decided to move to a vacant storefront at 426 E. Main St.

"Our idea was to come down here and put life back into it," Albert said.

The corner of Linden Avenue and Main Street downtown Alliance.

He feels it's important to help downtown return to its former state, especially since Alliance is a college town. A lively downtown would attract college students and their families, Albert said. He looks at the success of downtown Kent as an example of how an area can be improved to draw people in.

Since Pocket Change's move, Albert has been working alongside other business owners in an effort to bring activity downtown. They meet roughly once a month, he said, to brainstorm ideas for attracting shoppers.

"We're all dealing with the same amount of traffic," he said. "I'm selling to the same customer that's in the store next to me to the right and next to me to the left. So we need to increase our numbers so we can increase awareness that there is a downtown."

Business owners have considered a variety of ideas, such as adding more lights outside on the sidewalks or outdoor music.

A look at downtown Alliance at Main Street and Freedom Avenue.

Another way they hope to drive traffic is by hosting events.

Chrystal Robinson-Shofroth is an artist and owner of GhostRighterz Artists Services. She moved to the Carnation City 15 years ago and took an immediate interest in the downtown area.

"I was an artist at Jupiter Studios, and I kind of started to become obsessed with all the abandoned buildings and the beautiful structures down there. (...) A lot of these buildings, if they were restored, there would be nothing like them," Robinson-Shofroth said.

She founded Alliance's Historic Main Street Festival, an annual event featuring food trucks, live music and other activities.

Robinson-Shofroth also started a documentary series called "Empty Canvas: A Look at Alliance Through the Artists' Eye" a handful of years ago. The project aims to bring awareness to the revitalization efforts downtown.

The Historic Main Street Festival will be held again this summer on July 23.

Other activities such as car shows and Christmas events have occurred downtown as well. Various business owners have been involved in putting together these events. Albert said the goal is to eventually have one take place every month.

"These events have already caught eyes of other people," he said. "We've gotten sponsorship from outside the downtown. (...) the business owners outside the area are happy to help as well."

What's in store for the future of downtown Alliance?

Creating unique experiences is also part of the revitalization strategy.

City Director of Planning and Economic Development Joe Mazzola said one-of-a-kind attractions likely will be a important part of the future of downtown. Traffic patterns have changed over the years, and fewer people frequent the area.

Joe Mazzola

"Instead of pedestrians on the street in our historic downtown, it's cars on State Street. With that being said, what happens to our historic downtown? It will really cater to those businesses that are unique," he said.

Between the Feline Historical Museum, Mad Dogs and Crazy Cats Cafe and the Troll Hole Museum, downtown Alliance offers several unique attractions. Main Street is also home to multiple antique dealers and flea markets.

The downtown also played host to several key Greater Alliance Carnation Festival events in 2021.

Mazzola said efforts to revitalize the area were stalled by the coronavirus pandemic, but he remains optimistic that downtown Alliance will see activity this spring and summer.

"The businesses down here are eager to show off what we have here," he said.

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Business owners look to revitalize downtown Alliance
Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao has been swept up in online controversy after a woman claimed that its restaurants keeps detailed files on customers restaurant habits and physical appearances.



According to South China Morning Post, a Shanghai woman by the profile name Naliyouzhimiao uploaded a post on local social media and e-commerce platform Xiaohongshu stating that Haidilao has been secretly keeping records of customers information such as their physical appearances and observed behaviors.



She uploaded a series of photos that show the hotpot chains supposed filing system, which is divided into four different categories. One of the categories, customer demands, shows detailed records of what certain customers ask for at the restaurant such as plain water or hand-peeled oranges, according to South China Morning Post.



Another category dedicated to physical appearances included descriptions such as slim and healthy skin tone written in the restaurant's database.



The woman wrote that upon discovering her post, which later went viral on Weibo, a Haidilao restaurant manager reached out to issue an apology while offering a gift as compensation.



Although many users expressed their belief that the database was an invasion of privacy, some said there is nothing wrong with the collection of customer profiles as long as the information is kept private.



An employee at the Shanghai Zheng Ce Law Firm, Chen Chang, said that keeping a file on customers profiles is not illegal as long as the information is kept private while displaying neutrality.



One user wrote, I wish the pork chop restaurant I frequent could give me a label no black pepper!, reported South China Morning Post.







Featured Image via Strictly Dumpling

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The NFL world is set to descend on Indianapolis for perhaps the final scouting combine in Indianapolis  the league is set to begin moving to Combine around, similar to the draft, and will likely be in either Los Angeles or Dallas in 2023, though Indianapolis will be in contention.

This is going to be one of the more interesting combines in recent memory, with the lack of elite prospects, particularly at the quarterback position.

So before we turn the calendar to March and hit the road for Lucas Oil Stadium, lets have some fun with a pre-combine mock draft for the Cincinnati Bengals.

No trades for this particular mock and this will come from The Draft Network. Lets get started.

No. 31 - Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Johnson was the best lineman on the board at this pick so this became a no-brainer. Johnson showed his versatility in Mobile during Senior Bowl week. He would immediately step in at one of the guard positions and the Bengals wouldnt have to think twice about it.

No. 63 - Dylan Parham, IOL, Memphis

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Double-dipping on the offensive line, as many mock drafts may end up doing for the Bengals. Parham would eventually replace Trey Hopkins at center. He may be undersized, but he is athletic and smart and can help open up the middle of the field for Joe Mixon.

No. 95 - Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Speedy, quick-twitched cornerback that some may be sleeping on. And we know the Bengals have had someissuesat the cornerback position.

No. 134 - Otito Ogbonnia, IDL, UCLA

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals have a few upcoming unrestricted free agents at the defensive tackle position, including B.J. Hill and Larry Ogunjobi. Even if they bring some of them back, extra depth up front never hurts. Ogbonnia had two sacks and five tackles for a loss in 2021 for the Bruins.

No. 173 - Jeffrey Gunter, Edge, Coastal Carolina

Nicholas LoVerde-USA TODAY Sports

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This feels like a steal. Gunter had an incredible week at the Shrine Bowl and some think he may go in the top 100. Getting him here at No. 173 to add power on the edge would be a great gift for the Bengals behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.

No. 207 - Markquese Bell, S, Florida A&M

Syndication: Tallahassee Democrat

Bell has bounced around a bit. He started his college career at Maryland but was suspended after violating the student code of conduct. He then went to Coffeyville Community College in Kansas before finishing at Florida A&M, where he excelled with over 150 tackles in two years with the Rattlers. He can develop behind Vonn Bell for a bit and can eventually work his way next to Jessie Bates down the line. Hes an intriguing name to watch.

No. 223 - Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals land a Sewell after all. Yes, hes the brother of the other player many thought the Bengals would take over JaMarr Chase, Penei Sewell.

Sewell is a good tackler and can contribute immediately on special teams while adding depth behind Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt.

No. 249 - Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami

Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Last pick of the draft so why not take a lottery pick. Rambo was one of the better receivers in Vegas during the Shrine Bowl and can develop into a field-stretcher and at least create an interesting competition for one of the last roster spots.

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Aeroflot. Media_works/Shutterstock

Estonia and Romania have barred Russia from their airspace, officials announced Saturday.

The move comes after other countries, including the UK and Poland, did the same this week.

The US State Department said it's in 'regular dialogue with our Ukrainian partners' regarding a no-fly zone over Ukraine.

Estonia and Romania on Saturday banned Russian airlines from their airspace after the U.K., Poland, Moldova, and the Czech Republic did the same.

Romania's foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu tweeted Saturday morning that the country "just joined other EU member states in banning (Russian) airlines from our airspace." Aurescu went on to say Romania encourages all partners and allies "to take such action, as we stay resolute in our support for #UkraineUnderAttack."

Kaja Kallas, Estonian Foreign Minister, echoed similar sentiments, stating there's"no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies."

After Russia attacked Ukraine on Thursday, United Kingdom officials issued a ban restricting Russian-owned airlines from the country's airspace.

"This means that Aeroflot will not be permitted to operate flights to or from the United Kingdom until further notice," the UK Civil Aviation Authority said in a Feb. 24 announcement.

In response, Russian officials decided to bar any aircraft owned, leased, or operated by individuals associated with the UK from its airspace, as Insider reported.

Additionally, as Aljazeera reported, Russia also placed the ban on other European countries, including Poland, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, aviation officials said Saturday.

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger has called on the US to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine to aid in their fight against Russia, according to Yahoo News.

"The fate of #Ukraine is being decided tonight, but also the fate of the west. Declare a #NoFlyZone over Ukraine at the invitation of their sovereign govt," Kinzinger tweeted Friday. "Disrupt Russia's air ops to give the heroic Ukrainians a fair fight. It's now, or later."

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When asked Saturday if the US has given any consideration to Ukraine's call for a no-fly zone, spokesperson for the US Department of State Ned Price responded, "We are in regular dialogue with our Ukrainian partners. We are looking at a range of ways we can continue to support them."

Read the original article on Insider
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Ukraine continues to receive support from the countries of the European Union, the anti-war coalition is acting, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address on the third day of the war.

"The anti-war coalition is active  defensive weapons and equipment are being delivered to Ukraine. There is already almost full support from the EU countries to disconnect Russia from SWIFT. I hope that Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision. We have the courage to defend our Motherland, to defend Europe," the President said.
Photo credit: EBU / THOMAS HANSES

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has announced that Russia will not be able to participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

In a statement, the EBU explained that after the "unprecedented crisis in Ukraine", Russia would be banned from the competition.

The statement began: "The executive board of the EBU made the decision following a recommendation earlier today by the Eurovision Song Contest's governing body, the Reference Group, based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU. The Reference Group recommendation was also supported by the EBU's Television Committee. "

It added that to include Russia in the competition would bring it into "disrepute" after the country's political actions on Thursday (February 24).

The EBU has issued the statement below regarding Russia's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022



Find it online herehttps://t.co/5xXIYUNmXO#Eurovision #ESC2022 pic.twitter.com/OGjQKtiZfm  EBU (@EBU_HQ) February 25, 2022

Related: The Sims 4's weddings pack won't be released in Russia

It continued: "The decision reflects concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year's Contest would bring the competition to disrepute."

The EBU consulted with its members in order to make the decision, as while it is an apolitical member organisation, it is committed to upholding the values of public service.



Photo credit: EBU/THOMAS HANSES

Related: Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse shares family's connection to Ukraine crisis

"We remain dedicated to protecting the values of culture competition which promotes international exchange and understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites Europe on one stage," it finished.

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This is not the only major international event that Russia has been banned from taking part in. The Grand Prix that was going to be held in Sochi has been cancelled, while the Champions League final has been moved from St Petersburg to Paris.

This year's Eurovision Song Contest will take place in May in Turin, after the Italian band Maneskin won last year's competition.

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Feb. 25ROCHESTER  As Minnesota and its communities continue to become more diverse, the education system needs to change.

That was the message former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page and Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari underscored during a stop in Rochester on Friday. Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel and Minnesota Humanities Center CEO Kevin Lindsey joined Page and Kashkari for a panel discussion at Mayo High School about educational disparities.

Although the speakers agreed on the problem  that the system needs to do better for all students  there was some uncertainty about the correct solution moving forward.

"Minnesota is one of the worst in the nation at making sure all of its young people get a good education," Kashkari said during the panel. "This is something to address head-on ... it's hard to imagine something with bigger stakes than this."

Page and Kashkari jointly have been advocating for the proposed Page Amendment. If passed, it would make it a right for every child in Minnesota to have a "quality public education." They have made periodic stops in Rochester to discuss the movement.

Pekel acknowledged there are many things that need to be done to rectify the disparities among students. He said one of the things that can be done is to share more knowledge across the district. He referred to RPS as "people rich and system poor," meaning there are great people doing great work but those successful efforts don't always get shared across the full network.

He also acknowledged the potential of the Page Amendment, while not backing it completely.

"I'm open to the possibility that some kind of legal requirement like the Page Amendment is what it's going to take to break a logjam that we've had for a long time," Pekel said. "Now, that in my world is very controversial..."

He did, however, agree about the core issue.

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"I agree: For sure, they've got the diagnosis right, which is we're not improving outcomes for kids who need it the most. I'm not positive yet about the cure."

In addition to discussing educational disparities with older students at Mayo, the advocates also made a stop to inspire some younger students at Gage Elementary. During their time at the elementary school, they read to students and answered questions.

"Remember one thing if you don't remember anything else: You have the potential to accomplish your hopes and dreams. You have to work at it," Page told students.
Feb. 25A high-profile Albuquerque Democrat who was arrested on suspicion of aggravated drunken driving and other charges in Santa Fe on Super Bowl Sunday won't seek reelection.

In a statement released by her attorney, state Rep. Georgene Louis said Friday she has decided against seeking another term this year.

Louis had faced calls to resign after her arrest earlier this month in the final week of the 30-day legislative session but will finish out her term and complete 10 years of service in the Legislature, allowing her to receive her pension.

"It has been an honor to serve the constituents of House District 26 for the past ten years," Louis said in her statement. "I send my sincerest thank you to everyone who has supported me over my tenure as State Representative."

Meanwhile, a former state representative is setting her sights on the seat Louis is vacating.

Eleanor Chavez, who served two terms in the House of Representatives between 2009 and 2012, confirmed Friday she will seek the Democratic nomination for District 26.

Chavez gave up her House seat in 2012 to run for the state Senate. She came in second in a three-way race in the primary, losing to Sen. Michael Padilla. She subsequently served one term on the New Mexico Public Education Commission.

Chavez, who previously represented House District 13, said the precinct where she lives was moved into House District 26 in last year's redistricting.

Chavez, 68, said Louis' arrest factored into her decision to make a bid for the seat.

"I didn't think that she would run again, and it was an opportunity for me to go back into the Legislature and do some additional work for my community," she said.

Chavez figured Louis would face an uphill battle if she sought reelection.

"My heart is heavy for her  I think that she's going through a tough time right now," Chavez said, adding she didn't think Louis would run again "because that would have been a huge hurdle to overcome."

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Just before midnight Feb. 13, a Santa Fe police assigned to a "Super Bowl saturation patrol" stopped Louis on suspicion of speeding near St. Francis Drive and Siringo Road.

The officer reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the car Louis was driving "and noted that her eyes were watery," a police report states.

Louis, 44, initially told the officer she'd had two glasses of beer at a Super Bowl halftime party, then said she'd had she had "two-ish" glasses of vodka and soda.

After the officer described her eyes as watery or glassy, Louis said she was tired.

"I haven't had much sleep because, um, I'm not trying to, like, say anything, but, like, I'm a legislator, so we haven't had much sleep," Louis told the officer, a video of the incident showed.

"To me, you're just another citizen, another driver, on the road," the officer responded.

"Totally, totally, totally. We just haven't had a lot of sleep," Louis replied.

Louis initially refused to take a breath-alcohol test but later consented. Louis' blood-alcohol level registered as 0.17, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

In addition to aggravated DWI, Louis was cited for speeding and having no evidence of insurance or vehicle registration.

Neither House Democratic leaders nor the Democratic Party of New Mexico responded to a request for comment.

Chavez, who grew up in Santa Fe and graduated from Santa Fe High School, has served as the executive director of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees District 1199 since August 2019. She previously served in that role from 1997 to 2008.

Chavez said several people asked her to run for the House seat after Louis' arrest.

"I've been asked to run for other positions in the past," she said, adding "this moment in time seems right" because she's lived in the reconfigured district since 1985.

"I've raised my family there," she said. "My kids have gone to the schools in the area, and there's some things I would like to see  I think this past session there was some good legislation that was passed  but I think that there's some things that we need to continue to work on."

Addressing health care needs, such as increasing the number of nurses in New Mexico, is among her biggest priorities.

"The other thing we really need to work on is child poverty," she said.

Chavez, a widow, has four adult children and is the guardian of a youngster who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or legal guardian.

She said she graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a master's degree in social work.

Follow Daniel J. Chacon on Twitter @danieljchacon.

Follow Daniel J. Chacon on Twitter @danieljchacon.
Feb. 26While a spokeswoman for the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base had no new information to share Friday, a Pentagon spokesman said U.S. forces are prepared to deploy forces and equipment to Europe as NATO requests.

For the first time in the alliance's history, the NATO Response Force has been activated, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, calling that action "historic."

"That's a big deal," Kirby said Friday afternoon in a briefing from the Pentagon.

Kirby said he would no have immediate specifics on the deployment of units, timelines and schedules.

"We don't have any activation information," Lt. Col. Cynthia Harris, a spokeswoman for the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson, said Friday. "And any announcements about military activities are actually going to be provided by (the office of the secretary of defense)."

The 445th Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit with a fleet of nine C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, provides transport of people and equipment. It was involved in the evacuation of Afghanistan in August.

Announcements about specific units may come later, Kirby said Friday, saying the United States stands ready to further support NATO and its response forces. The Pentagon will be in direct consultation with NATO and Gen. Tod Wolters, NATO's supreme allied commander.

In response to a reporter's question, Kirby acknowledged that an American armored brigade could be heading to Europe.

"It's going to depend on what are the capabilities requested and what's the need," he said.

The number of U.S. troops on prepared-to-deploy orders are "several thousand north of 8,500," as of Friday, Kirby said. One concern at work is that it's "not clear where Mr. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is going."

"One of the reasons we're doing this is we want to make it clear to him that we will defend every inch of NATO territory," Kirby said

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President Biden has said this week he will order another 7,000 U.S. troops to Europe.

However, Kirby also said, the president has been "very clear that U.S. troops will not be fighting in Ukraine."

Asked how the war in Ukraine was going, Kirby declined to offer specifics, but he said: "We see clear indications that the Ukrainian armed forces are fighting back and bravely defending their country."

"It's not been apparent to us over the last 24 hours or so that the Russians have been able to carry out their plans as they thought they would be able to," he said. "Our understanding is they have been experiencing setbacks."

Asked if defense-related equipment was still being sent to Ukraine, Kirby did not directly answer, but said:

"We're continuing to provide ways for them to defend themselves."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have issued a message of solidarity with the people of Ukraine as soldiers bravely fight an invasion by Russia.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced he had begun a specialised military operation with troops entering Ukraine from land, air and sea and missile strikes landing across the country, including its capital, Kyiv.

The invasion has triggered an international outcry and many world leaders have condemned Putin for launching an unprovoked and unjustifiable attack on Ukraine.

In a video message posted to Twitter on Friday evening, UK prime minister Boris Johnson said: The scenes unfolding in the streets and fields of Ukraine are nothing short of a tragedy.

The people of the United Kingdom stand with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in the face of this unjustifiable assault on your homeland.

To the people of Ukraine: Slava Ukraini.



To the people of Russia: I do not believe this war is in your name.



This crisis, this tragedy, can and must come to an end. Because the world needs a free and sovereign Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ijbAAb8G67  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 25, 2022

Mr Johnson added that Putins actions are leading to complete isolation for Russia. This crisis, this tragedy can and must come to an end, he said.

Members of the royal family do not usually comment on political matters, with the Royal Family website stating that the Queen must remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters.

However, some royal family members, both in the UK and beyond, have now issued statements. Heres what they have said.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were the first royal family members to make a statement.

In a post to their non-profit Archewells website, the couple condemned the actions of Russia, writing that they stand with the people of Ukraine and that world leaders should do the same.

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Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same, the post said.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have followed Harry and Meghans lead, voicing their support for Ukraine in a post to their official Twitter account on Saturday 26 February.

In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraines future, the message said.

In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraines future.



Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraines people as they bravely fight for that future  W & C  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) February 26, 2022

Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraines people as they bravely fight for that future, they added, signing off with an emoji of the Ukraine flag.

Kate and William held an audience with President Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska at Buckingham Palace in 2020.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

The King and Queen of the Netherlands issued a statement on Thursday 24 February in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and those in the Netherlands with family in Ukraine.

Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine and everyone affected by the violence, their statement said.

It continued: Our thoughts are very much with the people there and with the Ukrainian community in the Netherlands, who will be anxious about the situation of their families and friends.
Editor's note: This page recaps the news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Saturday, Feb. 26. Follow here for updates on the attack in and around Kyiv on Sunday, Feb. 27.

Russian troops have entered Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv and fighting is underway in the streets, according to the Associated Press.

Videos posted on Ukrainian media and social networks showed Russian vehicles moving across Kharkiv and a light vehicle burning on the street. Residents were urged to stay inside.

The troops in Kharkiv arrived hours after Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities.

Earlier there were two large explosions that rocked an area south of Kyiv just before 1 a.m. One of the blasts was near the Zhuliany airport, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office said. The mayor of Vasylkiv, about 25 miles south of the capital, said an oil depot there was hit, according to the Associated Press.

Elsewhere, Russian forces blew up a gas pipeline in Kharkiv. The explosion created mushroom-cloud and could cause an environmental catastrophe, warned the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection. Residents were advised to cover their windows with damp cloth or gauze and to drink plenty of fluids.

At least 240 civilian casualties are confirmed by the United Nations, including at least 64 people killed in the fighting  though it believed the real figures are considerably higher because many reports of casualties remain to be confirmed. More than 150,000 people have fled the Ukraine to neighboring countries and the United Nations warned that number could grow to 4 million.

Meanwhile, the United States and its European allies agreed to remove selected Russian banks from the international SWIFT messaging system, which allows for the movement of financial transactions.

They also moved to impose restrictions on Russia's central bank, a measure the White House and its partners said would further hammer Russia's financial systems and hit the country's wealthy and political elites.

Story continues

To catch you up:

Why is Russia invading Ukraine?: Could it be the start of WWIII? We explain.

Back in the U.S.: What is the draft? And can it ever be reinstated here?

What is SWIFT?: How banning Russia from the banking system could impact the country?

Let the news come to your inbox: Sign up here for Ukraine news to your email

Russia targets Ukraine airfields in next phase

Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities in what appeared to be the next phase of an invasion that has been slowed by fierce resistance. The U.S. and EU responded with weapons and ammunition for the outnumbered Ukrainians and powerful sanctions intended to further isolate Moscow.

Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces.

Associated Press

'You cannot defeat a whole nation'

On Sunday morning, Ukranian writer Illarion Pavliuk plans to set out on a dangerous journey to help his countrymen as explosions rock Kyiv, and outgunned Ukrainian forces continue to maintain control of their capital.

Pavliuk is not a solider, but he does have a military background. In 2015, he was an intelligence volunteer in the war in Eastern Ukraine. And yet, this is what Ukraine has become  a country where internationally acclaimed artists are forced to kiss their children goodnight before they go off to defend their homeland from the occupying force. "We will never give up and we are going to win this war. You cannot defeat the whole nation. And Ukrainians are absolutely united as a nation now."

His words are haunting and powerful, with his children in the background.

"What can I tell you about this war? It is difficult to say a couple of words," he says. "I would never ever imagine my four children dropping their toys and running to sit in the thickest doorway in the house because of cruise missiles above our city; ballistic missiles.

"And I would never imagine this and I will never forgive Russia."

 Carli Pierson, USA TODAY

Read the full interview: 'We will never give up': A father prepares to leave his kids and fight for Ukraine

French president asks Belarus leader to order Russian troops to leave

French President Emmanuel Macron has asked his Belarus counterpart to demand that the country, Ukraines neighbor, quickly order Russian troops to leave.

In a phone conversation Saturday, Macron denounced the gravity of a decision that would authorize Russia to deploy nuclear arms on Belarus soil, a statement by the presidential palace said.

Macron told Alexander Lukashenko that fraternity between the people of Belarus and Ukraine should lead Belarus to refuse to be a vassal and an accomplice to Russia in the war against Ukraine, the statement said.

Belarus was one one of several axes used by Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine, with Belarus the point to move toward the capital Kyiv, a senior U.S. defense official has said.

Macron has pushed persistently to try to claw out a ceasefire amid the war, using the telephone to talk to all sides, diplomacy and sanctions by the European Union.

 Associated Press

UN: At least 240 civilian casualties

GENEVA  The United Nations says it has confirmed at least 240 civilian casualties, including at least 64 people killed, in the fighting in Ukraine that erupted since Russias invasion on Thursday  though it believed the real figures are considerably higher because many reports of casualties remain to be confirmed.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs relayed the count late Saturday from the U.N. human rights office, which has strict methodologies and verification procedures about the toll from conflict.

OCHA also said damage to civilian infrastructure has deprived hundreds of thousands of people of access to electricity or water, and produced a map of humanitarian situations in Ukraine  mostly in northern, eastern and southern Ukraine.

The human rights office had reported early Friday an initial count by its staffers of at least 127 civilian casualties  25 people killed and 102 injured  mostly from shelling and airstrikes.

 Associated Press

US, allies committed to removing certain Russian banks from SWIFT

The United States and its European allies have agreed to remove selected Russian banks from the international SWIFT messaging system, the White House announced on Saturday. The White House also announced that the US and allied countries will move to impose new restrictive measures on Russias central bank.

The new economic penalties on Moscow come as Russias military continues to bombard Kyiv and other population centers in its deadly invasion of Ukraine.

A senior administration official said the U.S. and EU will work to finalize the list of Russian banks that will be barred from the SWIFT system. But Russia will feel the impact of the decision well before its enacted, said the official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

I have great confidence the effects of these measures will be felt immediately in Russias financial markets, the official said.

The U.S. official suggested some banks that handle energy transactions could be exempted in the SWIFT delisting process. That would help cushion the economic blow to Europe, which relies heavily on Russia for oil and gas.

The SWIFT system is based in Belgium, where officials will have the final sign-off on the list of barred institutions.

The U.S. and EU countries also announced new steps to limit the sale of golden passports, which allows wealthy individuals become citizens of European countries.

 Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY

Zelenskyy says hes open for talks with Russia

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says hes open for talks with Russia.

Zelenskyy said in a video message Saturday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev offered to help organize such talks. He added that we can only welcome that.

Zelenskyy also said he and Erdogan agree that a ban on the passage of Russian warships into the Black Sea is very important today, adding that it has been done. Turkey, however, hasnt announced any ban for Russian warships to move through Turkish Straits following Erdogans talk with Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy said that Ukrainians readiness to protect our state, our solidarity and courage have thwarted the scenario of occupation of our country.

The world has seen that Ukrainians are strong, Ukrainians are brave, Ukrainians stand on their land and will not surrender it, he said.

 Associated Press

Germany to send anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, drops opposition to SWIFT sanctions for Russia

In a significant shift, the German government said Saturday it will send weapons and other supplies directly to Ukraine and supports some restrictions of the SWIFT global banking system for Russia.

Germanys chancellery announced it will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine as quickly as possible.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement. In this situation, it is our duty to help Ukraine, to the best of our ability, to defend itself against Vladimir Putins invading army.

In addition, the German economy and climate ministry said Germany is allowing the Netherlands to ship 400 German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

Germany had long stuck to a policy of not exporting deadly weapons to conflict zones, including Ukraine. As recently as Friday, government officials said they would abide by that policy.

Germany on Saturday also joined the rest of the European Union in voicing support for SWIFT sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and German Economics Minister Robert Habeck announced the decision in a joint statement that indicated there might be limits in how far Germany is willing to go on the issue.

We are working flat out on how to limit the collateral damage of a disconnection from #SWIFT, so that it hits the right people. What we need is a targeted and functional restriction of SWIFT, the officials wrote in a statement.

At the same time, we are working flat out on how to limit the collateral damage of a disconnection from #SWIFT, so that it hits the right people. What we need is a targeted and functional restriction of SWIFT. - @ABaerbock and Minister Habeck @BMWK  Emily Haber (@GermanAmbUSA) February 26, 2022

SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. It is a global messaging system connecting thousands of financial institutions around the world.

SWIFT was formed in 1973, and is headquartered in Belgium. It is overseen by the National Bank of Belgium, in addition to the U.S. Federal Reserve System, the European Central Bank and others, NBC News reported. It connects more than 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, so banks can be informed about transactions.

Earlier Saturday, Zelenskyy said that Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also voiced his approval for disconnecting Russia from SWIFT.

The U.S. did not impose removing Russia from SWIFT following concerns from European allies in what was seen as America's harshest punishment at its disposal.

What is SWIFT?: How could banning Russia from the banking system impact the country?

 JJ Hensley and Associated Press

Russian forces meet firm resistance on path to Kyiv

Russian forces have grown increasingly frustrated by Ukrainian resistance, particularly near the capital of Kiev, and the Russian advance remains about 18 miles from the city, a senior Defense Department official said Saturday.

Russia has, however, sent reconnaissance forces into Kyiv, the official said, declining to say how many of those troops have penetrated the city.

The official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Pentagon had used several means to determine that Russian forces invading Ukraine had been stalled by determined resistance.

The official warned that the battlefield situation is fluid and changing rapidly.

Addressing reports that some Russian military vehicles had run out of gas, the official said the invading force sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin had expended more fuel resources than it had planned for.

Ukrainian forces continue to contest the airspace over the country with warplanes and missile defense, the official said.

Also Saturday, the Pentagon announced that $350 in emergency military aid to Ukraine. That package includes Javelin anti-armor missiles, ammunition and body armor, according to the official. Prior to the invasion, military materiel had been arriving in Ukraine by cargo aircraft. U.S. military aid has continued to flow into Ukraine in the last few days but the official declined to say how it has arrived there.

Meanwhile, Britains Defense Ministry said Saturday that the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.

Russian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centres while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them, the ministry said.

 Tom Vanden Brook and Associated Press

Snake Island defiance: Ukrainian soldier on Snake Island tells Russian officer 'go (expletive) yourself' before being killed

Fleeing to the border: Over 150,000 Ukrainians seek refuge

MEDYKA, Poland  At least 150,000 people have fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighboring countries in the wake of the Russian invasion, the U.N. refugee agency said Saturday.

Some walked many miles through the night while others fled by train, car or bus, forming lines miles long at border crossings. They were greeted by waiting relatives and friends or headed on their own to reception centers organized by neighboring governments.

The numbers and the situation is changing minute by minute, said Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. At least 150,000 people have fled, they are refugees outside of Ukraine. ... At least 100,000 people  but probably a much larger number  have been displaced inside Ukraine.

Those arriving were mostly women, children and the elderly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy banned men of military age from 18 to 60 from leaving. Some Ukrainian men were heading back into Ukraine from Poland to take up arms against the Russian forces.

- The Associated Press

Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner hands over Premier League club

LONDON  Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich suddenly handed over the "stewardship and care" of the Premier League club to its charitable foundation trustees on Saturday.

The move came after a member of the British parliament called for the Russian billionaire to hand over the club in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich, who has owned Chelsea since 2003, made no mention of the war in his statement.

 The Associated Press

Invasion response: Chelsea's Russian owner Roman Abramovich passes 'stewardship and care' of Premier League club

Former president Poroschenko: everyone understands risk of death

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroschenko, Zelenskyys predecessor, said he was prepared to die to defend his country.

I think that we should do our best to protect our nation, he told CNN in an interview Saturday. To protect the nation against the Russian aggressor definitely bring the risk of life.

Poroschenko, who was wearing a flak jacket and standing outside in Kyiv with members of the Ukraine military, sounded clear-eyed and defiant.

Everybody here  all the young and old people  fully understand that we have this risk, he said. Somebody has a choice to go abroad. Somebody has a choice to be the refugee in some regions of Ukraine. But many, the biggest part, make a decision to take the rifle and to protect the nation.

I proud for these people. I proud for this country. And I proud to be Ukrainian.

 Ledyard King

Biden authorizes $350 million more in US military aid for Ukraine

The Biden administration is providing an additional $350 million in immediate U.S. military assistance to Ukraine as Russia continues a full-scale attack on the country with intense fighting in the capital city of Kyiv.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the drawdown of funds Saturday morning after Biden authorized the emergency military aid late Friday night through the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing, Blinken said in a statement. It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation.

The aid brings the U.S.s total assistance to Ukraine to more than $1 billion over the past year, according to Blinken, including $200 million in military assistance in December and $60 million last fall.

Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine civilians to join the fight against Russia, and as he remains defiant about not leaving Kyiv, hes made clear about the need for more help.

I need ammunition, not a ride, he said in a video Friday.

 Joey Garrison

In Kyiv, residents seek shelter after night of explosions, street clashes

KYIV, Ukraine  Russian troops pressed toward Ukraines capital Saturday after a night of air strikes and street fighting.

Ukrainian officials have reported some success in fending off assaults. A U.S. official told reporters Friday the Pentagon had information suggesting that Moscow had expected a faster advance on Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused an American offer to evacuate, insisting he would stay. The fight is here, he said.

Skirmishes reported on the edge of Kyiv suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. A missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the citys southwestern outskirts near one of Kyivs two passenger airports, Mayor Vitali Klitchsko said, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but civilians have been killed and injured during Europes largest ground war since World War II.

 Caren Bohan and Associated Press

TikTok is Russia's newest weapon in arsenal for anti-Ukraine propaganda

In 2014, Russia flooded the internet with fake accounts pushing disinformation about its takeover of Crimea. Eight years later, experts say Russia is mounting a far more sophisticated propaganda effort as it invades Ukraine.

Armies of trolls and bots stir up anti-Ukrainian sentiment. State-controlled media outlets look to divide Western audiences. Clever TikTok videos serve up Russian nationalism with a side of humor.

The effort amounts to an emerging part of Russias war arsenal with the shaping of opinion through orchestrated disinformation fighting alongside actual troops and weapons.

Analysts at several different research organizations contacted by The Associated Press said they are seeing a sharp increase in online activity by groups affiliated with the Russian state. Thats in keeping with Russias strategy of using social media and state-run outlets to galvanize domestic support while seeking to destabilize the Western alliance.

Researchers saw a sudden and dramatic increase in anti-Ukrainian content in the days immediately before the invasion. On Valentines Day, for instance, the number of anti-Ukrainian posts created by the sample of Twitter accounts jumped by 11,000% when compared with just days earlier. Analysts believe a significant portion of the accounts are inauthentic and controlled by groups linked to the Russian government.

 David Klepper, The Associated Press

Russian propaganda: TikTok is Russia's newest weapon in arsenal for anti-Ukraine propaganda

Troops from NATO member nations could be deployed to defend Slovakia

Slovakias defense minister says up to 1,200 foreign troops from other NATO members could be deployed in his country in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The plan is part of the NATO initiative to reassure member countries on the alliances eastern flank by sending forces to help protect them. Slovakia borders Ukraine.

Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said forces from the Netherlands and Germany are among those expected to come. Germany will also provide the Patriot system to boost Slovakias air defense.

The countrys government and Parliament have not yet approved the plan.

Nad also said his countrys government has approved sending arms and fuel worth 11 million euros ($12.4 million) requested by Ukraine. The aid will include 10 million liters (2.6 million gallons) of fuel, 2.4 million liters (630,000 gallons) of aviation fuel and 12,000 pieces of ammunition.

 The Associated Press

Zelenskyy mobilizes Ukrainian reservists and those eligible for service

After Russia launched a military invasion into Ukraine early Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called up reservists and those liable for service for a full military mobilization.

As many Ukrainians fled to neighboring countries, the Ukraine State Border Guard Service announced that men ages 18 to 60 were prohibited from leaving the country, ahead of a possible draft to increase the country's military service.

The Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces, the military reserve of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, take part in a military drill outside Kyiv on February 19, 2022.

Talk of conscription led to questions in the U.S. about whether the government could ever reinstate the draft. That is highly unlikely in a country where antiwar sentiment has grown in the aftermath of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Congress would have to reinstate the draft since induction authority expired in 1973. If approved, the president would then be authorized to induct civilians through the Selective Service Administration into the armed forces under an amendment to the Military Selective Service Act.

Even though there is no draft currently, almost all men and male immigrants aged 18 to 25 are required to register with the Selective Service. Women make up close to 17% of the U.S. armed forces, but Congress would have to pass legislation amending the act to require women register.

 Chelsey Cox

Russian protesters risk arrest to decry Putin's war

MOSCOW  Risking arrest and intimidation, Russian citizens have taken to the streets in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities to protest President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Russians with prominent platforms  celebrity actors, television presenters, comedians and pop stars  risked their state contracts and jobs to make anti-war statements.

Many Russians have seen horrifying images from the Ukraine conflict, broadcast by independent media. Some show the Russian army destroying apartment blocks with people inside, a tank rolling over a vehicle with an elderly man inside and bleeding women crying for an end to the fighting.

Demonstrators shout slogans in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. 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.

In St. Petersburg, Sergei Bobovnikov, an antique art expert, joined a street rally Thursday night where hundreds of people crowded the central avenue, Nevsky Prospect.

"No to war!" they chanted. "Hands off Ukraine!"

Some 1,745 people in 54 Russian cities were detained, at least 957 of them in Moscow, according to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, cities across Europe saw large gatherings where people voiced their outrage.

In London, demonstrators outside the Downing Street residence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held up placards Friday that read "Stop the war" and "Total embargo on Russia."

From New York to Paris, cities lit up buildings in blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

 Anna Nemtsova, Caren Bohan and Associated Press

Russian official shrugs off Western sanctions

A senior Russian official has warned that Moscow could react to Western sanctions over its attack on Ukraine by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact and freezing Western assets.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, shrugged off a set of crippling sanctions that the U.S., the European Union and other allies slapped on Russia as a reflection of Western political impotence.

In comments posted on his page on Russian social media VKontakte, Medvedev said the sanctions could offer Moscow a pretext for a complete review of its ties with the West, suggesting that Russia could opt out of the New START nuclear arms control treaty that limits the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals.

-- Associated Press

Czechs to send more arms to Ukraine

The Czech Republics government has approved a plan to send more arms to Ukraine.

The Defense Ministry said it is immediately sending machine guns, submachine guns, assault rifles and pistols together with ammunition worth 188 million Czech crowns ($8.6 million).

The ministry said the Czechs will transport the weapons and deliver them to a place determined by the Ukrainian side.

The Czech Republic has already agreed to donate some 4,000 pieces of artillery shells worth 36.6 million Czech crowns ($1.7 million) to Ukraine.

-- Associated Press

'Our world is crumbling': Ukrainians try to flee homes with food, belongings amid Russian invasion

A soldier walks along Ukrainian armored vehicles blocking a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. Russian troops stormed toward Ukraine's capital Saturday, and street fighting broke out as city officials urged residents to take shelter.

Poles quit World Cup qualifying against Russia

WARSAW, Poland -- The Polish Football Association says it will not play its World Cup qualifying match against Russia due to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

More: Poland refuses to play against Russia in 2022 World Cup qualifying playoff

No more words, time to act! said association president Cezary Kulesza on Twitter, saying the move was prompted by the escalation of the aggression.

The match had been scheduled for March 24.

-- Associated Press

Ukrainian health minister: Nearly 200 dead, 1,000 wounded

The Ukrainian health minister says that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive.

Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Saturday that there were three children among those killed. His statement made it unclear whether the casualties included both military and civilians.

He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday with massive air and missile strikes and troops forging into Ukraine from the north, east and south.

-- Associated Press

PRZEMYSL, POLAND - FEBRUARY 25: A man holds a sleeping baby after arriving by bus to a supermarket parking lot from the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing on February 25, 2022 in Przemysl, Poland.

Zelenskyy: Ukraine is fighting 'with weapons in hand'

Zelenskyy detailed further diplomatic efforts to drum up support for Ukraine Saturday, tweeting about a conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Ukraine is fighting the invader with weapons in hands, defending its freedom and European future. Discussed with @vonderleyen effective assistance to our country from (the European Union) in this heroic struggle. I believe that the #EU also chooses Ukraine," he tweeted.

-- Luciana Lopez

Zelenskyy: 'Our weapons are our truth'

In a selfie-style video posted to twitter early on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to stay and fight on.

"I am here. We will not lay down any weapons. We will defend our state, because our weapons are our truth," he declared, denouncing as disinformation claims that he had surrendered or fled.

-- Associated Press

KYIV, UKRAINE - FEBRUARY 26: An empty street is seen on February 26, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. Explosions and gunfire were reported around Kyiv on the second night of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has killed scores and prompted widespread condemnation from US and European leaders.

Russia-Ukraine explained: Inside the crisis as US calls Russian movements an invasion

Sean Penn calls Russian invasion of Ukraine 'a brutal mistake' while filming documentary there

Sean Penn, in Ukraine working on a documentary about the ongoing Russian assault, called the invasion "already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken."

"If he doesn't relent, I believe Mr. Putin will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind," Penn said in a statement to USA TODAY early Saturday morning. President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people "have risen as historic symbols of courage and principle. Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost."

-- Brian Truitt

Read the whole story here: Sean Penn calls Russian invasion of Ukraine 'a brutal mistake' while filming documentary there

Biden's hitting Russia's yacht-riding rich with sanctions. Will it blunt Putin's Ukraine invasion?

Russia's wealthy oligarchs and political elites flaunt a level of in-your-face affluence across the world. This week, their wealth and connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin made some of them targets of President Joe Biden's sanctions in response to the Kremlins ongoing military invasion of Ukraine.

But if the Biden administration really wants to hurt Russian oligarchs enough to rein in Putin's actions in Ukraine, it needs to hit them much harder  and hit a lot more of them, some U.S. officials and kleptocracy experts told USA TODAY.

By any measure, the new rounds of U.S. financial blockages issued this week go far beyond what has been done in the past to pressure Putin into curbing his rogue behavior, White House officials said. The sweeping actions would cause extreme hardship for some of Russias largest financial institutions and a small handful of Russian oligarchs and kleptocrats that Biden said use them as their own glorified piggy bank.

-- Josh Meyer

A view shows a high-rise apartment block which was hit by overnight shelling in Kyiv on February 26, 2022. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINE EMERGENCY MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE / AFP)

US sanctions on Russian oligarchs miss richest of rich

The term Russian oligarch conjures images of posh London mansions, gold-plated Bentleys and sleek superyachts in the Mediterranean, their decks draped with partiers dripping in jewels.

But the raft of sanctions on oligarchs announced by President Joe Biden this week in response to the invasion of Ukraine may do little to dim the jet-setting lifestyles of Russias ultra-rich and infamous  much less force a withdrawal of tanks and troops.

U.S. sanctions target Russian President Vladmir Putin and a handful of individuals believed to be among his closest security advisers, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

But the list is just as notable for who isnt on it  most of the top names from Forbes list of the richest Russians whose multi-billion-dollar fortunes are now largely intertwined with the West, from investments in Silicon Valley start-ups to British Premier League soccer teams.

Citing the concerns of European allies, the U.S. also didnt impose what was seen as the harshest punishment at its disposal, banning Russia from SWIFT, the international financial system that banks use to move money around the world.

-- Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyiv invasion intensifies as explosions rock Ukraine - live updates
The first conclusion to draw about the onset of war in Ukraine this week is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is, indeed, a very bad man  more interested in conquest, settling of personal scores, and righting what he sees as great historical wrongs against his country and its pride than building a prosperous Russia or a peaceful Europe. This war, at a moral level, is his and his alone.

The second conclusion to draw, however, is that we made mistakes that contributed to Putins rise and to the path that has now resulted in tragedy. Most of all, the 2008 decision of the Bush administration and NATO to offer Ukraine and Georgia membership in NATO some day  but with no timeline, no interim security guarantee and the stipulation that any new member would have to settle territorial disputes with neighbors before gaining eligibility. This painted a bullseye squarely on Ukraines back.

Putting a bulls-eye on Ukraine

That was not a mistake of malevolence or aggressiveness, but it was a serious strategic error. Being half-pregnant with NATO membership while living next to the Russian bear is really no place to be. Unfortunately, the Obama and Trump administrations didn't change this policy and deserve at least a fraction of the responsibility.

A Ukrainian Army soldier inspects fragments of a downed aircraft in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. It was unclear what aircraft crashed and what brought it down amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Russia is pressing its invasion of Ukraine to the outskirts of the capital after unleashing airstrikes on cities and military bases and sending in troops and tanks from three sides.

But the key question of course is where do we go from here?

It is too soon to know the likely course of military events.

OUR VIEW: Americans must stand united in the face of Putin's 'sinister vision for the future'

Politically, we can hope that Putin would settle for a revision to the Ukrainian constitution that rules out the possibility of future NATO membership for that country and new elections in Ukraine to replace President Volodymyr Zelensky in exchange for Russian troop withdrawal. That is an unpalatable set of concessions, but probably the best we can realistically hope for.

But to help our Ukrainian friends achieve that, we need more leverage. Biden has been right not to threaten war against Russia. This crisis, however regrettable, is not worth the risk of World War III or a nuclear holocaust. However, the current strategy for economic sanctions is not punitive enough.

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COLUMN: Tough oil sanctions would crush Russia and Putin, but Biden and Europe can't use them

How can we keep buying oil and gas from a country whose leader is slicing up and bombarding large chunks of an independent, sovereign nation? It is not enough to deny Russia access to the international financial system, to freeze the bank accounts of key perpetrators of the current violence, to deny Russia certain western technologies and to prevent the Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline from opening on schedule. We need a plan to go after existing oil and gas exports, upon which Russian depends for 60% of its total export earnings. Our goal, stated or unstated, should be to drive the Russian economy into recession for the rest of Putins presidency if need be  unless he promptly agrees to be peaceful and take his forces home.

Transitioning from Russian energy

As David Victor, a fellow Brookings resident, and I argued in a recent oped, achieving an energy decoupling will take work and time  and it will cost money. NATO and western nations will need to do the following:

Increase oil and gas production in North America and elsewhere.

Build more liquid natural gas terminals in western Europe.

Empower relevant gas authorities in Europe to pay higher prices for non-Russian gas.

And, where possible, accelerate transitions to greener energy sources.

Depending on the course of military action, we may also need to consider arming a Ukrainian insurgency that fights an escalated Russian occupation. And we may need to permanently station at least one American Army combat brigade team in the Baltic states. Estonia and Latvia each have roughly 25% Russian-speaking populations. That makes those states potential targets for Putins next assault, since he has claimed the right to protect, as he defines it, Russian speakers wherever they might be.

COLUMN: Russian sanctions are more important following the attack. The world must hold firm.

It may be too soon for military escalation. But it's not too soon to develop and articulate an energy transition plan. Putin, who doubts our collective toughness in the West, must know that we are willing to pay the costs associated with weaning ourselves completely off Russian hydrocarbons if necessary. Making that threat credible is the most promising way to end this war of aggression quickly and humanely.

Michael OHanlon is the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy and director of research, Foreign Policy Program, Brookings Institution.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to help Ukrain and hurt Russia: Stop buying oil and gas
A Taliban fighter stands in front of an old destroyed Soviet tank used during the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 Hussein Malla/AP Photo

A Taliban spokesman urged peace and restraint after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The statement was similar to those of other countries, but at odds with the Taliban's own history.

The group came to power in Afghanistan by defeating the last government militarily in 2021.

The Taliban weighed in on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling for a peaceful resolution there despite owing their own status as rulers of Afghanistan to a campaign of force.

The spokesperson for the group's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, tweeted a statement Friday.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi (@QaharBalkhi) February 25, 2022

Using the group's term for Afghanistan  the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan  the statement said "all sides need to desist from taking positions that could intensify violence."

The group said its foreign policy is to remain neutral. Urging both sides of the conflict to ensure the safety of Afghan students in Ukraine, it asked the two countries to "resolve the crisis through dialogue and peaceful means."

This is not how the Taliban achieved its present dominance over Afghanistan, where it swept the country by force in 2021.

After conquering most of the country, Taliban fighters forced the western-backed government to flee in August by advancing on the capital, Kabul.

The group said it was concerned by the "real possibility of civilian casualties." 1,600 Afghan civilians died during the Taliban's insurgency in the first half of 2021, according to the BBC.

That was on top of the vast numbers killed in fighting and bombings during the 20-year-long insurgency after the US-led invasion in 2001.

While trying to project a turn towards moderation now it is in charge of Afghanistan, the Taliban have a brutal history and are responsible for decades of extrajudicial killings.

Ukraine evacuated 370 Afghan refugees in August 2021, per UNHCR.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Putin Drinking Champagne

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes a glass of champagne during the reception for new foreign ambassadors at Grand Kremlin Palace on November 9, 2016 in Moscow, Russia. Putin has received credentials from 19 new foreign ambassadors and also extended congratulates to Donald Trump the winner of U.S. Presidential election today. Credit - Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

With world leaders looking to heap more financial punishment on Russian President Vladimir Putin for his violent invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and E.U. are set to freeze the assets of Putin and his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovboth of whom are believed to have amassed extreme wealth.

Putin is reportedly one of the richest people in the world, but his exact net worth is nearly impossible to tally. And freezing his assets wont be easy, as they are likely distributed across a secret web of shell companies, real estate and other peoples accounts. Bill Browder, a U.S. investor who made a fortune in Russia before becoming a prominent Kremlin critic, told the U.S. Senate in 2017 that Putin had accumulated $200 billion in assets.

Still, the complexity of his holdings makes it difficult for world leaders to properly target their sanctions. E.U. foreign policy officials are not backing down, however. I can assure you that if you got major assets and all of a sudden you cant get hold of them, it will cost you, E.U. foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a press conference on Friday. Even so, there is a whole lot of work that needs to be done to track down their E.U.-based assets, since Putin and Lavrovs financial holdings are likely in other names, Borrell noted.

Read More: Heres What We Know So Far About Russias Assault on Ukraine

Estimates of Putins wealth have varied wildly over the years. In 2012, Stanislav Belkovsky, a former mid-level Kremlin adviser, claimed Putin had a fortune worth at least $70 billiona figure that would put him in the top 20 of Forbes ranking of billionaires today. Belkovskys calculus was based on Putins alleged stakes in several Russian companies, primarily in the oil sector. Anders Aslund, a Swedish economist and author, estimated this year that Putin has somewhere between $100 billion and $130 billion in assetsa calculation based on the wealth of Putins oligarch confidants, which could be between $500 million and $2 billion each.

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Official disclosures from the Kremlin list Putins annual income around $140,000, and show that he owns a 800-square-foot apartment in St. Petersburg along with two Soviet-era cars, an off-road truck and car trailer. But these assets hardly account for the wealth members of his inner circle hold on his behalf, experts say. The Panama Papers and Pandora Papersleaked documents that contain information about wealthy individuals hiding money through a network of offshore bank accounts and companiessuggest that Russians with close ties to Putin have amassed fortunes that his family also benefits from.

He keeps his money in the West, Browder said in his 2017 testimony, but that money is potentially exposed to asset freezes and confiscation. Although the exact location of Putins financial holdings remains a mystery, its unlikely he keeps money in the U.S. suggesting the Biden administrations decision to join E.U. leaders in freezing his assets is largely a symbolic move. Sanctioning Putin and Lavrov sends a clear message about the strength of the opposition to the actions by President Putin and the direction in his leadership of the Russian military, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday.

Read More: What Bidens Sanctions Will Actually Do

Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny wrote to TIMEs Simon Shuster in November that U.S. sanctions would be far more effective by going after Putins own fortune as well as assets his allies keep for him in Western banks. Its really simple, Navalny wrote. You want to influence Putin, then influence his personal wealth. Its right under your backside. Navalnys foundation sent a similar message to the White House early last year, asking for sanctions against 35 of Russias most senior officials and oligarchs close to Putin, some of whom were later sanctioned.

Navalny has tried to do his part in exposing some of Putins hidden wealth. In January, he released a video that shows a $1.4 billion palace on Russias Black Sea that Putin allegedly owns. The property features an underground ice rink, two helipads, an arboretum, an amphitheater and a casino, though Putin denies being the owner.

Personal sanctions on foreign dignitaries can be a potent tool. The top officials of Syria and Belarus were sanctioned by the E.U., and leaders of Myanmar, Venezuela and Hong Kong have faced personal sanctions from the U.S. These types of sanctions can prevent leaders from traveling to and from certain jurisdictions, and ban companies from engaging in any sort of transaction with those leaders.

For Putin, freezing portions of his wealth could be a significant blow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Pesko has warned that personal sanctions on Putin would be politically destructive, but Putin may already be worried. Just two weeks before Russian forces invaded Ukraine, a $125 million superyacht he reportedly owns was spotted sailing on the Baltic Sea from Germany to Russia, before its scheduled repairs were completed. The yacht features a 49-foot indoor pool that can be converted into a dance floor.
The purchase of roughly 27 acres of land for $1.2 million that was once the site of South Dakota Livestock Sales was approved this week by the Watertown City Council.

The property is along State Highway 20 North and will serve as location of the new Street Department headquarters.

In all, including the land purchase, the new building is expected to cost about $7.5 million. The purchase agreement is contingent upon no substantial issues being uncovered during an environmental study.

City staff has conducted the majority of the work necessary to complete the land purchase, including the signatures of all the current property owners. But council members expressed some concerns regarding the land.

Some of those concerns raised came to Councilman Glen Vilhauer by a citizen of Watertown. One of these matters is regarding the fact this property is highly visible to the public. Land filled with equipment and material stockpiles would be an eyesore, he said.

Watertown Street Department Superintendent Rob Beynon said the concern was considered before the purchase agreement request. Any stockpiled materials will be kept in the back of the facility, and evergreens will be planted around the premises. As the trees mature, they will block the view.

I foresee that the building is going to be nice-looking, Beynon said at Monday's meeting.

Another concern is the risk the citys snowplows and maintenance trucks could face as they enter Highway 20. Beynon said that will depend on where the entrance to the headquarters is located. He added that it's possible to check with the state Department of Transportation to see if highway speeds into town can be slowed to provide an extra level of precaution.

The current location of the Streets Department is close to the high school, which also comes with safety concerns.

Its not safe when school gets out. Its hard to get out of our facility, Beynon said.

The Highway 20 location is across from the Codington County Highway Shop, which would be a convenience the Watertown Street Department.

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Being close to the county shop is a big deal, said Beynon. We share resources with them, like millings and sand-salt mix.

Plus, the Street Department will likely need greater access to a truck scale for materials. Being close to the county shop means the scale could be shared.

There are pros and cons for choosing this new location, but there are a lot of pros. This new facility will be able to house us for the next 75 years and have space enough for further growth, said Beynon.

The city council wants an environmental study done before completing the transaction. It will take roughly three weeks and will highlight issues on the property that might require cleanup before being developed.

The purchase agreement can be approved once the environmental study returns, provided it reveals no major concerns.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Old livestock sales location could be new home for Streets Department
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian assured that France supports Russia's disconnection from SWIFT and is ready to supply weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"Call with my French counterpart @JY_LeDrian. France supports banning Russia from SWIFT. I urged to immediately introduce the third package of EU sanctions to stop Russian invasion. France is also ready to supply weapons and military equipment to help Ukraine defend itself," Kuleba wrote in Twitter on Saturday.
Jurors in Randy Shea Gardners murder trial heard Gardner explain to sheriffs detectives how he knew there was a body buried in a barn on his mother-in-laws property near Gleed.
Roshelle Pavlin, human resources consultant at BBSI, works at her desk in the office on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 in Yakima, Wash.
The Ukraine crisis makes me miss Ronald Reagan.

More to the point, it makes me better appreciate his combination of moral clarity and realism: He understood that some governments are simply evil. Their leaders lust after power and seek to limit the freedom of their citizens. These governments are a threat to global security.

For Reagan, the No. 1 offender was the Soviet Union, but he held this view about communist governments more generally. He saw communism as an ideology that elevated the power of the state, a non-democratic state at that, over the rights of the individual.

Its impossible to know exactly what Reagan would have thought of Putins Russia, which is not a communist country. But everything Reagan said and wrote implies that he would have been highly suspicious of it. Putins Russia already has moved militarily in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. It imprisons political opponents and clamps down on free speech. It is far from a legitimate democracy.

So I dont think Reagan would have been surprised by the fact that Russia has launched a bloody, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He well understood the logic of what he called evil empires.

Unfortunately, Reagan has gone out of style, including with the conservative base. For 20 years, dissident Republicans have been saying that they want to move away from the legacy of Reaganism. Some of this intellectual migration has been more against Reagans market-oriented economics. But isolationism and even pro-Russian sympathies have become common in the Republican Party.

As I interpret the career of Reagan, he understood another point very well  and that concerns the scarcity of moral capital. Reagan knew there were real bad guys, and that it was up to leaders and elites to identify them and stand up to them, both rhetorically and diplomatically. Most of all, it was important to encourage the American public to internalize these same moral judgments. This may all sound corny and dated, but the attack on Ukraine shows it to be an enduring

truth.

The complementary Reagan vision was positive, optimistic and focused on what Americans can accomplish when working together. Americans are going to disagree on a lot of issues, he acknowledged, but they should maintain a relatively united front and save their real opprobrium for the truly destructive forces on the global scene.

Fast forward 40 years, and it seems that America has almost completely ignored these strictures.

Many on the right seem most upset about the worst aspects of the left, and vice versa. Even when bad forces emerge in the international arena, Americans seem far more preoccupied by their fights with each other.

On Russia specifically, as recently as several months ago the current military escalation was hardly a topic of discussion among U.S. elites. When Mitt Romney tried to raise the danger of Russia in his 2012 presidential campaign, the point largely fell flat. Former President Barack Obama actually mocked him.

Now there is a rush to catch up. Much of the panic about Russia over the last few years has been inward-looking, related to its connection with the campaign of former President Donald Trump. Finally, there is a realization that European peace cannot be taken for granted  and a great deal is at stake.

So far President Joe Biden has done a commendable job building up a relatively united NATO and European coalition to counter Russias assault of Ukraine. Like Reagan with the Soviet Union, Biden understands that it is necessary to keep open lines of communication and negotiation with Russia.

If an aggressive Russia were to remain central on the global stage, some people might find themselves reassessing more than just the Reagan presidency. A wider war would require a reassessment of pretty much everything else, including the prospects for economic growth and international cooperation. There would also be the question of whether this cycle of combat and conquest has a meaningful stopping point.

Reagan understood all that. He made his share of mistakes, including on foreign policy, but the main issue he got right looms ever larger in importance. Even those who reject other aspects of his legacy should be able to appreciate this one.
American actor Sean Penn, who recently visited Kyiv, wrote a letter in support of the Ukrainians, Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, said.

"When the Russians are trying to fight Facebook  We are fighting, including with the help of Facebook. I will act as an official platform for posting very important words of support. American actor Sean Penn sent me this letter and said that I could publish it wherever I want. I want to publish it here. We are grateful to Sean Penn, who was in Kyiv the other day, a very brave and honest person," Yermak wrote on Facebook.

He published the text of the letter of the actor, who said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is making a terrible mistake.

"Already a brutal mistake of lives taken and hearts broken, and If he doesn't relent, I believe Mr. Putin will have made a most horrible mistake for all of humankind. President Zelensky & the Ukrainian people have risen as historic symbols of courage & principle. Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams. If we allow it to fight alone, our soul as America is lost," the actor wrote.
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Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday marked the 20th anniversary of the House of Terror Museum, which he said represented the oppressed. Its establishment meant that truth and lies were no longer defined by Communists but by those who were trampled by the regime, he said.

The museum manifests a simple narrative based on the similarities between Communism and Nazism, he said in a video message.



It gives something important to young and old, eastern, western and Hungarian [visitors] that they cannot get elsewhere, he said.



The museum also separates the faces and names of victims and perpetrators, which communists meshed together so cleverly until the moment the museum was founded, he said.



Communists no longer determine what is good and bad, what is true and untrue  that is now in the hands of those who were trampled, who lost everything. Some lost their lives and their families, others their wealth or career. Finally, they are the winners, and history is on their side, he said.



President Ader Marks Victims of Communism Memorial Day



President Janos Ader and First Lady Anita Herczegh on Friday lit candles in front of the House of Terror Museum, marking the Victims of Communism memorial day and the 20th anniversary of the museums inauguration.



Ader told public media afterwards that freedom was to be cherished by all Hungarians, now and in the future.



The museum, which opened twenty years ago in the former headquarters of Hungarys Communist state security office, has drawn 7 million visitors since, and has hosted countless exhibitions, conferences and other events, he noted.



It is a memorial to the importance of freedom of nations and individuals, Ader said. That message is especially important today, when a war is raging in a neighbouring country, he said.



The House of Terror Museum is marking the anniversary and the memorial day with candles at its Wall of Heroes, and with exhibitions and a light show in the evening.



At a commemoration in downtown Budapest, House Speaker Laszlo Kover called Communism a lethal ideology, and said that attempts to implement it had always resulted in bloody dictatorships.



Even today, various mutations of the communist virus are spreading disease all over the Western world, Kover said at the event held at the memorial of national martyrs. Modern proponents of communism aim to dismantle states, undo families and the middle class, and abolish private property, as did their predecessors in the 20th century, he said.



Kover said Hungarians would remain Hungarians only if the state remained independent and could take effective action, if families continued to prosper, and the fruits of the labour of Hungarians enriches mainly Hungarian public and private wealth.



He said the nations middle class and its majority must protect our democratic order from political extremists allied to communists and fascists.



Speaking in Nyiregyhaza, in eastern Hungary, the prime minsters chief of staff said naming the perpetrators of communist terror, and revealing the truth, was key to laying the demons of the 20th century to rest.



The butchers of the House of Terror should be named publicly, Gergely Gulyas said, referring to the acts of torture committed at the Budapest headquarters of the Communist state security agency (AVH) which now houses the House of Terror Museum.



They tried to break the backbone of the nation by trampling the dignity of individuals, he said.



Meanwhile, the leader of LMPs parliamentary group vowed that the united opposition would reveal politicians links to the state security agency if it came to power.



Speaking at a commemoration held in Pecs, in southern Hungary, Laszlo Lorant Keresztes said: We cannot build democracy on the foundations of the secrets of a dictatorship.



Keresztes noted that ruling Fidesz had promised to make the agent files of the Communist regime public. They shirked that task, despite the fact that LMP submitted 24 proposals to parliament to that end between 2011 and 2021, he said. He vowed that the united opposition would show how the parties active in the regime change were drawn in by agents of the Communist secret services, and which public figures of post-Communist Hungary were involved, he said.



Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Keresztes said the opposition rejected the aggression of Russia and President Vladimir Putin, and stood by the sovereignty of Ukraine, by the Hungarians living in the country, as well as all other citizens.



We also have to declare what [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban has long disavowed: there is no business, no negotiation with an aggressor, he said. He called for the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant based on Russian technology and Russian loans which expose Hungary to Russia to be scrapped.
A vulgar joke and sexually explicit passages from several books were read aloud during a public meeting of the Nebraska State Board of Education, as one board member made his case that inappropriate books are showing up in school libraries.

In doing so, he sparked a debate resembling one happening across the U.S., as parents and education officials of differing political leanings jockey over what material is appropriate for school-aged children.

Board member Kirk Penner read aloud several passages depicting sex acts. A man from the audience also read a couple of passages, including a crude joke about gay sex, from the podium during the public comment period.

Penner said his goal at the Feb. 4 meeting was not to ban books but to alert parents and local school officials to the materials in some school libraries.

Were hyper-sexualizing our kids, he said.

Some of the passages Penner read depicted same-sex acts, and one book explained gender fluidity to kids.

Several board members said that choosing library books is a local decision, not one for the board, and that local districts should have processes in place for parents to challenge books.

Board member Lisa Fricke said that although the passages made her uncomfortable, the selection of books is a local control issue.

Why it was brought before the state board is not clear to me, Fricke said in a recent interview. We dont have a role in whats selected locally by school districts.

She said the U.S. Supreme Court has provided guidance for determining if material is obscene, a test that involves whether material has literary value. Fricke said theres not one litmus test for whats acceptable, but there is such a thing as decency, age appropriateness.

Another board member, Jacquelyn Morrison, questioned whether Penner was targeting books that portrayed same-sex relationships and gender identity.

If your position is we shouldnt have books about LGBTQ+ themes in schools, then I cant agree with that, Morrison said.

Penner responded that the passages he read reflected a mix of sexual orientations and that pornographys pornography to me.

Several Nebraska school districts, including in metro Omaha, confirmed that some of the books read at the meeting are in their collections.

Across the country, similar explicit public readings have been taking place at school board meetings as conservatives push back against what they view as a liberal-progressive agenda in school curriculum.

Nationally, various books have been challenged in recent years over comments and depictions deemed racist, among them several Dr. Seuss books, Huckleberry Finn and Little House on the Prairie.

The American Library Association reported last year an uptick in challenges of books and resources with gay, queer and transgender themes and that tell the stories of people who are Black, indigenous or are persons of color.

According to the association, more than 330 unique cases were reported to ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30.

Penner, who was appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts in December and is running to keep the seat beyond 2022, read passages depicting a girl performing oral sex on a boy, and a male ejaculating on another male. He also mentioned a graphic novel with images of two middle school girls kissing and a book that asserts gender is fluid.

After reading the passages aloud, Penner said: My goodness, I was scared to read that in public.

One of the books was Brave Face: A Memoir by Shaun David Hutchinson.

Penner read several passages from it including this one:

Parker unbuttoned his shorts and tugged them down around his knees. He rubbed his (deleted) against my thighs three maybe four times. His body stiffened ... and then he (deleted) on the leg of my jeans.

Penner did not delete any words.

He read the following passage from It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn:

When a baby is born, the parents make a guess as to the childs gender. As the child gets older, they can choose their identity.

Penner read a passage from Looking for Alaska by John Green, in which a boy describes a girl performing oral sex on him.

With me sitting watching the Brady Bunch, watching Marsha, Marsha Marsha up to her Brady antics, Laura unbuttoned my pants and pulled my boxers down a little and pulled out my (deleted) ... And then she wrapped her hand around it and put it in her mouth.

Penner also read several negative reviews submitted to Amazon.com about the graphic novel The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson.

It depicts two middle school girls kissing, he said.

If were finding these books in elementary, middle school and high school libraries, that is sick, he said.

The man who read from the podium recited a vulgar joke he said was in the book Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison.

The World-Herald checked with a number of Nebraska districts to see if any of the books mentioned are in school libraries.

Several metro Omaha districts, including Bellevue, Bennington, Ralston, Springfield Platteview and Papillion La Vista, had at least one of the books in their collections.

Millard, for instance, indicated that Looking for Alaska is available to high school and middle school students, Brave Face: A Memoir to high school students and The Breakaways in middle school.

Lawn Boy is not in the Millard collection, nor do kids have access to It Feels Good to Be Yourself, a spokeswoman said.

In the Omaha Public Schools, Lawn Boy is not available, but the other books are available at some middle and high schools, a spokeswoman said.

State board member Maureen Nickels said every district should have a complaint process when parents are concerned.

If the process is followed, the book could be taken away, it might be moved to a different grade level, it might not be removed at all, she said.

According to the Nebraska School Librarians Association, librarians work with local school boards to create policies for selection of materials and for requesting reconsideration of materials.

While an individual may not agree with a particular decision, numerous examples of local book challenges show that the process does indeed work, without inhibiting the First Amendment rights of other readers, the association said.

The Kearney Public Schools, which has several of the questioned books in its collection, implemented a new library policy last month.

The policy calls on parents to submit a permission form indicating whether they give prior consent for their child to check out materials.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent Kent Edwards wrote that the district has a responsibility to serve readers of different ages, reading levels, backgrounds and experiences.

We have a responsibility to offer a wide range of book choices that meet all of their diverse needs, Edwards wrote, noting that some material in their libraries may be outside of their families moral values and philosophies.

Spokeswoman Tori Stofferson said the Kearney policy is a proactive effort to enlist parents in determining what they would like for their children while not limiting the learning opportunities or reading enjoyment of others.
Totally 100 soldiers wounded, 8 died in Kherson region when rebuffing enemy, military operations underway in Kakhovka area  Regional State Administration

KYIV. Feb 26 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Kherson region continues to rebuff Russian troops, 100 military are in medical institutions, 8 have died, the press service of the regional state administration has reported.

"Kakhovka district: hostilities are underway in the Kazatske-Vesele area. Large movements of military equipment... Kherson district: The Skhidny microdistrict has been without power for the second day. Due to the destruction of the substation, there is no possibility of updating engineering networks. There is no gas and electricity in the village of Antonivka. Possibility of restoration is yet impossible due to active hostilities," the Facebook post said.

The Regional State Administration reported that there were 100 wounded in medical institutions. Eight military died.

There are no shooting and active hostilities in Henichesk area.

"There is no electricity and water supply in Novotroitske and nearby settlements. In Henichesk itself, the operation of power networks has been resumed. All supply systems are working. Near the village of Sofiyivka, a pillar was blown up, the village of Chumatsky Shliakh, Katerynivka and some other settlements without electricity," the Regional State Administration said.

All responsible services, in particular, the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service, have been put on high alert, all fires are eliminated promptly, fuel is enough.

"It is planned to install an additional generator in Luchansky hospital," the administration said.
The ongoing Ukrainian crisis is having a deep impact on the aviation industry. As per recent reports, the flights from India to Europe will take longer than usual. This longer duration comes as a result of the ban of usage of Ukrainian airspace and the Russian governments ban on any British flights in its airspace.

Virgin Atlantic's Delhi-London flights will have a slightly longer flying time by 15-60 minutes as the Russian government has banned all British planes from crossing its airspace.

In response to the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, the Boris Johnson government announced that Russian national carrier Aeroflot would not be allowed to land in the UK earlier this week.

Also read: World's largest aircraft Antonov An225 suspected to be destroyed by Russian attack in Ukraine

Consequently, the Russian government on Friday announced that British planes would not be allowed to land in Russia or use Russian airspace.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said on Friday: "On Thursday evening, we took the decision to start avoiding Russian airspace, and our flight paths will continue to be adjusted for some Virgin Atlantic passenger services between the UK and India."

The spokesperson apologised for the inconvenience caused to customers by slightly longer flight times.

"Four Virgin Atlantic services typically overfly Russia - flights between London Heathrow and Islamabad, Lahore, Delhi and services between Manchester and Islamabad", the spokesperson said.

"Avoiding Russian airspace will result in slightly longer flight times by 15-60 minutes, depending on the route," the spokesperson added.

"As ever, our airport, cabin crew and customer teams will support customers with any connecting flights", the spokesperson mentioned.

"The safety and security of our customers and people always come first, and we're monitoring the situation in Ukraine and Russia extremely carefully following the escalation of conflict, continuing to operate in full compliance with relevant safety regulators, authorities and governments," the spokesperson noted.

With inputs from PTI

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An Air India plane departed from the Mumbai airport on Saturday morning for Romanian capital Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine due to the Russian military offensive.

"The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 AM and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 AM (Indian Standard Time)", senior government officials said.

Indian nationals who have reached the Ukraine-Romania border by road are being taken to Bucharest by Indian government officials so that they can be evacuated in the Air India flight, they noted.

Also read: Air India to operate flights to Romania, Hungary on Feb 26 to evacuate stranded Indians in Ukraine

Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian airspace has been closed for civil aircraft operations since the morning of February 24, and therefore, the evacuation flights are operating out of Bucharest and Budapest.

"Around 20,000 Indians, mainly students, are currently stranded in Ukraine", the officials said.

Before the closure of the Ukrainian airspace, Air India had conducted one flight to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on February 22 that brought 240 people back to India.

It had planned to operate two more flights on February 24 and February 26. Still, it could not do so as the Russian offensive began on February 24, and the Ukrainian airspace was consequently shut down.

Air India said on Twitter on Friday night that it will be operating flights on B787 aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Bucharest and Budapest on Saturday as special government charter flights to fly back stranded Indian citizens.

On Friday, the Indian embassy in Ukraine said it is working to establish evacuation routes from Romania and Hungary.

"At present, teams are getting in place at the following check points: Chop-Zahony Hungarian border near Uzhhorod, Porubne-Siret Romanian border near Chernivtsi," it said.

"Indian nationals, especially students living closest to these border checkpoints, are advised to depart in an organised manner in coordination with teams from the Ministry of External Affairs to actualise this option", the embassy said.

Once the above-mentioned routes are operational, the Indian nationals travelling on their own would be advised to proceed to the border checkpoints, it noted.

The embassy advised Indian travellers to carry their passports, cash (preferably in US dollars), other essential items and COVID-19 vaccination certificates to the border checkpoints.

"Print out Indian flag and paste prominently on vehicles and buses while travelling," it said.

The distance between Kyiv and the Romanian border checkpoint is approximately 600 kilometres, and it takes anywhere between eight and a half hours to 11 hours to cover it by road.

Bucharest is located approximately 500 kilometres from the Romanian border checkpoint, and it takes anywhere between seven to nine hours to cover the distance by road.

The distance between Kyiv and the Hungarian border checkpoint is around 820 kilometres, and it takes 12-13 hours to cover it by road.

With inputs from PTI

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Amid the Ukrainian crisis, there have been reports suggesting that the world's largest aircraft has been destroyed. However, there has been no official confirmation on this matter. Claimed as the world's largest plane Antonov An-225 was last recorded at the Hostomel Airport (GML).

According to the recent flight data, an aircraft with the registration number UR-82060 has been at Hostomel Airport since its last landing there on 5 February 2022.

The plane is known for its humongous size. The enormous plane carries three jet engines on each wing and more wheels than a normal plane. As per the unconfirmed reports, chances are that the engineering marvel Antonov An-225 also known as Mryia has been destroyed amid the war in Ukraine.

Also read: Air India flight leaves from Mumbai to Bucharest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine

As per the viral videos on Twitter, an air assault operation was launched at the Hostomel Airport, the last landing place for Antonov An-225. In the video, huge screens of black smoke can be seen rising up from the ground.

Helicopters may also be seen heading towards Hostomel Airport in another video recorded from a different viewpoint. The airport is only 25 kilometres from Kyiv, and some speculate that Russian forces intend to use it to carry heavy equipment into the country near its capital. However, there is no confirmation on the report yet official confirmation is awaited on the matter.

Source

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Mumbai: 'Family Man' actor Manoj Bajpayee celebrated the completion of six years of his critically acclaimed film, 'Aligarh', on Saturday.The actor took to Instagram to share a poster of the film and posted stories of it completing 6 years.

The film also had Rajkummar Rao in the lead role with him. Earlier, Apurva Asrani, who wrote the story and screenplay of the film, posted a long message on Instagram to celebrate 6 years of the film.

His post read, "Today marks 6 years since #Aligarh released and I've put together a bunch of pictures that marks it's beautiful journey. This film is special, not just because it was my full fledged writing debut, but also because it came at a time when being gay was a criminal offense and the film became a statement of sorts. It was also during the promotions of the film, that i came out of the closet on national television (with @barkha.dutt-pic attached)."

The post continued, "Hugest gratitude to @hansalmehta for making this film and for giving me the opportunity to write it. To @erosnow for backing this little film and making it so big. To @rajkummar_rao for adding much heft to the project by playing Deepu Sebastian with such sincerity. To @ancientfeline for sparking the idea to tell this story and for bringing impeccable research and support to the writing process. And finally, to @bajpayee.manoj for playing Professor Siras with so much love, empathy and honesty. I saw the film again two days ago, and not only is he a masterclass in acting, each viewing of the film unravels different layers of his performance. Cheers to the entire team of Aligarh for giving their all. #6YearsOfAligarh #manojbajpayee #rajkummarrao #hansalmehta #apurvaasrani."

He also added the Rainbow flag, representative of the LGBTQ community at the end of the caption.

Manoj had reacted to the post by writing, "You write so well Appu!! Some memories never fade away. making of Aligarh is such a memorable part of our life & career!! Love." He added a heart emoji to it.

'Aligarh' was the sensitive story of a professor of Marathi and the head of the Classical Modern Indian Languages Faculty at the famed Aligarh Muslim University, who gets suspended on grounds of morality.

He is contacted by a journalist (Rajkummar) who is sympathetic to him, and his case is taken up in court. The film won rave reviews and fetched many awards for Manoj, Apurva and the director of the film, Hansal Mehta.

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New Delhi: When Indore-based EKI Energy Services chose to list on the BSE's SME platform in March, with a small revenue of only 66 crore and a net profit of 4.4 crore in 2019-20, the objective was to raise between 18.24 and 18.60 crore. Its income in FY 2018 was only Rs 6 crore.

The 12-year-old firm intended to use the IPO revenues to grow its climate control solutions in India and overseas, and set the price band for the IPO at $100 to 102. It debuted on the BSE on July 4, 2021, with a market capitalization of 101.05 crores.

The company now claims to have witnessed revenue growth of about 189% year on year (YoY) to Rs 190 crores in FY 20-21.

In an interview with Zee News English, Manish Dabkara CMD & CEO of EKI Energy Services Ltd talks about the company's humble beginning, its future plans, and much more.

Edited Excerpts

Suggestions for businesses to adopt in order to be environmental friendly and sustainable?

Climate has been witnessing one of the most adverse impact from the increasing industrial activites. Businesses  both big and small are fueling this climate crisis with their emissions that are not reduced or offset with sustainable solutions. Today, adopting climate best practices has become indispensible for every business. In fact, businesses should adopt climate action and sustainable practices as a part of their core business governance and compliance management.

Businesses should plan for long-term climate goals with complimentary short-term as well as long-term solutions to achieve these. For this, they should consult climate experts to design a well-defined strategy. Experts can help measure emissions and accordingly suggest an action plan to offset them. These plans are scientifically designed for effective results that can help businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute positively for building a greener, sustainable tomorrow. With this, companies will also foster a sustainable long-term growth for business success as they increase their productivity and make financial gains.

We offer an exhaustive bouquet of end-to-end climate solutions that enable every business with strategic plans to achieve their climate goals. As on date we work with 2500+ companies across 40+ countries enabling them to champion their climate journey.

How can India achieve net zero emissions?

Indias net-zero commitment is a positive step towards stabilizing the climate and will accelerate the global fight against climate change. For this, the government and industrial sector need to combine their efforts to effectively reduce emission levels in the country. Government has to develop policy frameworks and guidelines for climate action which should be responsibly adopted by the industrial sector.

The five-fold strategy -Panchamritas of India will further provide an impetus to the net-zero journey with its proposals for enhanced usage of renewable energy. If all stakeholders commit to strong climate action in their respective line of business and everyday life, we can together stride for a net-zero future in line with the strong guidelines that COP26 has established.

How does EKI plan to educate companies on the importance of being climate conscious?

Companies that are climate sensitive and implement climate action gain a competitive edge while also increasing their productivity. As climate experts we consistently advocate that the first step to a greener tomorrow are businessses that understand their climate responsibilities and adopt climate best practices. In line with this, we focus deeply on sensitizing brands on their role for climate action and enabling their climate journey.

With an ardent vision to make the planet greener, we educate companies on their carbon emissions and cost-effective solutions they can adopt to reduce this. We do this through a host of platforms including  educative training sessions and webinars. In addition, we drive thought leadership through our social media platforms. We also work with our existing clients to widen the scope of their climate action to achieve higher climate goals.

How customised roadmaps for businesses will help the climate change battle easier?

The first step for any business to be succesful and viable in the long-run is to define their climate responsibilities as an important aspect of their company governance guidelines. Consequently, companies will be able to design a strong action plan with which they can reduce their carbon footprint. As companies improve their energy efficiency and drastically reduce their emissions, they will significantly contribute to lowering and reversing the adverse effects of climate change. If more companies adopt climate action, this essentially translates into strong efforts towards lowering the countrys emission levels and consequently contributing to the climate goals of planet.

Sneak peek at the companys journey

EKI Energy Services Ltd. (EKIESL) was founded in the year 2008 with an objective to lead companies worldwide to a future of net-zero carbon emissions. With a deep passion to contribute towards the betterment of planet Earth at its heart, we offer strategic services and solutions to organizations for their carbon asset management.

We have grown to become one of the leading companies in the climate change sector not just in India but globally. From an organisation that started this journey with a team of 5 people, we have today grown into a global team of 180+ professionals. Over the last 13+ years, the brand has grown to become a leading developer & supplier of carbon credits in the world. We are a global leader offering a comprehensive bouquet of best-in-class climate solutions enabling companies to achieve their climate ambitions.We are the most trusted and preferred climate partner for 2500+ clients across 40+ countries.

The company witnessed revenue growth of about 189% year on year (YoY) to Rs 190 crores in FY 20-21. We have since continued a strong growth momentum and reported total revenues of Rs. 1,325 crores for the 9 months period ending December 31, 2021 with revenues of Rs 688 crores in Q3 FY 21-22. Today, we contribute to about 90% to the total carbon credit exports from India and have supplied over 180million offsets as on date.

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New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday appealed to the spices industry to focus on the quality of products and aspire to double exports to USD 10 billion in the next five years.

In the last fiscal, the country exported spices and spices products worth about USD 5 billion.

He also called for focus on packaging and branding of Indian spices as it would help in further pushing the exports.

The minister said that instead of targeting USD 10 billion of exports by 2030, "let us aspire to double our exports to USD 10 billion in the next five years by 2027 and then further double our exports" by 2032, he said while interacting with farmers and exporters at an event organised for marking the foundation day of the Spices Board.

Goyal said that though India is a global leader in spices, it is facing certain challenges when it comes to exports in the whole raw form.

"We do not currently enjoy a cost advantage against many countries of Asia and Africa, which means we should focus on increasing the exports of value-added spices products," he said.

He added that India is also facing a challenge in preparing its production and manufacturing system to meet the stringent quality and food safety standards prescribed by countries across the world.

"Therefore our aim should be to sustain the competitive edge of the Indian spice industry and give added thrust to meet stringent quality and food safety standards," the minister said, adding all trade barriers that are recently imposed against domestic products are around the quality.

Unless the industry ensures that it maintains high quality, it will end up losing market share, he said. "We are working to address these issues ...But we will need your support to maintain high quality," Goyal said.

"I would like to urge that we all work together as a team to maintain high-quality standards so that all those who are adulterating ... Harmful synthetic spices should be exposed," he said.

People engaged in wrong practices are harming India's image and the credibility of spices trade and business.

The credibility can be enhanced only when genuine and honest farmers and exporters expose all those who are indulging in bad practices, he said.

"We are willing to set up laboratories anywhere and everywhere across the country in partnership with BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) or FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)," the minister said.

India exports spices to about 180 destinations and exports have increased from USD 230 million in 1987 tpp about USD 5 billion. Demand is increasing for spices such as turmeric, ginger, coriander and cumin.

So far 26 Indian spices have received GI (Geographical Indication) tag like Coorg's green cardamom, Mizo ginger, and Kanniyakumari cloves.

"We must also look at Unicorns in the spices sector. We want to see many young startups work in this sector, and create new jobs especially in remote areas," the minister said.

Goyal said that he was unable to attend this event at Kochi physically as he has been deputed to Mumbai to receive Indian people coming from Ukraine in the first batch on Saturday evening.

The government is "extremely and most concerned about the safety, security and safe return of all Indian nationals in Ukraine", he said.

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By Abhishek Sankhyayan

New Delhi: To check the volatility and price rise of crude oil, India may release crude oil from its SPR (Strategic Petroleum Reserves). The Russia Ukraine war has disrupted global energy prices. Experts are suggesting that crude oil may hit even $125 per barrel later this year.

All major oil-consuming nations have coordinated to subside the crude price rise. On 23 February, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that a release of reserves was certainly an option on the table. Earlier in November last year. US President Joe Biden has said that the US would release 50 million barrels of oil from the SPR in a bid to lower the fuel prices. The US has mentioned that The SPR release from the US will be executed with close coordination with major energy-consuming nations, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the UK.

India is the world's third-biggest oil importer of crude oil and imports over 80% of its oil needs. At present Indian refiners hold crude oil reserves of 64.5 days. In addition to that, India also holds 39.62 million barrels of crude oil through its Strategic Petroleum Reserve body ISPRL (Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited). Cumulatively at present India has oil storage for 74 days.

In July last year, the Government approved the establishment of two additional commercial-cum strategic facilities with a total storage capacity of 6.5 MT underground storages at Chandikhol (4 MT) and Padur (2.5 MT) under public private partnership (PPP) mode under phase II of the SPR program. When phase II is completed, it will meet an additional 12 days of Indias crude requirement.

Reuters has reported In Aug, 2021 that India has begun selling oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to state-run refiners as it implements a new policy to commercialise its federal storage by leasing out space.

Let's know more about the Strategic Petroleum Reserves :

What is Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)

Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is kept by the government of a particular country or a private industry, to use in case of any crisis or emergency.

India maintains its petroleum reserves through a Government of India Special Purpose Vehicle called Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL). ISPRL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB), which functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Benefits of Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)

Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has told parliament that Govt has filled the SPR Strategic Petroleum Reserves to its full capacity during low crude oil prices in April / May 2020, which resulted in national savings for around 5000 cr.

Countries owning biggest Strategic Petroleum Reserves in world

US - 714 million barrels

China  4000 Million Barrels

Japan - 314.5 million barrels

South Korea  146 million barrels

Spain  120 million barrels

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New Delhi: In the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said that never has the globe peace faced challenges of this significance since World War-II, and India's development is "challenged" by the recent events.

She said human welfare needs a conducive environment without any disruptions or disturbances to make the post-pandemic economic recovery sustainable.

"India's development is going to be challenged by the newer challenges emanating in the world. Peace is being threatened and after the Second World War, (a) war of this significance, this impact, on the globe probably is not felt," Sitharaman said.

She was speaking at the annual Asia Economic Dialogue organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and think-tank Pune International Centre.

"Hopefully, some kind of restoration of peace at the earliest will happen, based on which, recoveries can be sustainable," she added.

Fearing that the economic recovery not just in India but across the world will be "severely hampered", Sitharaman said the welfare of humanity requires the recovery to be sustainable without facing any disruptions. Also Read: Russia puts 'partial restriction' on Facebook access

The comments come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military offensive against its neighbour Ukraine by attacking the eastern European country from multiple sides. Also Read: Vodafone Idea's board to meet on Mar 3 to discuss fundraising

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New Delhi: Union Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh on Saturday said the consumption of steel will continue to rise due to various programmes and schemes of the government and stressed that a mission to develop the secondary steel sector is in the making.

The minister also lauded the government and the people of Odisha for making big strides in development.

"Steel consumption will continue to increase due to the various programmes and schemes of the government, such as Gatishakti Master Plan, in which the contribution of secondary steel sector will be very high. A mission to develop the secondary steel sector is in the making," Singh said.

The steel ministry had an interactive session with steel companies based in Odisha. The minister chaired the meeting which saw the participation of officials from those companies.

Representatives from the companies raised various concerns, including a better environment for the industry especially on finance, logistics, environment, support for small-scale industries in the sector, the ministry said in a statement.

Through institutions like the World Skill Centre, Bhubaneswar, the Odisha government has rightly focused on skill development which is the need of the hour, the statement said.

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New Delhi: Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport said it has blocked a special corridor for Indian students who are coming back to India from Ukraine. The evacuated students, most students will arrive at Indian soil by AI1944 at ETA at 8 pm on Saturday, said a CSMIA spokesperson.

"In light of the current crisis in Ukraine, CSMIA is extending full support to the evacuation of the stranded Indian students who are arriving in Mumbai today by AI1944 at ETA 20:00 hours," stated the CSMIA spokesperson.

The airport has also issued several Covid-19 guidelines to be followed for all the passengers on board. Check the protocol to be followed here:

As per the guidelines laid down by the Government, the Airport Health Organization (APHO) team at the airport will be conducting mandatory temperature checks.

Passengers would be required to produce either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative RT-PCR test report at the time of arrival.

In case any passenger is not able to show any of the documents at the time of arrival, they will have to undergo RT-PCR testing at the airport.

These passengers would be able to leave the airport, post-testing negative.

If any passenger is tested positive, they shall be clinically managed as per the protocols laid down by the Government.

Other arrangements

The airport authority has also made some special arrangements for the young students arriving in Ukraine.

It has fenced in a special area at the airport for the arriving passengers to sit and will provide them with free WiFi codes, distribute food and water bottles, and provide them with any guidance or medical assistance if required at the time of arrival.

Meanwhile, the New Delhi airports revised advisory said that Indian nationals not vaccinated and neither possessing covid negative report will be exempted from uploading documents on Air Suvidha before departure and can enter the airport.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pledged support for far-reaching sanctions against Russia and Russia's disconnection from SWIFT, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said.

"Today I spoke again with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. And once again assured me of his support for far-reaching sanctions against Russia. Including the blocking of the SWIFT system," Morawiecki wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (February 26) said that his government is working to create a health infrastructure that spreads beyond the boundaries of big cities and is established with the spirit of 'one India one health.

We want to build a health infrastructure in India which is beyond the big cities. With a spirit of 'One India, One Health' essential health facilities to be brought in villages at block, district level. Pvt sector to play a key role for their maintenance & up-gradation: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/kHYRUHs4M5  ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

We want to build a health infrastructure in India which is beyond the big cities. With a spirit of 'One India, One Health' essential health facilities to be brought in villages at block, district levels. Pvt sector to play a key role for their maintenance and up-gradation, Modi said.

The leader also highlighted the need of introducing modern technology in health to bring about a revolution in the infrastructure.

Our focus is on health as well as wellness. Three factors are taken into consideration (in Budget)- Modern infrastructure and human resource expansion, encouraging research, and adopting modern and futuristic technology.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the post-Union Budget webinar of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The webinar is an initiative by the government to strengthen the health structure of the country and three sessions on Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, E-Sanjeevani, and Telemental Health will be held during the programme.

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New Delhi: As the Russian invasion continues, India on Saturday (February 26, 2022) advised its stranded nationals in Ukraine to exercise caution at all times and not move to any border posts to exit the country without prior coordination with its officials.

The Indian embassy in Ukraine issued a fresh advisory in view of increasing Russian attacks on several Ukrainian cities and reports of heavy fighting around the capital Kyiv.

"All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with the government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the emergency numbers of the embassy of India in Kyiv," the embassy said.

ALSO READ | 24-hour helpline for Indian students stranded in Ukraine, here's how to contact

It added that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and the embassy is working continuously with the Indian missions in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of the citizens.

"Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoint without prior intimation," the advisory read.

It is noteworthy that New Delhi has set up camp offices in Lviv and Chernivtsi towns in western Ukraine to facilitate the transit of Indians to Hungary, Romania and Poland. India has also positioned teams of officials at Zahony border post in Hungary, Krakowiec as well as Shehyni-Medyka land border points in Poland, Vysne Nemecke in the Slovak Republic and Suceava transit point in Romania to coordinate the exit of its nationals from Ukraine.

Today afternoon more than 470 students will exit the Ukraine and enter Romania through the Porubne-Siret Border. We are moving Indians located at the border to neighbouring countries for onward evacuation. Efforts are underway to relocate Indians coming from the hinterland. pic.twitter.com/iLFTWHifpm  India in Ukraine (@IndiainUkraine) February 25, 2022

The embassy has advised those staying in the eastern part of Ukraine to continue to remain in their current places of residence and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava, celebrations of the 75 years of Indias independence, EdCIL organized 'Study in India' Diplomatic Conclave for showcasing the education sector of India particularly the policies and schemes for providing education opportunities to foreign students in India.

The event was held at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday (February 24) with the participation of diplomats from across 20 countries of the world.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, chaired the opening ceremony in presence of Saurabh Kumar - Secretary (East), Anil Kumar Rai  Joint Secretary (Coord and Parliament) and senior officials from EdCIL (India) Limited.

In his opening remarks, the MoS emphasized the opportunities available to international students under the Study in India programme of the Government of India to strengthen the association among countries in the education sector.

Singh stated that the Conclave is curated to showcase the association of India, with friendly foreign countries, through educational exchanges and ties.

The aim of the 'Study in India Diplomatic Conclave' was to promote the sharing of best academic and research practices through interactions between diverse education systems through the foreign Dignitaries who further helped in understanding higher education systems followed in diverse international markets.

The process of admission at Study in India is completely online where a student has to go on the website (www.studyinindia.gov.in), register, login, fill the student information, choose courses with fee waivers in top institute of their choice and submit the application. After the Mock and Final Counselling rounds, your chosen colleges will get back to you with the Allotment letter. The complete process is free of cost.

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New Delhi: The Indian Air Force on Saturday (February 26) decided to pull out of a multilateral air exercise in the UK next month in view of the situation arising out of the crisis in Ukraine, officials said. The decision to not participate in the 'Cobra Warrior' exercise came just three days after the IAF announced that five Tejas light combat aircraft would be sent for the drills from March 6 to 27 at Waddington in the UK.

The IAF on Saturday morning tweeted that it has decided not to deploy its aircraft for exercise in the UK in "light of the recent events". However, the tweet was deleted later.

Though there was no reason given why the tweet was deleted, officials said the decision to not participate in the exercise stands. "The IAF is not participating in the exercise 'Cobra Warrior'," said a senior official.

The pull-out came amid a deepening crisis in Ukraine with Russian troops advancing on Kyiv and other key cities.

The decision also came hours after India abstained from voting on a UN Security Council resolution on the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

Official sources said by abstaining from the resolution, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant sides to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

On Wednesday, the IAF announced that it will participate in the 'Cobra Warrior' exercise with a fleet of five Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA).

The IAF had said that the exercise 'Cobra Warrior 22' was aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating air forces.

In a statement, It had said that the exercise would be a platform for the indigenously developed Tejas aircraft to demonstrate their manoeuvrability and operational capability.

"The exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure and sharing best practices amongst the participating air forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship," it had said.

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New Delhi: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is all set to release ICAI CA Inter Exam December results on Saturday (February 26, 2022). Once released, the candidates can will be able to check the score on the official website  icaiexam.icai.org.

According to the notification, the result is likely to be announced on February 26 or February 27, 2022.

The results of the chartered accountants intermediate examination (old course & new course) held in December 2021 are likely to be declared on Saturday, February 26 (evening) or Sunday, February 27, 2022, read the official notification by ICAI.

Candidates will also be able to get their results via e-mail addresses. For this they will need to register their requests at the website i.e. icaiexam.icai.org from February 24.

Notably, candidates can keep checking icaiexam.icai.org, caresult.icai.org, icai.nic.in for any latest updates on the results.

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New Delhi: The Russian embassy on Saturday (February 26) welcomed Indias independent and balanced position for abstaining from voting on a crucial UN Security Council resolution on Moscows large-scale attack on Ukraine.

The embassy said Russia is committed to maintain close dialogue with India on the Ukraine situation. Highly appreciate Indias independent and balanced position at the voting in the UNSC on Feb 25. In the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership, Russia is committed to maintain close dialogue with India on the situation around Ukraine, Russian Embassy in India was quoted as saying by ANI.

Issuing an 'Explanation of Vote' (EoV) for its decision to abstain from voting at UNSC, India said, "The contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

"All member states need to honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward. Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment," India said seeking immediate cessation of "violence and hostilities".

While Russia used its veto power to block the US-sponsored resolution, China and the United Arab Emirates too abstained from voting.

During his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for an immediate cessation of violence and sought concerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue. He had also put forward India's concerns regarding the safety of the Indian nationals in Ukraine, especially students, and emphasised that India attaches the highest priority to their safe exit and return.

Meanwhile, a batch of Indian students boarded the first evacuation flight from Bucharest to Mumbai on Saturday. With a coordinated evacuation mission by the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies in Ukraine and Romania, the Indians reached Romania from Ukraine via the Suceava border crossing. India has augmented efforts to evacuate its nationals, including students, stranded in Ukraine through Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Romanias border crossings.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: As expected India on Saturday abstained on the United Nations Security Council resolution prepared to call out Russias needless assault on the sovereignty of Ukraine and demanded complete and unconditional" withdrawal of Russian forces from the neighbouring country.

The resolution, which was prepared and moved by the US in partnership with Albania, received 11 votes for motion while India was joined by China and UAE in abstaining from the vote and maintaining a neutral approach to the conflict.

In UN Security Council meeting on #Ukraine today, India abstained on the vote on draft resolution. Our Explanation of Vote pic.twitter.com/w0yQf5h2wr  PR/Amb T S Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) February 25, 2022

Heres what India said at the UNSC resolution meeting against Russia.

Addressing the grave situation unfolding on the ground, especially for the Indians stranded in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to UN, TS Tirumurti said, India is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence & hostilities. No solution can ever arrive at the cost of human lives.

#IndiainUNSC UNSCs consideration of the draft resolution on Ukraine Watch: Indias Explanation of Vote by Permanent Representative @AmbTSTirumurti @MeaIndia pic.twitter.com/UB2L5JLuyS  India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) February 25, 2022

We're also deeply concerned about welfare & security of Indian community, incl a large number of Indian students in Ukraine. Contemporary global order has been built on UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, India added at UNSC meet.

All member states need to honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward. Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences & disputes, however daunting that may appear at this moment, it further added.

Meanwhile, as feared, Russia used its veto power to quash the resolution that condemns the countrys aggression in the strongest term but Western nations said the resolution seeks to show Moscow's isolation on the global stage for its invasion and actions against Ukraine.

All eyes were on how India will cast its vote on the resolution given that New Delhi has strong defence ties with Moscow.

During a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra 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."

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A flight carrying 250 Indian nationals who have been rescued from Ukraine has taken off from Romania's Bucharest for New Delhi. This is second flight that taking stranded Indians out of war-torn Ukraine. Earlier, a flight carrying 219 Indian nationals landed in Mumbai. The flights AI1942 from Bucharest is scheduled to arrive with rescued citizens in Delhi on Sunday morning.

"#OperationGanga continues. The second flight from Bucharest has taken off for Delhi with 250 Indian nationals," the foreign minister tweeted. The second flight is expected to reach on Sunday morning, according to the Minister of External Affairs.

"Embassy of India, Kyiv, has started the evacuation of stranded Indian Nationals from Ukraine. The Flight from Budapest to New Delhi carrying stranded Indian Nationals from Ukraine is expected to arrive at IGI Airport, New Delhi at 7:45 am on February 27, 2022," MEA statement read.

It said that flight number: AI 1940 is expected to depart from Budapest today at 20:45 hrs. (Local Time) and is expected to arrive at 7:45 hrs IST Delhi today.

A total of five students from Karnataka are arriving on this flight.

"The State Government has opened facilitation centre at IGI Airport, New Delhi, to coordinate and support stranded students arriving at IGI Airport hailing from Karnataka," the MEA informed.
New Delhi: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah on Saturday (February 26) said that the effect of Russias invasion of Ukraine will soon be visible in India as oil prices will rise after the election to 5 states are complete.

On the sidelines of the PAGD meeting, MP and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said, As far as Ukraine is concerned, the problem is not only the crisis will affect India, its going to affect the world. As soon as elections will be over you will find the prices of oil will increase because the crude is going to increase rapidly affecting the prices of all commodities and the people living in far-flung areas will be affected more.

It will be more difficult for the poor man to sustain there he said, adding there no doubt we want peace should be restored in that region (Ukraine).

Abdullah further commented, Russia has also its own claim, they dont want NATO around them because they think it affects their sovereignty so they should realise their problem also. I think the president of Russia has said how will president of America feel if missiles are put in Cuba, will they not react to it?

As far as we are concerned, we feel it will adversely affect us and its going to be difficult to survive.

See as far India is concerned it has its own outlook. The Indian government has to think its own self how India will be able to survive in this situation. The foreign minister of India is trying his best that something emerges secondly finance minister statement that its going to affect our economy, the NC chief said. He added that the world should have realised it's going to have a global impact.

On being asked about India abstaining from voting on UN Security Council resolution on the Russian attack on Ukraine, the former J&K CM said, You see I did not represent, it was government of Indias minister sitting there. Why did he take this decision this question should be asked to the government of India. I wont be able to answer this question.

"What I must say if I would be there, I would have said what has been done by both sides is not good for peace," he added.

Abdullah said if NATO would not have come then Russia would have not attacked Ukraine. Russia was afraid that NATO development in the region will be damaging to them, so they took this step, he added.

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New Delhi: Romania's envoy to Delhi Daniela-Mariana Sezonov Tane on Friday (February 25, 2022) said that her country will provide food and accommodation to the Indian students who are being evacuated from war-torn Ukraine.

Speaking to Zee Media, envoy Daniela said, "Romanian government offered support for a couple of days with food accommodation to Indian students and not only students but also the Indian citizens coming from Ukraine."

"There are consular teams from India which probably have reached the border with Ukraine in the north of the country and they will help the students reach Bucharest and from Bucharest, there will be flights for India organized by the Indian government."

She also expressed worries over refugee influx saying, "There is a crisis cell in Romania preparing for refugees. We don't know, how many there will be."

The first batch of Indian students on Friday reached Romania from Ukraine via the Suceava border.

India's Ministry of External Affairs teams at Suceava will now facilitate their travel to Bucharest for their return journey to the country.

The Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday had spoken to a number of eastern European foreign ministers including the Romanian counterpart with a focus on the unfolding crisis in Ukraine and evacuation of Indian nationals.

On being asked if Romania is worried about the ongoing Russian invasion of Poland, Daniela said, "I think everybody is worried, not only my government but also the Indian government and EU countries. Frontline countries and neighbouring countries like Romania, Poland and Hungary, which may have to face a big influx of refugees, are worried. We have to be prepared for that. It is very difficult to predict, it's impossible for the time being to know what will unfold."

"What we hope is that in the 12th hour, diplomacy will prevail and (Vladimir) Putin will stop his attacks. As you may know that EU stands together and we have a very strong common position of the 27 EU member countries against the Russian aggression calling to a halt for the cessation of hostilities and announcing very strong sanction measures against Russia if this situation continues," she added.

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The U.S. government has offered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to assist in the evacuation should the need arise, The Washington Post reported, citing U.S. and Ukrainian sources.

"The U.S. government is prepared to help Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leave Kyiv to avoid being captured or killed by advancing Russian forces, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. But so far, the president 'has refused to go,'" the ezine said.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and appealed for India's support against Russia in United Nations. "Spoke with Prime Minister @narendramodi. Informed of the course of repulsing aggression," Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted. "More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings," he added. "Urged to give us political support in Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!" Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted further.

India abstained on a UN Security Council resolution by the US that "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's "aggression" against Ukraine, as New Delhi called for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities and asserted that dialogue is the "only answer" to settling disputes.

Official sources also told news agenyc PTI that by abstaining from resolution, India retained the option of reaching out to all relevant parties to find a middle ground and foster dialogue and diplomacy to defuse the crisis.

Though India abstained from voting on the resolution, it called for respecting "sovereignty and territorial integrity" of States and sought immediate cessation of "violence and hostilities", in comments that the sources said reflected a "sharper tone" and criticism of the Russian offensive.

At the crucial UN Security Council session on Friday, Russia used its veto power to block the US-sponsored resolution deploring in the "strongest terms" Russian "aggression" against Ukraine. Besides India, China and the United Arab Emirates too abstained from voting.

While abstaining from voting on the resolution, India issued an 'Explanation of Vote' (EoV) after the vote in which it called for "return to the path of diplomacy" and sought immediate cessation of "violence and hostilities".
New Delhi: In a sharp attack on Yogi Adityanath, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday (February 26) asked voters to send the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to his mutt in Gorakhpur.

Accusing the UP CM of a casteist mindset, the BSP supremo said he did not focus on the development of SC/ST community, further alleging that Adityanath holds grudge against the Muslims.

Addressing a rally in Gorakhpur, the former UP CM said, Send Yogiji back to his mutt, to his family. He had made big promises but the implementation was negligible. Due to his casteist narrow-mindedness, he ignored the development of the SC/ST community and extremely backward people.

"He didn't focus on the development of the Muslim community and owing to a feeling of enmity towards the Muslims, he made efforts to destroy them after framing them in fake cases," she added.

Notably, the BJP has fielded Adityanath in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections from Gorakhpur Urban Assembly seat, which will vote in the sixth phase of the elections on March 3.

Mayawati said that the BJP is only seeing the Muslim mafia and ignoring the non-Muslim mafia. "During BJP public meetings, they don't have much to say and claim that they have taken action against some Muslims to maintain law and order. Can't they see non-Muslim mafia at Nepal border? Devipatan is full of such mafia," the BSP leader said.

"They only see criminals from the Muslim community and weaker sections. But they should know that the entire Muslim community cannot be punished for the misdeeds of one person," she said.

Mayawati vowed that if the BSP is elected in UP, people will get jobs in the state and would not have to migrate.

"Old pension schemes will be implemented and commissions will be constituted to resolve the issues of people for which they frequently protest. Disputed rules and laws of the Centre and state government won't be implemented," the BSP chief said. She promised to put mafia and criminals behind bars and to free people framed in fake cases after a probe.

Meanwhile, the fifth phase of polling for 61 assembly seats across 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on Sunday, sealing the fate of 692 candidates.

The last two phases of the UP elections will be held on March 3 and March 7. The results will be declared on March 10.

(With agency inputs)

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The first evacuation flight carrying 219 Indian nationals from Ukraine landed in Maharashtra's Mumbai on Saturday evening. The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday afternoon.

"The first evacuation flight carrying 219 passengers from Ukraine, has landed in Mumbai. The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest this afternoon," centre said.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier said that he is looking forward to receiving the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport. The government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens.

#WATCH | Union Minister Piyush Goyal welcomes the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport pic.twitter.com/JGKReJE1ct  ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

The Union Minister said, "Looking forward to receiving the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport. The government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens.

"Meanwhile, another batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at Zahony crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight on Saturday.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts.
New Delhi: Candidates who want to join the Indian Army, here is a golden opportunity for you. The Indian Army is looking for eligible individuals to fill vacancies in Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) Safaiwala posts. The army is looking to fill up 7 posts through this recruitment drive.

Interested and eligible candidates can apply for Indian Army recruitment by visiting the official website of the Indian Army, joinindianarmy.nic.in. The last date to apply is March 11, 2022.

Indian Army Recruitment 2022: Important dates

The online application process begins: February 19, 2022

The Last date to apply online application: March 11, 2022

Indian Army Recruitment 2022: Vacancy Details

Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) Safaiwala posts: 07

Indian Army Recruitment 2022: Age Limit

Candidate must be between 18-25 years of age.

Indian Army Recruitment 2022: Eligibility Criteria

The candidate should have passed Matriculation or Class 10th or should hold an equivalent certificate. Conversant with duties of Housekeeping with six-month Experience Certificate from Civil/Govt. Office. Candidates should be able to perform multiple tasks as MTS other than trade specific.

Indian Army Recruitment 2022: Selection Process

Candidates can check the selection process here: Official Notification

Indian Army Recruitment 2022: How to Apply

According to the official notification, applications completed in all respects as per the proforma given and accompanied by required documents (self-attested photocopy only) as stated above should reach to The Commandant, Integrated HQ MoD(Army) Camp, Rao Tula Ram Marg, New Delhi- 110010 on or before 21 days of the date of publication of this advertisement duly quoting on the top of the envelope, Application for the post of MTS (Safaiwala) by post only and not by courier or any other means.

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New Delhi: Oil India Limited is looking to fill various Group B and Group C posts and has issued a notification for the same. The company has released a notification for the recruitment of eligible individuals for 55 vacant posts.

Interested and eligible candidates can apply for these posts by visiting the official website of Oil India Limited at  www.oil-india.com. The last day for the submission of the online application forms is March 15, 2022.

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: Important Dates

The online application will begin from: February 21, 2022

The online application will end on: March 15, 2022

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: Vacancy Details

Manager: 1 Post

Superintending Engineer: 2 Post

Superintending Medical Officer: 2 Post

Senior Medical Officer: 1 Post

Senior Security Officer: 1 Post

Senior Officer: 43 Post

Senior Accounts Officer / Senior Internal Audit: 5 Post

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: Educational Qualification

Manager (ERP-HR): Candidate should have Bachelors Degree in Engineering in any discipline of minimum 04 years duration with minimum 65% marks with SAP HCM certificate and having 03 years post qualification experience.

Superintending Medical Officer (Paediatrics): MD (Paediatrics) / DNB (Paediatrics) from a reputed Medical College/University recognized by Medical Council of India/ DNB (Paediatrics) conducted by National Board of Examinations.

Senior Medical Officer: Candidates should have MBBS degree from a reputed Medical College/ University recognized by Medical Council of India with minimum 02 years post qualification experience.

Senior Officer (Civil): Bachelors Degree of minimum 4 years duration in Electrical Engineering with minimum 65% marks (Excluding Electrical & Communication Engineering/ Electrical & Instrumentation

Engineering etc.)

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates can apply for the above posts before March 15, 2022, through the official website www.oil-india.com. Before applying, Candidates are advised to go through the official notification given below:

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: Check Official Notification Here

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: Apply Online

Oil India Limited Recruitment 2022: Application Fee

General/ OBC (NCL):Rs 500 + Applicable taxes

SC/ST/PwBD/EWS/Ex-Servicemen: Nil

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NEW DELHI: Deepika Padukone, who is basking high after the success of her recently released film Gehraiyaan, has now headed to her hometown Bangaluru to celebrate the success of the film with her family.

Her nuanced and layered portrayal of Alisha in Shakun Batras coming-of-age film received rave reviews from the audience and critics alike. She stood out and stole the show with several stating that no one could have played the character the way she did.

The star will be in the city over the weekend and gets back on Monday to dive headfirst into her film commitments and other work commitments.

Possibly her most raw, real, and relatable character, Deepika went out on a limb for Gehraiyaans Alisha, embracing her beauty and flaws with equal ease.

While she has been inundated with calls ever since the film, the superstar mentioned that the most touching feedback came from her family, given that the subject of anxiety and mental health was an extremely personal one.
New Delhi: The very stunning Disha Patani had an electrifying performance in Dubai and her fans couldn't resist sharing a glimpse of her performance on their social media.

Disha Patani's killer dance moves set the stage on fire as she performed on chartbuster numbers. Superstar Salman Khan and Disha have appeared in two movies together and have made the audience crazy with their sizzling chemistry.

Recently a fan shared some video in which Disha has seen preparing for her performance in Dubai. These videos have come from Dubai Expo, where Disha has been seen performing on her songs. Her fans shared the videos for the world who could not able to witness her brilliant performance.

Disha was last seen alongside Salman Khan, Randeep Hooda in 'Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai'.

Disha will next be seen in 'Ek Villian 2' alongside Arjun Kapoor, Tara Sutaria, and John Abraham scheduled to release in February 2022 and in a Dharma Production film 'Yodha' alongside Sidharth Malhotra.
NEW DELHI: Hrithik Roshan's former wife Sussanne Khan is rumoured to be dating Arslan Goni. On Friday, the noted interior designer wished Arslan's brother and actor Aly Goni on his birthday. Sussanne took to Instagram shared a cute throwback picture of Aly with Arslan on the special day.

Sharing the photo, Sussanne wrote, "Happy, happy birthday, Aly Goni. I wish you a beautiful super year 2022. Jadore u bruh Ty." In the photo, both Aly and Arslan are all smiles as they pose for the camera.

Sussanne and Arslan Goni are rumoured to be in a relationship for close to a year. Their cute PDA on social media often catches people's attention. In October 2021, Sussanne and Arslan had jetted off to Goa together to ring in her birthday. Back in December 2021, Goni had addressed their rumoured romance stating that despite spending time in Goa for the latter's birthday party, he and Sussanne are just 'close friends'.

Goni had also commented and left a mushy message followed by several hearts and kiss emojis in a post shared by Sussanne after she announced that she has tested positive for coronavirus. "What do I tell someone who has come out positive? I will always wish them god bless you, and that you will get well soon. As far as going viral is concerned and what people are saying, I cannot read all those messages. I don't do that. Everyone has the right to say what they want to. But I am supposed to say something sweet to someone who has just tested positive," he told Hindustan Times.

He then said that he always tried to avoid the frenzy around the rumours of their relationship. "Two people living a good happy life and thats it," Arslan said about Sussanne and him.

The actor also said that he doesn't prefer to talk publicly about his relationship with Sussanne. "Two people living a good happy life and thats it," Goni said.

Arslan Goni made his debut in Bollywood with 'Jia Aur Jia' opposite Kalki Koechlin and Richa Chadha. He also appeared in web-series 'Mein Hero Bol Raha Hun', produced by Ekta Kapoor. He is currently in Turkey, shooting for an upcoming project.

Meanwhile, Aly Goni celebrated his birthday with his girlfriend Jasmin Bhasin in London. The couple jetted off to the English capital last week.

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New Delhi: The very stunning Malaika Arora attended the post-wedding bash hosted by Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar at Ritesh Sidhwani's house on February 24, 2022 night. The gala affair saw who's who of Bollywood gather together under one roof after a long time.

Malaika came with her girl gang including sister Amrita, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor. The ladies dazzled in all-black outfits giving kickass vibes. Also, present at the do were generation next girls - Ananya Panday, Suhana Khan and Shanaya Kapoor.

Malla shared her beautiful picture with Shanaya Kapoor and a cutesy photo of this young trio posing for cams. She called them 'Babydolls all grown up'.

Malaika runs a yoga studio by the name of Diva Yoga centre and often urges people to either take to yoga or hit the gym to keep the body, mind and soul balanced.

She is dating actor Arjun Kapoor and the duo is going strong. They ushered in New Year's together and even went on a vacay to the Maldives before that.

On the work front, Arjun currently has three films lined up - 'Ek Villain Returns', 'Kuttey' and 'The Lady Killer'.
Los Angeles: A group of prominent Ukrainian filmmakers has called for the world to wake up to the threat posed to democracy following Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of their country.

"Now, more than ever, we need the help of the international community and anyone who understands that tomorrow war may be at your door," the open letter, accessed by 'Variety', said.

"We have talked about the war in eastern Ukraine in our films for eight years. You watched them at the festivals. But this is not a film, but our reality. And today this reality has spread throughout our country without exception."

The letter, circulated to the media, was signed by Oleh Sentsov ('Rhino'); Valentyn Vasyanovych ('Reflection' and 'Atlantis'); Maryna Er Gorbach ('Klondike'); Anna Machukh, executive director, Ukrainian Film Academy and Odessa International Film Festival (OIFF); Natalia Vorozhbyt, ('Bad Roads'); Iryna Tsilyk ('The Earth is Blue as an Orange'); and Nariman Aliev, ('Homeward').

They have urged the international community to listen to the needs of Ukraine's politicians, apply economic sanctions against Russia, and most significantly, fight an information war.

In this, as 'Variety' puts it, they appear to endorse the adage that "truth is the first casualty in any war".

"The most important thing you can do now for Ukraine is to read and disseminate verified information about what is happening," they said, attaching a list of "operative, truthful information" about Russia's war against Ukraine.

Vorozhbyt detailed her family's activities and wrote: "We took chairs, candles and water to the basement. I allowed my daughter to swear, because she was scared. My ex-husband enlisted in the army. We live in the centre of Europe, in the 21st century, in Ukraine. Our closest neighbours are Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Baltics, Romania. Near Germany, France, Italy, etc -- we [can] go there by car. This is not just our war."
Belarus jointly with Russia waging war against Ukraine  head of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine

KYIV. Feb 26 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Belarusian leadership is actively supporting the Russian army during its invasion of Ukraine, in connection with which Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Serhiy Deineko sent an official appeal to the head of the Belarusian border guard department.

"From the first days of the bloody Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarus has been actively supporting the aggressor country. Columns of equipment attacked not only from the territory of Russia, but also from the country that has become a satellite of the Russian Federation. This is accompanied by the use of military aviation, artillery, ballistic missiles and other means to territory of the Republic of Belarus," Deineko wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday.

He said that everything that "he thinks about the actions of Belarus, he expressed to the head of the Belarusian border guard department" in his appeal, a photo of which Deineko attached to his publication.

"The Republic of Belarus, together with the Russian Federation, is waging war against Ukraine, disregarding the provisions of international law, the elementary norms of human morality and the values of life. We will win! Damn you, creatures," Deineko wrote.

He signed his appeal "with contempt," adding that the employees of the Belarusian border guard department "have no right to call themselves border guards."
New Delhi: Nokia has announced a new laptop under the Purebook series. It will be available to select countries in the global market due to a new licensing agreement between Nokia and OFF Global.

OFF Global is a fast-rising French startup and it has just announced a licensing agreement with Nokia for the design and sale of Nokia-branded laptops, reports GizmoChina.

The Nokia PureBook Pro comes in two screen sizes: 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch. Both the variants have LED panels and support a Full HD.

The laptop is powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i3-1220P processor, coupled with Intel UHD Graphics. This is the same 12th-Gen Intel processor and supports 28W power.

There`s support for 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

It comes with a 2MP web camera and inbuilt microphone.

The 15.6-inch variant has a 63Wh battery, whereas the 17.3-inch model is backed by a 57Wh battery.

The 15.6-inch variant comes with weight of 1.7 kg. Whereas the 17.3-inch variant weighs in at 2.5 kg. Also Read: Amazon 'Electronics Days' sale now live: Check top offers on laptops, gadgets

The 15.6-inch Nokia PureBook Pro is priced at Euros 699 and Euros 799 for the 17.3-inch variant. Also Read: Russia-Ukraine War: Twitter halts ads, recommendations in both countries

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New Delhi: Samsung Electronics has released its Galaxy S22 smartphones and Galaxy Tab S8 series in South Korea and some 40 other countries.

On February 10, the world`s largest smartphone maker unveiled its flagship Galaxy S series fitted with stronger chips, eco-friendly features and upgraded camera performance that overcomes some of the challenges of shooting at night.

Samsung Electronics said its latest product series saw more preorders within the first week than any other Samsung smartphone and tablet to date.

Preorders for the Galaxy S22 series -- Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra -- have more than doubled those of its predecessor, the Galaxy S21 series.

In South Korea, preorders, which ran from February 14-21, came to 1.02 million units. The company did not disclose data on global preorders.

Among the three, the Ultra model was the most popular, taking up more than 60 per cent of the preorder volume, Samsung said. The model comes with a built-in S Pen for the first time for a Galaxy phone, effectively succeeding the Galaxy Note line.

The Galaxy Tab S8 series also received more than twice as many preorders as its previous Galaxy Tab S7 series. Half of the preorders were made for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, reports Yonhap news agency.

Samsung used recycled plastic materials, such as discarded fishing nets, as parts for the Galaxy S22 series, to expand the use of eco-conscious materials and make its business more environmentally friendly.

The company said it will further expand sales of the Galaxy S22 smartphones and Galaxy Tab S8 series to some 130 countries by mid-March.

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New Delhi: WhatsApp is introducing a new search option to the Android app. WhatsApp's search feature is frequently used to find specific messages in a chat, and it has been available for quite some time. However, the instant messaging software is receiving a new search option in a different location to make searching easier. WhatsApp tracker WABetaInfo discovered the new search message shortcut in WhatsApp beta version 2.22.6.3. According to the article, Android users will now have an additional search option to look for messages on WhatsApp.

According to the WABetaInfo report, WhatsApp for Android users will soon be able to search their personal contacts and group chats from the info page. The feature is currently being rolled out to a small group of testers. The article, however, mentions that the search option frequently fails to display, even for beta testers. It is unknown when the new function will be made available to a larger group of users, but according to the WABetaInfo report, it will be included in a future build.

WhatsApp users who use Android smartphones may currently only search for messages from the app's home page or by going into individual chats and clicking the three-dot menu to find "Search."

WhatsApp is apparently working on a slew of new features that will be released later this year. The company recently introduced a new voice call interface, and the ability to pause and resume recording voice messages was also introduced earlier this year. Aside from that, WhatsApp is working on message reactions, which are similar to those found on Meta-owned Instagram and Twitter.

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New Delhi: A picture of an 80-year-old man who showed up to join the Ukrainian army to fight against the Russian offensive is going viral on the Internet. In the heartbreaking photo, the octogenarian is seen standing with personnel of the Ukrainian forces holding a small briefcase.

Kateryna Mykhaylivna Yushchenko, the First Lady of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010, shared the picture on Friday (February 25) and said that he was doing it for his grandkids.

"Someone posted a photo of this 80-year-old who showed up to join the army, carrying with him a small case with 2 t-shirts, a pair of extra pants, a toothbrush and a few sandwiches for lunch. He said he was doing it for his grandkids," she wrote on Twitter.

ALSO READ | Ukrainian father, daughter cry as they bid each other goodbye amid war

It was not clear where the picture was taken, but it has so far got more than 2.48 lakh likes on the micro-blogging site and has been shared by over 39,000 users.

Someone posted a photo of this 80-year-old who showed up to join the army, carrying with him a small case with 2 t-shirts, a pair of extra pants, a toothbrush and a few sandwiches for lunch. He said he was doing it for his grandkids. pic.twitter.com/bemD24h6Ae  Kateryna Yushchenko (@KatyaYushchenko) February 24, 2022

It is noteworthy that Kyiv residents have been told by the Ukrainian defence ministry to make petrol bombs to repel the invaders, and on Friday evening witnesses reported hearing artillery rounds and intense gunfire from the western part of the city. The sound of frequent artillery fire, apparently some distance from the city centre, continued in the early hours of Saturday.

Ukrainian President films himself on streets of Kyiv, vows to defend independence

Earlier on Friday, a video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy filming himself with aides on the streets of the capital and vowing to defend Ukraine's independence was going viral.

"Tonight they will mount an assault. We all understand what awaits us - we must endure this night," Reuters quoted Zelenskiy as saying.

"The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now," he added.

Deep respect to President @ZelenskyyUa and the brave people of #Ukraine The spirit of a free and democratic #Ukraine is strong. pic.twitter.com/vOIZA3FoYE  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) February 25, 2022

After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed a three-pronged invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south on Thursday, in an attack that threatened to upend Europe's post-Cold War order.

Putin has cited the need to "denazify" Ukraine`s leadership as one of his main reasons for invasion, accusing it of genocide against Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has said that more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed so far. Russia, however, did not release casualty figures.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Amid the deteriorating World Peace situation following Russias needless assault on Ukraine, US President Joe Biden on Friday (local time) said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will maintain its "open door" to those European states who share the similar values and who one day may seek to join our Alliance.

"As President Putin threatens the very foundations of international peace and security, NATO is once again demonstrating that it stands for freedom and democracy," Biden said.

Biden reiterated that the United States will defend "every inch of NATO territory and their commitment to Article 5 is ironclad.

 I have ordered the deployment of additional forces to augment our capabilities in Europe to support our NATO Allies, Biden said.

The president made the remarks after he met with leaders of NATO Allies to discuss their shared commitment to collective defence and transatlantic security, the White House said in a statement.

It is to be noted that the NATO partnership was reportedly one of the reasons that upset Russian President Vladimir Putin, who repeatedly warned Ukraine against joining the alliance or the spread of such partnership.

About the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Biden said, I commended the brave actions of the Ukrainian people who were fighting to defend their country. I also conveyed ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security support is provided by the United States as well as our continued efforts to rally other countries to provide similar assistance.

Saturday marks the third day of continuous aggression and assault by Russian troops on Ukrainian soil. The Ukraine government on Friday said it was left alone to fight Russia by the world but continues to hold arms to protect its sovereignty.

(With agency inputs)

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Moscow: The Russian Defense Ministry has said the Russian Armed Forces have disabled 118 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.

Eleven military airfields, 13 command posts and communication centres of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 14 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, and 36 radar stations were among the facilities put out of order, the Ministry`s Zvezda broadcaster reported, citing Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov.

Five combat aircraft, a helicopter and five drones of Ukraine have been shot down and dozens of vehicles have been destroyed so far, he added.

Konashenkov confirmed the Russian control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, noting that soldiers of both sides have agreed to jointly protect the power units and the sarcophagus.

The radioactive background in the area of the nuclear power plant is normal, he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has instructed Russia`s armed forces to"treat Ukrainian troops with respect" and create safety corridors for those servicemen who "have laid down their arms," according to the Spokesman.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised "a special military operation" in Donbas, and Ukraine confirmed that military installations across the country were under attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

Later on Friday, the Ministry reported 83 facilities were disabled during the operation.

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Warsaw: The UN refugee agency said on Saturday that nearly 120,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into neighbouring countries in the wake of Russian invasion.

The number was going up fast as Ukrainians grabbed their belongings and rushed to escape from a deadly Russian onslaught on their nation, including an attempt to take the capital.

"Almost 116,000 have crossed international borders as of right now. This may go up, it's changing every minute," said Shabia Mantoo, the spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees."It's very fluid and changing by the hour."

The agency expects up to 4 million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further.

ALSO READ: Residential building in Ukrainian capital Kyiv struck by missile, visuals emerge

Mantoo said most were heading to neighbouring Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, and even some into Belarus, from which some Russian forces entered Ukraine.

She did not immediately have details on numbers by country, but by far the largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where some 2 million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years, driven away by Russia's first incursions into Ukraine in 2014 and seeking opportunities in the booming economy of the European Union neighbour.

Poland's government said Saturday morning that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the past 48 hours.

At the Medyka border crossing, a line of vehicles waiting to enter Poland stretched 15 kilometers (9 miles) into Ukraine, according to people crossing the border, Polish broadcaster TVN24 reported.

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New Delhi: As Russia continued to intensify its attack on Ukraine amid global condemnation, a missile struck a residential building in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv earlier on Saturday (February 26).

An adviser to the interior minister said that no casualty was reported in the strike, Reuters reported. The visuals that emerged from the site showed smoke billowing from the building.

#WATCH A residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine was struck by a missile earlier today. An adviser to the Interior Minister said that no one was killed: Reuters (Video source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/7FjHpQf0iD  ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2022

Anton Herashchenko, the adviser, also said Russia was 'lying about not shelling civilian infrastructure'. Herashchenko claimed that at least 40 such sites had been targetted and Russian troops were shelling civilian sites, the news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Russian forces captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol today, Russia`s Interfax news agency reported. This comes as Moscow launched coordinated cruise missile and artillery strikes on several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. The Ukrainian officials are yet to comment on the report.

The Russian forces also fired cruise missiles from the Black Sea at Mariupol, as well as Sumy in the northeast and Poltava in the east, the Ukrainian officials had said earlier.

As per the latest reports, the Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and 1,115 people, including 33 children, have been wounded in the Russian attack so far. The minister's statement did not clarify whether the casualties included both military and civilians.

ALSO READ: Ukraine Prez speaks to France's Emmanuel Macron, says anti-war coalition working

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Russia on Friday (February 25, 2022) vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolution that would have deplored it`s invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote. The Western countries view this move of China as a win for showing Russia`s international isolation.

While 11 council members voted in favor, the United Arab Emirates and India abstained from the vote on the U.S.-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members voted in favor. The draft resolution is now expected to be taken up by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.

Russias veto power under the UNSC seems to be at the centre of Ukraines concerns.

What is a VETO power?

According to the UN, the veto power is probably the UN Charters most significant distinction between permanent and non-permanent members. Article 27 (3) of the Charter establishes that all substantive decisions of the Council must be made with the concurring votes of the permanent members.

Each of the Councils 15 members has the right to exercise one vote, but only the five permanent members (The United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and France) have veto power.

Veto power means that if any one of the permanent member states casts a negative vote in a pending UNSC decision, the resolution cannot be approved.

What happened in UNSC meet?

After Russia cast its veto, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, "We are united behind Ukraine and its people, despite a reckless, irresponsible permanent member of the Security Council abusing its power to attack its neighbor and subvert the U.N. and our international system."

Additionally, China`s abstention comes weeks after Beijing and Moscow declared a "no limits" partnership. This partnership promises backing each other over standoffs on Ukraine and Taiwan with a promise to collaborate more against the West.

In the UNSC, Russia`s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia thanked the Security Council members who did not support the draft, which he described as anti-Russian.

"Your draft resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard," Nebenzia said after the vote.

There was a rare round of applause in the Security Council chamber after Ukraine`s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya held a moment of silence during his statement to remember those killed.

"I`m not surprised that Russia voted against. Russia is keen on continuing its Nazi-style course of action," he said.

The diplomats informed that the U.N. vote was delayed two hours for last minute negotiations by the United States and others to win China`s abstention.

The council softened the language in its resolution to say it "deplores" Russia`s "aggression against Ukraine" from "condemns," while a reference to Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which deals with sanctions and authorization of force, was removed along with a reference to "the president."

Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine as the U.N. Security Council met in New York late on Wednesday to try and defuse weeks of mounting tensions.

"Make no mistake. Russia is isolated. It has no support for the invasion of Ukraine," Britain`s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council after the vote.

The draft Security Council resolution demanded that Russia "immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine" and "immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders."

The draft also demanded that Russia reverse its recognition of two separatist states in eastern Ukraine as independent.

"It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons India has chosen to abstain on this resolution," India`s U.N. Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti told the council.

UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh said her country supported the draft resolution`s emphasis on abiding by international law and the U.N. Charter and was committed to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all U.N. member states.

Standing outside the Security Council chamber, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: "We must never give up."

"It is important to remember that the U.N. is not just the chamber behind me. It is tens of thousands of women and men around the world," he said. "Standing, delivering, extending a lifeline of hope."

(With agency inputs)

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European Union's envoy to India Ugo Astuto has said that Russia will pay a price over the country's invasion of Ukraine. Speaking to Zee Media, envoy Ugo said, Sanctions announced by the bloc will have a very severe impact. It will take a toll on the Russian economy." Several European capitals are worried over the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine even as several punitive economic measures have been announced against Moscow.

On the EU's Indo Pacific strategy, the envoy explained,"Our vision for the Indo pacific is free and open space" which "we see now in jeopardy in Europe". Earlier this week, mega Paris Indo Pacific meet took place in France, in which foreign ministers of 30 countries participated.

Here is an excerpt from the interview-

Sidhant Sibal: How major has this development been for Europe? How would you characterise it in terms of its fallout?

Ugo Astuto: The situation is very serious. It's not serious for Europe only, but also for the whole international community. Because what we are seeing is aggression, unprovoked, unjustified, a clear violation of UN Charter, international law, of the very tenants that made us possible to live in peace and prosperity for decades. These are matters of concern for the whole of the international community and it needs to be addressed. This aggression cannot go without consequences.

Sidhant Sibal: Sanctions have been announced. Do you think sanctions will have any impact on Moscow? This time what is different when it comes to the voice coming from the European Union?

Ugo Astuto: I definitely believe that the sanctions will have a very severe impact. It will take a toll on the Russian economy. Just yesterday, the European council came together and elaborated a new package of sanctions, these are broader than the previous ones following the aggression and sanctions include economic, financial aspects. For instance, we will forbid access to relevant technology which is required for the modernization of the Russian economy. We are going to block access to European financial markets, Russian banks will no longer be able to enter and operate into European financial markets. There will be new listings added to the previous one to go and touch directly those responsible for aggression. There is going to be a significant package. Let me underscore that this is something we have prepared together with our friends and allies, US, UK, Canada and also with friends and partners with other regions, for instance Japan, Australia. It is important we all work together in this direction and we make those responsible for the aggression accountable.

Sidhant Sibal: So the EU will speak in one voice..we have seen some divergences..

Ugo Astuto: No divergence, full unity as reflected in the package that is being discussed that is reflective in the declaration which was published on Thursday night, a declaration by 27 member states, so no divergence, full unity within EU and and beyond. As I was telling you about this package of sanctions, decisions are taken with very close coordination with our partners and allies, US, UK, Canada and others.

Sidhant Sibal: But will it deter Russian Putin and it looks like there is no stopping the President.

Ugo Astuto: This is a very severe military aggression, totally unprovoked, totally unjustified. So what we are trying to do is to make Russia accountable, to make Russia pay the consequences in economic terms, political isolation and we also hope that the United Nations, the international community will do the same.

Sidhant Sibal: You talked about isolation for the Russian President, what kind of isolation do you foresee?

Ugo Astuto: Let me simply refer to what the United Nations Secretary General said, this aggression is a clear breach of the United Nations charter. It is severe and Russia has been violating UN Charter, international law. Very agreement signed by Russia, the Minsk pact, and agreements underpinning European security for decades..It is very serious and I think Russia will pay a price for it.

Sidhant Sibal: And do you see any kind of talks in future with Russian leaders, by EU leadership?

Ugo Astuto: We are always ready to talk. You have seen the visits of the French President, German chancellor. The aggression has to stop immediately and unconditionally and the Russians have to withdraw. We are ready to talk, once Russia stops its aggression and withdraws its troops but conditions must be such that we can talk with a purpose

Sidhant Sibal: Now when it comes to the Indo Pacific, what is the vision like for the EU?

Ugo Astuto: Our vision for the Indo pacific is free and open space which is rules based where respect for international law is paramount. These were the messages conveyed in Paris where we had a very large gathering and very good attendance including EAM Jaishankar. I think the basic feature that brings us together is our faith in open societies, democracies, and respect for international law. Based on this principle we can work together on a number of issues in the Indo pacific, various facets, economic development, connectivity, green and digital transition, all this possible but it is also rooted in respect for international law which is what we see now in jeopardy in Europe.

Sidhant Sibal: Any high level engagement by the EU on the Indo Pacific this year?

Ugo Astuto: Yes, engagement is for sure growing, if you look at the meeting itself there were a number of deliverables, south asia, south east asia and centrality of ASEAN we all agree on. There will be further additional deliverables.

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Szijjarto denies information about Hungary blocking sanctions against Russia, offers Budapest for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the information that Hungary is blocking the imposition of part of the sanctions against the Russian Federation, in particular, the disconnection of Russia from the SWIFT system, a fake.

"I see with regret and shock that some representatives of international politics and the international press are not allowed to produce fake news and lie. I can't think of how people die while there is a war, some people operate fake news factories. Now they are lying that Hungary is blocking some of the sanctions against Russia, for example, regarding the SWIFT system," Szijjarto wrote on Facebook on Saturday.

He said that this information is false.

"We have never spoken out against a single sanction proposal, we have not blocked or blocked anything. Fake news spreaders should be of any nationality, shame on you!!!" Szijjarto said.

The head of Hungarian diplomacy added that he is negotiating with the representatives of Russian and Ukrainian governments to start direct discussions in Budapest.

"I will be asking the UN leaders for help in this today here in New York too," Szijjarto said.
London: The UK government is leading the charge in Europe to exclude Russia from the worldwide SWIFT banking network, as part of tough sanctions designed to deliver a financial blow to President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) is the world's main banking messaging service which links around 11,000 banks and institutions in more than 200 countries, including India.

Based in Belgium, the system is considered central to the smooth functioning of global finances and Russia's exclusion from it would hit the country hard.

However, while Canada and some American senators are in line with the UK on this, there is reluctance within the European Union (EU) over what is seen as a last resort move that will impact oil and gas payments.

The Prime Minister urged leaders to take immediate action against SWIFT to inflict maximum pain on President Putin and his regime, Downing Street said with reference to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's meeting with NATO leaders on Friday.

This was followed up during a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau soon after, when Johnson reiterated the same message.

The Prime Minister said allies needed to take immediate action on SWIFT, and the leaders discussed further options to increase coordinated economic pressure on Russia,? notes the Downing Street readout of the call.

UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is believed to be on a diplomatic mission in Europe to convince allies to exclude Russia from this key banking system, which had last collectively sanctioned Iran in 2012.

Britain wants the SWIFT system to be turned off for Russia. But unfortunately the SWIFT system is not in our control "it's not a unilateral decision," UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC.

He noted: "When you pay Russia for its gas, it probably goes through the Swift system, for example. It is based in Belgium. It has a number of partners that control it or nation-states. We want it switched off. Other countries do not. We only have so many options. We are going to work all day to try and get it (switched off for Russia)."

The focus on SWIFT comes as Prime Minister Johnson told the leaders of NATO, the western military alliance which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, that the UK would imminently impose direct sanctions on Russian President Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Russia's aggression which threatened all of Europe.

The Prime Minister told the group that a catastrophe was engulfing Ukraine, and President Putin was engaging in a revanchist mission to over-turn post-Cold War order. He warned the group that the Russian President's ambitions might not stop there and that this was a Euro-Atlantic crisis with global consequences,? Downing Street said after the meeting on Friday.

Later, Johnson released a video message in Russian as a direct appeal to the people of the country. In the video posted on Twitter, he said: "I do not believe this war is in your name."

"The scenes unfolding in the streets and fields of Ukraine are nothing short of a tragedy. Brave young soldiers and innocent civilians are being cut down, tanks are rumbling through towns and cities, missiles raining indiscriminately from the skies.

"It's a generation or more since we witnessed such bloodshed in Europe. We hoped we would never have to see such sights again."

In an attempt to stress that the UK's actions are targeted at the leadership rather than the Russian people, Johnson added that "Putin's actions are leading to complete isolation for Russia".

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has provoked condemnation from countries in the West and retaliatory sanctions.

Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs have been targeted with tough sanctions and the country's national airline, Aeroflot, has been banned from landing at UK airports or flying through its airspace, alongside any private jets from the country.

Meanwhile, a United Nations Security Council draft resolution telling Moscow to stop attacking Ukraine and withdraw all troops immediately was vetoed by Russia. India abstained from the vote, calling for a return to the "path of diplomacy" and cessation of violence.

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New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (February 26) said that he spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron about his countrys military strategy against Russia and informed him that Ukraine will receive weapons and equipment from its partners soon.

The leader shared the information via a tweet amid reports of the escalating crisis in Ukraine.

A new day on the diplomatic frontline began with a conversation with @EmmanuelMacron. Weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine. The anti-war coalition is working!    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022

Taking to Twitter, Zelensky wrote, A new day on the diplomatic frontline began with a conversation with Emmanuel Macron. Weapons and equipment from our partners are on the way to Ukraine. The anti-war coalition is working!

Zelensky, who is constantly motivating his citizens in the dreary situation with positive videos, said that he is in touch with the European countries and working towards an anti-coalition strategy.

The leader also spoke to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel about Ukraines entry into the European Union saying it was "a crucial moment" as Russia continued to invade its neighbour.

It is a crucial moment to close the long-standing discussion once and for all and decide on Ukraine's membership in the #EU. Discussed with @eucopresident further effective assistance and the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future.    (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022

The Ukrainian President added that he had discussed with further effective assistance the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future.

Meanwhile, in what can be called on the most significant development in the current scenario, Russian forces captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol on Saturday, Russia`s Interfax news agency reported, as Moscow launched coordinated cruise missile and artillery strikes on several cities, including the capital Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials were not immediately available for comment on the fate of Melitopol, a city of about 150,000 people. If the Interfax report citing the Russian defence ministry is confirmed, it would be the first significant population centre the Russians have seized since their invasion began on Thursday.

Earlier, Ukrainian officials said Russian forces fired cruise missiles from the Black Sea at Mariupol, also in the southeast, as well as Sumy in the northeast and Poltava in the east.

Kyiv authorities said a missile hit a residential building, and a Reuters witness said another hit an area near the airport. There was no immediate word on casualties. Gunfire erupted near city-centre government buildings at around dawn, a Reuters witness said. The cause was not clear.

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KYIV: The Russian and Ukrainian governments on Friday signalled an openness to negotiations even as authorities in Kyiv urged citizens to help defend the capital from advancing Russian forces in the worst European security crisis in decades.

Ukraine and Russia will consult in coming hours on a time and place for talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy`s spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said on social media, offering the first glimmer of hope for diplomacy since the invasion began.

The Kremlin said earlier it offered to meet in the Belarusian capital Minsk after Ukraine expressed a willingness to discuss declaring itself a neutral country, but that Ukraine had proposed Warsaw as the venue. That, according to Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov, resulted in a "pause" in contacts.

"Ukraine was and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace," Nykyforov said in a post on Facebook. "We agreed to the proposal of the President of the Russian Federation."

But US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia`s offer was an attempt to conduct diplomacy "at the barrel of a gun", and that President Vladimir Putin`s military must stop bombing Ukraine if it was serious about negotiations.

The diplomatic overtures stood in stark contrast to events unfolding on the ground and Putin`s harsh rhetoric against Ukrainian leaders, including a call for a coup by the country`s military.

Ukrainian President films himself on streets of Kyiv, vows to defend independence

Kyiv residents were told by the defence ministry to make petrol bombs to repel the invaders, and on Friday evening witnesses reported hearing artillery rounds and intense gunfire from the western part of the city. The sound of frequent artillery fire, apparently some distance from the city center, continued in the early hours of Saturday.

President Zelenskiy filmed himself with aides on the streets of the capital, vowing to defend Ukraine`s independence.

"Tonight they will mount an assault. We all understand what awaits us - we must endure this night," Interfax Ukraine quoted Zelenskiy as saying. "The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now."

Deep respect to President @ZelenskyyUa and the brave people of #Ukraine The spirit of a free and democratic #Ukraine is strong. pic.twitter.com/vOIZA3FoYE  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) February 25, 2022

After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Putin unleashed a three-pronged invasion of Ukraine from the north, east and south on Thursday, in an attack that threatened to upend Europe`s post-Cold War order.

"I once again appeal to the military personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine: do not allow neo-Nazis and (Ukrainian radical nationalists) to use your children, wives and elders as human shields," Putin said at a televised meeting with Russia`s Security Council on Friday. "Take power into your own hands."

Putin has cited the need to "denazify" Ukraine`s leadership as one of his main reasons for invasion, accusing it of genocide against Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies dismiss the accusations as baseless propaganda.

Moscow said on Friday it had captured the Hostomel airfield northwest of the capital - a potential staging post for an assault on Kyiv that has been fought over since Russian paratroopers landed there in the first hours of the war.

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed so far. Russia did not release casualty figures.

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New Delhi: As Russian troops advance in the Ukrainian capital, the mayor of Kyiv on Saturday (February 26) extended the clampdown in the city.

Taking to Twitter, Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko wrote, The prolonged curfew will last from 5 pm until 8 am every day to ensure the more effective defence of the city and the safety of its people. Earlier the curfew was imposed in the capital from 10 pm to 7 am.

All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups, Klitschko was quoted as saying by AP.

On Saturday morning, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in Kyivs southwestern outskirts. An adviser to the interior minister said that no casualty was reported in the strike, Reuters reported.

It remains unclear how far Russian troops have advanced. Kyiv witnessed a night of explosions and street fighting forcing its residents to seek shelter underground. Ukrainian officials reported some successful retaliation but fighting continues near the capital.

Shedding some light on the ongoing Russian invasion, UK Ministry of Defence on Saturday said that the bulk of the Russian forces is now 30 kilometres from the centre of Kyiv. The Defence Ministry shared the intelligence update on Twitter and wrote, "Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30km from centre of the city."

"Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to put up staunch resistance across the country," the Ministry added.

As per the latest reports, the Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko informed that 198 people, including three children, have been killed and 1,115 people, including 33 children, have been wounded in the Russian attack so far. The minister's statement did not clarify whether the casualties included both military and civilians.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly refused Americas offer to evacuate, insisting he would stay. The fight is here, Zelenskyy said, adding he needed anti-tank ammunition not a ride, AP reported.

(With agency inputs)

Live TV
As Putin`s bombs rained down on Kiev, a tiny miracle was brought into the world amid the chaos, Daily Mail reported. While invading Russian forces bombarded terrified families, one woman, 23, had reason to be perhaps more fearful than others. Her baby was due as she hid protected from the onslaught in a shelter in the city as gunfire raged outside.

But just before 8.30 pm on Friday (local time), tiny Mia was brought into the world in what must have been some of the most stressful circumstances to give birth, Daily Mail reported. The mother`s screams had been heard by Ukrainian police who had rushed in to help.

One officer, Mykola Shlapak, said they helped her deliver the little girl and called an ambulance which took them both to hospital, where they both remain and are said to be doing well. On Friday night, her arrival was being hailed a miracle as her story prompted one woman to declare "Your birth is hope in this dismal time", the report said.

The picture of her tiny hand gripping her mother`s in the shelter was hailed as beacon of hope amid Ukraine`s darkest hour. The incredible delivery was revealed by Chairwoman of Democracy in Action Conference Hannah Hopko.

She said: "Mia was born in shelter this night in stressful environment -- bombing of Kyiv. Her mom is happy after this challenging birth giving. When Putin kills Ukrainians, we call mothers of Russia and Belarus to protest against Russia`s war in Ukraine. We defend lives and humanity," as per the report.
New Delhi: After weeks of warnings from Western leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (February 24, 2022) launched the invasion of Ukraine, an attack that threatens to upend Europe's post-Cold War order.

Putin accused the West of ignoring Russia's security concerns and deliberately creating a scenario designed to lure it into war. He has described a potential future scenario in which Ukraine was admitted to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and then attempted to recapture the Crimea peninsula, a territory Russia had seized in 2014.

Russia has long resented NATO's granting of membership to countries that were once part of the Soviet Union or were in its sphere of influence as members of the Warsaw Pact.

Amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, here's a look at what the Warsaw Pact exactly was.

The Warsaw Treaty Organization, also known as the Warsaw Pact, was a political and military alliance established in 1955 between the Soviet Union and various Eastern European countries. The Soviet Union had formed this alliance as a counterbalance to NATO, a collective security alliance concluded between the United States, Canada and Western European nations in 1949.

It was formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance and embodied what was referred to as the Eastern bloc, while NATO and its member countries represented the Western bloc.

The original signatories to the Warsaw Treaty Organization were the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Albania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and the German Democratic Republic.

The Warsaw Pact and NATO were ideologically opposed and built up their own defences starting an arms race that lasted throughout the Cold War. By the 1980s, the Warsaw Treaty Organization was met with problems related to the economic slowdown in all Eastern European countries and by the late 1980s, political changes in most of the member states made the Pact virtually ineffectual.

In September 1990, East Germany left the Pact in preparation for reunification with West Germany and a month later, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, also withdrew from all Warsaw Pact military exercises. It eventually was officially disbanded in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

(With agency inputs)
The Verkhovna Rada calls on the United Nations to exclude the Russian Federation from the Security Council, according to the collective appeal of the leadership of the Ukrainian parliament and all parliamentary factions and groups.

"The Verkhovna Rada appeals to the entire civilized world with a call to condemn and punish the terrorist state of the Russian Federation... We call for the exclusion of the Russian Federation from the UN Security Council. A terrorist country has no right to be there and destroy the very foundations of world security," the Rada says.
In Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities there are spotters who direct fire on Russian troops or pave the way for them, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

"If you see suspicious people who set up beacons, mark or cannot clearly explain the purpose of their stay in a certain place, detain them yourself or inform the territorial defense unit. The detainees can become a source of useful information," Reznikov wrote on Facebook.

He also reached out to those collaborating with the Russian invaders.

"In two days, Russian monsters killed almost two hundred civilians, including three children. Another 33 children were injured. In such circumstances, you simply may not want or not have time to detain you alive. Give up criminal intentions before it's too late," the minister urged.

Separately, Reznikov expressed a request to the residents of Ukrainian villages and small towns through which columns of Russian equipment pass.

"If a column of Russian armored vehicles passed by you, after a while a column with fuel will follow. Detain or burn it. Russian tanks will simply stop, our troops will capture them and use them against the enemy," he explained.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he has ordered up to $350 million in immediate defense support for Ukraine to be provided to Ukraine.

This was announced by the U.S. State Department on Saturday.

"Today, as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russia's brutal and unprovoked assault, I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the President, an unprecedented third Presidential Drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate support to Ukraine's defense. This brings the total security assistance the United States has committed to Ukraine over the past year to more than $1 billion," the message reads.

Blinken stressed that Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic and peaceful state.

"The United States and Ukraine have been partners since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago. After Russia invaded and partially occupied Ukraine in 2014, the United States intensified efforts to help Ukraine deter further Russian aggression, and, if needed, to defend itself from additional attacks," he said.

The Secretary of State recalled that last fall, when the current threat to Ukraine from Russia arose, in accordance with the powers delegated by the President, he authorized the Ministry of Defense to provide Ukraine with immediate military assistance in the amount of $60 million.

"In December, as that threat materialized, I authorized a further drawdown worth $200 million. Today, as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russias brutal and unprovoked assault, I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the President, an unprecedented third Presidential Drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate support to Ukraine's defense. This brings the total security assistance the United States has committed to Ukraine over the past year to more than $1 billion. This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing. It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation," he said.
Ukraine's minister of education calls on intl partners to review policy of cooperation in field of education, science with Russia

Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Serhiy Shkarlet calls on international partners to reconsider the policy of cooperation in the field of education and science with Russia and relevant state bodies of countries that supported the armed aggression against Ukraine.

"Today, I addressed in an open letter to international partners and friends, in particular, to fellow ministers of the EU countries. Their support is very necessary and important for the Ukrainian educational and scientific community. I sincerely hope that our friends will strongly condemn the actions of the Russian Federation and express their unconditional support Ukraine in his speeches and statements," Shkarlet wrote on the Telegram channel.

He also asked to review the policy of cooperation in the field of education and science with the Russian Federation and relevant state bodies of the countries that supported the armed aggression against Ukraine.

"I call on all international colleagues to stand side by side with us in the struggle for independence and repulse the daring actions of the Russian aggressor," he added.
The assumption that Ukraine is preparing to drop a "dirty bomb" on the territory of the Russian Federation is a sick fake, Ukraine does not have nuclear weapons, does not carry out any work on their creation or acquisition, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"Russian propaganda has gone off the rails and speculates Ukraine might be preparing to drop a 'dirty bomb' on the Russian territory. This is a sick fake. Ukraine doesn't have nuclear weapons, doesn't conduct any work to create/acquire them. We are a responsible member of the NPT," Kuleba wrote in Twitter on Saturday.
Specialists of the cyber police, the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukrainian cyber volunteers received information about the largest sockpuppet farm in the territory of the Russian Federation, the press service of the National Police of Ukraine reports.

"Cyber specialists collected more than 7,000 subscriber numbers that were used by the Russian Federation for an information campaign to support military aggression against Ukraine. Criminal proceedings have been opened. Paid accomplices of the Russian military aggression carried out a disinformation campaign to disseminate information in public and communities of Telegram, WhatApp, Viber," the message reads.

It clarifies that the cyber experts received data on the phone numbers of the bots.

"On this fact, criminal proceedings have been initiated under Article 258 (Terrorist act), Article 259 (Knowingly false report about a threat to the safety of citizens, destruction or damage to property) and Article 436 (propaganda of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine," police say.

They also urge citizens to use verified information from official sources and not spread rumors. "Keep calm and do not succumb to the aggressor's provocations," the law enforcement officers said.
Anonymous hackers announce their intention to 'reveal all the dirt' that Russian govt hides from its citizens

Hackers from the Anonymous community released a video message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which they announced their intention to reveal all the secrets that the Russian government hides from its citizens.

"Hackers from Anonymous published an appeal to Putin. They made their special operation in the Russian Federation. Guys, thank you and invite you to visit the Ministry of Digital Transformation after our common victory over the Russian Federation," Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov wrote in his Telegram channel on Saturday.

He also attached a video message from Anonymous to his post.

"Today, we took down the websites of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the Kremlin, Russia Today and many other websites associated with the Russian government. Is this just a coincidence, Vladimir Putin? Anonymous doesn't think so. We plan to reveal what has been hidden for years. The power of Anonymous will fall upon you and your corrupt henchmen," a spokesman for the hackers said in a video message.

He said that "it's only a matter of time before Anonymous reveals all the dirt" that Putin is trying to hide from Russian society.

"Not a single skeleton in the closet will remain untouched. Now we demand that you restore the rights of the Ukrainian people and resign from your post. You failed to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population. You did not fulfill your civic and moral duty as a civil servant. Because of for your lies, you have let down those you intend to govern," the community spokesman said.

He called on other hackers to "search and dig so as not to leave a stone unturned" from "Putin's power."

"You have decided to unleash a big war. We will never forgive lies, and we will never forget the lives that were lost under your regime," the representative of the hackers said.
Poland supports the accelerated path of Ukraine's accession into the EU, said Polish President Andrzej Duda.

"Poland supports the accelerated path of Ukraine's affiliation with the EU. Candidate status should be granted immediately, and immediately after that, interviews with members should begin. Ukraine should also gain access to EU funds for reconstruction. It belongs to Ukraine," Duda wrote on Twitter in Saturday.
Russian ship in Black Sea destroys its plane 'with friendly fire' - General Staff of AFU

A ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea destroyed a Russian aircraft with "friendly fire", the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports with reference to the Naval Forces of Ukraine.

"In the waters of the Black Sea, a ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet destroyed its military aircraft with friendly fire," the General Staff's Facebook page says.
Ukravtodor calls for dismantling of road signs across the country to disorientate Russian troops

The State Road Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) calls on travel organizations, territorial communities and local governments to dismantle road signs throughout the country in order to disorientate Russian troops on the ground.

"Ukravtodor calls on all travel organizations, territorial communities, local governments to immediately begin dismantling road signs nearby," the report says.

Ukravtodor stressed that the number one priority for such dismantling is signposts and names of settlements.

"The enemy has a miserable connection, they do not navigate the terrain. Let's help them go straight to hell," the agency stressed.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine thanked the United States for providing additional military assistance to Ukraine, which was announced on Saturday, February 26.

"The Armed Forces of Ukraine are grateful to the People, the President Joe Biden, US Senate (U.S. Senate Democrats and Senate GOP) and US Congress (House Democrats and House Republicans, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and The Joint Staff for "Additional Military Assistance to Ukraine" as announced by the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on February 26, 2022," General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in Facebook.
Some 19 civilians killed in Donetsk region amid Russian shelling on Saturday  Head of Regional State Administration

Amid Russian shelling on Saturday, 19 were killed and 73 were injured in Donetsk region, Head of the regional military-civilian administration Pavlo Kyrylenko has said.

"On February 26 (as of 17:00), as a result of Russian shelling, 19 civilians were killed, 73 people were injured," he wrote on his Facebook page.

In particular, Kyrylenko said that 15 dead and 5 wounded (1 child) in Volnovakha, 4 dead, 9 wounded (1 child) in Sartana, 58 wounded in Mariupol, 3 wounded in Sopyne, and 1 wounded in Pivdenne.
Latvia sends Ukraine over 30 trucks with helmets, dry food, medical devices, medicines, as well as 500 tonnes of diesel fuel for Armed Forces of Ukraine  Defense Minister

Latvia is transferring to Ukraine more than 30 trucks with helmets, dry food, medical devices and medicines, as well as 500 tonnes of diesel fuel for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks has said.

"Right now more than 30 trucks containing individual equipment donated by @Latvijas_armija are heading to Ukraine. Helmets, dry food, medical devices and medicine. Also a large consignment of ammunition is to be delivered," Pabriks wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

According to him, Aid also includes food supplies and a donation from @VC4_LV worth more than EUR 17,000, containing medical supplies, as well as 11,000 pieces of gauze bandages and disposable gloves donated by @Meness_aptieka.

"People of Latvia have donated more than EUR 1.5 million, together with @Ziedot_LV we have purchased the first 500 tonnes of diesel to keep the wheels of @ArmedForcesUkr spinning! More help is on the way! As long as the Ukrainian army continues to resist Russian aggression, there will be an independent Ukraine and a secure Europe! Latvia is with you!" the minister said.
Russian Su-30 fighter jet shot down in Black Sea  Ukraine's Air Force of command

KYIV. Feb 26 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea, the Command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.

"In the waters of the Black Sea, an anti-aircraft missile unit of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter. Welcome to hell!" they said in their Telegram channel.
Russian aggressors shot and blew up an ambulance that was carrying a wounded man near Kherson. Two people died, one was taken to the hospital, Suspilne has reported.

"A few kilometers from Kherson, the Russian military shot and blew up an ambulance that was carrying a wounded man. The driver and the wounded died, the paramedic is in the hospital," they wrote on their Telegram page on Saturday.
Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko sent a letter to YouTube with a request to block Russian TV channels broadcasting on the service.

"Among the channels on the list: Channel One, Zvezda, TNT, Russia Today, Ren TV and others. All of them are instruments of Russian propaganda, which broadcast fakes and disinformation of the Kremlin," Teachenko wrote in the Telegram channel.

He said that consuming information from these channels is dangerous for the media space of Ukraine and the whole world.
German govt approves export of weapons from the Netherlands to Ukraine  media

The federal government has allowed the Netherlands to supply 400 German-made bazookas to Ukraine, dpa has reported.

"According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the export of 14 armored vehicles with special protection for Ukraine was also approved on Saturday," dpa said in a statement on Saturday.

The vehicles were used for personal protection, and possibly for evacuation purposes.

"They must be handed over to the Ukrainian authorities. In addition, up to 10,000 tonnes of fuel will be delivered to Ukraine through Poland. Additional support services are currently being studied," dpa said.
In Chernihiv, the Russian military use Grad missile launchers hitting hospitals, kindergartens, residential buildings, the State Emergency Service reports.

"Using Grad missile launchers, Putin's army fires at hospitals, kindergartens, residential buildings in Chernihiv. Only today, units of the State Emergency Service thirty times were involved in the elimination of the consequences of these brutal attacks, which cannot be called anything other than "terrorist attacks," the State Emergency Service said in a statement Telegram channel.

"But we will resist, because the truth is behind us, the strength of the Ukrainian land is behind us. We believe in the Ukrainian army. And you - believe in us. Your strength gives our hands power, and our hearts - courage and inflexibility. Everything will be Ukraine! Enemy won't pass!" the State Emergency Service said.
USA threatens Moscow with new sanctions in event of 'fall of Kyiv'  TV

The United States is considering imposing additional sanctions against Russia if Russian troops enter Kyiv, CNN reported on Saturday, citing an unnamed representative of the U.S. administration.

It is not known whether these sanctions will imply Russia's disconnection from the SWIFT system, or if it could happen sooner, CNN reported.
Belgium will supply 3,800 tonnes of fuel and 2,000 machine guns to Ukraine, Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo has said.

"Ukraine has requested fuel from Belgium in an amount sufficient to supply its troops. Our country has accepted and will provide 3,800 tonnes of fuel. Belgium will also supply the Ukrainian army with 2,000 machine guns. Further analysis of applications continues," de Croo wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
The German government has decided to send antitank weapons and Stinger surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.

"The federal government decided today [on Saturday] to supply 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks to support the Ukrainian armed forces. The weapons will be delivered to Ukraine as soon as possible," Hebestrei said.
Ukraine has decided not to join the energy systems of the Russian Federation and Belarus after the end of the three-day isolated regime on February 26, the passage of which was necessary as part of synchronization with ENTSO-E, said Minister of Energy Herman Haluschenko.

"Ukraine cannot afford to unite with the energy systems of the invaders who started the war. Therefore, we decided to sign an order refusing to connect the Russian invaders and Belarusians to the energy grid, too," Haluschenko said live on the 1 + 1 channel on Saturday evening. According to him, the energy system in the current conditions is holding on and holding on tight. It has proven its resilience in all situations and even under the conditions of the Russian invasion.
In EBSD images, colour-scheme indicates crystal lattice misorientation relative to an arbitrary point (red triangle). a apatite grain showing smooth gradations in lattice misorientation, revealing strain and associated deformation. This strain was most plausibly accumulated during impact. b merrillite grain with distinct subgrains of uniform and unstrained crystal lattice orientation, revealing recrystallisation that likely developed in response to more extensive heating. c apatite showing patchy CL response, correlated with fractures. d merrillite showing subgrain recrystallisation, as well as overprinting patchy CL response correlated with fractures. e apatite showing extensive fracturing. Metal and sulfide veins (white in BSE image) fill some fractures, whereas others are unfilled. f apatite grain showing similar fracturing, proximal to a shock melt-vein. Partially annealed metal and sulfide veins are abundant in the silicate matrix. In all images, phosphates are outlined in purple. Pole figures and further data related to panels a and b are available in Supplementary Fig. 16.

A new way of dating collisions between asteroids and planetary bodies throughout our Solar System's history could help scientists reconstruct how and when planets were born.

A team of researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, combined dating and microscopic analysis of the Chelyabinsk meteorite -- which fell to Earth and hit the headlines in 2013 -- to get more accurate constraints on the timing of ancient impact events.

Their study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, looked at how minerals within the meteorite were damaged by different impacts over time, meaning they could identify the biggest and oldest events that may have been involved in planetary formation.

"Meteorite impact ages are often controversial: our work shows that we need to draw on multiple lines of evidence to be more certain about impact histories - almost like investigating an ancient crime scene," said Craig Walton, who led the research and is based at Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences.

Early in our Solar System's history, planets including the Earth formed from massive collisions between asteroids and even bigger bodies, called proto-planets.

"Evidence of these impacts is so old that it has been lost on the planets -- Earth in particular has a short memory because surface rocks are continually recycled by plate tectonics," said co-author Dr Oli Shorttle, who is based jointly at Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences and Institute of Astronomy.

Asteroids, and their fragments that fall to Earth as meteorites, are in contrast inert, cold and much older-- making them faithful timekeepers of collisions.

The new research, which was a collaboration with researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Open University, recorded how phosphate minerals inside the Chelyabinsk meteorite were shattered to varying degrees in order to piece together a collision history.

Their aim was to corroborate uranium-lead dating of the meteorite, which looks at the time elapsed for one isotope to decay to another.

"The phosphates in most primitive meteorites are fantastic targets for dating the shock events experienced by the meteorites on their parent bodies," said Dr Sen Hu, who carried out the uranium-lead dating at Beijing's Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Previous dating of this meteorite has revealed two impact ages, one older, roughly 4.5-billion-year-old collision and another which occurred within the last 50 million years.

But these ages aren't so clear-cut. Much like a painting fading over time, successive collisions can obscure a once clear picture, leading to uncertainty among the scientific community over the age and even the number of impacts recorded.

The new study put the collisions recorded by the Chelyabinsk meteorite in time order by linking new uranium-lead ages on the meteorite to microscopic evidence for collision-induced heating seen inside their crystal structures. These microscopic clues build up in the minerals with each successive impact, meaning the collisions can be distinguished, put in time order and dated.

Their findings show that minerals containing the imprint of the oldest collision were either shattered into many smaller crystals at high temperatures or strongly deformed at high pressures.

The team also described some mineral grains in the meteorite that were fractured by a lesser impact, at lower pressures and temperatures, and which record a much more recent age of less than 50 million years. They suggest this impact probably chipped the Chelyabinsk meteorite off its host asteroid and sent it hurtling to Earth.

Taken together, this supports a two-stage collision history. "The question for us was whether these dates could be trusted, could we tie these impacts to evidence of superheating from an impact?" said Walton. "What we've shown is that the mineralogical context for dating is really important."

Scientists are particularly interested in the date of the 4.5-billion-year-old impact because this is about the time we think the Earth-Moon system came to being, probably as a result of two planetary bodies colliding.

The Chelyabinsk meteorite belongs to a group of so-called stony meteorites, all of which contain highly shattered and remelted material roughly coincident with this colossal impact.

The newly-acquired dates support previous suggestions that many asteroids experienced high energy collisions between 4.48 - 4.44 billion years ago. "The fact that all of these asteroids record intense melting at this time might indicate Solar System re-organisation, either resulting from the Earth-Moon formation or perhaps the orbital movements of giant planets."

Walton now plans to refine dating over the window of the Moon-forming impact, which could tell us how our own planet came to being.

Ancient and recent collisions revealed by phosphate minerals in the Chelyabinsk meteorite, Communications Earth & Environment

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NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, now under construction, will test new technologies for space-based planet hunting.

The mission aims to photograph worlds and dusty disks around nearby stars with detail up to a thousand times better than possible with other observatories.



Roman will use its Coronagraph Instrument - a system of masks, prisms, detectors, and even self-flexing mirrors built to block out the glare from distant stars and reveal the planets in orbit around them - to demonstrate that direct imaging technologies can perform even better in space than they have with ground-based telescopes.

"We will be able to image worlds in visible light using the Roman Coronagraph," said Rob Zellem, an astronomer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California who is co-leading the observation calibration plan for the instrument. JPL is building Roman's Coronagraph Instrument. "Doing so from space will help us see smaller, older, and colder planets than direct imaging usually reveals, bringing us a giant leap closer to imaging planets like Earth."

A home far away from home

Exoplanets - planets beyond our solar system - are so distant and dim relative to their host stars that they're practically invisible, even to powerful telescopes. That's why nearly all of the worlds discovered so far have been found indirectly through effects they have on their host stars. However, recent advancements in technology allow astronomers to actually take images of the reflected light from the planets themselves.

Analyzing the colors of planetary atmospheres helps astronomers discover what the atmospheres are made of. This, in turn, can offer clues about the processes occurring on the imaged worlds that may affect their habitability. Since living things modify their environment in ways we might be able to detect, such as by producing oxygen or methane, scientists hope this research will pave the way for future missions that could reveal signs of life.

If Roman's Coronagraph Instrument successfully completes its technology demonstration phase, its polarimetry mode will allow astronomers to image the disks around stars in polarized light, familiar to many as the reflected glare blocked by polarized sunglasses. Astronomers will use polarized images to study the dust grains that make up the disks around stars, including their sizes, shapes, and possibly mineral properties. Roman may even be able to reveal structures in the disks, such as gaps created by unseen planets. These measurements will complement existing data by probing fainter dust disks orbiting nearer to their host stars than other telescopes can see.

Bridging the gap

Current direct imaging efforts are limited to enormous, bright planets. These worlds are typically super-Jupiters that are less than 100 million years old - so young that they glow brightly thanks to heat left over from their formation, which makes them detectable in infrared light. They also tend to be very far away from their host stars because it's easier to block the star's light and see planets in more distant orbits. The Roman Coronagraph could complement other telescopes' infrared observations by imaging young super-Jupiters in visible light for the first time, according to a study by a team of scientists.

But astronomers would also like to directly image planets that are similar to our own one day - rocky, Earth-sized planets orbiting Sun-like stars within their habitable zones, the range of orbital distances where temperatures allow liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. To do so, astronomers need to be able to see smaller, cooler, dimmer planets orbiting much closer to their host stars than current telescopes can. By photographing worlds in visible light, Roman will be able to image mature planets spanning ages up to several billion years - something that has never been done before.

"To image Earth-like planets, we'll need 10,000 times better performance than today's instruments provide," said Vanessa Bailey, an astronomer at JPL and the instrument technologist for the Roman Coronagraph. "The Coronagraph Instrument will perform several hundred times better than current instruments, so we will be able to see Jupiter-like planets that are more than 100 million times fainter than their host stars."

A team of scientists recently simulated a promising target for Roman to image, called Upsilon Andromedae d. "This gas giant exoplanet is slightly larger than Jupiter, orbits within a Sun-like star's habitable zone, and is relatively close to Earth - just 44 light-years away," said Prabal Saxena, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the lead author of a paper describing the results. "What's really exciting is that Roman may be able to help us explore hazes and clouds in Upsilon Andromedae d's atmosphere and may even be able to act as a planetary thermometer by putting constraints on the planet's internal temperature!"

Opening a new frontier

The Coronagraph Instrument will contain several state-of-the-art components that have never flown aboard a space-based observatory before. For example, it will use specially designed coronagraph masks to block the glare from host stars but allow the light from dimmer, orbiting planets to filter through. These masks have innovative, complex shapes that block starlight more effectively than traditional masks.

The Roman Coronagraph will also be equipped with deformable mirrors, which help counteract small imperfections that reduce image quality. These special mirrors will measure and subtract starlight in real time, and technicians on the ground can also send commands to the spacecraft to adjust them. This will help counteract effects like temperature changes, which can slightly alter the shape of the optics.

Using this technology, Roman will observe planets so faint that special detectors will count individual photons of light as they arrive, seconds or even minutes apart. No other observatory has done this kind of imaging in visible light before, providing a vital step toward discovering habitable planets and possibly learning whether we are alone in the universe.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech/IPAC in Southern California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation in Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies in Melbourne, Florida; and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California.

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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.
Gamal Yakout has been appointed to preside over the 29th edition of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre (CIFET), which is scheduled to take place between 1 and 10 September.

Yakout served as the festivals president in its 28th edition, which spanned over five days in December 2021. He was joined by two artistic directors, Mohamed Abdel-Rahman El-Shafei and Saeed Kabeel.

The 28th edition was the first to take place after the strong restrictions that were imposed during the pandemic, which also affected the 27th edition in 2020. This is when local performances were staged in theatres while international troupes submitted their plays for online viewing.

In 2021, when Yakout stepped in, he decided to implement a few changes to the CIFET.

The last edition of the festival was held at an unusual time of the year  as it normally takes place over the first 10 days of September  but the new dates were selected to accommodate the post-pandemic international theatre calendar and, in the context of Yakouts attempt to create a dynamic regional network, to avoid conflict with the Carthage Theatre Days in Tunis.

Yakout also restructured the awards system, with prizes now going to specific components rather than being bundled into the usual categories (Best Play, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director, and Best Scenography).

In an interview published in July 2021, Yakout commented: During the festival, we might be surprised by amazing theatrical solutions that deserve an award but do not fall under the traditional award protocols. Id rather set up a number of awards to be given depending on what we see.

The festival allocated EGP 500,000 as well as five awards amounting EGP 100,000 each to be distributed to chosen segments.

Yakout also launched the Experimental Theatre Club, a new initiative that included Egyptian performances produced by troupes in numerous governorates. A special competition showcased the performances, and the prizes were distributed to the winners.

Yakout holds a PhD in directing and production and he teaches at the Faculty of Arts of Alexandria University, the Higher Institute of Child Arts (part of the Academy of Arts), and other institutions across the country.

He also leads workshops for adults and children in the fields of acting, directing, playwriting, storytelling, and theatrical production all over the Arab world.

Yakouts acting career kicked off in early 1980, but he soon shifted to directing, helming over 70 plays, many of which received awards at various events.

He also founded his own theatre troupe, Creation Group, and in 2008, he founded Alexandrias Theatre Without Fund Festival  an event that he presided over until 2021. His studies, which include musical theatre in the UK and the Avignon Theatre Festival in France, are topped with his accumulated experience in working with independent troupes.

Launched in 1988 by former minister of culture Farouk Hosny with the aim of placing Egypt on the international theatre map, since its second edition, the CIFET was presided over by the late scholar-writer Fawzy Fahmy, the former president of the Academy of Arts, who retained this post until 2010.

The festival was interrupted for five years after the January Revolution in 2011, coming back in 2016 with Sameh Mahran as president. In that edition, it was renamed the Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre (CIFCET) and, limiting its programme, dropped its competitive character.

The name was changed back to CIFET in 2020, when Alaa Abdel-Aziz took over and the competition was reinstated, however, due to COVID-19, the international shows took place online.

While closing the 28th edition of the festival in 2021, Yakout announced that the 29th round would be held in its original time slot this year  between 1 and 10 September.

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Egyptian citizens in Ukraines southern city of Odessa can return to Egypt through Romania, while those in western Ukrainian cities should head to the Polish border, the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv said on Friday.

However, the embassy advised citizens in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv or eastern cities to stay at home or in shelters currently.

Hundreds of Egyptian expats living or studying in Ukraine are waiting to be evacuated from the country soon, Ali Farouk, the head of Egyptian community in Ukraine, said in an interview with Ahram Online on Thursday.

Around 6,000 Egyptian nationals 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.

Egyptian nationals in Ukraines southern city of Odessa can now head to Isaccea town in Romania and travel back to Egypt after entering Romania, the Egyptian embassy said on Friday.

The embassy said Egyptians in Ukraine can contact the embassy at +40726164978 in case they face any trouble on the Romanian borders.

Egyptian nationals in western Ukraine can head to the Polish borders, the embassy said, affirming that Polish authorities are allowing people of different nationalities to enter the country and return to their homelands within 15 days.

The embassy urged Egyptians facing any trouble on the Ukrainian-Polish borders to contact the embassy via +48511538378.

However, Egyptian nationals in Kyiv should not risk leaving amid the ongoing fighting around the city, the embassy said, ordering them to stay at home until the situation stabilises.

Egyptian nationals in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which is one of the hot zones witnessing military actions, and other eastern cities should also continue to stay at home or in shelters, the embassy said, adding that negotiations are underway to secure a safe exit for them.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday from the north, east and south, launching air and land attacks.

The armed conflict has killed 137 Ukrainian civilians and military personnel so far, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Russians reportedly took full control of vital parts of the country and are battling Ukrainian forces 30-50 kilometres from Kyiv.

Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have fled to neighbouring European countries, including Romania, which lies southwest of Ukraine.

There has been no reported casualties among Egyptian nationals in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started.

Egypt has affirmed on Thursday evening the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten a political settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

In a separate statement, the ministry said the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv was following closely the latest developments to the Egyptian community currently in Ukraine and shared the mobile numbers of diplomats in the embassy, including the mobile number of Ambassador Ayman El-Gamal (+380932165877).

The embassy can also be reached at: +380732009984 and +380634779436.

On Thursday, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism asserted that all tourists from countries affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine are welcome to continue with their stay at Egyptian hotels until their safe return to their countries.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised fears that the armed conflict will impact the flow of Egyptian imports of wheat from both Russia and Ukraine.

Egypt relies heavily on wheat imports from the two countries, importing around 50 percent of its wheat needs from Russia and 30 percent from Ukraine. the two countries

Cairo fears that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict will also impact the flow of tourists from the two countries to Egypt and put upward pressure on the price of wheat and other strategic commodities that the country relies on.

The Egyptian government has vowed to work on diversifying the sources of wheat imports to include other countries rather than Russia and Ukraine.

The government said it will also look for new tourism markets, as Russian and Ukrainian tourists made up a large share of tourists to Egypt. Tourism is a major source of income and foreign currency to Egypt.

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Egypts Ministry of Health and Population reported 1,811 new coronavirus infections on Friday, bringing the total number of cases since the outbreak began in February 2020 to 478,984.

This comes as the number of daily coronavirus cases in the country, which spiked over the past two months and exceeded 2,000 cases in January, has continued to decline over the past several days.

The ministry also recorded 30 coronavirus-related fatalities, bringing the total tally of deaths to 23,957.

The daily report added that the total number of recoveries increased to 409,748 after 1,654 patients were discharged from hospitals nationwide in the past 24 hours.

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, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Thursday.

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 told the Global Forum for a Human-centred Recovery organised by the International Labor Organization (ILO) on Thursday.



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.

On Wednesday, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, the acting health minister, told the weekly cabinet meeting that Egypt has received more than 142 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from December 2020 to February 2022.

More than 30 million citizens are fully vaccinated to date and more than 39 million citizens have received their first dose, according to recent ministry figures.

Over one million citizens have already received their third booster shooter.

The country plans to vaccinate 70 percent of its eligible population, those who are older than 12 years old, by the second half of 2022.

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Ahram Online is providing live coverage, on Saturday, of the third day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its fallout. (All times are GMT+2, Cairo Local Time)

22:50 Russian troops closed in on Kyiv and skirmishes flared on its outskirts Saturday as Ukraine's leader vowed to continue battling an invasion that had the country's people seeking safety underground.

The assault on the Ukrainian capital was clouded by a curfew put in place through Monday morning. Even as journalists were forced inside, the relative quiet of the night in Kyiv was sporadically broken by gunfire.

``We will fight for as long as needed to liberate our country,'' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised, as he continued to press for additional international help.

Fighting on the city's outskirts suggested that small Russian units were trying to clear a path for the main forces. Small groups of Russian troops were reported inside Kyiv, but Britain and the U.S. said the bulk of Russian forces were 19 miles (30 kilometers) from the city's center as of Saturday afternoon.

Russia claims its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but bridges, schools and residential neighborhoods have been hit since the invasion began Thursday with air and missile strikes and Russian troops entering Ukraine from the north, east and south.

Ukraine's health minister reported Saturday that 198 people, including three children, had been killed and more than 1,000 others had been wounded during Europe's largest land war since World War II. It was unclear whether those figures included both military and civilian casualties.

In Kyiv, a missile struck a high-rise apartment building in the southwestern outskirts near one of the city's two passenger airports, leaving a jagged hole of ravaged apartments over several floors. A rescue worker said six civilians were injured.

Zelenskyy reiterated his openness to talks with Russia in a video message Saturday, saying he welcomed an offer from the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan to organize diplomatic efforts, which so far have faltered. That came a day after Zelenskyy offered to negotiate a key Russian demand: abandoning ambitions of joining NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine after he spent weeks denying that's what he intended, all the while building up a force of almost 200,000 troops along the countries' borders. He claims the West has failed to take seriously Russia's security concerns about NATO, the Western military alliance that Ukraine aspires to join. But he has also expressed scorn about Ukraine's right to exist as an independent state.

Putin has not disclosed his ultimate plans for Ukraine, but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraine's government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscow's Cold War-era influence.

It was unclear in the fog of war how much territory Russian forces have seized. Britain's Ministry of Defense said ``the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.``

A senior U.S. defense official said Saturday that more than half of the Russian combat power that was massed along Ukraine's borders had entered Ukraine, and that Russia has had to commit more fuel supply and other support units inside Ukraine than originally anticipated. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments, did not provide further details.

Ukraine's Infrastructure Ministry said a Russian missile was shot down before dawn Saturday as it headed for the dam of the sprawling water reservoir that serves Kyiv, and Ukraine said a Russian military convoy was destroyed near the city early Saturday. Footage showed soldiers inspecting burned-out vehicles after Ukraine's 101st brigade reported destroying a column of two light vehicles, two trucks and a tank. The claim could not be verified.

Highways into Kyiv from the east were dotted with checkpoints manned by uniformed Ukrainian troops and young men in civilian clothes carrying automatic rifles. Low-flying planes patrolled the skies, though it was unclear if they were Russian or Ukrainian.

In addition to Kyiv, the Russian assault appeared to focus on Ukraine's coastline, which stretches from near the Black Sea port of Odesa in the west to beyond the Azov Sea port of Mariupol in the east.

If the Russian troops succeed, Ukraine would be cut off from access to all of its sea ports, which are vital for its economy. In Mariupol, Ukrainian soldiers guarded bridges and blocked people from the shoreline amid concerns the Russian navy could launch an assault from the sea.

Fighting also raged in two territories in eastern Ukraine that are controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Authorities in the city of Donetsk said hot water supplies to the city of about 900,000 were suspended because of damage to the system by Ukrainian shelling.

The U.S. government urged Zelenskyy early Saturday to evacuate Kyiv but he turned down the offer, according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation. Zelenskyy issued a defiant video recorded on a downtown Kyiv street early Saturday, saying he remained in the city.

``We aren't going to lay down weapons. We will protect the country,'' the Ukrainian president said. ``Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that it's our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.''

The conflict has driven thousands of Ukrainians from their homes in search of safety. U.N. officials said more than 150,000 Ukrainians had left the country for Poland, Moldova and other neighboring nations and estimated 4 million could flee if the fighting escalates.

Refugees arriving in the Hungarian border town of Zahony said men between the ages of 18 and 60 were not being allowed to leave Ukraine.

``My son was not allowed to come. My heart is so sore, I'm shaking,'' said Vilma Sugar, 68.

Hungary and Poland both opened their borders to Ukrainians. At Poland's Medyka crossing, some said they had walked for 15 miles (35 kilometers) to reach the border.

``They didn't have food, no tea, they were standing in the middle of a field, on the road, kids were freezing,'' said Iryna Wiklenko as she waited on the Polish side for her grandchildren and her daughter-in-law to make it across.

Officials in Kyiv urged residents to seek shelter, to stay away from windows and to take precautions to avoid flying debris or bullets. Many spent Friday night in basements, underground parking garages and subway stations, and prepared to do the same on Saturday.

Shelves wore thin at some Kyiv grocery stores and pharmacies, and some worried how long stockpiles of food and medicine might last.

The U.S. military announced $350 million in assistance to Ukraine on Saturday, including anti-tank weapons, body armor and small arms. Germany likewise said it would send missiles and anti-tank weapons to the country.

The U.S. and its allies have beefed up troops on NATO's eastern flank but so far have ruled out deploying troops to fight Russia.

Instead, the U.S., the European Union and other countries have slapped wide-ranging sanctions on Russia, freezing the assets of Russian businesses and individuals including Putin and his foreign minister.

Zelenskyy appealed for tougher sanctions.

Among the tough possibilities that remain to stanch the Kremlin's access to hundreds of billions in cash: Sanctioning the Russian Central Bank and cutting Russia from the SWIFT international payment system.

A senior Russian official on Saturday shrugged off sanctions as a reflection of Western ``political impotence.''

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, warned that Moscow could react to the sanctions by opting out of the last remaining nuclear arms pact, freezing Western assets and cutting diplomatic ties with nations in the West.

``There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations,'' Medvedev said. ``We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights.''

22:10 Pope Francis expressed his "deep pain for the tragic events" resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine during a call with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kyiv's embassy to the Vatican said Saturday.

"Today Pope Francis had a telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Holy Father expressed his deepest pain for the tragic events unfolding in our country," the embassy wrote on Twitter.

Zelensky also tweeted to thank Francis "for praying for peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire. The Ukrainian people feel the spiritual support of His Holiness". Francis made a rare intervention on Friday when he tweeted in several languages, including Russian, to denounce all war as a "shameful capitulation". "Every war leaves our world worse than it was before. War is a failure of politics and of humanity," he said, quoting his encyclical on peace published in 2020.

In another rare act, Francis visited Russia's embassy to the Vatican on Friday morning to voice his concern on the second day of Moscow's invasion of its neighbour. The pope normally never visits foreign diplomatic headquarters and usually receives accredited diplomats at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. (AFP)

21:40 The United Nations told Ukraine Saturday that it will work to increase humanitarian assistance in the wake of the Russian invasion.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, conveyed the "determination of the United Nations to enhance humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine," according to a statement released by the UN.

In addition, the secretary general told Zelensky the UN would launch on Tuesday an appeal to fund its humanitarian operations in Ukraine. Major cities under assault by Russia, including the capital Kyiv, are at risk of being cut off from vital supplies.

20:45 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcoming efforts to open talks with Russia.

In a video message Saturday, Zelenskyy said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev offered to help organize talks and that ``we can only welcome that.''

Diplomatic efforts to end the bloodshed have so far faltered.

Zelenskyy offered Friday to negotiate a key Russian demand: that Ukraine declare itself neutral and abandon its ambition of joining NATO. But movement to actually advance any diplomacy has appeared to sputter.

20:40 Germany said Saturday it was working to exclude Russia from the SWIFT banking system as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again asked European nations to sever Moscow from the important financial mechanism.

SWIFT's messaging system allows banks to communicate rapidly and securely about transactions, and cutting Russia off would cripple its trade with most of the world.

Germany had been more cautious about excluding Russia from SWIFT. Russian gas makes up a higher share of its energy supplies than other European countries.

But Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said they were working "urgently on limiting the collateral damage from an exclusion from SWIFT so that (the measure) hits the right people". "What we need is a targeted and functional limitation of SWIFT," they added in a joint statement. (AFP)

20: 25 Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point in history, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday as his government approved the delivery of a huge batch of weapons to Ukraine in a major policy U-turn.

"In this situation, it is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in its defence against (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's invading army," said Scholz, stressing that Germany "stands closely by Ukraine's side". (AFP)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

20:00 A senior U.S. defense official says the United States estimates that more than 50 percent of Russian combat power arrayed along Ukraine's borders has entered Ukraine. That is up from a U.S. estimate Friday that one-third of the Russian force had been committed to the fight.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal U.S. assessments, would not say how many Russian troops that amounts to inside Ukraine, but the U.S. had estimated the total Russian force arrayed near Ukraine at more than 150,000.

The official said advancing Russian forces were roughly 30 kilometers outside Kyiv as of Saturday, and that an unspecified number of Russian military "reconnaissance elements" had entered the capital.

Meanwhile, Britain's Defense Ministry said Saturday that "the speed of the Russian advance has temporarily slowed likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance.'' "Russian forces are bypassing major Ukrainian population centres while leaving forces to encircle and isolate them," the ministry said.

19:35 A $350 million package of additional US military assistance to Ukraine announced Saturday includes anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor and related equipment, according to John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary.

Separately, a senior defense official said the assistance includes Javelin anti-tank weapons and that it will be delivered to Ukraine in phases and as soon as possible.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, said the U.S. has delivered military assistance to Ukraine by unspecified means as recently as the last couple of days, and that ground routes for delivery of the additional material would certainly be on the list of options we would consider.

18:40 Lines of vehicles miles long are clogging border crossings out of Ukraine, as tens of thousands rush to neighboring countries to escape danger from invading Russian troops.

Nearly 120,000 people have so far fled Ukraine into Poland and other neighboring countries in the wake of Russian invasion, the U.N. refugee agency said Saturday. The largest numbers were arriving in Poland, where 2 million Ukrainians have already settled to work in recent years. Poland's government said Saturday that more than 100,000 Ukrainians had crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border in the past 48 hours alone.

17:50 A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles (85 kilometers) south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.

On Friday, Ukraine's military said it had shot down a Russian military transport plane with paratroopers on board. According to a statement from the military's General Staff, the first Il-76 heavy transport plane was shot down near Vasylkiv, a city 25 miles south of Kyiv. The Russian military has not commented on either incident so far, and the reports could not be immediately verified.

16:15 Ramzan Kadyrov the leader of Russias Chechnya region and an ally of Putin, confirms sending troops from his country to Ukraine to support Russia and confirms that his forces did not suffer losses and succeeded in seizing a Ukrainian military facility.

He also said: "Control of cities is not a problem for us, but we are working to reduce human losses", and added "Putin made the right decision, and we do not accept others attacking Russia through Ukraine." (Sky News)

15:50 Romania closes its airspace to Russian planes following its neighbours Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. (NEXTA)

15:45 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assures the Ukrainian president that Turkey is making efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire. Zelensky thanked Erdogan and the Turkish people for their great support and for preventing Russian warships from crossing into the Black Sea.(Sky News)

15:20 Turkey's foreign minister phones his Russian counterpart in a bid to stop military operations against Ukraine. (Sky News)

15:15 The United States is providing Ukraine with $350 million in additional military equipment to fight off Russia's "brutal and unprovoked assault," Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced.

"This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing," Blinken said in a statement.

Blinken said that last fall as Russia started amassing troops on the border with its pro-Western neighbor, President Joe Biden authorized $60 million in immediate military assistance to Ukraine, then another $200 million in December as President Vladimir Putin's threat became more acute.

15:14 The Kremlin accused Ukraine of prolonging the military conflict by refusing to negotiate as Russia pressed on with its invasion of the pro-Western country.

"In connection with the expected negotiations, the Russian president yesterday afternoon ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces of the Russian Federation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a conference call.

"Since the Ukrainian side refused to negotiate, the advance of the Russian forces resumed this afternoon.(AFP)

15:00 European Union energy ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Monday, with several member states heavily dependent on Russian gas exports, French officials said.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, France's ecological transition minister Barbara Pompili will chair the afternoon talks, a statement said Saturday.

The EU has toughened its sanctions against Russia, but has not extended them to energy or excluded it from the global SWIFT inter-banking system.

Russian gas accounts for a high share of energy supplies in Germany, Hungary and Italy. (AFP)

14:55 The US embassy in Minsk urges US citizens not to travel to Belarus, that have a connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, citizens in Belarus have to depart immediately, and that the U.S. governments ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Belarus is severely limited due to Belarusian government limitations on U.S. Embassy staffing.

The State Dept advises US citizens not to travel to Belarus and urges US citizens in Belarus to depart immediately. Minsk airport has flights to limited international destinations. Land borders with Lithuania, Latvia & Poland work at normal capacity.https://t.co/DReIfVMY75  U.S. Embassy Minsk (@USEmbBy) February 26, 2022

14:31 Russia said it was closing its airspace to flights from Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic in response to punishment over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"Air carriers of these states and/or registered in them are subject to restrictions on flights to destinations on the territory of the Russian Federation, including transit flights through the airspace of the Russian Federation," the federal air transport agency Rosaviation said.

The measure is set to go into effect from 3 pm local. (AFP)

13:56 The mayor of the Ukrainian capital is imposing an intensified curfew as Russian troops press on the city.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said on Telegram that the curfew will extend from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. and ``all civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.''

The previous curfew imposed two days ago was from 10 p.m. until 7 a.m.

12:46 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Germany and Hungary to back severing Russia from the SWIFT banking system to punish Moscow for invading his country.

"There is already almost full support from the EU countries to disconnect Russia from SWIFT. I hope that Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelensky said in a video address posted online.

12:30 "We will provide logistical support to deliver weapons to the Ukrainian forces," UK prime minister Boris Johnson said. (Sky News)

12:25 The army controls Kyiv and key points around the city, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said. (Sky News)

Ukrainian soldiers patrol an area not far from burning military trucks in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. AP

12:19 Russia's communications regulator urged media to remove reports describing Moscow's attack on Ukraine as an "assault, invasion, or declaration of war".

In a statement, Roskomnadzor accused a number of independent media outlets including television channel Dozhd and Echo of Moscow radio of spreading "unreliable socially significant untrue information" about the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the Russian army and civilian deaths.

The tail section of a missile that hit a residential area of the city of Kharkiv on February 25. AFP

12:18 French naval forces have intercepted in the Channel a cargo vessel loaded with cars heading for Russia's Baltic port city of Saint Petersburg after sanctions agreed by the EU against Russia, officials said.

The Russian-flagged Baltic Leader, which had set sail from the French city of Rouen, was escorted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer by French forces, the maritime prefecture told AFP. It is suspected of belonging to a company targeted by EU sanctions against Moscow, it added.

11:55 The Polish Football Association says it will not play its World Cup qualifying match against Russia due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

``No more words, time to act!'' said association president Cezary Kulesza on Twitter, saying the move was prompted by the ``escalation of the aggression.''

The match had been scheduled for March 24.

11:46 Several Chinese public banks are limiting financing to purchase raw materials from Russia for fear of Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg news agency reported on Saturday.

China and Russia have strengthened their ties considerably since Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea and subsequent Western sanctions.

To power its growth, the Asian giant has also increased its purchases of Russian commodities, with about 30 percent of Russian oil and gas now sold to China. (AFP)

11:45 Prague to give arms worth millions of dollars to Kyiv. The Czech Republic will donate machine guns, automatic and sniper rifles, pistols and ammunition valued at 7.6 million euros ($8.6 million) to Ukraine, the defence minister said Saturday.

"The government on Saturday approved further help to Ukraine, which is facing a Russian attack," Minister Jana Cernochova said in a tweet.

"The defence ministry will also take care of transport to a place set by the Ukrainian side. Our help is not over," she added.

In January, Prague had donated 4,000 artillery shells worth 1.5 million euros to Ukraine. (AFP)

11:12 The UN refugee agency says that over 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have left the country since Russia began its attack on its neighboring country this week. Speaking as Russian troops were engaging in battle with Ukrainian forces in the capital Kyiv on Saturday, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements, said in an interview on CNN the situation was expected to get worse.

A Polish border guard assists refugees from Ukraine as they arrive to Poland at the Korczowa border crossing, Poland, Saturday, Feb. 26. AP 11:00 "We defend our freedom and that of Europe, we ask for urgent support for his country" Ukrainian President tells President of the European Commission. (Al Arabiya News) 10:55 The Ukrainian health minister says that 198 people have been killed and more than 1,000 others have been wounded in the Russian offensive. Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said Saturday that there were three children among those killed. His statement made it unclear whether the casualties included both military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday with massive air and missile strikes and troops forging into Ukraine from the north, east and south.

An ambulance parked near a barricade and Ukrainian armored vehicles in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26. AP

10:50 About a hundred protestors have gathered in Turkey's capital Ankara to demonstrate against the Russian invasion. Ukrainians living in Turkey, including children, as well as Turks joined the protest, holding up Ukrainian flags and banners that read ``Putin get out of Ukraine.'' The Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey, Vasyl Bodnar, was also at the protest and said the war was a ``genocide against the Ukrainian people,'' according to Turkish news agencies.

Separately, Turkey began evacuating its citizens from Ukraine by land. Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said about 20,000 Turks live in Ukraine and 5,000 had already returned.



Pro-Ukraine people hold an Ukraine flag and banners during a protest outside the Russian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 25. AP

10:43 Britain says Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been slowed by strong Ukrainian resistance.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said fighting in the capital, Kyiv, was so far confined to ``very isolated pockets of Russian special forces and paratroopers.''

He said that ``the main armored columns approaching Kyiv are still some way off.''

He said: ``It looks like the Russian plan is nowhere near running to schedule. I think that will be a great cause of concern for President Putin and rather points to the fact that there was a lot of hubris in the Russian plan and that he may be awfully advised.''

9:44 Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Saturday that the military struck a range of Ukrainian military installations with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles.

He said that since the start of Russia's attack Thursday, the military has hit 821 Ukrainian military facilities, including 14 air bases and 19 command facilities, and destroyed 24 air defense missile systems, 48 radars, seven warplanes, seven helicopters, nine drones, 87 tanks and eight military vessels.

Konashenkov didn't say how many Ukrainian troops were killed and didn't mention any casualties on the Russian side. His claims and Ukraine's allegations that its forces have killed thousands of Russian troops couldn't be independently verified.

Konashenkov claimed that the Russian military has taken full control of the southern city of Melitopol, about 35 kilometers inland from the Azov Sea coast, and said Russia-backed separatists have made significant gains in the eastern region of Donbas.



A Ukrainian soldier walks past debris of burning military truck, in a street in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 26. AP

9:30 The mayor of the Ukrainian capital says a missile hit an apartment building but no casualties were immediately reported.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the missile slammed into a high-rise building on the southwestern outskirts of Kyiv near Zhuliany airport on Saturday. He said rescue workers were heading there.

Russian troops were pressing their attack on the Ukrainian capital, trying to advance on the city from several directions.



A view of a high-rise apartment block which was hit by recent shelling in Kyiv on February 26. AFP

9:25 The world must brace for a long war between Russia and Ukraine after Moscow launched an invasion of its pro-Western neighbour, French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Saturday.

"If can tell you one thing this morning it is that this war will last.... This crisis will last, this war will last and all the crises that come with it will have lasting consequences," Macron's told France's annual agriculture fair, warning: "We must be prepared".

8:55 An adviser to Ukraine's president says that fighting is raging in the capital and in the country's south, and that the Ukrainian military is successfully fending off Russian assaults.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Saturday that small groups of Russian forces tried to infiltrate Kyiv and engaged in fighting with Ukrainian troops. He said that Russia wants to seize control of the Ukrainian capital and destroy the country's leadership, but said the Russian military has failed to make any gains and that the Ukrainian forces control the situation in Kyiv.

He said Russian forces were also focusing on the country's south, where intense fighting is underway in Kherson just north of Crimea, and in the Black Sea ports of Mykolaiv, Odesa and around Mariupol.

He said that Russia considers it a priority to seize the south, but it has failed to make any significant gains.

``Ukraine hasn't simply withstood it. Ukraine is winning,'' Podolyak said at a briefing.



Ukrainian service members look for unexploded shells after a fighting with Russian raiding group in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the morning of February 26. AFP

8:40 Kyiv officials are warning residents that street fighting is underway against Russian forces, and they are urging people to seek shelter.

The warning issued Saturday advised residents to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets.

The Ukrainian military said a battle was underway near a military unit to the west of the city center.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said new explosions shook the area near a major power plant that the Russians were trying to attack.

Kira Shapovalova and her brother Mikhailo wait in an undergound shelter during bombing alert in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on February 26. AFP

6:07 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked to evacuate Kyiv at the behest of the U.S. government but turned down the offer.

Zelenskyy said in response: ``The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,'' according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.

Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine's capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.

1:04 Russia has vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops.

Friday's vote was 11-1, with China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. It showed significant but not total opposition to Russia's invasion of its smaller, militarily weaker neighbor.

The United States and other supporters knew the resolution wouldn't pass but argued it would highlight Russia's international isolation. The resolution's failure paves the way for backers to call for a swift vote on a similar measure in the U.N. General Assembly. There are no vetoes in the 193-member assembly. There's no timetable as yet for a potential Assembly vote.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will work hand-in-hand with the World Bank Group (WBG) and other partners to coordinate support for Ukraine amid the Russian invasion, the IMFs managing director Kristalina Georgieva stated on Friday.

This weeks events in Ukraine are a matter of grave concernfirst and foremost due to the human toll and suffering of ordinary people. The conflict is also having a serious economic impact, which will worsen the longer it continues. This crisis comes at a delicate time, when the global economy is recovering from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and threatens to undo some of that progress, said Georgieva.

Georgieva expounded that she met with the IMFs Executive Board on Friday to brief Executive Directors on the Funds initial assessment of the ongoing situation.

I assured them that our staff will continue to work closely with the authorities to support Ukraine in every way we can, according to Georgieva.

In this respect, Georgieva expounded that the Fund has a number of instruments that could be utilised to support Ukraine, adding that the Fund is exploring all options for further financial support for the country, including under the IMFs Stand-By Arrangement for an outstanding amount of $2.2 billion, especially as the Ukrainian authorities have already requested IMF emergency financing.

She added that discussions are being conducted remotely with staff participating from Washington in this regard.

Beyond Ukraine, the repercussions of the conflict pose significant economic risks in the region and around the world. We are assessing the potential implications, including for the functioning of the financial system, commodity markets, and the direct impact on countries with economic ties to the region. We stand ready to support our members as needed, in close coordination with our international partners, Georgieva explained.

On Thursday, the WBGs president David Malpass said that the Group stands ready to provide immediate support to Ukraine, adding that it is preparing options for such support, including fast-disbursing financing.

The World Bank Group is also in active dialogue to support neighbouring countries and people that may be affected by this conflict and will make additional resources available, he added.

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Egypt and South Korea signed on Friday two contracts for the joint manufacturing of K9 howitzer artillery vehicles during a ceremony in Cairo attended by several officials from both countries, a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production said.

The contracts were signed between South Korea's Hanhwa Group and the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production represented by the Tank Production and Repair Company, locally known as Factory 200, and Abu Zaabal Company for Engineering Industries, locally known as Factory 100.

The event was attended by Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsy, South Korean ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-Wook, and the South Korean military attache.

The deal comes within the framework of both countries' endeavours to achieve rapprochement and make bilateral relations sustainable for a better future, said Morsy.

The Egyptian minister also voiced his hope to foster cooperation with South Korea in the field of defence industries in a way that benefits both sides and the world as a whole, the statement added.

Friday's agreement is part of the armament deals and memorandums of understanding (MoU) for military cooperation signed between the two countries on 1 February, noted Morsy.

The earlier ceremony witnessed the signing of a contract to locally manufacture the howitzer system (EGY k9A1) through the companies and factories of the Egyptian National Authority for Military Production.

It also included two MoUs for cooperation in defensive industries and logistics support and another MoU on the principles governing cooperation in defence research and development to coordinate and exchange military expertise.

South Korean ambassador to Egypt Hong Jin-Wook said that his country views Egypt as a strategic partner and a stable country that has an effective and influential role in the Middle East in light of its great potential and skilled manpower, especially among the youth.

He also highlighted Egypts position as a strategic hub for South Korean companies in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

On 20 January, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in met in Cairo during the first visit by a South Korean president to Egypt in 16 years.

The two leaders agreed to boost cooperation in multiple fields to support Cairos efforts towards a fourth industrial revolution.

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The Senate  Egypt's consultative upper house of parliament  will reconvene on Sunday and Monday to discuss a new government-drafted insurance law.

The draft law, which was referred by the House of Representatives, was approved by the Senate's Financial and Economic Affairs Committee on 13 February.

A report prepared by the committee said the draft "Unified Insurance Law" aims to draw up new and comprehensive rules for regulating the insurance industry and market in Egypt.

Four decades of actual implementation show that the insurance market is in pressing need for new legislative and regulatory rules, said the report, adding that technological developments and the creation of new insurance tools also require that a unified insurance legislation be passed.

The report indicated that the new government-drafted Insurance Law is also necessary to cover a new group of professions and services related to the insurance industry.

In this respect, the new law aims to cover the rights of holders of insurance policies and private insurance funds, said the report, adding that the law also seeks to streamline insurance rules to go in line with new international standards, as well as speed up digitization reforms and the use of financial technology in the insurance sector.

The report also indicates that the law aims to widen the scope of obligatory insurance operations in order to achieve insurance inclusiveness and reach out to poor and limited income classes which are not currently covered by any kind of insurance, particularly health insurance.

The report revealed that Egypt's insurance sector includes 41 companies which collect EGP 47.5 billion in insurance installments a year, and pay EGP 33.5 billion in insurance compensation.

"The net investments of insurance companies have reached EGP 131.466 billion in July 2021, in addition to the fact that there are 692 insurance funds which collect EGP 10.5 billion in annual subscriptions, pay EGP 9.9 billion in compensations, and have EGP 85.61 billion in investments," said the report, adding that "these figures show that Egypt has a thriving insurance market but it has to be effectively regulated and supervised."

The report concludes that the new Unified Insurance Law will cover all kinds of insurance operations.

"This law will regulate insurance companies, special funds, obligatory operations such as highway accidents, as well as state new supervisory rules for the insurance industry," said the report, adding that "at the end we will have a unified law that will regulate all forms of insurance in Egypt in line with international rules and methods and impose stricter supervision."

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Egyptian nationals in Ukraine can now enter Slovakia and Hungary, which lie west of Ukraine, the Egyptian embassies in Kyiv and Budapest have said, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for the third day.

Hundreds of Egyptian expats living or studying in Ukraine are waiting to be evacuated from the country soon, Ali Farouk, the head of Egyptian community in Ukraine, said in an interview with Ahram Online on Thursday.

Around 6,000 Egyptian nationals live in Ukraine, with the majority being students, according to officials.

In an initiative to help Egyptian locals who are worried about their families in Ukraine, Vodafone Egypt has offered free international calls between Egypt and Ukraine for five days starting Sunday.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has so far claimed the lives of 198 Ukrainians, according to the Ukrainian health ministry, and caused tens of thousands of residents to flee from the country.

In coordination with the Egyptian Embassy in Slovakia, [expats] can pass through the Slovakian borders without a visa, Egypts Kyiv embassy said in a statement, urging expats to send a photo of their passport to the Bratislava embassy via +421907697619.

Hungary will also allow the entry of people coming from Ukraine provided that they carry valid passports and residency permits, the Egyptian embassy in Budapest said on Saturday.

Individuals can cross the Ukrainian-Hungarian border through crossing points of Barabas Kozuti Hataratkelohely and Lonya Kozuti Hataratkelohely from 07:00-23:00 local time, the embassy said.

They can also cross through Beregsurany Kozuti Hataratkelohely, Tiszabecs Kozuti Hataratkelohely and Zahony Kozuti Hataratkelohely from 00:00-24:00 local time, the embassy added.

On Friday, the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv said citizens in Ukraines southern city of Odessa could return to Egypt through Romania, while those in western Ukrainian cities should head to the Polish border.

However, the embassy advised citizens in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv or eastern cities to stay at home or in shelters.

The embassy said Egyptians in Ukraine can contact the embassy at +40726164978 and +48511538378 in case they face any trouble on the Romanian or Polish borders respectively.

Egyptian nationals in the eastern city of Kharkiv, which is one of the hot zones witnessing military actions, and other eastern cities should also continue to stay at home or in shelters, the embassy said, adding that negotiations are underway to secure a safe exit for them.

Egypt has affirmed on Thursday evening the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten a political settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

In a separate statement, the ministry said the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv was following closely the latest developments to the Egyptian community currently in Ukraine and shared the mobile numbers of diplomats in the embassy, including the mobile number of Ambassador Ayman El-Gamal (+380932165877).

The embassy can also be reached at: +380732009984 and +380634779436.

On Thursday, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism asserted that all tourists from countries affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine are welcome to continue with their stay at Egyptian hotels until their safe return to their countries.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday from the north, east and south, launching air and land attacks.

Although Russia and Ukraine on Friday welcomed possible negotiations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow will not negotiate until Ukraine stops fighting

People in Ukraine have sheltered underground as Russian forces have seized control of vital parts and continued pressing towards the Ukrainian capital, which is still in Ukraines hands.

The United States announced plans to provide Ukraine with $350 million in additional military equipment to fight off Russia's "brutal and unprovoked assault."

"This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armoured, airborne, and other threats it is now facing," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The EU has toughened its sanctions against Russia, but has not extended them to energy or excluded it from the global SWIFT inter-banking system.

The US, Canada and European countries have also announced adding direct measures against US President Vladimir Putin and his foreign minister.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin's two decades of relations with the West, initially marked by fascination over what the ex-KGB agent stood for and then bursts of cooperation, have now reached a point of no return with his invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

The attack has created an indelible rupture between Russia and the European Union and United States as long as Putin stays in power, with Moscow now likely to turn to China as its main ally.

But this appeared in no way inevitable -- Russia spent much of Putin's rule as a member of the G8 club of top nations and he claimed that in 2000 he even suggested to US president Bill Clinton that Russia could join NATO.

When Putin was promoted by an ailing president Boris Yeltsin in 1999 from security chief to Russian prime minister and then his successor, the West had little idea who he was.

At a meeting with Putin in June 2001, US president George W. Bush famously declared that he had looked the new Russian leader in the eye and "was able to get a sense of his soul."

Putin remained an enigma for most Western capitals.

But despite the crises prompted by the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, cooperation continued often intensively.

Few Western leaders have invested as much in a relationship with Putin than French president Emmanuel Macron.

He argued in a famous interview with the Economist magazine in November 2019 that NATO was brain dead and Europe needed a strategic dialogue with Russia.

Examining Russia's long-term strategic options under Putin, Macron said in the interview that Russia could not prosper in isolation, would not want to be a "vassal" of China and would eventually have to opt for "a partnership project with Europe".

Macron notably described Putin as a "child of Saint Petersburg", the former Russian capital built by Peter the Great as a window onto the West.

Even last weekend, Macron was engaged in frenetic last minute diplomacy to prevent catastrophe, even trying to broker a summit between Putin and US President Joe Biden.

'Chosen unilaterally'

But announcing the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Putin went back to a litany of historic and recent political grievances to justify the move.

He notably repeated his arguments that Russia had been stabbed in the back by the West with the "cynical deception and lies" over NATO expansion.

In a landmark 2007 speech to the Munich security conference, Putin had lashed out at the role of the United States, saying a world of "one master, one sovereign" was "pernicious" for all.

But for Macron only one person is now to blame for the situation. "War has returned to Europe, this was chosen unilaterally by President Putin," he said Saturday.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel, who had more experience with Putin than any other Western leader during 16 years in power and could also converse with him directly in Russian, said: "Russia's war of aggression marks a profound turning point in European history after the end of the Cold War."

Russia now finds itself targeted by the toughest sanctions ever agreed against Moscow by the EU, US and UK and facing the collapse of key projects such as the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany.

'Junior partner'

Its airlines are being refused the right to fly over the territory of some European countries, its teams are no longer welcome for matches and even artists who fail to condemn the invasion risk being ostracised in the West.

"We have reached the line after which the point of no return begins," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Russian television.

For now, Putin may find some solace in his relationship with China, although Beijing conspicuously abstained over a UN resolution condemning the Russian aggression rather than echoing Moscow's veto.

"Cut off from West, Russia has no choice but to become junior partner of China," argued Charles Grant, director of the London-based Centre for European Reform.

"Beijing is ambivalent on invasion -- it won't criticise Russia in public and blames the US -- but values stability and territorial integrity."

Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Centre, forecast "wide-ranging" repercussions of the invasion which marked the "end of post-Soviet era for Russia" and heralded a period of "much more reliance on China".

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Germany said Saturday it was working to exclude Russia from the SWIFT banking system as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again asked European nations to sever Moscow from the important financial mechanism.

SWIFT's messaging system allows banks to communicate rapidly and securely about transactions, and cutting Russia off would cripple its trade with most of the world.

Germany had been more cautious about excluding Russia from SWIFT. Russian gas makes up a higher share of its energy supplies than other European countries.

But Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said they were working "urgently on limiting the collateral damage from an exclusion from SWIFT so that (the measure) hits the right people".

"What we need is a targeted and functional limitation of SWIFT," they added in a joint statement.

Zelensky had earlier urged the European Union to impose the sanction and called out Germany and Hungary, as troops battled for Ukraine's capital Kyiv.

"There is already almost full support from the EU countries to disconnect Russia from SWIFT. I hope that Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelensky said in a video address posted online.

The Hungarian government angrily denied suggestions it had blocked moves to exclude Russia from SWIFT.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook that such claims were "fake news".

"We have never spoken out against a single sanction proposal, we have not blocked and are not blocking anything," he said.

Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs further tweeted that "Hungary stands 100 percent in alignment with the joint EU effort.

"We're doing no less than what the EU position calls for. And it's not dependent on Hungary to do more," he added.

However, neither statement explicitly clarified whether Budapest was in favour of the move.

Cutting off Russia from SWIFT could complicate remaining trade with Europe.

'Unyielding egoism'

Ahead of a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had criticised the "unyielding egoism that we see in certain Western countries, including here in Germany".

He urged Berlin to "finally decide on sanctions that are actually crushing", including the exclusion from SWIFT.

Earlier this week German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said he was "open" to including SWIFT in the EU's sanctions response package.

But he added that it "would mean that there is a high risk that Germany will no longer receive gas, raw material supplies from Russia".

Italy has also been reluctant to exclude Russia from SWIFT over fears Moscow could cut off gas supplies.

Italian Prime Minster Mario Draghi spoke to Zelensky on Saturday and "reaffirmed... that Italy will fully support the EU line on sanctions against Russia, including those relating to SWIFT", according to an Italian government statement released after the phone call.

Iran has been disconnected from the SWIFT system in the past over its nuclear programme.

Russia meanwhile has been developing domestic financial infrastructure to counter such a threat, including the SPFS system for bank transfers and the Mir card payments system.

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Egypt held a number of consultative meetings with a host of international partners over the past week concerning the preparations for the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27), slated for November in the Egyptian Red Sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

This included the first meeting of the newly launched joint working group between Egypt and the US to prepare for the UN climate change summit, said a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

The Egyptian-US meeting addressed a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues of common interest related to the climate change conference's agenda, the statement added.

During a joint press conference on Monday, the US president's special envoy for climate John Kerry, who paid a two-day visit to Cairo, and Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry  the COP27 president-designate  launched the US-Egypt climate-working group to advance bilateral and multilateral climate goals ahead of COP27.

Kerry voiced during the presser his country's trust in Egypt's presidency of the COP27 conference as well as its keenness to push forward Egyptian-US efforts to face climate change problems.

Saturday's statement added that Egypt also held consultations with representatives from Germany, the current chair of the G7 summit, and Sweden, which will host in June the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the convening of the first UN conference on the environment under the title 'Stockholm + 50'.

The Egyptian side also held consultative meetings with officials of the COP26 conference  held in Glasgow in November 2021  in preparation for handing over the presidency's responsibilities to Egypt.

Other meetings were also held with Selwyn Hart, the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser and Assistant for Climate Action, and the UAE Special Envoy's team for Climate Change.

The meetings, according to the statement, tackled opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the areas of climate and environment, including renewable clean energy, with the participation of representatives of the country's ministries of environment, electricity and renewable energy, planning and economic development, international cooperation, trade and industry.

Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, the director of climate, environment and sustainable development department at the Egyptian foreign ministry, said the meetings come in line with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's assertion that Egypt  during its presidency of the COP27  will adopt a neutral and transparent approach in a way that takes into account the priorities, concerns and viewpoints of the various parties.

"Serious, transparent and constructive dialogue with all countries and geographical and political groups provides the conditions required for the success of the Egyptian presidency of the conference and the formation of positive results based on consensus and serious commitment," the statement cited Nasr as saying.

President El-Sisi stressed that the COP27 summit will support efforts to reduce emissions and provide funding for developing countries to deal with climate change.

Climate finance has been a debated issue at every COP meeting since developed countries failed to meet their promise to mobilise $100 billion in climate finance annually by 2020 to help developing nations with mitigation and adaptation efforts.

In January, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt will focus on meeting the obligations of the Paris Agreement and exploring how the private sector and NGOs can play a role in financing green investments during COP27.

Egypt has formed a committee presided over by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly that includes several ministers and other officials to organise the event.

Shoukry has been chosen to head the COP27, and Minister Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad will serve as the conference's ministerial envoy and coordinator.

On Friday, Egypt announced the appointment of its highly-experienced economist Mahmoud Mohieldin  who has been serving as an executive director at the International Monetary Fund  as the countrys high-level champion for climate action at the COP27.

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Small groups of Egyptians in Ukraine have arrived back home, while around 1,000 more are on their way to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, Minister of Emigration Nabila Makram has said.

In remarks to media, Makram noted that 80 expats have also arrived at the Ukraine-Poland border.

This comes as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for the third day, having claimed the lives of 198 Ukrainians, according to the Ukrainian health ministry, and caused tens of thousands of residents to flee from the country.

Around 6,000 Egyptian nationals lived in Ukraine prior to the invasion, with students representing a majority, according to officials.

In remarks to media on Saturday, Makram said around 3,000 Egyptian students are in Ukraine, noting that she has held three virtual conversations with the students stranded in the country.

Over the past few days, Egyptian embassies have urged citizens in western parts of Ukraine to head to the border crossings with Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, which lie west of Ukraine, to return back to Egypt through these countries.

The embassy, however, advised citizens in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv or eastern cities to stay at home or in shelters, adding that negotiations are underway to secure a safe exit for those in the eastern parts.

Makram urged students to abide by the embassys instructions and the security measures announced in the country.

This comes as Kyiv authorities have extended the curfew from 5pm to 8am local time, warning that violators will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

People in Ukraine have sheltered underground as Russian forces have seized control of vital parts of the country and continued pressing towards the Ukrainian capital, which is still in Ukraines hands.

Makram urged Egyptians in western areas who are heading to the Romanian and Polish borders to have enough food and wear heavy clothes as they may have to wait for long hours before they are allowed to enter.

People arriving from Ukraine to Poland are being granted visas and will be admitted into shelters for two weeks, through which they can return back home, Makram said, noting that they do not have to take PCR tests.

The best crossings to enter Poland from Ukraine, despite being crowded, are Krakowiec, Korczowa, Szeginie and Medyka, the minister said in a post on her Instagram account.

She, however, advised citizens to avoid the Medyka crossing currently due to reports of scuffles there.

Other crossings with no complaints reported are Jagodzin, Dorohusk, Rawa Ruska and Hrebenne, the minister added.

Makram urged expats to contact the Egyptian embassy in Poland through 0048514154166 and 0048511538378.

Egypt has affirmed on Thursday evening the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten a political settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

In a separate statement, the ministry said the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv was following closely the latest developments to the Egyptian community currently in Ukraine and shared the mobile numbers of diplomats in the embassy, including the mobile number of Ambassador Ayman El-Gamal (+380932165877).

The embassy can also be reached at: +380732009984 and +380634779436.

On Thursday, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism asserted that all tourists from countries affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine are welcome to continue with their stay at Egyptian hotels until their safe return to their countries.

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Ahmed El-Tayyeb, the grand imam of Egypts top religious authority Al-Azhar, has called for world leaders and international institutions to support peaceful solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

A Russian invasion of Ukraine has continued for the third day with heavy fighting in Kyiv outskirts. The conflict has claimed the lives of 198 Ukrainians, according to the Ukrainian health ministry, and caused tens of thousands of residents to flee from the country.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, El-Tayyeb called for Russia and Ukraine to refer to the voice of reason, saying conflicts can only be settled through dialogue.

Wars will only bring more killing, destruction and hatred to our world, El-Tayyeb added.

Egypt has affirmed on Thursday evening the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten a political settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, according to a statement by the foreign ministry.

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Iran is studying a rough draft of a deal to revive a 2015 nuclear agreement with major powers hammered out during talks in Vienna, its foreign minister said Saturday.

All sides have said the talks on bringing the United States back into the agreement after then president Donald Trump's 2018 walkout have reached a critical stage and Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri has been back in Tehran for consultations.

Iran is "seriously reviewing (the) draft of the agreement," Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Twitter, adding he had spoken by phone with the European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrel.

The EU has been acting as an intermediary between Iranian negotiators and a US delegation in the absence of US participation in face-to-face talks between Tehran and the remaining parties to the 2015 agreement.

We are "all trying to reach a good deal," Amir-Abdollahian added. "Our red lines are made clear to western parties. Ready to immediately conclude a good deal, should they show real will."

The 2015 agreement, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, provided Iran with relief from sanctions in return for strict limits to its nuclear activities.

Since Trump reimposed sanctions in 2018, Iran has gradually suspended its compliance with many of the restrictions it agreed to under the deal, something that it is now expected to reverse.

Amir-Abdollahian said Wednesday that the talks had reached "a critical and important stage".

He said he hoped the remaining "sensitive and important issues" would be resolved in the coming days "with realism from the Western side".

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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is considering imposing sanctions against Russia on the back of its invasion of Ukraine, the bank announced in a statement following a meeting of its Board of Directors on Friday.

Shareholder representatives agreed with the EBRDs management to take steps in response to the crisis, including the possibility of suspending or modifying Russia and Belaruss access to the banks resources under Article 8.3 of the EBRDs constitution.

The statement also said that proposals will be submitted to the banks board next week, adding that any final decision would be taken by the banks governors.

The EBRD noted that it has not invested in new projects in Russia since 2014 and it has not invested in new projects in Belarus in recent times following the disputed 2020 presidential election in that country.

On Thursday, the EBRD condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, asserting its unwavering support for the Ukrainian government and the countrys citizens.

A number of European countries  such as the UK and the EU  have already announced their plans to impose sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other Russian government figures.

The UK said that it will freeze all major Russian banks assets and will exclude them from the UKs financial system as well as legislating laws aiming to stop major Russian firms and the state raising finances or borrowing money in UK markets.

It also noted that it will ban Russias Aeroflot airline from operating in the UK.

Furthermore, the UK plans to suspend export licences for dual-use items that can be utilised for military purposes and to stop high-tech and oil refinery equipment exports.

Moreover, the country intends to place a limit on deposits Russians can make to UK bank accounts.

The EUs sanctions, however, are targeting 70 percent of the Russian banking market and key state-owned companies, particularly defence firms, as well as banning the export of materials Russia uses for oil refining.

The sanctions may also include imposing a bar on the sale of aircrafts and related equipment to Russian airlines and limiting Russias access to high-tech solutions.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden announced that four major Russian banks will have their assets frozen and be excluded from the US dollar transaction system, announcing sanctions on wealthy Russian individuals who have close links to the Kremlin.

He also said that the US and allies will cut off over 50 percent of Russias high-tech imports in order to stop it developing its military capabilities.

Moreover, The UK, US, and Australia prolonged their financial sanctions on Belarus.

Australia also imposed sanctions on wealthy Russians and the more than 300 members of the Russian parliament that voted to send Russian troops into Ukraine.

Additionally, Germany halted the opening of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from that was going to transfer gas from Russia to Germany.

Furthermore, Japan imposed sanctions on Russian financial institutions and individuals as well as suspended its exports to Russia.

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American University in Cairo

Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tahrir Campus, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077

Wed 2,7-8pm: The Gerhart Centre Webinar Series session discussing Business and Labor Rights in Global Supply Chains will feature Sanchita Saxena, executive director at the Institute for South Asia Studies at UC Berkeley.

The talk will argue that the very nature of global supply chains, which has led to a fragmentation of work, is directly at odds with good labor and human rights. The lecture will draw on lessons from one of the worst industrial disasters in history, the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in 2013. The talk will conclude by arguing that changes to the business model itself are necessary to make substantial gains in improving the conditions of workers in global supply chains. The link is https://e.cglink.me/2kZ/r300063339

French Cultural Institute

Madrasset Al-Huquq Al Frinseya St, Mounira, Tel 02 2791 5800

Media Library

Fri 25, 12pm: Come and discover the Monde en VF collection. A reading workshop to discover women and men who talk about the worlds. There is something for every taste; illustrated novels, thrillers, short stories, novels.

Italian Cultural Institute

Italy celebrated the 700th anniversary of the passing of Dante Alighieri in 2021. The Italian Institute continues to post videos in Arabic with translations from Dante Alighieris masterpiece The Divine Comedy to bring the Arab-speaking public closer to the work of the supreme poet. Videos are directed by Giabluca Barbadori, with the special participation of Ashraf Farouk, Amir Salaheddin, Sherine Hegazy, and Sara El-Mokadem.

ALEXANDRIA

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999

Auditorium

Thurs 24, 11am: Education and Communication in the Arab Region in the Field of Underwater Cultural Heritage seminar features a group of specialists from Alexandria University, UNESCO, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the American University in Cairo, The National Committee for Education, Science and Culture, and University of Exeter, United Kingdom. The seminar is held within the framework of the launch of the first open online educational programme in Arabic in the field of underwater cultural heritage:

https://unesco-cairo-uch.org/

(Personal attendance is in the context of precautionary measures to address the spread of the emerging Covid 19.

All attendees must wear a medical mask, maintain a safe distance, and provide proof of receiving the Corona vaccine).

BA Conference Centre

Thurs 24, 12-2pm: The Philosophical Arcade: Philosophy as a Tool for Living, a seminar features lecturer and Professor Emad Al-Adly, a researcher in Islamic philosophy.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 February, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war in a pre-dawn Thursday televised address, social media users living in countries near Ukraine began setting up online networks to support refugees.

By Friday evening, at least 100,000 people had signed up to various groups on Facebook and other platforms, offering their homes, money and carpools to Ukrainians escaping the Russian invasion.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, crossed into Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia as of Friday as Russian missiles pounded the capital of Kyiv and men of fighting age were told to remain.

Malgorzata Krentowska was one of many Poles who joined a 3,500-member Facebook group, "Ukraine, I'm helping you!," to advertise an unused apartment in southern Poland.

"My grandmother was born there in 1912, and my mother used to tell me Russian fairy tales which I still remember fondly," she wrote. "If anyone would like to stay there I can share the keys. There is cold running water and electricity."
World leaders are rarely the target of direct sanctions. The only other leaders currently under EU sanctions are Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Agence France-Presse.

A Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said the sanctions against Putin and Lavrov reflected the West's "absolute impotence" in foreign policy, according to the RIA news agency.

Britain's government took the same action Friday, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss writing on Twitter, "We will not stop inflicting economic pain on the Kremlin until Ukrainian sovereignty is restored."

The U.S. Treasury Department announced the action after EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels unanimously agreed to freeze the property and bank accounts of the top Russian officials.

The United States announced Friday that it would freeze the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, following similar steps taken by the European Union and Britain, as nations around the world sought to tighten sanctions against Russia's government over its invasion of Ukraine.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said the move was "a unique step in history" toward a country that has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but said it showed how united EU countries were in countering Russias actions.

The EU sanctions against Putin and Lavrov are part of a broader sanctions package that targets Russian banks, oil refineries and the Russian defense industry. EU leaders agreed, however, it was premature to impose a travel ban on Putin and Lavrov because negotiating channels need to be kept open.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Friday for nations to cut Russia off from the SWIFT international bank transfer system "to inflict maximum pain."

Ukraine has lobbied for a SWIFT ban on Russia, urging Europe to act more forcefully in imposing sanctions against Moscow. However, some European nations, including Germany, are hesitant to take that step.

To some European leaders who are still hesitant -- each year at commemorative events you say 'Never again.' The time to prove it is now. Russia is waging a horrific war of aggression in Europe. Here is your 'never again' test -- BAN RUSSIA FROM SWIFT and kick it out of everywhere.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Friday that the package of banking sanctions the EU has passed would hit Putin's government harder than excluding Russia from the SWIFT payments system. "The sword that looks hardest isn't always the cleverest one," she said, adding, "the sharper sword at the moment is listing banks."

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said, "The debate about SWIFT is not off the table. It will continue."

In response to the sanctions, Russia has taken its own measures, including banning British flights over its territory, after Britain imposed a similar ban on Aeroflot flights.

The United States and several allies had imposed a first tranche of sanctions Tuesday, after Putin declared the disputed eastern Ukraine regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states, much as he appropriated Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Biden added another round of sanctions on Russia on Thursday, hours after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, declaring at the White House after meeting virtually with leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations and NATO that "Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences."

Biden said those U.S. sanctions, which target Russian banks, oligarchs and high-tech sectors and include export controls, would "squeeze Russia's access to finance and technology for strategic sectors of its economy and degrade its industrial capacity for years to come."

 Effects on Markets

NATO allies, including Britain and the European Union, also imposed more sanctions Thursday, and the effects were felt almost immediately when global security prices plunged and commodity prices surged. Biden acknowledged that Americans would see higher gasoline prices.

More than half of all Americans, 52 percent, viewed the Russia-Ukraine conflict before Russia's invasion "as a critical threat to U.S. vital interests," a significant increase from 2015, when 44 percent thought it was a threat after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, according to a poll released Friday by Gallup. The poll was conducted from Feb. 1-17 before the Russian government recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and deployed troops to those areas.

As in 2015, roughly half of Democrats and Republicans said they were likely to see the conflict as a critical threat to U.S. vital interests.

Also Friday, an International Criminal Court prosecutor warned that the court might investigate whether Russia has committed any war crimes in its invasion of Ukraine. "I remind all sides conducting hostilities on the territory of Ukraine that my office may exercise its jurisdiction and investigate any act of genocide, crime against humanity or war crime committed within Ukraine," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said Friday in a statement.
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan has produced the film "Khojaly Witness" the initiative of Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva.

The documentary commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide.

The film details the Khojaly genocide, the torture of civilians during the genocide, and the rights commissioner's legal assessment of the genocide.

On February 25-26, 1992, Armenian armed forces attacked the town of Khojaly from five directions, with direct support from the 366th regiment of the former USSR stationed at the time in the town of Khankandi in Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The massacre killed 613 civilians, the majority of whom were women and children, and left 1,000 people disabled. There were eight families exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Furthermore, 1,275 innocent people were kidnapped, and the fate of 150 of them is unknown.

Relevant documents adopted by the parliaments of Mexico, Pakistan, the Czech Republic, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Honduras, Sudan, Guatemala and Djibouti recognized the Khojaly massacre as an act of genocide. The parliaments of Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Jordan, Slovenia, Scotland, and Paraguay, as well as the executive and legislative bodies of 22 U.S. states have strongly condemned the Khojaly tragedy as a massacre. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation recognized Armenia as an aggressor and the Khojaly tragedy as genocide.

Every year on February 26, the victims of the Khojaly genocide are remembered at the initiative of late national leader Heydar Aliyev.

This heinous act was preceded by a slew of others. Armenians set fire to around 20 buildings in the Baghanis-Ayrim village of Gazakh region, killing eight Azerbaijanis. A family of five, including a 39-day-old newborn, were all burnt alive.

Between June and December 1991, Armenian troops murdered 12 and wounded 15 Azerbaijanis in Khojavand region's Garadaghli and Asgaran region's Meshali villages.

Armenian military detachments bombed buses on the Shusha-Jamilli, Aghdam-Khojavand, and Aghdam-Garadaghli routes in August and September of the same year, killing 17 Azerbaijanis and injuring over 90 others.

In October and November 1991, Armenians burned, destroyed, and plundered over 30 settlements in the mountainous area of Karabakh, including Tugh, Imarat-Garvand, Sirkhavand, Meshali, Jamilli, Umudlu, Garadaghli, Karkijahan, and other significant villages.

The video is available on:




One 29-year-old office worker in Seoul said, "I don't think marriage has any merits, so I have no intention of tying the knot. I think it's difficult to balance your career with marriage, pregnancy, childbirth and raising kids."

Statistics Korea said Wednesday that only 192,509 couples tied the knot in 2021, down 10 percent from the previous year. While many couples delayed getting married due to the coronavirus pandemic, an increasing number of people simply prefer to live alone.

Marriages in Korea fell below 200,000 last year for the first time ever as the pandemic scuppered wedding plans.

Couples who do get married put off having children till later, and a late first child means few are willing to have another as they approach middle age.

The average age of first-time mothers in Korea was 33.4 last year, compared to an average of 28.3 across the OECD. Some 69,000 couples had their first child five years after marriage last year, up 1.8 percent compared to 2020, while the number of children couples had less than two years after tying the knot declined 10.7 percent.

That trend meant an increase in childbirths among women over 35, which fell from 48.7 per 1,000 women in 2016 to 42.3 in 2020 but edged up to 43.5 last year.

Just 26,500 children were born last year, down 4.3 percent compared to 2020 and less than half of the number of 2001. Deaths rose 4.2 percent to 317,800 last year, so the natural decline in Korea's population reached 57,300, up from 32,600 in 2020 when the first natural decline occurred.

The population of Seoul also started to shrink as deaths in the capital outpaced births by 3,400 for the first time since the city began tallying such figures in 1981.

Late last year, Statistics Korea estimated the country's future population at a total fertility rate of 0.82 child. It set 0.81 child as a pessimistic outlook and 0.83 as an optimistic forecast, and the worst-case scenario has come to pass.

If the trend continues, Korea's fertility rate will fall to 0.73 child this year and decline even further to 0.68 in 2023. Noh Hyung-joon at Statistics Korea said, "The number of births is expected to keep declining, while the number of deaths will continue to rise as the population ages, so the natural population decline continues."
KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2022 - 23:17 | World, All

North Korea's Foreign Ministry on Saturday night blamed the United States and defended Russia in Pyongyang's first response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, by way of posting on its website an article by a North Korean researcher.

In the article, Ri Ji Song of the Society for International Politics Study wrote, "The root cause of the Ukrainian crisis also lies in the high-handedness and arbitrariness of the U.S., which has held on solely to the unilateral sanction and pressure while pursuing only global hegemony and military supremacy in disregard of the legitimate demand of Russia for its security."

The article accused the United States of embellishing its own interference in internal affairs of others as "righteous," while denouncing "for no good reason self-defensive measures taken by other countries...as 'injustice' and 'provocation.'" "This is just the arrogance of the U.S. style and its double standard," it added.

Quoting international media and experts, the researcher claimed that the contributing factor to the crisis is an imbalance of power in Europe caused by the "unilateral expansion" of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the "grave threat" to Russia's security.

The article stopped short of describing the Russian action as an invasion.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2022 - 15:37 | Japan, All

A cargo ship owned by a Japanese firm was hit by a missile off the coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea on Friday, injuring one crew member, the marine transportation firm in western Japan said Saturday, as heavy fighting ensued following the Russian invasion of its former Soviet neighbor.

The Panamanian-registered cargo ship Namura Queen was damaged and one of the 20 Filipino crew sustained a non-life threatening injury to his shoulder, according to the firm based in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture.

The ship can operate under its own steam and has headed to Turkey where the damage to the vessel will be assessed, the firm said.

Ukrainian authorities said the missile was fired by Russian forces, following their military invasion of Ukraine beginning earlier this week, according to Reuters.

The incident occurred near a port in the Odessa region, southern Ukraine, in waters that vessels had been warned to avoid. The Namura Queen did not know of the initial warning and was hit by the missile as it was trying to move outside the area.

The ship was scheduled to dock at the port and load grain.

The marine transportation firm was alerted on Friday evening by the Philippine company that runs the ship that the vessel had sustained missile damage.

The impact of the current Russian military aggression of Ukraine on one of its vessels has sent staff of the Japanese firm scrambling for information.

An official of a group company linked to the firm who spoke to reporters said they are relieved to hear that the lives of all crewmembers were not in danger. "We would like to move them to a secure place as soon as possible," he said.

The official also said he hopes tensions in Ukraine will ease as soon as possible so ships are able to safely transport goods.

Related coverage:

Ukraine calls for talks with Putin as Russian forces approach Kyiv

Japan targets banks, military groups in new sanctions on Russia

Russia launches "full-scale invasion" of Ukraine, sparks int'l outcry
KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2022 - 22:52 | All, World, Japan

The foreign ministers of Japan and the United States on Saturday agreed that the impact of Russia's aggression against Ukraine has gone beyond Europe and that boosting their security alliance is a requisite for maintaining peace in Asia.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi called Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday "aggression" and said he confirmed with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during phone talks that it has undermined "the very foundation of the international order that does not allow any unilateral change in the status quo by force."

Hayashi told reporters that the ramifications of Russia's action, in clear defiance of international law, will "not be limited to Europe" and that it could also affect the Indo-Pacific region, where China is increasingly assertive.

During their conversation, which lasted 25 minutes, Hayashi said the two agreed on the need to "strongly condemn" Russia and appropriately deal with Moscow "so as not to leave behind wrong lessons."

According to a government source, until Friday night when Hayashi spoke by phone with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, Japan did not use the word "aggression" when referring to Russia's invasion.

"The Japanese government has not defined aggression but decided to use it. Aggression has a stronger nuance than invasion," a Foreign Ministry official said.

The switch to aggression, which was repeated by Hayashi when he met the press on Saturday, was decided upon after the United States and other countries started using the term, officials said.

They said the change is also meant as a warning against China, which has not ruled out the use of military force to reunify Taiwan with the mainland.

Hayashi's conversation with Blinken came after Japan unveiled a set of tougher sanctions against Russia, including a freeze on assets held by three Russian banks and export controls on high-tech products such as semiconductors to military-linked groups.

Blinken "thanked" Hayashi for the imposition of the sanctions on Russia as well as Japan's efforts to build a coalition to "amplify the joint impact" of Western nations' response to the invasion, according to the U.S. State Department.

Japan's new package, which also includes the suspension of visas for certain Russian individuals and entities, followed softer initial steps announced after Russia's recognition of two pro-Moscow separatist regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. That action eventually paved the way for Russia to deploy troops in what were called "peacekeeping" operations.

Hayashi and Blinken also reaffirmed that Tokyo and Washington will strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the bilateral alliance and work closely with other countries, such as their partners in the Group of Seven, in dealing with Russia and the crisis, the Japanese ministry said.

Later Saturday, Hayashi spoke with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau by phone. He asked for cooperation when Japanese nationals in Ukraine evacuate by land to Poland, according to the ministry.

Rau was quoted as saying in response that Poland, which shares a border with western Ukraine, stands ready to offer maximum support to Japan.

Japan has set up a temporary liaison office in Lviv in western Ukraine. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a press conference on Friday that the government has already chartered a plane for Japanese citizens to evacuate to another country from Poland.

Related coverage:

U.S. joins EU in imposing sanctions on Putin after Ukraine attack

Ukraine calls for talks with Putin as Russian forces approach Kyiv

Japan targets banks, military groups in new sanctions on Russia
KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2022 - 09:16 | All, World

The United States on Friday joined the European Union in imposing sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, the latest in a series of punitive measures taken in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

It is rare to impose sanctions on a head of state. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and members of the country's national security team were also slapped with sanctions.

"The president of the Russian Federation has perpetrated horrific aggression against Ukraine," the Treasury Department said in a press release as it announced the sanctions that will lead those listed to face asset freezes in the United States.

"It is exceedingly rare for Treasury to designate a head of state," the department said, adding that Putin joins "a very small group that includes despots" such as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The European Union also announced Friday that Putin, Lavrov and Russian parliamentary members supporting the military aggression were placed on the list of sanctioned people.

According to a diplomatic source, any European assets of Putin and Lavrov will face a freeze.

As for the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that started Thursday, a senior U.S. defense official said in the morning that Russia is facing more resistance than it expected and is not advancing on the capital Kyiv as quickly as anticipated.

"What we've seen over the last 24 hours, we do assess that there's greater resistance by the Ukrainians than the Russians expected," the official said.

"In general, the Russians have lost a little bit of their momentum," he added.

Russia has yet to achieve air superiority over Ukraine, with Ukrainian air and missile defense systems still working, though they have been degraded by strikes, according to the official.

Russia is believed to have sent into Ukraine about a third of the combat power it had massed near its neighbor, and has fired a total of more than 200 missiles, with some hitting residential areas.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned during a press conference in the afternoon that Kyiv falling to the Russian forces is a "real possibility."

More than 175,000 Russian troops had been positioned along Ukraine's borders, according to the U.S. government.

Russia launched the military attack on Ukraine after asserting its own security has been under threat with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's eastward expansion and the possibility of Ukraine's membership in the alliance.

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 the country defend its territory. But Washington has denied any intention to put American troops in Ukraine, which is not a member of NATO although it aspires to join.

Psaki said that Biden is "doing nearly everything in his power to lead the world and stand up against the actions of President Putin."

"What he will not do is send U.S. troops to fight in Ukraine because he is not going to put...the American people or the United States in a position of fighting a war with Russia," she added.

Related coverage:

Putin tells Xi Russia willing to have high-level talks with Ukraine

Ukraine calls for talks with Putin as Russian forces approach Kyiv

Japan targets banks, military groups in new sanctions on Russia
KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2022 - 21:37 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Vaccinations against the novel coronavirus for children aged 5 to 11 began Saturday in one area of Tokyo ahead of other municipalities in Japan with special government approval at a time when the country is still gripped by high infection numbers.

While vaccinations for the age group are expected to begin in wider parts of the country in March, some municipalities have been allowed to start earlier if they are already prepared.

"I decided to inoculate my child, hoping that the risk of becoming seriously ill will decrease," Yoshiaki Kozu, 45, said at a clinic in Tokyo's Adachi Ward after his 11-year-old daughter was vaccinated.

His daughter, Konatsu, said "I'm glad I received a shot so that I will not spread infections."

According to the health ministry, the vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 will contain one-third of the volume for those aged 12 or older. Children in the younger age bracket will receive two jabs of Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine at an interval of three weeks.

In addition to parental consent, they are also required to be accompanied by their guardians when receiving those shots, it said.

Japan has expanded the scope of COVID-19 inoculation to younger people and tried to accelerate the pace of administrating third shots to people above the age of 11, amid another wave of infections driven by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant that started this year.

On Saturday, 72,170 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Japan, about 12 percent down from a week ago. Of the nationwide total, 11,562 were confirmed in Tokyo and 10,407 in Osaka.

The ministry said the number of patients in serious condition increased four from Friday to 1,507.

Data from clinical trials conducted by Pfizer outside Japan before the emergence of the variant show that administration of two shots of the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing infections in children aged 5 to 11.

The trials also found that while some subjects experienced sore arms, fatigue and headaches the next day, the side effects disappeared quickly and there were no safety issues.
KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2022 - 14:02 | All, Japan, World

A Japanese institution and an aid group related to the Chernobyl nuclear plant are gripped with anxiety over its current state and future after Russian forces took control of the Ukrainian facility, which suffered a catastrophic accident in 1986.

A research institution at Fukushima University in northeastern Japan, which conducts joint research with the Ukrainian government into radioactive materials, was unable to contact a local institution as Russia continued its invasion into the neighboring nation.

The Institute of Environmental Radioactivity in Fukushima Prefecture, which was hit by its own nuclear plant crisis in 2011, has been engaged in the joint project since 2017 to elucidate pathways that radioactive particles released by the Chernobyl accident move over time through the environment.

According to Kenji Namba, the director of the institute, monitoring devices are placed in 10 locations within a restricted area of around a 30-kilometer radius of the facility in northern Ukraine.

Five researchers from the institute were scheduled to work there in early March to confirm the devices' operations, retrieve samples and procure research equipment, but the trip has been put on hold.

Namba was able to reach a researcher who resides in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Thursday, but he appeared exhausted, saying that the bombings have started, according to Namba.

The joint project's original term was planned to last until the end of March 2023. The findings were expected to be used by the Ukrainian government to decide on policies such as restructuring the restricted zone and installing solar panels.

"It will be difficult to make continuous observations if Russian troops remain. I can't foresee what will happen," Namba said.

The Chernobyl accident made its surroundings one of the most radioactive areas in the world. The accident caused deaths and massive evacuations, with some data showing around 20,000 people aged 18 and under at the time of the crisis have developed thyroid cancer.

Mari Sasaki, executive director at a Japanese fundraising organization for child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, said she was unable to contact a partner group in Ukraine.

The Tokyo-based organization, which was set up in 1991, donates medicine to Ukrainian medical institutions and helps sick children.

Last year they took the children to a health resort on the shores of the Black Sea, which hugs the Crimean Peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.

"I cannot get through to our partner group in Ukraine. It may be impossible to do something similar this year," she said.

Related coverage:

Ukraine calls for talks with Putin as Russian forces approach Kyiv

Anxiety grips Ukrainian residents in Japan after Russian invasion

Japan firm-owned cargo ship hit by missile off Ukraine
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brunei reported 3,969 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, another record daily high, bringing the national tally to 55,485.

As a country of 420,000 people, Brunei saw its daily cases exceeding the 3,000 mark for five straight days since Tuesday -- also the latest in a series of record-breaking days for infections in the Southeast Asian country.

The newly recorded cases were all local infections, the health ministry said.

Of the new cases, 2,974 were from Antigen Rapid Test (ART) results uploaded to the health ministry's portal, whereas 995 were from 3,272 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. 25, 53.4 percent of Brunei's population have received three doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, China's Sinopharm are administered in Brunei.

According to the ministry, two more patients passed away in the past 24 hours, bringing the death tally to 117.

Currently, 27,841 active cases are being treated and monitored in Brunei, and 27,527 recoveries from COVID-19 have been reported.

Meanwhile, Brunei's Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced on Saturday that the country's temporary suspension of cross-border activities with Malaysia will be extended for 15 days from March 1 to March 15.

The temporary entry suspension of foreign nationals via land and sea ports, including transits through Brunei, is also extended until March 15, except for entry and transit travels that have been approved by the government. 
Pakistan's State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib said that the Chinese-funded companies operating in Pakistan are strongly committed to corporate social responsibility.

Chinese-funded corporations, including those working on projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), are playing a very responsible role in bringing about sustainable social, environmental and economic benefits for the welfare of people of Pakistan, Habib said while attending the 14th Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Summit on Thursday.

"The projects under CPEC are promoting the green development of the country ... The state-of-the-art infrastructure and energy projects give impetus to the economic growth of Pakistan," the state minister told Xinhua, adding that the early completion of the CPEC projects is the foremost priority of the Pakistani government.

On the occasion, the National Forum for Environment and Health also gave awards related to corporate social responsibility to dozens of corporations including several Chinese-funded companies.

Li Hui, chief representative of China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd. to Pakistan, which is a subsidiary of the State Grid Corporation of China that invested and constructed the Matiari-Lahore high-voltage direct current transmission project under CPEC, told Xinhua that winning awards related to corporate social responsibility highlighted the recognition that the project has received.

The transmission project has been devoted to corporate social responsibility and donated a large amount of rice and flour to the locals and helped the Pakistani people to fight COVID-19 through provision of masks and medicine, he said, adding that the project also planted over 50,000 trees in eastern Punjab province during the last year to protect the environment.

"Our project will do more in terms of corporate social responsibility in the future to bring more tangible benefits to the locals and enhance the special friendship between China and Pakistan," he added.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
















First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made an Instagram post on the Khojaly genocide, Azertag has reported.

In a post on her official Instagram page, the First Vice-President says: I commemorate with deep reverence the bright memory of the innocent victims of the Khojaly genocide. May God has mercy on all our martyrs.
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Witnessing an enormity of human suffering during an Afghanistan visit, an international panel of emergency experts called for urgent, life-saving action, United Nations (UN) humanitarians said on Friday.

The group of eight senior representatives of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations issued their plea after spending five days in the war-torn country, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.

"People's reserves are exhausted, forcing many into harmful coping mechanisms to survive, including child marriages and child labor," the office said.

"Women and girls are particularly affected with many of their rights under threat," the office said.

More than 24 million people, or 59 percent of the country's population, now require life-saving assistance, 30 percent more than in 2021, it said. 
This file photo shows an exhibitor from Kenya demonstrating a tooth brushing product from Africa during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2019. (Xinhua/Yin Ke)

The event of "Cloud Exhibitor Recruitment": East and South Africa-oriented Online Promotion for the Fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held jointly by the China International Import Expo Bureau and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) on Thursday, attracting about 70 East and South African companies.

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The event of "Cloud Exhibitor Recruitment": East and South Africa-oriented Online Promotion for the Fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held jointly by the China International Import Expo Bureau and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) on Thursday, attracting about 70 East and South African companies.

During the promotion, Victor Ayemere, general manager of ZEENAB Foods Limited, Nigeria, shared his experiences and gain in participating in the CIIE.

As a representative of buyers in the CIIE, Zhang Min, general manager of Overseas Enterprise Management Department, Orient International Co. Ltd., shared the company's CIIE procurement plan in detail. He said the on-site procurement and contract amounts of Orient International have been increased by years, from 290 million U.S. dollars in the first session to 510 million dollars in the fourth session, transforming customer resources into substantial business to the greatest extent.

This file photo shows people visiting the South Africa pavilion during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

For the two exhibition areas -- Food and Agricultural Products and Consumer Goods -- that East and South African enterprises were most interested in, the exhibition staff introduced in detail the characteristics and highlights of these exhibition areas and conducted Q&A sessions with online participating enterprises.

Liu Fuxue, deputy director of the China International Import Expo Bureau, attended the event and delivered a speech.

Liu said China and Africa enjoy a profound friendship and have a long history of economic and trade cooperation. A total of 31 African countries participated in the fourth CIIE, and their exhibition booths covered an area of 2,500 square meters.

He noted that South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, and Kenya had large exhibition areas and brought products making themselves proud. Aloe vera gel and red wine from South Africa, honey from Zambia, spices from Nigeria, and wood carvings from Kenya were popular with Chinese consumers. During the exhibition, many African exhibitors successfully contacted Chinese prospective buyers and achieved good results.

He welcomed African enterprises to actively participate in the CIIE to share opportunities provided by China's economic development, and their participation will become a greater driving force for economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa toward a new level.

According to the head of Africa-China Trade of the Standard Bank of South Africa, Luthando Christopher Vuba, as the largest bank of Africa, the Standard Bank will proactively cooperate with and assist African enterprises to participate in CIIE and help more enterprises explore the Chinese market.

Li Li, chief representative of the ICBC Africa Office, said that ICBC has cooperated with the Standard Bank, relied on the platform of CIIE, and carried out supporting activities in various forms through its "ICBC Business Matchmaker" system to facilitate quality improvement and efficiency optimization of China-Africa trade. 
MOSCOW/KIEV, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Armed Forces have struck Ukrainian military objects with air- and sea-based cruise missiles, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Saturday.

"In total, the Russian Armed Forces hit 821 military infrastructure objects of Ukraine. Among them: 14 military airfields, 19 control points and communication centers, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations," Konashenkov said, according to a statement published by the ministry.

"I would like to emphasize once again that only military facilities are subject to attack, no damage is caused to residential and social infrastructure," he added.

Konashenkov also said that the Russian Armed Forces have established full control over the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which the Russian Defense Ministry said earlier in the day that the Russian military had entered without meeting resistance.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday in a video message that Ukraine has successfully beat off "enemy attacks," but battles are ongoing across the country.

He refuted reports that the country's army will disarm and evacuate.

"We will not lay down any weapons, we believe in our army and our country. We will protect it. Glory to Ukraine!" Zelensky said, noting that he did not leave Kiev, which was under heavy shelling overnight.

He said on Twitter that "partners" are sending weapons to help Kiev, adding that he had spoken by phone with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron.

Zelensky also called on the European Union to grant Ukraine membership into the bloc.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook that Ukraine shot down a Russian transport plane IL-76 near Vasylkiv town in Kiev.

According to a report by the government-run Ukrinform news agency, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Saturday that a missile hit an apartment building on the southwestern outskirts of the city, but no casualties were immediately reported.

Klitschko said at least 35 Kiev residents, including two children, were injured in clashes with Russian forces or shelling.

According to Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko, 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed in the past few days.

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Israeli Foreign Ministry said Saturday that it has decided to evacuate its embassy from the western Ukranian city of Lviv to Poland.

Lebanon's Foreign Affairs Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Saturday that Lebanon will evacuate its nationals who have already fled Ukraine to nearby European countries.

Also on Saturday, the Congolese government said in a statement that it has set up a crisis unit to identify and protect Congolese nationals living in Ukraine.

Ghana's Foreign Ministry said late Friday that the country has put measures in place to evacuate its nationals from Ukraine. 
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), briefs the press at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, May 24, 2021. (Dean Calma/IAEA/Handout via Xinhua)

The IAEA was informed by the Ukrainian authorities that the higher radiation levels may have been caused by heavy military vehicles stirring up soil still contaminated from the 1986 Chernobyl accident.

VIENNA, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday that it was informed by Ukrainian authorities that the country's nuclear power reactors are continuing to "operate safely and securely."

Regarding reports of higher radiation levels at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the IAEA has assessed that the readings reported by Ukraine's regulatory authority are "low and remain within the operational range" and "do not pose any danger to the public," IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement.

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2016 shows the new protective cover over the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear reactor No.4 at Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 110 kilometers north of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)

The IAEA was informed by the Ukrainian authorities that the higher radiation levels may have been caused by heavy military vehicles stirring up soil still contaminated from the 1986 Chernobyl accident.

Ukraine told the IAEA on Thursday that "unidentified armed forces" had taken control of the Chernobyl plant, according to the statement.

Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday quoted Advisor to head of the President's Office of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak as saying Russian forces had seized the Chernobyl plant.

Grossi on Friday reiterated his appeal for maximum restraint to avoid any action that could jeopardize the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2016 shows the new protective cover over the destroyed Chernobyl nuclear reactor No.4 at Chernobyl nuclear power plant, 110 kilometers north of the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)
Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows a damaged house after an earthquake at Talamau village in Pasaman Barat district, West Sumatra, Indonesia. (Photo by Ardhy Fernando/Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and 85 others wounded after a 6.1-magnitude quake destroyed over 10,000 buildings, houses and infrastructure facilities in Indonesia's western province of West Sumatra on Friday, a senior official said.

Earlier the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a report saying the quake measured 6.2-magnitude before revising it to 6.1, the agency's head Dwikorita Karnawati said.

A man stands near a damaged house after an earthquake at Talamau village in Pasaman Barat district, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Ardhy Fernando/Xinhua)

An official evacuates a woman with her baby after a revised 6.1 magnitude quake in Nagari Pinagar Village of Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Andry Mardiansyah/Xinhua)

Photo taken with mobile phone shows members of the search and rescue team searching for victims near a damaged mosque after a revised 6.1 magnitude quake at Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Indonesia Red Cross/Handout via Xinhua)

A woman holding her baby leaves a temporary tent for evacuation after a revised 6.1 magnitude quake in Nagari Pinagar Village of Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Andry Mardiansyah/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows a damaged house after a revised 6.1 magnitude quake in Nagari Pinagar Village of Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia. (Photo by Andry Mardiansyah/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows a damaged house after a revised 6.1 magnitude quake in Nagari Pinagar Village of Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia. (Photo by Andry Mardiansyah/Xinhua)

A family takes a rest in a temporary tent after a revised 6.1 magnitude quake in Nagari Pinagar Village of Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Andry Mardiansyah/Xinhua)

Photo taken with mobile phone shows a damaged house after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake at Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

Photo taken with mobile phone shows a damaged house after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake at Pasaman Barat district in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb. 25, 2022. (Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency/Handout via Xinhua)
Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, speaks at an informal meeting of the General Assembly on his priorities for the remaining eight months of his office at the UN headquarters in New York, on Jan. 19, 2022. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

"It is not okay that 27 countries have vaccinated less than 10 percent of their populations while others are rolling out boosters or lifting restrictions entirely," said Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly on Friday held a hybrid high-level debate to ramp up momentum for universal vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic with participants calling for solidarity, equality and action.

Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, appealed for greater global solidarity to vaccinate the entire world against COVID-19.

In his remarks at the "Galvanizing momentum for universal vaccination" debate, Shahid underscored the persistent inequity in access to these lifesaving medicines and the failure of the international community to protect everyone from the disease.

"Let me be clear: vaccine inequity is immoral, and it is impractical," he said, speaking from the iconic UN General Assembly Hall in New York.

As of Friday, there were more than 428.5 million cases of COVID-19 globally, and 5.9 million deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

Shahid said that although more than 10 billion vaccines have been administered around the world so far - enough to inoculate every person on the planet - some 83 percent of the population of the African Union has yet to receive a single dose.

"It is not okay that 27 countries have vaccinated less than 10 percent of their populations while others are rolling out boosters or lifting restrictions entirely," he said.

An airport worker transports packages of Chinese-made Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Dec. 13, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

Shahid convened the day-long debate to galvanize momentum toward ensuring everyone can receive vaccines, bringing together world leaders, senior UN officials, civil society and non-profit representatives, private sector stakeholders, front-line first responders and even celebrities.

"If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is the importance of collective action - that our strength lies in solidarity," he said.

In a video message to the meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called vaccine inequity "a moral indictment of our times," as it costs lives, damages economies, and allows the virus to circulate and mutate.

Galvanizing momentum means countries share vaccine doses and contribute to the COVAX solidarity mechanism, said the UN chief.

"It means manufacturers prioritizing and fulfilling vaccine contracts with COVAX, ensuring full transparency on monthly production and creating the conditions for the local or regional production of tests, vaccines and treatments," he added.

At the same time, pharmaceutical companies must share licenses, know-how and technology to support vaccine production across regions, said the UN chief.

Funding from donors and international financial institutions also needs to be ramped up, as does the fight against the "plague" of vaccine misinformation, he added.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Xie E)

"We have seen hopeful progress when supply is secured and predictable... when doses are donated with ample shelf-life... and when there is a deep understanding of what a country needs to accelerate vaccinations," said Guterres.

The president of the UN Economic and Social Council, Collen Vixen Kelapile, addressed the dichotomy of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crisis has shattered lives and livelihoods, among other fallouts, and wiped out advances in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said.

However, he noted that it has also shown the best humanity can achieve, with the development of vaccines in record time.

"The extent to which we are able to ensure fair and equal access to the vaccines will determine the ability of the most vulnerable countries to recover from the pandemic," he said.

"It will determine whether the world can truly overcome the pandemic, and embark on a sustainable recovery and achieve the SDGs," he added. 
* As military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify, both sides have expressed willingness to talk with each other to solve the crisis through dialogue.



* Some Western countries have announced sanctions against Putin, Lavrov, and some other senior Russian officials over the ongoing military operation in Ukraine, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the sanctions were not painful for any representative of Russia's top leadership.

* United Nations officials and global leaders are voicing concerns over the issue and calling for a peaceful solution facing the military conflicts and dispute of sanctions.

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- As military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify, both sides have expressed willingness to talk with each other to solve the crisis through dialogue.

Despite the sanctions imposed by some Western countries, there are still members of the international community calling for a peaceful solution to the ongoing problematic issue.





NEGOTIATION POSSIBILITY EMERGES

The Russian armed forces have disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the operation began on early Thursday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday night, up from 118 facilities reported in his morning briefing.

Konashenkov also announced on the same day that Russian forces have captured the Hostomel airfield in northwestern Kiev and blockaded the Ukrainian capital from the west, and will continue to perform tasks in the areas of other cities.

Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022 shows the street view of Kiev, capital of Ukraine. (Xinhua/Li Dongxu)

Russia has also taken full control of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and military units of the two sides there have reached an agreement on the protection of the nuclear facilities and the sarcophagus.

"Fighting is going on all over Ukraine. Let's sit down at the negotiating table," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying on Friday, calling for talks to end the intense conflict.

Later Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation to the Belarusian capital of Minsk for negotiations with Ukraine at the level of representatives of the defense ministry, the foreign ministry and the presidential administration.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a briefing that his country has no plan to occupy Ukraine and Moscow is ready to hold negotiations straight after the Ukrainian forces "lay down their arms."

The two sides are currently discussing a date and place of negotiations, according to Zelensky's press secretary Sergii Nykyforov, noting that "Ukraine was and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and about peace. This is our permanent position."

"The sooner negotiations begin, the more chances there will be to resume normal life," he said.

People get on a vehicle to leave the city in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)





INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS

Some Western countries have announced sanctions against Putin, Lavrov, and some other senior Russian officials over the ongoing military operation in Ukraine, while Peskov noted that the sanctions were not painful for any representative of Russia's top leadership.

The Kremlin spokesman also told reporters that "retaliatory measures will follow," while the details have not been confirmed yet.

A woman passes by an office of VTB bank in Moscow, Russia, Feb. 25, 2022. 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. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn)

United Nations (UN) officials and global leaders are voicing concerns over the issue and calling for a peaceful solution facing the military conflicts and dispute of sanctions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that the situation "is not irreversible," appealing to all parties concerned for protecting civilians and upholding international humanitarian and human rights law.

Guterres also appointed Amin Awad, former official in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees with over 30 years of experience in field of humanitarian affairs, as UN Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine.

Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and peaceful means to settle disputes.

"I call for an immediate ceasefire, deescalation of tensions and a firm return to diplomacy and dialogue," said the UNGA president in a statement.

Underscoring that the UN Charter is based on the principle of sovereign equality, Shahid called on all member states to settle their international disputes by peaceful means.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China firmly stands for respecting and safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and earnestly abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, during his phone talks with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell as well as Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron.

"The present situation is something we do not want to see," said Wang, stressing that China supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

Cairo urges finding a political settlement to the crisis in a manner that preserves international security and stability, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday, affirming the importance of upholding "dialogue and diplomatic solutions."

During his meeting with Putin in Moscow on Thursday, visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that conflict was not in anyone's interest, underlining Pakistan's belief that disputes should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy, according to a statement released by Khan's office.

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. (Video reporters: Meng Jing, Lu Jinbo, Tan Yixiao and Hu Yousong; video editors: Zhao Yuchao, Luo Hui, Li Qin and Lin Lin)
A man visits a handicrafts booth during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

by Mahmoud Fouly

ASWAN, Egypt, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A variety of colorful crocheted items including teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers, among many others, are displayed in a hall in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan.

The exhibition of handmade products is organized by Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW) on the sidelines of the ongoing sixth edition of Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF), which opened on Feb. 23 and will conclude by the end of the month.

"The NCW offers opportunities for a lot of women here to take part in exhibitions and helps them develop their projects and introduces them to new markets," 28-year-old crafter Fatma Kamal told Xinhua.

"My wish is to see my project grow and to have my own brand and a place for my products," she added, noting this event is an opportunity for craftswomen to market their products and be introduced to more customers.

The handmade pieces on display include embroidered and crochet products, leather-straw handbags, beaded ornaments, paintings and other items.

Zainab Abdel-Rahim, a 30-year-old woman with deafness, displayed her charcoal paintings of dark-skinned female faces symbolizing Aswan women. Her works also include an oil painting featuring the iconic Philae temple complex in Aswan.

In another corner of the hall, Neama Khalafallah, in her late 20s, was using a bead loom to create handmade beaded products, such as cellphone pouches, key holders, earrings, bracelets and other ornaments.

"I take training courses with the NCW and apply them in a little project with my family members," Khalafallah said.

"We would like everyone to come, visit and encourage us. Moral support is more important to us than financial support," the young woman added.

The NCW provides training for thousands of women nationwide to develop their craft skills, market their products and connect them with business leaders.

May Mahmoud, head of the women business development center at the NCW, said the center is mainly concerned with economic empowerment of women across the country.

"When a woman is economically empowered, it means that she has an income to provide for herself and her family side by side with her husband," the official told Xinhua.

"A woman's social and political empowerment comes after her economic empowerment," she emphasized.

Mahmoud Khallaf, a physical therapist from Cairo who came to Aswan for a medical conference, bought two bead necklaces, one for his daughter and another for his wife, and a key holder, in the shape of Nubian cartoon character Bakkar, for his son.

"This is my first time visiting Aswan. It's a beautiful city with very friendly people. So I believe their handmade products are unique, rare and of high quality," he said.

Another customer was Aida Schlaepfer Al-Hassani, a Swiss filmmaker of Arab origin who has a documentary film competing at the week-long AIWFF.

Al-Hassani bought a couple of bracelets made of colorful beads and stones, along with two coasters.

"I like to encourage handmade crafts and we in Switzerland love such unique items. The best souvenir you can get from a country is that made by the hands of its people," the Swiss woman told Xinhua. 

A craftswoman shows a woven handiwork during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A craftswoman shows a bead-made handiwork during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A craftswoman strings beads during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

A craftswoman shows paintings during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

People visit handicrafts booths during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Photo shows woven baskets during a handmade products exhibition on the sidelines of a women film festival in Aswan, Egypt on Feb. 24, 2022. A variety of colorful crocheted items like teddy bears, coasters, handbags, hats, scrunchies, vases with heart-shaped flowers and much more, are displayed in a hall during a handmade products exhibition in Upper Egypt's charming city of Aswan. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
HARARE, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe has vaccinated over 40 percent of its eligible population against COVID-19, achieving herd immunity in some of its towns and cities, with vaccines mainly from China.

This is Zimbabwe's milestone in the fight against the pandemic, said Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa when opening the 3rd Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission in the resort town of Victoria Falls on Friday.

"Our robust vaccination drive has seen us vaccinating over 40 percent of the eligible population nationwide, with a number of towns and cities, including the City of Victoria Falls, achieving herd immunity," he said.

Zimbabwe kick-started its national vaccination program in February last year after receiving a donation of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China.

Since then, the country has secured more than 20 million doses of vaccines, mainly from China.

Last month, the country's vaccination drive received a major boost after China announced an additional donation of 10 million COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

Over the past week, the Zimbabwean government extended COVID-19 vaccination to adolescents aged 12-15 in line with medical advice, as it seeks to boost the number of vaccinated people in the country.

Zimbabwe aims to vaccinate at least 10 million people out of its population of about 14 million to achieve herd immunity.

The southern African country is among the 15 African countries that have already achieved the target set by the World Health Organization to fully vaccinate 10 percent of their populations by September 2021.

Mnangagwa said there was an urgent need for Africa to increase its internal capacities to deal with challenges such as inequitable distribution of vaccines.

He criticized vaccine nationalism with regards to both vaccine production and distribution.

As of Thursday, 3,381,046 people in the country had been fully inoculated and 113,462 had received a booster shot.

To date, the country has recorded 234,967 cases with 225,447 recoveries and 5,390 deaths. 
by Marwa Yahya, Ashraf Suwilam

NORTH SINAI, Egypt, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- As the world's second largest exporter of table olives, Egypt is devoted to boosting olive production by reviving olive farming in North Sinai that had been devastated by terrorism for years.

North Sinai Province, northeast of Egypt's capital Cairo, used to be famous for its olive trees and quality olive oil, which brought considerable profits and thus provided the most important source of income for the locals.

However, olive cultivation has eroded greatly in recent years as terrorist groups made North Sinai their stronghold after the 2013 uprising that led to the downfall of an Islamist regime.

The terrorists in North Sinai have burned olive trees and dehydrated agricultural land, detonated electricity grids, and destroyed agricultural wells on which the residents depend for watering the olive trees.

"Before 2014, 35,000 feddans (14,700 hectares) were planted with olive trees in North Sinai, producing about 75,000 tons of olives annually," Atef Matar, undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Desert Reclamation in North Sinai, told Xinhua.

After a slight rebound from 2015 to 2017, the olive production in North Sinai declined sharply to only 10,000 tons in 2021 as the planted area has shrunk to nearly 4,000 hectares amid a comprehensive anti-terrorism campaign, according to Matar.

Terrorist activities have dealt a blow to the olive oil production industry and many mills were closed, the Egyptian official noted.

"Since the 1980s, North Sinai has been producing olive oil enough for local consumption and export," said Fouad Al-Azar, owner of the oldest olive mill in the Sinai Peninsula.

However, terrorism has destroyed many olive farms in North Sinai and caused the closure of most mills and the sharp reduction of working hours and workloads in the remaining ones, Al-Azar lamented.

"I used to earn 300 Egyptian pounds (19 U.S. dollars) per day during the three-month olive squeezing season, and we worked in the olives farm for another wage during the rest of the year," said Mohamed Salma, a 47-year-old worker in an olive mill in Al-Arish city.

"Now most of the workers and farmers are unemployed along the year," he added.

In 2019, Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation announced its plan to plant 100 million olive trees by 2022 by offering land plots to investors.

On Feb. 5 this year, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Al-Sayed Al-Qaseer gifted the farmers in North Sinai 5,000 olive trees, noting 2,048 hectares of land were reclaimed and are good for planting olive in central Sinai.

Al-Sayed, The Egyptian government aims to plant 210,000 hectares in the Sinai Peninsula in the national projects of desert reclamation, where olive will take the lion's share. 
Hong Kong: Central govt supplies distributed

Acting Secretary for Home Affairs Jack Chan today joined major organisations to distribute anti-epidemic supplies in several districts, and thanked the central government for donating the supplies.

Mr Chan first presented 50,000 boxes of Jinhua Qinggan Keli donated by the central government to the Federation of Hong Kong Guangdong Community Organisations for further distribution to people in need.

He then arrived at the Hong Kong Stadium to deliver the first lot of 1.8 million rapid antigen test kits from the central government to the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link.

He thanked the Motherland for her prompt and generous donation of rapid antigen test kits to the Government, to help meet Hong Kongs imminent needs and boost the citys anti-epidemic spirit.

With the help from the Community Anti-Coronavirus Links volunteer networks and the Home Affairs Departments district networks, the test kits will be distributed to citizens in the first instance, Mr Chan noted.

He said he is also delighted that the mechanism of the Government and community collaboration in combating the virus has been operating at full steam, adding that the Home Affairs Bureau would mobilise all manpower and resources to fight the epidemic.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

After Moldova and Poland, Slovakia will also accept Azerbaijani citizens who want to leave Ukraine due to the current situation, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry said that Azerbaijani citizens who are in serious danger can leave the territory of Ukraine and go to Slovakia in the following order:

- Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan can enter the Slovak Republic through the border points between the two countries Uzhgorod, Maly Selmentsy and Maly Berezny (railway crossings Pavlovo, Chop).

- Given the fact that persons leave the territory of the Republic of Ukraine in connection with the conflict, the Slovak side does not necessarily require them to comply with the visa regime. At the same time, our citizens must present a travel document (passport) at the border checkpoint.

It is also reported that the Slovak side, in connection with the current humanitarian situation, will not require COVID-passports from Azerbaijani citizens wishing to cross the land border.

Citizens of Azerbaijan regarding the situation in Ukraine and the evacuation of citizens can apply to the following official bodies of the Slovak Republic.

Ministry of Interior of the Slovak republic

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +4212961050730, +421905607843

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak republic

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +421259783080, +421918660332

For any questions that arise, citizens can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Austria, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Slovenia by phone +43 676 844 509 733 or email [email protected].

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again appeals to citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan permanently and temporarily residing in Ukraine, visiting the country for tourism or educational purposes in connection with the situation in Ukraine, and advises them to stay away from areas where there are armed forces and facilities, stay at home or in a safe place, refrain from traveling.

"In connection with special cases, our citizens can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kyiv by phone (+380 73) 5050000 and e-mail [email protected], the Honorary Consulate in Kharkiv - (+38057) 7000531 and info. [email protected]

Depending on the development of the situation, additional information will be provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Ukraine," Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry says.
NAIROBI, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) said its troops killed four al-Shabab militants early Saturday at Sarira, Boni Forest, in the coastal county of Lamu that neighbors Somalia.

"The militants were trying to cross the common border into Kenya during the early morning encounter. Others in the group escaped with multiple injuries to the neighboring country," the KDF said in a statement.

It said no injuries were recorded on KDF troops during the encounter. 
As coronavirus takes over China, India on Sunday said will do everything to help its neighbour in combatting the deadly disease. (Photo Credit: IANS)

New Delhi:

As coronavirus takes over China, India on Sunday said will do everything to help its neighbour in combatting the deadly disease and would soon be sending a consignment of medical supplies. Indian Ambassador Vikram Misri also expressed solidarity with the Chinese people in their fight against the epidemic. The death count in Chinas novel coronavirus outbreak touched 1,765 mark on Monday. There are now nearly 70,400 confirmed cases across China, based on previously released figures from the government.

"As a concrete step to tackle the outbreak, India will soon send a consignment of medical supplies to China," Misri said, adding that this is a concrete measure which will fully demonstrate the goodwill, solidarity and friendship of the people and Government of India with the Chinese people.

China has said that it needed medical masks, gloves and suits especially for the medical staff attending the virus affected patients. Masks also have become scarce in China in view of the nationwide demand in the last three weeks.

During the past few weeks, the entire world has borne witness to the severity of the novel coronavirus outbreak and the tremendous challenges posed by it, Misri said in a video message released to Chinese media outlets on Sunday.

I wish to convey my solidarity and support to the Chinese people and Government in tackling this epidemic, he said.

We feel deeply for the people and the families that are affected by this epidemic. I would particularly wish to express support for the people of Wuhan City and Hubei province who have been most affected by this epidemic, and who hold a very special place in the hearts of the people of India, he said.

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.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh on Sunday began a march from Shaheen Bagh towards Home Minister Amit Shah's residence. The protesters, mainly women, have been staging a sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) for the past two months. However, the protestors have not yet received permission from the Delhi Police.

In a letter to the protesters, the New Delhi district police said the march will pass through two more districts and request for it has been sent to the police headquarters for further appropriate actions.

The development comes after the Centre, in an outreach, asked the protesters to meet the top leadership in next three days. A Shaheen Bagh protester on Saturday had said, we are going to meet Amit Shah. On the question of vacating the site, the protester said that all depends on how the meeting goes.

Shaheen Bagh protests have become the most recognised feature of the ongoing stir against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Several women have children have been staging protests for over two months now. The blockade due to the protests became a political issue in the recently-concluded Delhi Assembly Elections. Several BJP leaders including Parvesh Verma and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made provocative statements against the Shaheen Bagh protests.

On February 10 last week, the Supreme Court had also made a stern observation on Shaheen Bagh. 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.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been one the most talked about issues in the country for several weeks now. The passage of the contentious act created tensions in different parts of the country. Starting from Assam, Uttar Pradesh to New Delhi, violent protests erupted, culminating into huge damage of public properties. The Citizenship Act protests, which agitators tout as Anti-Muslim, spread far and wide and prohibitory orders (Section 144) and internet shutdowns have also become the order of the day.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) aims to amend the definition of illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who have lived in India without proper documents. According to the act those who have been living here will be granted fast track Indian citizenship in six years. So far 12 years of residence has been the standard eligibility requirement for naturalisation.

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New Delhi:

Exim Bank Recruitment Notification 2020 has been released for the posts of Chief Manager, Manager, Deputy Manager, Administrative Officer and Officers on Contract. A total 22 vacant positions are going to be filled through this recruitment drive that is being conducted by Exim Bank. All eligible and interested candidates need to apply online in the prescribed format latest by February 22, 2020. The Written is tentatively scheduled to be held on March 15, 2020, and the Interview is tentatively going to be held in the month of April 2020.

Exim Bank Recruitment 2020 Process

Candidates need to visit the official website of Exim Bank, i.e. eximbankindia.in to check the Exim Bank Recruitment Notification and apply for the same. Alternatively, candidates can click on the below mentioned direct link to check the Exim Bank Recruitment Notification and Application Details.

Also Read: IBPS SO Interview Call Letter 2020 Released, Get Admit Card Link Here

In order to apply for the Legal Manager Post, candidates need to have Bachelor Degree in Law with at-least 60 percent marks. For the IT posts, candidates need to have B.Tech. or BE Degree with 60 percent marks. Candidates applying for the Administrative Officer post need to hold Graduation Degre in anu discipline with at-least 50 percent marks. For the Rajbhasha post, candidates need to have Master Degree in English/Hindi. For in-depth detail on eligibility criteria and age limit defined for each respective post, candidates need to visit the official website of Exim Bank or click on the below mentioned direct link.

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New Delhi:

Asha Devi, the mother of Nirbhaya, said she was not very happy after a Delhi court on Monday issued fresh death warrants for March 3 at 6 am against four death row convicts in the gang-rape and murder case. Additional Session Judge Dharmender Rana issued fresh warrants against death row convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31).

Asha Devi, Mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim: I am not very happy as this is the third time that death warrant has been issued. We have struggled so much, so I am satisfied that death warrant has been issued finally. I hope they (convicts) will be executed on 3rd March. https://t.co/lUI3flqwzU pic.twitter.com/gkuYNnGocX  ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2020

I am not very happy as this is the third time that the death warrants have been issued. We have struggled so much, so I am satisfied that death warrants have been issued finally. I hope they (convicts) will be executed on March 3, said Asha Devi.

The court was hearing the applications by Nirbhaya's parents and the Delhi government, seeking fresh death warrants for the convicts after the Supreme Court granted liberty to the authorities to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts.

Also Read | Nirbhaya Gangrape Convicts To Be Hanged On March 3 At 6 AM, Delhi's Patiala House Court Issues Fresh Death Warrants

The date of execution, first fixed for January 22, was postponed for 6 am on February 1 by a January 17 court order. The trial court later, on January 31, stayed, "till further orders" the execution of the four convicts in the case, who are lodged in Tihar Jail.

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New Delhi:

India and Russia have finalised the broad contours of an ambitious government-to-government agreement for long-term import of crude oil by India from Russias Far East region. The pact is likely to be inked during Russian President Vladimir Putins visit in October for the annual summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, diplomatic sources told PTI. The pact is set to help the two countries achieve their target of taking the volume of annual bilateral trade to USD 25 billion from current USD 11 billion. When asked about it, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin told PTI that both India and Russia are adopting a multi-dimensional approach in boosting cooperation in oil and gas sector in sync with decisions taken by Putin and Modi in their last annual summit in Vladivostok in September.

We have signed an important contract few days back for supply of two million tones of oil to India from Russia by end of the current year. We are also considering to sign a long-term contract for supply of oil (to India) for many years, Babushkin said, We should realise our potential as reliable partners in energy sector. Another area would be the mutual investment cooperation in the energy sector in India and Russia, Babushkin said.

Also Read: Raisina Dialogue 2020: Russia Reiterates Support For India's Permanent Membership In UNSC

He said Indian oil and gas companies are positively considering to participate in exploration of oil and gas in Russias Far East region.

India meets more than 80 per cent of its oil needs through imports. It has been scouting new markets for import of oil after the US in May last year ended exemptions it had granted to India and several other countries to buy oil from Iran.

Also Read: Russian President Vladimir Putin Says He Opposes Unlimited Presidential Term

After summit talks between Modi and Putin in September, India and Russia finalised a roadmap for cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector and decided to explore joint development of oil and gas fields in both countries. At present the volume of bilateral trade between India and Russia is USD 11 billion.

Both the countries have set a target of enhancing it to USD 30 billion by 2025. Indias ties with Russia have largely driven by close cooperation in defence and civil nuclear energy sectors. But the two countries in the last few years have focused on expanding the cooperation to oil and gas sectors.

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Attendees look at a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G smartphone during Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2020 in San Francisco. Samsung could benefit from its push into manufacturing in Vietnam. (Photo Credit: Reuters Photo)

Seoul:

Samsung Electronics stands to be a major beneficiary of the China production problems announced by rival Apple Inc on Monday, reaping the rewards of a decade-long bet on low-cost smartphone manufacturing in Vietnam. Half of Samsung's smartphones are now made in Vietnam, where the coronavirus that has crippled the China operations of Apple and many other firms has so far had only a limited impact on its production.

Apple said on Monday it would not meet its revenue guidance for the March quarter due to the coronavirus impact on both production and sales in China, where most iPhones are made. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp last week also flagged a hit to its March quarter sales.

Huawei, another major Samsung rival, has not announced any production problems, but analysts expect it will also be hit hard due to its heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing and parts. Many Chinese and foreign firms have begun to re-open China factories that were idled for weeks, but shortages of workers and other problems have in many cases kept output to a minimum.

Samsung has also largely ceded the China market to its rivals in recent years, meaning it won't suffer from the store closures and drop in demand that is hitting Apple and others.

"Samsung is better positioned to weather the virus fallout than its formidable rivals such as Huawei and Apple," a person with knowledge of Samsung's supply chain told Reuters.

"The virus exposed China risks. We feel fortunate that we were able to escape the risks," he said.

Another person familiar with Samsung's thinking told Reuters: "Samsung does not say it publicly. But it is relieved."

Still, two sources familiar with Samsung's Vietnam operations cautioned that should the virus outbreak be prolonged, Samsung would feel the impact, as the company sources many components from China.

Problems with cross-border shipments also cropped up in the early phases of the virus outbreak as Vietnam imposed stricter border controls, according to Hong Sun, vice chairman of Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam. The issues have since been resolved, Sun said, but risks remain if Chinese parts suppliers cannot get back to work.

Samsung also relies on Chinese contract manufacturers for some low-end models. In a statement to Reuters, the company said: "We are making our best effort to minimize any impact on our operations."

TrendForce recently cut its first quarter production forecasts for Huawei by 15% and Apple by 10%. It cut projections for Samsung Electronics by a smaller 3%. Since starting phone production in Vietnam in 2009, Samsung has aggressively boosted output through cheaper labour and generous government incentives. A number of South Korean suppliers followed suit, powering its breakneck growth.

Samsung ended its own smartphone production in China last year as its market share plunged to nearly zero. Apple makes most of its iPhones in China via Taiwanese company Foxconn.

Last week, Samsung unveiled a trio of flagship Galaxy s20 smartphones as well as its new foldable phone. Sources said the virus could delay new product launches by rivals.

But the woes of Apple and Chinese rivals are not necessarily good for Samsung, as the South Korean tech giant also supplies memory chips and displays for Apple's iPhones and other smartphones. Samsung counts Apple and Huawei among its top five customers.

"The virus outbreak is positive for Samsung's mobile division, but negative for Samsung's chip and display businesses," Greg Roh, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities, said.

"Samsung will not be completely immune from the virus," he said.
New Delhi:

The aftermath of the rout in the Delhi Assembly Elections continues to jolt the Congress. Even as the party struggles to find feet in the current political setup, another Twitter feud between two senior Congress leaders have come out in open. Days after Sharmistha Mukherjee vs P Chidambaram, Monday saw fresh tiff between Ajay Maken and Milind Deora. It all started with Milind Deora praising Arvind Kejriwal. In his appreciation post, Deora shared a link that spoke about how AAP government improved revenue in Delhi. Sharing a lesser known & welcome fact  the @ArvindKejriwal-led Delhi Government doubled its revenues to a60,000 crore & maintained a revenue surplus over the last 5 years. Food for thought: Delhi is now one of Indias most fiscally prudent governments (sic), the former minister said on Twitter.

Peeved over colleague lauding the political rival, senior Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken shared his displeasure in a terse rejoinder. Quoting Deoras tweet, Maken said, Brother, you want to leave @INCIndia -Please do-Then propagate half baked facts! He also went on to share the previous revenue numbers. However,let me share even lesser know facts- 1997-98-BE (Revenue) 4,073cr 2013-14-BE (Revenue) 37,459cr During Congress Govt Grew at 14.87% CAGR 2015-16 BE 41,129 2019-20 BE 60,000 AAP Gov 9.90% CAGR, Maken said in a tweet tagging both Deora and Arvind Kejriwal.

Brother,you want to leave @INCIndia-Please do-Then propagate half baked facts!



However,let me share even lesser know facts-

1997-98-BE (Revenue) 4,073cr

2013-14-BE (Revenue) 37,459cr

During Congress Govt Grew at 14.87% CAGR



2015-16 BE 41,129

2019-20 BE 60,000

AAP Gov 9.90% CAGR  a aa aaaa (@ajaymaken) February 16, 2020

Maken, a five-time MLA, did not contest the Delhi Assembly Elections. The Congress had failed to open an account in the polls. Several senior party leaders have praised Kejriwal, which has not gone down well with the Delhi unit. Earlier, veteran Congress leader PC Chackos statement after his resignation as Delhi Congress in-charge had sparked another row within the party. At that time, Deroa had blasted Chacko saying, Sheila Dikshit ji was a remarkable politician & administrator. During her tenure as Chief Minister, Delhi was transformed & Congress was stronger than ever. Unfortunate to see her being blamed after her death. She dedicated her life to @INCIndia & the people of Delhi.

Last week, former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram posted a tweet congratulating the people of Delhi for defeating the BJP. However, ex-President Pranab Mukherjees daughter and Delhi Congress leader Sharmishtha Mukherjee questioned Chidambarams intent. "AAP won, bluff and bluster lost. The people of Delhi, who are from all parts of India, have defeated the polarising, divisive and dangerous agenda of the BJP. I salute the people of Delhi who have set an example to other states that will hold their elections in 2021 and 2022, Chidambaram said on Twitter.

To this, Mukherjee replied: "With due respect sir, just want to know- has (Congress) outsourced the task of defeating BJP to state parties? If not, then why are we gloating over AAP victory rather than being concerned about our drubbing? And if 'yes', then we (state Congress units) might as well close shop!"

"We are again decimated in Delhi. Enough of introspection, time for action now. Inordinate delay in decision-making at the top, lack of strategy and unity at state level, demotivated workers, no grassroots connect -all are factors. Being part of the system, I too take my share of responsibility," Mukherjee further said.

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New Delhi:

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays remark on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was his personal view and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will soon have a discussion on it. "Chief Minister Thackeray has his own view. As far as NCP is concerned, we have voted against CAA. We have a coalition government in Maharashtra and we will have a discussion on it soon," Pawar was quoted as saying by ANI.

Pawar said this hours after Thackeray backed the Centre over CAA saying the new amended act is not a threat. The chief minister also said that he won't block the National Population Register (NPR) in the state.

Thackeray assured that he will "personally check the columns" in the NPR, adding there shouldn't be any problem with the exercise in Maharashtra.

"CAA and NRC are different and NPR is different. No one has to worry if CAA gets implemented. NRC is not there and will not be implemented in the state," Thackeray tweeted.

NPR will happen in the state as there is nothing controversial about it, he said. Thackeray said he will not allow NRC to be implemented in the state.

"If NRC is implemented then it will affect not only Hindus or Muslims but also Adivasis. NPR is a census, and I don't find that anyone will be affected as it happens every 10 years," he said.

Earlier, to bridge up the cracks in the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena alliance government, Thackeray said the Bhima Koregaon and Elgaar case are two separate issues and that he will not allow any injustice to the scheduled cast community. As been widely reported, Thackeray said, he has not transferred the Bhima Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The investigative agency has only been asked to probe the Elgaar case, he said.

"Elgaar Parishad case and Bhima Koregaon case are two different cases. Bhima Koregaon case is related to my Dalit people and the probe related to the case will not be handed over to Centre. Centre has only taken over Elgaar Parishad case, (sic),"news agency ANI quoted Thackeray as saying.

The chief of NCP, Sharad Pawar, a key constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had termed the move "constitutionally wrong" and a violation of the states jurisdiction over law-and-order issues.

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New Delhi:

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray was left red-faced after an extremely poor turnout at his Aurangabad mega rally on Saturday. A latest media report said that Thackeray was forced to cut short his speech. After 1.5 minute long address, Thackeray left the ground and flew back to Mumbai on same day. The faux paus has sparked speculations that Thackeray may sack some party functionaries for the embarrassing situation. The Aurangabad incident was reported by The Hindustan Times on Monday. The report said that around 10,000 people were expected ta the Aurangabad rally. But when Thackeray arrived at the spot, he was stunned to see just empty chairs, the HT report said.

The report also added that some Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leaders have claimed that the Aurangabad rally was not part of the original programme. It was originally Maharashtra English Teachers Associations event, where Thackeray was supposed to go for just a 'courtesy call' and no speech was part of the programme.

On political front, Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has been in talks with the BJP over a possible alliance, however, nothing has been officially announced in this regard. The BJP, on its part, has been indirectly backing the MNS. Thackeray has been exhorting Hindutva ideology, which is a shift from his regional politics. The MNS, in January this year, unveiled its new flag which featured Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's royal seal, also called 'raj mudra', and his speech at the workers convention at the time indicated a turn towards hardline Hindutva politics.

Meanwhile, Thackery on Sunday said that he will give a befitting reply to anti-CAA protesters saying India needs to adopt a tough stand. Thackeray also said that he doesnt understand why Muslims were protesting against the amended Citizenship Act. I don't understand why the Muslims who were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, were doing so. CAA is not for the Muslims who were born here. To whom are you showing your strength? Thackeray said while addressing a huge gathering at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. Earlier, Thackeray led a march demanding eviction of illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh staying in India. Over 1 lakh activists marched in a mega-procession.

According to political observers, the MNS, which was relegated to the margins in Maharashtra politics after successive electoral drubbings in the last ten years, is trying to fill the Hindutva vacuum believed to have been created after the Shiv Sena joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a government in November last year.

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By Trend

US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Azerbaijan Earle Litzenberger made a post on Twitter to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijan's Khojaly genocide, Trend reports.

"Today, we join with Azerbaijanis mourning and acknowledging all who lost their lives in Khojaly in 1992," the ambassador wrote.

During the first Karabakh war, on Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian Armed Forces, supported by the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi city, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly.

As many as 613 civil residents, including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 old people were killed in the massacre, 1,000 people were injured, and 1,275 were taken, hostage.
I can tell you that there are no safe havens here, Imran Khan said. (Photo Credit: File photo)

Islamabad:

There are no safe havens for terror groups in Pakistan right now, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday while acknowledging publicly that it was possibly not the case earlier. Addressing an international conference marking 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in the country, he said Pakistan seeks peace in Afghanistan and instability in the war-torn neighbouring country was not in its interest. Khans assertion on terror safe havens came as the Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money laundering watchdog, began a crucial meeting in Paris where Pakistan is trying to wriggle out of being blacklisted for not doing enough to combat terror financing.

The United States, India and Afghanistan have long accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terror groups like the Taliban, the Haqqani network, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

I can tell you that there are no safe havens here, Khan said at a conference here, also attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Whatever the situation might have been in the past, right now, I can tell you... there is one thing we want: peace in Afghanistan. Khan said. He admitted that it was possible that such safe heavens were operating in the country after 9/11 in the Afghan refugee camps, The News reported.

How is the government capable of checking how militants operate from the camps, Khan said, adding that it was not possible because the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan have had a population of over 100,000.

Prime Minister Khans assertion came after Afghanistans second vice president, Sarwar Danish accused Pakistan of allowing the Taliban to recruit new fighters from Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan to launch attacks in his country.

While Pakistan cannot fully guarantee that no Taliban militants are hiding among the huge number of Afghans living in Pakistan, Khan said his government had done all it can to prevent attacks in Afghanistan, including by building a border fence.

The whole country is on the same page on Afghanistan, he said, adding that previously it was said that the government and the countrys security forces were not on the same page. However, this was not the case now, he said.

He highlighted that Pakistan was not seeking peace in Afghanistan because it has been hosting 1.4 million Afghan refugees, but because the people of Afghanistan deserve peace.

Earlier, Earlier, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his address stated that the people of Pakistan for 40 years have responded with generosity in hosting the Afghan refugees.

Even though major conflict has erupted in some other part of the world; Pakistan is still the second largest refugee host. I am struck by the extraordinary solidarity and compassion, he said.

At the same time, he urged the international community to step up support for Pakistan in tackling the problem of Afghan refugees. The global community must step up, Guterres said.

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Beijing:

A hospital director at the epicentre of China's virus epidemic died Tuesday, state media said, the latest medical worker to fall victim to the coronavirus which has spread across the country. The COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in Wuhan late last year, has spread to more than 72,000 people and killed 1,900 in China. Liu Zhiming, the director of Wuchang Hospital in Wuhan, died Tuesday morning after "all-out rescue efforts failed," state broadcaster CCTV reported. He is the first known hospital director to have died from the coronavirus.

At least six other medical workers have died from the virus, while 1,716 have been infected, according to official figures. Liu's death was initially reported by Chinese media and bloggers shortly after midnight on Tuesday -- but the stories were later deleted and replaced with reports that doctors were still attempting to save him.

The hospital director's death has echoes of the death of Wuhan ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, who had been punished by authorities for sounding the alarm about the virus in late December. Li's death prompted a national outpouring of grief as well as anger against the authorities, who were accused of mishandling the crisis.

People took to social media once more to mourn Liu on Tuesday, with many users on the Twitter-like Weibo platform drawing comparisons between Liu's death and Li's, which was also initially reported by state media and then denied hours before being finally confirmed again. Doctors in Wuhan face shortages of masks and protective bodysuits, with some even wearing makeshift hazmat suits and continuing to work despite showing respiratory symptoms, because of a lack of medical staff, health workers have told AFP.

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Jyotiraditya Scindia has of late threatened to take to the streets if the MP government failed to meet the demands of protesting guest teachers (Photo Credit: PTI file)

Bhopal:

Amid an ongoing tug of war, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and his fellow Congressman Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to meet this week to sort out differences between them. Congress general secretary and its Madhya Pradesh unit in charge Deepak Babaria said the two leaders would meet to work out the modalities for fulfilling the promises made by the party to the people of Madhya Pradesh before coming to power.

Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia will be meeting this week and will work out the pending issues and find solutions to concerns and demands of various sections of people in Madhya Pradesh, Babaria told PTI.

Brushing aside reports of any differences between the two, he said all party leaders are working for the welfare of the people and for providing good governance in Madhya Pradesh.

Also Read | To Woh Udhar Jaayen: Kamal Nath On Jyotiraditya Scindias Threat To Hit Streets

Both Nath and Scindia attended the coordination committee meeting on Saturday and it ended on a "very cordial" note, the Congress general secretary said. Babaria said a meeting of the Coordination Committee and the Manifesto Implementation Committee, of which former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan is the chairman, would be held later this month to work out implementation of pending promises.

Scindia has of late threatened to take to the streets if his party's government in Madhya Pradesh failed to meet the demands of protesting guest teachers, with Chief Minister Kamal Nath virtually daring him to do so.

After the coordination committee meeting on Saturday, Nath when asked about Scindia's threat said, "Toh woh utar jaaye (let him do so)." The coordination committee meeting was convened by Deepak Babaria and top leaders, including former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh, were present.

Also Read | Kamal Nath Reacts To Jyotiraditya Scindia's 'Shield And Sword' Remark

While party leaders claim there are no factions within the state Congress, Scindia has often taken on the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, a move considered as a result of friction within the state unit. Scindia had lost the Lok Sabha election from his Guna constituency and is now considered a hot favourite for the Rajya Sabha from the state.
New Delhi:

The death count in Chinas novel coronavirus outbreak has touched 1,765 mark, national authorities announced on Monday. Hubei Province, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, reported 1,933 new confirmed cases and 100 deaths on Sunday. There are now nearly 70,400 confirmed cases across China, based on previously released figures from the government.

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.

Outside of hardest-hit Hubei, the number of new cases has been declining and a spokesman for Chinas national health authority said Sunday that the slowing figures were a sign the outbreak was being controlled.

However, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned it is impossible to predict which direction this epidemic will take.

International experts have arrived in Beijing and begun meeting with their Chinese counterparts over the epidemic, Tedros said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the use of digital technology such as big data, artificial intelligence and cloud computing to better support epidemic monitoring and analysis, virus tracing, prevention and treatment, and resource allocation.

His call came amid deployment of robots in hospitals in Wuhan treating the virus patients to supply and other materials.

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 body's 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 much an emergency, it also holds a very grave threat for the rest of 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.

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New Delhi:

After the Rahul Gandhi ordinance-trashing episode of 2013, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh asked Montek Singh Ahluwalia whether he thought he should resign, the former deputy chairman of the now-defunct Planning Commission said. Ahluwalia said he told Singh, who was then on a visit to the US, that he did not think a resignation on this issue was appropriate.

In a major embarrassment to his own government, Rahul had denounced the controversial ordinance brought by the UPA dispensation to negate a Supreme Court verdict on convicted lawmakers. He had termed it as complete nonsense that should be torn up and thrown away.

Singh, while returning home from the US, had ruled out his resignation though he appeared piqued over the entire episode. I was part of the PM's delegation in New York and my brother Sanjeev, who had retired from the IAS, telephoned to say he had written a piece that was very critical of the PM. He had emailed it to me and said he hoped I didn't find it embarrassing, recalled Ahluwalia.

The article was widely reported in the media with reference to the author being Ahluwalia's brother.

The first thing I did was to take the text across to the PM's suite because I wanted him to hear about it first from me. He read it in silence and, at first, made no comment. Then, he suddenly asked me whether I thought he should resign, Ahluwalia wrote in his new book Backstage: The Story behind India's High Growth Years.

Also Read | Manmohan Singh Calls For Unity Of Liberal Democracy Institutions To Defend Constitution

I thought about it for a while and said I did not think a resignation on this issue was appropriate. I wondered then whether I was simply saying what I thought he would like to hear but on reflection I am convinced I gave him honest advice, he reasoned.

The incident was still a hot subject of discussion when Singh returned to New Delhi.

Most of my friends agreed with Sanjeev. They felt the PM had for too long accepted the constraints under which he had to operate and this had tarnished his reputation. The rubbishing of the ordinance was seen as demeaning the office of the PM and justified resigning on principle. I did not agree, Ahluwalia wrote.

He argued that the incident highlighted an important fault line in the UPA.

The Congress saw Rahul as the natural leader of the party and wanted him to take a larger role. In this situation, as soon as Rahul expressed his opposition to the ordinance, senior Congress politicians, who had earlier supported the proposed ordinance in the Cabinet and even defended it publicly, promptly changed their position, he said.

Ahluwalia, who served as one of India's senior economic policymakers for three decades, called his book, published by Rupa, a travelogue of India's journey of economic reforms in which I had the privilege of being an insider for 30 long years.

Ahluwalia, who played a key role in the transformation of India from a state-run to a market-based economy, presented the story behind the country's economic growth in the first half of the UPA's tenure as well as its achievements in poverty alleviation.

He also discussed the successes and failures of the UPA regime during which period he served as deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, a Cabinet-level position. He mentioned about the policy paralysis and allegations of corruption that came to mark the last few years of UPA 2.

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New Delhi: Following Russia's attack on Ukraine, an exercise has been started to evacuate Indian students stranded in various cities there. The rescue will begin late tonight on two Air India flights from India. The students will be brought to India through Hungary, Poland and Romania. The Embassy has asked the students to bring their passports with them. Along with this, instructions have also been given to put the Indian flag on their vehicles on the way.

However, due to the Russian bombing, many roads have been closed and many bridges have also been broken. 40 students from a medical college in the Ukrainian city of Leave walked 8 km to the Poland border. The city of Leave is 70 km from the border of Poland. A student here shared this photo. In which these students are seen walking on one side of an empty road. They were offloaded by their college bus 8 km before the Poland border. The first batch of people coming to India has reached Romania at night via the Susiva border. The Foreign Ministry team from Susiva will bring him home through Bucharest.

Earlier on Thursday night, Indian students hid in metro stations, bunkers of hostels and their flats. The marshals deployed in the security here were deleting photos and videos related to the attack on Ukraine from his mobile. The students hiding in the bunker were also seen reciting Hanuman Chalisa. The students say that if the Indian Embassy accepts the demand of running the classes online, they would not have been stuck. However, on Thursday, the Embassy took care of the students stranded at the Kyiv airport and sheltered them in a school building.

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Washington: Russia has rejected a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning its military operation in Ukraine. The proposal also included a demand for the Russian military to leave Ukraine immediately. This proposal was brought by the US. A total of 11 members voted in favour of the resolution. India, China and the United Arab Emirates were absent in the vote. The proposal was brought on Friday (February 25, 2022).

According to media reports, Along with the US, Albania also tried to get the resolution passed jointly. The resolution included Russia's cancellation of its decision on Donetsk and Luhansk with a ceasefire. Russia vetoed the proposal (VETO), meaning rejected. Russia is also among the five permanent member states of the United Nations (UN). Every country in the permanent countries is also empowered to veto any proposal. However, the US and its allies have warned Russia of isolation around the world if it does so.

Albania, England, France, Ireland, Norway, Gabon, Mexico, Brazil, Ghana and Kenya voted in favour of the US resolution. India, China and the United Arab Emirates abstained from voting. All three countries have talked about resolving the matter through dialogue. The US can now take up the matter in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Let me tell you that the proposal brought here cannot be vetoed. But there is also no obligation on the Member States to take the resolution passed in the General Assembly.

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New Delhi: Three years ago, on this day in 2019, it was around 3.00 pm. When 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of IAF crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and entered Pakistan's border and destroyed the bases of Balakot-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed. Later it was known as Balakot Air Strike. According to the government claim, Mirage 2000 dropped about 1000 kg of bombs on terrorist hideouts, in which about 300 terrorists were killed. At the same time, Pakistan was not even aware of this action of India. This strike was done by India on Pakistan to avenge the terrorist attack in Pulwama 12 days ago. In fact, on February 14, 2019, the terrorists attacked the CRPF in a cowardly manner. In this attack, 40 CRPF jawans were martyred and many others were seriously injured. In Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed into the bus of CRPF personnel carrying a vehicle laden with explosives.

After this collision, there was a loud explosion and the mutilated bodies of CRPF personnel going by bus were scattered on the ground. India had attacked Jaish's terrorist camp in Balakot, Pakistan within just 12 days to avenge this karayana attack. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting was held on the 15th, a day after the day the Pulwama attack took place. In this meeting, options were placed in front of PM Narendra Modi to take revenge on Pakistan. After the Uri attack, India had taken the decision of surgical strike, but this time it was decided that the answer would be in some other way. After a long brainstorming, it was decided to do an airstrike. NSA Ajit Doval was entrusted with this scheme on behalf of PM Modi. Ajit Doval and the then Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa prepared the blueprint of the entire action. In the meantime, it was decided that Jaish-e-Mohammed's bases in Balakot would be targeted. When everything was settled, after that all the agencies started extracting the inputs. RAW, IB started to find out the concrete locations of Jaish's hideouts.

Even though the Air Force had an important role in this attack, but the Army was also kept on alert. Especially in the area near the LoC, the jawans were fully alert. Two days before the airstrike, it was decided that AWACS would also be deployed along with Mirage 2000. They were deployed in Gwalior, as well as the Agra base was also alerted. On the evening of 25 February, the phones of the people taking part in the operation were switched off. PM Modi, NSA Ajit Doval and BS Dhanoa were constantly taking information about every update. On the late night of 26 February, when the Miraj 2000 took off from Gwalior, the airbase of Agra, Bareilly was also put on alert. During this, the Pakistani air defense system was asked to keep an eye on it. 12 Mirage fighter jets entered the Pakistani border at around 3 pm and started raining bombs in Balakot. During this, Pakistan's F16 aircraft became active, but by then India's Air Force had done its job. In the action of the Indian Air Force, the hideouts of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Balakot were destroyed. The Indian government said that hundreds of Jaish terrorists were killed in this attack. After the airstrike, Pakistan had declared its entire airspace as a no-fly zone and did not let anyone on the spot for several months.

Death anniversary of Swatantraveer Savarkar today, PM Modi and Yogi-Shah pay obeisance

Centre to deploy evacuation flights for Indians trapped in Ukraine

Bumper jobs in CSL, selection will be done without examination
Kyiv: Amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a big announcement. He turned down the US offer to leave Ukraine, saying in two words that he needed ammunition. At the same time, they are not going to flee Ukraine in any case. In the midst of the Russia-Ukraine war, there were reports of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fleeing the country.

After this, the president released a video of himself saying that he is standing in his own country, Ukraine. In fact, the President of Ukraine was offered by the US that he could leave the country, but Zelensky has flatly denied this. "I'm not one of those who fled, if you have to help me, give me weapons, give me ammunition," he says, adding that the Russian attack has created a huge uproar in Ukraine. The situation is such that Ukraine is looking forward to helping from other countries.

In the order, Sweden has now come forward to help him. Ukraine's President Valodimyr Zelensky thanked Sweden. In a tweet, Zelensky wrote: "Sweden is providing military, technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Thank you to the Prime Minister of Sweden for the effective support. Together we are building an anti-Putin alliance."

Shock to Russia: Protest against Russia on the football field

Did U.S. come to the defence of Ukraine? US Air Force aircraft seen flying on border

From 1917 to The Paths of Glory, these films on World War will shake your heart
Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, which account for more than 50% of the worlds soybean supply, are expecting smaller harvests this crop season. Major agricultural agencies and consultancies have already slashed their forecasts for the soybean output in 2021/2022 as a result of severe drought since November. As a consequence, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has also reduced its estimate of global soybean production. And soybean futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have reached a nine-year highs levels in February on concerns about the more unfavorable crop weather in South America and the recent Russias invasion of Ukraine. This article focuses on the countries for which production declines have been confirmed by state statistical agencies so far.

Production Losses in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay

In a monthly crop report in February, the National Supply Company (Conab) pegged Brazils soybean crop at 4,610 million bushels, down from the January projection of 5,162 million bushels. Compared with the last harvest (5,076 million bushels), the current projection would be a reduction of 9.2%. If the forecast is correct, the crop still would be the second largest in history (see Figure 1). The losses in Brazil, the worlds largest producer and exporter, are concentrated mainly in the southern states, such as Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Parana (PR) and Mato Grosso do Sul (MS)  where the La Nina phenomenon caused drought during the summer.

The situation in Argentina, the worlds top soybean oil and meal exporter, is not ideal either, with almost the entire country suffering from a drought since November, again as a result of La Nina. The most recent forecast from Agritrend, a private consulting firm in Argentina, indicates that Argentina will harvest 1,470 million bushels this season. That represents a 7.2% reduction from last years crop (see Figure 1). According to Rosario grains exchange (BCR), the situation is still worrisome, with soil conditions ranging from scarcity to drought in the provinces of Santa Fe, Cordoba, and Entre Rios.

In Paraguay, the worlds fourth-largest soybean exporter, the situation is even more dramatic. Paraguays soybean harvest could fall by as much as 50%, to some 165 million bushels in what would be the lowest level in the last decade. In the previous cycle, according to data from Dasagro, a private consulting firm in Paraguay, the nation produced 378 million bushels of soybeans, 56% higher than forecast for this year (see Figure 1).

The last time Paraguay produced less than 160 million bushels of soybeans was in the 2011/2012 cycle, also as a result of a prolonged drought. Paraguay exports over half of the soybeans it produces, and its economy depends heavily on shipments abroad of raw materials, according to data from the Paraguayan Chamber of Soybean Exporters.

Frustration and Records within Brazil

La Nina events favor increased rain across northern Brazil and decreased rain in southern Brazil. Such has been the case this year as southern Brazil has gone deep into drought. In the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Santa Catarina (SC), and Parana (PR), precipitation has been very scarce since November 2021. As a consequence, the soybean yields for these three states are projected to be 35% lower than last season, according to the Conab forecast.

In Parana, with almost 30% of the area harvested by the third week of February, production is expected to reach only 479 million bushels, a decrease of 34.4% in comparison to last year. In Rio Grande do Sul, harvesting will begin in March, production is predicted to be 505 million bushels, 33.9% smaller than last crop season (see Figure 2). Drought severely affected Rio Grande do Sul, hindering timely planting. High temperatures and drought could result in an incomplete planting season.

If the troublesome weather brought about by the La Nina phenomenon continues to worsen in February, it is possible that there could be more damage to crops, and soybean production could be lower than the current projection. Parana and Rio Grande do Sul are historically the second and third largest soybean producers in Brazil, respectively. The soybean crop in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) is expected to be 20% smaller than last season (see Figure 2).

On the plus side, Mato Grosso (MT), the largest Brazilian soybean producer, is expected to have a record-breaking 2021-2022 harvest. The most recent forecast from Conab projects farmers will produce 1,432 million bushels, an increase of 6.7% in relation to last year. By the third week of February, Mato Grosso had harvested 70% of the area planted. Goias (GO), in the Brazilian Midwest, also is expected to have a record soybean harvest. The production this season is projected to reach a record of 552 million bushels, 3.2% higher than last season (see Figure 2).

The Matopiba region, an area in the Brazilian North and Northeast formed by the states of the Maranhao (MA), Tocantins (TO), Piaui (PI) and Bahia (BA), is also projected to reach historical production levels this season. The higher production levels are attributed to favorable weather as well as an increase in the planted area and the use of technologies such as seeds adapted specifically for this region. Considered one of the main agricultural frontiers in Brazil, the region has numerous favorable qualities for modern agriculture (see farmdoc Daily, July 12, 2021).

Soybean Prices Elevated

With all indications pointing toward a tightening of global supply in the first half of 2022, in addition to the impacts from the Russian military attack on Ukraine, soybeans futures traded in Chicago in February have been the most expensive since 2012, surpassing $16 per bushel. As a consequence, soybean prices continue to hit new records in the Brazilian market. Prices in the port of Paranagua (PR) closed on February 24 at BRL 201,35 ($39.35) per 60-kilogram bag (2.2 bushels), according to data from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics of Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture at the University of Sao Paulo (Cepea/Esalq/USP). This is the highest value in Cepeas history.

The average monthly cash price in the port of Paranagua for soybeans increased 17,3% from November 2021 to February 2022 (see Figure 3). Depending on the weather and international market, soybean prices in Brazil could continue to rise. The changing soybean market dynamics in South America may have bullish implications on exports of the upcoming U.S. soybean crop and may lead to higher US soybean production in 2022. In response to climbing soybean prices in South America, U.S. soybean export prices are up 25 percent since December (USDA, 2022).
By Trend



We should call for the international court to judge those responsible for the Khojaly tragedy, Nathalie Goulet, Senator of France, Member of the Azerbaijani Nizami Ganjavi International Center, told Trend.

In her address on the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide, Goulet expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and all the people of Azerbaijan.

Together with commemoration day, we celebrate the liberation of Karabakh. I was supporting Karabakh liberation, despite the fact that the Armenian lobby in France is big enough, and it is hard to be a friend of Azerbaijan. For me, there is no doubt, that Karabakh is Azerbaijan, she said.

She pointed out it is now the time for the families that suffered from the Khojaly massacre to have justice.

We should call for the international court to judge those responsible for this tragedy, she added.

In turn, Abdulaziz Altwaijri, former Director General ISESCO said that the anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide brings to the minds and hearts of the people how vicious the aggression is.

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly massacre which was committed by the Armenian army in February 1992 when more than 600 civilians were killed. I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the people and the leadership of Azerbaijan, Altwaijri said.
CrackerClips / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Social Security is an essential safety net for many Americans. Even if you haven't saved enough for retirement, you can still count on Social Security benefits in retirement.

Read: 14 Key Signs You Will Run Out of Money in Retirement

Learn: Best and Worst States for Pensions

However, with an average monthly benefit of just over $1,400, America's most expensive cities are far out of reach without another source of income. If you do have to rely on your Social Security benefits alone -- and still want to make the most of your golden years -- you'll need to live somewhere affordable that won't compromise your quality of life.

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

That's why GOBankingRates compiled a list of the 20 best cities to live off of just Social Security. The study factored in the cost of living, livability and median rent and -- after comparing the 143 largest cities in the U.S. -- combined the scores to determine where you really can get by on just your Social Security benefit.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

20. Lubbock, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 79.9

Livability Score: 68

Average Rent: $719

Lubbock is one of five Texas cities identified in the study as a good place to live just on Social Security. Its relatively low livability score and rent of more than $700 per month prevented it from moving up on the list.

Related: 50 Cheapest Places To Retire Across America

Ron_Thomas / iStock.com

19. Toledo, Ohio

Cost of Living Score: 72.7

Livability Score: 62

Average Rent: $651

Toledo's cost of living indicates that you can expect to spend more than 25% less on your basic expenses than you would in the rest of the country, on average. What's more, Toledo is one of the cities where your money stretches the furthest, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

Read: 27 Genius Things Retirees Should Do With Their Money Now

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

18. Cleveland, Ohio

Cost of Living Score: 72.6

Livability Score: 60

Average Rent: $612

If you're younger and looking to avoid living off your Social Security check alone when you reach retirement, one of the best ways is to start saving early. However, even if it's too late to build the sort of nest egg you would like, a city like Cleveland -- which combines modest rent with a low cost of living -- should help you make the most of your Social Security benefits.

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17. Magnolia, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 104

Livability Score: 80

Average Rent: $773

Magnolia is about 45 miles northwest of Houston in fast-growing Montgomery County. Its popularity probably has led to the high rental rate in the city - eighth-highest on the list. It also has the second-highest cost of living in the study.Find Out: 35 Countries Where Social Security Goes Far

Art Wager / Getty Images/iStockphoto

16. Richmond, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 108.2

Livability Score: 82

Average Rent: $780

Also located in the Houston metropolitan area is Richmond, and it has the highest cost-of-living index in the study. It's livability score is among the biggest, too.

WilliamSherman / Getty Images/iStockphoto

15. Roanoke, Virginia

Cost of Living Score: 84.1

Livability Score: 75

Average Rent: $792

The average rent cost in Roanoke is the fourth-highest on the list, but its lower cost of living and high livability rates make it desirable for retirees. If you wanted supplement your Social Security earnings, Roanoke is a good place to do it. Another GOBankingRates study showed it's one of the top 20 cities for remote workers.

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14. Lincoln, Nebraska

Cost of Living Score: 89.8

Livability Score: 78

Average Rent: $806

The average rent in Lincoln of $806 is second-highest on the list, but overall, living in this college town still is 10% cheaper to live in than the rest of the United States.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

13. Grand Forks, North Dakota

Cost of Living Score: 88.2

Livability Score: 74

Average Rent: $733

Grand Forks is the northernmost city on the list, and one of two in North Dakota. At $733, rent in Grand Forks is at the midpoint, but it's still 11% less expensive to live here than elsewhere.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

12. Odessa, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 88

Livability Score: 63

Average Rent: $504

The primary appeal of Odessa to retirees is the low cost of rent. At $504 per month, it's the cheapest in the study - and by a wide margin. But the livability score of 63 also is among the lowest, knocking Odessa to No. 12 on the list.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

11. Fargo, North Dakota

Cost of Living Score: 91.9

Livability Score: 77

Average Rent: $740

Fargo is one of the best cities to live in on a fixed income, another GOBanking rates study revealed. That should appeal to those relying on Social Security.

Related: 10 US Cities With Plenty of Jobs and Cheap Housing

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10. Davenport, Iowa

Cost of Living Score: 81.7

Livability Score: 69

Average Rent: $644

It costs about 19% less to live in Davenport than the average American city, fueled by its average rent of $644 per month. Dragging it down is its livability score of just 69.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

9. Abilene, Texas

Cost of Living Score: 78.1

Livability Score: 75

Average Rent: $780

The last of the five Texas cities on the list, Abilene has a cost of living that is about 22% below the national average - one of the lowest in the study. That makes the comparatively high apartment cost of $780 easier to bear.

Gau Meo / Shutterstock.com

8. Norman, Oklahoma

Cost of Living Score: 89.4

Livability Score: 76

Average Rent: $715

Norman is the home of the University of Oklahoma, and living surrounded by all of those college students will keep a retiree young. The average rent of $715 is the seventh-lowest among cities on the list.

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7. Lake Charles, Louisiana

Cost of Living Score: 83.4

Livability Score: 70

Average Rent: $622

For retirees interested in living near the water, with all of the recreational opportunities that brings - think fishing! - there's good news: Lake Charles has the third-lowest rent cost of the cities considered in this study.

benkrut / Getty Images/iStockphoto

6. Des Moines, Iowa

Cost of Living Score: 81.2

Livability Score: 75

Average Rent: $729

Des Moines scored high in two categories, livability and cost of living, which led to its No. 6 ranking on this list.

IMG_191 / Shutterstock.com

5. Rochester, Minnesota

Cost of Living Score: 94.1

Livability Score: 84

Average Rent: $800

About 3 million people visit Rochester annually, many of them to visit with doctors at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, which opened in the city in 1889. While rents are the third-highest in the study, its livability score is high, too, making it desirable for retirees.

ChrisBoswell / Getty Images/iStockphoto

4. Fort Wayne, Indiana

Cost of Living Score: 78.9

Livability Score: 75

Average Rent: $718

Fort Wayne is a little pricier than many of the other cities on this list, but it still is among one of the best cities in the nation to retire on $1,500 a month, found a separate GOBankingRates study.

Wikimedia Commons

3. St. Charles, Missouri

Cost of Living Score: 92.2

Livability Score: 86

Average Rent: $831

St. Charles has the highest rental cost in the study at $831 but it also has the highest livability score at 86. There's a lot for retirees to do there, from exploring historic Main Street to touring the local wine country.

Plan for the Future: What Social Security Will Look Like in 2035

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2. Lynchburg, Virginia

Cost of Living Score: 82.9

Livability Score: 81

Average Rent: $786

Lynchburg's relatively high livability score is the primary factor in pushing the city to No. 2 on this list, but its retiree-friendly cost of living is another major factor. The cost of living is about 17% below the U.S. average.

Shutterstock.com

1. Rock Springs, Wyoming

Cost of Living Score: 96.2

Livability Score: 83

Average Rent: $692

Outlaw Butch Cassidy once called Rock Springs, an outpost of the Old West, home. Today, it's a city welcoming to retirees, with a low average rent of $692 and a high livability score. An old mining town located in the high desert, Rock Springs is near the Killpecker Sand Dunes, which are the largest sand dunes in North America.

More From GOBankingRates

Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places to live on only a Social Security check based on the (1) average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,518.97, sourced from Social Security Administration; (2) the overall cost of living in each city, sourced from Sperling's Best Places; (3) average 2021 rent for a one-bedroom apartment as sourced from ApartmentList,; and (4) Livability scores sourced from areavibes. Factors (2) through (4) were scored and combined with the lowest score being best. Factor (4) was weighted double in final calculations. All data was collected and is up to date as of Dec. 14, 2021.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check
LIKES

1. Happy birthday, Mr. President. Monday was Presidents Day, the day we honor our American presidents, except the ones we don't like now. Feb. 21 also is the birthday of Hardin-Simmons University President Eric Bruntmyer. So, he thought all the fuss was for him. And well it should be.

2. Congrats to Norway! Norway won eight medals at the 2020 Summer Games but a whopping 37 medals at the Beijing Olympics. The only country in the southern hemisphere to medal was Australia, which won a record four medals, including a gold medal in women's moguls (not to be confused with those north of Abilene in Munday). The U.S. was fifth in total medals and tied for fourth in golds. Not bad. Most notable was Nathan Chen's figure skating gold, the first for an Asian American man, and Erin Jackson, the first Black to win a Winter Olympics medal.

3. Whoops for hoops. Shout-out to three local basketball teams  Wylie boys and girls and Cooper boys  for making the playoffs. All three teams, including the district champion Cougars, lost in the first round but each team had a more than competitive season.

DISLIKES

1. That lil' bit of ice. Was pretty slippery Thursday morning, when a thin glaze of ice made driving and walking an adventure. We saw more than one Bubba fooled when trying to quickly stop or turning his rig.

2. Turmoil in Tye. Tye Police Chief Jay Strong has built quite a resume in recent years, even honored with the Melvin Martin First Responder Award. His quality service - his department works Interstate 20 - and compassion for that small community west of Abilene has been praised. Thus, his sudden plan to leave his position and the departures of other city officials raise eyebrows. What the heck is going on in Tye?

Former Abilene Police Chief Melvin Martin presents the Kiwanis Club of Abilene's Melvin Martin First Responder Award to Tye Police Chief Jay Strong, accompanied by his wife Deb, at the clubs Sept. 11, 2019, meeting. The club also donated $2,500 to the Tye Police Department's Operation Brown Bag.

HMMM

1. Attention all comrades. Scheduled for March 20 is a performance by the Russian Ballet Theatre at the Abilene Convention Center. Wonder how world events could affect that? Can we separate art from bully political agendas? We should ...

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2. "Exercise" for what weather event? A CodeRED alert was given just after 10 a.m. Wednesday, ringing phones and sending text messages and emails. Not about the light snow and sleet falling, but as a scheduled tornado drill. As soon as winter leaves, it'll be spring and storm time. We even had rumbles of thunder this week with a bit of rain falling before it got cold. The "Storm of the Century" outside had canceled school and chased people indoors ... to the mall, movie theater, coffee house, Walmart ...

3. To school or not to school? Public school classes resumed Jan. 4 but there have been only three full weeks of school for the first eight weeks of 2022. Between two holidays, a closure when post-holiday COVID cases rose and sidelined too many teachers, and wintry weather, Abilene ISD students had gone to school for 31 days and missed 8 through Friday. That's a 21% absence rate. There are two weeks remaining before students are off a week for spring break. Stop-and-start education is tough on everyone.

4. Ice Breaker iced out. If you call a February softball tourney the Ice Breaker, you may have to deal with ... ice. We did, and the event was canceled. Organizers perhaps should consider a new name, such as the Welcome to Spring in Abilene Tournament ...

5. All points bulletin issued. Big news Tuesday with TV folks was the effort to locate the culprits - three girls, apparently - who poured soap into the fountain at Everman Park on Monday. We saw the suds and chuckled at the prank, which is as old as Borax. Unfortunately, chemicals can harm the equipment. The fountain seemed to be working fine in the sleet and snow Wednesday.

5. Getting Moon-ed downtown. If you are downtown on weekends, you likely have heard the mystery cruiser. Suddenly, the Brooks & Dunn hit "Neon Moon" is echoing off buildings as he drives north on Pine, then south, then is gone. It's always "Neon Moon." Guess that's how he gets his Kix ...

A Whataburger number tent was seen on the dash of a vehicle downtown last week. Collecting these seems to be a thing.

5. Whatacrime ... It's amazing what people take for souvenirs, including those orange and white number tents you get after you order at Whataburger. After a while, it would seem to be a hassle to lose certain numbers. "Orders ready for No. 2, No. 3, No. 7 and, uh, No. 14!" Maybe they keep extras at the ready. Whataburger for sure is on to this and knows it's kids. At their online store, you can buy a number tent for your graduating class. For $3.99 you can get a "Class of '22" tent (or a set of five for $10.99). In a legal sense, that's a steal! Also for sale are tents for a birthdays, Christmas and "Just married!" Hopefully not at a Whataburger ...

Instead of steeling a Whataburger tent, you can get a personalized one for $3.99 by ordering online.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: What the Abilene Reporter-News liked, disliked: Whataweek in Abilene
AnnaLynne McCord has shared an explanation after she was derided for sharing a bizarre poem titled Dear President Vladimir Putin.

The actor  best known for her role as Naomi Clark in 90210  was one of many celebrities to respond to news that Russia has launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine.

McCord, however, was widely criticised for her two-and-a-half minute clip, in which she recited a poem directly addressing Putin.

In the video  which has been viewed over 15 million times  the actor delivers rhyming verses about how she wishes she could have been the Russian leaders mother.

She said: Im so sorry that I was not your mother. If I was your mother, you would have been so loved, held in the arms of joyous light.

(Getty Images)

Never would this storys plight. The world unfurled before our eyes. A pure demise.

The 34-year-old has since explained her intentions behind the poem.

She told BuzzFeed: I know how I could easily have moved in the direction of becoming a dictator myself.

If certain circumstances of my life were different, were I a little less bent toward healing and more toward vindication, I could have been a darkly powerful person.

McCord said she woke up in anguish over the children of the war, which made her want to share the poem.

(AP)

She said she feels for children who grow into adults and become people who do historically horrifying things because she personally understands early life trauma.

McCord has previously alluded to traumatic experiences in her childhood. She became independent from her parents aged 15.

The actor said that although her poem was directed at Putin, her wider goal is to protect children and stop creating dictators and abusers and enslavers and rapists and bullies.

Nearly 200 Ukrainians have been killed since Russias invasion began, the countrys health minister, Viktor Liashko, said on Saturday (26 February).

Liashko said that 1,115 people were injured, including 33 children.

You can follow along with updates on The Independents Russia-Ukraine liveblog here.
Key Insights:

BitConnect founder Satish Kumbhani indicted for Ponzi Scheme

In 2021, BitConnect and Kumbhani were sued by the SEC.

Penalties for illegal activity are hefty, with some jurisdictions calling for life sentences.

BitConnect was a proof-of-stake (PoS) platform allowing users to buy Bitconnect Coin (BCC) to earn interest. Users could sell Bitcoin (BTC) for BCC and then lock in the BCC price and earn daily interest over defined lock-in periods.

In September 2021, the SEC filed an action against BitConnect, founder Kumbhani, its top promoter, and his affiliated company. The action alleged that they defrauded retail investors out of $2bn through the fraudulent and unregistered offering of investments.

From early January 2017 through January 2018, the SEC claimed that the defendants siphoned money by transferring funds to digital wallet addresses. The wallets were in the control of Bitconnect, its founder, and top U.S promoter, Glenn Arcaro among others.

Grand Jury Indicts BitConnect Founder

On Friday, the United States Justice Department (DoJ) announced the indictment of BitConnect founder Satish Kumbhani. A federal grand jury indicted Kumbhani with orchestrating a global Ponzi scheme.

As per the press release, Kumbhani misled investors about BitConnects Lending Program. The press release goes on to say: BitConnect operated as a Ponzi scheme by paying earlier BitConnect investors with money from later investors. In total, Kumbhani and his co-conspirators obtained approximately $2.4bn from investors.

The SEC charges the defendants with violating the antifraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws.

U.S promotor Arcaro had pleaded guilty to the criminal charges back in September of last year.

Hefty Fines and Lengthy Jail Terms Are on Offer for Crypto Lawbreakers

The SEC and the DoJ have been particularly active in the crypto space.

Earlier this week, BitMEX co-founders Delo and Hayes pleaded guilty to violating the U.S Bank Secrecy Act. Under the terms of their plea agreements, Hayes and Delo each agreed to pay a $10 million criminal fine representing pecuniary gain derived from the offense.

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In 2021, BitMEX paid a $100m penalty for violating the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) by offering the trading or processing swaps without approval as a Designated Contract Market (DCM) or a Swap Execution Facility (SEF).

BlockFi also paid a $100m penalty in an SEC settlement this month.

While the sums are sizeable, regulators in South Korea have taken a sterner approach against fraudsters and scammers. In January, news hit the wires of South Korean prosecutors wanting to put crypto criminals away for life. Executives of crypto platform V Global reportedly received hefty jail terms for a $1.7bn fraud. The CEO received a 22-year jail term.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
SINGAPORE, Feb. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 25th, 2022, ST Engineering and Vietjet signed a comprehensive component Maintenance-By-the-Hour (MBH) contract to support the airline's entire fleet. The signing ceremony took place during the official visit of Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Singapore.

Vietjet Vice President Ho Ngoc Yen Phuong (second from left) and President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering Lam Wai Meng Jeffrey exchanged the technical services and component support contract under the witness of Vietjet President & CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

Vietjet Vice President Ho Ngoc Yen Phuong (second from left) and President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering Lam Wai Meng Jeffrey exchanged the technical services and component support contract under the witness of Vietjet President & CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao

Under the contract, ST Engineering will provide Vietjet with a full suite of component support solutions covering component pooling, repair, overhaul, modification, main base kits, component health monitoring and logistics services for the airline's entire fleet.

Vietjet Vice President Ho Ngoc Yen Phuong, said: "We value the fact that ST Engineering can provide on-site MRO services as well as leverage their global component support network to support our international flight operations 24/7. We are assured that they will be a reliable partner to support the flexibility in our technical operation and maintenance as we focus on expanding our flight network internationally."

"The component MRO facilities together with life-cycle support capabilities in our global network, will be able to provide excellent support to Vietjet's fleet. When combined with our comprehensive component solutions, we are confident in helping Vietjet achieve significant cost-savings and enjoy operational reliability at the same time," Jeffrey Lam, President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering, said.

Recognised worldwide for its hallmark component MBH programmes, ST Engineering supports more than 900 aircraft and provides integrated component solutions for over 23,500 unique aircraft parts. ST Engineering is also the authorised service centre to over 20 leading OEMs. Its Commercial Aerospace business provides round-the-clock support and delivers more than 80,000 components annually from its component MRO facilities located in Singapore, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, as well as Stockholm, Sweden.

Story continues

About ST Engineering:

ST Engineering is a global technology, defence and engineering group with a diverse portfolio of businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defence and public security segments. The Group harnesses technology and innovation to solve real-world problems, enabling a more secure and sustainable world. Headquartered in Singapore, it has operations spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S., serving customers in more than 100 countries. ST Engineering reported revenue of $7.2b in FY2020 and ranks among the largest companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. It is a component stock of the FTSE Straits Times Index, MSCI Singapore, iEdge SG ESG Transparency Index and iEdge SG ESG Leaders Index., MSCI Singapore, iEdge SG ESG Transparency Index va iEdge SG ESG Leaders Index.

About Vietjet:

The new-age carrier Vietjet has revolutionized the aviation industry. With a focus on cost management ability, effective operations and performance, Vietjet offers flying opportunities with cost-saving and flexible fares as well as diversified services to meet customers' demands.

Vietjet is a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. As Vietnam's largest private carrier, the airline has been awarded the highest ranking for safety with 7 stars by the world's only safety and product rating website airlineratings.com and listed as one of the world's 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations by Airfinance Journal in 2018 and 2019. The airline has also been named as Best Low-Cost Carrier by renowned organizations such as Skytrax, CAPA, Airline Ratings, and many others.

SOURCE Vietjet
Gary Trey Taylor was initially hesitant to pursue his license in clinical therapy.

The Caroline County native began his career in mental health services 11 years ago with Snowden at Fredericksburg and later became a crisis therapist with the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board.

But Taylors primary passion remained erasing the stigma of discussing mental health in the Black community, particularly among Black men.

He began a mental health awareness group called the Goodfellaz Project, where Black men would gather and discuss various issues concerning their mental health in a nonjudgmental environment.

The project started off with great success, but was forced to hold virtual gatherings after two sessions at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and enthusiasm waned.

Obviously, the need was there, Taylor said. Black men were getting to the point of starting to say, I need some help. 

Recognizing the lack of Black male therapists throughout the Interstate 95 corridor from Northern Virginia to Richmond prompted Taylor to pursue his license in the field.

He ultimately achieved his goal, and opened a private practice and mental health consulting business called Uphold 31:8 in the Ladysmith Business Park last June.

The name is based on the scripture Proverbs 31:8 - "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."

Taylor has 30 clients from across the state, with the vast majority being Black men. They discuss everything from the impact of social justice issues on their psyche to transitioning into life as a husband and father.

Taylor said the response has been overwhelming, and hes been forced to pause accepting new clients while averaging 15 to 17 sessions per week.

I knew it was going to get busy because I knew there was a gap, Taylor said. But there are points where it just comes in waves.

Taylor said he chose to open a private practice because the opportunity to help Black men heal in a clinical fashion was too meaningful to pass up.

He said the response from the Goodfellaz Project was an inspiration. He learned that while other groups have issues as well, Black men are a little more complex.

He said for many, constantly witnessing the deaths of other Black men because of street violence or police brutality can be an emotional trigger. He said navigating the workforce as a minority is a challenge, as well. Hes worked to help more Black men learn how to communicate emotions despite some never having been taught that it is OK to do so.

Then theres the anger piece, Taylor said. The anger is always heavy. But the anger for me as a Black man can be a byproduct of depression or anxiety. So they might actually be depressed or having anxiety issues, but its coming out as anger. We also deal with grief. You pile all of that in with how it is to be a Black man in America and thats what youre faced with every single session. Thats why I said Black men are a little more unique because you have to attack all of that at once sometimes. Its like, where do we start first?

Taylor said he tries to peel back as many layers as possible in 1-hour sessions. He comes up with strategic treatment plans that address the underlying cause of mental health issues. He often begins conversations with light-hearted discussions about sports, the latest Marvel movie or other personal interests.

Taylor is a car and sneaker enthusiast, so that often prompts discussion.

For us as brothers, its hard enough to get us to talk about our feelings anyway, Taylor said. So youve got to go around-about a little bit. If you come in nervous and anxious about whats going on, I want to make sure I bring you down so you can properly talk and get stuff out  I think sometimes in this field we see people as clients and patients but Ive always seen them as human beings who are going through some issues in life and need some help.

Taylor penned a book titled You Good Fam?, addressing mental health among Black men. He has a second book, Refresh: Journey to Find Peace coming out in October.

His passion for mental health carries over into his role as a deacon at Oxford Mount Zion Baptist Church in Ruther Glen. Taylor said he only incorporates faith into his practice if the client takes the conversation in that direction.

His pastor, the Rev. Duane Fields Sr., said Taylor is chipping away at the stigma of mental health issues in the Black community and the church. Fields said that for any Black man seeking therapy, its an added benefit when you look across the table and see someone that looks like you.

Mental health in the Black community and in the church has always been taboo, Fields said. Hes brought it to light. Hes made it an open dialogue  Whenever we have any type of conference or leadership development, we make sure we add that mental health piece in there.

Taylor and his wife, Shauniece, oversee the Millennials ministry at their church. Taylor has also conducted mental health workshops. He proactively checks on Fields to ensure hes in a good place mentally and not on the verge of burnout.

I always say that mental, physical and spiritual all works hand in hand, Taylor said. Just because you might be depressed or anxious dealing with some type of mental health issue, it doesnt mean that God cant handle and deal with that. It also doesnt mean you dont need a therapist if you believe in God. You can do both. I know that God put therapists in place to help us. Im living proof of that.

Taft Coghill Jr: 540/374-5526 tcoghill@freelancestar.com

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A man who killed his live-in girlfriend at their Colonial Beach home in 2020 was ordered Friday to serve 50 years in prison.

Martin E. Flores, 42, was sentenced in Westmoreland County Circuit Court to 73 years in prison with 23 years suspended. Judge Herbert Hewitts sentence was above the recommended state sentencing guidelines, which called for a maximum active sentence of 40 years.

Flores was convicted last year of first-degree murder, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting in an occupied dwelling.

According to evidence presented by prosecutor Christopher Robison, Colonial Beach police went to a home on Second Street on April 3, 2020, to conduct a welfare check on 31-year-old Marlane King. A family member had called the police expressing concern about her well-being.

Flores told officers that King had left earlier in the day and refused to let them inside the home. Police returned with a search warrant and found Kings dead body on the second floor.

Flores told police that King had committed suicide, but the investigation showed she had been shot three times, including once in the head. Flores called Kings father that day, but never notified law enforcement or rescue workers.

The investigation showed that Flores tried to stage the scene to make it look like a suicide, and removed spent cartridges from the revolver and replaced them with unfired bullets.

The prosecution also had evidence from an informant who said Flores told him he shot King because he felt disrespected by her. Flores has been in custody since shortly after the shooting.

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A suspect in the shooting death of a young Stafford man Monday afternoon has been apprehended in South Carolina, police said.

Tarik Shiggs, 22, of Stafford, is charged with murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. The charges stem from the death of 25-year-old Christopher McDuffie, who was shot multiple times in the courtyard between apartment buildings at the Garrison Woods apartment complex in North Stafford. McDuffie was pronounced dead that day shortly after arriving at a local hospital.

Deputies and detectives worked through the night but could not find the shooting suspect.

Sheriffs Maj. Shawn Kimmitz said Saturday that the motive for the shooting had not been determined.

Detective N.D. Ridings investigation led to Shiggs being identified as the suspect. Police learned that Shiggs had left the area and had gone to South Carolina.

With the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Fugitive Team and the Sumter County Sheriffs Office, authorities found Shiggs on Friday and took him into custody. He is being held at the Sumter County Detention Center pending extradition back to Stafford.

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A local woman was ordered Friday to serve a year and five months in prison for her role in the pummeling of an intoxicated customer at the bar she was working at in 2020.

Rebecca S. Gonzalez, 37, was sentenced in Fredericksburg Circuit Court to five years in prison with three years and seven months suspended on an unlawful wounding conviction.

Combined with the year and seven months she was sentenced to Friday for unrelated probation violations, Gonzalez received a total of three years to serve.

According to the evidence, an intoxicated man in his 60s was at the bar at the Bourbon Room on William Street in Fredericksburg late Oct. 6 and early Oct. 7, 2020. When Gonzalez tried to get the man to leave, he fell to the floor.

Another employee, Kenneth D. Watson, was caught on camera going to the fallen patron and hitting and kicking him. He also picked up a table and dropped it on his head.

Watson has been ordered to serve five and a half years in prison for his part in the incident.

Gonzalez, who was slapped by Watson during the incident, also hit the drunk man several times. The victim was dragged down the steps and tossed out of the building. He ended up in Mary Washington Hospital to be treated for a serious head injury and wounds to his face.

Watson, the primary assailant, told police that the victim had assaulted him first. He didnt realize at the time that police had already seen a video that disproved his claim.

Prosecutor Justin Witt asked Judge Gordon Willis for a total of four years for Gonzalez, while defense attorney Eugene Frost requested that her sentence not exceed six months.

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By Muhammad Asif Noor

Thirty years since the Khojaly genocide, one of the dark side in the history of humanity, the victims are still waiting for the justice to be delivered and served. Azerbaijan has made all global efforts to make the world realize and understand about the horrific crimes against the humanity has been perpetrated by Armenia in the regions. This February Azerbaijan commemorates the thirty years of the atrocious crimes committed against the civilians and the defenders of the town of Khojaly situated in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Khojaly Genocide is recognized and commemorated by parliamentary acts adopted in numerous countries including Pakistan. Today, there are 17 countries across the world in addition to 24 states of the US recognized Khojaly massacre as a genocide and it has been investigated under righteous legal framework. The memories of Armenian aggression are still alive among the people as they are unable to relieve the burden of grief. This ethnic cleansing and genocide by Armenian has caused immense pain for the past two centuries. People of Azerbaijan has been made refugees and IDPs as a result of the Armenian occupation.

The Armenian killing of innocent civilians was investigated under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide but the criminal perpetrators remains unpunished. It is important to note that the Commission identifies the facts and confirm the killing, mental and bodily harm directed by genocidal intent to exterminate in part or whole of certain group in a town of Khojaly. Thus, in accordance with II Article of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 1948, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. Human Rights Watch also published a report on the tragedy in 1994 terming it the 'largest massacre to date' in Nagorno-Karabakh region. In memory of the brave people of Khojaly, Azerbaijan has erected the memorials in Azerbaijan.

The Khojaly genocide and the grave crimes committed as a result of the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan entail the responsibly of Armenia and those individuals participated in the crimes. This accountability originates from international law especially the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is applied. Guided by the UN Resolution of December 11, 1946, as well as Agreement of December 9, 1948, it may convincingly be proved that the Armenian Dashnaks have committed crimes against humanity and conspired genocide against the people of Azerbaijan.

Incontrovertible is the fact that in 1918-1920 Armenian Dashnaks wiped hundreds of Azerbaijani villages off the face of the earth, killed thousands of women, old men and children. During the genocide, 565.000 out of 575,000 Azerbaijani population of Armenia were killed. Armenia always deny accepting the responsibility of such a crime and falsify the facts. They share their own interpretations having no reality or logic. Even such propaganda will not prove the facts wrong. The facts that have been recognized and reported by the global community including western media and leading organizations.

The dark side of the story the denial of Armenia and refusal of taking the responsibility of the massive genocide in the region. The Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan termed the genocide a 'blatant lie' and accused Azerbaijan of killing the people itself. This statement is deferred by the Human Rights Watch report putting direct responsibility on Armenian forces in Karabakh at the time of genocide. Rachel Avraham, Researcher at Israeli Center for Near East Policy Research, argued that Armenian denial of the tragedy has been major impediment to peace in the region. It is more of a tragedy not to take the responsibility for their actions and allegedly blaming Azerbaijan for killing of its own people.

Armenia did not stop the aggression against Azerbaijan over decades and again pitched against Azerbaijan in 2020 but faced a mature army at the borders. Azerbaijani forces overrun the defenses and regained then control of territories earlier occupied by Armenia. Azerbaijan never mistreated Armenian people in the region and offered them Azeri citizenship if they choose to stay. Immediately after the ceasefire agreement. President of Azerbaijan authorized the development in the war torn region and develop a cultural capital in the city of Shusha with an airport. The compensation to damage caused by war, treatment of injured, protection of religious places, educational institutions, and health care centers was granted by the President of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan did not forget the people of Khojaly and facilitated the migrants of Karabakh region to settle at their ancestral places. Azerbaijan has remained thankful to the states which recognize its position in the conflict. Turkey and Pakistan are two major states which acknowledge the Karabakh as territory of Azerbaijan and extend diplomatic support even during the challenging times.

The writer is Director Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies
The Navy is seeking input from neighbors of Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, people who have worked there as civilians or military members, business owners in King George County and anyone else interested in the bases environmental cleanup program.

The information is sought, not because theres been a new spill or incident at the research and development facility. Instead, the present focus [is] on cleaning up the effects caused by past waste disposal practices, according to the Navy bases Environmental Restoration Program website. It details the history and mission of the Navy base at Dahlgren and its ongoing use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials and petroleum products.

Dahlgren was established in 1918 because its location on the Potomac River offered a long over-water range needed for the testing of modern, high-powered munitions. It later became the Navys principal proving ground, responsible for proofing and testing every major gun and all ammunitions supplied to the fleet, according to a profile on the Military Services Directory.

When the new technology shifted to research and development of weapon systems, Dahlgren made the transition as well and shifted its research to electronic firing and targeting systems, the effects of electromagnetic radiation from radio and radar transmitters, then ballistic missile systems and strategic nuclear weapons on-board submarines.

Some of the practices in the early decades of the base didnt meet todays stricter and more comprehensive environmental standards, according to the website on its restoration program. There were accidental spills and leaks; in some contaminated areas, ordnance was buried, chemicals were burned or pesticides were rinsed, according to a 2006 Free LanceStar story.

Cleanup efforts began after Congress established the federal Superfund program in 1980 to identify and clean up the nations most polluted sites. At the time, the Dahlgren Navy base was one of five Superfund sites in the Fredericksburg area.

Initially, there were about 130 different sites identified at Dahlgren that needed attention, but the list was narrowed to 75 sites. Work began in 1992 on those that needed the most urgent attention.

At one place known as Site 37 along upper Machodoc Creek, machine guns were fired over the years to the point the sand embankments around them were permeated with lead. The metal eventually was separated and dumped along the creek.

Officials involved in the restoration program studied Site 37, which took up about a half acre, and determined there wasnt a risk to human health. But there was an environmental impact because lead can accumulate in marine life and wildlife. The remedy was to cover the affected areas with 2 feet of clean fill dirt to contain the lead.

Restoration plans have involved the military as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The program has cost more than $85 million to date, said Jeron Hayes, public affairs officer at Naval Support Activity South Potomac.

The work has included site investigations, soil removal and restorations, including long-term land-use controls. Each year, the Navy spends between $1 million and $2 million on monitoring efforts, Hayes said, as most of the sites at Dahlgren have been cleaned up and require no further action.

For many years, the base held public meetings to keep the community updated on cleanup effort, but as cleanup efforts wound down, regular meetings ended about seven years ago and are now held as needed, Hayes said.

The Community Involvement Plan, which includes the survey, isnt new, but a revised outreach effort from 2013. The focus includes additional investigations for emerging contaminants and including the community, federal and state partners in current and future efforts, Hayes said.

Last summer, Dahlgren put together a plan to assess the impact from any radioactive materials used, handled or stored on the base. A contractor hired to do the study will look at 82 areas where general radioactive materials may be present, according to the plan. The sites vary from an old bombing range to structures where ordnance was burned or buried; landfill and scrap areas; and several places where uranium was used.

Portions of the Mainside and Explosives Experimental Area, an isolated weapons range occupying 1,641 acres, were used to test small-caliber projectiles containing depleted uranium or its alloys, according to the study plan. The four known sites have been remediated, the plan states.

Information to be gathered includes interviews with those familiar with the area; maps of surface waters, fisheries, wetlands and other sensitive environments that might be impacted; and a determination of public and private wells within one mile of the base boundary.

More information about the assessment of possible radioactive material is available at navfac.navy.mil/niris/WASHINGTON/DAHLGREN_NSWC/N00178_001405.pdf.

As for the community survey, it takes between 10 and 15 minutes and asks participants to rate the Navy base on matters such as community involvement and commitment to the environment. It will be available through March 20 at tinyurl.com/DahlgrenSurvey. Those who would like to take the survey over the phone can call 540/653-8153.

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The Virginia House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee approved budgets that authorize creation of the Culpeper Battlefields State Park. The spending plans also would provide $3 million to acquire more land for the park.

Last week, the House and Senate voted to approve their versions of the state budget. Those plans will go to a conference committee, where legislators will iron out their differing sums and provisions. Then the budget goes to the governor for his changes and signature.

The state park would include parts of two Civil War battlefields, at Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain, and a Union army encampment on Hansbroughs Ridge near Stevensburg. It would encompass 1,700 publicly accessible acres preserved by the American Battlefield Trust, enhanced with another 4,000 acres held in conservation easements on private land.

The trust, a national nonprofit that preserves battlefield sites of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, will donate its land to Virginia, spokesman Jim Campi said.

The state park will open July 1, 2023, according to the House and Senate budgets, he said.

The trust will continue to maintain its former lands for a few years while the state park hires staff and gets up and running, said Campi, the nonprofits chief policy and communications officer.

Were obviously very pleased with the support the park has won from the House and Senate thus far, he said. We cannot take our eye off the ball. Its not done until its done.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Barry Knight, RChesapeake, and state Sen. Creigh Deeds, chairman of the Finance Committees capital-outlay subcommittee, have been among the parks key supporters.

I have long advocated for state parks, Deeds, DCharlottesville, said Wednesday. A park in Culpeper will not only give people an affordable outdoor recreational opportunity, it will attract history-focused tourists. This is a win-win for Virginia and the area.

Sen. Emmett Hanger, a likely budget conferee who serves on the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, played an important role in advancing the idea.

I am pleased we have been able to negotiate the preservation of open space in Culpeper and offer citizens another gem in our nationally recognized state park system with the creation of the Culpeper Battlefields State Park as proposed in both the Senate and House budgets, Hanger, RAugusta, said Wednesday.

In previous years, Hanger had supported state studies of the Culpeper park proposal.

We will be working out differences with the House of Delegates over the next couple of weeks, but I am hopeful this proposal can become a reality, the senator said.

Another leading proponent is state Sen. Chap Petersen, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committees subcommittee on agriculture, conservation and natural resources.

When I learned that [the Brandy Station battlefield] is where the Hazel River flows into the Rapidan River, I thought, this could be great, the Fairfax Democrat said. The bottom line is, this could be a very popular state park within a 45-minute drive of Northern Virginia.

The Virginia Outdoors Plan calls for every Virginian to live within an hours drive of a state park. Park advocates have described Culpeper County and the Central Piedmont, which have no such park, as the hole in the doughnut.

Supporters will have to figure out how active recreation at the park will be, given that the preserved lands primary focus is protecting battlefield resources.

I dont know if there will be cabins, camping, or yurts one could rent, Petersen said.

State Sen. Bryce Reeves, RSpotsylvania, helped persuade Gov. Glenn Youngkin to propose spending $4.93 million to acquire the American Battlefield Trusts 1,700 acres for the preserve. In January, Youngkin included that sum in his package of initiatives and amendments to the commonwealths budget.

With the budget negotiators actions last week, that will no longer be necessary. The trust will give its land to the state, and Virginia has allocated $3 million toward adding other acreage to the park.

The legislative effort has been going on in front of and behind the scenes for over five years, Reeves said. It is simply magnificent that Virginia is going to honor the history of Culpeper in this way and provide so many wonderful recreational opportunities to our citizens.
Legislation that would have restricted the use of solitary confinement in state prisons was again stopped in the General Assembly.

Republicans on a House public safety committee on Thursday advanced the legislation, but only in the form of a study of solitary confinement in Virginias prisons.

The bill from Sen. Joe Morrissey, DRichmond, had passed the Senate but was scaled back Thursday. The legislature killed the proposal last year.

The American Civil Liberties Union was among groups supporting the original bill. Supporters of ending or reducing solitary confinement point to research showing it has devastating mental health effects on people.

Theres been enough studies to show what the effects of solitary confinement are, said Natasha White, a coordinator with the Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement.

Del. Patrick Hope, DArlington, said the Department of Corrections had done a good job of reducing the numbers of people in solitary confinement, but inhumane treatment continued. He said he wanted DOC to take the study seriously and find ways to bring the estimated 300 people in solitary confinement on any given day out of solitary confinement.

The Department of Corrections now calls solitary confinement restorative housing, which caused confusion for legislators during hearings this year.

Theres nothing restorative about this, said Del. Candi King, DPrince William.

Hope said he was tired of the word games. Everyone knows what were talking about here.

 Richmond TimesDispatch
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, investing in improved relations with Senate Democrats, stopped by a committee meeting Thursday and delivered two of his trademark red vests to Sens. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke.

Lucas, D-Portsmouth, president pro tempore of the Senate, and Locke, D-Hampton, head of the Senate Democratic Caucus, recently trolled the governor by wearing matching red vests after he mistakenly congratulated Lucas for a Black History Month speech that Locke had delivered.

Since @GovernorVA cant tell us apart, @SenatorLocke and I decided to steal his look today, Lucas tweeted on Feb. 17.

On Thursday, Youngkin walked in during a meeting of the Senate Education and Health Committee, wearing one of his trademark vests. During a lighthearted exchange, he presented two of them to the Democratic senators.

I understand, Madam Chairman, that the two of you have taken to wearing red vests, Youngkin told Lucas, leader of the committee. He said such vests have become popular over the last year, and Im worried that you have knockoffs.

Based on your fashion sense, I want you to have the originals, Youngkin said. Nothings worse than not having the original.

Lucas told Youngkin: Governor, you will see these very soon on Twitter.

Before leaving the meeting, Youngkin thanked the senators on the panel, adding: I just so look forward to continuing our constructive working relationship.

Lucas later tweeted: He finally knows who we are!

She added that she wished her new vest was blue to represent how the Senate will be staying for his time in office.
A retired local doctor was arrested and charged with an alleged child sexual assault that took place more than 34 years ago, police said.

Michael B. OBrien, 66, who worked for many years as an orthopedic surgery specialist, was arrested by Virginia State Police on Friday at his home in Spotsylvania County. He was charged with forcible sodomy of a child under the age of 13 and placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail, where he is being held without bond.

The charge carries the possibility of life in prison.

Jail records list the offense date as Oct. 1, 1987, and police said it occurred as part of OBriens practice in the Fredericksburg area. State police Sgt. Brent Coffey said more charges are pending and that the investigation is ongoing.

Coffey said state police and the FBI began an investigation in January and took OBrien into custody without incident. No further details were released regarding the allegations against OBrien.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 888/300-0156. Information can also be sent to questions@vsp.virginia.gov.

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After receiving a cancer diagnosis, Kelly Horn said the next few steps can oftentimes be overwhelming.

"Choosing the right oncologist at the right facility is one of the most important decisions that a new patient will make," she said. "It's important to make informed choices, take an active role in care, and feel confident that your oncologist is the best choice for you. The physicians at Nebraska Cancer Specialists are some of the most experienced and highly qualified in the area."

Nebraska Cancer Specialists, located at Methodist Fremont Health at 450 E. 23rd St., offers a variety of services for cancer patients, as well as diagnosis and research for the Fremont area.

"It's about personalized care," said Horn, director of marketing and community outreach. "Patients can receive the same treatments as some of the top centers in the world, right here in their neighborhood."

The center was founded by Drs. Robert Langdon and Margaret Block in 1992 and also has locations in Omaha, Papillion, Grand Island, Hastings and West Point.

Initially starting with a handful of physicians, the center now has nearly 300 employees.

"We're getting ready to celebrate our 30th birthday, May 1, and we're excited to celebrate the entire month with fun things planned for employees and patients," Horn said. "We are doing that on March 1, so we're pretty excited about it."

In each of its locations, NCS works closely with the local health systems to provide highly trained experts in the field.

"From the moment a patient walks through the door, we want them to feel supported and empowered to ask about what they need and talk about what they are going through," Dr. Mary Wells said.

Every time a patient returns to the center, Horn said the same physicians, nurses, medical assistants and receptionists are there to welcome them.

"It really helps those patients feel like they're establishing a relationship with their care team to provide the most streamlined, seamless care that they can receive," she said.

Wells said the NCS team is always there for patients 24/7 and are able to help them with anything that may come up.

"There's always somebody there for them," she said. "Patients learn that fast, and I think it makes them feel really good."

The services provided by NCS focus on providing care even beyond cancer itself, including mental health services, occupational therapy, genetic counseling, palliative care, imaging services and nutrition services.

As well as providing treatment options, Horn said NCS also provides access to its multiple clinical trials through its robust research program.

"Patients have not only their medical oncology care team, but they have an entirely dedicated research care team as well, everything from a research director, manager, coordinator, data analyst, a nurse, and they work hand-in-hand with the medical oncologist," she said. "So it just really provides that extra added layer of care."

NCS also has started offering Movement for Longevity classes again, a program that had been on hold since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the newest classes offered by NCS in Omaha is tai chi, a traditional Chinese form of exercise that focuses on improving mindfulness and stress reduction through slow-flowing movements and breathing.

The class, added at the beginning of the year, is held at the Midwest Cancer Center-Legacy in Omaha on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. It has a suggested donation of $10 for a six-week class.

Horn said research has shown that individuals 65 and older who practice the exercise regularly reduce their fall risk by up to 55%.

"That's pretty significant when you are getting to a certain age and you're starting to feel maybe a little bit unsteady," she said. "The tai chi class really helps build up those muscles and help with balance and strengthening some of those core muscle groups."

Additionally, Horn said the center is working on rolling out NCS Connect, a new peer mentoring program designed to empower newly diagnosed cancer patients.

Through the program, Horn said the patients are paired with current or former cancer patients who can provide insight on their own cancer experience.

"They're great listeners, they can offer suggestions or questions to the medical team and just really service the source for reasoning out decisions for patients," she said.

Those interested in being a mentor for NCS Connect can get signed up by visiting nebraskacancer.com/connect. Participants are matched through a variety of factors, including the type of cancer, treatment, gender, communication needs and other requests.

"After they meet with that patient for the first time and kind of complete a phone evaluation, then that mentee, if they feel like it's a good fit, will be able to contact that individual as often as needed," Horn said.

Like the center's other services, Horn said the program is confidential for all parties involved.

"It's just a really exciting new program," she said. "We sent out some information last weekend and had a really overwhelming response, so we're hoping to add the program in all of our locations, including our Fremont location."

Having a cancer treatment center so close to where they live is especially important for patients, Horn said.

"Not only do patients need medical care, they need emotional, financial and social services too," Dr. M. Salman Haroon said. "It's very impactful for patients to receive this so close to home without the stress of travel to an unfamiliar area."

From every aspect of their cancer treatment, Wells said she's heard feedback from patients on how well they've been treated by the NCS team.

"It's not just me, by any means, who makes people feel supported and less afraid," she said. "We work really hard to create an environment that wherever a patient is in their journey, there's someone at NCS who wants to take really great care of them."

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Ella Endorf of North Bend and Emily Reid of Fremont were named to the University of Mississippis fall 2021 honor roll lists.

Endorf was named to the chancellors honor roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75-4.00.

Reid was named to the deans honor roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.50-3.74.

In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

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The recipients were among more than 1,000 students who registered for the scholarship when attending one of EducationQuests virtual and in-person Financial Aid Programs in fall 2021. EducationQuest conducted 107 programs statewide between August and November to educate students and parents about the college financial aid application process.
A nationwide march has got underway in Baku on the 30th anniversary of the bloody tragedy, that went down in the history of mankind in the 20th century as the Khojaly genocide, Azertag has reported

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the march.

The marchers arrived at Khatai district, the site where the Khojaly memorial is erected.

President Ilham Aliyev put a wreath at the memorial and paid tribute to Khojaly victims.

First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, Prime Minister Ali Asadov, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, Head of the Presidential Administration Samir Nuriyev laid flowers at the monument.

Participants in the nationwide march put flowers at the memorial.




A Fremont Public Schools spokesperson continues to urge public safety as numbers of COVID-19 cases and quarantines decline in the district.

Stay home if you are sick, said Hope Pierce, coordinator of communications and public relations at FPS. Stay home if you have not been fever free for 24 hours without medication. Stay home if you have been tested for COVID-19 and have not received your test results.

FPS is still seeing a significant decline in COVID-19 cases and quarantines. Five students were not in school Wednesday because of a positive COVID-19 test, while seven others were quarantined due to exposure to a positive case.

A total of 187 students out of school for any illness on Friday.

No staff members missed school due to a positive COVID-19 test. One other staff or faculty member in the district was quarantined due to exposure to a positive case.

FPS said employees not at work on Friday for any reason totaled 35.

These numbers show a significant drop in the number of active COVID cases and quarantines among students throughout February, in comparison to the end of January.

On Jan. 28, 32 students tested positive for COVID-19 while 55 students were quarantined for exposure.

The number of absent-due-to-any-illness cases at FPS has been increasing slightly from January through February with 157 absences reported Jan. 28 and 186 cases reported Feb. 11.

For this week, 0.10% of FPS students were out due to a positive test and 3.74% of students were out for any illness (including those positive for COVID) or quarantine.

This represents less than 1% than staff and students from all schools combined.

This week, Fremont Public Schools began using its standard protocols due to the decreased number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19.

FPS also reminded the public that the Three Rivers Public Health Department is offering free community testing in conjunction with Total Wellness.

The testing times and days for next week are as follows:

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday;

8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday;

The testing will take place at 210 E. Military Ave., in Fremont, across from the downtown Runza restaurant location.

Besides providing COVID statistics, FPS made an announcement regarding its spring musical, as previously reported.

Tickets are now available for the FHS Spring Musical, Oklahoma!

The show will open on March 10 at 7:30 p.m. with two additional performances on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. and March 13 at 2:30 p.m.

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Mike Flood, Republican candidate for Congress, met with former Gov. Dave Heineman and Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg for some face-to-face time with Fremont citizens Thursday.

Flood, Heineman and Spellerberg hosted residents at Fremonts Five-0-Five Brewing Company to give attendees a chance to meet the candidate for the 1 District.

It gave Flood the opportunity to meet some of the public who could attend, said Spellerberg. He had the opportunity to say a few words about his passion for the 1 District and why he is running for the seat.

Spellerberg continued by projecting his support for Floods candidacy.

Ive gotten to know Mike (Flood) over the past year and a half. His love for Nebraska, his background in the legislature, his willingness to work extremely hard for his constituents and his policies for the 1 District is great. He is focused 100% on representing Fremont and those in the 1 District.

Spellerberg also pointed out that Flood, unlike current Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, does not have any controversy around him.

You know, Mike isnt facing a legal battle in California, and I think for the future of the seat and the board of representation for the 1 District, Mike is qualified and great representative. He shares the values of Fremont.

Fortenberry has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he lied to authorities who were investigating an illegal campaign contribution from a foreign national in 2016.

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LEXINGTON  On Dec. 18, a Lexington charter bus that transported the girls wrestling team to Pierce Public School for a tournament caught fire and was a total loss, including some of the students' personal possessions.

Upon hearing the news, Pierce spectators at the tournament passed the proverbial hat around the room and raised $1,007.50 to help the Lexington students cover the cost of their lost items. The money was formally accepted by the Lexington school board.

However, the district's insurance company reimbursed the students for their lost items.

On Jan. 29, a house fire in Pierce killed three children, Alexander, 17, Candace, 15, and Andrew Clausen, 12. They were members of the same family and students of Pierce Public School.

Lexington Superintendent John Hakonson said that in light of the tragedy, the district feels it is only right to return the donated funds to the Pierce community for a memorial fund for the three children.

The board this month formally approved returning the donations.

Board member Travis Maloley said he offered his prayers for the Pierce community and said they want to return the favor their community had done for Lexington. He noted that is what Nebraska does.

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Nebraskans know every drop of water is precious. Agriculture is our top industry. It makes up 20% of our economy, and it generates one in four jobs in our state. Access to water makes this possible. We have the most irrigated acres of cropland in the country. Three of eight acres of farmland in Nebraska are irrigated.

Fifty years ago, far-sighted Nebraskans set up a system of water management, including our Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), that has allowed us to manage our water based on river basin. This has allowed our state to maintain the Ogallala Aquifer within one foot of where it was in the 1950s.

By contrast, Colorado has mined their water. The Ogallala Aquifer under Colorado has dropped nearly 15 feet since the 1950s. Now, Colorado is aggressively planning new developments that threaten Nebraskas water resources. Last year, Colorado released their South Platte Basin Implementation Plan. It was updated last month and now includes 282 total projects to meet their growing demands. Altogether, these projects cost an estimated $9.8 billion.

Thankfully, 100 years ago Nebraskans negotiated an agreement with Colorado over the use of South Platte River water. The South Platte River Compact (Compact) was signed by Nebraska and Colorado in 1923 and ratified by Congress in 1926. It entitles Nebraska to 120 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from April 1st through October 15th (irrigation season) and 500 cfs of water from October 16th through March 31st (non-irrigation season). Under the Compact, we can only claim our non-irrigation season water entitlement by building a canal and reservoir systemknown as the Perkins County Canalalong the South Platte River. Until we build the canal, Colorado has no obligation to deliver the water.

As Colorados desire for water grows, theyre acting as if Nebraskas non-irrigation season water rights under the Compact dont exist. In 2016, the Colorado Legislature passed HB16-1256, the South Platte Water Storage Study, into law. Its purpose was to identify water storage options along the lower South Platte River. Colorado wants to make sure no water in excess of the minimum legally required amounts gets to Nebraska. In the studys final report, Colorado clearly assumes that Nebraskas legal requirement is only the 120 cfs during irrigation season. Since we havent built the canal, Colorado is not planning to deliver any water to us during non-irrigation season. Zero.

The good news is that the Compact gives Nebraska undeniable authority to construct a canal to claim our non-irrigation water flow. It even gives us legal entitlement to land in Colorado to build it. Senator Dan Hughes, of District 44, has prioritized LB 1015, authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to design, construct, and operate the Perkins County Canal and reservoir system. My budget recommendation to the Legislature includes $500 million for the project. This is a bargain compared to the nearly $10 billion Colorado is preparing to spend on their water resources.

Our proposed canal has caused a stir in Colorado. In response to our plans, a legislator in Colorado introduced SB22-126 earlier this month to prioritize water storage projects in the South Platte Basin. Colorados leaders believe that possession is nine-tenths of the law. I am concerned that even though Nebraska has clear entitlements to South Platte River water under the terms of the Compact, it will be difficult for us to claim what we are owed once municipalities in Colorado become reliant on the water.

Theres no doubt that Colorado plans to take the 500 cfs of water guaranteed to Nebraska during non-irrigation season under the Compact. On February 7th, a coalition of water districts gave a presentation to the Colorado Legislature on ways to shore up South Platte River resources. The presentation indicates that Colorado only recognizes its 120 cfs delivery commitment to Nebraska during irrigation season. In other words, the presentation assumes Nebraska is not entitled to receive a single drop of South Platte River water for almost half the year.

We must take action now to protect this water from being taken. Our ag producers rely on it for irrigation. Communities along the Platte River use it for drinking water. The water is critical to power generation in Nebraska, and our natural habitats along the Platte depend on these water flows.

People have asked, why not slow down and discuss reworking the terms of the compact? Any renegotiation would take time to hammer out. It would require approval from the Colorado Legislature and Nebraskas Unicameral. What are the odds of that happening anytime soon? Keep in mind: delays only benefit Colorado. Remember, Colorado is trying to accelerate their work along the South Platte River. Pausing our plans, while they move full steam ahead, would put us at risk. The longer we delay, the more we risk losing access to the water were due.

This month, Ive held town halls across the state to inform Nebraskans about our water rights with Colorado. There has been overwhelming support for moving forward on the canal. People understand that the price of inaction is far higher than the funding needed to secure our water rights. Ill encourage you to do what I asked of them: contact your state senator to let them know your thoughts on LB 1015. The passage of this bill is a necessary first step.

Fifty years from now, Nebraskans will look back on this generation. Will they say we had the foresight to secure our water resources? Or will they say this generation failed?

If you have questions about the proposed canal, write me at pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or call 402-471-2244.

Pete Ricketts is the governor of Nebraska.

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As a young boy growing up in Wales, Richard Davies would listen for the postman dropping his favorite model railroad magazine at the front door.

"If I heard the Railway Modeller being delivered, I would jump out of bed and I would look for the Hattons adverts inside," he said. "Hattons always had the best adverts, and that was why my dad used to take me to Hattons whenever I had enough money to spend there."

Years later, Davies is now managing director of Hattons Model Railways, one of the most popular model railway retailer and manufacturers in the world, based out of Widnes, Cheshire in England.

And now, the company is looking to set up its first United States distribution center - in Fremont, Nebraska.

"I have always preferred to be away from big cities," Davies said. "Fremont is in a great location for accessing the rest of the U.S., but it's not too built-up and intense."

Hattons was founded in by Norman Hatton in 1946, after arriving in England shortly after his release from a Japanese prisoner of war camp while fighting in World War II.

"As soon as he got back to Liverpool, then he found some money to open a shop and would trade in anything that he could: firewood, children's toys, just any general merchandise that he could get his hands on," Davies said.

As Hatton's company grew with model trains forming the bulk of his business, he formed a relationship with a nearby Meccano factory, which offered him excess stock at a discounted price in the 1950s.

Offering a large amount of model trains, locomotives and scenery, Hattons has stock from a wide variety of manufacturers. In 2013, the company began offering pre-owned items as well, and in 2016, relocated to Widnes.

Growing up in Flint, less than a mile away from Liverpool, Davies said his father got him into model railroads around the age of 4. The two would travel to the shop every couple of months to buy model trains.

Although Davies lost interest in the hobby as a teenager, he said his interest in Hattons grew after taking his father's shopping list to the store during a visit back home.

"It was during one of those visits where I had a list of the items that he wanted, but then it just struck me how it was a very interesting business, lots of activity," he said.

At the age of 19, Davies started work at Hattons. At the time, in 1999, he said the primarily mail-order company began to embrace the internet.

"I like working for a smaller company, fighting against corporations like Amazon," he said. "I think firms like us are the future of retail, so I want to do my bit and lead the way in our sector."

Shortly before his arrival, Hatton had semi-retired, with his children Keith and Christine running the business. After Keith Hatton's death in 2008, Davies became managing director and bought the business from the family in 2018.

After the buyout, Hattons began selling its own manufactured products. The opportunity also gave Davies the confidence to introduce more trade changes to improve customer service.

"Nowadays because of the internet, you have to have family-style principles, but Amazon-style service levels," he said. "So that's what we're very good at providing."

Working at Hattons, Davies said he's loved the staff and company cultures, as well as hearing stories from its customers.

"Model railroads attract interesting people: They all have stories to tell, are very interested in the topic, but no one takes it as a matter of life and death," he said.

For Hattons, Davies said the United States is a huge market, even bigger than mainland England for the company.

"A lot of customers who are in the U.S. say, 'We wish that companies in the U.S. treated us as well as you do,'" he said. "And that's the kind of comments that have inspired us to take a location in the U.S."

Having first visited the U.S. in the mid-2000s, Davies said he was impressed by the country's thriving convention scene and ecommerce events.

"The future of retail is all about logistics, and we were looking for a location in the States where we could help get products to and from customers with less friction," he said. "So we surveyed many locations in the U.S. last year."

Davies said he developed a relationship with Heartland Hobby Wholesale, a model train company based out of Lincoln with a distribution center in Fremont.

Wanting to take advantage of his friendship with Heartland Hobby and ability to promote their products across the continent, Davies said he ultimately settled on Fremont.

"We'll support him with the development, so I think that strengthens everything," Heartland Hobby owner Allen Dayton said. "There's a great friendship between him and me personally and with the company, and we've learned a lot from him."

Davies said he's hoping to start trading around late March or April in Fremont.

"We're going to have some vacancies for a variety of positions, mostly involving handling stock," he said. "We've got our service to set up and some networking to install, and then we should be good to go."

Although he said the time difference might be a challenge, Davies said he's looking forward to meeting more Americans as Hattons begins hiring in Fremont. Interested applicants can contact him at richard@hattons.co.uk.

"We only recruit the best people, and as a result, the service levels that our customers get are very, very high," Davies said.

Since starting work in the Fremont community, Davies said he's been welcomed by its residents and is excited to take part in area model railway exhibitions and hear more of their stories.

"We have been invited to lots of people's houses and strangers have pulled over on roads to offer us lifts," he said. "So we're very grateful for the opportunity to have this adventure in the U.S."

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In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat melt butter or add the vegetable oil to heat. Slowly stir in flour to make a smooth paste. Place skillet in a 350-degree oven and stir the mixture every 15 minutes until roux takes on the color of creamy peanut butter. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Store in a covered container in refrigerator.

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Yield: 8-10 servings

1 stick of butter

1 medium diced onion

1 diced red bell pepper

1 diced green bell pepper

4 diced celery stalks

1 pound diced andouille smoked sausage

1 pound diced cooked chicken

1 (2.5) pound can crushed tomatoes

2 cups chicken stock

2 cups beef stock

2 tablespoons granulated garlic

2 tablespoons granulated onion

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

Cayenne pepper to taste

 cup peanut butter colored roux, for thickening

8 cups cooked rice

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Procedure:

In a large stock pot over medium heat saute onions, bell peppers and celery in butter until onions become transparent.

Add sausage, chicken, tomatoes, stock, and seasonings. Bring to slight boil and thicken with 1/4 cup roux. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat.

Stir in cooked rice and transfer mixture to a large cast iron skillet with a lid. Bake in a 350-degree oven 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes. Remove lid and scatter parsley over the top and serve.

Source: Phil Duhon
A Gazette investigation shows an increasing number of soldiers, including wounded combat veterans, are being kicked out of the service for misconduct, often with no benefits, as the Army downsizes after a decade of war.
By Trend

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey Mevlut Cavushoglu shared a publication on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly tragedy, Trend reports.

"We have not forgotten and won't allow to forget the atrocities committed 30 years ago in Khojaly in front of the whole world! Azerbaijan's grief is our grief," Cavushoglu wrote.

During the first Karabakh war, on Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian Armed Forces, supported by the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi city, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly.

As many as 613 civil residents, including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 old people were killed in the massacre, 1,000 people were injured, and 1,275 were taken, hostage.
An 18-year-old man has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison in an April 2021 shooting in Security-Widefield that left a teenager dead.

Kamrin Long, who according to court records pleaded guilty in December to second-degree murder, was sentenced Wednesday to 36 years in prison by Fourth Judicial District Chief Judge William Bain.

The sentence, Fourth Judicial District Attorneys Office spokesman Howard Black confirmed, was made as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. According to court records, Long was originally charged with first-degree murder, a count that was later amended, in the shooting that left 18-year-old Isaac Garcia dead.

Garcias father, Jose Garcia, said his son's death came just before he was to graduate from Mesa Ridge High School.

He was just so close to graduating, he said. Graduating high school was a really great accomplishment for him, and he was very proud of himself and he was looking forward to walking across the stage.

That was taken from him, adding that the high school still handed his family Isaac Garcias diploma.

El Paso County Sheriffs Office deputies were called to the 4800 block of Spokane Way just after 5 p.m. April 18, where they found Isaac Garcia suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest.

According to an arrest affidavit filed for Long on April 19, Long told an individual unidentified in the affidavit to give his address to Isaac Garcia after that unidentified individual indicated he was "going to fade" Garcia. Garcia, according to the affidavit, indicated he had arrived at the address around 5 p.m. Surveillance video from neighbors showed an individual pulling up the driveway of the home and walking up just before a single gunshot was fired and the individual fell backward.

Garcia was found by deputies and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died of his injuries.

When interviewed by detectives, Long confirmed he gave Garcia his address and had shot him in the driveway. In the affidavit, he does not offer a reason for the shooting. Black said in an email the unidentified individual was not charged due to "self defense."

Jose Garcia said roughly 20 family members and friends gathered outside the courthouse and later at his home to support each other and break bread following the hearing.

He said he and his family were satisfied with the sentence, that justice had been served, and that they also believed in forgiveness.

Were Christians, we believe in what the Bible says about forgiveness  through our support system, and the people that we had surrounding us, we were able to hold our faith much easier, he said, noting he still would have liked to hear from Long, who didnt speak at his sentencing.

"I really wanted to hear from Kamrin, to hear his 'why' or at least him say that he regrets that it happened or that he's sorry," he said. Doesnt change anything, but it does matter."
The spikes and ebbs in Colorado's violent crime rates have largely mirrored the rest of the U.S. over the past few decades, data recently compiled by the states Division of Criminal Justice shows.

Overall violent crime rates in Colorado and nationwide both peaked in the early 1990s before largely trending downward until the 2010s. But violent crime rates in Colorado began to rise again around 2015, according to data compiled by the FBI based on annual reporting from law enforcement agencies.

The recent upward trend has worried law enforcement.

Data about crime trends was the subject of a presentation recently given to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice by the Division of Criminal Justice. The presentation covers data on crime numbers, court filings and correctional populations.

This isn't just Denver. This is a statewide problem, Police Chief Paul Pazen told The Denver Gazette.

Its not surprising that Colorados general crime rate trends mirror the U.S. as a whole over a few decades, said Brenden Beck, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Colorado Denver.

He said factors that influence crime on a macro level such as unemployment and economic recessions tend to affect different areas at the same time.

He said that makes it difficult for any given local government to respond in a way that changes crime rates.

It provides both reassurance that Colorados not some outlier, but its also daunting in that it makes it hard to change crime rates.

Violent crime incidents recorded by law enforcement include homicides, aggravated assaults, robberies and sexual assaults. Colorado saw its highest violent crime rate in 1992, at 578.8 incidents per 100,000 people. The rates mostly trended downward, with a smaller spike around 2005, before beginning to rise again around 2014 and 2015.

Criminologists generally caution against ascribing changes in crime numbers to any one policy or behavior, since spikes and ebbs in crime are influenced by complex webs of factors.

Jack Reed, the research director in the Division of Criminal Justice who prepared the presentation, said another challenge of understanding changes in data is that crime numbers compiled by law enforcement agencies only reflect incidents that are reported.

So changes in crime trends could reflect more or less willingness to report incidents to police, and not just mean there is more or less crime, he said.

So for me, that's always the kind of the difficulty. When I do look at Colorado compared to national trends, it's hard to know with these changes nationally, are they indicative of actual changes in behavior, or are they indicative of other things like reporting?

Colorado has seen a generally upward trend in aggravated assaults  which include shootings and stabbings  since 2016, according to the presentation compiled by the Division of Criminal Justice. The rise is mirrored by a rise in the state and the U.S. as a whole in aggravated assaults involving guns  especially pronounced among juveniles -- which stood out to Reed as startling.

The difference between aggravated assault and homicide is just luck, he said, though in his interview with The Denver Gazette he didnt express any policy opinions. So of all of the data in this report, thats probably the one piece thats the most concerning for me.

He attributed a sharp drop in Colorados drug charge filings in district courts since 2019, and a less pronounced drop in criminal filings overall, to a decrease in felony filings because of a law change that reclassified many drug possession charges from felonies to misdemeanors.

In 2019, Colorados drug charge filings in district court were at the highest point since 2012, with 17,618 cases. But that number dropped to 5,201 in 2021, according to the presentation.

It was really felony drug filings that was driving the overall increase in district court filings.  And so really, the felony filing increase was driven by drugs, and the decrease was driven by drugs, Reed said.

Beck said hes encouraged by trends in property crimes rates, which in Colorado have stayed mostly flat since around 2007 and generally gone down nationwide since the mid-1980s, a contrast to other types of crime trends.

There are some signs for hope in the data as well.
After five months of nearly uninterrupted surges, Colorado's COVID-19 case and hospitalization rates have tumbled to their lowest levels since August and the vast majority of the state is projected to be immune to the virus' dominant strain.
Thirty Douglas County teachers have resigned from the school district in the two weeks since superintendent Corey Wise was fired by the Douglas County Board of Education, although its not known whether all of those departures were a flag of protest over his termination.
By Trend

The Azerbaijani people are visiting the 'Mother's Cry' monument, erected in the Khatai district of Baku to commemorate victims of the Khojaly genocide, on the occasion of the tragedys 30th anniversary, Trend reports.

Most of the visitors are expressing confidence that the Armenian fascists, organizers and perpetrators of the Khojaly genocide, will be brought to justice and punished.

The ceremony, during which the Azerbaijani people are honoring the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide, is also aimed at informing the international community about this monstrous crime against humanity and shows that the Azerbaijani people will never forget this tragedy.

Armenian Armed Forces, on the night of February 25-26, 1992, attacked the city of Khojaly with the support of the 366th motorized rifle regiment which was stationed in another Azerbaijani city Khankandi, committed genocide of Khojaly residents. As a result of the massacre of the civilians, 613 residents of Khojaly, including 106 women, 70 old people and 63 children, were killed, and 487 civilians became disabled from bullet wounds.

As a result of the genocide, eight families were completely killed, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one of them. The fate of 150 persons out of the 1,275 civilian hostages is still unknown.




By Trend

The State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan is in close contact with diaspora organizations and their activists in Ukraine due to the situation in the country, the State Committee told Trend.

According to him, over 200 Azerbaijani citizens in Ukraine appealed to the operational headquarters of the Rada of Ukrainian Azerbaijanis with a request for evacuation. Azerbaijani students of Ukrainian universities were also among them.

It is scheduled to deliver the applicants through the border countries with Ukraine to Azerbaijan. The State Committee is working in coordination with the relevant Azerbaijani state bodies on the evacuation of compatriots from Ukraine, the committee said.

In case of any problems, Azerbaijanis can contact the round-the-clock operational headquarters of the Rada of Ukrainian Azerbaijanis by phone +380 97 070 0085 and e-mail [email protected], the statement said.
By Trend

The international community hasnt taken any action against the massacre in Azerbaijans Khojaly, Turkish Ambassador Cahit Bagci said during visit to Morhers Cry monument in Baku, Trend reports.

According to Bagci, the world remained deaf and blind to the massacre.

He noted that four UN resolutions on Azerbaijans Karabakh [which were adopted in 1993 and demanded Armenian armed forces withdraw from occupied territories of Azerbaijan] remained unfulfilled, however, Azerbaijan achieved victory in the 2020 second Karabakh war [by liberating the territories from Armenian occupation].

Today we are in front of the Mother's Cry monument to share the grief of our brothers. We must not only honor the memory of the Khojaly victims, but also talk about it crime, not forgetting about it, the ambassador said.

May the Almighty rest the souls of those who died in Khojaly, the martyrs of the first and second Karabakh wars," added Bagci.

Armenian Armed Forces, on the night of February 25-26, 1992, attacking the city of Khojaly with the support of the 366th motorized rifle regiment which was stationed in another Azerbaijani city Khankandi, committed genocide of Khojaly residents. As a result of massacre of the civilians, 613 residents of Khojaly, including 106 women, 70 old people and 63 children, were killed, and 487 civilians became disabled from bullet wounds.

As a result of the genocide, eight families were completely killed, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one of them. The fate of 150 persons out of the 1,275 civilian hostages is still unknown.
A few weeks ago, a silver lab by the name of Tess was captured by Mason City Animal Control. Officer Dave Houser had spent the last several months fielding calls from residents about a dog living in a wooded area in southeast Mason City.

And despite the best efforts of Houser and members of the neighborhood, Tess had been able to evade capture throughout this winter.

Despite a ligament injury in her leg, Tess thrived in her wooded home. When surveying the area, Houser found old pizza boxes, garbage bags, and cracker boxes that Tess had foraged for food.

There was even a stuffed toy fox she had left on one of her trails in the area.

The DNR had trail cameras set up in the area Tess was living in, and after Houser looked through the footage, they found her home in a large cement culvert. Houser set up a large live trap near her home, and two days later, she was caught and brought into the Humane Society of North Iowa (HSNI).

Sybil Soukup, Executive Director of HSNI was grateful for all the hard work Houser did to capture Tess.

Not every city has Animal Control Officers, and even those that do dont often find officers who go to the lengths Dave Houser did to bring Tess here. said Soukup.

Soukup and other caretakers at HSNI were worried initially that Tess would have difficulty readjusting to life with humans, but were pleasantly surprised upon receiving her.

Nobodys been able to lay hands on this dog for months. So we were very worried about her ability to be able to be around humans We were kind of expecting her to be a little bit wild. Not at all shes just been the biggest sweetheart. She just wants to cuddle with people and be loved. said Soukup.

Tess has been spending time in the front of the shelter with the HSNI employees, getting treats and pets as she makes her rounds throughout the lobby. After experiencing Tesss ease in returning to human companionship, it was obvious to Soukup that Tess had been somebodys pet at some point.

We went through all the (missing animal reports) we had on file, and nothing, said Soukup. They put her online for a few weeks, and nobody claimed her, So we dont really know what her story is. But at this point, were ready to write her a new ending.

But as of Friday, Tess has finally returned to her owners, the McDonough family. According to a post by HSNI, Tess went missing from her home in rural Nora Springs after being frightened by fireworks last July. After showing up at every sighting of Tess for two months, the McDonoughs had given up on getting Tess back.

HSNI shared a video on Thursday calling for donations for Tess's surgery, and it made it's way to Nicci McDonough. They have no idea how she ended up living at least 10 miles from home, according to HSNI:

"It was an emotional reunion for everyone, including Tess who had missed 'her boy' Decker (McDonough) terribly."

Rae Burnette is a GA and Crime & Courts Reporter at the Globe Gazette. You can reach her by phone at 641.421.0523 or at Rae.Burnette@GlobeGazette.com

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Among the different ways to trick yourself into saving, money-saving challenges are some of the most engaging. Here are a few to consider.
Not quite up to braving the crowds on Bourbon Street this year? No worries! Heres how to safely celebrate Mardi Gras at home with great food, drink and festivity.

Hurricanes

Whats New Orleans without a taste of the citys quintessential fruity signature cocktail? Stock up with the supplies youll need to shake one up at home  light and dark rum; fresh orange, lime and passion fruit juices; grenadine; and a maraschino cherry for garnish. Or, leave the mixing to the pros and just order a bottled mix from the Pat OBriens online gift shop.

Craft beer

If craft beers more your jam, good news!

And what's Mardi Gras without a good brew? New Orleans is home to a number of reputable microbreweries; the outputs from Brieux Carre and NOLA Brewing Company both come highly recommended by locals.

King cakes

A sweet symbol of Mardi Gras, Randazzos Camellia City Bakery makes king cakes from a family recipe more than 50 years old in Slidell and ship the delicious frosted confections across the country.

Rum cream

For a drinkable version of the New Orleans favorite seasonal treat, Gambinos Bakery produces a King Cake Rum Cream made with aged Caribbean spirits, fresh Wisconsin cream and a dash of spice. Cheers.

Beignet mix

Fire up the deep fryer for a batch of beignets, delectable square-shaped pastries buried under an avalanche of powdered sugar.

Then close your eyes and pretend youre eating them al fresco at the original Cafe du Monde French Quarter cafe in New Orleans.

Chicory coffee

Made not from beans, but from an earthy ground root that lends a bracing bitter note to your morning cuppa, chicory coffee from New Orleans Roast is the perfect accompaniment to wash down fresh beignets, king cakes or any sweet treat.

Hot sauce

New Orleans locals like to jazz up their gumbo and jambalaya with a dash of something spicy. Around these parts, those in the know wouldnt dream of reaching for anything but Crystal Hot Sauce, the beloved regional condiment of choice since 1923.

Beads

To get into the party spirit, youll need to load up on beads in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of green, purple and gold (available to order in bulk here or at most party stores across the country).
GREENSBORO  Roughly 40 people gathered in silence at UNCG on Friday, remembering those caught in the chaos and fear of the Russian invasion of Ukraine thousands of miles away.

"We just wanted to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to observe a moment of silence in recognition of this Russian aggression," said Kathleen Macfie, the university's director of international and global studies.

Most people who attended wore stickers showing Ukraine's blue and yellow flag. UNCG arts history professor Elizabeth Perrill laid daffodils at the base of a statue of Minerva, goddess of wisdom and womens arts, where the gathering was held at the campus.

Perrill urged the gatherers to remember how these types of conflicts affect families.

"I think of the mothers of the children, and the families ripped apart," she said, her voice breaking.

Sebastian Newlin, a 19-year-old sophomore at the university, said he lived in Ukraine for two years when his father worked at the embassy there. He graduated from high school in Kyiv, the nation's capital, and was last there in December 2020.

"It's a tough world right now and even in these tough times, you got to stay strong," said Newlin, who still has friends who are living Ukraine. "I really appreciate everybody's support."

Sarah Krive, a UNCG lecturer specializing in Russian language and literature, said she was "just seized by the need to do something.

"Part of my heart is in that part of the world," she told those gathered. "For what it's worth, there are Russians protesting. ... There are people who are protesting who are being beaten and arrested."

She was grateful for the event organized by Macfie on Friday.

"We have students from the region and students passionate about studying the region, and this is just devastating for everyone," Krive said.

"It's good to come together in person ... in support of the Ukrainians," Krive said, even though it's "largely in sorrow for military aggression that's unprovoked.

"As a university, our goal is to educate and inform. Not just train people, but to provide students with the tools to deeper understand what's going on in the world," she said. "It gives great irony to the term teachable moment. That's the sad part of it."

Contact Kenwyn Caranna at 336-373-7082 and follow @kcaranna on Twitter.

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Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine under several pretexts reminds me of Adolf Hitlers rationale for invading and annexing Sudetenland in 1938 and his invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland a year later. Then, as now, the excuse was that German-speaking people (then) and Russian-speaking people (now) wanted to be part of Germany (then) and Mother Russia (now).

In both cases the excuses for invasion, occupation and murder were just that  excuses. Some commentators say there has been nothing like Putins invasion of Ukraine since World War II. There are dwindling numbers of people alive who lived through that period and witnessed the evil of Nazi brutality and genocide.

Ronald Reagan lived through that era. This is why he coined the phrase evil empire to describe the Soviet Union. Its one thing to read about evil in history books, but it is quite another to have witnessed it. One need only listen to Holocaust survivors for a powerful lesson in how deep human depravity can sink if it is not opposed.

One of the definitions of evil is The force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin. In our age of moral relativity where nearly everything is tolerated and justified  except people who oppose the new societal norms  who speaks of wickedness and sin? Its getting harder to find preachers known for sermons on the subject.

Albert Einstein, who was German and Jewish, and who lived through that dark period of mass slaughter, was right when he observed: The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who dont do anything about it.

As with a serious disease, early detection is the best path to treatment and a possible cure. Though there is no immediate cure for evil, free nations can control its spread.

Its worth revisiting Reagans evil empire speech to the British House of Commons on June 8, 1982. Reagans observations about evil were profound. While his references were to the Soviet Union and repressive regimes everywhere, his words equally apply to that regimes ideological heir, Vladimir Putin and other dictators.

Reagan said: If history teaches anything, it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly. This was British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains folly when he declared peace for our time after meeting with Adolf Hitler in Munich and believing Hitlers promise not to seize more territory.

While Reagans policy of peace through strength worked, he told the Commons that military power was only part of the mix: Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used, for the ultimate determinant in the struggle thats now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated.

World War II came about in part, said Reagan, because the West allowed dictators to underestimate us. Now we see the reverse. The Biden administration is underestimating our enemies and projecting weakness. They think they can negotiate with the likes of Putin, Chinas Xi and Irans ayatollahs when the only thing these and other dictators understand is power, resolve and resistance.

Learn that lesson and the world becomes a safer place. Failure to learn it produces what we are witnessing in Ukraine and may soon see in Taiwan, not to mention in an Iran equipped with nuclear weapons and a religious rationale for using them.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
By Trend

World Trade Organization (WTO) members agreed to initiate negotiations on the accession of Turkmenistan to the organization at a meeting of the General Council held on February 23, Trend reports citing the organization.

Turkmenistans application to join the WTO in accordance with Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement was received on November 24, 2021 and was scheduled to be discussed at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) the following week until the meeting was postponed due to the outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

During the meeting, it was decided to establish a Working Group to oversee negotiations between members and Turkmenistan's accession to the WTO.

Speaking at the meeting Atageldi Haljanov, Turkmenistans Permanent Representative to the UN noted that Turkmenistans decision to become an acceding country at the WTO demonstrates the countrys objective to adhere to the rules of the multilateral trading system.

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the decision to establish a working party marks a significant step in Turkmenistan's relationship with the multilateral trading system.

"By creating a working party for Turkmenistan's accession, the General Council has now completed the WTO accession map in Central Asia, one of our most active regions for expanding membership," she said.

Turkmenistan obtained WTO observer status on July 22, 2020, which allowed the country to be aware of the current multilateral trade agenda and rules of the organization.
A Montana District Court judge ruled Friday that nurse practitioners and nurse midwives may perform early-term abortions in the state.

Lewis and Clark County District Court Judge Mike Menahan ruled in favor of Helen Weems, a nurse practitioner in Whitefish, and a second plaintiff listed as Jane Doe, a nurse midwife. In 2018 ACLU Montana and the Center for Reproductive Rights filed suit, challenging the constitutionality of a Montana law that restricted abortion providers to physicians and physician assistants.

Todays decision is a huge win for Montanans. Recognizing nurse practitioners and nurse midwives as safe, competent, legal providers of abortion is a significant step forward in making abortion more accessible in our state, Weems said in a statement. We live in a huge state with a very real scarcity of abortion providers. Opening the field to all qualified providers will go a long way in meeting the essential health care needs of all Montanans.

The lawsuit argued that abortion services fell within the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses and is accepted by licensing boards. They routinely perform more complex procedures as well as comparable care, such as care for miscarriages, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit has passed from former Montana Attorney General Tim Fox to current Attorney General Austin Knudsen. The justice department has argued that the law balances individual rights with the states interest in the health and safety of patients.

A Knudsen spokesperson on Friday was critical of the ruling.

Once again abortionists sued to lower the standard of care for Montana women in order to further their financial interests in performing as many abortions as possible, spokesperson Emilee Cantrell said in a statement.

The attorney general plans to appeal the ruling to the Montana Supreme Court, she said.

Before 1995, physicians and one physician assistant provided abortion services in Montana. That same year the Legislature passed a law that only allowed physicians to perform the procedure.

The Montana Supreme Court in 1999 struck down that law in the case Armstrong v. State, ruling that keeping a woman from having a legal medical procedure, like an abortion, from a medical provider of her choosing was unconstitutional because it infringed on her right to individual privacy.

Knudsen, while defending a slate of abortion restrictions past in the last Legislature, recently called for that 1999 decision to be overturned.

In 2005, the Legislature changed the law to restrict those who could perform abortions to licensed physicians and physician assistants.

The 2018 lawsuit resulted in a District Court judge blocking the law from taking effect, allowing Weems and Doe to perform abortion care pending the outcome of the litigation. In 2019 the Montana Supreme Court narrowly upheld the District Courts ruling.

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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Two former state officials said they are considering pushing for nonpartisan primary elections in Montana, a move they said will allow candidates regardless of their political leanings to be on all primary ballots, hopefully weed out extremists and serve a larger majority of voters.

Former Gov. Marc Racicot and former Secretary of State Bob Brown said the effort is in the early stages, but they hope to soon approach some state legislators about it.

They said this is a system used in Alaska and Louisiana and would allow candidates who have not been groomed by a party alone to move to the great middle.

Racicot is a Republican and Brown is a longtime Republican who became an Independent in July 2020, after leaving the GOP citing "consistently ignorant and irresponsible" leadership by then-President Donald Trump.

Brown, when discussing this proposal, likes to quote William Boss Tweed, a famously corrupt New York political power broker from the mid- to late-1800s, who said "I don't care who does the electing, as long as I get to do the nominating."

Racicot said this change would give the general public a much more substantive opportunity to make value judgments on candidates based on how qualified they are, as well as their priorities and how they match up with mine as a voter.

Brown said the nonpartisan primary allows candidates from all parties on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters move on to the general election.

He said it gives voters more freedom and forces candidates to take a broader approach to garner votes.

Brown and Racicot said several other states, such as Washington and Alaska, have such a system.

Montana has open primaries, which allow voters to vote in any partys primary election.

Brown said there are political extremes in both parties and those tend to be the people who participate in primary elections.

The true believers who feel most strongly about issues and politics are the ones who participate in the primary elections, he said.

He said in a general election, the public has a choice between two extremists and therefore only an extremist can win.

Its a real shortcoming in our political system, Brown said.

He said states that have gone with a nonpartisan primary seem to elect more problem-solvers.

Brown said they hope the Legislature would enact the reform.

It seems to me to be the kind of thing Republicans and Democrats could team up on and agree on, he said. It would give more authority to the people and take power away from political bosses.

Jeremy Johnson, associate professor of political science at Carroll College, said there is interest nationwide by different groups for changes to a nominating system for candidates.

Changing the rules on the primary in itself wont have a major effect on American politics, he said, but it has the potential of moving the needle.

Officials with both major political parties in Montana were asked their thoughts on such a change to the primary system.

"We havent seen the proposal so we cant comment on the hypothetical, however we are laser-focused on electing Democrats who will create good paying jobs, lower costs for working families, and grow our economy," said from Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party.

The Montana Republican Party did not offer comment.

Racicot has recently stepped back into the spotlight to discuss divisiveness in the country and has called for a return to civility in politics. On Dec. 8, he outlined his frustrations at a meeting of the Montana Taxpayers Association, saying he believed fidelity to the country was at risk.

He also spoke on his worries at a Mansfield Center speech in January. And most recently criticized the Republican National Committee, which he chaired in 2002-2003, for censuring GOP Reps. Liz Chaney and Adam Kinzinger for participating in the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington, D.C.

Racicot said there wasnt one issue in particular that made him step back into the spotlight, but instead several developments that sparked him into action.

But he said he has been heartened by the support he has received in a short period of time.

I dont have any inside information or empirical evidence, the former Republican governor said in a recent telephone interview. He said since 2016 these issues he has been talking about have been coursing through my heart and mind a great deal.

Brown said it is as if Racicot resurfaced from hibernation.

He is such a beautiful writer and beautiful, effective communicator, Brown said. His ability to do that can go beyond the boundaries of Montana.

I think there is great sentiment out there for change, he said.

Brown said many people, including Republicans, are suffering from Trump fatigue.

I think the country is hungry for somebody who will speak up with a hopeful and hungry voice and expose Trump and say what we need to hear now, he said.

Racicot has hit a nerve in the body politic, Brown said. He has done that better than anyone in my life. I think what he is saying is a message people are looking for and want to hear.

He said it is his belief it wont die and will give rise to other public officials to speak out.

Racicot said he started talking with people around Montana and the country and felt a resolute belief that after the campaign of 2020 and the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection that we have to do something about it or lose our Democracy and Republic.

Ive been thinking about it a very long time, he said, saying he put his thoughts on paper.

Racicot, 73, said he was surprised as to how it impacted the audience at the meeting. A news story on his speech, which included a recording of the meeting, was picked up by several news agencies.

He said he found that others in the United States had similar feelings.

I received so many calls that I thought people would argue with me and they wanted to say they agreed with me and asked how to help, Racicot said.

Its a very difficult topic to talk about in 30 seconds, he said. We are all moving so fast.

He said he is looking for the great middle of U.S. citizens to step forward.

Johnson, the Carroll College professor, said Racicots comments carry weight. He said Racicot had a lot of stature in the Republican Party pre-Donald Trump.

And he said what Racicot said in his letter to the RNC is true.

Its a fascinating study in politics how Donald Trump has bent the Republican Party for his own personal interest, Johnson said. Personal loyalty is important to Trump, but the facts on the ground are not important.

Johnson said he discounts some critics who have said Racicot is a "Republican In Name Only," commonly called a RINO.

I dont use that terminology, he said, adding that Racicot is a sincerely dedicated Republican. You are what you say you are.

I will say he is out of step with the Trump Republican Party, Johnson said, adding that will play out in a few years.

Racicot during a Feb. 17 interview on Dan Abrams Live said he is a conservative and has no desire to leave his party. He said he was to the center right of the political spectrum.

I have no desire or inclination to abandon my party, I have been a part of it for many decades, he said.

Racicot said he is also pushing for campaign finance reform, saying it has gotten out of hand and calling the millions spent to get into political office obscene.

He said it makes candidates lazy. They sit back and sling arrows at each other  they spend way too much time raising it and too little time as to how it should judiciously be used.

Racicot believes such changes are possible and he has seen it happen.

I think we start here, he said. We begin by voicing our expectations, proceed with public business in a way that shows self-discipline.

Racicot said people can still cling to their principles.

But there are ways that dont leave jagged edges and deep fissures in a community, he said.

You can watch "Dan Abrams Live" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go0UWNouyvg.

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

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DECATUR Macon County Conservation District is hosting a county-wide Wildlife Art Contest this spring for children and teens to participate in

Students in grades K-12 are encouraged to create an original work of two-dimensional art in the medium of their choice (excluding photography) depicting native Illinois plant or animal wildlife in their natural habitat. Creativity is highly encouraged.

Entries will be divided into four categories, based on grade level: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Macon County Conservation District staff will carefully consider all entries and choose a first, second, and third place winner in each age group. Winners will have their art displayed in Rock Springs Nature Center from May through August 2022. First place winners will receive a $25 Blick gift card for art supplies.

Entries are due Monday, April 11. Mail or deliver entriesy to Rock Springs Nature Center c/o Alysia Callison, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL 62521. Include the name of the artist and their guardian, the artists age, grade, school (if applicable), and a phone number where the artists guardian can be reached.

Winners will be notified Wednesday, April 20. For more information, contact Alysia Callison at (217) 423-7708 or visit MaconCountyConservation.org.

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Its no secret that the Normal-raised, top 10 American Idol contestant Leah Marlene had set her heart on musical ambitions early on in life. In fact, its long been public record.

The Pantagraphs Flying Horse page got a glimpse of Marlene's dream in the making about ten years ago. Check out the story below to hear what she had to say about a career in music when she was in fifth grade.
GURNEE  State police said a 28-year-old Harvey man has been charged in connection with a carjacking Wednesday in Chicago while two 16-year-old girls have been charged separately in a carjacking that occurred Tuesday in Alsip.

Police said Jordan Henry is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing and eluding following a chase that ended up near the interchange of Interstates 55 and 80.

He is being held at the Will County Jail on $1 million bail and would have to post 10%, or $100,000, to be released, police said. His next court date is March 17, according to jail records.

Police said they received an alert at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to a carjacking and spotted the vehicle traveling south on Interstate 94 at 75th Street and tried to stop the driver.

Police pursued and the chase ended near I-55 and I-80 when the vehicle crashed into a ditch, and Henry attempted to run off, according to police. A police K-9 unit was involved in the foot pursuit, according to police.

Separately, state police that two girls were arrested and charged following a carjacking in Alsip which resulted in a chase that ended at I-55 and I-94.

Police said they received notification shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday of a Chevrolet Cruze taken in a carjacking in Alsip.

A state trooper spotted the vehicle at 11:18 p.m. near 93rd Street and Stony Island Avenue in Chicago and attempted to pull the vehicle over, according to police.

A pursuit ended when the car crashed on the ramp from I-55 north to I-94 north, police said.

The teens were taken to a hospital as a precaution, police said.

One of the girls was charged with aggravated fleeing and aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, while the other charged with trespassing to a vehicle, police said.

No other information regarding the pair was available and it was not immediately clear where in Alsip the carjacking had taken place.

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The man stood on the Amtrak train platform in Roanoke, wheeled luggage at the ready, a smile on his face that placed his expression somewhere between resignation and exasperation.

The reason for his attitude wasnt hard to discern. He had brought his bags up the ramp right around 6:20 a.m., just as the passenger train had begun to roll north toward Washington, D.C., and New York City. The trains languorous pace tantalized him with an opportunity to take a long look at the train he had just missed as it lumbered away into the dark.

In Roanoke, once you miss that early morning train, you dont really have any other option for the day, unless you have the ability and the reckless impulse to lead foot a vehicle to Lynchburg and catch the same train there  an impulse that might not leave you, um, wreckless.

Depending on the destination, someone in that mans predicament could soon get a second chance to get where they want to go in the manner they wanted to get there, should events conspire to keep one from boarding the first train of the day.

Plans are in the works for a second train to bring travelers to and from Roanoke. As outlined in previous coverage by Roanoke Times reporter Jeff Sturgeon, this second train would arrive about 1:45 p.m. and leave around 4:30 p.m. It would go as far as Washington, D.C., unlike the morning train, which goes all the way to Boston. This new rail option will come about as the result of a partnership between Amtrak, Norfolk Southern and the state of Virginia.

The word has not yet been given as to exactly when this second train will start serving Roanoke, beyond an estimate of spring this year  but whenever that service begins, that will be great news.

Amtrak travel from Roanoke remains a different experience from the cram-packed train cars that run through the East Coasts urban sprawl. The train isnt crowded, and if you happen to be alert, youll be treated to lovely Virginia countryside as its slowly revealed by the sunrise.

You wont be squashed, as happens with airplane travel if you have a waistline wider than 5 inches. (Yes, thats hyperbole, but not by much.) If you own a laptop or tablet, getting extra work done is easy, as the ride is roomy and relatively smooth, and the train offers Wi-Fi.

Bringing your own supplies for assembling a sandwich can feel a little like risk taking as the train car occasionally wobbles along the tracks, but it can be done.

This mode of travel has proved compatible with the Roanoke region. Its both old and new  passenger rail was once routine in the Star City, but a 38-year hiatus passed before Amtrak service began in 2017. Usage has proven heavier than Amtrak anticipated. In the last fiscal year completed before the pandemic, 55,000 passengers disembarked in Roanoke.

Theres even more good news looming. If you live a county or two east or west of the Star City, you are eventually going to have more train-hopping options, as potential places to board that are in range of the Roanoke Valley are going to triple.

In May 2021, then-Gov. Ralph Northam announced a $257.2 million investment in the Western Rail Initiative, designed to expand Amtrak service to the New River Valley, with the funding earmarked for acquisition of right of way and track and infrastructure improvements. The goal is to have Amtrak trains clickety-clacketing to the Christiansburg area starting in 2025. Officials estimate that once that happens, 80,000 new riders will fill those comfortable train seats.

On Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. and again on March 1 at noon, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will present the results of a survey conducted to determine where to build a passenger rail station in the New River Valley (the meetings are virtual  to register to attend, visit https://transformingrailva.com/events). Of the locations under study, three are in Christiansburg, and one is in the Ellett Valley southeast of Blacksburg.

Groundwork is also being laid to arrange a third train for the Roanoke platform that will shuttle to the New River Valley station and back, hopefully providing a welcome alternative to tractor-trailer-heavy Interstate 81 for the many commuters between the two locales.

After 2025, the state will start looking into what it will take to extend the service all the way to Bristol, something rail advocates there have long cried out for. On the very first ride when Amtrak service renewed in Roanoke, which took place in 2017 on Halloween morning, residents from Bristol drove up in the pre-dawn hours to board the train and raise awareness for their cause.

Meanwhile, a push to place an Amtrak station in Bedford has also gathered steam. A study estimated that the planned rail stop at the 6,600-population town, including a platform and a station, will cost about $11 million to build, with a projected completion date of 2025.

As far as were concerned, the more the merrier. Its better for traffic, better for the environment, better for the peace of mind of travelers.

If you happened to guess, by chance, that this essay was drafted while its author was riding an Amtrak train, your guess was absolutely correct.
RTHK: 115,000 Ukrainians cross border into Poland: official

Poland's Deputy Interior Minister Pawel Szefernaker on Saturday said 115,000 people had crossed the border into Poland from Ukraine since Russia's attack started this week.

Just four hours earlier he had put the number at 100,000 arrivals, showing just how quickly the refugees are flowing into their EU neighbour.

"At this moment, there are 115,000 people who have crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border since the war erupted" on Thursday, Szefernaker told reporters in the border village of Dorohusk, eastern Poland.

The head of the Polish border guard, Tomasz Praga, said nearly 50,000 people had crossed into Poland from Ukraine on Friday alone.

Poland, which was already home to an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainians before Russia's attack and which has expressed steadfast support for Ukraine, has so far seen the bulk of those fleeing Ukraine cross into its territory.

"More than 150,000 Ukrainian refugees have now crossed into neighbouring countries, half of them to Poland, and many to Hungary, Moldova, Romania and beyond," UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi tweeted on Saturday.

"Displacement in Ukraine is also growing but the military situation makes it difficult to estimate numbers and provide aid," he added.

Szefernaker said 90 percent of the refugees entering Poland have places to go, such as the homes of friends or family, but the remainder are seeking help at nine reception centres set up along the border.

The centres offer meals, medical care and a place to rest, as well as any necessary information.

Those with nowhere to go are then taken by bus to various accommodation options prepared in advance. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

The White House asked Congress on Friday to approve $6.4 billion in aid to address the humanitarian and security crisis in Ukraine, Biden administration and congressional aides said, Trend reports citing Reuters.

"In a recent conversation with lawmakers, the administration identified the need for additional U.S. humanitarian, security, and economic assistance to Ukraine and Central European partners," an official from the White House Office of Management and Budget said.

The request included $2.9 billion in security and humanitarian assistance and $3.5 billion for the Department of Defense.
Four juveniles have been charged in connection with the theft of a car from the Valley Hills Mall after the car was located in Florida on Thursday, Hickory police announced on Friday.

Police say the Buick Century was found at a gas station in Palm Coast, Florida, when a local deputy spotted the car and identified it as the stolen car.

Four juveniles were in the vehicle. Their names were not given but they were described as a 15-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, a 15-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl. All four juveniles had been reported as missing to either the Hickory or Long View police departments.

All four were charged with grand theft of the motor vehicle.

Authorities in North Carolina and Florida are working together to bring the four back to North Carolina.

The car, which belongs to 83-year-old Conover resident Dorothy Jarrett, was stolen on Monday.

Jarrett said earlier this week she was confronted by a male covered in dark clothing who demanded her keys at gunpoint.

They have my house keys, my information is in my car, everything, even took my coat, Jarrett said.

The 15-year-old boy is facing an additional charge of carrying a concealed weapon while committing a felony because police believe he was the one who robbed Jarrett.

He was found with a BB air pistol and a black ski mask, according to the police.

Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record.

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The first case of COVID-19 was reported in North Carolina on March 3, 2020, and I watched and read from afar as the panic that had been spreading around the world reached my hometown.

Two weeks later the pandemic landed on this island in the South Pacific, and brought home the reality of there being no escaping it. The Republic of Fiji promptly closed its borders to international travel.

During 20 months without tourism, there was a sense of paradise lost, but now Fiji is on the rebound in large part because of a 90% vaccination rate among the targeted adult population.

Latest figures have the vaccination rate in North Carolina at 80%, counting residents with at least one shot. However, according to COVID-19 data analysis by public health experts, Catawba County continues to have an extremely high transmission rate, with the vaccinated being at a lesser risk.

How was herd immunity achieved in Fiji, a nation with superstitions and suspicions being the more longstanding traditions than the Christianity spread by missionaries or the Hinduism and Islam brought by indentured servants from India?

I was able to observe the answer during the past two years.

I left Hickory on Jan. 5, 2020, after helping to close my mothers estate. My return ticket, one is required of non-citizens entering the country, was dated May 5, 2020  the duration of the four-month visitors visa stamped in my passport upon arrival.

The plan was to re-book and use this tourist destination as a hub in traveling at three- to four-month intervals over a couple of years to Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and South Korea.

Weeks after my arrival here, the coronavirus began to dominate world news, with reports of lockdowns and travel restrictions spanning the globe. It took a little time for COVID-19 to reach this archipelago 1,300 miles north of New Zealand. The first case was reported March 19, 2020, and a week later, an international lockdown was imposed.

There was to be no travel elsewhere for me; not even a return home was possible. From March 2020 to December 2021, I was stranded. But I was stranded in paradise, right?

The virus had arrived from Los Angeles after a Fiji Airways flight attendant broke quarantine protocol and left his layover hotel to attend a party. After initial alarm, COVID-19 was contained to relatively few cases and a single death thanks to contact-tracing, mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing and an 11 p.m. curfew.

Within a month, the restrictions were eased, and public interactions mostly returned to normal.

Except there were no tourists!

Fiji depends on tourists

That was devastating in a nation with tourism accounting for 40% of the Gross Domestic Product and 20% of the population working in travel-related jobs.

After losing jobs, thousands of people fled cities and returned to villages. Fijians have agrarian roots, and on the tropical islands, uncultivated fruits and vegetables are plentiful as well.

Yet, while blessed with year-round harvests of bountiful crops including cassava, taro, breadfruit, bananas, pineapples and mangos, about 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. The rate is even higher among indigenous Fijians.

Opposition political parties attribute that economic reality to overreliance on tourism and a minimum hourly wage equivalent to $1.16 in the United States. The ruling party contends the official figures do not account for citizens who earn little money but live off the land.

Even before the international lockdown, Fiji was dependent on aid from Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Korea, the European Union and the United States, with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund acting in fiduciary roles.

Initially, the only COVID-19 economic stimulus for a population of nearly a million was the government allowing people to make limited withdrawals from their pension funds. Some 60,000 pension funds were exhausted.

Despite hardships, 2020 ended with Fiji grateful COVID-19 had not run rampant through its rudimentary hospitals and health-care system as international news media had warned.

Fijians were able to watch at a distance as the virus ravaged much of the rest of the world, crippling economies in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and direly affecting Africa as well as nearby Australia and New Zealand.

The pandemic brought a measure of world equality in the vulnerability faced by all humanity, and people on remote islands across the South Pacific gave pause at seeing world powers stagger and buckle at the knees.

The promise of Fiji being a paradise seemed to be holding true.

In early 2021, ahead of an election year, the Fijian government began to applaud itself in international circles for having contained the virus. There was talk of partially lifting the international lockdown and creating travel bubbles with Australia and New Zealand  the sources of most tourists and immigrants with money, or expatriates.

Then came delta

The virulent delta strain arrived on a flight from India in April 2021, and there was no quick containment this time. At a quarantine hotel used by repatriation-flight passengers, the virus spread from a traveler to a hotel worker and security soldier. The virus then crossed the nation after a housekeeper attended a large, several-day funeral in the capital, Suva.

The government promptly reinstated mask and social-distancing mandates, and in a national lockdown shuttered non-essential businesses, closed schools and places of worship and barred inter-island transport. For weeks, town centers were largely empty day and night  with street views much like those of Wuhan, China, at the outbreak of the pandemic.

A 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily curfew was imposed, then mercifully amended to 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. There were several-day lockdowns of neighborhood and village hotspots, with government health workers and the military delivering food and household supplies to families ordered not to leave their homes.

Police and military personnel maintained checkpoints at major intersections to enforce travel restrictions. The local news was dominated by reports of the number of new cases of the virus, which increased daily until briefly exceeding 1,000, and the number of people arrested for violating curfew.

On Fijis two main islands, containment zones with no entry or exit went into effect around major towns  stranding people working or studying away from home for weeks or months before special travel permits were issued to those testing negative for COVID-19.

Gatherings of more than 10 people were banned, and only essential businesses  supermarkets, pharmacies, banks and telecommunications centers  were allowed to operate. Within weeks, liquor stores were permitted to reopen, however.

One ramification of the curfew was that social drinking began earlier in the evening. The consumption of kava  an herbal concoction with a sedative effect and part of a cultural expression that has people drink communally from a wooden bowl, or tanao, with a shared coconut half-shell cup  was blamed for exacerbating the spread of the virus.

Kava drinking is so ingrained in Fijian culture that a government crackdown would have been political suicide for the ruling party. The same is true of the sale of alcoholic beverages, which was briefly banned in South Africa, India and Thailand during the pandemic.

Fiji is said to be a paradise, and it very well may be for foreigners on vacation enjoying its luxury resorts, pristine beaches, destination surfing and lush highlands.

But for the average Fijian, the closest thing to paradise comes at night with kava and alcoholic beverages consumed in crowded shanties visible to many tourists en route to their hotels. Some, however, dont see the shanties as they are flown by private planes and helicopters to resorts with nightly stays reaching $45,000.

Of course, this is not unique to Fiji; it is the same the world over. The working title of a book I am writing on European colonialism causing the current world inequality is The Bible, the Bottle and the Gun. Those mechanisms continue to be utilized by governments directly and indirectly to control people.

Fijis current government emerged from a 2006 coup and has been widely categorized as authoritarian or dictatorial by international organizations, including the United Nations.

Despite other well-documented failures, the government, amid intense national and international scrutiny, largely has done as well as could be expected in its response to COVID-19.

The delta variant blitzed through Fiji last May and June, and by July, the nation was second only to Tahiti in the number of virus cases per capita worldwide.

Fiji was on life-support, with predictions of economic collapse early last summer as most businesses were shuttered and peoples movements were greatly restricted. Responding to an inability to collect taxes from closed businesses, the calls of business owners and pleas from people whose jobs were suspended, the government lifted its ban on non-essential businesses even as virus cases rose. Only bars, cinemas, gyms and nightclubs remained shut.

A vaccinated Fiji

Fiji received its first vaccine delivery donated by the European Union-led Covax Facility on March 6, 2021. Those doses primarily went to frontline medical staff, hotel and hospitality workers and military/police personnel.

The general population began lining up for vaccination after the onset of delta, yet there was a good deal of hesitancy or outright resistance spawned in social media and from church pulpits. While most church groups eventually urged vaccination, some preachers railed that Fijians have natural immunity or that God would protect them.

Despite pressure from opposition parties and criticism from outside its borders, the government rejected calls for a repeat lockdown and instead focused on developing herd immunity through vaccinations.

The government instituted a No Jab, No Job policy for civil servants and encouraged business owners to adopt the same. Proof of vaccination was required to receive services such as registering an automobile or even entering a government building.

The critical component of the drive was the government issuing unemployment assistance of $360 FJD (U.S. $180) quarterly and making vaccination mandatory to receive the aid. While that money may not be much of an enticement in the United States, Fijians formed long lines and, by the end of September, some 80% of targeted adults had received at least one of two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Containment zones were lifted then, and many Fijians shed their masks and stopped social distancing. The curfew gradually was pushed back to commence at 7 p.m., then, 8, 9, 10 and 11 until by December it started at midnight.

Dec. 1, 2021, was the long-awaited date for Fiji to reopen its borders to air and sea travel or, essentially, for tourists and their money to return. But eight days before that date, the omicron variant was first reported in international news, and a new crisis emerged.

The Fiji government and Fiji Airways, both cash-strapped, determined to reopen anyway with requirements that tourists be vaccinated, get tested 72 hours before their flight and undergo rapid testing after arrival while staying at only approved resorts.

At the end of 2021, Fiji Health Minister James Fong reported 91.9% of the adult population had been vaccinated, as well as 39,857 citizens ages 12 to 17. He and education officials announced plans to reopen schools, which had been closed since early April 2021.

After concerns were raised by some educators and parents, schoolchildren ages 15 to 18 returned to the classroom in early January and those ages 6 to 14 on Feb. 7.

A month into a parliamentary election year, the government also lifted virtually all pandemic restrictions, including a 22-month overnight curfew, signaling a shift from a pandemic to an endemic strategy in addressing the coronavirus.

Days later, early into a mid-term election in the United States, states and cities began lifting mask mandates and other pandemic restrictions indicating an acceptance of living with COVID-19 in the foreseeable future.

I have contacted Fiji Airways periodically about returning to the United States, and passed on several repatriation flights  which were double the normal fare to compensate for a 14-day quarantine of flight crews and typically paid by employers to get workers home.

Just before the emergence of omicron, I visited the Fiji Airways main office and was told I could simply choose a date to return home at no additional charge using my round-trip ticket purchased two years ago.

I want to come home, but also I want home to change. Perhaps there is a sort of paradise in Fiji, far removed from the polarization and politicalizing of the pandemic, with half the population wearing masks and the other half shunning them in the U.S.

After coming home when my mother died in 2019, I remained in Hickory for five months and filled my time working a short walk from home as a cashier in the fuel station at the Walmart on Highway 70 West.

I would tell friends, I am the merchant of vice  selling alcohol, tobacco, junk food and beverage, lottery tickets and fossil fuel.

My checkout counter was a wide window onto America, perhaps the world. I would observe rich and poor, friends and strangers, as they got quick fixes of paradise in bottles, packages, fill-ups or scratch-off lottery cards.

And I would think to myself, Now I understand why the world does not change. It cannot change until we do.

Jason Jett, a former Hickory resident, is a contributor to the Hickory Daily Record. He filed this story from Nadi, a city of 30,000 in the nation of Fiji.
Local artists create murals in downtown Hickory

HICKORY  Downtown Hickory has two new murals and photo opportunities.

Chris Parsons and Bob Dennis have donated their time to paint these murals for downtown Hickory. The murals are located on the HMS wall across from the parking deck, at 246 First Ave., NW.

Parsons is a native of Fall Branch, Tennessee. He lives in Bethlehem with his wife, Lindee Parsons, their children and menagerie of pets. He earned his bachelor of science degree from East Tennessee State University and his master of arts degree from Gardner-Webb University.

Parsons is employed with Hickory Public Schools as the art teacher for Northview Middle School. His artwork has been on display in a variety of galleries in North Carolina including The Historic Gertrude Smith House in Mount Airy, Lenoir-Rhyne University and Full Circle Arts in Hickory, The Hiddenite Center in Hiddenite, and The Rock School in Valdese. His work has been purchased for private collections throughout the United States and around the world.

His influences include Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, and Bob Ross. He relies on a blend of styles and techniques to create his unique images. He draws his inspiration from nature, mythology, religion, science fiction, and popular culture.

Dennis has been involved in the business of art and graphic design since 1958, when he began doing commercial charcoal portraits at age 14. After observing art classes at the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore Maryland, he began to work in oils, and sold his first paintings in the 1960s. After a military tour as a Russian linguist from 1966 to 1970, he continued his work with graphic arts, and in 1971 participated in a joint project through the Smithsonian Institution, doing botanical illustrations for the U.S. Navy.

Having moved to Newton in 2008, he continues to produce murals, portraits, decorative paintings, and trompe loeil. He is an original member and past president of the UniFourArtists Association, and is currently co-founder and president of the Trade Alley Art gallery in downtown Hickory.

These murals were made possible by the contribution of Hickory Springs Manufacturing and are sponsored by Hickory Downtown Development Association.
People gathered for a vigil on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University on Friday, offering up prayers for the people of the Ukraine. The nation was invaded by Russian troops on Thursday.

I found out when I woke up yesterday, the war had started. As I drove into campus, I wasnt sure how to respond and what to do, Lenoir-Rhyne University Pastor Todd Cutter said. When I got here, I had an email from one of the faculty members who said, Could we possibly do a vigil? That led me to plan this. One of the things I like most about this community is people reach out and share ideas like that.

Cutter said he understood the university has students enrolled from Ukraine and Russia. He said he has received several emails and prayer requests from faculty and students that have family in the Ukraine region, as well.

Well gather for prayer, but part of what were praying for is that we will become people of action, Cutter said before the vigil in Grace Chapel. We will not just pray for peace, but that we will actively work for peace and stand against those who are causing harm.

There was a basket of cards in the main entrance of the chapel. A sign on the table encouraged visitors to write down their prayers for those impacted by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Visitors can also request prayers for themselves, family and friends.

The vigil started at noon with prayers of lament. O God, There are no words. As warfare rages in Ukraine, we lament the violence and death that unfolds. We lift before you those whose lives are filled with anxiety, uncertainty and destruction, Cutter said. We pray for an end to warfare and violence. Longing for the day when all in the world will recognize one another as fellow children of God and work together for peace and justice.

Cutter lighted three large candles displayed at the front of the chapel. The first candle was for people in Ukraine and Russia. The second was for people in war-torn countries. The third candle was in honor of all people that have lost possessions, been injured or have died because of war.

After the three main candles were lighted, Cutter walked around the chapel lighting each persons candle in silence. Lastly, Cutter led the congregation in song before sending everyone off with a blessing.

Those at the vigil sang, May peace be in your hearts. May peace be in your homes. May peace be in your land. May peace be in our world.

Faculty and students are welcome to visit the chapel any time they feel the need or reach out to him for prayer, Cutter said. The chapel doors are usually open from 8 a.m. to around 6 p.m., he added.

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ELKIN  For 50 years over the first half of the 20th century, a dam on privately owned land at Carter Falls on Big Elkin Creek generated power for nearby mills.

These days, the 60-foot falls  and several soothing eddy pools at its foot  lie within a new state park. A 1-mile trail looping through the hardwood forest attracts day hikers, canoodling couples and, on occasion, high-schoolers with wigs, costumes, toy swords and expensive cameras planning to engage in larp-ing  live action role playing.

A few hundred feet away, up a gentle rise on private land on the other side of the creek, sits a modest graveyard that contains a piece of history nearly lost to time  the final resting place of one William Harris, one of General George Washingtons bodyguards during the Revolutionary War.

There were three (gravestones) here when we bought the farm, said property owner Brandon Osteen. Two were in a pile and another was tossed under a rotten crab apple tree.

The inscription on one, a smooth white stone that had broken in two pieces, caught his attention  and fired his imagination.

Wm Harris, 10th VA Mil, Rev War

It felt like Indiana Jones when I saw it, Osteen said.

Front row seat to history

Uncovering such a footnote to history involves a few detours and dead ends, resolved in the end by people determined to know from whence they came.

And what better time to recall it than George Washingtons birthday?

How a farmer from Virginia, who was assigned to a militia unit charged with guarding the person (and property) of George Washington, came to rest on an open hillside in rural North Carolina is a story that was unearthed one piece at a time.

A few locals, including at least one descendant, knew about William Harris. Theyd shared the information from time to time with other interested parties, history buffs and genealogists mostly.

One, 66-year-old Stephen Harris, dug in deep and helped locate documents and manuscripts that breathed life into the story. Hes written a biography of William Harris and posts about his life online.

I read (a local history) book in the eighth grade, said Stephen Harris, who married a direct descendant of William Harris. But I forgot about it until I read it again in my 20s.

The big break in locating the gravesite came in 2015 when a real estate agent (with a keen interest in history) found the headstone while in the process of listing for sale the farm Osteen would soon purchase.

It was right there across from (Carter Falls), Stephen Harris said. I looked for it for 25 years and traversed (the creek) many times, but I had no idea it was right there about a mile from my house.

It was, to put it mildly, an exciting thing to finally lay eyes on after such a long time.

Its one thing to read words about history off a page, Harris wrote for the Yadkin Valley Magazine. Its quite another to touch history, to breathe the air surrounding it, to stand where my forebears once stood at a solemn moment on perhaps a gray and cold December, at ol Williams burial, and try and feel what they felt, try and learn what they knew.

William Harris will, along with records recorded by the U.S. government in deciding whether to award military pensions and a 1904 book called the Commander In Chiefs Guard Book filled in some blanks. One of William Harris grandsons provided more information to the author.

For our purposes, an abbreviated version reads this way:

William Harris was born in 1751 in Culpeper County, Virginia, not too far from where Washington lived. He joined the 10th VA Militia in 1777 and was chosen to serve in an elite unit known as the Commander in Chiefs Guard, which safeguarded Washington.

He served for three years and was present during several notable moments, including the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth, the march into Boston and the eventual British surrender at Yorktown.

He had a front row seat for so many historic things during the Revolution, Stephen Harris said.

The Guard, historians note, can be considered a forerunner to the U.S. Secret Service. According to Bruce Chadwick, a professor at Rutgers University who wrote the book The First American Army, Washingtons personal guards saw him during happy times, following victory in battle  and the flashes of anger that the general kept hidden from the army and the public, especially at Valley Forge.

At wars end, like most other American veterans, William Harris wanted nothing more than to settle down and live a peaceful life.

Supporting documentation

Harris eventually found that (and more) after he married into the Fields family from Wilkes County.

They settled near Stone Mountain, Stephen Harris wrote, and bought the land now owned by Osteen near Big Elkin Creek. They cleared the property, farmed it and put down roots by raising a family.

His story was recorded for posterity after he applied at the ripe old age of 67 for a federal pension afforded to veterans of the Revolutionary War.

Unlike the fanatical record-keeping machine it would later become, the fledgling U.S. military kept scant paperwork on its former soldiers.

In order for him to collect his veterans pension, he needed oral testimony about his service, Osteen said. Its not like now where I can pull out my DD-214 (discharge).

William Harris lived to be 96 (or 97, his exact date of birth being unknown) and died Dec. 18, 1848.

Most likely, the white headstone over his grave was put in place after the Civil War by relatives interested in honoring his service. It does bear more than a passing resemblance to similar veterans headstones seen in military cemeteries.

The gravesite eventually fell into disrepair, as evidenced by the fact William Harris stone cracked in two and wound up under rotting trees and brush.

The other headstones, Osteen thinks, probably marked the graves of descendant children who died long after William Harris. Life-saving vaccines against such known child killers as measles and smallpox were decades away from being developed.

After Osteen purchased the farm, local history buffs, aided by Scout troops, cleaned it and restored it as best they could. A flag pole flying the Stars and Stripes and the original Dont Tread on Me add a touch of dignity.

Additional plans to preserve and protect the area include Osteen granting an easement to the volunteer Elkin Valley Trail Association to extend the existing path from Carter Falls to his farm so that others can see and touch a sliver of history for themselves.

It had been forgotten for so long, Stephen Harris said. Its gratifying to help see that William Harris story is remembered. And to have it be such an interesting part of the trail.

As one who lives just a scant few hundred yards away, Osteen has another perspective.

I like to sit on the back porch, listen to the river run and think about William Harris sometimes, Osteen said. We complain about the stupidest things these days. There wasnt a tree left on this property by 1900. Everything in his time was built by hand.

Those people were tough and hard-working people who fought for everything they had. Theyre worth remembering, especially when we bicker about things on the internet.
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

Turkey has begun the process of evacuating its citizens from Ukraine by land, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavushoglu said, Trend reports citing Turkish media.

According to the minister, as of February 12, about five thousand citizens have already returned to Turkey.

Cavusoglu said regarding the evacuation of the remaining Turkish citizens that a decision was made to evacuate them by land.

"Preparations for this were made in advance. At the same time, we contact each of our citizens individually by phone. In total, there were about 20 thousand of our citizens in Ukraine, we were able to contact about 16 thousand of them," noted the minister.
An Altavista, Virginia woman pleaded guilty Thursday to two of three charges against her in a road-rage incident last year that resulted in one death.

Jessica Nicole Warren, 24, was charged with involuntary manslaughter; reckless driving and endangerment of life, limb and property; and failure to report an accident after the incident Jan. 23, 2021.

Paul McAndrews, Campbell County, Virginia's Commonwealth Attorney, said a witness reported seeing two vehicles driving recklessly down U.S. 29 in what appeared to be an instance of road rage, jockeying positions aggressively, throwing objects at one another from the moving vehicles and flashing high beams.

Finally, one vehicle, in which Warren was the passenger, jerked toward the other vehicle and ran it off the road. This second vehicle flipped over, and the driver, Lorenzo Pryor, was ejected. The driver died, but the passengers survived.

After causing the wreck, the vehicle in which Warren was riding left the scene.

In a Facebook message about the incident, obtained by law enforcement and presented in court by McAndrews on Thursday, Warren wrote in part: I showed him what road rage was.

Warren admitted to deliberate road rage, according to McAndrews, and accepted responsibility for the resulting death, saying it was she who jerked the steering wheel, causing the vehicle she was in to strike the other vehicle.

Warren pleaded guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter, plus the charge of reckless driving and endangerment of life, limb and property. The third charge, of failure to report an accident, was dropped.

Her sentencing is scheduled for March 14 in Campbell County Circuit Court.
On Saturday, the Lithuanian government decided to close the country's airspace to Russian aircraft in connection with Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

As Minister of Transport Marius Skuodis said at a government meeting, the airspace is closed for Russian carriers from midnight, "certain exceptions" are provided. "They are connected with an emergency landing, humanitarian flights," the minister said.

Earlier on Saturday, this decision was taken by Latvia and Estonia.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois Democratic U.S. senators and statewide officials celebrated after President Joe Biden announced his nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday, making Jackson the first Black woman ever nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., issued a statement Friday morning calling Jackson an extraordinary nominee.

To be the first to make history in our nation you need to have an exceptional life story, Durbin said. We will begin immediately to move forward on her nomination with the careful, fair, and professional approach she and America are entitled to.

Durbin chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Jackson will testify before the Judiciary Committee in a hearing sometime in the coming months. After the hearing, the Committee traditionally refers the nominee to the full Senate for consideration.

Jackson was previously confirmed as a member of the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit with a 53-44 vote in the Senate.

Judge Jacksons achievements are well known to the Senate Judiciary Committee as we approved her to the D.C. Circuit less than a year ago with bipartisan support, Durbin said.

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said in a statement on Friday that Jacksons nomination would bring to the Supreme Court an important perspective that has been ignored for far too long in this country.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is one of the most impressive individuals nominated to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States in our nations history, Duckworth said.

The Senator said she looks forward to a timely confirmation hearing.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker took to Twitter Friday to share his thoughts on Jacksons nomination.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is an excellent choice for the Supreme Court, and I urge the Senate to take swift action to confirm this exceptionally bright legal mind to the court, Pritzker said.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton also released a statement commending Biden for his pick.

As the first Black woman elected Lt. Governor of Illinois, I understand the weight of responsibility, the joy, and the determination that comes with being a first. We work so we will not be the lastso that our passion and our narratives always have a seat at the table where decisions are made, Stratton said Friday.

Biden had pledged to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court as he campaigned for the 2020 presidential election.

After Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement in January, Durbin released a statement thanking Breyer for his service and saying he hoped to move along Bidens nominee expeditiously.

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Allen Dorfman

Allen Melnick Dorfman (Jan. 6, 1923-Jan. 20, 1983) was an American insurance agency owner and a consultant to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Central States Pension Fund.

A native of Chicago, he attended Marshall High School in Chicago and later the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Allens stepfather was Paul Red Dorfman, who happened to be head of the Chicago Waste Handlers Union and a kingpin in the Chicago Outfit. The Outfit was a criminal organization who in 1959 was described by congressional investigators as the link between the Teamsters Union and the Chicago underworld.

The senior Dorfman struck a deal with Jimmy Hoffa, then head of the Teamsters Union in Michigan. According to FBI files, Red agreed to introduce Hoffa to mob figures in exchange for his sons entry into the Teamsters insurance business.

Allen and his mother set up Union Insurance Agency, and in 1950, would receive their first contract with the Teamsters.

How Allen Dorfman became a millionaire within five years of opening the insurance agency immediately drew the suspicion of government agents.

Dorfman rose to prominence following World War II and by the late 1950s was a close associate of Hoffa, the IBT president.

Dorfmans rise coincided with enormous expansion in Teamsters ranks, along with spectacular growth in the unions pension funds, which eventually came largely under Dorfmans administration.

In early 1949, Hoffa set up the Michigan Conference of Teamsters Welfare Fund. In 1951, Hoffa made arrangements that the Unions retirement funds be deposited in the Chicago branch of Union Casualty Agency, despite the fact that the young Dorfman had no experience in the insurance business.

Hoffa persuaded that additional Union funds be deposited with the Union Casualty Agency. The funds now under Dorfman's company made up 90% of the branch companys contracts. During the first eight years of management by Union Casualty, the Dorfmans made more than $3 million in commissions and service fees and simply deposited it in a special account that he maintained with his mother, with no complaints from the Teamsters.

In 1959, the McClellan Committee, a U.S. Senate group investigating potential crimes and improprieties in the U.S. labor movement, inquired again over the allegedly excessive fees paid by the Teamsters Welfare Funds moneys with Dorfmans agency.

The committee also suspected that large cash withdrawals from the business were actually kickbacks to Hoffa. Evidence presented to the committee showed on the other hand, that while the Dorfmans had proposed a 17.5% fee to the Fund, they had actually been paid only 7.6%, in line with prevailing rates in the industry, over the previous eight years.

In 1979, the FBI installed hidden microphones in the office of Dorfmans insurance agency. As a result of information obtained from the wiretaps, a federal grand jury in Chicago indicted Dorfman in May 1981.

Dorfman was convicted in December 1982, along with president Roy Lee Williams and members of the Chicago Mafia.

Afraid of what Dorfman might reveal to the FBI, he was murdered in Lincolnwood, Illinois. Dorfman was only 60 years old.

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As part of our observance of Black History Month, we look at local people and organizations that were significant in local Black history.

This story first ran on Feb. 10, 1998

Based on the number of books it had when it opened, the George Moses Horton branch of the Carnegie Public Library here wasnt much to talk about. It had only 600 volumes.

But when the branch began operations Feb. 16, 1927, the little library made an enormous impact on Winston-Salem. The city already had a Carnegie library at Third and Cherry streets, and had had it for more than 20 years. But it was for white residents only.

The Horton branch was for the citys Black residents, and it consisted of a reading room in the colored YWCA on Chestnut Street. Its operations were overseen by the other library, but three women, Mrs. Rufus Hairston, Mrs. M.Y. Ray and Mrs. Alvan B. Jones, donated their time to work at the branch during its hours of operation, which were mainly in the afternoon.

George Horton was a Black poet who was born a slave in Northampton County in the late 1700s. He grew up in Chatham County, and as a young man would visit the University of North Carolina and sell poems to students. He also wrote more serious poems, including some of the first on slavery written by a slave.

According to a story in the Twin-City Sentinel, the opening of the library branch was well attended by white and Black city leaders. The paper wrote: Those in charge express themselves as being encouraged by the interest manifested yesterday at the formal opening and say they feel sure that there will be a large patronage.

Although Jim Crow was the law of the land, the 1920s were a boom time in Winston-Salem. Tobacco was king, the economy was expanding and the city was the largest in the state. That prosperous climate made it easier for the citys white residents to extend services, albeit within limits, to the Blacks who were filling up the citys east and north sides.

At the Horton branch, for example, many of the books were bought through a fundraiser put on by the Twin-City Glee Club.

The Horton branch stayed at the YWCA for four years. It then moved to the Bruce Building on East Sixth Street and was given a second room in 1937.

It was replaced in 1954 by the East Winston branch of the City-County Public Library, which had about 9,000 volumes when it opened. That branch is now called the Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center Branch Library.

Q: Where can alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D) be disposed of? Do I need to wait until I have a lot of them and take them to the Envirostation?

W.B.

Answer: Yes, throw them in the trash.

Alkaline batteries need to go in the trash, but 3RC does accept rechargeable batteries, Helen Peplowski, the director of sustainability for the City of Winston-Salem, said.

3RC Envirostation is located at 1401 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem. The service is free and open to all residents of Forsyth County. Proof of residency is required.

The hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

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

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Cone Health said Friday it will ease some COVID-19 restrictions at its Triad hospitals beginning at 7 a.m. Monday, though masks must still be worn at all facilities and visitation remains between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

With the lowest rates of COVID-19 in our community since late December, the risk of visitors infecting patients or staff has fallen, Cone said.

Our plan is to continually evaluate restrictions based on the level of COVID-19 in our area and the risk to our patients and staff, Anne Brown, Cones executive director for patient services, said in a statement.

Updated visitation rules allow: individuals ages 12 to 17 to visit patients when accompanied by an adult; two visitors per day; one visitor per day for COVID-19 patients, and it must be that same person throughout the patients stay.

Visitors to COVID-19 patients are required to stay in the patients room and cannot go to restaurants, gift shops or other areas of the hospital.

Exceptions regarding visitation can be made for patients nearing the end of life.

There are no changes for visitors to Cone Health Womens & Childrens Centers, children and adult emergency departments, and day surgery and procedure areas of hospitals.

On Feb. 16, Novant Health Inc. eased certain COVID-19 restrictions for its Triad hospitals that included an unlimited number of visitors so long as those visitors are 12 or older.

Novant Medical Group clinics also are allowing children of any age to accompany adults to appointments if child care is not available.

Inpatient, critical care, neonatal ICU and pediatric patients will no longer be limited to two visitors per day. Obstetric and labor and delivery patients will no longer be limited to one support person.

Visitor limits remain in effect in certain areas and as needed to allow for safe social distancing in waiting areas and patient rooms.

Restrictions remain for COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized or in the emergency room, as well as patients who are being tested for COVID-19.

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has cited a Feb. 9 posting for its latest COVID-19 visitor restrictions. Those include:

Allowing two healthy family members or support individuals ages 18 and older to visit between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., as well as one healthy family member or support person to stay overnight at the patients bedside.

One healthy adult family member/support person may visit a COVID-19-positive patient or a patient suspected of having COVID-19 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitor may not switch with another visitor on the same day.

Family member/support person must wear full PPE, including gown, gloves, N95 mask and eye protection and must stay in the patients room for the duration of the visit.

At Brenner Childrens Hospital, two healthy parents or legal guardians age 18 and older may accompany the patient at all times and may stay overnight with the patient.

All visitors remain required to pass a health screening and properly wear a mask that covers the nose, mouth and chin at all times.

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A Kernersville man has been cited for a disturbance he created Tuesday during a meeting of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education.

According to an arrest report provided by the school districts legal department, Eric Killedare Jensen, 64, of Kernersville was cited for two second-degree misdemeanors  trespassing and resisting a public officer.

He is scheduled to appear in District Court on March 25, the report said.

Officers with North State Police, the agency that handles security for school board meetings, arrested Jensen after he crossed a security barrier that separates the board from the public. The public is not allowed to cross that barrier, as is noted before each meeting. The security barrier was put up in the fall.

The incident took place during a meeting to decide whether to lift the school districts mask mandate, a divisive topic that turned particularly contentious during the public comments portion of the meeting. As one member of the public read a list of false allegations against the school board, including practicing medicine without a license, Jensen crossed the barrier and attempted to hand documents to the board.

After security escorted Jensen off a platform, he began shouting, causing a commotion that, in turn, prompted some in the audience to jeer.

Board Chairwoman Deanna Kaplan was forced to call a recess in an attempt to restore some measure of calm.

News footage showed Jensen on the floor of the corridor with two officers attempting to subdue him.

In addition to the citations, Jensen has been banned from all school properties.

While Kaplan and Superintendent Tricia McManus lamented the behavior of the crowd, calling it appalling and disturbing, Ken Raymond, the chairman of the Forsyth County Republican Party, said in his weekly newsletter that the meeting was an amazing display of whats possible when parents and voters get together to tell the government: NO MORE.

As expected, the school board lifted the mandate, which had been in place since the start of the school year.

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Forsyth County recorded two more COVID-19 related deaths, according to Fridays update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Service.

Forsyth has had 67 COVID-related deaths in February, which ties February 2021 for the second-highest monthly total for the pandemic that began in mid-March 2020.

However, the 67 deaths reported for February 2021 came before COVID-19 vaccines were available readily to the general public.

Forsyth ended January with 73 COVID-related deaths. There have been 759 deaths altogether for the pandemic.

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 Thursday he remains confident the number of COVID-related deaths will decline, as have numbers of new cases and hospitalizations over the past two weeks.

Swift said some of the recent deaths in Forsyth are coming from individuals who had been battling COVID-19 for weeks, if not more than a month.

Statewide, 51 additional COVID-related deaths were listed in Fridays report, bringing North Carolinas total COVID-related deaths to 22,500.

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.

Forsyth case counts

Forsyth reported 83 new cases Friday after having 108 cases in Thursdays and Wednesdays updates. The case count was at 60 Tuesday and 49 Monday.

Mondays case count was the lowest since the omicron variant surge began in mid-to late-December.

Forsyth has recorded a total of 91,094 cases since the pandemic began.

As of Friday, Forsyths positive test rate over the past 14 days was 10.4%.

The statewide rate was 7.1% on Friday, the lowest since Dec. 8.

Fridays update had Forsyth averaging 26 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.

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.

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

Statewide update

Statewide, DHHS reported an uptick in new cases for the third consecutive day. Fridays report showed 4,887 new cases, compared with 3,650 cases Thursday, 3,470 Wednesday and 1,716 Tuesday.

Tuesdays report marked the lowest daily statewide count since Nov. 28  about 2 1/2 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 1,861 patients statewide on Thursday. Thats down from 1,985 on Wednesday.

Statewide, COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped for 29 consecutive days.

Hospitals in the 17-county Triad region had a combined 360 COVID-19 patients Thursday, down 62 from Wednesday.

Statewide, 242 patients are on ventilators, including 47 in the Triad region. There were 41 children hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, including eight in the Triad region.

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The portrait of retired Judge Denise Hartsfield was unveiled Friday inside the Forsyth County Hall of Justice, making her the first Black woman to have her portrait hanging inside the courthouse.

Hartsfield told about 50 people who gathered inside Courtroom 4J in the courthouse that she has enjoyed her journey as a district-court judge in Winston-Salem.

Hartsfield recalled that Judge Roland Hayes, the first Black district-court judge in Forsyth County, encouraged her to run for his seat after he retired in 2002. Hartsfield told Hayes that she would think about it, before she decided to run for the post because she wanted Forsyth County to continue to have Black representation on the bench.

Leo Rucker, a local artist, unveiled Hartsfields portrait in the courtroom. Rucker said he painted also Hayes portrait, which hangs inside Courtroom 1A in the courthouse.

(Hartsfield) is truly remarkable woman who has a made a difference in our community, Rucker said.

During her remarks, Hartsfield said she was honored to have her portrait unveiled the same day that President Joe Biden announced that he nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hartsfield said she hopes that her portrait will inspire children and adults who see her picture to improve their lives.

During her judicial career, she presided over adoption, child-support, juvenile delinquent and other criminal cases, and she helped troubled parents find ways to care for their children, Hartsfield said.

We made families better in this place, Hartsfield said, referring to Courtroom 4J. We worked for the good of the people.

During the unveiling ceremony, Stuart Russell, the president of the Forsyth County Bar Association, told the audience that Hartsfield cared about the young people involved in juvenile-delinquency cases.

Those were some tough cases, Russell said. And I know that Judge Hartsfields deep faith and service as she always tried to do the best thing for the kids.

In her prayer, the Rev. Tembila Covington, the president of the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity, said Hartsfield is a blessed woman, and she pursued justice on the bench as a district-court judge.

Judge Hartsfield is a virtuous woman, full of strength and dignity, Covington said. She speaks with wisdom.

Eric Ellison, a Winston-Salem attorney, said he served as Hartsfields campaign manager in 2002 when she ran for district-court judge.

We all came together and said we are going to embark on the journey of electing our sister as district court judge, Ellison said.

Hartsfield retired on Dec. 1, 2021 after serving 19 years a district-court judge. She announced on that same day that she will run as a Democratic candidate for district attorney of Forsyth County.

Im retired, but Im not ready to stay home, Hartsfield said during the unveiling ceremony.

After the ceremony, Hartsfield said she plans to file to run for district attorney next week at the Forsyth County Board of Elections.

Republican incumbent District Attorney Jim ONeill has said he plans to run for re-election.

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By Trend

Russia vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Friday that would have deplored Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained from the vote on the U.S.-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members voted in favor. The draft resolution is now expected to be taken up by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.

"We are united behind Ukraine and its people, despite a reckless, irresponsible permanent member of the Security Council abusing its power to attack its neighbor and subvert the U.N. and our international system," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after Russia cast its veto.

Russia is a Security Council veto power, along with the United States, China, France and Britain.
Winston Weaver Co. is facing a third lawsuit related to a Jan. 31 fire that destroyed its Winston-Salem fertilizer plant.

The latest action, filed in Forsyth County Superior Court, is the second class-action suit against the company.

It contends that Winston Weaver was negligent or grossly negligent in causing, or contributing to the cause of the fire and seeks compensatory and punitive damages for those who were adversely affected.

Class-action lawsuits allow individuals to sue on behalf of a group of people with similar legal claims.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the investigation is ongoing.

Winston Weaver said hundreds of tons of highly explosive ammonium nitrate, a common ingredient in fertilizers, was stored at the facility at 4440 Cherry St.

At the beginning of this incident, there was enough ammonium nitrate on hand for this to be one of the worst explosions in U.S. history, Winston-Salem Fire Chief Trey Mayo said Feb. 2, two days after the blaze ignited.

The threat of a blast prompted the fire department to pull its personnel from the site, and the city to issue a voluntary evacuation for residents living within a one-mile radius of the plant. About 6,000 people live within the evacuation area.

The Weaver Fertilizer plant fire terrified and displaced a community, Gary Jackson, a partner at the Law Office of James Scott Farrin and lead attorney in the lawsuit, said in a statement Friday. These folks, as well as the businesses in the affected area, deserve justice.

Many residents near the Winston Weaver site had to find alternative housing for days as the fire continued to smolder and shroud the area in smoke that the Environmental Protection Agency said contained hazardous levels of inhalable particulates released by the blaze.

Nearby businesses were forced to shut down, with some having to discard ruined products.

This company needs to accept responsibility for the harms it has visited upon its unsuspecting neighbors, Jackson said.

No choice

The latest suit is filed on behalf of Karen Prudencio, who evacuated her home near the fire Feb. 1. After initially staying with relatives, she tested positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 2, forcing her to find new living arrangements, according to the lawsuit.

When Prudencio left her family members home, she was involved in a traffic accident caused by another driver, the suit says.

Without a vehicle and nowhere else to go, she had no choice but to return home (Feb. 2) while the voluntary evacuation was still in place, the lawsuit continues. As a result of the fire and evacuation process, she incurred evacuation expenses, loss of enjoyment of her home, and lost wages since she was unable to return to work until (Feb. 9).

Attorneys for the Crumley Roberts law firm filed a class-action suit on Feb. 10 in Forsyth County Superior Court on behalf of two residents who also incurred numerous expenses when they evacuated their homes because of the fire.

The firm also sued the company on behalf of another resident, but that is not a class action.

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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The 1963 March on Washington, one of the largest civil rights rallies in U.S. history, was also a time to recognize one of the countrys most important civil rights leaders. The death of W.E.B. Du Bois the day before was announced by Roy Wilkins, who asked the hundreds of thousands in attendance to honor him with a moment of silence.

Born on Feb. 23, 1868, in a town in Massachusetts, Du Bois attended school with his white peers and was encouraged by his white teachers. In fact, he did not even encounter Jim Crow laws until 1885, when he attended Fisk University, a historically Black university located in Tennessee. At the time, Tennessee was a center of bigotry, suppression of Black voices and lynching.

After becoming the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard in 1895, he published his landmark study: The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study, in 1899. It was the first case study of an African American community and marked the beginning of his expansive writing career. In it, he introduced his idea of the talented tenth, where the most able 10% of Black Americans would receive higher education and be able to lead and guide their peers.

In 1903, in an effort to positively portray the humanity of Black Americans, Du Bois published The Souls of Black Folk, a collection of 14 essays. One of the themes of the work was the double consciousness Du Bois said all Black Americans felt, being both American and Black. According to Du Bois, this double-consciousness was a handicap in the past, but could easily be a strength in the future.

Du Bois is perhaps best known for his founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1910, the attendees of the National Negro Conference created the NAACP. It was at Du Boiss suggestion that they changed the term black to colored to include dark-skinned people everywhere. Du Bois used his influence as a leader in the NAACP in order to continue to fight segregation and racism. Many joined his cause, influenced by his ideas and reasoning.

However, Du Bois was well known for his disagreements with Booker T. Washington. Washington was the mastermind behind the Atlanta Compromise, an unwritten deal with Southern leaders in which Black Americans would submit to the current racism and segregation, while whites would permit them to receive basic education, some economic opportunities and justice within the legal system. Du Bois felt that Black Americans should fight for equal rights and opportunities rather than accept segregation and discrimination. However, it is important to note that disagreements between Washington and Du Bois only seemed to create animosity between their followers, not between the two men themselves.

Even the U.S. government seemed to take issue with Du Boiss ideas. In 1950, he became a chair of the Peace Information Center (PIC), which worked to ask governments around the world to ban all nuclear weapons. In United States v. Peace Information Center, the U.S. Justice Department claimed that the PIC was acting as an agent of a foreign state and required the PIC to register with the federal government. Du Bois and the other chairs refused, so they were indicted for failure to register. However, the charges were dropped when the defense attorney told the judge that Dr. Albert Einstein is willing to appear as a character witness for Dr. Du Bois.

In 1960, Du Bois was able to travel to Ghana and celebrate the creation of the Republic of Ghana. However, the U.S. refused to renew his passport, so as a symbolic gesture, he became a citizen of Ghana. His health deteriorated during his time in Ghana, and he died on Aug. 27, 1963, at the age of 95.

While arguably not the most popular person in the civil rights movement, Du Bois was clearly one of its most important trailblazers. His activism and writings fueled a movement that led to the freedom and rights of every Black person in America today. While we may have a while to go before we reach true equality, we can all thank Du Bois for getting us started.

Feb. 23, 2022, was the 154th birthday of W.E.B. Du Bois.

Asmithaa Vinukonda is a sophomore at Forsyth Country Day School.
Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine under several pretexts reminds me of Adolf Hitlers rationale for invading and annexing Sudetenland in 1938 and his invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland a year later. Then, as now, the excuse was that German-speaking people (then) and Russian-speaking people (now) wanted to be part of Germany (then) and Mother Russia (now).

In both cases the excuses for invasion, occupation and murder were just that  excuses. Some commentators say there has been nothing like Putins invasion of Ukraine since World War II. There are dwindling numbers of people alive who lived through that period and witnessed the evil of Nazi brutality and genocide.

Ronald Reagan lived through that era. This is why he coined the phrase evil empire to describe the Soviet Union. Its one thing to read about evil in history books, but it is quite another to have witnessed it. One need only listen to Holocaust survivors for a powerful lesson in how deep human depravity can sink if it is not opposed.

One of the definitions of evil is The force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin. In our age of moral relativity, where nearly everything is tolerated and justified  except people who oppose the new societal norms  who speaks of wickedness and sin? Its getting harder to find preachers known for sermons on the subject.

Albert Einstein, who was German and Jewish, and who lived through that dark period of mass slaughter, was right when he observed: The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who dont do anything about it.

As with a serious disease, early detection is the best path to treatment and a possible cure. Though there is no immediate cure for evil, free nations can control its spread.

Its worth revisiting Reagans evil empire speech to the British House of Commons on June 8, 1982. Reagans observations about evil were profound. While his references were to the Soviet Union and repressive regimes everywhere, his words equally apply to that regimes ideological heir, Vladimir Putin and other dictators.

Reagan said: If history teaches anything, it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly. This was British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains folly when he declared peace for our time after meeting with Adolf Hitler in Munich and believing Hitlers promise not to seize more territory.

While Reagans policy of peace through strength worked, he told the Commons that military power was only part of the mix: Our military strength is a prerequisite to peace, but let it be clear we maintain this strength in the hope it will never be used, for the ultimate determinant in the struggle thats now going on in the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas, a trial of spiritual resolve, the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish, the ideals to which we are dedicated.

World War II came about in part, said Reagan, because the West allowed dictators to underestimate us. Now we see the reverse. The Biden administration is underestimating our enemies and projecting weakness. They think they can negotiate with the likes of Putin, Chinas Xi and Irans ayatollahs when the only thing these and other dictators understand is power, resolve and resistance.

Learn that lesson and the world becomes a safer place. Failure to learn it produces what we are witnessing in Ukraine and may soon see in Taiwan, not to mention in an Iran equipped with nuclear weapons and a religious rationale for using them.

Email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
The housing portion of the Pershing Center redevelopment has gotten a little smaller.

A representative of the company developing the project told the Capital Environs Commission on Friday that the project is now expected to have 90 affordable housing units. That's down from the 100 that had been proposed.

William DeRoin, an architect with HDR who is working on the project being developed by White Lotus Group of Omaha, said the reduction in scope of the project was driven by cost concerns.

DeRoin said some funding sources that White Lotus was hoping to use for the project likely won't be available. One he mentioned specifically is the federal Build Back Better Act, which failed to pass in the Senate. The bill contained more than $150 billion for affordable housing projects.

The project on the Pershing Center site, which has been estimated to cost between $25 million and $30 million, hopes to take advantage of low-income housing tax credits, and White Lotus is in the process of applying for those. The City Council has signaled its support for issuing $18 million in housing revenue bonds to back up those tax credits.

The project also likely will make use of tax-increment financing, which allows the increased property taxes it will create to pay for some upfront costs.

In addition to reducing the number of units, White Lotus also has reduced the footprint of the building. An earlier design had shown an L-shaped building that would run along both 16th Street and N Street. However, a plan presented Friday to the commission showed just a single five-story building that would be built along 16th Street, leaving the N Street side listed as future development.

That change was questioned by several members of the commission.

Bob Ripley, who is the administrator of the state Capitol and a non-voting member of the commission, said the project was initially pitched as a single development including the White Lotus housing project and a potential new downtown library that would be built on the M Street side of the block.

Ripley said allowing the development to be fragmented into separate projects developed in a piecemeal manner "could be very seriously problematic."

Colin Christopher of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department said the vision for the project remains the same and noted that parts of the project were always expected to have different timelines. And it's still possible that White Lotus will develop the N Street site, either with more housing or something else.

The library, which has been estimated to cost $50 million, will require a bond issue to pay for it, something that's not guaranteed to be approved by voters. White Lotus has told city officials that the development will go forward with or without the library.

Demolition of Pershing Center has already been approved and is expected to happen later this year. White Lotus has not given a timeline for construction.

Before the building is demolished, a local group is hoping to save the mural thats graced the front of Pershing Center since 1957.

The group raised enough money last fall to have a feasibility study done and now has hired a contractor to potentially remove the 38-foot-by-140-foot mural.

Liz Shea-McCoy, a local artist and arts advocate who is a member of the group, told the commission Friday that it has an agreement with MTZ Construction of Lincoln for what could potentially be a three-phase project that would involve removing the tiles, cleaning and restoring them, and then reinstalling them in another location.

However, that's dependent on raising the necessary funds, estimated at $3 million, something that must be done quickly because of the demolition timeline.

Shea-McCoy said she will be dedicating the next couple of months to raising the money necessary to save the mural.

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

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Zach Hammack K-12 education reporter Zach Hammack, a 2018 UNL graduate, has always called Lincoln home. He previously worked as a copy editor at the Journal Star and was a reporting intern in 2017. Now, he covers students, teachers and schools as the newspapers K-12 reporter. Follow Zach Hammack 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

To call or not to call a snow day.

That is the question many school superintendents  primarily in the Midwest  have to answer during the cold, winter months, often amid the supplication of students and the prognostications of adults on social media.

Don't forget the superstitious bedtime rituals. Who hasn't tried the inside-out pajamas trick?

On Tuesday, after a bout of winter weather coated Sioux City, Iowa, in a half-inch of snow and freezing drizzle, Paul Gausman called off classes because of icy road conditions  the first snow day of the school year for Sioux City students.

Tuesday was also the day the Lincoln Board of Education selected Gausman, the head of Sioux City schools since 2008, to be Lincoln Public Schools' next superintendent.

A good omen for snow day enthusiasts?

I decided to do some sleuthing to find out.

On Wednesday, I called up to Sioux City to see if the district keeps track of snow day data (it does) and compared that with current LPS superintendent Steve Joel's snow day track record.

Recall that when Joel first arrived in Lincoln more than 11 years ago, he brought with him a reputation for not calling snow days. He even wrote a letter to staff and parents saying he would not call a snow day based on a forecast.

Some years later, he rightly changed his approach, but what do the numbers show?

The Sioux City data only goes back to the 2015-16 school year, and since then, Gausman has called 18 weather-related days off. During that same time span, Joel called 17, including that unusual "wind day" last December.

Of course, there are caveats to a comparison like this.

Lincoln is not Sioux City, which lies about two hours north and east near the border of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. Sioux City is also a lot hillier, which makes getting around on snowy days trickier.

Gausman said he likes to take on the snow day crowd in Sioux City, often engaging in playful banter with students on Twitter.

But Joel has a bit of advice for Gausman when he comes to Lincoln in July.

"I would tell him this: I would expect to get a beating on snow days in Lincoln," Joel said. "It comes with the territory."

Speaking of snow days, LPS has technically run out of them this school year.

Each year, the district has a surplus of required instructional hours built into the school calendar that can be used for days off for whatever reason.

With an additional day built into fall break, the day off for those crazy storms in December and those three Fridays off in January and February, LPS would fall short of the required instructional hours at the elementary and middle school level if a snow day was called.

That doesn't mean the district can't call one in case of a late-winter storm.

LPS can file a waiver with the Nebraska Department of Education, which is being more flexible with instructional hours required for accreditation purposes during the pandemic. LPS high schools have already used up their surplus hours  albeit just barely.

Last year, Joel dipped into that fund of additional instructional hours quite a lot, calling five snow days during a particularly brutal winter. In Sioux City, Gausman called just three.

Now who's the snow day stickler?

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

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Yuliia Iziumova's quiet Tuesday night in Lincoln was shattered by a text message.

For days and weeks, the threat of a Russian invasion of her home country of Ukraine had been an escalating source of tension, Iziumova said, even as she held out hope that such an act could be avoided.

Looking at her phone, Iziumova said the tension had finally broken.

"Things have gotten really bad," her mother texted from Odessa, a port city in southern Ukraine. "I can hear explosions."

It was shortly after 5 a.m. in the eastern European country, now under assault by Russian troops, armored vehicles and fighter jets.

"My initial reaction was 'What does that mean? What do I do?'" said Iziumova, a junior at Nebraska Wesleyan University studying communications and integrated data science.

She called her mother, who told her it was difficult to tell how close the explosions were, or whether it was the Russians firing on the city of nearly 1 million people on the Black Sea, or Ukranian defenders trying to repel their advances.

The initial conversation was brief, Iziumova said. She didn't want to distract her mother as the situation grew more dire, and the window to act was closing.

Along with her host family in Lincoln, Iziumova said she convinced her mother to leave the city and make for the neighboring country of Moldova while she still could.

"It was really hard to have that conversation," Iziumova said. "Nobody wants to admit this is real. Everyone wanted to believe the war would not happen. Preparing was almost a way of admitting things might get bad."

Her mother left for Moldova the next day, Thursday night in the U.S.: "It was the hardest night of my life," Iziumova said.

The drive typically takes 3 hours, she said, but news reports said it was taking fleeing Ukrainians as long as 8 hours to get across the border.

"I couldn't sleep not knowing where she was," Iziumova said. We didn't make a plan of how to connect, or if I don't hear from her who I talk to. All of the decisions were made so quickly."

Iziumova said her mother had made it to Moldova, picking up another passenger  a neighbor she had never met, it turns out  along the way. Both were safe.

Meanwhile, Iziumova's father opted to hunker down in Chornomorsk, her hometown, a city of nearly 60,000 on the Black Sea about an hour to the southwest of Odessa, along with her grandparents, an uncle and two younger cousins.

The international student, who first came to Lincoln through the Future Leaders Exchange, a cultural program between the U.S. State Department and post-Soviet countries, said she has been glued to Ukrainian news stations since the invasion began.

Iziumova, 20, was too young to comprehend the start of Russia's latest aggression toward Ukraine in 2014, when the country's Kremlin-backed leader was forced out following violent protests in Kyiv, the capital.

She said she remembers hearing about the conflict, and was vaguely aware of people who had fled eastern regions of Ukraine where Russian-backed separatists had taken control.

The current crisis has been "scary and surreal," she said. Ukrainian news agencies have reported thousands of deaths  Ukrainians "defending their land, defending their families, defending their country."

Iziumova, who has not been home since 2019, said Ukraine did not ask for the war, and she's concerned about what the future could hold if a peaceful resolution is not reached soon.

Even in that there is uncertainty.

"When I go back, the streets that I'm familiar with might look different," she said. "They might not belong to the same country."

But, while she watches with equal parts shock and horror, Iziumova maintains her optimism.

She's never seen Ukraine so united, and believes the government has been managing the crisis professionally and strategically: "We are a small country, but we are mighty and I believe in humanity. I believe this can be over soon."

The support shown from the U.S. and other European countries has also been a boost, she said, as well as the messages of love and concern she's received from friends in Lincoln and around the world.

Iziumova hopes the conflict can quickly be resolved and provide an opportunity for her Lincoln host family to meet her Ukrainian family before she graduates from NWU next year.

"We're all in the same position where we don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, so being an optimist is the best thing I can do."

Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS

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One of Sue Cassata's research projects when she was a student at Nebraska Wesleyan University was on the Genoa Indian School in central Nebraska.

The boarding school's problematic past is well-documented. The school, which operated during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, worked to assimilate Native children into white culture, often amid abuse and exploitation.

"That was part of Nebraska's history that I was unfamiliar with," she said. "It just created for me a natural curiosity of the Native tribes of the Midwest as I've just grown into an older adult."

So when the opportunity arose for the Lincoln East High School principal to lead a new high school that will honor the legacy of Nebraska's Native past, she was intrigued and jumped at the chance.

Cassata will serve as the first principal of Standing Bear High School  the city's newest high school in southeast Lincoln named after the trailblazing Ponca leader  when it opens in 2023.

"To create a school culture around an individual and tribal community that is so integral to the history of Nebraska is intriguing and exciting to me," she said.

The move is part of a major administrative shakeup at LPS announced Friday.

In addition to Cassata's move, Lincoln North Star Principal Ryan Zabawa will take over as LPS director of student services and Lefler Middle School Principal Jessie Fries will be the next LPS director of secondary education.

Annette Bushaw, principal of Saratoga Elementary School, will move to Pershing Elementary School this fall.

Zabawa, North Star's principal since 2018, will take over for Russ Uhing, who is retiring after more than 10 years as the head of student services, which is charged with overseeing a number of areas in the district, from social work, health services and student behavior.

Fries, head of Lefler since 2013, is taking over for Pat Hunter-Pirtle, who has been the director of secondary education overseeing the district's middle and high schools since 2012.

Zabawa was previously the principal at Park Middle School for nine years after helping open North Star as an associate principal and has degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Doane University.

Fries came to LPS after teaching at Norris and was previously an associate principal and coordinator at Lincoln High. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at Doane.

The administrators will start their new duties July 1.

Having an experienced principal such as Cassata move to Standing Bear  which along with Lincoln Northwest is one of two new high schools opening over the next two years  "makes all the difference in the world," said Matt Larson, associate superintendent of instruction.

"It's a rare opportunity and given her success at East High, we know she'll be successful," Larson said.

Cassata was named the Nebraska principal of the year in 2020, overseeing the booming growth of the school, which has experienced overcrowding in recent years  which officials hope Standing Bear will help alleviate.

She was previously an associate principal at North Star. She has also taught at Doane and was a coordinator and teacher at Lincoln Southeast.

She earned her bachelor's in science from Nebraska Wesleyan University and master's in education leadership from Doane.

Cassata plans to continue learning about Native history and culture. She's read Joe Starita's book "I Am A Man" about the Ponca chief and was recently gifted a book on Native wisdom called "Braiding Sweetgrass." She is even considering a trip to northeast Nebraska.

But before she does, she still has work to do at the school where she says she came into her own as an administrator.

A school she'll never quite leave behind.

"It's a very tough decision," she said. "I think I've been at East for long enough that it's in the fiber of my being."

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

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By Trend

During his phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Friday morning, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky asked that Jerusalem serve as a mediator with Russia to help resolve the military conflict between the countries, Trend reports citing The Times of Israel.

The request was first reported by Kan news, and then confirmed to The New York Times by Ukraines Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk and an unnamed Israeli official.

Korniychuk told the Times: We do believe that Israel is the only democratic state in the world that has great relations with both Ukraine and Russia. He added that Bennett did not give an immediate answer.

They didnt say no, he said. They are trying to figure out where they are in this chess play.

He noted that Ukrainian officials would be more comfortable holding such talks in Jerusalem than in Russias ally nation Belarus, where Moscow had proposed to negotiate. Israel, Korniychuk said, is seen as a more neutral party.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's statements are the crux of the federal government's case against the Nebraska congressman.

Fortenberry voluntarily sat down for two interviews with authorities investigating illegal campaign contributions, once while his then-attorney was present.

In turn, it came as little surprise that a federal judge Friday rejected Fortenberry's attempts to suppress his two 2019 statements to the FBI and U.S. attorneys investigating whether he knew of the source of illegal contributions originating from a Nigerian billionaire living in France.

Judges can grant motions to suppress statements if the statements were the product of illegal, involuntary interrogations.

Fortenberry's interviews were voluntary and voluminous, with the congressman speaking at length to FBI agents, U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld wrote.

Fortenberry is accused of three felonies  one count of seeking to falsify or conceal the source of conduit contributions and two counts of making false statements to a government agency. Fortenberry is scheduled to go on trial for a week beginning March 15.

The nine-term congressman, who is running for reelection, has proclaimed his innocence, alleging that he was the victim of a government scheme to set him up. Prosecutors allege that Fortenberry lied to an FBI agent who showed up at his Lincoln home in March 2019 to interview him about his knowledge of the source of contributions he received at a Los Angeles fundraiser and that he lied again during a July 2019 follow-up interview in Washington, D.C.

Fortenberry's attorneys, John Littrell and Ryan Fraser, argue that Fortenberry relied on assurances that he was "trending toward a witness"  rather than a target of the investigation  when he agreed to sit down with a prosecutor and FBI agent in the July 2019 follow-up interview.

"It is doubtful that ... he construed the (trending-toward-a-witness) response to allow him to make false statements with impunity," Blumenfeld ruled. "Defendant points to no clear and definite promise made to him. The motion (to suppress) fails on the merits."

Blumenfeld also rejected Fortenberry's defense team's attempts to examine internal communications between prosecutors in the case, saying the defense had no evidence that federal prosecutors were withholding evidence. Littrell had pointed to statements the government made that it "expected him to, quote, come clean" at the second interview and that he instead was "doubling down on a lie."

Fortenberry's defense attorney suggested that internal communications "may undermine the government's case" by showing that agents "may have expressed anger or indignation."

Prosecutors noted that federal court rules exempt from discovery reports, memoranda, or other internal government documents made by an attorney for the government or other government agent in connection with investigating or prosecuting the case.

"It is further unclear if the disclosure is material such that defendant would be entitled to it," the judge wrote. "The Court need not decide the issue, however, as the Government represented at the hearing that it does not have anything in response to this disclosure request beyond what it has already produced."

State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk is challenging Fortenberry in the Republican primary in May. State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks and Jazari Kual, both of Lincoln, are battling for the Democratic nomination.

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A canal to bring in water from Colorado and a large lake between Omaha and Lincoln both inched one step closer to reality Friday, but both proposals remain awash in questions.

Gov. Pete Ricketts has backed the water-related initiatives. Lawmakers on the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee voted to advance bills laying the groundwork for each of them Friday, and the Appropriations Committee approved a fraction of the $500 million the governor requested to fund the canal project.

LB1015 would give the Department of Natural Resources the authority to build and maintain a canal and reservoir system to divert water from the South Platte River in Colorado for use in Nebraska. Under a compact that's nearly a century old, the canal would allow the state to claim up to 500 cubic feet per second of water for irrigation between Oct. 15 and April 1.

Six lawmakers on the Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the bill: Sens. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, Bruce Bostelman of Brainard, Tim Gragert of Creighton, Dan Hughes of Venango, Mike Jacobson of North Platte and Mike Moser of Columbus. Omaha Sens. John Cavanaugh and Justin Wayne abstained.

Ahead of the vote, Cavanaugh cited unanswered questions as his reason for not voting to advance the bill. He's not the only person with unanswered questions.

State officials, including Ricketts, have framed the canal as an urgent matter, crucial to protecting Nebraskas water resources, and, in turn, protecting its economy as Colorados Front Range attracts more and more residents.

The project has support from agriculture groups, natural resources districts, the Nebraska Public Power District and others.

But Colorado officials have questioned Nebraska officials' reasoning and the project's viability. Gov. Jared Polis press secretary has called it a canal to nowhere and boondoggle. Water law experts have said its uncertain how much water the canal could actually yield.

Other questions include: how and if it would truly affect drinking water in Lincoln and Omaha; whether Nebraska could actually exercise eminent domain in Colorado; how much the project would ultimately cost; and just how long the state could potentially spend in court fighting over it.

While LB1015 doesnt include funding, Ricketts proposed paying for it with a $400 million transfer from the states Cash Reserve Fund and $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The Appropriations Committee voted unanimously Friday to allocate a much lower sum  $22.5 million  from the cash reserve.

Appropriations Committee Chair Sen. John Stinner of Gering initially suggested providing $2 million for a feasibility study.

No business person spends 10% of total revenue without a robust process of study, Stinner said.

But the committee ultimately approved the $22.5 million, enough for design work. The package would also require a report back to the Legislature on key issues.

I think its important we do something to let Colorado know were coming, Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said. But Erdman, whose district would potentially be affected by the project, also said he wasn't overly enthused" about setting aside $500 million.

Another bill the Natural Resources Committee advanced Friday, LB1023, would lay the groundwork for building a 4,000-acre reservoir near the Platte River between Omaha and Lincoln, as well as other projects proposed by the Legislatures Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resources Sustainability (STAR WARS) special committee.

Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, speaker of the Legislature, testified earlier this month that the lake could require an investment of more than $1 billion, most of which would come from private investments.

Like the proposed canal, many details regarding the potential lake have yet to be shared publicly.

Other parts of LB1023 enable marina construction projects at Lake McConaughy and Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area and construction of an event center and lodge at Niobrara State Park.

Senators ultimately voted to advance the bill, with Cavanaugh, Moser and Wayne abstaining.

Cavanaugh said he had talked to Hilgers, who introduced the bill, and that Hilgers was open to his critiques of the lake proposal. Cavanaugh's biggest concern, he said, is that theres not yet strong enough language to ensure public access to the lake. He also said language around the potential board that would oversee the lake needs to be further tightened.

Wayne said that hes also concerned about the public-private partnership and how it would be governed.

Before we spend $200 million on a lake for millionaire private homes, we need to address some of the issues in North Omaha, Wayne said.

Moser, too, voiced concern about ensuring access to the public and the lake's potential location within a floodplain.

I just dont think the state should be building lakes, Moser said.

While the bill includes flood control among reasons for the lake, Cavanaugh said, nobody at the hearing said its actually for flood control.

The governors proposed budget includes $200 million total for the STAR WARS projects  $150 million from the general fund and $50 million in ARPA funding. Stinner said the Appropriations Committee intends to fund the projects to that level in its current budget package, but that the $50 million from ARPA would instead come from the cash reserve.

Both LB1015 and LB1023 now head to the floor of the Legislature, where they'll need to clear three rounds of debate to become law. Both bills have been designated as priorities, making them more likely to be debated this session, which is scheduled to end April 20.

World-Herald Staff Writer Martha Stoddard contributed to this report.

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Life in the rural areas of the country of Georgia is difficult. But with the pandemic, it became dire.

With socialization shut down, any means for side businesses such as selling fruit no longer existed. Economic conditions have forced young people to emigrate or move to the cities for employment. Although they send money home to their relatives as they are able, it has left elderly, especially the homebound, struggling and alone.

Residents in the rural areas, primarily older individuals, live in poverty. Many have little or no family support. They receive a pension from the state amounting to $70 to $86 (USD) per month depending on their age and the region they live in. They are virtually destitute.

The organization Together for Real Changes (TRC) was developed to support the needy with home visits, food and hygiene supplies. TRC, working closely with the local social service agencies, learned of the most critical situations in the Borjomi, Mestia and Racha regions of Georgia.

Ruta Casabianca, a member of the Rustavi International Rotary Club, connected with Lincoln South Rotary Club through member Tom Cardwell, past president and past District 5650 governor, and shared the need and stories.

The TRC volunteers do what they can to not only take care of the individuals in these remote areas, but also give them hope. The visits are scheduled every two weeks. An important aspect of the visit is to ensure that the individuals know they are not forgotten.

During the visits, they do routine screenings for diabetes, oxygen level, blood pressure and temperature. They have an oxygen tank with them in case they need to transport someone to the hospital. They provide cleaning supplies and food including rice, wheat, cooking oil, beans, sugar, tea and cookies.

Though the program focuses on the elderly, it is for anyone in need. There is one adult child who has been disabled with a brain injury since birth. She was very surprised with their visit because no one has been interested in her. She has little family support, so mostly she is taken care of by neighbors who feed her and take her for walks. She showed her delight in having the opportunity to tell someone her story.

TRC members are stretching their funds as much as possible, but they are not able to visit as often as they would like. Prices of food and gas have been rising, adding to the challenges they face. Unfortunately, several of the initial beneficiaries have died, but there is a waiting list.

Lincoln South Rotary Club was able to provide $2,000 in much-needed funds to help support these efforts. Bellevue Washington Rotary Club made a $3,000 donation, and the Denver Southeast Rotary Club recently donated $2,000. But Rotarian Casabianca is working with other Rotary clubs for support to prevent starvation among these remote residents.

The TRC organization, with the support of Rotarians around the world, is fulfilling the Rotary 2021-22 theme Serve to Change Lives.

For information about Lincoln South Rotary, visit www.lincolnsouthrotary.org. From www.rotary.org, No challenge is too big for Rotary. For more than 110 years, weve bridged cultures and connected continents to champion peace, fight illiteracy and poverty, promote clean water and sanitation, and fight disease.

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Over 250 people attended Rwanda Night in person and over 600 followed it online Saturday, Feb. 19, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Union to celebrate our local community's bonds with Rwandan students who attend UNL.

Hosted by the Rwanda Students Association at UNL, the event brought together members of the Lincoln community, Rwandan students and the Friends of Rwanda organization.

Among attendees were Maj. Gen. Daryl L. Bohac, adjutant general of the Nebraska National Guard; Mike Boehm, vice chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at UNL; Tiffany Heng-Moss, chief dean of the UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; and Mathilde Mukantabana, ambassador of Rwanda to the U.S.

This is yet another golden opportunity to celebrate the Rwandan culture, diversity, and to give back to both the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska community for not only welcoming us but fully embracing us for who we are," said Clare Umutoni, president of the Rwandan Students Association at UNL. "It is also an opportunity for Nebraskans to learn more about Rwanda as a country, celebrate its culture, all the while creating meaningful connections through music, dance, Rwandan food and other aspects.

Mukantabana, ambassador of Rwanda to the U.S., noted that she visited the Nebraska National Guard base on Friday, Feb. 18.

The partnerships [of Rwanda] with key institutions in the state of Nebraska were painstakingly forged through mutual trust and unity of purpose, Mukantabana said Saturday at the Rwanda Night event. Let me thank you again, Maj. Gen. Bohac, and your team at the Nebraska National guard for your exemplary leadership and for welcoming Rwanda in the State Partnership program. The State of Nebraska holds a very special place in our hearts.

Rwandan students! We are incredibly proud of you," she added. "Its also obvious by looking around this room that you have made Nebraska your home. You have strengthened the bonds of friendship and solidarity among your peers.

Rwanda is a country in Central Africa, bordered to the north by Uganda, to the East by Tanzania, to the South by Burundi and to the West by the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the past decade, UNL has committed to establishing and expanding strategic, long-term relationships with Rwandan institutions of higher education and the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda. The Nebraska UPEX-Rwanda Program, funded through the U.S. Department of State Bureau of African Affairs' University Partnerships Initiative, is a fellowship that aims to create long-lasting, impactful relationships between U.S. and Rwandan universities through virtual exchange, professional development for Rwandan mid-career professionals, and U.S. mentorship in international partnership management.

For more information, visit https://globalnebraska.unl.edu/university-partnerships-initiative/rwanda.

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RACINE  No fatalities were reported after an apartment fire filled the sky with smoke across several blocks before dawn Saturday.

Three firefighters sustained minor injuries, the Racine Fire Department reported.

The fire started before 11 p.m. Friday at 2306 Anthony Lane (formerly Jacato Drive).

Multiple fire departments  including Caledonia, South Shore and Oak Creek  were called in to help the Racine Fire Department fight the blaze.

Volunteers with the American Red Cross report they are assisting residents from two of the units, and are trying to get in touch with those from the other 14 units; those in need of assistance can call 800-236-8680, then dial 9.

Already in 2022, the Red Cross has assisted more than 600 people displaced by more than 145 fires in just Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.

The building sustained immense damage, with much of the roof collapsing. Until we have access to the building, we are assuming everything is a total loss, the property manager told residents in an email, which was shared with The Journal Times. The email further states, We will be releasing everyone from their lease agreements and deposit refunds will be processed  for those qualified for a refund.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Friday nominated federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, making her the first black woman selected to serve on a court that once declared her race unworthy of citizenship and endorsed segregation.

Introducing Jackson, Biden called her a proven consensus builder who has a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people.

She strives to be fair, to get it right, to do justice, the president added.

Jackson also is a relative of former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who represented Racine County in Congress from 1999-2019. Jacksons husband is Ryans wifes sisters husbands brother. Put another way, Ryans sister-in-laws husband is Jacksons brother-in-law.

In a statement, Ryan said that he and his wife, Janna, are incredibly happy for Ketanji and her entire family. Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanjis intellect, for her character, and for her integrity, is unequivocal.

In Jackson, Biden delivers on a campaign promise to make the historic appointment and to further diversify a court that was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries. He chose an attorney who would be the high courts first former public defender, although she also possesses the elite legal background of other justices.

Jackson would be the current courts second black justice  Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other  and just the third in history. She would replace liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring at the end of the term this summer, so she wont change the courts 6-3 conservative majority.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the countrys racial makeup is, approximately:

0.2% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

1.3% American Indian/Alaska Native

2.8% mixed race

5.9% Asian

13.4% black/African American

18.5% Hispanic or Latino

60.1% white

Next decisions

Jackson would join the court as it weighs cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

She would be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, but she would join three others already there, including the first Latina, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

In brief remarks, Jackson highlighted her familys first-hand experience with the entirety of the legal system, as judges and lawyers, an incarcerated member and police officers.

Standing alongside Biden at the White House, she spoke of the historic nature of her nomination, noting she shared a birthday with Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman to be confirmed to the federal bench.

If Im fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next associate justice of the Supreme Court United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans, Jackson said.

Jackson, 51, once worked as one of Breyers law clerks early in her legal career. She attended Harvard as an undergraduate and for law school, and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the agency that develops federal sentencing policy, before becoming a federal judge in 2013.

Her nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority by a razor-thin 50-50 margin with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker. Party leaders have promised swift but deliberate consideration of the presidents nominee.

But the timeline to approve her nomination could be complicated by a number of things, including Russias invasion of Ukraine and the extended absence of Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, who suffered a stroke last month and is out for several weeks.

Biden and Senate Democrats are hoping for a bipartisan vote on the nomination, but its unclear if they will be able to win over any GOP senators after bitterly partisan confirmation battles under President Donald Trump. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of three Republicans who voted to confirm Jackson to the appeals court last year, had pushed Biden to nominate a different candidate from his home state, Judge J. Michelle Childs, who also was favored by home-state Rep. James Clyburn, a Biden ally. Childs is black.

Previewing a likely Republican attack line, Graham and several others on the right said Biden was going with the choice of the radical left.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he looked forward to meeting with Jackson and studying her record, legal views and judicial philosophy. But he noted he had voted against her a year ago.

Biden has said he was interested in selecting a nominee in the mold of Breyer who could be a persuasive force with fellow justices. Although Breyers votes tended to put him to the left of center on an increasingly conservative court, he frequently saw the gray in situations that colleagues were more likely to find black or white.

Jackson currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, a position that Biden elevated her to last year from her previous job as a federal trial court judge. Three current justices  Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts, the chief justice  previously served on the same appeals court. Jackson was confirmed to that post on a 53-44 Senate vote, winning the backing of three Republicans: Graham, Maines Susan Collins and Alaskas Lisa Murkowski.

In one of Jacksons most high-profile decisions, as a trial court judge she ordered former White House Counsel Don McGahn to appear before Congress. That was a setback to Trumps efforts to keep his top aides from testifying. The case was appealed, and a deal was ultimately reached for McGahns testimony.

As an appeals court judge, she was part of a three-judge panel that ruled in December against Trumps effort to shield documents from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Jackson traces her interest in the law to when she was in preschool and her father was in law school and they would sit together at the dining room table, she with coloring books and he with law books. Her father became an attorney for the county school board and her mother was a high school principal. A brother, nine years younger, served in the Army, including in Iraq, and is now a lawyer, too.

Contributing to this report were Adam Rogan of The Journal Times, and Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Balsamo, Zeke Miller, Mark Sherman, Jessica Gresko and Mary Clare Jalonick.

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RACINE  The Community Oriented Policing unit of the Racine Police Department has what it believes to be a great idea for a program to help keep youth out of trouble, and the officers hope a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice will help pay for it.

Sgt. James Pettis presented the $50,000 proposal to the Finance & Personnel Department on Monday, whose members were enthusiastic about the project.

Pettis explained the $50,000 grant from the DOJ would allow the COP program to implement two programs: one that would put youth to work in their neighborhoods, and another that would create a volunteer infrastructure for young people who have had a brush with the law and must complete community service hours.

The first program would pay $10/hour to approximately 40 youth between the ages of 10 and 16 years old to perform services such as leaf removal, snow removal, and lawn maintenance for their neighbors in the Anthony Lane, Geneva Street, Mead Street, and Villa Street neighborhoods.

If received, the funds would also help pay for the equipment necessary to do the work.

I hear a lot of folks in the community asking for this kind of thing, so its fairly exciting, Alderman Natalia Taft said. I hope we get it.

Neighborhood issues

Pettis said the idea for the program came from Officer Travis Brady, who noticed there were two issues in in his COP house neighborhood.

The first was the abundance of properties that needed some work, and the second was the abundance of youth who needed something to do.

He decided a program that addressed would be just the thing.

Pettis said the program would focus on yard maintenance, snow removal, and leaf removal.

We have substantial youth participation at these areas already both through our community policing efforts but also through many of the partnerships with non-profits weve been able to develop thus far, he added.

The funds would be sufficient to fund 10 participants for each of the COP houses in the targeted neighborhoods.

Approximately $41,600 would be used for wages for the youth workers.

Volunteer infrastructure

Pettis explained the second component of the plan would be used to build a volunteer infrastructure.

When young people come in contact with the law, they are often assigned community service hours, which can be challenging for families who have neither transportation nor volunteer opportunities in their neighborhoods.

I think its important for these kids to give back in an equitable way and have opportunity to do that without having to go far when families lack transportation, he said.

Performance measures

Taft asked if there were measurable outcomes in place that would help the department advocate for resources for the program in the future.

Im sorry, said Taft, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. I cant help but ask this question because Im a teacher.

Pettis said indeed there would be performance measures  including measuring changes in property crime in each of the four locations.

He said the goal was a 10% reduction in burglaries and thefts, inclusive of vehicle theft.

Pettis explained that burglaries and theft were by and large crimes of opportunity: Someone is walking down the street after curfew, checking the doors on vehicles to see if the car is unlocked, and, if it is, carrying off any money or items they can sell, such as electronics.

Another performance measure includes a goal of increasing volunteerism by 50% for the youth participants.

Additionally, there is a performance measure for those who will be performing community service.

Right now, were probably close to zero community service hours in our community policing neighborhoods for kids who have been adjudicated, Pettis said. What wed like to see is 120 hours conducted through this program.

Participation

Alderman Sam Peete asked if parents would be welcome to assist.

Pettis said they would be open to having parents supervise the youth along with the officers, with some protective measures in place.

If the program grows the way they hope it will, they would certainly welcome parents and members of the community who are interested in helping.

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RACINE  Its been a long time coming.

That was the response from the Racine Women for Racial Justice to Fridays historic news that President Joe Biden was true to his word to diversify the nations top court with the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States.

If confirmed, Jackson will be the first black woman on the nations highest court.

Kelly Scroggins-Powell, the executive director of RWRJ, said it was huge that President Biden would make that promise and that he would make good on it.

Thats what it looks like when people act with intentionality, she added. That is what it looks like to use your power and privilege to bring equity, diversity, and inclusion into the judicial system, into the United States Supreme Court.

Scroggins-Powell said the RWRJ intended to collaborate with local, state and national groups to support Jacksons nomination. One of RWRJs missions is to empower women, she said, especially black women.

Pushback

President Bidens announcement that he intended to nominate a black woman to the SCOTUS did not receive positive feedback from every corner.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the announcement was offensive and an insult to black women.

In response, Scroggins-Powell said she could not believe Cruz had the audacity to speak on behalf of black women.

She added it was ironic that Bidens announcement was met with claims of racial discrimination in consideration of the fact that in the more than 230 years of its existence, there have only been fewer than 10 Supreme Court justices who were not white men.

I dont call that racial discrimination, she said of Bidens vow to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court. I call it equity.

She continued: If more people with power and privilege intentionally created spaces for qualified, competent people of color  spaces that have traditionally been reserved for white males  we would see greater equity, diversity and inclusion in our country.

That would be the way to eradicate racism in this country, Scroggins-Powell concluded.

Other responses

In a message to The Journal Times, Meg Andrietsch, Democratic Party of Racine County chair and secretary of the state Democratic Party, said: Id say she has the qualifications necessary for the Supreme Court, where we expect serious people to be making serious decisions. Personally, Im very pleased that President Biden chose a woman of color. Ive always believe that all boards and courts should reflect the communities they represent, and that includes the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a statement, Wisconsin Republican Party Press Secretary Rachel Reisner said: Biden never planned on bringing the country together. Thats why nominating a far-left judge may be the only promise Biden has kept.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason, a Democrat, said in a Friday afternoon tweet: What a great & historic choice @POTUS has made! #KetanjiBrownJackson will make a great Justice on the @USSupremeCourt!

Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this report.

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider whether a constitutional amendment that sought to enhance the rights of crime victims in Wisconsin was properly put before voters before it was enacted last year.

The case focuses on a measure known as Marsys Law, which was promoted by a California billionaire and supported by crime victims who say it makes their rights just as strong as those of the accused by enshrining them in the Wisconsin Constitution.

In May 2019, the measure was approved in largely bipartisan votes by the Legislature and put on the April 2020 ballot. The constitutional amendment was passed by about 75% of Wisconsin voters but later challenged by the Wisconsin Justice Initiative, along with attorneys Jacqueline Boynton, Jerome Buting and Craig Johnson and now-retired state Sen. Fred Risser, who disputed the validity of the question put to voters.

A Dane County judge ruled in late 2020 that the statewide ballot question was improperly worded when it was presented to voters and that it inadequately spelled out the effect the amendment would have on the rights of people accused of crimes.

Circuit Judge Frank Remington ruled in the case brought by the Wisconsin Justice Initiative that had the question been broken into two parts  one addressing greater rights for victims and another on the diminishment of the rights of the accused  voters would have been better informed about the overall impact.

About a year later, a three-judge panel of the state District 3 Court of Appeals asked that the state Supreme Court bypass the appeals court and decide the case, citing its statewide importance, the novelty of some of the questions the appeal asks and the lack of significant legal authority on other questions.

If Marsys Law is found to be invalid, the panel wrote, the Legislature might want to resubmit a proper ballot question to voters. It also said resolving the issues presented would be in the best interests of the proponents of Marsys Law.

The law was named after Marsalee (Marsy) Ann Nicholas, a University of California Santa Barbara student who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Just a week after the murder, Marsys mother, Marcella, was confronted by her daughters murderer at a local market. She hadnt been told he had been released on bail just days after Marsys murder. Henry Nicholas III is Marsys brother, and the billionaire founder of the Marsys Law national campaign.

Supporters of Marsys Law say it simply gives alleged victims the same rights as those of the accused. Some rights for victims are already delineated in the Wisconsin Constitution, and others are outlined in statute, which carries less weight. Opponents say it could undermine the rights of defendants, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Ultimately, Marsys Law added 16 new rights for victims while eliminating reference to a fair trial for the defendant.

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By Trend

Mayor of the Vasylkiv city of Kyiv Oblast (province) Natalia Balasinovich said that the Russian troops' assault on the city ended with the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Trend reports citing UNIAN.

Now the fighting is ending. We can say it is already quiet in Vasylkiv, and our terrible night has come to an end, the mayor said.

According to her, since yesterday, military units and the airfield have been shelled, and troops have landed in the city.

The combat vehicles sent from Kyiv arrived in time, following the battles with the wounded and the dead, Vasylkiv was defended.

The fierce fighting has been continuing all night in the Vasylkiv city of Kyiv Oblast.
British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle greatly raised the prestige of the lowly detective story with his fictional alter ego Sherlock Holmes. One of Holmes most brilliant insights concerned something that was not present. In Silver Blaze a dog did not bark.

In a vexing case, what was unheard, what did not happen proved to be the crucial evidence. Likewise, Canada-United States relations remain quietly strong, despite media focus on current disruptions.

The pandemic has created many problems. Canadian truck drivers are protesting COVID-19 restrictions, disrupting commerce generally. In response, anxious Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched draconian retaliation, including forceful arrests.

Canada-U.S. relations overall are hardly free of conflict. President Donald Trump criticized Canadas dairy industry for promoting protectionism, not coincidentally while in Wisconsin. Lumber production is another source of dispute.

Trump exaggerates readily. Nonetheless, he voiced long-standing disputes. Also highly germane is that farmers represent powerful protectionist lobbies in most countries.

Yet our cooperative structures and practices remain intact. Alliance with Canada was established during the enormous global struggle of World War II. Our partnership reflects the enduring Special Relationship between Britain and the U.S. forged by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Our history was not always collaborative. The Great Lakes were a principal naval battle arena during the War of 1812. Canada provided refuge and sustenance to Confederate saboteurs and spies during our Civil War. The fact that negative history has been so fully overcome testifies to the strength of contemporary bonds.

President John F. Kennedy summed up the Canada-U.S. relationship while addressing the Parliament in Ottawa early in 1961, noting, Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies.

Canadas government professionals traditionally foster cooperation with Britain and the U.S., while heavily represented among the staffs of the United Nations, NATO and the other global intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.

Ditchley Park near Oxford is an extremely influential conference center born from the Anglo-American-Canadian tripartite alliance of World War II. When the focus of a meeting is the UN, crisis intervention, humanitarian relief, international law or associated topics, Canada is invariably extremely well represented among participants.

Roosevelt and Churchill held a summit aboard naval warships off Newfoundland, Canada in August 1941, several months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The result was the Atlantic Charter, the foundation for the United Nations.

One vital byproduct was British, Canadian and U.S. scientific cooperation during and after the war. Throughout the war, the Allies planned the UN structure in detail. The former helped achieve victory; the latter promotes stability.

At the end of Kennedys 1961 visit to Canada, national security adviser McGeorge Bundy accidentally left behind a briefcase containing a memo where the president had scrawled a note about dealing with the SOB, apparently referring to combative nationalist Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. Diefenbaker, enraged, threatened embarrassing public vengeance.

Kennedy pleaded poor penmanship, stating he actually wrote OAS, the Organization of American States. At his next press conference, he went out of his way to praise Bundy.

Diefenbaker had a loud bark, like Trump, but therefore stood out. Generally, Canadian leaders have maintained positive ties with the U.S., including Diefenbaker successors Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau.

Pierres son Justin, unfortunately, has panicked badly regarding the truckers protest. During World War II, Canadas Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King avoided such displays. So did Churchill and Roosevelt.

Were lucky they did.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War (NYU and Palgrave/Macmillan). Contact him at acyr@carthage.edu.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of After the Cold War (NYU and Palgrave/Macmillan). Contact him at acyr@carthage.edu.

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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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KEARNEY  Cindy Houlden and Robert James, co-owners of The Lodge Restaurant, want their patrons to arrive with a certain set of expectations.

When you come in to eat, you know what youre going to get, Houlden said. You know whats on the menu and you know what its going to taste like. We do mix things up once in a while; we offer new types of desserts, but this is comfort food, food that youre used to.

The brother and sister team took over the restaurant at 1401 Second Ave. from Nick and Claire Longly, who started the business in the 1990s. James worked as an employee for the Longlys.

Robert was a longtime employee of both Nick and Claire, Houlden said. He also had a background at Bicos, another long-standing traditional restaurant in Kearney. Robert wanted to maintain the tradition at The Lodge, not something thats always looking to be new and improved.

James considers himself more than just a co-owner.

I look at myself more of a caretaker of the traditions of The Lodge, the traditions that people have known and expect of the place, he said.

That role draws on his years of experience, a role that is quickly approaching two decades.

Diners easily recognize the stone fireplace and extensive stone work at the north end of the restaurant. Houlden understands the importance of the physical aspects of the business, an aspect that provides comfort as well.

Thats something that Robert has tried to preserve, she said. Yes, we replaced the carpet, weve replaced the chairs and we even put in different table covers. We also replaced the dishes, but you couldnt tell that the new china we purchased wasnt the same china that Nick and Claire have been using for 20 years. It has a similar pattern and a similar color.

Houlden also understands why it feels so good to return to a place that gives patrons comfort.

Its the familiarity, she said, like that flannel shirt you wear just because it feels good or that blanket you curl up with  theres something about walking through a door and knowing exactly what youre going to get, knowing that the meal you ordered a year ago is still available today. Were creatures of habit and thats who our customers are.

Supply chain issues have affected some parts of the operation. Houlden cites using different brands of pancake mix as an example.

Its still pancakes and it still tastes the same, she said. Our baker does a wonderful job of introducing new desserts. She has something different once in a while, but people still want the sour cream raisin pie. They still want bread pudding. They still want whats familiar.

When it comes to retaining workers, Houlden acknowledges the long-term employees who have been at The Lodge for years.

We have a great core staff, she said. I cannot sing their praises high enough. We have an amazing core.

Filling in around that core requires finding individuals with schedules that match the needs of the restaurant, with people who have the same work ethic as the long-term employees  and workers who Houlden and James can afford.

There are people out there that just want an amount of money that we cant even pay our managers, Houlden said. Its finding that right balance. We offer what benefits we can, we pay a fair salary and weve kept our doors open.

Houlden corrected that statement. Several staff members called in sick, and James and Houlden decided to close over Christmas to give everyone an extra day off. The current schedule includes a day off on Mondays to give the cleaning staff extra time to deep clean.

Were like everyone else, Houlden added. Theres just not a lot of people looking for work right now.

For the owners and the employees, the rewards come in greater forms than just income.

My joy is seeing Robert joyous, Houlden said. He talks about the look on someones face when they eat a meal and theyre satisfied. Our employees talk about the regulars who come back every day. The regulars talk about their kids and their families. Weve had staff who were college students who have gone on exchange. When they come back, they sometimes get welcome home gifts from costumers. Its that relationship theyve built. Not only do we have a great core of employees, we have a great core of customers.
KEARNEY  Faith Christian School opened on shaky legs Aug. 27, 1996.

A single teacher taught its 10 students in grades 7-8 in rented space at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 3920 22nd Ave. As the school grew, classes expanded into space at Countryside Christian Church and eFree Church.

Today, 25 years later, Faith Christian School has 118 students in grades pre-K through eighth and is hoping to expand. Its board envisions opening a non-denominational Christian high school in the fall of 2023.

In the next few weeks, every household in Kearney and within a 15-mile radius outside city boundaries will receive a survey inquiring about community interest in that idea, which has been explored by Faith Christian Schools board and an exploratory committee of parents, grandparents and retired teachers.

Theoretically, Faith Christian High school would have 15 to 25 students in each grade, 9-12, and offer extracurricular activities. The tuition would be roughly $6,000 to $7,000 per student.

The dream of expanding pleases Aaron Peterson, the FCS head teacher  equivalent to principal  who arrived in March 2020. He believes that God ordained parents to raise their own children, and that it is the schools job to walk alongside parents as children master academics.

Our curriculum is in line with God. Were interested in keeping Christ at the center for both kids and families. We like to be the support in the shadows, he said.

Nor do the expansion plans surprise alumni like Kyle Smith, an FCS Foundation board member. At a young age, the school planted seeds of faith that I was able to come to after my life went different directions, he said. When it came time for our first child to go to school, my wife and I wanted her to experience the same.

Christ at the center

Every morning, as the school day begins, all students except preschoolers gather in the gym for devotions and announcements. They say the Pledge of Allegiance, a Christian pledge and a Bible pledge. We put Christ at the head of our day, Peterson said.

Students then go to their classrooms. The first subject is Bible.

Thats practical, a good start for the day, he said. Throughout the day, Bible lessons and memory verses are integrated into the standard academic curriculum.

For science, the school uses the Bob Jones University Press curriculum, which presents various issues in science but comes back to the theme of God as creator. Each subject presents unique opportunities to talk and help students develop a world view in line with the Bible, and with Christ, Peterson added.

Faith Christians three expectations are respect, responsibility and righteousness.

Theres something new to learn every day. Theres not a lot of monotony here, Peterson said.

Along with Peterson and secretary Brandi Thornburg, the school has 11 teachers, one after-school program director, a music teacher and three lunch aides. Next falls tuition will be $5,000 per year for grades K-8, and $4,300 for full-time preschoolers. Part-time preschoolers pay $2,200.

Faith Christian School has five classrooms on the main level, along with administrative offices, the library, the cafeteria and the gym. On the lower level are seven more classrooms.

Students pray in their classes before lunch and at the end of the day. On Fridays, all-school chapel services feature talks by parents or pastors. I want kids to see that you dont need to be a pastor to be a spiritual leader. We recognize that there are a lot of ways God can use our students, Peterson said.

Gods sense of humor

A Kearney native and a graduate of Kearney High School, Peterson, 27, likes to say that God has a sense of humor. He was curious and loved to learn, but he learned more when he was fishing or spending time in his grandfathers workshop. School was not my thing growing up, he said.

Petersons father Tim was a pastor at eFree Church. Peterson felt drawn to the ministry, but after just a year at College of the Ozarks, a private Christian college at Branson, Mo., he came home and spent two months shadowing teachers at Faith Christian.

I was amazed, he said. I liked everything  the camaraderie of the staff and the way they started every morning with devotions and announcements and prayed about difficult students, he said.

He also liked the team dynamic of parents and teachers working together. This was a ministry that excited me, he said. I saw an opportunity to make a difference and care for people. It became plain to me that I had opportunities to give kids a good foundation and to work alongside parents to accomplish that.

A new purpose

He enrolled at Central Community College and graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He and his wife Kathryn then became teachers in Lexington. Peterson taught preschoolers, and he loved it. Younger kids have a curiosity and an excitement for learning, he said.

He never planned to be an administrator, but in 2020, when Faith Christian School sought a new head of school, his friends convinced him to apply. I thought Id put my name out there and see where it went. The board decided to give me a chance, he said. He has a provisional license and is working on his masters degree at UNK.

We have a phenomenal board. Theyre interested in seeing the school growing beyond where it is, and theyve given me the freedom to run with this, he said.

Promising future

When Peterson started in March 2020, Faith Christian had 88 students from about 50 families. This year, it has 118 students from 76 families.

Families come from all different directions. With all the changes in our world, they are paying greater attention to what kids are learning, he said. Faith is not the No. 1 driver for everyone, but faith is one component. We have no interest in turning anyone away, but families do understand that our statement of faith is what will be taught.

He described his 11 teachers as an all-star staff both academically and spiritually. Each comes with the desire to share their faith in school. Its very fulfilling to have teamwork with parents and push aside friction, he said.

The schools relatively new Faith Christian School Foundation is led by Executive Director Dave Dickinson, the retired pastor of Hope Evangelical Free Church. The foundation has had three fundraisers in the past year.

In 2020, the school was the top fundraiser in the Kearney Area Community Foundations annual Give Where You Live campaign, with $111,101 received from 6,353 donors. We just love being part of the community. We equip students to be Christ-like leaders. We want them to be excellent in academics, in their spiritual walk, and in social and physical skills. We give glory to God for all those blessings, Peterson said then.

Now we want to make our surroundings better by increasing and improving our curriculum, adding more physical spaces and create a great momentum that people are excited to get on board with, he said recently.

God has remained faithful, and we are excited to watch Him work as we equip our next generation of leaders.
Western Technical College Computer Support Specialist students will be offering a technology support help desk for the community from March 7 to April 8. Services will be available online, over the phone, or in person in room 219 of the Business Education Center, 744 Badger St., La Crosse. The support desk will run on Tuesdays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Students can assist with computer software training, hardware support, and general troubleshooting. The help desk is part of Westerns community engagement program, which takes credit courses and uses them to address and solve community needs.

This program is not only helping the students learn, it is also helping the public, said Cindy Prindle, the instructor for the classes. It teaches our students how to become leaders in our community.

If interested in visiting the help desk in person, walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Community members may park in Western lot H or visitor parking spots for free during help desk hours. Interested individuals can make an appointment or seek technology assistance by calling 608.785.9900, emailing studenthelp@westerntc.edu., or visit www.studenthelp.westerntc.edu/portal.

To learn more information on Westerns programs or services, call 608.785.9200 or visit www.westerntc.edu.

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This year's Dubai International Boat Show is back and the 2022 edition promises to be better than ever, said the event organisers.

The Middle Easts largest and most-popular leisure marine event, DIBS will take place at Dubai Harbour, from March 9 to 13.

It is set to welcome over 400 boat, yacht and watercraft brands including the world premiere of Sunreefs 80 Eco Line, a glimpse at the all-new Princess Y85, and a regional debut for San Lorenzos innovative SX88.

A jaw-dropping line up of more than 50 floating mansions from some of the worlds leading marques, such as Feadship, Majesty, Nomad, Cranchi, and Lurssen, will also be on show.

The emirates nautical showpiece is celebrating its 28th edition and will mark the regional yachting industrys first large-scale, in-person event since the Covid-19 pandemic, said the organisers, Dubai World Trade Centre.

The five-day show will be the first to take place at Dubais ground-breaking new marina, reuniting the regions maritime community.

With DIBS 2022 providing an iconic backdrop and meeting ground to reinvigorate the global industry, Trixie LohMirmand, Executive VP (Events Management), DWTC, believes the eyes of both the regional and international yachting communities will be fixed on the emirates once more.

"As Dubai International Boat Show moves into its new home, Dubai Harbour, we look forward to enhancing Dubais status as an internationally renowned superyachting destination," she stated.

She pointed out that the challenges of the last two years have sparked a desire for a more outdoor, spatial lifestyle, which in turn promise new growth opportunities for the industry.

"The leisure marine sector has continued to thrive in this period, while building on its ability to attract a wider and more diverse buyer base. Dubai International Boat Show offers that pivotal platform and opportunity for buyers and enthusiasts to finally appreciate the offerings of yachts, boats and accessories in their search for a creative and empowering passion," remarked LohMirmand.

Next months show will feature an eclectic range of marine attractions, from the worlds biggest, most advanced superyachts to small fishing craft and recreational water-sports equipment.

With a host of networking activities designed to boost knowledge and foster business across the industry, the event is a unique platform for the global yachting and nautical lifestyle communities.

Dubai International Boat Show 2022 is set to enhance the maritime prospects of an already vibrant region for the global industry.

The Mena region boasts the worlds second-highest fleet-to-billionaire ratio, while Dubai ranks among the top-10 nautical capitals internationally with 15 marinas providing more than 3,000 berths.

Dubai Harbour is the emirates undisputed nucleus, boasting 700 berths and the citys first dedicated superyacht marina, which can house craft up to 160m in length. The emirates maritime sector accounts for approximately 7% of its GDP, the equivalent of AED 26.9 billion, he stated.

Now, with Middle Eastern owners accounting for 12.6% of the worlds superyacht fleet, the shows Superyacht Avenue has attracted a stellar flotilla of the worlds biggest, brashest, and most luxurious and technologically advanced vessels.

Numerous elite superyacht builders are set to unveil their latest craft and products  including SuperYacht Builders Association members Lurssen and Oceanco, who lead a cast that also features mainstream superyacht brands such as Azimut, Cranchi, Feretti, Gulf Craft, and Princess Yachts.

"Dubai has established itself as a globally renowned city, bringing the worlds attention to the United Arab Emirates and the entire Middle East region," remarked Mohammed Hussein AlShaali, the Chairman of Gulf Craft.

"As one of the worlds emerging yachting hubs, it is no surprise that the DIBS is one of the most sought-after industry events that has gained prominence on the international stage. We are witnessing significant growth and demand from the leisure maritime industry here in the region and around the world, and our home show  the Dubai International Boat Show  is a fantastic platform to showcase our Majesty Yachts, Nomad Yachts, Oryx Sport Cruisers and Silvercraft Fishing Boats," noted Al Shaali.

Dubai International Boat Show 2022 will be held under stringent safety and hygiene protocols, he added.
In-person visitation at Wisconsin's prisons will resume Tuesday because of a decrease in COVID-19 activity, the state Department of Corrections announced Friday.

The visits were suspected for the majority of the COVID-19 pandemic, but resumed in July 2021 as cases trended downward. But the omicron variant caused another surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting in-person visitation to get shut down again in January.

As of Friday, 78 inmates in the state prison system were infected with COVID-19, according to DOC data. That's a sharp drop from the start of the month when there were 1,441 active COVID-19 cases across the department's 37 prison facilities.

From Jan. 1 to Feb. 25, more than 3,300 inmates were infected with COVID-19 while incarcerated in a state prison, according to the data. A total of 33 inmates have died after contracting COVID-19.

New cases have started to level off, though, with only 15 new infections reported since Monday, the data shows.

The Department of Corrections said the recent decrease was the reason it decided to reopen its prisons for in-person visits.

Starting Tuesday, volunteers and contractors will be allowed to access the facilities again, attorney and professional visits will resume, some programs that had been put on hold will resume and off-site medical visits will no longer be limited, the DOC said.

"Of course, were happy to resume many normal operations, and we hope there are no more suspensions of those operations," DOC Secretary Kevin Carr said in a statement. "However, we have and will continue to follow the science in our COVID-19 mitigation efforts."

As of Tuesday, 81% of the state's roughly 20,000 prisoners were fully vaccinated and 69.4% of the population had gotten a booster, the DOC said.

According to DOC's website, masks are still required in 24/7 adult and juvenile facilities, but staff who are vaccinated do not need to wear masks in other locations.

Carr said the DOC recognizes the importance of maintaining connections with family members while incarcerated. While visits were suspended, inmates were given two free phone calls per week and staff installed video conferencing equipment so prisons could meet with family and friends online. Video visits will remain an option.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of those in our care and their loved ones as we have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, Carr said.
Every month since June, Roberto Lopez-Adrian has sat down to compose a hand-written letter to a Lancaster County resident he hasnt met in person.

In June, the Millersville University student and several of his colleagues pursuing a masters degree in social work will have written 12 letters to an individual facing a combination of poverty and social isolation.

I have an opportunity to interact with people who have a different life experience than me, Lopez-Adrian said.

Jennifer Frank, an assistant professor in MUs social work department, received $8,000 in funding for the year-long pen pal project, Stepping Stones, from the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Mainly, the grant paid the graduate assistants wages.

By partnering with The Factory Ministries, YWCA of Lancaster and Tenfold, Frank and her students can study the impacts corresponding with a pen pal could have on loneliness and ones willingness to engage with the community.

In the 12-month period, Frank said student pen pals are asked to act not as helpers, but as equals with their assigned partner.

Weve asked the students to approach the project like a regular person, she said. Theyre social work students, so our concern is that theyd have the tendency to want to be the helper.

By writing back and forth as regular people, the power disparity that normally exists between a professional helper and a client is diminished and its possible to foster genuine connection, said Mary Glazier, retired MU professor and director of the schools Center for Public Scholarship and Social Change.

I think (the project) is a good thing, said community pen pal Constance Degrave. Its like we have another friend in the house.

Living in isolation

In the early days of COVID-19, having another friend in the house became much more of a luxury.

And, as the effects of the pandemic continue, MU associate professor and Master of Social Work coordinator Laura Brierton Granruth said the project will examine how seriously feelings of isolation were impacted and, perhaps, intensified.

Jennifer Gehman, programs manager at Tenfold, said COVID-19 has increased social isolation but the pen pal project decreased some of those feelings for Tenfold clients. Tenfold, formerly Tabor, is a nonprofit aiming to provide equity housing and financial security for all.

It provides that outlet and that experience and that resource for participants to have a connection, to create a connection with the students, Gehman said.

Community members involved in the project are those facing poverty, meaning they lack essential resources.

Anna Beasley, adult advocacy director for The Factory Ministries, said there are many resources an individual could be lacking, including financial, intellectual, emotional and relational. Someone who is socially isolated has more difficulty obtaining those resources, Beasley said.

One of the things that I think is so devastating about living in isolation is you basically lock yourself off to all of the resources needed to get out of that, Beasley said. Stepping Stones helps to bridge that and it helps them to trust a little bit more and feel like they have a little bit of a connection so they're more apt to plug into the community.

Hands-on social work experience

At the end of the project, MU Master of Social Work candidates Brittany Leffler, Dawn Watson and Rachel Preibisch will use a narrative inquiry approach, which looks at the stories people tell, to evaluate how the project impacted the participants.

We have some idea around what we think we might find  probably themes about isolation, probably themes about hobbies, Frank said.

Watson said conducting research with her two colleagues has prepared her for social work differently than if she had just read how to be a social worker in a book.

Having this first-hand knowledge gives us better information for how to act in the future, Watson said.

She and Preibisch are both part-time students. Preibisch, who doesnt have prior social work experience outside of MUs masters program, said the project has given her skills that she cant get in a classroom.

The program also offers an exposure to the different situations that community members experience.

Were incredibly fortunate, kind of lucky, to be able to look at these letters as students and follow their stories, see what poverty means to them and what they actually live, Preibisch said. When we enter practice, itll be to our benefit.
Victoria Khiterer spoke Friday about her childhood in Ukraine, recalling Kyiv, the beautiful city where she grew up, especially remembering its gorgeous parks.

Then, she described her sadness, felt this week while watching  from her current Lancaster County home  as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion, sending troops and firing explosives into Ukraine on multiple fronts. By Friday, fighting had reached Kyiv.

The most difficult thing to see is basically all of the explosions in my native city, where I was born and grew up, Khiterer said. Five generations of my family lived in Kyiv. And when I see how Putin destroys the city  and also its people, its absolutely awful.

The attacks have killed well over 100 Ukranians, civilians and military personnel, according to media reports, and likely, there have been many Russian casualties.

Tens of thousands of other people have fled the country, it's been reported. And still, other Ukrainians continued to fight off invaders.

As world news organizations published images and videos of crumbling war-torn buildings in Ukraine, Khiterer agreed to speak with LNP | LancasterOnline Friday, giving expert insight, especially when it comes to Putins claims that his invasion, at least in part, will help to rid Ukraine of Nazis.

Everything that Putin says is pure lies, Khiterer said, dispelling the notion that Nazi ideology is popular among Ukraines leadership.

In fact, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Jewish, she said, explaining other high ranking officials are, too.

Jews never before occupied such high positions in Ukraine, she said, again dismissing Putins claims. Its an absolutely ridiculous accusation.

Khiterer, also Jewish, moved to America in the late 1990s, eventually making her way to Lancaster County, where she is now an associate professor of history at Millersville University. Specifically, she is an expert in Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the Holocaust, she said.

First, with your personal connection to Ukraine, what was it like watching from afar as Russian forces moved in? Do you still have loved ones in Ukraine? If so, have you been able to speak with them since the invasion began? How are they doing?

VK: I keep connections with people there [Kyiv]. I talked to them on the phone. I asked them, first of all, if they stayed in the city, and they said, Yes. I asked about their safety, and one of my friends told me at least they have a garage in their apartment building that can be used as a bomb shelter. Another person doesnt have anything. And of course, I worry about them.  Even talking to them on the phone, I have heard explosions going on in the city, and it was just horrible because Kyiv is a beautiful city.

Can you provide our readers with a bit of context about what circumstances led to the invasion  historical or current? Putin has said his forces were sent in to protect those with pro-Russian ideologies living in Ukraine, where he claims they have been unduly persecuted. Is there any truth to that?

VK: None of them want Putin as a protector. Their interest is to live peacefully, not bombs and rockets everywhere. Its not in the interest of the Russian population.  I was in Kyiv last October. People speak in Ukrainian. People speak in Russian. Nobody cant speak in the language that they want.  I went to a Russian play. I saw Russian newspapers, Russian books in bookstores.

And what do you think Putin means when he says Russia will help to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine?

VK: I think its propaganda because he sacrifices many Russian young lives.  To send them to fight against another country, he needs justification. He says they are Nazis; they are a Nazi government.  Russian people still have a historical memory about World War II, about fighting with Nazi Germany, so basically if he appeals to the past, theyll feel like they are heroes, that they come to liberate the Ukranians from Nazis. But the Truth is there are no Nazis.

Are there any Nazis, or officials with similar ideologies, within Ukrainian leadership?

VK: Not in leadership. But there are people  you can claim there are Nazis in America or Nazis anywhere, you know, because there is a small group of people, probably a few hundred people who might share this ideology.

Do Putins false claims give any insight into his larger motives? Are there any clues to what might come next? If so, can you elaborate?

VK: I can say that the world really needs to stop Putin right now because the next victims will be the Baltic states. He will find Nazis in the Batic states. And then he will find some Nazis in Poland. And then in other European countries.  Putin will not stop at only Ukraine.

Khiterer said she believes Putins motives are based in ideology, a want to remove western-leaning governments from Eastern Europe, especially parts of the former Soviet Union, where he fears theyll be influenced by NATO and the United States, possibly reducing Russian influence and power.

At this point, what do you believe would be the ideal outcome of this conflict?

VK: I hope Ukraine can stand against Putin, against Russian troops and can stand for its real independence. But well see what happens. I cannot predict the future. I just hope for the best.  They continue to fight and I can say that I wish to see the rest of the western world support Ukraine because Ukraine is a western country.  Under rocket attacks, people cannot sleep at night. They sleep in subway stations because, every night, Russia shoots rockets on the largest Ukrainian cities.

Is there anything else that you think our readers in central Pennsylvania should know about this war  anything important that hasnt been widely covered or discussed?

VK: I would like to pass the message of my friends in Ukraine, and they ask that America and western countries provide more military support to Ukraine, provide more weapons, provide also humanitarian aid. Because the Ukrainian people are fighting, and they fight not only for their independence but they fight against a horrible totalitarian regime.
Etihad Airways has announced that guests who are fully vaccinated and travelling with the airline to Abu Dhabi will no longer need a PCR test before their flight following the latest UAE government directive, from February 26.

Guests who are departing or transiting through Abu Dhabi also do not need a PCR test, unless it is a requirement of their end destination. Vaccination certificates must have a QR code.

 Guests who are not vaccinated and travelling to Abu Dhabi must present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a Covid-19 recovery certificate with a QR code dated within 30 days of departure.

 Children younger than 16 are exempt from the vaccination and testing requirements to fly, on arrival, or to transit.

 Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi as their end destination will continue to receive a free-of-charge PCR test on arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. No further tests are required once in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of Covid-19, he said.

Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand and Marketing, Etihad Airways, said: We warmly welcome this move by the UAE authorities to make travelling to and from Abu Dhabi and the UAE even easier, while maintaining a safe environment. Abu Dhabi has built a reputation for delivering a robust response to the pandemic with high vaccination rates and a comprehensive approach to health and safety measures. Similarly, through the Etihad Wellness programme, weve ensured a healthy inflight environment with fully vaccinated crew to look after our guests on board. With this in mind, we look forward to welcoming more and more visitors to enjoy our beautiful home and sunny climate throughout the year. - TradeArabia News Service
Scientists said recently that fish fossils in the U.S. state of North Dakota are providing a deeper understanding of one of the worst days in the history of life on Earth.

On a spring day 66 million years ago, an asteroid 12 kilometers wide hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, leading to an extinction that killed off about three-quarters of Earth's species, including the dinosaurs. The event made the way for mammals - eventually including humans - to become dominant.

The researchers determined that it was springtime in the northern hemisphere at the fossil site called the Tanis deposit when the asteroid hit.

They based their study on bones from three paddlefishes that died within about 30 minutes of the impact that happened 3500 kilometers away.

Researchers found evidence of melted material in the gills  the part of the body fish use for breathing. The Tanis fossils also indicated that a huge standing wave of water buried local creatures alive.

"Every living thing in Tanis on that day saw nothing coming and was killed almost instantaneously," said Melanie During of Uppsala University in Sweden. She is the lead writer of the research that was published in Nature.

During compared the fossils at Tanis to "a car crash frozen in place."

Several kinds of evidence pointed to a springtime impact.

Yearly growth rings in some fish bones - much like those in tree trunks - showed increased springtime growth levels after reduced growth in winter months.

Chemical evidence from one of the paddlefishes suggested that food availability was increasing as it does in springtime.

Springtime marks a time of growth and reproduction for many organisms.

"This season is crucial for the survival of species," said study co-writer Sophie Sanchez of Uppsala University.

In the southern hemisphere, it was autumn at the time, Sanchez noted, a season when many creatures prepare for winter.

Dinosaurs - aside from their bird relatives - went extinct, as did major marine groups, including the meat-eating reptiles that dominated the seas. Among the survivors were paddlefishes and sturgeons, which survive to this day.

The Tanis fossils helped the researchers better understand the events following the impact, which left a hole about 180 kilometers wide.

The asteroid led to earthquakes, wildfires, and very large waves.

These waves, carrying large amounts of dirt and other materials, hit the Tanis site within around 15 to 30 minutes after the impact, burying all the animals alive, including the fish whose fossils were studied.

The dangers continued after that day. A cloud of dust covered the Earth, creating a climate disaster that blocked sunlight for years.

Study co-writer Jeroen van der Lubbe of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands said, "The exact timing of the impact determined the course of the mass extinction."

Im John Russell.

Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English.

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Words in This Story

fossil  n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks

asteroid  n. small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun

extinction  n. the state or situation that results when something (such as a plant or animal species) has died out completely

species  n. biology : a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

dominant  adj. more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others

impact  n. the act or force of one thing hitting another

crucial  adj. extremely important
Krill are tiny crustaceans that are a large source of food for whales and other water mammals. But they are also in demand by private industry for use in medicine and fish food.

A humpback whale became trapped in a krill net last month and died in the Southern Ocean. Three young humpbacks were caught in the same companys krill nets last year.

The nets were from fishing company Aker BioMarine, based in Norway. It said these were its first cases of catching whales in 15 years of trawling for krill in Antarctica. The company also said it has made improvements to its equipment to keep mammals like whales out of its nets.

The krill industry is set to grow quickly over the next several years. Countries including China and Russia have planned new investments in the business. Scientists are worried krill trawling could threaten Antarctic wildlife.

The krill trawlers target the same feeding areas as fur seals, humpback whales, and blue whales. Studies have also found penguins must swim for longer periods in search of food when fishing boats are nearby.

Krill fishing doesnt bode well for our global fisheries, said Teale Phelps Bondaroff of the non-profit OceansAsia. It means we're getting to the end of what's available in our oceans.

The icy waters off Antarctica are estimated to hold between 300 million and 500 million tons of krill.

Antarctic krill is well researched, compared with the 84 other krill species in the world's oceans. Governments have mostly not opened new krill fisheries due to conservation concerns. But both Japan and Canada operate small krill fisheries in the North Pacific.

In Antarctica, about 11 ships from China, Norway, South Korea, Ukraine and Chile trawl the areas waters from December to July. Rules under the Antarctic Treaty System require trawlers to stay on four areas off the Antarctic Peninsula. They can catch at most 620,000 tons - less than 2 percent of all krill.

Trawlers have not yet taken the full amount. But in 2020, they caught 450,000 tons. That was the most recorded in many years.

"If we introduce just a couple more big trawlers, we will reach (620,000) tons very easily," said Rodolfo Werner. He is with the Antarctic and Southern Coalition, a group of environmental non-profits.

The world's krill industry is growing quickly. The $531-million market for krill oil is expected to rise to $941 million by 2026, research has found.

Pal Skogrand is with the company Aker BioMarine. He said krill should not only be for wildlife. "Krill contain so many good elements" for humans, too, he said.

Krill is used as feed for fish farming. Fish farming is the world's fastest growing food area. Experts expect global demand for fish to double by 2050.

Pressure on supply

Even without competition from fisheries, the krill supply is under increasing pressure. Climate change and higher numbers of whales is decreasing the supply for trawlers.

A 2016 study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters found warmer waters and increased ice melt could drive krill numbers down about 30 percent this century. And a single humpback whale in the West Antarctic Peninsula eats up to 3.1 tons of krill a day. The area has an estimated 3,000 humpbacks.

In October, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources will consider changing catch limits and trawling areas because of conservation concerns.

Scientists fear some nations may oppose stricter measures. China and Russia, for example, have often opposed efforts to create Marine Protected Areas.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

crustacean  n. a type of animal such as a crab or lobster that has several pairs of legs and a body made up of sections that are covered in a hard outer shell

trawl  n. a large net that a boat pulls along the bottom of the ocean to catch fish

bode  v. to be a sign of a future event or situation

global  adj. involving the entire world

conservation  n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources
Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher we answer a question from Samuel in China. He writes,

Question:

When I read the news, sometimes I see 'under quarantine', and at other times I see 'in quarantine.' Are they different in meaning? In the following sentence, which one should I use?

Jerry left Hohhot for school in Hefei when the virus outbreak started in Hohhot. So, when he arrived in Hefei, he was put (under or in) quarantine in a quarantine hotel.

Prepositions are tricky for Chinese English learners. I hope you can help clear my mind a little bit.

Thank you in advance,

Samuel, China.

Answer:

Dear Samuel,

Thank you for writing to us. I am sure that almost everyone who is reading or hearing this knows that quarantine is the isolation of a person or a group of people to prevent the spread of infection to others. But it may not yet be clear how we use different prepositions with the word quarantine.

Let us begin with under.

Since May 2020, language researchers have collected what people are saying related to the pandemic in 20 different English-speaking countries. They call the result the Coronavirus Corpus. I searched in that collection and learned that under quarantine is much less common than in quarantine. Here are some examples:

All close contacts of the coronavirus cases have been placed under a quarantine order.

Following his classmates positive test, the 11-year-old was placed under quarantine on Thursday.

Many countries put their entire populations under strict quarantine in order to prevent the virus from spreading.

Compare these examples of how in quarantine appears.

Some schools are offering meals to students in quarantine.

New Zealand requires a 10-day stay in hotel quarantine for all travelers.

Note that the words put and place appear before under quarantine in our examples. Often there is an official organization taking this kind of action. You can also find examples of putting or placing someone in quarantine, but they are less common.

The short answer to your question, Samuel, is that you would not be wrong to use either under or in before the word quarantine in your example, but English speakers would be more likely to use under quarantine after the verb put in the statement:

When he arrived in Hefei, he was put under quarantine in a quarantine hotel.

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com

And thats Ask a Teacher.

Im Jill Robbins.

Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sentence  n. a group of words, usually containing a verb, that expresses a thought in the form of a statement, question, instruction, or exclamation and starts with a capital letter when written

tricky - adj. difficult to deal with and needs careful attention or skill

positive  adj. on a medical test, showing the presence of a virus or other infection

Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
Our story today is called "The Last Leaf." It was written by O. Henry. Here is Barbara Klein with the story.

Many artists lived in the Greenwich Village area of New York. Two young women named Sue and Johnsy shared a studio apartment at the top of a three-story building. Johnsy's real name was Joanna.

In November, a cold, unseen stranger came to visit the city. This disease, pneumonia, killed many people. Johnsy lay on her bed, hardly moving. She looked through the small window. She could see the side of the brick house next to her building.

One morning, a doctor examined Johnsy and took her temperature. Then he spoke with Sue in another room.

"She has one chance in -- let us say ten," he said. "And that chance is for her to want to live. Your friend has made up her mind that she is not going to get well. Has she anything on her mind?"

"She -- she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples in Italy some day," said Sue.

"Paint?" said the doctor. "Bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking twice -- a man for example?"

"A man?" said Sue. "Is a man worth -- but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind."

"I will do all that science can do," said the doctor. "But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages at her funeral, I take away fifty percent from the curative power of medicines."

After the doctor had gone, Sue went into the workroom and cried. Then she went to Johnsy's room with her drawing board, whistling ragtime.

Johnsy lay with her face toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she was asleep. She began making a pen and ink drawing for a story in a magazine. Young artists must work their way to "Art" by making pictures for magazine stories. Sue heard a low sound, several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside.

Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and counting -- counting backward. "Twelve," she said, and a little later "eleven"; and then "ten" and "nine;" and then "eight" and "seven," almost together.

Sue looked out the window. What was there to count? There was only an empty yard and the blank side of the house seven meters away. An old ivy vine, going bad at the roots, climbed half way up the wall. The cold breath of autumn had stricken leaves from the plant until its branches, almost bare, hung on the bricks.

"What is it, dear?" asked Sue.

"Six," said Johnsy, quietly. "They're falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It made my head hurt to count them. But now it's easy. There goes another one. There are only five left now."

"Five what, dear?" asked Sue.

"Leaves. On the plant. When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?"

"Oh, I never heard of such a thing," said Sue. "What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? And you used to love that vine. Don't be silly. Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances for getting well real soon were -- let's see exactly what he said  he said the chances were ten to one! Try to eat some soup now. And, let me go back to my drawing, so I can sell it to the magazine and buy food and wine for us."

"You needn't get any more wine," said Johnsy, keeping her eyes fixed out the window. "There goes another one. No, I don't want any soup. That leaves just four. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I'll go, too."

"Johnsy, dear," said Sue, "will you promise me to keep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until I am done working? I must hand those drawings in by tomorrow."

"Tell me as soon as you have finished," said Johnsy, closing her eyes and lying white and still as a fallen statue. "I want to see the last one fall. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of thinking. I want to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves."

"Try to sleep," said Sue. "I must call Mister Behrman up to be my model for my drawing of an old miner. Don't try to move until I come back."

Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the apartment building. Behrman was a failure in art. For years, he had always been planning to paint a work of art, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little money by serving as a model to artists who could not pay for a professional model. He was a fierce, little, old man who protected the two young women in the studio apartment above him.

Sue found Behrman in his room. In one area was a blank canvas that had been waiting twenty-five years for the first line of paint. Sue told him about Johnsy and how she feared that her friend would float away like a leaf.

Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. "Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off a vine? Why do you let that silly business come in her brain?"

"She is very sick and weak," said Sue, "and the disease has left her mind full of strange ideas."

"This is not any place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy shall lie sick," yelled Behrman. "Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away."

Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to cover the window. She and Behrman went into the other room. They looked out a window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other without speaking. A cold rain was falling, mixed with snow. Behrman sat and posed as the miner.

The next morning, Sue awoke after an hour's sleep. She found Johnsy with wide-open eyes staring at the covered window.

"Pull up the shade; I want to see," she ordered, quietly.

Sue obeyed.

After the beating rain and fierce wind that blew through the night, there yet stood against the wall one ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine. It was still dark green at the center. But its edges were colored with the yellow. It hung bravely from the branch about seven meters above the ground.

"It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fall during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today and I shall die at the same time."

"Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down toward the bed. "Think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What would I do?"

But Johnsy did not answer.

The next morning, when it was light, Johnsy demanded that the window shade be raised. The ivy leaf was still there. Johnsy lay for a long time, looking at it. And then she called to Sue, who was preparing chicken soup.

"I've been a bad girl," said Johnsy. "Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how bad I was. It is wrong to want to die. You may bring me a little soup now."

An hour later she said: "Someday I hope to paint the Bay of Naples."

Later in the day, the doctor came, and Sue talked to him in the hallway.

"Even chances," said the doctor. "With good care, you'll win. And now I must see another case I have in your building. Behrman, his name is -- some kind of an artist, I believe. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man and his case is severe. There is no hope for him; but he goes to the hospital today to ease his pain."

The next day, the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You won. Nutrition and care now -- that's all."

Later that day, Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, and put one arm around her.

"I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said. "Mister Behrman died of pneumonia today in the hospital. He was sick only two days. They found him the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were completely wet and icy cold. They could not imagine where he had been on such a terrible night.

And then they found a lantern, still lighted. And they found a ladder that had been moved from its place. And art supplies and a painting board with green and yellow colors mixed on it.

And look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it is Behrman's masterpiece  he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell."

To download a lesson plan to accompany this part of the story, click here.

Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How much would you risk to help another person? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page.

_________________________________________________________________

Quiz - The Last Leaf Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

For Teachers

This lesson plan is based on the CALLA Approach. It teaches the learning strategy, Focus, to help students better understand the story.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

apartment  n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live

pneumonia  n. a serious disease that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe

carriage  n. a large vehicle with four wheels that is pulled by a horse and that carries people

drawing  n. a picture, image, etc., that is made by making lines on a surface with a pencil, pen, marker, chalk, but usually not with paint

leaf  n. one of the flat and typically green parts of a plant that grow from a stem or twig

ladder  n. a device used for climbing that has two long pieces of wood, metal, or rope with a series of steps or rungs between them
The U.S. government says a sale of wind energy development rights off the East Coast has received record-setting offers.

The auction sale began February 23. Energy companies are offering to buy the development rights for six areas that total more than 197,000 hectares. The areas are off the coasts of the states of New Jersey and New York in what is called the New York Bight.

By early Friday, the offers, or bids, totaled nearly $4 billion.

It is the first offshore wind lease sale under President Joe Bidens administration. Biden has pushed for more wind energy. It is an important part of his administrations plans to deal with climate change. The administration has said the goal is to create jobs in the United States.

Europe depends more on energy from wind than North America and has more offshore wind farms.

There are currently two small offshore wind farms in the United States off the coasts of Rhode Island and Virginia. Two larger projects were recently approved for development.

Fred Zalcman is the director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance. He said, We're really just at the beginning of a process here. He added that the organization hopes to learn from Europe and gain from Europes cost savings from wind farming.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) oversees energy development in federal waters. It is offering the six leases for the areas in the New York Bight.

The sale is the largest U.S. offshore wind auction ever held. The administration has said the energy produced from the areas could one day power nearly 2 million homes.

The sale was carried out online. BOEMs website reported the bids. The total is larger than recent combined offers for U.S. government offshore oil and gas sales in the Gulf of Mexico.

The earlier U.S. offshore wind development auction record was set in 2018. It was valued at $405 million.

BOEM reportedly said 14 companies were involved in the auction. Government documents showed that approved bidders included parent companies Equinor ASA, Avangrid Inc, BP Plc, and Eletricite de France SA, among others.

Under the rules of the auction, each company can only win one lease.

Before the sale started, there were 25 possible bidders. The area up for auction is 22 percent smaller than first proposed because of fishing industry and military concerns.

Zalcman said that state and federal officials have been considering the concerns of other groups. These include the fishing, shipping and boat transportation industries. Officials also said they studied the environmental effects on animals and how the farms will appear from the coast.

A group representing people in New Jersey brought a legal case against BOEM over the plans. It said the large wind farms would reduce the number of visitors to the area, hurting the areas economy and property values.

How developers design the wind farms will be subject to another intense debate.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Steve Herman reported this story for Voice of America. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional material from Reuters.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

auction  n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most

lease  n. a legal agreement that lets someone use a car, house, or something else for a period of time in return for payment

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
The Albany Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a woman connected to a homicide discovered Friday night, and also is 
From the Comoro Islands of Africa to Grand Island comes Koponi Vanilla.

Koponis Founder and CEO Fouad Mhadji came specifically to Grand Island in March 2021 to work with the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation in starting the new company.

From his native country, the Comoros, a series of islands north of Madagascar, off the east coast of Mozambique, Mhadji brought vanilla beans. Those beans are being cultivated to create a selection of high-quality, in-demand products, including pure extract, paste and syrup.

When you go to the store looking for vanilla extract, most of it, when you look at the ingredients, they have other things like coloring or caramel, or some kind of syrup. I dont know why they do that, Mhadji said. We dont use anything other than beans. It makes a huge difference on the taste.

Commercial vanilla extracts uses a flavoring derived from the gland excretions of beavers for flavoring. Its common and allowed by the Food & Drug Administration, but its not vanilla, Mhadji said.

Mhadjis efforts are being supported by the Grand Island EDC, much as the local agency helped to launch Zabuni Coffee.

Vanilla is a very sought after commodity right now, especially in this form, GIAEDC President Dave Taylor said.

Mhadji is also supported by the University of Nebraska, which is helping him to develop the raw beans and hone the microbrewery distillation extraction process.

After a return trip to the Comoros, Mhadji brought back with him 150 pounds of ready vanilla beans in suitcases for his first batch. The amount is too large for the university, so Mhadji began working with local investors to get his company started.

A new facility and office space is being set up at 311 Willow St. to make the product, which is used mainly used by bakeries for cakes and cookies, ice cream makers, breweries and coffee shops, Mhadji said.

We took that sample from what we have been working with the university to check the market if they would like it, and we had positive feedback from them, he said.

An initial batch allowed for samples to be sent to local businesses, such as The Chocolate Bar in Grand Island, Gibbons Rise & Grind Coffee Shop, and Grand Islands Prairie Pride Brewing Co., which is using it to craft a vanilla beer, Mhadji said.

It keeps us going, he said. I would say, 99% of people who try it, they really love it, and that keeps us working hard.

The Grand Island-based enterprise will directly trade with and benefit vanilla farmers in the Comoros.

Comoros is a really small country, and vanilla is the major exporting good we have, but we dont have a good system that can assure farmers they can work and make this as a living, Mhadji said. At the end of the day, even though they go to the farm and through the whole process, planting and pollinating by hand, the farmer at the end of the year is not sure hell be able to make money to live on.

The Meaning of Koponi

Mhadji's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all vanilla farmers in the Comoros.

My dad got to go abroad and make connections, so he was able to push it a little further, taking it to Europe and looking for customers, he said, but its slow-going and farmers are just stuck there with a lot of vanilla beans and they dont know where to go.

He added, If I can do something about this, I need to do something, because there is a lot of opportunity and a lot of life that can be improved because of this.

Koponi is a family name, Mhadji explained. It is not a surname, but a name given to a people of a neighborhood.

It literally means trading site.

This dates back to the 1840s, when the French first brought the bourbon vanilla to the islands, and money was not used in Comoros.

The vanilla farmed there would be traded for other goods, such as plates or silver forks.

People, to buy those, would come to see my grandma, and instead of paying money they would pay beans, he said. Thats how she collected other farmers vanilla, and once they know the ship is coming from Europe or Asia or America, my grandfather would take everything and put it on a donkey, and ride to the port and see who is there and exchange with what he brought.

As the company name, it celebrates his origins and serves as a legacy.

I want to have something for my children and grandchildren. They will ask, why this name? And they will have that story, Mhadji said.

Coming to Grand Island

Mhadji came to Nebraska and worked as a farmer. He specifically moved to Grand Island in March 2021 to work with its EDC after reading about its efforts in helping to launch Zabuni Specialty Coffee Auction.

As he started his company, he lived in a basement and worked up to two jobs. He now works at Zabuni while pursuing his dream, while his wife and children, whose visas have expired, are living in France.

Although he hasn't seen his family for nine months, Mhadji is glad he made the move to Grand Island.

I didnt know exactly where the journey was taking me, but I just had the feeling that I need to move here, I need to be in this community, in Grand Island, because of the opportunities and the people and the way they support new businesses, he said. A year from that time, Im glad I did. I did so much in one year I never thought I would be able to do.
LEXINGTON  During a report to the city council, it is clear the Lexington Public Library is being well utilized by the community, even amid the pandemic.

Lexington Public Library Director Jennifer Norton delivered her annual report to the city council during their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

In her report, Norton stated the library saw 15,406 visits and 2,588 computers uses from the 20 public access computers that are available.

Council member Steve Smith asked Norton about the discrepancy between the number of visits and computer uses. Norton said many people use their own devices at the library, using the wireless internet and printing that is available and they dont have a way to track this amount of use yet.

Norton said they may lower the number of public computers available, as many people use their own devices at the library and this would free up space for other items, such as a Makerspace. Norton said they plan on finding out what the community needs are.

Circulation of physical materials was also up last fiscal year, with 35,816 items being checked out. Electronic material circulation also increase to 6,355, this includes the download of audio and eBooks from the Nebraska OverDrive consortium.

The librarys current collection includes 37,390 books, 3,484 audio materials, 2,019 videos, 52,789 downloadable items for a total collection of 95,682 items.

Norton said programming looked different in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, programs were offered virtually and the summer reading and Prime Time programs were held outdoors or off site. There were a total of 107 programs offered, attended by 7,098 people.

In 2022, Norton said in-person programming has returned to the library, including weekly story times, monthly family nights, book clubs and cultural programming

We continue to see more people in the library socializing, studying and re-connecting, Norton stated, The pandemic has transformed normal and the library has been here through it all creatively meeting the needs of the community. Visit the library yourselves, discover some of the changes being made and see your community in action.

Norton left the council with a quote from R. David Lankes, Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities. She added, Lexington has a great library.

Another item on the councils agenda was a pay request from Paulsen, Inc. for the 16th and Fillmore St. 2021 paving project in the amount of $139,233.75.

City Manager Joe Pepplitsch said the project is now completed and there were some additional costs in the project, adding sidewalks from Monroe to the vacated ally, but this was within the project budget.

There is still some grading work to be done, but Pepplitsch said the extension should be opened by spring. The council approved the pay request.

The council then entered executive session at 5:39 p.m. to discussion negotiations for the purchase/sale of property.
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 Legal Theory Bookworm recommends We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment by Julie C. Suk. Here is a description:

Ruth Bader Ginsburg believed that the equal rights of women belonged in the Constitution. She stood on the shoulders of brilliant women who persisted across generations to change the Constitution. We the Women tells their stories, showing whats at stake in the current battle for the Equal Rights Amendment.

A century after the Nineteenth Amendment guaranteed women the constitutional right to vote, the quest for womens full inclusion in the US Constitution continues.

After passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, revolutionary women demanded full equality beyond suffrage by proposing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Congress took almost fifty years to adopt it in 1972, and the states took almost as long to ratify it. In January 2020, Virginia became the final state needed to ratify the amendment.

Why did the ERA take so long? Is it too late to add it to the Constitution? And what could it do for women?

Distinguished legal scholar Julie C. Suk tells the story of the ERA through the voices of the bold women lawmakers who created it. They faced opposition and subterfuge at every turn, but they kept the ERA alive. And, despite significant gains, the achievements of gender equality have fallen short, especially for working mothers and women of color. Suk excavates the ERAs past to guide its future, explaining how the ERA can address hot-button issues such as pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, and unequal pay.

The rise of movements like the Womens March and #MeToo have ignited women across the country. Unstoppable women are winning elections, challenging male abuses of power, and changing the law to support working families. Can they add the ERA to the Constitution and improve American democracy?

We the Women shows how the founding mothers of the ERA and the for-gotten mothers of all our children have transformed our living Constitution for the better.

And from the reviews:

Every man I know needs to read this book. Every legislator in America needs to read this book. Its a compelling examination of the history of the fight for equal rights in our nation dating back to our earliest days and making an undeniable case for the necessity of the Equal Rights Amendment in the twenty-first century.

ALYSSA MILANO, actress and political activist



We talk as if only men make constitutions. Julie Suk changes this. She introduces us to the diverse cast of women constitution makers who supported, and opposed, the Equal Rights Amendment over the last century. Their quest showcases concerns missing in standard accounts of the Founding, and shows us how these concerns differed among women and over time. Essential reading for those interested in the future of gender justice.

REVA SIEGEL, Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Professor, Yale Law School



Julie Suks We the Women is a fascinating and nuanced recounting of the history of the ERA. It brings to light the many women who made constitutional equality for women across generations, highlighting complexities not widely known; documents the unending opposition; and showcases the potential of the ERAs meaning for the twenty-first century. It will soon be recognized as the go-to resource for the ERAs long legislative history.

LOUISE MELLING, Deputy Legal Director, American Civil Liberties Union



Meticulously researched and compulsively readable, We the Women draws important connections between the past and present, making clear how, despite long odds and many obstacles, generations of women have come together to debate and demand the conditions necessary for a more perfect union.

MELISSA MURRAY, Frederick I. & Grace Stokes Professor of Law, NYU School of Law



In We the Women, Julie Suk shows us that the Equal Rights Amendment at its core wasand still isabout freedom and power. The mothers of the ERA laid the groundwork of the battle waging in this country today, and though this campaign can feel long and arduous, We the Women has left me more hopeful.

FATIMA GOSS GRAVES, President and CEO, National Womens Law Center



Smart, readable, incisive. Required reading for anyone who wants to understand why we need the ERA. A must for students, activists, and anyone simply wanting to know the history of this hundred-year long fight. We The Women resurrects a diverse and brilliant cast of ERA foremothers. Suk gives us the ERA America needs right nowan amendment that takes into account the realities of motherhood, sexual harassment, and unequal pay. Suk convincingly persuades us that this essential recognition of women's equal standing in the nation has been denied too longand is, at long last, within our grasp.

KIRSTEN SWINTH, author of Feminisms Forgotten Fight: The Unfinished Struggle for Work and Family and Professor of History at Fordham University



We the Women provides a riveting and nuanced history of women's fight for equality and enfranchisement in the United States. Julie Suk brilliantly threads together early suffragist movements with the continued fight for women's constitutional equality and ratification of the ERA. This timely book should be a companion to all readings on voting rights and in the hands of all students and readers of constitutional law.

MICHELE GOODWIN, Chancellors Professor, UC-Irvine, and author of Policing the Womb
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Al Meyer remembered for his kindness, business skills

Contributed Lufkin Ford dealer Al Meyer, left, stands with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood during the Ford Lincoln-Mercury Dealer Development Alumni Associations annual convention in 2010. Meyer, president of the association, introduced LaHood as guest speaker at the event. Contributed Al Meyer was stationed with the U.S. Army in Tacoma, Washington, from 1968-69. Contributed Al and Joan Meyer, center, extended the Al and Joan Meyer Scholarship fund at Angelina College in 2021. The scholarship, in place since 2003, provides financial aid for deserving students without regard to chosen programs. With the Meyers are Dana Smithhart, left, executive director of institutional advancement and student affairs, and AC president Michael Simon, right.

Al Meyer  best known in Lufkin as owner of his namesake Ford dealership  is being remembered for his compassion and success following his death Feb. 20 at the age of 77.

Meyer was born July 14, 1944, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Before moving to East Texas, Meyer was in the U.S. Army, serving one tour in Vietnam. He also was a banker in Seattle.

Meyer moved to Lufkin in 1987 to begin his career in the automobile dealership business. He would go on to own and operate Al Meyer Ford  now known as Lufkin Ford  for 34 years.

Meyer and his wife Joan also funded the Al and Joan Meyer Education Scholarship at Angelina College to help students who are interested in auto-mechanics, said Jerry Huffman, former president and CEO of the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce.

Huffman met Meyer right after the businessman moved to Lufkin.

He bought the Ford dealership, and I was probably one of the first folks that went by and said hello to him, he said.

After that first meeting, Meyer and Huffman became friends and maintained that friendship over the years, Huffman said.

My memories with him are very good memories  Al was a true friend from the standpoint of we shared a lot of our thoughts and comments and opinions and still got along, he said.

Huffman describes Meyer as a very astute and tough business person.

He was successful and earned it all on his own, he said. He came from a relatively poor background, I guess, and opening his own business, putting what little retirement he had at that point into buying a Ford dealership and moving to Lufkin, Texas, was a big move for him. He did very well.

Huffman also called Meyer a valued member of the community due to his involvement with the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce.

He was a fairly active member of the chamber for a number of years, served on the board and supported the chamber, sponsorships and stuff like that, he said. He just enjoyed his time with the chamber; we would meet pretty regularly for coffee at the chamber office and thats where we did a lot of our visiting.

When Huffman moved away from Lufkin, he and Meyer would continue to talk on the phone two or three times a week.

I miss him and I will miss him, he said. I will miss talking to him very much.

Another person who spoke highly of Meyer was Lufkin City Councilman Wes Suiter.

He was a great person, Suiter said. He would give you the shirt off his back.

Attempts to receive additional comment from Suiter were unsuccessful.

Lufkin Ford owner Carl Crain, who worked at Al Meyer Ford for more than two decades, didnt want to comment. He said Al and Joan were private people and I want to respect that.
Its a typical Friday at Orange Tree Imports, a Monroe Street gift and gourmet shop  masked employees and customers mill about in a reality that's been familiar for the past two years.

Starting Tuesday, Public Health Madison and Dane County will let its monthslong coronavirus mask mandate expire. But Orange Tree will keep a mask requirement for staff and shoppers, said co-owner Carol Orange Schroeder.

Other Madison businesses appear ready to embrace what local health experts say could be the pandemics next chapter, even after a harsh winter caused by the highly transmissible omicron variant.

Huge spikes in COVID-19 cases this past winter resulted in staffing shortages in an already tight labor market. And while some businesses encouraged their employees to work from home if possible, others had to close altogether.

Schroeder said she is concerned Dane Countys mandate expiration is premature. The business owner, like others in the city, worries about customers with children under the age of 5 who cant get vaccinated yet, as well as the immunocompromised.

Shes also concerned about more of a confrontation opportunity for customers coming into the shop without masks, though shes encouraged the majority of the county is fully immunized, and customers have appeared willing to comply with local health protocols thus far.

At least 63.9% of Wisconsinites had received one dose of the COVID vaccine as of Feb. 24, according to Public Health data. Just over 60% of state residents have obtained their second dose, and 32% a third, booster, jab.

Weve seen our numbers both for case and hospitalizations dropping pretty substantially, Public Health spokesperson Morgan Finke said of what influenced the decision to let the mandate expire after omicron.

For businesses that will continue to require masks, Finke said it is up to them to communicate those policies with their customers. The agency will offer signage that businesses can use, and continue to advise on health and safety protocols.

COVID cases decreased between Feb. 7 and Feb. 24 to an average of 215 per day, according to Public Health data. Hospitalizations also decreased with an average of 87 each day, and the number of deaths has tapered off over the past month.

Percent positivity during the last two weeks was 7.3%, and an average of 2,928 tests were conducted per day, according to the data.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday rolled back its masking guidelines, saying that more than 70% of the U.S. population lives in locations with low or medium COVID-19 transmission levels. Most people who are considered healthy dont need to wear masks indoors, according to the new guidance.

Whereas Dane County was considered a high community transmission area under the previous guidelines, under the new guidelines Dane County is now a low risk. The new guidelines factor in those protected from vaccines and illness, as well as hospital bed utilization rates, and note the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people.

The changes were made despite some reports about a descendant variant of omicron, known as BA.2. Finke said early research suggests the variant is more transmissible than its original counterpart, but COVID cases continue to fall in places where the strain has become more prevalent.

And while some studies suggest the variant is more severe than omicron, vaccines remain effective against it.

All this goes to show  COVID is not over, but we are entering a turning point (in the pandemic), Finke said.

A turning point?

Brennan Nardi, owner of Harmony Bar on Madisons East Side, said the lifting of the county mask mandate has her relieved after a hard winter of staffing shortages due to employees being out sick with COVID.

Shes looking forward to holding more live music events, comedy nights and other affairs for customers, especially as spring and summer loom. The bar will not require masks starting Tuesday, she said, but it will have vaccine mandates for events.

At Madison-based American Family Insurance, masks will be strongly encouraged, but not required for vaccinated employees, said spokesperson Clare Hendricks.

We have implemented a COVID-19 testing program for all enterprise employees who are not fully vaccinated and must come into the office or work in-person with others in order to complete their job duties, Hendricks said, adding shes cautiously optimistic about the next few months. These employees must also wear a KN95 mask when working and physically distance themselves from others as much as possible.

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce welcomed the mandates expiration.

For months  we sought greater clarity on the metrics and decision-making behind continued government orders, yet Dane County businesses have stepped up by following and enforcing public health orders and encouraging workforce vaccinations, said chamber president Zach Brandon. As we recalibrate, we will continue to support our communitys health, but we must now turn our focus to the hard work of accelerating our economic recovery.

Remaining requirements

Gretchen Treu is a co-owner of A Room of Ones Own bookstore on Madisons East Side reported being disappointed and worried about the loss of the mask mandate in Dane County.

The store will continue to require masks for customers and employees after Tuesday. It closed briefly during the brunt of the omicron surge because of staffing shortages.

Its especially upsetting to me as a parent of a 2-year-old, given we still dont know when people that young will have access to vaccines, Treu said. My family still rarely goes out because of this.

A COVID vaccine for children under age 5 still awaits approval in the U.S., and recent approval efforts have stalled.

On enforcing the bookstores mask requirement, Treu said this likely means we will have to pay for an additional staff person just to monitor the door and make sure people are masked upon entry.

(The requirement) does not negatively affect peoples ability to shop for books, and it serves to protect my staff and customers who are immunocompromised or have household members too young to benefit from COVID vaccines, Treu added.

Marigold Kitchen, a popular Downtown restaurant, will continue to require masks for staff, but not for customers, said owner Clark Heine.

Willy Street Co-op with several locations in the Madison area is taking a similar approach, said spokesperson Brendon Smith.

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What started as a burglary in Adams County ended with a police chase across three counties and two arrests earlier this week, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office said it responded to a report of a house alarm going off in the 600 block of Beaver Avenue in the town of Colburn around 1:15 a.m. Tuesday.

The arriving deputy saw a vehicle driving away from the residence, the Sheriff's Office said. The deputy attempted to pull the car over, but it fled. The deputy pursued.

After a brief chase, the driver stopped and a male passenger got out of the vehicle, the Sheriff's Office reported. The man, later identified as Corey Pratt, 44, of Bancroft, was arrested along the side of the road.

The driver kept going and law enforcement chased him through Waushara County and into Portage County. Deputies used a tire deflation device and the vehicle came to a stop, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies discovered items in the car that had been stolen from the town of Colburn home, the Sheriff's Office said.

The driver, a 17-year-old boy, was arrested and tentatively charged with fleeing police, burglary and several traffic violations. The Sheriff's Office did not identify the 17-year-old.

Pratt was tentatively charged with burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a child, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Plover and town of Rome police departments, the Waushara County Sheriff's Office, the Portage County Sheriff's Office and Nieman Services assisted with the incident.

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The Wisconsin Department of Justice said it arrested one man Thursday and is seeking another after finding drugs, firearms and $300,000 in cash at two addresses in Beloit.

The DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation and local law enforcement searched 1849 Fayette Avenue and 1950 Fairview Drive simultaneously shortly after noon, the DOJ said. The Rock County Sheriff's Office, which assisted, said the Division of Criminal Investigation secured the search warrant.

Law enforcement found what they suspect to be 1 kilogram of cocaine, 3 pounds of marijuana, three handguns, magazines, ammunition, other drug paraphernalia and $300,000, the DOJ said.

Marctonio Barnes, 39, of Beloit, was arrested and taken to the Rock County Jail on two tentative charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, the DOJ said.

Another suspect, Marcus Payton, 35, of Beloit, fled the scene during one of the searches. The DOJ is now seeking him.

The DOJ said charges against Barnes and Payton will be referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office so they can be prosecuted.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Janesville Police Department, Beloit Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol also assisted with the investigation.

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With COVID-19 infections abating, state officials announced Friday that employees and visitors would no longer be required to wear face coverings inside some state buildings beginning Tuesday, and that the weekly COVID-19 testing program for unvaccinated executive branch employees will end March 13.

Workers in the departments of Corrections, Health Services and Veterans Affairs, and those working in congregate facilities, such as prisons, will be required to wear masks until at least April 1, according to updated guidance issued Friday by the state Division of Personnel Management. Quarantine rules for those who test positive for COVID-19 are not changing.

While the Department of Corrections will continue requiring masks until at least April, the department announced Friday the recent drop in COVID-19 cases prompted it to resume in-person visitation for inmates.

Dane County on Feb. 14 announced that its indoor mask mandate would be allowed to expire at the end of this month, while the Madison School District on Wednesday said its requirement would remain until at least the end of spring break, or April 1, but that beginning Tuesday, students and staff could go unmasked outdoors on school property. The majority of other school districts in Dane County will loosen or drop their requirements entirely as of Tuesday.

UW-Madison announced on Feb. 16 that it will lift its mask mandate when spring break starts March 12.

The seven-day average for positive COVID-19 tests in Dane County has dropped from as high as 22% in early January to less than 5% as of Thursday, according to Public Health Madison and Dane County. Hospitalizations due to the virus are also down 19% over the last two weeks, while nearly 80% of residents have been vaccinated and more than 69% of those older than 12 have had their boosters.

In guidance updated Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaves the decision on whether to wear a mask in Dane County up to your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk. Under a new three-tier risk-rating system, which the agency calls Covid-19 Community Levels, Dane is considered low risk, the least dangerous. The system is based on hospital bed use and admissions and number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

Its a significant shift from the CDCs previous mask guidance, issued Jan. 21. Under that guidance and its method for calculating risk, Dane County was deemed to be at a high level of risk as late as early Friday afternoon, and masks indoors were recommended.

In announcing the partial end of the state buildings mask mandate, the Division of Personnel Management noted that positive COVID-19 tests and test rates are at levels not seen since last summer, and that more than 77% of Wisconsin state employees have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series.

State quarantine rules will continue to require that anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 stay home for five days. They can return to work after that if they are symptom-free but must wear masks around others for an additional five days.

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As Idahoans file their annual tax returns, the 2022 tax filing season grows more troubled. Currently, millions of Americans must file their tax returns, despite not having their last years tax returns even processed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the ability to reach the agency for help. The IRS must use its existing authorities to immediately provide targeted, temporary relief to taxpayers and reduce backlogs.

The Senate Finance Committee, on which I serve as Ranking Member, is holding hearings about what needs to be done in order to process returns accurately and efficiently, and get refunds to taxpayers. In 2021, just over one in ten Americans were able to reach the IRS by telephone, while more than 250 million calls to the IRS went unanswered. Those who managed to get through spent more than 23 minutes on hold. The IRS began this years tax filing season with a backlog of at least 18 million unprocessed tax returns and correspondence. As of this writing, the backlog is now 23 million.

There are other areas of deep concern, as many Americans await last years tax refunds and responses to correspondence they sent the IRS, often many months ago. Alarmingly, many Americans have been subject to adverse IRS actions simply because the IRS has not opened and read its mail. Others are receiving letters from the IRS with inaccurate information. These problems are not proximately caused by lack of funding, as some argue.

Between fiscal years 2018 and 2021, for example, the IRS on average received nearly 99 percent of its requested appropriations, not including special appropriations such as nearly $3.2 billion in post-pandemic supplemental funds. IRS leadership recently told members of the Finance Committee that many of this filing seasons issues stem from the pandemic. The National Taxpayer Advocate, U.S. Government Accountability Office and others have identified other causal factors, like archaic IT, deprioritizing necessary upgrades and recent (and sometimes retroactive) tax law changes that degraded the IRSs capacity at exactly the wrong time. Some of my colleagues have seized on the frustrating filing season to call for an $80 billion funding boost for the IRS, yet most of that funding would focus on enforcement and the hiring of an army of new auditors, which would only make this filing season, and subsequent filing seasons, even worse.

Earlier this month, 29 of my fellow Republican senators and I sent a letter to Treasury Department Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig with actionable recommendations for immediate taxpayer relief. The IRS has taken some of our advice, such as putting a temporary hold on some automated collection notices. But, more can be done to support taxpayers, such as suspending balance-due notices; providing targeted tax penalty relief for taxpayers; delaying the collection process for filers until any active and pending penalty abatement requests have been processed; and providing transparent communication of the status of individual and business tax returns. Steps like these would provide Idahoans with greater certainty and meaningful relief as we enter this years filing season.

I continue to fight Democrats proposals to prioritize tax enforcement heavily over taxpayer services and IT modernization. Such proposals would expand the power of the IRS when it is struggling to carry out its core mission of providing taxpayers with top quality service, helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities, and applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all. The bottom line is American taxpayers have paid for and deserve an efficient and fair tax administrator. Anything less diminishes the integrity of our voluntary tax system and is simply unacceptable.

Senator Mike Crapo represents Idaho in the U.S. Senate.

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George Washington: Americas first President and one of its greatest, was born on Feb. 22, 290 years ago. Lacking Methuselahs longevity, he is no longer with us. But the wisdom he left with us has turned out to be right on the mark. We can save our State and Nation if we heed his warning against extreme political partisanship.

In his Farewell Address, which was first published on Sept. 19, 1796, Washington warned that political parties can become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government. Extreme partisanship, he cautioned, kindles the animosity of one part against the other, foments occasionally riot and insurrection and can bring about disorders and miseries that gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual.

It is uncanny that Americas Founding Father could have predicted how extreme partisanship would have brought us to these ugly times, where blind party loyalty trumps the public good, even to the point of insurrection. The American people are faced with a stark choicecontinue down the road where political extremism rules our lives, or choose to put the good of the country and state above poisonous partisanship.

The next opportunity to choose between chronic governmental dysfunction and responsible, pragmatic governing is May 17, Idahos primary election day. Being a one-party state, where the selection of most officeholders will occur in the Republican primary, those not registered as Republican voters by March 11 will have no say as to the character and direction of our government.

Just two sample races demonstrate what is at stake. Senator Jim Woodward of Sagle, a former nuclear submarine officer, respected businessman and well-regarded Republican legislator, is being challenged by a political extremist who calls Idaho Child Protective Services a well-funded federal racket. CPS saves kids lives, period!

Rep. Laurie Lickley of Jerome, who is knowledgeable on agriculture and education issues and has shown herself to be a competent legislator, is running for a Senate seat. She is challenged by a person who claims to have founded the extremist Real 3%ers of Idaho militia group and is known as the Bundy Ranch Sniper.

Idahos almost 310,000 independent voters, who comprised 35% of total Idaho voters two years ago, would have no say in the selection between these types of candidates if highly-partisan Republicans have their way. The House approved legislation on Presidents Day to prevent independent voters from registering in the Republican primary after March 11. They have always had until election day to make that choice.

From the time I first became eligible to vote in Idaho in the early 1960s, any voter could go into the polls on election day and vote the ballot of any party with candidates up for election. The open primary served us well, producing reasonable, responsible officials. A decade ago, GOP zealots closed the Republican primary to ensure the election of the most extreme candidates. It has worked beyond their wildest dreams, producing some of the most divisive, dysfunctional Legislatures in the States history.

George Washington would have been appalled by the tight grip that GOP extremists have on the selection of public officials in Idaho. All taxpayers pay for the Republican primary and they all should have the opportunity to participate in selecting our leaders. House Bill 439, which would prevent independents from participating after March 11, should be defeated in the Senate or vetoed. That would be a giant step toward following Washingtons sound advice and depoliticizing the poisonous politics that have plagued our great State for the last decade.

Just to play it safe, though, each and every person who wants to have a vote in the future direction of our State should contact their county clerks office to register in the Republican primary before the March 11 date.

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

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As we approach our third spring amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to say thank you and congratulations!

Your efforts over these past three school years have been heroic  and, despite what you may hear from some politicians and pundits, your efforts have been incredibly successful in helping Idaho students stay on the path to achievement and success.

As educators, you do great work for the children of Idaho, who are this states future. You have withstood numerous disruptions and tremendous pressures over the past three school years. You have worked long, hard hours and taken on additional duties to ease learning loss and help your schools stay open despite crippling COVID-related staff shortages. You have managed to maintain optimism and faith in your students and your peers even when there seemed to be no end in sight.

Time and again, you have had to hear naysayers dismiss your efforts with a persistent, but untrue, refrain: that Idaho schools and students are failing, and that our state ranks at the bottom in education.

Youve heard the head of a prominent political interest group proclaim that in some Idaho schools, 90 percent of graduates cant read, write or do math  an absurd, mean-spirited convolution of test results that indicate whether students have the proficiency to succeed in college courses. Youve heard Idaho legislators decry a supposed lack of progress in K-12 achievement.

But Im here to tell you what I hope you already know, and I want everyone in Idaho to know: Idaho students are doing better than we could have expected during this long-running pandemic. And we are far from the bottom in national rankings  unless, of course, youre talking about per-pupil funding.

In December, a national Pandemic Scorecard ranked Idaho third among all states in how our education outcomes withstood the pandemic, pairing with our No. 4-ranked economic response to propel our state to an overall ranking of fourth in the nation despite considerably lower marks in the categories of social wellbeing and health.

This past fall, the national publication Education Week ranked us 17th among all states and the District of Columbia for student achievement. Thats an impressive number when you consider that Ed Week had us ranked as 31st for student achievement five years earlier. And, we outrank our neighboring states of Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming and Montana.

I want to share a few other achievement bright spots:

Idaho ranks first (tied with Indiana) for the percentage of high school students who jump-start their college and career training by completing post-secondary courses before graduating from high school.

US News and World Report ranks our state fifth in the nation for its share  58 percent  of college-ready high school students.

Education Week ranked Idaho fifth nationwide in the amount of improvement in students chance for success between 2020 and 2021.

Idahos five-year graduation rate hit a new high of 84.1 percent.

This isnt to say that we dont still have work to do, or that our students havent lost ground in some areas. Pandemic-sparked learning loss is real, and its affected our most vulnerable students disproportionately, despite all of our best efforts.

But, as we know, educators in the classroom are the key to getting students back on track and making progress in academics and in life. You have persevered during the worst public health crisis in more than a hundred years, which is an incredibly powerful model for students.

Our students know this, too. One of the absolute highlights of my year has been my newly formed Student Advisory Council  13 students in grades 4 through 12 from across the state. When I asked these students what is right with education in Idaho, their answer was: Our teachers.

Once again, I want to thank you for everything you do. While youve received guidance from the state and funding from the federal government, the decisions and actions that really matter are yours  at the local level, in our schools and classrooms.

You are on the front line, the boots on the ground, and I am incredibly grateful for your commitment, your grace under pressure and above all, your dedication to Idaho students.

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A Callands man will spend 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of a Chatham woman in Henry County Circuit Court Friday evening.

Henry County Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Nester said Friday afternoon his office got word from Rocky Mount Attorney David Furrow that his client, 46-year-old Curtis Trumaine Callaway, was ready to accept a plea agreement.

Callaway was scheduled for a two-week trial set to begin on March 22, and Nester had said at the time Callaway was arrested, almost four years ago, that he intended to seek the death penalty.

But capital punishment was abolished in Virginia on March 24 when Governor Ralph Northam signed the bill that took effect on July 1.

Callaway was incarcerated in the West Virginia Regional Jail in Charleston, West Virginia, about 150 miles away. Henry County officers drove to Charleston Friday afternoon, picked Callaway up and drove him to the Henry County Courthouse on Kings Mountain Road, and court convened shortly after 6 p.m.

Records on file in the Henry County Clerks office show investigators determined 74-year-old Juanita Dalton visited Calloways home on Feb. 25, 2018, the day she died.

Her body was found by firefighters with the Axton Volunteer Fire Department in Henry County when they responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the 5000 block of Irisburg Road.

Records show they found the vehicle in a wooded area about 75 yards from the road and after putting the fire out, they discovered a body inside that was later identified as Dalton.

Callaway was charged with capital murder twice in Daltons death in addition to rape, arson and abduction with intent to defile.

Nester told the Bulletin by email in Nov. 2018 that Callaway has two charges of capital murder based on the totality of his actions in killing Ms. Dalton: one for the abduction and the other for the rape. If the jury convicts him of both, the two charges would be merged for sentencing purposes.

On Friday, Judge Carter Greer accepted the plea agreement that called for one of the murder charges to be dropped and the second be amended from capital murder to first-degree murder.

The arson charge remained, but the charges of rape and abduction with intent to defile were dismissed.

Greer accepted the sentencing recommendations of life without parole with all but 40 years suspended, and a 10-year suspended sentence on the arson conviction, leaving an active prison term of 40 years.

The criminal complaint filed by Lt. Thomas Baker of the Henry County Sheriffs Office stated that investigators from both Henry and Pittsylvania counties went to see Callaway at his home in the 1700 block of Water Oak Road, two days after Daltons body was found.

Callaway had numerous scratches on his arms and face and there were red stains on his boots that appeared to be blood, the report said.

When deputies asked Callaway if he had seen Dalton recently, the complaint says, he repeatedly denied having seen her at first, but then told investigators she came to his home on Feb. 25 and he drove her car away from the house with her in the passenger seat.

The report did not say why Dalton came to the home or why Callaway drove Daltons car away with her in it.

The report indicated that Callaway lived with his mother, and later that night his mother received multiple calls from him asking her to come pick him up in the Axton area where the vehicle and Daltons body had been found earlier that day.

The medical examiners report stated that Dalton was fatally injured after being stabbed with a sharp-edged pointed object.

Greer noted that Callaway had previously been convicted of four felonies, and the convictions on Friday would likely result in a parole violation in Danville resulting in additional incarceration after his release.

Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt.

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Some of Marions favorite food and drink establishments are teaming up to provide some much needed manna for a police officer seriously injured in a motor vehicle wreck last month.

It is the latest in community efforts to support Marion Police Officer Breanna Toney.

On Monday, Jan. 31, a motor vehicle crash occurred on N.C. 226 North in Mitchell County. The crash happened when Audie Petersons vehicle traveled across the center line on N.C. 226 North and struck the Dodge Charger patrol vehicle operated by Toney who was commuting to her job at the Marion Police Department.

As a result of the collision, Toneys patrol car caught fire. Due to her injuries and the damage to the vehicle, she was unable to exit her burning patrol car. A brave person who came upon the scene was able to eventually force the driver side door of the Dodge Charger open and pull Toney to safety, according to information from the Marion Police Department.

Toney was airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn. where she underwent surgery to repair several lower extremity injuries. She also sustained several broken ribs and other upper extremity injuries. Toney had to go through an extended hospital stay but is now recovering at home, according to Chief Allen Lawrence.

Peterson was injured during the crash and was transported to Blue Ridge Regional Medical Center in Spruce Pine.

Since that incident, many people have stepped forward to help Toney and her family during this time, especially with the mounting medical bills.

Now, 11 different restaurants and food businesses are participating in Marion Manna for Breanna.

Bruce Brown of Bruces Fabulous Foods said to The McDowell News he and other business owners are coming together for this effort. Each business will donate two prizes for a total package worth more than $500 and the prizes will be spread out over a period of eight months, starting in April.

Tickets for the package can be bought at Bruces Fabulous Foods, Flavors on Main, Link Hot Dogs, McDowell Local and the Marion Wing Factory. The tickets will go on sale starting Tuesday, March 1 and will last through Tuesday, March 29. The tickets will be $10 each or three tickets for $25.

The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, March 30 and the winner need not be present at the drawing, according to Brown.

And what is in the winning package? Here is the list:

April: lunch for two from Bruces Fabulous Foods, lunch for two from Link Hot Dogs.

May: one pizza from McDowell Local, dinner for two from Burrito Bros., two cups of coffee from Ingenious Coffee Roasters.

June: lunch for two from Bobs Off Main Fat Belly Deli, two ice cream cones from Artesana Ice Cream, one large pizza with three toppings from Pepperonis.

July: dinner for two from Marion Wing Factory, 750 ml bottle of olive oil from Flavors on Main, two entrees from Refinery 13.

August: lunch for two from Bobs Off Main Fat Belly Deli, lunch for two from Link Hot Dogs, two ice cream cones from Artesana Ice Cream.

September: lunch for two from Bruces Fabulous Foods, one large pizza with three toppings from Pepperonis, two entrees from Refinery 13.

October: dinner for two from Marion Wing Factory, lunch for two from Burrito Bros.

November: one pizza from McDowell Local, 750 ml bottle of balsamic vinegar from Flavors on Main, two cups of coffee from Ingenious Coffee Roasters.

This is the second benefit raffle that is being held by Marion businesses. The first was a benefit raffle in the summer of 2018 for Ryan and Sarah Barrier Jacobs and their family.

We can do this again, said Brown. We can do this for Breanna.

I think what Id really like to say is that all we can do as a community is pull together when one of our own needs help, said Aaron Mathews of McDowell Local. Part of being a business owner is remembering that we dont just have a storefront in the community but we are also supporters of the members of our community. If I can use my space, business, or time to help out, I absolutely want to. And hopefully we can do some good for someone who deserves it.

We are thankful for Bruce and Barbara Brown and taking the lead on this fundraiser, said Chief Lawrence. Over the last few weeks, our agency and Brenna have been very blessed and humbled by the overwhelming support from this community. Cards, letters, and donations have continued to come in to the department from citizens here and as far away as Montana.

The police chief said he had a chance to visit with Toney, who is finally at home recovering. Since the last update, she has spent time in Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee, Mission Hospital and Care Partners Rehab in Asheville.

Breanna is focused now on her family and her recovery, said Lawrence. She is resilient and to be honest, very tough. Despite what she has been through, her attitude remains very positive. She routinely mentions coming back to work at Marion PD when we speak, and I fully believe that will happen in time.

Her recovery will be lengthy and require a lot of support from a lot of different angles. Fundraisers like this one and the proceeds that are raised will take her mind off any financial burdens and allow her to focus 100% on recovery. I would also like to remind the community that in addition to this fundraiser there are a few other items that are being planned to help her and her family.

Onee Pressley at Pressley Made has made shirts that can be purchased at her businesss website under the fundraiser tab. Part of the proceeds from shirt sales will go to Toney and her family.

These are really nice shirts designed by Sgt. Matt Huggins from Marion PD and Onee Pressley, said Lawrence. A huge thank you to Onee and her staff for helping us on this project. We are also working with a few other individuals that want to help and have fundraiser ideas for the future.

Lastly, I have spoken the day of the crash with the individual that pulled her from that burning crash. We are certainly forever grateful to him for his actions and certainly plan formal recognition of that act in the future once Breanna is able to attend that recognition. We do not have a date planned for that yet.

In addition, other fundraising efforts are underway to help Toney and her family during this time.

As of Thursday, the online GoFundMe effort has raised $15,450 of its $25,000 goal. For more information or to contribute, go to this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/officer-toneys-recovery?qid=90be32dc924c7794ddbc394a882b1e34.

Also, the McDowell County Farm Bureau will sponsor a barbecue fundraiser for Toney and her family. It will be Friday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The $12 meal includes barbecue, slaw, beans, chips and a cold drink. All proceeds will go directly to Toney. Tickets can be purchased at McDowell County Farm Bureau office in Marion. Other locations to purchase tickets will be named soon, according to the Facebook post.
The Abidjan Declaration of Peace adopted at the end of the international symposium on interfaith dialogue, jointly organized by the Higher Council of Imams, Mosques and Islamic Affairs of Cote dIvoire (COSIM) and the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema, underlines the universal values advocated by religions, namely interfaith dialogue, solidarity, brotherhood, tolerance, openness to others and respect for human dignity, all values that are the basis of dialogue between civilizations.

The signatories of the declaration, adopted Friday in Abidjan, reaffirm their full support for the conclusions relating to the five themes analyzed and debated during this international symposium, and solemnly undertake to ensure that dialogue, conducive to living together among all religions, is established in a sustainable manner, with respect for the law, for all religious dogmas and practices, and for freedom of worship and conscience.

They unanimously reiterated their firm condemnation of all hate speech and discrimination, and all acts of violence, whatever their origin, which would endanger, in the name of religion, the living together, the security of societies, goods and persons.

The Abidjan Declaration signatories call on all the forces of African countries to remain united and supportive in the face of all dangers of division, not to give in to threats, nor to the amalgams, knowingly propagated, to undermine the unity of the ranks.

They reaffirm, in the name of the principles and commitments they share, that every human being, wherever he or she comes from and whatever his or her religious affiliation, is a citizen enjoying the equality guaranteed by the law.

The participants also stress the need for a seamless pan-African cooperation between religions to face the multiple environmental, economic and social crises shaking the continent.
The Regional Electricity Interconnection Project called North Backbone Project which involves Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo was launched this week in Gorou Banda, a community located about ten Km from Niamey, by President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum, and his Ghanian counterpart Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The ECOWAS North Backbone Project, with an overall cost of $568.2 million, aims at setting up a 330kW interconnection line to supply electricity to Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo from Nigeria.

The project is funded by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, and the European Union. The construction work of the electricity interconnection project will be completed in 2024.

In a speech, Nigers Minister for Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energy, Mahamane Sani Issoufou Mahamadou, expressed satisfaction at the selection of Niger to launch the North Backbone Regional Electricity Interconnection Project through the West African Power Pool (WAPP).

The Minister described the North Backbone project as a far-reaching regional project that will have a positive impact on the communities by facilitating electricity trade in the sub-region and extending access to electricity to the communities along the transmission line, i.e. 611 communities, including 179 in Burkina Faso and 432 in Niger.

President of ECOWAS Commission for Mines and Energy Sediko Douka said the project shows that ECOWAS is also concerned about physical infrastructure (transport, energy, telecommunications, water), in addition to agriculture and food security, single currency, the common external tariff, free movement of goods and services and the right of establishment, among others.

Commissioner Sediko Douka also stated that the construction of the line, which will be completed in 18 months, has taken into consideration all environmental and social aspects, including compensation, resettlement, institutional aspects, and capacity building, in strict compliance with international standards.

This flagship project complements two other similar projects in West Africa, namely OMVG (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau) with the construction of nearly 1,700 km line and the CLSG (Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea) with 1,300 km interconnection lines, each of which has a rural electrification component.

The completion of these three projects will result in the interconnection of all 14 countries of the ECOWAS region, a favorable situation for the effective implementation of the regional electricity market launched in 2018 by the West African regional organization.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

India's capital has announced the end of all the remaining coronavirus restrictions after government data showed cases of the recent Omicron variant had fallen.

The country recorded 11,499 new daily cases and 255 deaths, according to the health ministry's latest statistics on Saturday, a tiny fraction of those seen during the devastating peak last year.

Local officials in the Delhi region, which recorded 460 cases and two deaths Friday, decided to lift a night curfew and allow restaurants to operate at full capacity.

Places of religious worship were also permitted to reopen.

Schools will function fully offline from April 1 while fines for not wearing masks were also reduced.

The area's disaster management authority "withdraws all restrictions as situation improves" and because people were "facing hardships due to loss of jobs", Delhi's chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Twitter.

India was battered by a devastating COVID outbreak last year that saw 200,000 people killed in a matter of weeks, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums.

Since the outbreak in 2020, India has officially recorded 42,905,844 cases and 513,481 deaths, third behind only the US and Brazil.

Explore further India's capital eases curfew as Omicron wave slows

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The competition winners at the 19th Big Sky Documentary Film Festival were announced on Friday.

The stories range from perspectives on the overlap between art and activism to Indigenous communities work under the threat of climate change in Alaska and starting bike trails in Arizona. A filmmaker, who, before the pandemic, shot an entire movie by interacting with strangers from his balcony.

A total of 44 movies were in the competition, with 26 world premieres and 12 North American premieres.

It was highly competitive this year, said Rachel Gregg, executive director of the nonprofit Big Sky Film Institute. Many filmmakers kept projects tucked away until they could premiere them for live audiences. The quality of the competition films was really high, she said, and made things difficult for the jury.

The festival has four competitions  Feature, Big Sky Award, Short (under 40 minutes) and Mini-Doc (under 15 minutes). The Big Sky Award goes to a film that artistically honors the character, history, tradition and imagination of the American West.

The winners of the Short and Mini-Doc Awards are automatically qualified for consideration for an Academy Award in the Documentary Short Subject category the following year.

The award-winning movies will screen again at the Roxy Theater on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 5:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Go to bigskyfilmfest.org for more information or to purchase advance tickets.

As a whole, the festival continues in person through Sunday, Feb. 27, at the Wilma, the Roxy Theater, the Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children's Theatre. Online, you can watch films through Thursday, March 3.

This is the festivals first hybrid event, with 150 movies total and more than 200 representatives of movies in town. Many movies have brought out entire teams, a sign of how theyre just so eager to be with in-person audiences.

The virtual festival had high engagement, too, from inside and outside Missoula. While the in-person venues have had limited capacity due to COVID, the attendance overall has been such that they met their revenue goal by Monday.

As they did last year, 15% of the virtual sales will go toward a filmmaker support fund thats divided among the filmmakers.

The juries, which are different for every category, include industry professionals from Vice Studios, New York Times Op-Docs, the D.C. Black Film Festival, the Montana Film Commission, independent filmmakers and more.

Mini-Doc competition

(15 minutes and under)

Nice to Meet You All (2021, UK, 12 min.)

Director: Guen Murroni

Synopsis: A celebration of a woman with dissociative identity disorder who has survived human trafficking rings in the U.S.

Short competition

(15-40 minutes in length)

Shut Up and Paint (2022, USA, 20 min.)

Directors: Titus Kaphar, Alex Mallis

Synopsis: Painter Titus Kaphar looks to film as a medium in the face of an insatiable art market seeking to silence his activism.

Short Artistic Vision Award

Herd (2021, Israel, 37 min.)

Director: Omer Daida

Synopsis: Itamar, Naamas father, owns a ranch that raises cattle for slaughter. Ten-year-old Naama deals with a big philosophical question regarding life and death while working with her father. Together they attempt to bridge their worldview regarding death. While Naama develops feelings for the cattle, Itamar sees death as an inevitable part of life.

The jury called it a beautifully composed coming of age meditation on tradition, family ties and our complicated relationship with the animals that we rely on for both companionship and sustenance and praised its cinematography and sound design.

Big Sky Award

Newtok (2021, USA, 97 min.)

Directors: Andrew Burton, Michael Kirby Smith

Synopsis: As the permafrost rapidly melts, the Indigenous village of Newtok, Alaska, is quickly eroding into the ocean. After decades of government abuse and inaction, the Yupik people fight to keep their community intact. Villagers are forced to decide between abandoning their traditional lands or relocating their community.

Big Sky Artistic Vision Award

The Trails Before Us (2021, USA, 13 min.)

Director: Fritz Bitsoie

Synopsis: The Trails Before Us follows 17-year-old Nigel James, a Dine mountain biker, as he hosts the first Enduro race in the Navajo Nation. Through revitalizing old sheep and livestock trails on his grandparents land, Nigel and a new generation of riders honor the connection to their land, community and culture.

The jury cited its reclamation of classic Western tropes and modernizing it for Indigenous communities today. We especially love the film for its focus on Indigenous achievement and the way the story's perspective is told from within the community.

Feature competition

One Road to Quartzite (2022, USA, 89 min.)

Director: Ryan Maxey

Synopsis: A ragtag group of crust punks, libertarians, snowbirds, and elderly folks become unlikely neighbors during their annual pilgrimage to a temporary long-term camping community in Quartzsite, Arizona.

Feature Artistic Vision Award

The Balcony Movie (2021, Poland, 100 min.)

Director: Pawe ozinski

Synopsis: A unique and endearing film that challenges our collective anxiety toward public connection with strangers. The film consists entirely of conversations that the director holds with people in the street under his Warsaw apartment; his balcony turns into an outlet for passersby to voice their desires, fears, frustrations, regrets or banal observations.

The jury cited the film as unique and innovative, with artistic allusions to French New Wave cinema updated for the modern day. The stylistic approach was executed with dedication by the filmmakers. It was excellently shot and edited, which highlighted the simple yet profound premise at the heart of the film, while also making it funny and entertaining to watch.

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The remote wilderness near Lincoln where Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber, lived still has signs of his presence.

Filmmakers behind the new Unabomber movie, Ted K, found empty cans of food, a wooden ladder and Kaczynskis initials in a piece of concrete. On a tree where his cabin stood is a carving that reads, FBI, left by a federal agent.

The Unabombers property was pretty eerie actually, said Colin Scott, a producer on Ted K who graduated from the University of Montana in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Kaczynski terrorized the country for almost two decades, starting in the late 1970s by sending bombs to those he believed were destroying the environment. Three people died in the bombings.

Scott worked on the movie with five other filmmakers from UM: Jeri Rafter, production manager, Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts 2012; Lauren Norby, set dresser, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing 2006; Tyler Grutsch, key grip, Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts 2010; Caelan Fisher, camera operator, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Media Arts 2017; and Brooke Swaney, first assistant director, adjunct professor in film production 2016.

The UM filmmakers were part of a small movie crew that built a replica of the Unabombers cabin and shot 400 hours of footage on the property, from February 2018 into the summer of that year.

Scott said he felt a bond with the other UM grads as they worked together on location. During the first day filming, the crew rode snowmobiles to the remote property.

To be thrown onto the back of snowmobiles, on top of mountains, and into the elements on day one with an inherent level of trust, language and familiarity made for an extremely smooth entry into what would end up being a really unique, physical and very fun shoot, Scott said.

The result was a feature-length movie that had its North American premiere Feb. 15 at The Wilma Theater in Missoula. It was released Feb. 18 online and in 20 theaters across the country, including in Missoula, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. The movie stars Sharlto Copley (District 9 and The A Team), a South African actor who portrayed Kaczynski. The movie also is available on streaming platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV and VUDU.

Local residents from Lincoln also made appearances in the movie, and other residents fed and housed the film crew, said Caelan Fisher, a UM graduate who helped operate the cameras.

The film wouldnt have been made if it wasnt for the locals being as open to the project as they were, Fisher said. A lot of thanks are given to them.

Fisher, who runs his own production company, C. Fisher Media, said it was his first experience working on a feature film. He credits the connections he made as a film student at UM for being able to join the crew.

It was my first job working in the assistant camera department and it was a wild ride, Fisher said. They gave me opportunities to camera operate which is pretty uncommon for someone just starting out. They actually let me shoot.

The goal was to make an authentic movie that gets into the mind of the Unabomber without condemning or condoning his actions, Scott said. The movie does not tell the audience how to feel but rather lets them decide for themselves, he said.

Its supposed to be a very objective study, Scott said.

Kaczynski, a Harvard-trained mathematician, left his academic career to live alone in his 10-by-12-foot cabin. From his cabin, Kaczynski built 16 bombs that killed three people and injured 23 others across the United States between 1978 and 1995. He led authorities on the nations longest manhunt but was eventually arrested by FBI agents at his cabin in 1996.

Kaczynski has since been in custody at a federal Supermax prison in Colorado. In December, the 79-year-old was transferred to a federal prison medical facility in North Carolina.

During the last stages of filming Ted K in February 2020, Scott and the films director, Tony Stone, visited the Colorado prison to get shots for the movies final scene.

Scott said it was surreal to be near the Unabomber and know he was still alive on the other side of the prison walls. Scott wondered how Kaczynski would feel about the film.

I think he would maybe respect the intentionality and thoughtfulness, Scott said. And that we tried to portray him fairly.

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FRIDAY, Feb, 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Mass culling has been implemented as a highly contagious form of avian flu has swept across the eastern half of the United States in recent weeks, killing both farmed poultry and wild birds.

"It's very concerning, given how quickly this thing is accelerating," Henry Niman, a biochemist in Pittsburgh who studies the genetic evolution of viruses, told The New York Times. "I think we could see historic levels of infections." Niman has been tracking the outbreak's spread across the United States.

It is likely the virus is being spread by wild birds returning from winter feeding grounds, according to experts, and many fear the worst will come when spring migration peaks in a few weeks, The Times reported. Poultry growers are being urged by federal officials to report sick or dying birds and to take preventive measures such as preventing contact between their farmed flocks and wild birds.

"It's important to note that avian influenza is not considered to be a risk to public health and it's not a food-safety risk," Mike Stepien, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told The Times. The virus -- called Eurasian H5N1 -- has not jumped to humans but is being closely watched by scientists because it is closely related to an Asian strain that has infected hundreds of people since 2003. That strain does not spread efficiently among humans, but when it does, it has a death rate of 60 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And it can decimate a country's poultry industry. Right now, turkey farmers in Indiana and Kentucky are the most worried. Several farms in those states have been shuttered in the past two weeks after officials discovered the virus among birds that spend their entire lives crammed into massive containment sheds. Farmers say they have been stunned by how efficiently the virus kills, with animals dying hours after the initial infection, The Times reported.

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The University of Montana community finally celebrated a monumental upgrade in its research status at an event on Friday afternoon in the University Center Ballroom.

Earlier this month, the university gained its status as a top-tier R1 research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education, given its fast-paced growth of research opportunities.

This achievement, really it just confirms what we already know to be true and that is that the University of Montana absolutely belongs on the list of top-tier academic and research institutions in the entire world, UM President Seth Bodnar said.

But UM deserves to be on that list of the top universities in the world because of the amazing people we have on campus, he continued later.

Several members of the postsecondary education community of Montana spoke about the achievement. All three members of Montanas congressional delegation sent in videos that were played at the event to share their congratulations with the campus community.

The university will hold the classification for five years before the Carnegie organization will reevaluate.

Only 146 of the nearly 4,000 U.S. degree-granting institutions hold R1 status. One of those campuses is located some 200 miles east of Missoula on Interstate 90  Montana State University.

Montana is now the only state among its neighbors that has two R1 designated campuses, according to Brock Tessman, a deputy commissioner with the Office of Higher Education.

Tessman previously worked at UM as the dean of the Davidson Honors College. During that time he was involved in strategic visioning and thought that maybe the university would earn a R1 designation by 2025, or the later half of the 2020 decade.

So it is unbelievable to stand here in February 2022 and celebrate that major accomplishment, Tessman said. Its an enormous achievement."

Research expenditures at UM stood at about $55 million a year about seven years ago, Bodnar said.

Thats pretty good  respectable, impactful  and today though, seven years later, $122 million, Bodnar said. So think about that, more than double.

Earlier this academic year, the university announced a record-breaking $138 million in research funding awards during fiscal year 2021  a 38% increase from the previous record of $104 million set during fiscal year 2020.

The back-to-back record-breaking years for research awards is indicative of the universitys upward trend as a research enterprise. Since 2013, UM has ranked as the sixth-fastest growing research enterprise in the nation, according to data from the National Science Foundation.

Scott Whittenburg, the vice president for research and creative scholarship at UM, explained that the R1 calculation is a reflection of all research activities on campus.

I think sometimes people think its a research designation, they think it's about STEM, about science, and they dont realize the breadth of what that means for the campus, Whittenburg said.

R1 calculations are dependent on three areas: research grants that faculty are awarded in a year, number of individuals who graduate with doctoral degrees and the number of staff who support research. From there, those categories are broken down even further to identify subcategories for STEM, humanities and social sciences.

So its actually the entire community of campus, the faculty, students and staff, Whittenburg said.

Its all the departments and colleges that contribute to becoming an R1 institution, we all have to work together, he later continued. Its a team effort.

Near the end of his remarks, Whittenburg noted that the university is currently 15% ahead of the $122 million in research expenditures recorded last year and is poised to land somewhere between $135-140 million next year.

While that growth on its own impresses Whittenburg, what is most remarkable to him is that a bulk of that growth in research was amid the COVID pandemic.

Those were two tough years, two stressful years for our faculty and our staff to go through and to still grow research in that time period I think is really a testament to everybody here, Whittenburg said.

In closing, Bodnar extended his gratitude to faculty for helping secure the designation and also thanked former faculty and administrators for their efforts as well.

Its just so special to me to see an achievement like this really embodied through the amazing human beings, whom I feel so fortunate to get to come to work alongside every single day here at the University of Montana, Bodnar said. Youre leading the fight against climate change, youre improving public health and medicine, youre uncovering complexities of physiological stress, youre improving access to the humanities in our community and beyond.

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Missoula County Public Schools will be moving to a mask-optional policy in all of its facilities beginning on Monday.

The change to the districts mask policy comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided new guidance pertaining to face coverings on Friday afternoon.

Those who wish to continue masking will be allowed to do so, but no students or staff will be required to wear a face covering at this time, wrote MCPS in an email to the MCPS community, sent around 5 p.m. on Friday evening.

Based on the new CDC recommendations, those living and attending schools in areas with low or medium community spread of COVID no longer need to wear masks. Nearly 70% of the U.S. population reside in counties that do no have what is considered high community spread.

The CDC is still advising that those in areas of high spread continue wearing masks. The new recommendations do not change the face covering requirements on public transportation or indoors at airports, train stations and bus stations. Those who have COVID-like symptoms should continue wearing masks, regardless of where they reside.

The MCPS board previously adopted a set of data-driven triggers that would allow Superintendent Rob Watson to lift the districts mask policy. However, those plans changed based on the new CDC guidance.

We will continue to monitor the data, as well as continue with other COVID mitigation strategies, such as routine cleaning and targeted disinfection, maintaining ventilation and air filtration systems, prioritizing hand hygiene, testing and asking those with symptoms of illness to stay home, the district wrote in the email to the MCPS community.

MCPS Trustee Grace Decker shared the news in a post to her Facebook page on Friday afternoon, noting that the board has always relied on public health experts and epidemiology to guide decision making during the pandemic.

Today, we are doing the same, Decker wrote.

The University of Montana announced it would be moving to a mask-recommended policy effective immediately in most public spaces. Classrooms and labs will follow suit on March 3.

The district will continue to offer COVID testing and will provide at-home tests as needed. Those in the MCPS community who want to request a test through the district between Mondays and Fridays can call 406-240-4721.

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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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Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast

A self-styled institution of progressive popular education founded by a former U.S. senator and backed by top left-of-center intellectuals and leaders spent the days and weeks ahead of the bloody Russian assault on Ukraine pumping out misinformation, experts say.

Now it is desperately attempting to backtrack, in part by deleting tweets.

The Gravel Institute was born out of the 2020 presidential bid of eccentric late Alaskan Sen. Mike Gravel, and explicitly styled itself as a counterweight to right-wing YouTube phenomenon PragerU. Its stylish videos have included left-wing luminaries such as Cornel West and Slavoj Zizek and celebrities like comedian David Cross and voice actor H. Jon Benjamin. It announced a new board of directors earlier this month featuring bold-faced names like ex-Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner and Jacobin magazine founder Bhaskar Sunkara, neither of whom replied on the record to requests for comment.

In recent days, the organization has issued multiple denunciations of Russian President Vladimir Putins attack on his western neighbor, along with statements of support for anti-invasion Russian demonstrators and for Ukrainian citizens. The group hit those same points in an extensive statement to The Daily Beast on Friday.

We stand in solidarity with Ukrainians and with the many Russians protesting the war, denounce Putins act of naked, horrific, and unconscionable aggression, and hope diplomacy can end the violence soon, the group wrote. We stand with the Ukrainian and Russian peoples against the aggression and violence of the Putin regime.

But just as it was debuting its new leadership earlier this month, the Institute was pushing what experts called false or misleading material on its YouTube and Twitter accountsmaterial that sometimes aligned with narratives Putin and his proxies were simultaneously advancing.

Ukraines Gay Combat Volunteers Are Ready to Fight for Their Lives Against Anti-LGBTQ Putin

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On Feb. 18, the group published a YouTube video entitled How America Funded Ukraines Neo-Nazis, which, following online criticism, was renamed America, Russia, and Ukraines Far-Right Problem. The video reiterated several of the Kremlins favorite narratives: namely that Ukrainian nationalism is a Nazi-linked phenomenon born in the 1940s, and that it has taken root in Kyiv and the rest of the country, in opposition to its pro-Russian east.

Ukrainian nationalism, formed in opposition to the Soviet Union, tended to have a strong right-wing flavor, the video asserts. In western Ukraine, there was more stress on a specifically Ukrainian identity, closer to Europe. In eastern Ukraine, meanwhile, people were more likely to stress their historic ties to Russia and the Russian language.

In fact, Ukrainian national identity predates the Soviet Union by hundreds of years, stretching back to Cossack leaders who ruled the region in the 17th and 18th centuries. And in most of eastern Ukraine, more than 80 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of severing the country from Moscow in 1991; in no area did preserving the bond receive majority support.

The video also focused intensely on the supposed power of far-right parties Svoboda and Right Sector, both objects of obsession in Russian state mediaand which, respectively, hold one and zero seats in the Ukrainian parliament, a fact the Institutes documentary omitted. While emphasizing the influence these parties held in the past, and arguing the countrys neo-Nazis had become increasingly powerful, the documentary made no mention of the fact that current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish and a native Russian speaker.

In fact, for several months in 2019, Ukraine was the only nation on Earth besides Israel to have both a Jewish president and a Jewish prime minister, when Zelensky led the country along with Volodymyr Groysman.

But most galling to Professor Yoshiko Herrera of the University of Wisconsin at Madisons Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia, was the videos failure to explore Moscows interventions into Ukrainian affairs since independence. She described the video as naive and an example of the kind of whataboutism Putin promotes: pointing out questionable parties and pieces of legislation in other countries, and thereby reducing scrutiny on far worse abuses on the part of Russian authorities.

It is a strategic distraction, she said of the tactic. Why would you put out a video like that that ignores the Russian interference into Ukrainian politics, Ukrainian elections?

The timing of the Gravel video, released just as Putin massed armaments and regiments on the Ukrainian border and the U.S. warned of an imminent invasion, was also highly disturbing to the academic. Earlier this week, Putin characterized his unprovoked attack as an effort to denazify Ukraine.

"This alternative history of Ukraine, I dont understand why an organization in good faith thinks theyre going to put out a story that is consistent with Putin propaganda at this moment and think people are going to take this seriously, she said.

In fact, the Gravel Institute does not even mention the deployment of Russian soldiers into Ukrainian territory in the aftermath of pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovychs ouster, instead asserting that the far-right helped the country to fracture.

In its statement to The Daily Beast, the Gravel Institute defended the accuracy of its video and asserted multiple experts reviewed its work before it went live on YouTube. It further maintained its video was never meant to be a comprehensive account of the situation in Ukraine, but instead a window into an under-examined aspect of the crisis. It made a similar claim in a pinned comment visible below the short film.

The video covers a very small slice of a much broader conflict, the group said. The video does not claim to explain the entirety of the conflict, a point we highlighted in the videos pinned comment, but merely to show how the American government ended up supporting and arming neo-Nazi groups that most Americans would despise.

Twitter via WayBackMachine

But this is at odds with how the group presented the video in one of its many since-deleted tweets, where it seemed to hold the production out as the real version of events precipitating the crisis.

Everyone is talking about Ukraine. But what do we really know about it, and how it broke apart? This is the little-known story of Ukraine's civil war, and how America ended up in bed with some of its worst offendersUkraines neo-Nazis, the memory-holed message to the nonprofits 375,000 followers read.

Similarly, the videos description on YouTube characterizes the presentation as the surprising, under-told [sic] of how Ukraine split apart, and the background to the civil war that has roiled the country since 2014.

The video focuses heavily on the Azov Battalion, a roughly 1,000-man Ukrainian unit whose far-right roots The Daily Beast has explored in-depth. But the video makes no mention of the far-larger Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary outfit with neo-Nazi links and ties to Putins inner circle. The Daily Beast reported in January that one of Wagners most effusively neofascist units, which publicly shared grisly images of atrocities it committed during its 2014-2015 incursion into Ukraine, had announced plans to return to the battle-ravaged nation.

The Gravel production highlights the under-regulated flow of American resources to the Azov Battalion before Congress banned aid to the group in 2018. But it ignores Moscows eager and ongoing support for far-right organizations in Ukraine and across Europe.

In fact, when engaging with commenters who complained about the videos bias, the Gravel Institute insisted, Wagner is evil ofc but not known to express a neo-Nazi ideology, a comment they would subsequently apologize for and retract.

That was one of just many claims Gravel stripped from its social media in the past week, claims that all seemed to echo Russian insistence that it had no intention to invade its neighbor. For days, the group repeatedly attacked intelligence reports that Putin would send the vast military force he had assembled on the edges of Ukraine into the country.

It is exceptionally clear that the American media wants a war between Ukraine and Russia. It is even clearer that the American media doesnt know the first thing about either country, a vanished Feb. 14 post read.

The next day, in another since-disappeared tweet, it wrote: A few days ago, the U.S. government and media said that Russia would invade Ukraine on Wednesday. Wednesday is tomorrow. Please remember that prediction when it does not come to pass.

Remember a few days ago, when the media said that Russia was going to invade Ukraine today? Whatever happened to that? the group tweeted on Feb. 16.

The Institute expanded on this in a response tweet that went undeleted until The Daily Beast reached out for comment.

Theyre just printing whatever intelligence agencies tell them, and the intelligence agencies are basically making it up, it tweeted.

Twitter via WayBack Machine

The group continued to mock U.S. officials for their predictions, and blame Ukraines problems on American diplomacy right up until Putin announced his intention to unleash his forces.

Then, the erasure of the groups statements began.

Its tweet-and-delete, tweet-and-delete with them, said Sophie Fullerton, a human rights researcher at Columbia University. It seems like theyre just spewing misinformation to see if they get a positive reaction or not. And if they get a positive reaction, they keep it up, and if they get a negative reaction, theyll try to go back and clean it up.

Fullerton began tracking the Gravel Institutes activities since last October, when it posted and then removed a tweet lauding late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, infamous for persecuting dissenters and massacring prisoners before rebels brutally assassinated him in 2011.

Under Gaddafi, Libya had free healthcare, free education for both men and women, free housing, and ultra-cheap electricity. Libya under Gaddafi had some of the highest rates of life expectancy, literacy, and per capita GDP in all Africa. Then, 10 years ago, the U.S. killed him, the tweet read.

Fullerton pointed to Putins efforts to hijack legitimate criticism of U.S. foreign and domestic policy, which she suggested had deeply influenced left-wing discourse. She also noted that, despite the esteemed names that have associated themselves with the Institute, the rank-and-file of the organization consists of Sen. Gravels very young 2020 campaign staff, themselves Columbia undergraduates.

People are attracted to the Gravel Institute because they assume these are legitimate people, a legitimate organization, thats going to give them information, Fullerton argued. But it doesnt delve into the complexities and nuances of these very serious issues. Its this really simplistic view of how the world works.

The Gravel Institute acknowledged errors, but insisted it was simply working off of Ukrainian intelligence reports and the views of some Russia experts.

Where circumstances have proven us incorrect (i.e. on the invasion), we have removed our prior statements and publicly owned up to the mistake. That is and always has been our policy, the group said.

But it argued that its skepticism was justified based on the U.S. governments own history of falsehoods and misconduct, particularly since the 9/11 attacks.

Our instinct to distrust American intelligence agencies, especially when they speak directly to public opinion, is grounded in their history of grotesque lies to justify horrific acts, the organization wrote. Every one of these lies has been covered extensively by your own outlet, and contributed to a very justified climate of skepticism and distrust.

Professor Herrera, of the University of Wisconsin, agreed that suspicion and objections toward U.S. foreign and domestic policies are legitimate and warranted. Upholding a healthy democratic culture of debate while dealing with adversaries like Putin who promote division and diversion is extremely difficult. But acknowledging American and Ukrainian failures doesnt have to mean excusing, ignoring, or downplaying Russian misdeeds.

Instead, she recommended focusing on solving problems rather than on critique.

We need a movement toward addressing and solving real problems in America, she said. Lets not substitute a discussion of Americas problems for calling out serious threats to us.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Many kids wouldnt know orchestral music if you hit them upside the head with a bassoon.

Theres no shame in that, of course. It all comes down to exposure.

Which is where the Butte Symphony comes in.

It has a long tradition of introducing students in southwest Montana to live music performed by an orchestra.

It happened again Friday morning.

Hundreds of students in fifth and sixth grades, along with a few older students, rode buses from as far away as Gold Creek, Melrose, Wise River, Whitehall, Boulder and Divide for a cultural immersion at the Mother Lode Theatre in Butte.

Conductor Luis Millan emphasized fun and interaction. He didnt patronize and he didnt pander. He struck the right notes.

Its uncommon for an audience to yell at a conductor but it happened repeatedly Friday.

The program began around 10:30 a.m. with a Movie Music Quiz. The orchestra played individual clips of music composed in the early decades of the 20th century to accompany silent movies. Then, students were directed to view choices projected on a big screen of the emotion the clip was meant to communicate and select the correct answer  A, B, C or D.

For example, did the music express agitation or love, sorrow or anguish, or something more playful?

When Millan asked for input from the students, he got it fortissimo.

They yelled A or B or C or D in a din even Beethoven could have heard.

The programs second half included a silent film, The Pawnshop, featuring Charlie Chaplin in a characteristically slapstick role that wrung laughter from the youthful audience.

Members of the Butte Symphony provided the live soundtrack for the movie, released in 1916.

History records that Chaplin visited Butte five times and indicates he was impressed by the comparatively attractive women in the citys red-light district.

Leonard Bernstein, the celebrated pianist, composer and conductor of the New York Philharmonic, stopped his oft-televised Young Peoples Concerts some 50 years ago. He described these concerts as being among my favorite, most highly-prized activities of my life.

Millan said he thoroughly enjoys introducing children to the music performed by orchestras.

Among those Friday who got their first taste of strings and bows and flutes was Evan Boggess, a student at Highland View Christian School.

It was really cool, he said.

And thats music to Millans ears.

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Hong Kong: Medicines from the nation given out

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it is distributing anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the nation to individuals receiving treatment or in need through relevant departments and organisations.

Together with the batch arriving Hong Kong next Monday, the Hong Kong SAR Government has received a total of 350,000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the central government.

So far, 70,000 boxes and 50,000 boxes of the proprietary Chinese medicines have been given to the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link and other local organisations for distribution to the community.

The remaining 230,000 boxes will be distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the Hospital Authority, people who had tested positive at isolation facilities and others.

As for the various kinds of medical supplies required, the task force of ensuring medical supplies, led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, has been working closely with the corresponding task forces of the Mainland.

The medical supplies have been arriving Hong Kong in batches, including some 10 million N95 and KN95 masks, and some 10 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits.

The RAT kits have already been distributed for use by relevant departments and organisations, and to members of the public, especially high-exposure personnel, staff of residential care homes for the elderly, cleansing and security staff, through the Home Affairs Department.

The task forces between the two places continued to closely communicate with each other on Hong Kongs anti-epidemic work with the support of the central government.

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan and Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam held a video conference today with experts of the National Health Commission, the Chinese Centre for Disease Control & Prevention, and the Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control & Prevention.

They exchanged views and analysed the latest epidemic development in Hong Kong.

On the Compulsory Universal Testing Scheme, Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang also had a video conference today with experts of the National Health Commission to exchange and gauge their views for drawing up the implementation plan and making preparations.

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The story of Southeast Baltimores Perkins Homes resonated with readers. The 80-odd-year-old public housing project is a part of Baltimores neighborhood history. Heres a thought-provoking perspective:

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, I spent the first four years of my life living in a one-bedroom apartment with my brother, mother, and father in the Perkins Home Projects, Susan Hammond said in an email.

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My father was a returning vet from World War II. After the war, he returned to his job as a machinist and needed a place to house his young family. He also needed access to public transportation to reach his job, said Hammond, a Fells Point resident. Perkins Home provided him with a way to meet all of these needs.

She said Perkins Homes provided her parents with time to accumulate enough money to purchase their own home, and to eventually buy a car  all the necessities for a working-class family in the 1950s.

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This opportunity to kickstart my familys rise from a subsidized life style to becoming self-sufficient had far reaching consequences, she said. My brother and I went on to become first-generation college graduates and to become successful in our future endeavors.

I was able to have a rewarding career as a Baltimore City teacher  an opportunity that was made possible by a state program that provided me with a four-year education, provided I promised to teach in the state for two years, Hammond said.

A portion of Perkins Homes has been demolished in Southeast Baltimore along Caroline and Eden streets. It is now known as the $30 million Perkins Transformation Project. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

She mentions Maryland Sen. Millard E. Tydings, a centrist Democrat who was quoted that public housing smacked of socialism.

I mention these two programs  Perkins Projects and the teacher pledge program  as examples to prove Senator Tydings wrong and the progressives at the time as seeing the issue correctly, she said.

Progressives thought it was a humane way to give people a subsidized monthly rental, she said. It turns out that providing affordable housing was the correct move. It was a plan that provided people like myself the opportunity to move on in life and eventually be able to take advantage of what I believe Tydings would probably have considered another Socialist program, she said.

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Another reader, James Genthner, reacted to the death of Baltimores former Fire Chief Herman Williams, who faced down racial slurs in the 1950s when he hauled passengers around the city as a streetcar and bus driver.

Perhaps five or seven years ago, I was at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum on Falls Road and heard an older African American man talking animatedly to a younger couple about streetcars, particularly Peter Witts (a type of vehicle used in Baltimore from 1931 to 1955), he said.

I went over and introduced myself to him and was surprised to learn that he was none other than Herman Williams. The chief told me that he had worked for the Baltimore Transit Co. and had operated the Witts. They were his favorite cars and he was happy to see that one was in the collection, said Genthner, who lives in Timonium.

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Car 6119 reminded him of a sad incident that occurred when he was operating a Witt northbound on Garrison Boulevard, he said. When the car reached Liberty Heights, a street service supervisor was waiting for him. The supervisor told Mr. Williams in a matter of fact way that Mr. Williams mother had died, and that he was to return to the division with him. A relief operator was to take the car back to the car house.

People also seem to be excited about the overdue restoration and upgrades planned at Pennsylvania Station.

The company I work for is doing some of the work on the Penn Station restoration, Tim Eastman said. One phase is removing the glass in the facade of the section above the sidewalks. It should look beautiful when it is cleaned and the iron frames are restored. There is speculation that it is Tiffany glass.

Eastman asked my opinion. I can well recall when the green glass panels were installed new during the 1980s. They are not original to the 1911 station. They looked sharp then and will only benefit from a good cleaning during this station fix-up.
With prospects dim for the U.S. to adopt a single-payer Medicare for All program, health care reform advocates turned instead to an insurance plan designed by the government that could compete with private insurance plans sold on the health care exchanges. The idea behind this public option is that it could ultimately expand health care access by making a lower-cost plan available to consumers.

But that public-option plan, though backed by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, also has gone nowhere because of political opposition in Congress.

Some states have picked up the banner and are creating their own public-option plans. But they, too, are facing formidable opposition from the health care establishment, which is resisting the pressure to reduce costs on the back end so that consumers can pay less.

Washington state, in its second year of offering the nations first public-option health insurance plan, has learned an important lesson: If you want hospitals to participate, youre probably going to have to force them.

The Washington public option is more of a public-private partnership: The plan was designed by the state but is offered by private insurance companies. Anyone buying their own policy on the states health insurance marketplace can sign up for a public-option plan and, depending on their income, may receive significant subsidies from the federal government to lower its cost. But two years in, the plans are available in only 25 of the states 39 counties, enrollment numbers have been underwhelming, and state leaders blame hospitals.

The plans had a hard time getting networks put together because the hospitals wouldnt play, said state Rep. Eileen Cody, the Washington legislator who introduced the public-option bill in 2019. Theyre a big part of the problem.

Officials from the Washington State Hospital Association said that more hospitals than not are voluntarily participating in public-option plans. But, they noted, the public option relies on cutting payments to hospitals to control costs and ties reimbursement to Medicare rates, which dont cover hospitals cost of providing care.

If patients opt to join a public-option plan rather than private insurance, over time it could create financial challenges, especially for small, rural providers operating on thin margins, said Chelene Whiteaker, senior vice president of government affairs for the hospital group.

State legislators last year voted to mandate that hospitals contract with a public-option plan if public-option plans werent available in each county in 2022. That mandate will go into effect for 2023.

Now, other states looking at a public option are learning from Washingtons challenges. Colorado and Nevada, which are implementing public-option plans for 2023 and 2026, respectively, have already incorporated ways of forcing hospitals to participate. And other states considering a public option  including Connecticut, Oregon, New Jersey, and New Mexico  are likely to follow suit.

One thing that the states have learned is you cannot make it optional for hospitals to participate, said Erin Fuse Brown, director of the Center for Law, Health & Society at Georgia State College of Law. Otherwise, theres just no way for the public option to have a chance. It will never build a sufficient network.

Washingtons public option was designed to save consumers money primarily by lowering what hospitals and doctors get paid, capping aggregate payments at 160% of what Medicare would pay for those services. By comparison, health plans had been paying providers an average of 174% of Medicare rates.

Public-option plans are available to anyone and come in the same gold, silver, and bronze tiers as private plans on the health insurance exchange. Proponents estimated the cap would result in public-option plans having premiums 5% to 10% lower than traditional plans on the exchange. But public-option premiums were, on average, 11% higher than the lowest silver plan premium available in each county on the marketplace in 2021, and a public-option plan was the silver plan with the lowest premium in just nine counties. Silver plans cover, on average, about 70% of health care costs. Only 1% of people buying plans on the exchange chose public-option plans in 2021.

Public-option premiums for 2022 came in about 5% lower than public-option premiums in 2021. This years enrollment numbers have not been finalized  the state is waiting to see how many of the people who signed up complete the process by paying their premiums.

We know premiums are what drive decision-making in terms of enrollment, said Liz Hagan, director of policy solutions for United States of Care, a nonprofit that advocates for improving health care access. People often dont look at anything other than the premium. They rarely look at the out-of-pocket costs.

But exchange officials say that savvy consumers are finding that the public-option plans are less expensive in the long run. Compared with traditional exchange plans, they have lower deductibles and provide more services not subject to the deductible.

Premium is still king, said Michael Marchand, chief marketing officer for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. But we have a lot of people who have gotten a lot smarter about how theyre pricing out something.

Marchand also said it may take a few years for a new product like the public-option plan to gain traction in the marketplace. Insurance companies may have priced their plans a little high in the first year, not knowing what to expect. Now, with a year under their belt, they have lowered premiums somewhat.

Washingtons stumble out of the gate reflects the difficulty of lowering health care costs while working within the current system. Legislators originally wanted to cut payment rates to hospitals and other providers much more, but they raised the cap in the legislation so hospitals wouldnt oppose the bill. Now, its unclear whether the payment cap is low enough to reduce premiums.

Thats kind of the big trade-off, said Aditi Sen, a health economist with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. You are trying to lower premiums enough that people will enroll, but not so much that providers wont participate.

That will be a challenge for any state or federal public-option plan. There are only so many ways to lower premiums. Hospitals, doctors, and other health care professionals have pushed back hard against any cuts in their payment rates, while insurance plans balk at plans that could eat into their profits.

Plans can reduce the size of their provider network to save money, but consumers dislike plans that limit what doctor they can see. Public-options plans could rely on existing public health programs, like Medicare and Medicaid, which already pay lower rates than commercial insurance, but government-run insurance plans carry negative connotations for many consumers.

Sen and her colleagues found that in 2021, Washington counties with public-option plans were primarily in areas where hospital and physician payment rates were lower than those in other parts of the state. That may have helped insurers build out networks and still stay under the 160% provider payment cap.

Five of the 12 private insurers that sell plans on the exchange offer public-option plans.

Insurance companies that had previously offered plans in Washington were able to cobble together networks based on existing contracts with hospitals and physician groups. But two carriers new to the Washington exchange had to start from scratch and negotiate prices with providers for their public-option plans. Some of the insurance companies tried to offer public-option plans in other counties but could not persuade hospitals, particularly those in larger hospital systems, to accept their rates.

Washington saw enrollment in public-option plans start to climb during a special enrollment period launched in mid-2021 because of the covid-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Plan Act also provided more subsidies, which made all plans on the exchange more affordable. But those subsidies are due to expire at the end of the year unless Congress votes to extend them. An extension is included in the Biden administrations Build Back Better legislation, but it has stalled in Congress.

Washington legislators approved other moves to make the public option more affordable. They set aside $50 million in state subsidies, but officials must still determine how to allocate those funds. And lawmakers authorized the state to pursue a waiver with the federal government that could allow the state to keep more of the savings achieved through premium reductions. Currently, lower premiums also mean lower subsidies from the federal government. The state can request those savings be passed through to consumers.

Washington did not pursue such a waiver before implementing its public-option plan, but many believe the Biden administration might be more amenable to such a request than the Trump administration.

State progress on public-option plans comes amid disappointment among many progressives that Congress did not implement a federal public option under the Affordable Care Act to compete with private plans on the marketplaces.

Washington state officials realize that because they were the first to implement a public option, other states will be watching them closely to see how it all plays out. Were not the only ones, but were the furthest along, Cody said. Other people can learn from our mistakes.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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MUSCATINE  When Jeremy Pickard, dean of instruction for Muscatine Community College, arrived in Ukraine during his first of many visits, he remembers being surprised at how much like the Midwest the country felt.

He recalls the fields full of crops, the sprawling university, and especially the friendliness and openness of the people. He was visiting the city of Drohobych in Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. The city is a member of the Sister Cities International Program and is a sister city to Muscatine and there had been an exchange of faculty.

I think the people there are some of the most lovely people in the world, he said. Ive been to quite a few places around. They are just great. They are really hospitable, curious to get to know you, very friendly. They are really outstanding people.

Pickard was so impressed with the people he met, he helped found a study abroad program with the colleges Ukrainian colleagues to allow students to study abroad for a few weeks. The program was held in the early 2000s, shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Even while he learned to love the people, Pickard realized there were plenty of problems, including corruption in the government of Ukraine that was keeping the nation from becoming a member of NATO. He understood the system was very different from American systems. He said he saw what could be called the Ukrainian version of a "protection racket" going on in the city.

On Thursday, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine after about a month of military build-up on the border. It's not the first time Russia has invaded Ukraine  in 2014, the Russo-Ukrainian War centered on the status of Crimea, which Russia later annexed.

Waking up to the news of the war, Pickards thoughts turned to some of his good friends from Ukraine. He has visited the country four times and his parents have hosted several studies abroad students. One of the students, whom Pickard calls his Ukrainian Sister, is named Eurina. She lives in the capital city of Kyiv. Pickards father spoke with her recently.

Like many Ukrainians now, they left the capital and are going to the countryside, he said. I think they were all really surprised. We kept hearing about it on the news but I just dont know they believed it.

On Friday, Kyiv was bracing for a Russian assault. The Ukrainian Minister of Defense has called for people living in the city to make Molotov cocktails to neutralize the enemy. One block of flats had been reported damaged and several civilians injured.

War is never peaceful, but I hope there arent large casualties or heavy fighting, Pickard said. Our hopes and prayers are for the people  that this doesnt escalate too much.

The U.S., European Union and United Kingdom have issued sanctions, but he said he is confused that there hasnt been more European involvement in the conflict. He said he doesnt see the conflict being resolved unless it is escalated, which he is not in favor of. He does not believe the Ukrainians have any chance of holding off the Russian army. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has encouraged NATO to consider Ukraines petition for membership and has sought to negotiate with Russian Premier Vladimir Putin.

Pickard said that he hosted a Ukrainian student in 2020, but when the COVID-19 health crisis began, Ukraine called all their overseas students home.

Since the times he has visited Ukraine, the relations have slowed down as grant money has declined. He explained the money came right after the Soviet bloc broke up and when all the countries became free the U.S. infused a lot of resources to help development. Part of it was on higher education. Once that time passed, those resources were not put into the area.

I think I could have lived in Ukraine, but the U.S. is my home and Im proud to be an American, Pickard said.

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One of nine men caught in a November 2020 federal online sting targeting adults attempting to entice minors for sexual exploitation was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison.

During a hearing in U.S. District Court, Peoria, U.S. District Judge James Shadid sentenced Joseph Allen Wilcher, 40, of Cedar Rapids, to 120 months, or 10 years in prison. He is the sixth man to be sentenced in the case.

After a two-day trial in October, a federal jury found Wilcher guilty of one count each of attempted enticement of a minor and travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.

Shadid sentenced Wilcher to 10 years in prison on each count, but the sentences will run at the same time. There is no parole in the federal system.

Wilcher also must serve 10 years on supervised release after he completes his prison sentence and register as a sex offender. He will receive credit for the time he has spent in custody awaiting trial.

Wilcher was arrested Nov. 13 after he drove to Rock Island to meet a person he thought was a 15-year-old girl. The conversations began Nov. 9 over a mobile dating app and then moved to text messages.

The status of the other eight cases are:

 Douglas L. Christensen, 57, of East Moline was sentenced Nov. 3, 2021, to 10 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn., according to the Bureau of Prisons website.

 Michael Robert McKinney, 24, of Silvis was sentenced July 20, 2021, to 12 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Marianna, Fla., according to the Bureau of Prisons website.

 Douglas Michael Speer, 31, of Johnston, Iowa, was sentenced Oct. 20, 2021, to 11 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Mich., according to the Bureau of Prisons website.

 Nicholas Bryan Swank, 32, of Muscatine was sentenced Jan. 6, 2022, to 17  years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Ill., according to the Bureau of Prisons website.

 Charles Walter Christopher, 43, of West Liberty was sentenced Dec. 15, 2021, to 22 years in federal prison. He is currently being held in the Federal Correctional Institution in Pekin, Ill.

 Auston. M. McLain, 36, of Davenport is charged with attempted enticement of a minor, travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor. A jury trial is scheduled for March 21, in U.S. District Court, Rock Island, before U.S. District Chief Judge Sara Darrow.

 Jeffrey Alan Bosaw, of Bloomington, Ill., who was 52 at the time of his arrest, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor. A status conference is set for March 2 in U.S. District Court, Rock Island, before Darrow.

 Damien Pernell Shepherd, 36, is charged with attempted enticement of a minor. A jury trial is scheduled for June 21 in U.S. District Court, Rock Island, before Darrow.

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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 Illinois Department of Human Services, DHS, declined to transfer the inmate into the agency's custody on Jan. 26, records show. The state's reason for declining the transfer does not appear in court records.

Four days after the county asked the inmate be transferred, based on his status as a mentally disabled person who was incompetent to stand trial, the 26-year-old Black man was battered by two correctional officers, according to an investigation by Rock Island Police.

Cameron Gerischer, 21, and Jacob H. Ward, 29, face felony charges of aggravated battery in the case. They are accused of repeatedly striking the inmate with their fists on Jan. 30.

The victim is identified as being 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 155 pounds. A traffic arrest for Gerischer, one of the correctional officers, listed him as 6-1 and 200 pounds in 2019 when he was 18. The second officer's height and weight was not immediately available.

The inmate was in custody on several sex-related crimes in which his alleged victims were children. He was arrested in East Moline in October and charged with one count of criminal sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual abuse in which the victims were identified as being a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old.

Both correctional officers were immediately placed on administrative leave following the incident, county officials said.

Rock Island County Sheriff Gerry Bustos asked the city of Rock Island Police Department and the state's attorney's office to conduct an independent criminal investigation, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

It resulted in the charges against Ward and Gerischer. An internal investigation is ongoing, Bustos said Tuesday.

It is the second case in a year in which Rock Island County correctional officers have been charged with battering an inmate. The incidents occurred one year and one day apart.

Last year, 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.

Martin was sentenced to one year's supervision during a sentencing hearing Jan. 11, according to circuit court electronic records. Reporter Anthony Watt contributed to this story.

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Zimbabwean telecommunications billionaire and founder of Econet Wireless Zimbabwe Ltd., Strive Masiyiwa has retired from the company he started almost three decades ago to pursue new opportunities.

The vision caster has moved on, Douglas Mboweni, chief executive officer at Econet told reporters in the capital, Harare Friday. He has stepped up and there are more portfolios he has to attend.

Masiyiwa, 61, who has been on Econets board since establishing the company in 1993 will retain his more than 50% stake in the company that he listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in 1998.

Since listing, Econets subscribers have risen to 13.2 million from 32,000 and the company is valued at $1.1 billion.

It is through his leadership, dedication and perseverance that the company has grown to become one of Zimbabwes largest and most successful businesses, the company said in an emailed statement.

Masiyiwa, whose telecommunications company operates in Africa and Europe, has had his run-ins with Zimbabwes government, which he has seen as pursuing policies detrimental to his wireless business.

In 2020, authorities accused Econet, which dominates the mobile-money transactions industry, of fueling black-market currency trading and money laundering, accusations the company denies. Prior to that the company was in a four-year long legal battle with the government before obtaining an operating license in 1997.

Masiyiwa currently sits on Netflix Inc. and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations boards. He is also the African Unions special envoy on Covid-19 and oversees the AUs Covid Task Force that secures coronavirus vaccines for the continent.
eKasi Fibre, a prepaid fibre network operator, recently launched its services in Umlazi, KZN  South Africas fourth-largest township.

The company focuses on supplying low-cost fibre internet to previously disadvantaged regions of South Africa, and its customers can choose from 10Mbps, 25Mbps, or 50Mbps services.

eKasi Fibre states that it isnt like most of the countrys fibre network operators, as its packages are based on varying durations of access  from daily to three-monthly.

We offer prepaid fibre internet in daily, weekly, monthly, two monthly and three monthly packages. We also offer speeds of 10, 25 and 50Mbps, director at eKasi Fibre, Brad Lowman, told MyBroadband.

Our offering is uncapped and sold in windows of time rather than amounts of data. Our prices are not only competitive but also offer our target market a lot of flexibility.

The 50Mbps service will cost eKasis customers R49.00 for a day of access and R229.00 for a weeks worth of fibre connectivity.

They will also have the option to purchase one, two, or three-month packages. These cost R679.00, R1,199.00, or R1,799.00 for the highest-speed offering, respectively.

Lowman said that eKasi Fibre uses high-quality fibre and termination equipment to provide a network that will last.

eKasi Fibre recognises that a network installed today needs to last and not only provide connectivity services to suit the needs of todays customers but also next-generation services, he said.

At the start of February 2022, eKasi Fibre had established its services in 660 houses in Umlazi as a proof of concept. It intends to provide affordable Internet access to 36,000 homes in the township.

eKasi Fibre is currently only focused on Umlazi.

Ideally, eKasi would like to service as many underserved areas as possible, but we require further funding to do so, Lowman said.

Current areas under consideration are KwaMashu and Inanda. However, we are solely focused on Umlazi for the moment and providing access to affordable internet for its 400,000 residents.

When it comes to funding, Lowman told MyBroadband that shareholders had financed the proof of concept project and that the network provider is applying for financing at several governmental and private institutions.

eKasi Fibre enters a highly competitive market, though its offerings offer subscribers more choice.

Openserve, Vumatel, and Frogfoot also offer low-cost prepaid fibre services in the form of Openserve Web Connect, Vuma Reach, and Frogfoot air.

Like eKasi Fibre, the low-cost offerings from Vumatel and Openserve are prepaid. However, they are limited by comparison.

Openserves prepaid fibre offerings  sold through Telkom  do not offer a range of speeds, but rather all of its packages are 25Mbps.

Telkom charges R99 for three, R169 for seven, and R449 for 30 days worth of access.

Vumatels prepaid fibre packages are valid for 28 days, and its customers can choose a 20Mbps service for R378 or a 40Mbps service for R488.

eKasi Fibres pricing and access durations are provided in the table below.

eKasi Fibre pricing Duration of access (days) Speed 10Mbps 25Mbps 50Mbps 1 R29.00 R39.00 R49.00 7 R129.00 R169.00 R229.00 30 R399.00 R499.00 R679.00 60 R659.00 R899.00 R1,199.00 90 R999.00 R1,299.00 R1,799.00

Now read: Business fibre pricing in South Africa interrogated
A federal investigation has recovered $315,536 in back wages for 158 workers of an American Canyon home care agency where the owner and CEO unlawfully required hourly employees who earned significant overtime to sign an agreement to be paid straight time for up to 160 hours per pay period.

A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation determined that American Canyon business A Bright Future Inc. violated overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to pay the affected workers for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek and by paying straight time for all hours of work, including overtime.

The division also cited A Bright Futures owner and CEO Max Konan for requiring workers to defer their overtime wages, also an FLSA violation.

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In addition, the home care agency violated federal recordkeeping provisions when they failed to count workers hours funded and paid by the State of Californias In-Home Supportive Services program as hours worked.

The investigation led to the divisions recovery of $315,536 in back wages for the workers who provide in-home care, day program and transportation services to people with disabilities.

The services home care workers provide are vital to the people whose quality of life depends on them  people with disabilities and their families, said Wage and Hour Division District Director Susana Blanco in San Jose.

Our investigation enabled us to help essential workers in an industry where our investigations find wage theft is all-too-common, and allowed us to put an average of nearly $2,000 into the pockets of each of the affected workers at A Bright Future Inc.

According to its website, "A Bright Future, Inc. is a private organization ... specializing in providing services to adults with intellectual disabilities throughout the Northern California."

Since 2017, the Wage and Hour Division completed more than 5,000 investigations of nursing care facilities, home health facilities, and child day care facilities. These investigations recovered more than $200 million in back wages for employees.

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Thursday morning, residents of the Old Town neighborhood just south of downtown Napa awoke to find bags of rice tossed outside their homes. The rice was meant as ballast, to keep a pair of antisemitic flyers from blowing away. One of the handbills pointed out the many Jews involved in U.S. health policy  drivers of "the COVID agenda"  while the other noted Jews with positions in the Joe Biden administration.

Anti-Semitic flyers found at homes near Congregation Beth Shalom in Napa Anti-Semitic flyers were left early Thursday outside homes on Elm, Oak, Pine and other streets near a Napa synagogue, according to police.

Lowell Downey, who lives in that neighborhood, found out he was included when a friend knocked on his door to show him. Downey called the incident "alarming and upsetting." And he doesn't believe it was random.

"We felt really targeted, because we're a Jewish family," Downey said. "We were the only ones on our block that got hit. My friend didn't see any in front of anybody else's house."

Also receiving the hate-filled delivery that morning was the Congregation Beth Shalom synagogue, several blocks from Downey's home. On the Nextdoor social media site, at least one resident of another Napa neighborhood, on the opposite side of town, also reported receiving flyers.

The Napa incidents are the latest in a string of Bay Area cities that have recently been plastered with vitriolic flyers. According to the Jewish News of Northern California, it happened in targeted areas in San Francisco on Jan. 23, Danville on Feb. 2, and Novato, Tiburon and Berkeley on Feb. 20.

It may be hard to determine exactly who is responsible for handing out the Bay Area flyers. They are shared on Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, and easily printed at home.

However credited at the bottom of the handbills is a media site, Goyim TV, that hosts videos and documents real-life stunts aimed at denigrating, ostracizing and harassing members of the Jewish faith.

According to public incorporation records reviewed by The Press Democrat, the man behind Goyim TV and its umbrella organization, the Goyim Defense League ("goyim" is a Hebrew-Yiddish term for non-Jews), is Jon Minadeo II.

While there is nothing specifically linking Minadeo to the flyers, he has a prolific online presence in which he routinely denies the Holocaust, performs Nazi salutes and espouses hatred for Jews.

According to his web postings and other public records, Minadeo is a 39-year-old actor and rapper who lives in Petaluma. His presence there is an open secret that has troubled members of the town's Jewish community for several years.

"Of course it's disturbing to have someone who thinks that way about our people in our midst," said Rabbi Ted Feldman of B'nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma. "That's all I can really say about it. As a community, we just want to stand strong, be who we are and move forward with our lives."

Several phone numbers linked to Minadeo's name had been disconnected, and a phone message left for a man believed to be a relative was not returned.

A man working in the yard at a Petaluma house listed as Minadeo's home address in the incorporation records said Minadeo didn't live there, but that he knew him and would pass along the message. A business address listed in incorporation records turned out to be a UPS box.

Petaluma Mayor Teresa Barrett said she had never heard of Minadeo and hadn't seen the flyers.

"Clearly, I would be opposed to any hate speech in Petaluma, or anywhere," Barrett said. "I don't want to really comment on something I don't know about. But my principle is that hate speech has no place in Petaluma."

Minadeo may have a low profile in his own community, but he has built a large presence at the fringes of American bigotry, and has landed on the radar of the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors antisemitic hate groups.

According to the ADL, the Goyim Defense League was responsible for at least 74 antisemitic propaganda incidents in 2021. In December, the watchdog organization said, Minadeo's group increased the pace with a nationwide campaign. Since then, it has distributed material in 17 states.

Much of the content is straight from the neo-Nazi playbook. According to the ADL, Minadeo's team frequently claims that Jews control financial and media industries behind the scenes. They also accuse Jews of masterminding the 9/11 terrorist attacks, molesting children and advocating for pornography, abortion and gay rights. (Goyim TV's rants often target LGBT+ groups, too.) Minadeo says the Holocaust, which killed 6 million European Jews, is a fabrication.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become part of the anti-Jewish conspiracy theory. In a December 2020 podcast, Minadeo referred to the coronavirus as "Jew flu" and told listeners, "They're coming to do major torturing genocide. It's the truth...These (antisemitic slur) are going to try to put a f**king needle in your arm!"

That line of thought doesn't surprise Feldman.

"There's a statement I heard once in our teachings: 'When it's bad for the world, it's bad for Jews,'" the rabbi said. "Meaning, when there's chaos in the world, people are looking to blame  and we have been one of parties to blaming through centuries, in different locations. In the same way, those flyers are a state of our world, with the pandemic and yesterday's tragic news of war in Ukraine.

"As a Jew, it reminds me of the truth of that statement."

Minadeo, who publishes commentary-and-interview videos on their website  some more than three hours long  under the heading of Handsome Truth, last posted on Dec. 21. They are aggressively repulsive, full of "Heil Hitler" salutes and references to Jews being subhuman.

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And the Goyim Defense League goes far beyond internet rhetoric.

In August 2020, the ADL said, a group led by Minadeo drove through Santa Monica and Venice, in the Los Angeles area, shouting at masked pedestrians to take off their "Jewish face yarmulkes." In November 2020, Florida members hung a Holocaust denial banner from an overpass, then ignited a burning swastika on a local beach. And in Austin, Texas, in October 2021, followers harassed a woman at a COVID-19 testing site and hung a banner from an overpass that read "VAX THE JEWS."

The examples are from a recent ADL report on the Goyim Defense League.

And while they have outraged recipients, it isn't clear that distributing them constitutes a crime.

"I don't know what crime that would be," Napa Police Sgt. Mike Walund said. "The milkman, the mailman, UPS, Amazon could all leave packages at your door. I don't know why someone else couldn't, just because you don't like it or consider it hate."

That doesn't sit well with Downey, one of several Napa residents to report Thursday's experience to local police.

"It is a hate crime," he said emphatically. "He's not burning a cross. But he's instigating fear and violence. Encouraging violence."

Feldman, in his 17th year at B'nai Israel, agrees that Minadeo's words and publicity stunts are dangerous.

"Statements like 'we don't want violence,' that's wonderful," Feldman said. "On the other hand, sowing discontent and sowing hate may not, in the moment, create violence. But it's a seed. Just as there are seeds of violence contained in the national scene these days, with the rise of antisemitic violence in this country.

"One can say, 'I don't want violence.' But that's what it sounds like."

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said following an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Friday, that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had been put on a sanctions list, Deutsche Welle reported.

The EU Council at a meeting approved the second package of sanctions for Russia's launching a full-scale war against Ukraine.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the EU would impose tough sanctions against President Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.

We are hitting Putins system where it has to be hit, not only economically and financially, but also at the heart of its power, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

We are not just listing oligarchs  but we are now also listing the president, Mr Putin, and the foreign minister, Mr Lavrov, Baerbock added.

Annalena Berbok also explained why there are no plans to disconnect Russia from the international payment system SWIFT yet.

Irans experience has shown that disengaging from SWIFT has unnecessarily broad implications, as opposed to targeted sanctions against specific banks. As a result, we have lost the ability to finance humanitarian projects, for example, she said.

According to Baerbock, disconnecting Russia from SWIFT may also adversely affect Russians living abroad who send money to relatives in Russia. At the same time, the German foreign minister did not rule out the possibility of disconnecting Russia from SWIFT in the future when "unnecessary side effects" are eliminated.
Baltimore Police officers body-worn camera footage showed the moments leading up to the deadly shooting of an 18-year-old as he attempted to flee from police Saturday.

At least four officers approached a white Honda Accord, driven by 18-year-old Donnell Rochester, just after 3 p.m. Saturday in Northeast Baltimore.

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Stop it, stop the car, Officer Connor Murray yells as Rochester drives the car toward him in the video released by the department Friday.

Murray, a three-year veteran, fires his gun toward the vehicle as Rochester continues to drive toward the officer. Murray then drops to the ground and rolls out of the way as the car continues down the street.

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Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison and Deputy Commissioner Brian Nadeau, who oversees the departments Public Integrity Bureau, played videos from four officers at a news conference Friday afternoon.

I understand fully the high level of public scrutiny that results of any use of force from our department, and law enforcement agencies across the country, Harrison said. The Baltimore Police Department is committed to conducting a thorough investigation into these incidents.

Harrison previously said an officer fired his weapon before being struck by the car, but on Friday he said, based on the videos, we cannot tell if Officer Murray is struck by the vehicle.

Police have not said any officers were injured.

The Baltimore Sun has been unable to reach Rochesters family. He did not have a prior criminal record, according to online court records.

Officers pursued Rochester after license plate readers indicated the driver had an open bench warrant related to an armed robbery carjacking against him, Harrison said. Investigators have learned since of a second warrant against Rochester from another jurisdiction, but Harrison did not provide additional details about that warrant.

The officers attempted to stop Rochester in the 1800 block of Chilton St., near Lake Montebello.

There, Rochester and a female passenger are seen getting out of the vehicle, and then when they see the officers approach, Rochester walks back to the car to drive away, Nadeau said at the news conference. The female passenger fled the area.

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In the footage, Murray is running up the street toward the front of the car when Rochester starts driving toward him. The officer calls out commands for Rochester to stop before firing his gun at the vehicle. The officer then rolls out of the way of the car, as it moves down the street.

He can be heard yelling shots fired.

In a separate video, Officer Robert Mauri is seen rushing up toward the vehicle. Murray is seen at a distance, standing in front of the car, and his shots can be heard. Murray is then seen jumping away from the car when Mauri also opens fire.

The car travels a short distance down the street, where Rochester slowly exits the vehicle with his hands up, and the officers rush over and handcuff him. The officers roll Rochester over onto his back, and blood can be seen on the ground beneath him. An officer can be heard calling for a medic over the radio.

One officer asks: Where are you hit at?

The officers then put gloves on and attempt to search Rochesters body for a gunshot wound. The department said medics arrived and took Rochester to an area hospital where he later died.

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Harrison said the officers who fired are assigned to the mobile metro unit, which had been deployed to the Northeast District because of a recent spree of armed robberies and carjackings. Officers from the unit are deployed to different areas of the city, based on recent crime trends.

The officers remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, Harrison said.

A reporter asked Harrison on Friday about the departments policy regarding firing at a fleeing vehicle.

Thats a question that the investigation will ask and answer and produce an answer for, Harrison responded.

According to the departments use-of-force policy, officers are permitted to use deadly force to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect under certain circumstances, including if the escape of the suspect would pose an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer.

The Attorney Generals Office also is investigating the shooting. The office is now responsible for investigating all police-involved shootings in the state as part of sweeping police reform legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly last year.

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Baltimore Police and the Attorney Generals Office reached an agreement to also allow the police department to conduct its own investigations to meet certain requirements of its federal consent decree.
Dollar goes up, euro also rises in Armenia

EU studying possibility of providing military assistance to Moldova

Opposition supporters move toward Armenian parliament building

Armenia Security Council chief briefs Georgia PM on Karabakh conflict settlement process

Armenia deputy police chief says law enforcement has right detain MPs

Large-scale opposition rally starts in central Yerevan

Many teenagers in New Zealand are illiterate

AFP: EU proposes to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill

Arestovich says Israel could supply Ukraine with weapons Azerbaijan used in Karabakh war

Parliament speaker threatens Armenian opposition, clergy

Armenia opposition MP: Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will not hold office in new government

Beijing closes over 60 subway stations due to COVID-19 outbreak

Bayramov, Roquefeuil discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process

Armenia FM meets with US National Democratic Institute president

Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition will not achieve its goal

Armenia 2nd president Robert Kocharyans son blocking road with citizens in Yerevan

Oklahoma bans almost all abortions

Number of children in Japan falls to record low

Karabakh President meets with of Free Homeland-UCA parliamentary faction members

Armenian judge waves Artsakh flag at Ironman Triathlon (PHOTOS)

There is still lot to do in 'October 27' case, says Armenia Prosecutor General

Ambassador Wiktorin to finance minister: EU ready to continue providing assistance to Armenia government

Armenia Prosecutor General admits there are difficulties in investigation of 'March 1' criminal case

Copper price is stable

3 COVID-19 new cases confirmed in Armenia

American Armenian youth hold protest rally outside Armenia embassy in Washington

Japan protests against North Korean missile

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

Microsoft urges to abandon Internet Explorer

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
The Russian army has destroyed 821 objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, Major General Igor Konashenkov, told reporters, RIA Novosti reports.

In total, the Russian Armed Forces hit 821 objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine, Konashenkov said.

Among them are 14 military airfields, 19 command posts and communication centers, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations. 7 combat aircraft, 7 helicopters, 9 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. 87 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 28 multiple launch rocket systems, 118 units of special military vehicles were destroyed, Konashenkov said.

"The forces of the Russian Navy destroyed 8 military boats of the Ukrainian naval forces," he added.

Earlier, Konashenkov said that the Russian armed forces had established full control over the city of Melitopol in Ukraine. He also added that the Ukrainian battalions, retreating, blow up electrical substations and bridges across the rivers behind them.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking of the conflict in Ukraine, said that the war will last a long time and urged to prepare for the long-term consequences for Europe. He made the relevant statements during a visit to an agricultural exhibition that opened in the Porte de Versailles center on Saturday in the west of Paris, TASS reports.

Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after telephone conversations with Macron, wrote on his Twitter that the French leader supported Russia's disconnection from SWIFT and sanctions against Vladimir Putin.
Another air raid alert was announced in Kyiv this morning. The city administration recommended that residents of the city stay at home, and in case of a siren, hide in a shelter, Ukrinform reported.

"Attention! Another air alert has been declared in Kyiv!

We ask everyone to urgently go to the shelter of civil protection, the message says.

The stations of the red line of the subway operate only in shelter mode.

Trains between stations do not run. The movement of trains on the blue and green metro lines is carried out as usual. If necessary, hermetic seals can be lowered at the stations, the message says.

The Kyiv city administration reported that active hostilities were taking place on the streets of the capital, the Telegram channel reported.

Attention residents of the capital! Active hostilities are taking place on the streets of our city now. We ask you to remain calm and be as careful as possible! the administration said.
Workers clean up the remaining broken glass outside the Walgreens store in the 3000 block of Emmorton Road in Abingdon on Dec. 21, 2021 after an ATM robbery attempt. (Matt Button/The Aegis). (Matt Button / The Aegis/Baltimore Sun Media)

Heres a way to help solve the problem of ATM theft ('Crash and grab thefts boost ATMs from Baltimore stores, deprive neighborhoods without banks of access to cash, Feb. 20). Three things need to happen.

First, the thieves need to be marked by exploding dye packs, like the ones bank robbers get marked with. The dye, of course, must have a molecular marker linking the dye marked person to the particular crime that caused the perpetrators to be exposed to the dye.

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Second, the automated teller machines should be made heavier, perhaps with concrete or lead structurally embedded in the bottom of the unit. That will make the theft of the ATM more difficult. It will take longer. That gives the police a better chance of catching the thieves in the act.

Third, all police patrol vehicles should be equipped with one or more drones. The patrol cars nearest the location of a burglar alarm should release their drones. They could then fly directly to the address of the alarm under the control of officers at police headquarters and take video of the situation while the patrol cars are arriving at the scene. If the ATM thieves escape before the patrol cars arrive, the drones can follow the getaway vehicle to help the patrol officers catch the thieves.

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Henry Farkas, Pikesville

Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.
Armenian MFa has denied reports that an Armenian soldier has been detained in Ukrainian Kharkiv, a 24News reported referring to the press secretary of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Vahan Hunanyan.

Information is actively spreading in Azerbaijani and Ukrainian social networks that Ukrainian security forces allegedly detained a serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces in Kharkov. The purpose of all this is to show that the Armenian Armed Forces are participating in the hostilities unfolding in Ukraine.

The picture shows a detained man who was found to have a military book of the Armenian Ministry of Defense. This is quite possibly an elementary photoshop undertaken by our "neighbors", or a special action aimed at creating additional tension for the Armenian community living in Ukraine.
Russia seriously and in advance prepared for sanctions, they were basically predictable, said Dmitry Peskov, Russian president's press secretary.

Russia will develop such response measures that will best suit the interests of the country, the Kremlin spokesman said. According to him, measures are immediately taken to minimize the damage from sanctions, the Russian Federation has all the possibilities for this.

Peskov also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered yesterday to suspend the operation of the Russian army in Ukraine pending negotiations, but Kyiv refused this, and the advance of the main forces continued.
Presidents of Turkey and Ukraine Tayyip Erdogan and Volodymyr Zelenskyy held phone talks on Saturday, during which they discussed the latest developments in Ukraine, TASS reports.

During the talks, the latest events and issues of Russia's military intervention in Ukraine were discussed. President Erdogan said that he is making efforts to ensure that a truce is declared as soon as possible, which would guarantee that there will be no more deaths and Ukraine will not suffer any more, the Turkish Presidents Office told reporters.
Citizens of Armenia who intend to come back in connection with the events in Ukraine, crossing the borders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, will not need a pre-obtained visa of the noted countries (in the case of the Schengen countries - a Schengen visa), the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

Other options for their evacuation from Ukraine are also being considered. At the same time, we inform you that the Republic of Armenia is ready to receive our compatriots, members of their families, as well as other refugees.

Armenian Embassy in Kyiv, the Armenian Consulate General in Odessa, as well as the Armenian Consulate General in Russian Rostov-on-Don continue their work in full force.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed on Saturday during a telephone conversation the issues of ensuring stability and security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the Kremlin press service reported.

The exchange of views continued on the practical aspects of the implementation of the agreements enshrined in the tripartite statements of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on Nagorno-Karabakh dated November 9, 2020, January 11 and November 26, 2021, including issues of ensuring stability and security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, - the message says.

Some topical issues on the bilateral agenda were also touched upon.
A telephone conversation between the Presidents of Belarus and France Alexander Lukashenko and Emmanuel Macron took place on Saturday evening, BelTA reported.

All the questions that lasted about an hour and 20 minutes of conversation concerned the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The parties discussed the position of Belarus and involvement in this conflict.

The topic of the future of Europe and the place of Belarus in this world order were discussed, and the relations between Belarus and Russia were also discussed.

During the conversation, the President of France especially emphasized his respect for the Belarusian people.

The heads of state agreed on contacts in the near future.
As the world watches the unfolding Russian invasion of Ukraine, experts across Emory University are assessing the humanitarian, legal, economic and political ramifications of the conflict and sharing their insights with media and the larger community.

Matthew Payne

History

Matthew Payne, associate professor of history at Emory, teaches courses on modern Russian and Soviet history, including The History of Now, which aims to help students understand the roots of current conflicts.

The Russian Federation did not invade Ukraine this week, it invaded eight years ago. This has been an ongoing war that has produced millions of displaced refugees and tens of thousands of casualties. This is an escalation to a war of conquest.

Vladimir Putins speech denying Ukraine a national identity is not, of course, historically accurate but relates to Russian Imperial ideologues denial of that identity in the late 19th century. As the Tsarist authorities engaged in rigorous Russification efforts deploying this ideological pseudo-history, it is not insane or propaganda. I read it as a political program of Russification.

The Russian Federation has long been invading places and engaging is very brutal forms of warfare. The First and Second Chechen Wars were particularly shocking, as even a casual glance of the destruction of Grozny indicates. The Georgian War was more restrained but the pro-Assad intervention was very deadly to civilians. This is modern war and more civilians will die in this war than soldiers. If the Ukrainians hold out in the major cities, I predict a very high number of refugees and casualties given the Russian Federations past track record.

'History of Now' helps students understand roots of current conflicts

Nikolay Koposov



Russian and East Asian Studies

Nikolay Koposov, professor of practice at Georgia Tech and visiting professor in Emorys Department of Russian and East Asian Studies, is an expert on Putins Russia and the author of Memory Laws, Memory Wars: The Politics of the Past in Europe and Russia.

The fate of Ukraine in now in the Ukrainians hands  nobody will fight together with them, even though many sympathize with them and want to help. So far, the Ukrainian army and militia demonstrate a lot of courage in defending their country. The first day was not very successful for the invaders, but this does not mean much, because they may have been simply trying to see where the Ukrainian defense system is most vulnerable.

Putin is personally responsible for all that, and he has no overwhelming support among ordinary Russians and even among his collaborators. He has absolutely intentionally presented this war as HIS war  his reputation and power are at stake and he will defend, above everything else, himself trying to win this war at as low cost as possible. A long war with many Russian dead bodies may cost him his power and life.

Putin will most likely try to seize Kiev using airborne forces as soon as possible to install a puppet government. His further strategy is likely to be the "ukrainization" of the conflict, on the model of the chechenization of the war in Chechnya. It is not excluded, however, that he will occupy some parts of Ukraine, but most of it will (if he succeeds) be ruled by a puppet government. There are many Ukrainian oligarchs and politicians who are likely to accept the role.

His next steps (in a few months and if he is successful) may be: The concentration of Russian forces on the Polish border (and perhaps on the border of the Baltic countries) to force them to withdraw from NATO instead of attacking them. What he is currently doing in Ukraine must convince these countries that he is not joking; Annexing parts of Ukraine plus Belarus and establishing a new state  something like Union of Slavic Republics, USR instead of USSR (Lukashenko can be offered the position of the USR prime minister or just eliminated).



How Memory Wars Fuel the Conflict in Russia and Ukraine

Ukraine/Russia: Understanding the Conflict

Laurie Blank



Law

Laurie Blank, clinical professor of law and director of the International Humanitarian Law Clinic at Emory Law, is an expert on armed conflict, national security law and international criminal law. A member of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council Subcommittee on Countering Violent Extremism, Blank teaches the law of armed conflict and works with students to provide assistance to international tribunals, non-governmental organizations and militaries around the world on cutting edge issues in humanitarian law and human rights.

We are witnessing flagrant violations of international law. Our international system since 1945 and the founding of the United Nations is based on respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity and rests on the prohibition of the use of force as the pillar of maintaining international peace and security. Were seeing that being violated right now.

One thing to remember in all the conversation about big countries and great power competition is that war is brutal. Its brutal on the civilian population. We want to keep in mind that war causes an enormous amount of suffering, for civilians, for those who are fighting, and we cant lose sight of that. We have rules to protect the civilian population, and its essential  apart from rules to try to prevent this war from coming in the first place  to make sure that people are protected in the midst of the fighting.

Alan Abramowitz



Political Science

Alan Abramowitz, professor of political science emeritus, is an expert on U.S. national politics, polling and elections. His expertise includes forecasting models, party realignment in the U.S., congressional elections and the effects of political campaigns on the electorate.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine poses major challenges to American political leaders. President Biden will be judged by how effectively he responds to Russian aggression, but also by the consequences of any U.S. actions for the American economy.

At the same time the invasion has exposed deep rifts within the Republican Party between traditional foreign policy hawks and pro-Trump isolationists, with some conservative media figures going so far as to praise Putin. This issue could provide further motivation for mainstream conservatives to distance themselves from the former president, especially as the human toll of the invasion is brought home to Americans by the news.

Raymond Hill



Finance

Raymond Hill, senior lecturer in finance at Goizueta Business School, specializes in managerial economics, monetary policy, energy economics and finance. He is a former investment banker and CEO of one of the largest power companies in Asia.

The sanctions that have been put in place are not going to deter Putin very much. I think its wise to limit technology exports to Russia; thats going to have a long-term effect. But the financial sanctions put in place are really pretty minimal at this stage. Russia can work around those. For example, cutting off the North Stream Pipeline is something that will hurt Russia in the future, but not today.

Biden hasnt been able to convince our European allies to kick Russia out of SWIFT. That would be very, very painful. Thats a more severe step. The other steps are ones that end up hurting us, hurting the Europeans certainly, which include trying to block access to world oil markets, or Europe saying theyre not going to buy Russian natural gas. That would mean Europeans wouldnt have any natural gas to heat their homes. The U.S. has plenty of energy, and we can produce more than were doing, so were fairly immune to that. We are going to see higher gasoline prices for a while because of the recent jump in oil prices, but when U.S. producers respond, I dont expect these prices to last.

Dan Reiter



Political Science

Dan Reiter, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Political Science, studies interstate conflict, civil-military relations, alliances, military effectiveness, public opinion and foreign policy, and war termination. He has written three books: Crucible of Beliefs: Learning, Alliances, and World Wars, Democracies at War, and How Wars End.

The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrates the importance that politics within nations have for understanding politics between nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has steadily eroded checks on his power within Russia by substantially undermining the political opposition, free media and speech, and the Russian legislature (Duma). A free political hand domestically has given Putin the opportunity to wage an unnecessary war that will clearly impose great economic and diplomatic costs on Russia, confident that he will likely not be thrown from power.

This is a pattern that has repeatedly appeared in history  leaders sometimes strengthening their autocratic grip soon after coming to power, and then proceeding to launch wars of aggression. Adolf Hitler burned the German Reichstag parliament building soon after coming to power in 1933, and soon thereafter arrested hundreds of thousands of political opponents. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein engaged in massive purges prior to invading Iran in 1980.

Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent consolidation of his internal political power may set the stage for future Chinese aggression against Taiwan or within the South China Sea more generally.

Hubert Tworzecki



Political Science

Hubert Tworzecki, associate professor of political science, teaches comparative politics, Eastern European politics, political behavior and survey research methods. He is the author of Parties and Politics in Post-1989 Poland and Learning to Choose: Electoral Politics in East-Central Europe.
US sanctions Putin and Lavrov over Ukraine

US sanctions Putin and Lavrov over Ukraine

The US government on Friday joined European countries in slapping sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as Western nations sought to increase pressure on Moscow to halt its assault of Ukraine.



The rare but not unprecedented US imposition of sanctions on a head of state came just a day after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, assaulting by land, sea and air in the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.



"President Putin and Minister Lavrov are directly responsible for Russias unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine, a democratic sovereign state," the Treasury Department said in a statement late on Friday announcing the sanctions.



It said sanctions against a head of state were "exceedingly rare," and put Putin on a short list that included the leaders of North Korea, Syria and Belarus. Further actions could follow.



White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters that President Joe Biden decided to target Putin, Lavrov and other officials after speaking by phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier on Friday.



Treasury said the moves built on a raft of other sanctions imposed this week that targeted Russian banks and rich oligarchs, cut Russia off from access to critical technologies, and restricted its ability to raise capital.



Earlier on Friday, EU states and Britain agreed to freeze any European assets of Putin and Lavrov, as Ukraine's leader pleaded for faster and more forceful sanctions to punish Russia's attack on his country.



The imposition of sanctions against Putin and Lavrov reflect the West's "absolute impotence" when it comes to foreign policy, RIA news agency cited a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman as saying on Friday.



Edward Fishman, an Atlantic Council fellow who worked on Russia sanctions at the State Department during the Obama administration, said that while the sanctions on Putin are largely symbolic, targeting the Russian leader was a reasonable step for the United States and its partners to take.



"It certainly sends a very strong message of solidarity with Ukrainians who are under fire right now," Fishman said.



The US government also sanctioned two other senior Russian officials, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury Department said.



Psaki said on Twitter that the Treasury Department would also impose sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which she described as a "state owned financial entity that functions as a sovereign wealth fund, which is supposed to attract capital into the Russian economy in high-growth sectors."



A Treasury spokesperson said the action against the Russian Direct Investment Fund would be in the coming days.



"We are united with our international allies and partners to ensure Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its further invasion of Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in statement. "If necessary, we are prepared to impose further costs on Russia for its appalling behaviour on the world stage."



Treasury, which has already designated 11 members of the Russian Security Council, said it would continue to target Russian elites for "their role in bankrolling Russia's further aggression against Ukraine, empowering Putin or participating in Russia's kleptocracy."



Putin urged Ukraine's military to overthrow its political leaders and negotiate peace on Friday, as authorities in Kyiv called on citizens to help defend the capital from a Russian assault that its mayor said had already begun.



The sanctions targeting Putin are the latest punitive action from Washington over Russia's aggression against Ukraine.



The United States this week imposed sanctions on Russian banks, members of the elite, and the company in charge of building the US$11 billion Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany.



Responding to reports that the US government had ordered officials to stop most contacts with Russia, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the assault on Ukraine had "fundamentally changed" Moscow's relationship with Washington and other nations.



Price told reporters that US officials will continue to engage with their Russian counterparts on important national security issues, including the talks to return to a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. (Reuters)
After five public meetings totaling 15 hours, an Annapolis commission last week brought to a close one of the longest-running and acrimonious development fights in city history. But there may be more battles to come.

Since December, the Annapolis Planning Commission has heard lengthy testimony from developers, experts, environmental advocates and everyday citizens about plans for The Villages at Providence Point, a continuing care retirement community in the Crystal Spring Forest along Forest Drive. The commission voted 5-0, with two abstentions, on Feb. 17 to approve the plans which been submitted to the city in various forms over the last decade.

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The Planning Committee will meet again Thursday to vote on a draft opinion, essentially a written version of their ruling. If its approved, the applicants can begin immediately applying for building, grading and other permits. The approval would also initiate a 30-day window in which the decision can be appealed to the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Larry Bradshaw, the retired CEO of National Lutheran Communities and Services, and his successor Cyndi Walters celebrated last weeks approval but acknowledged there is still much that must be done before shovels hit the dirt on the continuing care retirement community.

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Bradshaw said he hoped no one would appeal the decision, pointing to the comprehensive and thorough review process by the Planning Commission and the collaborative nature of the proposal, which has changed drastically over the last 10 years thanks in part to heavy involvement from an opposition group, Concerned Citizens for Proper Land Use, led by Gerald Winegrad, a former Maryland politician and Capital Gazette columnist.

Winegrads group, along with numerous local politicians, environmental leaders and experts, withdrew its opposition last year after extracting four major concessions related to traffic, stormwater management and future development on the 176-acre site.

If you look at the sheer opposition to the project six years ago it wouldve been tough to sell, said Bradshaw, who has led the effort since 2011. But now that we collaborated with the city, with other groups in the city, I think the project is much stronger and much more part of the community versus being divisive and isolated.

Still, a group of residents and environmental advocates say the fight isnt over.

The simple answer is, we are working on an appeal, said Laura Townsend, the vice president of Crab Creek Conservancy, in an interview Thursday.

The group, made up of Townsend, Forrest Mays, the groups president, Ross Geredian, treasurer, and others have fought hard against the project, railing against the negative environmental and climate impacts it could cause. They are opposed to any kind of development on the property, which is considered the last mature forest in the city.

In January, the leaders from Crab Creek Conservancy sent a letter to the Planning Commission demanding equal time to testify on the project, which led to two additional hearings being scheduled. The group has raised about $6,300 from a GoFundMe to fund its efforts. The money is expected to be used to pay for legal expenses, Townsend said.

To appeal a decision, an appellant must have standing, meaning Someone who is personally affected by the decision, said City Attorney Mike Lyles.

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Mays, an Annapolis resident who lives close to the proposed development, would likely fit that description, said Tom Smith, the citys Chief of Current Planning, who has overseen the plans since they were first introduced.

Mays couldnt be reached for this story.

Smith, who has worked in the Department of Planning and Zoning for 30 years, said this would likely be the first appeal of a Planning Commission decision during his tenure.

Smiths office first received an application for the project in 2011 when National Lutheran and a group of Connecticut developers proposed a massive mixed-use development, formerly known as Crystal Spring Annapolis, that included a shopping center, restaurants and a hotel, plus the retirement community and other residential units.

But after significant community backlash, it became clear the project would have to change, said Bradshaw, who announced his retirement last year. He has agreed to stay on to continue advising on the project.

The Connecticut developers left in 2017, the name of the project changed soon after and every aspect except the retirement community was eliminated from the proposal. The final plan approved by the Planning Commission will feature about 350 apartments and health care suites to be built on about 27 acres of land, nearly half of what was initially proposed.

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National Lutheran has also promised to replace every tree it clears, make improvements to traffic patterns at Spa Road and Forest Drive, and implement various stormwater management systems. There is also a conservation easement in place to ensure no future development on the remaining 120-plus acres on the property.

Winegrad, who had dedicated thousands of volunteer hours of initially opposing and then working with the developers on a compromise, has also lauded the deal as being the best possible version of a proposed development.

To have so many individuals that had been in bitter opposition to the project, sign off and really support the project, I think was really just kind of a road map if you will for potential future developments and collaboration between developers in the city and the public, Bradshaw said.

Before the developers can begin construction, they must meet requirements set by the Maryland Department of Aging by selling at least 65% of their units, which amounts to about 160 of 278 units that would be built in the first of two construction phases, Bradshaw said. A second phase calls for another 72 units to be built.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

With city approvals nearly complete, National Lutheran has sold 80 units so far with a target of selling another 80 by this fall, said Walters, whose sales team operates out of a showroom near the intersection of Jennifer Road and Solomons Island Road.

Bradshaw said he would like to see construction begin before the end of the year. He predicted the project will create between 1,200 and 1,500 construction jobs over a two-year period. Around 140 full- and part-time jobs would become available when the project is complete, he said.

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Once completed, the facility would be one of two approved continuing care retirement facilities within the city limits. The other is Baywoods of Annapolis on Bay Front Drive. Another similar development, Ginger Cove, is in Parole located in Anne Arundel County.

Some residents have criticized the high upfront price tag to live in the facility, which ranges into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it an option for mostly wealthy patrons.

Walters said there are plans to offer home care services to the surrounding area, including transportation, homemaking, housekeeping and meal preparation.

The demand for an independent living community has been apparent for years, Bradshaw said.

There is only one reason we did this for 10 years, other than my stubbornness, he said. Its a very robust market. Its why we wanted to go in there.
Worldwide protests in solidarity with Ukraine

Demonstrators hold their smartphones with torches lit as a Ukranian flag is waved during a rally in support of Ukraine, in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photo: AFP

Pro-Ukraine protests erupted across the world on Saturday, as thousands took to the streets from London to Rome to Barcelona to denounce Russia's assault on its neighbour.



Moscow's attack has sparked global outcry and prompted punishing sanctions from the West, including some against Russian President Vladimir Putin himself.



On Saturday, rallies were held in cities across the world to join the chorus of condemnation and urge an end to the bloodshed.



Switzerland saw thousands of people gather across the country, including about 1,000 outside the United Nations' European headquarters in Geneva.



Demonstrators draped in Ukraine's national colours of blue and yellow flocked to the "Broken Chair"  a large sculpture symbolising the civilian victims of war.



The protesters demanded tougher actions from the government, which has so far shied away from imposing strict measures, choosing instead to stick closer to its traditional "neutral" stance.



Swiss-based Russians joined in to show their opposition to the war, holding signs saying "I am Russian".



In Russia's neighbour Finland, thousands of people gathered in the capital Helsinki shouting "Russia out, down with Putin!"



More than 1,000 demonstrators answered the call of trade unions and NGOs in central Rome, huddling around a podium bearing the words "Against War".



Thousands of people had taken part in a torch-lit procession to the Colosseum, one of the Italian capital's major landmarks, on Friday evening.



Putin was the march's main target as banners caricatured him as an assassin with bloodstained hands and compared him to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler with the words: "Can you recognise when history repeats itself?"



In the southern French cities of Montpellier and Marseille, hundreds marched on Saturday chanting "Stop war, stop Putin", while further protests were also expected in Paris.



Anti-war demonstrators were also out in force in Barcelona, numbering around 1,000 on Saturday according to local police.



In Britain, hundreds of protesters headed to Russia's embassy in London, with some defacing the street sign of St Petersburgh Place opposite the embassy with fake blood. (AFP)
UN Security Council to meet on Ukraine

The goal of the UN General Assembly special session will be to force the 193 members of the UN to take a position on the Ukraine conflict. File photo: AFP

The UN Security Council will convene on Sunday afternoon to vote on a resolution calling for a special session of the General Assembly over the Russian attack on Ukraine, diplomats said.



Only nine of the 15 Security Council member states would need to vote in favor of the resolution for it to be adopted at the meeting, which was requested by the United States and Albania.



Under a rarely used procedure, none of the five permanent members  one of which is Russia  would be allowed to veto the convening of the special session on Monday.



The goal of the "General Assembly special session" will be to "force the 193 members of the UN to take a position" on the conflict and Russia's "violation of the UN Charter", as well as to formally condemn the war, a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP.



If the proposed resolution is approved by the Council, rules would require the special General Assembly session to be held within 24 hours.



A resolution written by the United States and Albania condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine failed in the Security Council on Friday, due to Russia applying its permanent member veto power.



The General Assembly is expected to vote on a similar resolution at some point following the special session.



Multiple diplomats told AFP they expect a majority, with over 100 UN members to vote in favour of the resolution.



In General Assembly voting, none of the 193 UN members hold a veto, but resolutions are non-binding.



Due to the situation in Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has scrapped a trip to Geneva to address the Human Rights Council on Monday and will instead remain in New York, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. (AFP)
New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI/Oswaal Books): Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is all set to conduct Term 2 examinations for classes 10th and 12th. Students need to check out the entire exam schedule to prepare well for it. The practical exams for CBSE will start on March 2nd and the board exams will be conducted from April 26. The datesheet announced is for practical examinations, and for final exams, it is yet to be announced. There are certain guidelines students need to consider about Term 2 examinations, irrespective of their class. Along with students, schools too need to follow the guidelines mentioned by CBSE. Students can also check the official notice at https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents//Guidelines_Practical_Term_II_24022022.pdf CBSE term 2 date sheets: The Central Board of Secondary Education released the Term 2 date sheet for the practical examination and the official notice is available on the official website of CBSE. The practical exam will begin on March 2, 2022. All the schools are advised to plan things accordingly. Also, the board has released the notice for conducting classes for term 2 practical and internal examinations, where students can prepare well for them and without any trouble. According to the official notice, the schools are directed to conduct the practical examination and within 2 weeks they are supposed to complete it. The classes will be conducted for almost two weeks so that students can get prepared for it. Guidelines for the CBSE Class 10th and 12th Term 2 Practical Exams: The guidelines that need to be followed for internal or practical examinations are as follows: The school exists solely to conduct internal examinations for regular class 10 candidates. The marks need to be uploaded by other schools as soon as they conduct the practical. The practical examination will take place according to the designed curriculum. Students in class 12 need to deal with external examiners, who will designate their marks. The exam will be conducted in school premises only. The school needs to follow all the COVID-19 protocols to keep the students safe. Students need to complete their projects before the exam because they are important for final marks. There will be no practical examination for private students and the marks will be given on the basis of the 2020-21 results. The education board will be the observer throughout the examination for class 12th, and schools will be the internal examiner for class 10th students. The answer books for the school will be supplied by the regional offices, and schools need to be taught that students are filling them properly. Schools are not supposed to make any alternate arrangements for answer sheets. The answer sheet provided by the regional office is only validation for practical examinations conducted by the schools. Final verdict: CBSE is all set to conduct the final examination and expects all the individuals (parents, students, and teachers) to co-operate with the guidelines for schools. 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/3HeeDsh Here is the recommended link for CBSE Term 2 Sample Paper Class 12 for Board Exams 2022, click here https://bit.ly/3slX0Tc Students are informed of the need to prepare well to secure good scores. Also, the date sheet for board examinations will be released on the official website only. It is expected that by the last week of March, the date sheet will be available. Students need to check out the official website for all the updates. This story is provided by Oswaal Books. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Oswaal Books)
According to EW, the actor recently filed a petition in California's Ventura County Superior Court to terminate the conservatorship, suggested court records. A hearing on the case is scheduled for March 22.

Bynes' lawyer, David A. Esquibias, told People magazine on Friday, "Amanda wishes to terminate her conservatorship. She believes her condition is improved and protection of the court is no longer necessary."

She was first placed under the conservatorship in August 2013, following her highly publicized spiral of erratic behaviour and multiple arrests amid a struggle with substance abuse.

In 2018, the actor told a magazine that she had been sober for four years, and thanked her parents for helping her "get back on track."

Though Bynes relapsed in 2019, Esquibias told People magazine last year that she was "doing great," and later stated that "her conservatorship will terminate when it is no longer convenient for Amanda."

This news follows Britney Spears' lengthy court battle to terminate her own conservatorship, which finally ended in triumph for the pop star last November.

However, unlike Spears, Bynes will have the support of her parents in ending their conservatorship over her.

Tamar Arminak, a lawyer for Bynes' parents, told EW in a statement, "Lynn Bynes absolutely supports Amanda's petition to terminate the conservatorship and is so proud of Amanda and all the hard work Amanda has done to get here." (ANI)
Late night talk show hosts recently faced the challenge of delivering comedic monologues after Russia commenced its military operation in Ukraine. While Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers found some humour along the fringes of the geopolitical conflict, mainly focusing on former US President Donald Trump's praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin, CBS' 'Late Late Show' host James Corden took a different approach, according to The Hollywood Reporter. While delivering a mostly sombre speech at the top of his show, Corden explained why he felt like he couldn't carry on as usual amid such events. After explaining the show's typical approach of staffers joking around with each other before turning to a humorous take on the news, Corden said, "but today, if you are thinking about the news, there is really only one news story, and that news is so dark: that a war has begun, a sovereign country has been invaded." He went on to say that his thoughts were with the people of Ukraine, specifically "the innocent men and women and children in Ukraine who are terrified for their lives." He added that he was struggling even to make sense of what had happened. "I don't know how to process it. Like, I don't even know how to talk about this to my own children, let alone begin talking to you about it on television," Corden said. Corden continued, "And it's weird, you know, like just because I wear a suit and I sit behind this desk, it doesn't really mean anything. I am not nearly qualified enough to speak about these events. I'm not." He also felt joking about "any other trivial news story" would have been inappropriate. "I can't shake the feeling of how utterly terrifying all of this is, and how scared the people of Ukraine must be feeling today, how scared everyone in Eastern Europe must be feeling today," he said. As per The Hollywood Reporter, Corden further added, "And I'm sure I can't fathom that this is happening in 2022, and the ramifications of this are monumental, and we should be under no illusion of how serious and sad the situation in Ukraine is." (ANI)
American musician Machine Gun Kelly has shared that it's been difficult to find a wedding venue that fits his "gothic" vision for his marriage to actor Megan Fox. According to E! News, when asked by host James Corden on 'Late Late Show' as to when the musician plans on officially tying the knot, he replied that he's still "trying to find a spot" that matches his "artistic" vision. "The location is hard," he explained, adding that he'd ideally love for the wedding venue to feature "red river" and "gothic" elements. In January, Kelly had proposed to the 'Jennifer's Body' actor at the spot where they first fell in love while shooting for the film 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' in Puerto Rico. "In July of 2020, we sat under this banyan tree. We asked for magic...And just as in every lifetime before this one, and as in every lifetime that will follow it, I said yes," Fox shared on her Instagram. She added her own spin to the announcement of their engagement, writing, "and then we drank each other's blood." The ring which Kelly had presented to his bride-to-be was just as special as their relationship, featuring both of their birthstones. "I know tradition is one ring, but I designed it with Stephen Webster to be two," Kelly explained on Instagram. He added, "The emerald (her birth stone) and the diamond (my birth stone) set on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love." However, it's not just jewellery that Kelly has created with Fox in mind. As it turns out, a verse on his track 'emo girl' was also inspired by one of his fiancee's most iconic acting performances. "People don't know I wrote my verse about Jennifer Check from Jennifer's Body. That's just a little over the head that people didn't pick up on. So, if you go listen to the verse, it correlates with the movie," he told Corden, while on his 'Late Late Show'. (ANI)
The actor took to her Instagram account to post two lovely pictures of her, while writing, "I woke up this morning to realize that I've completed 12 years in the Film Industry. It's been 12 years of memories that revolve around Lights, Camera, action and incomparable moments. I am filled with gratitude for having had this blessed journey and the best, most loyal fans in the world! Here's hoping my love story with Cinema never ends and abounds from strength to strength."

The actor received heart-warming congratulatory messages in the comments from her colleagues.

Actor Raashii Khanna wrote, "Many more to go!!", while actor Rahul Ravindran said, "Congratulations Sammo".

The producer of Samantha's upcoming film, 'Shakuntalam', Neelima Guna, congratulated the 'Oh! Baby' actor on her Instagram Story.

Samantha had recently shared an ethereal first-look of hers from the upcoming mythological film, 'Shakuntalam'.

The 'Mahanati' actor made her debut with Gautam Vasudev Menon's commercial and critical success 'Ye Maaya Chesave' (2010) with her ex-husband Naga Chaitanya. She was last seen in a special dance number for the film, 'Pushpa: The Rise'.

The actor is awaiting the release of her next film 'Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaathal' with Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara, which is slated for a theatrical release on April 28, 2022. (ANI)
Filmmaker Faruk Kabir is gearing up to present the cinephiles with an intriguing sequel of his romantic thriller 'Khuda Haafiz'. Based on some of the true 'unpleasant happenings' around the world, the Vidyut Jammwal-starrer movie 'Khuda Haafiz' was released on OTT streaming giant Disney Plus Hotstar in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Hinting at storyline of the sequel, director Faruk Kabir shared that the movie will finish the story for the unfinished Part 1 with a new plot. "The film is both, a continuation of the relationship of the young husband and wife and the new plot that takes them through an Agni Pariksha of sorts," he said. Opening about his decision to release 'Khuda Haafiz' on the OTT platform, Faruk shared, "At the time of Khuda Haafiz part 1, we were in the heart of the pandemic, I was lucky we wrapped filming just before the pandemic hit." "Releasing on OTT in early 2020 was a new reality which I accepted with grace and gratitude since we were fortunate to get a release and not have to wait indefinitely (at that point the world was a very sacred place) theatres were a distant 'no go' for everyone," he said adding, "So God is Kind Khuda Haafiz 1 released on OTT and got the enormous exhibition and appreciation." The 38-year-old director continued, "Having said that, nothing beats the magic of the big screen. Hopefully, KH 2 will release in theatres at a good time this year!" The first installment of 'Khuda Haafiz' was shot in central Asian country Uzbekistan and its neighbouring areas. However, for the second part, the makers chose to shoot much of the schedule in Egypt. Sharing his experience, and the idea of shifting to the new location, Faruk shared, "When u watch the film the Q will be answered, nonetheless, Egypt is one of the oldest civilisations in the world, rich in architecture and culture, a perfect visual expanse that I wanted in the climax of the film. Having shot portions at the Pyramids has been very tough and very rewarding." 'Khuda Haafiz Chapter II: Agni Pariksha' features Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi in the lead roles. The upcoming project is a sequel to 'Khuda Haafiz', which was released digitally last year. The first part revolved around Sameer Choudhary (Vidyut) and his mission to save his wife Nargis (Shivaleeka), who gets trapped in the flesh trade upon her arrival in the Middle East. (ANI)
The pandemic made everyone lose their sleep, either due to a tragic reason, anxiety, or simply, boredom. But losing sleep and not sleeping enough can cause serious health issues. A recent study reported that most patients with sleep problems adopt maladaptive coping strategies (such as taking sleep aids, using caffeine, and taking daytime naps) that may actually contribute to decreased sleep quality. The study was published in 'The Nurse Practitioner'. The journal has been published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. "Patients will use caffeine and nicotine and nap to combat daytime somnolence and not even realize that these precipitate and perpetuate the insomnia even more," commented Rhonda Winegar, PhD, DNP, author of the exploratory study. "Making small modifications to daily routines can help much more than prescribing hypnotics that have side effects and run the risk of dependency." The pilot study included 137 patients seen at a sleep clinic from 2017 to 2019 for problems such as obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia. "Having worked in a sleep practice for several years I noticed many of my patients had issues with insomnia based on their habits," said Dr Winegar. Based on patient questionnaires, she analyzed rates of certain types of maladaptive coping strategies and how they affected the results of sleep laboratory testing (polysomnography), which provided specialists with detailed information on sleep architecture. Consistent with previous insomnia studies, most of the patients had adopted one or more counterproductive strategies to address their sleep problems: First was caffeine. About two-thirds of patients reported using caffeine. Although often used as an energy boost by those who feel sleepy during the day, caffeine can lead to increased problems with nighttime sleep. Second were sleep aids. Nearly half of patients (47 per cent) took prescription sleep medications, while another 19 per cent used over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids. More than 40 per cent of patients reported using herbal products, indicating that they were "self-medicating" for their sleep problems. And third was, napping. More than one-fourth of patients reported taking daily naps, which can contribute to problems getting to sleep at night. These maladaptive coping strategies affected sleep quality in several ways. Patients who did not use sleep aids entered the critical rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep faster than those taking prescription sleep medications: 131 versus 167 minutes. Patients using prescription sleep medications also had fewer REM cycles than those on OTC sleep aids or no sleep aids. The data showed some beneficial effects of sleep medications prescribed by a health professional, including shorter sleep latency (time to falling asleep) and higher sleep efficiency. Average sleep duration was 349 minutes for patients on OTC sleep aids, compared to 332 minutes for those on prescription sleep medications and 292 minutes for those not taking sleep aids. Patients who did not take sleep aids had more frequent night-time arousals, which may be an indicator of more fragmented, less restful sleep. Patients who used caffeine had longer times to REM sleep - except for those who had more than two servings of caffeine per day. Patients who took regular naps had less daytime sleepiness but longer sleep latency times, compared to those who didn't take naps. Insomnia is a very common problem that has major economic and social costs, in addition to adverse health effects. When patients seek help for sleep problems, it's generally from a primary care provider, such as a family physician or nurse practitioner. "Learning about good sleep hygiene and making some slight changes to their routines - going to bed at the same time, turning off the television and lights when in bed - can help patients to sleep better without the use of sleep aids," said Dr Winegar. She advised patients with insomnia or other sleep problems to create new habits to "prioritize sleep." "Always plan for eight-hours of sleep nightly," Dr Winegar added. "Do not nap. Keep the same sleep hygiene routine and sleep schedule on all days." (ANI)
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen studied the link between ageing, exercise and fat tissue function in Danish men. The study was published in 'The Journals of Gerontology'. How well does your fat function? This isn't a question that one gets asked very often. Nonetheless, research in recent years has suggested that the function of our fat tissue, or adipose tissue, is central to why our bodies decay with age, and strongly linked to human diseases like diabetes 2, cancer as obesity often develop and fat cells undergo functional changes as we get older. Thus, overall health is not just influenced by the amount of fat we bear, but about how well our fat tissue functions. The University of Copenhagen led study demonstrated that even though our fatty tissue loses important function with age, a high volume of exercise can have a significant impact for the better. "Overall health is closely linked with how well our fat tissue functions. In the past, we regarded fat as an energy depot. In fact, fat is an organ that interacts with other organs and can optimize metabolic function. Among other things, fat tissue releases substances that affect muscle and brain metabolism when we feel hungry and much more. So, it's important that fat tissue works the way it should," explained Assistant Professor Anders Gudiksen of the University of Copenhagen's Department of Biology. Gudiksen and a group of colleagues looked at the role of age and physical training in maintaining fat tissue function. Specifically, they studied mitochondria, the tiny power plants within fat cells. Mitochondria convert calories from food to supply cells with energy. To maintain the life processes within cells, they need to function optimally. The researchers compared mitochondrial performance across a range of young and older untrained, moderately trained and highly exercise-trained Danish men. The results demonstrate that the ability of mitochondria to respire -- i.e., produce energy -- decreases with age, regardless of how much a person exercises. However, Anders Gudiksen explained, "Although mitochondrial function decreases with age, we can see that a high level of lifelong exercise exerts a powerful compensatory effect. In the group of well-trained older men, fat cells are able to respire more than twice as much as in untrained older men." Just as a car engine produces waste when converting chemicals to usable energy, so do mitochondria. Mitochondrial waste comes in the form of oxygen free radicals, known as ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). ROS that isn't eliminated damages cells and the current theory is that elevated ROS can lead to a wide range of diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's. Therefore, the regulation of ROS is important. "The group of older people who train most, form less ROS and maintain functionality to eliminate it. Indeed, their mitochondria are better at managing waste produced in fat cells, which results in less damage. Therefore, exercise has a large effect on maintaining the health of fat tissue, and thereby probably keeping certain diseases at bay as well," said Gudiksen. The researchers can also see that the older participants who exercised most throughout life have more mitochondria, allowing for more respiration and, among other things, an ability to release more of the fat-related hormones important for the body's energy balance. "Our results show that you can actually train your fat tissue to a very high degree -- but that you needn't cycle 200km a week to achieve a positive effect. What you shouldn't do, is do nothing at all," concluded Anders Gudiksen, who hopes that the research world will focus more on what people can do to maintain the health of their fatty tissue. (ANI)
A developer wants to build an Italian restaurant in one of the most historic blocks of Fells Point. The plans for initially presented for 1724-26 Thames St., seen left of center, included a rooftop bar, which angered neighbors. The developer pulled back plans for a rooftop bar but has not ruled it out. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

A Baltimore restaurateur has scratched plans  for now  for a third-story rooftop bar in one of the most historic blocks of Fells Point after nearby residents pushed back, even going so far as to sue.

With those plans off the table, Baltimores liquor board has approved the transfer of a liquor license for Prima Dopo, another step forward for the planned Italian restaurant in the 1700 block of Thames Street being developed by Dominic Lascola, who runs two restaurants in Canton.

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Lascola set off a firestorm among nearby residents after his company released plans last year for the rooftop bar offering views of the harbor.

The bar would be above the restaurant planned for a property that has housed the Historic Preservation Society for Federal Hill and Fells Point for two decades. A company formed by Lascola purchased the unique T-shaped property that fronts Thames Street, but also reaches Lancaster and South Ann streets, from the preservation society for $1.6 million in December 2020, city property records show.

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A developer wants to build an Italian restaurant in one of the most historic blocks of Fells Point. The plans initially presented for 1724-26 Thames St., seen in the center with a blocklong roof, included a rooftop bar, which angered neighbors. The developer pulled back plans for a rooftop bar but has not ruled it out. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

Leading the charge against Lascolas restaurant plans is Cliff Ransom, a 76-year-old research analyst who owns a home across Ann Street. Neighbors are concerned about parking, trash, noise and rowdy crowds, but Ransom said the real issue is much bigger.

This is all about governance. This is all about stewardship, Ransom said outside his rowhouse in the 800 block of South Ann Street, which he believes dates to at least 1800. Any other city in America would treat Fells Point like a jewel. We are a time capsule.

The restaurant property, for example, is next door to the Robert Long House, a two-story home built in 1765 on South Ann Street, that the preservation society says is the oldest surviving building inside Baltimores original city limits.

As he spoke to a Baltimore Sun reporter Wednesday, Ransom stopped a neighbor and asked whether hed written a letter to the liquor board yet.

He had not.

Goddamn it, Ransom told him. Write it.

A rooftop bar would violate rules on maintaining the historic look of the neighborhood, Ransom said, pointing out rules on windows, rain pipes, front steps and molding.

The Robert Long House served as a home and office for Long, who was a quartermaster for the colonial Navy and operated a nearby wharf. (Barbara Haddock Taylor / Baltimore Sun)

But the organizations overseeing historic preservation apparently disagreed.

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Last March, the Maryland Historical Trust decided to allow the developer to dig test pits to see whether the building could support a third-story rooftop bar. Baltimores Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation gave preliminary approval for the plans in April.

Neighbors filed two petitions in Circuit Court to stop the rooftop bar. Ransom was the lead plaintiff.

Around that time, plans changed.

The new plans for Prima Dopo stop at the second floor. They no longer contain plans for an attached market and deli and the rooftop bar is gone, too.

But the developers have not ruled it out.

While we still may pursue the rooftop addition at a later date, that part of the discussion is off the table for this submission, architect Robert Lopez told CHAP in a June email.

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Caroline Hecker, an attorney representing Prima Dopo, told The Sun on Wednesday that Lascola listened to the Fells Point community and that Ransom is misleading his neighbors.

Id never say never, but the current plan does not include a roof-top bar, Hecker wrote in an email.

Hecker told the liquor board at its meeting Thursday that the restaurant will have about 50 employees and cost about $1.5 million to develop. She said it will seat 125 people, feature live music and DJs, and stay open until 2 a.m. on Thursdays through Sundays.

But the attorney emphasized that Prima Dopo will be a restaurant, not a bar or a nightclub.

A developer wants to build an Italian restaurant in one of the most historic blocks of Fells Point. The plans for initially presented for 1724-26 Thames St., seen left of center, included a rooftop bar, which angered neighbors. The developer pulled back plans for a rooftop bar but has not ruled it out. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

The Fells Point Residents Association blessed the new restaurant in a Feb. 21 letter to the liquor board  so long as Prima Dopo doesnt include a rooftop bar.

But 29 people wrote letters to the board opposing the transfer of the liquor license for Lascolas restaurant. And Ransom and two other neighbors testified against the restaurant at the hearing.

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The commissioners unanimously approved a transfer of liquor license to one of Lascolas employees.

Ransom and his neighbors are continuing to fight the restaurant. A Circuit Court judge dismissed their cases against CHAP and the Maryland Historical Trust, but they have appealed both cases to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

J. Carroll Holzer, the attorney handling that litigation, said even if they lose again, he expects to file new litigation.

Its not just about a rooftop bar and restaurant, Holzer said. Its about preserving what the community felt was historic.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Ransom declined to say how much hes spent on litigation, other than to say, Its gonna be a lot of money.

A commissioner at the liquor board said any discussion of the rooftop bar at Thursdays meeting was irrelevant because it was not part of the current plans for Prima Dopo. That didnt stop one resident, Linda Giovanni, from issuing a warning.

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I will not bring up third-story deck. But if that happens, there will be a fight by the neighbors on that, Giovanni said.

Melissa Doering said neighbors were shocked when the rooftop bar was initially proposed.

Those of us who have lived here for a long time dont want any more chaos than we already have, Doering said.

She lives above and owns the Penny Black bar, which is at the corner of Thames and Ann streets. Doering said a rooftop bar could permanently alter the character of the neighborhood.

Fells Point is a really special neighborhood. It didnt need to be fixed and its getting broken. Theyre taking all the things that are really good about it and just making it all go away, Doering said. Once you give up something like that, its gone. Once you give up an historic property and let them tear it up, youre never going to get it back.
Following the Russian military operations in Ukraine, a family from West Bengal's South 24 Parganas is now worried about their 24-year-old son who is stuck in Ukraine. Pushpak Swarnakar, a fifth-year medical student at Ternopil National Medical University in Ternopil (Ukraine) took his admission to the University in 2017. "Everything was going well but due to COVID situation, he came back as the online classes were on. He went back to Ukraine in August last year. Suddenly, the crisis between Russia and Ukraine escalated and turned worse. Pushpak made a call a week before and said Universities had asked the students to go back home," Pratibha Swarnakar, mother of Pushkar told ANI. "We had sent a flight ticket but the flight got cancelled. The airport was shut down. Since there are network issues we spoke to Pushkar last night and he informed us that the situation is not good there. We are worried and want our son to be back with the support of the Central Government," she added. Sujit Swarnakar, Pushkar's father who works as a Station Master in South 24 Pargana urged the Centre to evacuate all Indian students from Ukraine. "We are very worried. In this situation, we do not know whom should we contact. We cannot do anything alone. We request both the State and the Central government that not only my son but all Indian students should reach their homes safely. We are waiting to welcome Pushkar back home. As far as his education is concerned, it will be looked upon once he reaches home safely," said Sujit Swarnakar. Ukraine has closed its airspace after Russia launched a military operation against it.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has sent teams to the land borders with Ukraine in Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic and Romania to assist the evacuation of Indian nationals. According to sources, the central government will arrange evacuation flights for Indian nationals in Ukraine. They said that the cost will be completely borne by the government for this evacuation."Two flights for Bucharest today and one flight for Budapest for tomorrow are being planned to be operated as GOI chartered flights," a source said. A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday. In his telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, PM Modi also sensitised him 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. (ANI)
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has the mandate and jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute China's genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs in East Turkistan. Following the end of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the Chinese government announced it would allow the UN Human Rights Chief, Michelle Bachelet, to visit East Turkistan, which Beijing refers to as Xinjiang (the new territory). However, Beijing has made it clear that the visit would be friendly in nature; and sternly opposed any investigation of its ongoing atrocities against the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in the region. If the UN does not launch an investigation into China's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity, there will be no deterrence. In that case, Bachelet's visit to East Turkistan will be no different from the International Red Cross' 1944 visit to Theresienstadt, a ghetto and concentration camp in the Nazi-occupied region of the former Czechoslovakia, where 33,000 Jews were killed. Furthermore, we fear that China will use Michelle Bachelet's visit as propaganda to continue carrying out and denying its brutal genocide and crimes against humanity against the people of East Turkistan. If the UN is unwilling to investigate, and individual governments and parliaments recognition of China's atrocities against Uyghurs/ Turkic peoples as genocide cannot produce enough pressure to convince the Chinese government to stop, then what can? Will the world continue to issue symbolic condemnations and recognitions, or will it act to implement its treaty obligations under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide? These are essential questions that many have been repeated for years but which have not been able to get a concrete answer as we strive to find a way to end this 21st-century genocide and safeguard the very existence of the Uyghur people. The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on 14 November 2019 to open an investigation in Bangladesh and Mvanmar concerning the Rohingya genocide. This significant development gave us an answer to our questions. Due to part of the crimes against the Rohingya occurring in Bangladesh, a signatory to the Rome Statute, the ICC established jurisdiction to investigate crimes perpetrated by the junta of Myanmar. Over the decades, the Chinese government's ruthless colonisation, genocide, and occupation campaign forced many Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples to flee East Turkistan to countries in Central Asia and Southeast Asia, including some signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. There are numerous known cases of Uyghurs being forcibly deported to China by many countries worldwide and later forcibly disappeared into China's archipelago of concentration camps and prisons. There have been many cases of Uyghurs being forcibly deported from Tajikistan and Cambodia, both signatories of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, into China and never heard from again. Relying on the precedent of the Rohingya case, the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) partnered with the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement (ETNAM) and numerous Uyghur and Kazakh victims in our global diaspora to file the first-ever legal complaint against Chinese officials at the International Criminal Court. The first legal submission was made to the ICC on 16 Julv 2020, by a team of British lawyers led by Rodney Dixon QC, on behalf of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement. On December 14, 2020, the ICC published its Report on Preliminary Examination Activities 2020 which stated that due to a lack of available evidence at that stage; the Office determined that there was no basis to proceed at this time. However, the report also explained that "Since the issuance of its decision, the senders [ETGE and ETNAM] have communicated to the Office a request for reconsideration pursuant article 15(6) on the basis of new facts or evidence. The case is thus being reconsidered by the Office of the Prosecutor in light of further, new evidence." In early 2021, investigators working for our legal team were able to travel to Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries to gather further evidence to submit to the ICC. On June 10, 2021, the legal team submitted a second dossier of evidence to the ICC, which showed a highly organised and systematic plan by the Chinese authorities to round up Uyghurs living in an ICC State Party -- Tajikistan -- and deport them back to China, where they have been forcibly disappeared. The evidence shows that over the past 10-15 years, the number of Uyghurs living in Tajikistan has been reduced from an estimated 3,000 to approximately 100 with most Uyghurs being unlawfully arrested in Tajikistan and then deported and forcibly disappeared. A third dossier of evidence was submitted to the ICC on November 11, 2021 following further on-the-ground investigations and interviews in Kyrgyzstan, which signed the Rome Statute but did not ratify, and other countries. The investigation found an 87 per cent decrease in the East Turkistani Uyghur population in Kyrgyzstan in recent years as a result of forced deportations and disappearances, following the same pattern as the case of Uyghurs in Tajikistan. The ICC's Office of the Prosecutor has acknowledged receipt of our legal team's further submissions of evidence and are considering them. With the Beijing Olympics have ended and growing international concern on the plight of the Uyghurs, governments across the world must support East Turkistan's case at the International Criminal Court. In the Rohingya case, numerous governments supported the ICC opening an investigation, and similar calls must be made regarding China's ongoing genocide of Uyghurs/ Turkic peoples in East Turkistan. If governments are genuine in their vows to Never Again, they must fulfill their treaty obligations to prevent and punish the perpetrators of the greatest humanitarian crisis of our century. Governments must call on the ICC to start investigations before the UN Human Rights Chief Michele Bachelet's visit to East Turkistan, Failure to support the Uyghurs legal efforts to end the ongoing genocide and obtain justice will only show that the claims of Never Again; and commitment to human rights and justice are nothing but empty vows. What's even worse, the lack of an international investigation will only embolden China to continue its brutal attempts to eradicate the Uyghurs. As Holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel stated, "We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Governments need to break their silence and voice their support for an international investigation to be carried out regarding China's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghur and other Turkic people of East Turkistan. (Ghulam Yaghma is a veteran East Turkistani independence leader and President of the East Turkistan Government in Exile. He currently lives in Canada. Salih Hudayar is the Prime Minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile and the Founder of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement. He is the leading Uyghur voice calling for restoration of East Turkistan's independence) --IANS pgh/ ( 1169 Words) 2022-02-25-20:40:05 (IANS)
Granting the stay, Sessions Judge Rahul Rokde also sought the records from the magistrate court in the private complaint filed by a Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Vivekanand Gupta.

On February 2, the magistrate court had summoned Banerjee asking her to appear before the court on March 2.

Banerjee's legal team led by Majeed Memon, and comprising Waseem Pangekar, Mateen Qureshi and Khalil Girkar, vehemently refuted the charges levelled by the BJP activist and termed the complaint as "politically motivated".

They pointed out that the offence under Prevention of Insult to National Honours Act, Section 3, was not made out as the sanction required under Section 197 of the CrPC was not obtained.

Memon further argued that the mandatory requirements under Section 202 for postponement of process when the accused resides beyond the magistrate's territorial jurisdiction was not complied with, and list of witnesses was not annexed.

Gupta said that Banerjee's legal team should have issued a notice informing him when the matter would be heard and claimed that the principles of natural justice were not followed.

--IANS qn/vd

( 230 Words)

2022-02-25-20:42:06 (IANS)
Realising that sweeping eastern Uttar Pradesh is important to form the next government in the state, the BJP is now putting all its efforts to repeat its 2017 performance in the region. In the 2017 Assembly polls, the BJP had won 115 of the 164 seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh. In an effort to repeat or further improve its previous tally, the BJP has combined development with its core agenda of Hindutva and nationalism. Polling in these seats is being held in the last three phases of Assembly polls. This time, the BJP is facing challenges on the caste equation after OBC leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya and others left the party and joined rival camps. Another major challenge for the BJP is that its former alliance party, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) of O.P. Rajbhar, has joined hands with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP) this time. A senior BJP functionary from Uttar Pradesh said that some leaders or regional parties with influence over their respective caste have left them, but that would not have any impact on BJP's chances in eastern Uttar Pradesh. "We are not only going to repeat our previous performance, but we are all set to better it. Our top leadership is on the ground seeking people's blessing to serve them for the next five years in order to continue the pace of development the region and the state witnessed in the last five years," he said. Now the top BJP leadership is aggressively raising issues related to Hindutva and nationalism, while mentioning the development and welfare initiatives of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath in the region. However, the saffron camp blames SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for 'polarising' the polls by invoking Jinnah (Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's founder) to appease a particular community. "It was Akhilesh Yadav who invoked Jinnah in a public meeting. Akhilesh was not participating in an academic conference, but he was addressing an election rally. He raised Jinnah's name with a clear intention to polarise the voters on religious lines," Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Harish Chandra Srivastava said. --IANS ssb/arm ( 361 Words) 2022-02-25-20:48:01 (IANS)
Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD) officials on Friday walked out of a Supreme Court-appointed sub-committee meeting on the Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala to protest non-cooperation of Kerala Forest Department officials, sources said. The sub-committee comprises an official from the Central Water Commission in the rank of Executive Engineer and officials from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The subcommittee visited the Mullaperiyar dam, its baby dam, shutters, seepage level, and the gallery and held a meeting at Kerala Kumali. In the meeting, Tamil Nadu officials said that they were not getting cooperation from the Kerala Forest Department and PWD officials who had refused transportation of construction materials to the dam site, sources told IANS, They also said that the Tamil Nadu side had received the necessary approval from the authorities concerned to cut and remove trees and lay roads in the area. The Tamil Nadu officials informed the meeting that the Kerala side was delaying the cutting of trees and laying of roads under one pretext or the other, and walked out. --IANS aal/vd ( 186 Words) 2022-02-25-21:02:02 (IANS)
Two more families in Bihar have requested the Indian government to conduct rescue operations in the war-torn Ukraine and bring back their children. Subham Mishra, a resident of Maner, who went to Ukraine's Kharkiv to study medical science, is trapped in the war zone. Mishra is a student of Kharkiv Medical College. He is currently staying at a metro station in Kiev, and is said to be safe. His father Rajesh Mishra told IANS: "We have contacted him through WhatsApp in the morning hours and he said that he is safe and sound and staying in a metro station. He informed me that the situation is extremely bad there. He has only one packet of biscuit and one bottle of water in this bag." "The biggest concern for us is low temperature. In the night, the temperature goes into minus 20 degree Celsius these days. In these adverse circumstances, it is extremely difficult to stay in the metro station," Mishra told IANS. Meanwhile, another man from Katihar also requested the government to ensure safety of his daughter, Nidhi Jha. "My daughter is staying in Kiev, and is safe. We requested the government to rescue Indian students from the war zone. She is a third year medical student. We are extremely scared due to the war between Russia and Ukraine," said Chandrashekher Jha. Earlier in the day, the family members of a student Ankit Kumar Shah had requested the Indian government to start a rescue operation in Ukraine. --IANS ajk/pgh ( 264 Words) 2022-02-25-21:32:04 (IANS)
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice D.N. Patel was hearing the plea, in which the mother alleged that her daughter was forcefully converted to another religion after she was remanded by the Child Welfare Committee under the Juvenile Justice Act.

The plea, filed through advocate Dibyanshu Pandey, was challenging various provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2016, pertaining to power, functions, and composition of the Child Welfare Committees.

The bench, also comprising Justice Jyoti Singh, issued notice to the Centre and other respondents after hearing the plea.

In her plea, the petitioner alleged that provisions of the JJ Act confer arbitrary powers on the CWC, which led to violation of the fundamental rights of her and her daughter.

As per the woman's plea, her daughter was arbitrarily sent into institutional care, where she was indoctrinated into another religion without parental consent and was also subjected to cruelty and exploitation for more than five months.

The petitioner alleged that two NGOs were trapping her daughter.

--IANS jw/vd

( 231 Words)

2022-02-25-21:34:04 (IANS)
Assam police also said that heroin recovered from the accused costs more than Rs 7 crore.

"Police have recovered 1.04 kg heroin at Bokajan, Karbi Anglong. Two accused have been arrested in the operation. The recovered heroin costs more than Rs 7 crore," Assam police said. (ANI)
It is not just the road widening for Char Dham Yatra project that has earned flak for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). In Telangana, a special committee of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recommended re-alignment of a 4-lane road that was originally planned to cut right across a water body belonging to the state Irrigation Department. The Committee submitted on February 24 to the NGT its report that was prepared on February 19. Chuttukunta tank, a traditional reservoir, in Raghava Puram Village in Suryapet district of Telangana, is the subject matter of debate in front of the NGT wherein it was alleged that the NHAI had planned a road that simply cut across it. On February 15, the NHAI authorities, during a discussion, said, "The alignment of the 4-lane road was adopted by not considering this particular water body in the Detailed Project Report. Simple cross drainage was taken into consideration for the alignment." The proposed alignment will bifurcate the tank bed into two parts for a stretch of 340 metres directly affecting the water spread area to the extent of 3.36 acres as against the total water spread area of 33.63 acres, which, the Telangana Irrigation Department officials claimed, "is a clear indication of reduction of tank capacity." The Irrigation Department also refused to provide NOC as it said that the road alignment was new and the NOC should have been sought earlier as no construction activity can be allowed in the tank bed. It also refused to accept NHAI's offer of deepening the tank bed as it will lead to water level below the sluice gate and can have more dead storage, of no use to irrigation. It had also raised objections to the executive engineer's recommendations as per order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, of column bridge. It further quoted previous examples from different villages where such construction in tank bed was disallowed and the road alignment was shifted away. The Committee, therefore, considered that the proposed alignment is a "clear case if interference of road for a length of 340 metres with a width of 40 metres covering 3.36 acres in the water spread areas of the tank" and hence recommended that NH alignment has to shift towards north to ensure "equilibrium ecosystem of the water body". --IANS niv/vd ( 405 Words) 2022-02-25-22:24:06 (IANS)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing National Stock Exchange Fraud case, has learnt during the course of investigation that the bourse's former Chief Strategic Advisor Anand Subramanian could be the mysterious Himalayan 'yogi' with whom classified information was shared by then NSE chief Chitra Ramkrishna. Subramanian was arrested on Thursday night from Chennai by the agency, and produced before a Delhi court which sent him to CBI custody till March 6. CBI sources say that since he had access to the emails sent to the yogi, they suspect they can be the same. However, the agency didn't officially confirm it. Earlier in the day, the agency told the court that they needed custodial interrogation of Subramanian to confront him with seized articles and others involved in the case, and the court, accepting their argument, sent him to CBI custody. A source told IANS that his statements was recorded for three consecutive days at Chennai, but was found to be "evasive". Subramanian, who was brought to the NSE by its then CEO and MD Ramkrishna, reportedly had access to the email ID on which the emails were sent to the "Himalayan yogi" with whom the classified information was shared. The source added that another team of the CBI searched the SEBI office in Mumbai, and recovered some incriminating documents, evidences and digital documents. "These are crucial documents and evidences nailing the lies of the accused involved in the case. We are in process of making a foolproof case against all the accused. These will help the prosecution in proving our case when it will go to court," said the source. The CBI had on February 19 grilled erstwhile NSE director Ravi Narain, who held the post before Ramkrishna. Earlier, it was said that Narain had fled to London and is living there. But the CBI source told IANS that Narain was in Delhi where his statement was recorded. "Narain was asked to join the investigation. He responded to our summons. He was called to the Delhi office where he was grilled. He is also a suspect in the case," said the CBI source, adding that he also "tried to evade a lot of questions". He also requested that his LOC against him be closed. Ramkrishna was questioned by the CBI in Mumbai last week, and asked her around 50 questions, including for how long she had been sending mails to the "yogi", was she given any cut for sharing classified information, if yes, where she invested this money. According to sources, she tried to play victim card, claiming she didn't know a lot of things. She also had claimed that she was innocent and somebody was trying to frame her. The CBI had already opened Look Out Circular against Ramkrishna, Subramanian, and Narain, as they were deemed to be at risk of flight. It had lodged an FIR against her on the basis of the SEBI's 192 page report, accusing her of leaking classified information to the yogi who lived in the Himalayas and is still to be found. On February 17, the Income Tax Department had conducted raids at the house of Ramkrishna in Mumbai and Chennai and said that they had recovered incriminating documents. The department scanned various transactions and digital records, and also recorded the statements of a few of her employees. Recently, the SEBI had imposed a fine of Rs 3 crore on her, following the market regulator finding that allegedly shared vital inputs about the NSE with the yogi. "Information regarding organisational structure, dividend scenario, financial results, human resource policies and related issues, response to regulator, etc., were shared by her with the yogi," said the source. Between 2014 and 2016 she sent emails at rigyajursama@outlook.com. Subramanian was made the Chief Strategic Advisor of NSE. He served at this post between 2013 and 2015 before being made Group Operations Officer and Advisor to the MD between 2015 and 2016, despite having no exposure to the capital market. Previously working as a mid-level manager in Balmer and Lawrie, he had seen his salary increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1.68 crore annually, and then to Rs 4.21 crore. --IANS atk/vd ( 712 Words) 2022-02-25-22:36:05 (IANS)
Howard Johnson answered the door to his Brooklyn apartment Friday afternoon accompanied by an orange tabby kitten that curled around his ankles  a near-constant reminder of the nephew he lost to gun violence just days earlier.

Edward Johnson, 35, died at the hospital following a double shooting late Monday morning in the 800 block of Glade Court in Brooklyn. The second victim, whom police identified as Marcus Harris, 43, was pronounced dead on the scene.

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The latest gun violence added to a slew of recent shootings in the neighborhood, leaving many residents on edge and some grieving.

Not long before his death, Edward Johnson had welcomed a kitten into the apartment he shared with other relatives. He claimed it was to help eradicate mice, but Howard Johnson suspected his nephew wanted to give the mistreated animal a better home.

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The family named it Brooklyn, a tribute to their neighborhood.

After living there for over 20 years, Howard Johnson said the level of violence has increased dramatically. Now 66, he reminisced about the relative peace of his youth.

But its getting kind of dangerous to even walk the streets now, he said. Every time you turn around these days, someone you know is getting killed.

He shook his head sadly and swatted the kitten off the kitchen table.

Edward Johnson  better known by his nickname Man-Man  was gunned down about a quarter-mile from his home, in another nearby housing complex off 8th Street. Relatives said they soon learned about the shooting and rushed to the scene late Monday morning, arriving not long after an ambulance had carried him away.

In addition to a close-knit extended family, Edward Johnson left behind a young daughter.

During a recent candlelight vigil in the neighborhood, Howard Johnson said, he broke down in front of almost 100 people who gathered to pay their respects.

Damn, this was unexpected, he said. I dont know how that shit happened, but I wish it never did.

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He said the family remains largely in the dark because Baltimore police have relayed little information about the case. He spoke with an officer on the scene Monday but had yet to hear from detectives for follow-up, Howard Johnson said.

Baltimore police said investigators had notified next of kin for both victims in the Glade Court double homicide. Attempts to reach family of Harris, the second victim, were unsuccessful Friday.

Police said no arrests have been made in the case. They asked anyone with information to contact homicide detectives at (410) 396-2100.

For some residents of the Glade Court housing complex and others in Brooklyn, the deadly violence was tragic but unsurprising.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Theyre shooting anytime they want  morning, noon or night, said Diane Ingram, president of Concerned Citizens for a Better Brooklyn, a neighborhood association. It has been bad for a while now, but its getting worse.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also acknowledged the problem during a press conference earlier this week. He pledged to intensify anti-violence efforts in the area, including through police resources and violence intervention outreach to make sure we are attacking this at every single turn.

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Since Jan. 1, at least 11 people have been shot in Brooklyn, according to the latest city crime data. The neighborhood also has recorded four homicides during that time, including the Monday double shooting.

People get shot around here all the time, said a single dad and Glade Court resident who asked to remain anonymous because of safety concerns. We hear gunshots like every single night.

The man said he hopes to move soon because he fears letting his two kids play outside. He called for more police patrols around the complex.

He said he came home Monday afternoon and discovered the homicide scene: crime tape crisscrossing the parking lot and a police helicopter circling overhead. But he ducked inside his apartment without looking too closely.

I learned you mind your own business in Baltimore City, he said. Thats how I was raised.
The Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) was launched by the Reserve Bank of India for easing payment of bills across the country and boosting the digital payment drive.

IPPB had launched the BBPS 'Cash-to-Bill' feature in September 2021, and started a campaign for three months till January-end.

The BPPS offers myriad utilities bill collection categories, insurance premium, mutual funds, schools or institution fees, credit cards payments, FastTag recharges, local or housing society taxes, etc. at a single window, proving a boon for the users.

The Maharashtra circle alone contributed over 57,000 bill payment transactions, or nearly 60 per cent of the all-India figures, said Chief PostMaster General, Maharashtra circle, Veena Srinivas, in the presence of G.R. Bansal, IPPB's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, New Delhi.

"Any person can make bill payments through cash without having an IPPB account at any post office through any postal personnel across India. In Maharashtra and Goa, the facility is available at 12,000 post offices and at the doorsteps through more than 16,000 postmen/postwomen and the GDS," said Srinivas.

The top five Grameen Dak Sevaks felicitated were Vishwanath Lingayat of Ratnagiri (4,127 transactions), Shivaji Kumbhar of Kolhapur (3,834), Rajesh Utekar of Ratnagiri (3,666), who were awarded scooters, while the next two performers, Jaydeo Adhav of Amravati (3,064) and Yasin Pinjari of Kolhapur (2,169) won smartphones.

--IANS qn/arm

( 263 Words)

2022-02-25-22:38:05 (IANS)
The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) said on Friday that it has arrested three persons of a private firm, Jagar Agro Commodities, in connection with an alleged fraud of several hundred crores of rupees. Those areested have been identified as Satish Kimar Pawa, Saurav Aggarwal and Suhas S. Paranjpe. The investigation was assigned by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to SFIO based on the orders passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). "Satish Kumar Pawa, promoter and shareholder, Saurav Aggarwal and Suhas S. Paranjpe have been arrested by the SFIO in connection with the investigation into the affairs of Jagat Agro Commodities Pvt Ltd," said an official. The arrests have been made by the SFIO in exercise of the powers under Section 212(8) of the Companies Act, based on the material in its possession which has revealed that these persons were guilty of indulging in serious corporate fraud punishable under Section 447 of the Companies Act. "They had falsified the financial statements over a period of three years by inflating their stock position and falsely induced banks to lend on the strength of the falsified financial statements. The company borrowed funds from public banks and siphoned them off through various channels," said the official. After being produced before a special court in Mumbai, the trio has been sent to SFIO custody till March 1. --IANS atk/arm ( 239 Words) 2022-02-25-23:18:06 (IANS)
All the six UP Police personnel accused of murdering Kanpur businessman Manish Gupta in Gorakhpur have been lodged at Delhi's Tihar Jail, officials said on Friday. A senior Tihar official told IANS that the accused were brought there two days back. On Saturday, all the six accused will be produced before a Special CBI court in Delhi and the trial will begin. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had, on January 7, filed a charge sheet against the six accused policemen - a then SHO/Inspector, then three Sub-Inspectors, a head constable and a constable in the September 2021 case in a Lucknow court. According to the charge sheet that on September 27, Ramgarh Tal inspector J.N. Singh, Phalmandi police post in-charge sub-inspectors Akshay Mishra and Vijay Yadav and three other policemen had allegedly barged into the hotel room where Gupta was staying with his friends and allegedly thrashed them after an argument, killing Gupta. The CBI had registered a case on November 2 on the request of Uttar Pradesh government and taken over the investigation of the case, earlier registered under section 302 of IPC at Ramgarh Tal police station in Gorakhpur on complaint from the wife of the deceased businessman on September 27. IANS had learnt from sources that the investigation found evidence of "excessive use of power" by the policemen. A CBI officer privy to the probe said the sequence of events was examined by forensic experts to know the pattern and nature of injuries, while call detail records of all the accused policemen were also checked to know if they had any prior connection with the victim, but no such link was found. The CBI team also took Gupta's friends Pradeep Chauhan and Hardeep Chauhan to the hotel and recreated the crime scene to match their statements to know what exactly took place inside the room on the day. --IANS atk/vd ( 329 Words) 2022-02-25-23:22:02 (IANS)
Acting tough on non-compliance of its order for the constitution of a transport appellate tribunal within one month, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday granted a last opportunity to the state to comply with its direction by March 29. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua said the non-compliance of the order passed by the high court before the next date shall be viewed seriously and appropriate order shall be passed on the next date of hearing on March 29. The court in its earlier order observed that despite the series of orders passed by the court, the state government has not taken any decision to set up an independent transport appellate tribunal. The matter has been pending before the court for the past four years. Earlier, the court held that the Law Secretary cannot discharge the quasi-judicial functions of the tribunal and rightly so because for him to preside over the tribunal while simultaneously working as Law Secretary could give rise to conflict of interest because he may have to be in that capacity to deal with the matter involving the interest of the state. Also, the court observed that the first requirement for the state government would be to notify the constitution of such a number of tribunals, depending upon the workload, as it may deem fit. Once the tribunal is constituted, it has to be given all the paraphernalia, including building and necessary staff. Once the regular tribunal is constituted by the government in consultation with the high court, it would be decided by the court on the administrative side as to who should be posted as presiding officer in the tribunal and whether one presiding officer should be given additional charge of another tribunal. --IANS vg/arm ( 309 Words) 2022-02-25-23:22:03 (IANS)
Taking to Twitter, Adityanath said, "On the third anniversary of 'Balakot Air Strike', salute to the extraordinary valour of 'Indian Air Force'. This valour of our soldiers is that indelible blow on the chest of the terrorists living on enemy soil, which will always be remembered with pride. Jai Hind! @IAF_MCC."

On February 14, Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) targeted a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway near Pulwama in South Kashmir killing 40 CPRF personnel.

Days later, IAF launched an airstrike on a JeM camp in Balakot in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

The airstrike was launched in the early hours of February 26 and Pakistan's efforts to launch an offensive the next day to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir were thwarted by an alert IAF.

In the dogfight, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane and chasing Pakistani jets, crossed over to PoK where his aircraft was shot down. He was taken into custody by Pakistan. India also shot down a Pakistani fighter jet. (ANI)
"Visuals of Indian students in bunkers are disturbing. Many are stuck in eastern Ukraine which is under heavy attack. My thoughts are with their worried family members. Again, I appeal to GOI to execute an urgent evacuation," tweeted the Congress leader.

In an effort to evacuate stranded Indian nationals from war-hit Ukraine, Air India is operating two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) today.

"Based upon inputs from the Ministry of External Affairs on the emerging situation in Ukraine, Air India will operate two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) tomorrow, that is, February 26. Air India shall be operating VBM flights," Air India informed.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow.Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air India, to bring back Indian nationals safely.

In the coming days for Indian citizens, more flights are going to be operated from Ukraine (Kiev) amid tension in the country. (ANI)
A day after India abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday took a jibe at the Central Government saying that abstaining from voting against war doesn't make "your relationship better but makes your principles weaker" against violence and human rights violations. "Abstain in voting against war doesn't make your relationship better but makes your principles weaker against violence and human rights violations. Tomorrow it could be us not getting support against China. Today we stood on the same side as China, which speaks loads about our FP," Chaturvedi tweeted. "Having said that, besides a resolution condemning Russia's action what is the UN's role going to be to help Ukraine on the ground? Ally countries are expressing words of support but have left Ukraine alone to defend and fight for itself. UN will need to relook at its relevance in the New World Order," she added. Earlier on Friday (Local Time), India abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine saying that the "path of diplomacy was given up". "India's deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," said India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine. Tirumurti said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. Tirumurti also expressed concern over the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine. (ANI)
Representatives of various associations were present in the meeting.

Bommai, who holds the portfolio of finance, would present his first budget for 2022-23 on March 4.

The Karnataka Assembly budget session is scheduled to be held from March 4-30, according to the provisional schedule of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that in order to strengthen the primary healthcare network, work on 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centers is also progressing at a brisk pace. He further said that till now more than 85,000 centers are providing the facility of routine checkups, vaccination, and tests. In this budget, the facility of mental healthcare has also been added to them, he added. The Prime Minister's remarks came at the post-Union Budget webinar of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This is the fifth webinar in the series of post-budget webinars addressed by the Prime Minister. Union Ministers, healthcare professionals from public and private sectors, and professionals from para-medics, nursing, health management, technology, and research were present on the occasion. At the outset, the Prime Minister congratulated the health sector for successfully running the world's largest vaccination campaign that has established the efficiency and mission-oriented nature of India's healthcare system. The Prime Minister said that the Budget builds upon the efforts to reform and transform the healthcare sector that has been undertaken during the last 7 years. "We have adopted a holistic approach in our healthcare system. Today our focus is not only on health but equally on wellness", he emphasized. The Prime Minister elaborated on three factors that underline the efforts of making the health sector holistic and inclusive. Firstly, the expansion of modern medical science-related infrastructure and human resources. Secondly, promotion of research in the traditional Indian medical systems like Ayush and their active engagement in the healthcare system. Thirdly, providing affordable healthcare to every citizen and every region of the country via modern and futuristic technology. "It is our endeavor that critical healthcare facilities should be at the block level, at the district level, near the villages. This infrastructure needs to be maintained and upgraded from time to time. For this the private sector and other sectors will also have to come forward with more energy", he added. On enhancing the medical human resources, the Prime Minister said, "As the demand for healthcare services is increasing, we are also trying to create skilled health professionals accordingly. Therefore, a significant hike is made in the budget for health education and human resource development related to healthcare as compared to last year." The Prime Minister called upon the healthcare community to work with a set time frame on the task of taking these reforms forward with the help of technology with a focus on improving the quality of medical education and making that more inclusive and affordable. On the factor of modern and futuristic technologies in the medical field, the Prime Minister lauded the platforms like CoWin that have established India's reputation in the world with regard to digital health solutions. Similarly, he said, Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission provides an easy interface between the consumer and healthcare provider. "With this, both getting and giving treatment in the country will become very easy. Not only this, it will also facilitate global access to India's quality and affordable healthcare system", said the Prime Minister about the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission. The Prime Minister dwelled on the positive role of remote healthcare and telemedicine during the pandemic. He stressed the role of these technologies in reducing the health access divide between urban and rural India. Mentioning the upcoming 5G network and optical fiber network project for every village, the Prime Minister asked the Private sectors to come forward to increase their partnership. He also emphasized the promotion of drone technology for medical purposes. The Prime Minister noted the growing global acceptance of Ayush and exuded pride in the fact that WHO is going to start its only Global Center of Traditional Medicine in India. "Now it is up to all of us how to create better solutions of AYUSH for ourselves and for the world as well", he added. (ANI)
Speaking to reporters, Pawar said, "There are around 1200-2000 people from Maharashtra stranded in Ukraine. We are working closely with the Centre to bring back everyone safely. Out of these stranded people from Maharashtra, we have been able to contact 366 persons only."

He also spoke on the closure of hospitals as Maharashtra sees a massive decline in COVID-19 cases.

The Deputy CM said, "We have decided to shut down both the jumbo hospitals in Pune from February 28. During the third wave of COVID-19, we did not use these hospitals." (ANI)
President Joe Biden on Friday nominated federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would make her the first Black woman selected to serve on the high court.

The federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Miami  but also has a close connection to Baltimore.

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Her brother, Ketajh Brown, served with the Baltimore Police Department from October 2001 through May 2008 and was last assigned to the Eastern District, police spokesman Det. Donny Moses confirmed.

Brown is now a corporate attorney in Chicago, at the K&L Gates law firm. He did not respond to requests for comment.

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Jackson spoke of her brother in remarks after her nomination at the White House on Friday.

I am so proud of all that hes accomplished, she said. As a police officer and detective, she said, he worked on some of the toughest streets in the inner city of Baltimore.

Jackson previously mentioned her younger brothers career path, which included working as an undercover police officer in a drug sting unit in Baltimore, in responses to the Senate Judiciary Committee questions when she was a nominee for the Court of Appeals seat.

She said her brother also served in the Maryland Army National Guard, where he trained to be an infantry officer, and led two battalions during two tours of duty in Iraq and the Sinai Peninsula.

Jackson has cited her and her brothers upbringing as a reason they were drawn to public service professions. Both her parents were educators, and her father later went to law school and then served as the chief legal counsel to the Miami-Dade County School Board.

Given this family background, there was no question that I would gravitate toward public service at some point in my legal career, she wrote.

Jackson did not respond to a request for comment from The Baltimore Sun.

Richard B. Rosenthal, an appeals attorney in Florida, said he is a close family friend of the Browns, and knew both Jackson and her brother since childhood.

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She has seen the justice system from a lot of different angles that very few judges have had. It has added to her natural ability to hear everyone out, he said.

Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. >

Jackson also has spoken of her uncle, who she has said is serving a life sentence for a cocaine conviction.

Shes had all of these access points with the criminal justice system, Rosenthal said.

Jackson would be the current courts second Black justice  Justice Clarence Thomas, a conservative, is the other  and just the third in history.

She also would be only the sixth woman to serve on the court, and her confirmation would mean that for the first time four women would sit together on the nine-member court.

The current court includes three women, one of whom is the courts first Latina, Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

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Jackson would join the liberal minority of a conservative-dominated court that is weighing cutbacks to abortion rights and will be considering ending affirmative action in college admissions and restricting voting rights efforts to increase minority representation.

Biden is filling the seat that will be vacated by Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who is retiring at the end of the term this summer.
This is the first special flight that is travelling through another route after the air route to Ukraine was shut down.

The 787 Dreamliner has the capacity to carry 250 passengers and it is expected that at least as many will be brought back to India.

The government is expected to operate such flights to neighbouring countries of Ukraine in order to evacuate stranded Indians in the country.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
As per the statement of a senior police official from Sogam police station, "Two individuals namely Rashid Ahmad Peer and Adil Hussain Shah came under the observation of the security forces when they were found suspicious in their movement and pro-terrorism activity on the social media platform."

"Police apprehended them in a joint operation at Lolab and questioned them during which we recovered incriminating material including posters, photographs, videos and contents of the conversation with active terrorists and terrorists' handlers from across the borders, from the mobile phones," the police official added.

Police official further said, "An FIR under relevant sections has been registered at Police Station Sogam against them and the investigation in the case is under progress."

The timely joint efforts of security forces resulted in averting major incidents in the area which has witnessed peace for the past couple of years. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said "During the war situation between Ukraine and Russia, after the advisory of the Ministry of External Affairs, the ticket amount of Rajasthanis coming back to their homeland from personal expenses will be reimbursed."

"Instructions have been given by the Rajasthan Government to facilitate home delivery of Rajasthani arriving at Delhi, Mumbai and other airports. For this, the Rajasthan Foundation will co-ordinate," Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.

A number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow.Amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, several airlines are operating special flights, including Air

India, to bring back Indian nationals safely.

In the coming days for Indian citizens, more flights are going to be operated from Ukraine (Kiev) amid tension in the country. (ANI)
Amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given instructions much before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting was held, to make necessary arrangements for bringing stranded students in Ukraine back to India. "During the day before yesterday's meeting by PM Modi, a decision was made to evacuate them (stranded students in Ukraine) on GoI's expenses. PM, in fact, had instructed much before to make necessary arrangements for the same," Singh told the media persons in Delhi. On the question of children still trapped in the interior of Ukraine, he said, "our foreign minister has spoken to the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, efforts are on to bring them (students) safely. The situation should be normal, this is our wish." Earlier on Thursday, at the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the topmost priority of the government is the safety and security of Indian nationals, informed Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. (ANI) 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)
Any Harry Potter fan can easily remember the introduction scene where Harry and Draco Malfoy meet for the first time. Both of them remained at loggerheads for the entire series. The film is a classic example of classroom management being a tough and tricky job. Keeping a tab on the well being of students, who can socialise in both positive and negative ways, is often draining. A recent study revealed that students are better at recognising relationally aggressive classmates. The study was published in 'School Mental Health'. Veteran teachers often say that students are very perceptive about peers who are causing problems. The recent research from the Psychological and Brain Sciences department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University and the Center for Violence Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), gave weight to this educational adage. It suggested nuanced observations about relational aggression across teachers and students. Relational aggression - or attempts to damage someone else's relationships or social status by means such as exclusion or spreading rumours -- can negatively impact the socialization of students. When kids experience relational aggression, they are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, physical complaints and conduct problems. Many school-based programs aimed at reducing relationally aggressive behaviours require the identification of those who display problematic levels of the behaviour. Unfortunately, perpetrators of relational aggression are often difficult to detect at school, in part because teachers and students can have differing perceptions of students and their behaviours. In the study, the researchers investigated various factors that may contribute to the identification of relationally aggressive students, including their academic competence, pro-social behaviour, popularity and gender. Their efforts are intended to help improve the identification of these students in order to provide intervention services. The research team analyzed data from 11 third through fifth-grade classrooms in the Philadelphia area. Students and teachers participated in several rating procedures to identify relationally aggressive students. "We found that 10 per cent of students were identified as relationally aggressive by their peers but not their teacher," said Chandler Puhy, lead author of the study and doctoral student in the College. Researchers analyzed the data to determine the contribution of each variable to the likelihood of a student being identified as relationally aggressive by teacher and/or peers, or not identified as relationally aggressive by either group. They also found that students with higher levels of academic competence are more likely to be identified as relationally aggressive by their peers, but not their teacher, and female students were more likely to be identified as relationally aggressive by both their teacher and peers. "Relational aggression can be difficult to detect in the school context, particularly because this is often a covert behaviour - meaning teachers often don't see the relationally aggressive behaviours," said Brian Daly, PhD, a co-author of the study and associate professor in the College. "Our findings suggest that students, who are identified as relationally aggressive by their peers, but not their teacher, appear to have higher academic competence including participation and motivation." The researchers added that academic competence is thought to be related to greater executive functioning - like planning and insight - which could contribute to these aggressive behaviours occurring in a more covert manner. Or, alternatively, these students may receive less monitoring from teachers given their on-task behaviour, resulting in fewer opportunities for teachers to observe relational aggression. "Relationally aggressive youth often have a strong social influence and can create a toxic environment both socially and academically. Yet, teachers are more likely to notice overtly disruptive behaviours in their classrooms," said Tracy E. Waasdorp, PhD, MEd, a co-author of the study and director of Research for School-Based Bullying and Social Emotional Learning at CHOP's Center for Violence Prevention. "While this study suggests that gathering multiple informants of this covert behaviour is necessary, it also highlights that a certain percentage of relationally aggressive behaviours are not being noticed by teachers. This suggests an area of need for prevention and intervention programming." "We hope these findings spur additional research into the precursors of relational aggression, including greater executive functioning skills," said Puhy. "We want these findings to lead to better identification of relationally aggressive students and the development of more effective interventions to improve the health and well-being of perpetrators, victims and bystanders." Puhy, Daly and Waasdorp co-authored the study with Stephen Leff, PhD, of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (ANI)
Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday said that provisions for stronger enforcement and action against infringement are the need of the hour and with start-ups coming up in a big way across the country IPR (intellectual property rights) field of law has become more relevant than ever before. "Provisions for stronger enforcement and action against infringement are the need of the hour. Awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas, are required to be undertaken. There have been a few success stories like Darjeeling tea and Chanderi silk. These success stories need to be studied and replicated in other GIs (Geographical Indications) as well. With the start-ups coming up in a big way across the country driven by innovative youth, this field of law has become more relevant than ever before," the CJI said at the National Seminar on the adjudication of IPR disputes in India in New Delhi. CJI said whenever entrepreneurs and hosts around the world ask him as to how investor-friendly the Indian judicial system is, his answer has always remained the same; that the "Indian judiciary is absolutely independent and it always treats all the parties equally and equitably". The CJI also said that with the advent of economic liberalization, the country's IPR regime has undergone a rapid transformation. "This transformation was driven by the compulsions of integrating our economy with that of the world. With the advancement of technology, we are witnessing more complex issues in litigation, be it in IPR, IT and other fields. The complexities involved demand assistance from experts and specialists in the adjudication process," he added. The Intellectual Property Division of the Delhi High Court and its functioning would hopefully serve as a model which could be replicated, the CJI further said in the event organized by the Delhi High Court. He pointed out that the Supreme Court has played a crucial role in the IPR field and in a judgment it helped the common man by ensuring that the price of life-saving drugs remains affordable. "Today, India's position as the Pharma hub of the globe is largely attributable to the existing IPR regime," he said. CJI Ramana further said that his advice to the stakeholders is that, while protecting the interests of today, we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. "This is where a judicial mind comes into play. While adjudicating the claims of intellectual property rights, you must balance the contemporary claims with the sustainable interests of the future generations," added the CJI. He also said that intellectual property is a field of law that protects creativity and innovation and its importance has also been felt during the ongoing pandemic. "Innovation, and that too quick innovation, has become the order of the day. With the onset of the pandemic, vaccines and medications had to be researched, trials had to be conducted and commercial-scale manufacturing had to take place within a span of few months. When the future generations will look back; the past two years of the pandemic will tell the story of human resilience and power of innovation," the CJI added. He also pointed out that the vesting back of IPR jurisdiction in High Courts from IPABs (Intellectual Property Appellate Board) has come at a time when the system is overburdened with backlogs and stressed the need to improve judicial infrastructure. "It is an appropriate moment to build sufficient capacities in our High Courts, so that intellectual property litigation can be conducted efficiently and smoothly. It is in this context that the seminar organized today is of significant value. These new and additional challenges can be effectively met by strengthening the High Courts. Not only do we need to fill the existing vacancies on an urgent basis, but there is also a need to increase the number of judges. With better service conditions we may be able to attract more and more talents into our fold," said the CJI. He also said the judicial infrastructure needs to be improved but unfortunately, not even the basic minimum standards are being met in this area. "It has been my endeavour since assuming the office of Chief Justice of India, to put in place an institutional mechanism to coordinate and oversee the improvement of judicial infrastructure. Mere allocation of funds is not enough. The challenge is to put the available resources to optimum use. I have been pursuing the government for setting up statutory authorities, both at the centre and at the states. But unfortunately... It may be recalled that I have recently emphasized the need for continuous training and up-gradation of skills as one of the major challenges before the Indian judiciary," CJI added. The event was attended by CJI Ramana, Supreme Court Judges, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court DN Patel, Justice Prathiba M Singh and other judges of Delhi High Court and other High Courts and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Union Finance Minister Sitharaman said that India is at the stage where the focus on growth and development has to be strengthened on all sides. When the government thought to encourage start-ups, it also thought to give them support through schemes and policy to bolster innovation, she added. The question to give enough support to the protection of rights through laws was also one of the areas the government worked on and thus it then removed the IPAB and passed the load to the High Court. In 2013-14 there were 4,000 patents that were filed and granted and now till this year it has increased to 28,000, Sitharaman said, adding that this shows the confidence which the patent holders have in the system, trademarks application have increased to 2.5 lakhs. (ANI)
Conservator of Forests Nashik West, Ganeshrao Jhole said, "Parrots and radius slider turtles are currently being smuggled in large quantities in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. The forest department has become alert and we got to know of a pet shop where rare species of animals and birds were being smuggled."

"We found over 60 birds and animals, majorly newborn, in the pet shop. Some of these are Schedule-I animals, which are considered endangered species that need rigorous protection. The species are granted protection from poaching, killing, trading etc," he added.

An NGO is taking care of the newborn animals and they are being fed through injections, Jhole told ANI.

He further added, "The Schedule-I animals will be released in their natural habitat once they grow up a bit. And the radius slider turtles will be released as per the order of the court." (ANI)
The government has taken measures to collect information beforehand regarding Malayalees arriving in India from Ukraine.

The arrangement is being made by Resident Commissioner and Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) officials.

The District Collectors have been directed to make necessary arrangements for those reaching airports in Kerala. (ANI)
Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission with a budget of Rs 1,600 crore for five years and said that the Ayushman Bharat Health Count Number (ABHA Number) will strengthen the digital health ecosystem in India. Taking to Twitter, the Mandaviya said, "Thanks to PM Narendra Modi ji for approving Rs 1600 crores for the next five years for the National Roll-out of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Now citizens of India will be able to keep their health records in one place through the ABHA number. ABHA number will prove useful for quick and quality healthcare." "Ayushman Bharat Health Count Number (ABHA Number) will strengthen the digital health ecosystem in the country. Now the citizens will be able to access their health records anywhere in a digital way," he added. As per the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Digital health solutions across the healthcare ecosystem have proven to be of immense benefit over the years, with CoWIN, Arogya Setu, and eSanjeevani further demonstrating the role technology can play in enabling access to healthcare. However, there is a need to integrate such solutions for a continuum of care, and effective utilization of resources. Based on the foundations laid down in the form of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM) trinity and other digital initiatives of the government, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is creating a seamless online platform through the provision of a wide range of data, information, and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems while ensuring the security, confidentiality, and privacy of health-related personal information. Under the ABDM, citizens will be able to create their ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) numbers, to which their digital health records can be linked. This will enable the creation of longitudinal health records for individuals across various healthcare providers, and improve clinical decision-making by healthcare providers. The mission will improve equitable access to quality healthcare by encouraging the use of technologies such as telemedicine and enabling national portability of health services. The pilot of ABDM was completed in the six Union Territories of Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep with successful demonstration of technology platform developed by the NHA. During the pilot, a digital sandbox was created in which more than 774 partner solutions are undergoing integration. As of February 24, 2022, 17,33,69,087 Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts have been created and 10,114 doctors and 17,319 health facilities have been registered in ABDM. Not only will ABDM facilitate evidence-based decision-making for effective public health interventions, but it will also catalyze innovation and generate employment across the healthcare ecosystem. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar about the safety of Indian students in Ukraine. The Chief Minister said that Jaishankar informed him that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working closely with the Indian Embassy for expeditious evacuation of students and residents including those from Assam. "Spoke to EAM S Jaishankar about the safety of our students in Ukraine. He informed me that MEA is working closely with the Indian Embassy for expeditious evacuation of students and residents including those from Assam. I wish to reassure all parents to have faith in the Government of India," said Sarma in a tweet. Earlier today, the first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania. "Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania," Jaishankar tweeted. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. In an advisory to Indian nationals on Saturday, the embassy stressed that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and it is working continuously with the Indian Embassies in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens. This comes as the Russian military continues to advance in the capital city of Ukraine, according to media reports. Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard on Friday as Russian forces approached the city, media reports said on Saturday. Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks. (ANI)
Students and staff will no longer be required to wear masks in Carroll County public schools and facilities, effective immediately.

Marylands Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) rescinded the current mask mandate Friday afternoon, as recommended by the Maryland State Board of Education.

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Brenda Bowers, communications coordinator for the school system, said making masks optional is a significant change toward normalcy in our schools and facilities.

Bowers noted that students and staff who wish to continue to wear face coverings are encouraged to do so.

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We understand that while some families will be happy to have their child attend school without a mask, some families will still want their child to wear a mask. Our expectation is that all students and staff respect the decisions that individual families and staff make as we transition through this time of masks being optional. As always, we want all our students and staff feeling comfortable with whatever their approach might be to masks in school and ask that those individual decisions are respected.

Also, the federal requirement mandating masks on public transportation was dropped on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, so masks are optional on school buses.

COVID-19 case counts continue declining significantly at hospitals and schools in Carroll County, and more than 77% of the eligible population in Carroll County has been vaccinated.

Lifting of the mask mandate in schools comes after much pushback from the Carroll County Board of Education. During a Feb. 9 school board meeting, the board voted to authorize its legal counsel to file a legal action in Carroll County Circuit Court that took aim at the state school boards December decision to require public school students and staff statewide to wear masks in schools until the end of the 2022 school year. The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 11.
BJP Kota district president Gopal Krishna Soni alleged that Vicky Arya, a worker of their party was murdered last night.

"Vicky Arya, a worker of our party was murdered last night. We condemn the incident and demand action," Soni.

Search is underway for other accused.

As per the police, prima facie indicates the enmity in the past as a reason for murder. (ANI)
Cabinet Minister in the Uttar Pradesh government Sidharth Nath Singh on Saturday said the people of the state want that the security they enjoyed since 2017 should remain and for that, they will vote to make Yogi Adityanath the chief minister for the second time. Notably, Singh is the candidate from Allahabad West constituency that is scheduled to go to the polls in the fifth phase of the Assembly elections tomorrow. Speaking to ANI, the Minister said, "The kind of support that was extended by the people in CM Yogi's roadshows is ample proof to reflect the direction of the result. We are fully prepared in all the polling booths. I think the people have the wish to extend the security provided to them since 2017 instead of fearing from the rule of the strongmen (Bahubali) that was prevalent before it." Responding to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's 'bhoot' remark on the BJP during an election rally, Singh said that the former chief minister of the state has booked a ticket to abroad with the entire family as he knows "whose ghost will dance" on March 10. "Only ghosts will dance on the BJP's booths by the time the election reaches the fifth, sixth and seventh phase,"Akhilesh Yadav has said while taking a jibe at BJP. "He has booked a ticket for London on March 11. If you check, you would come to know, he is going abroad with his entire family because he knows where is the ghost dancing,"Singh said. Taking a jibe at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark on dynastic politics, Singh asked if Sonia Gandhi can make Sachin Pilot the party president. Priyanka had said, "If there is such a problem with dynastic politics, then why is the son (Varun Gandhi) of the Congress family (Gandhi family) been kept in the BJP?" "Dynastic politics does not mean who is in the party. Can Sonia Gandhi make Sachin Pilot the chief of the Congress party? It has been nearly two months, Rahul Gandhi is not yet ready to be the president. Sonia Gandhi herself is not quitting, she continues to remain the working president. She is not making the daughter the chief because the son has to be made the president," Singh said. The fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls is scheduled to be held on Sunday. The counting of the votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing tensions in Ukraine and India's attempts to bring back stranded students from the Eastern European country, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said that the Central government is taking all necessary measures to evacuate its citizens from the country. Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Ministers and heads of the countries surrounding Ukraine. So if Indian travelling on buses, cars or two-wheelers, reach the border of Ukraine to get into another country, the Indian government has made sure that they are allowed without any problem. For the people who are reaching the border of Ukraine into Romania, the Indian government had taken measures to bring students from there for free of cost." "Nearly 23,000 Indian students are getting education there. Nearly 4,000 students have been brought back while the airspace was carrying operations. Nearly 19,000 students are there and it is getting difficult to bring them back as the Airport operations are closed. Indian government held high-level meetings on how to bring the students back home and is moving forward with many plans," Reddy added. The Union Minister informed that the government is trying to gather information about the students stranded in Ukraine through social media besides the Indian embassy in the Eastern European country. "We are trying to get the details of the students in Ukraine through social media, not only through the Indian embassy but also through the parents in India. We have sent a message on what sort of measure should be taken in these times," he said. Highlighting the government's efforts in the crisis, Reddy said that a task force centre has been opened in Romania adding that the talks are on with the neighbouring countries of Ukraine. "We are sending them all the updates and giving them details on where to go. We have arranged and opened a Taskforce centre and command control room in Romania. The Indian government is in talks with the countries surrounding Ukraine," he said. The Minister further informed that the government has asked the students to carry the Indian flag with themselves as Russia has given a word not to take any action against the Indian students. "We have asked the students who are travelling on bikes, cars and buses to carry the Indian Flag. Russian has promised that they won't take any action against Indian students. So that's why people who are not carrying pictures of flags, have been sent flags through social media. We have asked them to reach the Ukraine border carrying the Indian Flags," he said. Reddy further assured all the students and their families of their safe return to India. "I tell the students and parents that it might take a few days for students to come back but all are safe. They will be stationed in Romania till the flights reach there," he said. "Both Ukraine and Russia have ties with India. Already the PM spoke to the Russian President and said that war is not the solution and should be dealt with dialogue. We don't have any enemy countries. If we have any enemy countries, it's Pakistan," said Reddy. (ANI)
Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane on Saturday said that defence corridors in Chennai and Lucknow have changed the entire ecosystem of the defence industry and 85 per cent of what the army buys are from Indian companies. The Army chief today inaugurated the Ahmedabad Design Week 3.0 at Karnavati University Gandhinagar. The theme for this year's event is Design and Innovation in Defence and Aerospace. Speaking on the occasion, the Army chief said "Change is a constant and it is always happening around us and change is the result of design. If we do not change and innovate we stay stagnant." "As far as the Army is concerned 85 per cent of whatever we buy is from Indian Companies. The defence corridors in Chennai and Lucknow have helped in changing the entire ecosystem of the defence industry," he added. Earlier on Friday, he reviewed the ongoing preparations for Defence Expo 2022 and witnessed the technology adaptation of the Army's first 3D Printed Living Shelter as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat endeavours, during the visit to Gandhinagar. (ANI)
Slamming the Jammu and Kashmir Delimitation Commission working to redraw assembly constituencies in the Union Territory, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that it is "a planned strategy to favour the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "I think the Delimitation Commission has worked in favour of the BJP, thinking that they will get the majority of seats in the assembly and they will be able to pass the resolution in favour of what they did on August 5, 2019, has been accepted by J-K assembly," said Abdullah while addressing a press conference in Srinagar. The former chief minister alleged that it is being done with an intention that BJP with the majority in the state assembly hopes to pass a resolution in favour of the Centre's 2019 decision of revocation of Article 370 and creation of two Union Territories. "The larger plan is to get a resolution passed in favour of Article 370 in the J-K assembly," he added. This comes after 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. 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. However, earlier this month, the commission said that it has accepted certain suggestions made by five associate members from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir including Farooq Abdullah, Hasnain Masoodi, Akbar Lone, Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore. 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 of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114, and delimitation of the constituencies will be determined by the Election Commission. (ANI)
BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday took a dig at Akhilesh Yadav and questioned how the Samajwadi Party would be able to provide food for people when they used to steal taps during their tenure. Speaking with ANI in Gorakhpur, Thakur said, "Akhilesh Yadav is talking about providing free electricity but during SP's tenure there used to be no electricity. Instead, people would hang clothes on electricity wires. They (Akhilesh) used to steal 'toti' (taps); how can they provide 'roti' (food)?" "We often used to hear about gang wars and Japanese fever (encephalitis) in Gorakhpur but Modiji and Yogiji freed the district from them," he said while lauding the double-engine BJP government in Uttar Pradesh. Further, praising the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Thakur said, "There was no AIIMS in Gorakhpur for 70 years. Modiji-Yogiji came to power and now in five years, Gorakhpur has an AIIMS; not just the land, but a functioning building." "Whether it is the work of opening AIIMS in Gorakhpur or reviving the closed fertilizer factory, Modiji-Yogiji changed the direction and condition of Purvanchal," he added. Voting for the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 61 seats, covering 12 districts of the state, will begin on Sunday at 7 am. (ANI)
The order will be applicable from February 28.

This comes a day after the meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

Earlier, the Delhi government had exempted the single drivers from wearing masks while driving, however, the government revised the order today and now all the people travelling in the private car have been given exemption.

Notably, the COVID-19 cases in the national capital have declined significantly after which the government decided to lift all COVID related restrictions from Monday.

While appreciating the efforts made by all stakeholders in the management of COVID-19, Baijal said that it was reiterated that all agencies should continue to remain vigilant without lowering the guard.

The offline classes in all schools in Delhi will resume from April 1 onwards.

Delhi reported a decline in COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours as it registered 460 new cases on Friday. (ANI)
Attacking the Opposition parties in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday alleged that in the previous governments there was electricity on festivals like Eid and Muharram, but not on Holi and Diwali. Addressing a rally in Kushinagar, Chief Minister Yogi said, "Earlier electricity was also politicized. There used to be electricity on Eid and Muharram but not on Holi and Diwali. But no such discrimination is there today. In double-engine government, people are getting a double dose of ration every month along with various items." "If our double engine government comes to power again then all women older than 60 years of age will be given free access to travel in state corporation buses. We will give free scooty to girls and free electricity to farmers," promised Yogi Adityanath. Earlier on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also held rallies in Ballia and Ambedkar Nagar. "After four phases of polling, I can say this with confidence that there is a wave in favour of the BJP and it will get an absolute majority. Once again BJP will cross the mark of 300 seats," the BJP leader said in Ballia. Taking a jibe at Samajwadi Party leaders, Yogi Adityanath said that after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, most of the 'pariwarwadis' will be seen offering 'kar seva' with Lord Ram devotees in Ayodhya. "When we come back after 2024 Lok Sabha polls, most of these 'pariwarwadis' will be seen offering 'Kar Seva' with Ram devotees in Ayodhya...BJP govt believes in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, " he said in Ambedkar Nagar He further said, "Haathi (elephant) slipping here and there...Cycle can be easily punctured...Those who ate the poor's ration, we've bulldozers for them. Power of bulldozer is such that it's used for construction and to raze illegal possession of mafias, corrupt ministers." The fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections will be held on Sunday and the result will be announced on March 10. Polling for four phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded.The fifth phase, which is scheduled on Sunday, will majorly cover the eastern region. The remaining two phases will take place on March 3 and March 6. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
"Communist Party of Indian (Maoist) members, Sub Zonal Commander Sudarshan Bhuiyan and Sub Zonal Commander Balak Ganjhu carrying Rs 5 lakh each has been arrested by Latehar Police," said AV Homkar, (Operations), Jharkhand police in a joint press conference with Rajeev Singh, Inspector General, Jharkhand Sector, CRPF.

"The arrest of two commanders were made following the leads received after the arrest of various Naxals during a 12-day operation named 'Operation Double Bull'," the officer said.

The officer further added that during the search operation carried out in the jungle of Peshrar, a huge cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition have been recovered. (ANI).
"Till now we have traced over 60 students from Jharkhand. State govt will bear the travel expenses," said Johnson Topno, Control Room Head.

The first evacuation flight carrying 219 Indian nationals from Ukraine, has landed in Maharashtra's Mumbai on Saturday evening. The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, another batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at Zahony crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight on Saturday.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
Using federal grant money, the Office of the States Attorney for Anne Arundel County is hoping to reduce school expulsions and juvenile crime by hiring a social worker who would connect at-risk youth with support services.

A social worker hired under the States Attorneys Offices new Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention program, funded by a U.S. Department of Justices Innovation Prosecution Solutions grant of nearly $178,000, will seek out students suspended from the countys public schools and assist them with resources in an attempt to keep expulsions and juvenile incarceration down, county States Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said.

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The prosecutor said she has been trying to secure funding for the office to hire a youth-focused advocate for years, following her time on juvenile trial teams where she said she started to see the trajectory of how kids get into trouble.

The one indicator thats very, very clear is when kids start to get into trouble at school, Leitess said. That can be a sign of at-home pressures, such as physical abuse or trauma, which can lead to juvenile delinquency behaviors, she added.

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More than 6,000 of the 80,000-plus students at Anne Arundel County Public Schools faced in- or out-of-school suspensions during the 2019-20 school year, according to data collected by the Maryland State Department of Education. The previous school year, before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled in-person classes, there were more than 9,500 suspensions.

During the 2020-21 school year, when most students were learning at home, 82 county students were suspended. Each year, just about half of those suspensions are for attacks, threats or violence.

Under the program, schools would send information on the program to families of students who are suspended from public schools, and families could voluntarily sign on to get connected to resources, such as mental health evaluations and therapy.

While the prosecutors office may use other data in the future to find at-risk youth, they are starting out by using school suspensions to identify students who may be most at risk of committing crimes in the future..

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Throughout the county school system, administrators regularly use a variety of student information, including disciplinary records, to identify pupils who need additional support, Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesperson Bob Mosier said.

Thats with the overarching theme of providing services to get kids on the right track, he added.

Leitess noted that by the time juvenile cases reach her office, the youth involved already has a prior record. Diverting them earlier, while theyre in the sixth to ninth grade, can keep them from becoming involved in the justice system in the future, she said.

If youre doing poorly in school, its kind of like the canary in a coal mine. Its a warning sign to us that its time to intervene, Leitess said.

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The grant requires that each month, the advocate gives counseling and mentorship to a total of 20 students and connects them to holistic services, such as the Anne Arundel County Schools behavioral support services, mental health evaluations and treatment, and trauma informed therapy, according to the Justice Department.

Leitess said her office wasnt sure if they would have the buy-in from the countys school system, but has since had a series of meetings setting up plans for the project. Her office also is working with the county police department, which sends its own crisis intervention team into schools.

This fiscal year, only 23 other jurisdictions received the Department of Justices competitive innovative prosecution grants, which aim to reduce crime by encouraging local-level prosecutors to use data in public safety initiatives. Anne Arundel County was the only Maryland jurisdiction to receive a grant during the past round of funding.
According to the police, as many as 13 SUVs were recovered including 9 linked with Delhi NCR.

The police have registered FIRs and arrested seven persons including the kingpins, said the police. (ANI)
The second flight with Indian nationals from Ukraine is expected to reach New Delhi on Sunday morning, informed Union Minister Piyush Goyal's Office. "The first flight has landed. The second flight to Delhi is expected tomorrow morning. We are working to get our children to the borders in Ukraine. Indian embassy officials are taking them from the borders to airports of neighbouring countries," the tweet reads. It further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to ensure the return of each of our citizens. "Indian planes are being sent to various countries neighbouring Ukraine. Assure everyone that the government led by PM Narendra Modi is committed to ensure the return of each of our citizens. Compliment the crew of Air India for their commendable work," it added. "Embassy of India, Kyiv, has started the evacuation of stranded Indian Nationals from Ukraine. The Flight from Budapest to New Delhi carrying stranded Indian Nationals from Ukraine is expected to arrive at IGI Airport, New Delhi at 7:45 am on February 27, 2022," informed Minister of External Affairs (MEA). The second flight from Bucharest has taken off for Delhi with 250 Indian nationals, said External Affairs Minister. Dr S Jaishankar. It said that flight number: AI 1940 is expected to depart from Budapest today at 20:45 hrs. (Local Time) and is expected to arrive at 7:45 hrs IST Delhi tomorrow. A total of five students from Karnataka are arriving on this flight. "The State Government has opened facilitation center at IGI Airport, New Delhi, to coordinate and support stranded students arriving at IGI Airport hailing from Karnataka," the MEA informed. The first evacuation flight of Air India, AIC 1944 touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 7.50 pm. The aircraft, which had taken off from the Henri Coanda International Airport, Bucharest, Romania this afternoon, brought home 219 passengers, mostly students from India. Piyush Goyal was at the airport to welcome the first batch of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai Airport. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
The high-octane poll campaigning in Manipur came to an end on Saturday setting the stage for the first phase of Assembly elections in the state where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to retain power while the Congress is pinning hope on its six-party coalition to oust the Biren Singh government. Elections for the 60-member Manipur Assembly will take place in two phases on February 28 and March 5. As many as 38 seats will go to the polls in the first phase while voting in 22 constituencies will take place in the second phase. On the last day of the campaign for the first phase, BJP leader and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh took a part in a door-to-door campaign at Patsoi constituency in Imphal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, CM Biren Singh, BJP national president JP Nadda among others addressed rallies for the BJP in the state. The BJP formed the government in Manipur in 2017 with the support of the National People's Party (NPP), Naga People's Front (NPF) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). However, this time the BJP decided to go solo and is contesting all 60 seats alone. On the other hand, Congress has formed an alliance of six political parties and named it Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA). The coalition partners in MPSA include Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Janata Dal (Secular). In its election manifesto for Manipur, the BJP promised preservation of the rights of the indigenous people, two extra LPG cylinders, and free electric scooty to college going girls among others. The Congress manifesto promised to bring Manipur Cultural Diversity Policy, provide free critical medical treatment for children, creation of Manipur regiment and request the Centre to repeal AFSPA. As per the Manipur Chief Electoral Officer's website (https://ceomanipur.nic.in/), the final photo electoral rolls of all 60 Assembly constituencies were published on January 5, 2022, by the concerned Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). As per the data, there are over 20 lakh (20,91,398) voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. There are 9,85,119 male, 10,49,639 female and 208 Transgender electors. The number of PwD electors stands at 14565, while the number of 80+ electors is 41867, as per the CEO, Manipur. The total number of polling stations in the state is 2,959. A total of 1099 polling locations and 763 polling locations have been identified as "vulnerable and critical". In the 2017 Manipur Assembly elections, Congress emerged as the single largest party winning 28 seats followed by the BJP which settled with 21 seats. The National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF) bagged four seats each while the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) managed to secure only one constituency. BJP bagged 36.28 per cent vote share while Congress received 35.11 per cent of the total vote. Later, BJP stitched a coalition with the NPP, NPF and LJP to form the government under the leadership of Biren Singh. (ANI)
"Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will provide free services to all the students returning from Ukraine today. We will provide them free Covid testing, vaccines, food and all other facilities," said Pednekar.

Mumbai Mayor announcement came after, a first evacuation flight carrying 219 passengers from Ukraine, landed in Mumbai. The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who welcomed the students at Mumbai airport, said, "Since the beginning of this crisis, our main objective was to bring back each and every Indian stranded in Ukraine.

"219 students have arrived here. This was the first batch, the second will reach Delhi soon. We'll not stop until all of them are back home," he said.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
After the comments by some Congress leaders over India's stand on the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine, Bharatiya Janata Party national vice president Baijayant Jay Panda on Saturday said that the issue should not be politicised here in India. The BJP leader made the following statement while reacting to the comments made by the Congress leader Manish Tewari, where he said that Russia stood by India during times of adversities but "when a friend commits a mistake it needs to be corrected". "We shouldn't politicise it. It is a serious matter," said Panda. Making a reference to the Uri and Pulwama attack, BJP leaders said "We should remember how the world reacted when someone attacked India. Similarly, we should also remember how these opposition leaders reacted to it." Reacting to India abstaining from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, the BJP leader said that many countries abstained from voting but we need to understand the reasoning behind India's decision. "India has made it clear that war is not an answer to anything. The matter should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Nothing is more important than the lives of the people," Panda said, adding that, "we are not like China, which abstained with a message which seems like advocating for war." As the first flight of Indians coming from Ukraine landed in Mumbai, the BJP leader hailed the central government over its efforts by saying that "we have seen this in last 7-8 years. Whenever Indians get struck anywhere in the world, the Modi government ensures the safety of Indians there and bring them back to India safely." Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
"We received information that one person fired at another person inside the hospital premises. He is alive and is undergoing treatment," said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Pooja Dabla, Ambala.

The ASP further informed that the police have formed teams to nab the accused while further investigation is underway.

A man named Bunty fired at another youth Aman at the door of the ICU of the hospital. The entire incident was captured in the CCTV cameras installed in the hospital.

"The police reached the incident spot as soon as the information was received. The accused Bunty fled from the spot in a car after breaking open the hospital gate," informed Pooja Dabla. "We are looking for the accused on the basis of CCTV footage."

Speaking about this incident, the Director of the Hospital, Dr Sunil Sadiq said that two youths had a fight in the ICU, after which one man opened fire on the other as soon as they went out of the ICU.

Sadiq informed that the injured was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment and he informed the police about it, after which the police reached the spot and started investigation. (ANI)
A Kenyan lady arrested on Friday with contraband heroin worth around Rs 1.25 crore at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station here, informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Delhi Division. The suspected foreigner lady was identified as Alice Wangri Waithira, 50, a citizen of Kenya. The RPF revealed that after receiving the information that a foreign woman was carrying contraband drugs while travelling in train Nizamuddin Express, from Mumbai, the RPF team got ready with their plan. Krishan Kumar, Head Constable of RPF and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) staff jointly, along with two ladies staff checked the train on Friday. Vigilant RPF Team traced and identified the suspected lady in the train though she was trying to conceal her face with a mask and other clothes. "She was brought to the RPF Post and while searching RPF found some unusual bulge over the outer layer of her handbag on turning her handbag up and down, it was observed that some material was expanding. So, the outer layer of both the sides was cut by blade and white type substance powder substance was found filled up which was taken out and tested with drug kits which were found to be Heroin," read the release by the RPF. The RPF also revealed that the total weight of the heroin was 390 grams worth a value of Rs 1.25 crore approximately. The seized drug and accused were handed over to NCB where a Case under NDPS Act was registered against the accused. (ANI)
"IGP Kashmir was briefed by the officers about the proposed security measures/arrangements to be put in place for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2022," reads the official release.

"Officials were briefed about the proposed deployments, arrangements for camp security, use of modern/technical gadgets, road opening parties, general security scenario in their respective areas, preparation for disaster management, cut off timings etc," it added.

Meanwhile, the IGP Kashmir directed the officials to ensure better coordination and synergy among different security agencies working on ground and prepare the exhaustive security plan/arrangements as per the ground situation/requirement in their respective areas for peaceful yatra.

"There should be adequate use of modern security gadgets/technology including CCTVs, drones so as to enhance the security surveillance grid and thwart evil designs of ANEs," he said.

This year Amarnath Yatra might take place between June and August. (ANI)
Eastern Uttar Pradesh is all set to tinge its political chrome as the countdown has begun for the fifth phase of state Assembly polls scheduled on Sunday. A total of 61 Assembly constituencies spread across 12 districts including Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabaki, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Gonda, Amethi and Raebareli are going to polls on Sunday. The polling will begin at 7 am and continue till 6 pm. As many as 692 candidates are in the fray in the fifth phase whose political fate will be decided by around 2.24 crore electorates. The state is witnessing a multi-cornered contest with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as prime contenders. In 2017, BJP had won 38 seats out of 55 seats in this region, while the SP had retained 15 and the Congress had won two seats. When it comes to key issues, job losses among migrant labourers, lack of infrastructure, unemployment and most-importantly stray cattle menace hound the ruling BJP that might lead to a jerky ride for the party in this phase. Further, some sort of anti-incumbency factor exists that might reflect on the ballot box. However, BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charismatic image, double-engine rhetoric, free ration during the COVID pandemic and PM Awas Yojana. On the other hand, Akhilesh Yadav-led SP is eying on youth electorates besides its traditional game of consolidation of Yadav and Muslim vote bank. Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM which is also in the fray may prove to be a spoiler in SP's social engineering when it comes to Muslim voters. BSP supremo Mayawati who appeared to be on relatively backfoot in terms of aggressive campaigning is relying on its core Dalit vote bank. With Priyanka Gandhi Vadra steering Congress' power-packed campaigns, the party is also relying on this region for a good share of seats. The party believes Priyanka Gandhi's "Ladki hoon lad sakti hoon" campaign will mobilize women voters that might bring some good fortune. Now, the constituency that garnered most of the limelight in this phase is Ayodhya, the reason being the construction of the Ram Mandir. It is imperative to mention that Ayodhya will see its first big election after the 2019 Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case. Ayodhya (earlier Faizabad) district has been the bastion of the BJP since 1991 after the Ram Janmabhoomi movement started in the 1980s. With the development of the temple town and the sentiments of Hindu voters regarding "Ram", BJP finds itself in a relatively comfortable position in this region than its contenders, especially the Samajwadi Party. SP has fielded Brahmin face Tej Narayan Pandey against BJP's sitting MLA Ved Prakash Gupta. Worth mentioning, Pandey won from the seat in the 2012 Assembly polls. Thanks to Ram Mandir, the UP polls this time added a new aspect of temple politics. Political leaders across party lines, be it SP chief Akhilesh Yadav or Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi have not missed the chance for customary visits to temples. This can be seen as an effort to dent BJP's vote bank. Another most-talked about seat in this phase is Amethi which once used to be the bastion of the Congress Party. Notably, in the last Assembly elections in 2017, the seat was bagged by the BJP. BJP's Garima Singh defeated Samajwadi Party's (SP) Gayatri Prasad with a margin of more than 5,000 votes in the last elections. However, the ruling party in the state denied the ticket to Garima Singh this time and fielded her husband Sanjay Sinh. SP has fielded Prajapati's wife Maharaji Prajapati after the SP leader was imprisoned in a gang-rape case in November last year. Congress nominated BJP turncoat Ashish Shukla against Sanjay Sinh who is also a former Congress MP and had given up his Rajya Sabha seat to join BJP in 2019. Ashish Shukla had served as a minister during the Bahujan Samaj Party's government. Later he tried his luck with BJP before settling for Congress. BSP supremo nominated Ragini Tiwari whereas the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) pitted Anurag from the Amethi Assembly seat. One of the prominent candidates in this phase includes Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Aradhana Mishra who is fighting from Rampur Khas seat of Pratapgarh. Further, Raghuraj Pratap Singh, more popularly known as Raja Bhaiya, is contesting from Kunda. Several ministers are in the fray in the fifth phase. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is contesting from Sirathu assembly seat in the Kaushambi district. Siddharth Nath Singh from Allahabad West, Nand Gopal Gupta Nadi from Allahabad South, Ramapati Shastri from Mankapur and Rajendra Singh alias Moti Singh from Patti (Pratapgarh). Polling for four phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded. The fifth phase, which is scheduled on February 27, will majorly cover the eastern region. The remaining two phases will take place on March 3 and March 6. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
After a teenage student of Delhi Public School, Greater Faridabad, died by suicide on Thursday, Aarti Malhotra, the mother of the deceased boy on Saturday blamed that DPS school authority for her son's death. "My son should get justice. Senior authorities and DPS society should take the responsibility that they are admitting students without their background check just for the sake of earning money", said Aarti Malhotra, mother of the deceased boy. The administration of Delhi Public school Faridabad on Saturday denied allegations made by a 15-year-old boy in his suicide note that he was harassed by some students by saying that they conducted an investigation and nothing incriminating has been found. "His (student who died allegedly by suicide) mother works in our school. She gave us a written document mentioning the names of students who used to trouble her son. Those students are no longer part of our school", said Mamata Gupta, Senior Academic Coordinator, DPS Greater Faridabad. Aarti Malhotra further added, "I reported everything to concerned teachers, gave names of students (who harassed the deceased) to Principal. Authorities assured us of action but nothing was done and school started blaming my son for taking undue advantage of his disorder." A 15-year-old boy, a student of DPS Faridabad, allegedly jumped from the top floor of his residential building on Thursday evening leaving behind a suicide note in which he blamed the school for his action. In the suicide note, he alleged bullying over sexuality. "On complaining, teachers in school harassed me as well. I was threatened blatantly by the school that they will not be keeping my son in the school from next year onwards", added Aarti Malhotra. Subey Singh, a spokesperson from Faridabad police station said, "The boy used to study at Delhi Public School (DPS) Faridabad in Class 10, where his mother was a teacher too. Last year, two other students started harassing the deceased by making lewd remarks against him. He complained about it to the school authorities but allegedly no action was taken. "The deceased was at home due to lockdown for some time but after the schools reopened, he started going to school. He was again being mentally tortured there. The boy asked for help from a teacher to understand a subject but she instead accused the boy and his mother of troubling her unnecessarily," added Singh. The deceased's mother made a written complaint to the police where she has mentioned that due to mental stress at school, he went into depression and was undergoing treatment. (ANI)
Chiding him for a recent arrest on narcotics possession charges, a judge on Friday sentenced a 25-year-old man to 10 years of jail time for his conviction on offenses alleging he supplied cocaine to a Brooklyn Park drug and sex trafficking ring.

Troy Wayne Dunnigan, 25, had been set to receive a shorter sentence when he pleaded guilty last November to narcotics distribution offenses for selling cocaine to the leadership of an enterprise that dealt drugs and trafficked women out of hotels in the Brooklyn Park area. He was one of 15 men indicted in July 2020 on a variety of offenses, mostly related to participating in a criminal gang and dealing in illicit substances, as part of the state attorney generals offices Operation Too Close to Home. Of those, 12 have now been convicted and sentenced, one is still awaiting a court date, and two have died.

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In the 2020 indictment, Dunnigan was accused of dealing cocaine to 42-year-old Michael Anthony Copeland, who prosecutors describe as the right hand man to the enterprises leader, 46-year-old David Tico Brown. The two men at the top would run the operation out of hotels in Brooklyn Park, where they would provide women with drugs and force them to meet with dates, according to the indictment.

Last year, Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Pamela Alban sentenced Brown, the leader of the group, to serve 28 years in prison, suspended down from a 50-year sentence. Copeland, the second-in-command, was sentenced to 24 years of incarceration, also suspended down from 50 years. Both were also ordered to 5 years of probation.

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Dunnigans sentence was above that of the plea deal arranged last November, as Dunnigan was arrested on new drug-related offenses this January. In charging papers for that case, police wrote that they executed a search warrant on both a car and a residence linked to Dunnigan and found drugs and ammunition. He is currently scheduled for a hearing on that case in April.

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He is very, very, very remorseful about what happened in January, Dunnigans defense lawyer, Augustine Okeke, told the judge, arguing to keep the agreed-upon sentence of under four years of incarceration, and adding he cannot comment on if the new charges will hold up in court.

The judge described the original deal as a gift to Dunnigan as his lawyer as insistent he was pulling his life back together after selling cocaine to sustain the organization.

I warned you, I kind of told you to stay out of trouble after hearing the plea, Alban told Dunnigan. She added that his sentence can be changed after the new drug case reaches a conclusion.

Of the initial 15 arrests stemming from ties to the group, only one man, Lawrence Oliver Jones, 37, of Brooklyn is still waiting for his case to be resolved in court. None of the cases have gone to trial.

Most of those accused of participating in the lower ranks of the organization made plea deals with prosecutors on lesser charges.

Earlier this year, Charles Marion Edwards, Jr., 55, was sentenced to serve five years of jail time; Andrew Lee Tillman, 38, and Antoine Folkes, 52, were sentenced to serve three years; Justin Michael Jess, 29, and Derrick Rodney Ricks, 30, were sentenced to serve 18 months; Laron Ontario Matthews, 46, was sentenced to one year in jail; Vernon Ralph Harris, 51, and William Henry Shipley, Jr., 30, were sentenced to serve six months; and Antoine Crockett, 41, was sentenced to serve three months in jail. All were also sentenced to five years of supervised probation, and had their sentences suspended down from longer periods.

Two of the defendants, John Patrick Hines, 46, and Michael Jason Rebstock, 48, died last year before their cases were resolved.
Slamming Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav for questioning the credibility of indigenous COVID vaccine, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday said the people of the state will give such a dose to Yadav that he will forget to do politics. Speaking to ANI, Maurya said, "Akhilesh Yadav used to say that the COVID vaccine is of BJP and not of coronavirus. He had disrespected even the scientists. And now, the people of Uttar Pradesh will give such a vaccine to him that Akhilesh Yadav would forget to do politics." "BJP got 73 seats in Uttar Pradesh during 2014 Lok Sabha polls when Akhilesh Yadav was the chief minister. And in the 2017 Assembly polls, we won 325 seats. We are winning more than 300 seats again. The double engine government will work for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas," added the minister. Maurya is contesting from Sirathu assembly seat in the Kaushambi district which is going to polls on Sunday. Polling for four phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded. The fifth phase, which is scheduled on February 27, will mainly cover the eastern region. The remaining two phases will take place on March 3 and March 6. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
As Russian troops continue to move deeper into the Ukrainian territory, the small Indian community threatened by the crossfire finds itself virtually pushed to the wall. Besides other uncertainties, Indian nationals in Ukraine face scarcity of food and other issues even as bombings in cities escalate. Kharkiv is in the northeast of Ukraine, around 500 km east from capital Kiev. Among others, it is inhabited by about 100 Indian businessmen. They have been living in the city for the past two to three decades. Most of them are engaged in trading or have big grocery shops in the embattled city. Dinesh Singh, a native of Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh, is one of them. He has been living in Kharkiv for the last 25 years. He along with his wife and 12-year-old son has moved into a bunker near his house. Two other Indian families have also taken shelter into the bunker like him. Talking to IANS, Singh said, "We woke up with the sound of bombing on February 24 and were forced to take shelter in the nearby bunker. It is just 8x7 feet in size. Two other Indian families are also with us." He also said that bombing is continuing on the outskirts of Kharkiv since Saturday morning. "The bunker is small for nine people and we often have to go upstairs to get a whiff of fresh air. The tiny shelter has only one bulb connection to illuminate the makeshift facility. We can't lie on the floor, so we are taking a nap only while sitting," he added. Singh said that all shopping malls and grocery shops are closed now and they are left with ration that will sustain for a week or so. "We will see what happens after a week (about ration and other essential supplies). There was a big queue at ATMs and long traffic jams on highways because many people are fleeing to the Romanian border to get refuge in the neighbouring country, as the war seems to be unrelenting," Singh said. A motor spare parts trader, Singh stays in Street Geroev Pratsi in Kharkiv. The small residential enclave houses around 100 homes. Their inhabitants are now forced to take shelter in safer zones and spend the nights in bunkers. Singh's wife Anita told IANS that the electricity supply has not been disrupted so far despite the bombings. She thinks this to be a big relief since the temperature hovers around two to three-degree Celsius in Kharkiv. She does not seem to be scared and says that she would stay there only. Yet, she urged the Indian authorities to evacuate the stranded Indian students at earliest. Singh further said that around five to six thousand medical students are studying in the Kharkiv National Medical College and as of now they are taking shelter in the basements of their hostels, bunkers near their private accommodations or at underground metro stations along with other Ukrainians. According to him, about 100 Indian businessmen are living in Kharkiv who own shops in local malls, big grocery stores, pharmaceutical shops and other trading outlets. The Indian community staying there feels that the situation will be eased by March 5 or 6 as the Ukrainian forces are still resisting amid heavy bombing by the Russian forces. Singh and his wife, however, evaded questions about the political future that awaits Ukraine. Sharing his experience, Singh said that at least two to four feet-long unexploded rockets can be seen stuck at little distances through the main streets of the city. Yet, the Indian community in Ukraine seems to have adopted a wait and watch policy as its members hope that the result of this war may not affect their lives and businesses. --IANS ams/arm ( 640 Words) 2022-02-26-19:10:03 (IANS)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday called upon the spices industry to double the sector exports to USD 10 billion in the next five years. "We now aspire to meet our ambitious target for spices export - USD 10 billion not by 2030, but maybe even faster. Can we aspire to reach it in the next five years? Let us aspire to double our exports to $10 billion in the next five years, by 2027 and then further double our exports by USD 10 billion in the next five years," Goyal said at the 35th anniversary function of the Spices Board. He expressed satisfaction over the spices exports having increased by 115 per cent in volume and 84 per cent in value (USD) between 2014-21, reaching a historic high of USD 4.2 billion in 2020-21. The minister, who addressed the event through video-conferencing, said Indian spices and spices products are reaching over 180 destinations all over the world. "During COVID, along with India's medicines and vaccines, the world experienced the importance of our spices and 'kadha'. Our grandmother's home remedies like haldi doodh/turmeric latte and spices like cinnamon, Tulsi (Basil leaves), etc became a household staple in the world. In fact, India recorded a growth of 42 per cent in turmeric exports last year," Goyal said, according to an official release. The minister said though India is a leader in the global spice, the sector is facing challenges too. "When it comes to export of spices in whole raw form, we do not currently enjoy cost advantage against many countries in Asia and Africa regions, which means we should focus on increasing the export of value-added spices products. Also, we face challenges in preparing our production system and manufacturing systems to meet the stringent quality and food safety standards," he said. Goyal said the government is keen to increase export of spices from the country through resilient and efficient programmes and interventions. During the event, Goyal launched the innovative weather-based crop insurance scheme, a joint initiative of the Spices Board and Agricultural Insurance Company of India for the benefit of cardamom farmers. He also released the postal stamp to mark the Coral Jubilee of Spices Board. The minister urged the Board to expand the reach of the quality testing laboratory network to all regions in India and adhere to the highest standards so as to make a name for quality and efficiency of service. He called upon the spices industry to obtain GI tag for their distinct products. "Twenty-six Indian spices have received GI like Coorg Green Cardamom, Mizo Ginger, Kanniyakumari Cloves etc., we should capture more such possibilities for traditional Indian produce," he said. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan Saturday interacted with the parents of students who are stuck in Ukraine and assured them of the government's commitment to bring back each and every student safely. "Interacted with parents of students, who are stuck in Ukraine. Listened to them and responded to the concerns regarding the safety and well-being of their children. Conveyed the government's commitment to bring back each and every student safely," he said in a tweet. Meanwhile, some parents of Indian students stuck in Kyiv in Ukraine due to the cancellation of the evacuation flight on February 24 wrote a letter to the government to get them out of the city as soon as possible saying "they are not able to get even proper food and other basic necessities". The first evacuation flight carrying 219 Indian nationals from Ukraine landed in Maharashtra's Mumbai on Saturday evening. The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday afternoon. Another batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at Zahony crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
He revealed speaking to Modi soon after Russia praised India's decision to abstain from a vote at the United Nations to condemn its invasion.

Zelensky said that he spoke with Modi and informed of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression.

He tweeted: "More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings."

He urged India to give Ukraine political support in the United Nations Security Council.

"Stop the aggressor together!" he said.

India had abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution that deplores in the strongest terms Russia's aggression against Ukraine, saying dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes.

The Russian Embassy in India on Saturday said in a tweet, "Highly appreciate India's independent and balanced position at the voting in the UNSC on February 25, 2022."

It further stated, "In the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership Russia is committed to maintain close dialogue with India on the situation around Ukraine."

The UNSC voted on the draft resolution presented by the US and Albania, and co-sponsored by several other nations, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

While Russia, which chaired the meeting of the UNSC since it holds the presidency for the month of February, vetoed the resolution, China and the UAE abstained along with India.

--IANS sk/arm

( 275 Words)

2022-02-26-19:50:02 (IANS)
A face-off among the workers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress on Saturday shook Tripura's Agartala city as party offices of both the parties came under attacks. Several party workers, including Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman, sustained injuries. The administration promulgated section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on Friday evening to control the unruly situation. Both the parties blamed each other for the ugly situation and security has been beefed up across Agartala city. Police, TSR and CRPF Jawans have been patrolling the city to keep the law and order situation under control. The Congress party claimed that the BJP supporters first launched an unprovoked attack on induction programme organised at Kamarpukur Par, Agartala. Tripura Pradesh Congress President Birajit Sinha said, "The BJP workers all of a sudden started pelting stones targeting the Congress' joining programme and later ravaged the whole event. Some miscreants, armed with wooden clubs and brickbats, launched attacks on senior Congress leaders injuring Sudip Roy Barman." "The Congress party condemns such hooliganism in the name of politics", said Sinha. Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman told ANI over the phone that it was a pre-planned attack and the state police were hand in gloves with the miscreants. On the other hand, the ruling BJP accused Congress of vandalizing its party office. BJP organized a protest rally that turned violent on reaching the Congress Bhavan area. The BJP supporters threw stones and brickbats at the Congress Bhavan and the Congress workers in retaliation threw petrol bombs on the rally. BJP general secretary Tinku Roy, Vice President Rajib Bhattacharjee, General Secretary Papai Datta and other senior leaders of the saffron party got involved in a heated altercation with the local police seeking the arrest of the Congress supporters. Union Minister of state social justice and empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik, also visited the spot and interacted with media persons after the incident. Tripura Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury was also present at the rally and claimed that when the BJP's peaceful rally reached near the Congress Bhawan, some anti-socials who were hiding inside the Congress Bhavan threw petrol bombs on them. "Their main aim is to create unrest in the state and to bring the CPI(M) back to power. But we have to keep in mind that people have suffered for 25 long years and after that, this government was formed," the Minister said. He claimed that the Congress and the CPI(M) are now in a shadow alliance to dethrone the ruling alliance. Chowdhury also alleged that CPI(M) sent their party workers to support Congress. West District Superintendent of Police, Bogati Jagadeeswar Reddy said, "The incident is really unfortunate. Law will take its course against those who are responsible for the incident. We will investigate it further. So far, we didn't receive any complaints." The SP, however, claimed that BJP didn't take any prior permission before holding the rally late evening. "They didn't take any permission for the rally. We will deploy more force to maintain law and order," the official said. The prohibitory orders have been immediately clamped across Agartala city. "It is apprehended that there is every possibility of further Law and Order issues at night and the Additional Superintendent of Police (Urban), West Tripura, Camp at SDPO Office (Sadar) has requested to promulgate prohibitory orders to maintain Law and Order in following areas: Colonel Chowmuhani to BK Chowmuhani to Post Office Chowmuhani, Chandrapur to Ashram Chowmuhani whole area and Math Chowmuhani to Old Motor Stand up to Surya Chowmuhani, GB Bazar to Kumari Tilla area to Abhoynagar," the order said. (ANI)
Indian students who were evacuated from war-hit Ukraine and reached Mumbai airport on Saturday night expressed their gratitude to the Government of India for bringing them back safely. The students are also hoping for the safe and early come back of the remaining students to India. An MBBS student who returned from Ukraine said that there was some fear and panic but he is very happy to be back in India. Speaking to ANI, he said, "I had trust upon Indian govt that they will definitely bring us back to our country. There was some fear and panic but we are very happy to be back in India." Air India flight attendant said that students were filled with joy once we landed here in Mumbai. "We are very happy to bring our students back home. The students were filled with joy once we landed here in Mumbai. Thanks to the Government of India for giving us this opportunity," she added. Akanksha Rawat, another student who returned from Ukraine, said, "I was really scared but thanks to the Indian government, we reached safely. We were the first ones to be rescued. The government took action within a couple of days." "We are proud of our country and the govt of India. We hope the remaining students are brought back as soon as possible," said a student Dhara Vora who returned from Ukraine. Union Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the first batch of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai Airport and said that the Government will not stop until all of them are back home. He further said more evacuation flights are being operated and the second flight is likely to land in Delhi in the wee hours of Sunday. "Since the beginning of this crisis, our main objective was to bring back each and every Indian stranded in Ukraine. 219 students have arrived here. This was the first batch, the second will reach Delhi soon. We'll not stop until all of them are back home," Goyal told ANI. He asked the returning passengers to speak to their friends still in Ukraine and reassure them not to worry. He said, "Government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens. The Minister said that PM Narendra Modi has spoken with the Ukrainian President and stressed the safety of Indian citizens. The Russians have also promised to help evacuate all Indians." The Minister wholeheartedly thanked Air India for its commitment to the national cause, which was met with applause by all the homecoming passengers. The first evacuation flight of Air India, AIC 1944 touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 7.50 pm. The aircraft, which had taken off from the Henri Coanda International Airport, Bucharest, Romania this afternoon, brought home 219 passengers, mostly students from India. A large number of relatives of homebound passengers were present at the arrival concourse of the Mumbai airport to receive their near and dear ones. Meanwhile, another batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at the Zahony-Uzhhorod border crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight on Saturday. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
He also informed that the state government is making all arrangements for their stay and free travel to Guwahati.

"We welcome our students- Tanmayee & Siya, successfully evacuated from Ukraine and who have reached Mumbai just now. Received by our Assam Bhawan official, We are making all arrangements for their stay and free travel to Guwahati. Our teams will ensure all assistance to such students," the Chief Minister tweeted.

The first flight from Romania carrying 219 Indian students who had left the conflict in Ukraine reached Mumbai on Saturday as the efforts continued for the safe evacuation of Indians in the wake of Russia's military action in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and conveyed India's deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, present in Ukraine.

He sought facilitation by Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate Indian citizens.

As the situation in Ukraine continued to be tense, more and more people are migrating to Poland. About 100,000 people have entered Poland from Ukraine over the last several days, a media report said citing the country's Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Pawel Szefernaker said on Saturday. (ANI)
The students arrived safely in Mumbai on a specially launched rescue flight by the Government of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and conveyed India's deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, present in Ukraine.

He sought facilitation by Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate Indian citizens.

President Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. PM Modi expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict.

He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts.

In his tweet, Zelenskyy said he urged for India's political support in UN Security Council against Russia.

"Spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Informed of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression. More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!" he said in a tweet. (ANI)
Akhilesh Yadav also exuded confidence over SP's victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

"They (BJP) want to take money from poor and give it to their rich businessmen friends. People will bring SP to power. Petrol and diesel prices are increasing continuously," Yadav said while addressing a public rally as a part of his elections campaign in UP's Balrampur.

He further took a jibe at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and said, "Baba CM has booked his ticket from Lucknow to Gorakhpur on March 11."

Eastern Uttar Pradesh is all set to tinge its political chrome as the countdown has begun for the fifth phase of state Assembly polls scheduled on Sunday.

A total of 61 Assembly constituencies spread across 12 districts including Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabaki, Bahraich, Shrawasti, Gonda, Amethi and Raebareli are going to polls on Sunday.

As many as 692 candidates are in the fray in the fifth phase whose political fate will be decided by around 2.24 crore electorates.

Polling for four phases of the seven-phased Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has already concluded. The fifth phase, which is scheduled for February 27, will majorly cover the eastern region.

The remaining two phases will take place on March 3 and March 6. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI)
RTHK: Germany to send weapons to Ukraine in policy reversal

Germany on Saturday dramatically ramped up its backing for Ukraine's battle against Russia, approving weapons deliveries for Kyiv in a policy U-turn and agreeing to limit Moscow's access to the Swift interbank system.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Russias offensive marks a turning point in history and threatens our entire post-war order as his government approved the delivery of a huge batch of lethal weapons to Ukraine.

In a shift from its longstanding policy of banning weapons exports to conflict zones, Berlin is opening up its Bundeswehr store, pledging to transfer 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 "Stinger" class surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine.

It also finally approved the deliveries of 400 anti-tank rocket launchers via the Netherlands to Ukraine on Saturday.

The anti-tank launchers had been purchased by the Netherlands from Berlin, and the Hague had therefore required Germany's green light to hand them to Kyiv.

Likewise, a weeks-long request from Estonia for the transfer to Ukraine of eight old Howitzers purchased from ex-communist East Germany won approval.

Besides the weapons, 14 armoured vehicles will be handed over to Ukraine, and "will serve for the protection of personnel, possibly for evacuation purposes", said a government source.

Kyiv has for weeks been pleading with Germany to send armaments, and Berlin's obstinate refusal until now to approve weapons deliveries, and a previous decision to send only 5,000 helmets, had sparked anger and mockery.

Hours before Germany's key policy shift, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki became the latest leader to hit out at Berlin over its weapons exports stance as he arrived in Berlin for talks with Scholz.

"Five thousand helmets? That must be some kind of joke. There needs to be real help... weapons," he said, stressing that Ukraine is not just fighting for itself.

Morawiecki had also voiced frustration with Berlin for dawdling on agreeing on "crushing" sanctions, including booting Russia out of the Swift system that banks rely on to transfer money.

But with pressure mounting from allies, Berlin said it was now working on excluding Russia from the system in a "targeted and functional" way. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-02-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence called on those living in the northern outskirts, where the tanks were seen, to make fire bombs "to neutralise the enemy".

The European Union has announced new sanctions to freeze Vladimir Putin's personal assets in Europe, BBC reported.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, says that Russia is ready for talks with Ukraine.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said talks would have to be about Ukraine declaring a "neutral status" - which would include "demilitarisation". Russia wants Ukraine to rule out ever joining Nato.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for talks with Putin, but has given no sign that he would agree to talks on the basis of "demilitarisation".

Overnight, Kiev was hit by blasts, with at least one block of flats damaged and several civilians injured. Russia has denied carrying out strikes, BBC reported.

As the second day of fighting began, Moscow - which was attacking from the east, north and south - appeared to have Kyiv firmly in its sights. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said "the enemy" was trying to put Kyiv "on its knees", the report said.

On Friday afternoon, Russia's Defence Ministry announced that it had captured the Antonov airport, using 200 helicopters and a landing force in order to take the base to the north of Kiev from Ukraine. Western intelligence officials warned earlier that Russia was building an "overwhelming force" to take control of the city.

--IANS san/arm

( 267 Words)

2022-02-25-22:34:03 (IANS)
Amid ongoing military operations by Russia against Ukraine, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Friday (local time), said this is a war of choice as Moscow's latest attack is so bold and brazen that it threatens our international system. "We are here today because of Russia's unprovoked, unjustified, unconscionable war on Ukraine," Thomas-Greenfield said at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine. Thomas-Greenfield said, "This is a war of choice. Russia's choice. Russia chose to invade its neighbor. Russia chose to inflict untold suffering on the Ukrainian people and on its own citizens. Russia chose to violate Ukraine's sovereignty, to violate international law, to violate the UN Charter." US Ambassador to the United Nations highlighted the ongoing situation in Ukraine and said, "all across Ukraine, people are fleeing for their lives. Residents of Kiev, and Kharkiv have left their homes with only the belongings they could stuff in their backpacks to take shelter in subway stations which have now become bomb shelters." She said that some reports of attacks on kindergartens and orphanages in Ukraine. "Babies, newborn babies in an intensive care unit have been evacuated into makeshift bomb shelters too. We have seen heart-wrenching images of fathers sobbing as they say goodbye to their young children and sending their families away to safety, while they stay behind to defend their country," US Ambassador to the United Nations said. She said that according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 50,000 people have fled Ukraine in less than 48 hours. "We've also seen everyday Russians bravely speak out and demonstrate in cities across Russia against President Putin's decision to plunge them into a war with their neighbor. They do not want to sacrifice Russian lives for Putin's ambition," she said. She further said that UN High Commissioner for Refugees charged with maintaining international peace and security was created to prevent exactly this kind of aggression from ever happening again. "Russia's latest attack on our most fundamental principles is so bold, so brazen that it threatens our international system as we know it," she said. Thomas-Greenfield said that the people of Ukraine will soon need food and water and shelter and medical aid. "They will face displacement and lose everything they've worked to build. For these reasons, we and Albania in consultation with our allies and partners have proposed this draft resolution holding Russia to account for its aggression against Ukraine," she added. (ANI)
Moscow will respond to the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies over Russia's military operation in Ukraine, the head of the Russian Senate, Valentina Matviyenko, told journalists during her visit to Tajikistan on Friday, RT reported. "As for the reciprocal sanctions... they are ready," Matviyenko said, adding that Russia's response would not mirror the restrictions imposed by Washington and its allies, but would instead hit the western nations where it hurts. "We are well aware of the West's weak spots and we have drafted an entire package... a series of potential sanctions to be used against those nations that announced sanctions against Russia," the Senate head said, adding that "the West has many soft spots", the report said. The official did not elaborate on any details of the drafted sanction proposals. She only said that the measures would be designed so as not to hurt Russia itself. The Russian government has taken "all the threats stemming from sanctions" into account and developed "safety mechanisms", RT reported. Matviyenko has also said that Russia will remain a reliable gas supplier for Europe despite measures taken by the US and Germany against the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Berlin decided to put an immediate halt to the certification of the project even before Russia launched its operation in Ukraine. The decision was taken following the official recognition by Moscow of the two breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk Republics earlier this week, the report said. --IANS san/arm ( 261 Words) 2022-02-25-23:10:03 (IANS)
The second day of fighting saw tanks enter the capital, Kiev, for the first time, as Ukrainian military vehicles also rushed to the city to defend it.

Ukrainian officials said they have handed out 18,000 guns to volunteers, as well as issuing instructions on how to make petrol bombs, the report said.

Fighting continues across the nation.

"Russian tanks are still shooting residential buildings in our cities," Zelensky said in an address to the nation earlier.

Zelensky said Western nations - and nearby Europe in particular - must go further and "act without delay", BBC reported.

"Europe has enough strength to stop this aggression," he said.

"The columns of tanks and the air strikes are very similar to what Europe saw a long time ago, during WW2 - something about which it said 'never again'," he said, adding: "But here it is, again. Now, in 2022. 75 years after World War II ended."

He said all counter-measures must be considered -- including throwing Russia out of Swift, imposing visa bans and closing airspace to Russia, BBC reported.

The Ukraine President's appeal came as Russia offered talks with Ukraine for the first time since the crisis began, but under restrictive conditions. Zelensky has been seeking talks with Vladimir Putin since before the invasion began.

--IANS san/arm

( 251 Words)

2022-02-25-23:12:03 (IANS)
India on Friday (local time) abstained from voting on UNSC resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine saying that the "path of diplomacy was given up". "India's deeply disturbed by the recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for the immediate cessation of violence and hostilities," said India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine. Tirumurti said that no solution can ever be arrived at, at the cost of human lives. Tirumurti also expressed concern over the welfare and security of the Indian community in Ukraine. "We are also deeply concerned about the welfare and security of the Indian community, including a large number of Indian students, in Ukraine," he said, adding that "the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states." "All member states need to honour these principles in finding a constructive way forward. Dialogue is the only answer to settling differences and disputes, however, daunting that may appear at this moment," Tirumurti said. "It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We must return to it. For all these reasons India has chosen to abstain on this resolution," Tirumurti added. (ANI)
A driver was also injured in the incident that took place near Quetta's Eastern Bypass, the Dawn newspaper reported citing Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Syed Fida Hassan.

According to CCTV footage, the gunman opened fire on police officials they ate at a local hotel. The killed policemen included an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and a constable.

Terming the occurrence a "terrorist incident", Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo said that "destructive elements want to disrupt peace in the province", according to the publication.

Notably, 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)
As the Moscow visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan concludes, Pakistan has not achieved any tangible gains, while irking the US further, a report has said. "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 in our war," said US State Department spokesperson, Ted Price. Imran Khan's meeting with Putin came hours after several Western nations hit Russia with new sanctions, which Khan himself is seen joyfully describing as "exciting times" in a video shared on Twitter of Khan's landing in Moscow. It gives the Western Powers for whom Pakistan is a "non-NATO ally," reasons to be annoyed, The Times of Israel reported. On top of this, Khan's added 'disqualification' in eyes of the US is that his country is being increasingly seen as a Chinese ally. China is the US's larger adversary that is tacitly supporting Moscow, the report said, adding further that, Khan may soon realize that he is being the "wrong man in the wrong place, at the wrong time." The 'ill-timed' visit has been heavily criticized in Pakistan, with media and analysts questioning the utility of a visit at such a time when tensions are at an all-time high between Russia and the West. Prior to the Moscow visit, Pakistani security analysts had urged Khan to watch hisstep. They warned that there is a cost to one-dimensional foreign policy towardsregional powers and compartmentalizing relations, the report highlighted. Imran Khan's visit to Moscow did not result in any financial assistance for the economically fragile country, nor much was achieved otherwise with Moscow issuing a brief statement on the visit saying that the two leaders discussed the main aspects of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on current regional topics, including developments in South Asia. (ANI)
CAD is the difference between a country's foreign expenditure and income.

The deficit of USD 2.56 billion in January 2022 was 12 times higher than the USD 219 million recorded a year ago in January 2021.

"No one had expected the deficit to rise to such a high level," said researcher Tahir Abbas as quoted by The Express Tribune.

"The current account deficit rose largely due to imports in kind that are fully financed," the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on its official Twitter handle on Thursday. "Excluding these (imports in-kind), the deficit would have been around $1 billion lower in January 2022."

The cumulative CAD for the first seven months (July-January) of the current fiscal year (2021-22) amounted to USD 11.58 billion compared to a surplus of USD 1.03 billion in the same period of the previous year, according to the SBP.

The deficit is expected to remain high given the international petroleum crude benchmark (Brent) hit an eight-year high of over $100 per barrel on Thursday amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The all-time high CAD comes at a time when Pakistan's debt and liabilities hit an all-time high of Rs 51.724 trillion in December 2021.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs reported on Wednesday that it booked gross foreign loans of USD 11.8 billion in the July-January period of the fiscal year 2021-22.

The country is in a debt trap and the Imran Khan government is looking for new debt instruments. He is also struggling to find ways to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

The existing debt products seem insufficient to meet the growing borrowing requirements and the country is sliding down economic chaos. (ANI)
Terming the amendments to media law in Pakistan "oppressive and draconian", Islamabad high court (IHC) has restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from arresting anyone without full implementation of its standard operating procedures (SOPs) till March 10, local media reported. The directives were issued by the court while hearing the pleas filed by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and others against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act Ordinance 2022 ordinance, the Dawn newspaper reported. "It is being said with regret that the proceedings (under PECA) were initiated against those individuals who criticized the government," the publication quoted the IHC chief justice as saying. Noting that the proceedings did not seem to be happening in a democratic country, the chief justice observed that of the 14,000 complaints pending with the FIA, only the government's rivals were being targeted. However, the judge blamed the political parties and their activists for trolling on social media and denied entertaining their pleas against the ordinance. He suggested they oppose the ordinance in parliament instead of filing petitions in the court, the media outlet reported. Notably, along with media bodies and superior bar councils, opposition parties Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had filed petitions against the PECA ordinance. Even before the amendments to PECA, the FIA had abused its authority in complaints involving public office holders, the Pakistani newspaper reported citing IHC chief justice. PECA ordinance gives FIA powers to arrest anyone and put them in jail till the conclusion of the trial, the judge said, adding, "The court has no hesitation in saying that the ordinance is a draconian law." He further said that people will stop writing out of fear of this law as the ordinance would result in self-censorship. Under the PECA Ordinance 2022, online defamation has been made a non-bailable, cognizable offence and the jail term for it has also been increased from three years to five years. The amendment has also broadened the ambit of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The opposition parties and media and journalist bodies in Pakistan are vehemently opposing the amendments to PECA stating it is a flagrant attempt of the Imran Khan government to stifle the voice of dissent and place fetters on constitutional rights of the citizens. (ANI)
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data, the government's total debt stocks rose by 8 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal (2021-22) which increased the total domestic and external debt to an all-time high of Rs 51.724 trillion in December 2021, up from Rs 47.931 trillion in June 2021, reported Business Recorder.

Continued borrowing from domestic and external resources for financing the fiscal deficit is increasing the country's debt burden, the report further said citing economists.

The external debt included Rs 14.814 trillion of government external debt, Rs 4.223 trillion non-government debt, and loans of Rs 1.188 trillion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Earlier this month, IMF released a fresh tranche of loans to the tune of USD 1 billion to Pakistan, subject to fulfilling certain conditions. Fuel prices and power tariffs in Pakistan are at historic highs as a result.

The fresh funds constitute an installment of a USD 6 billion bailout package which the IMF's Executive Board had cleared in July 2019.

The country is in a debt trap and the Imran Khan government is looking for new debt instruments. He is also struggling to find ways to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

The existing debt products seem insufficient to meet the growing borrowing requirements and the country is sliding down economic chaos. (ANI)
The United States embassy for Ukraine has warned US citizens that "conditions may deteriorate without warning," and advised them to locate their nearest shelter. "The security situation throughout Ukraine remains highly volatile, and conditions may deteriorate without warning. US citizens should remain vigilant and know the location of your closest shelter or protected space," the embassy said in a tweet. This comes as explosions have been heard in parts of Kiev as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported. Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks. As Russian forces drew closer to the capital Kiev, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Friday asked its citizen to "make Molotov cocktails." Even, one of the television channels gave instructions on how to make cocktails, urging residents to resist Russia's military action. Amid the growing military operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to defend his country while standing on the street of the national capital. "We are all here. Our military are here. Citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state and it will remain so. Glory to our defenders! Glory to our women defenders! Glory to Ukraine," said Zelensky in a video posted on Facebook. On Friday, the US urged Russia not to harm Zelensky, saying that doing so would be a "horrific" act. Meanwhile, Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to send a delegation of high-ranking officials to Minsk to hold talks with Kiev. (ANI)
"It's Putin's war; it's a shame that it is happening. We react with economic sanctions. We can't allow the occupation of one country by another. We want an international community that is based on international laws," Ambassador Lindner told ANI.

These remarks come a day after the heads of missions of European countries in India, including ambassador Lindner, expressed solidarity with their Ukrainian counterpart while condemning Russia's military action in Ukraine.

"The violation of national sovereignty and international laws is not acceptable. We must respect the international borders. My heart goes out to every student who has to leave Ukraine due to invasion by the Russian Army," he said.

Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported on Saturday.

Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks.

Amid the growing military operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to defend his country while standing on the street of the national capital.

Kremlin said that the Russian President is ready to send a delegation of high-ranking officials to Minsk to hold talks with Kiev. (ANI)
Sharp was speaking on the sidelines of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' cycle rally in New Delhi. The UN official was participating in the event to commemorate 75 years of India's independence.

"The need is to support the peace negotiation efforts and support the calls for a ceasefire immediately, that is the very first thing, from there everything else stems," Sharp said.

Talking about the UN efforts, he said, "General Secretary Antonio Guterres has been urgently appealing for peace, for a ceasefire, for de-escalation and to give peace a chance despite the tragic events."

Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for a return to the path of negotiation and dialogue. "We must rally and meet this challenge together for peace, and to save the people of Ukraine and beyond from the scourge of war," Guterres said at a media stakeout in New York. (ANI)
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director (MD) Kristalina Georgieva has vowed to support Ukraine after the country urged for emergency financing' amid the ongoing Russian military operations in the country. In a statement issued on Friday, the IMF MD expressed grave concern over the Ukraine crisis which she says will have a serious economic impact. This crisis comes at a when the global economy is recovering from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and threatens to undo some of that progress. "Today I met with our Executive Board to brief Executive Directors on our initial assessment of the unfolding situation. I assured them that our staff will continue to work closely with the authorities to support Ukraine in every way we can. We will also continue to work hand in hand with the World Bank Group and other partners to coordinate our support and ensure the maximum benefit for Ukraine," she said. According to Georgieva, the Fund has a number of instruments in its toolkit and, as the situation in Ukraine evolves and they will continue to discuss with the authorities how we can best assist Kiev. "These discussions are being conducted remotely with staff participating from Washington. In addition to ongoing policy advice, we are exploring all options for further financial support, including under the existing Stand-By Arrangement for an outstanding amount of USD 2.2 billion. The authorities have also requested IMF emergency financing," she said. IMF Managing Director said the repercussions of the conflict pose significant economic risks in the region and around the world. "We are assessing the potential implications, including for the functioning of the financial system, commodity markets, and the direct impact on countries with economic ties to the region. We stand ready to support our members as needed, in close coordination with our international partners," she said. (ANI)
Amid Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Saturday said that India stands by its commitment to protecting its citizens and is making all efforts to extricate them from war-hit Ukraine. Speaking to ANI, Lekhi said, "We are helping our students (in Ukraine). In January, we had started building the database and also gave a warning in the month of February. Some 4,000 people have moved out while some are stuck there." Reiterating the government's commitment to protecting its citizens, she said, "We are trying to extricate them in bunches. As Ukraine's airspace is closed, we are using land routes and working with other countries to extricate our citizens. The prime minister has been clear on this issue that the ministries have to be people-centric." Meanwhile, a special flight of Air India AI-1943 landed at Bucharest in Romania for the evacuation of stranded Indians in Ukraine on Saturday morning. This is the first special flight that is traveling through another route after the air route to Ukraine was shut down. Earlier, Air India had informed that it will operate two flights from Delhi to Bucharest (Romania) and Budapest (Hungary) on Saturday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday also sent teams to the land borders with Ukraine in Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Romania to assist the evacuation of Indian nationals. Meanwhile, a number of explosions were heard in the capital city of Ukraine as the Russian special military operation entered the second day, local media reported on Friday. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
"During the night, the Russian armed forces struck facilities of the Ukrainian military infrastructure with long-range precision weapons using air- and sea-based cruise missiles," Konashenkov told reporters.

According to the spokesman, in total, the Russian armed forces destroyed 821 objects of the Ukrainian military infrastructure.

"Among them are 14 military airfields, 19 command posts and communication centres, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations. 7 combat aircraft, 7 helicopters, 9 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down. 87 tanks and other combat armoured vehicles, 28 multiple rocket launchers, 118 units of special military vehicles were destroyed," Konashenkov said.

He added that the Russian navy destroyed 8 Ukrainian military boats.

Konashenkov also stressed that only military facilities are subject to attack, no damage is caused to residential and social infrastructure.

On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)
Just before the unprecedented rise in tensions between Russia and Ukraine, China signed a deal with Russia lifting import restrictions on Wheat and Barley, media reports said. The lifting of restrictions, part of a broader group of new deals between Russia and China, was signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during Putin's visit to China at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing earlier this month, reported Fox Business. The details of the deal emerged when the Chinese General Administration of Customs issued a notice on February 23 announcing the lifting of restrictions. "You don't go and give a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period when they are invading another country," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was quoted as saying on Friday. "That is simply unacceptable," he further said. Russia is the largest exporter of wheat in the world, and previously faced restrictions on exports to China over plant disease concerns, the report said. Adding further that, China's move would hurt other major exporters of wheat to China, including Australia, European Union (EU), Canada. (ANI) Putin on Thursday announced that special military operations are being launched "to protect" the people in the Donbas region of Ukraine. He also warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to "consequences". (ANI)
Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy Kiev advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. In an advisory to Indian nationals, the embassy stressed that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and it is working continuously with embassies in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of Indian citizens. "All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts (helpline numbers established) and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kiev," the advisory said. "Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior Intimation," it added. The embassy further advised Indians to stay in western cities of Ukraine where access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer. "All those currently in the Eastern sector are requested to continue to remain in their current places of residence until further instructions, maintain calm, and stay indoors or in shelters as much as possible, with whatever food, water and amenities available and remain patient. Avoid unnecessary movement," the advisory added. This comes as the Russian military continues to advance on the capital city of Ukraine, according to media reports. Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard on Friday as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported on Saturday. Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to defend his country while standing on the street of the national capital. Meanwhile, Kremlin said that the Russian President is ready to send a delegation of high-ranking officials to Minsk to hold talks with Kiev. (ANI)
Xie was detained in January in the city of Changsha for subversion after he supported a primary teacher forced into psychiatric "treatment" for her forthright comments on social media, Radio Free Asia reported.

Hunan teacher Li Tiantian, who spoke over the expulsion of a Shanghai journalism lecturer encouraging her students to verify official accounts of the Nanjing massacre, was held in a psychiatric hospital for several days.

Sources suggested that Xie was detained not only for his online support for Li but also for posting a video containing a satirical reference to ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, the media outlet reported.

He was formally arrested on February 17 on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power".

Notably, Xie had posted a video of pigs being slaughtered on two social media platforms with a caption referring to a "200-pound pig," an apparent reference to Xi's claim that he had carried 200 jin (120 kilos) of wheat for 10 miles along a mountain road without switching shoulders, the publication reported citing Xie's friend Cheng Xiaofeng.

Cheng also said that any of China's embattled human rights lawyers will not be allowed to represent Xie. "In cases like this, the lawyer is usually appointed by the government; we did try, but the police weren't having it," Radio Free Asia quoted him as saying. (ANI)
The participation of Pakistan's youth in acts of violence demonstrates how extremism exists deep within the heart of Pakistani society, local media reported. The country's Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights was aghast on the instances of this extremism that is ingrained equally in the educated as well as illiterate, the Dawn newspaper reported. The meeting, which commenced with criticism of the Mian Channu incident, discussed how violent tendencies were mostly reported in 19 to 30-year-old people mostly influenced by social media forums. Notably, a mob comprising men mostly in their 30s lynched a mentally-unstable man for burning Quranic scriptures in Mian Channu, the publication reported citing Human Rights Secretary Inamullah Khan. Khan further informed the senate body members that in the murder case of Sri Lankan national in Sialkot, 120 out of 130 suspects were between 18 and 20 years of age. The committee stressed that religious forums must spread the true spirit of Islam and its stance on tolerance to help avoid the occurrence of such incidents. As many as 14 to 15 cases of violence have been reported in Pakistan since the start of this year, the Pakistani newspaper reported citing Additional IG Sahibzada Shahzad Sultan. Meanwhile, Pakistan's influence of extremist ideology has increased with radical elements dominating the violence in the society. The threat from extremism in Pakistan comes from the Taliban insurgency to militant organizations to individuals who wish to join a mob-burning a man alive without actually getting into the depth of why the person was being targeted, according to an opinion piece in News International. The youth bulge of Pakistan's population between ages 15-24 is estimated at 36 million, while a staggeringly high number of 58 million individuals are below the age of 15. The above youth population gravitates towards radicalization because there is high unemployment and income disparity innate in the Pakistan society, the article noted. (ANI)
With murals of Shiva and other deities being made over the walls, the freshly painted railings and surfaces of various temples bear a new look as the Pashupatinath Temple prepares for the first "Shivratri" or the "night of Lord Shiva" post the COVID-19 pandemic. Kamal Raj Shrestha reaches the premises of Pashupatinath Temple before dawn and continues his work of making murals on the walls till dusk. He has to finish the walls before the festivity grips the holy shrine in the Nepali capital city of Kathmandu. "The festivity of Shivaratri is high in the air. As per the directives of the Minister for Culture and Tourism and the Pashupati Area Development Trust, the work of making murals on the walls is underway," Kamal Raj Shrestha, one of the muralists assigned by Pashupati Area Development Trust told ANI Kamal Raj and his colleague, Rudra Raj Shrestha, are gearing up to illustrate the plain walls at the premises of the Pashupatinath Temple where they are working to imprint 25 murals on one edge of the wall that lies near the crematorium. They are running against time to finish it before Sunday as festivities have already started in the holy shrine which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "As it is Pashupatinath area, most of the paintings here are of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Daksha Prajapati, Shanidev, Lord Hanuman, Oxen and Cows amongst others," Shrestha added. This is the first public Shivaratri celebration that the Himalayan Nation would be hosting after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. The festivities will kick off on March 1. The Pashupati Area Development Trust has said that they will not leave any stones unturned to make this post-pandemic celebration memorable. "This year's main attraction during the Shivaratri festivity would be decorative entrances at various locations as well as in the premises for which flowers would be used and it would be done through the help of donors. Temple premises will be decked up with digital lights so that the temple premises is beautified and remains safe," explained Dr Milan Kumar Thapa, Member secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust in a press briefing. As per Thapa, ten sub-committees have been formed to organize the festival. Up to ten thousand security personnel from different security agencies will be deployed to ensure the safety of pilgrims as well as the Sadhus during the celebrations. Pilgrims and visitors who have come to the Pashupatinath Temple just before the festivities remark that changes seen around are impressive. Many of the visitors are seen around taking pictures and selfies in front of murals and at other locations which have been decorated. "Shivaratri is one of the important and major festivals of Nepali Hindus. It is observed once a year. Such preparations weren't seen before. This year I really got impressed with the preparations," Krishna Basnet, one of the residents of Kathmandu who came to Pashupatinath Temple for a visit told ANI. Being held after a gap of two years, the Pashupati Area Development Trust is expecting to host about a million pilgrims on Shivaratri at the UNESCO World Heritage site. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], February 26 (ANI/Sputnik): Russian media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, told several Russian media outlets to delete misleading information about Russia's military operation in Ukraine. "The mentioned resources, under the guise of reliable reports, provide unreliable information of public interest that does not correspond to reality about the shelling of Ukrainian cities by the Russian armed forces and the death of civilians in Ukraine as a result of the actions of the Russian army, as well as materials in which the ongoing operation is called an attack, an invasion, or a declaration of war. If the mentioned false information is not deleted, access to these resources will be limited," the watchdog said in a statement on Friday. According to the statement, notifications were sent to such outlets as Echo of Moscow, inoSMI, MediaZona, New Times, Dozhd, Svobodnaya Pressa, Krym.Realii, Novaya Gazeta, Journalist and Lenizdat. Roskomnadzor also launched an administrative investigation into the dissemination of unreliable information of public interest by the listed media outlets. "We emphasize that it is Russian official information sources that have reliable and relevant information," the statement added. On Thursday, Russia began a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defense Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow says it has no plans to occupy Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)
Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan on Saturday said that the EU will put forward a UN General Assembly resolution to demand immediate withdrawal of Russian forces amid tension between Kiev and Moscow. "We will put forward a UN General Assembly resolution to demand immediate withdrawal of Russian forces," Ugo Astuto said in a Tweet. On Friday, the Ambassador has said that heads of Mission of the EU and its Member States stand in solidarity with the Ukraine Ambassador and condemned Russia's "unprovoked and unjustified" military operation. "Heads of Mission of the EU and its Member States stand in solidarity with #Ukraine Ambassador. EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation's unprovoked and unjustified military attack. EU is united in its solidarity with Ukraine and its people," Ugo Astuto Tweeted. Meanwhile, as many as fifty counties have issued a joint statement saying that Russia "abused" its veto power by blocking a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning the Russian military action in Ukraine. This comes after Russia on Friday vetoed a draft UN resolution on Ukraine. The joint statement, which was read aloud by the US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said this resolution was "vital and straightforward." "Fundamentally, it was about whether the countries on the Security Council - charged with maintaining international peace and security - believe in upholding the UN Charter," the statement said.Holding Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible, the signatories said that Russia's action amounts to "violation of the UN Charter." This comes as the Russian military continues to advance in the capital city of Ukraine, according to media reports. Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard on Friday as Russian forces approached the city, CNN reported on Saturday. Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks. (ANI) On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
Liashko, in a Facebook post, shared the number of casualties in the Russian military operation in Ukraine so far. Along with this, in the post, he also said that 1,115 Ukrainians have been wounded in three days of fighting. He said that from the total number of wounded, 33 were children, reported Times of Israel.

In the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special operation after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian troops. The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday discussed the sanctions, defence assistance and an anti-war coalition with US President Joe Biden.

"Strengthening sanctions, concrete defence assistance and an anti-war coalition have just been discussed with @POTUS. Grateful for the strong support to Ukraine," Zelenskyy tweeted.

Furthermore, Biden on Friday said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will maintain its "open door" to those European states who share its values and who one day may seek to join our Alliance. (ANI)
The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania, said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday. "Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania," Jaishankar tweeted. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. In an advisory to Indian nationals on Saturday, the embassy stressed that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and it is working continuously with Embassies in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens. "All Indian Citizens in Ukraine are advised to not move to any of the border posts without prior coordination with Government of India officials at the border posts and the Emergency numbers of Embassy of India, Kiev," the advisory read. "Embassy is finding it increasingly difficult to help the crossing of those Indian nationals who reach border checkpoints without prior intimation," it added. The embassy further advised Indians to stay in western cities of Ukraine where access to water, food, accommodation and basic amenities is relatively safer. This comes as the Russian military continues to advance in the capital city of Ukraine, according to media reports. Explosions in parts of Kiev were heard on Friday as Russian forces approached the city, media reports said on Saturday. Videos from eyewitnesses show explosions taking place in the Ukrainian capital city as some media reports said Ukraine and Russia are discussing a place and time for talks. (ANI)
The recent military operation by Russia in Ukraine has renewed the Cold War between the Western countries and Russia, Srikanth Kondapalli, Dean of School of International Studies at JNU said on Friday. He also cautioned that the Russian actions in Ukraine may embolden China in initiating Galwan like incident. Referring to the military operations by Russia in Ukraine and the announcements of new rounds of sanctions by the Western countries on Moscow, Kondapalli said, "the retaliation, counter retaliation has led to the renewal of the Cold War between the western countries and Russia." Kondapalli discussed the impact of the military action of Russia on the world while addressing an online event organised by Red Lantern Analytica, an international relations observer group based out of New Delhi. Highlighting the constant deployment of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) troops and heavy machinery close to the Russian borders since 1999, he said, "NATO membership of the former Soviet Union republics has made sure that the Cold War between West and Russia continued even after the collapse of USSR." "Russia argues that Ukraine has been violating its sovereignty and integrity. They think that Ukraine may be conspiring to counter Russia and hence the Russian security interests are threatened," he said. Emphasizing on the close cooperation between China and Russia, he said, "With Russian actions in Ukraine, we may also see China getting emboldened in initiating another Galwan like incident." Talking about India's potential course of action, Kondapalli asserted that India has to look at "which countries have supported India in the security council." (ANI)
Many farmers in Gujrat city of Pakistan's Punjab province have lodged a strong protest on Friday saying that the government is trying to "snatch" their fertile lands for industrial purposes. The farmers held protests when the government decided to acquire land in three villages for the establishment of Phase II of the industrial estate in the district, reported Dawn. Notably, the Punjab government had approved the scheme and allocated at least PKR 1.3 billion for the project, out of which Rs 400 million has been sanctioned in the current development budget. During the protest, the farmers displayed banners with anti-government slogans. They criticized the government's acquisition of agricultural land for the purpose. A huge chunk of land from three villages -- Saroki, Chak Qazian and Sheikh Qureshian-- has been identified by the local administration for the establishment of Phase-II of the industrial estate, reported the newspaper. The protesting farmers gathered near Saroki bridge on the Upper Jhelum Canal to show their disappointment. Not only this, the protest saw support from Pakistan's opposition party Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) as well. A delegation of the PPP led by former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira also joined the protesters to show their support to the protesting farmers. PPP promised the farmers they would resist this move by the government and will take the issue to every forum, including the assemblies and also move the court. Sufficient land was available for the project in the Mehsam area on Gujrat city outskirts that was closer to the Sambrial-Kharian motorway and Sialkot International Airport, yet the land of the farmers was identified by the project, said the PPP leader. He also accused the government saying that under the garb of industrial areas, the government is aiming to develop a housing society in the area. However, all of this was rejected by a senior district administration official, reported the newspaper. The proposed site for the industrial estate's Phase-II was also visited by former Punjab finance minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, local PPP leader Mian Fakhar Mushtaq Pagganwala, district general secretary Dr Zahid Zaheer and scores of party workers. (ANI)
Thirty-two-year-old Tanzeela along with her family, was on her way to attend a wedding ceremony in Daska on Thursday night when her rickshaw driver allegedly tried to avoid a picket and ASI Waqas Masood opened fire on the rickshaw, according to Dawn.

While the husband of the deceased Azhar Mahmood said that there was no picket and a police team chased them when they were about to reach the village to attend the function.

He alleged that the policemen opened fire and this resulted in his wife's death.

Khurram Shahzad Malik, the spokesperson for the district police, said ASI Waqas Masood confessed to opening fire on the rickshaw. He said he opened fire when the driver tried to speed away.

A case has been registered against the ASI. (ANI)
UK Ministry of Defence on Saturday said that the bulk of the Russian forces is now 30 kilometres from the centre of Ukraine's capital city of Kiev. Taking to Twitter, the Ministry shared the intelligence update and said, "Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30km from centre of the city." The Ministry further said that Russia has yet to gain control of the airforce over Ukraine "greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Russian Air Force." "Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to put up staunch resistance across the country," the Ministry added. Furthermore, the UK intelligence input said that Russian causalities are likely to be "heavy and greater" than anticipated or acknowledged by the Kremlin. Earlier, the UK foreign office said on Friday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be hit with an assets freeze as part of the UK's sanctions to debilitate Russia's economy and military infrastructure. "In a third wave of punishing sanctions in just four days, the UK's sanctions have been strategically coordinated with international allies to impose a severe cost on Putin and his regime," the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a statement. The new sanctions, which are targeted personally at Putin and Lavrov, will see any UK-based assets frozen immediately and UK companies will be barred from providing goods, services or assets to them in the future. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: "These new sanctions send a clear message that nothing and no one is off the table. These measures reflect the horror and gravity of what Putin and his regime have done, violating the territorial integrity of a sovereign nation with an illegal and unjustified invasion." Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special military operation after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian troops. The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow. (ANI)
Poland Ambassador Adam Burakowski on Saturday said that all European countries (EU) are helping Ukraine with weapons and humanitarian aid as Kiev continues to fight against Russia's military operations. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Poland's envoy condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine. "Poland stand with Ukraine and others European Countries (EU) are providing weapon support to Ukraine in the fight with Russia. Ukraine is a peaceful country and I am sure Kiev will resist the aggression of Moscow," Burakowski said. "Russia is targeting people in Ukraine by its military force. Russian forces are attacking civilians and Ukraine is fighting for its defence. Poland including NATO countries are condemning Russia strongly," Poland envoy told ANI. Given the circumstances of the war, the European Union imposed sanctions on the Russian officials. "After taking attacking decision for attacking peaceful country (Ukraine), EU nations and other organisations made sanctioned on Russian officials," he said further. When asked why India abstained from a UN Security Council resolution on Russia's military action in Ukraine, Burakowski replied, "India is an independent country and it can take decisions its own." Poland is welcoming refugees to its soil for citizens who have suffered from Russian action, including Indians. "Poland is ready to accept refugees from Ukraine. An aggressive attack by Russia created a major problem for citizens of our country and Indians in Ukraine. There are around 20,000 Indian students, of course, victims of Russian aggression attacks because of Russian attacks on civilians also. Indian students escaped from Russian bullets and bombs and we are helping them. They can go to the Polish border and cross the border this action is coordinated with the Indian embassy," Burakowski said. The evacuation of Indians from Poland by special flights is underway and there are no more details available to share at the moment. The Ministry of External Affairs will only announce the operation of special flights from Poland, further informed Poland's envoy during the interview. (ANI)
Kuleba held a telephonic conversation with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian and urged the EU to immediately introduce the third package of sanctions on Russia.

Taking to Twitter Kuleba said, "Call with my French counterpart @JY_LeDrian. France supports banning Russia from SWIFT. I urged to immediately introduce the third package of EU sanctions to stop Russian invasion. France is also ready to supply weapons and military equipment to help Ukraine defend itself."

Amid the growing tensions between Moscow and Kiev, Kuleba, on Friday, also spoke with his German, Belgian and Italian counterparts.

Earlier, Kuleba spoke with the Foreign Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani to brief him about the latest developments of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special operation after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian troops. The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday discussed the sanctions, defence assistance and an "anti-war coalition" with US President Joe Biden.

"Strengthening sanctions, concrete defence assistance and an anti-war coalition have just been discussed with @POTUS. Grateful for the strong support to Ukraine," Zelenskyy tweeted.

Furthermore, Biden on Friday said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will maintain its "open door" to those European states who share its values and who one day may seek to join our Alliance. (ANI)
The Embassy of India in Slovakia on Saturday said that it is in contact with the Government of Slovakia for evacuation of Indian citizens through the Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke border. The Embassy said, "Indian nationals who are stuck in Ukraine and wish to cross the border through Vysne Nemecke are requested to fill the Google form. It is requested that people who are not in close proximity to this border crossing point should not fill the form." It also shared the contact information of the consular and other officials and guided the people to contact them if possible before starting their journey. The Indian missions in Bucharest, Budapest and Warsaw are also involved in this exercise to help those who are close to their borders, said the Embassy in an official statement. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania, said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday. "Regarding evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, we are making progress. Our teams are working on the ground round the clock. I am personally monitoring. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania," Jaishankar tweeted. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. In an advisory to Indian nationals on Saturday, the embassy stressed that the situation at various border checkpoints is sensitive and it is working continuously with Embassies in the neighbouring countries for coordinated evacuation of our citizens. (ANI)
"We have almost full support from EU countries about disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelenskyy said in a video address that was posted on his Telegram channel, Sputnik News Agency reported today.

Zelenskyy said also that Ukraine has a right to EU membership, and achieving this would be a key sign of support for the country.

"This is the decisive moment to close one and for all the multi-year strategic discussion, make a decision on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. I discussed this with Charles Michele, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron," Zelenskyy said, as per Sputnik.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi told Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Italy would support the EU's position on sanctions, including cutting Russia off from SWIFT, the Chigi Palace said in a statement.

"Prime minister Draghi confirmed to president Zelenskyy that Italy supports and will support the European Union's position on sanctions against Russia, including on SWIFT," the press service of the Italian council of ministers said.

However, as per reports, the decision of whether to cut Russia off from the SWIFT international financial network or not will be made within a few days.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
The Indian Embassy in Hungary on Saturday issued a fresh advisory for Indians in Ukraine baring them not to cross the border from other checkpoints than Zahony- Uzhhorod as there is no presence of the Indian Embassy unit to facilitate entry into the Hungarian side. The Indian Embassy said that they are coordinating with the Government of Hungary regarding smooth entry into Hungary of stranded Indian students in Ukraine through the Zahony- Uzhhorod border crossing. "For crossing Zahonv-Uzhhorod, a liaison unit from the Embassy of India has been stationed at Zahony, and it is coordinating with the Consulate General of Hungary in Uzhhorod. Stranded Indians are being brought in batches through this checkpoint for onward travel to Budapest for returning to India on Air India flights," the advisory reads. It further said that the border crossing is only allowed by bus/van and walk-in is not allowed. "Kindly note that this border crossing Uzhhorod (Ungvar)- Csap-KPP Tysa-Zahony allows border crossing only by bus/van and walk-in is not allowed. Students coming through this border crossing should possess a valid passport, residence permit, Student ID card, Vaccination Card / Certificate," it said. "In case you are close to Kpp Tysa border crossing and planning to move on your own into Hungary, it is recommended that you move back to Uzhhorod and stay in touch with the Hungarian Consulate General and Dr Amrik Dhillon of Uzhhorod National University (Contact No.+380 63 725 1523), Ankur from Embassy (Contact No. 036304644597). This will ensure that in case of any delays at the crossing, students do not get stuck at the crossing and spend a night in open," read the advisory. The Embassy said the Indians to keep passport/Resident Permit/Schengen Visa/valid vaccination certificate to cross into Hungary from other border crossings. "It is possible for students possessing Indian passport/Resident Permit/Schengen Visa/valid vaccination certificate to also cross into Hungary from other border crossings now. However, this is not recommended and please note that there is a very long waiting time at these checkpoints and no presence of Indian Embassy unit to facilitate entry into the Hungarian side," it said. Students who are close to these other checkpoints and wish to enter Hungary through these border crossings on their own should try to travel to Budapest through public transport. "Some more travel options, other than on Air India, on commercial flights out of Budapest may become available from Budapest. For any facilitation or advice, after reaching Budapest, such students should stay in touch with Sanjay Sharma, President BSH (Contact No.+36305990509) and Radhe Lal, Attache, Embassy of India (Contact No.+36308644595)," it added. The first flight to Mumbai with 219 Indian nationals has taken off from Romania, said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday. Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday over the current situation in his country and urged India for its political support in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against Russia which is continuing its military operations in Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy said, "Spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Informed of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression. More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!" Notably, Russia on Friday (local time) vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine, while India, China, and UAE abstained from the vote. The vote was 11 in favour, one against, and three abstentions. India abstained from voting saying that the path of the "diplomacy was given up". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday also urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine. "We have almost full support from EU countries about disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelenskyy said in a video address that was posted on his Telegram channel, Sputnik News Agency reported today.Zelenskyy said also that Ukraine has a right to EU membership, and achieving this would be a key sign of support for the country. "This is the decisive moment to close one and for all the multi-year strategic discussion, make a decision on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. I discussed this with Charles Michele, Ursula von der Leyen, Emmanuel Macron," Zelenskyy said, as per Sputnik. However, as per reports, the decision of whether to cut Russia off from the SWIFT international financial network or not will be made within a few days. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
The 10-year term handed down under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) was commuted for the period the appellant had already undergone while in prison.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice K. K. Agha and Justice Khadim Hussain Tunio set aside the conviction awarded under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) as it was not proven.

The SHC said that the prosecution did not have sufficient evidence that the attack was with "design and intent to spread terror in society".

After the conviction, the convict filed an appeal. He was also handed down a death sentence by a military court in the Safoora bus carnage case. A counsel was provided to the appellant at state expenses after he informed the bench that he could not financially afford a lawyer, reported Dawn.

"The appellant has left himself at the mercy of the court to seek a chance for reformation and as per jail rule, the appellant has already served out over six-and-half years in jail without remission, which was sufficient for the court to reform the appellant," the bench said.

Notably, the appellant along with his accomplices was convicted of shooting at and wounding Dr Lobo, the then vice-principal of Karachi's Jinnah Medical and Dental College, on Shaheed-i-Millat Road, in April 2015, reported the newspaper. (ANI)
"Estonia is banning Russian airlines from our airspace. We invite all EU countries to do the same. There is no place for planes of the agressor state in democratic skies. #StandWithUkraine," Kallas tweeted.

Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said also that Ukraine has a right to EU membership, and achieving this would be a key sign of support for the country.

However, as per reports, the decision of whether to cut Russia off from the SWIFT international financial network or not will be made within a few days.

Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special military operation after the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow. (ANI)
The US State Department release said, "This will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armoured, airborne, and other threats it is now facing."

Stating the previous assistance that the US provided to the country, the US Secretary of State said, "Last fall, as the present threat against Ukraine from Russia, developed, under authority delegated by the President, I authorized the Department of Defense to provide $60 million in immediate military assistance to Ukraine."

"In December, as that threat materialized, I authorized a further drawdown worth $200 million. Today, as Ukraine fights with courage and pride against Russia's brutal and unprovoked assault, I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation by the President, an unprecedented third Presidential Drawdown of up to $350 million for immediate support to Ukraine's defence," he added.

According to the state department, the recent authorization of assistance brings the total security assistance the "United States has committed to Ukraine over the past year to more than $1 billion."

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
The first consignment of humanitarian aid of 2,500 tonnes of wheat from India reached Afghanistan's Jalalabad through Pakistan on Saturday. "The first convoy of 2500 MT of wheat assistance reached Jalalabad this morning. The 50 trucks dispatched from ICP Attari travelled through Pakistan to Afghanistan," said Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan's Ambassador to India. Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh V Shringla had flagged the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, in the presence of Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab. In response to appeals made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Government of India has decided to gift 50,000 MT of wheat to the people of Afghanistan. The supply will be effected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from ICP Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters. The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of India to supply 50,000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan. The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the situation in Afghanistan is critical and millions of people are suffering from hunger and food crisis. Most of the people of Afghanistan are living below the poverty line, in such a situation, the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by India is like a ray of hope. In this endeavour, India has already supplied 500,000 doses of COVAXIN, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul. (ANI)
The Prime Minister said that they have also sent military support to the Polish border with Ukraine along with defensive military aid.

The UK has trained 22,000 Ukrainian troops through Operation Orbital.

"We have imposed sanctions on President Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, five Russian banks, more than 100 companies and oligarchs at the heart of Putin's regime, and Belarus," Johnson said in a tweet.

He further said that the UK has offered a full package of support to NATO to strengthen its eastern flank.

"We are providing 1.100 million for economic reform and energy independence in Ukraine, and guaranteeing up to USD 500 million of Development Bank financing," he added.

The UK has convened the Joint Expeditionary Force, bringing together members from the EU, NATO and Nordic states.

He said that the UK has also banned Russian airline Aeroflot.

On Thursday, Johnson had announced new sanctions against Russia over the military operation in Ukraine, saying the UK will aim to "squeeze Russia from the global economy."

Overall, the UK will be imposing freezing of assets on more than a hundred of new entities and individuals, he added.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday said that France has agreed to supply military equipment to Keiv as well as ban Russia from the SWIFT international banking system.

Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine.

Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special military operation after the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow. (ANI)
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said new federal COVID-19 guidance unveiled Friday will allow the state of Illinois to remove its school mask mandate on Monday, coinciding with the halting of the hotly debated virus mitigation strategy for the general public.

Pritzker also applauded the Illinois Supreme Court, which earlier in the day sent a case challenging the mandate back to a downstate court. The high court had refused to take up the appeal after finding that an order by a Springfield judge that caused chaos and confusion in Illinois schools over masking was no longer in effect.

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Im gratified that the Supreme Court vacated the lower courts restraining order, meaning that if a school mask mandate needs to go into effect in the future, we continue to have that authority, Pritzker said.

Im also extremely pleased to say that because the CDC has recommended that masks are needed only in areas of high transmission, the state of Illinois will move forward to remove our school mask mandate, effective Monday, Pritzker said. We will recommend that all school districts follow CDC guidance and will update our existing guidance in the coming days.

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces that the state's indoor mask mandate will be lifted by the end of February at the Thompson Center in Chicago on Feb. 9, 2022 (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

The Illinois Supreme Court order issued late Friday found that a Springfield judges Feb. 4 order preventing statewide enforcement of the mask mandate should be vacated because a lower appellate court recently found the case to be moot.

It was unclear what impact the high courts ruling would have on the children of hundreds of parents who sued the governor and Illinois Department of Public Health over the rules, saying that they violated the students due process rights.

But with Pritzkers announcement the states mask mandate for schools would end Monday, the legal wrangling could soon become a nonissue.

As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is no longer urging masking indoors for the general public in most settings, including schools, in areas where COVID-19 poses a low or medium risk to the general public and the local health care system.

That currently covers more than three-quarters of Illinois counties, with the entire Chicago area falling into the low category. At the medium level, its recommended that people who are at high risk talk with their doctors about whether they should continue masking or take other precautions, CDC officials said.

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The end of the states school mask mandate is arriving a week after an appellate court sidelined the governors attempt to enforce his COVID-19 mitigation orders for Illinois schools statewide.

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Pritzker had appealed a temporary restraining order granted by Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischow on Feb. 4 against CPS and scores of other Illinois school districts, but the appellate court dismissed the appeal. The court found that because rules from the Illinois Department of Public Health requiring masking and other COVID-19 protocols had been allowed to expire, the appeal was moot. The governor then appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Earlier Friday, Grischow declined to weigh in on whether Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez was in contempt of court for demanding students either wear a mask or be sent home from school, saying the policy of (CPS) is not before the court.

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Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez listens as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces new proof of vaccination requirements for the city on Dec. 21, 2021. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

She said she did not have jurisdiction to hear the contempt of court motion against CPS while the higher court appeal was pending. The judge also delayed a ruling on whether roughly 900 parents can join the lawsuit alleging Pritzkers mask mandate violated students due process rights, saying she would issue a decision in the coming weeks.

Chicago resident Brendan Hehir said he was very disappointed Martinez was not in Springfield for the court proceedings, and instead, was represented by an attorney for CPS.

You cant just universally mask and quarantine students without first offering them due process, said Hehir, a father of three, who was in court Friday with his two sons, ages 6 and 8.

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Hehirs three children attended classes at their school on the Northwest Side mask-free after Grischow granted a temporary restraining order.

But earlier this month, two CPS parents who are part of the school mask lawsuit filed a petition against the Chicago Board of Education, saying their children were told to wear a mask or leave Mount Greenwood Elementary School on the Southwest Side.

A similar petition was brought against Community High School District 128, which includes Vernon Hills and Libertyville high schools, but was recently dismissed after the school district shifted to a mask optional policy.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 12 Protesters call for mask optional schools outside of Glenbrook North High School on Feb. 11, 2022 in Northbrook. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

While the contempt of court hearing was canceled, Grischow heard arguments Friday on a request from hundreds of parents to join the lawsuit, led by attorney Tom DeVore, who argued the motion alongside attorney Patrick Walsh.

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Prior to the governors announcement that the state would drop the mask mandate, Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Thomas Verticchio argued that DeVore wouldnt be following the law in his arguments to push for more plaintiffs.

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DeVore, who has also recently announced he is running in the June 28 Republican primary for attorney general, suggested a laborious alternative would be to file hundreds of lawsuits on behalf of hundreds of clients.

Whats the benefit to the governor? DeVore said at the morning hearing. Delay.

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Prior to the governors announcement late Friday, Martinez sent a letter to CPS parents saying: Our COVID-19 policies are NOT currently before a judge and we will continue requiring universal masking in our schools.

We all look forward to the day when masks are no longer necessary in schools, and we plan to work with our labor and public health partners on the best way to preserve a safe learning environment for all, he said.

On Wednesday, the board that oversees CPS approved a resolution reiterating its COVID-19 protocols, including universal masking for staff and students, testing for unvaccinated employees and quarantine policies. Board members cited progress with declining case numbers, but said the district is not ready to make masks optional.

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A batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at Zahony crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight on Saturday. Meanwhile, Indian Embassy in Hungary issued a fresh advisory for its citizens in Ukraine in which it asked them not to cross the border from other checkpoints than Zahony- Uzhhorod as there is no presence of the Indian Embassy unit to facilitate entry into the Hungarian side. The Indian Embassy said that they are coordinating with the Government of Hungary regarding smooth entry into Hungary of stranded Indian students in Ukraine through the Zahony- Uzhhorod border crossing. "For crossing Zahonv-Uzhhorod, a liaison unit from the Embassy of India has been stationed at Zahony, and it is coordinating with the Consulate General of Hungary in Uzhhorod. Stranded Indians are being brought in batches through this checkpoint for onward travel to Budapest for returning to India on Air India flights," the advisory reads. It further said that the border crossing is only allowed by bus/van and walk-in is not allowed. However, Rahul Shrivastava, Indian Ambassador in Romania said that the entire government is working day and night to evacuate everyone and our (Indian) mission is not complete till we have evacuated the last person. Looking forward to receiving the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport. The government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "Looking forward to receiving the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport. The government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens." Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, after talks with various foreign diplomats on Friday expounded China's basic position on the Ukraine crisis. On Friday, Wang Yi had phone conversations with UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and French Diplomatic Advisor to President Emmanuel Bonne. According to the statement, China said that "it has always disapproved of willfully invoking of UN Charter Chapter VII that authorizes the use of force and sanctions in UNSC resolutions." The sides exchanged their views with a focus on the situation in Ukraine. Wang Yi expounded China's basic position on the Ukraine issue where he said that it "firmly believes that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected and protected and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter abided by in real earnest." In a statement, the country said that it advocates "common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security." "China believes that the security of one country should not come at the expense of the security of other countries, still less should regional security be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs," it added in its statement. "Russia's legitimate security demands ought to be taken seriously and properly addressed," the statement read. It urged all parties to exercise the "necessary restraint to prevent the current situation in Ukraine from getting worse or even getting out of control." "The life and property safety of civilians should be effectively guaranteed, and large-scale humanitarian crises, in particular, must be prevented," China said in a statement. Moreover, China, in its statement, "encouraged diplomatic efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis." (ANI)
The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest on Saturday afternoon.

"The first evacuation flight carrying 219 passengers from Ukraine, has landed in Mumbai. The plane had taken off from the Romanian capital Bucharest this afternoon," said the Government of India.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal had earlier said that he is looking forward to receiving the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport. The government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens.

The Union Minister said, "Looking forward to receiving the Indian nationals safely evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport. The government is working in mission mode to ensure the safety of our citizens."

Meanwhile, another batch of Indian students entered Hungary from the Ukrainian side at Zahony crossing, travelling onward to Budapest for return to India by Air India flight on Saturday.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kiev has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Appreciate the telephonic discussion today with FM @ABaerbock of Germany on the Ukraine situation. Shared our perspectives and agreed to stay in touch."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Friday called EAM and urged New Delhi to use "all influence in its relations with Moscow" for ending military operations against Ukraine.

The Foreign Minister also urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support the resolution on "restoring peace in Ukraine".

"Call with my Indian counterpart @DrSJaishankar. Asked India to use all influence in its relations with Russia to force it to cease military aggression against Ukraine. Urged India as a non-permanent UNSC member to support today's draft resolution on restoring peace in Ukraine," Dmytro Kuleba said in a Tweet.

Jaishankar said he received a call from Kuleba who shared his assessment of the current situation. The External Affairs Minister emphasized that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the way out.

"Received a call from Ukrainian FM @DmytroKuleba. He shared his assessment of the current situation. I emphasized that India supports diplomacy and dialogue as the way out. Discussed predicament of Indian nationals, including students. Appreciate his support for their safe return," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Indian embassies in the neighbouring countries of Ukraine have organized evacuation operations for the Indian citizens.

The Indian Embassy in Warsaw issued an urgent advisory for its citizens who desire to be evacuated via Poland. "Indian nationals arriving at the Poland-Ukraine border by public conveyance i.e. by bus or taxi, are advised to make for the Shehyni-Medyka border crossing, not Krakowiec crossing," it said. (ANI)
"Today at the Embassy of Ukraine in Delhi I paid tribute to all Ukrainians killed during unprovoked Russian attack. Poland stays with Ukraine!" Burakowski tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Ukraine Health Minister Viktor Liashko had said that a total of 198 Ukrainians have been killed, including three children till now since the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalated on Thursday.

Liashko, in a Facebook post, shared the number of casualties in the Russian military operation in Ukraine so far. Along with this, in the post, he also said that 1,115 Ukrainians have been wounded in three days of fighting.

He said that from the total number of wounded, 33 were children, reported Times of Israel.

In the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special operation after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from ongoing attacks by the Ukrainian troops. The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday discussed the sanctions, defence assistance and an anti-war coalition with US President Joe Biden.

Furthermore, Biden on Friday said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will maintain its "open door" to those European states which share its values and which one day may seek to join our Alliance. (ANI)
"I thank my friend President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of Turkey for their strong support. The ban on the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea and significant military and humanitarian support for Ukraine are extremely important today. The people of Ukraine will never forget that!" Zelensky tweeted.

Zelensky has also urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine.

"We have almost full support from EU countries about disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelenskyy said in a video address that was posted on his Telegram channel, Sputnik News Agency reported today.

Zelensky also said that Ukraine has a right to EU membership, and achieving this would be a key sign of support for the country.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region.

Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. (ANI)
"#OperationGanga continues. The second flight from Bucharest has taken off for Delhi with 250 Indian nationals," the foreign minister tweeted.

The second flight is expected to reach on Sunday morning, according to the Minister of External Affairs.

"Embassy of India, Kyiv, has started the evacuation of stranded Indian Nationals from Ukraine. The Flight from Budapest to New Delhi carrying stranded Indian Nationals from Ukraine is expected to arrive at IGI Airport, New Delhi at 7:45 am on February 27, 2022," MEA statement read.

It said that flight number: AI 1940 is expected to depart from Budapest today at 20:45 hrs. (Local Time) and is expected to arrive at 7:45 hrs IST Delhi tomorrow.

A total of five students from Karnataka are arriving on this flight.

"The State Government has opened facilitation centre at IGI Airport, New Delhi, to coordinate and support stranded students arriving at IGI Airport hailing from Karnataka," the MEA informed.

The first evacuation flight of Air India, AIC 1944 touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 7.50 pm. The aircraft, which had taken off from the Henri Coanda International Airport, Bucharest, Romania this afternoon, brought home 219 passengers, mostly students from India.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the first batch of Indian students evacuated from Ukraine at Mumbai airport.

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv has advised Indian citizens against moving to any of the border checkpoints without prior coordination with government officials at border posts. (ANI)
Amid tension between Russia and Ukraine, Chinese social media is dominated by hashtags related to the issue. Hashtags such as "#Putin recognizes the independence of eastern Ukrainian civilian armed areas" and "#Change in Russian Ukrainian situation", "#Russia will provide military assistance to the two eastern Ukrainian regions" were trending on social media. While other trending hashtags include Russian representatives to the EU saying "Russia will withdraw its troops from Ukraine after end of operation". On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Later, Putin ordered special military operations "to protect" the people in the Donbas region. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations and imposed sanctions on Moscow. China's social media platform Weibo has become a new front in Russia and Ukraine tensions as it is trying to propagate pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives. On Tuesday, Horizon News, a subsidiary of Beijing News (state-media) accidentally posted censorship directives (that it may have received) on how to cover the Ukraine situation on its Weibo page. It gave a rare window to look into how the narratives in social media are controlled through state media outlets. The post said that any content showing Russia unfavourably as well as any pro-Western content would not be published. It also says "Show me (the news item) before posting it for the first time. The comment section is to be controlled with featured comments. Enable top comments first, and then pick out the appropriate ones, make sure they are responsible for what they comment. Really pay attention to the comments. Keep your eyes on each post for at least two days. Ensure proper handover. If you are running a topic (hashtag), only use it from People's Daily, Xinhua and CCTV." As of Wednesday, conspicuously no hashtags related to the Ukraine issue can be found even in the top 20 Weibo trends which shows that the authorities are trying to suppress discussion on the Ukraine issue on Chinese social media. Further, on Tuesday, two hashtags were trending on Weibo, at number 7 is "#Ukraine released a statement on Weibo". With the sudden announcement of Russia recognizing "the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states, the Ukraine Embassy to China released a statement concerning the issue in Chinese, bringing the issue to a top trending topic on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, reported Global Times. Another was "#Ukraine" under which the news is reported in a fairly non-partisan way till now just stating the facts. State media Weibo accounts are putting independence inside quotation marks. The ''Ukraine issue'' became a hot topic on Weibo on Tuesday, with some 900 million views and prompting nearly 200,000 discussions, reported Global Times. (ANI)
Dr Qadir Magsi, Chief of Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party (STP) in Pakistan has clearly rejected Imran Khan government's proposal of a water project over the Indus River and said the river was a jugular vein of the people of Sindh and hence could be accepted. Speaking at the 30th "Madr-i-Watan" programme of his party at Pakistan's Hyderabad bypass on Thursday night, the party chairperson Dr Qadir Magsi said that no water project over the Indus River, which was a jugular vein of the people of Sindh, could be accepted. He also rejected the proposed proforma for the upcoming census in which outsiders "settled in Sindh from abroad and from within the country" were to be counted among a local population. "Even (former prime minister) Benazir Bhutto had tried to build Kalabagh dam by rephrasing it as 'Indus dam' but people of Sindh rejected it as well," he said and recalled that Sindh had rejected this project during the Musharraf regime. But now Imran Khan wanted to teach people of Sindh about benefits of Kalabagh dam, he remarked. "Imran Khan has lost his commonsense and that's why he is coming to Sindh to educate us about Kalabagh dam. Indus (river) guarantees our right to life," he said. Dr Qadir Magsi reminded the Prime Minister that three assemblies had already rejected the dam project. He said that Sindhis would never agree to a non-Sindhi Chief Minister because it was their right to rule over Sindh. "Asif Zardari is disloyal to Sindh ... we dislike him," he said. It would be the last fight if Sindhis were converted to a minority in this province and a non-Sindhi becomes the CM to snatch Sindhis' right to rule over their province, he warned. "Sindhis are not against Pakistan ... they feel frightened whenever there is an attempt to weaken Pakistan and that's why we link our survival with Pakistan," he said. The STP chief also said that he believed Sindh would witness a civil war in case any harm came to Pakistan. (ANI)
Protests erupted in Pakistan's Okara District in the Punjab province, demanding to stop forced conversions of minor girls and to pass the Anti-Forced Conversions Bill. Earlier in January, Pakistan's minority councillors voiced their concerns over the lack of protection to religious minorities as the country is witnessing a steep increase in incidents of forced conversion, with cases rising from 15 in 2020 to over 60 in 2021, according to media reports. More than 70 per cent of people who were forcibly converted were minor girls. Reports say every single year, at least 1,000 girls are abducted, forced to change their religious identity and are married off in Pakistan and there seem to be no measures taken in order to protect them from this criminal practice. Recently, two Hindu girls--aged 13 and 19--along with a teenage Christian girl were kidnapped and married off to 40-year-old men after having changed their faith. This prompted a large demonstration in Hyderabad which was aimed at creating awareness about such violations that thrive under the public and state's radar. The matter of concern is that there is no law that prevents this from occurring. The Prohibition of Forced Conversion Act of 2021 was prepared and introduced to the parliament only to have been rejected because "it would create further problems for minorities". These are grave human rights violations--both the forced conversions and underage marriages that follow--which must be dealt with through proper laws that prohibit both. Furthermore, councils should be set up to verify, in instances of religious conversion, whether an individual is acting autonomously or under duress. Pakistan is already a dangerous home for minorities and issues like forced conversions only make it all the more hostile. Such cases of crime against minorities have been increasing steadily in recent years in Pakistan, as per the report. The cases of forced conversion have gone up since Pakistan's birth in 1947. The plight of women in Pakistan is increasing day by day as a fresh report has stated that nearly 6,754 women were abducted in the country's Punjab province in the first half of 2021. Out of that, 1,890 women were raped, 3,721 were tortured and 752 children were raped. On August 30 last year, the Board of Trustees of Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) expressed concerns over increasing attacks on women in the country. In Islamabad, there were nearly 34 official incidents of rape while 27 incidents were reported in the media. The number of official incidents of violence recorded in Punjab was 3,721, but only 938 cases were reported. (ANI)
Dear Amy: Two weeks ago, my husband, who was not being careful enough, came down with COVID-19.

I duly reported this to the person who is in charge of a weekly outdoor gathering I attend with some other people.

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I said that we were taking serious precautions to ensure that I didnt catch the disease, and that I had tested negative for the past five days.

I wasnt surprised that my offer to skip the meeting that week was accepted.

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I was distressed, however, to discover that the organizer had still included me in the group text announcing the event. (Our gathering is dependent on weather and other factors and hadnt occurred for some weeks.)

It was painful to see all the outcries of joy from the other members that we would be meeting. Despite the measures I took to remove myself from the group text, I continued to receive messages.

This week I was again included in the group text, then privately contacted to query my testing status. I reported that I had tested negative eight times, but was asked to verify negative results for both me and my husband.

I said that our doctors office had told my husband not to waste a test because he would probably show being positive for some weeks, even though he was no longer contagious per CDC advisories.

I understand that people are worried about COVID, but is it wrong to expect some common courtesy? If someone is not really invited to an event, isnt it cruel to include that person in a group text?

 Lonely

Dear Lonely: I assume your main question is about the utility of excluding someone from an outdoor event who consistently tests negative for COVID for many days leading up to the event.

To me it seems overly cautious to keep someone who doesnt have COVID away from an outdoor activity  but these are the rules laid down by the organizer, and you are conscientiously adhering to these guidelines. You are displaying common courtesy by being honest.

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In terms of this group texting issue  yes, it hurts that you cant join the activity, but you are part of the group and it is appropriate to include you in notifications, even if you cant be there. Furthermore, I suspect that if you werent included in notifications, you might feel even more hurt and excluded.

This is a temporary but tough thing for you to experience, and after two pandemic years of facing other tough things, it might hurt a little more than it should.

Dear Amy: My dad has built incredible things, including a garage and an addition on his home. He has remodeled neighbors homes and made some remarkable, high-quality projects. This is his hobby.

He has never charged anyone for helping them; they get the supplies, and he shows up to help. He has freely given his time and talents for neighbors and friends.

I recently talked to him about a built-in wall project for my own home.

A few weeks later he called me to say he had some free time and could help me with the built-ins.

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After some planning, he mentioned how much less he is charging me than another contractor would, and how he didnt need me to give him the money for supplies upfront, because hed include it on my invoice.

Is it presumptuous of me to think my dad would help me build something if I cover the costs for all of the materials?

I thought my dad would want to give his time helping his daughter.

I never ask him for anything and was stoked when he called and said he had time to help, but our last conversation left me deflated.

 Frustrated Daughter

Dear Frustrated: Your father wasnt specific regarding charging you for his time and talent. And it seems that he is advancing you the cost of the material.

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Please, ask him to be specific, and then talk about it, using a neutral tone and adopting a non-defensive attitude. If you decide to go ahead with the project, go with him to select materials, and assist him in the building.

Dear Amy: Your sweet and helpful response to Frustrated on how to understand and relate to fellow fourth graders brought tears to my eyes.

Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from Americas Favorite Advice Columnist for $5. >

I have a quirky and somewhat awkward son who could have written that question.

Im going to share your answer with him tonight.

 Grateful Mom

Dear Grateful: I thought Frustrated was very brave and cool to describe this.

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Got a question for Amy? Enter it here and well send it to her.

Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time  get the book "Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from Americas Favorite Advice Columnist" for $5.

2021 Amy Dickinson.
"The largest demonstration in the modern history of Estonia took place in support of Ukraine. I am grateful to the Estonian people and President of Estonia Alar Karis for their solidarity in these difficult times. Mr President, our vyshyvanka suits you," Zelenskyy tweeted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the suspension of advancement of its military forces in Ukraine on Friday (local time) but the operation was resumed Saturday afternoon after the Ukrainian leadership refused to talk, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Earlier, Zelenskyy suggested to Putin that they sit down at the negotiation table amid escalating tensions over Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special military operation after the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow. (ANI)
The verbal spats between Pakistan's opposition parties, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) have risen at a time when PPP is set to start its long march on Sunday protesting against the Imran Khan government. PPP Karachi president Saeed Ghani said the MQM-P wanted to pit political parties against each other to create chaos and the PTI was also part of the conspiracy, reported The News International. Ghani stressed that PPP had completed all preparations for the long march that would end Imran Khan's government. On the killing of Pakistani journalist Athar Mateen, he assured that Sindh chief minister himself is monitoring the progress in the case. At the same time, he rebuked the Imran Khan government and said 40,000 incidents of kidnapping of girls had been reported from Punjab during the last four years. He said that despite the numbers, the media only focused on the law and order situation in Karachi. Furthermore, he slammed the ruling PTI-led government saying that Imran Khan had failed to control price hikes, petroleum product prices and energy crises in the country. He blamed MQM-P for doing ethnic politics and alleged that the banners and flags of PPP were being removed by rival parties from different parts of Karachi. Boasting of his own party's achievements, he said the PPP government was taking all possible steps to curb street crime in the city and positive results had been achieved in this regard. Moreover, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal slammed the Sindh government and said the Sindh police had become a grave threat to the life and property of the people, reported the newspaper. "The police have the fundamental responsibility to protect the lives and property of the general public, but unfortunately, plainclothes policemen have become a constant source of fear and threat for the people," he said. (ANI)
The world is watching with bated breath to see whether President Vladimir Putin dispatches Russian troops into Ukraine in what would be Europe's largest conflict since World War II. China is watching just as closely, for it will pounce on any lessons to be learned from the West's response and apply them to its own nefarious ambitions for Taiwan. Chinese threats against the democratic nation of Taiwan have been growing, as the People's Liberation Army (PLA) flexes its muscle as the behest of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA conducts a high tempo of air patrols into the air defense identification zone (ADIZ) of Taiwan. Last year, for example, 950 aircraft sorties occurred, a figure more than double for 2020. This equates to an average of 2.5 aircraft sorties per day, which keeps Taiwan's air force busy scrambling to intercept Chinese interlopers. The largest incursion so far this year occurred on 23 January, when the PLA flew 39 aircraft into Taiwan's ADIZ. However, the largest ever intrusion was 56 aircraft on 4 October 2021. While an ADIZ does not possess any international value as sovereign territory (national airspace extends 12 nautical miles from a country's coastline), China has frequently intruded specifically to cow Taipei. The tempo lessened while the Beijing Winter Olympics were held in February, but these inflammatory air patrols are certain to increase again. Although China intends for these air intrusions, as well as sailing naval vessels around Taiwan, to intimidate, it is actually strengthening resolve within Taiwan to reject the CCP's heavy-handed overtures; it is also causing the USA to strengthen support for Taipei. Unfortunately, however, such is the frequency of these intrusions, that China has created a new norm. These PLA sorties enable the Chinese military to rehearse future attacks against Taiwan, what Beijing calls training under "realistic combat conditions", plus it allows practice in coordinating large-scale joint forces. Such incessant activity also forms part of Beijing's narrative that it is in control of the Taiwan situation, that Taiwan is totally at its mercy and that it is futile to resist. It has the beneficial side effect of chewing up significant amounts of time, money and wear and tear for Taiwanese forces. If Taiwan fails to send up responding fighters every time a PLA aircraft intrudes, then the PLA will have achieved considerable tactical and psychological victories. In his January 2019 speech on the 40th anniversary of China's Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, Chairman Xi Jinping stated: "We Chinese should not fight each other. We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, because this works best for the people on both sides and for our whole nation." However, Xi then stated just a few months later, "We do not renounce the use of force, and reserve the option of taking all necessary measures." China is willing to threaten and pummel Taipei into accepting unification, and it reserves the "right" to military force to do so. The Election Study Center at the National Chengchi University in Taipei recently surveyed citizens' thoughts on unification with China. Only 1.4% advocated reunification, whereas 55.7 per cent wanted to maintain the status quo either indefinitely or till a decision at a later date. Another 25.1 per cent of surveyed Taiwanese wanted to maintain the status quo but move towards independence, while 6 per cent wanted independence as soon as possible. These results show that China is pushing Taiwan further away from the CCP's rough embrace, exacerbated by its clumsy subjugation of Hong Kong. John S Van Oudenaren, writing for The Jamestown Foundation think-tank in the USA, said, "China's military muscle flexing may be an effort to cow Taiwanese voters into 'peaceful reunification', but this suggests extraordinary tone-deafness on Beijing's part. More likely, the PRC is seeking to develop military and other coercive options for unification while also communicating to Washington that intervention on Taiwan's behalf will be very costly. As China develops an increasingly viable set of military options, the US and Taiwan will face an unenviable choice: accept growing exposure to the threat, or pay higher costs to maintain the status quo." Recently, a lot of ink has been spilled on whether China will take the opportunity to attack Taiwan, if Russia goes ahead with an invasion of Ukraine. Even high-level officials have warned of such an eventuality. For example, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said last month that a Ukraine conflict might present China with an opportunity to invade Taiwan. "I don't think we can rule that out," she warned. Such lines of thought are based on two assumptions. One is that if the USA responds to a war in Europe, then it will reduce its military capabilities in Asia. Secondly, that Beijing and Moscow have aligned their goals, as indicated by a joint Sino-Russian statement issued on February 4 reaffirming mutual support for each other's security concerns. The communique stated, "They reaffirm that the new interstate relations between Russia and China are superior to political and military alliances of the Cold War era." However, such a premise that China and Russia will both attack seems tenuous. For example, the USA has consistently said it would not commit troops to defend Ukraine, and Washington DC has continued to maintain that will not be distracted from its focus on the Asian region and the threat from China. Sam Cranny-Evans and Dr. Sidharth Kaushal, both of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in the UK, concluded: "A rushed operation to take Taiwan while the West was supposedly distracted over Ukraine would be an ill-conceived disaster that the PLA is unlikely to attempt." Furthermore, the PLA would need to take an enormous amount of preparatory steps before launching an invasion of Taiwan. For example, large amounts of troops and equipment would concentrate at ports and airfields, but there is no evidence of this occurring. Russia has spent months moving units towards the Ukrainian border, and similar movements would be necessary for China before it could launch an amphibious invasion. Cranny-Evans and Kaushal noted: "Rather than being a rapidly executable operation, such an endeavor would be a months-long process that could well be under way long after the conventional phase of a Russian invasion of Ukraine has ended." An invasion across the Taiwan Strait would be a risky undertaking, as there are limited numbers of Taiwanese beaches where PLA amphibious forces could land. Taiwan has around 450,000 troops it could muster to repel China. A lot of fighting would occur in cities since 79 per cent of Taiwan's population live in cities, and a large proportion of Taiwan is mountainous. A key difference is that any Chinese invasion of Taiwan will constitute an attack against the USA. This is not the case with Ukraine. Taipei enjoys an implicit security guarantee from the USA under the Taiwan Relations Act, one made more explicit by President Joe Biden in October 2021 when asked whether the USA would come to Taiwan's aid. "Yes, we have a commitment to do that," he reaffirmed. China would have to attack American air bases in places like Japan before it launched any attack against Taiwan. Furthermore, the fall of Taiwan to China would critically endanger Japanese sea lines of communication, threatening the US-Japan alliance itself. Cranny Evans and Kaushal of RUSI concluded: "In other words, unlike a Russian invasion of Ukraine, attacking Taiwan requires China to attack the US; the posture of US forces makes it impossible for China to do one without the other. The ability of Russia to successfully invade a non-allied third party without targeting Western forces, then, will tell Chinese decision-makers precious little about the response to an invasion of Taiwan, which would by necessity begin with a preemptive attack on US forces." The RUSI academics continued: "Ultimately, if China does decide to invade Taiwan, it will be when it believes the regional balance of power enables it to fight and win a war that will necessarily involve the US. While different opinions may exist regarding whether such a state of affairs will ever emerge, and what the US can do to prevent it, the calculus of Chinese leaders will be shaped by the regional balance of power in Asia, and not by events farther a field." Nonetheless, Beijing will be carefully monitoring NATO's and America's response to any Russian aggression in Ukraine. If little resolve is shown, China will be emboldened to take more robust actions against Taiwan, reinforcing its already entrenched notion that the USA is in inexorable decline. American allies and fence sitters in Asia-Pacific are watching US foreign policy carefully as it juggles the Ukrainian crisis. They will be concerned if President Joe Biden does not follow through on promises such as were made in his Indo-Pacific Strategy released on February 11. That White House document promised, for instance: "Under President Biden, the United States is determined to strengthen our long-term position in and commitment to the Indo-Pacific. In a quickly changing strategic landscape, we recognize that American interests can only be advanced if we firmly anchor the United States in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen the region itself, alongside our closest allies and partners." Another scholar - Igor Denisov, a Senior Research Fellow at MGIMO University's Institute for International Studies in Russia - concurred with the RUSI assessment. "The scenario of Russian-Chinese coordination on Taiwan is hardly realistic, primarily because no Chinese leader would link the resolution of a critical national issue to an event over which he has no control. In any case, this implies a thorough involvement in the Ukrainian crisis, which China has never done. And this is hardly acceptable to China under any circumstances, including the growing business interests in Europe." Denisov added: "It is also difficult to assume that any escalation in Europe would loosen the American grip on Asia. Beijing has no illusions about this, and generally sees its rivalry with the West as a long game rather than a series of blitzkrieg operations. From this point of view, it is understandable why, noting Russia's ability to maneuver in chaos, China seems in no hurry to master this art." China's hawkish behavior and rhetoric against Taiwan are raising the specter of war amongst China's citizens. Radical netizens are latching onto this, with strident calls for military action from a certain segment who want war. For example, one nationalistic blogger complained on Weibo, "These so-called anti-war [opinion leaders] are mostly running dogs of Western values." Ren Yi, an influential blogger known as Chairman Rabbit, wrote on WeChat last November: "In China, the public expectation about a war is changing gradually due to many influences. In the old days, reunification by force was an unthinkable idea; now it is becoming normalized ... Once the use of force has become inevitable, people will be prepared for it since intense discussions have already taken place." In China's tightly controlled internet, it is difficult for more moderate views to gain traction. Even though China's leadership is far removed from the average man on the street, there is a danger of the CCP's nationalistic sentiment redounding on its own head. It must be careful not to paint itself into a corner, since nationalism can be a double-edged sword. There is jumpiness in China. On 1 November 2021, the Ministry of Commerce published a routine notice telling households to stock up on necessities. It sparked panic buying in some places, and on the same day the number of Chinese internet searches for the keyword "Taiwan" jumped fourfold and those for "war" multiplied 25 times. Ultimately, any invasion of Taiwan will not be about satisfying public opinion, but whether China believes it can succeed militarily at a relatively low cost. Chinese leaders are pragmatists, and any decision for military force will be based solely on the balance of regional power. Unfortunately, that balance is continually tilting towards China's favor. In the meantime, Beijing will continue to use coercion and bullying as its primary strategy. (ANI)
Pakistan has set up a massive troll army to tarnish India's image in front of the world with the use of Twitter extensively, a recent analysis has revealed. According to Digital Forensics, Research and Analytics Center, Pakistan has launched a proxy war against India for the last several decades. Despite humiliating defeat in the last four wars, Pakistan no longer tries to confront India directly. But, sometimes it conducts attacks by sending terrorists from across the border and sometimes tries to harm India's internal security through its henchmen. Thousands of Twitter accounts operating from Pakistan turn any issue against India into an international issue within a few hours. Further, these accounts from Pakistan are not only in the name of Pakistani users but are also with foreign names such as Chinese, Russian, Turkish, American. This entire propaganda of Pakistan appears to be based on China's Little Pink Army or Internet Water Army. Such as Chinese social media influencers are targeting foreign countries. A Twitter account named Liza Wang was created in August 2019. As per DFRAC, the old username of this account is @Maleehaaa__. Whereas the user ID of this account is 116604561615757312. This account is a Pakistani account. However, it is Operated under the name of Chinese user Liza Wang with the aim of misleading people. Moreover, the account describes itself as a journalist and a column writer. While, looking at the wall of this account, it can be seen that this account not only spreads anti-India propaganda but also promotes the Gwadar project under the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Furthermore, this account had tweeted many anti-India tweets regarding the ongoing hijab controversy in Karnataka, DFRAC said. The most frequently used hashtag is #Pakistan. After that are # cpec , # gwadar , #beautiful Pakistan, #china, etc. While other account named Josie William was created in June 2021. The old username for this is account @ PapaPrinces4 ( Hira Yusuf). Whereas the user ID of this account is 1400120091664998400. This account is also actually the account of a Pakistani user. This account has been created in the name of a travel blogger to deceive people. Most of the tweets made from this account are related to the Gwadar project. Along with this, this account also promotes Pakistan Tourism. Apart from this, this account has also tweeted anti-India tweets related to the hijab controversy, DFRAC revealed further. Likewise, there are thousands of accounts found on Twitter promoting propaganda against India. (ANI)
The first flight from Romania carrying Indian students who had left the conflict situation in Ukraine reached Mumbai on Saturday as the efforts continued for the safe evacuation of Indians in the wake of Russia's military action in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and conveyed India's deep concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, present in Ukraine. He sought facilitation by Ukrainian authorities to expeditiously and safely evacuate Indian citizens. President Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the ongoing conflict situation in Ukraine. PM Modi expressed his deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict. He reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue and expressed India's willingness to contribute in any way towards peace efforts. In his tweet, Zelenskyy said he urged for India's political support in UN Security Council against Russia. "Spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Informed of the course of Ukraine repulsing Russian aggression. More than 100,000 invaders are on our land. They insidiously fire on residential buildings. Urged India to give us political support in UN Security Council. Stop the aggressor together!" he said in a tweet. Meanwhile, Russia appreciated India of its "balanced position" at UNSC voting on a resolution on the Ukraine crisis. "Highly appreciate India's independent and balanced position at the voting in the UNSC on February 25, 2022. In the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership, Russia is committed to maintaining a close dialogue with India on the situation around Ukraine," Russian Embassy in India said in a tweet. Russia on Friday vetoed a resolution at UN Security Council on Ukraine. India, China, and UAE abstained from the vote. India's embassy in Slovakia on Saturday said that it is in contact with the Government of Slovakia for evacuation of Indian citizens through the Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke border. Meanwhile, under Operation Ganga, the second flight from Bucharest has taken off for Delhi carrying 250 Indian nationals, Jaishankar said on Saturday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and discussed the situation in Ukraine. Amid the rising tensions, President Zelensky on Saturday urged Germany and Hungary to back Russia's expulsion from the SWIFT banking system as Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine. "We have almost full support from EU countries about disconnecting Russia from SWIFT. I hope Germany and Hungary will have the courage to support this decision," Zelenskyy said in a video address that was posted on his Telegram channel, Sputnik News Agency reported today. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin ordered the suspension of advancement of its troops on Friday but resumed on Saturday afternoon after Ukraine refused to negotiate. "Yesterday afternoon, in connection with the expected negotiations with the Ukrainian leadership, the Russian president and supreme commander ordered the suspension of the advance of the main forces," Peskov told reporters on Saturday. Ukraine Health Minister Viktor Liashko has said that 198 Ukrainians were killed amid Russia's military operation. Liashko, in a Facebook post, shared the number of casualties in the Russian military operation in Ukraine so far. He also said that 1,115 Ukrainians have been wounded in three days of fighting. The United States on Saturday has also announced additional assistance to Ukraine which includes USD 350 million for immediate support to Ukraine against ongoing Russia's military actions. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday said that France has agreed to supply military equipment to Keiv and supported a ban on Russia from SWIFT international banking system. As the situation in Ukraine continued to be tense, more and more people are migrating to Poland. About 100,000 people have entered Poland from Ukraine over the last several days, a media report said citing the country's Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration Pawel Szefernaker said on Saturday. Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to India and Bhutan on Saturday said that the EU will put forward a UN General Assembly resolution to demand immediate withdrawal of Russian forces amid tension between Kiev and Moscow. "We will put forward a UN General Assembly resolution to demand immediate withdrawal of Russian forces," Ugo Astuto said in a Tweet. (ANI)
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that preparations were still underway for the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) planned no-confidence move against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The PDM had announced to bring a no-trust move against the PTI government on February 11 after a meeting of its constituent parties. The PDM had said it would contact the PTI government's allies in the centre for this purpose which was followed by several meetings in the last few weeks between the opposition parties and PTI's allies, Dawn newspaper reported. Responding to a question, while addressing a press conference in Lahore with Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) president Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Shehbaz said that "preparation is underway" for the no-confidence motion and he could not provide a definite date on when it will be tabled, the Pakistani newspaper said. It further reported that Shehbaz said the move was according to the wishes of the people who were praying for deliverance from the incumbent government and they had already given the "signal" for it. The opposition is jettisoning mutual hatred to ouster Imran Khan. PPP and PML-N have also announced separate long marches on Islamabad with the former's starting on February 27 and the latter's March 23. (ANI)
"HMS Trent is in the eastern Mediterranean, conducting NATO exercises with Merlin Helicopters and RAF P8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft. They will be shortly joined by HMS Diamond, a Type 45 destroyer, which set sail from Portsmouth yesterday," the UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Saturday.

According to the statement, Challenger 2 tanks and armoured vehicles of the Royal Welsh battlegroup have arrived in Estonia from Germany, with further equipment and around 1,000 troops arriving over the coming days.

"This will lead to a doubling of the UK presence in Estonia, where the UK leads a NATO battlegroup as part of the Alliance's enhanced Forward Presence," read the statement.

"RAF Typhoon fighter jets have already completed their first air policing missions across the region, with an additional four aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Typhoons flying from bases in Cyprus and the UK are now patrolling NATO airspace over Romania and Poland alongside NATO allies with Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft in support," the statement added.

"Our armed forces are once again being called upon in the service of our Nation and I salute the bravery and sense of duty shared by all our personnel who have been deployed to support NATO," said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace MP.

"Alongside our NATO Allies, these deployments constitute a credible deterrent to stop Russian aggression threatening the territorial sovereignty of member states," Wallace added. (ANI)
Zelenskyy said that in a conversation with Guterres, he had called for depriving Russia of the right to vote in the UN Security Council and for recognizing Moscow's actions in Ukraine as "genocide."

"To deprive the aggressor country of the right to vote in the UN Security Council, to qualify Russia's actions & statements as genocide of Ukrainian people, to help with the delivery of corpses of Russian soldiers. Talked about it in a conversation with the #UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres," Zelenskyy tweeted.

Taking to Twitter, Guterres also said, "I spoke today with @ZelenskyyUa and conveyed the determination of the @UN to enhance humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. Respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians are now paramount." (ANI)
Indian embassy in Ukraine on Saturday (local time) said that the embassy is "closely monitoring" the developing situation, especially in Eastern regions of Ukraine and are in constant touch with the authorities on the safety of Indian citizens. "Closely monitoring the developing situation, especially in Eastern regions of Ukraine. In constant touch with the authorities on the safety of our citizens. To all Indians who remain in Ukraine, we are with you," India in Ukraine tweeted. The embassy also said, "Indian citizens have successfully been evacuated from Ukraine through Romania and shortly through Hungary. Working to open up more borders with neighbouring countries for our citizens. Please stay patient and safe." Earlier, the first flight from Romania carrying Indian students, who had left the conflict situation in Ukraine, reached Mumbai as the efforts continued for the safe evacuation of Indians in the wake of Russia's military action in Ukraine. (ANI)
"Russian claims that the United States was involved in any way with Ukrainian naval operations near the Zmiiny Island are false. We did not provide ISR or any other support. Chalk this up to just one more lie by the Russian Ministry of Defense," Kirby tweeted.

Notably, in the early hours on Thursday, Russia launched a special military operation after the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation and boosted the sanctions pressure on Moscow.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced additional assistance to Ukraine which includes USD 350 million for immediate support to Ukraine's defence against ongoing Russia's military actions. (ANI)
Chicago police are investigating the death of a 42-year-old woman who was spotted in the drivers seat of her SUV, shot in the head late Friday on the Northwest Side.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., Azucena Vargas was found in the 3300 block of West Cuyler Avenue with a gunshot wound to the head in the drivers seat of her 2003 black SUV, according to the Cook County medical examiners office and police.

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An autopsy Saturday determined Vargas, who lived in the same block on Cuyler, died of a gunshot wound to the head and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Vargas was pronounced dead at 11:29 p.m., the medical examiners office said.

No further information was provided.

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Detectives were investigating.
Amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday (local time) spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said that Russia must be isolated diplomatically and financially. "This evening I spoke to President @ZelenskyyUa. The heroism of the President and his people in the defence of their country is awe-inspiring. We are clear-Russia must be isolated diplomatically and financially. I welcome increased willingness to exclude Russia from SWIFT," Johnson tweeted. Zelenskyy also said that he had a phone conversation with UK Prime Minister and agreed on further joint steps to counter the "aggressor". "Had a phone conversation with @BorisJohnson. Grateful to the British Prime Minister for his position, new decisions to enhance the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian army. Agreed on further joint steps to counter the aggressor," Zelenskyy wrote in a tweet. Earlier, Zelenskyy also spoke with President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister of Czech Republic Petr Fiala about the current situation. "Informed President of Georgia @Zourabichvili_S and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic @P_Fiala about the current situation. Concrete assistance was discussed. Grateful to our friends Georgia and Czech Republic for their support," Zelenskyy tweeted. Notably, Zelenskyy, in a phone conversation, thanked Andrzej Duda, President of Poland for his personal leadership in granting Ukraine membership in the EU. "In a phone conversation, I thanked @AndrzejDuda for his personal leadership in granting Ukraine membership in the #EU. The concrete daily assistance of Poland to our country is also invaluable. The Ukraine, Poland relationship is a common history and, I am sure, a common European future," Zelenskyy tweeted. In a tweet, Zelensky also said that he had thanked the Pope for his prayers, adding that "the Ukrainian people feel the spiritual support of His Holiness." (ANI)
Karen Phillips with Restore Hope (front left) stands with Cindy Moore of The Guidance Center, Heather Edwards, Sebastian County coordinator for 100 Families, Shea Foldvary, President and CEO United Way of Fort Smith Area, Carrie Terry of United Way of Fort Smith Area, and Chance Locklear, Landmark and United Way board of directors member.

For families in Sebastian County, the new 100 Families Resource Center opens doors to stability and hope.

The United Way of Fort Smith Area celebrated the opening of the new center for the 100 Families Initiative in Sebastian County, located at 423 Rogers Ave., Suite 101, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 25.

At the Resource Center, families and partner organizations will come together to increase access to support systems and community social services. The center will continue the work established by 100 Families in Sebastian County, which is celebrating its third anniversary.

Heather Edwards, Sebastian County 100 Families coordinator, said, "The Resource Center is really a collaborative space where community partners can connect and work toward community-wide solutions. And it's a place where struggling parents and families can come and feel welcome and be able to access resources and support."

Shea Foldvary, president and CEO of United Way of Fort Smith Area, said the United Way has connected individuals and families with resources in the River Valley since 1928.

"This new Resource Center is another way for United Way of Fort Smith Area to strengthen collaborative partnerships and supports families in need while creating a healthier community for all," Foldvary said.

100 Families, a community collaborative that aims to help families move from crisis to career, focuses on areas including housing, transportation, employment, education, addiction and recovery and food stability.

Area agencies work together through a collaborative case management system to support families in crisis.

The 100 Families Initiative is an evidence-based program of Restore Hope Arkansas, created by Governor Asa Hutchinson in 2015 "to bridge the recognized gap between government services and communities struggling to reduce the rate of incarceration, to facilitate a successful re-entry from incarceration to freedom, and to reduce the number of children entering our states foster care system," according to the organization's website.

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Along with Sebastian County, the program operates across the state, including in Crawford, Pope, Pulaski and White counties.

To enroll in 100 Families in Sebastian County, call 479-769-2488 or send an email to hedwards@unitedwayfortsmith.org.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: 100 Families opens new resource center in Fort Smith
An 18-year-old Lebanon resident has been arrested for homicide in connection with a fatal shooting in the 300 block of North 8th Street late Wednesday night, police say.

Lebanon City Police took Jouse Ortiz Serrano into custody just after 7 p.m. Friday evening on the 100 block of South 3rd Street, according to Lebanon City Police Chief Todd Breiner. He was arraigned before district Judge Carl Garver and incarcerated at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility without bail.

Serrano shot Jean Alvarado Rosado, 32, of Lebanon late Wednesday night, according to police. Rosado was found lying on the sidewalk with apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment, where he died of his injuries.

Lebanon fatal shooting: Man dies from injuries suffered in Lebanon city shooting late Wednesday

Palm City fatal shooting: Palm City resident defending his home from masked intruders has died, according to police

No one else was injured in the shooting. The preliminary cause of death is due to gunshot injuries, though police did not release an official cause of death in Friday's news release.

"Police allege (Rosado) had been developed as a possible suspect in a shooting incident which occurred in December of 2021 on the 1000 block of Cumberland Street," Breiner said in Friday's release.

The victim in that shooting is the father of Serrano, according to Breiner. That investigation remains open.

Breiner has said police did not think there was any danger to the general public, and that this shooting was not related to last week's fatal shooting of 13-year-old Jason Rivera in South Lebanon Township.

"The investigation has led police to believe this is not a random act," Breiner said in news release Thursday.

Residents reported they heard multiple gunshots near the Lebanon Middle School grounds.

Jennifer Boyer-Jackson was inside watching TV when she heard several shots. However when she heard a bullet ping off her front porch, she was able to see a man limping and running outside.

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"At that time I waited a little then went outside," she said. "Down the street was a guy lying on the ground and someone was on phone with police."

Officials were investigating on multiple blocks in the residential area, with most of 8th Street shut down for several hours. While roadways were open by Thursday morning, some officers could still be seen canvassing the area.

This was the second shooting to happen in or around the city in more than a week.

Before 9 p.m. Feb. 15, Rivera was shot and killed in the 300 block of Vine Street in South Lebanon Township, just outside the city's southern limits. His killer remains at large. '

Jason Rivera: Family pleads for help in finding killer of 13-year-old Jason Rivera in South Lebanon Twp.

Officials are still asking anyone who knows something in Rivera's case to contact the South Lebanon Township Police Department at 717-272-2054, the District Attorney's office at 717-228-4412, the Lebanon County Detective Bureau at 717-228-4403, or Crimestoppers at 717-270-9800.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on Twitter at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon homicide: 18-year-old arrested in connection with fatal shooting




An Alabama doctor who was trying to adopt a Ukrainian boy is working to get him out of the country amid the Russian invasion.

Dr. Christopher Jahraus, a radiation oncologist, and his family were in the months-long process of adopting 9-year-old Sashko when Ukraine was invaded, Alabama outlet WIAT reported. Jahraus fears that if Russia takes over Ukraine, he may not be able to adopt Sashko due to the Dima Yakovlev Law, which prohibits Americans from adopting Russian children.

"This is a crisis," Jahraus told the local news outlet. "We need to get these little kids over here."

Jahraus met Sashko last year through an exchange program that brings Ukrainian orphans to Alabama, according to WIAT. Sashko had been living in an orphanage in Ukraine after his mother was unable to provide for him.

The doctor said he had an immediate connection with the boy.

"When I saw him, I felt similar to the moment when I saw my child for the first time," Jahraus told WIAT.

Jahraus added that it didn't take long for him to notice the "inherent goodness" Sashko had in him. He said that after picking Sashko and other children up from the airport, he stopped at a gas station where Sashko asked if he could have some gum. Jahraus bought him the gum and said that after giving it to Sashko, the boy gave a piece to each child in the car and to Jahraus as well.

By the time Sashko returned to Ukraine, he had started calling Jahraus "Papa" and telling him that he loved him.

"It brings tears to my eyes, even now," the doctor told WIAT. "He's my kid."

Jahraus said he has been in contact with politicians about getting Sashko out of Ukraine and is planning on reaching out to more. Jahraus and his wife also started a GoFundMe to help get the boy and other Ukrainian children out of the country.

"Just like any father, I'm going to do anything to get him to safety," Jahraus said.
Alexis Floyd as Neff Davis. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix

Neff Davis said she's received "racist comments" since "Inventing Anna" premiered.

Davis remained loyal to convicted con artist Anna Sorokin throughout Sorokin's time in prison.

People who watched the fictional Neff think she "kissed Anna's ass too much," Davis said.

Anna Sorokin's real-life friend Neffatari "Neff" Davis told Vulture about the "racist comments" she's received since Shonda Rhimes' hit Netflix show "Inventing Anna" premiered on February 11.

Sorokin is a convicted con artist who tricked Manhattan's elite bankers and real estate agents into believing she was a German heiress named Anna Delvey. She convinced very rich people to buy into the dream she had of opening up an elite social club modeled after Soho House, which she wanted to call The Anna Delvey Foundation.

Davis, who befriended Sorokin around 2017 while working at the upscale 11 Howard hotel, still talks to Sorokin today and worked as a consultant on "Inventing Anna" for Rhimes' production company, Shondaland. Davis' character on the show also remains loyal to Sorokin throughout her scam and during her time in jail.

"The unfortunate part is a lot of racist comments and people who don't understand the dynamics between me being a Black woman and Anna being a white woman," Davis said in Vulture. She said that many people write her to say that fictional Neff "was just someone who kissed Anna's ass too much." But Davis says she was just trying to show a friend "loyalty."

"As a Black woman, I know we are pitted against Caucasian women a lot of times," the filmmaker, who was working at Starbucks when she was messaged by journalist Jessica Pressler to participate in Pressler's New York Magazine story investigation into Sorokin, told Vulture. "But at the end of the day, my loyalty with Anna wasn't because of her skin color."

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Davis said she did question comments Sorokin made sometimes, but said, "I never saw the bad side of Anna. I never got scammed by her." Their friendship was based on the fact that Sorokin treated Davis well. Davis said Sorokin paid back any money she borrowed from Davis.

Vivian (Anna Chlumsky) and Neff (Alexis Floyd) on "Inventing Anna." Nicole Rivelli/Netflix

The former barista said she finds it "interesting" that people are "disappointed" in her friendship with Sorokin. Davis maintains she's loyal to "all my friends."

But even though the two remain in contact, Davis is not controlled by Sorokin, she clarified. "Sometimes I won't answer the phone because I had to let her know I have my freedom," she said. "I'm not going to be able to answer every single phone call from jail. But if you need some panties or some coconut milk for Thanksgiving, I'll send it."

Sorokin served her time in jail for her fraud-related crimes but was arrested by ICE for overstaying her visa in February 2021 and currently remains in custody.

"Inventing Anna" is available to stream now on Netflix.

Read the original article on Insider
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Anonymous messages threatening to place bombs at Moscow's train stations and airports have been received by the authorities and checks are being made, the RIA news agency reported on Saturday.

It also said that the Russian embassy in London was in touch with British police after receiving phone threats related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow had described as a "special military operation."

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher married in 2015. (Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

There's no doubt who Ashton Kutcher is siding with following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I stand with Ukraine," he tweeted Thursday.

I stand with Ukraine  ashton kutcher (@aplusk) February 25, 2022

He also retweeted an image of the Ukrainian flag.

Mila Kunis, Kutcher's former That '70s Show co-star and his wife since 2015, was born in Ukraine when it was still part of the former Soviet Union. Then, when she was 7, her family moved to the United States.

Kunis doesn't use social media, and she hasn't commented on the current situation, but over the years she has spoken about her time in the country.

In July 2016, she told Conan host Conan O'Brien how her parents said that the family was just moving to another place nearby rather than a whole other country.

"And then one day, we weren't moving up the street," Kunis recounted. "We were on a train, and I was like, 'Whoa, we're on a train. Where are we going?' And then we got to Moscow and then we got on a plane, and all of that was very new to me. Like, a train was new. The plane was new. I had Coca-Cola for the first time. The entire experience was very new."

Kunis, who has noted that she lost family members in the Holocaust, said such a move was not talked about with others.

"At that point, it was still, like, at the fall of communism, and we came [on] a refugee visa," Kunis said. "It just wasn't something you flaunted."

It certainly wasn't something you wanted a child to share.

"I didn't even know what America was," Kunis said. "I was like, 'What could I have done?' And they're like, 'Said the word America.' And I was like, 'Well, that's true.'"

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The actress also has explained why they made the move.

"Nowadays, if you have money you think Moscow or wherever is great," she told The Telegraph in September 2011. "But thats not the reality of the Russia I grew up with. My parents both had amazing jobs, and I was very lucky. We were not poor when we lived in Russia, whereas most people were very unfortunate. My parents thought that my brother and I would have no future there, though, so we moved to the United States."

However, their relocation meant that Kunis's parents had to start over professionally. They entered the country with just $250.

"That was it. That was all we were allowed to take with us," Kunis said. "My parents had given up good jobs and degrees, which were not transferable. We arrived in New York on a Wednesday and by Friday morning my brother and I were at school in L.A."

Once the family arrived, her parents worked multiple jobs to provide for Kunis, who didn't know English, and her brother.

"It must have been frightening because I blocked it out," she said of her early days in America. "I don't have any memories. Apparently, my parents tell me, I cried every morning and when I came back from school. When I wrote my essay for college, it was about imagining what it was like being blind and deaf at the age of seven, because that's what it felt like."

She and Kutcher now share two children of their own: daughter Wyatt, 7, and 5-year-old son Dimitri.
Veronica Alvarez, mother of 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez, holds a photo of her son and his grandmother, Maria Luisa Lira, at her home on Feb. 23, 2022, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Friday closed out one of the last chapters of a nearly 10-month process to finalize the Chicago Police Departments foot-pursuit policy after multiple public comment sessions, coming the same week the family of a man killed by police during one such chase last spring filed suit.

The first draft of the policy was launched in May  about two months after the police chases that ended in the controversial fatal shootings of 13-year-old Adam Toledo and 22-year-old Anthony Alvarez.

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Officers have been following that temporary policy since then. But previously the department operated without such a policy, a major point that was made in a lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of Alvarezs family.

The most recent 10-page draft of the policy was released for public viewing Feb. 10, and the department allowed for 15 days of public comment before officials start to analyze the feedback and finalize the new rules.

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Whatever the final policy is, it will provide the first official, completed guidelines for Chicago police officers who engage in foot pursuits.

There are two main changes from the first draft to the current version, Robert Boik, CPDs executive director of constitutional policing and reform, told the Tribune on Friday. The first is overall language clarification and the second is supervisory responsibilities, Boik said.

Clarifying the language was part of the feedback the department received from the first round of public comment, Boik said. And defining the responsibilities of the supervisor, such as having to complete an after-action review of the foot chase, is in line with a broader goal of the consent decree the department now finds itself under.

While the document includes specific directives and prohibitions, it also underscores a broader philosophy shift: that chasing a suspect should no longer be considered an automatic response and there will be times where a circumstance dictates officers stop a chase.

Focusing on professionalization, it means that our officers are asking certain questions before they act. And again, sometimes, that process happens in an instant. But thats where training comes in, Boik said.  I think this was new for officers to think about.  This is a new concept we are getting comfortable with.

The department originally planned to produce a final draft last September but then pushed back the self-imposed deadline, saying it needed more time to analyze a proposal. The department at the time said in a statement that U.S. District Judge Robert Dow, who is overseeing the consent decree the department is under, also thought it was necessary for CPD to continue gathering and reviewing data.

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Veronica Alvarez sits beside photographs of her son, Anthony Alvarez, during an interview in downtown Chicago on May 8, 2021. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Language in the policy reflects recommendations from experts and rules that other departments have already implemented, including, for example, that officers weigh factors such as whether there are other means that could achieve the apprehension of a suspect, whether the officer is alone and whether there are other supports available, such as a helicopter, to assist. It also instructs officers to consider if the subject could be arrested at a later time.

Chases should only be initiated, per the draft policy, if the need to detain the person outweighs the risk to the public and the officer.

It was not immediately fully clear how the new policy might have affected decisions to chase Toledo and Alvarez. The officer who ran down a Little Village alley after Toledo was largely alone when he did so. Both Toledo and Alvarez, who was shot in the yard of a home after trying to outrun an officer, were holding weapons at points during their pursuits.

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While the policy prohibits officers from chasing someone simply because they run away, it allows officers to chase if they have a reasonable articulable suspicion that criminal activity has or will occur, a standard that is too low, said civil rights attorney Sheila Bedi.

This policy (is) far short of providing the necessary protections and in many ways just reinforces the dangerous practice of using foot pursuits, Bedi said, adding that a higher probable cause standard should be used.

The tactic is so dangerous at the very least it should be probable cause, she said. Officers should not be chasing someone unless they are absolutely sure they are going to arrest someone.

The Toledo case, Bedi said, made clear that officers need to consider when they are chasing someone in unfamiliar or confined territory. But the policy doesnt say it must stop, only hints at it, she said.

Boik, when asked about the idea that officers would stop chasing an armed suspect, acknowledged this will be part of a shift for officers, but that the directive aimed to increase safety for all involved. And ending a chase does not mean the law enforcement action is over.

When they terminate the pursuit there are other things they have to do (such as) attempt to set up a perimeter, he said. Terminating a pursuit does not absolve that person from taking law enforcement action. This is not a mechanism to stop pursuing people. It is a mechanism to make sure we are doing it safely.

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The policy also states that running away alone is not a reason to chase a person. And it offers specific examples for officers on when chases are either prohibited or allowed. Officers can chase someone if they were believed to have committed certain misdemeanors such as aggravated assault and battery but cannot chase someone believed to have committed lower-level misdemeanors such as simple assault or criminal trespassing to land.

Boik said he hopes to issue the final policy in the next 30 days. Once its released, then the policy will go through the departments required two-year review cycle.

Other experts in Chicago, while acknowledging the formulation of a policy is overdue, said the directive still fell short by not having a strong enough legal standard to justify a chase.

While CPD finally recognizes the perilous nature of foot chases by armed officers, it lacks other critical protections, Michelle Garcia, deputy legal director at the ACLU of Illinois, said in an emailed statement, pointing to the language that allows officers to chase people suspected of misdemeanors like shoplifting and some traffic offenses.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 46 Relatives, supporters, and members of the community march on April 18, 2021, during a peace walk for 13-year-old Adam Toledo who was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer during a foot pursuit. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

In a statement, the ALCU of Illinois also noted that the policy allows officers to consider the criminal activity in a neighborhood when they are weighing a chase, calling it one of the biggest concerns about the policy.

 Perhaps most important, the new policy encourages  encourages  foot chases in neighborhoods that are known for certain criminal activity, the statement reads. That language invites chases in Black and Brown neighborhoods across the City, raising the danger of violence from police in areas that have suffered too much violence already.

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Boik defended the reasonable suspicion standard, saying that this is the same standard officers are taught to use in making stops. He said it was important for the training around constitutional issues to be consistent. He also said officers cannot initiate a chase based on a neighborhood alone; they must have a valid law enforcement reason to detain a person.

Officers will go through a 30-minute e-learning course on the policy that will include a test afterward, and then the foot-pursuit policy will be included in the eight-hour constitutional policing course that is a part of officers required 40-hour training curriculum.

Boik said its difficult to talk about things in hindsight, especially when no policy was in place at the time.

There are a different set of circumstances and thoughts that run through the officers head prior to the policy existing than what we would hope would be, so I think its unfair to do that comparison or characterization of prior events, he said.

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Oscar Martinez, Alvarezs father, said that while nothing will bring his son back, he hopes his death will bring change to the departments policies and prevent others from becoming victims of police shootings.

I miss my son a lot. Its been almost a year, Martinez said. We wont stop until there is justice. We wont stop fighting and protesting in his name to bring justice.

Chicago Tribunes Stephanie Casanova contributed to this story.
Feb. 26LIMA  The attorney for a young Lima man charged with raping a female nearly 18 months ago alleged in court on Friday that a sloppily-written affidavit prepared by a Lima police officer requesting a search warrant in the case was "fraught with errors" and that the fruits of the resultant search should be barred at trial.

Attorney Robert Gryzbowski, representing Jourdyn Rawlins, said the affidavit authored by LPD Officer Trent Kunkleman and submitted to Judge Jeffrey Reed was "a terrible case of cut-and-paste" and was full of typographical and other errors "to the detriment of my client."

The search warrant in question, which was approved by the judge and was carried out, was to obtain a DNA baseline standard sample from Rawlins. The search came one day after a separate warrant was executed to obtain DNA trace elements from Rawlins' body.

While Gryzbowski said the errors contained in the affidavit seeking the warrant likely did not rise to the level of "deliberate falsehood or reckless disregard" established in case law, he said the carelessness of law enforcement is cause for concern.

"The affidavit contains serious errors and it is troublesome that we have such an important piece of evidence that is a terrible piece of cut-and-paste," the attorney said. "There is frustration by my client that legal documents are being prepared that are fraught with errors."

Assistant Allen County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Thines disputed that assertion.

"I disagree that it is 'fraught' with errors," Thines said. "The defendant is referenced five or six times and only the last sentence (of the affidavit) has no bearing on this case."

Judge Terri Kohlrieser said she would take under consideration the defense motion to suppress the warrant and the resultant DNA standard as evidence.

Rawlins, a former athlete and honor student at Lima Senior High School, was indicted by an Allen County grand jury in November of last year on the rape charge. Rawlins was 17 at the time of the alleged incident.

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The case started out in Allen County juvenile court but was transferred to common pleas court for consideration by the grand jury, which found sufficient cause to believe that on or about Sept. 14, 2020, Rawlins engaged in sexual conduct with a female by force or the threat of force.

He has been on house arrest since posting a $100,000 bond two days before Christmas.

The indictment represented the second rape charge against Rawlins in less than a year.

The 2021 Lima Senior graduate was indicted in June of 2021 on a similar charge involving a separate victim. In that case, he is alleged to have had forced sexual contact with a 17-year-old female on or about May 26.

Reach J Swygart at 567-242-0464
The Biden administration has been working to set up a communication backchannel with the Russian military to prevent an accidental clash between U.S. and Russian forces along the Ukrainian border, as Moscow mounts a sweeping an attack across the country, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Such an arrangement would allow officials from both countries to exchange information to ensure that Russian forces attacking Ukraine avoid crossing paths with U.S. forces operating nearby in Eastern Europe, including along the Polish border and the Black Sea, the sources said. Still, they said, while the administration has different options for a deconfliction channel, as the military calls it, with Russia, none of the options completely remove all risk to U.S. troops in the region.

Some U.S. officials had reservations about setting up the communication channel before Russia launched its attack on Ukraine this week, fearing it could have been seen as tacitly accepting Moscows invasion, the sources said.

The channel would focus on the risk of errant missile strikes and ensuring Russian and U.S. aircraft and warships operate in separate areas, the sources said.

The communication channel could possibly operate between top U.S. military officer Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and his Russian counterpart, Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, and between the NATO supreme allied commander, U.S. Gen. Tod Wolters, and another top Russian officer, the sources said.

Pentagon officials recently discussed possible communication channels with senior White House officials, one source with knowledge said.

But it remains unclear if Russia will agree to the idea.

On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told NBC News in Brussels that hes very concerned about deconfliction with Russias military and has spoken to NATOs supreme allied commander about ensuring deconfliction channels, including in the Black Sea.

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In the Syrian conflict, where both U.S and Russian forces have operated, U.S. and Russian military officers set up a communication channel in 2015 designed to prevent collisions or accidental targeting of the other sides forces. The channel was set up quickly after Russia began military action in Syria.

The arrangement eventually included a 24-hour hotline and regular discussions between U.S. and Russian officers overseeing fighter aircraft. Despite deconfliction protocols in Syria, there were several incidents that threatened to trigger a crisis between the two superpowers.

In November 2015, Turkey, a NATO member, shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet near the Turkish-Syrian border. The downing of the Russian warplane raised fears Moscow would retaliate against other NATO aircraft.

And in 2018, hundreds of Russian mercenaries fighting for the Assad regime attacked U.S. special operations forces at a small outpost in eastern Syria. The Russian government said it had no control over the mercenaries, while the U.S. said it rebuffed the attack and inflicted heavy losses without suffering any casualties.

The risk is very real, said Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. lieutenant general who served as head of the U.S. Army in Europe from 2014 to 2017.

In the fog and friction of war, even well-trained troops and pilots can make mistakes, said Hodges, now Pershing chair in strategic studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank.

Hodges said NATO aircraft in Eastern Europe and warships in the Black Sea likely had strict instructions to give Russian forces a wide berth.

Russias assault on Ukraine and an expanding U.S. and NATO presence in Eastern Europe mean the two militaries now are operating in close proximity. From cyber attacks spilling over the border, navigation errors, botched missile strikes or collisions in the air or in the Black Sea, there are plenty of opportunities for mishaps, Hodges and other experts said.

The chance of a miscalculation or a military accident is not inconsequential, said James Stavridis, a retired four-star admiral and former NATO supreme allied commander. The Pentagon should be working to deconflict with Russia, said Stavridis, now a NBC News national security contributor.

Even before the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the Pentagon had reported numerous instances of Russian warplanes and ships undertaking what it calls risky and irresponsible actions. On Feb. 16, three U.S. Navy P-8 surveillance planes flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean had close encounters with Russian aircraft that the Navy called unprofessional.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden's plan to split $7 billion in frozen assets from Afghanistan's central bank to benefit relatives of 9/11 victims has sparked a fierce pushback from Washington to Kabul.

Afghans say the move is a devastating blow to a country already in an economic and humanitarian tailspin, an argument echoed by prominent members of Congress.

Lawmakers in both parties fear that Biden's plan  under which the U.S. would devote half the funds to humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan and half to the 9/11 families  could inadvertently prop up the Taliban if some of the funds are diverted to the group's coffers.

Meanwhile, some families of 9/11 victims worry they will get left out of the payout.

The resistance from multiple fronts presents fresh political blowback for Biden, six months after his administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended America's longest war after 20 years of occupation.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban last August, the disbanded Afghan government left behind about $9 billion in reserves in banks across several countries, the majority at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. The U.S. froze the assets to try to keep it away from the Taliban after it seized power.

"This money belongs to Afghan people," said Palwasha Hassan, an Afghan national and visiting fellow at the Institute for Women Peace and Security at Georgetown University. She fears depleting the assets of Afghanistan's central bank, known as Da Afghanistan Bank  which supports the Afghan currency  will worsen Afghanistan's economic collapse.

"It's beyond words. It's a big-time betrayal and it hurts. We didn't really expect this to happen," she said.

More: Biden moves to split $7B in frozen Afghan funds for 9/11 victims, humanitarian aid

Biden signed an executive order Feb. 11 invoking emergency economic powers to consolidate the $7 billion held in the U.S. into an account at the Fed.

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The president's action marked a first step to enable relatives of certain victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks who won legal judgements against the Taliban nearly two decades ago to pursue $3.5 billion of the assets. The other $3.5 billion would be used for further humanitarian aid for Afghans as their country faces a crushed economy and widespread famine amid the return of the Taliban's brutal rule.

Afghans fill containers with water from a well at a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) ORG XMIT: XHM106

A senior Biden administration official, discussing the plan on the condition of anonymity before it was formally announced, said the deal "heeds bipartisan calls" to use the funds to address Afghanistan's growing humanitarian crisis.

But more than 125 Afghan women leaders have urged Biden to reconsider his decision, calling it "extremely unfair" and warning it will "drive Afghanistan's economy further into the ground." They made their plea in a letter to the president delivered last week.

"Taking the funds from the Afghan people," the Afghan women wrote, "is the unkindest and most inappropriate response for a country that is going through the worst humanitarian crisis in its history. It is the squeezing of a wounded hand."

'They are looking for us to kill us': In hiding from Taliban, Afghans who helped U.S. struggle to escape

The group, which included members of the Afghan Women's Network and the Afghan American Women Association, wrote that "while we share the sorrow of 9/11," the Al Qaeda terrorists who orchestrated the terrorist attacks were not Afghans. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, as was Osama bin Laden, the founder of al-Qaida, the militant Islamic terrorist group that plotted and executed the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

The Taliban provided shelter to al-Qaida terrorists during the group's previous rule of the country. A team of U.S. Navy Seals later killed bin Laden during a raid in Pakistan.

'Paying for the crimes of other people'?

Mary Akrami, executive director with the Afghan Womens Network, said it was "shocking" to learn of Biden's plans for the assets. She likened it to "a kind of punishment" for half the money to go to 9/11 victims and "not acceptable" to Afghans who have suffered so much.

"We have lost everything. We have lost our dignity. We have lost our country. This money belongs to the people of Afghanistan," Akrami said.

A humanitarian crisis has engulfed Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul, with 24 million Afghans in need of humanitarian assistance, according to a new United Nations report.

Hassan, who fled her homeland last year along with thousands of other U.S.-allied Afghans, said parents in Afghanistan have reverted to selling one child to feed another.

"How come we are paying for the crime of other people?" Hassan said.

'Crisis response': Afghans stuck in NJ hotels and Airbnb as resettlement overwhelms system

President Joe Biden speaks about the end of the war in Afghanistan from the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Washington.

The Biden administration has defended plans to divert the funds. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden took the step "in effort to try to provide some of this funding to the Afghan people." Without any action, she said, the money would be just sitting in the bank.

Which 9/11 families will benefit?

Yet it is dividing the funds for relatives of 9/11 victims that has raised the most eyebrows.

About 150 relatives of 9/11 victims sued a list of targets, including the Taliban and al-Qaida, nearly 20 years ago for their roles in the terrorist attacks. Although a court found the defendants liable, there was no mechanism to force them to pay damages. After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August, the 9/11 victims' relatives argued they were entitled to funds kept in the central bank.

Biden's 9/11 settlement: A nightmare families never wanted to face | Mike Kelly

The 9/11 family members are represented by a high-powered legal team including Lee Wolosky, who returned to private practice after working in the White House last fall to coordinate legal efforts to resettle Afghan evacuees. The Intercept first reported the involvement of Wolosky, who led former President Barack Obama's efforts to shut down Guantanamo Bay.

Wolosky and other members of the legal team working for relatives of 9/11 victims did not return messages seeking comment.

Attorneys representing other 9/11 family members have criticized the plan, noting that only a fraction of the thousands of 9/11 victims and relatives would be compensated and arguing their clients should receive a portion as well.

"To avoid a situation that would value some victims lives over others, we believe any funds that the court designates for the 9/11 families should be distributed equitably and in a transparent and fair manner," the law firm of James Kreindler, one of those attorneys, said in a statement.

Progressives, conservatives oppose Biden's plan

Afghans who oppose the plans have an ally in the left-leaning Progressive Caucus, made up of 95 House Democrats, which came out against splitting the funds last week. In a statement, the caucus said "any functioning country must have access to its own currency and reserves." And while members said they agreed there's a need for robust humanitarian aid, they said it "cannot substitute" for a functioning central bank.

The release of the funds is critical to restoring the stability of Afghanistan's economy and a moral responsibility for the United States, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said in an interview with USA TODAY.

"We've left the country, and I think we need to not just pull our troops out but we also need to turn the resources back to the Afghani people," she said.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 19: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks alongside fellow progressive lawmakers following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on October 19, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Jayapal said money for families of 9/11 victims should come from a separate fund. "This should never be framed as not wanting restitution to go to the 9/11 families. Of course we want that."

'I stand squarely behind my decision': Biden defends handling of Afghanistan as Taliban forces seize Kabul

Taliban fighters watch the sunset on a tower, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) ORG XMIT: XHM105

The $3.5 billion in humanitarian aid is in addition to existing U.S. assistance to Afghanistan, including $516 million since mid-August. But some members of Congress have raised concerns that the Taliban could seize control of money intended to help suffering Afghans.

During a Senate committee hearing last week, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said the "worst-case scenario" for Afghans would be "would be if humanitarian aid were diverted from legitimate recipients towards the Taliban and its partners in terror."

Media in Afghanistan: Journalists and Afghan nationals detained in Kabul released

In a statement to USA TODAY, Young said the humanitarian crisis under Taliban is "heartbreaking" but the central bank's reserves "are not the place or means to provide the aid."

He also said Biden's arrangement "essentially caps" what 9/11 victims and their families are entitled to receive.

A senior Biden administration official said the White House will ensure "appropriate controls" to protect the humanitarian aid from going directly to the Taliban and potential illicit activity, but the official did not elaborate.

The transfer of the funds could still be several months away. A federal court in New York will have to first rule on the scope of claims made by 9/11 victims for their compensation and the court must authorize the use of other funds to benefit the Afghan people.

But Congress is not required to sign off on the funds, leaving Afghans no path to halt the plans other than a change of heart from Biden.

"There should be some formal discussion about this," Akrami said, "and Afghans should be involved."

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden's plan to split $7B with 9/11 victims slammed by Afghans
President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland. Mikhail Metzel/Getty Images

Many Republicans say that Putin invaded Ukraine because Biden is weak.

These GOP critics ignore the risk of a direct conflict between the US and Russia.

The US and Russia are nuclear superpowers. A war between them would be catastrophic.

Republicans are all over the place when it comes to their reactions to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but they are largely unified behind one message: President Joe Biden is weak and this crisis is his fault. The GOP's attacks on Biden offer a distorted take on what he can realistically do in response to Russia's war in Ukraine, while rewriting history in terms of how former President Donald Trump handled foreign policy.

In the process of attacking Biden over Ukraine, Republicans have rarely said how their approach would be different. Their criticism and calls for Biden to show "strength" reflects a dangerously reductive view of the crisis. Such rhetoric implies that Biden should take the fight to Russia  an exceptionally risky course of action.

The Biden administration has been extremely clear that it's not willing to go to war with Russia over Ukraine, and there are existential reasons for this. The US and Russia are nuclear superpowers, armed with the largest arsenals in the world. They have the two most powerful militaries on the planet. A war between them would be catastrophic, with the potential to kill more people than World War II.

"These are dangerous times. Russia has a large and very usable nuclear arsenal and is now using those weapons as a shield to carry out its invasion and subjugation of Ukraine, a sovereign European state," Jon Wolfsthal, a senior advisor at Global Zero and a former National Security Council official under the Obama administration, wrote in a recent blog post. "That is why I have been reassured by President Joe Biden's clear statements that he seeks to avoid a direct conflict between American and Russian troops in Ukraine."

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The fear of nuclear war is also why NATO is not getting directly involved, because it could trigger Article 5  the alliance's principle of collective defense enshrined in its founding treaty. NATO considers an attack on one member an attack on all. If NATO countries got entangled in a war against Russia, it pulls the US into direct confrontation with it, along with other nuclear armed allies like France and the UK. Ukraine is not a NATO member, which is why the alliance is not obligated to defend it.

But these realities have not stopped Republicans from banging the war drum. "It's no surprise to anyone that Putin invaded Ukraine," Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green recently tweeted. "Biden gave him the green light by saying the US is not going to war with Russia and will remain united with and only defend its NATO member nation allies. Ukraine was not allowed to join NATO."

Biden has also taken serious steps to support Ukraine and punish Russia over this attack. He's targeted major Russian banks and oligarchs with sanctions. The US has provided Ukraine with $650 million in military assistance in the past year alone. Biden has also bolstered the US military's presence in NATO countries near Ukraine, as a show of support to the alliance and a warning to Russia not to move beyond Ukraine.

That said, it's an open question as to whether Biden's handling of this, and the sanctions he's imposed, will be effective in terms of changing Russia's behavior. But criticizing him for not going to war with Russia reflects a profound lack of understanding of how globally dangerous such a conflict could be.

Russia ordered troops to cross into rebel-held Ukrainian territory on Monday. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/Associated Press

The GOP's suggestion that Biden's "weakness" emboldened Putin has also come in concert with the dubious claim that this wouldn't have happened under Trump.

GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, who in 2018 criticized Trump for having a "hard time pushing back against Putin directly," on Wednesday told Fox News, "If Donald Trump were president, none of this crap would be going on."

"Because you got to be strong," Graham said. "When you're weak is when everything falls apart. And Biden is weak, and Trump was strong."

Indeed, Republicans seemingly believe that they are tougher than Democrats and that Putin fears them. But Putin was fomenting a war in eastern Ukraine before Biden was in the White House  throughout Trump's presidency. He also invaded Georgia in 2008 when George W. Bush, a Republican, was still president.

Not to mention, Trump in 2019 was impeached, in part, for withholding congressionally-approved military aid from Ukraine while pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation into Biden and his son, Hunter, over baseless allegations of corruption.

It's possible that Biden's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which was disastrous and saw the Taliban regain control of the country, factored into Putin's decision to invade now. "From Russia's perspective, America's domestic travails after four years of Donald Trump's disastrous presidency, as well as the rifts he created with US allies and then America's precipitous withdrawal from Afghanistan, signal weakness," Fiona Hill, who served as the top Russia advisor on the National Security Council under the Trump administration, recently wrote in a New York Times op-ed.

At the same time, Putin has made his designs toward Ukraine evident for years. He invaded in 2014, annexing Crimea in the process. And he's repeatedly suggested Ukraine is not a real country, calling Ukrainians and Russians "one people."

The US is a major player in global affairs, but the world does not revolve around it. Putin's calculations are not solely based off what the US does or doesn't do. As Hill put it, "Putin plays a longer, strategic game and knows how to prevail in the tactical scrum...Putin can act as he chooses, when he chooses."

Putin's assault on Ukraine is also linked to his ambitions of restoring Russia's hegemony in Eastern Europe, where the Soviet Union once reigned supreme. The Russian president is a former KGB operative, who doesn't hide his nostalgia for the Soviet era.

Russia launched its large-scale attack against Ukraine on Thursday. This war is not even a week old, and no one can say how long it will last. It's too early to tell whether Biden's response to this attack will bring it to an end soon. Republican criticisms may make sense politically but their comments ring hollow in the face of the new front to counter a Russia bent on dominating its democratic neighbors.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Despite President Joe Biden's hope his pick for the Supreme Court would garner bipartisan support, early reactions from Senate Republicans on Friday suggested his nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, is headed for an uphill confirmation battle as she starts making the rounds to meet key senators beginning next week.

Now that her nomination has been formalized, Jackson, a Harvard Law graduate who currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, will find her fate lies in the hands of an evenly divided Senate.

She'll need only 51 votes to be confirmed, which means Democrats could move her nomination without a single Republican supporting it. But that's not the way they hope it will go, especially because Jackson was confirmed to her current federal appeals court position with three Republican votes.

PHOTO: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson makes remarks after President Joe Biden introduced her as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court during an event in the Cross Hall of the White House, Feb. 25, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

MORE: Biden nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be first Black woman on Supreme Court

Jackson has issued very few rulings since senators last considered her nomination, but that didn't stop Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who supported Jackson's nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court, from changing his tune.

"If media reports are accurate, and Judge Jackson has been chosen as the Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Breyer, it means the radical Left has won President Biden over yet again," Graham tweeted just moments after news of Jackson's nomination broke.

PHOTO: Senator Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters, Feb. 3, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters, FILE)

Graham has voted more consistently than most of his Republican colleagues to confirm Democrats' judicial nominees. But for the vacancy being left by retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, he favored a different Biden short-lister, Judge J. Michelle Childs of his home state of South Carolina.

Graham said he could have delivered bipartisan support for Childs, who he said he favored in part because she attended public universities rather than the private Ivy League schools Jackson did. But now, he says, he's been scorned.

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"I expect a respectful but interesting hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee," Graham said. "The Harvard-Yale train to the Supreme Court continues to run unabated."

Childs was also championed by South Carolina Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, who helped Biden win a crucial primary in his state with Black voter support. Biden called Clyburn before announcing his selection, a source confirmed to ABC News.

In a statement following news Biden had selected Jackson instead of Childs, Clyburn expressed no anger. Instead, he celebrated Biden following through on his promise to nominate the first Black woman to the high court.

MORE: Who is potential Supreme Court nominee J. Michelle Childs?

"This is a glass ceiling that took far too long to shatter, and I commend President Biden for taking a sledgehammer to it, Clyburn said in a statement. "Although not the finalist, Judge Childs inclusion among the three that were interviewed continues her record of remarkable contributions to making this countrys greatest accessible and affordable to all. And, she continues to make all South Carolinians proud.

PHOTO: Sen. Susan Collins leaves a policy luncheon, Feb., 17, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP, FILE)

With Graham's vote now uncertain, all eyes are now on Republicans Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, seen as possible Democratic allies in a confirmation battle.

Both women voted to confirm Jackson's nomination to the federal appeals court last summer, and both have records of consistently supporting Biden nominees more regularly than other members of the GOP conference.

Collins was the only Republican to vote against Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation to the court in 2020, citing concerns about proximity to the 2020 presidential election. She also backed both of former President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees. And earlier this year, she signaled openness to working with Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin on Biden's nominee.

But Collins is making no commitments on Judge Jackson.

"Ketanji Brown Jackson is an experienced federal judge with impressive academic and legal credentials," Collins said in a statement Thursday. "I will conduct a thorough vetting of Judge Jacksons nomination and look forward to her public hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee and to meeting with her in my office."

Murkowski, in a statement Thursday afternoon, said her vote to confirm Jackson to the D.C. Circuit court does not foreshadow how she'll vote on Jackson's SCOTUS appointment.

MORE: Who is Biden's Supreme Court pick Ketanji Brown Jackson? And the inside story behind her name

Ive been clear that previously voting to confirm an individual to a lower court does not signal how I will vote for a Supreme Court justice," Murkowski said. "I am committed to doing my due diligence before making a final decision on this nominee. Being confirmed to the Supreme Courtthe nations highest tribunal, and a lifetime appointmentis an incredibly high bar to achieve.

It's possible other Republicans could also back the nomination. The White House reached out to some Republicans before announcing that Biden had selected Jackson as his nominee, including Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. In a statement Thursday, he noted the historic nature of her selection.

"Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is an experienced jurist, and I know her historic nomination will inspire many. I look forward to meeting in person with Judge Jackson, thoroughly reviewing her record and testimony, and evaluating her qualifications during this process," Romney said.

Still, the overwhelming tone from Republicans has been one of skepticism. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a Thursday statement, cast doubt on Jackson's recent judicial record.

"I voted against confirming Judge Jackson to her current position less than a year ago. Since then, I understand that she has published a total of two opinions, both in the last few weeks, and that one of her prior rulings was just reversed by a unanimous panel of her present colleagues on the D.C. Circuit," McConnell said. "I also understand Judge Jackson was the favored choice of far-left dark-money groups that have spent years attacking the legitimacy and structure of the Court itself."

The first Republicans who will get to take a public swing at Jackson are those who serve on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, which will hold the public hearings on Jackson's nomination. The committee is home to several firebrand Republicans who have, on occasion, used the panel to engage in fiery exchanges with nominees.

"Ultimately I will be looking to see whether Judge Jackson will uphold the rule of law and call balls and strikes, or if she will legislate from the bench in pursuit of a specific agenda," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who sits on the committee, said of Jackson in a statement.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., during the last time Jackson appeared before the committee, questioned her about where she stood on religious liberty issues. In a Thursday statement, Hawley said he was "troubled by aspects of her record."

And Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., another Judiciary Committee member, said in a statement when he opposed Jackson's nomination last year he did so with "serious concerns she would legislate from the bench instead of following the Constitution and federal law as written."

"The fact that Judge Jackson was the strongly preferred nominee of far-left special interest groups is also a cause of concern," Tillis said.

PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks with the press at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Still, there's little Republicans can ultimately do to block Jackson's appointment to the court as long as Democrats remain united. Early speculation that Republicans could boycott a committee vote and deny Democrats the quorum necessary to move Brown's nomination out of the Judiciary Committee were put to rest by the top Republican on the panel, Chuck Grassley, in a Thursday statement.

"As ranking member, I have no intention of degrading the advice and consent role as Senate Democrats have in recent confirmations," Grassley said. "I intend to show up and do the job that Iowans pay me to do.

It's not yet clear if every Democrat will support Jackson's nomination, but Democratic Senate leaders received the news warmly.

It's also unclear how quickly the Senate will move on Jackson's nomination, although Durbin said he'd like to try to get her confirmed by the Easter recess in early April.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised to move swiftly.

"Once the President sends Judge Jacksons nomination to the Senate, Senate Democrats will work to ensure a fair, timely, and expeditious process  fair to the nominee, to the Senate, and to the American public," Schumer said in a statement Thursday. "Under Chairman Durbins leadership, Judge Jackson will receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks. After the Judiciary Committee finishes their work I will ask the Senate to move immediately to confirm her to the Supreme Court."

Will Biden's SCOTUS nominee get GOP support? Republicans signal tough road ahead originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pays respects during the funeral Mass for former U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz., at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Phoenix. Pelosi also gave a eulogy for Pastor, Arizona's first Latino congressman, who died Nov. 27 at age 75.

A Bullhead City was sentenced Friday to 21 months in prison for threatening to kill Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, Steven Arthur Martis, 77, called Speaker Pelosi's Washington District Office in January 2021 from his home in Bullhead City and left two voicemails.

In his first voicemail, Martis threatened "I'm coming to kill you." In his second voicemail, Martis said "You're dead."

Before making these two calls, Martis was approached by the Federal Bureau of Investigation who warned him about making similar calls in the past.

On Nov. 18, 2021, a jury convicted Martis on one count of communicating an interstate threat to kill or harm Pelosi.

Martis was sentenced to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa.

Reach breaking news reporter Haleigh Kochanski at hkochanski@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @HaleighKochans.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bullhead City man sentenced for threatening to kill Nancy Pelosi
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP)  Two California congressmembers are asking the federal government to study whether theres evidence that potential toxic and contaminated drinking water at Fort Ord can be tied to specific cancers and other diseases.

Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our servicemembers and their families, said Reps. Katie Porter and Jimmy Panetta in a letter to the director of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. By conducting a new study at Fort Ord, we may guarantee that those harmed while serving our country get the medical care they need.

The request follows an Associated Press report earlier this week about hundreds of people who lived and served near the Army base who are concerned that their health problems might be tied to chemicals there.

In 1990, four years before it began the process of closing as an active military training base, Fort Ord was added to the Environmental Protection Agencys list of the most polluted places in the nation. Included in that pollution were dozens of chemicals, some now known to cause cancer, found in the bases drinking water and soil.

The AP interviewed nearly two dozen of these veterans and reviewed thousands of pages of documents, and interviewed military, medical and environmental scientists.

There is rarely a way to directly connect toxic exposure to a specific individuals medical condition. Indeed, the concentrations of the toxics are tiny, measured in parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of an immediate poisoning. Local utilities, the Defense Department and some in the Department of Veterans Affairs insist Fort Ords water is safe and always has been. But the VAs own hazardous materials exposure website, along with scientists and doctors, agree that dangers do exist for military personnel exposed to contaminants.

Responding to APs report, a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee spokesperson said its chair, Montana Democrat Jon Tester, believes the VA should take this and any potential toxic exposure among our military men and women seriously, and keep working to provide a fresh look at the possibility of toxic exposures at Fort Ord which may be causing adverse health effects in veterans.

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The problem is not just at Fort Ord. This is happening all over the U.S. and abroad, almost everywhere the military has set foot, and the federal government is still learning about the extent of both the pollution and the health effects of its toxic legacy.

AP found the Army knew that chemicals had been improperly dumped at Fort Ord for decades. Even after the contamination was documented, the Army downplayed the risks.

And ailing veterans are being denied benefits based on a 25-year-old health assessment, which Porter and Panetta Friday said needs an update. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concluded in 1996 that there were no likely past, present or future risks from exposures at Fort Ord.

But that conclusion was made based on limited data, and before medical science understood the relationship between some of these chemicals and cancer.

Congress has been weighing legislation this month that would recognize some potential health impacts from some military toxic exposures, particularly burn pits. And the Wounded Warrior Project released findings from a survey of about 18,000 registered members that found 98% of wounded veterans reported exposure to hazardous or toxic substances during military service.
Photograph: Marco Bello/Reuters

Republican leaders are facing fresh demands to expel the Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, after she spoke at a conference of white nationalists and sympathisers with Vladimir Putin.

Related: Poll: US majority believes no Russian invasion with Trump as president

The event in Orlando, Florida, on Friday night was organised by the far-right extremist Nick Fuentes, who told attendees: Now theyre going on about Russia and Vladimir Putin is Hitler  they say thats not a good thing.

He burst into laughter as he added: I shouldnt have said that!

Fuentes, recently subpoenaed for his involvement in the January 6 insurrection, proudly introduced Taylor Greene at the third annual America First Political Action Conference, or AFPAC.

The Georgia congresswoman told the gathering they were canceled Americans who had a responsibility to stop the Democrats who are the communist party of the United States of America, HuffPost reported.

Her patronage of AFPAC, where the Arizona congressman Paul Gosar also appeared via pre-recorded video, provoked sharp condemnation of party leaders for failing to discipline her.

Liz Cheney, a member of the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot, tweeted: As Rep[resentative] Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep[resentative] Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, antisemitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican party leaders is deafening and enabling.

All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) pointed out that Kevin McCarthy, the Republican minority leader in the House, has consistently failed to take action against Greene.

Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the DNC, said: In any other world, Greene speaking at a white supremacist conference where attendees have defended Vladimir Putin and praised Adolf Hitler would warrant expulsion from the caucus, to say nothing of her advocacy for violence and consistent antisemitism is disgusting.

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Quite simply, the longer Kevin McCarthy gives Marjorie Taylor Greene an unfettered platform and promises to elevate her, the more complicit he is.

On Saturday, Greene sought to defend her appearance at AFPAC. She told CBS News: I went to talk to them about America First policies and I talked to them about whats important for our country going forward.

Now, in regards to Russia, Putin is a murderer and he should never have invaded Ukraine. What he is doing is completely wrong. I stand with our Nato member allies and Im completely against this war. Everything that hes doing is wrong. Hes killing people over and over so Im staunchly against it and Im staunchly against Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine.

Asked if she endorses Fuentess views, Taylor Greene claimed: I dont know what his views are.

Told that he is a white nationalist, she said: I do not endorse those views.

Greene gave the interview on the sidelines of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a separate event in Orlando. She appeared on a panel hours before former president Donald Trump was due to speak.

The congresswoman attacked Twitter for banning her and promoted Trumps new social media site, Truth Social. She taunted Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic presidential nominee, and Anthony Fauci, infectious diseases expert and chief medical adviser to Joe Biden.

Related: Tucker Carlson condemned for Ketanji Brown Jackson Rwanda comments

We have to hold Democrats accountable, everybody. Right? Fire Fauci! Weve got to investigate Hillary Clintons campaign. Lock her up! Lock them all up!

With that she laughed, as the audience burst into applause.

Greene has a history of antisemitic and incendiary comments that include blaming California wildfires on Jewish space lasers, suggesting Muslims do not belong in government and warning that gazpacho police  presumably she meant Gestapo  patrol the US Capitol.

But the timing of her AFPAC speech could hardly have been more provocative.

Fred Wellman, a political consultant and Iraq war veteran, commented on Twitter: This is where Marjorie Taylor Greene spent her evening. Laughing about comparisons to Hitler being bad. This is who she is. You know they burned crosses in Martin Luther Kings yard just 62 years ago. Its time for Georgia to put this trash out forever.

The Republican Jewish Coalition joined the condemnation.

It is appalling and outrageous that a member of Congress would share a platform with an individual who has actively spread antisemitic bile, mocked the Holocaust and promoted dangerous anti-Israel conspiracy theories, the group said in a statement.

This has absolutely no place in the Republican Party.


Morgan Park H.S. seniors react upon hearing will receive debt-free college scholarships from Hope Chicago during their assembly at Morgan Park H.S. in Chicago on Feb. 23, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Tonya Hammaker, the principal of Farragut Career Academy high school, had been hearing students make comments like " Can you believe it? and I wish that was us in the hallways all throughout the week.

The young scholars were referring to the Chicago Public School students who got the news that their college education has been paid for with the help of Hope Chicago, a citywide, multigeneration scholarship program that covers tuition, room and board, books, fees and surcharges for CPS students and one of their parents or guardians.

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Pete Kadens, founder and co-chair of Hope Chicago, shows off his colorful socks during an assembly at Morgan Park High School on Feb. 23, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

This past week the Hope Chicago team, led by former CPS CEO Janice Jackson and Pete Kadens and Ted Koenig, Hope Chicagos co-founders and co-chairmen, visited high schools  including Benito Juarez High School, Al Raby High School, Morgan Park High School and Noble-Johnson College Prep  that are part of their inaugural cohort to announce to 4,000 students that their postsecondary education will be fully funded.

The last stop for Hope Chicago was Farragut in the Little Village neighborhood.

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I had to play it up so they wouldnt know, Hammaker said. Im nervous of course, because I want it to all go really well.

Hammaker planned on having all of her students in the auditorium for a school assembly, but none knew what the event was for.

The news is something Hammaker believes her students will view as life-changing.

I am a first-generation college student and when I started college, I didnt really have anyone to ask when things went wrong, or I was stressed, or I didnt know what to do, Hammaker said. I think this is not going to be the case for my students because they are going to have the support from Hope Chicago and from Farragut in making their dreams a reality.

Hope Chicago, launched in fall 2021, used equity-based census data, college enrollment and completion data along with other factors to help identify neighborhoods and schools that need a boost, according to a news release. Each year, Hope Chicago plans to add more schools, prioritizing the communities where postsecondary success can have the greatest effect.

As of this month, Hope Chicago has raised $40 million with funding partners including several corporations, financial institutions and private family foundations, according to its release. The goal is to reach $1 billion over the next 10 years, with every dollar going to students.

Hope Scholars can use their fully funded scholarships at one of Hope Chicagos 20 partner colleges, universities or other educational programs across Illinois including four-year colleges, the two-year City Colleges of Chicago and some private colleges as well as trade and professional schools.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University are among the partner schools. Hope Chicago had not yet revealed the names of other partners.

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Enrolled students will also get a laptop and a small annual stipend to cover other necessities.

From the time that a student starts their postsecondary program until they graduate, wraparound support such as academic advising, mentoring, tutoring and various workshops will be provided.

Now the hard work starts, which is we really have to sit down with our students and make sure they understand this opportunity, Jackson said. " When you take finances off the table and people see a pathway theyre going to take advantage of it.

Jackson said the first thing that needs to be done is to get all of the students in the Hope Chicago system to determine who will be attending one of the 20 partner schools.

For students who will be out-of-network, a yearly stipend of $1,000 will be provided for expenses such as travel.

Janice Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago, speaks with students and parents at Morgan Park High School in Chicago on Feb. 23, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Jackson said Hope Chicago plans to work with community-based organizations to help onboard parents who may not have seen their transcript in decades.

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In order for a parent or guardian to be a Hope Scholar, their child must be enrolled in a full-time program.

Jackson said the two-generation model will serve as a motivational factor.

What happens in a lot of these underprivileged communities is that people are trying to get out, Jackson said. We know Chicagoans love Chicago and we want them to get their education but come back to the communities that poured so much into them and help make the city better community by community.

For Jackson, sharing the news of the scholarship opportunity has not gotten old.

Its just different when you tell somebody directly, when you look them in the eye and make that promise it just feels real different, Jackson said.

On Monday, the Hope Chicago team made their first stop in Little Village at Benito Juarez High School.

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The principal, Juan Carlos Ocon, said that when the announcement was made, there was a moment when there was almost dead silence. The news had to be repeated.

Thats when the auditorium of more than 500 students and parents exploded with energy, hopes and dreams, Ocon said. You could see the tears in the eyes of our students and parents.

Since the announcement, students have been stopping by his office with questions like, I didnt think I was going to go (to college), is it too late for me? Can I still begin the application process?

Theyre asking for details, theyre asking what is possible, and if this is really for them, Ocon said.

He is also getting emails and phone calls from parents.

Parents are already asking if we can have college application workshops for them, Ocon said. Many of them are here (from) Mexico and felt that (college) was never a possibility for them at all.

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Ocon said he can see a future where his students will graduate from college feeling empowered to return to their community to make it better and stronger.

On Tuesday at Morgan Park High School, voices of roughly 215 proud Mustangs filled the auditorium chanting the words their principal, Femi Skanes, asked them to repeat:

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I am smart. I am worthy. I am enough. I am a leader.

Skanes then asked the soon-to-be-high school graduates to rise from their seats.

I want you all to look around, she said. Each one of you all is getting ready to change the world.

These were the last words Skates said to her students before they learned that their entire student body and their parents had the opportunity to have a debt-free college education.

Morgan Park High School seniors react as they hear about receiving college scholarships from Hope Chicago during an assembly on Feb. 23, 2022. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Confetti fell onto the ground and tears poured from eyes as the weight of a notorious financial burden was suddenly lifted.

Its a moment that Cara Wilmington, whose daughter is a senior at Morgan Park, described as a miracle.

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Weve gone through a lot of things like questioning about where were going to go to school and how were going to pay for it, Wilmington said. So I started considering to go to the City Colleges of Chicago because theyre offering a scholarship program if you maintain a 3.0.

With the STAR Scholarship of the City Colleges of Chicago, which launched in the fall of 2015, students who graduate from CPS in 2016 or after with a 3.0 grade-point average who test completion ready in math and English can pursue an associate degree at the City Colleges at no cost, according to the CPS website.

Wilmington, who was smiling from ear to ear, turned to her daughter, Morgan, and asked, Have I not been with you every day through the years about how you have to keep your GPA above a 3.0?

The mother-daughter duo chuckled.

Morgan was able to meet the task.

We can now consider a four-year university, Wilmington said.

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The scholarship opportunity is something Wilmington also wants to take advantage of. The 30-year CPS veteran said she was looking to switch lanes in her career path from education to cosmetology. After looking at the potential cost to enroll in a program to be an aesthetician, it was a pursuit she thought would have to be put on hold.

Now with HOPE Chicago on our side like this, that gave me more excitement and more ambition to shoot for the stars, Wilmington said. They are definitely changing lives and are definitely going to help change our lives.

Skanes said as a principal, she feels encouraged by people who have the resources who are willing to invest in young people and communities.

I feel a renewal for my students whose postsecondary plans have been put on hold in a lot of ways because of the pandemic, Skanes said.

Skanes, whos also a mother of a Morgan Park High School senior, served as principal in that school for four years. After June, she will be transitioning into another role but plans to stay connected with each of her students as they transition into adulthood.

I hope to see them being successful by chasing their dreams, being successful by accomplishing things they are passionate about and being successful by investing back into their community, Skanes said. Thats one of the most important things to me that I told them  success is not just about what you gain, success is what you gain to give back to others.

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tatturner@chicagotribune.com




Washington Capitals player Alex Ovechkin, who hails from Moscow, on Friday asked for 'no more war' as Russia carries out a violent attack of Ukraine.

"Please, no more war. It doesn't matter who is in the war - Russia, Ukraine, different countries - we have to live in peace," the hockey star said after the Capitals' practice, ESPN reported.

Ovechkin, who is one of the most famous Russian hockey players, has been a consistent supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the years. He skated with Putin and Russian schoolchildren in 2015, and his Instagram profile image is a photo of him with the Russian president.

When asked whether he supports the Russian invasion into Ukraine, Ovechkin told ESPN that he hopes for peace in both countries.

"I'm Russian, right? It's not something I can control. It's not in my hands. I hope it's going to end soon and there's going to be peace in both countries. I don't control this one," he said.

The Washington Capitals player said the conflict is a "hard situation" for him, especially since he still has loved ones in both countries.

"Obviously, it's a hard situation. I have lots of friends in Russia and Ukraine, and it's hard to see the war. I hope soon it's going to be over and there's going to be peace in the whole world," he said.

Ovechkin told ESPN that his wife, children and parents have been based in Moscow but would not confirm whether his family will remain in Russia.

"I have family back in Russia. It's scary moments. We can't do anything. We just hope it's going to end soon and everyone's going to be all right," the hockey star said.

Ovechkin told the sports news outlet in 2017 that he had a good relationship with Putin.

"He respects me as an athlete, and he respects all the athletes who represent the country," he said. "It doesn't matter where you play, in Russia or outside Russia. If you represent country in Olympic Games, world championship or it doesn't matter which tournament, he always [has a] good relationship with us."
CHICAGO  The city of Chicago has framed its school speed camera program as a way to keep kids safe, pushing back against claims its a cash grab by pointing to a simple rule: Drivers dont get tickets on days students arent in class.

One day last fall, that standard broke down.

On a Friday in November when a Southwest Side charter school was closed to give students a chance to get vaccinated against COVID-19, nearly two dozen cars nonetheless got hit for speeding in the nearby automated camera school safety zone.

Eight of those drivers near Aceros Major Hector P. Garcia M.D. High School got tickets Nov. 12 for exceeding a camera-enforced 20 mph speed limit, intended to apply on school days when children are present.

Another 15 were ticketed by one of two cameras assigned to the school on West 47th Street in Archer Heights for going over a 30 mph limit thats in place when kids arent nearby.

The Tribune received data through an open records request about all speed camera tickets near schools on vaccine awareness day, when Chicago Public Schools and other schools shut down to promote the idea students should get vaccinated.

After a reporter informed the Chicago Department of Transportation cars were ticketed passing Major Hector Garcia when the campus was closed, the city said it would cancel outstanding citations and offer refunds to those who already paid.

City workers are assigned to verify speed camera photos before tickets are sent out, according to CDOT spokesman Michael Claffey. They track school schedules, and arent supposed to approve tickets from any of the 79 cameras outside 33 public, private and charter schools across the city when theyre closed.

On Nov. 12, Aceros decision to shutter Major Hector Garcia slipped by those monitors, Claffey said.

This was an unusual circumstance with Acero, he said, noting both city and state laws allow for school speed camera enforcement on school days only.

But Mark Wallace, executive director of the local anti-camera group Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras, said the situation at Major Hector Garcia seems all too familiar given the citys past stance on the cameras.

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Their M.O. all along has been, Well issue the tickets, and if nobody says anything, well get away with it,  Wallace said. Its always been that theyre responsive to correcting it when they get found out. Theyll defend the program right up until somebody hands them the proof theres a problem.

John Kronenberger got a $35 ticket in the mail in January, informing him hed been caught by a speed camera driving over the 30 mph limit near Major Hector Garcia on Nov. 12.

Usually its very trafficky there, and I know those cameras are there because theyre forever flashing, said Kronenberger, who owns a nearby rehearsal facility. So I usually am going very slow there. Im surprised when you said that it was 36 (mph).

But he said he wasnt surprised to learn he was ticketed mistakenly.

Its Chicago. Theyre broke, and the cameras, realistically, are just a way for the city to make money, he said.

If the goal is to protect kids from speeding cars before and after school, theres no need on 47th Street, Kronenberger added.

If you go there during school, and there are pedestrians around there, and its time for school to start or end, its impossible to do 5 miles an hour there. Its so congested, he said. Theres no school parking lot. Its an industrial area, and a residential area on the other side of the street. So its total chaos.

Kronenberger had already paid the ticket by the time he found out the city was canceling it, and the city cashed his check, he said. Kronenberger said he would try to get a refund, but on Wednesday, he said he had not yet received it.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot inherited about 160 automated speed cameras near Chicago schools and parks from her predecessor, Rahm Emanuel.

But as part of her 2021 budget, Lightfoot lowered the threshold at which the cameras snap pictures of license plates and the city issues tickets, from 10 mph over the limit to 6. The number of tickets  and the revenue to the city if drivers paid the fines  skyrocketed in the months after her new rules took effect.

Lightfoot has defended the change, saying she enacted it to keep pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safe.

She and allies on the City Council have so far beaten back an attempt by Far South Side Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, to go back to the old speed camera benchmarks.

For Wallace, the Major Hector Garcia tickets highlight why so many Chicago drivers are angry at the city about the ticket system. Theyll say, Well do our best to follow the rules we set. But they want to hold the public to the absolute letter of the law: Six mph over and theyll ticket you every time.

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that CCHC does not operate the Edward King House.

NEWPORT  The city may receive over half a million in federal grants to fund certain community services in the near future now that the City Council voted to send its annual Community Development Block Grant application to the state for approval.

The Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development is in charge of administering federally funded Community Development Block Grants to municipalities via a competitive application process. These grants are designed to fund community resources for low-to-moderate income residents and the city of Newport has participated each year for the past 44 years.

The Edward King House Senior Center in Newport.

This years application is requesting the use of these grants to fund updates to Edward King House Senior Centers electrical infrastructure and light fixtures, operations support for the McKinney Cooperative Shelter, operations support for the East Bay Community Action Programs dental program and support for Church Community Housing Corporation's residential lead abatement program. The nonprofits organizations will act as subrecipients of the grant, should the citys application be approved for funding.

City Council approved the application at its Wednesday meeting in a 6-1 vote, with Councilor Kate Leonard opposed.

The first public hearing for this years application was conducted at the Feb. 2 Planning Board meeting, where CCH representative Rain Daughtery gave an overview of the programs which applied for funding and the application process overall. CCHC has worked as the citys CDBG application administrator for the past seven years. Daughtery explained the organization reached out to nonprofits that applied for grants in the past to compile the list of proposals.

Gone but not forgotten: Timeline: Here are 15 Newport area restaurants that have closed during the COVID pandemic

Although no members of the public spoke on the item at the second public hearing during the Wednesday City Council meeting, a few members of the council had their questions addressed by Director of Public Services William Riccio and CCHC representative Christian Belden.

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Leonards opposing vote came after she made a motion to vote on each funding item on the application individually, which was dropped without a second. She said she supported the dental program, lead abatement program and the Edward King House renovations, but couldnt get behind the use of grant money to fund operations for McKinney Shelter, as she had been told homeless people living in Providence and other cities around Rhode Island were coming to Newport to become clients at McKinney Shelter, and she wanted to ensure these funds are used for Newport residents.

In response, Belden said the shelter is unable to track where its clients had been prior to the shelter, as homeless clients lack a residence to point to as their location of origin. Leonard also raised concerns over whether CCHC adding CCHC-led programs on the application counts as a conflict of interest. In addition to the lead abatement program CCHC runs in partnership with the city, it has had past ties to Washington Square Services Corporation, which operates the McKinney Shelter.

Previously: City-administered grant opportunity for Newport nonprofits receives few proposals

Belden said adding these programs to the application is not a conflict of interest since the funds dont directly benefit CCHC, rather they go to the specific projects on the application.

Both Leonard and Councilor Jamie Bova also had questions over the specific renovations planned for Edward King Houses electricity and lighting, Leonard wanting to know whether the light fixtures would still align with the buildings agreement to stay close to historical accuracy and Bova wanting to know the projecting cost-savings in updating the electrical system. Belden and Riccio said the project doesnt have that level of detail yet because the group hasnt secured funding for it.

Councilor Angela McCalla, Councilor Lynn Underwood Ceglie and Bova expressed support for all four items on the application following Leonards questions. McCalla especially argued for the importance of funding the lead abatement housing before the group was called to vote.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: City Council approves grant application for community services
Alan Chavoya (from left), Tari Davis, Angela Lang, Lauryn Cross and Brian Verdin are seen before a news conference outside City Hall on Friday to demand the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission release footage of police misconduct within 48 hours and the names of the officers involved within 24 hours.

Milwaukee activists are calling on the city's Fire and Police Commission to create a policy with clear rules for when the Police Department would have to release body camera footage and the names of officers involved in police shootings, custody deaths or other critical incidents.

The activists want the Police Department to be forced to release the involved officers' names within 24 hours and available video footage within 48 hours of an incident occurring.

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Students for Democratic Society, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and Community Task Force MKE held a news conference Friday afternoon to put pressure on the FPC for a new policy.

"We are asking for basic transparency," said Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities.

"Everyone wants to continue to repair this relationship between the Police Department and the community," Lang said. "It starts with transparency, it starts with being held accountable to the community."

More: The DeVougas ethics controversy ushered in a wave of reform at the Milwaukee FPC, but gaps remain in holding people accountable

More: New enforcement proposal against reckless driving receives support of Fire and Police Commission

The push comes after a series of three killings involving Milwaukee police officers in 2021, which happened in a span of two weeks, and after 20-year-old Keishon Thomas died in a police holding cell Wednesday.

Three officers were suspended following Thomas' death and the investigation remains ongoing, MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman confirmed in a news conference Friday.

On May 30, a Milwaukee police officer shot and killed Roberto Zielinski, a 49-year-old man who was firing shots from a porch of a residence. It was the first officer-involved shooting in 2021.

On Aug. 16, a Milwaukee police officer fatally shot 42-year-old Broderick "Baldie" Shelton Jr. after police say he fired a weapon as officers approached.

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On Aug. 26, Milwaukee police fatally shot 33-year-old Earl D. Lawhorn after an attempted traffic stop and pursuit.

In recent years, the Police Department has produced what police officials call "community briefings," videos created by the department with portions of body camera or other video that captured a police shooting or other critical incident.

The videos usually are narrated by a Milwaukee police official. The department has an informal goal of releasing the community briefing within 45 days of an incident but has not always met that goal.

Full body camera and other video footage typically is not released until weeks or months later in response to open records requests by media or attorneys representing families of those killed in police custody or shootings.

"If we look at recent killings in Brooklyn Square and Minneapolis, they have been able to get their footage out in 48 hours," said Omar Flores, co-chair of Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

"What we hear a lot from the families is that when police take so long to get the footage out, they think that's them trying to craft a narrative behind closed doors. ... They say it's from an outside agency but they are still in possession of this footage."

Omar Flores speaks during a news conference Friday outside City Hall to demand the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission release footage of police misconduct within 48 hours and the names of the officers involved within 24 hours.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Activists call for rules on release of videos after police shootings
Conor McGregor has said he is in line for a July return to the UFC, advising lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to wait for him instead of defending the title against Justin Gaethje.

McGregor fought twice in 2021, suffering a knockout loss to rival Dustin Poirier in January before sustaining a broken leg in the pairs trilogy bout in July.

The former dual-weight champion was in Dublin to support a number of his teammates and compatriots at a Bellator event on Friday, when he provided an update on his recovery as well as a timeline for his return to the ring.

April they said I can spar again and box again basically, so Im just gonna take it day by day, McGregor told Severe MMA.

Once I get back sparring Ill know weight, Ill know feel, Ill know my own style. Im gonna develop a different style, I imagine. Ive been shadow boxing a bit lately, and I feel like Im just getting the bearings of myself.

But I feel good. Im grounded on my feet, I can stop and start and take off. Its just the little twists or torque that Ive gotta be careful on.

But this will be a here today and gone tomorrow type of thing in my own head; the bone will recover, itll connect back to itself, and itll be like it never happened.

McGregor, 33, became the UFCs first ever dual-weight champion after winning the featherweight title in 2015 and lightweight belt in 2016, and he has also competed at welterweight in the promotion.

UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is keen on a fight with Conor McGregor (Getty Images)

Having bulked up considerably in recent months, the Irishman admitted he is unsure at which weight he will return.

Im not sure yet to be honest  155lbs or 170lbs, Id imagine, McGregor said, though he went on to send a message to lightweight champion Oliveira, who looks set to defend his belt against former interim title holder Gaethje in May.

Is [that going to happen], though? Is it, though? Its not announced, McGregor said.

Maybe if [Oliveira] is wise, he might give it another month or two. July seems okay for me, I cant say too early, but I could get in and slap the head off of most of these guys at the end of April.

No hurry, no rush. I know a lot of people are supporting me, and I wanna do them well. Thats what were gonna do.

Brazilian Oliveira has expressed a desire to defend his belt against McGregor, with Gaethje saying he would burn down the UFC if the promotion grants the Irishman a title shot ahead of him.
The murder of Rosibeth Flores-Rodriguez was "horrific," but the murders of her two children were worse, prosecutor Kevin Hathaway told a Polk County district judge Friday.

Judge David Porter agreed, and at Hathaways urging sentenced Marvin Esquivel Lopez, 34, to consecutive life sentences for the killings of Flores-Rodriguez, 29, 11-year-old Grecia Daniela Alvarado-Flores and 5-year-old Ever Jose Mejia-Flores.

The murder of Rosibeth Flores-Rodriguez was "horrific," prosecutor Kevin Hathaway told the judge. The murders of her two children were worse.

Esquivel Lopez was convicted in January of shooting Flores Rodriguez during an argument in his Des Moines home, then killing her children.

Marvin Escobar-Orellana puts on a mask during his trial at the Polk County Justice Center on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Des Moines.

"To go into that basement and end the lives of two innocent children, who had never done anything wrong, cutting their lives so short, its unthinkable, your Honor," Hathaway said.

Flores-Rodriguez and her children had recently emigrated to the United States from Honduras and were staying with Esquivel Lopez and his family when they were killed in July 2019. Betty Rodriguez, the mother and grandmother of the victims, traveled from Honduras for Friday's sentencing and prepared a statement read in English by a court attendant.

"My heart is missing three pieces," she said. "My life is not the same any more."

Previous reporting: Woman, boy, girl die after being shot at their Des Moines residence, police say

Family, school officials remember slain family

Rodriguez said she holds no hatred for Esquivel Lopez, and that she prays for God's mercy on him, but urged him to reflect on his soul and pray for forgiveness.

"Rosie, Daniela, Ever were the greatest gifts to me," she said. "My life changed forever the day you, Marvin, took their lives. My daughter was my friend, my support system, my everything. My grandchildren were my treasures."

The court also heard from Mertze Anderson, who met Grecia, known as Dani, in her work as a school nurse, and used to drive her home from Spanish club.

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"The day she died, my life changed," Anderson said. "Ive worked trauma critical care, but its different when its someone we care about."

From 2019: 'Let's go to sleep': Family member recounts final words from Des Moines family killed in triple homicide

Three consecutive life sentences for Esquivel Lopez

Esquivel Lopez was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder at his second trial, after a first trial resulted in a hung jury. The mandatory sentence in Iowa is life without parole, meaning the only decision before Porter was the academic question of whether the three life sentences would run concurrent or consecutive.

First trial: 'This will be a difficult story to listen to': Trial begins in 2019 murder of Des Moines mother and her two children

The judge chose to order the sentences one after another, saying that Esquivel Lopez made the choice to keep going after killing Flores Rodriguez.

"Even accepting, which again I do not, that Rosibeth Flores-Rodriguez's death was justified, nothing justifies the murder of two children. Absolutely nothing," Porter said.

Esquivel Lopez, also known to federal authorities as Marvin Escobar-Orellana, testified at trial that Flores-Rodriguez's death was an accident that occurred in a struggle when she attacked him with his own gun. He claimed she told him she had already killed her children and planned to kill him.

His wife Mariah, however, told jurors she saw the two arguing and then saw her husband pull out a handgun and shoot Flores-Rodriguez. She said she hadn't heard any prior shots from the basement.

When offered the chance to speak before sentencing Friday, Esquivel Lopez declined.

Previously: 'Immigrants don't need any more silence': Vigil honors family killed in Des Moines shooting

'Overwhelming' evidence supported verdict

Porter also ruled prior to sentencing against a defense motion to set aside the jury verdict.

Defense attorney Erin Carr argued that Maria Esquivel Lopez's testimony was inconsistent and not credible compared to the defendant's testimony.

"We believe the credible evidence is on the side of the defense in this regard," Carr said.

Porter, though, said that while there was "some direct evidence, not a lot," of Esquivel Lopez's guilt in the mother's murder, there was "overwhelming" circumstantial evidence to support all three verdicts. He noted that Flores Rodriguez had been shot twice from different distances and angles, and that each child also had been shot twice in the head.

"Whether Mr. Esquivel Lopez was justified was an issue the jury rejected, and based on the evidence presented, the jury rightly rejected that theory of justification," Porter said.

Previously: Prosecutors call defendant's story 'simply absurd' as trial for 2019 Des Moines triple homicide nears conclusion

In her statement, Betty Rodriguez spoke highly of the work by police and prosecutors in the case, saying she felt "extremely blessed and overjoyed by the quality of people this tragic case has put in my path."

Hathaway said the sentence was appropriate given the lives affected by the three victims, and the lives they would have touched in the future had they lived.

"This was an unspeakable tragedy," Hathaway said after the hearing. "We applaud the efforts of the jury in deciding this case, and we're glad some amount of justice can be brought to the family."

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Marvin Esquivel Lopez gets three life sentences in 2019 triple murder
The city agency that tracks and investigates police misconduct was notified within a day by a high-ranking member of the Chicago Police Departments command staff that the niece of its chief of internal affairs was driving the chiefs car when it was stopped during a drug arrest earlier this month.

The notification to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability was documented in public records that were returned to the Tribune on Friday as part of an open records request.

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The Feb. 1 drug arrest involving the niece and a vehicle belonging to Internal Affairs chief Yolanda Talley wasnt immediately publicly disclosed by the department, which also has not detailed what role Talley played in making any report.

There was widespread speculation about the case over the past week after details were leaked to the media, with both Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Police superintendent David Brown forced to publicly address the incident.

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Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown speaks during a press conference at Public Safety Headquarters on Jan. 21, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

On Thursday Brown said at an unrelated news conference that the department reported the matter for an investigation immediately and said there was no evidence of any misconduct by Chief Talley.

Soon as we heard about the incident, we immediately forwarded the circumstances to the inspector general, Brown said.

Talley, who was not present at the time of the arrest, remains in her position.

The investigation into the arrest is ongoing, but late Friday COPA released documents to the Tribune that shed additional light on how the department reported the case to COPA.

Included in the documents is a letter dated Feb. 2 that COPA officials addressed to the city Inspector Generals office. The letter referred the matter to that office for an investigation.

The letter sought consideration of the situation and any action you deem appropriate, the complaint and attached materials received by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). The complainant includes alleged misconduct outside of COPAs jurisdiction for OIG review, the letter states.

Also included in the return to the Tribune under the Freedom of Information Act is a COPA intake sheet that lists Talley as the accused member of the incident under investigation, states that it was initiated by the department and includes a brief description of the incident.

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CPD initiated. It is reported that the accused officers vehicle was being driven by her niece when the niece was stopped and arrested by narcotics CPD officers for a drug related charge, reads the document. Waiting on initiation report to finalize more accurate details.

Chief Ernest Cato, who heads the Counterterrorism Bureau and oversees the narcotics division, is listed as the reporting party and third party.

The undated intake sheet provided a preliminary description of the incident, noting that more details were forthcoming. And while Talleys niece is described as having been arrested, sources have told the Tribune that she was not.

While COPA is the official body for complaints against officers, it investigates mainly use of force incidents involving officers. The office Talley heads, internal affairs, also handles misconduct allegations, but her office would not have been able to investigate this incident.

The inspector generals office last week confirmed the referral of a complaint the day after the incident, which happened in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. That office does not comment on ongoing investigations.

According to police reports of the arrest, narcotics officers patrolling the area near Drake and Chicago avenues on Feb. 1 saw 34-year-old 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.

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The Lexus drove away, eventually turning into an alley, and an officer activated the squad cars lights and followed, the report said. Miles then allegedly 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, records show.
PARIS (Reuters) - A decision to cut Russia off from the global SWIFT payment system will be taken in a matter of days, the governor of a central bank within the euro zone told Reuters on Saturday.

"SWIFT is just a matter of time, very short time, days," the central bank governor, who asked not to be named, said.

"Is it sufficient? No. Is it necessary? Absolutely. Sanctions only make sense if there are costs for both sides and this will be costly," the central banker added.

(Writing by Jan Strupczewski; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a "Save America Rally" in Florence on March 12.

He is likely to reposition his endorsement for Rep. Russell Fry, R-Horry County, and Katie Arrington in their congressional races against incumbents, U.S. House Reps. Tom Rice and Nancy Mace.

Trump is also likely to target the Biden administration's foreign policy in handling the Russian invasion of the territory of Ukraine, inflation-led prices and border crisis, based on his previous speeches.

Upstate Capitol Report: Sign up for our newsletter focused on South Carolina state government

In a similar rally in Texas in late January, Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott. Miller also endorsed a 2024 run for Trump.

As key public officials head towards competitive races of their own, all eyes will be on whether a possible Trump endorsement could propel Gov. Henry McMaster's chances against Democratic competitors.

During the last election, Trump's endorsement helped McMaster win a competitive race against Greenville businessman John Warren.

The rally comes nearly a month after McMaster was invited to Florida for a meeting with Trump. The Gov.'s office did not share any details of the meeting but said that McMaster shared a long friendship and productive working relationship.

Devyani Chhetri is the state government watchdog reporter. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani on Twitter. Sign up for her weekly newsletter, Upstate Capitol Report, to get the inside scoop on South Carolina politics, straight from her, every Monday.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Donald Trump to hold a rally in South Carolina on March 12
Some days its difficult to focus on football. While we keep it as light as possible here at Seahawks Wire, the last several days have been harrowing for anyone following current events.

The short version: Russian president Vladimir Putin has invaded Ukraine in an unprovoked act of aggression  putting all of Europe at risk for a new world war. So far the Ukrainian people and their President have responded with an incredibly courageous resistance despite being overwhelmed by a far superior military force. Picking sides here should be easy for anyone with a moral compass  especially those who profess to call themselves Christians.

Seahawks great Doug Baldwin hit the nail on the head in a late-night tweet, calling out Christians who support what Putin is doing in Ukraine.

None of us are sinless. But you cant be a Christian and support what Putin is doing right now. Its the opposite of who Christ was.  Doug Baldwin Jr  (@DougBaldwinJr) February 26, 2022

Baldwin may be just speaking in general terms, but its possible hes referring to one specific individual.

Former Republican Delaware Senatorial candidate Lauren Witzke has made the news in recent days for saying she identifies with Putins Christian values more than President Joe Biden.

Lauren Witzke, the Delaware GOP's candidate for Senate in 2020, has nothing but praise for Putin and "his Christian nationalist nation": "I identify more with Putin's Christian values than I do with Joe Biden." pic.twitter.com/oQ2nhlVGCR  Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) February 24, 2022

History is complicated but we dont need to both-sides every piece of it. In this case Baldwin is right and Witzke is wrong. Period.

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Related

Seahawks legend Doug Baldwin shares attributes of a winning culture

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Erie County's number of new COVID-19 cases has dropped low enough that the county no longer has a high level of community transmission, according to Pennsylvania Department of Health data.

It's the first time since August the county hasn't been at this highest level of transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

"It's a big deal because it shows how much our cases have fallen," said Erin Mrenak, director of the Erie County Department of Health. "We are still keeping an eye on things, especially because the (COVID-19) data from our wastewater samples has shown more virus in the last couple of weeks. We're not out of the woods yet."

Erin Mrenak is director of the Erie County Department of Health.

A county's level of community transmission is defined by its rate of cases per 100,000 residents. Erie County's rate dropped this week to 93.8, which places it at the substantial level (50 to 99.99 cases per 100,000) of transmission.

It had been at the high level (100 or more cases) since Aug. 20, according to the CDC Data Tracker.

The county reached this lower level of transmission on Friday, the same day the CDC issued new COVID-19 guidance. The new metrics will still consider caseloads but also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity.

"We are in the process of learning about this right now," Mrenak said Friday afternoon. "We still have to talk with the state (Health Department) and there are still things to learn about these metrics."

Erie County's weekly number of cases has dropped for six straight weeks as the country emerges from a months' long surge due to the delta and omicron variants.

A total of 253 newly confirmed cases was reported in the county from Feb. 18-24, a decline of 41.4% from the 432 new cases reported the previous week and down 92.4% from the 3,337 cases reported Jan. 7-13.

"We are definitely trending in the right direction," said Charlotte Berringer, R.N., director of community health services for the county Health Department.

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More: Erie hospitals see lowest number of COVID-19 patients since autumn; more elective procedures scheduled

The county's number of COVID-19 cases among children also declined for the sixth straight week. A total of 69 cases was reported from Feb. 16-22, including 20 cases among children 4 and younger, and 49 among children 5 to 18.

The county's weekly total has dropped 92.6% since 937 cases were reported Jan. 5-11.

Not only did new cases decrease, the county's number of COVID-19 hospitalizations also continued to drop. A seven-day average of daily COVID-19 hospitalizations declined to 50.6 last week from 61.1 the previous week.

However, the county has seen a slight increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past few days. A total of 54 county residents were hospitalized Friday with COVID-19, including 19 in intensive care units and five who needed ventilators.

Still, the 14-day moving average of COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to fall to 56.1 on Friday, the county's lowest number since Oct. 6, according to the state Health Department.

The county reported 13 deaths due to COVID-19 complications last week, increasing the total to 766 since the pandemic started.

More: 'I haven't felt whole for a year': Erie County residents deal with long-haul COVID-19

Here is a look at the rest of the county's COVID-19 measurements between Feb. 11-17 and Feb. 18-24 from the state Health Department:

The COVID-19 test positivity rate dropped from 12.8% to 9%.

The average daily number of COVID-19 patients requiring ventilators decreased from 5.4 to 5.3.

The percentage of emergency department visits due to COVID-19 symptoms increased from 0.5% to 1.4%.

COVID-19 vaccinations fall sharply in Erie County

COVID-19 vaccinations have dropped significantly in recent weeks. Only 649 primary doses and 477 additional doses were given in the county from Feb. 17-23.

It's the fewest doses provided over a seven-day period since booster shots became available in August.

More: Erie doctors have more treatments against COVID-19

About 57.3% of all county residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and less than half of those people  47.6%  have received a booster dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

"Cases and hospitalizations are going down but if we want to truly get back to a sense of normalcy, we need more people to get vaccinated," said Howard Nadworny, M.D., a Saint Vincent Hospital infectious diseases specialist and county Health Department adviser.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County's COVID-19 transmission rate drops to 'substantial'
By Steve Holland, John Chalmers and Daphne Psaledakis

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies on Saturday moved to block certain Russian banks' access to the SWIFT international payment system in further punishment of Moscow as it continues its military assault against Ukraine.

The measures, which will include restrictions on the Russian central bank's international reserves, will be implemented in the coming days, the nations said in a joint statement https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/26/joint-statement-on-further-restrictive-economic-measures that also vowed further action to come.

"We will hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for Putin," the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Canada and the United States wrote.

"Even beyond the measures we are announcing today, we are prepared to take further measures to hold Russia to account for its attack on Ukraine."

The move comes after the United States and its allies slapped sanctions this week on major Russian banks as well as on President Vladimir Putin, among others, as Moscow's forces pushed into the heart of Ukraine toward Kyiv.

"As Russian forces unleash their assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, we are resolved to continue imposing massive costs on Russia. Costs that will further isolate Russia from the international financial system and our economies," said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, the European Union's executive.

The actions are aimed at preventing Putin from using $630 billion in central bank foreign currency reserves in the invasion of Ukraine and to defend a plunging rouble.

Cutting Russian banks out of the SWIFT system - the world's main international payments network - deals a blow to Russian trade and makes it harder for Russian companies to do business.

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"Putin's government is getting kicked off the international financial system," a senior U.S. administration official said.

SWIFT, or the "Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication", is a secure messaging system that facilitates rapid cross-border payments, making international trade flow smoothly and transferring trillions of dollars each year in what has become the principal mechanism for financing international trade.

"We are engaging with European authorities to understand the details of the entities that will be subject to the new measures and we are preparing to comply upon legal instruction," SWIFT said in a statement.

The U.S. official told reporters that if one of the banks cut off from SWIFT wants to make a payment with a bank outside of Russia, it will likely need to use a phone or fax machine. But the official said most banks worldwide would likely stop all transactions with Russian banks removed from the network.

The United States and its allies will finalize the list of banks that will by cut off from SWIFT, the official said, adding that banks already under U.S. and European sanctions would be the first ones considered.

'WAR CHEST'

U.S. President Joe Biden announced sanctions on Thursday that were aimed at limiting Russia's ability to do business in dollars, euros, pounds and yen. Among the targets were five major Russian banks including state-backed Sberbank and VTB, the country's two largest lenders.

At the time, Biden said there was no agreement to take action on SWIFT - suggesting that the view of allies who were holdouts had since turned heavily against Putin.

The new measures will stop Russia from "using its war chest," von der Leyen said, paralyzing the assets of its central bank, freezing its transactions and making it impossible for the central bank to liquidate its assets.

"We're disarming fortress Russia by taking this action," the U.S. official said, adding that other actions targeting the central bank could be finalized over the weekend.

The United States slapped sanctions on Iran's central bank in 2019 following attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia that were claimed by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen.

At the time, then-U.S. President Donald Trump said the moves, aimed at cutting off Iran's remaining funding sources, were "the highest sanctions ever imposed on a country."

"Sanctioning the central bank - that has got to be the biggest hammer left in the tool shed," said Paul Marquardt, a lawyer with Davis Polk in Washington where he advises clients on U.S. sanctions.

The allies on Saturday also pledged to limit the sale of citizenship via so-called golden passports used by some wealthy Russians to gain residency in Western nations and access to their financial systems.

The partners will also launch a task force to "identify, hunt down and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs, their yachts, their mansions, and any ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze."

EU foreign ministers will discuss the sanctions package at a virtual meeting on Sunday evening, the fourth time they come together in a week.

Edward Fishman, an Atlantic Council fellow who worked on Russia sanctions at the State Department during the Obama administration, said the measures announced on Saturday are a significant escalation.

By signaling their joint commitment to the moves, Fishman said, the West was "giving Putin one more chance to back down before they unleash the full range of the economic arsenal on Russia."

(Reporting by John Chalmers and Sabine Siebold in Brussels, Steve Holland in Wilmington, Delaware, and Daphne Psaledakis, David Lawder, David Morgan, Susan Heavey and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler, Cynthia Osterman, Daniel Wallis and William Mallard)
A Ukrainian police officer stands in front of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022.

A Ukrainian police officer stands in front of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022. Credit - Chris McGrathGetty Images

In the early hours of Feb. 23, Liubov Tsybulska, an adviser to Ukraines government and military, woke from a terrible dream. I was screaming but my voice was gone, she tells me over Signal. When I woke up and saw Putins order to attack, she says, her voice trembling, my heart sank.

Now Ukraine is at war.

Over the past 36 hours, Russian rockets and missiles have rained down in night assaults all over the country, reaching as far west as Lviv, near the Polish border. They have struck not just military targets but residential buildings and hospitals, including a cancer ward in Melitopol near the Black Sea, and, according to Ukraines foreign minister, a kindergarten in Sumy in the northeast. Last night, social media was awash with images of Kyivs blackened sky transformed into brilliant orange as what looked to be either an aircraft or missile was taken out by an air defense system as Russian forces are descending on the city on multiple axes.

The U.S. intelligence communitys warnings of a worst-case scenarioan all-out invasion of Ukraine with the goal of overthrowing a democratically elected governmenthas turned out to be eerily prophetic. A capital city in Europe now looks set to resemble Madrid in 1936, with street-to-street and house-to-house combat and untold numbers dead. Vivan los Rusos!, grateful Madrilenos shouted as the Comintern-run International Brigades arrived to help save their embattled Republic in the Spanish Civil War.

No such cry of welcome will be offered by Kyvians, much to the evident surprise of Vladimir Putin.

Last summer, in a chauvinist and historically revisionist screed, Putin telegraphed his intent to become an tsarist in-gatherer of the Slavic lands, stating incorrectly that Ukrainians and Russians are one people. Well, he certainly has treated both the same, with murderous contempt. The result of his imperialist folly could well be seeing a European capital burnt to the ground. What unintended consequence might that have for his regime? A strange thing happened on the way to this war. Those highly skeptical that Putin would ever pull the trigger given the obvious disastrous consequences have started murmuring this week about unimaginable scenarios of palace or military coups.

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Small cracks in the edifice are now dimly discernible. Thousands of Russians have taken to the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg and other cities to denounce the war, facing arrest, beatings or worse. Journalists and activists have signed an open letter to much the same effect. Even the imprisoned leader of Russias hollowed-out opposition, Alexey Navalny, a man for years the Kremlin has tried to paint as a terrifying ubernationalist in a fine twist of Freudian projection, has tweeted his disgust from confinement in a labor camp, noting that this campaign is a distraction from Russias rot within. Putin and his senile thieves, Navalny wrote, are the true enemies of Russia, and its main threat, not Ukraine and not the West.

Perhaps even more significant are reports that Russian diplomats have begun messaging journalists to relay how distraught they are by having to mouth flagrant falsehoods. Others appear on television interviews looking uneasy and anxious and certainly acting as if they dont believe a word of what theyre saying (or in some cases, reading). Might there be similar wobbliness within the Russian military and special services?

Read More: How the West Can Stop Putin

According to the Committee of Soldiers Mothers, a Russian NGO, a good number of servicemen were deceived into fighting; some were beaten if they objected. Weve had a flurry of calls from scared mothers all over Russia, the deputy chairman of the Committee told a Russian news outlet. They are crying, they dont know if their children are alive or healthy. Ukrainians captured an entire platoon of the reconnaissance unit of Russias 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade in the city of Chernihiv. Their commander suggested his forces had been duped. Nobody thought that we were going to kill, he said. We were not going to fightwe were collecting information. On Telegram, another captured Russian is shown ringing his mother back home on an iPhone. She seems surprised to discover her son is in Ukraineas does he. He tells her he was only following orders and when she asks why he got caught, he answers, Mom, I dont know the territory.

Burton Gerber, a former CIA Soviet section chief who revolutionized asset recruitment in the Warsaw Pact and U.S.S.R. zones, told me this week he thinks Putins Russia is an even more auspicious hunting ground for Western spies because, as he put it rather euphemistically, a society that has loosened for a certain extent and then doesnt progress in that loosening creates more disappointment. So maybe thats how America knew Russias detailed war plans more or less as they were being drafted. A leaky ship eventually sinks. And Putin, a former KGB case officer, is no stranger to the self-cannibalizing paranoia of counterintelligence, especially if he feels his services have sold him a bill of goods about cakewalks.

The Russian president says he has come to de-Nazify a country with a Jewish president and defense minister. In the port city of Odessa, home to Isaac Babel and Leon Trotsky, synagogues are being shuttered and the Jewish community is evacuating for fear of what an estimated 190,000 heralded antifascists will do once they arrive. The twentieth century was marked by elaborate lies both big and small, but the twenty-first is just phoning them in.

The good news, at least for those who care about outmoded concepts such as truth and solidarity, is that independent Ukraine is not dead yet. Though it is still up against extraordinary odds and overwhelming firepower. The military is fighting more ferociously, according to the Pentagon, than its invading enemy reckoned with. As such, Russias advance into Kyiv had slowed somewhat. This may yet bring a more devastating folly of attacks and more body bags. Even if Russia wins, it wont do so easily.

People rest in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 24, 2022. Emilio MorenattiAP

Ukraines Ministry of Defense has put out a figure today of upwards of 2,800 Russian dead. Take that with a pinch of salt, while still appreciating that Russia has sustained heavy casualties. Verifiable images of charred or snow-covered corpses lying next to snarled heaps of metalwhat remains of Russian tanks or armored vehiclesare now all over social media, if not acknowledged by Russias Orwellian Ministry of Defense. And this haul is largely the rest of Western-supplied weapons such as Javelin and NLAW anti-tank systems. In 2014, one Ukrainian military official told me, when we defended with RPGs, it was difficult to take out T-72 [tanks]. Now it is not a problem.

And more materiel is on the way. Five NATO countries led by Great Britain have vowed to resupply Ukraine with mobile air defenses, anti-tank systems, drones, and ammunition. The other four, incidentally, are Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, according to a Western security source. That means that todays struggle for the West is being 80% spearheaded by former Eastern bloc nations, not a bad piece of symbolism if you credit President Joe Biden when he says Putins endgame is restoring the Soviet empire. Nor would further arming Ukraine be arming an insurgency so long as conventional units are still intact. So far, west Ukraine, bordering Poland and Romania, remains uninvaded by land forces.

Read More: Putin Wants Revenge Not Just on Ukraine But on the U.S. and Its Allies

International sanctions, too, may take a bite out of the Russian economy and Russian market and billionaire confidence. However, these may not have quite the same effect as the announced U.S. and EU asset freezes of Russias leadership. So far targeted are Putin, allegedly the worlds richest man and his waspish foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. And similar sanctions against Putins inner sanctum and siloviki (security hawks), as well as their children in C-suite positions at state companies who act as wallets for their parents stolen wealth, are also being enacted.

These may seem empty gestures, until you recall that the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014 accused Putin of having investments in Gunvor, the worlds largest independent commodities trader headquartered in Geneva, where he may have access to Gunvor funds. And that notorious $1.4 billion dacha Putin built himself on the Black Sea? Built by an Italian architect and furnished by the finest in Italian rococo design, according to Navalny. Lavrovs mistress, meanwhile, is a former employee of the Russian foreign ministry and has a daughter who somehow owns a $5.9 million apartment in the tony London district of Kensington.

They may despise the West, but they still want to shop there.

Meanwhile, the accused Nazi junta led by two Jews stands firm from besieged Kyiv. Zelensky and his war cabinet appeared in a remarkable video last night announcing to the world that theyre not going anywhere and will fight to the end. Civilians are instructed to prepare Molotov cocktails and arm themselves. Even Ukraines former president, Petro Poroshenko, told CNN he would fight, before brandishing his rifle on camera.

Volodymyr Zelensky Tells Ukrainians He Will Remain in Kyiv

When I was in Kyiv three weeks ago, I set out to determine for myself if this will to resist was mere bravado or sincere. I came away firmly convinced it was the latter and the irony is that it is wholly of Putins accidental making. When he stole Crimea in 2014, then started a dirty war in Donbas, he rallied a population that might have remained neutral, or at least permanently susceptible to Russian influence-peddling if not shadow control. Thank you very much, Ukrainians said, we have now rediscovered our history, our cultural patrimony and our peoplehood and because of you, we believe our future lies with Europe. Always suspicious of those in charge at home, Ukrainians flagging approval of their leadershipPresident Volodymyr Zelensky was elected with 73% of the vote, but his numbers had dipped to below 30% in recent monthshas by no means translated into a desire to be ruled by a foreign dictator.

There is absolute and total hatred now, Tsybulska told me. People who speak Russian are switching to Ukrainian. And Putin said he was protecting Russian-speakers. Well, what did he achieve? There will be none left.
Boston Universitys Equal Opportunity Office (EOO) found evidence to support the claim that retired Boston University lecturer Geoffrey Carliner discriminated against his Asian students, an allegation Carliner continues to deny.



A student from Carliners Economics of Less-Developed Regions class claimed that the professor was making [Asian students] feel uncomfortable, offended and unable to participate fully or attend class, according to The Daily Free Press.



Carliner allegedly assumed his Asian or Asian American students ethnicities based on their last names. The student also claimed that Carliner would call on Asian students to answer questions regarding Chinas policies.



I dont think I discriminated, Carliner said, according to The Daily Free Press. I, of course, did not mean to make anybody feel uncomfortable. I think its political correctness gone amok to fire me for what happened in my economics class last spring.



On May 6, 2021, he emailed his students asking students to email the investigator assigned to the case and inform them on whether he displayed improper behavior in class or if his class stimulated useful discussions, according to The Daily Free Press. The Dean of Arts and Sciences Stan Sclaroff issued a warning to Carliner, urging him to avoid discussing the investigation with students.



On Monday, however, Carliner sent another email to inform his students that the University did not renew his contract after the investigation found a preponderance of evidence supporting the students claims of discrimination in the classroom.



Its total hypocrisy on the part of the BU. It is not retaliation, Carliner stated. I didnt punish any student. I didnt do anything harmful to any student by asking them to write the email. Easy enough for them to ignore my email, most of them did.



There were 26 students out of 64 who emailed the EOO, and only two students confirmed the claims against Carliner.



I was a little bit confused when I received that email when the professor said someone reported him as discrimination, junior student Jennifer Wang said, according to The Daily Free Press. I liked the class and I think I learned a lot from it, I just didnt feel anything about discrimination overall.



Based upon these facts and logical factors, I can assure that Professor Carliners mistake is not an act of discrimination but simply a misidentification of one specific student, another Asian student wrote.



If only one person complains, and then they made our investigation on it, and then that persons friend also made a complaint about it. Then the professor is going to be fired, junior student Bo Peng stated. So we can do that to every professor in every class, which is a policy thats unfair to everyone.



Dean Sclaroff reportedly wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press that the college remained committed to building an environment where all can learn and thrive. The Daily also reported that the EOO declined to provide any details about the investigation in order to [protect] the integrity of the investigative process and involved parties privacy.



Featured Images via Joshua Pei

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Public Advocate Poses Questions for Biden Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Public Advocate of the U.S. has Questions to Ask Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, Biden Nominee to the United States Supreme Court



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Public Advocate

Feb. 25, 2022



WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate of the United States, Inc. says: "Before any Republican or fair-minded Democrat considers endorsing Ketanji Brown, we want some basic Constitutional answers.



"The U.S. Senate has asked previous nominees a long list of questions and we have traditionally made some suggestions for lines of questions for the nominee to consider answering.



"Public Advocate hopes no Republican or fair-minded Democrat Senator endorse Judge Ketanji Brown until these questions and other Constitutional questions get answered at a public hearing." Sample Questions Senators Should Ask Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: (partial list) Public Advocate fundamentally rejects the idea that the government can force health care upon anyone -- especially if it overrides religious objections.



Does Kentanji Brown Jackson agree with the Biden Administration that religious liberty is suspended during the next forever period of time as long as somebody has the flu or becomes car sick?



Legal philosophy?



Have you ever read Sir William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England? If so, what was Blackstone's view of the foundation of the common law? If not, why not?



What is your understanding of the phrase "laws of nature and of nature's God" that appears in the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence?



Strict constructionist?



Do you agree with your mentor, newly retired Judge Stephen Breyer who believes judges can legislate from the bench and simply make laws up to replace the legislative role of the U.S. Congress? Are you a firm believer in this clearly unconstitutional practice of leftist judges like him?



If you plan on legislating from the bench, could you tell the Senate which laws you will leave intact without unilaterally overturning them?



How do you view your achievements?



Do you believe that, because you are a black woman, you would bring something to your work as a Supreme Court Justice that a man of any color would not? If not, would you then disagree with the Biden Administration's characterization of your appointment as one which brings much needed diversity to the Court? PUBLIC ADVOCATE of the United States has more questions here on our website and will prepare a longer list of questions soon.

https://www.publicadvocateusa.org/news/article.php?article=12196



SOURCE Public Advocate



CONTACT: Eugene Delgaudio, 703-845-1808, publicadvocateusa.org@gmail.com



Related Links



publicadvocateusa.org



twitter.com/publicfreedom



twitter.com/eugenedelgaudio



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Somewhere on the stretch of track between the Blue Lines Chicago and Grand stops, in the caverns of the Milwaukee-Dearborn subway, is the single loudest point on the L.

In the approximately two minutes it takes to cross the half-mile beneath Milwaukee Avenue, the wind buffeting the cars grows to a deafening roar and the screech of wheels grinding on the tracks reaches a fever pitch.

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Discomfort is possible. Conversation is certainly a labor. A phone call? Forget about it.

An O'Hare Airport bound Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train enters the Grand Avenue station on Feb. 25, 2022. A study has found that the loudest section of the Blue Line is between Grand and Chicago Avenues. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

This isnt speculation: a 2017 study by the University of Illinois at Chicagos School of Public Health found the Chicago-Grand leg was the loudest stretch of track in the entire system, at 88.9 decibels. Overall, the Blue Line had an average noise level of 76.9 decibels, statistically significantly higher than all other elevated lines except for the Orange Line.

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For reference, lawn mowers generate sounds of about 90 decibels, according to the University of Michigan. The Blue Line average is closer to a vacuum.

Some riders notice, and some dont. Standing above Wicker Park at the Damen stop, before the Blue Line descends into its subterranean depths, Harold Washington College student Chazz Washington said she didnt pay attention to the noise.

I normally put on my headphones and just ride until my stop, Washington said.

But for Jaclyn Cotty, also at the same stop, the sound of the L would always overpower whatever she played on her earbuds.

According to the study, noise levels were louder in tunnels than on or above ground, a phenomenon not lost on Jonathan Carrera, who works downtown and uses the Blue Lines Forest Park branch.

On a scale of one to 10, Id say five is normal, Carrera said. When youre underground, Id say its an eight or nine for me.

One rider observed that the tunnels also produced a distinct sound.

Glen Moore, an Oak Park resident and longtime L rider, said he could tell whether the train was above or below ground based on the noise alone.

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Theres more of a metallic ring when youre underground, whereas it gets dispersed when youre over, Moore said. When youre underground, it really feels like youre in the cogs of the machinery.

An O'Hare bound Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train enters the Grand Avenue station on Feb. 25, 2022. A study has found that the loudest section of the Blue Line is between Grand and Chicago Avenues. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Interestingly enough, a regression analysis showed the Blue Lines tunnels did not fully explain the tracks overall noise level, according to study by author and current Stanford University researcher Linh Phan.

Phan speculated a combination of the speed of the train cars and the quality of tracks had the most impact on the noise level, though she said the Chicago Transit Authority declined to provide information on speed or track quality.

The study authors also wanted to examine how the age of the train cars affected noise inside the cabin  the Blue Line is mostly serviced by older 2600- and 3200-series cars, which date respectively to the early 1980s and early 1990s, while the 5000-series cars that serve the Red, Pink, Green, Yellow and Purple Lines entered service in 2009  but the CTA also declined those requests, said Phan.

The CTA did say riders may notice a quieter commute on the transit authoritys new 7000-series cars, which are undergoing in-service testing across elevated lines.

According to a statement released by the CTA, the transit authority uses several tools to mitigate noise levels, including acoustic panels and regular grinding and lubrication of rail surfaces as well as train wheels.

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By its very nature, noise is a byproduct of the operations, as it is for every rail system in America, the statement read. However, CTA has an ongoing commitment to try to mitigate noise.

While the study noted transit noise comprised only a small portion of daily noise exposure for riders, Phan expressed concern about the impact of extended exposure to transit workers, particularly train operators at the front of the train and with an operable window.

However, Eric Dixon, president of transit workers union ATU Local 308, said hearing loss was not an issue its members often dealt with.

The L has gotten quieter in recent decades: a 1979 study sponsored by the Department of Transportation found in-car noise levels typically ranged from 85 to 90 decibels and could reach 95 to 100 decibels on some parts of the track.

Phan and her co-author also found the CTA was quieter overall than transit systems in New York and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Todd Duesler, a commercial pilot from outside Houston who rode the Blue Line into downtown Thursday morning, said he didnt notice any difference in the noise on the Blue Line, compared withother rapid transit hed ridden throughout the country.

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Its a loud subway, Duesler said as the train departed from Chicago toward Grand. Its going to be that way everywhere.

But then a familiar, deafening din filled the cabin.

Duesler conceded, OK, this is louder.

Joshua Irvine is a freelancer.
gavel

NEW BERN  A former Fort Bragg soldier was sentenced to more than a year in federal prison Thursday for taking part in a widespread marriage scam, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Samuel Manu Agyapong, 34, was given a sentence of 18 months imprisonment and three years of supervised probation Thursday. He was found guilty at trial in July of theft of government property, tampering with a witness, visa fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, and aiding and abetting naturalization fraud. Agyapong also used the alias Sammy Tuga, according to court records.

Federal officials said Agyapong, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Ghana, entered into a sham marriage with Ghana national Barbara Oppong in order to obtain food and housing allowances from the U.S. Army. For her part, Oppong would get a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. The two were married in New York in 2015.

More: Former soldiers among 11 charged in Fort Bragg marriage fraud ring

Officials said Agyapong purchased a home in Fayetteville while Oppong lived in New York and they rarely, if ever, traveled to see one another and never engaged in a legitimate marriage.

The release states that Agyapong and Oppong submitted fraudulent applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requesting Oppong be given lawful permanent residence in the United States, which she received. Based on the fraudulent marriage, Agyapong received a total of $110,000 in housing and food allowances over the course of the scam, officials said.

At the time of his arrest in June 2020, he was a sergeant assigned to the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Bragg. The brigade has a persistent mission in Africa and sends teams of soldiers there on a rotational basis.

Subscribe today to support local journalism and enjoy unlimited digital access including videos, apps, sports news, and more. Special introductory offer for new subscribers only.

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Agyapong and Oppong were among 11 people charged in the scheme.

Charges of conspiracy to commit naturalization fraud, aiding and abetting the unlawful disposition of U.S. property, two counts of aiding and abetting naturalization fraud and three counts of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud are still pending against Oppong.

Military & Crime Editor F.T. Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Ex Fort Bragg soldier sent to prison for widespread marriage scam
By Tina Bellon

(Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc is testing a new driver earnings algorithm in 24 U.S. cities that allows drivers to see pay and destinations before accepting a trip and raises the incentives for drivers to take short rides in an effort to attract more drivers.

The changes, which are currently in pilot programs, mark the most wide-ranging updates to Uber's driver pay algorithm in years and come at a time when the company is still trying to win back drivers who left at the start of the pandemic. Fares paid by consumers are not affected.

Drivers have long demanded the ability to see the fare and destination before accepting a trip, but Uber has resisted, saying it could open the door to drivers cherry-picking trips or discriminating against riders in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Uber already has a similar program in California, launched in the wake of a 2020 state battle over gig worker rights to prove its drivers are independent contractors.

But the company said its latest fare pilot in the United States was not related to gig worker regulation. The test has been rolled out in cities across Texas, Florida and the Midwest where gig worker reforms are not on the agenda.

"Gig work is very competitive, not just with Lyft but other platforms, and we think this feature really enhances our platform's competitiveness versus others," said Dennis Cinelli, Uber's head of mobility in the United States and Canada.

Cinelli said the pay changes at this point would not impact consumer prices, adding the changes "aren't financial features."

Uber declined to comment on the financial impact of the changes for the company, which could mean it has to incur higher costs for short trips.

Cinelli said the company had not seen any discrimination by drivers in California since the policy launched there in 2020.

"Otherwise, we wouldn't have rolled it out at this time," he said, adding that Uber had the ability to deactivate drivers who repeatedly declined trips based on race or low-income areas.

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Providing drivers with upfront pay details meant the company also had to reduce earnings for longer trips to prevent drivers from avoiding short rides, Cinelli said.

Uber said data from some cities with upfront pay have shown a 22% average increase in driver earnings for trips in which the distance to the pickup location is longer than the trip itself.

Driver responses were mixed on some online groups. Some complained the new algorithm seemed arbitrary and no longer allowed them to calculate pay based on a per-mile (per-km) basis.

"My earnings are already destroyed by the high prices for gas and now Uber is taking even more money away from me on long trips," said Kevin Hernandez, a Houston driver.

Other drivers in online groups said the upfront fare information allowed them to select only higher-paying rides, with several drivers sharing screenshots of increased earnings since the altered algorithm was launched.

Expansion will depend on drivers. "If we're not seeing it attract and retain drivers we wouldn't roll it out further," Cinelli said.

(Reporting by Tina Bellon; Editing by Peter Henderson and Sandra Maler)
The claim: A weatherman admitted the military is 'spraying chemtrails'

Some social media users claim a meteorologist confirmed the existence of chemtrails during a weather broadcast aired over a decade ago.

"Weatherman admits military is spraying chemtrails," reads text above a news clip posted Jan. 12 on Facebook.

"Spraying chemtrails" alludes to a conspiracy theory that the U.S. government secretly adds chemicals to the atmosphere for mass sterilization, mind control or weather control.

The Facebook video accumulated more than 8,000 views within a month. It was taken from a longer news clip from a CBS affiliate in Medford, Oregon, featuring chief meteorologist Kevin Lollis. The clip has been circulating online since at least April 2010.

Despite citing a news source, the Facebook post's claim is wrong.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

Lollis didn't mention the military "spraying chemtrails" at any point during the video. He mentions a radar countermeasure used during military exercises, as independent fact-checking organizations have reported.

USA TODAY reached out to the Facebook user who posted the video for comment.

Weatherman mentioned military maneuver

At the beginning of the video, Lollis says there is "a bit of an unusual situation" in parts of southern Oregon and northern California. Pointing to a radar that appears to show precipitation, he says a "military aircraft flying through the region is dropping chaff."

Chaff is a defensive mechanism used by military aircraft to confuse radar-seeking missiles in the air, according to an Air Force fact sheet published by the Environmental Protection Agency. When a plane ejects chaff, the fibers  made of glass silicate with an aluminum coating  create a radar-reflective cloud that simulates aircraft and creates false targets.

Fact check: False claim of US biolabs in Ukraine tied to Russian disinformation campaign

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When asked for details about the purported military exercise referenced in the newscast, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told USA TODAY in an email that the service branch "does not maintain information pertaining to exercises held over a decade ago."

Chaff is often released during military training exercises, as documented by images published on stock photo websites like Alamy. The defensive measure, along with flares, is crucial for older aircraft that constitute the majority of the military's inventory, Defense News reported in 2018.

However, chaff can interfere with air traffic and weather-tracking radars, according to a 1998 report from the Government Accountability Office.

Fact check: TikTok video first posted in 2015, doesn't show Russian soldiers parachuting into Ukraine

In 2018, National Weather Service radars picked up chaff dropped from a C-130 near Evansville, Indiana, ABC News reported at the time. In a similar event, local weather radars picked up chaff released during a 2013 training exercise near Huntsville, Alabama, the National Weather Association reported.

The Government Accountability Office report says that, to avoid interference with radars, military facilities must obtain clearance before using chaff during exercises. There are also restrictions on what kind of chaff can be used, where it can be used and the altitudes at which it can be released.

Chaff particles aren't a concern for public health, as their chemical composition is "essentially identical to soil," according to the Air Force fact sheet.

A C-130 U.S. Air Force plane flies over Paul Brown Stadium before the start of the first quarter of a Week 14 NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati.

Chemtrails conspiracy theory previously debunked

The theory that the government is releasing chemicals into the environment to control the population is unfounded, according to several government agencies and independent fact-checking organizations.

The theory claims some planes' condensation trails are filled with chemicals because they are longer, brighter and don't disappear as quickly as regular contrails, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

Contrails are ice particles resulting from water vapor emitted by an airplane as it burns fuel, according to the EPA. Some contrails look different depending on altitude, temperature and humidity.

Fact check: Image shows old Russian plane crash; not related to Ukraine invasion

The chemtrails conspiracy theory has been debunked. In its fact sheet, the Air Force described the theory as a "hoax" that's been around since 1996.

"The Air Force is not conducting any weather modification experiments or programs and has no plans to do so in the future," the service branch wrote.

The EPA says on its website that it's "not aware of any deliberate actions to release chemical or biological agents into the atmosphere." Independent fact-checking organizations like Reuters and PolitiFact have debunked claims that photos of routine military exercises are evidence of chemtrails.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that a weatherman admitted the military is "spraying chemtrails." Lollis makes no mention of chemtrails in the video shared on Facebook. Instead, he mentions a radar countermeasure used during military exercises. Government agencies and independent fact-checking organizations have previously debunked the chemtrails conspiracy theory.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Oregon weather broadcast isn't proof of chemtrails theory
Feb. 26Fire destroyed the home next door to the Historic Harrington School Cultural Center in the 200 block of South Harrington Road on St. Simons Island before dawn Friday, and a property dispute emerged from the ashes.

Glynn County Fire-Rescue Division Chief Windell Knighten said the wood frame structure at 275 S. Harrington Road was completely destroyed in the fire.

The Historic Harrington School Cultural Center next door suffered no damage.

Firefighters were notified of the fire at 1:45 a.m. and arrived on scene to find the one-story wood structure engulfed in flames, Knighten said.

The smoldering ruins remained partitioned from public safety yellow tape at noon Friday.

The home was built in 1962 and is among the last remaining older homes from South Harrington Road's era as a mainstay of the island's tight-knit African American community. Larger modern homes of mostly White residents now overshadow the handful of Black-owned homes on the street.

Chip Wilson has lived all his life in the Harrington Community and is a popular singer and fixture at Bennie's Red Barn at Frederica and South Harrington roads.

"It's sad that another house has gone," Wilson said, looking over the damage. "It's one more lost piece of our history."

The home had belonged to Amy Roberts, executive director of the St. Simons Island African American Heritage Coalition. The coalition maintains the cultural center and oversees educational activities at the restored one-room schoolhouse, which served the local African American community from the 1920s throughout the segregated era.

However, the property's ownership was in dispute Friday. Roger Cobb II of Cherry Log Holdings, LLC, claimed ownership, but Roberts insisted she still owns the property.

Cobb said he bought the tax lien of $3,941 against the property in August 2021 and that Roberts had six months to pay it back, plus 20 percent.

Roberts said she has 12 months to pay Cobb off.

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"I am saying, 'No,'" Roberts said. "I had a year."

She said Friday she was waiting to hear back from an attorney in Atlanta about how to proceed.

Glynn County Property Records show Amy Mitchell as the property's grantor and Cherry Log Holdings as the grantee as of Aug. 2, 2021. Roberts said she sometimes uses the surname Mitchell, a former married name, as she did on the home's property records.

Roberts said she has put $10,000 into the home and property recently, including a new roof, with plans of using the property to enhance activities at the cultural center.

Heritage coalition volunteer and grants coordinator Patrick Holladay said coalition officials planned to use the home to train docents at the cultural center.

Knighten noted what appeared to be a new tin roof among the materials destroyed in the fire. Holladay said a brand new refrigerator bought by the coalition arrived Thursday and also was destroyed.

Roberts said she was unaware of any ownership issues until she arrived Thursday to find new locks on the door. Roberts said she then went to the county courthouse to check the property records.

Roberts said she had the locks removed later Thursday and had new locks placed on the door.

She said she did not disturb what appeared to be a woman's belongings that were inside the home.

Cobb's adult daughter said Friday she planned to move into the house that day, having recently arrived from California.

Knighten said he arrvied before 9 a.m. Friday to inspect the fire, but a dispute between the opposing sides prompted him to summon county police to keep the peace.

"They did so much fussing, I finally had to call the police," Knighten said.

Knighten said the blaze remains under investigation but added there is no reason to suspect foul play.

"The cause of the fire is undetermined," he said. "The home was burned up completely."
FLORIDA  Top news stories this week in Florida included the acquittal of retired police captain Curtis Reeves in the Wesley Chapel movie theater shooting of Chad Oulson; GOP Congressional candidate Martin Hyde of Sarasota apologized after video showed he threatened the job of a police officer who issued traffic tickets to him; Florida veterans are in Ukraine evacuating people from the country as Russian troops move in; and a Floridian who became known as "Lectern Guy" for carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern through the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to prison.

Plus, face masks and quarantines are no longer required in Florida child-care facilities; the world's first Peppa Pig theme park is open at Legoland; video caught a hammerhead shark lurking near paddleboarders; nine Florida beaches are among the best in the U.S.; a street sweeper driver was killed when the machine ran over him; and more in our roundup of top news stories from Florida's Patch sites this week.

Share your local news, events and pics by clicking "+" at the top of any page.



Here are some of this week's top news headlines:

In a trial that took eight years to conclude, 79-year-old Curtis Reeves was found not guilty of all charges Friday night in the shooting death of 43-year-old Chad Oulson at The Grove of Wesley Chapel movie theater in 2014.



Less than a week after Republican congressional candidate Martin Hyde made national headlines for threatening to end a Sarasota police officer's career over traffic tickets, his campaign has gone dark on social media.



One of the most recognizable faces of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach, Adam Johnson of Parrish  known to many simply as "Lectern Guy" because of a now-viral photo of him carrying U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern through the building  was sentenced Friday to 75 days in prison for his role in the riot.

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As missiles were launched by Russian forces in Ukraine during the early hours Thursday, Tampa resident Bryan Stern and Naples resident Stan Bunner were huddled in a hotel in Kyiv, mapping out the route they planned to take to evacuate Americans from the combat zone.

Three paddleboarders in Palm Beach got quite the adrenaline rush recently when a hammerhead shark swam a little too close for comfort. A drone managed to capture the epic encounter on camera.



The world's first Peppa the Pig Theme Park opened recently in Winter Haven near Legoland. The park modeled after a TV cartoon character adored by preschoolers was designed for the safety of all kids.

A 57-year-old Thonotosassa man who operated a street sweeper Friday night in a Publix shopping center was killed when the sweeper ran over him, a Florida Highway Patrol news release said.

More Top Stories:

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Thanks for reading Patch!

This article originally appeared on the Tampa Patch
Chris Colbert returns to the ring Saturday to main event a Premier Boxing Champions card on Showtime. Photo by Getty Images

Flashy American fighter Chris Colbert returns to the ring Saturday in a PBC on Showtime spectacle.

Colbert fights Hector Garcia, who was a late replacement for champion Roger Gutierrez.

Colbert wants to win, secure a title shot again, and box Shakur Stevenson down the line.

LAS VEGAS  Flashy American fighter Chris Colbert is ready to level up his career, win a boxing world championship, and unify against Shakur Stevenson.

The proud New Yorker returns to the ring Saturday at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for a super featherweight showdown against Hector Garcia, which Showtime will broadcast from 7 p.m. PT.

The main event brings together two unbeaten fighters, with Colbert determined to put on a show, defeat his late replacement opponent with ease, set up a world title shot, and build a rivalry with Stevenson.

Colbert, 25, spoke to Insider before throwing fists in his 17th pro fight, and he talks almost as fast as he fights.

It's hard to keep up with him as he spoke about women, family, combat sports, and even started interviewing this reporter until the conversation got back on the rails.

"Do you think I'm world-class?" he asked me before repeating himself because he did not feel like I answered the question. Suddenly, I knew how it felt to be pressed for an answer.

"I appreciate that," he said, eventually satisfied with my response. "Listen, I don't get mad at a people's opinion. It's like an asshole. Everybody got one, right?"

This is par for the course for Colbert, who was equally energetic at the final, pre-fight press conference Thursday, which took place inside a hidden speakeasy joint at The Cosmo.

In the middle of the presser, Colbert took control of the entire event. He commanded the mic and asked questions to his weekend opponent Garcia, as opposed to the host Brian Custer or the media in attendance.

For some, it's too much. Garcia called the Colbert show "a circus." For others, it may highlight a fun, motor-mouthed athlete rising through the sport.

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Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza watched the press event unfold from the back of the slick, prohibition-themed bar and told Insider that his network has high hopes for Colbert.

He said: "When you've got a kid with a personality like Chris, and you combine it with the way he's elevating his performances in the ring  we've always known he's a good fighter, but he's stepped it up in terms of power.

"With everything else like his personality, it's really a one-two punch. It's great when you've got a high-level boxer-puncher. With that package, the sky's really the limit."

Colbert's confidence shines through fight week

Chris Colbert is fun and flashy. Photo by Getty Images

Colbert has extraordinary self-belief and said multiple times during his interview with Insider that there's nobody who can beat him  particularly Garcia, who entered this match as a late replacement.

The 25-year-old was initially scheduled to box Roger Gutierrez in a WBA (regular) super featherweight title fight. However, the Venezuelan tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month and withdrew from the contest.

Now, Colbert instead fights 30-year-old southpaw Garcia, who remains a test as he brings a 14-0-0 (10 KOs) record to the ring.

"Let's be real," said Colbert. "This is still my title shot, and you know this is my title shot. Gutierrez had Covid. But you know the outcome of that fight. You know the sizzle I bring to the ring. I know who I am, and you know what I do.

"Y'all know what's coming Saturday night. It's gonna be a dominating performance. It won't be close and don't be surprised if I knock him the fuck out.

"One thing I know for sure is that nobody is coming in as a late replacement and beating me."

Colbert is determined to win in style so that he can secure the real title shot once again and then unify the belts against Top Rank rival Shakur Stevenson in what could become one of the bigger fights of the year it is made.

"I want to fight at least twice this year," Colbert said. "I want the title shot next, and hell, yeah, I want that in Brooklyn. Even better. I don't like traveling for fights. I want to fight in my hometown and bring the whole hood out."

For Espinoza, the fight with late replacement Garcia "is probably every bit as tough a fight as the title fight would have been," so Colbert will need to stay sharp and focused to get the W.

The Showtime boss added that fights in New York, combined with Colbert's rising stature in the sport, "are looking up in that respect."

Espinoza referenced the 2019 sale of the 19,000 capacity Barclays Center to Taiwanese-Canadian billionaire Joseph Tsai as something that can buoy the thirst for combat sports in that venue.

"I think with the Barclays Center change in ownership that they're going to get re-engaged on boxing events in the very near future, you know, in the next couple of months, and be more regularly involved."

With a passage through the pandemic in sight, with mask mandates dropping in various US states, "being in front of big crowds is more of a possibility" in New York, according to Espinoza.

Stevenson vs. Colbert could be in play in the coming years

Shakur Stevenson is one of the most talented fighters in the sport. Photo by Steven Ryan / Getty Images

Stevenson, 24, is one of the most talented fighters in the sport and has talked up a bout against Colbert in recent months.

Colbert is unfazed. "Of course he wants to fight me," he said.

"We want to fight each other. We want to unify! Let's make the fight happen. If it makes money, it makes sense. And you know me, I'm all about making cents and making money. To be the best, you gotta beat the best.

"And if you consider me and him being the best, let's make it happen."

Colbert thought more about the prospect of fighting Stevenson, who has his own tough assignment April 30 when he boxes Oscar Valdez in a WBO-WBC super featherweight unification fight.

"It's a helluva fight," he said, on the prospect of fighting Stevenson should he emerge unscathed from the Valdez battle.

"I won't lose," Colbert told me. "I don't lose at nothing in this life. I just learn. But I ain't finna learn nothing that night, cause I'm coming there to kill.

"If it takes me to kill in the ring and go to jail after, you going to have to come give me an interview in jail."

Hopefully, interviews remain on Zoom, and in-person during fight week.

Read the original article on Insider
U.S. Rep. Val Demings, whom Biden considered as a running mate in 2020, is running for the U.S. Senate.

Despite Sen. Marco Rubios advantage in name recognition, U.S. Rep. Val Demings can effectively turn that recognition to her favor. Specifically, the Rubio record of voting against Obamacare, of voting against reasonable gun safety regulations, of voting against expansion of the child tax credit and all other measures designed to assist ordinary Americans in these perilous times, solely because they are supported by Democrats or opposed by Sen. McConnells determination, by filibuster, to oppose any Democratic proposal to elevate less-advantaged Americans. Perhaps the more Rubio recognition, the better for Val Demings.

Bruce A. McAllister, West Palm Beach

Cerabino's critic misses the point

A recent letter writer maligns Frank Cerabino's knowledge of the Bible while demonstrating his own selective blindness to its many, many sleazy parts. Just one example is the Genesis tale of Lot's two daughters getting him drunk and taking turns having sex with him because they fear all the other men of Sodom-Gomorrah have been wiped out by God (just one biblical case of gross violence, by the way). Not only does this violate social norms, it also points to the male authorship of the Bible as it makes the women guilty of initiating incest rather than the man.

But there are plenty of good and admirable statements and stories in the Bible, you say? Well, that was Cerabino's point. If you can ban any book by selectively citing offensive pieces of it, you can certainly do likewise with the Bible.

Randall Frey, Atlantis

Column another Trump screed

The article by Gary Franks on Feb. 16 reads like another Trump talking head trying to sweep an attempted coup under the rug. As the Jan. 6 Committees investigation proceeds, which Franks calls a deep dive, every day indicates the committee has a long way to go before it reaches bottom.

Franks mentions everything from what Robert Gates said about Biden to the border including how Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Trump might have handled the current crisis in Ukraine better. Given Trumps hostile attitude regarding NATO and his obvious love affair with Putin, heaven help the people of Ukraine. It is no wonder that leaders of other NATO members need to state their own positions with Putin because they can not completely trust America, after Trump, to stand with them when the bullets start flying.

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David Clendining, Loxahatchee

What a difference a party makes

I find it interesting when speaking to my Republican friends about the Jan. 6 committee and all of the information that has come out about Donald Trump's actions before, during and after the election. Not the least of which is his blatant disregard for preserving documents and correspondence from his administration. My friends will say it is not a fair process, and Mr. Trump didn't do anything so egregious. What is fun is reading the news and everywhere the Trump name is mentioned, substitute Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. You will see quickly how the tenor of the discussion will change.

Ed Brookes, Lake Worth

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Val Demings offers a competent alternative to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio
Joey Carbery, pictured, has retained Irelands fly-half role ahead of captain Johnny Sexton (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)

Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery has been challenged to scale new heights in his quest to permanently dislodge influential captain Johnny Sexton.

Carbery is poised to start consecutive Test matches for only the second time after retaining the number 10 jersey ahead of the fit-again Sexton for Sundays GuinnessSix Nations meeting with Italy in Dublin.

The 26-year-old  whose career has been hampered by injury in recent years  will win his 30th international cap this weekend but almost two-thirds of those appearances have come from the bench.

Following a solid showing in the 30-24 defeat to France a fortnight ago, Ireland assistant coach Mike Catt has urged Munster player Carbery to strive for more as he seeks to fully emerge from Sextons shadow.

Joey is slowly growing into himself again, said Catt. He had a very good performance against France, this is the next step up for him now.

Hes got his feet under the table, under the desk, and he needs to make sure he drives to that next level.

For us, its about making the right decisions at the right time  thats always been the case for our 10s  and then bringing his X-factor.

(PA Archive)

Hes got a very good running game which we havent seen too often  well, hes been injured a lot of the time, I suppose.

But hes very good at attacking a line, so areas like that (are where he can offer more), but only if its the right thing to do and making sure that he controls the area so were not playing too much rugby in key areas too.

Carberys only previous back-to-back starts for Ireland came last summer when 2018 world player of the year Sexton  who will be among the replacements against the Azzurri  was rested.

Andy Farrells selection shows six changes from the team which began in Paris, including a debut for Ulster full-back Michael Lowry and a maiden start for hooker Dan Sheehan, in place of his injured Leinster team-mate Ronan Kelleher.

With Sexton only a substitute and vice-captain James Ryan joining Kelleher in the treatment room, experienced flanker Peter OMahony will skipper the side at the Aviva Stadium on his first Six Nations start since being sent off against Wales in round one of the 2021 tournament.

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Catt believes landmark occasions for Lowry and Sheehan will help ensure the team do not underestimate inferior opposition who have lost 34 championship matches on the bounce.

I think thats driven internally with the players, replied Catt when asked how to prevent players misjudging the difficulty of facing Italy.

Pete as captain tomorrow has really driven that. Youre playing for your country, its exactly what you want to do.

(PA Wire)

Mikeys getting his first cap, Dan Sheehans getting his first start, these little milestones are massive for individuals and its about inspiring our nation and making sure we get our nation behind us.

We dont underestimate any of the opponents that are coming to the Aviva.

We know its a proper Test match tomorrow, we know what Italy can bring, how disruptive they can be, their kicking game is very good.

I think the way Kieran Crowley (Italy head coach) wants the game to be played is definitely shining through but, again, it takes time and experience for that to happen.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, gives an interview at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow on January 25, 2022. Sputnik/Yulia Zyryanova/Pool via Reuters

Dmitry Medvedev brushed off sanctions imposed on Russia over the country's invasion of Ukraine.

"We are being driven out of everywhere, punished and threatened, but we don't feel scared," he said.

In retaliation for the sanctions, Moscow is threatening to back out of a nuclear treaty.

A top Russian government official on Saturday warned that Moscow may react to Western sanctions imposed on the country over its invasion of Ukraine by severing diplomatic ties with Western nations and freezing their assets.

Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, said the country would also back out of the previous nuclear arms deal made with the United States, The Associated Press reported.

Medvedev also threatened to bring back the death penalty after criticizing the "really unfair" decision by the Council of Europe  an international human rights organization  to suspend the country's membership.

The recently-imposed restrictions are putting a bind on Russian financial operations, per The AP.

President Joe Biden this week issued two rounds against Russia, and the administration initially declined to push for booting the country from SWIFT, the dominant system for global financial transactions.

European leaders were also somewhat reluctant to remove Russia from SWIFT and risk doing "more costly and complicated" business with Russia given the reliance by many countries on Russia's energy exports, The New York Times reported.

However, on Saturday, the US, Canada, and its European allies agreed to block "selected" Russian banks from SWIFT, according to a White House statement.

Medvedev in recent days on a Russian social media platform mocked the sanctions as a form of Western "political impotence" that will only further antagonize Russia and harden backlash against the West, according to The AP.

"We are being driven out of everywhere, punished and threatened, but we don't feel scared," he said, criticizing the Western-led sanctions as a means of absolving themselves from "shameful decisions, like a cowardly retreat from Afghanistan."

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Last August, the US ended the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan in a withdrawal that ceased all military presence on the ground in the country. Critics of the exit have expressed concern about the country's long-term stability with the lack of a US, or allied, military presence.

Medvedev served as president from 2008 to 2012, while Putin became the country's prime minister due to term limits; the longtime official then became prime minister from 2012 to 2020 while Putin ascended back to the presidency.

As president, Medvedev was generally regarded as a more liberal leader than Putin, but his comments on Saturday reflect a sharpness that defined Russia's leadership in previous decades.

Medvedev on Saturday said that the sanctions could lead Moscow to back out of the New START nuclear arms treaty, a nuclear arsenal reduction agreement that was signed in 2010 by Medvedev and then-US President Barack Obama.

The treaty "limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance," The AP reported.

The agreement, which was slated to expire in February 2021, was extended for five additional years by the US and Russia.

Russia opting out of the treaty would be a troubling step backward for the global nuclear disarmament effort.

Medvedev also downplayed the need for diplomatic ties with Western countries, contending that "there is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations" and stating that "we may look at each other in binoculars and gun sights," The AP reported.

The former president further threatened to impose economic sanctions against the West to counter the sanctions levied on Russia.

"We would need to respond in kind by freezing the assets of foreigners and foreign companies in Russia ... and possibly by nationalizing the assets of those who come from unfriendly jurisdictions," Medvedev said. "The most interesting things are only starting now."

Read the original article on Business Insider




The deputy head of Russia's Security Council said Saturday that Russia may respond in a hostile way to sanctions from the U.S. and European Union (EU), The Associated Press reported.

In a post on a Russian social media site, Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia is considering leaving its latest nuclear arms deal with the U.S., cutting off diplomatic ties with the U.S. and EU, and freezing the assets of Western countries after many of them condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

Medvedev added that Russia was mulling restoring the death penalty after being removed from a European rights group.

"We are being driven out of everywhere, punished and threatened, but we don't feel scared," Medvedev, the former president of Russia, said.

Medvedev claimed that the U.S. had been "cowardly" in leaving Afghanistan and was using sanctions against Russia to make up for "shameful decisions" it had made in the past, according to the wire service. He described the Western sanctions as a show of "political impotence."

The White House levied sanctions against Russia that restrict its financial operations, banned technology exports into the country, and froze the assets of President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Other countries in the EU and Canada have follow suit and warned of stronger sanctions if Russia continues its invasion, which has spread to the capital city of Kyiv.

"There is no particular need in maintaining diplomatic relations" with Western nations, claimed Medvedev in his posts, according to the AP.

"We may look at each other in binoculars and gunsights," he said.

Medvedev served as president of Russia from 2008 to 2012, during the time that Putin was required to leave office due to term limits. Putin served as prime minister during those years before switching offices with Medvedev, who then served as prime minister for a span of eight years.
Tunisia signed a four-year implementation plan recently with China to promote cultural cooperation in areas such as cinema and cultural digitalization.





"Tunisia will work in cooperation with China to organize the first Chinese-Tunisian film festival," says Tunisian Culture Minister Hayet Guermazi during the signing ceremony of the Tunisia-China Cultural Cooperation Protocol 2021-2024 Executive Program.





Guermazi says there are several other projects planned in partnership with China, including theatric art, archaeology and translation.





"Culture is the foundation of any tie, whether it is political, social, economic or even strategic," the minister says during the ceremony, with the attendance of the Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia, Zhang Jianguo.





The protocol "will help us, together, to promote Tunisian-Chinese cooperation in the cultural field to generalize to other sectors," she says.





For his part, Zhang says both China and Tunisia have a long history and brilliant civilizations, and the record of friendly bilateral exchanges could date back to the ancient Carthage in the Phoenician period.





The Chinese ambassador says despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the past year has seen both sides participate in each other's cultural events, including those on the Chinese New Year celebration, book publication, cinematic art and theater.





He believes the new program will safeguard the cultural cooperation between China and Tunisia in the near future.












Robert O'Brien, who served as national security adviser to former President Trump, condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, calling the leader a "killer" in an apparent break from Trump.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, O'Brien cast Putin's invasion of Ukraine as "a crisis the likes of which we haven't seen at least those of us born after World War II haven't seen."

"Make no mistake: Putin is a killer. He wants to rebuild the Russian Empire. He's not a person to be admired, no matter how charming or how clever he is," O'Brien said.

Earlier this week, Trump called Putin's recognition of the independence of two breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine a "genius" move. The Russian leader has since launched an invasion into Ukraine.

O'Brien has voiced public support for Ukraine amid the invasion, and on Saturday, he tweeted praise of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"We are watching [Zelensky] become a legend," he wrote. "Stay strong and in the fight."

At CPAC, O'Brien, who served as national security adviser under Trump from 2019 to 2021, said Ukraine was a "beautiful country" and the people do not want to live in Putin's "dystopian Russia."
Myrna Bye wanted more details about the murder of her grandfather, an immigrant fruit peddler shot to death in 1911 on the Lewisville-Grapevine Road. In her quest for details, the peddlers granddaughter had first contacted me a decade ago. Together, we had researched coverage of the crime in microfilmed editions of the Star-Telegram.

This month, she was on the phone again from her home in Oregon, pleading, seemingly asking the impossible: Can you find his picture? I want to see what my grandfather looked like.

Nowadays, I subscribe to Newspapers.com, a digital service that scours libraries nationwide in search of out-of-print newspapers from days gone by. Remarkably, when I typed in the peddlers name  Nathan Schlessinger  and the month of the crime  December 1911  up popped coverage from a competing newspaper, the Fort Worth Record & Register. Although the Star-Telegram outlasted that defunct daily, the latter had far more detailed coverage and a photograph of Schlessinger.

Under the headline, Youths Charged with Killing Hebrew Peddler, was a picture of a well-groomed young man of 26 with dark wavy hair, a neatly-trimmed mustache and a coat and tie.

I see a lot of my Dad in his face, was the granddaughters reaction. My Dad was very good looking, He died 20 years ago.

According to news reports about the dastardly attack, the peddler, a father of two small children, had immigrated from Austria to New York in 1906, arrived in Texas around 1910, spoke good English, and had a weekly sales route. Every Wednesday he left Fort Worth on his horse and cart and traveled the dirt roads 35 miles to Lewisville and Grapevine, where his partner, Isaac Cohen, lived. Late Saturday afternoon, when he sold out of apples, oranges and bananas, the peddler headed home to Fort Worth as the sun was setting.

On Dec. 16, 1911, two farm laborers, ages 16 and 20, conspired to hitch a ride on the fruit wagon, challenge the peddler to a game of poker, and abscond with his earnings. As planned, the youths traveled in the wagon for five miles before proposing a card game. When Schlessinger declined, the older youth slammed him in the forehead with brass knuckles. The peddler jumped off the wagon, ran down the desolate dirt road begging for his life, and fell to the earth when the older youth fired three shots from a Colt 41 revolver. The duo turned the peddlers pockets inside out, found a cloth bag filled with $3.50 in silver coins and fled.

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Dusk was falling. Two farmers heard the gunshots. One of them found the driverless horse wandering in the road. An armed posse on horseback quickly organized. With bloodhounds, they discovered the body at daylight and followed the suspects tracks to a dwelling. The boys were jailed in Denton County until investigators determined the killing took place one mile inside the Tarrant County line. Within days, the defendants were behind bars in Fort Worth.

The peddlers body was taken to Weatherford Street and the Gause funeral parlor  the oldest in the city, dating to 1879. Undertaker George L. Gause reported that as the body was cleansed, a wallet with $15 was found hidden inside an interior pocket in the trousers. The currency and the corpse, wrapped in a white linen sheet, were taken to the peddlers humble cottage at 620 E. First St.  today the site of a three-bedroom, four-bath condominium. The wail of the bereaved was heard on the street. In hushed tones, several hundred people paid condolences to the widow.

The Jewish community raised money for the peddlers burial, conducted Dec. 16 by Rabbi Charles Blumenthal at Ahavath Sholom Cemetery, 400 N. University Drive. Additional donations paid for an attorney to assist the prosecution and a 4-foot tombstone on which the peddlers surname is misspelled and the date of burial, rather than the date of his death, is inscribed. The widow moved to upstate New York where she had relatives. She remarried a man who died in 1920 during the influenza pandemic.

In Fort Worth, the gunman went on trial five weeks after the murder. Because the city was under quarantine for an outbreak of meningitis, there were calls to postpone the proceedings. But Judge James W. Swayne of the 17th District Court pushed for a speedy trial. He ordered the Courthouse sprayed with disinfectant, all carpets removed, and the trial to begin Jan. 22.

When the jury sentenced the gunman to life in prison, the judge told the defendant he should have been hanged. He scolded jurors for sparing the murderers life simply because the gunmans parents were well respected in Lewisville. Ultimately, the guilty man was paroled, married in 1949, had a son, and died in 1958.

His 16-year-old accomplice was tried separately and pleaded insanity. After his trial ended in a hung jury, the prosecution dismissed the charges.

The peddlers murder, a premeditated crime of opportunity, was an act of violence with lasting impact. It continues to haunt the granddaughter he never met. The homicide upended lives. Like so many crimes, its impact and circumstances have parallels to the present.

Hollace Ava Weiner, an author and historian, is director of the Fort Worth Jewish Archives.
The ship was taken to a port in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, northern France (Creative Commons)

The French navy has intercepted a Russian cargo ship in the English Channel that was bound for Saint Petersburg, the BBC has reported.

French officials told the broadcaster that the ship was intercepted according to with new European Union sanctions imposed on Russian entities and individuals after Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.

The ship, named Baltic Leader, has been redirected and escorted to a port in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, the BBC added citing an official.

The 22-year-old vessel was scheduled to reach St Petersburg on 3 March, according to a cargo ship tracking website, after having set said from Rouen in the Normandy region of northern France.

Baltic Leader ship in Boulogne after it was intercepted by the French navy (Vessel Finder/screenshot)

Captain Veronique Magnin, regional communication officer for the maritime prefecture, has said the ship was diverted to Boulogne-sur-Mer between 3 and 4am local time.

An official told the BBC: A 127 meters long Russia cargo ship called the Baltic Leader transporting cars has been intercepted overnight by the French Navy in the Channel and escorted to the Port of Boulogne-Sur-Mer in Northern France.

It has been taken to the French port after a request by the French government because it is suspected of belonging to a company targeted by EU sanctions against Moscow.

French border forces are currently investigating the cargo ship. Crew aboard the Baltic Leader has been cooperating with French authorities.

Russias embassy in Paris is requesting that the French authorities explain why the ship was seized, according to Russian news agency RIA.

Sanctions have been imposed by the EU, the UK, Canada and the US on a number of Russian entities and individuals linked to the Kremlin, following Russias invasion of its neighbour on Thursday.

The sanctioned individuals include Russian president Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron has told the presidents of Georgia and Moldova, neighbours of Ukraine in Europe's east, that France would support them "against any tension or destabilisation attempt," the Elysee palace said on Saturday.

"We stand with Moldova and Georgia to defend their sovereignty and security," the Elysee cited Macron as saying in phone calls.

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Mark Potter)
FREETOWN  Longtime Freetown highway surveyor Charles Chuck Macomber said he knew he was innocent of allegations that he stole town property, charges that have been hanging over his head for the past 2  years.

Last week, a Fall River District Court judge during a two-day bench trial declared the 57-year-old Freetown highway surveyor not guilty of allegations that he illegally sold two police department-owned Humvees.

This has been very difficult on myself and my family. This is a small town where people know everyone. Accusations like that cut right to the bone. Why it happened? I dont know, I have my beliefs. But I dont honestly know, said Macomber.

In July 2019, Macomber was charged by Freetown police for selling the two military-style vehicles for cash and charged with two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, larceny over $1,200 and embezzlement by a public officer.

Chuck Macomber in the Freetown DPW garage.

More: Freetown highway surveyor charged with stealing town vehicles

At the time charges were filed, Freetown police accused Macomber of selling the town-owned military Humvee vehicles to a local man in return for cash. Police also alleged that Macomber offered to sell two additional town-owned vehicles to the same buyer.

"The young men got caught and rather than saying yes, they stole them, they said 'the highway guy sold it to us," said Macomber. "That's basically the cleanest way I can describe what happened."

'Push him out like a cancer': Fall River Ukrainian church priest blasts Russia's Putin

He said he doesn't know what happened to the accusers.

Macomber, who has worked for the town for 33 years, said that during the trial the assistant district attorney prosecuting the charges against him attempted to drop the case, but that he refused and requested the judge make a decision, which he did, and found him not guilty on all charges.

Luckily I had the truth on my side, so I never feared what the outcome would be, said Macomber. But it was a ton of anxiety, obviously, associated with it.

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Legal news: Are campaign donations to MA sheriffs too suggestive of pay-to-play? CT may have solution

The Bristol County District Attorney's office did not immediately return a request for comment.

Macombers elected position as highway surveyor puts him in charge of managing public works including streets and highways, parks and cemeteries, a job hes held since 2005.

When he was charged, the Board of Selectmen, at that time, obtained a no trespassing order against Macomber, barring him from stepping onto the public works barn located on Chase Road in East Freetown.

Macomber was delegated to work out of town hall until the new Board of Selectmen came into office and lifted the no trespassing order last April after the town-wide election.

The conditions were not optimum for the town surveyor. It never made sense. I was delegated to just doing paperwork in town hall. I never missed a beat, I never missed a day, but it was like fighting Mike Tyson in handcuffs, said Macomber.

Taken by surprise back in July 2019 when he received a subpoena that indicated he was being charged with the alleged thefts, Macomber said he had no idea at the time that he was even a suspect in the case of the stolen Humvees.

Macomber said the vehicles were stored in the public works yard, which has no fencing or security cameras, and he wasnt sure when anyone noticed the Humvees missing.

Despite the criminal case against him, Macomber said he has had much support from Freetown residents in the past 2  years as he awaited trial.

Its a small town and news travel fast. Luckily, I have a lot of good friends in town, and Ive had a lot of support from the townspeople. Most stood behind me and I got through this with the help of the townspeople, said Macomber.

Last April, Macomber ran unopposed as Freetown highway surveyor and won by more than a 75 percent margin.

I think a lot of people could smell that something wasnt right, said Macomber.

Jo C. Goode may be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Freetown highway surveyor found not guilty of selling town vehicles
Fremont officials wanted to eliminate a maximum age requirement for new police department applicants, as the city looks to hire several more police officers this year.

Fremont City Council approved an ordinance Thursday to remove age requirements for new police officers, something city officials hope will aid them in attracting new employees.

Kenneth Frost, the city's safety service director, said that he and other city officials had mentioned at a previous meeting that the city needed to eliminate age requirements to give Fremont the ability to attract new police officers.

Frost said Thursday that as soon as the ordinance was passed, he would be able to schedule a test with Fremont's civil service commission and press forward with eventually hiring more officers.

City officials wanted to eliminate a maximum age requirement for new police department applicants, as Fremont looks to hire several more police officers this year.

At a previous meeting, Mayor Danny Sanchez told Fremont City Council members that he would likely be coming to the council at its next regular meeting with an ordinance to eliminate a maximum age requirement for new police officer hires.

Fremont is a statutory city under Ohio law.

Under Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 124.41 regarding police department qualifications, no person is eligible to receive an original appointment when the person is 35 years of age or older, and no person can be declared disqualified as over age prior to that time.

But the ORC's maximum age limitation does not apply to a city in which an ordinance establishes a different maximum age limitation for an original appointment to the police department, or to a civil service township in which a resolution adopted by the board of trustees of the township establishes a different maximum age limitation for an original appointment to the police department.

Sanchez said he talked to Fremont Police Chief Dean Bliss and police union representatives about the proposed change.

"We don't believe there should be an age requirement to gain employment to the City of Fremont as a police officer," Sanchez said, noting that he and Frost are certified police officers but would be ineligible to serve with Fremont's police department as new hires under the city's current ordinance.

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Sanchez said at a January Fremont City Council meeting the city is looking at hiring six, possibly seven new police officers in 2022.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter: @DanielCarson7

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Age limits removed for new police hires in bid to draw more recruits
Feb. 26Gov. Jared Polis released the Colorado National Guard from its Marshall Fire response and returned $10 million from Colorado's Disaster Emergency Fund to the state's Emergency Reserve Cash Fund.

The governor made those changes by amending and extending an executive order.

On Dec. 30, Polis declared a state of disaster emergency in response to the Marshall Fire. The following day, President Joe Biden approved Polis' request, which allowed Colorado access to federal money to help the victims of the Marshall Fire, which tore through unincorporated Boulder County, Superior and Louisville on Dec. 30.

The amendment of the order released the national guard from its duties of responding to the fire and will move $10 million from Colorado's Disaster Emergency Fund back to the reserve fund, according to a news release. The state will leave $30 million in the fund to be used for fire suppression, response, consequence management and recovery efforts related to the Marshall Fire.

The executive order will expire in 30 days unless extended, the release said. Colorado will keep $30 million available for 36 months from when the order was enacted.

The cause of the Marshall Fire, which started as a grass fire near Marshall Road and Colo. 93, is still undetermined. The fire burned more than 6,000 acres and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
By George Georgiopoulos

ATHENS (Reuters) -Ten Greek nationals have been killed and six others wounded by Russian bombing near the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Greece said on Saturday, while saying it had summoned Russia's ambassador to the Foreign Ministry on Monday after a verbal demarche.

"Ten innocent civilians of Greek origin (were) killed today by Russian air strikes close to Mariupol. Stop the bombing now!" Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a tweet.

The bombing took place on the outskirts of the villages of Sartana and Bugas, and one of the injured was a child, Greece's Foreign Ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry condemned the air strikes against civilians, and called on Russia to immediately stop aerial bombings and attacks on civilians.

The latest death toll includes four expats killed in Sartana, in addition to two killed there earlier and another four who died in Bugas. Thousands of Greek expatriates live in Mariupol.

At a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier this month, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias had stressed the need to protect the Greek expatriate community in Ukraine.

Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running, but Kyiv, the capital, remained in Ukrainian hands.

Greece is willing to take in Ukraine refugees in coordination with the European Union, Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said.

"If we have to take in a number of people we are willing to do it. The cost will be covered by Europe, but at this moment the priority is the humane dimension," he said.

(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Christina Fincher, Clelia Oziel and Leslie Adler)
MOSCOW  Risking arrest and intimidation, Russian citizens took to the streets across the country Thursday night and into Friday to protest President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Russians with prominent platforms  celebrity actors and television presenters, stand-up comedians, writers, musicians, pop and rock stars  also risked their state contracts and jobs to make anti-war statements.

Even the face of the Russia's weekly late show on Channel One, Ivan Urgant, spoke out against Putins decision to invade.

Fear and pain, no to the war, Urgant posted on his Instagram account.

In the wake of his post, Urgants show disappeared from the scheduled programs on Channel One and did not air at the usual time. The state-owned TV station insisted its star performer continued to work and the schedule was covering important social-political events."

Putin's invasion of Ukraine has drawn ire and outrage from the across the globe. The U.S. and its European allies moved to sanction the Russian leader and his national security advisers on Friday as the invasion threatened to topple Ukraine's democratic government.

Ukrainian officials reported at least 137 deaths on their side and claimed hundreds on the Russian one. Russian authorities released no casualty figures. Bridges and schools have been damaged in the shelling, which also sliced through a Kyiv apartment building.

Inside Russia, Putin has increasingly cracked down on any form of protest or dissent. He jailed his chief political opponent, Alexie Navalny, last year. The Kremlin then moved to shutter Navalny's anti-corruption organization, labeling his employees "extremists."

More: 'Putin is turning his main threat into a martyr': Will attack on Navalny, journalists and 5,700 detained Russians backfire?

But many Russians have seen horrifying images from the Ukraine conflict, broadcast by independent media. Some show the Russian army destroying apartment blocks with people inside, a tank rolling over a vehicle with an elderly man inside, bleeding women crying and pleading for an end to the fighting.

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Demonstrators shout slogans in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and journalist Dmitry Muratov said in a video that the war was Russias trouble and only a powerful anti-war movement could stop the conflict. Hundreds of thousands of Russians signed a No to War petition as the movement continued to grow.

Sergei Bobovnikov, an antique art expert, and his friends protested against the war in St. Petersburg.

Our anti-war rally began at the cigar club in the city center. We first discussed the suffering of Ukraine, the atrocities and then made a decision to join the street rally, Bobovnikov told USA TODAY.

More:

Biden's hitting Russia's yacht-riding rich with sanctions. Will it blunt Putin's Ukraine invasion?

Why is Vladimir Putin threatening Ukraine? Respect, fear, power at play in Russian leader's motivations

February 24, 2022: Police officers detain a woman during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in central Saint Petersburg.

Police detained more than 1,500 anti-war protesters across Russia on Thursday night, but some were not deterred.

Hundreds of people crowded the central avenue, Nevsky Prospect.

"No to war!" they chanted. "Hands off Ukraine!"

Karen Shainyan, a well-known YouTube blogger and defender of LGBT rights, was also among those joining rally in Moscow on Thursday.

This is not just a war with Ukraine, this war is against us, Russians, too, Shainyan wrote on social media. There are many of us, Russians who are against this war.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russian citizens risk arrest to protest Putin's war in Ukraine
You are here: Business

China reported a total of 39.82 million air passenger trips during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush that ended Friday, data from the civil aviation authority showed.

The figure went up 12.5 percent and 3.8 percent from the same period in 2021 and 2020, respectively, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

During the travel peak, the punctuality rate of Chinese airlines came in at 95.94 percent, up 2.26 percentage points from the 2021 level.

Chinese airlines operated 464,000 flights during the period, jumping 30.3 percent from the travel peak a year ago.

The Spring Festival peak-travel period in 2022 spanned from Jan. 17 to Feb. 25. During the travel season, also known as Chunyun, many Chinese people travel to reunite with their families for the Chinese Lunar New Year, celebrated on Feb. 1 this year.
By Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's top retailer, Reliance, will take on at least 200 Future Retail stores after the company failed to make lease payments for them to Reliance, two people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Saturday.

Since 2020, Reliance has failed to close a $3.4 billion deal to acquire the retail assets of Future, whose partner Amazon.com Inc has successfully blocked the transaction by citing violation of some contracts. Future denies any wrongdoing.

The takeover of stores by Reliance signals Future's worsening financial situation. Future in January challenged its lenders in India's Supreme Court to avoid facing insolvency proceedings over missing bank payments, citing its dispute with Amazon.

Future - which has more than 1,700 outlets, including popular Big Bazaar stores - has been unable to make lease payments for some of its outlets. As a result, Reliance transferred the leases of some stores to its name and sublet them to Future to operate the stores, the sources said.

As Future failed to make the payments, Reliance has decided to run and rebrand about 200 outlets that would otherwise be closed, they said.

In a statement to Indian stock exchanges, Future said "termination notices have been received for significant number of stores" to which it will "no longer have access."

The company is "scaling down its operations which will help us in reducing losses in the coming months," it said, without mentioning Reliance's plan to take over many such outlets.

Reliance and Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.

"Over 200 stores will transition to Reliance stores," said one source, who asked not to be named as the details of the plan were not public.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Reliance offered Future employees at these stores new jobs on the same terms. "We welcome you to join our organization," it reads.

Amazon has argued that Future violated the terms of a 2019 deal the companies signed when the U.S. giant invested $200 million in a Future unit. Amazon's position has been backed by a Singapore arbitrator and Indian courts.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New DelhiEditing by William Mallard and Mark Potter)
Feb. 25JEFFERSONVILLE  Kyndia Motley, a senior at Jeffersonville High School, stays busy, whether she is performing community service, staying on top of her academics or participating in extracurricular activities.

Motley is the recipient of the 2022 Youth Achiever of the Year from the YMCA's Black Achievers program in Louisville.

She has also been named a regional finalist for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation's annual scholarship program, which is awarded to graduating high school seniors across the country. Every year, 150 scholars are selected each year to receive the $20,000 scholarship.

The process started with 68,000 applicants, but as Motley made it through various phases of the process, she is now in the top 250 under consideration. She is one of four regional finalists in Indiana.

Motley said she is excited for both recognitions, and she is preparing for an interview in March to be considered for the final phase of the Coca Cola scholarship. She notes that her sister, Chloe, also received the Black Achievers youth award in 2014.

For the Black Achievers award, Motley was up against other qualified peers, she said, and she is excited for the opportunity to represent the program, which helps Black and minority youth learn college and career readiness skills.

"All of the candidates were perfect for the position, and I'm honored that they chose me," Motley said. "It's a blessing, and I'm so thankful."

Motley has a 4.2 GPA, and she praised the teachers who have helped her excel.

"When you have great teachers who understand that you really are a devout student, they work with you, and it really helps to have patient, understanding teachers," she said. "Communicating with my teachers has really brought me far, and it creates balance with everything that I do."

In addition to keeping up with her academics, she is involved in a wide variety of activities at Jeffersonville High School. She runs in track, and she was involved in the creation of a Black student union at the school, which is now called "For the Culture."

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She is a student ambassador, and she is involved in the business and entrepreneurship program of the school's college and career academies. She participates in student council, and she is involved as as a producer on WJHI, Jeffersonville High School's student-operated radio/TV station.

Outside of school, she is involved with the Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students, and she is president of the local youth and college National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter in Jeffersonville/Clark County. She also works as an peer educator at Planned Parenthood.

She has been involved for several years with the Black Achievers program at the Chestnut Street YMCA in Louisville, and she served with the program's youth senate to represent the organization. Motley enjoys singing, and she is active with her church.

She also works as an aide for an assisted-living home in Jeffersonville. She began working there when COVID-19 hit in 2020 so she could spend time with her father, who is a resident at the facility.

DeVonne Sorel, senior director of youth achievement at YMCA of Greater Louisville, said Motley's recognition is "well-deserved," and she described her as a "dynamic young lady." Sorel leads the Black Achievers program.

"She is just a delight to work with, and anytime we ask her to use her talents, she doesn't hesitate," Sorel said.

Motley said she thanks God for giving her a "serving heart," and she credits her family, who have demonstrated how to serve and help others.

"I have a family of people who have serving hearts and have been very dedicated to the goal of, 'if I see a problem, what part can I have in helping to fix it,'" she said.

In 2020, Motley feels it was the first time she realized what she was capable of doing for her community as the country faced the pandemic and protests against racial injustice. That summer, she worked with the NAACP and coordinated with the city and police department to organize a rally for racial justice at Big Four Station in Jeffersonville.

"2020 was a year that you could really find yourself with all that time with your mind, and also all that stuff going on with the Black Lives Matter protests and the killing of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd," she said.

After graduating high school, Motley's plan is to attend either Illinois State University or Washington University in St. Louis to study communication, education and political science.

She doesn't know exactly what she wants to do after college, but she dreams of careers such working as a radio host and becoming a professor of Africana studies. She is excited to "see what doors open" in her future.

Motley said she wants to send the message about the importance of people prioritizing their mental health and that "everyone has a purpose on this Earth." She also encourages people "to always bring your best."

"Never sleep on your version of what your best is," she said. "Your best can take you somewhere you never expected."

She also aims to help people "not fear the word Black" and to "take the time and learn and acknowledge Black culture and contributions" to the country, she said.

Motley has a packed schedule between school and her other work in the community. It can get tiring, she said, but "when you love doing something, it never feels like a burden."

"When you love what you're doing, it doesn't feel like much," she said. "I don't realize how much I say yes to until I say it out loud or until I put it on my resume. It just seems like my week."
Jimmy Carr has divided fans with his return to Twitter amid the controversy surrounding a joke he made about the Holocaust.

The comedian  who is typically active on the social media platform  has been absent from Twitter for three weeks.

Carr had not posted since 4 February, the same day that he first attracted backlash for a joke he made about travellers and the Holocaust in his most recent Netflix special.

On Friday (25 February), the 49-year-old shared a clip from an annual game show he fronts titled Big Fat Quiz of the 80s.

Fans took to the comments to share their reactions to the comedians return to social media.

One user wrote: Cheap laughs from a pathetic comment!

Another accused Carr of sneaking back [on Twitter] while WW3 is on, in a reference to Russias ongoing attack on Ukraine.

I thought you were cancelled, said a third person. Youve not tweeted in a while Jim where you been? quipped one user.

Others welcomed Carr back to Twitter, writing: Good to see you back Jimmy.

Earlier this month, the 8 Out of 10 Cats presenter attracted widespread criticism for a joke that many people called racist.

In the joke  which appeared in his Netflix stand-up show His Dark Materials  Carr tells the audience: Strap in everyone, you ready? When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of six million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine.

But they never mention the thousands of gypsies that were killed by the Nazis.No one ever talks about that because no one wants to talk about the positive.

Several MPs and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust criticised Carr and called upon Netflix to remove the special. A spokesperson for Boris Johnson as well as the comedian David Baddiel condemned the joke.

A few days after the backlash began, Carr appeared to respond to the criticism during a stand-up set.
ABC

This week, Jimmy Kimmels given it to talking dick Tucker Carlson for defending Russian despot Vladimir Putin on the eve of his invasion of Ukraine and son of a bitch ex-president Donald Trump for making the crisis in Ukraine all about himself.

And so, on Friday night, he returned to his favorite punching bag: Ted Cruz.

The Texas blobverse known as Ted Cruz took the stage at CPAC yesterday to wow the crowd with his lively lib owns, offered Kimmel.

He then threw to a clip of an unhinged Cruz exclaiming, They want to destroy you! They want to silence you! They want to subjugate you! Respond with joy. Laugh at them! It drives them bananas! OK, are leftists the least funny people on planet Earth?

No, I would say maybe this guy is, cracked Kimmel, before throwing to a few clips of Cruz trying (and miserably failing) to tell jokes during CPAC, including calling the Orlando setting its not as nice as Cancun and some nonsense about AOC telling us she was murdered.

Oh, hes the best. Hes the Last Comic Sweating, said Kimmel.

Jimmy Kimmel Drags Son of a Bitch Trump for Making Russian Invasion of Ukraine About Himself

The late-night host ended the monologue by reading a series of CPAC panel names to the crowd and seeing if they thought they were real or fake. The names were The Moron in Chief, Fire Fauci, Put Him to Bed, Lock Her Up and Send Her to the Border, Lockdowns and Mandates: Now Do You Understand Why We Have a Second Amendment, and Drill Dummy Drill.

They were all real.

The whole thing is basically a masterclass for people who dont have any, said Kimmel.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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CLEVELAND (AP)  A judge on Friday dismissed charges against two people who had been imprisoned for years over a woman's accusations they molested her daughter and other Ohio Head Start pupils, saying new evidence would not support convictions if new trials were granted.

Among the evidence cited by Lorain County Judge Chris Cook were affidavits signed by the woman's son and her ex-husband that said she coached her daughter to accuse Nancy Smith, 64, and Joseph Allen, 68, of abuse in the early 1990s.

Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson's office previously reviewed the cases of Smith and Allen and concluded they were innocent. He had said previously he would ask Cook to dismiss the charges.

Smith spent 15 years in prison and Allen a total of 23 years behind bars.

Struggling to maintain their composure, both thanked their attorneys, the judge and those believed in their innocence on Friday.

The abuse case began in May 1993 when Margie Grondin told Lorain police that Smith had driven her daughter and other young children on a Head Start bus to a home where they were sexually abused.

In dismissing the case, Cook cited additional affidavits including one from retired Lorain police detective Tom Cantu, whose investigation found no evidence of abuse. His report was never given to Smith and Allen's attorneys to use at trial.

The affidavits, Cook said, would torpedo any effort to convict them at a new trial.

Attempts to reach Grondin, who now uses the last name Perazzola, were unsuccessful.

Cantu was removed from the investigation after Grondin complained that her allegations were being ignored. A new team of detectives were assigned to the case and Grondin convinced other parents their children were molested as well, Smith and Allen's attorneys say.

Allen became a suspect after Grondin's daughter told police the man who molested her and the other children was named Joseph. A detective recalled that Allen had been convicted in the mid-1980s of sexual battery of a child.

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Smith and Allen went to trial together in the summer of 1994 and were convicted based on the testimony of four children, including Grondin's daughter. No medical evidence of abuse was presented at trial.

Smith was originally sentenced to 30 to 90 years in prison. Allen received five consecutive life sentences plus 22 to 50 years. Unsuccessful appeals followed.

They were back in court in 2009 to fix errors in their original sentences. A judge vacated those sentences and later acquitted them after finding no evidence to support their convictions. Smith and Allen were released from prison.

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled the judge lacked the authority to overturn their convictions and new sentencing hearings were ordered. Smith, in an agreement with prosecutors, was found guilty of lesser charges in 2013 and was allowed to remain free.

Allen, also was convicted of lesser charges, but was ordered back to prison with a parole date in 2023. Cook released him on a personal bond in December.

Grondin's ex-husband, Dino Grondin Sr., said he witnessed the woman coaching her daughter.

Margie was persistent in trying to get her daughter to agree with what she said happened, he said. Margie told me that she was going to get paid after the case was over.

Head Start reached a financial settlement with Grondin and other parents who claimed their children were abused.

Her son, Dino Grondin Jr., said Grondin coached his sister and other Head Start children in a makeshift classroom in her home's basement.

The kids had to say the allegations of sexual abuse the way she wanted them to say in order to advance the game, Dino Grondin Jr. said.

The Ohio Innocence Project, based at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and led by attorney and professor Mark Godsey, has represented Smith since 2004. The National Center for Reason and Justice hired local attorneys to represent Allen in 2013.
Feb. 25A wrongful death lawsuit filed against a Portland police officer who shot and killed a man five years ago will go forward after a federal judge denied the officer's motion for a ruling in his favor.

U.S. District Judge John Woodcock ruled Friday that there are facts in dispute in the case that must be decided by a jury, including whether Chance Baker pointed a gun at officers or bystanders or didn't.

Baker, 22, was shot by then-Sgt. Nicholas Goodman on the sidewalk outside a Subway sandwich shop on St. John Street in Portland while holding an air rifle pellet gun Feb. 18, 2017. Baker was living on the streets of Portland after he was fired from part-time jobs and forced to leave his home. He came to Maine from Iowa as a teenager in 2012.

The Maine attorney general's office, charged with investigating the use of deadly force by police, found in March 2018 that Goodman was justified in using deadly force because he reasonably believed that Baker posed a deadly threat.

Baker's mother Shantel L. Baker and grandmother Terry R. Baker, both of Glenwood, Iowa, sued Goodman and the owner of Coastal Trading and Pawn in Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland in 2019. The case was moved to U.S. District Court by Goodman's attorney.

The Bakers' attorney, Hunter Tzovarras of Bangor, alleged in the complaint that Goodman violated Chance Baker's constitutional rights by using excessive force and caused him conscious pain and suffering before he died at Maine Medical Center.

The pawn shop was dismissed from the case in February 2020, according to court documents. Goodman filed his motion for summary judgment in July 2021 arguing that as a municipal employee he could not be sued unless it could be shown that his actions were unreasonable under the circumstances.

In his ruling, Woodcock said that Goodman was not entitled to qualified immunity because "there are genuine issues of material fact as to the reasonableness of his actions."

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The judge tentatively set a trial for April in federal court in Portland.

Attorneys on both sides did not immediately return requests for comments.

More articles from the BDN
Joey Carbery, pictured, has retained Irelands fly-half role ahead of captain Johnny Sexton (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)

Ireland will bid to get their Guinness Six Nations title challenge back on track on Sunday afternoon when Italy visit Dublin.

The Irish suffered a 30-24 loss away to France in round two of the championship, while the Azzurris miserable form continued at home to England.

Here, the PA news agency picks out some of the main talking points.

Joey over Johnny

Joey Carbery, left, has been preferred to Johnny Sexton this weekend (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Archive)

Captain Johnny Sexton finds himself in the unusual position of being on the bench this weekend. Having recovered from the hamstring issue which kept him sidelined at Stade de France, the 36-year-old was hoping for a recall. But rival fly-half Joey Carbery has been given another opportunity to impress. Sexton has only once appeared as a substitute in the green jersey during the past 10 years  coming on for Carbery in the opening Test of the 2018 tour of Australia. The Leinster veteran  who has designs on playing at next years World Cup  will hope being left out remains a rare occurrence with games against England and Scotland on the horizon.

All to play for

One last look at the #GuinnessSixNations table before the numbers start moving!  pic.twitter.com/Ak2UG4s1Kb  Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 25, 2022

Irelands Grand Slam dreams evaporated following a pulsating Paris defeat a fortnight ago. But Andy Farrells side do not have too much reason to feel dispirited. They responded strongly to a sloppy start against Fabien Galthies formidable French and very nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback. While that narrow loss  which ended a nine-match winning run  may have left them playing catch-up in the tournament, belief remains high in the camp and championship success is far from out of the question. Ireland will be expected to win  and win well  against opposition whose sole success on Irish soil came 25 years ago to give fresh impetus to their title push.

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Lowry ready to paint pictures

Fleet-footed full-back Michael Lowry has consistently excelled for Ulster, thrilling spectators through his virtuoso attacking skills and try-scoring ability. The diminutive 23-year-old trained with Irelands squad last summer and has finally been rewarded with a Test debut, in place of the rested Hugo Keenan. Lowry is pure box-office, possessing blistering pace and the ability to unlock the tightest of defences. He will line up in an exciting, new-look back three, flanked by fellow international rookie Mack Hansen and the fit-again James Lowe. The electric trio have the potential to light up the Aviva Stadium.

More Azzurri blues?

Italy were beaten 33-0 by England in round two (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)

Italys Six Nations struggles are well-documented. Kieran Crowleys men are aiming to avoid a 35th consecutive defeat in the championship. Many feel that dismal record devalues the competition. Yet persistent debate about the Azzurri potentially being removed was quashed just last week. A statement from tournament organisers came only five days after Italy were thumped 33-0 by a much-changed England side. With the threat of expulsion now banished for the foreseeable future, the Italians will be desperate for an improved showing in their ongoing quest to end a lengthy losing streak stretching back seven years. Ireland, meanwhile, will be seeking a bonus-point win and a significant boost to their points difference.

Shuffling the pack

  .



Introducing your Ireland Match Day Squad for Sunday's #GuinnessSixNations showdown against Italy at @avivastadium! #TeamOfUs | #IREvITA  Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 25, 2022

Head coach Farrell has made a total of six personnel changes to his starting XV, split evenly between the forwards and the backs. His only enforced alterations come up front. Injuries to Ronan Kelleher and James Ryan have resulted in a full Test debut for hooker Dan Sheehan and a maiden Six Nations start for lock Ryan Baird. With Kelleher out for the remainder of the championship, Sheehan has a chance to seize the number two jersey, while Leinster team-mate Baird will also be eager to stake a claim for further action. Peter OMahony is the other man handed an opportunity. The experienced flanker is promoted from fringe player to captain on his first championship start since being sent off in Wales on the opening weekend of the 2021 tournament.
Wang Ruchun, a shutterbug from Hebei Province, enjoyed the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games immensely, particularly when free-ski big-air athletes swirled into the air. The sharp contrast of blue sky framing the skiers and slopes created a feast for the eyes and his camera.

Wang has been taking pictures of this sky since 2014, when Beijing, Tianjin Municipality, and Hebei Province launched a trans-regional campaign to address air pollution. Wang created a new folder for his pictures and named it "tracing smog."

"On severe pollution days, even buildings just across a street were hard to see. But these years, the 'gray' pictures are replaced by blue ones," Wang said. He has already renamed the folder "tracing blue sky."

According to the data disclosed by the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau on Friday, the average concentration of PM2.5 in the Beijing competition area was 23 micrograms per cubic meter during the Beijing Winter Olympics. It was 15 micrograms per cubic meter in the Yanqing area. The air quality remained at an excellent level.

The annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing reduced to 33 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021. For the first time, Beijing's air quality has met the national standard in all aspects.

The average annual PM2.5 concentration in Hebei was 38.8 micrograms per cubic meter last year, a year-on-year decline of 15.3 percent. In Hebei's Zhangjiakou, where a portion of the Winter Games took place, all pollutant indicators have reached the national standard for two consecutive years.

Thanks to the world's first 500-kV flexible DC grid project that combines large-scale transportation of wind power, photovoltaic, hydroelectricity, and other energy sources, the clean energy generated in Zhangjiakou was transmitted to Beijing and other Olympic venues. Beijing 2022 has therefore become the first Olympic Games in history to use 100 percent green and clean energy.

Both the 2008 Summer Games and 2022 Winter Games put green development first. It demonstrates China's consistent attitude to ecological governance, said Liu Xinping, director of the sustainable development division of the organizing committee of Beijing 2022.

Liu, who worked through the two Olympic preparation periods, said the concept of "green" from 2008 to 2022 has also undergone tremendous upgrading.

"Beijing 2022 is the first Olympic Games to achieve carbon neutrality. China has demonstrated to the world that it can solve its own development problems and contribute solutions and wisdom to the energy conservation and emission reduction issues faced by humankind," Liu said.

The Bashang area of Zhangjiakou is the last barrier to block sandstorms from entering Beijing, and it used to be ecologically fragile. Over a decade before Beijing's bid for the Winter Games, Zhangjiakou and Beijing forged an "ecological environment community," leading the country to ban grazing. The Bashang area has turned into a vegetable production base.

In recent years, Hebei has significantly reduced the excess capacity of steel, coal, cement, flat glass, and coking in the province. It has also implemented industrial pollution control with higher standards and is phasing out pollution industries, especially in areas near Beijing.

Eight years have passed since the coordinated development launch of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Thanks to industrial upgrades, improved legislature, strengthened supervision, and cutting-edge technology applications, the area has seen more blue sky days.
Lawyers loyal to former President Donald Trump appeared to comply with a federal court order requiring them to complete at least a dozen hours of continuing legal education as a punishment for their involvement in a lawsuit to overturn the results of Michigans 2020 presidential election.

Some of the sanctioned lawyers previously blasted the training as a violation of their First Amendment rights. They failed in their last-minute attempt to suspend the order until an appeals court has a chance to weigh in on whether they must also pay a hefty fine for their conspiracy-laden challenge to the last election.

U.S. District Court Judge Linda Parker imposed the penalty on Sidney Powell and other lawyers who promulgated election conspiracies, requiring them to complete and pay for at least six hours of coursework on pleading standards and at least six hours on election law from a nonpartisan organization. She ordered the attorneys to submit proof that they completed the legal training by Friday.

All nine attorneys submitted paperwork attesting that they completed legal training to comply with the sanctions order. Powell, who submitted her filings with a couple hours to spare before the midnight deadline, indicated that she completed several classes to comply with the order, including "The High Cost of Poor Legal Writing."

Michigan attorney Stefanie Lynn Junttila filed her affidavit less than an hour before the deadline. Unlike the other attorneys, Junttila's affidavit was not notarized and she did not submit additional documentation detailing the coursework she took.

Lawyers who fail to comply with the order might be held in contempt of court and face additional penalties.

Powells Michigan lawsuit to thwart the will of voters by naming Donald Trump the winner of the state's election despite Joe Biden receiving more votes mirrored others filed across the country in the battleground states. It was part of a legal strategy Powell said would "release the Kraken"  a reference to the film "Clash of the Titans." In her ruling rejecting the lawsuit, Parker surmised that the lawyers' true aim was to chip away at voters' confidence in elections and argued the sanctions she imposed were necessary to deter baseless challenges to future elections.

Story continues

Even after Parker ruled against the effort to overturn the election, three of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit signed a fake certificate that tried to award Michigan's Electoral College votes to Trump.

Sidney Powell speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington.

Hundreds of pages submitted to the court describe the length and content of the courses the sanctioned lawyers took such as "Vote by Mail, Early Voting and Digitized Election Administration" and "The Fundamentals of Pleading Practice in State and Federal Court." Brandon Johnson, one of the sanctioned attorneys, attended classes called "How to Succeed as a Trial Lawyer" and "Newbie Litigator School: The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure."

Documents submitted by Georgia attorney L. Lin Wood indicate that he paid nearly $1,500 Thursday for his courses, including training on how to format briefs and pleadings in Microsoft Word.

Parker ordered the legal training on top of $175,250.37 in legal fees incurred by the city of Detroit and others who defended against the lawsuit. She also referred her sanctions order to attorney disciplinary authorities across the country for investigation and possible suspension and disbarment.

With the deadline to complete the continuing legal education looming, Powell and five of the other sanctioned lawyers asked an appeals court to halt the continuing legal education requirement, arguing that it infringed on their First Amendment rights. They filed an emergency motion making the request less than two weeks before the deadline. Junttila waited until just three days before the deadline to file her own motion seeking to stay the district court's order.

But on Thursday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit denied the requests. The orders chided the attorneys for their last-minute filings and told them that they should have first asked the district court to suspend the sanctions order.

The attorneys also asked the appeals court to stop the referral of the sanctions order to attorney disciplinary authorities. But copies of Parker's sanctions order were already sent in late August to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission and disciplinary authorities in each state where the lawyers are licensed to practice.

Lawyers punished by Parker have also asked the appeals court to reverse the monetary sanctions she imposed, which would cost them about $19,500 each. In her December order that determined the price each attorney must pay for trying to overturn the election, Parker automatically suspended the payment pending the resolution of the appeals.

Emily Newman of Virginia and Wood have each filed their own appeal while Powell and the other attorneys banded together in a separate filing. Newman and Wood claim that they did not file or sign onto the lawsuit and played a minimal role in the case. Junttila has indicated that she also plans to appeal the sanctions order.

The appeals court has not yet decided whether the attorneys will ultimately have to pay up.

More: Lawyers who tried to overturn Michigan's election argue they shouldn't be punished

'The people have spoken': Michigan judge rejects lawsuit from disavowed Trump attorney

Sanctioned lawyers call nonpartisan legal education 'flagrant First Amendment violation'

Powell and five of the other sanctioned lawyers argued the requirement to complete legal coursework is "blatantly illegal under the First Amendment." They called it an "indoctrination remedy" that amounts to "viewpoint discrimination."

They asserted that it is "a flagrant First Amendment violation" to force them to take continuing legal education from a nonpartisan group, deeming the requirement a "content-based restriction."

Lawyers for the city of Detroit slammed the argument.

The right to free speech laid out in the First Amendment "does not protect individuals from being compelled to listen to speech with which they disagree," they wrote in a court filing responding to the claim. "The suggestion that non-partisan continuing legal education is some type of indoctrination or political 're-education' is patently absurd."

The sanctioned attorneys countered that the freedom to choose which courses to take to comply with the order is a "protected expressive activity" and that Parker limited their free speech rights "for partisan reasons," pointing to her suggestion that the attorneys sought to undermine voters faith in the 2020 presidential election.

Junttila echoed the argument in her motion filed with the appeals court, writing that the continuing legal education would "force her to listen to twelve hours of speech the District Court deems politically acceptable."

While most of the attorneys merely laid out the classes they took in their affidavits, Powell appeared to double down on her criticisms of the sanctions order in hers.

She noted that she watched videos featuring prominent Democrats, such as Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar, whose name she misspells.

In a separate filing, Powell provided what seemed to be sarcastic remarks and pointed criticisms of Parker. Comments regarding a panel on the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg's legacy on voting rights reads, "Sensational panel!!!" and "Delightful and engaging conversation."

One comment said a presentation provided "good reminders of the judges' perspectives as a case proceeds" while another offered "reminders to proceed carefully and not have your pleadings misconstrued."

In her affidavit, Powell wrote that it was difficult to find election law courses to comply with the order and supplemented her coursework with videos she said reveal the vulnerabilities of voting equipment to hacking. She said she sat for one course on cyberattack techniques that "discusses how difficult it is to identify hacking and hackers, and how most high-powered hackers are located outside the United States."

Her lawsuit falsely alleged the election equipment manufactured by Dominion Voting Systems was crafted by confederates of the deceased Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez and was subsequently manipulated to favor Biden over Trump.

There is no evidence that voting systems used in Michigan in 2020 manipulated the vote count.

Chuck Ritchard, of Hart, was one of several plaintiffs in the lawsuit to overturn the results of Michigan's 2020 presidential election. He wears a mask of President Donald Trump while gathered with other Trump supporters outside of the Richard H. Austin State Office Building in Lansing on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, during the Board of State Canvassers meeting to certify the state's presidential election results.

More: Sidney Powell, Kraken legal team face sanctions, court costs and potential disbarment over election lawsuit

More: Will sanctioning Sidney Powell in Michigan prevent the next Big Lie lawsuit?

A last-minute request

The lawyers seeking the appeal have repeatedly claimed that they were treated unfairly in the district court.

They argue that they were portrayed as "overwrought, dangerous lunatics" and wrote that they "were afraid to go back to a district judge who had taken such a vengeful attitude towards them," in their court filings.

And they disagreed that they procrastinated in filing their motion to suspend the continuing legal education mandated by Parker.

"Appellants have not sought a stay at an earlier date because they thought it prudent to do so only after their First Amendment and other merits arguments were fully fleshed out," the motion from Powell and five of the other sanctioned lawyers states. They claimed that it was appropriate to wait to ask the court to suspend Parkers sanctions order only after they filed their brief to support their appeal.

"Having now completed their initial brief in this Court, Appellants are confident of the soundness of their position and so hazard to take up this Courts time with their stay application," they wrote.

The appeals court didnt buy their arguments.

"The Attorneys assertion that it was prudent to delay seeking a stay until they filed their principal brief is inexplicable," reads the appeals court order denying the motion to stay the nonmonetary sanctions. And the order called the attorneys' argument that the district court would not have handled their request fairly "unsupported speculation."

The brief from Powell and other lawyers appealing Parkers sanctions  filed the same day as the motion requesting a stay  came after they bungled their initial filing, which did not comply with court rules.

In their corrected brief, they pointed to widespread and false claims of election fraud to argue they should not face penalties for their lawsuit to overturn the results.

"Millions of Americans believe the central contentions of the complaint to be true, and perhaps they are," the brief states.

The sanctioned lawyers also referred to their clients as "public officials," but the individuals who brought the lawsuit included three Republicans nominated to serve as presidential electors in the event of a Trump victory in 2020 and local GOP leaders.

The signatures of three of the plaintiffs  Timothy King, Marian Sheridan and John Haggard  appear on a fake certificate sent to the National Archives and former Vice President Mike Pence that attempted to award Michigans Electoral College votes to Trump.

Free Press staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report.

Clara Hendrickson fact-checks Michigan issues and politics as a corps member with Report for America, an initiative of The GroundTruth Project. Make a tax-deductible contribution to support her work at bit.ly/freepRFA. Contact her at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. Follow her on Twitter @clarajanehen.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pro-Trump lawyers appear to comply with sanctions order
STORY: Witnesses heard artillery rounds and intense gunfire in the western part of Kyiv late Friday night, as authorities urged citizens to help defend Ukraine's capital from advancing Russian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy filmed himself with aides on the streets of the capital, vowing to defend Ukraine's independence.

ZELENSKIY: "We are all here. Our soldiers are here. The citizens are here and we are here. We defend our independence. That's how it'll go."

Earlier, Ukrainian guards fired warning shots to prevent a stampede, as families tried desperately to get on packed trains headed west, some of the hundreds of thousands who left their homes to find safety.

JENS STOLTENBERG: "This is the most serious security crisis we have faced in Europe for decades."

NATO said it would deploy parts of its combat-ready response force and provide more weapons to Ukraine.

The Russian and Ukrainian governments signaled an openness to negotiations, but hadn't settled on a time and place for talks.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Russia must stop its bombing in Ukraine if it's serious about diplomacy.

NED PRICE: "Now we see Moscow suggesting that diplomacy take place at the barrel of a gun. Or as Moscow's rockets, mortars, artillery target the Ukrainian people. This is not real diplomacy."

Russia's overtures stood in stark contrast with President Vladimir Putin's harsh rhetoric, including a call for the Ukrainian military to overthrow the country's leadership.

JEN PSAKI: "The United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin..."

The White House said the U.S. would follow the European Union and Britain in imposing sanctions on both Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

A Russian news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman as saying relations between Russia and the West are approaching the "point of no return."
A night view of Kyiv on February 24, 2022. Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images

The mayor of Ukraine's capital city imposed a curfew for residents from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

The curfew, which will begin Saturday, comes amid Russian assaults on Kyiv.

Mayor Klitschko said anyone on the streets in defiance of the curfew would be considered an 'enemy.'

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Saturday announced a recurring curfew in the city effective Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. the following day, warning residents to stay off the streets amid continued Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital city.

The curfew is currently scheduled to continue at least until the morning of Monday, February 28, he said.

"All civilians on the street during the curfew will be considered as members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups," he said in a message to Ukrainian citizens.

"Please treat the situation with understanding and do not go outside," he added.

The warning comes amid continued attacks on Ukraine from Russia, which launched an attack on the nation earlier this week.

On Saturday morning local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a briefing the nation had "survived" the night.

"The destruction by missiles and artillery of residential buildings is the ultimate argument for the world to be by our side in stopping the occupiers' invasion," Zelensky said, according to CNN, adding: "Now the decisive moment has come to end the many years of discussions" for Ukraine to join the European Union.

He said that government forces still controlled Kyiv and "key points around the city," according to The Guardian.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Editor, Register-Mail: MSNBC recently reported: a GOP Congressman said he can't go against the "Orange Jesus." Wow! The 'C' in RNC really does stand for cult, of self-humiliation.

Texas Congressman Dan Crenshaw, recently said, "Superman and Jesus are superhero archetypes, and I could name a thousand REAL characters also." REALLY? Marjorie Taylor Greene, was aired recently, slamming Nancy Pelosi, talking about "Pelosi's Gazpacho police, spying on GOP Congress," (as she administers her speaker rules over the entire House). Is that like imposing "Sangria Law?" That's just crackers! Marjorie meant Gestapo police, but she's all for book-banning, so she's not super smart.

More: LETTER: Why are some more concerned about banning books than guns?

There's the GOP, deceitful hype about Biden spending millions to provide clean crackpipes to crackheads; not true, but they don't care. Marco Rubio, running for Senate reelection in Florida tweeted, "The president is sending free crackpipes to minority communities in the name of racial equity." Just another big lie! I wonder how Rubio and gang feel about communities using Narcan to save lives, antidoting heroin overdoses? There are EXISTING syringe services programs, and other harm-reduction assists under Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services, in charge of grant programs. Does the GOP prefer we fill up the prisons with addicts and then build more?

Fox ramped up the whole "Freedom Convoy," trucker protests (over vaccine requirements) on the U.S. and Canadian border, so now there's an American truckers group dubbed the "People's Convoy," basically mobilized by extremists, anti-vaxxers, pro-Trumpers and Q-supporters, for upcoming road closures in America. They plan a convoy from California to arrive in Washington D.C. for a mandate protest in early March. Ninety percent of Canadian residents and truckers are vaccinated, and regard those at the border, shutting down cross-border trade, creating significant economic losses, as lunatic-fringe.

Story continues

More: LETTER: Most important goal for the Galesburg: fix the roads

Speaking of such, there's the eight GOP Senators who are opposing the major airlines' requests of DOJ to help them create a no-fly list for convicted, unruly passengers, of which there's been over 500 since 2022 began, and over 6,400 since Jan 2021. During the last two weeks, two unruly passengers tried opening exit doors during flights. There's been a big spike in general lawlessness, racially-driven attacks, murders, violence, thefts, vehicle mortalities, raging drivers, oppositional, unruly citizens attacking others, school board fights among parents, and a huge increase in school bullying & brawling. "Is our children learning?" asked one former president (George W.). I say, "FOX, put down the crackpipes!"  Trish Forsyth Voss, Galesburg

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: LETTER: GOP spreading deceitful hype about Biden
By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania will ban Russian airlines from using its airspace from 2200 GMT on Saturday, the government said, joining other European countries which have taken the same step following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lithuania is the shortest route from mainland Russia to its Kaliningrad exclave, sandwiched between NATO members Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic Sea's eastern coast. The ban would force Russian flights to take a longer detour via the Baltic Sea.

"No flights for aggressor planes in the freedom sky," Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte tweeted after a government meeting.

Russian forces pounded Ukrainian cities with artillery and cruise missiles on Saturday for a third day running.

Lithuania's northern neighbour Latvia has also decided to close its airspace for Russian aircraft from midnight to Sunday local time (2200 GMT), the country's foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics said on Twitter.

The third Baltic state, Estonia, is expected to do the same, its minister of economic affairs said on Saturday.

The moves follow similar closures of airspace of the UK, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Romania to Russia's aircraft. Russia has retaliated by banning airlines of these countries from flying on its territory.

An Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Kaliningrad on Saturday used Belarus and Lithuanian airspace, according to Flightradar24 tracking website. A Rossiya airline flight from Kaliningrad to St Petersburg flew over all three Baltic states, the website showed.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by David Clarke and Clelia Oziel)




Russian forces on Saturday continued their assault on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his people to take up arms.

Follow The Hill's live coverage below:

Russian forces blow up gas pipeline in Ukraine's second biggest city

BY LEXI LONAS

11:05

Russian forces blew up a gas pipeline in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second biggest city, the Ukrainian president's office said Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

Ukraine's top prosecutor said Ukraine is still in control of the city amid a battle with Russian forces, per the AP.

The blown up gas pipeline could cause an "environmental catastrophe," the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection said, according to the wire service.

The service said residents should drink fluids and cover their windows and doors with damp clothes, per the wire service.

This comes three days after Russia launched an invasion into Ukraine overnight Wednesday. Explosions were heard in Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities as President Vladimir Putin announced the military operation in a televised address.

Over 3,000 Russians arrested for protesting attack against Ukraine

BY LEXI LONAS

10:37 p.m.

More than 3,000 Russians have been arrested in cities around the country for protesting Russia's attack against Ukraine.

OVD-Info, a Russian protest monitoring organization, said in a post on Twitter Saturday afternoon that 3,093 people had been arrested in Russia for protesting the country's invasion of Ukraine since it began overnight Wednesday.

The thousands of arrested protesters could face harsh legal repercussions, as the Russian government warned Thursday that protesting was illegal.

"The law provides for severe punishment for organizing mass riots, as well as for resisting law enforcement officers. According to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, people who committed such illegal acts may face imprisonment," The Investigative Committee of Russia wrote.

Story continues

Protests have erupted in cities around the world opposing the invasion, which has been widely condemned by the international community and led the U.S. and its allies to impose multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia.

Russia closes airspace to airlines from multiple European countries

BY LEXI LONAS

10:17 p.m.

Russia announced early Sunday local time that it is closing its airspace to airlines from multiple European countries in retaliation for the nations barring Russian planes their own airspace after the country invaded Ukraine overnight Wednesday.

The Russian civil aviation regulator Rosaviatsiya said planes from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Slovenia would not be allowed in Russia's airspace, The Associated Press reported.

Earlier in the week, Russia closed its airspace to airlines from the U.K., Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Czech Republic as well, according to the AP.

The actions are in response to all the countries closing their airspace to Russian planes, per the wire service.

Airlines have also been warned by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) not to fly over or near Ukraine due to the dangerous situation in the country.

UN confirms 64 civilian deaths in Russian invasion of Ukraine, believes real toll 'considerably higher'

BY LEXI LONAS

9:11 p.m.

The United Nations said Saturday that it has confirmed at least 64 civilian deaths in Ukraine amid the Russian invasion into the country, but believes the real toll is "higher higher."

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported at least 240 civilian casualties in the conflict, including 64 deaths, according to The Associated Press.

The number came from the U.N. human rights office, which has a strict verification process for counting deaths during conflicts, per the AP.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it believes the "real figures are considerably higher."

The office also warned of "humanitarian situations" developing in Ukraine as thousands are losing electricity and water due to damage to civilian infrastructure, according to the AP.

Germany to bar Russian planes from its airspace

BY RACHEL SCULLY

9:00 p.m.

Germany's Ministry for Digital and Transport on Saturday announced that it was preparing to shut the country's airspace to Russian planes in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The Federal Minister Volker @Wissing supports the blocking of German airspace for Russian aircraft and has ordered everything to be prepared for this," the ministry announced on Twitter.

Germany is the latest of several European countries to shut its airspace to Russian airlines following the Russian invasion into Ukraine overnight Wednesday.

German-based airline Lufthansa also canceled its flights to Russia for the upcoming week, according to Reuters, due to the "emerging regulatory situation." A spokesperson told the wire service that Lufthansa is working closely with national and international authorities to monitor the situation.

"Flights that are in Russian airspace will leave it again shortly," a spokesperson said, per Reuters.

Two Lufthansa flights between Germany and Asia on Saturday appeared to have turned back and returned to their departure airports, flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 found, according to the wire service.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on Thursday warned flights not to fly over or near Ukraine amid the invasion, adding that Ukrainian airspace was closed to civilian flights that morning.

Greek prime minister: '10 innocent civilians of Greek origin killed by Russian air strikes'

BY BRAD DRESS

6:13 p.m.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said 10 "innocent civilians of Greek origin" were killed in Russian bomb strikes near the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

"Stop the bombing now!" Mitsotakis tweeted Saturday afternoon.

The bombs struck the outskirts of the Ukrainian villages of Sartana and Bugas near Mariupol, Greece's Foreign Ministry told Reuters. Thousands of Greek expatriates live in the city.

Six Greek nationals were wounded in addition to the 10 who were killed, according to Reuters.

This comes amid Russia's ongoing invasion into Ukraine, with forces clashing over the weekend around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

US, allies to kick certain Russian banks out of SWIFT banking system

BY BRETT SAMUELS

5:18 p.m.

The White House on Saturday announced that the United States and allies will kick certain Russian banks out of a major international banking system, a significant step in a bid to cripple the Russian economy in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration and European allies agreed to cut Russia out of access to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), a rapid shift from just days ago when it appeared such a move was unlikely in the near future.

The U.S. and European nations also committed to imposing measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from using its reserves to undermine sanctions.

The announcement came via a joint statement from the leaders of the U.S., the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada. The leaders called Russian attacks on Ukraine "an assault on fundamental international rules and norms that have prevailed since the Second World War, which we are committed to defending."

"We stand with the Ukrainian people in this dark hour. Even beyond the measures we are announcing today, we are prepared to take further measures to hold Russia to account for its attack on Ukraine," the nations said in the statement.

Banks across the world use SWIFT to finalize transactions and transfers. Cutting Russia off from SWIFT would make it incredibly difficult for its banks to operate efficiently, but could also wreak economic havoc for European nations that depend on Russian oil and natural gas exports.

Read the full story here.

Missiles hit two vessels in Black Sea

BY BRAD DRESS

4:33 p.m.

Missiles struck a cargo ship and an oil tanker near the southern tip of Ukraine in the Black Sea on Friday, a Ukrainian shipping company told The Washington Post.

The Millennium Spirit, which was carrying around 600 metric tons of fuel for Ukrainian forces, was struck just after noon on Friday, Stark Shipping Ukraine told the Post in a statement.

Two people were injured in the attack.

The Namura Queen was also struck on Friday about an hour later. The ship had been on its way with a shipment of grain to a port near Odessa.

EU foreign ministers will meet to discuss emergency assistance for Ukraine

BY CHLOE FOLMAR

4:04 p.m.

The European Union's foreign ministers will convene a meeting Sunday to discuss emergency assistance for Ukraine as the conflict between Russia and the former Soviet state rages on.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles announced the meeting Saturday.

"I am convening a virtual meeting of EU Foreign Ministers tomorrow at 18.00 to adopt further measures in support of #Ukraine, against aggression by #Russia," Fontelles, who is from Spain, posted on Twitter.

"I will propose a package of emergency assistance for the Ukrainian armed forces," Fontelles continued. "To support them in their heroic fight."

The announcement comes as western countries scramble to provide hospital provisions and military aid to Ukraine amid attacks from the Russian military on major Ukrainian cities including Kyiv.

Germany announced Saturday that it would provide 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 stinger missiles to Ukraine.

"Ukraine, you are not alone!" Fontelles tweeted Friday. "You are part of Europe."

He added: "No amount of tanks or missiles can change that. Ukraine will prevail."

Pope expressed 'profound pain' for Ukraine in call with Zelensky

BY LEXI LONAS

3:52 p.m.

Pope Francis expressed "profound pain" for Ukraine during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.

"The Holy Father expressed his most profound pain for the tragic events happening in our country," Ukraine's embassy in the Vatican tweeted.

The call came after the pope went to the Russian Embassy in Rome to talk to the Russian ambassador about his concerns about Russia's invasion into Ukraine.

Zelensky has been urging international leaders to send aid and continue pressuring Russia with sanctions and other measures amid the ongoing attack.

The pope has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and told Catholics to set aside Wednesday for fasting and prayer for the Ukrainian people earlier this week.

"Thanked Pope Francis @Pontifex for praying for peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire. The Ukrainian people feel the spiritual support of His Holiness," Zelensky said Saturday after their call.

Zelensky adviser says 3,500 Russian troops killed or injured amid conflict in Ukraine

BY CHLOE FOLMAR

3:31 p.m.

An advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that 3,500 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured amid Russia's war with Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The Ukraine Health Ministry reported 198 Ukrainian deaths and 1,115 injuries. The ministry did not clarify if this data was the total number of casualties or civilian only casualties.

Three Ukrainian children are among those killed in the conflict.

Ukrainian citizens take up arms amid the Russian invasion

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

2:27 p.m.

Ukrainian citizens are taking up arms amid the Russian invasion into the country, as one Ukrainian posed the question: 'Who else but us?"

"My motivation is simple," Zakhar Nechypor, an actor in Ukraine, told The New York Times in a video interview published on Friday. "It's better than sitting at home and waiting for something to hit you. Who else but us?"

A Ukrainian member of parliament, Kira Rudik, posted a photo on Friday showing her brandishing a gun.

"I learn to use #Kalashnikov and prepare to bear arms. It sounds surreal as just a few days ago it would never come to my mind. Our #women will protect our soil the same way as our #men. Go #Ukraine! ," she tweeted.

Hlib Bondarenko, a computer programmer, told the Times in their interview that while he was just an ordinary citizen, Russia's "objective, clearly, at least to me, seems to be the occupation of my entire country and the destruction of everything that I love."

"I'm just a regular civilian, I have basically nothing to do with war, or any other thing like it. And I wouldn't really want to participate in anything like this, but I don't really have any choice because this is my home," he said.

Earlier in a press briefing on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his citizens to take up arms against Russia.

"Our military, our national guard, our national police, our territory defense, special service, nationals of Ukraine, please carry on. We will win. Glory to Ukraine," Zelensky said.

Germany says its sending anti-tank weapons, stinger missiles to Ukraine

BY CHLOE FOLMAR

2:00 p.m.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Saturday that his country would send anti-tank weapons and stinger missiles to Ukraine, marking a major shift in policy for the richest country in the EU.

The German leader said that the Russian invasion of the former Soviet state marked a "turning point."

"The Russian invasion marks a turning point. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin's invading army. That is why we are delivering 1000 anti-tank weapons and 500 #Stinger missiles to our friends in #Ukraine," Scholz tweeted.

The country will also lift its ban on nations exporting German-made weapons, allowing 400 rocket-propelled grenade launchers to be sent to Ukraine from the Netherlands, according to Axios.

Germany's change of heart regarding comes after months of criticism from the international community over its response to the Russia-Ukraine situation. Previously, Germany disallowed its weapons to be transferred by NATO allies to Ukraine, according to the outlet.

Germany sent 5,000 helmets and a field hospital to Ukraine before its invasion, but has refrained from any lethal aid.

Nearby countries including Poland, Estonia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have begun to send ammunition, fuel and medical supplies into Ukraine as it fights back against Russian forces.

Over 2,600 people detained in Russia in anti-war demonstrations

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

1:30 p.m.

Over 2,600 people have been detained in Russia during anti-war protests, according to a site that monitors arrests made during demonstrations.

The site, OVD-Info, said on Twitter on Saturday that over 300 people have been detained Feb. 26, with close to half of the detainees apprehended in Moscow.

The site said that at least 2,776 people had been detained by officials in the last three days.

The response from the Russian government, which has notoriously cracked down on protests in the past, launched its invasion into Ukraine early Thursday morning, local time.

Demonstrations condemning Russia's actions and calling for peace in Ukraine erupted in countries across the world since Thursday, with people in the U.S., U.K., Estonia, Germany, Japan and other areas waving Ukrainian flags.

White House officials have called Russian protesting against the invasion "deeply courageous."

"Despite Putin's crackdown at home, dissenting views remain, and I think that's important to note," White House press secretary Psaki said on Thursday. "To publicly protest against President Putin and his war is a deeply courageous act. Their actions show the world that despite the Kremlin's propaganda, there are Russian people who profoundly disagree with what he is doing in Ukraine."

Former Ukraine president asks globe not to believe Putin

BY BRAD DRESS

12:07 p.m.

Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko urged the world not to believe the narrative from Russian President Vladimir Putin - but also not to fear him.

Poroshenko, who led Ukraine from 2014 to 2019, made the plea to CNN in an interview while armed with a rifle on the streets of Kyiv.

"I want to ask all the CNN viewers, all the people of the world, with one very simple request: Please don't trust Putin. Don't believe Putin. And two, don't be afraid of Putin," he told a CNN reporter on Saturday.

Putin, in a video on Friday, urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow its government, and called Ukraine's government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, "neo-nazis."

Zelensky is Jewish and the grandson of Holocaust survivors.

Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists have been fighting a war since Poroshenko's presidency in 2014, when Putin annexed the Crimean Peninsula.

Putin ordered a full-force invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning, embroiling the country in a war. As of Saturday, Russian forces are pressing closer to Kyiv but are meeting resistance from Ukraine's military.

Poroshenko said he was "ready" to die protecting his nation, but still believed Ukraine could emerge victorious from the conflict.

"I think Putin will never catch Ukraine despite, no matter how many soldiers he has, how many missiles he has, how many nuclear missiles he has," he told CNN's John Berman on Friday. "We, Ukrainians are a free people."

Defense Department says Russia frustrated by Ukrainian resistance

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

11:49 a.m.

Russia is growing frustrated by the level of Ukrainian resistance its military has encountered during the invasion, according to a U.S. senior Defense Department official who briefed reporters on Saturday, USA Today reported.

The official said that there has been an increase in the influx of troops into the country. Thirty percent of Russian troops entered Ukraine as of Friday, but later, that number jumped to 50 percent. The Defense official added that the situation is fluid and constantly changing, the newspaper reported.

The official also noted that multiple means were used by the Pentagon to confirm that Ukrainian military resistance had stalled Russian forces, according to USA Today.

The development comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video on Saturday that Russia had not succeeded in capturing Kyiv.

Read the full story here.

Estonia and Romania ban Russia from air space

BY BRAD DRESS

11:07 a.m.

Estonia and Romania on Saturday banned Russian airlines from their airspace, after the U.K., Poland, Moldova and the Czech Republic did the same.

Bogdan Aurescu, Romania's foreign minister, tweeted on Saturday that his nation "joined other EU member states in banning RU airlines from our airspace."

Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, also announced her country's ban of Russian airlines from its airspace via Twitter on Saturday.

"We invite all EU countries to do the same," Kallas wrote. "There is no place for planes of the agressor state in democratic skies."

Latvia on Saturday said it would "close the airspace for airlines registered in Russia for commercial flights" with a decision on the matter currently under discussion at a meeting, according to Latvian Transport Minister Talis Linkait.

The U.K. has banned Russian airline Aeroflot, which prompted Russia to respond with banning British flights to and from Russia.

Delta Airlines also suspended a partnership with Russian airline Aeroflot on Friday.

Professional athletes, sports organizations condemn Russian invasion

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

10:34 a.m.

Professional athletes and organizations have taken a stand against the Russian invasion in Ukraine this week, condemning the attack and boycotting events in solidarity with the former Soviet nation.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a statement on Thursday condemning Russia's invasion into its neighboring country, and it took its disapproval a step further on Friday, urging international sport organizations to relocate or cancel their sporting events in Russia and Belarus.

"The IOC [executive board] today urges all International Sports Federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus. They should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority. The IOC itself has no events planned in Russia or Belarus," the IOC said on Friday.

The IOC also said that the Russian and Belarusian flags and anthems should not be included or displayed "in international sports events which are not already part of the respective World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions for Russia."

Read the full story here.

Rep. Crow warns against posting about Ukrainian military movements on social media

BY BRAD DRESS

9:56 a.m.

Correction: A previous version of this story had the incorrect first name for Rep. Crow. It has since been updated.

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) warned social media users in touch with Ukrainians not to post about military movements online.

"For those of us talking with our friends in Ukraine - DO NOT repeat conversations re Ukrainian military movements and combat status (e.g. units running low on Javelins) on social media," Crow tweeted on Friday. "Russia is monitoring. We put our friends at risk by publishing that information."

Social media has taken on a large role during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with users posting videos of the fighting and commenting about the conflict online.

Biden administration officials have warned about the spread of online disinformation about Russian invasion. President Biden himself has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the aggressor, and that he "chose this war."

Ukraine's called to remove @Russia on Twitter on the first day of the invasion.

Other lawmakers have also weighed in on social media use during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) urged social media companies to limit the spread of Russian disinformation online and bolster Ukrainian communication services.

Facebook said it would set up a Special Operations Center staffed by experts to monitor and respond to posts.

People around the world protest Russia's invasion of Ukraine

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

9:47 a.m.

From Washington, D.C. to Paris to Tel Aviv, people around the world this week protested Russia's invasion of Ukraine, waving the Ukrainian flag and spotlighting its national blue and yellow colors.

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Colosseum in Rome, London's Downing Street and the European Union headquarters in Brussels were illuminated in yellow and blue this week to show solidarity for Ukraine after Russia invaded the country, The Washington Post reported.

Demonstrators held signs reading "No war" in Tokyo and "Hands off Ukraine" in Berlin. A protester demonstrating outside of the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv lit her Russian passport on fire, CBS News reported.

Former Russian president threatens to retaliate with sanctions against the West

BY CHLOE FOLMAR

9:34 a.m.

The deputy head of Russia's Security Council said Saturday that Russia may respond in a hostile way to sanctions from the U.S. and European Union, The Associated Press reported.

In a post on a Russian social media site, Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia is considering leaving its latest nuclear arms deal with the U.S., cutting off diplomatic ties with the U.S. and EU and freezing the assets of Western countries after many of them condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine Thursday.

Medvedev added that Russia was mulling restoring the death penalty after being removed from a European rights group.

"We are being driven out of everywhere, punished and threatened, but we don't feel scared," Medvedev, the former president of Russia said.

Medvedev claimed that the U.S. had been "cowardly" leaving Afghanistan and is now using sanctions against Russia to make up for "shameful decisions" it has made in the past, according to the wire service. He described the Western sanctions as a show of "political impotence."

More than 100K Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries

BY BRAD DRESS

9:24 a.m.

Nearly 116,000 Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries since Russia first invaded the former Soviet Union country on Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) tweeted on Saturday morning.

Ukrainians have largely fled to Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania, the UN said.

In Poland, officials set up processing centers, a special train to transport patients and as many as 120 hospitals to assist Ukrainians.

UNHCR said it will soon publish an information portal for Ukrainian refugees.

Up to five million people could be displaced by the conflict, U.S. intelligence has warned.

Russia claims it has captured Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

8:11 a.m.

Russia's defense ministry on Saturday claimed that it had captured the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol after conducting overnight strikes, Reuters reported.

The Russian defense ministry said that dozens of artillery vehicles, tanks and multiple aircraft had been destroyed and that Russian forces also attacked hundreds of military infrastructure targets, though Reuters noted it could not immediately reach officials from Ukraine for confirmation.

The defense ministry noted that the overnight strikes were conducted by ship- and air-based cruise missiles, according to the newswire.

Biden orders up to $350M to be released for military aid for Ukraine

BY CAROLINE VAKIL

7:42 a.m.

President Biden late Friday ordered the release of up to $350 million for military aid for Ukraine.

Biden ordered for the money to be allocated from the Foreign Assistance Act "in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown."

The development comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a video messageon Saturday that Kyiv was still under Ukrainian control after Russian troops entered the city yesterday, CNN reported.

"We have ruined their plans. They have no advantage over us," he said, according to the network.

Zelensky urges Ukrainians to take up arms as fighting in Kyiv escalates

BY CAMERON JENKINS

7:35 a.m.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday urged citizens to take up arms to fight off Russia as violence between the two nations continues to escalate.

"Our military, our national guard, our national police, our territory defense, special service, nationals of Ukraine, please carry on. We will win. Glory to Ukraine," Zelensky said in a press briefing, according to The Guardian.

Reservists in Ukraine have also been prepared to take on Russia, with officials providing them with arms and Ukrainian television stations broadcasting details on how to make Molotov cocktails, according to CNN.

Zelensky on Saturday morning also posted a video to Twitter declaring that Ukraine will not give up its fight.

"I am here. We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this," Zelensky said in the video, which he appeared to film himself while standing on the street.
A Party leadership meeting has underlined the priority of stabilizing the country's economy for this year's government work, urging stronger measures to implement macroeconomic-control policies.



The meeting on Friday of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chaired by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, also emphasized the need to prevent and mitigate financial risks and ensure financial stability.

Participants in the meeting discussed the draft Government Work Report, which the State Council will submit for deliberation to the upcoming annual session of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, according to a news release after the meeting. Two reports about the Party's inspection work were also discussed at the meeting.

Regarding this year's work for the government, the meeting participants said priority should be given to ensuring the stability of the country's economy and, on that basis, making progress.

Efforts should be made to intensify reforms to stimulate the vitality of market players, they said, adding that an innovation-driven development strategy must be further implemented.

The participants underscored the need to expand higher-level opening-up to ensure steady development of foreign capital and international trade. They added that efforts should be made to prevent and defuse financial risks to avoid any occurrence of serious systemic risks.

The participants called for stronger measures to carry out the strategy of expanding domestic demand, advancing regional integration development and promoting the new type of urbanization.

While emphasizing the importance of agricultural production, they urged promoting rural vitalization in all respects.

The participants called for continuously improving ecological conservation and bolstering green and low-carbon development. They called for concrete steps to protect and improve people's well-being and strengthen social governance in an innovative way.

They also stressed the need to strengthen the government's governing capability, saying the work style of bureaucracy and formality must be abandoned.

The centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over the country's financial work must be strengthened in order to unswervingly pursue a financial development path with Chinese characteristics, they said.

While calling for improving the systems of overseeing the use of power, law enforcement and the Party's disciplinary punishment in the financial sector, they said efforts should be made to give punishments in corruption cases while dealing with financial risks.
Feb. 26When a New Mexico School for the Arts student digitally altered a poster calling attention to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, IsaBella Thomas was disappointed with how administrators handled the situation.

Thomas, 18, and other students who organized a demonstration of roughly 20 people outside the school on Friday morning, say the incident is just one of many at the state-chartered arts school in Santa Fe that's left them feeling unhappy with NMSA's administration.

Thomas, who founded the Women of Color Collective on campus, said the group put up posters reading "We fight for those who can't" around the Montezuma Avenue campus to draw attention to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women during Native American Heritage Month in November.

Last week, someone digitally altered one of the posters by rearranging letters so it included a sexist slur.

Students say that version of the poster was shared widely on social media.

"When the poster did happen and it was posted all over social media, there was an outcry from the administration, which was interesting to me," said senior Lucia Rosen, who attended Friday's demonstration.

"We're trying to fight for more equity and make the Native students feel safe  make the people of color feel safe in our school walls. I feel like that's the most important right now," she added.

New Mexico School for the Arts Director Eric Crites said Friday the school has identified the student responsible, adding NMSA's disciplinary approach will include "consequences" and also a restorative justice process.

Crites declined to elaborate about the disciplinary measures, citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

But Thomas and her peers are hoping school leaders will take more accountability on the school's culture, which they claim is unwelcoming to students of color.

"We made the [Women of Color Collective] as a safe space for women of color at our school," Thomas said. "But we've had to really shift that kind of motive, specifically for this year because we're just tired of the way that admin has dealt with situations in the past when it comes to racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexual violence at our school."

Story continues

Thomas said the incident did spark conversations but only after students spoke out.

"We're trying to focus on policy and things we want to change," she said. "It's us trying to push admin to take responsibility, take accountability."

Following the demonstration, Crites said he knew students were unhappy with the administration's handling of incidents like the altering of the poster.

"Based on what we heard today from our students, [it] hasn't been enough," he said in an interview. "That matters, and we have to respond to that."

The demonstration took place during a previously scheduled staff training on culturally and linguistically responsive education Friday morning.

During a break, several faculty members came outside and watched the proceedings. Principal Denise Hinson and Crites also joined the crowd.

"Your staff should reflect the student body," one community member shouted.

Participants in the demonstration called for an action plan from administrators to make students feel more comfortable.

According to federal statistics, the New Mexico School for the Arts had an enrollment of 292 students during last school year, more than half of them white. The school reported having 103 Hispanic and 21 Native American students. Six students identified as Black; seven as Asian.

No one in the school's administration is Native, and the school has only three Native staff members, Crites said.

"There's only so little of us," said one sophomore student who declined to provide her name but identified as Native American. "There's no representation of Indigenous students ... it's really hard to go to school there."

The student expressed concern over another incident earlier this year, in which a history teacher repeated slurs while discussing colonization. Crites confirmed the incident in an interview Friday.

"There was significant conversation about it," Crites said. "And really an understanding that hasn't always existed in schools ... there's a clear understanding now we cannot be using it in reference or discussion in education settings. Any slurs."

Crites declined to say whether the teacher faced disciplinary action over the incident.

In an interview Friday afternoon, Crites said the person leading the staff training ended up facilitating a discussion between the demonstrators and school employees.

"I think there was an understanding all around there are long-term goals we need to work on to make sure all of our students feel a sense of belonging at our school," he said.

Crites said he's meeting with the demonstrators again next week.
ferrantraite / iStock.com

Like most states, Mississippi transfers their SNAP (food stamp) benefits through an Electronic Benefits Transfer card. EBT cards are pre-loaded debit cards which monthly SNAP benefit are transferred. Card holders can use their cards to purchase groceries and fresh produce. In Mississippi, the EBT card can be used at any store that displays the Quest logo. State residents who receive SNAP benefits can also use their EBT cards to purchase food from farmers markets, truck vendors and community agencies approved by the Food and Nutrition Service.

Learn: Do SNAP EBT Cards Expire?

SNAP COVID-19 Benefits Expire April 15: Which States, Territories Will be Impacted?

SNAP benefits are intended to help low-income individuals and families purchase fresh food each month. The USDA extended the amount of SNAP benefits recipients can receive during the pandemic as an emergency extension. This emergency allotment allows all recipients of SNAP benefits to receive the full allowable amount for their household size if they were not already receiving it before.

The payment schedule in Mississippi is slightly different from other states, as SNAP benefits do not begin distribution on the first of the month like many others. Mississippi begins payment on Mar. 4 and continues the distribution through Mar. 21.

Each recipient is issued a case number for their SNAP benefits, and the day of EBT deposit depends on the last number according to the schedule below:

Case No. Ending In Date Benefits Received 00-04 March 4 05-10 March 5 11-16 March 6 17-22 March 7 23-28 March 8 29-34 March 9 35-40 March 10 41-46 March 11 47-52 March 12 53-58 March 13 59-64 March. 14 65-69 March. 15 70-74 March 16 75-79 March 17 80-84 March 18 85-89 March 19 90-94 March 20 95-99 March 21

If you would like to see if you are eligible to receive SNAP benefits for the state of Mississippi, you can use the states screening tool.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Mississippi SNAP Schedule: When Benefits Hit EBT Cards in March
By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) - NASA on Friday shrugged off public comments from the head of its Russian counterpart suggesting U.S. sanctions imposed against Moscow over the Ukraine crisis could "destroy" U.S.-Russian teamwork on the International Space Station (ISS).

Dmitry Rogozin, director-general of Russian space agency Roscosmos, took to Twitter on Thursday denouncing new constraints on high-tech exports to Russia that U.S. President Joe Biden said were designed to "degrade their aerospace industry, including their space program."

"Do you want to destroy our cooperation on the ISS?" Rogozin asked in a series of tweets, according to a Reuters translation of his remarks. He also noted that orbital control of the space station, through periodic rocket thrusts to maintain a safe altitude, is exercised using engines of a Russian cargo craft docked to the ISS.

"If you block cooperation with us, then who is going to save the ISS from an uncontrolled descent from orbit and then falling onto the territory of the United States or Europe?" he wrote. "There is also a scenario where the 500-ton structure falls on India or China. Do you want to threaten them with this prospect? The ISS doesn't fly over Russia, so all the risks are yours."

Rogozin concluded his Twitter rant by urging the U.S. government to "disavow" what he called "Alzheimer's sanctions."

Asked for NASA's response to Rogozin's outburst, the U.S. space agency said in a statement it was continuing to work with all of its international partners, including Roscosmos, "for the ongoing safe operations of the International Space Station."

"The new export control measures will continue to allow U.S.-Russia civil space operations," NASA added. "No changes are planned to the agency's support for ongoing in-orbit and ground-station operations."

Apart from Rogozin's Twitter rhetoric, longstanding U.S.-Russian collaboration aboard the orbiting research platform appeared to otherwise remain on solid footing, even as tensions between the two countries escalated over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Story continues

NASA and Roscosmos issued statements this week saying that both agencies were still working toward a "crew exchange" deal under which the former Cold War space rivals would routinely share flights to ISS on each other's spacecrafts free of cost.

The laboratory outpost, orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, is currently home to a crew of four Americans, two Russians and a German astronaut.

NASA said members of Expedition 66, which the current seven-member crew is designated, spent Friday studying how microgravity affects skin cells and plant genetics, as well as how to exercise more effectively in weightlessness.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sam Holmes)
With cities across Ukraine under assault by Russian troops, several NATO countries have started shipping military and humanitarian supplies into Ukraine over land routes as Russian anti-aircraft systems and jets make any air mission too risky.

Over the past two days of fighting, Poland has already started delivering ammunition to the Ukrainian forces by land, and Estonia and Latvia on Friday said they are beginning to truck fuel, Javelin anti-armor weapons, and medical supplies to the Ukraine border for hand-off to Ukrainian forces.

The new overland option is something that were prepared to do for weeks, for months, whatever it takes, one diplomat from a NATO country told POLITICO.

With the skies now largely owned by Russian fighter planes and Ukraines military airports cratered by missile attacks, allied resupply has had to shut down the well-publicized air bridge that had shuttled planeloads of Javelins and anti-air Stinger missiles into Ukraine in recent weeks. From here on out, Ukrainian forces will have to make do with a series of more modest truck convoys.

But these slow-moving convoys are likewise susceptible to Russian attacks, even in the far west of the country that has so far been spared the worst of the fighting. And, as they rumble slowly eastward to the front lines, they will have to traverse mile after mile of potentially contested territory.

While several NATO allies have publicly pledged their commitment to continue funneling weapons into Ukraine, the U.S. has been more circumspect. We're continuing to provide ways for them to defend themselves, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Friday, while declining to go into any more detail.

The road option carries plenty of risk. Any truck convoys driving on those roads would be afforded scant protection from the sky, as NATO has all but shut the door on the idea of setting up a no-fly zone over any part of the country.

Despite repeated pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to close the skies, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday demanding that NATO, Europe, USA close the sky over Ukraine, theres little Western appetite to do so.

Story continues

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace flatly rejected that idea on Friday, saying that sending aircraft to enforce a no-fly zone would mean putting "British fighter jets directly against Russian fighter jets, and NATO would have to effectively declare war on Russia because that's what you would do."

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby wasnt as categorical in dismissing the idea, telling reporters Friday that President Joe Biden has been very clear that U.S. troops will not be fighting in Ukraine, while saying that any no-fly zone would be a NATO decision.

No-fly zones are inherently dangerous, and the Obama administration refused to implement one in Syria during the height of the Assad regimes campaign against its own civilian population, citing Syrias air defenses and Russian aircraft in the skies.

If the U.S. and its allies were to issue such an order in Ukraine, the Air Force would be forced to undertake a military mission against the invading Russian forces, and  U.S. forces would be forced to contend with high-level Russian air defenses, said Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Putting American planes in the sky over Ukraine would in effect entail a decision to get in a military exchange with Russian forces, with all the escalation risks that entails.

After two days of intense combat across the country, however, the needs of the Ukrainian military for resupply are real, and growing.

Igor Novikov, former adviser to Zelenskyy, told POLITICO that our life has been completely disrupted. So we need everything: weapons, supplies, money. But what we need the most is severe, unbearable pressure on the aggressor. And we need it now: there's no time for bureaucracy, when bombs are landing on our children's homes.

The land bridge appears to be the only viable option for the moment, as the western part of Ukraine, bordering NATO members Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, has been relatively quiet, and those countries could facilitate the movement of supplies.

By land or air, there appears to be a will to keep the weapons moving to help Ukrainians hold out for as long as they can.

I'll be very clear here, Kirby said, we are going to provide additional security assistance for Ukraine. How that is going to be done is still being worked out.

Betsy Woodruff Swan contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, shown in 2021, ordered an attack on Ukraine this past week that has sparked fears of the potential for a broader conflict. Security experts and historians say that is unlikely for a host of reasons. (Associated Press)

The sights and sounds coming from Ukraine  the screams of air raid sirens, explosions, the rumbling of armored personnel carriers down rural roads  all happening in the middle of Europe inevitably conjure memories of World War II.

But do they also foreshadow a broader war that will consume scores of countries?

World War II, a savage conflict fought across the globe from 1939 to 1945, gave birth to NATO, a transatlantic alliance of the U.S. and major Western European nations. The alliance, formed in 1949, has preserved peace and stability in the region, more or less, for the last seven decades.

Challenge to NATO

Russias war on Ukraine, launched last week, poses the biggest threat to NATO in recent history.

Ukraine is not a member of NATO, although it has expressed a desire to join. Before he launched his invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin had demanded that the alliance agree to never admit Ukraine.

The U.S. and its NATO allies rebuffed the demand, saying it was up to individual nations to decide whether they wanted to become members. It was NATO's expansion to include several other former Soviet republics that has most angered Putin and raised alarms in the Kremlin about Russia's security.

Broader war unlikely

While leaders of NATO countries have sought to sanction Putin and Russia over the invasion and have offered military assistance to Ukraine, President Biden has repeatedly stressed that U.S. forces would not be deployed in Ukraine.

"Our forces are not and will not be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine," Biden said Thursday at the White House.

Analysts and historians say the likelihood of U.S. forces engaging in combat with Russians is extremely low. That is because leaders of both countries understand the stakes involved in such a battle. Russia and the U.S. have robust nuclear arsenals, and their leaders realize any miscalculation could quickly spiral out of control, with dire consequences for their populations and humanity.

Story continues

"I cannot imagine any scenarios where we get into a war with Russia that are not fanciful, random, irresponsible speculation," said Simon Miles, a Cold War expert and assistant professor at Duke University. "You couldn't put that toothpaste back in the tube. It would just have devastating consequences, such a conflict."

Article 5

The only way analysts can foresee a war between the U.S. and Russia would be if Putin's forces attacked a NATO country. That could trigger Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty that stipulates an attack on one member is an attack on all. That would mean committing troops to combat to help another NATO member. It has been invoked just one time  after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on New York and Washington.

For weeks, top U.S. and European officials have reaffirmed their commitment to Article 5, a signal to Moscow that attacking Ukraine is a much different proposition than trying to invade a NATO country. "Let me be clear: Americas commitment to Article 5 is ironclad," Vice President Kamala Harris said last week before the invasion.

On Thursday, Biden issued the same pledge: "There is no doubt  no doubt that the United States and every NATO ally will meet our Article 5 commitments, which says that an attack on one is an attack on all."

Experts say that Putin and Russian leaders surely got that message. He knows that if he orders an attack on a former Soviet satellite now in NATO (think: Romania and Poland), he would be inviting serious retaliation.

What about errant missiles, miscalculations?

Even so, analysts say, there are concerns about what might happen if an errant Russian airstrike or missile hits a NATO country, where the U.S. and its allies have been building up their forces in response to the Ukrainian invasion. They say such an incident could lead that nation to invoke Article 5.

Any move against a NATO country now will bring a far wider and more dangerous war, said Daniel Serwer, a conflict management expert at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. NATO has beefed up its forces on Russias periphery, the opposite of what Putin wanted.

Foreign policy experts noted that Putin may also not be as careful as U.S. leaders. He could feel emboldened by his foray into Ukraine and attack vulnerable European counties that are not NATO members that could put his forces in closer proximity to NATO's.

The Russian autocrat has complained about the small Baltic states joining the alliance, complicating his country's access to the strategically important Baltic Sea. He might be tempted to invade those countries, believing NATO's other countries would not be willing to commit forces to defend them. Although U.S. intelligence assessments of Putin's intentions in Ukraine were largely accurate, they have frequently failed to divine his motivations and anticipate his actions.

It all depends on how far Putin is willing to go, said Eddy Acevedo, a former State Department official who is now a senior foreign policy advisor to the Wilson Center, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington. So far, in predicting that, everyone has been off.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Feb. 26Oakwood police on Friday reported a string of recent U.S. mail thefts dating back to December where the thieves then cashed stolen checks.

The Oakwood Public Safety Department urged residents not to use standalone mail drop boxes for the time being.

"Unknown individual(s) are stealing mail from drop boxes, which are located in various parts of the city, and are tampering with checks to complete fraudulent transactions," Oakwood Public Safety officials said. "All reported incidents remain under police investigation."

The issue is similar to a run of cases in Kettering months earlier. Kettering police began investigating reports of check theft in July 2021 after checks totaling $24,000 were fraudulently altered and cashed in the region.

Those cases involved about 15 victims who dropped checks in outdoor mailboxes at the Forrer Boulevard and East Stroop Road post offices, said Kettering Detective Vince Mason.

According to Mason, Kettering police have identified four individuals suspected of cashing the checks, with charges pending the result of grand jury deliberations in the coming week.

The Kettering stolen checks ranged from $1,625 to $2,210, according to Mason. He said the suspects took the checks, changed the name of the payee and the amount of money the checks were written for, and were then able to cash the checks.

In the new Oakwood cases, Public Safety officials urged residents to use caution.

"Due to the frequency with which this is occurring, both in Oakwood and other area communities, the Safety Department is recommending that anyone mailing something of significant importance, money, or checks do so inside the Post Office branch rather than using the standalone drop boxes," Public Safety officials said.

Anyone who suspects their mail has been stolen or otherwise tampered with should immediately contact the Oakwood Public Safety Department at 937-298-2122 to file a report.

Federal mail theft is a felony, punishable up to five years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000, records show.
Cary McMullen

It was common in the Middle Ages for Catholic bishops, including the pope, to clash with kings, dukes and other political leaders.

The clashes sometimes were violent, with troops loyal to each side engaging in combat. In 1376, mercenaries in the employ of Cardinal Robert of Geneva waged a brutal campaign against a league of northern Italian city-states for control of territory that was claimed by the papacy.

Nothing that dire is going on in Florida, but a war of words has been engaged between its top political leader and the Catholic archbishop of Miami, whose authority as metropolitan extends over the entire state.

On February 7, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable event in Miami, which was basically an orchestrated opportunity to score points in his stealth presidential bid by taking potshots at the Biden administration on the issue of immigration. DeSantis has taken a hard line on immigration, and in December, he ordered the Department of Children and Families to stop issuing or renewing licenses of any charitable organization that resettles unaccompanied immigrant minors, unless the organizations are under an existing cooperative agreement.

The roundtable was held at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, where DeSantis tried to discredit any comparison between unaccompanied minors from Central America today and the Pedro Pan minors who were sent away from Cuba by their families in the 1960s and were taken in by charitable agencies. He said,  to equate whats going on with the southern border... with Operation Pedro Pan, quite frankly is disgusting.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami had heard enough. His archdiocese operates a program under Catholic Charities that offers shelter and other services for unaccompanied and undocumented minors. The children are housed in the Msgr. Bryan O. Walsh Childrens Village, which was begun to care for many of the Pedro Pan minors.

Wenski ripped off a statement that correctly called the so-called roundtable political theater and a new low in the zero-sum politics of our divisive times, although he erred in misapplying DeSantis disgusting adjective to the minors themselves.

Story continues

Children are children  and no child should be deemed disgusting  especially by a public servant, the statement said.

Wenski also revealed in a separate interview that Floridas Catholic bishops, at an earlier meeting with DeSantis, had tried to persuade him to reconsider his policy on unaccompanied minors. The roundtable, Wenski said, may have been the governors way of doubling down because he didn't expect the pushback that he is now receiving on this from our community.

Last week, DeSantis press secretary, Christina Pushaw, fired another salvo. She tweeted that Wenski lied about what DeSantis said and that Lying is a sin.

Wenski is no liberal. He was appointed Archbishop of Miami by the tenaciously conservative Pope Benedict XVI, and when he was bishop of the Diocese of Orlando, prior to his promotion to Miami, he owned a Honda Goldwing motorcycle that he routinely rode in poker runs to raise money for charity.

I interviewed him on several occasions and found him to be intellectually acute, articulate, media-savvy, politically shrewd and a fierce defender of the church. He also speaks Spanish and has a longstanding interest in immigration, dating back to his days as a parish priest in Miami. DeSantis  who is Catholic, although you wouldnt know it from how little he talks about it  is facing a formidable opponent in the top leader of his own faith in the state. However, as Jacksonville commentator Jacob Lupfer puts it, DeSantis seems to be choosing Trumpism over Catholicism.

With the possible exception of the Mennonites, no religious group has a better track record in caring for immigrants than the Catholic Church. Its social teaching is long and deep, its agencies are well-established and well-funded, and it is one area in which public sympathy is on its side. No one wants to see children frightened and alone, and DeSantis simply comes off as an ogre for shutting down people trying to help them.

A footnote to the medieval clash I mentioned earlier. Cardinal Robert lost the military campaign against the northern league, but he achieved another kind of victory. He was elected Pope Clement VII and set up headquarters not in Rome but in Avignon, France.

Cary McMullen is a retired journalist and the former religion editor of The Ledger.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Like old times: The archbishop takes on the governor
GENEVA (AP)  Nine days after the race at the Beijing Olympics, the bronze medal in womens skicross was changed on appeal Saturday.

Fanny Smith of Switzerland will now be awarded the bronze medal after she was wrongly demoted to fourth in China, the International Ski Federation (FIS) said in a statement.

Smith was blamed for causing contact with other skiers during the Feb. 17 race and lost her third-place finish by a ruling of the FIS race jury. Daniela Maier of Germany was upgraded from fourth to get the bronze that she now loses.

That jury decision was wrong, FIS said after an appeal by Smith and the Swiss ski federation.

The Appeals Commission found that the close proximity of the racers at that moment resulted in action that was neither intentional or avoidable, FIS said.

Smith should therefore have been issued a warning rather than the yellow card judgment which required her to be demoted.

The incident did not affect gold medalist Sandra Naeslund of Sweden and silver medalist Marielle Thompson of Canada.

The appeal verdict now gives Smith, a former world champion, Olympic bronze medals in back-to-back Winter Games.

___

More AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has started evacuating staff of its special monitoring mission from Ukraine-controlled territory to Moldova, a diplomatic source told Reuters on Saturday.

Some 160 OSCE vehicles have already crossed the border and were moving to Chisinau, the source said. Observers in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics are still on the ground.

OSCE has not confirmed the evacuation to Moldova, saying only it cannot disclose details as the process is ongoing.

(Editing by Alison Williams)
You are here: China

Mobile laboratories, nicknamed "Falcon" and built with mainland support, were put into operation Friday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) Kowloon to conduct mass COVID-19 testing.

The temporary labs consist of five air-inflated chambers each and can handle 80,000 testing samples per day. They are backed by Guangzhou KingMed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd., which now runs two Falcon labs in Hong Kong.

The company said it will continue to send additional personnel to support Hong Kong in accordance with the HKSAR government's relevant epidemic prevention policies, and give full technological support to Hong Kong's universal COVID-19 testing.

Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam said earlier this week that Hong Kong will conduct mass mandatory testing in March to fight the latest COVID-19 outbreak when all Hong Kong residents must undergo nucleic acid tests three times.

Various sectors in Hong Kong have voiced their support for the testing, believing that the move will help to control the pandemic and put society back on track.

Hong Kong reported 10,010 new COVID-19 cases and 47 deaths on Friday, official data showed.
The Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., is seen on June 23





Welcome to Friday's Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.

Today we're looking at an upcoming Supreme Court case with climate change implications and the record-breaking results of an offshore wind lease sale this week.

For The Hill, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk. Write to us with tips: rfrazin@thehill.com and zbudryk@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @RachelFrazin and @BudrykZack.

Let's jump in.

SCOTUS case could limit EPA's climate scope

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Monday in a case that could limit the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate climate change.

At issue in the case is the extent to which the agency can pursue climate regulations that have broad impacts on areas such as the power sector.

Two coal companies, as well as a group of states led by West Virginia and North Dakota, are challenging a lower court ruling that tossed a Trump-era rule governing power plants.

Some background info: That Trump rule loosened regulations surrounding climate change when compared to the Obama-era Clean Power Plan (CPP), which sought to reduce releases of greenhouse gases through improved efficiency measures, as well as the adoption of more natural gas and renewable energy, as opposed to coal.

The Supreme Court stayed that plan, preventing it from taking effect, in 2016. And the Trump administration replaced it with the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, which still sought efficiency improvements, but excluded the switch to cleaner fuels.

The bottom line: The CPP was expected to be significantly more impactful than ACE, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 415 million short tons by 2030 compared to its successor's 11 million short tons.

Neither rule is currently in place, as a court also struck down the Trump rule last year.

But as the Biden administration is working on its own regulations for power plants, the states and coal companies are seeking to limit its authority to do so.

Story continues

"They have the ability to regulate a source, and so for instance that could be the coal fired power plant, and that could be for heat efficiencies or items within the power plant," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey (R) told The Hill in an interview.

But, he added, they can't "go so far afield" and create a system that could "impact consumer demand or force rewrites of the power grid."

The government disagrees, arguing that the law's call for a "best system of emissions reduction" enables it to regulate both within the power plant and outside its boundaries.

It said in a court briefing that the definition of the word "system" "encompasses inside- and outside-the-fenceline measures alike."

Read more about the case this weekend when the story appears on our website.

Offshore wind lease sale nets $4.4 billion

A lease sale for rights to build wind farms in an area off the New York and New Jersey coasts netted a record-breaking $4.37 billion, the Interior Department announced on Friday.

This week's lease sale not only broke records for offshore wind, still a burgeoning industry in the U.S., but also for oil and gas leasing, the department said.

The lease sale offered up six tracts - totaling about 488,000 acres in the New York Bight - where offshore wind farms can be built.

Combined, the areas have the potential to host wind farms that generate enough electricity to power up to 2 million homes, the Interior Department said.

Secretary Deb Haaland, in a statement, said that the results demonstrate significant interest in clean energy.

"This week's offshore wind sale makes one thing clear: the enthusiasm for the clean energy economy is undeniable and it's here to stay," she said.

Read more about this week's sale here.

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Sign up for NotedDC: The Hill's insider take on the heartbeat of politics and policy.

UN: UKRAINE NUCLEAR OPERATING SAFELY AFTER CHERNOBYL ATTACK

The United Nations' nuclear energy agency said that Ukraine's power plants are operating safely on Friday following Thursday's attack on the Chernobyl plant.

International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a statement that Ukraine informed the agency that "the country's nuclear power reactors are continuing to operate safely and securely."

Previously, Grossi had said the agency was following the situation with "grave concern" and called for "maximum restraint to avoid any action that may put the country's nuclear facilities at risk."

On Thursday, Ukrainian officials said that Russian forces took the Chernobyl power plant - the site of a 1986 nuclear disaster.

ON TAP NEXT WEEK

Monday

The Supreme Court will hear West Virginia v. EPA - a case that will have major implications on the agency's ability to regulate climate change

Tuesday

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on bills relating to energy and the Energy Department.

Thursday

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee will question all five Federal Energy Regulatory Commission commissioners on recent agency guidance regarding pipelines.

WHAT WE'RE READING

Under bombing, Ukraine's climate scientists withdraw from global meeting (Politico)

U.S. environmental enforcement activity has dropped, study shows (Reuters)

Brazil mudslides: Climate change turns favelas into disasters waiting to happen (The Washington Post)

And finally, something offbeat but ON-beat: People react to the offshore wind lease sale...in GIFs.

That's it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill's energy & environment page for the latest news and coverage. We'll see you Monday.

We want to hear from you! Take our newsletter survey to provide feedback on our offerings.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistani security forces raided a militant hideout in the countrys northwest, triggering a firefight that killed one militant, the military said Saturday.

The raid took place in the Spinwam area of the North Waziristan tribal district that long served as a safe haven for Islamic militants. The raid was part of a continuing operation to rid the tribal belt of militants.

The military said the dead militant was involved in attacks on security forces in recent months and that arms and ammunition were seized from the hideout.

North Waziristan and other tribal regions bordering Afghanistan had been a sanctuary for militants until massive military operations began after the 2014 militant attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. More than 150 people were killed, mostly school children.
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ  The Polar Bear Plunge is returning to Seaside Heights on Saturday, after a year off the beach because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organizers are anticipating 5,500 people will attend the 2022 Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights in support of the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

Organizers are hoping the event will raise at least $1.8 million.

The plunge will take place on the beach between Blaine and Sumner avenues, directly in front of the Spicy Cantina (500 Boardwalk).

Street closures in the area will be in effect until early afternoon. At 1 p.m., everyone who raised the plunge minimum will make their way into the ocean. The water temperature is expected to be in the low 40s and the air temperature is forecasted to be in the mid-30s.

"We are so happy to be back in Seaside Heights for the 29th annual Polar Bear Plunge and

want to thank the many fundraisers, year-round partners, volunteers, and communities for

standing by us through the challenges of the last couple years," said Heather Andersen, president and CEO of Special Olympics of New Jersey.

Special Olympics "is coming back stronger than ever thanks to our tremendous supporters, and we look forward to getting back to offering our athletes the in-person experiences they so deserve, she said.

As of Friday morning, the highest individual fundraiser was Scott Paterson, who had raised $32,023. Many teams are competing to take the crown of the largest fundraising team,

with the Bayshore Shrinky Dinks leading with $66,330 raised.

It has been a challenging couple of years, but we are BACK!, says Chief Robert Belfiore, Retired Deputy Chief of the Port Authority of NY/NJ and Director of the New Jersey Torch Run. The Law Enforcement Torch Run has been serving Special Olympics New Jersey athletes for almost 40 years and it has never been more vital to get our athletes back on the playing fields and courts where they belong. Events like the Polar Bear Plunges provide strong funding support to Special Olympics New Jersey that directly benefits athletes from all across the state.

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The Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights is organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey, the largest grass-roots fundraising organization for Special Olympics New Jersey. Other notable supporters include the New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association, Wawa, and NJ 101.5.

Walk-up Plunge registrants are welcome and encouraged to arrive early due to the heavy traffic. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and the walk-up registration fee is $125. Spectators are also welcome, and parking will be available in the area.

This article originally appeared on the Toms River Patch
The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in late 2020 that barred police from pulling drivers over on a host of vehicle equipment violations  and also blocked officers from searching vehicles based on an odor of marijuana.

Reformers say the changes were a crucial step toward reducing pretextual policing, or stopping cars for minor reasons to search them or conduct unrelated investigations.

Black motorists are more likely to be pulled over on traffic stops than other drivers, statistics show, leading to more encounters with police.

But since the new rules took effect, theres been widespread pushback from law enforcement. A bill now being considered by state lawmakers would scrap some of the 2020 changes and bring back police authority to make defective equipment stops.

The states police and sheriffs associations contend the law has made Virginias roadways more dangerous. The rules, for example, block police from stopping cars with only one working headlight or brake light, despite the safety hazards.

Chesapeake Police Chief Kelvin Wright said the rules have likely led to increased crime because they limit police interactions  translating into fewer cars stopped, fewer illegal guns found, and fewer occasions to run peoples names through databases to see if theres a warrant for their arrest.

Theres people who are involved in criminal activity who know that we no longer possess some of the tools that we used to have in order to help prevent crime, Wright said last month of his citys 2021 spike in homicides.

The Republican-led House of Delegates approved the recent legislation on a 52-45 party line vote on Feb. 11. The bill now heads to the Democrat-controlled Senate, where it faces a steeper climb. The 15-member Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to take up the bill Monday.

Backers of the bill include the Virginia Attorney Generals Office, the Virginia Sheriffs Association, the Virginia State Police Association, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Association of Commonwealths Attorneys.

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Opponents include the Virginia chapter of the ACLU, the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a wide array of criminal justice reformers.

The legislation would reinstate police authority to stop motorists for the following infractions, among several others:

Driving with only one working headlight or brake light.

Having a non-operating third brake light  a higher-mounted center light required on all new cars since 1986 under federal law.

Loud or non-working muffler systems.

Tinted windows; dangling objects from rear view mirrors that obstruct a drivers view; and non-illuminated license plates.

Expired vehicle registration and safety inspection stickers unless they are at least three months past due.

Any defective and unsafe equipment on a moving vehicle.

Though these are still infractions under existing state law, police must have first pulled drivers over for a primary offense, such as speeding or blowing through a traffic signal, to conduct enforcement.

Given that all such police stops would be allowed under the legislation, the bill also scraps the provision that anything officers find in a prohibited stop  from guns to drugs to a dead body in the back seat  cant be used in any future prosecution.

The sponsor of this years bill, Del. Ronnie Campbell, R-Rockbridge County, backed off an earlier version that would also have brought back officers authority to search cars if they smelled marijuana coming from them.

Reformers have long contended that such searches have been rife with police abuse, and Campbells original proposal to bring them back was seen as a long shot given the states recent move to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

But at a House courts subcommittee meeting in early February, Campbell asserted that basic public safety on Virginia roadways calls for bringing back the old law allowing vehicle equipment stops.

I think its very important that we bring these back as primary offenses for law enforcement, said Campbell, a former Virginia state trooper. They tell me for the last year and a half that their hands have been pretty much tied.

Wayne Huggins, executive director of the Virginia State Police Association, agreed, saying police dont enjoy people pulling people over, but that our job is to protect the public by enforcing safety rules.

While on first glance equipment violations might seem minor, anybody who has served in the capacities we have served in have seen the horrors that defective equipment on motor vehicles can cause, he said.

Some see the issue very differently.

Brad Haywood is the chief public defender for Arlington and Falls Church and the founder of Justice Forward Virginia  a group of reformers, public defenders and defense lawyers that spearheaded the 2020 change.

He called the existing law landmark racial justice legislation that should remain in place. This was specifically intended to narrow racial disparities in traffic stops and to save the lives of Black and brown Virginians, Haywood said. Its already working in that regard.

Over the years, he said, Black motorists have been almost twice as likely to be pulled over as white motorists.

To believe that thats anything other than racism at work would be to believe that Black people are simply worse drivers than white people  which is absolutely outrageous, Haywood said.

Breanne Armbrust, the executive director of the Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton, a nonprofit in the Richmond area, said many people stopped by police are people attempting to get to and from work or running simple errands for their household.

Sometimes, she said, they dont have computer access and cant get to the DMV to update their registration, and might not be able to afford making the fix to their car.

While its unclear whether the change in law can be tied to a change in local crime rates, one Fairfax County man said it has led to a decline in public safety and the quality of life in his community.

Robert Mercincavage, a 69-year-old moderate Democrat in Great Falls, said he and his wife are often woken up at night because of loud cars on Georgetown Pike  about 100 yards from his home  in the early morning hours.

Im like What the heck, he said. Its ludicrous that at 2 oclock in the morning, these people are running around in these cars, like Honda Civics and stuff, that are customized to make excessively loud noise.

Mercincavage, a retiree from the IT and communications industries, said he recorded the road sound at over 130 decibels in his kitchen. But he said when he asked local police to help, a high-ranking officer said unfortunately our hands are tied because of the 2020 law.

Mercincavage said most citizens expect that basic safety rules  such as a car needs to have two headlights  are being enforced. A missing headlight, he said, makes it much harder to judge a car coming the other way.

Hes been telling everyone he can  including federal highway safety agencies  about the dangers of not enforcing such rules. So many people are being harmed by this, he said. This is basic health and safety.

The legislation is one of 26 bills to be considered Monday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. That committee is composed of nine Democrats and six Republicans, meaning two Democrats would have to cross party lines for the bill to advance.

At the House subcommittee hearing in early February, Campbell read a list of notorious killers  including Ted Bundy and Timothy McVeigh  who were caught when police pulled over their cars on traffic or vehicle equipment violations.

Ted Bundy he was a slippery little fella who escaped twice, Campbell said. And all three times he was arrested, it was for things like driving without brake lights.

When you stop the car for a tag-light or a tail-light, you never really know who youre stopping or what youre going to get.

But Haywood said that he, too, has a list  of people who died in police custody after first being pulled over on traffic stops. He mentioned Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, Samuel DuBose and others.

These are all people who  if Virginias historic laws limiting pretextual policing were in effect nationwide  would be alive today, he said.

Peter Dujardin, 757-247-4749, pdujardin@dailypress.com




Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, on Saturday issued a statement in support of Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

"In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine's future," the couple tweeted.

"Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine's people as they bravely fight for that future," the two said, adding a Ukrainian flag emoji and signing the tweet "W & C."

The statement comes a day after Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, expressed their support for Ukraine in a statement on their website, Archewell.

"Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same," the statement read.

Queen Elizabeth II, who tested positive for the coronavirus last weekend, has not put out a statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed unswerving adherence to China's path of human rights development.

Xi made the remarks while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Friday.

Xi called for more efforts to pay attention to, respect and safeguard human rights and better advance the development of China's human rights cause as the country has embarked on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist China.

To respect and protect human rights is a persistent pursuit of the CPC, Xi stressed.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC has continued to make the respect for and protection of human rights an important agenda of national governance, and has prompted historic achievements in China's human rights cause, Xi said.

The problem of absolute poverty has been solved, whole-process people's democracy further developed, social equity and justice firmly safeguarded, and the world's largest education, social security and healthcare systems established, Xi said, highlighting some of the progress in human rights development.

China has effectively combated COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of the people to the greatest extent possible. China maintains that all ethnic groups are equal, respects people's religious beliefs, and safeguards the lawful rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups, Xi said.

China has ensured long-term social stability. It is the only major country in the world that has consecutively formulated and enforced four national human rights action plans. It also actively participates in global governance on human rights, Xi added.

In the practice of advancing the cause of human rights, China has blazed a path of human rights development that is consistent with the trend of the times and suits the nation's conditions, Xi stressed.

Xi noted six main features of China's development of human rights: upholding the Party's leadership, respecting the people's principal position, proceeding from national realities, upholding the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, safeguarding human rights in accordance with the law, and participating in global governance on human rights.

The features are also experience that should be further upheld and developed in the context of new practices, Xi said.
A map shows the location of Carter High School in Rialto

The mother of a 15-year-old girl who reported being sexually assaulted by a fellow student at Carter High School in Rialto is accusing school officials of threatening to expel her daughter for reporting the abuse.

Stephanie Olvera, the girl's mother, addressed reporters Friday in Ontario with her boyfriend and two attorneys representing her and her daughter.

Olvera's daughter is one of three teenage girls who have reported being sexually abused by a 17-year-old male student in recent months, according to authorities. Two school officials face charges after being accused of failing to report the abuse to law enforcement.

Olvera said her daughter has been traumatized by the abuse and by what she described as hostility from school administrators.

"What makes me the angriest is that the vice principal herself reached out to me and stated to me that there was no immediate concern," the girl's mother said. "I asked her plenty of times if I needed to leave my job so I can go and attend to my daughter, and she told me, 'No, I'm a mother myself. You have no reason to worry.'"

The vice principal then told her to speak with her daughter at home, Olvera said, adding that she knew something was wrong because her daughter did not want to communicate or go out with family.

"I did mention to her while I was on the phone with her [that] my daughter's not the same as of a couple months," she said. "Is there a reason I should worry?"

Olvera said the vice principal told her no.

Assistant principals David Shenhan Yang, 38, and Natasha Harris, 37, each face one felony count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and two misdemeanor counts of failure of a mandated reporter to report child abuse or neglect, San Bernardino County prosecutors said Wednesday.

Harris and Yang are considered mandated reporters under California law and should have immediately contacted law enforcement after they were notified of child abuse or neglect, prosecutors said.

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Jail records show Yang and Harris were released from custody Thursday morning. Bail amounts were not listed.

Syeda Jafri, a Rialto Unified School District spokeswoman, said that the safety and well-being of students is the districts top priority and that officials are treating the allegations against the assistant principals with extreme seriousness.

An internal investigation by the district is ongoing, and officials are cooperating with authorities, Jafri said.

Olvera said she immediately called Rialto police after her daughter told her about the abuse she'd been suffering. She also alleged school officials threatened to expel her daughter if she kept reporting the abuse.

"My daughter had reported this student several times so they were tired of her going to the office," she said. "They kept telling her to drop the subject."

Olvera said her daughter reported the abuse to school officials three times before telling her about it. She did not say when her daughter first approached school officials.

"From what I know the first principal that took a report on it looked at her in her eyes and told her it might have been the way you dress or it might be that you're seeking attention," the mother said.

Her daughter's friends saw that she was being harassed and told the male student to leave her alone, Olvera said. The male student went to school administrators, Olvera said, and they called her daughter to the office and told her that she needed to control her friends or she'd be held accountable for their actions.

Michael Alder, an attorney representing the victim and her family, said he plans to file a claim next week "for a number of issues." He did not provide specifics and encouraged anyone with information to contact his office.

"The whole point of the reporting requirement is that the first one stops anything else from happening again," Alder said. "That wasn't done, and now we know that's happened again and again."

The 15-year-old victim's abuse was "substantial," occurred on multiple occasions on school property, and was accompanied by harassment and intimidation, he said.

Rialto police said they were first notified around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 of a sexual battery at the high school, and an initial report indicated that a 17-year-old male student had sexually assaulted a 15-year-old female student several times over the course of three months. Police found that the victim told Yang and Harris about the assaults in November.

Detectives launched an investigation and learned two more female students, ages 15 and 16, were sexually assaulted by the same male student, according to a statement by the Rialto Police Department.

Olvera's daughter is the second victim identified by Rialto police, said Samantha Hernandez-Ortega, one of two attorneys representing the family. One victim came forward before her daughter and a third victim was identified by authorities this month after police started investigating.

Police said they launched an ongoing criminal investigation into the alleged assaults and the failure to report by Yang and Harris as soon as they were notified.

Detectives issued a citation to the 17-year-old suspect and released him into his parents custody pending criminal charges, police said.

Anyone with information related to the investigations into the assaults or the assistant principals failures to report is asked to call Lt. James Mills at (909) 820-2632.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling WeTip at (800) 782-7463.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS

Russia is a few steps closer to being ejected from SWIFT, the global banking system.

More EU countries, including Italy and Cyprus, voiced their support for the measure.

Some countries initially opposed the move but changed their stance as the Ukraine crisis worsened.

Russia could be a step closer to being expelled from the global banking system SWIFT as more EU countries said they favored its ejection.

The news comes as countries vowed to impose harsher economic and financial sanctions, following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine early Thursday morning.

SWIFT, a Belgian communications system, was launched in 1973 to serve as a neutral platform for banks to chat about financial transfers, transactions, and trades. Removing Russia could be economically catastrophic, as Insider's Ben Winck reported.

The service links more than 11,000 financial institutions in more than 200 countries and territories. It also hosted 42 million messages a day on average in 2021, according to Bloomberg.

Despite initial opposition, some countries have begun to change their views on opposing Russia's removal from Swift.

For example, Germany's foreign minister said earlier on Friday she did not believe a ban was the best course of action, per Reuters. But the news agency suggested that Germany had softened its stance later on Friday, noting that finance minister Christian Lindner said: "We are open, but you have to know what you're doing."

As well as Germany, the countries seemingly encouraging the SWIFT ban include Italy, Cyprus, and Hungary.

Successfully barring Moscow from the SWIFT system would require agreement among the 27 EU countries.

In tweets on Saturday, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, discussed EU countries' support for a SWIFT ban for Russia.

He highlighted Italy's support, saying: "Call with my Italian counterpart @luigidimaio. Full solidarity with Ukraine. My colleague assured me that Italy will support banning Russia from SWIFT."

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Enrico Letta, ex-prime minister of Italy, also confirmed the news in a tweet.

This was followed by a tweet stating Cyprus' position. Kuleba said: "We did it. Cyprus confirmed it will not block the decision to ban Russia from SWIFT."

Cypriot finance minister Constantinos Petrides addressed the move, stating: "In the name of EU unity and solidarity to #Ukrainian people #Cyprus has NOT objected to ANY EU sanctions including cutting Russia off Swift. Everything is on the table."

Hungary's stance was also made clear by Mateusz Morawiecki, prime minister of Poland. He said Saturday: "Today I spoke again with the Prime Minister of Hungary, V. Orban. And he once again assured me of his support for far-reaching sanctions against Russia. Including about blocking the SWIFT system."

The move to kick Russia out of the SWIFT system is favored by UK prime minister Boris Johnson, per Bloomberg. The US, however, is yet to match its support for such a move.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian forces attempting to storm Kyiv and other main cities are being reinforced after meeting fierce resistance with large numbers of troops and heavy weaponry capable of inflicting massive casualties, according to western intelligence analysts.

The Ukrainian capital is said to be the destination for two Russian armies  the 41st Combined Arms Army (CAA) and the 1st Guards Tank Army  as part of an encirclement operation from three sides with a fourth one being considered.

Western officials have expressed deep concern that frustration at a long delay in capturing Kyiv may lead to Vladimir Putin ordering the use of weapons capable of causing huge loss of lives, including thermobaric missiles.

Among the weapons which have been seen to be moving towards the capital and other cities are TOS-1 thermobaric launchers, BM-21 122mm Grad, BM-21 220mm Uragan, and 300mm Smerch systems. All are area denial systems which are not used for precision strikes, but clearing stretches of ground.

In addition, intelligence officials have seen the appearance of the 27M Malka 203mm heavy self-propelled howitzer and 2S4 Tyulpan 240 mm heavy self-propelled mortars which can be used on large buildings.

The 41st CAA and the 1st Guards Tank Army have around 35,000 to 40,000 personnel with support. But smaller numbers are expected to be deployed fully into Ukraine.

The main routes to Kyiv being targeted by the Russian general staff, it is claimed, are from Belarus down to the west bank of the Dnieper river; from the Gomel down to the east back of the Dnieper, west of Chernihiv; and through Kursk, Borzna and Bovary. A fourth option would be the force now fighting in Kharkiv moving up to the east bank of the Dnieper.

Officials say that using the heavy option may take some time and the Russians are likely to persist with the current operational plan of taking Kyiv without inflicting huge numbers of deaths and injuries.

This map details the progress of Russias invasion of Ukraine during Thursday and Friday (Press Association Images)

It is widely accepted, however, that Russian forces are behind their schedule in their projected rate of progress. Britains defence secretary Ben Wallaces conclusion that they have failed to reach their military objective in the first few days is widely shared by Ukrainian and other international officials.

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The Ukrainian-controlled territories in the Donbas, which President Putin said will be merged into the Peoples Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, are yet to be captured. And, despite intense fighting, none of the main cities targeted by the Russians have fallen.

Russian forces have proved surprisingly vulnerable to air strikes despite having overwhelming superiority in the number and quality of warplanes and in missiles and cannons. The Ukrainians have been highly effective in the use of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones they have been acquiring, and have already used successfully against separatist forces in the Donbas. The state-backed Russian channel Sputnik highlighted the use of the drones, but claimed that most of them have been shot down.

There has also been surprise at weakness in the Russian communications and coordination systems. There are stories of lost Russian columns asking for directions to Kyiv. These may be exaggerated, but some American units also asked for directions to Baghdad during the 2003 invasion. In any event, Ukrainian authorities are removing road signs on the approaches to Kyiv in an attempt to disorientate the Russians.

Ukrainian soldiers take positions outside a military facility as two cars burn in a Kyiv street, on Saturday (AP)

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry claimed on Saturday that it had shot down a Russian transporter plane carrying soldiers. It said that a Ukrainian SU-27 fighter jet intercepted the Russian IL-76 MD aircraft as it was trying to land paratroopers in the Kyiv region. The IL-76 MD can carry up to almost 170 soldiers, as well as a crew of seven.

Ukrainian officials claim that over 3,500 Russian troops have been killed since the invasion began. Russias military spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov held that Moscow had suffered no casualties during the invasion.

Ukraines health minister Viktor Liashko stated that 198 Ukrainians have been killed in that time, and 1,115 people injured, including 33 children. The figures were not broken down between combatants and civilians. On Friday the presidents office stated that 40 soldiers have been killed.

Ukrainian servicemen captured by the Russians in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine, on Saturday (EPA)

After intense missile strikes, artillery barrages and gunfights in the outskirts of Kyiv during the night, Saturday was relatively quiet in the city. President Zelensky, who had turned down Joe Bidens offer to fly him and his family to safety, declared that the Russians have sent missiles, fighters, drones, artillery, armoured vehicles, saboteurs and airborne forces against Ukraine, but we are defending the country, the land of our future children.

Kyiv and key cities around the capital are controlled by our army. The occupiers wanted to block the centre of our state and put their puppets here, as in Donetsk. We broke their plan."

Mr Zelensky also once again stated that the civilian population in Kyiv would be armed. On Saturday the Interior Ministry announced that 18,000 machine guns will be handed to volunteers.

A curfew in the capital was extended from 10pm-8am to 5pm-8am by the mayor, Vitali Klitschko, who declared that violators would be considered the enemy. Armed groups of civilians have been setting up checkpoints in the streets during the course of the day, at times arresting suspects: another volatile mix in the combustible state of affairs in Ukraine.
Spring and summer were looking great for European travel, as borders reopened, international restrictions lifted and millions of travelers booked overseas flights, cruises and tours.

Then Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now, millions of people may be rethinking those plans. And a battered travel industry that was anticipating a booming summer season is facing another round of uncertainty.

On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration expanded the no-fly zone in eastern Europe for U.S. carriers to include all of Ukraine and Belarus, as well as part of western Russia. Air travel worldwide is getting messier too. After Britain banned Russian Aeroflot flights to the U.K., Russia banned all British flights from its airspace.

Many of those flights are being rerouted through nearby countries, according to the International Air Transport Association. But the group warned Thursday that closure of additional airspace could impact this scenario.

Travel advisers say theyve heard from some travelers who are questioning whether they should keep existing plans or rebook elsewhere. But so far, they say, cancellations arent a big problem.

Given the rapidly changing situation, its still too early to tell, said Erika Richter, spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Advisors.

Some major travel operators, however, are not waiting to make decisions. Theyve already adjusted certain European itineraries and pulled the plug on other excursions altogether.

On Thursday, Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the worlds largest cruise operators, said it was rerouting trips around the Baltic region to avoid Russian and Ukrainian ports. Viking Cruises released a statement that said We have made the difficult decision to cancel all 2022 departures of our Kiev, Black Sea and Bucharest itinerary. And travel writer and tour operator Rick Steves said in a blog post that his company was canceling tours in Russia for the rest of the year, but Europe would remain on the calendar for now. It is important to keep geographic realities in mind and remember that a war in Ukraine is as far from our European vacation dreams as a war in Guatemala would be from Texas or Florida, he said, adding We see no reason to change the rest of our travel and touring plans.

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The uncertainty created by the Ukraine conflict comes as rapidly falling Covid rates and easing of international restrictions have fueled a strong and steady rise in demand for global travel.

Major U.S. airlines, including American, Delta and United, have more than doubled the number of seats for transatlantic travelers through August, according to CNBC. JetBlue has increased service between New York, Boston and London. International airlines are resuming and expanding service to the U.S. And new carriers, such as Icelands low-budget airline Play, have entered the market.

Ticket prices have also increased right along with capacity.

Two months ago, a round-trip ticket to Paris cost around $600, Scott Keyes, founder of Scotts Cheap Flights, told NBC on Friday. But now, unless youre flying from New York City, youd be lucky to find one for under $750, he said. A month from now, $900-plus will be the norm. And with oil prices rising, Keyes said flights could get even pricier as airlines pass on higher fuel costs to consumers.

But things can also change quickly. In the hours after Russia invaded Ukraine, demand for international travel saw a sharp drop, Keyes said. He noted that Kayak flight-search data shows international travel searches dropped 8 percentage points overnight as the war began, the steepest fall in months. If that demand stays low expect to see cheaper fares to Europe, capacity cuts to the number of transatlantic flights, or both, he said.

No matter how much prices bounce around, after two years of being grounded by the pandemic, most travel experts believe pent-up demand will win out.

I have many clients who are traveling to Italy, France, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Portugal and more, says Stephanie Goldberg-Glazer of travel company Live Well, Travel Often. Prices are high, but people are OK with that because they want to travel, she said.

Tiffany Scott, of Anchorage, Alaska, feels the same way. Shes waited two years to take a trip to Morocco she booked and partially paid for in 2019. Shes headed there next week and says shes stopping in France on the way home. Probably the only thing that would stop me at this point was if Russia was then attacking the other nations in Europe.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Friday demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops, a defeat the United States and its supporters knew was inevitable but said would highlight Russias global isolation.

The vote was 11 in favor, with Russia voting no and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining, which showed significant but not total opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of his country's smaller and militarily weaker neighbor.

The resolution's failure paves the way for supporters to call for a quick vote on a similar resolution in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly, where there are no vetoes. There was no immediate word on a timetable for an assembly vote.

The vote was delayed for two hours the United States and Albania, which co-sponsored the resolution, and their supporters scrambled behind the scenes to get wavering nations to support the resolution. Chinas decision to abstain, rather than use its veto alongside usual ally Russia, was seen as a diplomatic achievement.

Not surprisingly, Russia exercised its veto power today in an effort to protect Russias premeditated, unprovoked, unjustified and unconscionable war in Ukraine," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

But let me make one thing clear: Russia, you can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices," she told her Russian counterpart. You cannot veto the truth. You cannot veto our principles. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people."

Brazils Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, whose countrys vote was initially in question but turned into a yes, said his government is gravely concerned about Russias military action. A line has been crossed, and this council cannot remain silent, he said.

In response, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reiterated his country's claims that it is standing up for people in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting the government for eight years. He accused the West of ignoring Ukrainian abuses there.

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You have made Ukraine a pawn in your geopolitical game, with no concern whatsoever about the interests of the Ukrainian people, he said, calling the failed resolution nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard.

Chinas U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said China abstained because all efforts must be made for a diplomatic solution and a response from the Security Council should be taken with great caution rather than adding fuel to fire. He warned that Western sanctions may completely shut the door to a peaceful solution and echoed Russian claims that it is being threatened by NATO's expansion over the years.

Russia's legitimate security aspirations should be given attention and addressed properly, Zhang said, and Ukraine should become a bridge between east and west, not an outpost for confrontation among major powers.

Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward called Russias claim that it was acting in self-defense absurd.

Russias only act of self-defense is the vote they have cast against this resolution today, she said.

Ukraines U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of committing war crimes"

"There will be no hospitality for your troops in our territory," he told Russia's Nebenia.

You can stop a vote in this chamber," Kyslytsya said. But what may stop the war is unfortunately the bodies, and thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers that will be delivered to their mothers in Russia  whether you like it or not  because we have to defend our territory. We have to defend ourselves."

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recalled that the United Nations was born out of war to end war.

Today, that objective was not achieved, he said. But we must never give up. We must give peace another chance."

The resolutions supporters had agreed to weaken the text to get additional support. They eliminated putting the resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced militarily, and language stating that the situation in Ukraine constitutes a breach of international peace and security, and that the Russian Federation has committed acts of aggression against Ukraine. They also changed condemns to deplores in sections about Russia's actions.

In the draft that was put to a vote, the council would have deplored Russias aggression against Ukraine in the strongest terms and demanded an immediate halt to its use of force and the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraines internationally recognized borders.

It would have deplored Russias Feb. 21 decision declaring areas of Ukraines Donetsk and Luhansk regions independent and would have ordered Russia to immediately and unconditionally reverse the decision. And it would have reaffirmed the councils commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

In a show of support before the meeting, representatives of the 27 nations belonging to the European Union stood outside the Security Council chamber behind Ukraines blue and yellow flag with Ukraines Kyslytsya.

The Security Council resolution would have been legally binding. General Assembly resolutions arent legally binding but serve as a reflection of world opinion.

Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador, said supporters of the resolution will be taking the issue of Russia's invasion to the assembly where the nations of the world can, will and should hold Russia accountable and stand in solidarity with Ukraine."

Russia cannot, and will not, veto accountability, she said, surrounded by dozens of ambassadors from supporting countries.
This photo provided by NASA shows the International Space Station with Earth's horizon as a backdrop





Russia's space agency chief said that the sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies over Russia's invasion into Ukraine could potentially destroy cooperation on the International Space Station (ISS).

After President Biden announced Thursday that the U.S. would sanction major Russian banks and impose export controls on Russia to curtail high-tech imports, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin tweeted that the ISS's current location is under Russian control.

"If you block cooperation with us, who will save the International Space Station (ISS) from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or...Europe?" Rogozin said in one of his tweets. "There is also the possibility of a 500-ton structure falling on India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect? The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?"

Currently, there are four NASA astronauts, two Russian cosmonauts and one European astronaut onboard the outpost, according to CNN.

A NASA spokesperson told CNN that they will continue "working with all our international partners, including the State Space Corporation Roscosmos, for the ongoing safe operations of the International Space Station."

"The new export control measures will continue to allow U.S.-Russia civil space cooperation. No changes are planned to the agency's support for ongoing in orbit and ground station operations. The new export control measures will continue to allow U.S.-Russia civil space cooperation," the spokesperson added.

Former NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman told CNN that the ISS, which is a collaboration among the U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency, cannot function if the U.S. and Russia don't cooperate.

"The Russian segment can't function without the electricity on the American side, and the American side can't function without the propulsion systems that are on the Russian side," Reisman said. "So you can't do an amicable divorce. You can't do a conscious uncoupling."

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced concern over the future of the ISS during remarks in the House of Commons Thursday, saying he has been supportive of continued collaboration regarding the ISS but that current circumstances have made it difficult to "see how even those can continue as normal," according to CNN.

The news comes as the White House announced Friday that it will directly sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials in Moscow in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Theres a crypto-sized hole in U.S. sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions and oligarchs.

Rapidly evolving digital markets have created new ways to subvert heavy-duty penalties that were designed to cut off wealthy Russians and state-backed institutions from the U.S. financial system in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. With Moscow now a hotbed for high-risk exchanges and mixing services  which scramble the ability to track the flow of transactions on public blockchains  crypto marketplaces could blunt attempts to freeze Russian assets.

I dont think that were where we need to be in terms of preventing individuals who are subject to sanctions from moving value and operating using the pseudonymity of cryptocurrency, said Stuart Levey, who was Treasurys sanctions czar under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. I dont think that we in the U.S. have fully grappled with that risk.

Offshore exchanges for buying and selling digital assets often dont require identifying information that could assist financial regulators and law enforcement, said Levey, whos also the CEO of Facebooks now-scuttled cryptocurrency project Diem. The rise of decentralized finance platforms  peer-to-peer networks that allow parties to transfer assets without having to go through intermediaries like banks or credit services  also plays a role.

If somebody can bypass all of those intermediaries and bypass the fact that they have to reveal their true identity to enter the system and to conduct a transaction, he said, then that leads to the potential for sanctions evasion.

Treasury officials say they arent overly worried about crypto undermining the effort to choke off the Kremlins access to capital. Laundering large amounts of money through a dizzying array of digital wallets and exchanges is expensive, time-consuming and would likely be visible in the broader crypto market, given the massive investment portfolios of individuals and institutions named in the sanctions.

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"The scale of what they have to move, and where they have to move things from, [cryptos] not necessarily going to be that concerning, said Todd Conklin, counselor to the deputy Treasury secretary. Any attempt to move that much money through exchanges would contribute to a bit more of a spike in the crypto market, in my view, than has been observed lately.

As Russian forces advanced toward Kyiv, President Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled another round of sanctions that would freeze assets held by Russias largest banks and members of Vladimir Putins inner circle. The U.S. has also moved to block the Russian governments access to sovereign debt markets and high-tech industries in an attempt to force a suspension of the conflict.

The latest restrictions arrive amid Moscows emergence as a hub for washing digital assets collected through ransomware attacks, darknet marketplaces and other scams. The data firm Chainalysis, which specializes in tracking activity on blockchain networks, identified several Moscow-based crypto businesses whose services help facilitate schemes that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for cybercriminals.

Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, Treasury sanctioned two Russian crypto exchanges that were found to have processed transactions that had been tied to ransomware attacks and other illegal activities. The exchanges, Suex and Chatex, were both tied to Russian investor Egor Petukhovsky  who denied participating in illegal activity via his Facebook page last year.

U.S. exchanges require customers to submit information that could help agencies trace assets to a specific user, but decentralized services and certain off-shore exchanges can be used to move assets without identifying information.

While the U.S. government can always do more, theyre not doing nothing. They are aware that this is an issue, and they are using multiple tools at their disposal to make sure that they have this area covered, said Inca Digital CEO Adam Zarazinski, whose firm helps federal regulators track activity in crypto markets. The Russian government is absolutely aware that cryptocurrency is a major option for them.

Other authoritarian regimes under sanction have already started to lean on crypto markets to finance government projects. United Nations security experts have linked North Korea to attacks that netted hundreds of millions of dollars, some of which were laundered through peer-to-peer decentralized finance platforms. Analysts have also found that Irans Bitcoin mining industry is aiding its ability to duck sanctions that block its institutions from accessing financial markets.

The Treasury Department previously identified crypto as a major threat to sanctions programs in a report released last fall, noting that federal authorities would need to bulk up institutional knowledge of digital assets and associated services or risk diminishing their effectiveness. Mixing services, particularly if coupled with anonymity-enhanced tokens like Monero, are a potent mix for those looking to move large amounts without leaving fingerprints.

That isnt to say there arent drawbacks to the strategy. Most crypto assets are traded on publicly visible blockchains that make it easier for law enforcement agencies or third-party agencies to track the flow of payments from wallet to wallet. And while mixing services can be useful, they can also be costly for those trying to launder large quantities.

We have never had more visibility of financial flows and money laundering than we do today in cryptocurrency, said Ari Redbord, a former Treasury official who now heads legal and government affairs for the blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs. While obfuscation tools can be useful for smaller criminal organizations and hackers, it is hard to offramp crypto in large amounts.
Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) yesterday demanded Abbott Nutrition hand over information and documents related to the companys sweeping infant formula recall last week, after POLITICO reported that FDA, CDC and Abbott were all informed of the first infant illness in September.

It is completely unacceptable that manufacturing conditions allowed a contaminated product to reach babies, and that it took months for the company to act to warn parents and caregivers about this danger, the senators wrote Abbott CEO and chair Robert Ford, citing POLITICOs reporting.

The letter comes as CDC says it has received reports of more Cronobacter sakazakii cases that may be tied to the outbreak, beyond the four hospitalizations, including one death, initially reported (one with Salmonella Newport). West Virginia has since confirmed it had one infant sick with Salmonella tied to the formula, though this has not been reported by federal officials as part of the outbreak.

More reports from Texas and Maryland have been reported and moms have flooded social media with complaints and unconfirmed anecdotes of infant illnesses and hospitalizations. Federal health officials have not publicly updated their case counts in more than a week.

CDC and FDA are conducting additional laboratory testing and investigation to better understand these cases, CDC said in an update Friday. The formula has been recalled in roughly three dozen countries.

Murray, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee, which oversees FDA, and Casey, one of the committees top Democrats, are seeking answers from Abbott about the timeline.

The lawmakers are also seeking all internal documents and communications about complaints from consumers, including the initial September report of an illness. They want documents and information about the plants testing and any destruction of product and audits, among other things, spanning back to 2017. The lawmakers gave the company until March 10 to respond.

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Abbott Nutrition didnt have an immediate comment on the letter, but the company says it took swift action.

Abbott conducts extensive quality checks on each completed batch of infant formula, including microbiological analysis prior to release, Jonathon Hamilton, a spokesperson for Abbott, said. All infant formula products are tested for Cronobacter sakazakii, Salmonella and other pathogens and they must test negative before any product is released.

FDA also said Friday its working to ease supply chain issues, as parents have faced shortages across the country. The brands recalled by Abbott Nutrition  Similac, Alimentum and EleCare  are major parts of the infant formula market. The agency is also working with USDA because so much of the recalled formula was part of the WIC program, which provides nutrition to millions of low-income parents and young children. The recall sent dozens of state agencies scrambling.

We want to reassure the public that were working diligently with our partners to investigate complaints related to these products, which we recognize include infant formula produced at this facility, while we work to resolve this safety concern as quickly as possible, said Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response, in a statement last week.

As POLITICO first reported, the timeline from the first illness to the sweeping recall spans months. When pressed about the specific dates, FDA said the agency was told about the first illness Sep. 21. The next day, the agency notified Abbott Nutrition.

The agency has said the next two Cronobacter cases, plus one Salmonella case linked to the same Sturgis, Mich., facility, came through in November, December and January, without specifying when. The infants in all four cases were hospitalized. One infant died, though FDA has said its not clear whether it was solely due to the Cronobacter infection.

The FDA initiated an inspection of the facility Jan. 31, the agency told POLITICO. Inspectors found Cronobacter sakazakii in several environmental samples taken at the plant. They also found records suggesting the company had previously found the bacteria in the plant and had destroyed product because of the issue. Product was recalled Feb. 17, about three weeks after the inspection kicked off.

One detail thats been missed in all the confusion: FDA was actually in the plant for a routine inspection a few days after the first case was reported to FDA and CDC but it doesnt appear inspectors were looking for Cronobacter. The FDA has so far declined to answer POLITICOs questions about the September inspection and whether inspectors were told about the reported illness.

The plant was not inspected in 2020, likely due to Covid-19. Infant formula plants are usually inspected once a year because they serve such a vulnerable population. The agency has also not answered questions about whether all routine infant formula inspections were skipped in 2020 due to the pandemic.
By Horacio Fernando Soria and Miguel Lo Bianco

BUENOS AIRES/LIMA (Reuters) - Leila Antonovsk, 28, a Ukrainian living in Argentina, fears for the safety of her mother back in Odessa some 12,642 kilometers (7,855 miles) away after an invasion of the Eastern European country by Russian forces this week.

"My mom is in Ukraine right now, in Odessa, and yesterday she woke up with bombs falling," said Antonovsk who was protesting on Friday at the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires.

"She, like many of my friends, is currently trying to take refuge, to do something, but everything has collapsed," she said. "They are really scared. Nobody knows what to do, we don't know how to help, except to come here."

Hundreds of Ukrainians marched through the streets of the Argentine capital with placards and yellow-blue flags calling for Russian troops to pull back from Ukraine after an attack which marks the worst European security crisis in decades.

Argentina's Ukrainian community has nearly 450,000 members, the seventh largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world, according to the Argentine Embassy in Kyiv.

Oleh Jachno, president of Argentina's Ukrainian chamber of commerce, said that people wanted Ukrainian forces to "throw out Putin" but were also concerned about daily bombings hitting cities.

By Friday Russian troops had reached the outskirts of capital Kyiv, with warnings from authorities to protect the city even as the two governments signaled potential openness to negotiations.

Demonstrators took to the streets in Brazil, Mexico and Peru, chanting "Long live Ukraine" and holding banners saying "Stop the war" and "Ukraine is not alone."

"We are protesting so that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, this murderer, pulls his people out of Ukraine, to stop the war because we don't want any more deaths," said Ukrainian citizen Alina Karminska in Peruvian capital Lima.

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In Argentina, Yuri Vanov, a 37-year-old Russian citizen who has lived in the South American country for seven years, had come along to participate in the protests against the invasion, too.

"We are obviously for peace, we don't want people to die on any side and less for political reasons that have nothing to do with what people think," Vanov said.

(Reporting by Horacio Soria, Miguel Lo Bianco and Reuters TV; Writing by Maximilian Heath; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien)
Shots were fired near the Milwaukee District 5 police station at Locust Street and Vel Phillips Avenue on the the city's north side at roughly 3 p.m. Friday. Investigators are uncertain if there is any connection between the shooting and the death of Keishon D. Thomas, 20, who died in a police holding cell, while in custody at the District 5 station earlier this week.

A 23-year-old Milwaukee man fired multiple shots at police staff in the lobby of Milwaukee's District 5 police station about 3 p.m. Friday, Chief Jeffrey Norman said.

The shooting is the second major incident this week at District 5. On Wednesday, 20-year-old Keishon D. Thomas died in a police holding cell at the station, located at 2920 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave.

Investigators are uncertain if any connection exists between the shooting Friday and Thomas' death. Three officers were suspended following Thomas' death, and the investigation is ongoing, Norman confirmed in a news conference earlier Friday.

"We are still looking into all angles of this," Norman said of the Friday shooting during a press conference at the station.

"Several" members of the community were also present in the lobby at the time of the shooting.

An officer shot back at the man, prompting him to run from the station, Norman said.

Officers chased the suspect on foot to the 2900 block of North Sixth Street, where "multiple" officers shot at him and hit him "multiple" times, Norman said.

He was hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening, Norman said.

No officer or civilian was injured during the shooting. The gun was recovered.

Norman said he did not know if the man was known to police before the shooting.

The seven officers involved in the shooting are now on administrative duty, per standard procedure following a police-involved shooting. The West Allis Police Department is leading the investigation as a part of the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team.

The officers involved were:

A 41-year-old male officer with over four years of service

A 37-year-old male officer with over 14 years of service

A 37-year-old male officer with over 10 years of service

A 35-year-old male officer with over four years of service

A 33-year-old male officer with over seven years of service

A 32-year-old male officer with over five years of service, and,

A 27-year-old male officer with over nine years of service

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More: Community organizations call on FPC for rules on release of videos, information after officer shootings

Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Vanessa_Swales.

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

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shots fired at Milwaukee District 5 police station; suspect in custody
Ix Shen in a Zoom video interview with The Straits Times. (Screenshot: YouTube)

Russias invasion of Ukraine has left dozens killed and thousands fleeing. But former Mediacorp actor Ix Shen, who is currently based in Ukraine, told The Straits Times yesterday (24 February) in a Zoom video interview that he has no plans to leave.

Shen revealed that he was standing on the balcony of his home in Kyiv, Ukraine, when he heard a loud explosion, which he estimated to be 20km to 40km away, at about 10pm on Wednesday (23 February) or 4am yesterday (SGT).

It was a very instantaneous flash. For a moment, I thought it was the moon being covered by the clouds, but the clouds would not have been able to move that fast, he recalled. Maybe about three seconds later, I heard a very loud boom.

In addition to hearing a few more explosions and a series of air raid sirens, he also saw several low-flying fighter jets near his home, signifying the looming threat of war.

Shen, who turns 50 next month, has lived in the Podil district in Kyiv for the past four months with his Ukrainian wife of seven years, who is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. He explained that they currently have no plans to leave the country as his wife is a reservist medical officer who may be mobilised for duty.

Although he has reassured his friends and family in Singapore that he is alive and well, the couple are more worried about his wifes family in Odessa, a port city in Southern Ukraine, especially her grandmother who is in her 90s and unable to walk.

Shen added that they have been following the Ukrainian governments advice to stay indoors and await new information. He also described that people are tense but remain orderly, with no frenzy or panic.

The economy has come to a standstill pretty much because most of the shops are closed. The buses and the subway are still operating, he disclosed. People were worried that they wouldnt be able to make online transactions to buy the groceries and water that they need. Fortunately, that is still available.

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In preparation for the impending war, he has stocked up on essential items such as rice, canned food and cooking gas. He plans to share them with the community and hopes to help those around him.

I will not be able to live with myself if I just take off and go on my own, Shen said, despite having the option to leave the country. My main focus is to help in any way I can, to help my family, friends, neighbours to survive this situation.
PRAGUE (Reuters) -Slovakia will send artillery ammunition and fuel worth a total of 11 million euros ($12.39 million) to Ukraine, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said on Saturday.

Nad said the shipment includes 12,000 rounds of 120-milimetre caliber ammunition, 10 million litres (2.64 million US gallons) of diesel fuel and 2.4 million litres of aircraft fuel.

($1 = 0.8875 euros)

(Reporting by Robert Muller; Editing by David Clarke and Catherine Evans)
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Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

The UN Security Council on Friday failed to adopt a draft resolution on Ukraine.

The draft resolution, proposed by the United States and Albania, was rejected because it was vetoed by permanent member Russia.

Any negative vote, known as veto, from the council's five permanent members means a failed resolution.
Snoop Dogg is facing a potential lawsuit after he publicly called out his UberEats driver for failing to deliver his food.

Earlier this month, the rapper shared a video to Instagram showing messages exchanged between himself and a driver from the food delivery service.

In the messages, the employee can be seen repeatedly telling Snoop that he has arrived and asking the rapper to plz answer.

After he has waited the required eight minutes, he then tells Snoop that he is leaving because he does not feel safe.

This is not a safe place, the driver wrote, according to the video, prompting Snoop to reply: Yes it is, pull up to the gate.

They waited for 8 minutes for you after getting there buddy. If you want someone to do work for you, dont make it impossible and then cry about it, you big rich baby https://t.co/twBvkGq761  Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) January 30, 2022

In the clip shared to Instagram, Snoop said: Motherf***er from f***ing Uber Eats didnt bring my f***ing food. Talking about he arrived. This is not a safe place. Punk motherf***er  where my food at n***a? You got all my goddamn money, punk.

As per Complex, CBS Los Angeles reports that the driver now plans to file a lawsuit against Snoop.

The driver, named Sayd, said: Its my picture there and also there is my first name. After I saw the video, Im kind of like, I have high anxiety and I fear for my familys safety. I contacted the customer many times and I followed the protocol by the book.

Snoop Dogg (2021 Invision)

Shortly after the failed delivery went viral on social media, Uber issued an apology to Snoop.

We truly regret Snoop Doggs frustrating experience. We have reached out to apologise and refunded him for the order, the company said.

Sayd  who has not returned to work since the incident  said that he believes he is the one owed an apology after Snoop broadcast his personal information with his millions of social media followers.

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Sayd said: When I read that [apology], I just felt like its not fair because I am the one that deserves an apology from UberEats, not Snoop.

But I have to fight for my rights and my familys rights. I just feel like Im not really well from this delivery and also UberEats.

The Independent has contacted a representative of Snoop Dogg and UberEats for comment.

At the time Snoop posted the video, some fans argued that the rapper was the one in the wrong as he had not answered the drivers initial messages.

Others defended the Sayd on the basis that he was following protocol, which states that he is free to leave after waiting the allotted eight minutes.




Social media platforms are preventing Russian-backed media from earning ad revenue as Russia continues its assault on Ukraine.

The head of security policy at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced Friday night that Russian state media would not be able to earn money from ads on the company's platforms.

"We are now prohibiting Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on our platform anywhere in the world," Nathaniel Gleicher tweeted. "We also continue to apply labels to additional Russian state media. These changes have already begun rolling out and will continue into the weekend."

Following the move, YouTube on Saturday said Russian channels, including state-owned network RT, would be barred from receiving money from ads on its platform, Reuters reported.

YouTube is "pausing a number of channels' ability to monetize on YouTube, including several Russian channels affiliated with recent sanctions," the company said, according to Reuters.

Twitter, meanwhile, said it was suspending ads in Ukraine and Russia amid the conflict.

"We're temporarily pausing advertisements in Ukraine and Russia to ensure critical public safety information is elevated and ads don't detract from it," Twitter Safety tweeted Friday.

This comes as experts have said that Russian leaders and state-backed media are working to spread disinformation and propaganda amid the country's invasion into Ukraine, according to NBC News.

Facebook previously announced on Thursday that it was ramping up efforts to monitor posts and provide users with the ability to lock their profiles to private as "an extra layer of privacy and security" in response to the military conflict.

Gleicher also said Saturday that Meta was rolling out additional security feature on Facebook.

"In addition to rolling out Locked Profiles in Ukraine, we have also temporarily removed the ability to view and search the 'Friends' list for Facebook accounts in Ukraine to help protect people from being targeted," he wrote on Twitter.
Liky Li, a live-streamer based in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, often works between midnight and 8am to pitch music boxes and Harry Potter figurines to online consumers in cities such as London and Manchester, instead of those in local locations like Shenzhen or Shanghai.

A former English opera teacher and translator, Li said she is using "Live Shopping on TikTok Shop" - a service under popular short video-sharing platform TikTok - to reach a vast "blue ocean" of unexplored opportunity in cross-border e-commerce.

"Everyone is just getting started, so every step is hard to take, and no one will teach you anything," said Li, citing the belief of her unidentified boss who is a small Chinese merchant on US e-commerce platform Amazon.com. She said they are betting on the growing reach of TikTok Live to engage more consumers overseas.

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.

ByteDance-owned TikTok, which was projected by research firm eMarketer to have 1.5 billion monthly active users worldwide by the end of this year, launched its live-streaming service in 2019 and introduced new features last year. With the ongoing issues in the "made in China, sold on Amazon" business model, analysts expect TikTok to be well-positioned to transform into a major cross-border e-commerce platform for mainland Chinese merchants.

Guangzhou-based live-streamer Liky Li uses TikTok to engage online consumers in the UK. Photos: Handout alt=Guangzhou-based live-streamer Liky Li uses TikTok to engage online consumers in the UK. Photos: Handout>

The coronavirus pandemic has turned live-streaming e-commerce into a mainstream marketing tactic in China, and TikTok has gained enough experience through its parent company in this mature market, according to Zhang Yi, chief executive of iiMedia Research.

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China's cross-border e-commerce sector has enjoyed explosive growth since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic fast-tracked the adoption of online shopping in overseas markets, such as the US and Europe, where consumers who had favoured the bricks-and-mortar retail experience were forced to make more purchases over the internet.

Beijing-based ByteDance, the world's most valuable tech unicorn, initiated a major e-commerce push in its home market last year through Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, as it moved to diversify its sources of revenue. That initiative included the launch of its own mobile payment service Douyin Pay. In December, ByteDance created a stand-alone Chinese shopping app called Douyin Box, similar to its Fanno platform in Europe.

TikTok, which recorded 1 billion monthly active users last September, started testing online retail features in Indonesia and Britain early last year. In November, ByteDance launched a seller's app for TikTok that enables merchants to manage their digital stores. Last August, TikTok partnered with Canadian e-commerce giant Shopify to initially allow users in the US and Britain to buy goods directly through the app.

Chinese exports via cross-border e-commerce have been growing annually at a robust pace. alt=Chinese exports via cross-border e-commerce have been growing annually at a robust pace.>

"[China's] cross-border live-streamers have just begun to develop this field," iiMedia's Zhang said. "They are using extensive and cost-effective [product] inventories across the country to start a new journey abroad."

Chinese exports via cross-border e-commerce grew 40.1 per cent annually in 2020 and 15 per cent in 2021, according to data from the country's General Administration of Customs. The monthly growth rate for Chinese exports, by comparison, was just above 6 per cent from 2009 to 2021.

"Cross-border e-commerce has expanded at an incredible rate," said Li Kuiwen, spokesman for the General Administration of Customs and a director at the Department of Statistics and Analysis, at a media briefing in January on recent trade developments. He said China's total cross-border e-commerce market last year reached 1.98 trillion yuan (US$313 billion).

That growth raises the stakes for TikTok to develop into a viable platform for Chinese merchants to engage more consumers overseas, while competing against services offered by the likes of Amazon, Alibaba Group Holding, eBay, Facebook and Instagram.

TikTok's rise in cross-border e-commerce comes as merchants belonging to the "made in China, sold on Amazon" community have scrambled to find alternative platforms to sell to foreign consumers. The US e-commerce giant has shut down thousands of Chinese-brand stores on its platform in a clampdown against fake customer reviews and other violations.

The crackdown has affected tens of thousands of Chinese merchants, according to a report last July by the trade group Shenzhen Cross-Border E-commerce Association. It said Amazon's action has prompted various Chinese merchants to start investing more on other international online retail platforms such as eBay and AliExpress - the global marketplace operated by e-commerce giant Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post.

Other international platforms that Chinese merchants use to access overseas consumers include Alibaba-owned Lazada Group and Tencent Holdings-backed Shopee, both are focused on Southeast Asian markets. These two platforms also use live- stream shopping to engage consumers.

For online merchants, TikTok provides them with a social commerce business model - combining elements of social media and e-commerce - that has proved popular in China, according to Chen Yanfan, team leader at the Marketing Technology Information Centre of Tec-Do, a Guangzhou-based marketing agency.

It is a similar model to what the likes of Douyin, Pinduoduo and Xiaohongshu have developed in the local market, Chen said. He indicated that Tec-Do has received increased inquiries to buy advertising on both TikTok and Facebook.

China's retail social commerce market was expected to reach US$351.65 billion last year, eclipsing the US$36.62 billion total in the US for the same period, according to research firm eMarketer. That means consumers on the mainland spend about 10 times more on social commerce purchases than their US counterparts.

"Many local merchants [have just recently] heard about the overseas version of Douyin, but they didn't even know how to download it, not to mention use it for selling," said Huang Erxia, the live-streaming team leader at Shenzhen-based marketing agency Tituo Cross-Border. TikTok's move to open the UK, US and Indonesia markets to Chinese sellers has raised hopes for these merchants to "get their first pot of gold", she said.

The apps of TikTok and Amazon.com are displayed on a smartphone. Photo: Shutterstock alt=The apps of TikTok and Amazon.com are displayed on a smartphone. Photo: Shutterstock>

Huang said she believes that sooner or later, Chinese sellers will gain broader access worldwide through TikTok, which she expected to be more friendly to Chinese merchants than Amazon. "After all, Amazon's boss is American, but the boss of TikTok is Chinese," she said.

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming, China's richest billionaire under 40, stepped down as the company's chief executive at the end of last year, relinquishing the role to Liang Rubo.

When asked about the prospects of opening new markets to Chinese sellers, a TikTok spokesman said: "Similar to other global e-commerce platforms, we welcome global suppliers as well as those from China ... As the business evolves, we may consider opening in more select markets in future."

With its broad worldwide audience, popular short video-sharing app TikTok is expected to develop into a major new platform for cross-border e-commerce. Photo: Shutterstock alt=With its broad worldwide audience, popular short video-sharing app TikTok is expected to develop into a major new platform for cross-border e-commerce. Photo: Shutterstock>

At present, TikTok faces plenty of work ahead to help raise awareness and build up consumer confidence for the merchants on its live-streaming service.

Bolade Kerr, a London-based millennial TikTok user, said she initially hesitated to buy fashion merchandise, such as bags, jewellery and clothing, being marketed on the platform.

"The online bidding approach of some shops [on TikTok Live] makes it appealing to buy the items, which also look good and are reasonably priced," Kerr said. She indicated, however, that she was unsure of how trustworthy these TikTok shops are.

Such doubts go both ways, according to Tituo Cross-Border's Huang. Chinese merchants, she said, have often asked whether the platform is reliable, including in terms of delivering the goods.

One of the most important steps, according to experts, is to hire live-streamers who speak good conversational English, understand the products and the company they represent, and more importantly, know their target audience.

Tec-Do's Chen, however, warned that hiring the right talent for certain target markets can be a delicate balancing act. "Domestic sellers may face high human capital cost if they want people with capable language skills ... or live-streamers working in specific markets," Chen said.

Chinese merchants' hiring strategy in that regard will ultimately depend on TikTok's policies, according to Huang. TikTok, for example, requires sellers to have local warehouses in Indonesia. If the cost of skilled talent is cheaper there than in China, then it would make sense to hire local live-streamers for that market, Huang said.

The advantage of Chinese merchants doing cross-border e-commerce today is that the country provides an extensive infrastructure - from production to logistics - to support them, according to iiMedia's Zhang. "China's solid logistics system was built on long-standing export practices," Zhang said.

Still, many small and medium-sized online merchants may need to get subsidies from either the government or platform operators to help support their cross-border e-commerce ambitions.

China's big e-commerce hubs, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou, all have policies to fund cross-border e-commerce merchants given this sector's contribution to the local economy, such as in terms of providing employment and generating taxes.

Southern Guangdong province, the nation's biggest manufacturing hub, last November announced the development of 30 new industrial zones dedicated to cross-border e-commerce that can support 100,000 companies.

TikTok, which recorded 1 billion monthly active users last September, started testing online retail features in Indonesia and Britain early last year. Photo: AP alt=TikTok, which recorded 1 billion monthly active users last September, started testing online retail features in Indonesia and Britain early last year. Photo: AP>

Live-streamer Li said TikTok provides coverage for shipping fees. Li's UK customers, for example, can have their shipping fees covered by TikTok when their order is worth more than 3 (US$4.10).

While live-streaming on TikTok has so far been Li's highest-paying gig, she said her physical health has suffered from the irregular working hours. Still, she intends to make live streaming a full-time job for a month - pitching products to thousands of viewers six times a week, for four to six hours a day - starting in March.

"If you manage to establish roots when there is an opportunity, you will survive and get ahead," she said.

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.
President Donald Trump shaking hands with then-Florida Governor Rick Scott (right) in the State dining Room of the White House on February 26, 2018. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Republicans want to retake Congress with little to offer in the form of an agenda.

Sen. Rick Scott offered a platform of his own that included tax hikes, splitting with Trump.

The GOP platform on the economy is up for grabs ahead of the midterms.

Republican leaders are seeking to retake Congress without much that resembles an agenda other than stoking culture wars against the left and trying to become "the party of parents." This week, Sen. Rick Scott of Florida started filling in the blanks with ideas of his own.

The head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee released an 11-point plan to "rescue America" that included a litany of conservative goals, such as completing the wall on the US-Mexico border, blocking so-called critical race theory from being taught in classrooms, nationwide voter ID laws, and balancing the federal budget.

He said it didn't represent a platform for Republicans on the ballot in November. But one bullet point within the document triggered fierce attacks from Democrats and the White House.

That proposal was aimed at compelling every American to pay some federal income tax so they'd have "skin in the game." It would amount to a tax increase falling squarely on middle- and low-income families, the Tax Policy Center said. The group found it would hike taxes by about $1,000 among Americans earning less than $27,000, under the hypothetical scenario of a $100 minimum tax.

Scott's small-government manifesto was a throwback to the tea-party ideology that once galvanized the conservative movement in the early 2010s  and which Donald Trump prevailed on Republicans to abandon. It also represented a break from Trump's view that paying zero dollars in income tax was an achievement to celebrate instead of something to penalize.

The GOP has yet to unite around an economic plan

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell with other Republican leaders speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on October 5. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Scott's agenda showcases how the GOP platform on the economy is largely up for grabs in November's midterms. Other conservatives, including Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, are pitching competing platforms as well. Cawthorn's would abolish the federal income tax system and eliminate the Education Department among other familiar GOP priorities.

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"Republicans don't really have an economic policy agenda that they've united around since Trump's been elected," said Brian Riedl, a budget expert at the right-leaning Manhattan Institute. He added that the former president upended traditional GOP views on free trade and federal spending.

"In terms of a Republican economic platform, broadly speaking, I don't really see one," said Victoria Gorman, the policy director at the Concord Coalition, an organization that advocates for a balanced federal budget.

The Florida Republican is widely viewed as a future presidential contender. Liam Donovan, a lobbyist and former GOP political operative, said he believed the entire proposal was meant to burnish Scott's conservative credentials ahead of a potential 2024 run.

"This is all kind of vibes-based, riffing off of popular themes," he said in an interview. "And I think there's open questions as to how any of those would translate into actual legislation."

It's possible that it won't amount to more than a messaging effort. Other planks of the platform was comprised of a 12-year term limit on all federal employees and members of Congress, slashing the IRS budget by half, outlawing government collection of racial data, and ensuring all federal legislation sunsets after five years. "If a law is worth keeping, Congress can pass it again," the plan stated. That may mean re-approving landmark laws such as the American with Disabilities Act or Social Security Act on an ongoing basis.

"I just don't think it is deep enough to be taking the Republican Party back anywhere or even forward anywhere because it's just a vibe," Donovan said. "This is meant to get your email address and get you to open your wallet."

"The provocation is the point," he added.

Scott's platform didn't contain a section on healthcare and was light on details regarding inflation, which recently hit a four-decade high. Scott has often clobbered the Biden administration for not keeping rising gas and food prices in check.

Scott's tax proposal doesn't seem popular in the GOP

Sen. Rick Scott arriving at a Senate Republican Policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in 2021. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Scott's "skin in the game" plan almost immediately drew comparisons to Mitt Romney's widely criticized tax comments during his 2012 presidential run. Romney argued that 47% of Americans who didn't pay income tax would only vote Democratic since they were "dependent on government."

That view of wealthy "makers" and poor "takers" has fallen out of fashion in the Republican Party largely because of Trump. He split the party from it and campaigned instead on preserving Social Security and Medicare  a breach of long-standing GOP calls to trim those programs and rein in federal spending. That wasn't always the case and Trump also floated ideas that either jeopardized their financial stability or would have prompted spending cuts.

There are scant signs that the GOP is coalescing around the income-tax plan or other tenets of the platform. Fellow Republicans skewered it, Insider's Warren Rojas and Nicole Gaudiano reported. "If I'm a Democrat looking at this list, this is candy in a store to go after," former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told them.

The blowback was so fierce that it prompted Scott to backtrack on parts of his blueprint. He later said the mandatory tax would apply only to "able-bodied" people and exempt retirees. It wasn't immediately clear how that would work in practice.

Democrats exploited the Scott plan to portray Republicans as being out of touch with working families. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced a five-figure radio ad buy one day after he introduced it. State-level Democrats in battleground races from Nevada to Georgia are also mounting fresh attacks.

For now, plenty of Republicans seem more than happy to simply attack President Joe Biden and Democrats. In January, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected laying out a GOP midterm platform, saying the party would make its goals known if it recaptured Congress: "I'll let you know when we take it back."

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is headed in the opposite direction. He's working with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to forge a new platform that rank-and-file House GOP members can rally around. While Republicans in each chamber are adopting different approaches to win big, their end-goal appears to be the same.

"I think they're going to run as a break on the Biden agenda," Riedl said. "And let's be honest, even if they win Congress, they're not going to be able to enact their agenda for the next two years. Their role will be stopping President Biden from passing policy."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Trayvon Martin would have turned 27 on Feb. 5, 2022. His family and followers paid tribute to him with an annual walk to raise funds for his foundation. (Photo: Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

A decade ago, a 17-year-old Black teenager left his fathers fiancees home in Florida to go to the store at night. He left with tea, a small bag of Skittles and his hoodie. A neighborhood watch volunteer suddenly stopped him. The man questioned the teen, a struggle ensued, and the man fired his gun, killing the teenager.

The Black teens name is Trayvon Martin. He died on Feb. 26, 2012.

The name Trayvon Martin is still, 10 years later, a rallying cry for racial justice advocates. The name George Zimmerman, the man who killed Martin, is a reminder of what some people still think of Black people in America today.

Natalie Jackson, an attorney who represented Martins family, said it was young people who were on the ground and making the nation aware of the killing when it happened. They were in Florida, and they were also in other cities. And now, these same young protesters have gotten older and continued their efforts.

He was the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement. We saw young people on the front lines getting those protests going, Jackson told HuffPost.

It was individual people doing things because they were so outraged. And many of these people were young, said Jackson, adding that you could see the impact 10 years later.

Martins death served as a wake-up call for many people in America. Kwame Rose was entering college when it happened.

When Martin was killed, he saw himself, down to the hoodies that he also wore.

Martins murder was a reminder of what he had experienced growing up in his own neighborhood. Martin never committed an actual crime. The only problem that Martin had was that he just happened to be Black.

I felt like the only crime Trayvon Martin committed was being a young Black kid in a middle-class neighborhood that his neighbors felt like he didnt belong in, Rose told HuffPost.

This was our Emmett Till. This was a kid that was brutally shot down on the street and harassed. Trayvon woke up a generation.

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He was the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement.Natalie Jackson, attorney who represented Martins family

Ten years later, Rose believes America still has a long way to go. Rose was born and raised in Baltimore and began his on-the-ground work the year after Martin was killed. In 2013, he helped form the Brothers In Action organization, which served as a mentoring group for young Black Baltimore men.

The death of another young Black man further pushed Rose into activism. Freddie Gray died in police custody on April 19, 2015. It happened in Baltimores Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood. The city of Baltimore erupted.

When Gray died, it was the first time Rose actively protested. His frustration at seeing Zimmerman ultimately be acquitted of murder had swelled.

Freddie Gray hit home, he said. While he related to Martin, Grays death became personal for Rose and the people he grew up with.

We were regular teenagers, but we grew up watching people who look like us, our age doing stuff that we would do and be murdered and left in the street to die, he said. I didnt see a shift in activists, but a shift in young folks.

A video of Rose getting into a confrontation with Fox Newss Geraldo Rivera went viral during the ensuing protests.

A Black man can raise his voice, and you dont have to be intimidated, Rose said to Rivera in front of a crowd of people in Baltimore. Roses raw emotion showed people were tired of seeing and hearing about people who looked like them dying on American streets.

I'm 22 years old fighting so that people like #TrayvonMartin can make it to 22. I don't take that for granted.  Kwame Rose (@kwamerose) February 6, 2017

Rose was arrested for using a megaphone and obstructing traffic during protests. He was found not guilty on two charges and another conviction was later dropped by a judge.

Grays was just one in a string of tragic deaths that followed Martins killing.

There was Tamir Rice. There was Dylann Roof killing nine Black people in a South Carolina church.

And Rose was just one of countless grassroots activists to be outraged by Martins murder and to embark on a quest for a just society.

The innocence of Black children was stripped away, and that is what was being prosecuted, more so than white vigilantes and law [enforcement] taking the lives of Black kids, Rose said.

Trayvon woke up a generation, Mike Brown radicalized a generation, and Freddie Gray showed Baltimore doesnt give a fuck.

Johnetta Elzie had a similar experience. At 23, she was in St. Louis at the time Martin was killed.

She remembers a spontaneous vigil when the news spread about Martins death. At the time, Elzie just wanted to pay her respects.

But years down the line, she became an influential figure in the new civil rights movement. Elzie rose to prominence as a grassroots organizer and leader in Ferguson, Missouri, after Michael Brown was gunned down by a police officer.

While active on social media, Elzies focus was always on working on the ground with people in the community. Along with other prominent activists, she was one of the leaders of We The Protesters.

I have to keep saying, a year ago w/the Trayvon Martin case I sat with my mother in the hospital watching the verdict be read.. We were hurt  Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) August 14, 2014

When Elzie got word of Browns killing, she walked down to the neighborhood where the shooting happened to see what was going on, she told HuffPost. It was easy for people to make the connections between Martin, Brown and many other young Black men who were killed by overpolicing.

In St. Louis, Elzie said, there were a lot of Black men being killed.

I have heard people say that Trayvon is everywhere, she said. I had a friend who was shot and killed by a St. Louis police officer in February 2014. His name was Stephon Averyhart, and the police officer who killed him was never charged.

In Chicago, Charles Preston was 21 years old when Martin was murdered. He watched the Zimmerman verdict on television and recalled that his stepfather was so stressed out that he went outside to smoke.

Prestons stepfather told him that it was open season on young Black men. Just a few years later, confirmation seemed to come when Laquan McDonald was fatally shot by Chicago police in 2014.

Even though Martin did not die at the hands of police like McDonald or Gray, the idea of policing Black people in America was central to his death. Preston says it is the concept policing that got the teen killed. Zimmerman was doing neighborhood watch and claimed he thought he was protecting his community.

Black people know what it is like to be profiled and go places where they are not accepted.

When you see something like that, you are going to have a visceral response to it, said Preston, a former local organizer and Chicago-based journalist.

Since McDonalds death, Preston has been a loud voice keeping the 17-year-olds legacy alive. He has also been continuously outspoken about former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and his handling of McDonalds case, along with current Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot 100% supports Rahm Emanuel's handpicked superintendent, who not only ruled the killing of Rekia Boyd as justifed but was found to be complicit in the Laquan McDonald cover-up.  Charles Preston (@_CharlesPreston) October 12, 2019

I think what Trayvons [death] did is inspire a generation. I think Trayvon is like the seed for a generation for people who are trying to do right in activism and are more aware in policing. He is the seed for a lot of people being introduced to a lot of radical concepts.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson is an attempt to defile the supreme court and humiliate and degrade the US, the Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson claimed on Friday night.

Related: Ketanji Brown Jackson: who is Bidens supreme court choice?

If confirmed, Jackson, whose nomination was announced by Joe Biden earlier on Friday, will be the first Black woman on the court.

Carlson said Jackson was nominated because of how she looks. He said: Do you want to live in that country? Most people dont, of all colors. They think you should be elevated in America based on what you do, on the choices not on how you were born, not on your DNA, because thats Rwanda.

One columnist called his comments the perfect distillation of white supremacy.

Biden promised to put a Black woman on the court. Chosen from a short list of three, Jackson was introduced on Friday.

Biden called her a proven consensus builder with a pragmatic understanding that the law must work for the American people, and said: For too long, our government, our courts, havent looked like America.

If confirmed, the former public defender will replace the retiring Stephen Breyer. The balance of the court will stay 6-3 in favour of conservatives.

At the White House, Jackson paid tribute to Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to be a federal judge, for her steadfast and courageous commitment to equal justice under law.

Carlson claimed Jacksons appointment showed Biden was committed to undermining equality.

Now maybe shes great, he said, thats not the point. The point is she was picked because of how she looks, so what does that tell you not about the nominee but about Joe Biden?

It tells you that he is absolutely happy to defile a system built by other people over hundreds of years, this is the best system in the history of the world, and he is happy to destroy it. Doesnt care at all.

Carlson also claimed Jackson wasnt much of a jurist  not simply ignorant of the law but also a political activist.

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Pointing to a forthcoming case concerning affirmative action in college admissions, Carlson said most Americans think you should be elevated  based on what you do  not on how you were born, not on your DNA, because thats Rwanda.

Jennifer Rubin, a conservative Washington Post columnist, called Carlsons comments the perfect distillation of white supremacy.

Justices have been nominated on grounds of identity. Ronald Reagan promised to pick a woman and installed Sandra Day OConnor. Donald Trump promised to pick a woman to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg and installed Amy Coney Barrett, a hardline Catholic conservative.

Most observers say Jackson, who was confirmed to the US court of appeals for the DC circuit with three Republican votes, is eminently qualified. On Friday, Steve Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas, pointed out that she has almost nine years of trial court experience, more than four current justices including the chief, John Roberts, combined.

Vladeck told CNN: Only Justice [Sonia] Sotomayor among the current justices has trial court experience  and so I think what were really talking about here is diversity along so many axes, and from a nominee who really ticks every conceivable box.

Vladeck also said it was really hard to figure out what the line of attack would be against someone with Jacksons credentials, her background, her experience, you know, her resume.

Republicans have been happy to offer previews.

Ted Cruz of Texas has complained about Bidens promise to pick a Black woman and about how Democrats treated Brett Kavanaugh, Trumps second pick who denied accusations of sexual assault. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who backed a candidate from his state, said the radical left was behind the Jackson pick.

Democrats will most likely not need Republican votes, even those (Graham, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska) who voted to confirm Jackson last year. Democrats need only their own 50 senators and the casting vote of Kamala Harris, the vice-president.

Carlson pressed on.

Lets say you really didnt care about the country you lead, he said. Lets say you wanted to humiliate and degrade it and undermine its ancient institutions. What would you do?

Well, you might take the single most important appointed position in the entire government and announce in public that you are filling that position on the basis of appearance. Not on the basis of skill or wisdom or fealty to the founding documents of the United States, but on the basis of the way the person looks.

 That would send a very clear message that you dont like the country you run and you dont care about the institutions that its ancestors built.

The supreme court was founded by and has been almost exclusively populated by white men. Of 115 justices, two have been Black men and five have been women.
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for a stop to Russian military operations in Ukraine during a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Cavusoglu had reiterated during the call that Ankara was ready to host the Russian and Ukrainian leaders for peace talks.

(Reporting by Yesim Dikmen; Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Elizabeth Culliford

(Reuters) - Twitter is being restricted for some users in Russia, the social media company said in a tweet on Saturday.

On Friday, one day after Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow said it was partially limiting access to Meta Platforms Inc's Facebook, accusing it of "censoring" Russian media.

Twitter said it was working to keep its service safe and accessible. It did not immediately respond to a question on whether Russia had communicated with the company about any actions.

Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks reported that Twitter had been restricted on leading networks https://bit.ly/3BXXVMt. A Reuters reporter in Moscow on Saturday said the site was slow and had difficulties sending tweets.

Russia has been trying to exert tighter control over the internet and big tech companies for years, in efforts that critics say threaten individual and corporate freedom, and are part of a wider crackdown against outspoken opponents of the Kremlin.

Last year, Moscow slowed down the speed of Twitter in a punitive move because it said the site was not removing illegal content.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Culliford; Editing by Diane Craft and Andrea Ricci)
 Flash

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, the White House confirmed Friday.



"In alignment with the decision by our European allies, the United States will join them in sanctioning President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of the Russian national security team," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a regular news briefing on Friday, adding more specifics will be announced later in the day.

The U.S. move followed that of the European Union (EU) and Britain, which announced sanctions targeting the top Russian leadership earlier on Friday.

Biden on Thursday announced additional U.S. sanctions against Russia targeting the country's major financial institutions and an additional number of Russian individuals and their family members with ties to the Kremlin, on top of the so-called "first tranche" of sanctions imposed on Russian state-owned banks, the Russian sovereign debt market as well as individual elites.

Asked about the possibility of his Russian counterpart, Biden didn't commit to that on Thursday, only saying it remained an option on the table.

Psaki said Friday the reason Biden waited until after the EU and Britain announced their sanctions against the Russian president to decide on his own move is that his "strong principle ... has been to take actions and steps in alignment with our European partners."

Also on Friday, a senior administration official said future U.S. sanctions will not target Russian oil and gas industry.

"The sanctions will not target the oil flows as we go forward," Amos Hochstein, the State Department's senior energy security adviser, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

Hochstein said doing so won't necessarily reduce Russia's oil and gas revenue, and may instead lead to a scenario where "the United States and our allies would suffer the consequences."
Feb. 26SOUTH PORTLAND  The owner of the Days Inn and Comfort Inn near the Maine Mall said Friday that the hotels will stop hosting indigent people experiencing homelessness because of complaints he heard about a wide variety of problems affecting nearby businesses, their employees and their customers.

Suresh Gali, head of New Gen Hospitality Management, made the announcement at the end of a virtual meeting with at least 160 residents, business owners and others who were invited by city officials to address public safety concerns related to four local hotels that have been providing emergency shelter to people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several business owners near the Maine Mall said that since the city of Portland has been housing people experiencing homelessness at the Days Inn and Comfort Inn, both on Maine Mall Road, they have been frustrated by the behavior of some guests. They described intoxicated and mentally unstable people who harass their customers for money, use drugs in their public bathrooms and defecate in their shrubbery.

Several said they have lost business because customers and employees are afraid.

"I understand people need a place to stay, but I'm baffled," said Jim Beaulieu of the Jonathan Douglas Salon and Relaxation Studio near the Comfort Inn.

Chris Green, representing the Chili's Restaurant that shares a parking lot with Days Inn, said he's on the verge of filing a lawsuit.

"The status quo will not be acceptable," Green said.

At the end of the nearly two-hour meeting, Gali told participants that he will not renew a contract with MaineHousing to provide emergency shelter at the Days Inn and Comfort Inn when the agreement runs out May 31.

"New Gen Hospitality agreed to work with the state with a goal to assist individuals where we thought we could," Gali said in an email after the meeting. "We have heard the concerns of our neighbors and so at the end of our current agreement with the state, New Gen Hospitality will let our agreement expire."

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Some residents and business owners also complained about homeless people living at the Howard Johnson hotel that Gali's company owns on Main Street/Route 1. However, he said that property now houses mostly families and asylum seekers, which will continue.

The pending loss of emergency housing at the Days Inn and Comfort Inn poses a significant challenge for Portland officials, who struggled to accommodate a growing homeless population long before the pandemic.

"It's unfortunate we are in the position of having to identify other options for the 290 individuals who are currently being sheltered at these two hotels," said Kristen Dow, Portland's health and human services director. "We are actively working with MaineHousing and state officials to identify new emergency shelter space. We will continue to keep the community and our partners updated as we move forward."

Dow noted during Friday's Zoom meeting that less than one-third of 976 individuals housed at the Oxford Street Shelter in 2021 were from Portland; the rest came from all over Maine and beyond.

"We cannot continue to be an emergency shelter for the entire state," Dow said. "Other municipalities are going to have to step up."

Portland plans to build a 208-bed homeless shelter and service center to augment its existing shelters, but many say it won't be enough to cope with the problem.

In recent months, the city has housed homeless clients in 10 hotels in Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Old Orchard Beach and Freeport. Many are asylum seekers, but the majority of complaints discussed Friday were about indigent people experiencing homelessness who appear to have substance use and mental health issues.

"MaineHousing remains committed to finding a solution and safe shelter for all who are currently being housed in the South Portland hotels when these contracts expire at the end of May," MaineHousing spokesman Scott Thistle said in an email after the meeting.

City Manager Scott Morelli kicked off the conversation saying that he invited 1,700 people to the Zoom meeting, which ran from 1-2:45 p.m. Participants, including City Councilor Linda Cohen, who represents neighborhoods near the hotels, and Police Chief Daniel Ahern, filled several computer screens. Representatives of several social service agencies that work with homeless people and immigrants also attended the meeting.

Morelli went ahead with the meeting, which was closed to the wider public and news media, despite being warned by an attorney for the Portland Press Herald that it would violate Maine's Freedom of Access Act. The city's attorney told Morelli that the meeting would be legal.

A Press Herald reporter was able to observe the meeting thanks to a resident who believes in the public's right to know.

Morelli called the meeting in part because of increased calls for police, fire and emergency medical services to the hotels. However, he said, calls for service have dropped in recent months.

Hotels discussed during the meeting included the Quality Inn on Main Street/Route 1, near the Howard Johnson hotel, which also is housing asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola and Brazil.

However, several residents of the Thornton Heights and Sunset Park neighborhoods who spoke during the meeting said asylum seekers were welcome and not raising any concerns.

"I've had nothing but excellent experiences with people staying at the hotels," said Jan, a resident of the Sunset Park neighborhood behind the Maine Motel.

"It's a diverse and welcoming neighborhood," Jan said, adding that the hotels should be allowed to provide emergency shelter for those in need until they find permanent housing.

In contrast, neighbors and business owners closer to Main Street/Route 1 described seeing an increase in drug paraphernalia and other trash, apparent drug deals and prostitution, theft, graffiti, harassment, trespassing, domestic arguments and other criminal or unsafe behavior they attributed to homeless guests of local hotels.

Darlene Panzino said there's a difficult balance to be struck between the rights of people experiencing homelessness who deserve shelter and the rights of others to feel safe in their neighborhoods.

"Can you solve that really quick, Scott?" Panzino asked the city manager with a bit of laugh.

Morelli, the city manager, and Ahern, the police chief, promised to address concerns raised during the meeting.

"This is not a problem that's going to go away quickly," Ahern said. "This is the first step in trying."

This story was updated at 7 a.m. on Feb. 26 to correct information about Oxford Street Shelter.

This story was updated at 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 26 to correct Linda Cohen's district.
The United States and key allies will cut Russian banks out of the global financial messaging system SWIFT and begin to target Russias central bank, according to a White House statement on Saturday.

The move is the most drastic financial sanction yet on Russian President Vladimir Putin over his brutal, ongoing invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The statement said the U.S., top European economies, Britain, and Canada would disconnect selected Russian banks from SWIFT, which will severely hurt their ability to operate internationally, and prevent Russias central bank from using its foreign currency reserves to evade Western sanctions. The pro-Ukraine countries will also make it harder for wealthy Russians to obtain Western citizenship and launch a task force to freeze the assets of Russian elites  a bid to pressure Putin by hurting his friends.

We stand with the Ukrainian people in this dark hour, the statement continued. Even beyond the measures we are announcing today, we are prepared to take further measures to hold Russia to account for its attack on Ukraine.

In a call with reporters later in the day, a senior Biden administration official said that between the new measures and previously announced sanctions, Russia has become a global economic and financial pariah.

The U.S. expects the move to cause most banks around the world [to] simply stop transacting altogether with Russian banks that are out of SWIFT, the official added, saying the list of affected banks would be released soon and will ultimately be determined by the European Union because Belgium administers the SWIFT system. The official noted that China, from which Russia has sought support despite the Chinese leaderships uncertainty about Putins plans, has tended to respect the force of U.S. sanctions.

While much of the international debate has recently focused on SWIFT, the steps against the Russian central bank and rich Russians could be even more striking and painful for Moscow. Well go after their yachts, their luxury apartments, their money and their ability to send their kids to fancy schools in the West, the official said. The ruble will fall even further, inflation will spike and the central bank will be left defenseless.

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The announcement came as Russian forces continued to try to capture Ukraines capital of Kyiv and strategic targets elsewhere in the country. It represents a significant escalation by Americas European partners, many of whom worry about the economic toll their own countries will experience if they cut off ties with Russia.

Earlier in the day, Germany  a key holdout on the SWIFT sanctions  signaled a harder position against Putin by sending anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainians and lifting a hold on the Netherlands doing so with German-made arms.

The Russian invasion marks a turning point. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putins invading army, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

The Biden administration official emphasized that the ultimate goal of the U.S. and its allies is to stop the fighting  not to continue punishing Putin and Russians.

This is a sad outcome, this is not where we wanted to be, the official said. Only Putin can decide how much more cost he is willing to bear.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged more United States aid to Ukraine as it tries to fight off a Russian invasion.

Blinken authorized another $350 million in immediate assistance to help Ukraine defend itself from Russias unprovoked and unjustified war.

The U.S. assistance includes anti-armor, small arms and various munitions, body armor and related equipment, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a release.

In addition to the monetary pledge to Ukraine, Blinken appealed to the people of Russia as that countrys despot leader, Vladimir Putin, attacks his neighboring land.

To the people of Russia: You deserve to live in peace and with dignity, just like Ukrainians. Just like people everywhere, Blinken tweeted. You do not deserve a pointless war with your neighbors, friends, and family in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine deserve to live in peace, as do you.

Blinken also posted the message in Russian.

The U.S. has provided more than $1 billion in assistance to Ukraine in the last year, Kirby said.
Feb. 26It's perhaps a good problem to have, because it means success is slowly building, but the bar for the UConn men's basketball team continues to be raised.

Coach Dan Hurley's program continues to tick off accomplishments on its proverbial checklist and the expectations for the Huskies increase as another hurdle is cleared.

Tuesday night's thrilling victory over No. 8 Villanova may have raised the bar again.

The Huskies (20-7, 11-5 Big East) have won four straight and are seemingly hitting their peak as March approaches. The regular season league title is mathematically out of their reach, but a Big East Tournament crown and a deep NCAA Tournament run remain available and unchecked on the list.

No. 21 UConn visits Washington this weekend for a Sunday afternoon tilt against Georgetown at Capital One Arena hoping to continue its upward trajectory.

"The program is obviously at a different point," Hurley said after the Villanova game, reflecting on the progress the Huskies have made in his tenure. "At the end of Year 2 (2019-20 season), we were playing as good as anyone in the American. Last year (2020-21 season) we took another step, became NCAA caliber, semifinals of the Big East Tournament, 7-seed in the NCAA. We're obviously playing for much bigger things with this team."

The coach's ejection by the game's officials aside, UConn's victory in Hartford over the Wildcats, the Big East's standard-bearer during the Huskies' seven-year absence from the league, has infused the team with some increased belief in its own abilities.

"This will do a lot for this team's confidence moving forward," Hurley said after the game. "We're looking to have a big next month or so."

Georgetown (6-21, 0-16) would just like to pick up a single win in the next month or so. The Hoyas have lost 17 straight games, including a 96-73 defeat to these Huskies on Jan. 25 in Storrs.

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In that victory, UConn was two points shy of the most points it has scored in its 69-game series history with the Hoyas.

Coach Patrick Ewing's Hoyas have at least come much closer to victory since that first meeting. They lost to DePaul 68-65 Thursday in Washington.

"We just have to keep fighting. Pretty much every game we've had opportunities to win," Ewing said after the DePaul loss. "But then something happens, like too many turnovers."

The Huskies and Hoyas played on the Georgetown campus last season, so Sunday will be UConn's first trip to the Capital One Arena for a Big East game in 10 years.

The team Hurley brings to Washington this weekend is one that wants to check off a few more boxes before the season ends. That starts with taking care of business on its penultimate road trip of the regular season.

"What a team. What an emerging team, a formidable team, that is as good as anyone in this league," Hurley said of his group.

The Villanova game was a major step, but the Huskies are being careful not to count it as a final one.

"It just shows how far we've come as a program. We've still got a ways to go," fifth-year senior Tyler Polley said.

Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's defence ministry said on Saturday that the bulk of Russian forces involved in the advance on Ukraine's capital Kyiv were now 30 km (19 miles) from the city centre.

Britain, which earlier disputed Russian reports that Russian forces had captured the southeastern city of Melitopol, said the Ukrainian military was continuing to put up staunch resistance across the country.

"Russian forces have continued their advance on Kyiv with the bulk of their forces now 30 km from the centre of the city," the defence ministry said in an intelligence update posted on Twitter.

"Russia has yet to gain control of the airspace over Ukraine greatly reducing the effectiveness of the Russian Air Force. Russian casualties are likely to be heavy and greater than anticipated or acknowledged by the Kremlin," it said.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Catherine Evans)
CCTV footage shows a rocket hitting a Kyiv apartment block as officials urge locals to take immediate shelter.

Russian troops reached the Ukrainian capital and attacked a military base in the city, as well as attempting to capture an electricity generation station.

Reuters has reported that Kyiv has been struck by two missiles in the southwest areas of the city centre.

As explosions ring out across the city and desperate families shelter in underground stations, president Zelensky said Russia would be using all its might to break our resistance.

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Officials in Kyiv are warning people to seek shelter away from gunfire and missiles as street fighting begins against Russian forces.

Residents have been advised to remain in shelters, to avoid going near windows or on balconies, and to take precautions against being hit by debris or bullets as Russia continued its invasion of Ukraine.

The warning was issued on Saturday, while a battle was underway near a military unit to the west of Kyivs city centre, the military said.

Russian forces have launched coordinated missile and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, in Europes worst conflict in decades that was launched by Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

An apartment building damaged by recent shelling in Kyiv (REUTERS)

In Kyiv, gunfire erupted near government buildings in the city centre, military officials and a Reuters witness said.

A residential tower block more than 20-stories high was hit, and at least five of the apartments were completely destroyed.

People hiding out in the Kyiv subway, using it as a bomb shelter (AP)

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that the high-rise building is on the southwestern outskirts of Kyiv near Zhuliany airport. He said rescue workers were heading there.

The building was targeted with missiles, a photo shared on social media by Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba shows.

No casualties were immediately reported, according to reports.

   ,              .         .       .  .  .   .    ! pic.twitter.com/UdKnSVCVkT  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) February 26, 2022

Mr Kuleba said: An apartment building has been hit Kyiv, our beautiful, peaceful city, has spent another night under attack by Russian ground forces and missiles.

One of them hit an apartment building in Kyiv. I demand from the world to completely isolate the Russian Federation.

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Expel ambassadors. Oil embargo. Destroy the Russian economy. Stop the war criminals of the Russian Federation!

Kyiv residents have been seeking sanctuary in the citys underground system, where subway stations have been used as bomb shelters while Russian troops have invaded the city from several directions.

Ukrainian soldiers investigate debris of a burning military truck on a street in Kyiv (AP)

Denys Shmyhal, Ukraines prime minister, said: Over the past two days, hospitals, kindergartens and orphanages in Ukrainian cities have been shelled.

We demand from the world a decisive response and isolation of Russia for its criminal acts.

Ukrainian officials said Russian forces fired cruise missiles from the Black Sea at the cities of Sumy, Poltava and Mariupol and there was heavy fighting near the southern city of Mariupol.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed people not to believe fake news claiming that he has told the army to surrender.

Ukrainian soldiers take position under a bridge during crossing fire in Kyiv (AP)

In addressing Ukrainians, Mr Zelensky said in a video posted to social media: Good morning everybody. Do not believe fake news. I am here.

We will not lay down our weapons. We will defend our Country. Our weapons are our strength.

This is our land. Our country. Our children. We will protect all of them.

Kyiv residents were told by the defence ministry to make petrol bombs  Molotov cocktails  to repel Russian troops.

Ukraine said more than 1,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. Russia did not release casualty figures.

Mr Zelenskiy said late on Thursday that 137 soldiers and civilians have been killed with hundreds wounded.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the presidents office, said the situation in Kyiv and its outskirts was under control.

There are cases of sabotage and reconnaissance groups working in the city, police and self-defence forces are working efficiently against them, Mr Podolyak said.

New explosions shook the area near a major power plant that Russia was trying to attack, said Mr Klitschko.

Ukrainian troops are in control of the hydroelectric power plant to the north of Kyiv, according to the Russian news agency Interfax citing Ukraines energy ministry.

British armed forces minister James Heappey said there are only isolated pockets of Russian soldiers in Kyiv, and that this is a testament to the resistance shown by Ukrainian troops.
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya (R) and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) attend an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Ukraine in New York on February 23, 2022. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations vetoed a resolution denouncing the invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine's ambassador fired back and said that the invasion was reminiscent of Nazis in World War II.

"Your words have less value than a hole in the New York pretzel," Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said.

The Ukrainian ambassador to the United Nations called the Russian invasion a "Nazi-style course of action" during a United Nations Security Council draft resolution that called on Moscow to withdraw its troops and halt its assault on Ukraine.

Russian ambassador Vasily Nebenzya, who currently serves as president of the council for the month of February, vetoed the resolution, calling it "anti-Russian."

"How can we trust you? You have no idea what is on the mind of your president. Your words have less value than a hole in the New York pretzel," Ukrainian ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said following the vote, ABC News reported.

Kyslytsya said Russia's veto wasn't a surprise. While China, India, and the United Arab Emirates abstained from voting, the United States, which drafted the resolution, United Kingdom, France, Norway, Ireland, Albania, Gabon, Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, and Kenya all voted in favor of it.

"Russia, you can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices," US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said at the meeting. "You cannot veto the truth. You cannot veto our principles. You cannot veto the Ukrainian people. You cannot veto the UN Charter. And you will not veto accountability."

Before initiating a moment of silence among the delegation, Kyslytsya invited Russia's ambassador to "pray for salvation."

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